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High Court to Deliver Verdict on August 21 Grenade Attack Case Today
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01 Dec 2024, 09:19
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The verdict on the death reference (approval of death sentences) and appeals in the high-profile August 21 grenade attack case is set to be announced today. The High Court bench comprising Justice A.K.M. Asaduzzaman and Justice Syed Enayetur Rahman will deliver the judgment.
On Saturday (November 30), defense lawyer Mohammad Shishir Monir confirmed the development. He stated, “The High Court will deliver the verdict on the death reference and the appeals filed by the defendants.”
Shishir Monir further explained, “The case has been placed in positions 54 and 55 on Sunday’s cause list for verdict. The hearing for the appeals began on October 31.”
Earlier, on November 21, the hearing on the death reference and the appeals against the lower court's verdict in this case concluded. That day, the High Court kept the case under judgment preparation. Today, the case has been listed for the final verdict as a continuation of that process.
Background
On August 21, 2004, a grenade attack was carried out on a rally of then opposition leader Sheikh Hasina on Bangabandhu Avenue in the capital. The attack resulted in the deaths of 24 Awami League leaders and activists and injured several hundred others, including Sheikh Hasina. Two cases—one for murder and another under the Explosives Act—were filed in connection with the attack.
In 2018, the trial court delivered its verdict in these cases. Former State Minister for Home Affairs Lutfozzaman Babar, former Deputy Education Minister Abdus Salam Pintu, and 19 others were sentenced to death. Additionally, BNP's acting chairman Tarique Rahman and 18 others were given life imprisonment, while 11 others received varying prison terms and financial penalties.
The death reference case was registered with the High Court in 2018 for approval of the death sentences. Meanwhile, convicted individuals in custody filed jail appeals and regular appeals through prison authorities.
The prosecution began hearing the murder case in a dual bench of the High Court on December 4, 2022. However, after a change in government, one of the judges of the dual bench was replaced, leading to the reformation of the bench for appeal hearings. Subsequently, hearings resumed before the newly formed bench on October 31.
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Want to Build A Beautiful Country With All Religions: Army Chief
Army Chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman has expressed the hope of building a beautiful country with people of all religions.
He stated this on Friday (November 8) afternoon at the capital's International Buddhist Monastery of Merul Badda on the occasion of 'Kothin Chibor Dan and Buddhist Great Convention.'
Army Chief said, " We want to build a country of harmony. This is the main motto of Buddhism. We want to build a beautiful country with people of all religions.
He also said, "Many people have come here from the hilly areas. We want the day to be celebrated like this every year. We will provide all kinds of assistance for this."
Waker-Uz-Zaman said, "The hill region is a great asset of our country. So I will do whatever is necessary for the peace of the hill region."
It should be noted that according to Buddhist scriptures, this religious ritual was introduced during the lifetime of Lord Gautam Buddha about two and a half thousand years ago. It is termed 'Kothin Chibor Dan' as it is done within 24 hours from spinning the thread to weaving, sewing, and dyeing the cloth and giving it to the Buddhist monks.
Interim Government cannot be questioned, draft ordinance finalized
A new ordinance is about to be issued soon regarding the legitimacy of the interim government and all its activities. The final draft of this ordinance has already been prepared by the current interim government, which mentions that its tenure will last until the formation of the next parliament.
Once the ordinance is issued, if there are any faults in the formation of the interim government or the appointment of the Chief Advisor or any other advisors, their work cannot be deemed illegal just for this reason. No court will be able to raise any questions about this, nor can any case be filed.
The draft of the Interim Government Ordinance 2024 was approved in the meeting of the Advisory Council on September 19, but it has not yet been issued in the form of an ordinance. Now that the final draft is prepared, the matter is moving to the next stage.
However, lawyers have raised concerns about the delay in issuing this ordinance, which has led to many questions. After the removal of Sheikh Hasina from power and her departure from the country on the following day of the people's uprising led by the anti-discrimination student movement on August 5, the President dissolved the 12th National Parliament. On August 8, the interim government took the oath under the leadership of Dr. Muhammad Yunus. However, there has been no clear statement on the duration of this government or the election timeline from the beginning.
