United News of Bangladesh

The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court on Sunday upheld the bail granted by the High Court to former Narayanganj City Corporation (NCC) Mayor Selina Hayat Ivy in 10 cases, paving the way for her release. The Appellate Division bench, headed by Chief Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury, passed the order rejecting separate appeals filed by the state against the HC bail. With the apex court order, there is no legal bar to the release of Ivy, said her lawyer Motahar Hossain Saju. The High Court granted bail to Ivy in five of the cases on February 26 this year following separate bail petitions. The state filed petitions with the Appellate Division seeking stay on the High Court orders of bail. Following state’s petitions, the chamber judge of the Appellate Division on March 5 this year stayed the High Court orders and sent those petitions to the full bench for hearings. Of the cases, four are murder cases filed at Fatullah Police Station over the killings of bus driver Abul Hossain Mizi, Abdur Rahman, Md Yasin and Parvez during the July uprising. Another case was filed at Narayanganj Sadar Model Police Station on charges of assault and obstructing public servants. The former NCC mayor was shown arrested in the five cases on November 9 last year, when she secured HC bail in five additional cases. The state moved the Appellate Division against the HC orders when the chamber judge on November 12 stayed the bail and sent the matter to the regular bench for hearing. Meanwhile, the High Cour on April 30 granted bail to the former NCC mayor in two other murder cases linked to the July uprising. The HC bench of Justice KM Zahid Sarwar and Justice Sheikh Abu Taher passed the order after hearing separate bail petitions. The cases were filed at Siddhirganj Police Station in Narayanganj on charges of killing Selim Mondal and Abdus Salam during the July 2024 uprising. Ivy was shown arrested in the cases on March 2 and April 12 this year. She was picked up in the early hours of May 9 last year from her residence ‘Chunka Kutir’ in Narayanganj city’s Deobhog area and later shown arrested in multiple cases.

A murder case has been filed over the killing of five members of the same family, including a woman and her three daughters, in Kapasia upazila of Gazipur. Md Shahadat Molla, father of deceased Sharmin Khanom, filed the case with Kapasia Police Station on Saturday night, said Officer-in-Charge (OC) Shahinur Alam. Forkan Mia was named as the prime accused in the case along with three to four unidentified individuals. Inside the Gazipur family killings: What we know so far The victims were identified as Sharmin Khanom, 40, her daughters Meem, 16, Maria, 8, and Faria, 2, and Sharmin’s brother Rasul, 22. Police recovered their bodies from a rented house in Rautkona village on Saturday morning. Meanwhile, post-mortem examinations of the five bodies were conducted at Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmad Medical College Hospital morgue. After the autopsies were completed on Saturday night, the bodies were handed over to relatives for burial, police said. Investigators suspect the killings were premeditated, and multiple law enforcement agencies, including DB, CID and PBI, are continuing efforts to arrest the main accused and uncover the motive behind the murders.

