United News of Bangladesh

The interim government on Sunday warned that it would be compelled to be tough to protect the country’s economy and the interests of its people if the officials and employees of the National Board of Revenue (NBR) do not return to their work. “We hope that the officials and employees will return to work immediately and refrain from illegal and destructive activities against national interests. Otherwise, the government will be compelled to turn tough to protect the people and the economy of the country,” said the government in a statement shared by the Chief Adviser’s press wing. The government said it decided to restructure the NBR in consultation with all relevant stakeholders, aiming to address weaknesses in the country’s revenue management system. The government, according to the statement, has also decided to declare all categories of jobs under customs houses, ICDs, bond commissionerates and customs stations, under the jurisdiction of the NBR, as ‘Essential Services’ to ensure uninterrupted import-export and foreign trade activities in the national interest. Bangladesh's biggest challenge in implementing development-oriented budgetary activities is the weak revenue collection structure. The amount of revenue collected remains significantly lower than the state’s requirements, primarily due to inefficiencies, irregularities and corruption within the revenue collection system, the government mentions. Finance Adviser ‘declines’ meeting with NBR Reform Unity Council amid protests Besides, the current interim government expressed deep concern over attempts by a ‘section of NBR officials and employees’ to obstruct the ongoing revenue reforms. "For the past two months, in the guise of a movement, they have severely disrupted trade, imports, exports and revenue collection activities, causing widespread public suffering. Such actions are entirely unacceptable," the statement reads. The statement further mentions that beyond resisting reforms, the agitating officials have seriously hampered revenue collection during the last two months of the fiscal year. "This so-called movement is pre-planned and ill-intentioned, posing a direct threat to national interests and the rights of citizens," it adds. The government reiterated that it had made clear announcements to consider the demands of NBR officials and called for dialogue to resolve the crisis. "They, however, rejected this offer and have continued to harm the economy with their rigid stance under the banner of a movement, rather than seeking an acceptable solution through discussions," said the government.  

Law Adviser Dr Asif Nazrul on Sunday said the government is committed to the swift trial of those who raped a 25-year-old woman after breaking into her home in Cumilla’s Muradnagar. “The Home Ministry took action immediately ... .the key suspects and others have already been arrested,” he told reporters at the Foreign Service Academy, expressing government commitment to deal with the case with the highest importance. He said like any citizen of the country, they are all saddened and outraged by this heinous crime. Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam was also present at the media briefing. UN human rights body to set up office in Bangladesh for 3 years The Law Adviser said an amendment to the Code of Criminal Procedure was approved at the meeting of Council Advisers on Sunday. He expressed the hope that many innocent people will be saved from harassment if this initiative is implemented. Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus presided over the meeting of the Council of Advisers at the Chief Adviser’s Tejgaon office.

The Appellate Division on Sunday stayed the effectiveness of its 2018 judgment that approved the much-debated service discipline rules for lower court judges. A six-member bench led by Chief Justice Dr Syed Refaat Ahmed passed the order. The same bench also granted leave to appeal against the earlier verdict that had endorsed the controversial rules. Following the order now there is no legal bar to continuing the ongoing High Court hearing on a writ petition concerning Article 116 of the Constitution, said lawyer Mohammad Shishir Monir. Attorney General Md Asaduzzaman represented the state during the hearing. Earlier on June 26, the court fixed June 29 for delivering the verdict on the review petition filed against the Appellate Division’s 2018 judgment which had approved the much-debated discipline rules for lower court judges. On that day, lawyer Mohammad Shishir Monir argued in favour of the review while Attorney General Md Asaduzzaman opposed it. Appointment of administrator to Nagad legal: High Court Talking to reporters after the order Advocate Shishir Monir said, “We told the court that the 2018 discipline rules were imposed by the then acting Chief Justice practically assaulting the judiciary. Previously, nine judges had delivered different orders on this issue. The government through the judiciary forced to introduce the gazette on lower court judges’ service rules—something unprecedented in judicial history.” That’s why we filed the review petition with the court’s permission seeking its urgent consideration,” he added. The dispute over lower court judges’ service rules traces back to the landmark Masdar Hossain case verdict of December 2, 1999, when the Appellate Division issued 12 directives for judicial independence including a clear separation of the judiciary from the executive branch. The Appellate Division upheld this landmark verdict in 2005.