Now, the legitimacy of the interim government is being defined in the "Interim Government Ordinance 2024," the final draft of which has been sent to the President. The ordinance states that the tenure of the interim government is not fixed. The interim government will hold power until the 13th parliament is formed and a new Prime Minister is appointed. The Supreme Court or any other court will not be able to raise questions about the legality of any activity of this government, nor can it declare it illegal. No case or legal process can be initiated regarding this.
Supreme Court lawyer Shishir Monir commented that the legal legitimacy of the people's uprising could have been better established by issuing a Presidential Order at the beginning. Instead, the path of the interim government has been chosen, which has led to various questions.
Meanwhile, government sources indicate that, in the current situation, it is necessary to give the interim government the powers required to address the constitutional crisis and carry out the executive functions of the state. Hence, this ordinance is being enacted, and the President will issue it.
However, the draft of the ordinance does not specify the number of advisors in the interim government. It states that the interim government will be formed with a Chief Advisor and as many advisors as the Chief Advisor appoints. The President will appoint a reputable and acceptable person as the Chief Advisor. Other advisors will be appointed according to the advice of the Chief Advisor, as mentioned in the draft.
The draft also notes that a person will not be eligible to hold the position of Chief Advisor or other advisors if they do not agree not to stand as a candidate in the 13th National Parliament election or any local government election.
Regarding the executive power of the Republic, the draft states that the Election Commission will be assisted to conduct free, fair, and impartial parliamentary elections and fulfill duties specified by the Constitution or any other law.
According to the final draft of the Interim Government Ordinance 2024, notwithstanding any provisions in the Constitution or any other law currently in force, all powers, ordinances, rules, regulations, proclamations, orders, activities, and measures taken by the interim government between the formation of the interim government and the day the new Prime Minister assumes office shall be deemed to have been lawfully exercised. The Supreme Court or any other court or authority cannot question or declare these actions illegal or invalid.
3 Out of 5 New Advisors Sworn in Today
Three more advisors were added to the advisory council of the interim government.
They are Special Assistant to the Chief Advisor Mahfuz Alam, Film director, producer, screenwriter Mostafa Sarwar Farooki and businessman Sheikh Bashir Uddin.
President Sahabuddin administered the oath to the new advisers on Sunday (November 10) at 7:30 pm at Bangabhaban.
Earlier, while talking to reporters at the Secretariat on Sunday (November 10) evening Cabinet Secretary Sheikh Abdur Rashid said that the Advisory Council of the Interim Government expands.
It is to be noted that Sheikh Hasina fled to India after resigning from the post of Prime Minister in the mass uprising of students on August 5. The cabinet was dissolved that day. The next day on August 6, the President dissolved the 12th National Parliament. Then the interim government was sworn in on August 8. The Nobel Peace Prize-winning economist Dr. Muhammad Yunus took oath as the Chief Advisor of the Interim Government. 16 advisors were appointed at that time. The three advisors could not take oath that day as they were out of Dhaka and the country. They later took the oath. Four more advisors joined the interim government later.
Dhaka-Mymensingh Highway Reopens As RMG Workers Remove Blockade
Workers of TNZ Apparels factory finally called off their protest after 52 hours.
They started protests from Saturday demanding unpaid wages for two months. Finally, they removed blockade in the Maleker Bari area of Gazipur and allowed vehicles on the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway to go to their destinations.
The workers left the street at around 2 pm today (11 November) after Labour and Employment Secretary AHM Shafiquzzaman assured them that they would get one month's salary next Sunday.
This was confirmed by Gazipur Metropolitan Police Deputy Commissioner Nazir Ahmed.
He said that Shafiquzzaman talked to the workers over the phone after 1 pm and said the government will take responsibility and donate Tk6 crore by next Sunday to help pay their dues.
