United News of Bangladesh

A local BNP leader was seriously injured after being attacked with sharp weapons by unidentified assailants outside his residence in the capital’s Mohammadpur area on Friday noon. The injured was identified as Md Nurul Islam, 55, senior joint general secretary of BNP’s Ward No. 33 unit in Mohammadpur. The attack took place around 2:30pm near Satmasjid Housing in Mohammadpur. According to police, six attackers arrived on two motorcycles and indiscriminately hacked Nurul Islam beneath his residence before fleeing the scene. He sustained severe injuries to the left side of his face, shoulder and left hand. Family members rescued him and first took him to a nearby hospital. As his condition deteriorated, he was later shifted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) for advanced treatment. He is currently undergoing treatment at the hospital’s emergency department. Yasin, a nephew of the injured BNP leader, said the family was not yet aware of the identities of the attackers or the motive behind the assault. Jewel Rana, Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) of DMP’s Mohammadpur Division, said preliminary findings suggest that the attack may have stemmed from political rivalry. Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and police are jointly working to identify and arrest those involved in the incident he added.

Police arrested alleged top criminal “Auto Sajal” from the Sayedabad area of the capital on Thursday night. Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Additional Commissioner (Crime and Operations) SN Nazrul Islam disclosed the information at a press briefing at the DMP Media Centre on Friday morning. He said a team from Jatrabari Police Station carried out an operation in the Sayedabad area around 9:10pm and arrested Sajal. During preliminary interrogation, Sajal reportedly revealed that weapons and drugs had been stored at a rented house in Swamibagh. Acting on the information, police conducted another drive at the house and recovered two Taurus-brand pistols, four magazines and 77 rounds of live ammunition. Police also seized 59 grams of heroin, 87 grams of a substance locally known as “Medi” (allegedly used in heroin processing), Tk 22,960 in cash and four handsets allegedly used in criminal activities. According to police, the recovered firearms are suspected to be among looted weapons. DMP official Nazrul said Sajal's name emerged during the investigation into a shooting incident in the Sayedabad Bus Terminal area on March 2, in which an inspector of the Department of Narcotics Control (DNC) was shot during a raid. Three suspects had earlier been arrested in connection with the incident. They were identified as Bappi, Hanif and Mosammat Shamsunnahar. Nazrul Islam said Sajal had long been involved in illegal arms supply and drug trafficking. Although he worked as a transport helper, he allegedly carried out criminal activities under disguise. Police said Sajal faces 11 cases filed at different police stations under the DMP.

A mobile court has seized 33 tonnes of rice allegedly diverted from the government’s Food-Friendly Programme in Sherpur and detained a warehouse owner. The detainee is Md Borhan Uddin, son of late Babul Mia of Kasba Kacharipara area in the town. Acting on a tip-off, the mobile court conducted the raid on the godown of Zebin Rice Processing in the Chapatali area of Sherpur town around 11:00pm on Thursday, according to police. The operation was led by Assistant Commissioner (Land) of Sadar upazila and Executive Magistrate Md Mahmudul Hasan. During the operation, officials found rice packed in sacks marked for distribution under the Food-Friendly Programme for June 2026. A total of 33 tonnes of rice were recovered from 770 sacks, including 500 sacks weighing 50 kg each and 270 sacks weighing 30 kg each. Officer-in-Charge of Sadar Police Station Md Sohel Rana said Borhan Uddin failed to provide a satisfactory explanation regarding the source and possession of the rice during preliminary questioning. Later, the mobile court seized those, detained the warehouse owner and directed for filing a regular case in this regard.  

A Netrokona court has sent to jail the prime accused in a murder case, who was arrested nearly three decades after the incident in Khaliajuri upazila of Netrokona. The court passed the order when police produced the accused – Abu Hanif Talukder, 65, son of late Abdul Momin Talukder of Balli village under Chakua union – before it on Thursday, said Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Khaliajuri Police Station Nasir Uddin. Earlier, police arrested him from Netrokona town on Wednesday afternoon, he said. Police said arrest warrants remain in force against several other accused in the case and efforts are underway to apprehend them. According to police and case records, Abu Hanif allegedly shot dead Sakhatur Rahman, 30, son of late Khurshed Uddin Talukder of the same village on May 14, 1997, using his father's licensed firearm. The killing reportedly stemmed from disputes over local election influence and allegations involving the theft of two sacks of paddy and clothing. A day after the incident, victim’s cousin Aftab Uddin Talukder filed a case at Khaliajuri Police Station, accusing Abu Hanif and 34 other individuals. Aftab Uddin said the investigation was later transferred to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of police following an application by the accused. During the investigation, four accused were dropped from the charge sheet, prompting him to challenge the decision. He said although a district court later ordered a reinvestigation, the same four accused were again excluded. Aftab Uddin added that the District Sessions Judge Court subsequently ordered that no accused should be excluded from the case, but the trial was repeatedly delayed as the defendants sought stay orders from higher courts. Following the withdrawal of stay orders after August 5, 2024, the court issued summons against the accused and later warrants for their arrest. Expressing satisfaction over the arrest of the prime accused, plaintiff Aftab Uddin said he had been pursuing justice for nearly 30 years. “I have received some relief with the arrest of the main accused. I hope the court will ensure exemplary punishment for those responsible for the murder,” he said.  

The Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) has arrested the prime accused in the 2024 murder of Farah Diba, wife of a retired Bangladesh Air Force officer, nearly two years after the killing in the capital’s Mirpur DOHS area. The accused, Md Sabuj Biswas, a driver by profession, was arrested from Kushtia following an extensive manhunt, RAB officials said on Thursday. Speaking at a press briefing at the RAB Media Centre in Karwan Bazar, RAB Legal and Media Wing Director Wing Commander MZM Intekhab Chowdhury said the murder was committed with the intention of robbery. According to RAB, Farah Diba, 60, wife of retired Wing Commander Kazi Abdul Matin, was murdered in her residence in Mirpur DOHS on October 27, 2024. A murder case was subsequently filed with Pallabi Police Station. The following day, RAB arrested security guard Md Milon Mia in connection with the incident. Based on Milon’s confessional statement recorded under Section 164 and the charge sheet submitted in the case, investigators found that Milon and Sabuj entered the house together and attacked the victim. They allegedly grabbed Farah Diba from behind and threw her to the floor. Sabuj held her mouth shut while Milon tied her hands and feet with rope and wrapped a towel around her face. She later died from suffocation. After ensuring her death, the accused looted cash and gold ornaments from an almirah before fleeing the scene, the RAB official said. “The investigation has established that the murder was carried out for robbery,” Wing Commander Intekhab said. He added that Sabuj had remained in hiding for a long period after the incident. Intelligence units from RAB Headquarters and RAB-12 had been conducting surveillance to locate him. Acting on confidential information and using information technology, a RAB team conducted a raid in the Court Station area under Kushtia Sadar Police Station on Thursday and arrested Sabuj, who was wanted under a court warrant. According to RAB, the accused had been evading arrest by using different identities and moving between various parts of the country. Asked whether the murder was driven by personal resentment or financial motives, Intekhab said the killing was committed solely for looting valuables from the house. He also urged the public to properly verify the identities and backgrounds of domestic security guards and drivers before employing them in their homes.

Members of police have seized over 5.2 million Yaba tablets along with large quantities of other drugs during the ongoing nationwide special operation launched on May 1, according to Police Headquarters. In a short SMS sent from its media wing on Thursday evening, the Police Headquarters said a total of 5,205,334 Yaba tablets were recovered during the ongoing special drive and search operations conducted across the country. The operation also led to the seizure of 5,689.87 grams of heroin, 2,036 bottles of Phensedyl, 4,744 bottles of foreign liquor, 15,109.52 litres of locally produced liquor, and 7,725.79 kgs of hemp in the last 49 days. Sources at the Police Headquarters said the special operation is being carried out nationwide as part of efforts to maintain law and order, curb criminal activities, and crack down on drug trafficking networks. The campaign, which began on May 1, continues across the country with law enforcement agencies conducting raids, searches and intelligence-based operations against drug dealers and other criminal elements. Authorities have reiterated their commitment to continuing the drive to prevent the spread of narcotics and strengthen public safety.

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has arrested two individuals for allegedly cheating a Bangladeshi expatriate out of money by promising jobs and permanent residency opportunities in Australia, according to a press release issued by the CID Media Wing on Thursday. The arrested are Rakibul Hasan, 26, of Nilphamari, and Roni Islam, 19, of Rangpur. CID’s Cyber Police Centre (CPC) conducted a raid on June 17 in Syedpur upazila of Nilphamari and arrested them, seizing six mobile phones and 12 SIM cards used in the crime. According to the case statement, the victim, an Omani expatriate, was contacted by an acquaintance who introduced a man claiming to be an Australia-based contact offering job placement services. The victim was later persuaded through mobile phone, Imo, WhatsApp and Messenger communications to send Tk 146,400 in stages for processing, visa and application fees. CID said the accused used fake identities and social media platforms, including a fraudulent Facebook page, to lure victims with promises of Australian employment and work permits. They also used foreign numbers and messaging apps to gain trust. Investigators found that Roni Islam posed as an Australia-based contact, while Rakibul Hasan assisted in receiving and transferring the fraudulently collected money through mobile financial services. CID said efforts are underway to arrest other members of the gang, and investigations are ongoing.

