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

[Saif]

ACC sues Asaduzzaman, family for amassing illegal wealth

The Anti-Corruption Commission has found illegal assets worth Tk 60.55 crore amassed by former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan, his wife, and two...

www.newagebd.net

ACC sues Asaduzzaman, family for amassing illegal wealth
Staff Correspondent 09 October, 2024, 21:00

Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal | BSS photo

The Anti-Corruption Commission has found illegal assets worth Tk 60.55 crore amassed by former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan, his wife, and two children between July 1, 1997 and August 13 this year.

The commission had also found information of transactions of Tk 416 crore in 36 bank accounts in the name of the former home minister and his family members during the same period, ACC director general (prevention) Akhtar Hossain said on Wednesday.

The ACC on Wednesday filed four cases with its integrated district office in Dhaka-1 against Asaduzzaman Khan, his wife Lutful Tahmina Khan, son Shafi Modasser Khan and daughter Shafiya Tasnim Khan on charges of amassing illegal wealth worth Tk 60 crore and money laundering, the ACC DG said.

This is the first case since beginning inquiries by the ACC against a number of former Awami League lawmakers, ministers and leaders after the fall of Sheikh Hasina regime on August 5 amid a student-led mass uprising.

Besides, ACC also filed another case against Asaduzzaman’s former assistant personal secretary, Md Monir Hossain, on charge of amassing illegal wealth worth Tk 18.82 crore. Apart from this, illegal transactions of Tk 31.31 crore have also been found in 12 banks in the name of Monir Hossain.

Asaduzzaman, now facing several murder cases, has been in hiding since the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government. The BFIU on August 13 decided to freeze bank accounts in the names of the ex-home minister and his family members.

The former minister’s son Shafi Modasser Khan, who was arrested in an attempt to murder case in the past month, is now in jail.

Of the five cases against the ex-minister, his family members and APS Monir, ACC deputy director Jahangir Alam filed a case against Asaduzzaman on charges of amassing illegal wealth worth Tk 16.41 crore.

Deputy director Joynal Abedin filed a case against Lutfa Tahmina Khan on charges of amassing illegal wealth worth Tk 15.46 crore.

Assistant director Abul Kalam Azad filed a case against Shafi Modasser Khan on charges of accumulating illegal wealth worth Tk 19.89 crore while its assistant director Zinatul Islam filed a case against Shafiya Tasnim Khan over allegations of amassing illegal wealth worth Tk 8.77 crore.

ACC assistant director Nasrullah Hossain filed another case against ex-APS Md Monir Hossain on charges of amassing wealth worth Tk 18.82 crore beyond known sources of income.

Asaduzzaman is the lone accused in the first case, while he is co-accused in the other four cases. He was elected lawmaker for the first time in 2008 from Dhaka-11 constituency, and appointed state minister for home on January 12, 2014.

He held the post of home minister until the fall of the AL regime since his promotion as home minister on July 14, 2015.

On August 18, the ACC decided to initiate inquiries against Asaduzzaman and five other officials of his ministry for their alleged involvement in bribery in appointment.

The five others are Asaduzzaman’s former personal secretary Md Harun-Or-Rashid Biswas, Public Security division deputy secretary Dhananjoy Kumar Das, Security Services Division administrative officer Mollah Ibrahim Hossain, APS Monir, and the ministry’s public relations officer Sharif Mahmud Apu.

Although cases were filed against Asaduzzaman and APS Monir, the inquiries against four others were still under inquiry, ACC officials said.​

 

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Mahmudur Rahman demands warrant for arrest of Sheikh Hasina

Acting editor of Amar Desh newspaper, Mahmudur Rahman, has demanded an warrant for the arrest of ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina. “Sheikh Hasina took away the people's freedom of speech and is directly implicated in the recent massacres,” he said during a meeting with journalists a

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Mahmudur Rahman demands warrant for arrest of Sheikh Hasina
Published :
Oct 10, 2024 21:25
Updated :
Oct 10, 2024 22:17

Acting editor of Amar Desh newspaper, Mahmudur Rahman, has demanded an warrant for the arrest of ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina.

“Sheikh Hasina took away the people's freedom of speech and is directly implicated in the recent massacres,” he said during a meeting with journalists at the Kushtia Press Club on Thursday. He called for bringing her back to the country to face trial.

Mahmudur emphasised, “Although fascism has been defeated, Indian dominance persists. We must rally around a Bengali Muslim identity. Sheikh Hasina's political downfall will come from our own culture, leading to the end of Indian hegemony.”

Earlier in the day, he filed a case against 66 individuals, including Sheikh Hasina and ex-IGP Mohammad Javed Patwary, for an attack on him at a court premises in Kushtia about six years ago, according to a UNB report.

In response to a question, Mahmudur said, “Now that the rights of Bangladeshis, freedom of speech, and the dignity of the court have been restored, I could file this case.” He also demanded exemplary punishment for those involved in the incident.

A total of 46 people including leaders and activists of Awami League, Chhatra League, Jubo League and Swechhasebak League were named in the case along with 15 to 20 unnamed.

According to the case statement, Mahmudur Rahman came under attack by the accused when he was coming out of the Kushtia court after securing bail in a defamation case on July 22, 2018. Later, he returned to Dhaka by an ambulance.

