United News of Bangladesh

A three-member inquiry committee headed by the Additional IG (Administration) has been formed in connection with the departure of former President Abdul Hamid to Thailand. The Superintendent of Kishoreganj Police has also been withdrawn in the incident, said Faisal Hossain, public relation officer of Home Ministry on Thursday evening. Will quit if fail to punish those who helped Hamid to fly abroad: Home Adviser    Earlier, an additional superintendent of police of the Immigration Police withdrew and two other police officers suspended on the same ground. Meanwhile, Home Affairs Adviser Lt. Gen (retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury vowed to step down if he fails to bring those who collaborated with the former president to leave the country to book. Warning of strict actions, adviser Jahangir said no one will be spared who facilitated the former president’s departure. Armed forces' magistracy powers extended by 60 days The former president left the country for Thailand through Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka early Thursday.

The government has formed International Crimes Tribunal-2 with former Justice Nazrul Islam Chowdhury of the High Court Division of the Supreme Court as its chairman. It was formed considering the number of complaints and accusations received by the International Crimes Tribunal and the need for speedy trial, said a notification issued by the Law and Justice Department on Thursday. Retired District and Sessions Judge Md. Manjurul Bashid and Madaripur District and Sessions Judge Nur Mohammad Shahriar Kabir were appointed as members of the tribunal, added the notification. According to the notification, the chairman and members of the Tribunal-2 will receive the salary and allowances and other benefits due to judges of the Bangladesh Supreme Court and High Court Division. Besides,  the existing International Crimes Tribunal, comprising Justice Md. Golam Mortuza Majumder, Justice Md. Shafiul Alam Mahmud and retired District and Sessions Judge Md. Mohitul Haque Enam Chowdhury, was declared as International Crimes Tribunal-1.

The government has once again extended the magistracy power of commissioned officers in the Army, Navy and Air Force by another 60 days with effect from May 14. The Ministry of Public Administration issued a notification to this effect on Thursday. According to the notification, commissioned officers holding the rank of captain and above in the Bangladesh Armed Forces have been granted special executive magistrate powers across the country. Armed forces' magistracy powers extended for 60 days Military officers serving on deputation in the Coast Guard and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) have also been vested with the same authority. The interim government initially granted the magistracy power to commissioned army officers on September 17 last year for 60 days to improve law and order.  It was subsequently extended on January 12 and March 13 this year.

Home Affairs Adviser Lt. Gen (retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury on Thursday vowed to step down if he fails to bring those who collaborated with former President Abdul Hamid to leave the country to book. He made the remark in the face of questions from the students involved in the July Uprising when he was leaving the conference room of Dinajpur deputy commissioner after attending a meeting on law and order. Warning of strict actions, adviser Jahangir said no one will be spared who facilitated the former president’s departure. “Of course, action will be taken. No one will be spared under any circumstances. Those involved in it must be punished,” he said. One police official withdrawn, 2 suspended over Abdul Hamid’s departure   Asked if it does not happen, the adviser replied that he would resign. Former President Hamid left the country for Thailand through Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport early Thursday. Earlier in the day, the adviser inaugurated the paddy harvesting in Biral upazila where he assured the farmers not to be panicked over the border amid the ongoing fighting between India-Pakistan. Agriculture Secretary Emdad Ullah Mian, Director General of Barind Zone Mozaffar Hossain, Rangpur Divisional Commissioner Shahidul Islam, Dinajpur Deputy Commissioner Rafiqul Islam, Superintendent of Police Marufat Hossain and other concerned were present on the occasion.

