United News of Bangladesh

Seven fishermen were abducted allegedly by a group of pirates from different areas of the Sundarbans on Sunday. The abductors are now charging Tk 50, 000 as ransom for each fisherman. The incident occurred on Sunday morning in the Malancha River of the Satkhira range, including Hanskhali, Chelakata, and Hetalbuni canals, according to fishermen who managed to escape. Those abducted are Abdul Aziz, 50, Ibrahim Hossain, 45, Anarul Islam, 22, Najmul Haque, 34, Shamim Hossain, 36, Anwar Hossain, 32, from Dakshin Kadamtala village of Shyamnagar upazila in Satkhira, and Mujibul Hossain, 35, from Harinagar Jelepara. Returning fishermen Fozer Ali and Sabuz Mia said they had gone to the Sundarbans from Kadamtala station to catch crabs. While fishing in the river, ten armed kidnappers suddenly surrounded them and took away seven fishermen, instructing the families to send Tk 50,000 per person via mobile. When contacted, Sundarbans Range Officer Md. Fazlul Haque said the Forest Department’s smart patrol team is on site and efforts are on to communicate with the victims. Coast Guard sources at Kaikhali BCG Station said that they are coordinating with the families and will take further action once details are verified.

A couple has been arrested from Jashore for allegedly embezzling around Tk 2 crore from several young people in Sylhet by promising to send them to London on work-permit visas. The victims had earlier filed a case with the Sylhet Kotwali Model Police Station after the couple went into hiding and switched off their mobile phones. SI Mukit Mia, the investigation officer, said the couple was arrested around 10:30 pm on Saturday from a house in Sector 7, Kotwali Police Station area of JessoreThe arrestees are Md Nazim Uddin Adil, 35m and his wife Farzana Sharmin Soma, 37, of Rayerbagh Mirjanagar C Block under Kadamtali Police Station in in Dhaka. They were brought back to Sylhet on Sunday and produced before the court, Kotwali Model Police Station Officer-in-Charge Khandaker Mostafizur Rahman confirmed. According to police and victims, the couple operated a travel agency named St International at Elegant Market in Sylhet's Zindabazar area. Lured by their campaign, many IELTS-qualified youths reportedly sold jewelry and land to pay Tk 15 lakh to Tk 22 lakh each for what they believed to be genuine work-permit visas for the UK The couple allegedly showed the victims fabricated visa documents to collect money. When the youths later discovered the visas were fake and went to the office, they found it closed. The couple's phones were also switched off Following the complaints, police tracked them down to Jashore and made the arrests. A defrauded young woman demanded justice and money back. Court sources confirmed that the couple has been sent to jail.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) on Sunday filed a case against 34 individuals, including Janata Bank’s two former chairmen and a former managing director, over the alleged embezzlement of Tk 1,963.54 crore through abuse of power and loan fraud. The case was filed at the ACC’s Chattogram Integrated District Office by the Commission’s Deputy Director Mohammad Sirajul Haque, Confirming the development, ACC Director General Md Akhtar Hossain said the accused had violated banking rules and colluded to misappropriate the funds. According to the case statement, the accused approved loan limits in breach of conditions, created excessive funded and non-funded liabilities, and issued loans through inflated loan trust receipts and letters of indemnity.  Investigators said the group systematically flouted regulations to siphon off Tk 1,963.54 crore from Janata Bank’s Agrabad General Insurance Building Corporate Branch in Chattogram. The accused from Janata Bank include former chairmen Dr Jamal Uddin Ahmed and S M Mahfuzur Rahman; former CEO and MD Md Abdul Alim Azad; former directors Khandaker Sabera Islam, Mohammad Abul Kashem, Amit Kumar Pal, K M Shamsul Alam, Mohammad Samad Ullah, Dr Sheikh Shamsuddin Ahmed, Ziauddin Ahmed, Md Abdul Majid and Begum Rubana Amin; former deputy managing directors Md Abdul Jabbar, Md Tajul Islam, Md Ismail Hossain and Sheikh Md Zaminur Rahman; former general managers Md Kamrul Ahsan, Masfiul Bari, Md Ashraful Alam, Md Kamruzzaman Khan, S M Abdul Wadud, Mitanur Rahman and Md Shamim Alam Qureshi; and former deputy general managers of Janata Bank PLC Md Sirajul Karim Majumdar, Md Shahidul Haque and Md Abul Monsur. The case also names officials linked to S Alam Group and associated companies: Global Trading Corporation Ltd Managing Director Md Rashedul Alam, directors Farhana Begum and Mohammad Abdus Sabur; S Alam Group owner and S Alam Trading Co (Pvt) Ltd director Md Saiful Alam, director Md Osman Gani; Sonali Traders owner Md Shahidul Alam; NN Inspection Service managing partner Khandaker Robiul Haque; and Commodity Inspection Services (BD) Ltd Managing Director Khandaker Zahirul Haque. The ACC alleges that the accused acted in collusion, committed criminal breach of trust, and engaged in fraudulent activities to siphon off public money in one of the largest loan scams in Janata Bank’s history.

