United News of Bangladesh

A Dhaka court has ordered the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) to seize income tax documents of former education minister Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury Nowfel. Judge Md Zakir Hossain of the Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge's Court passed the order on Sunday after an appeal was lodged by ACC Deputy Director Kamalesh Mondol regarding the matter. In the application, the ACC official mentioned that a case was filed against Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury Nowfel for allegedly acquiring immovable and movable assets worth Tk 2,27,59,308, which are inconsistent with his known sources of income. Hasina, Nowfel among others sued over killing of college student in Chattogram The former minister is also accused of having made suspicious transactions totalling nearly Tk 114 crore across 41 bank accounts, which are considered criminal offences. The ACC official further mentioned, "Nowfel is attempting to transfer or launder the money to other bank accounts. So, it is crucial to seize his income tax documents to ensure a fair investigation into the case."

Police arrested a notorious mugger and drug dealer from Khilgaon area in the city on Sunday afternoon. The arrestee was identified as Mohammad Jewel (31), who was wanted by police in 13 criminal cases. The arrest took place in the Tilapara area of Khilgaon on Sunday evening. Police, acting on a tip-off, conducted the operation as part of a crackdown on muggers and drug peddlers, and outstanding warrants in the Khilgaon area. Jewel, a professional mugger and drug peddler, is listed in the Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s wanted list. He was involved in various criminal activities, including mugging and drug dealing, in Khilgaon and neighboring areas. He has been named in 13 cases, including incidents of snatching, and drug-related offenses, registered at Khilgaon, Rampura, and Kotwali police stations. One of the cases has an arrest warrant against him, said DC media of the DMP Talebur Rahman.

Apprising new Chargé d'Affaires at the US Embassy in Dhaka Ambassador Tracey Ann Jacobson on the progress of ongoing reform activities, Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain on Sunday reiterated the commitment of the interim government to arrange a “free, fair, and credible election” as expressed by Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus. Ambassador Jacobson underscored the strong partnership between Bangladesh and the United States and their support for the interim government’s efforts to “chart a prosperous and democratic path” for the Bangladeshi people. She met for the first time with Foreign Affairs Adviser Hossain and Foreign Secretary Md Jashim respectively to discuss shared interests and priorities between the United States and Bangladesh. The US CDA was accompanied by senior diplomats of the US Embassy in Dhaka. The Foreign Adviser congratulated Ambassador Jacobson on her appointment as the CDA to Bangladesh. During this first courtesy call on, they affirmed commitment to deepening the Bangladesh-US relationship in the areas of mutual interest including trade, investment, human rights, labour reforms, and repatriation of forcibly displaced Myanmar Nationals.

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus has said that he would visit the much-talked-about ‘Aynaghar,’ a joint interrogation cell, in response to a request from the Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances. The commission briefed the Chief Adviser in a meeting on Sunday afternoon on the progress of investigations into enforced disappearances, urging him to visit the ‘Aynaghar’ to reassure the families of the victims that the government is with them. Commission working to know who specifically involved in ‘Aynaghar’ misdeeds During the meeting, held at the State Guest House Jamuna, the commission shared harrowing details about several disappearance cases, including the disappearance of a six-year-old child. The Chief Adviser expressed shock at the findings, saying, “The stories uncovered in your investigations are really horrifying. I will visit the Aynaghar soon.”

