United News of Bangladesh

All officials and employees of Kashimpur Union Land Office have been suspended after finding prima facie evidence of various irregularities during a sudden inspection. Deputy Commissioner Md Nurul Karim Bhuiyan on Monday said the action was taken after the inspection revealed initial evidence of misconduct in the office. The suspended officials and employees are Acting Union Land Assistant Officer Wazed Ali Khan, Office Assistant Mostafa Kamal, Shafiqul Islam Khan and Abdul Halim. During the morning visit, the DC inspected the Kashimpur Union Land Office and spoke to both the land office staff and people who came to receive services. After reviewing the situation and finding preliminary evidence of various irregularities, he ordered the suspension of all four officials and employees. Following the inspection, the DC left for another surprise inspection at the Shafipur Land Office.

Police have filed a case against 25 named and 20-25 unidentified people over a protest procession allegedly organised under the banner of the Bangladesh Chhatra League (now facing a ban on its activities) and the circulation of its photos and videos on social media. Jalalabad Police Station Sub-Inspector Abdul Mukit filed the case on Sunday afternoon under the Anti-Terrorism Act. Additional Deputy Commissioner (Media) of Sylhet Metropolitan Police Md Manjurul Alam said police filed the case over the procession. According to police, around 20 to 25 people brought out the procession under the banner of "Sadar Upazila Chhatra League" in the Temukhi area of Sylhet Sadar upazila on Saturday morning. Videos of the procession later circulated widely on social media, showing participants chanting political slogans and demanding the withdrawal of the case filed against former prime minister Sheikh Hasina. Police said 25 people were named in the case, while another 20 to 25 unidentified individuals were also made accused. Meanwhile, Former Sylhet Sadar Upazila Chhatra League President Mohammad Ali Safat posted photographs of the procession on his personal Facebook account. In the post, he said the procession was organised to demand the withdrawal of "false and fabricated" cases against Sheikh Hasina. Police said further legal proceedings in the case are underway.  

Police have arrested a man for allegedly killing his wife and mother-in-law in the capital's Kalabagan area following a family dispute. Md. Hridoy, also known as Shipon, 30, was arrested hours after the incident, while police also recovered the sharp kitchen knife allegedly used in the killings. The incident occurred on the fifth floor of a house on Alamin Road under Kalabagan Police Station on Sunday morning. Quoting Kalabagan thana police, Additional Deputy Commissioner (Media) Mehedi of the DMP said Hridoy had been married to the victim for about five years and the couple had been experiencing frequent family disputes over various issues since their marriage. At around 9:30am, he went to the house and became involved in another argument with his wife Ratri, 25. During the altercation, he allegedly took a sharp vegetable-cutting knife from the kitchen and slit her throat. When the victim's mother Firoza Begum, tried to save her daughter, the suspect allegedly attacked her repeatedly on the neck and shoulder with the same knife, killing her as well, the ADC media said. The victims' brother, Yamin, witnessed the incident and informed relatives, according to Kalabagan Police Station. Police said the suspect later attempted to flee with his one-year-old child but was detained by Kalabagan Police at around 5:00pm on Sunday. A murder case has been filed with Kalabagan Police Station in connection with the incident.  

Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, spokesperson of the Sanatani Jagaran Jote, has been granted bail by the High Court in two cases. A High Court bench comprising Justice K M Zahid Sarwar and Justice Sheikh Abu Taher passed the order on Sunday, making the rules issued on the bail petitions absolute. However, he will not be released from custody immediately as he is facing other cases, said Chinmoy’s lawyer Apurba Kumar Bhattacharya. Deputy Attorney General Syeda Sazia Sharmin represented the state. Apurba Kumar Bhattacharya said six criminal cases have been filed against his client. Of these, the trial is ongoing in the murder case over the death of lawyer Saiful Islam in Chattogram. Besides, a High Court stay order is in place on Chinmoy’s bail in the sedition case filed over the alleged desecration of the national flag. The lawyer said the High Court granted bail in two of the remaining four cases, while hearings on bail petitions in the other two cases have been scheduled for August 16. On November 26, 2024, a clash broke out in the Chattogram court area during Chinmoy Krishna Das’s bail hearing, leaving lawyer Saiful Islam dead. Several cases, including murder, attempted murder, assault, obstruction of government work and cocktail explosions, were filed over the incident. Chinmoy Krishna Das was arrested in Dhaka on November 25, 2024, in a sedition case filed over the alleged desecration of the national flag. He has remained in custody in connection with different cases since then.