A Dhaka court on Thursday once again granted additional time for completing the investigation into the murder of journalist couple Sagar Sarowar and Meherun Runi, setting July 22 for the submission of the probe report in the case. With this, the deadline for submission of the probe report in the case was deferred for the 127th time. The Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) was supposed to submit the report on Thursday but as it failed to do so, Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Ariful Islam set a new date for the submission following a petition. On March 2, 2021, the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) submitted a progress report in the Sagar-Runi murder case in an affidavit form to the Attorney General’s Office. According to the report, two unidentified people were involved in the murder. On 11 February 2012, Maasranga Television News Editor Sagar Sarowar and his wife ATN Bangla senior reporter Meherun Runi were found dead at their rented apartment in the city’s West Rajabazar area Nousher Ali Roman, Runi's brother, filed a case at Sher-e-Banglanagar Police Station the following day. Police arrested Tanvir Rahman in connection with the murder case on October 1, 2012. Later, he secured bail in 2014. Law enforcers have so far arrested eight people, including Tanvir, in connection with the murder case. The seven other suspects are Rafiqul Islam, Bakul Mia, Abu Syed, Mintu alias Baggira Mintu alias Masum Mintu, Quamrul Hasan alias Arun, security guard Enam Ahmed alias Humayun Kabir and Palash Rudra Pal. Following the political changeover, on September 30, 2024, the responsibility for investigating the murder was taken away from the RAB. The High Court subsequently ordered the formation of a high-powered task force comprising experienced investigators from various law enforcement agencies and set a six-month deadline for completing the investigation. On October 17, 2024, the Public Security Division of the Ministry of Home Affairs issued a notification establishing the task force. The four-member high-level task force is currently conducting the investigation, with the PBI chief serving as its convener.

Police detained five people after a group of activists of the banned Awami League staged a brief procession in Feni town on Wednesday. According to police and local sources, around 15 to 20 young men wearing face masks took part in the procession under the banner of Feni Sadar Upazila Awami League in the Station Road area around noon. A video clip of the procession later spread on Facebook, showing participants carrying a banner of Feni Sadar Upazila Awami League and chanting slogans in support of the Awami League and its leader Sheikh Hasina. The procession reportedly started from Station Road and ended at the railway station platform. Feni Model Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Gazi Muhammad Fawzul Azim said police launched an operation after learning about the incident and detained five individuals in the afternoon. “We are identifying those who participated in the procession. Five people have been detained and their identities are being verified,” he said. The OC added that legal action would be taken following the verification process.

Testimony from 16 witnesses has been recorded in the rape and murder case of four-year-old Tabassum in Kaliganj upazila of Jhenaidah, with the trial proceeding swiftly under special government directives. The witness testimonies were completed on Wednesday in the Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal in Jhenaidah, a day after formal charges were framed against the sole accused, Abu Taher. Meanwhile, Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Adviser Asaduzzaman, speaking at an exchange meeting held at the conference room of the Deputy Commissioner’s office in Jhenaidah on Wednesday afternoon, directed authorities to expedite the trial proceedings in the widely discussed case. He said the government would maintain a zero-tolerance policy against rape and drug-related crimes. Jhenaidah Court Inspector Moktar Hossain confirmed that the witness testimonies had been completed. He said only two procedural stages remain before the court can fix a date for delivering the verdict. According to court sources, the trial began approximately three and a half months, or 110 days, after the incident as part of a fast-track judicial process initiated under special government instructions. On Tuesday, Judge Salehuzzaman of the Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal formally framed charges against Abu Taher following a hearing attended by Public Prosecutor Advocate Akilul Islam and state-appointed defence counsel Advocate Tarikul Alam. The investigation officer and Officer-in-Charge of Kaliganj Police Station, Jellal Hossain, submitted the charge sheet to the court on May 26. Court documents show that Abu Taher, the lone accused in the case, made confessional statements under Sections 161 and 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure regarding the incident. According to the case statement, four-year-old Tabassum went missing from Badedihi village in Kaliganj on February 26. Her body was later recovered from a septic tank of a local school. Police arrested Abu Taher from Kushtia on the same night following the filing of the case. The victim’s family has demanded the swift disposal of the case and the highest possible punishment for the offender.