United News of Bangladesh

A court in Cumilla on Tuesday sent Jisan Ahmed Pradhan, expelled assistant secretary for international affairs of Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir, to jail in connection with a case filed over rape and forced miscarriage. He was produced before the Judge of Chief Judicial Magistrate Court-3 Tayeb Uddin Ahmed around 5:30pm under tight security. Following a hearing, the court ordered that he be sent to jail, said Court Police Inspector Mamunur Rashid. His lawyer Monir Hossain told reporters that they filed an application seeking court order to provide him with treatment at hospital considering his physical condition. However, after the hearing, the court sent him to jail. Earlier, Jisan’s family claimed that he was rescued from the Laksam Railway Junction area on Friday night, a day after he reportedly went missing from Daudkandi in Cumilla. He was later admitted to Cumilla Medical College Hospital for treatment. Following news of his rescue, a woman filed a case at Daudkandi Model Police Station on Friday night under the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act, naming Jisan and three others as accused. In the case statement, the woman alleged that she had been raped multiple times and that her pregnancy was forcibly terminated.

A police inspector of Savar Model Police Station has now been withdrawn over allegations of links with drug dealers. Inspector (Operations) Helal Uddin has been attached to the Dhaka district police lines following allegations of maintaining close ties with drug traders in the Rajashan area of Savar and involvement in irregularities related to narcotics cases, police sources said. Additional Superintendent of Police (Crime) of Dhaka Md Jahangir Alam confirmed the withdrawal, saying he was not aware of the reason behind the action. The latest action against the inspector comes amid ongoing scrutiny of officers at the police station over alleged links with drug dealers. Earlier, Officer-in-Charge Arman Ali of the police station was withdrawn in late May over allegations of negligence in arresting a top drug suspect, alleged association with him, and a deterioration in law and order in the area. Several other policemen from the station were also previously withdrawn over similar allegations. According to sources, on May 22, three journalists from Desh TV and SA TV went to collect news at the hideout of a top drug dealer named Shamim Reza in the Rajashan area. They were allegedly attacked and severely beaten by Shamim and his associates, leaving them injured. Although a case was filed at Savar Model Police Station naming 21 individuals, the then OC took no step to arrest them.

The High Court on Monday granted bail to former Awami League MP and renowned folk singer Momtaz Begum in three separate cases filed with Ashulia and Mirpur Police Stations. The HC bench of Justice Md Khairul Alam and Justice A KM Rabiul Hassan passed the order when the defence filed three separate petitions in the cases. Singer Momtaz sent to jail after remand A murder case and an attempted murder case were with Ashulia Police Station while a murder case was filed with Mirpur Model Police Station against Momtaz. Three more cases were pending against her in the court so she will not be released from jail yet, said one of her lawyers. Senior Advocate Motahar Hossain Saju, Barrister Sarah Hossain and Advocate Khairun Nesa stood for Momtaz in three cases. Detectives arrested Momtaz, an accused in several cases, from Dhanmondi in the capital on May 12, 2025 in a case filed with Mirpur Model Police Station. According to the case statement, Md Sagar was shot dead during the anti-discrimination student movement at Mirpur Golchattar on July 19, 2024. On November 27, 2024, a case was filed in this connection. In 2009, the famous folk artist became active in politics with the Awami League and was elected as an MP from reserved women's seat-21 under the party's nomination of the same year. Subsequently, she was elected as lawmaker from the Manikganj-2 (Singair-Horirampur) seat for two consecutive terms in the 2014 and 2018 elections.

The Traffic Division of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has filed 1,831 cases for traffic rule violations across different parts of the capital. The drives were conducted on Saturday, said DMP Deputy Commissioner (Media) NM Nasir Uddin on Sunday. During the operations, 65 cases were filed in the Ramna zone, 155 in Lalbagh, 375 in Motijheel, 256 in Wari, 132 in Tejgaon, 305 in Mirpur, 346 in Uttara and 197 in Gulshan. The traffic police also dumped 301 vehicles and towed away another 215 for various violations. The DMP Traffic Division said such drives will continue to maintain discipline on the roads of Dhaka.

