United News of Bangladesh

Police recovered the bodies of a youth and a woman from a building in the city’s North Badda area on Sunday. The deceased were identified as Saiful Islam, 28, a security guard of the building, and Sakila, 24, who worked there as a cleaner, said Officer-in-Charge of Badda Police Station Habibur Rahman. Acting on information from residents about a foul smell, a police team went to the three-storey building located at Plot No-5, Road No-2 of North Badda around 11:00am and found the two bodies inside a godown on the ground floor. The OC said the two were not husband and wife. The bodies are believed to have been there for 5-7 days before being discovered. “The actual cause of death will be known after receiving the postmortem report,” the OC added. The bodies were sent to Dhaka Medical College Hospital morgue for autopsy.

A case was filed on Sunday against 200 people in connection with the death of three 'cattle lifters' in a lynch-mob attack in Gobindaganj upazila of Gaibandha district. Tafir Uddin, sub-inspector of Gobindaganj Police Station filed the case against 200 people of Nasirabad village in the afternoon, said officer-in-charge of the police station Bulbul Islam. According to the case statement, the incident occurred around 2:30am when a group of eight alleged thieves tried to lift cows from the shed of one Abdus Salam Mia at Nasirabad village in the upazila. Hearing noises, Salam shouted for help, drawing villagers out of their homes. Later, local people managed to catch three people and beat them up mercilessly while the other five others managed to flee the scene. Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Gobindaganj Police Station, Bulbul Islam, said two of them died on the spot and the third succumbed to his injuries while being taken to Gobindaganj Upazila Health Complex. One of the deceased was identified as Kausar Ali of Shibganj upazila in Bogura district while the identities of another could not be known immediately. Nishat Engela, superintendent of Gaibandha Police said legal action will be taken against those involved in the killing. Local residents said incidents of cattle theft had been frequent in the area in recent weeks, leaving villagers frustrated and anxious. Police have intensified patrols in the area and launched an investigation to identify those involved in the killing, as well as the rest of the suspected cattle lifters who managed to flee.

The International Crimes Tribunal-2 (ICT-2) on Sunday ordered the initiation of trial against former Information Minister and Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (Jasad) president Hasanul Haq Inu over six killings in Kushtia during last year’s uprising. A three-member tribunal, headed by Justice Nazrul Islam Chowdhury, framed eight charges of crimes against humanity against him. The court also set November 30 for the presentation of opening statements and witness testimonies in the case. On Sunday, the tribunal read out the eight charges against Inu and asked whether he pleaded guilty. In response, Inu asserted his innocence, following which the tribunal formally framed the charges and issued the trial order. Read more: Ex-minister Inu threatens police: ‘I will destroy your entire lineage’ The former minister was brought to the dock from the tribunal’s detention centre around 11:30 am and the prosecution read out the allegations in his presence. The court told him, “Eight charges have been brought against you. If you plead guilty, our work will end; otherwise, the trial will proceed.” Inu then responded, “I have heard a few charges but not all. However, it seems my request is not being considered.” Inu was charged with issuing the command to kill six people in Kushtia after communicating with former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina during the uprising. Read more: Trial of July killings to be held at Speedy Trial Tribunals On October 23, the prosecution presented formal charges against him and requested the start of trial, prompting the tribunal to issue a production warrant to ensure his presence. On October 28, Inu’s lawyer, Monsurul Haq Chowdhury, argued that none of the allegations were true and sought dismissal of the case, urging the tribunal to examine the charges thoroughly. The prosecution, however, contended that Inu could not evade responsibility as a leader of the 14-party alliance. Inu was arrested on August 26 last year from Uttara in Dhaka and remains in prison facing multiple cases. Read more: Chankharpul killings: Tribunal orders protection for witness facing security threat

