United News of Bangladesh

At least 10 people, including students from Dhaka University of Engineering and Technology (DUET), were injured in a clash at a fair in Gazipur on Saturday night. The incident occurred around 11 pm at the Army Pharma grounds of trade and cottage industry fair in Shimultoli area during a concert by singer Oishi. According to witnesses, tensions began over allegations that a stall was selling tea and cigarettes at prices higher than the market rate. Around 10 pm, a group of DUET students refused to pay the inflated prices. During the ensuing altercation, the stall owner and several fair organisers allegedly detained and assaulted the students, including one Nahid Islam, leaving them injured. As the news quickly spread, the DUET students and locals allegedly stormed into the fair and vandalised shops, lottery stalls, the fair office, vehicles and motorcycles. Panic spread among visitors, resulting in further injuries as people scrambled to escape. The fair had been operating for nearly two months without official approval from Gazipur district and metropolitan authorities, which had drawn criticism from locals. Officer-in-charge Mehedi Hasan of Sadar Police Station said a misunderstanding led to the clash and later police brought the situation under control.

Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) on Saturday detained an Indian youth from the Daulatpur border area of Kushtia. A patrol team of Jamalpur BOP under the 47th Battalion of BGB detained the youth, identified as Opendar, 30, from the border area at around 11:30 am, said Zakirul Islam, Assistant Director of BGB Battalion-47. During initial interrogation, Opendar stated that he is a resident of Khas Indratol village under Uchchagaon Police Station in Bihar, India, though he could not provide the name of his father. A search of his belongings led to the recovery of both Indian and Bangladeshi currencies, as well as two train tickets for travel within Bangladesh. The tickets were for a Rohanpur–Khulna train scheduled for the 10th of this month. No Indian national identity card or Aadhaar card was found in his possession. Later, he was handed over to Daulatpur Police Station. Akhtaruzzaman Liton, Inspector (Investigation) of Daulatpur Police Station, said, “BGB has brought an Indian citizen to the police station. Legal action will be taken in this regard.”

The Airport Armed Police Battalion (APBn) on Saturday detained a man with 1,300 grams of gold and 13,970 Saudi riyals at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. Nurul Alam, 30, was apprehended around 2:20pm on the ground floor of the airport’s multi-storey parking lot when he tried to flee after sensing police presence, said APBn officials. A search of Nurul Alam recovered gold ornaments and Saudi riyals from a cloth bag worn for Hajj, his robe pocket, and pajamas. Interrogation revealed that the gold was illegally brought into Bangladesh by evading customs, and Nurul Alam has reportedly been involved as a receiver in a long-running gold smuggling syndicate at the airport. A case was filed against Nurul Alam at the Airport Police Station. APBn Operational Commander SP Mohammad Mozammel Haque said, “We regularly conduct operations to prevent smuggling and other crimes at the airport. APBn remains active in stopping gold and drug smuggling, and these activities will continue.” It is noted that the total gold seized by the Airport APBn so far this year stands at 28.508 kg (28,508.38 grams).

A suspect in the Pallabi unit of Jubo Dal leader member secretary Golam Kibria murder case has died hours after law enforcers arrested him from the Pallabi area on Thursday evening. The deceased was identified as Mokhtar Hossain. Meanwhile, Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) formed a three-member panel led by Additional Commissioner (Admin) Md Sarwar to investigate the death, according to a media release signed by Muhammad Talebur Rahman, deputy commissioner (media) of the DMP. On November 17, Kibria was shot dead when armed terrorists opened fire indiscriminately in Pallabi. A video showing the shooting went viral on social media. Later, his wife filed a murder case with Pallabi Police Station, naming five people and seven to eight unidentified suspects. The case was subsequently transferred to Detective Branch (DB) for thorough investigation and swift arrests. Being tipped-off, DB teams conducted raids in various parts of Shariatpur on Thursday and arrested suspects Nazrul, Masum and Zaman. During the preliminary interrogation, the arrestees 'confessed to the police' their involvement and informed that the firearm and ammunition used in the killing were in the possession of one Moktar. Based on this information, a DB team launched an operation the same evening around 6pm at a garage in Pallabi to arrest Mokhtar. Pallabi Jubo Dal leader murder: RAB arrests two top suspects including alleged mastermind ‘Patha Sohel’ Sensing the presence of the DB personnel, he tried to flee but locals tactfully detained and gave a thrashing DB recovered eight rounds of pistol ammunition from a rickshaw garage on upon information gleaned from Moktar Later, he was taken to the DB office where he fell ill around 1:30am, prompting transport to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) where doctors examined him, prescribed medication, and released him. He was brought back to the DB office. On Friday morning around 10am, officers found him unconscious when they went to give him breakfast. He was immediately taken to DMCH, where doctors declared him dead. His body has been sent for autopsy.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) on Thursday summoned national cricketer and former Magura-1 lawmaker Shakib Al Hasan for interrogation in a case linked to alleged stock market manipulation and illicit asset movement. A letter issued from the ACC headquarters on Thursday asked Shakib to appear before investigators on November 26. ACC Director General Md Akhter Hossain told reporters that accused Md Abul Khayer, known as Hiru, allegedly manipulated the stock market through irregularities and corruption, luring investors and causing losses. He then reportedly laundered the illicit gains through layered transactions across different channels. Shakib Al Hasan signs for three new foreign leagues He said Shakib Al Hasan, along with several others, has been named in the case for their alleged involvement in receiving or transferring proceeds linked to the scheme. “As part of the investigation, notices have been issued. Shakib has been summoned on November 26,” he added. According to the ACC, a total of 15 accused in the case have been summoned on November 25 and 26 for questioning.  

