[🇧🇩] The fate of big guns/beneficiaries of Awami League after the student revolution

[Saif]

5 ex-ministers on remand

Dhaka metropolitan magistrate courts on Wednesday placed 10 people, including five former ministers, of the ousted Awami league government on different terms of remand in different cases...

www.newagebd.net

5 ex-ministers on remand
Staff Correspondent 31 October, 2024, 00:02

Dhaka metropolitan magistrate courts on Wednesday placed 10 people, including five former ministers, of the ousted Awami league government on different terms of remand in different cases.

Dhaka metropolitan magistrates Md Shariful Rahman and Md Imran Ahmed passed the orders after police produced them before the courts seeking remand for interrogation.

The former ministers are former minister Md Abdus Shahid, law minister Anisul Huq, food minister Sadhan Chandra Majumder, shipping minister Shahjahan Khan, and information minister Hasanul Huq Inu.

The others remanded are former lawmaker Haji Mohammad Salim, former inspector general of police Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun, former army officer Ziaul Ahsan, and Dhaka University Chhatra League’s general secretary Tanvir Hasan Saikat and Swechchhasebak League leader Sheikh Jamal.

Former minister Md Abdus Shahid was placed on a 4-day remand in a case lodged over the murder of bus driver Alamgir Hossain on August 5.

The police produced Shahid who was arrested at Uttara on Tuesday night, before the court and pleaded to place him on 10-day remand in the case filed with the Uttara West police station.

Anisul was placed on eight-day remand, five days in a case with the Shahbagh police station, and three days in a murder case with the Badda police station.

Sadhan Chandra and Shajahan were each remanded for three days in cases filed with Mohammadpur and Jatrabari police stations respectively, while Inu was remanded for five days in a murder case with the Dhanmondi police station.

Former IGP Mamun was put on three-day remand in a case with the Dhanmondi police station and an additional four days in a case with the Bangshal police station.

Additionally, Ziaul, Haji Salim, and Saikat were each placed on five-day remand in cases filed with New Market, Chawkbazar, and Dhanmondi police stations, respectively.

On the other hand, Dhaka additional chief metropolitan magistrate Jiadur Rahman placed Swechchhasebak League leader Sheikh Jamal on two-day remand over the murder of Juba Dal leader Shamim in 2023.

Anisul was arrested on August 13 at Sadarghat while police detained Inu on August 26 from Uttara.

Shajahan was arrested in Dhanmondi on September 5, and Sadhan Chandra was taken into custody in the Bashundhara Residential Area on the night of October 3.

Former army officer Ziaul was detained on August 16 in Khilkhet, and Chhatra League leader Saikat was apprehended on August 14 in Nikunja.

On September 1, Haji Salim was arrested at Bangshal in Old Dhaka, and former IGP Mamun was arrested on the night of September 3.​

 

[Saif]

Ex-minister Abdus Shahid arrested with huge cash, foreign currency

Police early on Wednesday arrested former agriculture minister Md Abdus Shahid from the city’s Uttara area with huge cash, foreign currencies and 990.50 grams of gold. A team of Uttara Pashchim Thana rounded up Abdus Shahid, also a former lawmaker of Moulovibazar-4 constituency, from his res

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Ex-minister Abdus Shahid arrested with huge cash, foreign currency
BSS
Published :
Oct 30, 2024 20:50
Updated :
Oct 30, 2024 20:50

Police early on Wednesday arrested former agriculture minister Md Abdus Shahid from the city’s Uttara area with huge cash, foreign currencies and 990.50 grams of gold.

A team of Uttara Pashchim Thana rounded up Abdus Shahid, also a former lawmaker of Moulovibazar-4 constituency, from his residence at road No-2, sector-10 at Uttara around 4 am today, according to a police press release.

During the raid at Shahid’s Uttara residence, police seized over Tk 3.10 crore, 1,953 US dollars, 1120 Canadian dollars, 1,100 Euro, 5,300 Thai baht, 500 Mexican dollars, 50 Hong Kong dollars, 3000 rupees, 3,117 Qatar real riyal and 990.50 gram (around 85 tolas) gold from his possession, it added.

Police sent Abdus Shahid to a court in Dhaka with a prayer for 10 days remand in connection with a case filed with Uttara Pashchim Police Station over a killing during the anti-discrimination student movement. But, the court granted a four-day remand.

