United News of Bangladesh

Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury on Thursday said the government plans to set up separate prisons and rehabilitation centres for drug addicts in each divisional city. The adviser said this while addressing a programme marking the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium in Dhaka. Jahangir Alam said the government has already approved a project to construct seven divisional drug rehabilitation centers spending Tk 1,400 crore. Highlighting various government initiatives against drugs, the adviser said the country’s development is being hindered by the ‘aggressive spread’ of drug abuse. “The driving force of any country’s progress is a productive youth population. To become a developed and successful state, we must protect our youth from drugs.” Focus also on drug kingpins, not just carriers: Home Adviser He expressed concern that people from different walks of life are getting involved with drugs and that women, children and adolescents are being used in drug trafficking, increasing their vulnerability to addiction and crime. To address this, the adviser said, the Ministry of Home Affairs is working in coordination with the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs and the Ministry of Social Welfare. He said the emergence of new synthetic and semi-synthetic drugs due to technological advancements worldwide, further complicates the drug abuse and trafficking landscape. “We need new strategies to combat these new substances.” The Adviser said all law enforcement and intelligence agencies are vigilant against new drugs and that efforts to curb their spread are ongoing. He mentioned that the Department of Narcotics Control (DNC) currently has 2,943 personnel, including 1,622 enforcement officers, for a population of about 180 million. The DNC operates through 64 district offices, one special zone, eight divisional intelligence offices and eight divisional offices across the country. Despite limited manpower and logistical support compared to other enforcement agencies, the adviser said efforts are underway to strengthen the DNC’s capacity. Referring to recent major drug seizures by the DNC, he said the anti-drug drive will continue, with enhanced coordination among police, BGB, RAB, Coast Guard and the DNC as the nodal agency. Under the current government’s directive, the “DNC Arms Policy 2024” has been formulated, and the first batch of DNC officers has completed firearms training, he added. Terming drug abuse and trafficking a ‘multi-dimensional problem’, the adviser called on all stakeholders to engage in a social movement against drugs alongside law enforcement. Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser Md Khoda Bakhsh Chowdhury, Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs Nasimul Ghani and Director General of the DNC Md Hasan Maruf, among others, spoke at the event.

A man was arrested on Wednesday in connection with the rape of a pregnant woman in the area under Sylhet Airport Police Station. The arrestee was named as Abdul Halim, 35, son of Dr. Abdul Hekim of Dargabari Rampur,  that falls under the jurisdiction of the same police station. Syed Anisur Rahman,  officer-in-charge (OC) of Sylhet Airport Police Station, said that Halim was apprehended around 3pm on Wednesday in connection with the incident. He will be presented before the court on Thursday.  Meanwhile the victim is currently receiving treatment at the One Stop Crisis Center (OCC) at Sylhet Osmani Medical College and Hospital. "The investigation of the case is underway," added the OC.

The Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) on Wednesday arrested three individuals for allegedly leading anti-government protests in the capital’s Mirpur area on June 22 and 23. The arrestees are GM Wahid Parvez, a Jubo League leader and two others identified as Sagar Biswas, 25, and Md Apon, 20. “They were arrested in separate operations conducted in Mirpur and Mohammadpur areas today,” said DMP Deputy Commissioner (media) Talebur Rahman. According to the police official, GM Wahid Parvez led several anti-government protest marches in different parts of Mirpur on June 22 and 23. Acting on intelligence inputs, a CTTC team arrested him from Mirpur earlier today. Youth held with five gold bars in Jashore Later, around 2:30pm, another CTTC team arrested Sagar Biswas, described by police as a notorious criminal, drug dealer, and mugger, from Chand Udyan area in Mohammadpur, he said. Based on information provided by Sagar, police also detained Md Apon at around 3:30pm from the Sat Masjid Housing area of Mohammadpur. Both of them are named accused in a case filed with Mohammadpur Police Station, the DC added. “Legal action is underway against the arrestees,” said Talebur.

