United News of Bangladesh

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has claimed that an attack on police personnel was carried out from within the anti-rape protest march. In a press release issued on Tuesday night, DMP Deputy Police Commissioner (Media) Md Talebur Rahman made the statement. According to the press release, at around 3:30 PM on Tuesday, a group of 60-70 protesters, including both men and women, attempted to march towards the Chief Advisor’s official residence, Jamuna, under the banner of an anti-rape march. Police intercepted them at the Hotel Intercontinental intersection. Protesters then allegedly used women as shields to break through the police barricade and advance forward. Protest march towards Jamuna faces police obstruction near Hotel Intercontinental As police urged them to move away to maintain security in the area and ensure smooth traffic flow, the protesters reportedly turned aggressive, attacking officers with a confrontational stance. Several police personnel were injured by protesters’ scratches, and at one point, they engaged in scuffles with law enforcement. The demonstrators also allegedly launched a surprise attack, throwing bricks and wielding sticks against the police officers on duty. The press release also stated that Abdulllah Al Mamun, Assistant Commissioner of Ramna Zone, was seriously injured in the attack. Additionally, Deputy Police Commissioner of Ramna Division Md Masud Alam, two female police officers, and three male constables sustained injuries due to the assault. The police later brought the situation under control by dispersing the protesters. Legal action is currently underway against those involved in the incident, according to the statement.

Out of 103 complaints received through a recently launched hotline for immediate action against violence against women, 62 were deemed irrelevant, such as requests for phone numbers or information on private hospital doctors, said police headquarters on Monday.   According to a statement from the police headquarters, the hotline was launched at 4pm Monday and till   8am on Tuesday a total of 103 complaints were recorded.  Hotline launched at Police HQ to prevent violence against women For cases requiring immediate action police officers were dispatched to the scene promptly. In situations where immediate intervention was not necessary, legal advice was provided, the statement added.  Authorities urged the public to refrain from making irrelevant complaints to the hotline numbers (01320002001, 01320002002, 01320002222) to ensure effective use of the service.

A Dhaka court on Tuesday issued an order for the seizure of several properties including houses, flats, and land, registered under the names of family members of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her family. Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Md Zakir Hossain Ghalib passed the order following a petition filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). Her family members included son Sajeeb Wazed Joy; daughter Saima Wazed Putul, younger sister Sheikh Rehana and Rehana’s children—Radwan Mujib Siddique Bobby and Tulip Siddiq. A flat in Gulshan, registered under Tulip Siddiq’s name, 'Sudha Sadan,' a house in Dhanmondi with 16 kathas of land, jointly owned by Joy and Putul are among the properties. Maya and 17 others sued in BNP leader’s disappearance Other  assets included Sheikh Rehana’s 8.5 kathas of land in Gazipur, 1.55 decimal of land in another Gazipur location, a flat in Segunbagicha.and six flats in Gulshan owned by Radwan Mujib Bobby, Court sources said ACC Deputy Director Md Monirul Islam filed the petition claiming that Hasina and her family were attempting to transfer or misappropriate these properties.

A young man reportedly assaulted three police personnel, including the officer-in-charge (OC) of Pallabi Police Station, in the early hours of Tuesday over a trivial matter. According to police, the attack occurred within the police station premises, leading to the arrest of the assailant, Abdur Razzaq Fahim, along with three others. Ex-MP's house occupied: Police arrest student coordinator Misty in Tangail The injured policemen were identified as OC Nazrul Islam, sub-inspector Shariful Islam, and ASI Md Nasir. According to DMP Deputy Commissioner (Mirpur zone) Maksudur Rahman, the incident took place around 12:30 am on Tuesday. He said Fahim arrived at the police station and informed the duty officer that a murder had occurred in the area. OC Nazrul clarified that no such incident had taken place, and explained that a young man had been stabbed and was receiving treatment at a hospital, while the perpetrator was already in custody. Fahim, appearing agitated, accused the officers of concealing the truth and insisted that the duty officer was aware of a murder. When OC Nazrul asked for his identity, Fahim hesitated to disclose it. As the OC attempted to escort him to his office, Fahim reportedly launched a physical attack, punching and kicking the officers. As ASI Nasir intervened, he sustained a broken finger in the scuffle. Fahim also allegedly punched SI Shariful on the forehead before being subdued and detained. Following his arrest, Fahim reportedly revealed that three others were travelling with him in a car from Gazipur, which had a news channel's sticker on it. All four individuals were brought to the police station and later arrested. DMP deploys auxiliary police for Ramadan, Eid with arrest powers A case has been filed against them, said DC Maksudur. The injured officers were taken to Kurmitola Hospital for treatment.

