United News of Bangladesh

Police  on Thursday morning recovered the dismembered body of a scrap metal trader, who had been missing for over a week,  from  Sabujbagh in the capital.  The deceased was identified as Zakir Hossain, 55, a resident of the Baikdia area under Sabujbagh police station. Police have arrested one suspect in connection with the killing.  Sub-Inspector Shamsul Amin of Sabujbagh Police Station told the media that  Zakir had been missing since June 4. His family had filed a kidnapping case with the police station following his disappearance.  “During investigation, we found that Zakir was last contacted by a man named Azahar, who was known to him,” the SI said.  “Using technology and conducting drives in several areas, we detained Azahar from the capital’s Mohanagar area. During primary interrogation, he confessed to the murder,” he added.  According to police, Zakir was first hit on the head with an iron rod. After he fell to the ground, he was hacked to death with a sharp weapon and then his body was dismembered. His body was later buried in a jungle near his residence.  Zakir’s mutilated body was recovered around 12:30pm on Thursday and sent to Dhaka Medical College hospital morgue for autopsy following legal procedures, SI Shamsul Alimsaid.  Police said the motive behind the killing is still under investigation and further interrogation of the accused is underway.  Zakir ran a scrap business in the Nandipara area. His younger brother, Masud Hossain, claimed there had been a longstanding land dispute involving local residents, including Faruk and Meher Ali, over ancestral property.  Masud alleged that the murder was preplanned and carried out by hired goons. “On the night of June 4, Azahar called my brother and took him out of the house. He never returned,” Masud said, adding that Zakir had lent a large sum of money to Azahar. The family filed a case accusing several people, including Azahar, Sapan, Imon, Rajib, and Shukkur, of abduction.

The Indian Border Security Force (BSF) has reportedly pushed 70 people into Bangladesh through four separate border points in Sylhet and Sunamganj districts. The Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) detained those people during the push-ins on Wednesday night and Thursday morning. Of the 70 detained, 22 are men, 18 women and 30 children. According to BGB sources, 53 people were pushed in through the Mokampunji and Minatila borders of Jaintapur in Sylhet, as well as the Kalairag border in Companiganj upazila. An additional 17 people were pushed in through the Noakot border of Chhatak upazila in Sunamganj. BSF pushes 20 more people into Bangladesh through Dinajpur, Thakurgaon borders Jaintapur BOP held 17 people, Minatila BOP detained 23, and Kalairag BOP of Companiganj detained 13. Besides, 17 people from four families were pushed in through the Chhanbari border under Noakot BOP of Chhatak upazila. Lt Col Md Nazmul Haque, Commander of BGB's 48th Battalion, said that patrols along the border have been intensified to prevent further infiltration.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has imposed restrictions on all forms of meetings, gatherings, rallies, processions, showdowns and protests at several designated locations, including the government residence of the Chief Justice, for an indefinite period with effect from Saturday. According to a public notice signed by DMP Commissioner Sheikh Md Sajjat Ali on Thursday morning, the restrictions will come into effect under Section 29 of the DMP Ordinance. DMP bans rallies, processions outside CA’s residence, Secretariat The restricted areas also include Justice Bhaban, Judge Complex, the main gate of the Bangladesh Supreme Court, Majar Gate, Jame Masjid Gate, entrances of International Crimes Tribunal-1 and -2 and the Judicial Administration Training Institute. Besides, the DMP has once again urged citizens not to block city streets as a means of pressing home their demands.

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.