United News of Bangladesh

Police Headquarters on Thursday urged the public to remain vigilant against fraudsters impersonating government officials, usually to extort people. In a statement, Police HQ said there have been recent complaints of scammers using the names and photos of various government and senior officials to solicit money via WhatsApp messages. “Having a picture of a prominent person on an ID does not mean the mobile number belongs to that individual. Everyone is urged not to respond to such messages from fraudsters,” the statement read. Bangladesh Police said it remains on high alert against such scams. “Anyone involved in this type of fraud will face legal action,” it added.

Chattogram Custom House has intercepted a massive consignment of poppy seeds worth around Tk 6.5 crore, smuggled from Pakistan under the guise of ‘bird feed’. A media release on Thursday said the consignment was imported by Messrs Adib Trading, based in Korbaniganj, Kotwali, Chattogram, through its appointed C&F agent, M.H. Trading C&F Agent Ltd, located in Shantibagh, Halishahar. The importer submitted a Bill of Entry declaring 32,010 kg of bird feed at the Chattogram Custom House. Acting on confidential intelligence, the Customs intelligence wing detained the shipment. A physical examination of the containers was conducted on October 22 in the presence of the C&F agent and the off-dock authorities. The inspection revealed that while 7,200 kg matched the declared bird food, the remaining 24,960 kg was identified as poppy seeds. Officials noted that sacks of bird food were placed strategically near the container doors to conceal the poppy seeds stacked behind, indicating a deliberate attempt to smuggle the banned item into the country. Samples collected during the examination were sent to the Plant Quarantine Wing of Chattogram Sea Port, the Nanotechnology Centre of the University of Dhaka, and Khulna University of Engineering & Technology (KUET) for laboratory testing. Reports from the Plant Quarantine Wing and KUET said the concealed product was indeed poppy seed. Poppy seeds capable of germination fall under the ‘A’ category of narcotics as per the Narcotics Control Act 2018. The Import Policy Order 2021–2024 also lists poppy seed under item number 15 of its prohibited imports list. The shipment has been officially seized under the Customs Act 2023 for false declaration and illegal importation. Legal proceedings are underway, Customs officials said. The declared value of the consignment was Tk 30,02,482. The actual market value of the seized poppy seeds is estimated to be around Tk 6.5 crore.  

A Dhaka court on Thursday ordered the freezing of 81 bank accounts belonging to former minister Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya and his family in a graft case. Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Md Sabbir Foyez passed the order following a petition filed by Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Deputy Director Mozammil Hossain. Of the accounts, 16 belong to Maya, 36 to his wife Parveen Chowdhury and 29 to his son Rashedul Islam Chowdhury. Full Court Meeting: Over a thousand judges at various levels earmarked for promotion According to the ACC, movable assets have been identified in the names of Maya, his wife and their son. The court noted the possibility that the accused could transfer, relocate, change ownership, or dispose of these assets, or move them abroad to evade the law.  

Seven people, including a former Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) leader, were arrested with arms and ammunition in a joint operation in Sreepur upazila of Gazipur district on Wednesday night. The arrestees are Enamul Haque Molla, a former leader of the upazila unit of JCD, his associates Shawkat Mir, Zahid, Mostofa, Siddiq, Bulbul and Tofazzal. The joint force first conducted an operation at the house of Enamul in Barkul village and arrested him with some weapons. Acting on his information, the law enforcers conducted drives in the village and adjacent areas and detained others with arms and ammunition. The recovered arms include one pistol, three magazines, four bullets, four walkie-talkies, four bats, two electric shock devices, and a hammer nail gun. Locals said Enamul had recently been campaigning in the Gazipur-3 constituency, putting up posters and holding rallies and meetings under the banner of a BNP unit president in Saudi Arabia, positioning himself as a potential nominee from the party. Sub-inspector Md Junayed of Sreepur Police Station said the joint operation was carried out upon intelligence reports. The detainees were handed over to police on Thursday morning, he said. Gazipur-3 BNP candidate Prof Dr SM Rafiqul Islam Bachchu described Enamul as a ‘notorious terrorist,’ adding that he had been expelled from the BNP in 2001 for criminal activities and had fled the country.

Five activists of the BNP sustained bullet injuries in a gun attack allegedly carried out by rivals over establishing dominance in Raozan upazila of Chattogram district on Wednesday (5th November 2025) night. The incident occurred around 11:45pm in Chowdhurypara area under Ward No. 4 of Bagowan union, according to police and locals. The injured were identified as Abdullah Sumon, general secretary of the upazila unit of Sramik Dal, and activists Ismail, Khorshed, Rubel and Sohel. Of them, Sumon’s condition is reported to be critical. All five are currently undergoing treatment at Chittagong Medical College Hospital (CMCH). Locals said a group of unidentified assailants arrived on motorcycles and in a car before opening fire indiscriminately on the BNP men. Hearing their screams, residents rushed to the scene and rescued the injured, taking them to CMCH. One killed, BNP candidate Ershad Ullah injured in Ctg gun attack Locals alleged that police reached the spot about an hour and a half after the shooting, which caused panic in the area. They claimed that the attack stemmed from a conflict between two local BNP factions over establishing supremacy. Md Jabbar, a local resident, said the assailants fled the scene soon after the attack. Raozan Upazila BNP president Jasim Uddin Chowdhury said the victims were returning home after attending a preparatory meeting ahead of the party’s observance of ‘Revolution and Solidarity Day’ on November 7. He said nine to ten armed men ambushed the BNP and affiliated activists in Bagowan Kuiyapara Chowdhurypara area, adding that Sumon’s condition remained critical. The officer-in-charge of Raozan Police Station could not be reached despite repeated attempts. Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Md Belayet Hossain of the Raozan–Rangunia Circle said police had been deployed in the area to prevent any further untoward incidents, and an investigation was underway. Earlier in the day, BNP’s Chattogram-8 candidate Ershad Ullah was shot and injured during a campaign event in the city’s Bayezid area, where one of his associates, Sarwar Babla, was killed. Prof Yunus orders security forces to hunt down attackers behind Ctg violence On October 25, local Jubo Dal leader Md Alamgir Alam was killed in a similar gun attack in the same upazila. Meanwhile, at least 17 people have been killed in the upazila over the past year, including 12 BNP activists, four Chhatra and Jubo League men, and one expatriate.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) on Wednesday imposed a ban on public gatherings, processions and rallies in the areas adjacent to the Secretariat and Jamuna, the official residence of the Chief Adviser. The restriction has been enforced under the Section 29 of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police Ordinance, 1976, citing the need to maintain public order and safety of the Chief Adviser, said a public notice issued by DMP Commissioner Sheikh Md Sazzat Ali. Integrated efforts needed to improve Dhaka’s traffic system: DMP Commissioner The ban will remain in force until further notice, the notice said. The areas under the restriction include Hotel Intercontinental intersection, Kakrail intersection, Officers’ Club intersection and Minto Road.    

