The data-based research of the private research organization Center for Policy Dialogue (CPD) was useful in the July Revolution, said Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus, the chief adviser to the interim government.

He said that the CPD worked against the tide in a hostile environment.

The chief adviser said this in a video message at a program organized with stakeholders on the 30-year journey of the CPD at the BRAC Center in the capital on Sunday (December 1).

Stating that the CPD has been playing an important role in establishing a society based on good governance and justice, Dr. Muhammad Yunus said that the CPD organizes press conferences at different times. Through which they highlight their research activities. The CPD has made a place in the public's mind in establishing a democratic country through research. Recently, the July Revolution played a role in raising awareness in the uprising of students and the public.

He said that the CPD has continued its research activities by facing various challenges. Hopefully, they will continue their research activities. Through that research, the government will play a helpful role in establishing a democratic state.

At the event, CPD's founding chairman, Professor Rehman Sobhan, highlighted the scope of the organization's work over the past 30 years. He said that CPD will continue to work for the people. And CPD's honorary fellow, Professor Rawnak Jahan, expressed her hope that CPD can work without fear in the future

During the 15-year rule of the Awami League led by Sheikh Hasina, an average of about 16 billion US dollars had been laundered from the country every year.

On Sunday (December 1), at a function organized at the office of the Chief Adviser in Tejgaon in the capital, the committee formed headed by Dr. Debapriya Bhattacharya, the head of the white paper formulation committee formed to investigate irregularities and corruption in the economy, submitted their report to Dr. Muhammad Yunus.

Later, the Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam said that the report of the white paper committee has revealed that an average of 16 billion US dollars had been laundered abroad every year during the rule of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who was ousted in the mass uprising of students and the public.

He said that the white paper report has analyzed each sector of the economy separately and shown how statistics have been manipulated to create a story of development. Although the story of development is being told, a grand ritual of looting is going on inside.

Accepting the report, the chief adviser said, "This report is a historical document for us. The kind of incident that happened in the financial sector was a matter of panic. This incident happened in front of us but no one talked about it," he mentioned.

When the Awami League government was ousted from power in the student-public movement, the interim government that came to power formed this committee to publish a white paper highlighting the overall economic situation of the country. The 12-member committee was formed headed by eminent economist Debapriya. The committee started work immediately after the committee was formed on August 28. In addition to meeting among themselves, they took the opinions of the stakeholders.

At the time of formation of the committee, it was said that this white paper would contain recommendations to determine the state of the country's macro-economic and sector-wise economy and what to do for the future.

Commenting that the army has stood by the country during the crisis, Army Chief General Waqar-uz-Zaman said that it is possible to overcome this crisis if everyone works together.

He said this at the reception of the brave freedom fighter army members and the army's peacetime medal ceremony at the Army Multipurpose Complex in Dhaka Cantonment on Sunday (December 1).

General Waqar-uz-Zaman said, we are working to take the country to a better and safer place. We are working to find a way out of the current situation in the country.

Recalling the contribution of the freedom fighters, the Army Chief said, today's position is because of the freedom fighters. The army is working day and night to maintain law and order in the country.

The program was organized at the 'Army Multipurpose Complex' in Dhaka Cantonment to felicitate the titled and other brave freedom fighter soldiers of the army and their close relatives.

At the program, Army Chief General Waqar-uz-Zaman exchanged greetings with the titled and brave freedom fighter soldiers and their close relatives.

In addition, in the financial year 2023-2024, a total of 28 army personnel who received five Army Medals (SBP), five Outstanding Service Medals (OSP) and 18 Distinguished Service Medals (BSP) were awarded medals in recognition of various heroic deeds during peacetime.

At the beginning of the program, a summary of the heroic deeds of the titled and brave freedom fighter army personnel during the great liberation war and the commendable activities of the army personnel who received peacetime medals were presented.

It is worth noting that the Army Chief organizes this reception every year to commemorate the contribution of the valiant freedom fighter army members in the country's independence struggle.

The ceremony was attended by titled and valiant freedom fighter army members, their close relatives, senior military officers and army members, invited guests, and media persons. 

