United News of Bangladesh

A case has been filed against Jatiya Party Chairman GM Qader and 249 others over an alleged attack and attempted murder in Barishal city. The case was filed by Gono Odhikar Parishad’s Senior Vice-President Shafiqul Islam Sagor at the Kotwali Model Police Station on Saturday night, Officer-in-Charge (OC) Mizanur Rahman said on Sunday. The case named 30 people while the remaining 220 accused were unnamed. The accused in the case are Jatiya Party Chairman GM Quader, Secretary General Mojibul Haque Chunnu, Saidul Islam Tapa, Ruhul Amin Howlader, Ratna Amin, Hafiz Uddin Ahmed, Barrister Aminul Islam Mahmud, Masud Uddin Chowdhury, AKM Selim Osman, Ashrafuzzaman Ashu, Mostafizur Rahman, Shariful Islam Jinnah, MA Jalil, Mohsin ul Islam Habul, Md. Jumman, Mufti Al Mahid and Mahmud Sohel, along with 30 others. According to the case statement, a procession was brought out by Jatiya Party leaders and activists from their party office on Saturday afternoon when they changed derogatory slogans against the Chief Adviser as well as leaders and activists of the Gono Odhikar Parishad. SC orders restoration of Jamaat's registration When Gono Odhikar Parishad activists objected to the slogans Jatiya Party activists attacked them with local weapons, iron rods, pistols, batons, and bricks. The complainant claimed that the attackers intended to kill them and that 15–20 Gono Odhikar Parishad activists were injured in the assault.

Bangladesh Army has dismissed a recent report published by India-based ‘Northeast News’ claiming that Bangladesh is planning to declare the Cox’s Bazar-Bandarban region a military operation zone, terming it ‘a clear example of deliberate disinformation’. It is a clear example of deliberate disinformation propagated by segments of the Indian media seeking to destabilise Bangladesh’s internal harmony and undermine its armed forces, said Bangladesh Army in a statement on Sunday. “The insinuation that the Bangladesh Army supports insurgent actors is not only baseless but malicious. Such speculative reporting, devoid of evidence, reflects a broader agenda to sow discord and mislead the public, reads the statement. CA’s press wing slams propaganda against Bangladesh by Indian media It said the Bangladesh Army has always upheld the highest standards of professionalism and remains resolutely committed to protecting the nation’s sovereignty, integrity and constitutional order. There will be no compromise on national interest—now or ever, the statement added. “This narrative is not journalism; it is part of a sustained smear campaign. Bangladesh stands united and aligned firmly in defence of its people and its territory,” it said.

The Appellate Division on Sunday directed the Election Commission (EC) to restore Jamaat-e-Islami’s registration, overturning a previous High Court (HC) verdict that had declared the party’s registration illegal. A four-member bench of the Appellate Division, headed by Chief Justice Dr Syed Refaat Ahmed, passed the order. In its observation, the court noted that it would be up to the EC to decide whether Jamaat can contest elections using the ‘Scale’ symbol. The verdict came days after Jamaat’s senior leader, ATM Azharul Islam, previously sentenced to death for crimes against humanity committed during the 1971 Liberation War, was released following a Supreme Court judgment. Jamaat’s counsel, Mohammad Shishir Manir, expressed satisfaction with the verdict, saying, “Today concludes a decade-long legal battle. We hope this ruling paves the way for a vibrant parliament and that voters will now be free to vote for the Jamaat candidate of their choice.” He also expressed the hope that the EC would promptly resolve the party's registration and symbol-related issues. According to legal experts, this ruling removes all existing legal barriers that had prevented the party from participating in national elections. On August 1, 2013, the High Court had declared Jamaat’s registration illegal and void, following the disposal of a writ petition. The EC subsequently issued a gazette notification on 7 December 2018, formally cancelling the party’s registration. Jamaat later filed an appeal against the HC verdict. However, in November 2023, the Appellate Division—then led by Chief Justice Obaidul Hassan—dismissed the appeal by default as the party’s lead counsel failed to appear. Consequently, the HC’s verdict remained in effect. The Appellate Division revived Jamaat’s appeal on 22 October 2023. The hearing formally began on 12 March this year and, after several deferrals, concluded on 14 May. The court then fixed 13 May for the verdict, which was delivered today.

The quiet village of Himail in Joypurhat’s Kalai upazila was shaken by a grim discovery on Friday night as the lifeless body of a four-year-old girl, found stuffed inside a septic tank, seven days after she was reported missing. Little Radia Akhter Ruhi had been visiting her paternal grandmother’s house when she vanished without a trace on May 24. Her disappearance plunged the family into uncertainty and fear. A general diary was filed at Kalai Police Station by her mother, Arjen Akhter, sparking a frantic search. Days passed, but there was no sign of Ruhi — until Friday night, when police, acting on leads from their investigation, pried open the lid of the toilet’s septic tank at the same house. Inside, they found her tiny body, wrapped in a sack. Youth stabbed to death in Khulna “She was found in her paternal grandmother’s house, the very place she had come to visit,” said officer-in-charge Zahid Hossain of Kalai Police Station, his voice heavy with emotion. “We recovered the body and made four arrests in connection with the case.” Among those arrested are Ruhi’s father, Abdur Rahman; her stepmother, Sonia Akhter; her uncle, Roni Mia; and Sonia’s father, Zia Kashai. The motive behind the alleged crime remains under investigation. Ruhi was the child of Abdur Rahman’s first marriage. Following his separation from Arjen Akhter, the young girl had been living with her mother at her maternal grandmother’s home, not far from where her life was so brutally cut short. Neighbours in the village, now gripped by shock and sorrow, struggle to make sense of the tragedy. “She was just a child. How could anyone do this to her?” one resident said.