In 2018, then Kushtia Chhatra League president Yeasir Arafat Tushar filed a case against Mahmudur Rahman, bringing allegation of making derogatory remarks about Tulip Siddiq, granddaughter of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and niece of Sheikh Hasina.

Mahmudur Rahman also went to the home of BUET student Abrar Fahad, who was brutally murdered by a group of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) leaders and activists inside the Sher-e-Bangla Hall of the university.​

 

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Beneficiaries of Hasina govt's kleptocracy won't escape, will they?

Every day now the news media carries stories or some politician or former bureaucrat being arrested. According to Prothom Alo, in the first week of October (1-7 October) this year, a total of 7,018 persons were arrested from all around the country. While it hasn't been possible to get the...

en.prothomalo.com

Beneficiaries of Hasina govt's kleptocracy won't escape, will they?
Kamal Ahmed
Updated: 10 Oct 2024, 21: 17

Every day now the news media carries stories or some politician or former bureaucrat being arrested. According to Prothom Alo, in the first week of October (1-7 October) this year, a total of 7,018 persons were arrested from all around the country.

While it hasn't been possible to get the accurate number of arrests made in the two months since the autocrat Sheikh Hasina fled from the country, it is clear from certain deliberations that the arrests had been very limited before October. The main reason behind this was that the police system has broken down. Time was also required to repair the damaged police stations or to find alternatives.

There haven't been any detailed records available either of how many among the arrested are politicians, how many are civil servants, how many have been arrested for financial crimes and so on. At least no such details caught the eye in the news media till now.

It is also not clear as to whether the initiative to identify members of the law enforcement agencies who face serious criminal charges, has been completed or not. Towards the outset a few senior level police officials were arrested as well as a couple of senior army officers. But no one can say for sure if the other offenders within these forces will get away. According to official records, the number of police officers who have not returned to duty or who are in hiding, total nearly 200.

There were all sorts of offences and of varying degrees committed during the autocratic regime. The crimes committed from 15 July to 5 August are basically all acts of gruesome and brutal violence.

The indiscriminate killings, mass arrests and repression unleashed to bring the movement under control, stood out as different from the past 15 years of misrule. Many have termed these incidents as massacres and crimes against humanity, and these should be brought to trial accordingly.
The repression and torture carried out over the past 15 years may have been slightly different in nature, but much of the enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings can be considered as crimes against humanity.

The other crimes of violating human rights, repression and suppression must also be brought to justice. All victims have the right to justice.
It is only natural that politicians will bear liability for political decisions. It is vital that they be placed on trial and be held accountable for exerting unlawful pressure to cling onto political power by resorting to killings, assault and torture.

At the same time, it is also vital that those who assisted them in their misdeeds, who carried out their unlawful orders and carried out cruel and inhuman crimes, must also be held accountable. Those guilty of such offences are basically over-enthusiastic and partisan bureaucrats and members of the law enforcement.

The manner in which a few businessmen, aided and abetted by the government, managed to establish sole control over the country's economy, is a textbook case of kleptocracy in Bangladesh
The investigations into their crimes and the judicial process are unfortunately very slow and disappointing. Most of the officials who would display their power and who were notorious for their cruelty have vanished overnight. Some have even fled from the country, it is heard.

Much criticised at home and abroad for its ruthlessness over the past 15 years, the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), which is also under US sanctions, now claims, "We were with the student-people's movement, we were with the uprising, and are doing all that is required to ensure its success." The RAB spokesperson claims they did not use any lethal weapons against the students and the people, and also that none of their members have absconded.

Once the UN's investigative teams report is available, the veracity of RAB's claims can be determined. But a helicopter bearing the name of RAB had been used for suppressing the agitation in an unprecedented manner, as is evident from videos on social media. The chief of army staff assured that investigations will be carried out and accountability ensured of the members of the armed forces who face allegations. We hope the outcome of these measures is made public.

The style of crime carried out by the group that assisted the autocratic rule the most and which benefitted the most too, was absolutely different. They are the financial felons. Some of these financial criminals have been nabbed because of their political identity. But the number arrested among those who have embezzled the country's resources and laundered the wealth overseas, is negligible.

Details of these financial crimes have been released by the government and the scope and extent of such crimes is beyond imagination. The manner in which a few businessmen, aided and abetted by the government, managed to establish sole control over the country's economy, is a textbook case of kleptocracy in Bangladesh.

Nowhere else in the world is there precedence of how a certain business family violated all rules and regulations and blatantly misused state power by using the defence forces' intelligence agency to take over one bank after the other, resorting to fraudulence to take loans of over Tk 900 billion (Tk 90,000 crore) from the clients' deposits in these banks.

Excelling in embezzlement, S Alam Group has a long list of financial crimes including tax evasion and money laundering. The proprietor of the group is not alone in these crimes. His family members are involved too as well as his paid employees. But there is nothing in the media as to whether they are in the country or, by virtue of their foreign citizenship, they have gone abroad.

In the meantime, in order to tackle the serious office of tax evasion, the National Board of Revenue (NBR) has ordered a moratorium on share transfers (buying, selling or gifting) of S Alam Group, Basundhara Group, Summit Group, Beximco Group, Orion Group, Nasa Group and Third Wave Technologies Limited (Nagad Limited). Bangladesh Bank has frozen the bank accounts of many of the directors of these groups as well as that of their family members. But it is quite possible that they had emptied out their bank accounts in the few weeks before these were frozen.

