United News of Bangladesh

Police have submitted a charge sheet against five accused in the murder case of customs official Bullet Baishnagi in Cumilla. Officer-in-Charge of Cumilla District Detective Branch (DB) Police and the case’s investigating officer, Md Samsul Alam, confirmed the development on Tuesday night. The accused are Md Sohel, 34, Ismail Hossain Jony, 28, Emran Hossain alias Hridoy, 34, Rahat Hossain Jewel, 27, and Md Sujon, 32. All five are currently in Cumilla Central Jail. Samsul Alam said the charge sheet was submitted after a lengthy investigation. The court accepted it and sent the case to the Cumilla District and Sessions Judge’s Court for trial. He said investigators could not establish the permanent addresses of Jony, Jewel and Sujon, so they were listed as having no fixed address in the charge sheet. Bullet Bairagi was a 41st BCS non-cadre officer serving as an assistant revenue officer at the Bibir Bazar land port in Cumilla. His hometown was Dumuria village in Tungipara of Gopalganj. He lived with his family in the Panpatti area of Rajganj in Cumilla city. According to the case statement, Bairagi left Chattogram for Cumilla on April 24 after completing the 44th basic training course at the Customs, Excise and VAT Training Academy in Chattogram. On April 25, police recovered the body of Bullet Bairagi from the Kotbari area of the Dhaka-Chattogram highway under Cumilla’s Sadar South Police Station. The complaint alleged that miscreants killed him on his way back from Chattogram and looted the cash he was carrying. His mother, Lilima Bairagi, filed a murder case against unidentified assailants with Cumilla Sadar South Model Police Station that day. Lilima said police had informed her about the submission of the charge sheet. She expressed hope that those responsible for her son’s murder would receive exemplary punishment.  

Police Headquarters on Tuesday directed field-level police officials to identify the godfathers involved in drug-related activities and juvenile gangs and take strict action against them. The directive was given from the monthly crime review meeting for September 2026 at Police Headquarters on Tuesday. Addressing the meeting, Additional Inspector General of Police (Crime and Operations) Md Saiedur Rahman said that the Bangladesh Police maintains a zero-tolerance policy towards drugs and juvenile gangs. He also instructed field-level police officials to identify the godfathers involved in drug-related activities and juvenile gangs and take strict action against them. Additional IGP (Crime and Opps) urged field-level police personnel to enhance the image of the police through honesty, dedication and professionalism. He also stressed the need for treating members of the public humanely while performing their duties. The additional IGP directed police officials to record robbery cases and quickly uncover the incidents to bring the perpetrators to justice. He also instructed them to closely supervise investigations into rape cases to increase the conviction rate. He further emphasised the need to improve the overall rate of case disposal. Saiedur Rahman called for effective and inclusive community and beat policing activities by involving individuals with positive reputations in society. On the occasion, he conveyed thanks to field-level police personnel on behalf of the Inspector General of Police (IGP) for ensuring the safe and peaceful celebration of the recently concluded Sharadiya Durga Puja. Metropolitan police commissioners, range deputy inspectors general (DIGs) and district superintendents of police joined the meeting virtually. DIG (Crime Management) Mohammad Abu Sufian and other relevant officials attended the meeting at Police Headquarters. The meeting reviewed the overall crime situation in September 2026, including significant incidents during the month. It also discussed robbery, dacoity, murder, rape, attacks on police and kidnapping cases, along with pending arrest warrants, investigation and trial outcomes, and conviction rates.  

The High Court on Tuesday summoned the taskforce chief and International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) Prosecutor Tanvir Hasan Zohha to appear before it on April 29 next year to report on progress in journalist couple Sagar Sarowar and Meherun Runi murder case. The HC bench of Justice Sikder Mahmudur Razi and Justice Fatema Anwar passed the order asked them to report the progress in examining seized CDs and other documents related to the case. It also gave the high-level taskforce six more months more to complete its investigation into the murder case as the mystery surrounding the killings remains unresolved after more than 14 years. Earlier, the taskforce submitted an interim progress report instead of the full investigation report, which was due on Tuesday. However, the taskforce sought an additional year to complete the investigation. After hearing both sides, the court allowed six months. During the hearing, Attorney General Md Ruhul Quddus Kajol said ICT Chief Prosecutor Md Aminul Islam and Prosecutor Tanvir Hasan Zohha had informed the taskforce about new developments in the investigation. Sagar Sarowar, news editor of Maasranga Television, and Meherun Runi, a senior reporter at ATN Bangla, were murdered at their rented apartment in West Rajabazar in the capital on February 11, 2012. The following day, Runi's brother, Nausher Alam Roman, filed a murder case with Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station. The police initially investigated the case before the Dhaka Metropolitan Police's Detective Branch (DB) took over. After failing to identify the perpetrators during more than two months of investigation, the High Court transferred the responsibility to the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) on April 18, 2012. Several suspects were detained at different stages of the investigation. DNA tests were also conducted on evidence at laboratories at home and abroad, but available investigative findings indicated that the DNA profiles of those detained did not match those of Sagar and Runi. Amid prolonged delays and questions over the investigation's progress, a four-member high-level taskforce was formed on October 28, 2024. Investigative responsibilities were subsequently changed, and fresh efforts were undertaken to question witnesses and review evidence. The taskforce reported that 90 witnesses had been re-examined and statements from 24 people recorded between 2024 and 2026.  