Police arrested three suspected muggers with sharp  weapons from  Babubazar area of the capital on Friday night.  The arrestees were Akib Hossain Altaf, 20, Md. Al Amin, 25, and Md. Milon, 23. They were arrested during a drive conducted by a team from Kotwali Police Station, said DC media of DMP Talebur Rahman on Saturday noon. According to police, the team raided the area as they had secret information that several criminals had gathered in the Babubazar area with the plan of committing a mugging. Sensing the presence of law enforcers, the three muggers attempted to flee but were detained by police. Three sharp knives and a mobile phone were seized from their possession. A case was filed with Kotwali Police Station in this connection. During primary interrogation, the arrestees admitted to being members of a mugging gang and confessed to being involved in multiple incidents of mugging in Kotwali and other areas of Dhaka over an extended period, police sources added. Legal proceedings against them are underway.

A Manikganj court on Friday placed former Awami League  MP and noted singer Momtaz Begum on a fresh two-day remand in a case filed over assault and vandalism in Harirampur upazila. This came following the completion of her four-day remand in a separate murder case, a court official said. Momtaz was produced before the Chief Judicial Magistrate Court in connection with a murder case filed with Singair Police Station. After hearing the bail plea, the court rejected her bail and granted a two-day remand in the Harirampur assault and vandalism case. Subrata Bain placed on 8-day remand in arms case Court Inspector Md Abul Khair said, “She was placed on a four-day remand in the Singair murder case. Today, the court denied her bail and placed her on a fresh two-day remand in another case filed with Harirampur Police Station.” The case dates back to a 2013 hartal (strike) day, when four people were killed in police firing during a pro-strike rally in the Gobindal area of Singair upazila. Nearly a decade later, on October 25 last year, Majnu Molla, a relative of one of the victims, filed a murder case with Singair Police Station, naming Momtaz as the prime accused.

Authorities have suspended all launch services from Chandpur to Dhaka and other routes from Thursday afternoon due to inclement weather. The decision was confirmed by Bashir Ahmed, deputy director of the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) in Chandpur. Bandarban gets ready to tackle rain-spawned disasters “Considering the weather conditions, all types of launch services from Chandpur to Dhaka and other destinations have been suspended from this afternoon until further notice,” he said. Meanwhile, Shah Md Shoeb, officer-in-charge of Chandpur Meteorological Office, told that the district recorded 242 millimeters of rainfall in the past 24 hours – the highest in the region this season. Launch services on Daulatdia-Paturia and Aricha-Kazirhat routes halted by bad weather The heavy rainfall caused waterlogging in several areas of the town, disrupting daily life.  

Army personnel detained a known extortionist named Liton during a raid in the Purana Paltan area of the capital on Wednesday night, while he was allegedly engaged in extortion activities. According to sources, Liton has long been involved in harassing local businessmen in the Motijheel area through extortion, abduction, and filing false legal cases. His activities reportedly escalated after August 5 last year. Several individuals lodged complaints with the army, accusing Liton and his associates of forcibly collecting money from local business owners in the Purana Paltan area, often threatening them with weapons when they refused to comply. Acting on these complaints, the Bangladesh Army, in coordination with relevant intelligence agencies, began monitoring Liton’s movements. Subrata Bain placed on 8-day remand in arms case Around 10pm on Wednesday, a raid was conducted at his private office near the New Bandhu Hotel in Old Paltan. Liton was detained from a room in the hotel during the operation. Subsequent searches of his hotel room, office, and residence resulted in the recovery of five mobile phones, Tk 2 lakh in cash, and USD 1,100. Speaking to the media, Army Major Sakib confirmed that Liton faces multiple allegations and has been handed over to police for further legal action.

A Dhaka court on Wednesday granted eight-day remand to top-listed criminal Subrata Bain alias Fateh Ali in a case field with Hatirjheel Police Station under Arms Act. Dhaka Additional Chief Metropoltian Magistrate Zakir Hossain passed the order when police produced him before the court with a 10-day remand petition. The court also granted six-day remand each to Bain’s accomplices Abu Russel Masud alias Molla Masud, Arafat Ibne Nasir alias Shutter Arafat and MAS Sharif in the case. The court turned down bail petitions filed by defense counsel Advocate Mujibur Rahman for his clients. A case was filed against Subrata Bain and three others who were arrested from Kushita and Dhaka on Tuesday. Listed criminal Subrata Bain, 3 others arrested in Kushtia, Dhaka Police filed the case with Hatirjheel Police Station under the Arms Act on Tuesday night, said Rabbani Hossain, assistant police commissioner of Tejgaon Industrial Police Station. Bangladesh Army in two separate drives arrested them from Kalishankarpur in Kushtia town and Hatirjheel area of Dhaka on Tuesday. Later, they were handed over to Hatirjheel Police Station and then taken to Detective Brach (DB) police office at night. The army personnel also seized five foreign made pistols, ten magazines, 53 bullets and one satellite phone from their possessions.

A public notice has been issued inviting applications for the appointment of additional judges to the High Court. This is the first time such a notice has been issued in line with the newly enacted Supreme Court Judges Appointment Ordinance, 2025. According to the notice signed by High Court Division Registrar Muhammad Habibur Rahman Siddiqui on May 28, the Supreme Judicial Appointment Council has already circulated the announcement in relevant platforms and many interested candidates have submitted applications in the prescribed form. The Council has now decided to issue a public notice for applications to further facilitate the process of recommending suitable candidates for appointment as Additional Judges of the High Court. 162 previously dropped candidates of 43rd BCS get appointments in various cadres Applicants must submit their applications using the designated form, including all necessary information and one passport-sized photograph by June 22. Submissions can be made either by post or in person to the Office of the Registrar General of the Supreme Court. The notice also said that those who have already submitted complete applications in the correct format do not need to reapply.