Law-&-Order
4 youths, among 7 arrested, members of new militant group: Rab
Four youths, among the seven arrested, had left their homes to join the newly formed militant group ‘Jamatul Ansar Fil Hindal Sharqiya’, Commander Khandaker Al Moin, director of Rab’s Legal and Media Wing, has said.
Some leaders and activists of banned militant groups including Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), Ansar Al Islam, and Harkat-ul-Jihad-al Islami Bangladesh (HuJI-B) formed the new group, he said.
Read:Rab arrests 7 including 4 with suspected ties to radical groups
The Rab official disclosed the information at a media briefing on Thursday in Dhaka’s Karwan Bazar over the arrest of seven people, including four who went missing from their homes in Cumilla and elsewhere with suspected ties to radical groups.
The arrestees were identified as: Hossain Ahmed, 33, son of Maulana Abu Taher, Nesar Uddin alias Umayer, 34, son of Matier Rahman, Bani Amin, 27, son of Delwar Hossain, and Md Sabit, 19, son of Hasan Mir — all from Patuakhali district; Imtiaz Ahmed Rifat, 19, son of Foyez Ahmed, and Hasibul Islam, 20, son of Shahab Uddin from Cumilla; and Roman Shikdar, 24, son of Anis Shikdar of Gopalganj.
Tipped off, a team of Rab-11 conducted separate drives in Munshiganj, Narayanganj and Mymensingh districts and arrested them.
The elite force also seized some leaflets, books on radical views and a tab from the arrestees, said Commander Khandaker Al Moin said.
According to arrestee Hossain Ahmed’s statement, who used to teach at a madrasa in Patuakhali, the activities of this new militant group started in 2017 – by merging some members from various banned militant outfits, said the Rab official.
“In 2019, ‘Jamatul Ansar fil Hindal Sharqiya’ (Jamatul Ansar of Eastern Hind) was formed. Some leaders and activists of banned militant groups of Bangladesh including Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), Ansar Al Islam and Harkat-ul-Jihad-al Islami Bangladesh (HuJI-B), joined in to start the activities of this new militant group,” he added.
Hossain was in charge of recruiting and supervising members for this new militant outfit.
Based on Bani Amin’s information, Rab arrested Nesar from Dhaka-Mymensingh highway area. Nesar was a scientific officer in a government institution in Bhola and got involved in militant activities before 2019.
Read: 7 young men missing from Cumilla since Aug 23
Hossain, Rifat, Hasib, Roman, and Sabit were arrested from Siddhirganj area of Narayanganj following Nesar’s information, said the Rab Commander.
During primary interrogation, the arrestees revealed that Hasib and Rifat came to know about the organisation from Habibullah, imam of Koba Mosque in Cumilla, a year ago. Later, Habibullah inspired them to get involved in extremist activities.
Rifat was a first year honours student of Economics in Cumilla and Hasib was a higher secondary student there. They went missing on August 23.
Commander Moin said Roman got involved in extremism and remained missing for the last 40 days while Sabit disappeared from Patuakhali two months ago.
“Among the eight young men who had gone missing from Cumilla, Sartaz Islam Niloy, 22, returned to his Kalyanpur home on September 1 and later Rab took him into custody. Following interrogation, Rab came to know details on others,” he said.
They were trained in char areas in Bhola and Patuakhali districts and so far, 15-20 people have joined the new group, said Moin.
Seven students, aged 17-25, belonging to different institutions in Cumilla have been missing since August 23. They all knew each other, and left home without their mobile phones. A general diary was lodged with Kotwali Model Police in this regard.
After that, reports came to light of seven more youths missing from Patuakhali, Dhaka, Narayanganj and Gopalganj for two to three months under similar circumstances.
Besides, four youths from Sylhet have been missing since 15 November last year.
Rab arrests 7 including 4 with suspected ties to radical groups
Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) has arrested seven people, including four who went missing from their homes in Cumilla and elsewhere with suspected ties to radical groups, during raids in and around Dhaka.
The arrestees were identified as: Hossain Ahmed, 33, son of Maulana Abu Taher, Nesar Uddin alias Umayer, 34, son of Matier Rahman, Bani Amin, 27, son of Delwar Hossain, and Md Sabit, 19, son of Hasan Mir — all from Patuakhali district; Imtiaz Ahmed rifat, 19, son of Foyez Ahmed, and Hasibul Islam, 20, son of Shahab Uddin from Cumilla; and Roman Shikdar, 24, son of Anis Shikdar of Gopalganj.