The heinous killing of five members of a family inside a rented house in Kapasia upazila of Gazipur has sent shockwaves through the area, with investigators suspecting that the murders were carefully planned long before it took place. Police say the prime suspect, Forkan Mia, a private car driver, allegedly fled after slaughtering his wife, three daughters and brother-in-law, leaving behind five identical typed “notes” beside the bodies. The victims were identified as Forkan’s wife Sharmin Khanom, 40; daughters Meem, 16, Maria, 8, and Faria, 2; and Sharmin’s younger brother Rasul, 22. Their bodies were recovered from a rented house in Rautkona village on Saturday morning. Investigators suspect the killings may have been driven by long-standing family disputes, allegations of an extramarital relationship, and financial conflicts involving Tk 10 lakh, though police say all claims are still being verified. A silent house, a horrifying discovery According to police and local residents, relatives rushed to the house after receiving a phone call from Forkan early Saturday informing them about the deaths. When they entered the residence, they found the bodies lying inside with deep throat injuries. The house, owned by expatriate Monir Hossain, had been rented by Forkan around five months ago after he moved from Tongi with his family. Neighbours told investigators the family kept largely to themselves and had little interaction with local residents. Police officials believe the isolated location may have been chosen deliberately. Typed accusations left beside bodies One of the most startling discoveries at the scene was five identical typed documents resembling formal complaint letters addressed to the Officer-in-Charge of Gopalganj Sadar Police Station. According to investigators, the documents contained allegations against Sharmin and several of her relatives. The papers claimed that Sharmin was involved in an extramarital relationship with a cousin and that members of her family had embezzled around Tk 10 lakh earned by Forkan and used the money to purchase land. The documents also alleged that Forkan had been tied up and assaulted on May 5 after confronting his wife over the alleged affair. Police officials said they are trying to determine whether any such complaint had actually been filed with the police station mentioned in the documents. Investigators stressed that the allegations remain unverified. Signs of premeditation Crime scene investigators recovered liquor bottles, machetes and other materials from the house, leading police to suspect the victims may have been drugged before the killings. Officials involved in the investigation said the murders appeared highly planned. “Several important pieces of evidence have been collected from the scene. After the killings, Forkan allegedly switched off his mobile phone and disappeared. Police suspect he fled using the private vehicle he used for work. Multiple agencies join investigation Additional Superintendent of Police (Kaliganj Circle) Md Asaduzzaman said the bodies were sent to Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmad Medical College Hospital morgue for autopsies. He said teams from district police, Detective Branch (DB), CID and Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) are conducting parallel investigations. “We are examining all evidence carefully and trying to arrest the accused as quickly as possible,” he said. Police also confirmed that two people are being questioned over possible links to the case, though their identities have not yet been disclosed. Shock and fear in the neighbourhood The gruesome killings have left residents of the quiet rural neighbourhood stunned. Many gathered outside the house throughout the day as police cordoned off the area and forensic teams collected evidence. Locals said they never imagined such violence could occur inside the seemingly quiet family home.

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of police has filed a money laundering case against Unique Group Managing Director Mohd. Noor Ali and his company Borak Real Estate Pvt Ltd over alleged irregularities and fraud in the “Banani Supermarket-cum-Housing” project implemented on the land owned by Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) at Banani. The case was filed at Banani Police Station on Thursday under sections 4(2) and 4(4) of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2012, according to a press release issued on Friday. According to the CID, a preliminary investigation found evidence that the accused laundered Tk 115.58 crore by operating a hotel business in the building without proper approval. Investigators alleged that though the original agreement was for the construction of a 14-storey building, Borak Real Estate violated the contract terms and constructed a 28-storey structure without approval. A five-star hotel – Sheraton Dhaka – was later established in the building. The CID said the project completion deadline was extended several times allegedly through influence, while the company also failed to pay the dues owed to DNCC under the agreement. The investigation further found that the required no-objection certificates from the Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakka and the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh were not obtained before construction. The building’s height allegedly exceeded the approved limit, posing risks to aircraft take-off and landing operations. According to the CID, the accused illegally earned Tk 115.58 crore by operating the hotel business in the unauthorised building and later laundered the money through transfer and conversion. Officials said the amount involved could increase further after assessing the seized assets during the investigation. The agency said its investigation and operations are continuing to uncover the full details of the alleged offences and arrest those involved.

A Dhaka court on Thursday rejected a petition seeking its permission to file a case against 16 people including Chief Adviser of the interim government Prof Yunus and former Law Adviser Asif Nazrul in connection with military aircraft crash into Milestone School and College that claimed lives of 36 people including 28 students. Judge of the Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Ariful Islam rejected the petition, said Advocate AKM Sharif Uddin, lawyer of the plaintiff. Earlier in the day, Usaimong Marma, father of slain student Ukkya Saing Marma, filed the petition with the Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate. Other names included in the petition are former Air Vice Marshal Hasan Mahmood Khan, Air commanding Officer Morshed Mohammad Khayer Ul Afsar, Officer Commanding Maintenance Group Captain Rifat Akter Ziku, Adviser of the Governing Body of Milestone School and College, Nurnabi (retd), Principle of the college Mohammad Ziaul Alam, Principle (Administration) Md Masud Alam, Principal (School section) Rifat Nabi, Chairman of Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (RAJUK), Filed Supervisor (Uttara), former secretary of Education Ministry Zubayer, former secretary of Defence Ministry, former Environment Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan, and former press secretary of the interim government Shafiqul Alam. On July 21 last year, at least 36 people including 28 students were killed when an FT-7 BGI fighter jet crashed into Milestone School and College in Uttara. On November 5, a probe body, formed after the July jet crash, submitted the report to former Chief Adviser Prof Yunus.