The Election Commission (EC) will commence the door-to-door data collection campaign tomorrow (January 20) throughout the country to update the electoral rolls. Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin will open the voter list updating programme-2025 at Savar Upazila Parishad auditorium in Dhaka on Monday morning. The door-to-door data collection campaign will continue till February 3 and the collection of biometric data of the eligible voters will be taken from February 5 to April 11. During the field-level data collection campaign, enumerators will collect the data of the eligible voters who were born on and before January 1, 2008. Besides, the enumerators will also collect applications from the existing voters who intended to change voting addresses and the data of deceased voters for dropping their names from the voter lists. On the eve of the countrywide voter list updating programme, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative Stefan Liller handed over 175 laptops, 200 scanners and 4300 bags to the CEC in Dhaka’s Nirbachan Bhaban. At the event, the CEC said the EC plans to complete the voter list updating programme within six months and some 65,000 people will work towards this goal. Election Commission ramps up preparations for national election   “We are hopeful that all uncertainties will be cleared, Inshallah,” he said, replying to a question from reporters. According to the Electoral Training Institute, more than 66,000 people have already received training over the voter listing updating programme. The trained people include 55,016 enumerators and 11,801 supervisors. The EC will publish the draft updated electoral rolls incorporating the names of new voters on January 2, 2026. Following the resettlement of claims and objections, the commission will make the final electoral rolls on March 2, 2026. The Election Commission has recently issued a notification with 16 instructions for the officials and enumerators who will be engaged in the data collection camapaign. The instructions include collection of data of those persons who had been born on and before January 1, 2008 but have remained out of the voter lists, ascertaining if such persons became voters in the past, writing proper spelling of names of possible voters in both Bengali and English and being careful so that the data of Rohingyas and foreign nationals could no way be collected. According to the existing voter lists (published on March 2, 2024), there are 121.85 million (121,850,160) voters in the country. Four election commissioners – Abdur Rahmanel Masud, Tahmida Ahmad, Anwarul Islam Sarker and Brig Gen (Retd) Abul Fazal Md Sanaullah – will also speak at the inaugural ceremony tomorrow. EC senior secretary Akhtar Ahmed will deliver the welcome speech in the function to be presided over by EC additional secretary KM Ali Newaz.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has filed cases against former cabinet secretary Kabir Bin Anwar, his wife Toufika Ahmed, and former agriculture minister Md Abdus Shahid, accusing them of acquiring illegal wealth. The anti-corruption watchdog disclosed the matter in a press release on Sunday. According to the case details, Kabir Bin Anwar is alleged to have accumulated assets worth Tk 2.84 crore that are not consistent with his known sources of income. The ACC has also identified suspicious transactions amounting to Tk 15.38 crore across nine of his bank accounts. Arrest warrant issued against Shakib Al Hassan In a separate case, his wife, Toufika Ahmed, is accused of acquiring assets valued at Tk 4.53 crore without any known legal source. Additionally, the ACC has discovered suspicious deposits totaling Tk 7.78 crore and $22,280 in six of her bank accounts. The press release said that Kabir Bin Anwar, while serving as a government employee, facilitated the acquisition and possession of assets in the name of his wife, Toufika Ahmed, in an attempt to legalise his own illegal wealth through abuse of power. Abdus Shahid, a former member of parliament from the Moulvibazar-4 constituency, is accused of possessing non-income assets worth Tk 7.72 crore. He is also reported to have made suspicious transactions amounting to Tk 26.93 crore across 18 bank accounts, both in his own name and in the name of his organisation. The game is up for ex-BFIU boss Masud Biswas Additionally, his wife, Umm Kulthum, has been served a notice to submit a statement of wealth. Preliminary investigations have shown that she has acquired non-income assets worth Tk 39.22 lakh. There is also a possibility that she has more assets, either in her own name or held anonymously, added the release.  

Bangladesh has received over US$ 1.20 billion ($1206.88 million) remittance in 18 days of January 2025. According to the latest update of Bangladesh Bank, expatriate Bangladeshis have sent this amount of remittance through banking channels between January 1 and 18. If this remittance inflow continues, the volume of inward remittance would cross $2 billion in January. In December 2024, expatriate Bangladeshis sent a record $2.64 billion remittance through banking channels. US tops in remittance inflows to Bangladesh for 3 months: BB According to the central bank, during January 1-18, $258.87 million came to the country through government banks, $50.98 million through one of the two specialized banks (Agricultural Bank), $893.31 million through private banks, and $3.72 million through foreign banks. Nine banks did not receive any remittance in the 18 days of January. These include Bangladesh Development Bank Ltd (BDBL), Rajshahi Krishi Unnayan Bank; private banks—Community Bank, ICB Islami Bank, and Padma Bank; and foreign banks—Habib Bank, National Bank of Pakistan, State Bank of India, and Woori Bank.