A bar on leaving the country has been imposed on many of these beneficiaries of financial crimes. But we are unable to understand the use of imposing a travel ban on a businessman-politician who owns hundreds of homes overseas and who safely left the country after the change in power, three weeks after he thumbed his nose at these restrictions on Al Jazeera television.

And the bureaucrats and bankers who ignored the law to aid and abet these financial crimes, remain out of reach. Just as in the banking sector, there was unrestricted larceny in the share market too. There too, the officials who were in regulatory roles were accessories in crime. They too seem to be out of reach.

Just as the students and people want accountability for the corruption of the political leaders and activists, they also want the beneficiaries of kleptocracy to face justice. But perhaps it is only natural for there to be apprehensions that due attention is not being paid to the investigations and judicial process pertaining to these looters.

* Kamal Ahmed is a senior journalist​

 

[Saif]

ফ্যাসিস্টের সঙ্গে সম্পৃক্ত গণহত্যা সমর্থনকারী সাংবাদিকদের বিচার হবে: নাহিদ ইসলাম

সাংবাদিকদের মধ্যে যারা সরাসরি ফ্যাসিস্ট সরকারের সঙ্গে সম্পৃক্ত ছিল, উস্কানিদাতা ছিল এবং গণহত্যার সমর্থন করেছে তাদের বিচারের আওতায় আনা হবে বলে নাহিদ ইসলাম জানিয়েছেন।

bangla.thedailystar.net

ফ্যাসিস্টের সঙ্গে সম্পৃক্ত গণহত্যা সমর্থনকারী সাংবাদিকদের বিচার হবে: নাহিদ ইসলাম
সাংবাদিকদের মধ্যে যারা সরাসরি ফ্যাসিস্ট সরকারের সঙ্গে সম্পৃক্ত ছিল, উস্কানিদাতা ছিল এবং গণহত্যার সমর্থন করেছে তাদের বিচারের আওতায় আনা হবে বলে নাহিদ ইসলাম জানিয়েছেন।

তথ্য ও সম্প্রচার উপদেষ্টা মো. নাহিদ ইসলাম। ছবি: টেলিভিশন থেকে নেওয়া

সাংবাদিকদের মধ্যে যারা সরাসরি ফ্যাসিস্ট সরকারের সঙ্গে সম্পৃক্ত ছিল, উস্কানিদাতা ছিল এবং গণহত্যার সমর্থন করেছে তাদের বিচারের আওতায় আনা হবে বলে নাহিদ ইসলাম জানিয়েছেন।

ঢাকা মেডিকেল কলেজ হাসপাতালে চিকিৎসাধীন আন্দোলনে আহতদের অনুদানের চেক হস্তান্তরের পর সাংবাদিকদের প্রশ্নের জবাবে তিনি এ কথা জানান।

এ সময় নাহিদ ইসলাম বলেন, 'শহীদ স্মৃতি ফাউন্ডেশন থেকে আন্দোলনে আহত-নিহতদের আর্থিক অনুদান দেওয়া হচ্ছে।'

আহতদের বিদেশে চিকিৎসার বিষয়ে জানতে চাইলে তিনি বলেন, 'সংশ্লিষ্ট ডাক্তারদের পরামর্শ অনুযায়ী প্রয়োজনীয় ব্যবস্থা নেওয়া হবে।'

সাংবাদিকদের বিরুদ্ধে মামলার প্রসঙ্গে জানতে চাইলে নাহিদ বলেন, 'যারা সরাসরি ফ্যাসিস্ট সরকারের সঙ্গে সম্পৃক্ত ছিল, উস্কানিদাতা ছিল এবং গণহত্যার সমর্থন করেছে তাদের বিচারের আওতায় আনা হবে। এর বাইরে অন্যায়ভাবে কারও বিরুদ্ধে কোনো মামলা করা হলে, তা খতিয়ে দেখতে তথ্য মন্ত্রণালয়ে কমিটি গঠন করে দেওয়া হয়েছে।'

'যদি কোনো সাংবাদিক বা তার পরিবার মনে করে যে মামলার মাধ্যমে ভোগান্তির শিকার হচ্ছে, তাহলে আমাদের সঙ্গে যোগাযোগ করলে আমরা তাদের সহযোগিতা করব,' বলেন তিনি।

আহত-নিহতদের মামলা প্রসঙ্গে তিনি বলেন, 'এ বিষয়ে একটি লিগ্যাল টিম কাজ করছে। আমরা স্পেশাল ট্রাইব্যুনালে এই বিচার প্রক্রিয়া সম্পন্ন করব। গণঅভ্যুত্থানে যারা শহিদ হয়েছেন, আহত হয়েছেন, তারা দেশের বীর সন্তান। আন্দোলনে বিভিন্ন দলের যেসব নেতাকর্মী জীবন দিয়েছেন, তাদের সেই আত্মত্যাগকে আমরা স্বীকৃতি দেই।'

'আমরা অনুরোধ করব শহিদ ও আহতদের যেন আমরা কোনো দল বা ব্যানার দিয়ে ভাগ করে না ফেলি। আমরা যেন তাদের নিজেদের রাজনৈতিক স্বার্থে ব্যবহার না করি,' যোগ করেন তিনি।

