The Dhaka Third Labour Court on Sunday fixed January 1 to deliver its verdict in the case filed against Nobel laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus and three others on charges of labour law violation at Grameen Telecom. The court chairman Sheikh Merina Sultana set the date on completion of defence argument in the case. Defence lawyer Abdullah Al Mamun concluded the arguments on the day demanding acquittal of his clients from the charges. Professor Yumus and other accused in the case were present before the court. On November 16, Khurshid Alam Khan, the prosecution lawyer for the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments, ended his arguments demanding maximum punishment for the accused ones.   Earlier, a total of four prosecution witnesses testified before the court. On June 6, the court framed charges against Professor Yunus, and three other top officials of the company — Ashraful Hasan, Nur Jahan Begum and Mohammad Shahjahan in the case. On September 9, 2021, labour inspector SM Arifuzzaman of the DIFE filed the case with the Dhaka Third Labour Court on allegation of labour law violation at Grameen Telecom. According to the case documents, during a visit to the Grameen Telecom office, inspectors of the DIFE found that 101 workers who were supposed to be permanent were working as temporary staff. DIFE also found that no participation fund and welfare fund was formed for them while five per cent of the company’s profit was not provided to the workers as per law.

The High Court (HC) is set to deliver the verdict of the Holey Artisan Bakery attack case on  Monday, October 30.  Earlier on October 11, An HC bench of Justice Shahidul Karim and Justice Md Mostafizur Rahman delivering the date of its verdict. On July 1, 2016, five militants armed with firearms, machetes and grenades attacked in the diplomatic zone of Gulshan. During the attack, they killed three, seven Japanese, nine Italians and one Indian.

A US jury ordered Donald Trump to pay $5 million to writer E. Jean Carroll for sexually abusing and defaming her, he is appealing. Former US President Donald Trump on Thursday filed a notice to appeal a New York jury's verdict that he sexually abused and defamed writer E. Jean Carroll. A jury in Manhattan federal court earlier this week ordered Trump to pay $5 million (€4.56 million) in compensation and fines in the civil lawsuit. They found him liable for abuse and defamation but not rape. Trump's appeal comes a day after after the former president labeled Carroll's sexual abuse claims as "fake" during a CNN town hall event. He also denied knowing her. "This woman, I don't know her. I never met her. I have no idea who she is," Trump said.  According to The New York Times, Carroll's attorney stated that she is contemplating filing another lawsuit against Trump for his remarks at the event.  What were the accusations against Trump? The jury's verdict on Tuesday marked the first time Trump — who is facing legal action over a string of sexual assault allegations dating back decades — was found legally responsible for assault. Carroll testified that Trump sexually attacked her at the Bergdorf Goodman department store almost 30 years ago. She first publicly disclosed her experience in a 2019 memoir while Trump was still president. At the time he called her allegation "a hoax and a lie." Legal experts have said the appeals process could take years. Trump's legal woes Trump, the front-runner to become the Republican party's presidential candidate in 2024, faces several other legal challenges. He pleaded not guilty to 34 counts in a criminal case that accuses him of falsifying business records as part of a scheme in 2016 to silence adult film actress Stormy Daniels. A US Justice Department special counsel is investigating Trump's possible mishandling of classified documents and presidential records after he left office and his efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss. He also faces a criminal investigation by a county prosecutor in Georgia relating to his efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss in that state.

Bangladesh has obtained copy of the verdict regarding punishment of Lakshmipur-2 constituency independent Member of Parliament (MP) Shahid Islam Papul in connection with human trafficking and money laundering cases. Foreign Minister Dr. A K Abdul Momen delivered the information to the newsmen at a program at Purbachal Club in the capital on Friday. The minister said, we have obtained the verdict copy from the Kuwait government. It consists with 61 pages. We have conferred the copies to the home ministry and Jatiya Sangsad. The parliament will decide what kind of action would be taken against Papul. MP Shahid Islam Papul was awarded four years rigorous imprisonment in the criminal court of Kuwait on January 28. He was also fined 19 lakh Kuwaiti dinars (53 crore 19 lakh 62 thousand taka). Judge of the Kuwait criminal court Abdullah Al Othman also awarded four years imprisonment to former home ministry officer of that country Majen Al Zarah and fined him 19 lakh Kuwaiti dinars. Kuwaiti police arrested Lakshmipur-2 MP Shahid Islam Papul on June 6 last year over allegations of human trafficking and money laundering. He was imprisoned since then. He was awarded the punishment after completion judicial procedures within six months. AH    