Apart from the cases, Abdus Shahid was also accused in two more murder cases with Uttara Pashchim Thana and one attempted murder case in Moulvibazar.

A process is underway to file a case against Abdus Shahid on charges of possessing foreign currencies illegally under the Special Powers Act while another case under Money Laundering Act for possessing huge money and gold.​

 

[Saif]

Dhaka to work with WHO directly as regional director Saima ‘dysfunctional’

She is a member of the family of the fallen autocrat and it is in question whether she would give her best for the country

en.prothomalo.com

Dhaka to work with WHO directly as regional director Saima ‘dysfunctional’
BSS
Dhaka
Published: 30 Oct 2024, 20: 36

A press briefing by the chief adviser’s press wing at Foreign Service Academy in Dhaka on 30 October, 2024. BSS

The government has sent a letter to the World Health Organization (WHO) wishing to work directly with it as its Regional Director for South-East Asia Saima Wazed is “dysfunctional right now”.

“Incumbent WHO Regional Director Saima Wazed Putul is dysfunctional right now. She has been implicated in several criminal cases and financial crimes,” Chief Adviser’s Deputy Press Secretary Apurba Jahangir told a press briefing at Foreign Service Academy in Dhaka on Wednesday.

He said the Bangladesh government has sent a letter to the WHO so that Bangladesh can directly communicate with it bypassing Saima Wazed.

“The WHO has been informed so that Bangladesh can directly communicate with it – without her mediation and that is why the WHO has been requested to take urgent action to this end,” he said.

Replying to a question, Apurba said as the WHO appoints its regional director, Bangladesh has to communicate with the WHO maintaining liaison with its regional director.

Saima Wazed is a member of the family of the fallen autocrat and it is in question whether she would give her best for the country, he said.

Responding to a query, Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam said it is an ethical issue as Saima Wazed was implicated in some financial crimes, while her bank accounts were frozen here.

He said the Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) has been investing her crimes and therefore, working with her is not possible.

The government is seeking to work with the WHO directly and the agency has been requested to inform the Bangladesh government about what measures it is taking to this end, Alam said.

Speaking at the press briefing, Chief Adviser’s Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder said considering a recent report of Dainik Kalbela, the government formed a high-level probe body to investigate the allegation of bribery in appointment of deputy commissioners (DCs).

The committee submitted its probe report to the government, revealing that the allegation was not true, he said.

Azad said now, on behalf of the government, Dainik Kalbela will be requested to review its report and take necessary measures.​

 

[Saif]

পুতুলের মাধ্যমে নয়, ডব্লিউএইচও'র সঙ্গে কাজ করতে চায় সরকার: প্রেস উইং

 

[Saif]

Former minister RAM Obaidul Muktadir arrested

Detective Branch arrested former housing and public works minister RAM Obaidul Muktadir Chowdhury from Dhaka's Nakhalpara area last night

www.thedailystar.net

Former minister RAM Obaidul Muktadir arrested

RAM Obaidul Muktadir Chowdhury. Photo: Collected

Detective Branch arrested former housing and public works minister RAM Obaidul Muktadir Chowdhury from Dhaka's Nakhalpara area last night.

Police did not specifically say in what case Muktadir was arrested, however, Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Additional Commissioner (Detective Branch) official Rezaul Karim Mallik told journalists that there were several cases against him.

Muktadir Chowdhury is a former Awami League MP from Brahmanbaria. He was first elected in a by-election in 2011. He was a fourth-time MP from Awami League.

He said Muktadir will be produced before a court on Friday with a remand prayer for further questioning.​

 

[Saif]

Court issues travel bans on Union Bank MD Mokammel, ex-JP MP

Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Court on Thursday issued international travel bans on eight people, including Union Bank managing director ABM Mokammel Hoque Chowdhury, former Taxes Appellate Tribunal member Ranjit Kumar Talukder and his wife Jhumur Majumder over allegations of amassing...

www.newagebd.net

Court issues travel bans on Union Bank MD Mokammel, ex-JP MP
Staff Correspondent 31 October, 2024, 18:15

Mokammel Hoque Chowdhury and Ranjit Kumar Talukder

Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Court on Thursday issued international travel bans on eight people, including Union Bank managing director ABM Mokammel Hoque Chowdhury, former Taxes Appellate Tribunal member Ranjit Kumar Talukder and his wife Jhumur Majumder over allegations of amassing illegal wealth.

