A special tribunal in Dhaka today sentenced 20 people to death and life imprisonment to another five in a case lodged over the murder of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) student Abrar Fahad.    Judge Abu Zafar Md Kamaruzzaman of Dhaka Speedy Trial Tribunal-1 pronounced the judgement in the crowded courtroom this noon. The judge started reading out the short judgement at 12 noon and finished at around 12.12 pm.    The 20 convicts, who were sentenced to death are- Mehedi Hasan Russel, Anik Sarker Opu, Ifti Mosharraf Sakal, Md Mehedi Hasan Robin, Md Meftahul Islam Jeon, Muntassir Alam Jemmy, Khandaker Tabakkharul Islam Tanvir, Md Muzahidur Rahman, Md Moniruzzaman Monir, Hossain Mohammad Toha, Md Mazedur Rahman Mazed, Shamim Billah, ASM Nazmus Sadat, Md Mizanur Rahman alias Mizan, Shamsul Arefin Rafat, SM Mahmud Setu, Morshed Amatya Islam, Morsheduzzaman Jisan, Mostaba Rafid and Ehteshamul Rabbi Tanim. Of the 20, the last three are yet to be arrested and were tried in absentia.    The tribunal also sentenced Muhtasim Fuad, Moaj Abu Hurayra, Istiak Ahammed Munna, Amit Saha and Md Akash Hossain to life imprisonment. The court also fined those Taka 50 thousand each, to suffer one year more behind the bars in default.    The tribunal in its observation said the convicts tortured and subsequently killed Abrar based on the false allegation of being an activist of Shibir (Islami Chhatra Shibir).    "That brutal incident saddened the people of the whole country. The convicts are being given maximum punishments to stop repetition of such heinous incident," the court said.    Abrar's father and plaintiff of the case Barkatullah, who was present at the courtroom during the pronouncement of the judgement, expressed satisfaction over the verdict and hoped that it would be upheld by the High Court also.    "We want quick execution of the judgement," he said.    Barkatullah also thanked Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Law Minister Anisul Huq, lawyers, police and other concerned parties for the quick disposal of the case and the judgement.    Chief Prosecutor Mosharraf Hossain Kazal in his initial reaction said the prosecution is satisfied by this judgement as it would help to get rid of the stigma of this brutal killing at an educational institute.    Earlier police brought the 22 accused, who have been arrested so far, from Keraniganj Central Jail to the court at around 9.20 am and kept them at the lockup amid heightened security. They were produced at the courtroom at around 11.42 am.    The tribunal on November 14 had set November 28 to pronounce the judgement in the case as both the prosecution and defence concluded their closing arguments on that day. But on November 28, the tribunal deferred the pronouncement of the judgement till today as the verdict was not prepared.    Earlier on September 8, the tribunal had framed charges in the case afresh allowing a prosecution plea.    A total 46 out of 60 prosecution witnesses have testified in the sensational case.    Earlier on November 13, 2019, Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge Court took into cognizance the charge sheet in the case filed by Detective Branch (DB) of police against 25 accused. The case was later transferred to the speedy trial tribunal, allowing a plea of Abrar's father.    The tribunal on September 15, 2020, had framed charges against all 25 accused in the case. Of those arrested, eight had given confessional statements before the court.    BUET students and the varsity authorities found the seemingly lifeless body of Abrar, 22, on first-floor stairs of Sher-e-Bangla Hall and rushed him to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH), where doctors declared him dead at around 6.30 am on October 7, 2019.    He was brutally beaten to death by a couple of leaders of the then BUET unit of Chhatra League over his posts on Facebook.    Abrar's father Barkatullah filed the case with Chawkbazar Police Station against 19. Source: BSS AH