A youth was shot dead and three others were injured in a firing incident allegedly over establishing supremacy in Nabinagar upazila of Brahmanbaria district on Saturday night. The deceased was identified as Shipon Mia, 30, son of Monnaf Mia of Nurjahanpur area under the upazila. Locals said a longstanding dispute had been ongoing between Shipon and another youth, Rifat, over dominance in the area. On Saturday evening, Shipon went to a hotel near the Gani Shah Shrine in Borikandi area to have snacks. Sensing his presence, Rifat allegedly opened fire from outside the shop, leaving four people, including a hotel staff member, injured with bullets. The injured were initially taken to a local hospital and later shifted to Dhaka for better treatment. On Sunday morning, Shipon’s brother-in-law Shakil Mia said they had rushed him to a hospital in Dhaka, where he succumbed to his injuries in the early hours due to excessive bleeding. The remaining injured individuals are undergoing treatment in Dhaka, he added, noting that apart from the hotel staff, the other two were customers. Jubo Dal activist shot dead in Raozan Following the death, tension gripped the area, prompting authorities to deploy additional police personnel to avert further untoward incidents. Fearing clashes, local businesses, including shops, remained closed. Officer-in-Charge Md Shahinur Islam of Nabinagar Police Station said a police team was immediately dispatched to the scene on Saturday night upon receiving the information. “The situation is now under control,” he said, adding that the conflict over local dominance likely led to the killing. He, however, admitted that no one had been detained in connection with the incident so far.    

The Airport Armed Police Battalion (APBn) detained a passenger with 6,378 Yaba pills concealed inside his stomach at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on Saturday night. The detainee Md Pannu Howlader,30, hails from Amtoli upazila in Barguna district. He was detained in front of the domestic terminal's arrival gate based on a tip-off after arriving in Dhaka from Cox's Bazar on US-Bangla Airlines flight BS 142, said the APBn. An X-ray examination revealed a large number of oval-shaped objects inside his stomach. He was later taken to Kurmitola General Hospital, where doctors extracted 136 packets of Yaba tablets, totaling 6,378 pieces. A case has been filed against him with Airport Police Station under the Narcotics Control Act, 2018. APBn Operational Commander Mohammad Mozammel Haque said transporting such a large quantity of drugs inside the human body is truly shocking. “We are continuing regular operations to prevent any illegal activities, including drug smuggling, around the airport," he added.

Bangladesh Border Guard (BGB) K-9 dog squad member named 'Meghla' thwarted an innovative attempt to smuggle locally brewed liquor in an easy bike at the Damdamia checkpoint under Teknaf battalion (2 BGB) on Saturday morning. Sources at the BGB headquarters on Saturday evening said, a team of BGB -2 stopped a Teknaf-bound easy bike coming from Hnila for a routine search around 10:30 am in the morning. K-9 member Meghla’s persistent signals and the driver’s suspicious behavior led the patrol team to confirm that the vehicle was carrying illegal substances. Acting swiftly, the BGB’s dog squad (K-9 team) searched the vehicle and Meghla (K-9 member) detected a hidden chamber beneath the rear seat, where 28 liters of locally brewed liquor were concealed in 14 water bottles. The driver, identified as Md. Abdur Rahim (30), son of Abdus Salam and Momena Khatun of Purbo Phuler Dil village under Hnila union (Ward-3) in Teknaf, was arrested on the spot. Seized items include 28 liters of country-made liquor, an easy bike, and a button phone. Legal action under the Narcotics Control Act is underway, and the detainee along with the seized items will be handed over to Teknaf Model Police Station, officials said. Lt. Col. Ashiqur Rahman, commanding officer of the Teknaf Battalion (2 BGB), said, “Smugglers are constantly adopting new tactics, but our members remain vigilant. With advanced technology and specialized teams like our K-9 unit, BGB is determined to thwart all smuggling attempts and ensure a drug-free nation.”

