United News of Bangladesh

The Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has arrested five people including two women for their alleged involvement in a “honey-trap” gang. DB chief Additional Commissioner Md Shafiqul Islam disclosed the information at a press briefing at the DMP Media Centre on Sunday. The arrestees are Jit Bhakta alias Abdur Rahman, 38; Pritam Biswas alias Anik Sheikh, 30; Arthajit Bhakta alias Siddhartha, 20; Sabrin Kabir Prema alias Neha, 22; and Sadia Yasmin alias Mahi, 21. The gang used to blackmail wealthy men by recording their intimate moments and threatening to circulate  the footage on social media. Police said Jit Bhakta alias Abdur Rahman was the leader of the gang, while Pritam was his nephew and Sabrin was Pritam’s wife. Shafiqul Islam said the DB had been investigating the gang for a prolonged period after receiving complaints from four victims. The gang members frequently changed their residences and hideouts and operated multiple social media accounts using SIM cards registered under false identities, making it difficult for investigators to trace them, he said. The DB eventually tracked down the suspects through intelligence surveillance and technological assistance and arrested them at a residential building in the Turag area. Five mobile phones, three blank cheques and equipment allegedly used for torture, including a torture belt, were recovered during the operation, the DB chief said. He said the gang’s female members used different identities and social media accounts to establish romantic relationships with their targets before persuading them to visit designated locations. Once the victims arrived, the gang’s male members held them hostage, tortured them physically and recorded compromising photos and videos of them with the women. The gang then extorted large sums of money by threatening to publish the footage on social media and send it to the victims’ relatives, police said. Even after obtaining money from the victims once, the gang members allegedly continued to extort them on subsequent occasions by threatening to release the photos and videos, he added. A case has been filed against the arrestees with Turag Police Station in connection with the incident, according to the DB.

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed on Sunday said the government will not allow anyone to create instability in the country over the reported return of ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in December. “We are also aware of social media reports that fascist Sheikh Hasina wants to return to Bangladesh in December. However, the government will not allow anyone to create instability in the country over her reported return,” he said. The minister said Bangladesh has sent several requests to India through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs seeking Hasina’s extradition under the extradition treaty. “Our position is clear here,” he said. He came up with the information while speaking at a press briefing on the peaceful celebrations of Durga Puja at the Secretariat. Asked about the law-and-order situation amid discussions over Hasina's possible return in December, he said the forces associated with the previous regime have been attempting to spread misinformation from the beginning. “They want to create instability in Bangladesh and take advantage of the situation,” Salahuddin said, adding that the government will not allow any anti-state force, fallen political force, fugitive criminal or person accused of genocide to create unrest in the country. Those who fled the country in the face of the mass uprising and were involved in the killing of hundreds of citizens will not be allowed to carry out subversive activities in Bangladesh, he said. Early warning measures helped ensure peaceful Durga Puja The minister said the government believed that Durga Puja was celebrated peacefully across Bangladesh after 15 to 17 years, amid enthusiasm and communal harmony. He expressed gratitude to the Bangladesh Police, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), Bangladesh Ansar and Village Defence Party, intelligence agencies, journalists and people from all walks of life for their cooperation in ensuring peaceful celebrations of the biggest religious festival of the Hindu community. Salahuddin said incidents of violence, untoward events, terrorist activities and attempts to undermine religious harmony occurred during Durga Puja in the past. “But the country saw no such incidents this year,” he said, expressing hope that the peaceful environment will continue with everyone's cooperation. He said authorities focused on preventive measures rather than waiting for incidents to occur before taking action. Using digital systems and various technologies, including mobile apps, authorities monitored the situation from the grassroots through unions, wards, upazilas, districts and divisional centres, with continuous monitoring from the central level, the minister said. One or two plans to cause incidents around the Durga Puja celebrations were detected in advance, and law enforcement agencies took necessary action accordingly, he said. Action to be taken about attack on police in Gopalganj Regarding the attack on police in Gopalganj, Salahuddin said the incident occurred in the Kheyaghat area of a union under Gopalganj Sadar upazila. Some activists of the Awami League and its associate bodies attempted to organise a procession, he said. “When a police patrol team arrived at the scene, the officers came under attack as they were outnumbered. We have seen the video of the incident. Action is being taken against those involved in the attack,” he said. Situation under control in Sajek Referring to the situation in Sajek, Rangamati, the minister said the law-and-order situation has come under control. He said several groups operate in the hill region, including the Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti (PCJSS) and the United People's Democratic Front (UPDF), as well as other groups with similar names. “Internal disputes and rivalries exist among these groups,” he added. Salahuddin said attempts are made every year to gain control over certain areas in the hills during the tourism season. The government, together with the Bangladesh Army, has taken necessary steps to maintain normalcy and will continue to do so, he said. The minister added that discussions were also underway with local headmen and community leaders. The local lawmaker is also maintaining communication with them to help address the situation, he said.

