After spending 17 long years in incarceration, former State Minister for Home Affairs Lutfozzaman Babar was finally released. On Thursday (January 16) at around 1:45 PM, Babar walked out of the Dhaka Central Jail in Keraniganj. The news of his release was confirmed by Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Prisons for Dhaka Division, Md. Jahangir Kabir. Earlier, on Tuesday (January 14), Babar was acquitted of the life imprisonment sentence in the high-profile 10-truck arms smuggling case. The High Court bench comprising Justice Mostafa Zaman Islam and Justice Nasreen Akhter delivered the verdict, acquitting Babar of all charges. Lutfozzaman Babar was arrested on May 28, 2007, and subsequently convicted in various cases. However, following the fall of the Awami League government due to the student and public uprising on August 5 last year, Babar was acquitted in appeals of these cases one by one. Among the cases, he was acquitted of an 8-year sentence in a corruption case on October 23, and on December 1, he was cleared of charges in the August 21 grenade attack case, where he had previously been sentenced to death by the trial court. Lutfozzaman Babar first became a Member of Parliament in the 1991 Fifth National Parliamentary Election as an independent candidate from Netrakona-4 constituency. He was re-elected from the same constituency as a Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) candidate in the Sixth National Election in February 1996 and the Eighth National Election in 2001. During the Eighth Parliament, he served as the State Minister for Home Affairs.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has announced a series of programs to commemorate the 89th birth anniversary of its founder and former President Ziaur Rahman. On Thursday (January 16) at 2:30 PM, a joint meeting was held at the party's central office in Naya Paltan, presided over by Senior Joint Secretary General Advocate Ruhul Kabir Rizvi. Following the meeting, Rizvi outlined the programs during a press briefing. On January 19, at 11 AM, BNP's National Standing Committee members and leaders at all levels will offer wreaths and recite prayers at the mausoleum of the late President Ziaur Rahman in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar. At 2 PM on the same day, a discussion meeting will be held at the Engineers Institution, Bangladesh (IEB) auditorium, where national leaders of BNP and prominent figures of the country will deliver speeches. Special supplements will be published in national newspapers, and posters will be released to mark the occasion. As part of the program, party flags will be hoisted at BNP's central office in Naya Paltan and other party offices across the country on January 19. Discussion meetings and prayer sessions will be organized by BNP and its affiliated organizations in districts, metropolitan areas, upazilas, police stations, and various units, depending on local arrangements. All BNP leaders and activists are requested to participate in these programs punctually. The meeting was attended by BNP's Joint Secretary Generals, conveners, and member secretaries of BNP North and South Dhaka, as well as presidents, conveners, general secretaries, and member secretaries of various affiliated and subsidiary organizations. Ziaur Rahman was born on January 19, 1936, in a respected family in Bagbari village of Gabtali Upazila, Bogura. His nickname was Kamal. He played a pivotal role in the Liberation War of 1971 against the Pakistani occupying forces. After independence, he became the President of Bangladesh on April 21, 1977, and founded the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) on September 1, 1978. He was assassinated on May 30, 1981.

He has been in prison for nearly 17 years, during which he has been hospitalized several times due to illness. Everyone had one question in mind—when will Lutfozzaman Babar be released? Finally, the answer has arrived. If everything goes according to plan, the former State Minister for Home Affairs will be released today. On Wednesday night (January 15), Babar's personal assistant, Mirza Haider Ali, informed the media about this. He said that on Thursday (January 16) at 2 PM, Lutfozzaman Babar will be released from Keraniganj Jail. Afterward, he will visit the grave of the founder of BNP, the martyred President Ziaur Rahman, at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar in the capital with party leaders and activists, and then proceed to his residence in Gulshan. Mirza Haider Ali also mentioned that during the visit to Zia’s grave, senior BNP leaders, including Standing Committee member Nazrul Islam Khan, will be present. According to prison sources, the release documents for Lutfozzaman Babar have arrived from the court. He will be formally released in the afternoon. Earlier, on January 14, Lutfozzaman Babar was acquitted of a life sentence in separate cases filed under the Arms Act related to the sensational 10-truck arms smuggling incident in Chittagong. The High Court bench comprising Justice Mustafa Zaman Islam and Justice Nasreen Akhter announced this verdict. With this judgment, Babar has been acquitted of all charges against him, removing all barriers to his release. Meanwhile, the news of the release of Lutfozzaman Babar, a former BNP MP from Netrokona-4 (Madan-Mohanganj-Khaliajuri), has brought joy and excitement among BNP leaders, activists, relatives, and locals. Numerous arches have been constructed in his constituency as well as in Mymensingh and Netrokona. Many people from these areas have traveled to Dhaka following the news of his release. Preparations have also been made to welcome Babar from the prison gates upon his release.

The Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) has summoned the bank accounts of Tofail Ahmed, a member of the Awami League's Advisory Council and former Commerce Minister. On Wednesday (January 15), the BFIU issued letters to all banks and financial institutions requesting information on these accounts. Additionally, information on the bank accounts of his wife Anwara Begum, daughter Taslima Ahmed Zaman, son Moinul Hossain, and son’s wife Israt Jahan Binti has also been requested. The BFIU has further sought transaction details of the Tofail Ahmed Foundation and Fatema Jame Mosque. Letters were sent to all banks on Wednesday regarding this matter. The letter specifies that information such as account opening forms, KYC (Know Your Customer) details, and transaction statements for these individuals and related institutions must be provided. Following the resignation of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina amid the student and public uprising on August 5, many bank accounts belonging to Awami League leaders, activists, and professionals were summoned and frozen. Notably, Tofail Ahmed contested in the 12th National Parliamentary Election from Bhola-1 (Sadar) constituency under the boat symbol, which was known as a dummy election. He emerged victorious in this dummy election.

The hearing on the appeal filed by Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami against the cancellation of its registration is scheduled for today. On Tuesday (January 14), the hearing is expected to take place before a five-member bench of the Appellate Division, led by Chief Justice Dr. Syed Refat Ahmed. Previously, on December 3, the High Court began hearing the appeal filed by Jamaat-e-Islami against the verdict that canceled its registration as a political party. After the first day of the hearing, the court set December 10 for the next hearing, and subsequently, today’s date was fixed for further proceedings. On that day, lawyers Barrister Ehsan S. Siddique and Advocate Mohammad Shishir Monir were present during the hearing. Advocate Mohammad Shishir Monir explained that during the first day of the hearing, it was argued that the petitioners who filed the writ did so in the name of public interest. However, it was not genuinely in public interest but rather for political purposes. The petitioners lacked the authority to file such a writ, and their actions were driven by personal and political interests, not public welfare. He further mentioned that another key issue raised was that the writ was filed before the election process and registration process were concluded by the Election Commission. The matter was still under the jurisdiction of the Election Commission at the time. These points were argued, and both the Election Commission and the opposing party were instructed to be prepared for the hearing. On October 22, a four-judge bench of the Appellate Division, led by Chief Justice Syed Refat Ahmed, issued an order to revive the appeal seeking to restore Jamaat-e-Islami’s canceled registration. On that day, Advocate Shishir Monir stated that the Appellate Division allowed the appeal to be revived after condoning the delay. He mentioned that they would bring the appeal for a hearing and that a new appellant would be substituted since the original appellant had passed away, following which a new hearing application would be submitted. Monir explained that this is a certificate appeal, and the High Court had issued a certificate indicating that constitutional issues were involved. Unlike regular appeals, this appeal could proceed directly without leave to appeal. Since the High Court issued the certificate, the case could not be dismissed without a hearing. Therefore, the delay was excused, and the appeal revival application was granted. He added that the opposing party had no objections to the appeal’s revival. During the appeal hearing, the issue of the election symbol would also be addressed. If the appeal is granted, it is expected that the registration will be restored along with the election symbol. On November 19 of the previous year, an appellate bench led by then-Chief Justice Obaidul Hasan dismissed Jamaat’s appeal for default as the lawyers were not present. Earlier, on August 1, during the tenure of the previous Awami League government, the Ministry of Home Affairs issued a gazette banning Jamaat-Shibir. Following the fall of the Awami League government amid intense student and public protests, an application was filed in the Supreme Court’s Appellate Division to revive the dismissed appeal seeking the restoration of Jamaat-e-Islami’s registration as a political party.