With the national election approaching fast, Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury on Wednesday (5th November 2025) said all necessary instructions have been given to the administration and law enforcement agencies to ensure a free and fair election slated for February 2026. “No threats to the upcoming polls have been detected so far,” he said while talking to reporters after a meeting at the Deputy Commissioner’s office in Gazipur. Addressing the role of voters in the polls, Jahangir Alam said attempts to disrupt the process are unlikely to succeed when voters are active and aware. Over 48,000 police officers complete election training: Police HQ He also highlighted the responsibilities of participating political parties in maintaining law and order and said close coordination among the Election Commission, law enforcement and administration will prevent potential issues. Regarding security concerns, he warned that any Awami League leaders and activists released on bail who engage in criminal activity before the election will face strict action. He also acknowledged that miscreants and rumour may attempt to create unrest, assuring that comprehensive measures will be taken to prevent such actions. Deputy Commissioner Nafisa Arefin, Gazipur Metropolitan Police acting Commissioner Zahid Hossain, Superintendent of Police Dr. Chowdhury Jaber Sadeq, and senior officials from the army, fire service, and other administrative departments, attended the meeting. Read more: Action if police favour any political party, warns Home Adviser

Law enforcement agencies have seized a large quantity of horse meat and rescued 37 diseased horses during a late-night operation in the Hyderabad area of Gazipur City Corporation.  The sale of horse meat is prohibited in Bangladesh. The drive, led by Executive Magistrate Ishtiaque Ahmed of the district administration, was conducted jointly by the Gazipur administration, the Department of Livestock Services, RAB-1 and the police late on Tuesday (Nov 4).  Sensing the presence of law enforcers, members of the illegal meat-selling ring reportedly fled through secret routes. According to Executive Magistrate Ishtiaque Ahmed, the horses had been brought to the site with the intention of slaughtering them for meat.  “As no one could be detained during the operation, the 37 rescued horses and five maunds of seized horse meat have been placed under the custody of a local resident,” he said. He said most of the rescued horses were in poor health and posed serious risks to human health if their meat were consumed. Earlier this year, the sale of horse meat began in Gazipur’s Hyderabad area, sparking widespread public concern.  Following growing attention, the district administration launched mobile court drives and declared horse meat sales illegal.  Although the trade was briefly halted, it has since resurfaced in secret slaughterhouses,prompting renewed action by authorities.  

The full court meeting of the Supreme Court (SC) on Tuesday recommended nearly a thousand judges from senior assistant judges to district judges in promotion panels, officials said. The decision was made during a full court session presided over by Chief Justice Dr. Syed Refaat Ahmed, with the presence of all judges of the High Court Division. Sources said the meeting proposed 345 additional district judges for inclusion in the panel for promotion to district judge. However, several judges under investigation for various allegations were excluded. Of the remaining, nearly 300 judges were included in the promotion panel. In addition, 207 joint district judges were recommended for inclusion in the panel for promotion to additional district judge, while a total of 551 senior assistant judges from five batches were proposed for promotion to joint district judge. Nearly all eligible judges for these two positions have been included in the panels. The Ministry of Law will forward the names of panel-included judges to the Supreme Court for phased promotion and posting. Following the SC’s recommendation, the ministry will implement the promotions through official gazette notification. The meeting also discussed the controversial bail granted to an accused in the Rain Tree Hotel rape case by District Judge Kamrunnahar, despite an Appellate Division order. No decision was made, and the matter was left for the Appellate Division to resolve. The full court session was held from 3pm to 5pm, covering over 20 agenda items. However, no decision was reached on approving the SC’s annual calendar due to time constraints.

A case has been filed against a teacher of Jahangirnagar University (JU) on charge of ‘making derogatory remarks’ about a Jamaat-e-Islami leader of Sirajganj on Tuesday. Prof Zahidul Islam Zahid, secretary of Sirajganj district unit of the party and candidate for SSirajganj-2 seat, filed the case against Dr. Nahrin Islam Khan, an assistant professor of Department of Environment of JU with Sirajganj Sadar Cognizance Court. Taking the allegation into cognisance, Judicial Magistrate KM Shahriar Shahid Bappi ordered for further legal proceeding. According to the case statement, on October 25 during a private television talk show, the accused said Jamaat leader (Zahid) has rights over the wives of Awami League leaders who fled on August 5 last year. Shortly after the remark, it quickly went viral on social media. The plaintiff said the case was filed attaching video clips and evidence.