A physician of Mymensingh Medical College (MMC) has been suspended for misbehaving with the Director General of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) Professor Dr. Md Abu Jafor on Saturday afternoon (December 06, 2025). Dr. Dhandeb Barman, who was in-charge of the Casualty Department, has been asked to show cause for his rude behavior. A video of the incident went viral on social media, drawing widespread criticism from various quarters. Earlier in the morning, the DGHS DG visited Mymensingh Medical College Hospital to attend a seminar on the recent progress and challenges in treating bladder and reproductive system diseases in children. Read more: Naogaon residents battle dengue surge as urban services falter Before the seminar, Prof Jafor inspected different sections of the hospital. During his visit to the emergency department, he raised concerns over patient care, management and staff presence. Unhappy with the remarks, Casualty In-Charge Dr. Barman reacted arrogantly, referring to manpower shortages and workload. As the DG expressed displeasure, an argument ensued between the two. Hospital Director Brigadier General Md Golam Ferdous, Assistant Director (Administration) Dr. Mohammad Main Uddin Khan, and other administrative officials and doctors were present during the incident. Assistant Director (Administration) Dr. Mohammad Main Uddin Khan said Dr. Barman had a heated conversation with the DG during the inspection over the quality of services. Read more: Sylhet residents endure relentless mosquito invasion amid dengue surge “Dr. Barman was immediately relieved of his duties. Further action will be taken following departmental procedures,” Dr. Main Uddin said.

Detectives have arrested two men with two foreign-made pistols from Dholaipar area in the capital on Friday. The arrestees were identified as Milon Hossain, 39, and Shamil alias Shamil Hossain, 22, said DMP's DC media Talebur Rahman on Saturday afternoon. According to DB-Wari division, a team of detectives conducted an operation around 4:25 pm near the Tungipara bus counter adjacent to the Dholaipar roundabout under Jatrabari Police Station and arrested the duo as they attempted to flee the scene on a motorcycle after sensing police presence. Earlier, at around 3:45 pm, detectives stationed near Sayedabad bus stand had received a tip-off that several armed persons were gathering in the area. Teenager ‘beaten to death’ over theft suspicion at Jatrabari Acting on the information, the DB team reached the spot and intercepted the two suspects. A search of their bodies led to the recovery of two foreign-made pistols, hidden at the back of their waists. Police also seized the motorcycle used by them. Legal action against the detainees is underway, officials said.    

Miscreants set fire to Assistant Commissioner (AC-Land) office and Registry office in Magura Sadar by throwing petrol early Saturday. AC (Land) Asma Akter said the perpetrators broke a window at the back of the building and hurled petrol bombs around 3am. The fire engulfed a room on the ground, damaging computers and important land documents, she said. Later firefighters and police managed to bring the blaze under control. Meanwhile, around 4:30am, the attackers set fire to Magura Registry office. Though no documents were burnt two rooms used by deed writers were gutted. Officer-in-charge Md Ayub Ali of Magura Sadar Police Station said bottles containing petrol were recovered and a special drive is underway to identify the culprits. A case has been filed in this regard, he added.