Tipped off, a team of Rab-11 conducted separate drives in Munshiganj, Narayanganj and Mymensingh districts and arrested them.
Also read: 7 young men missing from Cumilla since Aug 23
The elite force also seized some leaflets, books on radical views and a tab from the arrestees, said Commander Khandaker Al Moin, director of Rab’s legal and Media Wing, while briefing reporters in Dhaka’s Karwan Bazar.
“Among the eight young men missing from Cumilla, Sartaz Islam Niloy, 22, returned to his Kalyanpur home on Septmeber 1 and later Rab took him into custody. Following interrogation, Rab came to know details on others,” he said.
“Four students left their homes to join the new militant group ‘Jamatul Ansar Fil Hindal Sharkia’, formed by banned militant groups Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), Ansar Al Islam and Harkat-ul-Jihad-al Islami Bangladesh (HuJI-B),” he added.
They were trained in char areas in Bhola and Patuakhali districts and so far 15-20 people have joined the new group, said Moin.
Seven students, aged 17-25, belonging to different institutions in Cumilla have been missing since August 23. They all knew each other, and left home without their mobile phones. A general diary was lodged with Kotwali Model Police in this regard.
After that, reports came to light of seven more youths missing from Patuakhali, Dhaka, Narayanganj and Gopalganj for two to three months under similar circumstances.
Besides, four youths from Sylhet have been missing since 15 November last year.
Rajbari Mohila Dal member arrested under DSA for 'comment on PM'
Police early Wednesday arrested a Jatiyatabadi Mohila Dal member of Rajbari district unit in a case filed under Digital Security Act (DSA) for making insulting comment on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Facebook recently.
The arrestee was identified as Sonia Akter Sriti, 35, member of the district unit Mohila Dal and wife of Saudi Arabia expatriate Khokan of district town. She was also founding president of Rajbari Blood Donors Club.
She was sent to jail through a Rajbari court in the DSA case on Wednesday noon, Mohammad Shahadat Hossain, officer-in-charge (OC) of Rajbari Sadar police station, said, adding that they arrested her from Nazi Bari in No 3 Borodanga area on early Wednesday.
Arefin Chowdhury, member secretary of district Bangabandhu Sangskritik Jote, lodged an FIR against her for hurting minds of people on October 3. The FIR was turned into a DSA case on Wednesday.
According to the FIR, the plaintiff said the accused BNP activist made insulting remarks about PM Sheikh Hasina, also president of the ruling Awami League, from her personal Facebook account in two separate statuses on August 31 and September 28.
“In the statuses Sriti wrote Sheikh Hasina threw abusive words to their leader Khaleda Zia, also prime minister of three times, while delivering speech,” according to the statement.
“No sound word comes out of her (premier) mouth,” it said Sriti wrote in the posts.
OC Shahadat said they arrested Sriti for spreading rumours and making objectionable remarks about the premier after the FIR was filed in connection with the matter.
Ali Newaz Mahmud Khaiyam, former district BNP president and lawmaker from the sadar constituency, said Sriti was accused in a false case by people jealous of her popularity in society for voluntary works.
Condemning the incident, he demanded withdrawal of the case immediately.
New IGP wants to turn police station into 'a place of public trust and confidence'
Declaring 'zero tolerance' against corruption, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun has already given instructions to the field level officers to ensure transparency and accountability in police station activities.
The new police chief said as much during a meeting to exchange views with crime reporters at police headquarters on Tuesday.
Read: Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun takes charge as IGP
Besides, Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun, who joined as the new IGP on September 30, also said that the police force is "accountable and committed to the public in all of its activities".
The IGP said that activities aimed at reform, development and accountability of Bangladesh Police are ongoing. Examples of transparency and accountability in daily activities including recruitment, promotion and posting are already visible, he claimed.
“We will work with more determination and sincerity to ensure transparency and accountability in the future. I want to say unequivocally that our stance against corruption is Zero Tolerance,” he added.
He said the police station, which is the main centre of police service delivery, would be turned into "a place of public trust and confidence".
