United News of Bangladesh

Police have arrested a man allegedly for cutting down at least 50 Bakul trees and several other species along the Dhaka–Chattogram Highway in Betlatail area of Sadar Dakshin upazila of Cumilla district. The arrestee was identified as Azmiri Hossain of Souratoli area in Sadar Dakshin upazila of the district. The Roads and Highways Department (RHD) filed a case with Sadar Dakkhin police station on Saturday night against Azmiri for chopping down the trees for vegetable cultivation, said officer-in-charge of the police station Mohamamd Selim. According to the case statement, more than 50 trees were felled along a stretch of about 500 metres---some uprooted completely, some cut halfway and some even burned, which drew a huge flak. The trees were planted after the highway was expanded into four lanes in 2016 to enhance beauty and ensure safety.

A Dhaka court on Sunday issued warrants for the arrest of popular actress Mehazabien Chowdhury and her brother Alisan Chowdhury in a case over embezzlement of Tk 27 lakh. Judge of the Dhaka Executive Magistrate Court-3 Afroza Tania passed the order and fixed December 18 for the next hearing. The accused were scheduled to appear before the court on November 10 but failed to do so. According to the case statement, Mehazabien took Tk 27 lakh from plaintiff Amirul Islam through Nagad and bKash, promising to make him a business partner in a new family venture. When Mehazabien and her brother did not initiate any business activities for a long period, Amirul asked for his money back but they delayed repayment. On February 11, after Amirul again sought the refund, the accused asked him to meet at Hatirjheel Road on March 16. Upon reaching the designated spot, Amirul was verbally abused and threatened with death by Mehazabien, her brother, and 4–5 others if he appeared near the actress’ residence, it said. Amirul filed a case with Dhaka Executive Magistrate on March 24.

Miscreants set fire to the July Memorial in Muktabazar area of Feni district town early Sunday. Police said a around 3:30 am group of helmet-wearing youths poured petrol on the monument and set it ablaze before fleeing. Feni Superintendent of Police Habibur Rahman and senior officials visited the spot. Police said CCTV footages from the surrounding areas were collected. “We have already identified those involved and legal action will be taken soon,”  said the SP. The July Memorial commemorates 11 people from Feni who were killed during last year’s July uprising. July Memorial set on fire in Pirojpur Seven of them died in Feni on August 4, 2024 when Awami League men allegedly opened fire on protesters. Condemning the attack, ‘A’ categorised July fighter Nahidur Rahman said it is disgraceful for the July martyrs and urged law enforcers to bring the accused to justice. Feni district Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Abdul Hannan alleged that Awami fascists were preparing for further violence, calling on all to unite against them. District BNP member secretary Alal Uddin Alal said Awami miscreants are still active in the district to destablise the national election.

Bangladesh Television (BTV) will broadcast live on Monday (November 17) the verdict in the case over crimes against humanity during last year’s July uprising, involving former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and two others. A three-member bench headed by International Crimes Tribunal-1 (ICT-1) Chairman Justice Golam Mortuza Majumder will deliver the judgment. The live verdict will be shown via giant screen at 10 spots of the Dhaka, said MH Tamim, a prosecutor of the ICT.   A foreign news agency has also sought permission for live coverage, the prosecutor said. The prosecution has claimed all five charges against Hasina, former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan and former IGP Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun have been proven, seeking the maximum punishment, including the death penalty. In a press briefing on November 13, Chief Prosecutor Md Tajul Islam said they have appealed to the court for the highest penalty. Initially, Sheikh Hasina was the sole accused in the case. On March 16 this year, the prosecution appealed to include former IGP Mamun as an accused alongside Sheikh Hasina and the tribunal approved it. After the Awami League government was toppled on August 5, 2024, the ICT was reconstituted. The first case in the reconstituted tribunal concerned alleged crimes against humanity during the July uprising, with Sheikh Hasina as the accused. Tensions rise as ICT going to set verdict date in Hasina case The tribunal conducted its first hearing on October 17 last year, issuing an arrest warrant against Hasina that day. After extending the deadline several times, the tribunal’s investigation agency submitted its final probe report to the Chief Prosecutor’s Office on May 12 this year. On June 1, the prosecution formally filed charges against Sheikh Hasina and the two accused. The charges include: - Inciting violence in a press conference at Ganabhaban on 14 July 2024;- Ordering the elimination of protestors using helicopters, drones, and lethal weapons;- The shooting death of student Abu Saeed at Begum Rokeya University, Rangpur;- The killing of six protestors at Chankharpul, Dhaka;- The burning of six individuals in Ashulia. The tribunal formally framed these charges on July 10. Hasina and Asaduzzaman remain at large, while former IGP Mamun is the only arrested accused. On the day the charges were framed, Mamun admitted his involvement in crimes against humanity during the uprising and applied to testify as a state witness. Arguments in the case began on October 12 and concluded on October 23. Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam has sought the death penalty for Hasina and Asaduzzaman over the alleged crimes. On the other hand, state-appointed lawyer Md Amir Hossain has sought acquittal for both Hasina and Khan, while Mamun’s lawyer Zayed Bin Amjad has also sought his acquittal. Read more: ICT sets Nov 17 to deliver verdict on Hasina case