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed on Sunday told Parliament that former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Benazir Ahmed, who was arrested recently in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in connection with corruption cases, will be brought back to Bangladesh soon. “An official extradition request will be sent to the UAE authorities through diplomatic channels by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the National Central Bureau (NCB) of Bangladesh Police will coordinate with Abu Dhabi to bring him back to Bangladesh very soon,” he said. Delivering a statement under the Rule 300 in the House, the Home Minister said the government of Bangladesh was informed through an email sent on June 12, 2026 by the Director General of the Federal Criminal Police of Abu Dhabi under the UAE Ministry of Interior that Benazir Ahmed, an accused in corruption cases, had been arrested by the UAE police. Citing that the former police official is currently accused in various cases filed under the Penal Code, the Prevention of Corruption Act and the Bangladesh Passport Order, he said the necessary case documents, arrest warrants and investigation-related papers required for extradition are ready, while the Ministry of Home Affairs has prepared and approved the extradition proposal, to bring him back to Bangladesh very soon. Under the law, a formal extradition request must be sent through diplomatic channels within 30 days from the date of arrest, he said. “This is a historic success for Bangladesh Police. Through this, we will be able to come out of the culture of impunity, InshaAllah,” said Salahuddin. He said the development would also reassure the nation that no one is above the law, no matter how powerful the offender may be. “It would help establish the rule of law in the country and remain a milestone in Bangladesh's history,” he added. Earlier, Bangladesh Police requested the Interpol to issue a Red Notice against Benazir Ahmed and then Interpol requested the UAE Ministry of Interior to arrest him, said the minister.  

Former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Benazir Ahmed has been arrested in Dubai by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) police in connection with a case filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) back in Bangladesh. Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed disclosed the development in Parliament on Sunday in a statement delivered under rule 300 of the Rules of Procedure. He said the UAE authorities informed the Bangladesh government of the arrest on June 12. “We will bring him back to Bangladesh soon," the minister said, describing it as a great success of Bangladesh Police. In April 2025, the Interpol issued a red notice against the former police chief. The development came following a request filed by the National Central Bureau (NCB), a unit of the Police Headquarters. Benazir Ahmed served as the IGP from April 2020 to September 2022, after completing his tenure as the director general of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) from 2015 to 2020. He fled the country on May 4, 2024 alongside his wife and three daughters amid investigation by the ACC into accumulation of illegal wealth.

The High Court on Sunday accepted for hearing the jail appeals filed by the two death-row convicts – Sohel Rana and his wife Swapna Akter – in the case filed over the rape and murder of eight-year-old Ramisa Akter. The HC bench of Justice Mohammad Ali and Justice Md Saifullah Islam passed the order. Attorney General Md Ruhul Quddus Kazal argued for the state during the hearing. On June 7, the Dhaka Metropolitan Children Violence Suppression Tribunal sentenced Sohel Rana and his wife Swapna Akter to death for the rape and murder of Ramisa Akter. Besides, Sohel Rana was fined Tk 5 lakh and Swapna Akter Tk 2 lakh under Section 9(2) of the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act. The court ordered that the fines be paid to the legal heirs of the victim. On June 9, the death reference (approval of the death sentence) was sent to the High Court. Following this, the convicts filed jail appeals through prison authorities on Thursday, seeking acquittal. The judgement in the sensational case was delivered in just 19 days following the incident, which sparked widespread outrage and prompted the government to pledge quick justice. On May 21, two days after the murder that took place on May 19, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman visited the house of Ramisa Akter and consoled the family. Earlier, on June 4, the tribunal completed arguments from both the prosecution and the defence. Before that, on June 3, it heard self-defence statements from the two accused after the testimony phase in the case concluded within a single day on June 2. Out of 18 witnesses, 16 made their depositions against Sohel Rana and his wife Swapna Akter before the tribunal. On June 1, the tribunal framed charges against the two accused in the case. Before that, on May 24, investigation officer of the case – Sub-Inspector Ohiduzzaman of Pallabi Police Station – submitted the charge sheet before the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM) Court of Dhaka. Later, the case was transferred to the tribunal. Ramisa Akter was raped and murdered by Sohel Rana, a tenant of a neighbouring flat on the 2nd floor of the building, on May 19. According to the case details, Sohel Rana lured her into his room and later killed her after rape. Ramisa’s decapitated body was found beneath the bed while her severed head was found inside a bucket in the bathroom. While Swapna Akter was detained from the scene, Sohel Rana managed to escape by cutting through a window grille. He was tracked down and arrested by police later in Fatullah of Narayanganj.