Chairman of the National Independent Inquiry Commission Major General (retd) A L M Fazlur Rahman on Wednesday said the intelligence agencies of that time displayed extreme negligence and failed to discharge their duties during the BDR mutiny that took place on 25–26 February 2009. He made the remarks at a press conference held at the new building of the Science Laboratory in the capital, where the National Independent Inquiry Commission outlined its findings. Fazlur Rahman said both the then armed forces command and law enforcement agencies failed to take timely decisions and remained inactive while the crimes were being committed. “No effective measures were taken to prevent the mutiny and the killings. Available information so far indicates gross negligence and failure on the part of the intelligence agencies,” he said. Fazlur Rahman said political procrastination, under the guise of seeking a peaceful resolution, coupled with the inaction of the armed forces and law enforcement, allowed the atrocities to unfold. Pilkhana carnage: 27 ex-BDR members released from Kashimpur jail on bail He also alleged that efforts were made to misdirect the investigation, stating that two previous inquiry commissions attempted to obscure the facts. “There was a deliberate effort to link the incident to militancy in order to divert the course of the investigation,” he added. The Commission Chairman further revealed that they had received several accounts from victims and eyewitnesses suggesting possible foreign involvement in the mutiny and killings. “These accounts are being verified and analysed. Based on the evidence gathered so far, the Commission believes that timely military intervention could have prevented the brutal killings and associated crimes,” he said. To date, the Commission has interviewed 158 individuals, including military and civilian officials as well as political figures. Testimonies from around 50 more people are still pending, he informed. A preliminary draft of the investigation report has already been prepared and is currently under review by the Commission’s members. Testimonies from key witnesses are still being recorded, and the Commission has requested the cooperation of several important individuals to support further analysis. BDR massacre: Dr Yunus says mystery must be uncovered Besides, communications are going on with a number of foreign embassies and organisations to gather additional information, which the Commission says will require more time. In light of these developments, the Commission has formally sought an extension of the deadline for submission of its final report, proposing a new deadline of 30 September.

Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) detained a man with five gold bars worth Tk 86.77 lakh in Jashore Sadar upazila on Wednesday morning. The arrestee, Moynal Mollah, 35, is the son of Asgar Mollah from the Court Bari area in Dhaka. According to a BGB media release, the paramilitary force launched a drive in the Jhumpur area following a tip-off about a planned gold smuggling attempt through the Satkhira border. Indian national held with 18 gold bars worth Tk 2cr in Meherpur BGB members intercepted Moynal on his way to Satkhira after noticing his suspicious movements. A search led to the recovery of five gold bars, each cleverly concealed inside the soles of his shoes, weighing over 585 grams in total. The recovered gold has been deposited with the government treasury, and a case has been filed against Moynal with Kotwali Police Station.

In a major breakthrough, DNA evidence has enabled the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to identify and arrest a previously unknown suspect involved in the brutal murder of a man in Jhalakathi earlier this year. The suspect, Md Selim Madbor alias Rafique, 49, son of late Md Ali Madbor of Ghatkhali (Chawra) village under Amtali Police Station in Barguna, was arrested on Monday from the Sarulia area under Demra Police Station in Dhaka. According to the CID, the arrest came after DNA collected from the murder scene matched Selim’s profile. “The Crime Scene Unit recovered biological evidence from the spot and sent it to our DNA lab. Analysis revealed the presence of an unknown male’s DNA, which was later confirmed to be Selim Madbor’s,” said Jashim Uddin, Special Superintendent of CID’s media cell. DNA samples of accused collected for testing in Magura child rape case  The murder took place on the morning of February 24, when Imran Hawladar, 32, was hacked to death and dumped in a waterbody covered with water hyacinth, approximately 200 yards east of the LifeCare Diagnostic Center in Nandikathi village under Nalchhiti municipality, Jhalakathi. His wife Fahima Begum was also seriously injured in the attack. Imran’s father, Abdur Rashid Hawladar, later filed a murder case with Nalchhiti Police Station, naming two suspects and accusing 8–10 unidentified people. CID’s Lawful Interception Cell (LIC) later conducted surveillance and data analysis to locate Selim, leading to his arrest in the capital. Further digging into his background revealed that Selim Madbor alias Rafique is also accused in two robbery cases filed with Munshiganj Sadar Police Station, and he was charge-sheeted in another case (Case No. 24, dated 10/11/2020) with Badda Police Station. DB rescues UP chairman; 5 kidnappers arrested CID also confirmed that the prime accused in the case, Al Amin Hawladar, had earlier surrendered to the court. His DNA profile was prepared and matched with evidence found at the scene. The arrestee, Selim, has been handed over to the investigation officer for further legal action.