Members of the Bangladesh Army in a drive recovered two pistols and a one-shooter gun from the house of a mason in Khoksa upazila of Kushtia on Thursday night. However, no one could be detained in this connection as the firearms were recovered in an abandoned condition. Being tipped-off, an army team led by Captain Mehedi conducted the raid at the house of mason Sohaq Hosen in Osmanpur Kolpara village of the upazila. During the search, the army personnel recovered two pistols, one shooter gun, bullets, a locally made knife, and a hatchet. Inspector (investigation) Mosharraf Hossain of Khoksa Police Station said on Friday morning that the seized weapons had been handed over to the police station. Legal action will be taken in this regard, he added.

All heavy weapons looted from law enforcement agencies have now been recovered, Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury said on Friday. “There is no failure on the government’s part in recovering weapons looted from the police. They are being recovered and will continue to be recovered,” he said. The adviser made the remarks while speaking to journalists at an event organised by the Fire Service and Civil Defence Headquarters at its Purbachal training ground to mark International Volunteer Day. When asked about the exact number of looted weapons still unaccounted for or recovered so far, the adviser said he could not immediately provide the figures. Responding to another query regarding the recent police ordinance, Jahangir Alam said the government enacts laws to serve the people.  “This law has been formulated so that people receive services—this is for the service of the people,” he said. Senior officials of the Fire Service and Civil Defence, representatives of different organisations, and personnel of various ranks attended the event. The adviser mentioned that the Fire Service and Civil Defence is working to build a network of 62,000 volunteers across the country, and has already trained more than 55,000.  He praised the agency’s efforts in advancing this 'timely and essential' initiative. Jahangir Alam said disasters such as earthquakes, major fires, and floods are “difficult to handle by government forces alone,” adding that trained volunteers play a vital supportive role. “For this reason, proper training is essential. Volunteers at all levels must be prepared—especially for disasters like earthquakes. I was pleased to see the exercises demonstrated today. I believe you will be able to perform your duties efficiently when needed," he said. 

A case was filed Thursday over a violent attack on two Customs officials in Chattogram, who were allegedly targeted by criminals for preventing the illegal release of imported goods, according to the National Board of Revenue (NBR). The incident occurred around 10:20am in the CDA Residential Area under Double Mooring Police Station, when three unidentified assailants on a motorcycle intercepted a vehicle carrying Md Asaduzzaman Khan, Revenue Officer of the AIR section at Chattogram Customs House, and Assistant Revenue Officer Md Badrul Arefin Bhuiyan. Asaduzzaman Khan lodged the case at Double Mooring Police Station. The attackers reportedly attempted to kill them, striking the car with a machete and kicking in the left-side window while shouting “shoot, shoot.” The officials escaped unharmed by quickly driving toward their office. Authorities believe the attack is linked to several recent enforcement drives by Chattogram Customs House aimed at preventing revenue evasion. Recent seizures include illegally imported poppy seeds and banned sodium cyclamate worth nearly Tk 10 crore, and a consignment of restricted cigarettes valued at around Tk 30 crore back in May. Customs officials also intercepted multiple consignments of cosmetics brought through false declarations, prompting threats from fraud syndicates. On October 5, an anonymous caller threatened one of the two attacked officials over WhatsApp, following the seizure of misdeclared cosmetics, leading to a general diary being filed at Bandar Police Station the next day. The NBR strongly condemned the assault, describing it as a heinous act against officers performing their lawful duties to curb smuggling, preventing tax evasion, and preventing imports through false declarations. It reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring the safety of honest and dedicated officials and urged law enforcement agencies to bring the perpetrators to justice without delay.

The OCs (officers-in-charge) of 50 police stations under Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) have been transferred and given new postings, in the latest round of reshuffles. Dhaka Metropolitan Police headquarters issued three separate notifications in this regard on Thursday. Read More: Reshuffle in Police Admin: Additional IGP among 82 officers made OSD