United News of Bangladesh

Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury on Thursday said there is no government bar on BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman's return to the country and he may come back anytime. The Adviser made the remarks while talking to reporters during a visit to Salna Highway Police Station in Gazipur on Thursday morning. Tarique has been living in London since February 2008. Asked about recent push-in incidents by the Indian Border Security Force (BSF), the Adviser said those being pushed into Bangladesh are not entering through the proper channel and are being sent back in an inhumane manner. All eyes now on Prof Yunus-Tarique talks amid strained BNP-govt ties He said the Indian High Commissioner has already been informed about the issue, expressing the hope that such push-ins will be stopped immediately. Highway Police Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Md Shafiqul Islam, Gazipur Metropolitan Police Commissioner Dr Nazmul Karim Khan, and Gazipur District Police Superintendent Chowdhury Md Jaber Sadeq were, among others, present during the visit.

The members of Bangladesh Army seized 40 tractors while they were transporting soil from cropland in Baksor area of Natore Sadar upazila on Wednesday. According to army sources, based on information from local residents, a team from the army conducted a raid in Baksor at noon. During the operation, they found that approximately 40 bighas of farmland had been cut, ponds had been dug, and soil had been removed, all while the land was being taken to a brick kiln. However, the owner of the land was not present at that time. The seized tractors were later handed over to the district police’s traffic department and stored at the police lines. Mahbubur Rahman, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Sadar police station, said that legal action would be taken under traffic laws. He added that for some time, farmland in Natore has been illegally cut, and ponds have been dug with the alleged complicity of local authorities. The soil is also being sold, with verbal permission reportedly given by district and upazila administration officials. Abul Hayat, additional deputy commissioner of Natore, however, said that no such permission has been granted by the district administration for these activities.  

BGB on Wednesday rescued and brought back a Bangladeshi citizen from the Myanmar border area, who was abducted from the Poyamhuri border in Alikadam upazila of Bandarban. The victim was identified as Dulal, son of Ezahar Ali from Baganpara village in Alikadam upazila of Bandarban.Lt Col Kazi Mahtab Uddin Ahmed, commander of Ramu Battalion (30 BGB) said that a drive conducted under a special patrol team of BGB was able to rescue the kidnapped Dulal on Wednesday and bring him back to Bangladesh without any ransom, approximately 800 yards north of Border Pillar-56. Earlier on June 3, five to six Myanmar nationals reportedly lured Dulal, over trade of cows and took him inside Myanmar through the area between border pillars 54-55. Later on June 10, BGB contacted the kidnappers through local sources and learned that the abducted person was being held captive at a place called Mansionpara inside Myanmar, opposite the area under the responsibility of BGB BOP Poyamhuri. “The Commander of BGB's Poyamuhuri BOP handed over the rescued person to his family in presence of the local UP Chairman Md Kafil Uddin,” said Lt Col Kazi Mahtab.

Attorney General Advocate Asaduzzaman on Wednesday said daytime votes will never again be held at night in Bangladesh, assuring that the government is committed to ensuring every citizen can safely reach the secret polling booth to cast their vote freely. Speaking at several meetings and seminars over a week in Shailkupa, the Attorney General strongly criticised former Chief Justices Khairul Haque and Syed Mahmud Hossain, labelling them as "disgraceful" for abolishing the 13th amendment, which he said effectively stripped people's voting rights. “There will be no mafia in the judiciary, and no syndicate of vested circles,” Asaduzzaman asserted. The Attorney General said he is actively fighting against drugs and corruption and claimed to be achieving success in this ongoing battle. Urging people to assist in this effort, he called upon them to provide information on drugs and corruption. Govt working sincerely to fulfill people's expectations: Asif Nazrul “We will build a drug-free Shailkupa. I promise that the identity of informants will be kept confidential, and only the names and identities of those involved in drugs will be revealed,” he said. During the week-long campaign, Attorney General Asaduzzaman attended various gatherings, seminars and meetings across local markets in Shailkupa Upazila, including an event hosted by the Bankers’ Forum of Shailkupa. Referring to the development works currently underway in Shailkupa, he noted, “These developments are being carried out with your tax money.” He warned that if any officials of the departments concerned are found involved in corruption, they must be reported. “No one will be allowed to misuse development funds. Those who engage in corruption will face consequences,” he cautioned.

A BNP activist was hacked to death allegedly by Awami League (AL) supporters in Sharsha upazila of Jashore district on Tuesday night. The victim was identified as Liton Hossain, 30, son of Asgar Ali of Durgapur village under Laxmanpur union of the upazila and activist of the union unit of the party. Locals said a group of miscreants, equipped with lethal weapons, attacked and hacked him when he was having tea at a local market around 10pm. Hearing his screams, people rushed to the scene while the attackers fled, they said. He was rushed to Sharsha Upazila Health Complex, where physicians declared him dead. Victim’s father Asgar claimed that there had been a rivalry between his son and local Awami League leaders Abdul Momin, Selim Hossain and Ramzan Ali over political issues. BNP man killed while saving street hawker in Benapole The AL leaders had earlier also tried to attack him but failed, he alleged. The day before the Eid, an argument and altercation occurred between them, leading to the killing on Tuesday night, Asgar claimed. Claiming Liton a BNP man, General Secretary of the upazila unit Nuruzzaman alleged that “criminals Selim and Ramzan killed him” over the previous enmity. Officer-in-charge of Sharsha Police Station Rabiul Islam said they were conducting a drive to arrest those involved in the murder.