The law and order situation in Bagerhat has worsened over the past seven months, with the south-western district recording 23 murders and 21 rapes until February, reflecting the countrywide trend. In addition to murdering and raping, the incidents of piracy occurred 17 times, two robberies while a case involving mugging was registered during the same period starting from the last year’s August. Many people were injured in clashes and counter-clashes over establishing dominance, political issues following the fall of the Awami League government on August 5 last. During the period, incidents of vandalism, arson attacks and occupying lands were reported. But Superintendent of Police Md Towhidul Arif claimed that the law and order was improving gradually as engagement of law enforcers has increased in reining in disorder. According to the district police office, six murders, one each robbery, rape and piracy were committed in August, one murder, four rapes and two piracies in September, four murders, six rapes and one piracy in October, seven murders, three rapes and one piracy in November, one murder, three rapes, one robbery, and two piracies in December, two murders, one rape in January, and two murders, three rapes and two piracies in February. Home Adviser orders law enforcers to adopt tougher stance to prevent crimes Of them, the last October witnessed the highest number of six rapes and seven murders in November. Political leaders, some professionals and housewives had been the victims of killings during the period. Pointing to a number of initiatives taken by the district police to address the worsening law and order situation, police official Towhidul said they were working to improve the law and order in the district. Activities, including drives, patrolling, setting up checkposts and random search have been increased along with vigilance by the intelligence, he said. The police super said they record cases after any crime commits, and launch operations to nab the accused showing an improvement in the law and order situation. Deputy Commissioner (DC) Ahmed Kamrul Hasan told UNB that they are in touch with the law enforcement agencies constantly to maintain law and order. The district’s law and order committee holds a meeting every month to evaluate the overall situation and stresses the need for improving the deteriorating issues, the DC said. Magistrates and Upazila Nirbahi Officers (UNOs) are directed to actively work in ensuring public safety, Ahmed Kamrul added. Bangladesh sees spike in crimes amid political shift Expressing concern over the current situation of the country, district’s civil society member Prof Chowdhury Abdur Rauf suggested the government take immediate measures to stop the ongoing anarchy. He urged the government to consider alternative ways to prosecute the accused bypassing the existing law, fearing that the situation may further worsen if the government fails to tackle it. Prof Rauf observed that the situation might improve if the rights of all citizens are protected everywhere.

Police arrested a man from Aminbazar of Savar on charges of harassing women by making objectionable gestures and derogatory remarks on social media. The arrestee is Md. Khalid Mahmud, also known as Hridoy Khan. A Facebook page recently posted videos showing Khalid Mahmud dressed as a mentally unstable person while making derogatory comments about women who do not wear hijabs, according to a media release sent from Dhaka district police on Monday. He threatened that women who do not wear hijabs would face sexual violence and made other offensive remarks targeting young girls. Minor girl raped in Habiganj; 2 teen boys detained One of the viral videos reportedly features two Hindu girls, whom he specifically targeted with offensive remarks, attempting to create tensions between Hindu and Muslim communities. His statements spread misogynistic and divisive messages, influencing negative perceptions of women in society.