The other five are former Awami League lawmaker Habib Hasan of Dhaka-18 constituency, his wife Shamima Habib, their son Abeer Hasan Tanim and daughter Sonia Hasan Tonni, and former Jatiya Party lawmaker Md Nurul Islam Talukder.

Acting Judge Md Ibrahim Mia of the court issued the travel bans following separate petitions submitted by the Anti-Corruption Commission, said ACC public prosecutor Mahmud Hossain Jahangir.

ACC in the petitions sought travel bans on them for the sake of fair inquiry, and it also mentioned that they may flee the country if the bans are not issued.

The court issued a travel ban on ABM Mokammel Hoque Chowdhury following a petition submitted by ACC deputy director Masudur Rahman seeking.

According to the petition, Mokammel was abusing the power of his post during the laundering of Tk 5,000 crore to Barclays Bank in the United Kingdom by family members of the S Alam group.

It also mentioned that Mokammel amassed a huge amount of wealth at home and abroad through abusing power and corruption.

Besides, the court issued a travel ban on former Taxes Appellate Tribunal member Ranjit Kumar Talukder and his wife Jhumur Majumder following a petition submitted by ACC assistant director Khorshed Alam.

ACC mentioned in the petition that the commission is conducting an inquiry against Ranjit Kumar over allegations of amassing illegal wealth through taking bribes and embezzling money through various corruption.

Among the assets, Ranjit bought agriculture lands, flats, and plots with his ill-gotten money, while his wife Jhumur Mojumder possessed 22 fixed deposit receipts worth Tk 3.50 crore at different branches of Bangladesh Commerce Bank.

The court also issued a travel ban on former AL lawmaker Habib Hasan, his wife, and children over an allegation of amassing illegal wealth.

According to the allegation, Habib and his family members amassed illegal wealth through extortion in the transport sector and embezzling government money.

Habib also laundered money abroad and bought property in Canada in the name of his son Abeer Hasan, according to the allegations.

Meanwhile, the court also imposed a travel ban on former Jatiya Party lawmaker Nurul Islam Talukder of Bogura-4 constituency following a petition of the ACC.

ACC mentioned that Nurul Islam embezzled money from different government development projects through abusing his power as a lawmaker.

Nurul Islam was elected as a lawmaker in the 2014 and 2018 parliament elections, but he was defeated in the last parliament election held on January 7 this year.​

 

[Saif]

Former MP Abul Kalam Azad sued in attempted murder case

Ten people, including former Jamalpur-1 MP Abul Kalam Azad, have been sued in an attempted murder case. .District Chhatra Dal Vice President Md Shahadat Hossain filed the case with Jamalpur Sadar Police Station last night, said police. .Besides, 200 to 300 unnamed accused from Awami

www.thedailystar.net

Former MP Abul Kalam Azad sued in attempted murder case

Abul Kalam Azad

Ten people, including former Jamalpur-1 MP Abul Kalam Azad, have been sued in an attempted murder case.

District Chhatra Dal Vice President Md Shahadat Hossain filed the case with Jamalpur Sadar Police Station last night, said police.

Besides, 200 to 300 unnamed accused from Awami League and its affiliated organisations were also accused in the case.

The accused include Abul Kalam Azad, former MP of Jamalpur Sadar ; Safiqul Islam, Group Captain (retd) of Bangladesh Air Force, Jamalpur District AL VP Farooq Ahmed Chowdhury, former Jamalpur municipality mayor Sanawar Hossain Sanu, General Secretary of District Jubo League Farhan Ahmed, and General Secretary of District Chhatra League Nafiul Karim Rabbi.

According to the case statement, during the students-led mass uprising on August 3, when the students were marching towards Bakultala from Mirza Azam intersection area of Jamalpur municipality in the afternoon, the leaders and activists of Awami League and its affiliated organisations attacked them with firearms, locally made weapons, and bamboo sticks.

Faisal Mohammad Atiq, officer-in-charge of Jamalpur Sadar Police Station, said several police teams are working to arrest the accused.​

 

[Bilal9]

Pressure piles on president to step down

The walls seemed to be closing in on President Mohammed Shahabuddin as calls for his resignation grew louder yesterday.

www.thedailystar.net

Pressure piles on president to step down
Students demonstrate in front of Bangabhaban, Central Shaheed Minar, elsewhere in the country

View attachment 9962

The walls seemed to be closing in on President Mohammed Shahabuddin as calls for his resignation grew louder yesterday.