The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) will deliver its verdict on October 29 in a case filed against four people, including Awami League Joint General Secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif, over the killing of six people in Kushtia during the July 2024 uprising. The three-member ICT-2, chaired by Justice Nozrul Islam Chowdhury, fixed the date on Tuesday. Earlier on October 7, the ICT-2 completed the hearing on the law-point arguments in the case and kept the judgement reserved for a later date. The three others accused are former Chairman of Kushtia Zila Parishad Sadar Uddin Khan, General Secretary of Kushita district Awami League Asgar Ali and General Secretary of Kushtia municipality Awami League. All of them are absconding. Three charges were brought against them, including six murders in Kushtia, during the July uprising. The charges include supporting statements and positions taken by Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader to suppress the movement, issuing orders to kill students and members of the public and participating in a conspiracy at a meeting held in Kushtia on July 29, 2024 and involvement in the killing of six people in Kushtia during the movement. Hanif was also accused of instructing local police officials, public representatives and party activists over the telephone to carry out the killings. The prosecution sought the maximum punishment for all four accused. The prosecution formally filed charges against the four accused on October 5 last year. The following day, on October 6, the tribunal took cognisance of charges and issued arrest warrants for the accused. On November 2 last year, the ICT framed charges against them, ordering the formal trial to begin.

A tribunal in Jamalpur on Sunday sentenced an imam of a mosque to life imprisonment for raping a 15-year-old student. The convict is Musa Mia, hailing from Harichandi village in Fulchhari thana of Gaibandha district. He worked as an imam at a Jame Mosque and taught at a maktab at Mondolpara village in Dewanganj upazila of Jamalpur. Muhammad Abdur Rahim, judge of the Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal-1 in Jamalpur,  pronounced the judgment, said Public Prosecutor Fazlul Haque. It also fined him Tk 5 lakh. According to the prosecution, Musa used to send the other students home every morning and keep the girl at the mosque to do cleaning work. Taking advantage of the situation, he raped her on November 28, December 1 and December 2, 2020, after luring her with the promise of marriage, the prosecution said. After the girl's family learned about the incident, her mother filed a case with Dewanganj Police Station on December 8, six days after the last incident. Police submitted the charge sheet to the court on May 5, 2021.

Inspector General of Police (IGP) Md Ali Hossain Fakir on Saturday said police are working to build an effective policing system to restore public trust and establish peace and justice in society. “We want to rebuild public confidence in the police and establish a relationship of trust with people. Our goal is to become a more humane and people-friendly police force,” he said while talking to local journalists after a community policing meeting at Khulna Metropolitan Police Lines in the afternoon. The meeting, organised by Khulna Metropolitan Police (KMP), focused on combating drugs, terrorism, extortion, juvenile gangs and extremism in Khulna. The IGP said one of the key goals is to bridge the gap that developed between the police and the public over the past 17 years. “After August 5, the police have regained their footing with renewed determination and are carrying out their duties,” he said. Referring to the government’s zero-tolerance policy against drugs and extortion, Fakir said the aim is to ensure a society free from drugs, extortion and juvenile gangs. He expressed hope that all stakeholders would work together to eliminate these crimes. He said joint drives are currently underway against juvenile gangs, extortionists, drug dealers and terrorists. The government has placed particular emphasis on intensifying these operations, he added. To this end, the relevant government ministry has approved a framework for conducting community policing activities in a more structured manner, he said. Fakir acknowledged allegations that some community policing members had harassed innocent people, intimidated them and extorted money. “Such incidents must not happen again. Community policing activities will be conducted within a legal framework to prevent these abuses,” he said. Calling journalists the mirror of society, the IGP urged them to support community policing initiatives, expressing confidence that collective efforts would help build a peaceful and secure society. KMP Commissioner Md Shazzadur Rahman chaired the meeting, attended by Khulna Range DIG Md Rezaul Karim and Police Training Centre, Khulna Commandant (DIG) AKM Musharraf Hossain Miaze as special guests. Local dignitaries and representatives of civil society were also present. Later, the IGP held a meeting with senior police officials working in different units in Khulna at the office of the Khulna Range DIG.