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Sheikh Md Sajjat Ali on Thursday warned that persons involved in acts of sabotage will be declared “unwanted” in the capital under existing laws. He said those orchestrating planned crude bomb attacks and arson on vehicles to create public panic are being identified and brought under the purview of the law. The commissioner made the remarks while addressing DMP’s monthly crime review meeting at the Bangladesh Police Auditorium in Rajarbagh Police Lines in the city. He emphasized that police must remain completely neutral and work in the public interest during the upcoming national election, adding that no officer can show weakness or bias toward any political party, ideology or individual. To ensure public safety and maintain law and order, the DMP chief said police will not hesitate to use maximum legal force against criminals.  He also instructed field units to intensify patrol activities to prevent crime at the precinct level. Additional Police Commissioner (Admin) Md Sarwar underscored the need for police personnel to use social media in accordance with government policies and to increase the use of e-documents in daily activities. Additional Police Commissioner (Crime & Operations) S.N. Md Nazrul Islam stressed swift and effective action after filing cases to ensure suspects are quickly brought under legal procedures. He also highlighted the need for the highest level of professional integrity and neutrality during the upcoming general election, warning that no one will be allowed to destabilize the law-and-order situation surrounding the verdict of the International Crimes Tribunal. At the meeting, Joint Police Commissioner (Crime) Md Faruk Hossain presented crime statistics for October 2025, including figures on robbery, theft, burglary, homicide, unnatural deaths, road accidents, violence against women and children, rape, and the recovery of drugs and illegal weapons. The DMP commissioner also issued various directives to attending officers and later distributed awards to personnel of different ranks in recognition of exemplary performance in crime control, law-and-order maintenance and public safety in October.

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) on Thursday dismissed Joint Commissioner Md Lutf ul Kabir after charges of misconduct and desertion under the Government Servants (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 2018 were found proven through a full departmental proceeding. The order, issued in the public interest, takes immediate effect. According to a gazette notification, Lutf ul Kabir, previously posted at the Customs, Excise and VAT Commissionerate, Dhaka (South), had been transferred to the Commissionerate in Jashore under an NBR order issued in October 2024. The Dhaka (South) office subsequently released him on October 28, 2024 to enable him to join his new workplace. Despite the release order, he failed to join the Jashore office. Instead, he submitted a leave application dated October 28, 2024, which was backdated by having it received in the relevant register on October 27, 2024 through a subordinate official. As the leave request was not approved, his prolonged absence from duty was deemed unauthorised. It was found that he violated lawful orders of his superiors and had remained absent from work for more than 60 days without permission. He was suspended on March 2, 2025 through a notification issued by the Internal Resources Division. After examining his statements, relevant documents, and other evidence, authorities determined that the allegations, if proven, could warrant a major penalty. To ensure fairness, Commissioner Mohammad Akbar Hossain of the VAT Intelligence and Investigation Directorate was appointed as the inquiry officer. The inquiry officer submitted his report on June 15, 2025, concluding that both charges—misconduct under Rule 3(b) and desertion under Rule 3(g)—had been proved. After reviewing the report and all related documents, the authorities issued a second show-cause notice, informing the accused officer that dismissal or another major penalty was under consideration. He was directed to respond within seven working days. Although Lutf ul Kabir submitted his second written reply on July 24, 2025, the response was judged unsatisfactory. The matter was then referred to the Bangladesh Public Service Commission (BPSC) for its statutory opinion. The BPSC agreed with the administrative ministry’s decision and recommended imposing the major penalty of dismissal under Rule 4(3)(gha). The decision to dismiss Lutf ul Kabir from government service received the approval of the President, the notification said. Following a final review of the allegations, his written replies, the inquiry report, the BPSC’s opinion and all relevant documents, the government confirmed that the charges of misconduct and desertion had been proved beyond doubt.  