A case has been filed in the International Crimes Tribunal against 18 people, including Awami League leader Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya and former DG of DGFI Ziaul Ahsan, in connection with the 'disappearance' of BNP leader Chowdhury Alam. Alam's son, Abu Sayed Chowdhury, filed the complaint on Monday at the office of the Chief Prosecutor of the International Crimes Tribunal, confirmed the tribunal's prosecutor BM Sultan Mahmud. Travel ban issued against Salman F Rahman, his family The complaint mentions that Alam, a former city councilor, was abducted on the evening of June 25, 2010, in front of Kalindi Apartment on Indira Road, adjacent to Farmgate. Other accused individuals include Colonel Md. Mujibur, former Additional Director General of RAB, Lt. General (dismissed) Riyazul Islam, Major Ershad, former Deputy Commander of RAB-2 Khan Md. Akhtaruzzaman, the then OC of Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station, along with 11 others.`

A hotline service has been launched at Police Headquarters  to take swift action against women repression, aggressive gestures towards women, slander, eve teasing and sexual harassment. If such an incidents happen anywhere in the country, complaints can be made to the hotline numbers which will be available round the clock, said a media release issued on Monday. The hotline numbers are—01320002001, 01320002002 and 01320002222. Besides, the Police Cyber Support for Women Facebook page is still operational to provide legal services and protection to the victims of cybercrimes. Bangladesh Police follows a zero-tolerance policy to maintain law and order and prevent crime as well as prevent repression on women and children. It also is committed to taking appropriate legal actions against the repressors of women and children, said the release.  

The Department of Prisons has taken action against officials for various irregularities, including financial transactions. A total of 12 officials were dismissed, six were sent on forced retirement, and 84 were suspended in the last seven months, said Inspector General of Prisons Brig Gen Syed Mohammad Motaher Hossain at a press conference on Monday afternoon. Besides, the department filed departmental cases against 260 people, and 270 people have been sentenced to different terms during the same period, he said. Home Adviser orders law enforcers to adopt tougher stance to prevent crimes Hossain said strict directives were issued to jail superintendents and deputy inspectors general (DIGs) to ensure that prisoners receive proper food and facilities, barring any involvement in financial transactions. He assured that there would be no leniency towards officers and employees who breach the rules, and swift accountability measures are in place. As part of these efforts, the department took numerous disciplinary action, including dismissals, compulsory retirements, suspensions, and transfers. He added that the current administration was committed to ensuring transparency and accountability within the prison system. “In an effort to modernise the system, various initiatives based on modern technology have been introduced to improve prisoner management,” IG Prisons also said. Man arrested over ‘assaulting’ 2 women in Dhaka’s Lalmatia These include a nationwide hotline to gather information related to prisoners, digital visitor management to reduce the suffering of prisoners during interviews, and comprehensive prisoner management software, which will oversee various aspects such as cash management, telephone conversations, canteen management, and medical issues, controlled through RFID technology. Besides, mandatory body cameras for prison officers and employees in critical areas were being implemented, and the prison's fibre network connectivity was being expanded, which would enhance the security and efficiency of 69 prisons. Addressing the persistent issue of overcrowding, Hossain mentioned that the newly opened Sylhet Central Jail-2 (Metropolitan Jail) has increased prison capacity, and another special prison is in development in Keraniganj. Efforts to expand older prisons, such as those in Rangpur and Rajshahi, were also underway. RAB vows to eradicate teen gangs from Mohammadpur-Basila The establishment of a central prison hospital is in the approval process to provide advanced medical services for inmates. Claiming that a group is trying to destabilise the country, the Inspector General of Prisons said that breaking the syndicate of immoral beneficiaries for 15 years and making quick changes is a big challenge.

Law enforcers have arrested a man named Rinku for ‘assaulting’ two young women in Dhaka, Lalmatia over smoking in public. Cultural Affairs Adviser Mostofa Sarwar Farooki shared the information in his verified Facebook page on Monday. 3 rapist blackmailers arrested from Jatrabari In his post, Farooki wrote, “The harasser from Lalmatia, Rinku, was arrested last night. He also included lines from a song by Farzana Wahid Shayan in his post. On March 1, two young women were allegedly assaulted near the NHA Tower in Lalmatia. ACC grills ex-BFIU chief Masud Biswas One of the victims claimed they were assaulted for smoking cigarettes. The incident sparked widespread criticism on social media.