An additional superintendent of police of the Immigration Police has been withdrawn for his alleged negligence in performing duty in connection with the departure of former President Abdul Hamid for Thailand. Besides, the investigating officer of cases filed with Kishoreganj Sadar police station against the former President and an officer of Special Branch of the district were suspended on the same ground, said a statement sent form police headquarters on Thursday night. Two Narsingdi police officials withdrawn over drug sale allegations However, the identities of the police officials have not been disclosed yet. Early Thursday, the former president left the country for Thailand through Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Sheikh Md. Sajjat Ali on Thursday said they have taken comprehensive security plans for smooth celebrations Buddha Purnima. Speaking at a coordination meeting held at the DMP Headquarters conference room, the DMP Commissioner said necessary traffic management plans have also been undertaken by the DMP's Traffic Division to ensure normal vehicular movement around different Buddhist temples in the capital during the celebrations. Measures have been taken on all designated routes to control traffic during the Buddha Purnima processions. DB arrests two AL leaders in Dhaka To ensure safety at the event venues, CCTV cameras, archways, and metal detectors will be installed by the police. The coordination meeting was attended by representatives from various Buddhist temples in Dhaka, Buddhist religious leaders, officials from intelligence agencies, specializsd police units, Dhaka North and South City Corporations, Fire Service and Civil Defence, DPDC, WASA, Public Works Department, and other public and private service agencies. At the beginning of the meeting, DMP Joint Police Commissioner (Operations) Mohammad Shahidullah presented the overall security plan through a PowerPoint presentation. This was followed by an open discussion where participants from various agencies shared their opinions and suggestions. Among others,  DMP Additional Police Commissioner (Traffic) Md. Sarwar,  Additional Police Commissioner (Crime and Operations) S.N. Md. Nazrul Islam; Additional Police Commissioner (Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime) Md. Masud Karim; Additional Police Commissioner (Logistics, Finance and Procurement) Hasan Md. Shawkat Ali; as well as Joint and Deputy Police Commissioners, and other senior officials were present.       

The Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police has arrested two leaders of Awami League (AL) in separate drives in the capital. The arrestees are Sheikh Md Amir, 64, president of the Awami League's Ward No 24 unit and Md Faisal Ahmed alias Rony, 35, general secretary of AL’s student wing banned Chhatra League’s Ward No  48 unit under Jatrabari Police Station. 4 activists of AL, associate bodies held in Dhaka Amir was arrested from the Lalbagh area around 10pm on Wednesday while Faisal was arrested from Jatrabari earlier the same day during an afternoon raid, said Deputy Commissioner of DMP’s Detective Branch, Talebur Rahman. There are multiple cases against the accused at various police stations, DC Talebur said. Legal proceedings are underway against them, he said.

Police have arrested a local BNP leader in Feni over the public humiliation of two women, who were allegedly forced to rub their noses on the ground as punishment for their sons’ suspected theft of pigeons. The accused, Delwar Hossain Delu, president of the BNP’s Panchgachia union unit under Feni Sadar upazila and a former union parishad chairman, was detained early Thursday, said Feni Model Police Station’s officer-in-charge Mohammad Shamsuzzaman. The arrest followed a case filed on Wednesday by one of the victims, Sajeda Begum, at the Feni Model Police Station. The case names 13 people, including Delu and lists 10-12 unidentified individuals as accused. According to the case statement, the incident occurred on the night of May 1 during a local arbitration at Madhyam Mathiara village in Panchgachia union, arranged over the alleged theft of pigeons belonging to one Jahangir. 21 illegal wheelchairs seized from DMCH During the arbitration, Sajeda Begum and another woman, Johora Begum, were allegedly compelled to publicly touch their noses to the ground, a traditional form of humiliation, to atone for the supposed wrongdoing of their sons. Delu, who reportedly presided over the arbitration, is accused of hitting Sajeda with a stick in a sensitive part of her body and threatening both women to carry out the act of penance. A local court has also taken cognizance of the incident. Senior Judicial Magistrate Aparajita Das has directed Additional Superintendent of Police Md Saidur Rahman to investigate the matter and submit a report within 30 days. OC Shamsuzzaman said necessary legal action is underway.

Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) authorities seized 21 illegal wheelchairs from in front of the hospital’s emergency department on Wednesday. The drive was conducted under the directive of the hospital’s director and led by its deputy director. “We seized 21 unauthorised wheelchairs from the emergency area in the afternoon which were brought in by outsiders,” said DMCH Deputy Director Dr Ashraful Alam. "Those who brought the wheelchairs fled the scene sensing the presence of hospital staff," he added.

Inspector General of Police Baharul Alam on Wednesday said that Superintendents of Police  in border districts have been instructed to remain alert so that the ongoing India-Pakistan conflict does not pose any threat to Bangladesh’s internal security. Dhaka wants Delhi, Islamabad to refrain from any steps that could worsen situation “Our country shares borders with 30 Indian districts and three with Myanmar. In light of the recent India-Pakistan conflict, we have already issued cautionary directives to SPs in these bordering areas to ensure that our internal security remains intact,” the IGP said while speaking to reporters at an event at the Bangladesh Shooting Sports Federation in Dhaka’s Gulshan on Wednesday. India-Pakistan tensions prompt diversion of Dhaka-bound international flights He added that all necessary steps will be taken to prevent any security disruption stemming from regional tensions.