A member of a teen gang was detained with a large cache of locally made weapons and air guns in Lalmai upazila of Cumilla on Thursday evening. The detainee was Asif, a teen gang leader of Ichhapur area of Belghar Union of the upazila. The detainee was held during a raid from his home in the area, according to Major Sadman Ibn Alam, company commander of SRB-11 CPC-2. He said the operation was launched after a video showing a weapons display went viral on social media, prompting authorities to verify the matter. On information, they learned that, a teen gang leader, was allegedly involved in making locally made weapons and pipe guns at his home. A subsequent raid on the house led to his detention, the official said. During the operation, the team recovered 16 machetes, knives and cleavers of different sizes, two air guns, a box of cartridges, a drill machine, a cutting machine and a samurai sword. Further legal action in connection with the incident is under process, the SRB official added.  

A businessman, who was allegedly kidnapped four days ago, was rescued from Paschim Puchhari in Banshkhali upazila of Chattogram on Wednesday, while six people, including a former Army member, were detained in connection with the incident. The rescued businessman was identified as Mohammad Ehsan, 36, son of Nurul Kabir of Teriakata village in Paschim Puchhari. The detainees are Sumon Munshi, 32, a former Army member, Mizanur Rahman, 29, Zainal Uddin, 28, Md Abbas Uddin, 31, Md Solim alias Selim, 30, and Delwar Hossain, 40. Assistant Superintendent of Police (Anwara Circle) Mahmudul Hasan said several teams of law enforcement agencies conducted drives and rescued the businessman At the same time, six alleged kidnappers were detained from the spot, he said. Police said several people wearing black clothes and face masks entered Ehsan’s business establishment, Abdullah Enterprise, in the Prem Bazar area of Banshkhali around 8:30pm on October 17. Some of them allegedly identified themselves as members of the Special Response Battalion (SRB). They handcuffed Ehsan and took him away by a CNG-run auto-rickshaw towards Toitong Hazi Bazar in Pekua upazila of Cox’s Bazar. He was later reportedly taken to the Baraithali area of Chakaria. Family members said the kidnappers contacted Ehsan’s wife and his business manager, Mozaffar Uddin, from several mobile phone numbers and demanded Tk 20 lakh for his release. They allegedly threatened to kill him if the ransom was not paid. The family contacted police soon after the kidnapping, prompting them to launch drives to rescue Ehsan. Ehsan had lived in South Africa for 12 years. After returning to Bangladesh, he started a hardware business in the Prem Bazar area. A case was filed with Banshkhali Police Station over the incident.

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has arrested an official of Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (BARC) in connection with a case filed over the leak of question papers for a recruitment examination of the Department of Youth Development. The arrestee, Sohag Fakir, 38, an assistant director at the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (BARC) was arrested during a raid in Durgabordi village under Badarpasa Union of Rajoir upazila in Madaripur district at around 10:30pm on October 20, said CID Special Superintendent of Police (Media) Md Sufi Ullah in a press release on Wednesday. Two smartphones were seized from his possession during the operation. The recruitment examination for the post of Assistant Upazila Youth Development Officer was scheduled to be held on October 10, 2026, but it was postponed following allegations of question paper leakage. A case was filed with Motijheel Police Station on October 11 under Sections 4, 5 and 9(a) of the Public Examinations (Offences) Act, 1950. The CID said necessary steps are being taken to produce the accused before the court, adding that the investigation was continuing.

A case has been filed in connection with a road crash that killed at least 14 people and injured around 30 others in Baraigram upazila of Natore early Tuesday. Assistant Sub-Inspector Akbul Hossain of Bonpara Highway Police Station filed the case around 9:30pm on Tuesday. Sub-Inspector Alamgir Hossain of the same police station said the accident occurred when a Barishal-bound bus of RP Paribahan, travelling towards Rajshahi, collided head-on with a sand-laden truck coming from the opposite direction. Nine people were killed on the spot, he said. The injured were rescued and taken to Natore Sadar Hospital, Rajshahi Medical College Hospital and other local hospitals and clinics for treatment. Several of the injured were reported to be in critical condition. Road crashes remain a major cause of deaths and injuries in Bangladesh, with 7,359 people killed and 16,476 injured in 7,584 road accidents across the country in 2025, according to the Road Safety Foundation (RSF). In September alone, 442 road crashes claimed 423 lives and injured 674 others, averaging 14 deaths a day. Road Transport and Bridges Minister Shaikh Rabiul Alam at a workshop in Dhaka on September 7 said nearly 5,000 people die in road crashes in Bangladesh every year, as the government aims to halve road crash deaths by 2030 and formulate a comprehensive Road Safety Act by December 2027.