নাহিদ ইসলাম বলেন, 'ঢাকা মেডিকেলে আসার আগে অনেকে বিভিন্ন জায়গায় চিকিৎসা নিয়েছেন, তাদের সেই খরচ আমরা দিয়ে দেবো।'

আন্দোলনকারীদের বিরুদ্ধে বিভিন্ন জায়গায় মামলা হচ্ছে সাংবাদিকদের এমন প্রশ্নের জবাবে যুব ও ক্রীড়া মন্ত্রণালয়ের উপদেষ্টা আসিফ মাহমুদ সজীব ভূঁইয়া বলেন, 'দ্রুতই স্বরাষ্ট্র মন্ত্রণালয় থেকে এ বিষয়ে নির্দেশনা জারি করা হবে যেন আন্দোলনকারীদের বিরুদ্ধে কোথাও কোনো ব্যবস্থা না নেওয়া হয়। আন্দোলনকারীদের হত্যার সঙ্গে জড়িত পুলিশ সদস্যরা যত‌ই ক্ষমতাধর হোক না কেন তাদের ছাড় দেওয়া হবে না।'

এ পর্যন্ত জুলাই ফাউন্ডেশন থেকে আহতদের অনুদানের টাকার হিসাব সাংবাদিকদের সামনে তুলে ধরেন ফাউন্ডেশনের সেক্রেটারি মীর মাহবুবুর রহমান স্নিগ্ধ।

তিনি জানান, আজ মোট ১২২ জনকে জনপ্রতি এক লাখ টাকা করে এক কোটি ২২ লাখ ৬৪ হাজার ৪০০ টাকা দেওয়া হয়েছে। এর মধ্যে ঢাকা মেডিকেল কলেজে চিকিৎসাধীন ৩০ জনের মধ্যে ২৩ জনকে জনপ্রতি ১ লাখ টাকার চেক দেওয়া হয়েছে। বাকি ৭ জনের নাম সম্পূর্ণ না থাকায় তাদের বিকাশের মাধ্যমে আজই টাকা পরিশোধ করা হয়েছে।

জাতীয় চক্ষু বিজ্ঞান ইনস্টিটিউটে চিকিৎসাধীন ৩৩ জনের বিকাশে এবং জাতীয় অর্থোপেডিক হাসপাতাল ও পুনর্বাসন ইনস্টিটিউটে (পঙ্গু হাসপাতাল) ৫৯ জনের বিকাশে টাকা পৌঁছে দেওয়া হয়েছে।

এ পর্যন্ত জুলাই শহীদ স্মৃতি ফাউন্ডেশন থেকে ১৭৬ জন আহতকে মোট এক কোটি ৭১ লাখ ৪২ হাজার ৫০ টাকা অনুদান দেওয়া হয়েছে।​

 

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Ex-minister Razzaque arrested

Former agriculture minister and Awami League lawmaker for Tangail-1 Abdur Razzaque was arrested in Dhaka yesterday evening.

www.thedailystar.net

Ex-minister Razzaque arrested

Former agriculture minister and Awami League lawmaker for Tangail-1 Abdur Razzaque was arrested in Dhaka yesterday evening.

Md Talebur Rahman, deputy commissioner (Media and Public Relations) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, in a text message, said Razzaque, also the then ruling party's presidium member, was arrested from the capital's Eskaton area.

Several cases were filed against him following the fall of Sheikh Hasina's government on August 5.

He was not seen in public since Hasina left the country for India.

Abdur Razzaque was first elected as member of parliament from Tangail-1 in 2001.

With Hasina in power, he served as the minister of food and disaster management from 2009 to 2012 and then as minister of food until 2013.

After the 2014 national election, he served as the chairman of the parliamentary standing committee on finance.

Razzaque was then the minister of agriculture from 2018 to 2023.​

 

[Saif]

Hasina still in India, gets travel document

Deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina, who fled to India for shelter after the fall of her government on August 5, is still staying there although there are media reports that she has recently been granted a travel pass by Indian authorities, according to foreign ministry officials in Dhaka...

www.newagebd.net

Hasina still in India, gets travel document
Staff Correspondent 15 October, 2024, 00:02

Sheikh Hasina

Deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina, who fled to India for shelter after the fall of her government on August 5, is still staying there although there are media reports that she has recently been granted a travel pass by Indian authorities, according to foreign ministry officials in Dhaka.

Such a document, as per Indian media reports, would enable her to obtain visas from other countries for travel.

The officials said that they had also seen media reports that Sheikh Hasina, who did not have any valid passport with her at the moment, was provided with a travel pass as she has taken refuge in the neighbouring country for more than two months, but information available suggested that Hasina was still in India.

Asked whether they had any update on the ex-PM Hasina’s present location, foreign ministry public diplomacy wing director general Toufique Hasan on Monday said, ‘So far we know that she is still in India.’

Providing a travel pass to ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina would not affect Bangladesh’s relations with India, foreign adviser Md Touhid Hossain said on October 12 in Narsingdi.

‘Any country can issue a travel document to any individual. We have no way to prevent this. However, if a court orders her [Sheikh Hasina] to appear, we will take appropriate measures,’ said Touhid, also a retired diplomat, during a visit to the Sheba Sangha Temple in the district town.

On October 8, Touhid Hossain said that they were not aware of the present whereabouts of Sheikh Hasina as there were rumours on social media that she left New Delhi for the United Arab Emirates reportedly under pressure from the United States.