The government has deferred a proposal seeking approval to purchase liquefied natural gas (LNG) directly from Japan’s JERA Global Markets Pte Ltd (JERAGM), pending legal vetting by the Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Division. The decision was taken at the 35th meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs held on Saturday, where a single proposal from the Energy and Mineral Resources Division was placed for discussion. Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury presided over the meeting. The proposal sought approval in principle to procure LNG from JERAGM through the direct procurement method under Section 68 of the Public Procurement Act, 2006, and Rule 99(2) of the Public Procurement Rules, 2025. It also sought approval to sign the finalised formats of the short-term LNG Sale and Purchase Agreement (SPA) and the term sheet between Bangladesh Oil, Gas and Mineral Corporation (Petrobangla) and JERAGM. The committee decided that the proposal will be placed before it again after obtaining vetting from the Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Division. No final approval for the proposed LNG purchase or signing of the agreements was granted at the meeting.  

The Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase has recommended the procurement of five cargoes of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from BP Singapore Pte Limited and an additional cargo from Qatar Energy Trading LLC to meet the country’s energy demand. The recommendations were made at the committee’s 51st meeting of 2026 held on Saturday, where two proposals from the Energy and Mineral Resources Division were discussed. Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury presided over the meeting. Under the first proposal, the committee recommended purchasing five LNG cargoes from BP Singapore, with provision for additional cargoes if required and agreed upon by both parties. The proposed purchase will be made through the direct procurement method under Section 68 of the Public Procurement Act, 2006, and Rule 99(2) of the Public Procurement Rules, 2025. The recommended price is JKM-0.17 per million British thermal units (MMBtu), with BP Singapore Pte Limited named as the recommended supplier. In the second proposal, the committee recommended purchasing an additional LNG cargo from Qatar Energy Trading LLC under an existing government-to-government (G2G) long-term agreement. The additional cargo is scheduled for delivery on December 20, 2026, at a price different from the rate stipulated in the existing contract. The recommended price is JKM-USD 0.10 per MMBtu, with Qatar Energy Trading LLC named as the recommended supplier.  

Two inmates of Dhaka Central Jail in Keraniganj died while undergoing treatment at Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) on Saturday. The deceased were identified as Rafiqul Islam, 59, son of Saidur Rahman of the Natun Bari area under Kabirhat Police Station in Noakhali, and Mehedi Hasan Kazi, 18, an SSC examinee from Madaripur. Mehedi Hasan died of dengue, while Rafiqul Islam is suspected to have suffered a stroke. Prison guard Md Sahabul Islam said Mehedi Hasan, son of Mohammad Faruk Kazi of Uttar Kazipara village under Shibchar Police Station in Madaripur, contracted dengue while in jail and initially received treatment at the prison hospital. Later, he was transferred to the medicine department of DMCH on the instructions of the prison authorities. As his condition deteriorated, he was taken to the hospital's emergency department around 3:00pm in an unconscious state. The attending doctor declared him dead at around 5:30pm. Sahabul Islam said Mehedi Hasan was being held as an undertrial prisoner at the central jail (prisoner No. 10718/26) in connection with a case filed with Kamrangirchar Police Station under the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act. The deceased's elder brother, Sayed Kazi, said Mehedi Hasan was an SSC examinee and had been in custody for the past seven months in connection with a rape case filed with Kamrangirchar Police Station. He said his brother died after being taken to DMCH for dengue treatment. Inspector Md Habibur Rahman, in-charge of the police outpost at DMCH, said Mehedi Hasan's body had been kept in the hospital morgue for an autopsy. It would be handed over to the family after the autopsy. Meanwhile, his relatives demanded that the body be handed over without a post-mortem examination; this led to an argument and a scuffle with the on-duty prison guards and Ansar personnel. Police from the Shahbagh station later arrived and brought the situation under control. Regarding Rafiqul Islam's death, prison guard Harun Sheikh said Rafiqul suddenly experienced chest pain and fell seriously ill inside the jail around 3:00pm on Saturday. On the instructions of the prison authorities, he was rushed to DMCH, where doctors declared him dead at around 4:00pm. Harun said Rafiqul was suspected to have died of a stroke. The bodies will be handed over to the relatives following the completion of due procedures.