As the image of the police depends on "the behaviour of the police station", the IGP said that he has already given clear instructions to the field-level officers so that people can easily and fearlessly come to the police station, talk about their problems and receive the services sought.
Read: Outgoing IGP pays farewell call on president
The IGP gave his firm commitment to be more sincere and diligent in delivering services to the doorstep of the people. "For this the main and first task will be good manners and sincerely listening to the people and taking legal action very quickly. Any deviation in this regard will not be acceptable," he said in this regard.
When his attention was drawn to allegations of the police being used for political purposes, the new chief denied it forcefully, saying: "Police always perform all duties with professionalism. During the election, the police perform the duties assigned by the Election Commission."
Trawler capsize: 29 Rohingya refugees among 33 detained en route to Malaysia
Bangladesh Coast Guard claimed to have detained 33 people, including 29 Rohingya refugees, in the early hours of Tuesday after their trawler sank in the Bay of Bengal off Teknaf coast.
The trawler capsized around 6am near the Baharchhara area of Teknaf, said an official at Coast Guard headquarters in Dhaka.
"Acting on a tip-off, members of the Teknaf Coast Guard rescued the 29 Rohingyas and four Bangladeshi nationals from the sea," he said.
During questioning, they told the Coast Guard that they were to trying to flee to Malaysia illegally. "The 33 people have been detained," said the official.
Legal action is underway in this regard and the detainees will be handed over to police, he added.
24 indicted over BCL leader Sudipto murder case
A Chattogram court on Monday started official trial of Bangladesh Chhatra League's city unit (BCL) leader Sudipto Biswas murder case by framing charges against 24 including an Awami League leader.Chattogram's Second Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge Md Amirul Islam framed the charges against the accused in the case, said Public Prosecutor (PP) Advocate Fakhruddin Chowdhury.The court also fixed October 30 for recording the depositions of the witnesses, he added.Besides, an arrest warrant has been issued against one accused as he was not present before the court.Meanwhile, the other accused are out on bail.Sudipta, 26, son of Babul Biswas of Sadarghat area and then assistant general secretary of BCL’s city unit, was beaten to death by some miscreants in Dakkhin Nalapara area on October 6, 2017."Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) has submitted the chargesheet against 24 people," said inspector Santosh Kumar Chakma, the investigating officer. Among those named in the chargesheet are Didarul Alam Masum, a leader of Lalkhan Bazar ward unit of Awami League. He has been in judicial custody since his arrest by PBI on August, 4, 2019.Others named in the chargesheet include members of Chhatra League and Jubo League.On January 19, 2020, police arrested Jahedur Rahman Jahed, the main suspect, in connection with the murder from Ispahani intersection in Khulshi area.Pranab Chowdhury, officer-in-charge of Khulshi Police Station, said that a police patrol team chased Jahed and his followers after they had attacked cops in the area around 11.30 pm that day.Jahed was arrested while others managed to escape, the OC said, adding that three policemen were injured in the attack.According to local sources, Jahed is a follower of Lalkhan Bazar ward unit Awami League General Secretary Didarul Alam.
Man held over Sirajganj triple murder
Police arrested a man from Ullapara upazila Sunday midnight in connection with the killing of a woman and her two children on Wednesday night.The arrestee has been identified as Ayub Ali Sagor, son of late Moksed Molla of Nandiganti village of the upazila, said Superintendent of Police Md. Arifur Rahman Mandal in a press briefing at his office today (October 3,2022).Earlier, police recovered the bodies of a woman and her two children from Mobupur Pashchim Para village in Belkuchi upazila of Sirajganj on Saturday.The deceased were identified as Rawshan Ara, 45, and her two sons Md Jihad, 10, and Md Mahin, 3.A case was filed at Belkuchi police station following a complaint lodged by Nuruzzaman, the brother of Rowshan Ara.Later, a team of police conducted a drive and arrested Ayub Ali from his house around 12:30 pm on Sunday (October 2).According to the police, Victim Rawshan Ara was a step-niece of Ayub Ali. On September 26, Ayub Ali went to the house of Rawshan Ara to borrow some money. As she refused to give him the money, he planned to steal money from her locker.On Wednesday night, he again went to her house and stayed there.When Rawshan and her children went to sleep, Ayub broke the locker of Rawshan Ara. At one point, he thought that Rawshan Ara might have seen his activities, so he first hit her chest and then strangled her to death.Subsequently, he strangled Rawshan's two sons Jihad and Mahin to death and left the house closing it from the outside, added the police officer.