He said that they, like journalists, had also seen such claims on social media and checked through their diplomatic channels in New Delhi and the UAE, but could not be sure about the present location of Sheikh Hasina.

‘We tried to know about her present location through diplomatic channels in Delhi and the UAE, but could not confirm it,’ he told reporters at his Segun Bagicha office in Dhaka.

Responding to a question, Touhid, also a retired diplomat, said that Hasina was possibly in Ajman, a city in the United Arab Emirates, but even could not reconfirm the information.

The former prime minister’s son Sajeeb Wazed Joy, who was also staying abroad, on October 12 told a private television in Bangladesh that her mother was still staying in New Delhi. His remarks have also created confusion over the whereabouts of the former prime minister who is also the president of the Awami League.

Sheikh Hasina resigned as prime minister and fled to India amid a student-led mass uprising on August 5. She is now facing more than 200 cases, mostly relating to murders and crimes against humanity committed during the anti-discrimination student movement.

Several former Awami League ministers and leaders have also fled to India for shelter during the political changeover.​

 

[Saif]

Bank accounts of journo Mojammel Babu, wife, and daughter frozen

The Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) ordered banks and financial institutions freeze bank accounts of Mojammel Haque Babu, former chief editor of Ekattor Television and president of the Editors Guild, his wife Aparajita Haque, a former lawmaker and their daughter Sababa Ishayat Haque.

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Bank accounts of journo Mojammel Babu, wife, and daughter frozen

The Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) ordered banks and financial institutions freeze bank accounts of Mojammel Haque Babu, former chief editor of Ekattor Television and president of the Editors Guild, his wife Aparajita Haque, a former lawmaker and their daughter Sababa Ishayat Haque.

The intelligence agency of the central bank issued the directive on Monday.

According to a letter from the Bangladesh Bank, all transactions related to the seized accounts will be halted. No transactions will be permitted in these accounts for the next 30 days.

The letter also reads that suspension of transactions is in accordance with relevant provisions of anti-money laundering regulations.

It includes details such as the names, addresses, and national identification numbers of Babu and his wife, as well as a request for comprehensive information regarding their bank accounts and those of their owned businesses.

Mojammel Haque Babu was arrested on September 16 while attempting to cross into India via the Dhobaura border in Mymensingh.

Since then, he has been in jail.​

 

[Saif]

Hasnat, Sarjis call for laying siege to High Court tomorrow

Demanding resignation of “fascist judges”, the anti-discrimination student movement has announced a siege of the High Court tomorrow

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Hasnat, Sarjis call for laying siege to High Court tomorrow

Bangladesh High Court. File photo

Demanding resignation of "fascist judges", the anti-discrimination student movement has announced a siege of the High Court tomorrow.

Hasnat Abdullah, one of the coordinators of the anti-discrimination student movement, announced the programme in a post on his Facebook profile this evening.

In that post, Hasnat Abdullah wrote Awami League's fascist judges will be surrounded at the High Court by 11:00am tomorrow.

Coordinator Sarjis Alam also gave the same post following Hasnat Abdullah.​

 

[Saif]

Former DNCC mayor Atiqul arrested

Former Dhaka North City Corporation mayor Atiqul Islam was arrested at Mohakhali DOHS yesterday evening.

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Former DNCC mayor Atiqul arrested

Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) Mayor Md Atiqul Islam. File photo

Former Dhaka North City Corporation mayor Atiqul Islam was arrested at Mohakhali DOHS yesterday evening.

He is accused in many cases filed after the fall of the Awami League government, said Talebur Rahman, deputy commissioner (media) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police.

Atiqul, owner of Islam Group of Industries Ltd, is also a former president of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association.

After the death of Anisul Haq, the first mayor of DNCC, Atiqul was elected mayor with Awami League nomination in 2019. He was re-elected the next year.

Both the elections were fraught with allegations of irregularities.

After the fall of AL, Atiqul went to the DNCC office in Gulshan on August 18.

As protesters gathered in front of the building, he escaped through the fire escape stairs behind the Nagar Bhaban.

On August 19, the interim government removed all city mayors from their posts.​

 

[Saif]

Travel ban on ex-army chief Aziz, ex-MPs Nizam, Habibur

The Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Court on Thursday imposed an international travel ban on former army chief General (retired) Aziz Ahmed and his wife...

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Travel ban on ex-army chief Aziz, ex-MPs Nizam, Habibur
Staff Correspondent 17 October, 2024, 14:30

Former army chief General Aziz Ahmed. | File photo

The Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Court on Thursday imposed an international travel ban on former army chief General (retired) Aziz Ahmed and his wife Dilshad Nahar Kakoli over graft allegations.

The court also issued separate travel bans on Awami League’s former lawmaker Nizam Uddin Hazari of Feni-2 constituency and his wife Nur Jahan Begum, and a former lawmaker for Bogura-5, Habibur Rahman, for their alleged involvement in amassing illegal wealth.

Judge Mohammed As-shams Joglul Hossain passed the orders responding to separate petitions submitted by the Anti-Corruption Commission seeking the travel bans, said ACC public prosecutor Mahmud Hossain Jahangir.

ACC deputy director Md Zakaria, in his petition, alleged that Aziz Ahmed and his family members amassed a huge amount of wealth beyond their known source of income through abuse of power, irregularities, and corruption.