Police are continuing their drive to arrest the main accused in a rape case involving the wife of an expatriate in Ramchandrapur Panchkitta village under Muradnagar upazila of Cumilla. According to Cumilla Superintendent of Police, the incident occurred around 8:00pm on June 26 when Fazar Ali Fazar, 36, son of Shahid Mia of Bahechar (Purbo Para) village in Muradnagar, allegedly raped a woman from the same area.  Locals managed to detain and beat him at the scene before he fled while injured. Shortly after the incident, some people who were present at the scene filmed the victim and circulated the video on social media platforms, prompting outrage and concern over the violation of decency and privacy. Singer Nobel granted bail in rape case Muradnagar police responded quickly upon receiving the information and took immediate legal measures.  Based on a written complaint filed by the victim, a case (No. 18, dated 27/06/2025) was lodged at Muradnagar Police Station under Section 9(1) of the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act 2000 (Amendment 2003). Law enforcers are actively working to trace and capture the accused to make sure appropriate legal action is taken against him, police said. Silent journey turns into nightmare; Habiganj College student raped on moving bus Meanwhile, police arrested three people in connection with the illegal sharing of the victim’s video.  Police said legal action will be taken against them as per existing laws.

Police on Saturday arrested a fugitive accused from Chattogram city’s Pahartali area in the case filed over the attack on BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir’s motorcade in 2017. The arrestee, Shamsuddoha Sikder Arzu, is a resident of Syedbari area under Ward-8 of Rangunia area and former president of Rangunia Upazila unit of Jubo League, a wing of the deposed Awami League (AL). Pahartali Police Station’s Officer-in-Charge (OC) Md Babul Azad said, "Locals detained Arzu and handed him over to us. He is wanted in a case filed with Kotwali Police Station, so we will transfer him there." One arrested for death threats against CA, chief justice, army chief The OC added that Arzu Sikder is also accused in several other cases, including one over arson in Rangunia and another filed in connection with the attack on Mirza Fakhrul’s convoy. Several more cases have been lodged against him in various police stations and courts in Chattogram since August 5 last year. Chattogram city BNP leader Idris Ali said the attack took place on June 18, 2017, when BNP leaders, including Mirza Fakhrul, were travelling from Dhaka to Rangamati via Chattogram to visit areas affected by landslides.

Police on Saturday arrested a man for issuing death threats against the chief adviser of the interim government, the chief justice, and the army chief through a video posted on social media. The arrestee, identified as Alamgir, was detained from the Jafatnagar area in Fatikchhari upazila of Chattogram, Fatikchhari Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Nur Ahmed said. 3rd grader schoolboy killed over mobile game, friend detained “Police arrested him after a video went viral on social media, where he was seen brandishing a bloodstained knife and threatening to kill the chief adviser along with other key state officials,” said the OC. In the video, Alamgir is seen holding a bloodstained knife and issuing threats to the Chief Adviser, Chief Justice, and Army Chief using abusive language. The video sparked public outrage after circulating widely on social media. The accused has been sent to court, the OC added.

Police have arrested a minor boy in connection with the brutal murder of his friend, a third-grade student, over a dispute involving a mobile video game in Baraigram upazila of Natore. Acting on a tip-off and using technology, police detained the accused, early Friday and recovered the stolen smartphone used by the victim, said Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) of Baraigram Circle, Shovon Chandra Hor. UNB is not identifying the accused since he is a minor. According to ASP Shovon, during initial questioning, the accused admitted that on Thursday afternoon, he and his now deceased friend, Abir, went out together in the Mohishbhanga area. The two engaged in a heated argument over playing the mobile game ‘Free Fire’ on Abir’s phone, which escalated into a physical altercation. At one point, the accused struck Abir on the head with a brick, causing him to collapse. He then struck further blows with the brick, killing him on the spot, before fleeing with the victim's smartphone. Earlier on Thursday evening, Abir’s family reported him missing. Around 8:30pm, locals found Abir's blood-stained bicycle abandoned beside the main road in the Mohishbhanga area. Upon receiving information, police arrived at the scene with the help of locals and discovered Abir’s mutilated body hidden under maize plants inside an under-construction spice factory nearby. Crime scene units from both the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) and the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) visited the location later that night and collected evidence. Due to the accused being a minor, police have refrained from disclosing further personal details.