The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) on Thursday ordered the authorities concerned to produce journalists Mozammel Babu and Farzana Rupa before it on May 14 in connection with the 2013 Shapla Chattar massacre during a rally of Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh. The ICT-1, chaired by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mozumder, issued the order following petitions filed by the prosecution for issuing production warrants for them as well as former minister Dr Dipu Moni. Prosecutor Gazi MH Tamim told the tribunal that during the May 5, 2013 crackdown at Shapla Chattar, Dipu Moni was serving as foreign minister and allegedly promoted internationally that law enforcers had “eliminated a group of unruly people.” He further alleged that from the beginning, Mozammel Babu and Farzana Rupa portrayed Hefazat’s grand rally as provocative in broadcast and later played a role in diverting the Shapla Chattar killings to a different direction and concealing information regarding the deaths. After the hearing, the tribunal ordered that the accused be produced before it on May 14 and fixed June 7 for submission of the investigation report in the case, which is under investigation. So far, six people, including former Inspector General of Police Shahidul Hoque, former Director General of the National Telecommunication Monitoring Centre (NTMC), dismissed Major General Ziaul Ahsan, and Shahriar Kabir, have been arrested in connection with the case. ICT Chief Prosecutor Aminul Islam alleged that Mozammel Babu and Farzana Rupa had attempted to deliberately divert the Shapla Chattar killings to a different direction and played a role in hiding information related to the deaths. Earlier on Tuesday, he said 58 people killed during the crackdown on the Hefazt rally have been identified. Besides, involvement of then Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and other senior government officials have been found, he said, adding that around 90 percent of the investigation into the incident has been completed and a formal report will be submitted to the tribunal by June 7. On May 5, 2013, Hefazat launched “Dhaka Blockade” programme protesting alleged insult to the Holy Quran and Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and to press for its 13-point agenda. On that day, thousands of religious scholars, madrasah students and supporters gathered in Dhaka and later occupied the Shapla Chattar area in Motijheel. A late-night joint forces operation was carried out when the gathering was dispersed amid gunfire, tear gas and sound grenades. Numerous casualties were reported although exact figures have long been disputed. Different organisations have provided varying estimates of the death toll. Hefazat published a preliminary list of 93 victims in 2025, while human rights group Odhikar reported 61 names in 2021. A 2014 publication titled “Shahidnama” documented 41 deaths. Despite 13 years passing since the incident, the trial has not yet been completed. However, the issue resurfaced following political changes on August 5, 2024. After the July uprising and formation of the interim government, Hefazat leader Azizul Haque Islamabadi filed a complaint with the ICT naming Sheikh Hasina and several others as accused. The complaint also includes names of former ministers, senior security officials and police chiefs.