The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT)-1 on Tuesday fixed July 1 for a hearing on charge framing against three accused, including former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, in a case relating to crimes against humanity linked to the July-August uprising. The three-member tribunal, led by Chairman Justice Md Golam Mortuza Majumder, passed the order following a scheduled hearing. Former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Abdullah Al Mamun, already arrested in the case, was produced before the court during the proceedings. Prosecutors Mizanul Islam and Gazi MH Tamim appeared on behalf of the state. The tribunal had earlier appointed defence lawyers for the accused. Court orders gazette notice for Hasina, 11 others in Purbachal forgery cases On June 1, the court took the allegations into cognisance and issued arrest warrants for Sheikh Hasina and former Home Affairs Adviser Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, both of whom are currently absconding. On the same day, Al Mamun was shown arrested in connection with the case, while the court ordered summons to be issued for Hasina and Kamal to appear on June 16. Since both failed to appear on the scheduled date, the tribunal ordered public notices to be published in two national newspapers and set June 24 for the next hearing. In line with the schedule, Tuesday’s hearing was held and the tribunal issued its latest order.

Indian Border Security Force (BSF) reportedly pushed 19 more people into Bangladesh through Sylhet border early Tuesday. Those pushed included six men, six women and seven children. Lt Col Mohammad Nazmul Haque, commandant of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB)-48 Battalion in Sylhet, said the BSF pushed the people through Jaintapur upazila border around 5am. BSF pushes in 11 through border into Feni On information, the BGB personnel went to the scene and detained them for intrusion, he said, adding that they were later handed over to Jaintapur Police Station later. Despite repeated objections from Bangladesh, the push-ins by the BSF continued along the borders.

A total of eight police officials, including five officers-in-charge (OCs) of several police stations in Brahmanbaria district have been transferred together, citing public interest. The transfer orders were issued in an official notification signed by Brahmanbaria Superintendent of Police (SP) Ehteshamul Haque on Sunday night, instructing the officials to join their new posts immediately. According to the order, OCs of Bancharampur, Sarail, Ashuganj, Nasirnagar, and Nabinagar police stations were transferred. Bancharampur OC Morshedul Alam was appointed as OC of Sarail police station, while Nasirnagar OC Md Khairul Alam was posted as OC of Ashuganj. Meanwhile, Sarail OC Md Rafiqul Hasan and Ashuganj OC Mohammad Billal Hossain were transferred to Brahmanbaria Sadar Court as inspectors while Nabinagar OC Abdur Razzak was appointed as an inspector in the District Special Branch (DSB). Rokeya University teacher Mahamud gets bail; OC transferred Moreover, inspector Muhammad Azharul Islam, who was previously posted at the Police Lines, was appointed as OC of Nasirnagar police station. Nasirnagar police station’s Inspector (Investigation) Md Hasan Jamil Khan was made OC of Bancharampur, and Akhaura police station’s Inspector (Investigation) Md Shahinur Islam was appointed as OC of Nabinagar police station. The sudden transfer faced widespread criticism in the district but police sources said that several OCs faced various complaints, while some officers were reassigned based on commendable performance. When asked, SP Ehteshamul Haque told reporters that the reshuffle was carried out based on public interest and the professional competence of the officers.

Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury on Monday said the negative image of the police could be erased if they become more people-friendly personnel. He made the remarks while exchanging views with officials of the Tangail district administration and heads of various departments at a meeting held in the Deputy Commissioner's conference room in the afternoon. About Sunday night’s mob attack, the adviser said, “Those responsible for creating such a situation centring former CEC KM Nurul Huda will be brought to justice. If any member of the police is found to be involved, action will be taken against them as well.” He also said instructions have already been given to prevent the recurrence of such incidents and legal action will be taken against those involved. “Since August 5, actions have been taken to make the police more people-friendly. The police no longer behave the way they used to. If the public is happy with the police, I am also happy. I am making every effort to ensure the people are satisfied,” the adviser said. BNP disowns mob attack on ex-CEC Huda, demands action: Salahuddin Jahangir also mentioned that though the next national election is still some time away, police preparations are underway. “The overall law and order situation in the country is much better than before.” Dhaka Range DIG Rezaul Karim Mallick Reza, Tangail Deputy Commissioner Sharifa Haque and Superintendent of Police Mizanur Rahman were, among others, present at the meeting.