Authorities at the madrasah in Tongi where a teacher has been arrested for allegedly inflicting a ‘bad touch’ on one of his female students of Grade 1, have continued to insist that the teacher in question only promised to kiss his students as a reward for doing well in their exams, and never actually followed through on it. This line has also been picked up by the society of alem-ulema at large, many of whom have spoken out against the student’s father for confronting the teacher and subjecting him to a public thrashing before he was arrested at the madrasah premises. At the same time, many members of the same community have maintained that even if the teacher, Muslemuddin Ahmed, did kiss the 7-year-old-girl, he was within his rights to do so as long as there was no ill-intent behind the act. According to the case statement, the alleged sexual harassment took place on the stairs of the madrasah’s ground floor last Monday (Oct. 19). Police have said their preliminary findings supported the allegations. That has not stopped a wave of death threats from the community of Islamic scholars, and police cases against the father, Shahjalal Rumi, including one filed by the madrasah authorities for alleged vandalism at the madrasah premises, assaulting teachers, and looting Taka 17 lakh from the principal’s office, as well as five mobile phones. Almas Hossain, the madrasa’s founder and principal, has been claiming without any evidence to back him up that the incident had been orchestrated to damage the institution’s reputation. He also alleged that a group of 15 to 16 people, led by the child’s father, entered the madrasa and assaulted the teacher. He also said some of them were Hindus and suspected Rumi of being a ‘RAW agent’. Principal Almas said other teachers and security personnel were also beaten when they tried to intervene. He further alleged that the group vandalised the office and looted Tk17 lakh and 5 mobile phones.  Shahjalal Rumi, in a late night press conference on Friday, admitted to breaking the glass top of a table he had struck in anger when he showed up there on Wednesday, but the offending teacher wasn’t being produced before him. He also promised to compensate the madrasah for that financially. He has denied the allegations of looting. It is difficult to see how anyone could have looted the madrasah in those circumstances, in the presence of so many people. Even police arrived later to calm things down and take Muslemuddin away. That he assaulted Muslemuddin is not in question. But he denied showing up with so many people and trying to create a ‘mob’. He said he only took three of his friends with him. It may be noted that Almas Hossain in subsequent statements seems to be dialing down that number as well. From 15-16 on day one of the incident coming to light (Thursday), he has now come down to saying Rumi and his associates numbered 5-7. But he has continued to insist that no kiss or ‘bad touch’ - a somewhat euphemistic term for sexual harassment that parents may use to teach children how to recognise sexual abuse or harassment - actually occurred. Muslemuddin apparently only promised to kiss all his students, that none of them complained to their parents, except Rumi’s daughter, and he in fact distributed chocolates among them. In this situation, an important account has come forward, of the victim’s mother, that is Shahjalal Rumi’s wife. It is important because it was to her that the daughter opened up after the incident last Monday, and she was the one handling the complaint to the school authorities.  

Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury Saturday said the government wants to establish the creative industries as a mainstream part of the economy and as a source of the country's "soft power". "Art and culture, rural handicrafts, music, cinema and theatre must be brought into mainstream economic activity, turning them into a key driver of the country's new GDP growth and building Bangladesh's soft power, or cultural strength, on the global stage," the finance minister made the remarks at the launch of the book Creative Footprints in Banani. Noting that conventional economic thinking has long kept art and culture on the margins of economic activity, he said the present government has decided to move away from that mindset and treat the creative economy as a new component of the country's economic aspirations and growth. "The government alone cannot implement everything," he said, adding that, alongside policy and funding, the sector will be advanced through strong partnerships with the private sector and NGOs. The government has already allocated the necessary funds in the budget, he said, while the private sector is also coming forward with significant financing. Outlining the government's plans, the finance minister said local craftspeople, painters and cultural workers will receive financial assistance, along with skills development, design and branding support, and marketing help through international e-commerce platforms such as Amazon, eBay and Alibaba. He expressed hope that this would ensure fair value and proper monetisation of products made by marginalised artists and artisans, improving their living standards while creating jobs and earning foreign exchange. Stressing the importance of cultural elements in projecting Bangladesh globally, he said, "This is not merely about art, crafts or business; it is Bangladesh's soft power. Our goal is to strengthen the country's position on the world stage through music, theatre, cinema and handicrafts." He thanked the organisers for the commendable initiative and voiced optimism that joint efforts by the public and private sectors would bring about a cultural and economic revolution in the country in the days ahead. British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Sarah Cooke attended the programme as special guest.  