A Chattogram court on Sunday placed listed top criminal Mobarak Hossain Emon alias David Emon, and his three associates on 10 days' remand in murder and arms cases filed at Fatikchhari Police Station in Chattogram. Judge of the Senior Judicial Magistrate-3 Motasim Billah passed the order when police produced the four accused before his court, seeking seven days' remand in each of the two cases. The other accused placed on remand are Md Shamim, Safayet Hossain and Al Islam Alif, also known as Tamal. After hearing both sides, the court granted five days' remand in each case, totalling 10 days. On Thursday, another Chattogram court sent David Emon and three associates to jail after showing them arrested in three cases. David Emon was arrested in a joint operation in Jashore in the early hours of July 29 while trying to flee to India. Earlier in the day, the accused were produced before the court under tight security. Additional police were deployed in and around the court premises during the remand hearing. According to case documents, police recovered firearms from Fatikchhari on July 29 based on information obtained from Emon and three others following their arrest. Police said David Emon, 25, son of late Md Musa of Kanchannagar in Fatikchhari upazila, faces 13 cases, including those related to murder and illegal arms. Additional Superintendent of Police (Hathazari Circle) Kazi Md Tareq Aziz said the accused will be questioned to gather further information about their criminal activities and to recover more illegal weapons. According to multiple district police sources, investigators traced David Emon's whereabouts while probing the murder of Maksudul Haque Chowdhury in the Pahartali area on June 13. Based on information provided by the arrested suspects, police later raided an abandoned house in Manikpur village of Kanchannagor union in Fatikchhari and recovered a foreign pistol, two local LG guns and several other improvised weapons.

Detectives in Rangpur arrested four members of an alleged fraud ring accused of using fake admit cards and proxy candidates to cheat in the recruitment examination for the post of Cadet Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) (Unarmed). Fake admit cards, screenshots of financial transactions and electronic devices allegedly used in the fraud were also seized, said a press release issued by the Rangpur District Police on Saturday afternoon. According to the release, the incident came to light around 3:30 pm on July 31 at the main gate of Rangpur Police Lines School and College, where the recruitment examination was being held. An examinee, Ashraful Islam, 21, was taken aside for questioning after he allegedly attempted to enter the face-recognition verification point with a fake admit card. Based on information obtained from him, police arrested an alleged proxy candidate, Tajmilur Rahman, 19, at the venue. During preliminary interrogation, Ashraful allegedly told investigators that he had struck a deal with Badsha Masud Alam, 48, and Nurul Islam, 46, both employees of the Fire Service and Civil Defence, to secure a Cadet ASI post in exchange for Tk 17 lakh. Police said he deposited Tk 250,000 into a Dhaka Bank account from Dinajpur and later received a fake admit card via WhatsApp, despite not taking part in the required physical test. Acting on his information, detectives arrested Badsha Masud Alam from the Ship Company More area of Rangpur city. Police said his mobile phone contained evidence related to the alleged fraud, including money transactions and fake admit cards. Based on his statement, detectives, with assistance from Kotwali Police Station under Rangpur Metropolitan Police (RPMP), later arrested Nurul Islam in Dhaka. Police alleged that the group had been operating the racket for a long time by producing fake admit cards and promising jobs as Cadet ASIs in exchange for large amount of money. Investigators also alleged that the suspects impersonated senior government officials while contacting police officers to create confusion during the recruitment process. Police believe two to three more people may be involved in the alleged fraud ring. The seized fake admit cards, screenshots of financial transactions and electronic devices have been taken into police custody as evidence.

The acting principal of Pirgachha Multilingual Shorthand Training Academy (BM College) has been removed from his post following allegations that he made indecent proposals to a female student over the phone in Pirgachha, Rangpur. Acting Principal Md Abdul Quader was removed from the post of acting principal based on initial findings, Pirgachha Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Md Zaid Imrul Mozakkin said on Saturday afternoon. An investigation is underway, and further legal and administrative action will be taken based on the investigation committee's report, he added. Recently, a 3-minute-52-second audio recording of a phone conversation allegedly involving the teacher went viral on social media, triggering widespread anger among locals. In the audio clip, the teacher is allegedly heard making inappropriate proposals to the student, promising better marks in the practical examination and other benefits. The student, however, is heard rejecting the proposal and protesting against the teacher's behaviour. Following the spread of the audio clip, students staged a road blockade in front of the college on Wednesday (July 29), demanding the resignation and punishment of the accused teacher. They later withdrew the blockade after the upazila administration assured them of an investigation and necessary action. The student expressed anger over the incident and demanded exemplary punishment, saying such behaviour by a teacher was alarming. When contacted over the phone for comments, Md Abdul Quader declined to speak about the allegation.

Police have arrested the president of the Barishal district unit of Bangladesh Chhatra Union in connection with a rape case filed by a girl. The accused, Nayan Sarker Joy, was picked up from his rented residence at Kaunia 1st Lane in Barishal city early Friday, said Officer-in-Charge of Kotwali Model Police Station Al Mamun Ul Islam. Joy, son of Narayan Sarker of Barguna district, is a fourth-year student of BM College. The case was filed with the police station on July 28. According to the case statement, the girl alleged that she developed a relationship with Joy in 2024. She claimed that Joy had physical relations with her several times on the promise of marriage but had been avoiding the issue of marriage for the past six months. She further alleged that Joy went into hiding after his family refused to accept her as his wife and that he later shared their private photos on social media. The girl also alleged that he had pressured her in different ways to withdraw the case.