Sylhet Metropolitan Police (SMP) has launched the GenieA app to make police services more accessible, enabling citizens to request help and report incidents with a single click. SMP Commissioner Abdul Kuddus Chowdhury introduced the app which was first piloted on October 16 at Moglabazar Police Station and extended to all five other police stations on November 16. The app currently offers two main features— an SOS button to immediately alert police with the user’s location and identity and incident reporting to provide information about criminals, with an option for reports to go directly to the Police Commissioner. Future upgrades will include CCTV and AI-based monitoring, drone surveillance, student safety measures, blockchain-based evidence handling, and AI-assisted legal support for filing FIRs. Experts call for effective implementation of SMP guidelines to ensure fair competition and new investments in telecom sector The app will also integrate with other agencies including fire and immigration services, support ambulance and ride-sharing emergencies, and tackle cyberbullying. GenieA is available for download on Google Play and iOS TestFlight. SMP said the app aims to ensure faster, safer, and more transparent service delivery for Sylhet residents.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Md Sajjat Ali on Thursday warned that efforts to undermine police morale could again force citizens to guard their own homes, as witnessed after August 5 last year. Talking to reporters after inaugurating the DB Cyber Support Centre on Minto Road, he said significant effort had been made to rebuild police morale. “Please do not try to break this morale. If it collapses, you will have to guard your houses with bamboo sticks, just like after August 5 last year,” he cautioned. Referring to a recent viral incident, he said police officers had faced inappropriate behaviour while trying to prevent unrest. DMP chief orders use of firearms to stop arson attacks in Dhaka “We do not stand on the streets to clash with you. We are there to serve you. Such behaviour deeply hurts us,” he said. The DMP chief said an officer was injured on Wednesday night after miscreants hurled a cocktail near Pallabi Police Station. “He was an innocent officer standing on the road. Such attacks damage police morale and ultimately harm everyone,” he said. The DMP chief warned that attempts to create instability after the recent change in government could push society into further disorder and urged those involved to stop immediately. Serve people lawfully to win their trust: DMP chief Asked about shooting those who throw cocktails, he said the law—not he—dictates police action. “I did not make the law. Parliament makes the law. Whatever is stated in the law is what my officers follow." He urged city residents to work together to maintain peace and ensure public safety.

The Appellate Division on Thursday ordered that the caretaker government system be reinstated in the Constitution of the country, declaring the 13th amendment to the constitution as legal. A seven-member bench led by Chief Justice Dr Syed Refaat Ahmed passed the order in the packed court. The other bench members are Justice Md. Ashfaqul Islam, Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury, Justice Md. Rezaul Haque, S. M. Emdadul Hoque, Justice AKM Asaduzzaman, and Justice Farah Mahbub. The apex court in its observation said that the next national election would be held under the interim government and the caretaker government system would be applied from the 14th national election. After ending the hearing on November 11, the court set November 20 to deliver the final verdict. The appeal hearings were conducted by senior lawyer Zainul Abedin and Barrister Ruhul Quddus Kajal on behalf of the BNP Secretary General; Mohammad Shishir Monir on behalf of Jamaat; and senior lawyer Sharif Bhuiyan for five prominent citizens. Attorney General Md Asaduzzaman represented the state. Earlier, on August 27, the Appellate Division allowed the filing of an appeal against the verdict that abolished the caretaker government system. The hearing of the appeal to restore the caretaker government system began on October 21. The caretaker system was introduced into the Constitution through the 13th Amendment in 1996. Caretaker Govt: Top court sets Nov 20 for delivering judgment Later, three lawyers, including Advocate M Salim Ullah, filed a writ petition challenging the amendment in 1998. The petition was dismissed in 2004, and the petitioners appealed in 2005. Acting on that appeal, a full bench of the Appellate Division delivered a verdict on May 10, 2011, declaring the 13th Amendment null and void. Following the verdict, the 15th Amendment Act, which abolished the caretaker government system along with several other changes, was passed in Parliament on June 30, 2011, with the gazette notification published on July 3 that year. After the change of government, five prominent individuals, including Shushashoner Jonno Nagorik (SUJAN) Secretary Dr Badiul Alam Majumdar, filed an appeal on August 5 last year seeking a review of the verdict. The other petitioners were Tofail Ahmed, M Hafizuddin Khan, Zobairul Haq Bhuiyan and Zahra Rahman. No scope for holding next national election under caretaker govt: Shishir Manir Meanwhile, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir filed a review petition on October 16, followed by another from Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Prof Mia Golam Parwar on October 23.