Former Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, currently receiving treatment at a London clinic, is showing rapid improvement, thanks to world-class care and the presence of her loved ones. She is now able to walk a little on her own. Enamul Haque Chowdhury, Khaleda Zia’s advisor and travel companion, shared this update on Sunday (January 12). He stated that her physical condition is better than before, and she managed to walk on her own today. He also mentioned that despite being in the hospital, Khaleda Zia is staying updated on the situation in the country, inquiring about the current state of affairs. BNP Standing Committee member and her personal physician, Dr. AZM Zahid Hossain, confirmed her improvement, saying, “Alhamdulillah, Madam is doing quite well. Today, Professor John Patrick Kennedy visited her, and her treatment is under his supervision.” Dr. Zahid Hossain added that Khaleda Zia received physiotherapy today, which indicates progress in her health. As usual, BNP’s Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman and his wife Zubaida Rahman visited Khaleda Zia at the hospital on Sunday. It is noteworthy that Khaleda Zia arrived at London’s Heathrow International Airport on Wednesday afternoon (January 8) Bangladesh time. She was warmly received by her eldest son, BNP’s Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman, and daughter-in-law Zubaida Rahman at the airport. An emotional moment unfolded as Tarique Rahman embraced his mother upon her arrival in a wheelchair. He then drove her to the hospital. Prior to this, Khaleda Zia left Dhaka for the United Kingdom in an air ambulance on Tuesday night (January 7) for advanced medical treatment. Top party leaders, including the Secretary General, bid her farewell at Hazrat Shahjalal Airport.

BNP Chairperson and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia is currently undergoing treatment in London, UK. She is under constant observation by medical professionals there, who are attending to her even on weekends. Receiving world-class care and being close to her loved ones, her health is improving rapidly. This information was provided by news agency BSS on Sunday (January 12), citing BNP Standing Committee Member and Khaleda Zia's personal physician, Professor Dr. AZM Zahid Hossain. During a conversation with journalists on Saturday (January 11), Dr. Zahid said, "Alhamdulillah, Madam is doing quite well. The doctors have been checking on her, and I can say she is better today than on Thursday. Her health is improving." The BNP Standing Committee member added, "Today is Saturday, a weekend here. Despite it being a holiday in London, the doctors are diligently attending to Madam. Her medical examinations are ongoing, and she is spending time with her family, appearing cheerful and happy. Please keep her in your prayers." Additionally, UK BNP President MA Malek mentioned that doctors at the London Clinic have been treating Khaleda Zia since Friday. Prior to that, they conducted several tests over two days. The doctors will decide on the next steps for her treatment. Regarding her current health status, he said, "At this moment, Khaleda Zia, the symbol of democracy in Bangladesh, is relatively comfortable. Her son, BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman, is constantly by her side, along with her daughter-in-law Dr. Zubaida Rahman and her granddaughters. The doctors at the London Clinic are also continuously monitoring her condition." It is noteworthy that for advanced medical treatment, Khaleda Zia was admitted to 'The London Clinic' on Marylebone Road in 'Mid-West London' last Wednesday (January 8). She is being treated under Professor Dr. Patrick Kennedy at this specialized hospital. Earlier, on Tuesday night (January 7), Khaleda Zia traveled from Dhaka to London via Qatar in a special air ambulance equipped with modern medical facilities sent by Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. She arrived at London's Heathrow International Airport at 2:55 PM Bangladesh time and 9:05 AM local time on Wednesday. After completing immigration formalities at the airport, she was taken directly to the London Clinic, where, after reviewing her previous medical reports, she was admitted under the care of Professor Kennedy.