The Department of Environment (DoE) held a mobile court in Kakrail, Dhaka, on Friday to control noise pollution. During the mobile court operation, a total of six vehicles were fined Tk 23,000 for violating Rule 8(1) of the Noise Pollution (Control) Rules, 2006, by generating excessive noise and using hydraulic horns. In addition, 22 vehicle owners and drivers received advice to raise awareness about preventing noise pollution. Executive Magistrate Khairunnahar conducted the mobile court, while Inspector Md. Tariqul Islam of the DoE, Dhaka Metropolitan Office, handled the prosecution. Nationwide DoE drives lead to Tk 86,000 fines, power cutoffs, and seizure of hydraulic horns DoE authorities urged all vehicle owners and drivers to avoid using hydraulic horns and actively participate in controlling noise pollution. Additionally, the department informed that such operations will continue to ensure a healthy and peaceful environment for city residents.    

The long-delayed investigation into the sensational murder of Narayanganj youth Tanvir Muhammad Taqi is expected to conclude very soon as the probe has made significant progress, said RAB-11 Commanding Officer Lt Col HM Sajjad Hossain on Saturday.  “We have already made considerable developments. We are hopeful of submitting the charge sheet very soon,” he said at a press briefing at the RAB Media Centre in the capital’s Karwan Bazar. “Once the investigation concludes, all details will be disclosed. Until then we must allow the process to reach its proper conclusion,” he said. He added that RAB maintains regular communication with Taqi’s family. “The lengthy investigation must be completed thoroughly to ensure a fair outcome.” Taqi, son of cultural activist and rights campaigner Rafiur Rabbi of Narayanganj city, was abducted on March 6, 2013, while heading to a local library from his Shahesta Khan Road residence. Two days later, his body was found floating in the Shitalakkhya River. Despite multiple investigations over the past 12 years, no charge sheet has yet been submitted in the case. Following the fall of the Awami League government in August last year and the recent arrest of six suspects rekindled hope among Taqi’s family for long-awaited justice. RAB sought additional time from a Narayanganj court on September 18 to complete the charge sheet. After hearings, the court directed the agency to expedite the process. Additional Superintendent of Police Dipak Ranjan Muzumder of RAB-11 is currently investigating the case.

Members of Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) on Saturday arrested eight suspected criminals along with arms and ammunition in Raipura upazila of Narsingdi district. The arrestees were Rafik Mia, 48, Gias Uddin Mia, 40, Shahin Mia, 40, Jalal Mia, 37, Pulin Mia, 35, Azizul Hossain, 32, Rajib Mia, 30 and Mazharul Islam, 22. Man held over killing of 2 minor boys in Lalmonirhat Tipped off, a team of Rab-11 conducted a drive in Srinagar union of the upazila early Saturday and arrested them along with two foreign made pistols, six local made guns, one trigger gun, two LG, five pipeguns, 36 rounds of managazine and 82 rounds of bullets, said a press release of Rab. Amid recent deterioration in law and order situation, Rab intensified its operations and preliminary investigations revealed that some local armed groups were involved in these crimes.

Police recovered the blood-soaked body of an upazila-level Awami League (AL) leader from the rooftop of his home in Dakshin Surma upazila of Sylhet district early Friday. The deceased was identified as Abdur Razzak, vice-president of the upazila unit of the party and a former general secretary of the upazila sports association. He was the son of late Maolul Hossain of Telirai village under Mollargaon union. According to locals, Razzak went to the rooftop early Friday after offering the Fajr prayer as he did every day. As he did not return home till 9am, family members went upstairs and found his body lying in a pool of blood. Being informed, police recovered the body and sent to Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital morgue for autopsy. Additional Deputy Commissioner (North) Md Saiful Islam of Sylhet Metropolitan Police said the killing occurred between 6:30 am and 9 am and marks of stab wounds were found on the body. He said police have launched an investigation, collected evidence from the scene and interrogated family members. No one has been detained so far. CCTV footage from the night until morning showed no outsiders entering the house, he said. Family members said Razzak had been suffering from mental distress for the past four to five months and was under treatment, though he never disclosed the reason behind his condition.