BNP-BCL clash: Feni court denies bail to 14 BNP activists
A Feni court on Monday sent 14 activists of BNP affiliate organizations to jail in a case filed over a clash with Bangladesh Chhatra league(BCL) activists and police during a demonstration against price hike of essentials in the district.
Feni District and Session Court Judge Imran Saleh denied bail appeal of the accused and pronounced the order, said Md Golam Zilani, court inspector.
Feni Jubo Dal’s in-charge president Belal Hossain, Swecchashebok Dal general secretary SM Kaysar Elin, Feni sadar upazila Jubo Dal convener Nizam Uddin Master, municipal Jubo Dal convener Zahid Hossain Bablu, Feni Chhatra Dal organizational secretary Zaker Hossain, Swecchasebok Dal vice-president Zahidul Islam Shimul, Dagonbhuiyan Jubo Dal convener VP Imam, sadar upazila Jubo Dal joint convener Faridul Islam, Didarul Alam, district Chhatra Dal joint secretary Fazle Rabbi, Municipal Chhatra Dal member secretary Ibrahim Patwary, Jubo Dal leaders Fazlul Haque and Mamun, are among the jailed accused.
According to the case complaint by police, on August 12, hundreds of BNP, Jubo Dal and Chhatra Dal activists gathered in front of BNP office at Feni’s Islampur road for a rally against price hike of essentials.
At the same time BCL activists also gathered for a rally there.
BNP and affiliate organisation’s activists allegedly attacked the BCL activists leaving three of them injured.
To stop a clash between BNP and BCL activists, police were forced to fire rubber bullets at them.
Later police filed a case against 24 people and more than 150 anonymous people in this regard.
One to die for murder in Narayanganj
A Narayanganj court on Monday sentenced a man to death and two others to life imprisonment for killing a dyeing factory worker in 2019.
Narayanganj district and Sessions Judge Munshi Mohammad Mashiur Rahman handed down the judgment in presence of the three convicts.
The condemned convict was Md Mithun, son of Delwar Hossain of Bandar upazila of the district.
The lifers were Md Munna, son of Manjur and Md Chayan, son of Bonga of Bandar upazila.
The court also fined them Tk one lakh each, in default, to suffer one year more rigorous imprisonment.
According to the prosecution, Mizan Shikdar Mishar was stabbed to death by Mithun and his two associates on July 23, 2019 as he failed to pay Tk 500 he had taken from Mithun.
A case was filed and police submitted a chargesheet against the trio.
No security lapses for Durga Puja: Rab DG
Adequate arrangements have been made to ensure security for the celebration of Durga Puja without any trouble, said newly-appointed Director General of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) M Khurshid Hossain on Monday.
“We are doing cyber monitoring. Intelligence surveillance has become greater than any time before,” he said after inspecting the security measures of the Puja Mandap at Banani in Dhaka.
He said there was no specific threat from any quarters despite reports that 50 to 60 young men have remained missing while intelligence officials suspect that they have joined radical groups.
Read: Keep vigil against vandalism during Durga Puja: Obaidul Quader asks AL members
“No matter how smart they are, they will not succeed,” he said adding that security officials are monitoring the activities of the missing young men who left their homes and remained traceless.
“At the end of the puja, we wish to see some good results. We are working on it,” he said.
Rab has reinforced intelligence surveillance across the country since September 25 to ensure overall security during Durga Puja.
Read Palbari Puja Mandap in Sherpur: Sign of communal harmony for over a century
Rab members have been deployed to strengthen security from October 1 to October 6.
Apart from carrying out sweeping operations at various important places including Puja mandaps, Rab’s bomb disposal unit is working round the clock for any situation, said the DG.
This year, the Durga Puja began on Saturday, with the incarnation (bodhon) of the Goddess in temples across the country.
Read With scars from 2021, Cumilla sees tighter security for Durga Puja
The five-day Durga Puja festival will culminate with the immersion of idols on October 5.
Close to 8 percent of Bangladesh’s more than 160 million people are Hindu.