The personal belongings of Shahid Mir Mahfuzur Rahman Mugdho and Shahid Md Farhanul Islam Bhuiyan (Farhan Faiyaaz) have been officially handed over to Dhaka University authorities for preservation at the "July Memorial Museum." The handover took place on Sunday, with Alhaj Shahidul Islam Bhuiyan, the father of Shahid Farhan Faiyaaz, and Mir Mahbubur Rahman Snigdho, the twin brother of Shahid Mugdho, presenting the items to Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dr. Niaz Ahmed Khan, confirmed the university's public relations office. During the event, the Vice-Chancellor expressed profound respect for the martyrs of the July Uprising and announced that to honour their memory, Dhaka University has decided to establish the "July Memorial Museum." He also mentioned that the university is taking steps to organise academic research, international conferences, and seminars on the July Uprising. “Mugdho Corners” to provide free water at BPL matches In addition, efforts are underway to provide financial assistance to the victims of the movement. A committee has already been formed to identify and bring the perpetrators of the attacks on the university campus to justice. The university is also actively involving the families of the martyrs in various events to pay tribute to those who sacrificed their lives during the anti-discrimination student movement and uprising. By preserving the belongings of the martyrs at the July Memorial Museum, Dhaka University aims to create an official connection with the families of the martyrs. The event was attended by Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Administration) Professor Dr. Sayma Haque Bidisha, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Education) Professor Dr. Mamun Ahmed, Treasurer Professor Dr. M. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, Dean of the Faculty of Arts Professor Dr. Mohammad Siddiqur Rahman Khan, Dean of the Faculty of Fine Arts Professor Dr. Azharul Islam Sheikh, Proctor Associate Professor Saifuddin Ahmad, and Chairman of the Provost Standing Committee Dr. Abdullah-Al-Mamun.

A Dhaka court has issued arrest warrants against star cricketer Shakib Al Hasan and Gazi Shahgir Hossain, the managing director of Shakib's agro farm, in connection with a cheque dishonour case. Dhaka Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Ziadur Rahman passed the order on Sunday after they failed to appear before the court. On December 15, Sahibur Rahman, the public relations officer of IFIC Bank, filed the case against Shakib Al Hasan and three others. The other accused are Gazi Shahgir Hossain, managing director of Shakib Al Hasan Agro Farm, and directors Imdadul Haque and Malaikar Begum. The company itself is also named in the case. BFIU seizes bank accounts of cricketer Shakib Al Hasan On December 18, the court summoned the accused to appear. On that day, Imdadul Haque and Malaikar Begum surrendered and were granted bail, but Shakib Al Hasan and Gazi Shahgir Hossain did not show up. According to the case documents, Shakib Al Hasan Agro Farm Limited took loans from the Banani branch of IFIC Bank for business purposes. The company issued two cheques for a total of approximately Tk 4.14 crore against these loans. However, both cheques were dishonoured due to insufficient funds. In response, the bank sent a legal notice via a daily newspaper, demanding repayment. Since the loan was not returned within 30 days, the bank filed the case in court.

Police have arrested a notorious mugger and drug dealer, who was wanted in six criminal cases, from Farmgate area in the city. The arrestee was identified as Mohammad Shukkur Ali, 28. A team of Tejgaon police station conducted a special operation on Saturday night and arrested Ali around 9:10 PM. Sources at the Tejgaon police station said, a coordinated operation was carried out based on a tip-off to nab snatchers, drug dealers, and other criminals with outstanding warrants. Ali was arrested from under the Farmgate foot-overbridge, a known hotspot for criminal activity in the area. Ali is a professional snatcher and a key figure in the local drug trade. He and his associates were reportedly involved in the sale of illegal drugs in the Mohammadpur and Tejgaon areas, along with surrounding neighborhoods. He is also linked to multiple snatching incidents that have occurred in these areas, DC media of the DMP Talebur Rahman said. Ali is facing 12 criminal cases, including charges of theft, snatching, robbery, and drug trafficking, across various police stations, including Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Mohammadpur, and Hazaribagh. Six of these cases have active arrest warrants against him.