The ACC also said that there were allegations that they also laundered money to conduct business and purchase property in Malaysia, Singapore, and Dubai.

The court also sent a copy of the order to the special superintendent of police (immigration) of the Special Branch for the next course of action.

On September 4, the ACC decided to initiate an inquiry against the former army chief.

Aziz’s corruption issue came to the fore after the United States had on May 21 imposed sanctions on him and his immediate family members, citing his alleged involvement in serious corruption.

Aziz served as the chief of army staff from June 2018 to June 2021. He also led the Border Guard Bangladesh from 2012 to 2016.

The court on Thursday also issued travel bans on former AL lawmaker Habibur Rahman and Nizam Uddin Hazari following a petition submitted by ACC deputy director Nurul Huda.

Earlier, the ACC decided to investigate allegations against the two former lawmakers of amassing illegal wealth through corruption at home and abroad.​

 

[Saif]

Travel bans slapped on ex-minister Nuruzzaman, ex-MP Iqbalur Rahim

The Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Court on Sunday slapped travel bans on former social welfare minister Nuruzzaman Ahmed and his wife Hosneara Begum, and former lawmaker...

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Travel bans slapped on ex-minister Nuruzzaman, ex-MP Iqbalur Rahim
Staff Correspondent 21 October, 2024, 00:42

The Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Court on Sunday slapped travel bans on former social welfare minister Nuruzzaman Ahmed and his wife Hosneara Begum, and former lawmaker Iqbalur Rahman and his wife Nadira Sultana Mukta over allegations of corruption.

Apart from this, travel bans were also imposed on Rongdhonu Group chairman Rafiqul Islam, Noman Group chairman Md Nurul Islam and Shilpakala Academy former director general Liaquat Ali Lucky in connection with graft allegations.

Acting judge Mohammad Ibrahim Mia of the Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Court passed the order following petitions submitted by the Anti-Corruption Commission, said ACC public prosecutor Mahmud Hossain Jahangir.

ACC deputy director Nur E Alam submitted a petition to the court seeking a travel ban on Rafiqul Islam, mentioning that he may flee the country any time.

According to the allegations, Rafiqul, in collusion with bank officials, took loans of Tk 270 crore from the Bashundhara branch of First Security Islami Bank through a mortgage of a sold land and embezzled the money.

Besides, ACC assistant director Shohidur Rahman filed a petition seeking a travel ban on Noman Group chairman Nurul Islam, mentioning that he may flee the country any time.

According to the allegations, Nurul Islam amassed illegal wealth worth Tk 7,000 crore by taking loans from different banks and financial institutions through forgery and false information.

The court also imposed travel bans on former social welfare minister Nuruzzaman Ahmed and his wife Hosneara Begum and former lawmaker Iqbalur Rahim and his wife Nadira Suultana Mukta.

The ACC in its petitions mentioned that there were allegations against the minister and lawmaker that they amassed illegal wealth at home and abroad through corruption, including abusing power and embezzling public money.

The court, meanwhile, imposed a travel ban on Liaquat Ali Lucky following a petition submitted by ACC assistant director Afnan Jannat Keya seeking the travel ban.

The allegations accused Liaquat Ali Lucky of embezzling hundreds of crores of taka through bribes, recruitment manipulation, power abuse, various irregularities, corruption, and fraudulent bills and vouchers, in addition to laundering a significant amount of money abroad.

The petition said that preventing his departure from the country was necessary for a proper investigation into the allegations.​

 

[Saif]

Graft allegations: Travel ban slapped on Bashundhara boss, family

A Dhaka court yesterday issued a travel ban on Bashundhara Group Chairman Ahmed Akbar Sobhan Shah Alam and seven members of his family in connection with corruption allegations.

www.thedailystar.net

Graft allegations: Travel ban slapped on Bashundhara boss, family
Travel ban on Bashundhara chairman

A Dhaka court yesterday issued a travel ban on Bashundhara Group Chairman Ahmed Akbar Sobhan Shah Alam and seven members of his family in connection with corruption allegations.

The family members include Shah Alam's wife Afroza Begum, his four sons -- Sadat Sobhan, Sayem Sobhan Anvir, Safiat Sobhan Sanvir and Safwan Sobhan -- and his daughters-in-law, Sonia Ferdowshi Sobhan and Sabrina Sobhan.

Judge Mohammed Ash-Shams Joglul Hossain of the Metropolitan Senior Special Judge's Court in Dhaka passed the order after the Anti-Corruption Commission officials submitted five separate applications seeking their travel bans.

ACC Public Prosecutor Mahmud Hossain Jahangir moved the petition on behalf of the anti-graft watchdog, The Daily Star has learnt from an ACC official involved with the proceedings.

The ACC application said that an inquiry is underway into the graft allegations against Shah Alam, Afroza, Sadat, Anvir, Sanvir, Safwan, Sonia and Sabrina. So, the travel ban is needed to prevent them from leaving the country.

The judge also sent a copy of the order to the special superintendent of police (immigration) of the Special Branch for the next course of action.​

 

[Saif]

Former DMP DB chief Harun's accounts frozen

It will also be investigated whether they have any other income and assets in addition to what was shown on their income tax documents, the CIC official said.

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Former DMP DB chief Harun's accounts frozen
ACC investigation against DB Harun

Harun or Rashid

The bank accounts belonging to former Chief of the Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Harun Or Rashid and his family members have been frozen.