The Indian Border Security Force (BSF) pushed 20 more people into Bangladesh through border points in Dinajpur and Thakurgaon districts on Monday night. Lt Col Abdullah Al Moin Hasan, Commanding Officer of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) Battalion-42, said a BGB patrol team detained 13 people after they were pushed across the Enayetpur border in Biral upazila of Dinajpur. Besides, seven more people were pushed in through the Chanduria border in Pirganj upazila of Thakurgaon, which also falls under the jurisdiction of the BGB-42 Battalion. BSF pushes 8 people across Bholahat border into Chapainawabganj Among those pushed into Bangladesh were four men, four women and 12 children. Despite repeated concerns raised by Bangladesh, the incidents of BSF pushing people into the country through various border points continue unabated.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) conducted a special security drill on Monday ahead of the upcoming international football match between the national teams of Bangladesh and Singapore. The drill took place at the Bangabandhu National Stadium in Gulistan in the morning, with the objective of demonstrating emergency response strategies, testing preparedness, and ensuring a robust security plan for the high-profile event. Led by the Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit of DMP, the exercise involved participation from the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team, Bomb Disposal Unit, and the K-9 Unit. According to DMP, the simulation aimed to evaluate operational capabilities in managing potential emergency situations and ensuring the safety of players and spectators during the match. DMP bans rallies, processions outside CA’s residence, Secretariat To maintain security and manage traffic, necessary measures have been put in place by the DMP.  A significant number of uniformed and plainclothes police officers will be deployed in and around the stadium.  The Bomb Disposal Unit, SWAT, and K-9 teams will remain on standby to respond to any special circumstances. Senior officials of various ranks within the DMP, along with journalists from print and electronic media, were present at the drill. DMP ensures foolproof security for Eid congregations in Dhaka Dhaka Metropolitan Police has requested full cooperation from all attendees to ensure a safe and secure environment for the match.

Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury said on Monday that the overall law and order situation across the country, including the capital, remained satisfactory during Eid-ul-Azha, except for a few isolated incidents. He made the remarks while speaking to reporters after visiting Jatrabari Police Station. “The law and order and security situation during Eid-ul-Azha was satisfactory. Except for a few isolated incidents, no major untoward events were reported in the capital or elsewhere,” he said. As part of his routine inspections to ensure public safety during Eid and the post-Eid holidays, the Home Adviser visited several police stations in Dhaka city. Home Adviser confident about Dhaka's security during Eid, says 500 patrol teams deployed At Jatrabari Police Station, he inspected the duty officer’s desk, the women and children’s desk and the lock-up facilities. He also enquired about the accommodation and food quality for police personnel, and exchanged Eid greetings with them.

The Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) has taken a strict stance to prevent the smuggling of sacrificial animal hides through the borders during Eid-ul-Azha. Besides, the paramilitary  force BGB has also remained on high alert to foil any attempt of push-in from India alongside performing its regular duties  to ensuring border security and maintaining internal law and order, says BGB  headquarters PRO Shariful Islam.  BGB sources said heightened surveillance and patrols are in place along all bordering areas to thwart attempts to smuggle rawhides—an issue that has surfaced as a serious concern during the Eid season in recent years due to its economic implications. The paramilitary force has been also remained alert of maintaining maximum vigilance to resist any possible push-in from across the border, he said.

Bangladesh Army arrested the notorious Jahangir Kabir Lipton, one of the most wanted criminals in the country, along with three of his close associates during an operation in Durbachara village under Islamic University police station in Kushtia district on Friday morning. Tipped off, the operation was executed around 4am very efficiently without any damage or sabotage, according to an ISPR statement. During the raid, law enforcement recovered a substantial cache of weapons and ammunition, including six foreign pistols, one long-barrel foreign gun, ten pistol magazines, 33 rounds of 9mm ammunition, 50 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, 36 rounds of 12-bore ammunition, 21 empty cartridges, and various sharp domestic weapons. In addition, law enforcers seized weapon cleaning kits, a pistol cover, shields, and spears. The arrested individuals are reportedly wanted on multiple criminal charges across various police stations and are accused of establishing a reign of terror in the area through various criminal and terrorist activities. The Bangladesh Army reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring public safety and maintaining law and order across the country. Authorities urged the public to remain vigilant and to inform nearest military camps or law enforcement agencies about any suspicious activities.