The High Court has acquitted all the accused including BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman, who was sentenced to life imprisonment and former state minister for home affairs Lutfuzzaman Babar, who was sentenced to death, in the August 21 grenade attack case. The High Court also observed that the verdict given by the trial court earlier was illegal.

A High Court bench comprising Justice AKM Asaduzzaman and Justice Syed Enayet Hossain announced the verdict on Sunday (December 1), quashing the verdict of the trial court.

In observing the verdict, the High Court said that the witnesses are describing the incident, but no witness has said who threw the grenade. Besides, no investigation officer has mentioned in the charge sheet who supplied the grenade on August 21.

The defendants sentenced to death by the trial court were - Maulana Tajuddin, leader of the militant organization Harkatul Jihad, former State Minister for Home Affairs Lutfazzaman Babar, former Director General of NSI Major General (retd.) Rezzakul Haider Chowdhury, Brigadier General (retd.) Abdur Rahim, Sheikh Abdus Salam, BNP leader and former Deputy Minister Abdul Salam Pintu, Abdul Majed Bhat alias Yusuf Bhat, Abdul Malek alias Golam Mostafa alias GM, Maulana Shawkat Osman alias Sheikh Farid, Mohib Ullah alias Mofizur Rahman alias Ovi, Maulana Abu Sayeed alias Dr. Zafar, Abul Kalam Azad alias Bulbul, Jahangir Alam, Hafez Maulana Abu Taher, Hossain Ahmed Tamim, Moin Uddin Sheikh alias Mufti Moin Uddin alias Khwaja alias Abu Jandal alias Masum Billah, Rafiqul Islam alias Sabuj alias Khalid Saifullah alias Shamim alias Rashed, Md. Ujjal alias Ratan and Mohammad Hanif, owner of Hanif Paribahan.

The convicts who were sentenced to life imprisonment were Tarique Rahman, the eldest son of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, Haris Chowdhury (deceased), former political secretary to the BNP chairperson, Shahadat Ullah Jewel, Maulana Abdur Rouf alias Abu Omar alias Abu Humaiya alias Pir Saheb, Maulana Sabbir Ahmed alias Abdul Hannan Sabbir, Abid Hasan Sumon alias Abdur Razzak, Hafez Maulana Yahia, Maulana Abu Bakr alias Hafez Selim Howlader, former commissioner of Ward No. 53 of Dhaka Metropolitan City Ariful Islam Arif, Maulana Mohibul Muttakin, Anisul Mursalin alias Mursalin, Mohammad Khalil, Jahangir Alam Badar, former member of parliament Kazi Shah Mofazzal Hossain Kaikobad, Mufti Shafiqur Rahman, Mufti Abdul Hai and Ratul Ahmed Babu alias Ratul Babu.

Earlier, the verdict in the grenade attack case began to be announced on August 21 at around 11 am.

On October 23, the appeal filed by the accused against the death reference and trial court verdict in this sensational murder case was sent by the Chief Justice's office to a bench headed by Justice AKM Asaduzzaman of the High Court for hearing. Then, on October 31, this bench of the High Court began hearing the case. On November 21, the hearing on the death reference and appeal in the case ended in the High Court.

Then, the case was kept pending for verdict (CAV) without setting a specific date for the announcement of the verdict.

In this case, the state has filed a petition to uphold the verdict of the speedy trial tribunal. On the other hand, the lawyers of the accused have filed a petition to quash the verdict of the accused and acquit them.

On August 21, 2004, a grenade attack was carried out at the rally of the then opposition leader Sheikh Hasina. In this, 24 people, including party leaders and activists, were killed. Hundreds of leaders and activists, including Sheikh Hasina, were injured. Two cases were filed under the Murder and Explosive Substances Acts in connection with the attack.

The trial court delivered its verdict in both cases in 2018. In the verdict, 19 people, including former State Minister for Home Affairs Lutfuzzaman Babar, were sentenced to death. In addition, the court sentenced 19 people, including BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman, to life imprisonment and 11 others to varying terms of imprisonment and fines.

This was registered as a death reference case in the High Court in 2018 to approve the death penalty. On the other hand, the convicts in prison filed separate jail appeals and regular appeals in the two cases through the prison authorities.