The Central Intelligence Cell (CIC) of the National Board of Revenue (NBR) sent letters on Monday to the top executives of all banks and financial institutions in this regard.

"The accounts will remain frozen until further orders," a top CIC official said.

Harun's other family members affected by the decision are his wife Shirin Akhter, mother Jahura Khatun, brothers ABM Shahriar and Ziaur Rahman, father-in-law Farid Uddin Ahmed and relative Samraj Mia.

It will also be investigated whether they have any other income and assets in addition to what was shown on their income tax documents, the CIC official said.

​

 

[Saif]

Ex-minister Imran Ahmed arrested

Detectives have arrested Imran Ahmad, former expatriates’ welfare and overseas employment minister.

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Ex-minister Imran Ahmed arrested

Detectives have arrested Imran Ahmad, former expatriates' welfare and overseas employment minister.

A team of Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police arrested Imran at the capital's Banani early today, Obaydur Rahman, additional deputy commissioner (media) of the DMP, told The Daily Star.

Talking over the phone around 1:35am today, he said Imran was accused in several cases filed recently. "We may be able to disclose later in which cases he has been shown arrested."

After the fall of the Sheikh Hasina regime on August 5, at least 1,695 cases were filed, mostly on murder charges, accusing cabinet members, ministers, lawmakers, and police officers.

At least 75 "high-profile" individuals having ties with the previous government have been arrested so far in those cases, according to sources at the Police Headquarters.​

 

[Saif]

Another murder case filed against Asaduzzaman Noor

A murder case was filed yesterday with the Senior Judicial Magistrate's court in Nilphamari accusing 202 people, including former cultural affairs minister Asaduzzaman Noor as prime accused

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Another murder case filed against Asaduzzaman Noor

Star file photo

A murder case was filed yesterday with the Senior Judicial Magistrate's court in Nilphamari accusing 202 people, including former cultural affairs minister Asaduzzaman Noor as prime accused.

It is the second murder case in which Noor has been named as prime accused. On September 15, wife of deceased BNP leader Golam Rabbani filed a case against him.

Md Liton Rahman, son of a farmer who was killed in mob violence in Ramganj bazar of Sadar upazila on December 14, 2013, filed the case, reports our Nilphamari correspondent quoting court sources.

According to the case statement, Asaduzzaman Noor, former lawmaker from Nilphamari-2 (Sadar), led a group of 1,000-1,500 people equipped with sharp weapons and attacked his rivals in Ramganj bazar around 3:30pm on that day.

The victim, Siddique Ali, who went to the bazar that day, was critically injured in the attack and was lying on Nilphamari-Ramganj road in front of Noor's vehicle, it read.

Noor, suspecting him as an opponent, and being furious, crushed him to death by driving his vehicle over him, said the case statement.

The plaintiff said due to the fear of repercussions, they could not file any case till now.​

 

[Saif]

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

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.​

 

[Saif]

ACC sues Muhiuddin khan Alamgir, six others for money laundering

The Anti-Corruption Commission on Wednesday filed a case against seven people including former home minister of Awami League government, Muhiuddin Khan Alamgir, under the...

www.newagebd.net

ACC sues Muhiuddin khan Alamgir, six others for money laundering
Staff Correspondent 23 October, 2024, 17:25

The Anti-Corruption Commission on Wednesday filed a case against seven people including former home minister of Awami League government, Muhiuddin Khan Alamgir, under the Money Laundering Prevention Act.

The ACC on the day also decided to launch an inquiry against former finance minister AHM Mustafa Kamal over allegations of amassing illegal wealth through corruption.

Besides, the commission on the day decided to impose an international travel ban on two former AL lawmakers – Abdul Wadud (Chapainawabganj-3) and Mrinal Kanti Das (Munshiganj-3) – over allegations of corruption.

ACC deputy director Syed Ataul Kabir filed the case against Muhiuddin Khan Alamgir and six others with its integrated district office in Jamalpur, ACC director general (prevention) Md Aktar Hossain said.

The other accused in the case are Farmers Bank›s former director and RCL plastic industry proprietor Rashidul Haque Chisty, the bank’s Bakshiganj branch former manager Masudur Rahman, and its assistant officers – Fakhruzzaman, Mohammed Faruk, Md Hiron Rahman, and Md Ibrahim Khan.

According to the case statement, an account was opened at Bakshiganj branch of Farmers Bank [now Padma Bank PLC] in Jamalpur in the name of Sultana Matshya Khamar with fake documents and address during the tenure of MK Alamgir as chairman of the board of directors of the private bank.

The name of MK Alamgir, also a former lawmaker for Chandpur-1 constituency, was mentioned as the owner of the non-existing Sultana Matshya Khamar, it said.

The accused, in collusion with each other, conducted transactions of Tk 8.86 crore through the bank account between 2014 and 2017 to hide the source and ownership of the ill-gotten money, said the case statement.

ACC officials said that the commission decided to launch an inquiry against ex-finance minister AHM Mustafa Kamal and his family members over allegations of amassing illegal assets.

Referring to the allegations, they said, Kamal purchased lands in the Zoarsahara and Badda areas in Dhaka, and in Cumilla in his own name and deposited a huge amount of money in different banks and financial institutions, invested in shares, and invested Tk 20.48 crore in savings certificates.