Police have arrested seven members of a well-entrenched gang involved in stealing electricity meters across Naogaon, Joypurhat and Bogura districts. The arrested are Masud Rana, 34, of Paharpur, Sanjeev Dewan, 30, of Anandanagar, Irak, 32, of Shialapara in Chakrampur, Faisal, 30, of Paschimpara in Chakrampur, Hakim, 24, of Kathaltali Bhabanipur, Rubel, 32, of Anandanagar Mridhapara, and Abdullah, 30, of Dupchanchia in Bogura. Several stolen electric meters and eight mobile phones used in the thefts were recovered from their possession. Naogaon Superintendent of Police Mohammad Shafiul Sarwar disclosed the arrests at a press conference at his office on Saturday afternoon. They were arrested during overnight raids in different parts of the district. SP Sarwar said the gang had long been stealing electric meters under the cover of darkness. After removing a meter, the group would leave a mobile number inside the meter box. When victims called the number, the thieves demanded payments through bKash or Nagad in exchange for returning the stolen meters. He said a meter was recently stolen from JK Agro Industries (Rice Mill) in Dohali village of Mahadevpur upazila, with a mobile number written inside the box. Two days later, a deep tube-well meter was stolen from the same spot using the same method. When owners called the number, they were told to send money through bKash to retrieve their meters. After one of the victims reported the theft to the electricity office, the case was forwarded to police. DB police later conducted coordinated raids and arrested the gang members. Each has multiple theft and robbery cases pending against them in various police stations. SP Sarwar said the suspects confessed during initial interrogation. They will be produced before court and remand will be sought for further questioning.

A Dhaka court on Saturday granted bail to content creator Ashraful Alam, popularly known as Hero Alam, who was arrested earlier in the day. Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Md. Rakibul Hasan granted the bail following a hearing. Ria Moni, former wife of Hero Alam and the plaintiff in the case, was present in court during the proceedings. Earlier, on November 12, Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Wahiduzzaman issued an arrest warrant against Hero Alam and his associate, Ahsan Habib Selim, for failing to appear in court regularly. Following the issuance of the warrant, police arrested Hero Alam from his residence on Ulon Road in the capital. According to police, Ria Moni filed a case with Hatirjheel Police Station accusing Hero Alam and his associate of attempted murder, assault, and issuing threats.

Police in Bhanga, Faridpur, have arrested 22 individuals in connection with cases filed under the Special Power Act. The arrests relate to separate incidents, including attacks on the police station, vandalism at the Upazila Parishad, and damage to the Highway Police outpost. The suspects were detained during a special operation across various areas of the upazila on Friday night. On Saturday around 2:00 pm, they were produced in court and sent to jail. The arrests drew large gatherings of family members at the police station. The arrested include Ripon Sheikh (34), Jalal Sheikh (37), Lavlu Matubber (48), Romij Molla (52), Chokdar (30), Ujjal Mia (39), Ayub Ali Molla (50), Mahindranath Biswas (62), Raihan Matubber (30), Motaleb Sikder (47), Kohinur Howlader (53), Mintu Matubber (52), Hridoy Molla (40), Sojib Molla (24), Nuru Molla (55), Palash (47), Abul Hossain (52), and Aminul Matubber (50). Bhanga police officer-in-charge, Md. Ashraf Hossain, confirmed that the arrests were made in four separate cases, including vandalism of the police station, Upazila Parishad, and Highway Police outpost. The accused have been charged under the Special Powers Act and relevant sections of the Penal Code. All were sent to jail on Saturday afternoon.

