United News of Bangladesh

The government is committed to ensuring that the perpetrator of child rape in Magura do not escape justice, said Home Affairs Adviser Lt. General Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury on Sunday. He made the remark while visiting the victim undergoing treatment at the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) in Dhaka on Sunday. A case was filed with Magura Sadar police station and all four accused were arrested in this connection, he said. "I have directed the law enforcement agencies to take a tough stance against harassment and rape of women. I also directed the concerned to submit reports to the court after completing quick investigation by making a list of all the violence against women so far,” the home adviser said He said the criminals involved in the recent incidents of rape will be brought to justice and punished strictly. Magura rape victim shifted to Dhaka CMH for better treatment Jahangir also said that women will perform their duties fearlessly at home and outside and those who will try to obstruct them will be brought under  law. He said that everyone should be aware and vocal against violence against women. “Family, social and moral values should be nurtured.” During the visit at the CMH, the adviser inquired about the child's treatment and instructed the hospital authorities to ensure the highest level of medical care. Senior officials of CMH were also present. Earlier, on March 6, upon learning about the incident, the adviser contacted the child's mother over the phone and assured her of the government's full support for the child's treatment. Tarique talks to Magura rape victim’s mother, assures justice The victim was transferred to CMH from Dhaka Medical College Hospital yesterday for better medical care. The horrific rape of the minor girl in Magura triggered protests across the country.

Students, mostly female ones, rocked their campuses with their overnight protests at different public universities, including Dhaka University, demanding immediate justice for recent incidents of rape and sexual harassment across Bangladesh. At Dhaka University, students from Kabi Sufia Kamal Hall gathered at the base of Raju Smrity Bhasjkarjya (Raju Memorial Sculpture) at midnight and started protests chanting various slogans. Students from other dormitories joined the protests and announced the Raju Smrity Bhasjkarjya as the ‘Anti-Rape Platform’ (Dharshan Birodhi Monch) to amplify their voices against rape and violence against women. They demanded the formation of a tribunal to ensure that justice is served without delay. The protests follow the recent harassment of a Dhaka University student allegedly by a Central Library staff member. College student raped in Ctg The protests intensified as the news of a child rape case in Magura triggered nationwide outcry, with the hospital authorities describing the child's condition as "critical." Besides, female students of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) in Sylhet staged demonstrations demanding the death penalty for the rapist. Breaking open the gates of dormitories, the students came out of the halls and staged demonstrations for two hours starting at 1am. The students of Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) also staged demonstrations on the same demand around 3am. The Jahangirnagar University (JU) students blocked Dhaka-Aricha Highway, demanding toughest punishment of the rapist. Magura rape victim shifted to Dhaka CMH for better treatment They carried out the protest programmes around 2am.    The wave of protests also touched the students of Jagannath University as they took to the streets demanding death penalty of the accused.

Police arrested four people in a case filed over the violation of an 8-year-old girl at her married sister's home in Magura on Saturday. The arrestees are the victim's brother-in-law Sojib Sheikh, 20, his brother Ratul Sheikh, 25, and their parents, i.e. her sister's parents-in-law, Hitu Sheikh, 50, and Jabeda Begum, 40. Quoting her sister, police said her father-in-law, Hitu Sheikh, violated the little girl after taking her outside the house. Tarique talks to Magura rape victim’s mother, assures justice He also tried to kill the girl by strangling her but failed and left her in an unconscious state. Magura Sadar Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Ayub Ali said the arrestees will be produced before the court on Sunday. Earlier on Wednesday, the victim went to visit her sister, who lives with her in-laws in Nijnanduali village in Sadar upazila of Magura district. At night, the victim went to bed with her sister. At the dead of night, her sister saw her nowhere and went outside in search of her. After a frantic search, she was found in an unconscious state a few yards away from the house. Magura rape victim shifted to Dhaka CMH for better treatment Later, she was taken to Magura General Hospital and then shifted to Faridpur Medical College Hospital due to her critical condition. On Thursday, the girl was sent to the DMCH. Meanwhile, the girl was transferred to the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) in Dhaka on Saturday afternoon for advanced medical care. Earlier, a medical board comprising specialists from four DMCH departments was formed to oversee her treatment.

At least 36 members of the outlawed Hizb-ut Tahrir group have been arrested across the country since Friday. They include Saiful Islam, a key organiser of the group, which was banned in 2009 for an anti-state campaign. Police have launched a nationwide search for the members of the group who took part in the banned rally outside the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque in Dhaka. Private security personnel appointed as auxiliary police for Ramadan, Eid: DMP "We are analysing the video footage of the rally. We have identified many members of HT, and they will be arrested for joining a political program of a banned organisation," Chief Adviser's press wing said quoting Inspector General of Police Baharul Alam on Saturday. Police have filed several cases under anti-terrorism laws against the members of the group.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Sheikh Md Sazzat Ali announced on Saturday that private security personnel would be appointed as auxiliary police during Ramadan and Eid celebrations. Speaking at a press conference at the DMP Media Centre, the commissioner explained that he has the authority to assign auxiliary (assistant) police forces in shopping malls and residential areas, saying, “They will have a band in their hands. It will be written auxiliary police and they have the authority to make arrests.” Baitul Mukarram turns into a battlefield as police confront Hizb ut-Tahrir men Besides, they will receive legal protection similar to that of regular police officers, he said. The DMP commissioner emphasised that shopping malls in Dhaka remain open late into the night during Ramadan and Eid, saying that certain alleys in the city become deserted during Tarawih prayers. To ensure security during this period, he urged residents to take precautionary measures when leaving their homes or businesses, particularly as many police personnel will be on leave during the holidays. Govt taking swift action against mob violence: Home Adviser "As the DMP Commissioner, I want to request that when you go home for Eid, you manage the security of your house, flat, shop, and business establishments at your own responsibility," he said. He added, "We are with you, but due to a shortage of police, many officers will be on leave. Those who remain will also have their families absent for extended periods, and we need to grant them leave as per government instructions."  