They said that there were also allegations that ACC the former minister had investments in various companies, including Lotus Kamal Properties and Orbital Enterprises, and in land, plots, and apartments in different places in Dhaka and Cumilla in the name of his wife Kashmiri Kamal.

The officials said that there were deposits, investments in shares, and savings certificates in the name of the ex-minister’s wife in various banks and financial institutions amounting to Tk 38.87 crore.

They said that the ACC had received information that Mustafa Kamal and Kashmiri Kamal owned movable and immovable assets worth Tk 111.63 crore.

Apart from the assets, the ACC intelligence unit also found information that Kamal amassed assets worth hundreds of crores of taka at home and abroad, they said.

ACC deputy director [public relations] Aktarul Islam said that the commission decided to impose an international travel ban on former AL lawmakers Abdul Wadud and Mrinal Kanti Das and will submit petitions to a Dhaka court soon for imposing a travel ban on them.

Earlier, the commission decided to launch inquiries against the two former lawmakers over allegations of amassing illegal wealth.​

 

[Saif]

S Alam group official held while leaving country

An official of S Alam Group was detained while going to India through the Akhaura international immigration checkpost in Brahmanbaria this afternoon

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S Alam group official held while leaving country

Photo: Collected

An official of S Alam Group was detained while going to India through the Akhaura international immigration checkpost in Brahmanbaria this afternoon.

The arrestee, Sujan Kanti Dey, 44, is a resident of Malghar village under Anwara Upazila of Chittagong, said Inspector Khairul Alam, in-charge of Akhaura Immigration Police Checkpost.

Sujan was arrested and handed over to Akhaura Police Station after being detained based on the requisition of Anwara Police Station, Khairul told The Daily Star.

As there is a regular case against him in Anwara Police Station, he will be shown arrested in that case, he added.

The arrestee, who works as a delivery officer at S Alam Cold Rolled Steels Limited, is accused of aiding in money laundering, said police.

He allegedly used to help the founder of S Alam Group with money laundering, police also said.​

 

[Saif]

July 15 attacks: Complaint filed with Shahbagh police against 420 BCL activists

A complaint was lodged with Shahbagh Police Station yesterday against 420 Chhatra League leaders and activists over the July 15 attacks on quota reform protesters at Dhaka University.

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July 15 attacks: Complaint filed with Shahbagh police against 420 BCL activists

Protesters are attacked outside Shahidullah Hall, Dhaka University during quota reform movement on July 15, 2024. FILE PHOTO: RASHED SHUMON

A complaint was lodged with Shahbagh Police Station yesterday against 420 Chhatra League leaders and activists over the July 15 attacks on quota reform protesters at Dhaka University.

This follows a case filed on October 21 by members of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, which named 391 leaders and activists of BCL, Awami League, and Jubo League.

The complaint lodged yesterday contained 220 new names, including those of female leaders and activists of BCL, a pro-AL student body. It was filed by Arman Hossain, a coordinator of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement.

After submitting the complaint, Arman, Umama Fatema, spokesperson for the movement, and coordinator Abdul Kader briefed reporters at the Shahbagh Police Station.

Police were yet to register the complaint as a case till filing of this report around 8:30pm.

Over a thousand unnamed activists of BCL, AL, and Jubo League were made accused in the case filed on October 21. The complaint lodged yesterday included "150-200" unnamed.

Yesterday's complaint named Saddam Hussain, president of BCL, Sheikh Wali Asif Enan, general secretary of the organisation, Mazharul Kabir Shayan, president of DU unit BCL, and Tanbir Hasan Shaikat, general secretary of the same unit.

On July 15, BCL activists attacked the protesters during the quota reform protests allegedly on the instructions of AL General Secretary Obaidul Quader.

"The complaint will be accepted as a case after scrutiny," said Shahabuddin Shaheen, officer-in-charge of Shahbagh Police Station.

In another development, detectives yesterday detained Khadiza Akter Urmi, president of Dhaka University's Shamsun Nahar Hall unit BCL, and its Surja Sen Hall unit Organising Secretary Moazzem H Rakib Sarker in Dhaka, said Talebur Rahman, deputy commissioner (media) of DMP.

On Thursday, police filed a case with Dhanmondi Police Station under the Anti-Terrorism Act, accusing 11 BCL leaders.

On October 23, the interim government banned BCL amid demands from the student movement against discrimination.​

 

[Saif]

Ex-minister engineer Mosharraf Hossain arrested

Detectives have arrested former housing and public works minister engineer Mosharraf Hossain from Bashundhara residential area in the capital

en.prothomalo.com

Ex-minister engineer Mosharraf Hossain arrested
UNB
Updated: 27 Oct 2024, 16: 40

Former housing and public works minister Mosharraf Hossain File photo

Detectives have detained former housing and public works minister engineer Mosharraf Hossain in Bashundhara residential area of Dhaka.

A team from the Detective Branch (DB) of the police held Mosharraf on Sunday, said deputy commissioner (media) of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Talebur Rahman.

Mosharraf Hossain's detention was said to be in connection with a murder case that was filed with Paltan police station.

Mosharraf was elected as a member of parliament (MP) from the Chattogram-1 constituency seven times during the Awami League regime.

He held the position of housing and public works minister until January 2019 and also served as the minister of civil aviation and Tourism in 1996.​