Law Week
Arguments in Azad's case start on Dec 23
The International Crimes Tribunal-2 on December 19 fixed December 23 for recording closing arguments of the case against expelled Jamaat-e-Islami member Abul Kalam Azad. The tribunal made the decision after the state-appointed defence counsel failed to produce any defence witness or a list of witnesses for Azad, now on the run. The case against Azad, also known as Bachchu Razakar, entered the final stage as only the verdict delivery would remain after the closing arguments are over. Azad's case is the only one at the tribunals being held in absentia of the accused. The three-member Tribunal-2, led by Justice Obaidul Hassan with members Justice Md Mozibur Rahman Miah and Judge M Shahinur Islam, on December 19 completed recording the cross-examination of the last prosecution witness Noor Hossain, also the investigation officer. Earlier, the tribunal indicted Azad with eight charges of crimes against humanity on November 4. A total of 22 prosecution witnesses had testified in the case.-The Daily Star December 20 2012.
Tasneem, Mollah's wife on remand
A Dhaka court on December 18 placed Tasneem Alam, central publicity secretary of Jamaat-e-Islami, on a three-day remand in a case filed against him for possessing anti-government leaflets and booklets. Tasneem was detained at his Uttara residence on December 17. The court passed the order after the investigation officer of the case produced him before it seeking a seven-day remand. Meanwhile, another Dhaka court on December 18 placed 21 female activists of Jamaat-e-Islami and its women students' wing, Islami Chhatri Sangstha, including Sanowar Jahan, wife of Abdul Quader Mollah, on a two-day remand in a case filed for their suspected link to “subversive activities”. Quader Mollah, Jamaat's assistant secretary general, is facing a trial on charge of committing crimes against humanity. Police arrested the 21 activists at the Islami Chhatri Sangstha office in Moghbazar on December 17.-The Daily Star December 19 2012.
Hearing on Fakhrul bail plea Dec 24
A Dhaka court on December 18 fixed December 24 for hearing the bail petitions of BNP acting Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir in two cases filed against him for torching vehicles during December 9 blockade. The cases were filed with Paltan and Sher-e-Bangla Nagar police stations hours after wrapping up of the BNP-led 18-party alliance's countrywide road blockade. Judge (vacation) Md Helal Uddin of the Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court fixed the date after Fakhrul's lawyer submitted two separate bail petitions against the lower court order that had rejected the bail petitions of the BNP leader. Earlier on December 11, the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM) Court rejected the remand prayers and bail petitions in the cases and ordered the authorities concerned to send Fakhrul to jail. Police arrested Fakhrul when he was leaving the party's Nayapaltan central office on December 10.-The Daily Star online edition December 18 2012.
Amar Desh acting editor,
publisher
summoned to court
A Dhaka court on December 17 summoned Amar Desh acting editor, its publisher and district correspondent to appear before it on March 3, next year, in connection with a defamation case. The defendants are: Mahmudur Rahman, acting editor of Amar Desh; Alhaj Mohammad Hasmat Ali, publisher of the Bangla daily, and Nahid Parvez Jony, correspondent in Muksudpur of Gopalganj. Anwarul Islam alias SM Shahin, a resident of Muksudpur, filed the case with the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's Court of Dhaka against the three for allegedly running a defamatory news on November 10. Metropolitan Magistrate Ashiqur Rahman issued the summons after recording the statement of the complainant.-The Daily Star December 18 2012.
Top criminal Bikash freed on bail
Top terror Bikash Kumar Biswas was secretly released from Kashimpur jail-2 on December 14 upon a bail order Jail sources confirmed The Daily Star about the release of that Bikash, 46, A resident of Mirpur, Bikash and his brother Prokash Kumar Biswas, also a top terror, are accused of several murders in the capital, especially in Mirpur and Agargaon areas. Bikash has served 15 years in several cases since 1997 while Prokash is on the run. - The Daily Star December 15 2012.
Teletalk DGM on 16-day ACC remand
A Dhaka court on December 15 granted a 16-day remand for deputy general manager of Teletalk AKM Asaduzzaman in two cases over misappropriating public money. Deputy Director of Anti-Corruption Commission SM Sahidur Rahman produced Asaduzzaman, former divisional engineer of Bangladesh Telecommunication Company Limited (BTCL), before a metropolitan magistrate court and sought 20 days' remand. After hearing, Magistrate M Saifur Rahman granted a 16-day remand. The ACC arrested Asaduzzaman on Thursday from his office in the capital's Gulshan area on charges of giving illegal connections to some so-called international telecom carriers and embezzling government revenue. Earlier on November 5, the ACC filed five cases against 14 people, including six officials of the BTCL, for pocketing Tk 205 crore.- The Daily Star December 15 2012.
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