Two devotees were injured as armed assailants opened fire inside a mosque during Fajr prayers in Khulna city early Sunday. The incident took place at the West Zone Power Distribution Company Limited (WZPDCL) Jame Masjid on the BL College Road in the Daulatpur area of the city. The injured were identified as Lokman Hakim, 55, son of late Jabbar, and Alam Sheikh, 56, son of late Abdul Khaleque of Uttar Kashipur under Khalishpur Police Station. According to witnesses, several armed attackers suddenly entered the mosque and opened fire targeting Lokman Hakim when he along with other devotees was offering Fajr prayers. The incident also left Alam Sheikh who was offering prayers by Loman Hakim. The attackers fled the scene immediately after the shooting. Hearing the gunfire, fellow devotees and local residents, who rushed to the mosque, rescued the injured and took them to Khulna Medical College Hospital. Hospital sources said Lokman Hakim was referred to Dhaka for advanced treatment as his condition was described as critical. Senior police officials visited the scene soon after the incident and collected evidence. Assistant Commissioner (Daulatpur Zone) of Khulna Metropolitan Police Md Shafiqul Islam said an investigation is underway to determine the motive behind the attack and identify the perpetrators. Additional police personnel have been deployed in the area, and the situation remained under control, he said. The attack inside a mosque triggered panic and outrage among devotees and local residents. They condemned the incident and demanded the arrest of those responsible.

Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir central Assistant Secretary for International Affairs and former president of its Cumilla West district unit, Jisan Mia Pradhan, who was reported missing from Daudkandi on Friday night, and rumoured to have been abducted by state forces (enforced disappearance)was not abducted but had voluntarily gone into hiding to avoid the consequences of a rape allegation, Cumilla district police claimed on Saturday. The information was disclosed by Cumilla Superintendent of Police (SP) Md Anisuzzaman at a press conference held at the district police office around 3pm. According to police, Jisan’s cousin, Md Russell Ahmed, filed a General Diary (GD) with Daudkandi Model Police Station on June 12, stating that Jisan had gone missing from the Daudkandi Bazar area around 8:30pm on June 11. Following the GD, multiple police teams launched an investigation using information technology and intelligence-based tracking. During the investigation, police found that Jisan had become acquainted with a 25-year-old widow through Facebook about five to six months ago and later developed a romantic relationship with her. Police claimed that on May 20, Jisan allegedly raped the woman at his rented residence in Daudkandi by promising to marry her. The woman later alleged that she was subjected to sexual relations multiple times under the same promise, resulting in pregnancy. According to the complaint, she was later pressured to terminate the pregnancy and was given medication to abort the baby. Police said that when the woman began pressing for marriage, Jisan assured her that he would marry her on June 12. However, in order to avoid her, he allegedly went into hiding on the night of June 11. The investigation initially revealed that the missing incident had been portrayed as an abduction and that the GD had been filed through his cousin to support that narrative, police said. Meanwhile, local residents apparently found Jisan in an unconscious state in the Laksam Junction Road area of Cumilla city around 9:45pm on Friday. Laksam police later took custody of him and admitted him in hospital. After regaining consciousness, Jisan claimed that he had been abducted and transported in a vehicle. However, police said there was no evidence supporting an abduction occurring. The woman with whom he carried on the affair, meanwhile,  has filed a case under the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act with Daudkandi Model Police Station. In the case, Jisan was named as the principal accused along with three others on charges of rape, aiding and abetting rape, causing abortion and criminal intimidation. Police said three people have been detained and are being questioned in connection with the case. The investigation is ongoing, police added.

Two policemen have been withdrawn after Bangladesh national cricket team spinner Nayeem Hasan was physically assaulted and manhandled by some policemen in Lal Khan Bazar area of Chattogram port city. They are sub-inspector Md. Shafiqul Islam Bhuiyan and constable Md. Russell Chowdhury. Nayeem’s brother Sabbir Hasan filed a case against three people including the two cops with Khulshi Police Station over allegations of assaulting and harassing Nayeem Hasan. According to the case statement, Nayeem Hasan returned to Chattogram from Dhaka by air late Friday night. While travelling home from the airport by CNG-run auto-rickshaw, he was intercepted near the Lal Khan Bazar flyover around 1:00 am by a patrol team of police. The police officers beat Nayeem up despite identifying himself as a national cricketer and taken to Khulshi Police Station around 2:00am where he was mistreated again without being informed of any specific charges. Nayeem claimed that he was struck with a baton and physically assaulted inside the police station. The incident sparked widespread criticism across sporting and public circles. Officer-in-Charge of Khulshi police station Arifur Rahman said SI Shafiqul had not informed him about the operation before and that he only learned about Nayeem’s identity after he was brought to the station. Police later expressed regret and requested Nayeem to leave the station respectfully, he said. However, Nayeem’s family reportedly insisted they would not leave until those involved are punished. Another accused in the case is police informant Sohel. SI Shafiqul Islam Bhuiyan and Constable Russell Chowdhury have been withdrawn from their posts, said sources at Chattogram Metropolitan Police while police arrested Sohel in this connection. Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) strongly condemned the matter and called for swift intervention.