Law Minister Anisul Huq yesterday told parliament that the government will settle the issue of trying Jamaat-e-Islami as a political party for its involvement in crimes against humanity, through a legal process.

In reply to a query from Awami League MP Waresat Hossain Belal, the minister also informed the House that the law ministry will take initiative again to send the amendment to International Crimes Tribunal law to the cabinet division, in line with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's direction so that it can be placed before the cabinet meeting.

In a scripted answer, Anisul said the law ministry had earlier sent the amendment to the ICT law to the cabinet division aimed at trying Jamaat-e-Islami as a political party for its involvement in crimes against humanity in the country's Liberation War in 1971.

In reply to another question, the law minister said his ministry has taken various measures including appointing 571 assistant judges in lower court since 2014, for quick disposal of the huge number of cases in different courts across the country.

In reply to a query of AL lawmaker Nizam Uddin Hazari, the minister said it is under the government's active consideration to set up Attorney Service in a bid to conduct cases by public persecutors.

3.36 LAKH POSTS VACANT AT GOVT OFFICES

State Minister for Public Administration Farhad Hossain yesterday informed parliament that the government has taken various steps to fulfill vacant posts of the government offices, as 3,36,746 posts are now vacant at public offices of the government.

 “Bangladesh Public Service Commission has recommended for 1,289 posts from different cadres through 37th BCS (Bangladesh Civil Service), aimed at appointing vacant posts,” he said this replying to a question made by AL MP M Shamsul Haque Tuku of Pabna-5.

The state minister said the government has requested agencies concerned to verify pre-service curriculum of the recommended candidates, adding, “After getting verification report of the pre-service information, freedom fighter certificate and health check-up, they will be given final appointment.”

In addition to this, the appointment process of 8,719 vacant posts of different ministries are now underway through the 38th , 39th and 40th BCS, he said.

A Dhaka court today allowed the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) to interrogate four members of North South University's (NSU) board of trustees at the jail gate for a day, in a Tk 304 crore money laundering case.

The accused are: MA Kashem, Benajir Ahmed, Rehana Rahman and Mohammed Shajahan.

Judge KM Emrul Kayesh of Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge's Court passed the order after ACC Deputy Director Farid Ahmed Patwary, also the investigation officer of the case, produced them before it with a forwarding report.

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HC orders arrest of 4 NSU trustees in Tk 304cr laundering case

In the forwarding report, the IO said that all four, including the NSU Board of Trustees Chairperson Azim Uddin Ahmed, were directly involved with the money laundering. So, they should be interrogated at the jail gate for collecting more information.

Defence lawyers submitted four separate petitions for providing them with first class division in jail on grounds that they were holding high-profile social status in their respective position. 

Upon hearing both the sides, the judge sent them to jail and allowed the ACC to interrogate them at the jail gate for one day.

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6 including 5 NSU trustees sued for laundering Tk 304 cr

The judge also directed the jail authorities to provide them with first class division in jail as per Jail Code.

Yesterday, the four were arrested after the High Court rejected their anticipatory bail petitions in the case filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) on May 5.

The High Court today (June 2, 2022) directed the government to conduct an inquiry into the allegations of harassing Muslim female students for wearing burqa at eight academic institutions.

The court also directed the government to inform the court about steps taken against the persons responsible for the incidents.

The secretaries at the ministries of education and home affairs have been directed to conduct the enquiry and to submit a report in 60 days.

The eight institutions are Barbarpur High School at Mohadebpur in Naogaon; Brojendraganj RC High School at Dirai in Sunamganj; Bhadeshwar Nasir Uddin High School and College at Golapganj in Sylhet; Islami University in Kushtia; Sher-e-Bangla High School at Senbagh in Noakhali; Joarganj Bouddho High School at Mirsarai in Chattogram; Satbaria High Schhol at Chandanaish in Chattogram and Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Science and Technology University in Gopalganj.

The HC bench of Justice Md Mozibur Rahman Miah and Justice Khizir Hayat passed the order following a writ petition filed by Allama Mohammad Mahbub Alam, editordof Daily Al Ihsan and monthly Al Baiyinaat seeking necessary directives to this effect.

The bench also fixed August 11 for hearing and passing further order on this issue.

Allama Mahbub recently submitted the petition as a supplementary one annexing some newspaper reports on harassment of female students for wearing burqa at the eight academic institutions.

Earlier in July 2019, the HC had issued a rule asking the officials concerned of the government to explain why harassment of female students for wearing burqa at the academic institutions should not be declared illegal and unconstitutional.

Lawyers Mohammad Ahsan and Ilias Ali Mondal appeared for the petitioner while Deputy Attorney General Bepul Bagmar represented the state during hearing today.

The High Court today expressed grave dissatisfaction as neither the investigation officers nor the Cyber Tribunal gave any explanation to it over the delay in concluding investigation into two cases filed against photojournalist Shafiqul Islam Kajol under the Digital Security Act.

The court sought the explanation three weeks back.

None of the investigation officers or the Cyber Tribunal has submitted any report to this court on whether the investigation officer has taken permission from the Cyber Tribunal to probe the cases 75 days after filing those, which is very "unfortunate", the HC bench of Justice M Enayetur Rahim and Justice Md Mostafizur Rahman noted.

Justice Enayetur Rahim said the investigation officers were asked to appear before the bench again with the explanation today (Tuesday).

But, the IOs did not appear, nor submitted the explanation before the court, the judge said during hearing two bail petitions filed by accused Kajol in connection with the cases.

The HC bench asked the IOs to appear before it on Thursday to give the explanation.

It also fixed Thursday for hearing the bail petitions and asked Deputy Attorney General Sarwar Hossain Bappi to communicate to the IOs so that they appear before the court on that day.

Lawyer Jyotirmoy Barua appeared for photojournalist Kajol during virtual hearing on the bail petitions today. 

On November 24, the same HC bench granted bail to Kajol in a case filed under the Digital Security Act.

However, Kajol could not be released from jail following the verdict as he is arrested in two other cases.

The same day, the bench also asked the investigation officers of the cases lodged against Kajol with Hazaribagh and Kamrangirchar police stations whether he has taken permission from the Cyber Tribunal to probe the cases after 75 days of filing the cases.

The investigation officers and the Cyber Tribunal have been ordered to submit separate reports to the HC by December 15 (Tuesday).

Two other cases under the Digital Security Act were filed against Kajol on March 10 and 11 with Hazaribagh and Kamrangirchar police stations.