Mohd Jahangir Alam, a special correspondent of UNB, has been honoured for his contributions to humanitarian service. He received the award at a correspondent conference and awards ceremony organised by online news portal Bangladesh Mail24.news to mark its third anniversary. The day-long event was held at the Crime Reporters Association auditorium in the capital on Friday. M A Rashed Talukdar, editor of Bangladesh Mail24.news, chaired the event, which was moderated by the portal’s staff reporter Md Zaherul Islam and news presenter Jannatul Naim Tumpa. A B Ziauddin Hossain, editor-in-chief and publisher of Bangladesh Mail24.news, attended the event as the chief guest, while Shamim Chowdhury, sports editor of The Daily Sun, delivered the keynote speech. Dinesh Mahato, a special correspondent of Prothom Alo, attended as a special guest. Officials and staff of Bangladesh Mail24.news, including bureau chiefs and district, upazila and university correspondents, as well as journalists from other media outlets, cultural figures and other guests, attended the event. In the ‘Reporter of the Year’ category, Md Asaduzzaman, a special correspondent of Bangladesh Mail24.news, secured first place. Sohrab Hossain, the portal’s Singair correspondent in Manikganj, came second, while Shakil Hossain, its Kaliakair correspondent in Gazipur, took third place. Biplob Talukdar, the portal’s correspondent in Khagrachhari, was named ‘Multimedia Reporter of the Year’ for his contributions to multimedia journalism. Shamim Chowdhury was also honoured for his contributions to sports journalism, while Mostafa Matihar, a senior reporter of Bangladesh Pratidin, received an award for his contributions to entertainment journalism. Dolon Bhowmik was recognised for her contributions to grassroots education, while Rafiqul Islam, also known as Khokon, was honoured for his social service. Film actor Joy Chowdhury received an honorary memento for his contributions to the film industry. Speakers at the event said Bangladesh Mail24.news had gained popularity among readers within a short period. They praised the portal for promoting positive and objective journalism at home and abroad. They expressed hope that the news portal would continue to maintain professionalism, responsibility and objectivity in its reporting and play a meaningful role in the country's media landscape.

Religious Affairs Minister Kazi Shah Mofazzal Houssain Kaikobad on Saturday has warned that the government will take strict measures to prevent the recurrence of rape and other indecent incidents in madrasas, describing such incidents as “regrettable”. He issued the warning while attending the triennial council session of the Bangladesh National Imam Samity at Agargaon in the capital in the morning. Speaking to journalists after the event, the minister said imams had been instructed to raise awareness through Friday sermons and other awareness messages to ensure that such heinous crimes do not recur in sacred institutions like madrasas. Addressing imams from across the country earlier, he urged everyone to remain highly vigilant so that no one could incite unrest and undermine religious harmony in the country. Emphasising the role of religious scholars in combating social crimes, Kaikobad said imams should speak strongly against drug abuse, terrorism and other social offences during Friday sermons. He said imams enjoyed considerable public acceptance and influence in society, making their role important in raising awareness and preventing crime.

Muhammad Shafiqur Rahman, former lawmaker from Chandpur-4 (Faridganj), eminent journalist, freedom fighter, and former president of the Jatiya Press Club, passed away while undergoing treatment at a hospital in Dhaka on Saturday. He was 77. Shafiqur breathed his last around 3:00pm at United Hospital in the capital. He was admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) after suffering a heart attack at his Banani residence, family members said. Born on September 25, 1949, in Krishnapur village of Faridganj upazila, Shafiqur earned his graduation and post-graduation in Bengali Language and Literature from Dhaka University in 1970 and 1971 respectively. He actively participated in the 1969 Mass Uprising and the 1971 Liberation War. His journalism career began in 1970 with The Daily Ittefaq, where he served as staff reporter, senior reporter, and special correspondent over decades. He later served as two-time president of the Jatiya Press Club (2016-2018) and Chairman and Chief Editor of Citizen TV. Shafiqur was elected Member of Parliament from Chandpur-4 constituency twice, in 2018 and 2024. He leaves behind his wife, a son, a daughter, and numerous admirers.