The full text of the High Court verdict in the sensational Pilkhana BDR mutiny murder case was released on Wednesday. The 29,059-page text of the verdict, the longest in Bangladesh’s legal history, was published after three judges signed the copies. Seventy-four people, including 57 army officers, were killed in the BDR mutiny on February 25-26 in 2009 at the Pilkhana headquarters in Dhaka. The paramilitary force was later renamed Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB). Fifty-eight cases were filed — one for serious crimes, including murder and looting, and the rest for mutiny, in connection with the incident. A Dhaka court on November 5, 2013 sentenced 152 soldiers of the erstwhile Bangladesh Rifles and two civilians to death, and 160 others to life imprisonment for their involvement in the BDR mutiny. Another 256 soldiers were sentenced to various jail terms and 278 others were acquitted. A total of 257 appeals were filed with the High Court against the subordinate court verdict. On November 27, 2017, the three-member bench of Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder, Justice Md Shawkat Hossain, and Justice Md Abu Zafor Siddique upheld the death sentences of 139 convicts, acquitted four and commuted the death sentences of eight others to life imprisonment. Besides, the bench upheld the life term imprisonment of 146 convicts, among 160, and acquitted 12 others. It also sentenced 34 others to life imprisonment who had previously been acquitted by the subordinate court. Two hundred others were sentenced to various jail terms. Source: UNB AH

Attorney General Mahbubey Alam said, the verdict of Holey Artisan Bakery attack case will shine the image of Bangladesh and it will also remain as an example of curbing militancy. He said this in his reaction after delivering the verdict on Wednesday. The Attorney General said, the general office will do its best to uphold the lower court verdict when the case would come to the High Court. The court delivered death penalty for seven accused in connection with the case filed over Holey Artisan Bakery militant attack. The court acquitted another accused Mizanur Rahman Mizan alias Boro Mizan in this case during the verdict. Judge of Dhaka Anti Terrorism Special Tribunal Md. Mojibur Rahman delivered the verdict. Apart from the death penalty the accused were fined 50 thousand taka each. In the night of July 1, 2016 the militants held local and foreign visitors hostage in the Holey Artisan Bakery at Gulshan-2 beside road number 79. On the following day (July 2) in the early morning six people including five militants were killed in the ‘Operation Thunderbolt’ conducted by Bangladesh Army. Later police recovered dead bodies of 20 people including 18 foreigners. Another restaurant staff died in the hospital while undergoing treatment. 32 people were rescued alive before and after the commando operation. AH    