Police have arrested the prime suspect and uncovered the motives behind the gruesome murder of Ashraful Haque, whose dismembered body was found inside two plastic drums near the High Court adjacent to the National Eidgah on Thursday in the capital. The arrested suspect has been identified as Mohammad Zarezul Islam, 39, according to the Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police. DB officials said Ashraful Haque, 44, was a trader of onion and garlic at Hili land port in Dinajpur. On the night of November 11, Ashraful travelled from Rangpur to Dhaka with his friend Zarezul. After reaching Dhaka, Ashraful’s mobile phone was found switched off. On the evening of November 13, Shahbagh Police recovered 26 pieces of a dismembered body from two drums placed near the gate of the National Eidgah. Fingerprint analysis confirmed the identity of the victim, and his sister later identified the body at the morgue. A murder case was subsequently filed with Shahbagh Police Station. Following the incident, the DB launched a shadow investigation. Through CCTV footage analysis and technological tracking, investigators identified the movements of those involved. On Friday, November 14, DB personnel conducted a raid in Daudkandi of Cumilla and arrested Zarezul. Based on his information, a machete used in the killing was recovered from Sayedabad bus terminal, along with scotch tape and a hammer from a rented house. Briefing reporters at the DMP Media Centre on Saturday noon, Additional Commissioner (DB) Mohammad Shafiqul Islam stated that Zarezul, a Malaysia expatriate, had returned home about one and a half months ago. While abroad, he developed a relationship via the Bigo Live app with a woman named Shamima Islam from Cumilla. After Zarezul returned home, his wife discovered the affair, leading to marital tensions. She then sought help from Ashraful, giving him Shamima’s number in an attempt to dissuade Zarezul from the relationship. Instead, Ashraful himself became involved with Shamima. Trusted friend turns killer: How Jarez orchestrated trader Ashraful’s murder According to preliminary findings, Ashraful had promised to arrange Tk 14 lakh to send his friend Zarezul to Japan, of which Shamima was supposed to contribute Tk 7 lakh. In anticipation of the money and to meet in private, they travelled to Dhaka. They rented a house in Bank Colony under Demra Police Station on the afternoon of November 12, cleaned the residence together, and purchased basic household items including a mattress, pillows, and curtains. Police said the three engaged in physical relations mutually, but an altercation broke out when Ashraful insisted on unnatural acts with Shamima, which she refused. As she began crying, Zarezul became angry. Shamima then tied Ashraful’s hands under the pretext of the act. When Ashraful persisted, Zarezul struck him with a hammer. As Ashraful screamed, Shamima tied him with her scarf and scotch tape. Ashraful died from the assault and suffocation. Panicked after the killing, the duo stayed in the house with the body throughout the night. The next morning, they bought two plastic drums, polythene sheets, and a machete from local shops. In the bathroom, with the water tap running, Zarezul dismembered the body while Shamima assisted. They packed the remains into the drums and later hired a CNG-run autorickshaw. On November 13, they abandoned the drums on the footpath near the High Court water pump on the National Eidgah and quickly returned home. After collecting their belongings, Shamima left for Cumilla, while Zarezul initially planned to head to Rangpur but later travelled to a friend’s house in Cumilla, where DB personnel arrested him. Police say the investigation is ongoing, and legal action against those involved is underway. Meanwhile, RAB earlier said at a press briefing on Saturday morning that after the arrest of Zarezul’s girlfriend, Shamima Akhter, it was learned that Zarezul had planned to extort Tk 1 million from Ashraful by using her to lure him into a trap. Shamima told RAB that, under that plan, Ashraful was brought to Dhaka. However, it still remains unclear why he was killed instead of extracting the money. Read more: ‘Extramarital affair’ led to trader Ashraful’s murder: DB, RAB

Content creator Ashraful Alam, widely known as Hero Alom, was arrested on Saturday afternoon from his residence on Ulon Road in the capital. Inspector (Investigation) Sajjad Hossain of Hatirjheel Police Station said Hero Alom was arrested in a case filed by his wife Ria Moni. According to police, Ria Moni filed a case with Hatirjheel Police Station accusing Hero Alom of attempted murder, assault, and issuing threats. Another person named Ahsan Habib Selim was also named as an accused in the case.

Rangpur trader Ashraful Haque was allegedly lured to his death by his friend Jarez, who then killed and dismembered him in a planned manner, said Lt Col Fayezul Arefin, commanding officer of RAB-3. “The brutal killing was the result of a calculated plot carried out under the guise of friendship,” he told a press briefing in the capital’s Karwan Bazar after the interrogation of Jarez and his girlfriend Shamima following their arrest in connection with Ashraful’s murder. Following Jarez’s instructions, Shamima lured Ashraful into a romantic trap through phone communication over a month ago and brought him from Rangpur to Dhaka. The CO of Rab-3 said the trio met on November 12 at a rented house in Nurpur area of Shanir Akhra where Shamima mixed sleeping pills into a drink, leaving Ashraful unconscious. Jarez then recorded intimate footage of Shamima and Ashraful as part of an extortion plan. Once Ashraful was fully incapacitated, Jarez tied his hands, sealed his mouth with tape and struck him repeatedly with a hammer, killing him through the blows and suffocation, said the RAB official. The Rab Commander said the body was left in the room overnight while Jarez and Shamima stayed there. The following day, Thursday, they purchased a machete and dismembered Ashraful’s body into 26 pieces, stuffing the remains into two drums, said the RAB official. They later transported the drums by CNG-run auto-rickshaw and abandoned them under a large tree near the High Court’s National Eidgah water pump area before fleeing. During questioning, Shamima claimed she tried to stop the killing but she was assaulted by Jarez. Read more: ‘Extramarital affair’ led to trader Ashraful’s murder: DB, RAB She also said Jarez had planned to flee the country to Malaysia and arrangements for a passport were underway for Jarez. Shamima told RAB that they had planned to extort Tk 10 lakh from Ashraful using the intimate video. Based on Shamima’s information, RAB recovered bloodstained clothing, ropes, tape and other items used in the murder from the Nurpur area of Shanir Akhra. Lt Col Arefin said although the suspects cited extortion as the motive, “the level of brutality suggests there may be more behind the crime and further interrogation of Jarez would clarify the real motive.” Ashraful Haque’s dismembered body was found stuffed into two drums and dumped beside the National Eidgah ground on Thursday.  Read more: Woman’s throat-slit body found in Gazipur; husband critically injured