A surveillance drone operated by India’s Border Security Force (BSF) reportedly entered Bangladeshi territory in Patgram upazila of Lalmonirhat before crashing due to a technical fault.  It was soon recovered by Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), in a sequence of events that triggered a spell of tension in the border area. Locals said the drone was found in a cornfield inside Bangladesh, around 20 yards from main border pillar 841/8S, under Burimari Union, where it fell with a loud crash, immediately alerting farmers working in their fields.  They immediately informed BGB personnel at the Burimari BOP, who later seized the drone and took it into custody. The incident occurred around 12.30 - 1pm on Tuesday in the Moglibari border area. Witnesses said the BSF, specifically its 98 Himalaya Camp located in the Cooch Behar district of West Bengal, was conducting surveillance and recording video of the border area using the drone, when they lost control of it due to a mechanical fault and fell inside Bangladesh territory. The commandant of the camp contacted the BGB regarding the drone. The device reportedly flew over a farmer working in his field before crashing into the cornfield with a loud noise, causing panic among nearby residents. There are also suggestions that the drone may have been neutralized by Bangladesh's use of advanced Electronic Warfare platforms rather than suffering a simple mechanical failure. Bangladesh Army’s growing EW capabilities, as part of its Forces Goal 2030 upgrade initiative, include systems acquired from multiple advanced suppliers enabling effective signal disruption. In 2025, it procured the Turkish İLTER J350 Counter-Unmanned Aerial System (C-UAS), a modern RF and radar-based system capable of detecting, tracking, and neutralising small and medium UAVs. Meanwhile the Bangladesh Air Force, just last month, formally inducted two units of the advanced French-made Thales Ground Master 403M radar system, to enhance airspace surveillance. The units were operating at Dhaka's Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) and Bogura as of April 2026. Following the crashing of the Indian drone on Tuesday, BSF personnel reportedly increased patrols along the border in an attempt to recover it, further heightening tensions in the area. After local farmers informed BGB, members of Burimari BOP under Teesta Battalion (61 BGB) reached the spot and recovered the drone, taking it into custody. However, BGB has not yet issued an official statement regarding the incident. Md Nazmul Haque, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Patgram Police Station, said he learned about the recovery through social media and added that BGB had not formally communicated the matter to the police. The border district of Lalmonirhat has been frequently in the news, emerging as a potential flashpoint in any escalation due to its hugely strategic location.  As soon as the previous regime led by the Awami League fell, reports started emerging of Bangladesh actively planning to revive the long-abandoned World War II-era Lalmonirhat Airfield (VGLM) to boost regional economic activity, tourism, and industrialization in northern Bangladesh.  Located around 135 km from India’s strategically vital Siliguri Corridor, the initiative prompted concern within Indian defence and strategic circles. But in May 2025, the Director of Military Operations of Bangladesh Army, stated that there are no plans at present for the Lalmonirhat airfield to be used "for military purposes." Rather the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh is focusing on reviving several abandoned airports, with Lalmonirhat being part of this effort to boost the northern economy. Recent reports indicate Chinese interest and potential involvement in the technical aspects of the revival - that again raised alarm bells in Delhi.  It all makes the quiet northern district of Lalmonirhat ripe for precisely the sort of surveillance the BSF drone was actually engaged in, before it crashed due to the said malfunction, or it was brought down by the border protective force's  deployment of the systems brought for them. 

A local leader of Jatiyatabadi Sramik Dal was shot in one of the legs allegedly by rivals in the Kadamtali area of the capital on Wednesday. The injured was identified as Md Rony, 28, general secretary of Dhaka Match unit of Sramik Dal under ward No. 59 of Dhaka South City Corporation and son of Billal Hossain of Barakul Patwari village in Chandpur’s Hajiganj upazila. He used to live at Kadamtali with his family. The incident took place around 5:30pm at the New Colony Rail Line Bazar when a group of miscreants opened fire on him over establishing dominance in the locality, said his cousin Md Hasan. He said Rony runs a wood shop in the locality and is also active in local politics. “He was returning home after closing his shop in the afternoon when several unidentified attackers opened fire on him,” he said, adding that he suffered injuries to above the left knee. Rony was later taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) around 7:30pm, Hasan said. Inspector Md Faruk, in-charge of the DMCH police camp, said doctors removed a bullet from above his left knee and he is now receiving treatment. Police have been informed and further legal action is underway, he added.  

An unidentified man was found dead on the north side of the Emergency Department of Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) on Wednesday. The deceased, aged around 60, was found near the One Stop Emergency and Casualty (OSEC) in an unconscious condition around noon and taken to the Emergency Department. After examination, the on-duty doctor there declared him dead. Inspector Md Faruk, in-charge of the DMCH police camp, said the body has been kept at the hospital morgue for autopsy. Police suspect that the man might have died due to illness. Police said the Crime Scene Unit of the Criminal Investigation Department of police visited the spot and efforts are underway to identify the deceased using technological support, Faruk said.  

Zakir Hossain, sub-registrar of Savar, has been withdrawn over allegations of corruption and irregularities. According to an office order issued by the Law and Justice Division under the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, a departmental case (No. 01/2026) has been filed against him on charges of misconduct under Rule 3(b) and corruption under Rule 3(d) of the Government Servants (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 2018. Following the case, he was withdrawn from the Savar Sub-Registry Office and attached to the Office of the Registrar General under the Directorate of Registration until the case is disposed of. He was also directed to immediately hand over his current responsibilities and join his new posting. The order was signed by Hasan Mahmudul Islam, Joint Secretary (Registration) of the Law and Justice Division, and Mohammad Azizur Rahman, Senior Assistant Secretary.