The Anti Terrorism Special Tribunal has awarded death penalty for seven accused in connection with Holey Artisan restaurant militant attack case. Judge of the Dhaka special tribunal Mojibur Rahman delivered the verdict on Wednesday. The death penalty awarded accused are- Jahangir Alam alias Razib Gandhi, Rakibul Hasan Regan, Rashedul Islam alias Aslam Hossain alias Rash, Sohel Mahfuz alias Abdus Sabur Khan, Hadisur Rahman Sagar, Shariful Islam and Mamunur Rashid Ripon. The court acquitted another accused Mizanur Rahman Mizan. The court during the order mentioned that Jahangir Hossain, Aslam Hossain Rash, Hadisur Rahman Sagar, Rakibul Hasan Regan, Abdul Sabur Khan, Shariful Islam Khaled and Mamunur Rashid were found guilty under section 6 (2) (a) of Anti Terrorism Act-2009. Each of them was awarded death penalty and fined 50 thousand taka. They were ordered to be hanged until their death. The court in the verdict also mentioned, accused Jahangir Hossain, Aslam Hossain Rash, Hadisur Rahman Sagar, Rakibul Hasan Regan, Abdus Sabur Khan and Shariful Islam Khaled were awarded 10 years rigorous imprisonment and also fined 10 lakh taka each under section 7 of the Anti Terrorism Act-2009. In case of failure they have to serve two more years in prison. The court said,  accused Jahangir Hossain, Aslam Hossain Rash, Abdus Sabur Khan, Rakibul Hasan Regan, Shariful Islam Khaled and Mamunur Rashid were found guilty under section 8/9 of the Anti Terrorism Act-2009. They were awarded six months rigorous imprisonment under section 8 and also awarded five years rigorous imprisonment under section 9 of the act and fined 10 thousand taka each. While producing the accused before court Aslam Hossain Rash showed ‘V’ sign. Most of them were smiling. Accused Jahangir Alam alias Razib Gandhi was also smiling. The judge began to deliver the judgment at 12:05 pm in presence of the accused. While getting out of the court room one of the accused said, we are the soldiers of Quran, we have no fear. In this case total 113 witnesses delivered their statement out of 211. The verdict was delivered after three years and four months of the grisly attack.   Mentionable, the militants in an attack at the Holey Artisan restaurant at Gulshan in the capital killed 20 people, most of them were foreigners in the night of July 1, 2016. Two police officers were killed in the firing. Later five militants were killed in the operation. After the incident a case was filed with Gulshan police station under Anti Terrorism Act. AH      

The court has fixed the date November 27 for delivering verdict in connection with the case of militant attack in Holey Artisan Bakery at Gushan in the capital. Judge of Anti Terrorism Special Tribunal Md. Mojibur Rahman fixed the date for delivering verdict on Sunday after completion of the arguments. The accused in the case are- arms and explosive supplier and neo JMB leader Hadisur Rahman Sagor, Bangladesh born Canadian citizen Tamim Chowdhury’s associate Aslam Hossain alias Rashed alias Abu Zarra alias Rash, neo JMB arms and explosive division chief Mizanur Rahman alias Boro Mizan, militant Rakibul Hasan Regan, Jahangir Alam alias Razib alias Razib Ghandhi, one of the main planners of the attack Abdus Sabur Khan (Hasan) alias Sohel Mahfuz, Mamunur Rashid and Shariful Islam. Earlier on November 7 after completion of the arguments placed by the state capital punishment of the eight accused was sought. In this case the tribunal take testimony of 113 people out of 211 whose names were mentioned in the charge sheet. Mentionable, in the night of July 1, 2016 militants attacked Holey Artisan Bakery at Gulshan in the capital and killed 20 people including foreign nationals. Two police force members were also killed in the attack. Police later filed a case with Gulshan police station under anti terrorism act in connection with the incident. AH     

Verdict of Feni madrasa girl Nusrat Jahan Rafi will be delivered on October 24. Nusrat was a student of Sonagazi Islamia Fazil Madrasa. Judge of Feni’s Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal Mamunur Rashid announced the date on Monday. Lawyer Hafez Ahmed who represented the state in the case said that after completion of arguments hearing between two sections of lawyers the judge announced the date. On April 6, Nusrat was set ablaze by pouring kerosene on her body after miscreants called her on the roof top of the madrasa building upon tricks when she went there to appear in the examination. She lost her battle for life on April 10. Nusrat’s family members alleged that she was killed as she denied to withdraw a case of sexual harassment filed against the madrasa principal Siraj-ud-Doula. AH   

The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT)-1 on Monday set Tuesday to pronounce judgment in crimes against humanity case against an alleged Razakar Md Abdus Samad alias Firoz Khan from Rajshahi. Justice Md Shahinur Islam, chairman of the three member panel of the ICT-1, set the date through a short order Monday morning. The tribunal on July 8, kept the verdict on CAV (curia advisory vault, meaning the court awaits judgment) as both the prosecution and defense concluded their arguments in the case on that day. The first tribunal on September 9, 2018, framed four charges of crimes against humanity against Khan and the trial was initiated through placing of opening statement on October 10. A total of 15 prosecution witnesses, including the investigation officer, testified against the accused, but the defense failed to produce any witness to vouch for Khan’s innocence. Source: BSS AH