United News of Bangladesh

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) imposed Tk 2.61 lakh in fines and sentenced 51 individuals to various terms in jail during the 2nd day of the special drive to reclaim the sidewalks of roads and footpaths on Thursday. During the drive, the law enforcers and executive magistrate also seized goods that occupied roads and footpath illegally and evicted illegal structures established illegally on roads in different parts of the capital. According to sources from the Traffic Lalbagh Division, a total of Tk 6,000 was imposed as fine on 13 traders for violating regulations. The process of sending the detained individuals to court is underway. Besides, Traffic Wari Division said a special drive was carried out from Jatrabari intersection to the Signboard area and some illegal shops set up roadside and business establishments were evicted. A total of Tk 22,500 in fines was imposed on 13 traders for violating rules, while others were warned. Meanwhile, Traffic Ramna Division sources said, a drive was conducted in the Shahbagh Zone to free footpaths from illegal occupation, covering areas from Dhaka Medical College, Nimtoli, and Bangabazar to Golap Shah Mazar crossing. During the drive, 56 video cases and 12 instant cases were filed against illegally parked motorcycles. Besides, Tk 22,500 in fines was imposed through a mobile court and a number of goods were seized. On the other hand, sources from the Traffic Mirpur Division said that during a drive in the Pallabi Zone from Mirpur-10 to Mirpur-12, a total of Tk 55,000 was imposed as fines in 16 cases and roads were cleared of illegal occupation. Earlier on Wednesday, DMP imposed fines worth Tk 1.92 lakh and sentenced 23 people to different terms of imprisonment during a coordinated eviction drive to free roads and footpaths from illegal occupation across the capital. The drive will continue till April 5 at different locations, said Arifa Akhter Preeti, Assistant Police Commissioner of the Media and Public Relations Division of DMP.

Two separate mobile courts recovered 13,980 litres of illegally hoarded diesel in Narayanganj on Tuesday night, imposed fines and imprisoned the offenders. In the first operation, around 6 pm, authorities raided a location next to the Eidgah of Meghna Depot in Godnail, Siddhirganj, based on secret information, and seized 9,100 litres of diesel. The mobile court fined the hoarder, Md Sifat, Tk 6,000 and sentenced him to two months’ imprisonment. In a second operation, a raid at a house on SA Road near Meghna Depot in Godnail led to the seizure of 4,880 litres of diesel. The accused, Md Nasir, was fined Tk 3,000 and sentenced to one month in prison by the mobile court.

The submission of the investigation report in the sensational murder case of journalist couple Sagar Sarwar and Mehrun Runi was postponed once again, marking the 125th delay in filing the report. Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Ariful Islam has now fixed May 7 as the next date for submission. The investigating officer has provided explanations for the repeated delays. On February 9, the court had asked the officer to justify the failure to submit the report. The officer, Additional Superintendent of Police Md. Azizul Haque of the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI), appeared in court in person and submitted a two-page written explanation. He told the court that the task force formed to probe the case includes several members in addition to him, which has caused some delay. The report will be submitted on the next scheduled date, he added. Sagar, News Editor of Masranga Television, and Runi, senior reporter of ATN Bangla, were killed on February 11, 2012. Runi’s brother, Nowshar Alam Roman, filed the murder case at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station. The accused in the case are Rafiqul Islam, Bakul Mia, Masum Mintu, Kamrul Islam alias Arun, Abu Saeed, the couple’s two home security guards Palash Rudra Pal and Enayet Ahmed, and their ‘friend’ Tanvir Rahman Khan. Among them, Tanvir is out on bail, while Palash Rudra Pal absconded after being granted bail. The remaining accused are in jail. Initially, the investigation was handled by a sub-inspector of the same police station. Four days later, the probe was handed over to the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DB), which failed to solve the case in over two months. Following a High Court directive, the investigation was transferred to the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) on April 18, 2012. On September 30 last year, the High Court withdrew RAB from the case and formed a high-powered task force comprising experienced investigators from various agencies, giving them six months to complete the probe. On October 17, the Ministry of Home Affairs’ Public Security Division officially formed the task force headed by the PBI chief, with four members working under it.

Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Md Asaduzzaman on Wednesday said a total of 142,983 false and harassment cases were filed against BNP leaders and activists between 2007 and January 11, 2025, citing data from the party’s central office. He came up with the information while replying to a starred question from treasury bench lawmaker Md Abdul Mannan (Brahmanbaria-5) in Parliament. The minister said the government does not maintain any official statistics on harassment or false cases filed against leaders and activists of political parties. “As such, there is no specific government data on cases filed only against BNP leaders and activists,” he said adding that the figure was based on information provided by the BNP central office. He said initiatives have been taken to withdraw politically motivated cases since the current government assumed office. He informed the House that a four-member district-level committee headed by the District Magistrate was reconstituted on March 5, 2026 to review applications and recommend withdrawal of such cases after examining FIRs, charge sheets and opinions of public prosecutors. Based on recommendations from these district committees, a six-member central committee—formed on March 8, 2026 took final decisions on case withdrawals, he added. The minister said that so far 23,865 politically motivated cases have already been withdrawn, while the process to withdraw the remaining cases is underway.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has imposed fines worth Tk 1.92 lakh and sentenced 23 people to different terms of imprisonment during a coordinated eviction drive to free roads and footpaths from illegal occupation across the capital. The daylong special drives, conducted on Wednesday simultaneously in different parts of the capital. The drives were conducted from 10 am on both sides of roads in different areas including Moghbazar rail crossing area to Banglamotor area, Phulbaria Bus Stand-Bakshibazar to Chakharpool, Nightingle Intersection to Arambagh. Besides, Dholaipar to Jatrabari and Faruk Sarani, Indira Road, Green Road, Ananda Cinema Hall, Bashundhara and KarwanBazar area, Kazipara, Shewrapara, Taltala, Bhashantek and Mirpur-14 and BNS Centre to House Building North Tower and Kakoli Outgoing. The drive will continue till April 5 at different locations, said Arifa Akhter Preeti, Assistant Police Commissioner of the Media and Public Relations Division of DMP. During the drive, police removed illegal shops, extensions from roads and footpaths, imposing fines, seizing goods and taking legal action against violators. According to the Traffic Lalbagh Division, 13 people were arrested during a drive in the Goaalghat-Narinda area under Kotwali Traffic Zone for violating the law. Cases were filed under the Road Transport Act-2018 and goods were seized. The Traffic Wari Division conducted a special drive from Dholairpar to Jatrabari intersection and along Shaheed Faruk Sarani, evicting illegally set-up shops. Seven traders were fined a total of Tk 15,000, while others were warned. In the Traffic Ramna Division, a drive from Moghbazar intersection to Banglamotor signal cleared footpaths. Authorities filed 49 video cases and 10 on-the-spot cases against illegally parked motorcycles. A mobile court also fined Tk 15,000 and seized goods equivalent to nearly three pickup loads. The Traffic Mirpur Division carried out operations in Kazipara, Shewrapara and Bhashantek areas under Pallabi Zone, imposing fines of Tk 65,000 to six traders and clearing encroached roads. According to the Traffic Motijheel Division, a drive from Nightingale intersection to Fakirapool kitchen market resulted in the collection of around Tk 70,000 in fines and the arrest of 10 people. In the Traffic Tejgaon Division, operations were conducted in the Indira Road area to remove illegally placed goods from roads and footpaths and traders were given necessary instructions. The Traffic Gulshan Division warned around 50 shops for illegally occupying footpaths and fined offenders Tk 27,000. Meanwhile, the Traffic Uttara Division issued verbal warnings to shopkeepers for illegal occupation of footpaths. DMP said such drives will continue to ensure smooth movement of the public and maintain discipline on the roads.

Law Minister Md. Asaduzzaman on Wednesday said some 23,865 politically motivated cases to harass people have so far been withdrawn across the country. The Law Minister said this in Parliament while replying to a starred question from ruling party lawmaker elected from Dhaka-18 SM Jahangir Hossain during the day’s question-answer session in the House. He also informed that the process is on to withdraw the rest of the politically motivated cases to harass people through proper scrutiny filed by the fascist Awami League regime. Replying to another supplementary question from the lawmaker, Asaduzzaman said that when a person is acquitted by a court and proven innocent, it is his fundamental right to be treated with dignity and in accordance with the law. Responding to another supplementary question from Md Kamrul Hasan (Mymensingh-6), the Law Minister said that many teachers have been victims of cases in the past, even those who died 20 years ago, were also victimized through cases. “We have seen cases filed even against disabled persons and political leaders. We are aware of the nature of these cases,” he said. “We are continuing the process of withdrawing cases wherever possible. I would request the concerned individuals to submit applications to the respective ministries or departments.” He mentioned that the relevant departments will verify the cases that have been withdrawn and take necessary steps accordingly. However, he said, this matter does not directly fall under the Law Ministry.