At least six Rohingya people were killed following infighting between two rival groups at Ukhiya Rohingya camp in Cox’s Bazar. Seven more people were injured in the incident which occurred at 18 number Rohingya camp at Ukhiya in the early hours of Friday. The Armed Police Battalion (APBN) members have detained one person named Mujibur Rahman along with fire arms in this connection. Drives are on to detain other culprits in the Rohingya camp. APBN members  have so far confirmed death of six people. The deceased were identified as Md. Idris (32), Ibrahim Hossain (22), Azizul Haque (26) and Md. Amin (32). The other two dead bodies were yet to be identified. APBN sources said, the reason behind the clash is not clear. Six people were killed in the incident. Seven injured people were admitted to Ukhiya MSF Hospital. So far one person was detained. Drives are underway to detain the culprits. A team of police members from Cox’s Bazar district was deployed in the spot. According to Cox’s Bazar additional police super Rafiqul Islam, six dead bodies were sent to the Ukhiya police station. The dead bodies will be sent to Cox’s Bazar Sadar Hospital for autopsy. Process is underway to file a case in this connection, he added. Following the situation panic has gripped the Rohingya people staying in the adjacent shelter camps. Law enforcement agency members are on high alert in the Rohingya camps. AH      

A court in Dhaka today (Friday) placed e-commerce company Evaly chief executive officer (CEO) Mohammad Rassel and his wife and company Chairman Shamima Nasrin on three-day remand each in a case lodged over embezzlement of customer's money.    Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Atiqul Islam passed the order as police produced the couple before the court and investigation officer (IO) and Gulshan Police Station sub-inspector Wahidul Islam pleaded to place them on 10-day remand.    Defence counsel Advocate Moniruzzaman Liton, however, argued for their bail. After hearing both the sides, the court placed Rassel and Nasrin on three-day remand each.    Dhaka Additional Metropolitan Magistrate Asaduzzaman Nur on September 16 had set October 21 to submit a probe report in the case. The court came up with the order after accepting the first information report (FIR) of the case.    One Arif Baker, a customer of Evaly, filed the case with Gulshan Police Station. Mohammad Rassel and Shamima Nasrin were detained from their Mohammadpur flat in the afternoon on September 16.    According to the case documents, the victim and a couple of his friends ordered some products through the e-commerce platform in the months of May and June. But they didn't get any product in spite of paying the money in advance. They repeatedly called the Evaly customer care numbers, but they didn't pay any heed to their calls.    On September 9, they went to the Dhanmandi headquarters of Evaly, where Evaly staff along with its CEO threatened them and said they (victims) would neither get their money, nor the products. Source: BSS AH

The much talked actress and heroine of Dhaka film industries Porimoni has been freed on bail from Kashimpur central jail. She was freed at around 9:30 am today. Porimoni was seen coming out from the jail premises boarded on a white private car. She was dressed on while cloths and was also seen capturing selfie with the people surrounding her. Though she was granted bail by the court yesterday but her documents did not reach at the jail before 6 pm and for that reason she was not freed on that day. Some family members including Porimoni’s uncle Jasim Uddin were present at the jail gate to receive her. They were waiting at Kashimpur prison gate till 8:30 am. Some members of lawyers’ panel of Porimoni were also present at the spot. Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge KM Imrul Kayesh granted bail for Porimoni on Tuesday afternoon. As a woman, actress and sick she was granted bail over bond of 50 thousand taka. Lawyers Mojibur Rahman, Nilanjana Rifat Surovi, Kamruzzaman Chowdhury and others took part in the hearing for Porimoni while the state opposed for bail during the hearing. After completion of the hearing the court granted bail for Porimoni. Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) detained Porimoni from her Banani residence in the capital on August 4 after four hours of operation. Different types of drugs were seized from her house at that moment. She was then arrested and taken to the RAB headquarters. Later RAB-1 filed a case against actress Porimoni under anti narcotics act. AH

Six people were detained over the allegation of gangraping a young girl at Ashulia in Savar under Dhaka district. The bus was seized. The incident occurred at around 11:45 pm Friday at Ashulia Gorurhat area on Ashulis-C & B bypass road. Officer in Charge of Ashulia police station Md. Kamruzzaman confirmed the information on Saturday morning. Kamruzzaman said, the victim was going to her home at Chashara area in Narayanganj after visiting sister’s home in Manikganj. The driver and helper of the bus dropped off other passengers before it reached the last destination except the young girl. Then they forcefully took her to Nabinagar boarding on the bus. Then the driver, helper and other four culprits raped the young girl after closing door and windows of the bus. The victim was sent to Dhaka Medical College Hospital for treatment. AH