As more and more people joined demonstrations for his resignation, the government yesterday called him out on his "lies" about Sheikh Hasina's resignation as prime minister.

It all began after Manab Zamin on Sunday published an exclusive interview of him saying that he only heard that Hasina had resigned, but there was no evidence of her resignation.

As several hundred protesters under the banners Raktim July 2024 and Shadhinota-Sharbobhoumotto Rokkha Committee attempted to break through the security barriers in front of the Bangabhaban around 8:30 o' clock last night, police detonated stun grenades.

The protesters then chased the police away.

Five people, including two journalists, suffered minor injuries, witnesses said. Police also hit the protesters with batons and used tear gas shells.

Army personnel were seen trying to calm the situation.

At around 11:30pm, Hasnat Abdullah and Sarjis Alam, two of the most influential organisers of the student movement against discrimination, arrived and requested the protesters to leave, promising that a change would come in two days.

By midnight, most of the protesters left.

Hasnat told the protesters that he would talk to political parties in the presence of the army chief, and by Thursday, choose someone who could be the president.

Sarjis said, "We will discuss and appoint a person to an important post like that of the president. If emotion wins over strategy, we as well as the country will get hurt in the long run."

Unless a rational decision is made by Thursday, "we will join you on the streets".

On Sunday, Manab Zamin's political magazine Janatar Chokh ran an interview of President Shahabuddin with its Chief Editor Matiur Rahman Chowdhury.

"I tried [to collect the resignation letter] many times but failed. Maybe she did not have the time," Shahabuddin said.

The following day, Law Adviser Asif Nazrul termed the president's remark a lie and that the president's comments were akin to misconduct and if he stuck to his guns, the government should reconsider his position.

According to section 57(a) of the constitution, the prime minister's office shall become vacant if he/she resigns from the office at any time by handing the resignation letter to the president.

Yesterday, Chief Adviser's Deputy Press Secretary Apurba Jahangir told a press briefing at the Foreign Service Academy that the interim government agreed with Asif's statement.

He, however, stated that the government was yet to make any move to remove Shahabuddin.

Earlier in the day, student leaders demonstrated at the Central Shaheed Minar. They threatened to take to the streets if the government failed to meet their demands within this week.

They said the president lost his moral authority to stay in office.

In another development, Law Adviser Asif Nazrul and Information Adviser Nahid Islam held a half-hour long meeting with Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed at the latter's Supreme Court office around 2:00pm, said Aziz Ahmed Bhuiyan, SC registrar general.

He did not say what was discussed at the meeting.

As per section 106 of the constitution, if at any time it appears to the president that a question of law has arisen, or is likely to arise, which is of such a nature and of such public importance that it is expedient to obtain the opinion of the Supreme Court upon it, he may refer the question to the Appellate Division for consideration and the division may, after such hearing as it thinks fit, report its opinion thereon to the President.

PROTESTS IN DHAKA AND OUTSIDE

In the capital, demonstrations in front of the Bangabhaban started in the afternoon and the Gulistan road was blocked in the evening.

Protesters under the banner Shadhinota-Sharbobhoumotto Rokkha Committee marched from Dhaka University campus towards the Bangabhaban, reports UNB.

Police stopped them at the High Court Mazar intersection, but they managed to march to the Bangabhaban. They attempted to stage a sit-in inside the Bangabhaban, but the members of law enforcement agencies barred them.

The demonstrators then held a rally outside.

Another group, Raktim July 24, organised a separate sit-in there, demanding the president's removal, the UNB reports.

There were demonstrations in other parts of Dhaka and in different other districts.

In the morning, a group of around 15 protesters gathered near the Bangabhaban, chanting slogans denouncing the president.

Saied Ahmed Sarker, one of the demonstrators, said they also demanded a ban on the Awami League and Chhatra League.

In Barishal, school, college, and university students held a rally at the Ashwini Kumar Hall, demanding the president's resignation and a ban on Chhatra League.

Rajshahi University students demonstrated on the campus.

Similar protests were held in Jhenidah, where students took to the streets around 4:30pm.​

Why couldn't this president keep his incoherent thoughts to himself and preserve his izzat/honor for a few months?

This is not very hard to do.

Now they will have to deport his tush over to Australia, where he can live out the rest of his days as an insignificant nobody. Truly foolish.