Gazipur Sadar upazila nirbahi officer, army officials, and officials of Gazipur metropolitan and industrial police were present with protesting workers.
Shafiquzzaman invited a team of workers' representatives to Dhaka to sit with the authorities and hold discussions to reach an agreement on how and when their dues would be paid and their demands would be met.
The workers being displeased started gathering in front of the factory from 8:00 am on Saturday (November 9). They started demonstrating by blocking the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway from 8:45 am that day. Vehicular movement on the highway stopped after that.
Long-route buses, private vehicles, and different types of cargo vehicles were left stranded for more than 52 hours.
Yesterday, at least 30 other factories were shut down to prevent further unrest. Due to the protest, at least 20 garment factories in the surrounding areas declared a holiday today to avert trouble.
The protesting workers, many of whom stayed on the road the whole day and overnight in shifts, had refused to withdraw the blockade until they were paid two months' arrears. TNZ Apparels Limited Group operates six apparel factories in the city's Maleker Bari area.
Court Issues Travel Ban on Ex-MP Bahar, Family Members
The court imposed a travel ban on former Cumilla-6 lawmaker AKM Bahauddin Bahar, his wife Meherunnesa, daughter and former mayor of Cumilla City Corporation Tahseen Bahar Shuchona, and his son Aiman Bahar over graft allegations today (November 11).
Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge Jakir Hossain passed the order after the Anti-Corruption Commission applied in this regard.
The judge also ordered the ACC to send an order sheet to the special superintendent of police (immigration) of the Special Branch for the next course of action.
In the application, they are probing allegations of illegal recruitment trade, running tender syndicate, embezzling money from government projects, amassing illegal wealth through corruption and irregularities against Bahar and his family members.
"The ACC in its primary investigation learned they have bought flats and plots in different parts of the country through the money amassed from corruption. They are trying to hand over the properties and trying to flee the country. So they should be barred from leaving the country to make them stand before the court," the ACC plea said.
Application on School Admission Starts Today, How to Apply
Application for admission to public and private schools from class 1 to class 9 has started today (November 12). Students can apply online from November 12 at 11 am to November 30 at 5 pm.
According to the notification of the Department of Secondary and Higher Education, this year's admission application fee of Tk110 has to be paid through Teletalk. A student can name a maximum of 5 schools in order of preference in the online application. However, if both shifts are chosen in a double-shift school, two choices (two school choices) will be considered completed. No public or private school can allow more than 55 students in any shift of a class. A digital lottery will be held after the application process. Then the result will be declared.
According to the Department of Secondary and Higher Education's decision, December 10 has been officially fixed as the probable date for the lottery. After this, the result may be published after the lottery process on December 12. However, due to special reasons, this date may change.
After the declaration of results, the final admission process will start on December 17 and will continue till December 21. First waiting list admission will start from December 22 to December 24. The second waiting list admission will continue from December 26 to December 30.
Students can apply separately for public and private schools by visiting the link- https://gsa.teletalk.com.bd/
SSC Form Fill-up to Begin on December 1
The online process of filling out the form for participating in the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) examination 2025 will start on December 1 and continue until December 9. This year the fee of the examinees has increased by Tk100 compared to last year.
Dhaka Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education has published the complete notification of form filling on Thursday (November 14).
According to the notification, the prospective list containing the information of the students to fill out the form will be published on the board's website. Students who wish to participate in the examination can fill out the form online from the prospective list from December 1 to December 9 without a late fee. The deadline for online fee submission without a late fee is 10th December. Students can fill out the form from December 11-14 with a late fee of Tk100. Fees along with fines can be submitted till November 14. The last date for submission of the late fee is 15th December.
Schools can collect a maximum of Tk2,120 form filling fee from a student of humanities and business department including practical and center fees. Tk2,240 to be paid for filling out the form for the science department. A maximum of Tk100 can be charged as a late fee. Salary and session charges for more than 24 months cannot be collected from class IX and X students.