Police on Friday arrested four individuals for kidnapping a senior official of a garment export company and his personal driver and demanding ransom in Chattogram. The suspects had introduced themselves as coordinators of the so-called "Anti-Discrimination Student Movement" (ADSM). The detainees have been identified as Nazmul Abedin, Noimul Amin, Arafat Hossain, and Rishti Bin Yusuf—all aged between 22 and 23. Akbar Shah Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Md. Kamruzzaman said that the arrested individuals had long been falsely presenting themselves as coordinators of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement. “However, no official records exist confirming their leadership roles in any such organisation,” he added. DMP arrests 188 in special drives According to a CMP press release, the incident took place on Thursday night when the assistant general manager of Pacific Jeans, Abedin Al Mamun, and his personal driver, Md Jewel, were abducted from Mamun’s residence in the CDA Residential Area opposite Probati School under Akbar Shah Police Station. The kidnappers took the victims to various locations, including Patenga Sea Beach, Colonel Hat in Pahartali, and Akbar Shah, while demanding a ransom of Tk 20 lakh from Mamun’s wife, Fatema Akter. The abductors reportedly collected Tk 500,000 in cash and took a bank cheque for the remaining Tk 15 lakh. Later, they released the victims near Apollo Imperial Hospital before fleeing. Upon receiving the report, police swiftly launched an operation using technology to trace the victims' location. The victims were rescued from the Apollo Imperial Hospital area, and subsequent raids at multiple locations led to the arrests of the four suspects from their respective residences. A joint operation by the Chattogram Metropolitan Police’s (CMP) West Zone, led by Deputy Commissioner of Police Hussain Mohammad Kabir Bhuiyan, along with officers from the Pahartali Zone and the Detective Branch, led to their arrests.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) arrested 188 individuals involved in various crimes during special operations in the capital in 24 hours till midnight on Thursday. Among those arrested were six robbers, 22 professional hijackers, four extortionists, seven thieves, 20 drug dealers, 30 wanted criminals, and others involved in various illegal activities, said Talebur Rahman, Deputy Commissioner (Media) of DMP, in a media release on Friday During the operation, authorities recovered several locally made weapons, three mobile phones and Tk 19,000 in cash from their possession. Besides, law enforcement seized 63.57 kg of marijuana and 50 pieces of yaba tablets. A total of 67 cases were filed at different police stations under DMP within the 24-hour period. To ensure public safety, 667 patrol teams carried out duties in two shifts across 50 police stations in Dhaka. Of these, 340 teams operated at night, while 327 teams worked during the day. Moreover, 71 police checkpoints were set up at key locations throughout the metropolis to enhance security. In addition to the DMP’s patrol teams, 14 CTTC teams, 12 Anti-Terrorism Unit (ATU) teams, and 10 RAB teams collaborated with the DMP at various crime-prone areas. Specialised police units such as the APBN also set up 20 additional checkpoints, contributing to the effort to maintain law and order. DMP remains committed to ensuring the security and smooth movement of the people of Dhaka Metropolitan City.

Members of Bangladesh Army discovered a secret hideout of the United People's Democratic Front (UPDF) (Main) in the Kaukhali area of Rangamati on Friday. Acting on a tip-off, an army patrol team carried out a special operation targeting high-ranking UPDF miscreants and located the hideout, according to a press release from the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR). Sensing the presence of the army, the miscreants fled the scene, it said. During a subsequent search, recovered several items, including 17 rounds of pistol ammunition, a binocular, a walkie-talkie set, a hard disk, uniforms of the miscreants, extortion receipts, and other various equipment were seized.

Baitul Mukarram to Paltan and Bijoynagar turned into a battlefield after jumma’ prayers on Friday due to a chase and counter-chase between law enforcers and activists of the banned outfit Hizb ut-Tahrir. Police had to fire sound grenades and teargas shells to bring the situation under control. Three members of banned Hizb ut-Tahrir held in Uttara:Police Police and witnesses said the incident broke out when Hizb ut-Tahrir members brought out a procession from the south gate of Baitul Mukarram after the jumma’ prayers. Earlier, defying a warning from Dhaka Metropolitan Police, the banned organisation brought out a procession chanting, “The only path to liberation—Khilafah, Khilafah.” A few days ago, Hizb ut-Tahrir had announced a “March for Khilafah” at the north gate of Baitul Mukarram. Two Hizb ut-Tahrir men arrested from Dhaka’s Turag: Authorities In preparation, the group put up posters at various locations, including Dhaka University, and distributed leaflets in different areas.

Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) seized a large quantity of smuggled Indian goods, including readymade shirt pieces and cosmetics, along India border in Tahirpur upazila of Sunamganj on Thursday night. The seized products include 5, 127 pieces of readymade shirts, 156 metres of pant fabric, 1, 296 metres of blazer fabric, 20, 430 metres of Punjabi fabric and 9, 000 bottles of Sunrise cream. Lt. Col AKM Zakaria Qadir, commandant of the BGB-28 Battalion in Sunamganj, said a patrol team recovered the products abandoned in Charagaon area under Sreepur union of the upazila, 200 yards off the border. BGB seizes smuggled goods worth Tk 170.18 cr in Feb The market price of the goods was estimated around Tk 2 crore and 92, 500, he said. Drives against smuggling will continue, the BGB official said, assuming that the smugglers brought the items from India ahead of the Eid-ul-Fitr.