Detectives from the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) have detained former Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Abdul Jalil Mondal from the capital’s Sabujbagh area on Monday evening. DMP's Detective Branch (DB) Joint Commissioner Nasirul Islam confirmed the matter to the media, saying that Mondal was picked up from his residence in Sabujbagh in the evening. Ex-MP Masud Uddin Chowdhury shown arrested in human trafficking case: DB He said the detention was carried out based on an arrest warrant issued against him in a case filed with the International Crimes Tribunal.    

Detectives have arrested a young man for allegedly running a fraud scheme by creating fake Facebook accounts using the names and photos of senior government and police officials. The arrestee, Md Ripon, 23, was detained around 4:30pm on Monday from in front of the cancer building of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) under Shahbagh Police Station, according to DB officials. Police said an organised fraud ring had long been operating on Facebook by opening fake accounts in the names of high-ranking police officers, key state figures and senior government officials, and posting misleading content to deceive the public. Acting on intelligence inputs, a DB team carried out the drive with the assistance of information technology and arrested Ripon. Two mobile phones were seized from his possession. Analysis of the seized devices revealed a fake Facebook account titled “Doctor Ayesha Khatun” in active use. Investigators said the account was being used to circulate deceptive posts by using photos of the Inspector General of Police and other prominent figures. During preliminary interrogation, Ripon admitted to his involvement in the fraudulent activities, which he had allegedly been carrying out for a long time with the help of his associates, police said. Legal proceedings against him are underway, said Arifa Akhter Preeti, Assistant Police Commissioner of the Media and Public Relations Division of DMP.

Members of a joint force seized over 12,000 litres of illegally hoarded diesel from an oil depot in Dwigraj area of Mongla upazila in Khulna district early Sunday. A joint team comprising Coast Guard, Navy, Police and officials from local administration conducted the drive at the depot around 1 am and seized the diesel, said Coast Guard Media Officer Lieutenant Commander Sabbir Alam Sujon. According to officials, 12,613 litres of diesel were found stored without proper documentation in three tanks at a depot operated by Jamuna Petroleum Limited in the Mongla Oil Installation area. The market value of the seized oil is Tk 12.10 lakh. Authorities said they are investigating why the fuel was stored without valid papers and have sought explanations from the depot authorities. Allegations have recently surfaced that some unscrupulous traders from both government and private depots have been hoarding petrol, octane and diesel to make illegal profits amid a crisis in fuel supply across different parts of the country. The seized diesel has been kept in custody and further legal action will be taken under the supervision of the Additional Deputy Commissioner of Bagerhat district. The Coast Guard said such drives will continue to ensure stability in the fuel supply in Mongla port areas and across the country.

A Dhaka court on Sunday placed former army officer and former Member of Parliament Masud Uddin Chowdhury on a six-day fresh remand in a case over embezzlement of Tk 24,000 crore and human trafficking. Dhaka Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Jashita Islam passed the order when sub-inspector of DB police Raihanur Rahman ,also the investigating officer of the case, produced him before the court with seven-day remand prayer after completion of his five-day remand. Earlier on Tuesday, a Dhaka court placed Masud Uddin, Managing Director of a recruiting agency of 5M International Ltd, on a five-day remand. A team of the DB police arrested Masud from Baridhara late Monday night. According to the DB, a total of 11 cases have so far been filed against former MP Masud Uddin Chowdhury. Besides, multiple complaints against him are being probed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). DB chief Shafiqul Islam said Masud is accused in cases filed with Banani, Paltan, Kotwali, Mirpur and Hatirjheel police stations, involving serious charges such as murder, attempted murder, human trafficking and money laundering. Masud is the third accused in the human trafficking case which names a total of 101 people, the DB chief added. Altab Khan, proprietor of Afia Overseas filed the case against 101 people on September 3 with Paltan Police Staiton.