Police have arrested a man and his daughter-in-law with 740 bottles of Phensedyl syrup during a raid on Bagichapara of Durgapur municipality in Netrokona. The arrestees were identified as Shafiqul Islam and his daughter-in-law Nazmun Nahar Khanam of the area. Khandaker Shaker Ahmed, officer-in-charge (OC) of Durgapur Police Station, said police conducted a drive at their house on Thursday afternoon. During the operation, law enforcers recovered around 740 bottles of Phensedyl, a contraband Indian syrup, with an estimated street value of Tk 29.60 lakh. Police said the suspected owner of the drugs, Abdul Jalil Akond, who is Nazmun Nahar's husband and Shafiqul Islam's son, managed to flee before the raid. A drive is underway to arrest him, the OC added.  

The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT)-2 on Thursday ordered former minister Abdul Latif Siddiqui to be sent to jail after showing him arrested in a crimes against humanity case filed over the alleged massacre during a rally of Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh at the Shapla Chattar in the capital in 2013. Prosecutor Mizanul Islam appeared for the prosecution. During the hearing, he told the tribunal that Latif Siddiqui was arrested under a warrant and produced before the court. Since the defence did not file any application, the prosecution sought an order to send him to jail. After hearing the submissions, the tribunal accepted the prosecution's plea, showed Latif Siddiqui arrested in the case and ordered that he be sent to prison. Earlier, Latif Siddiqui was arrested from Gulshan by the Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police on Wednesday night in connection with the case. The tribunal earlier took cognisance of the formal charges against former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and 40 others in the case. It also issued arrest warrants for 31 absconding accused, including Latif Siddiqui. The tribunal fixed August 16 for the next hearing and directed authorities to produce the 10 accused currently in jail in connection with various cases before the tribunal on that date. Allegations against the accused Speaking to reporters after the hearing, Prosecutor Mizanul said the then government had planned at different levels to foil the Hefazat grand rally and remove its leaders and activists from the Shapla Chattar on May 5, 2013. He alleged that Latif Siddiqui attended a meeting of senior Awami League leaders before the operation, and that the decisions taken at the meeting were later presented to the then prime minister. According to the prosecution, those decisions led to the joint operation carried out by members of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), police and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) against the unarmed gathering. The prosecution said its investigation found evidence that 61 people were killed in the operation and alleged that Latif Siddiqui was among those involved in planning, instigating and making decisions regarding the operation. Asked about Latif Siddiqui's specific role, Mizanul said he was a participant in the meeting. Although investigators could not establish every discussion held there, he was accused based on the collective decisions taken and the subsequent actions. After the hearing, defence lawyer Abdullah Al Harun Bhuiyan sought the tribunal's permission to sign the okalatnama (power of attorney) on behalf of Latif Siddiqui and requested permission to meet him at the tribunal lock-up. The tribunal granted both requests. At that point, Latif Siddiqui stood up in the dock and repeatedly tried to draw the tribunal's attention, saying, "My Lord, I seek your attention. I seek the attention of the honourable tribunal." He repeated the request several times, but by then the proceedings had already concluded. Latif Siddiqui then remarked, "If this is how the court functions, where shall I go?" Police personnel approached him and asked him to place the microphone down and proceed to the lock-up. He appeared agitated and responded when officers asked him to sit down, saying, "Whether I sit or stand is my decision. Who are you to tell me?" "I wanted to tell the court to sentence me to death. I am prepared to die. But the court did not want to hear me," the former minister said while leaving the courtroom. A brief verbal exchange was also witnessed between him and the police personnel escorting him. Speaking to reporters after the hearing, Latif Siddiqui's younger brother Kader Siddique said he came to protest what he described as the inclusion of an innocent person in the case. "Every accused person has the right to address the court. That is his legal right. Latif Siddiqui also wanted to speak, but he was not given the opportunity. I believe respected individuals deserve to be treated with respect," he said. Asked about the allegations against his brother, Kader Siddique said Latif Siddiqui is now 87 years old. "If he is sentenced to death for an offence he did not commit, we will accept it. Allah will then grant him freedom," he said. Responding to a question about the allegation that Latif Siddiqui was among those who planned the Shapla Chattar operation, Kader Siddique rejected the claim. "He cannot be described as a planner because he was not part of the government's 'kitchen cabinet.' He was the jute minister at that time. People are not killed over jute. In fact, he was already a controversial figure within the Awami League and to Sheikh Hasina over certain issues," he said. Comparing handcuffs to bridal bangles, he said, "There is nothing much to say about handcuffs. We have worn handcuffs many times. We do not consider it anything shameful. Just as a bride wears bangles during marriage, we see handcuffs in much the same way."