Three people, including two suspected drug dealers, were killed and another was injured in separate incidents in Rupsa and Harintana areas of Khulna on Thursday night. The deceased were identified as suspected drug smugglers Sabbir, Saddam and sand trader Bablu Dutta. The bullet-hit Miraz fled from a private hospital after receiving first-aid. Locals said there had long been a dispute between drug dealers Sohag and Ashique groups in the Rajapur area under Rupsa Police Station of Khulna Metropolitan Police (KMP). Around 10:30pm on Thursday, Sabbir, Miraz and Saddam went to the house of Sohag in Rajapur area. On information, a group of 10 to 12 people led by one Sazzad Hossain of the Ashique group swooped on the house and opened fire, leaving Sabbir dead on the spot and Saddam and Miraz critically injured. As the criminals fled, locals took Saddam, who sustained bullet injuries in head’s back, to Khulna Medical College Hospital (KMCH) where physicians referred him to Dhaka. He succumbed to his injuries on the way to Dhaka in an ambulance while Mirza received a bullet in the waist and managed to flee after receiving primary treatment. Gunfight leaves 2 killed in Munshiganj Officer-in-charge of Rupsa Police Station Mustafizur Rahman said they were working to identify the accused involved with the murders. The dominance over the drug smuggling in the area might have led to the casualties, he assumed, saying that the concrete reason will be unfolded through investigation. Earlier around 9pm, miscreants slaughtered sand and land trader Bablu on his way to home in Rajbandha area under Harintana Police Station. Locals said that riding bike Bablu was returning home after completing personal work at night. The miscreants intercepted him in the Rajbandha area and took him to an under-construction building where they slaughtered him. Agony Hearing screams, locals went to the spot and found him critically injured when the miscreants left Being informed, a police team from the Harintana Police Station rushed to the spot and recovered the body, said officer-in-charge Sheikh Khairul Bashar. He said the body was sent to KMCH morgue for autopsy and efforts were on to nab the accused.

A case was filed on Thursday against 156 people including former prime minister Sheikh Hasina for their alleged involvement in an attack on a BNP programme in 2023. General Secretary of Khulna Metropolitan unit BNP, Shafiqul Alam Tuhin submitted a petition with Khulna Metropolitan Session Judge court on Thursday morning seeking permission to file a case against them. Khulna Metropolitan Session Judge Sharif Haidar accepted the petition after hearing in the afternoon. ICT schedules July 1 for hearing to frame charges against Hasina, 2 others According to the case statement, BNP organised a programme at Khulna Press Club on May 19, 2023. Some 50-60 people were injured when police charged batons and fired bullets. Police also arrested nine people in this connection. A number of police officials, former MPs, former ministers and Awami League leaders were made accused in the case.

Arrested former Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal on Thursday described the 2024 national election as a ‘dummy and fabricated exercise’, citing the failure of political parties to reach a consensus ahead of the polls. The former CEC said this in his confessional statement to the court of Dhaka Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM) Mohammad Mustafizur Rahman during a remand hearing on Thursday. As the court asked him why he had not resigned, Awal tactfully avoided the query saying that no CEC had stepped down in Bangladesh’s history. Later, the ex-CEC put cited the elections held during Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s regime and irregularities occurred during the 1996 election. The Dhaka court placed Awal on a three-day remand in a case filed by BNP over alleged irregularities and biased role in conducting the 12th national election.  Ex-CEC Habibul Awal put on 3-day remand A team of DB police arrested Awal from Moghbazar area on Wednesday. The arrest came two days after BNP filed a case with Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station accusing 24  people, including former CECs, Election Commissioners and other officials involved in conducting the 10th, 11th and 12th national elections, of irregularities and biased conduct. Meanwhile, police detained another former CEC KM Nurul Huda from his residence in the capital’s Uttara area on Sunday evening. In the 11th election, held in December 2018 under CEC KM Nurul Huda, the BNP alleged ballot-stuffing overnight hours before the voting. Ex-CEC Nurul Huda placed on 4-day remand The 12th election held in 2024, overseen by CEC Kazi Habibul Awal, was rejected by the BNP as a ‘dummy election’, as the party did not take part in it. Earlier this month, Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus instructed authorities to form a committee to investigate the roles of those involved in conducting the three elections.