United News of Bangladesh

Former MP and director of Bangladesh Cricket Board Naimur Rahman Durjoy was arrested from his residence in the capital's Lalmatia on Wednesday night. He was arrested during a special operation, said Additional Superintendent of Manikganj District Police Imtiaj Mahbub. Three NBR members sent into forced retirement Following his arrest, he was taken to Manikganj Sadar Police Station and is expected to be presented in court on Thursday after completing legal procedures, he added. The police official also said that Durjoy is an accused in cases filed with Sadar and Daulatpur police stations in Manikganj. AC Tabassum Urmi dismissed over ‘anti-interim govt’ Facebook posts On January 21, the Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Court ordered the seizure of a 2,523 square feet flat, land and three cars owned by him in Lalmatia, Dhaka on charges of corruption.  An order was also issued to seize 12 bank accounts in his name.

The government on Wednesday sent three National Board of Revenue (NBR) members into retirement. According to the Internal Resources Division (IRD) website, all of them were sent to the forced retirement for the sake public interest. They are-- Hossain Ahmed (customs policy and ICT), Md Alamgir Hossain and Md Abdur Rouf (VAT policy). Passengers to be allowed to bring one new mobile phone without duty The IRD also sent Md. Sobbir Ahmed, (Commissoner (C.C) of Taxes Zone- Borisal) and M Moinul Erfan (joint director general of Tax inspection directorate) into early retirement.

Former Assistant Commissioner at the Deputy Commissioner’s Office in Lalmonirhat Tabassum Urmi, who was made an Officer on Special Duty (OSD) and temporarily suspended then, has been dismissed from government service for making controversial remarks on Facebook about the interim government and its Chief Adviser. The Ministry of Public Administration issued a notification in this regard on Wednesday, stating that she was dismissed following a departmental case filed against her on charges of ‘misconduct’ under Rule 3(b) of the Government Servants (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 2018. According to the notification, on October 6 last year, Urmi posted a Facebook status making controversial remarks about the interim government and the chief adviser, prompting disciplinary action. A show-cause notice was served to her following the incident. Citing security concerns, she did not attend the personal hearing and instead submitted a written explanation, which was not accepted by authorities and an investigation officer was appointed. The allegations of ‘misconduct’ were found to be true during the inquiry, said the notification. In light of the investigation, authorities decided to impose the highest administrative penalty under the relevant disciplinary rules initially. Urmi was asked to serve a second show-cause notice before the final decision. Suspended assistant commissioner Urmi gets bail upon surrender After reviewing the investigation report, her replies, overall circumstances and relevant documents, the charges of misconduct were found proven, leading to the decision to dismiss her from service, it added. According to the notification, the Bangladesh Public Service Commission (BPSC) agreed with the authorities’ proposal to impose the highest penalty and the president also approved the dismissal. Earlier, her Facebook post regarding the interim government sparked controversy. In her post, she wrote, “The chief adviser of the unconstitutional interim government says the reset button has been pressed. The past has been erased. With just one click of the reset button, the entire history of the country has been wiped out. So simple! But now, your countdown has begun, sir.” She had also made several other social media posts expressing support for the ousted government and criticising the July Uprising and its first martyr, Abu Sayed. Urmi was made OSD on October 6 last year, and the following day, the Ministry of Public Administration issued an order suspending her temporarily. A case against her is also under trial in court.

Police have arrested a woman and detained another man in connection with the gang-rape of a housewife in Bhola’s Tajumuddin upazila, where her husband was allegedly assaulted and confined during the incident. Meanwhile, three local leaders of the BNP and its affiliated bodies have been expelled over their alleged involvement. Tajumuddin Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Md Mohabbat Khan said the victim's husband filed a case on Monday accusing seven people, including Tajumuddin Upazila unit Jatiyatabadi Sramik Dal Joint General Secretary Farid Uddin and Jubo Dal activist Alauddin. As part of the investigation, police arrested the victim's husband’s third wife, Jharnna Begum. She was produced before the court on Tuesday and sent to jail, the OC added. In a separate development, members of RAB-8 detained one of the accused, Manik, from the Ilisha launch terminal area in Bhola Sadar upazila on Wednesday afternoon. According to locals, Farid Uddin and Alauddin went into hiding after their photographs circulated on social media. Following the incident, leaders and activists of the BNP and its affiliated bodies staged a human chain protest in Tajumuddin town on Tuesday, demanding justice for the victim and punishment for those responsible. Later, Tajumuddin Upazila unit Sramik Dal President Iqbal Hossain Likhan announced the expulsion of Farid Uddin from all party positions, including primary membership, for life. AL leader arrested in Ctg over attack on Mirza Fakhrul’s motorcade Separately, the BNP’s student wing expelled two leaders for violating organisational discipline. According to a press release signed by Bangladesh Chhatra Dal Central Committee Office Secretary Jahangir Alam, Tajumuddin Degree College Chhatra Dal Convener Md Rasel and Joint Convener Md Zainal Abedin Sojib have been removed from their positions following central directives. Local sources said that the victim’s husband, a resident of a union under Tajumuddin upazila, works at a hotel in Dhaka and has three wives. Two live with him in Dhaka, while the third resides in Tajumuddin. Two weeks ago, the man returned to his village home with his first wife. Last Saturday, his third wife called him to her residence, where a group of six to seven people, allegedly including Farid Uddin, Alauddin, and several Chhatra Dal members, forcibly entered the house, physically assaulted him, and demanded Tk 5 lakh, saying his another wife no longer wanted to live with him. When he refused to pay, the group confined him to a room and tortured him throughout the night. The man’s first wife arrived at the scene the next morning and pleaded with the attackers to release her husband. Eventually, they reduced their demand to Tk 1 lakh. She called her father-in-law to arrange the money, but the attackers then took her husband outside. After removing him from the house, the perpetrators allegedly locked the doors and windows and gang-raped the man's third wife inside, according to the complaint. Hearing her screams, neighbouring women tried to intervene but could not open the locked doors. The victim couple alleged that the attackers threatened them not to disclose the incident and warned of dire consequences if they approached the police. However, the man later called emergency services via 999, prompting police to register their complaint. The victim woman underwent medical tests and has been admitted to Bhola 250-bed General Hospital for treatment. The OC said efforts are underway to arrest the remaining accused.

Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury on Wednesday said LGRD adviser Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuiyan received his firearms licence maintaining proper legal procedures. The Home Adviser, also the Agriculture Adviser, made the remarks while addressing a project evaluation meeting organised by the Ministry of Agriculture at the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (BARC) auditorium in the capital. He said Shojib Bhuiyan mistakenly carried a magazine of the licensed firearm and that it was unintentional. I clarified this yesterday (Tuesday) as well,” he added. Agriculture Secretary Dr Mohammad Emdad Ullah Mian presided over the event. ‘It was magazine, not AK-47’:  Home Adviser clarifies about Adviser Asif’s airport incident Responding to a question over Muradnagar rape case, Jahangir Alam said those involved in the incident have already been brought under law. Highlighting the government's stance against corruption, the adviser said although it has not been entirely eradicated no one involved in corruption will be spared.

The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) on Wednesday sentenced former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to six months in jail in a contempt of court case filed last year. This marks the first time since the ousting of the Sheikh Hasina government on August 5 last year that a Bangladeshi court has sentenced her. The three-member tribunal, headed by ICT Chairman Justice Md Golam Mortuza Majumdar, passed the order. In the same case, then Chhatra League leader of Gaibandha district, Shakil Akanda Bulbul, was sentenced to two months in jail. Although there is no precedent for appointing legal counsel for absconding accused in such cases, a state-appointed lawyer was engaged for Sheikh Hasina at government expense to ensure justice. ICT schedules July 1 for hearing to frame charges against Hasina, 2 others According to the case statement, Sheikh Hasina had a telephone conversation with Chhatra League leader Shakil on October 25 last year. In the audio clip, Sheikh Hasina was heard saying, “Got license of killing 227 people,” which the court deemed a direct threat to the judicial system. Later, the prosecution filed a case with the ICT.

Police on Tuesday pressed charges implicating 38 accused, including ISKCON leader Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, in the sensational murder case of lawyer Saiful Islam Alif. Assistant Commission (AC-Kotwali Zone) of Chattogram Metropolitan Police (CMP) and investigation officer of the case Mahfuzur Rahman submitted the chargesheet. He said three of the 31 accused named in the case were excluded from the chargesheet as their affiliation to the murder was not found. He, however, said names of 10 more accused were added to the chargesheet as their involvement was found during the investigation, totalling the number of implicated accused to 38. Assistant Public Prosecutor of the court Raihanul Wazed Chowdhury said a hearing regarding the acceptance of the chargesheet will be held on Wednesday. Prime suspect in lawyer Alif murder case arrested from Kishoreganj According to the chargesheet, Alif was deliberately killed as part of a conspiracy to create unrest in the country. Twenty out of the indicted accused have so far been arrested, with Chandan Das, Rajib Bhattacharya, and Ripon Das giving confessional statements under section 164 in court. The remaining 18 are still at large. On November 26 last, tensions spread on Chattogram court premises when followers of Chinmoy Das intercepted a prison van carrying the ISKCON leader after his bail prayer was rejected by a court in the sedition case. Lawyer Alif was stabbed to death during a clash between law enforcers and Chinmoy’s supporters over the matter on the court premises. SCBA, Lawyers' Rights Council demand ban on ISKCON, justice for lawyer Alif On November 29 last, the victim’s father Jamal Uddin filed a case naming 31 accused and 15 to 16 unnamed others with the Kotwali Police Station. The identified accused are residents of Chandgaon, Mohora and Bundle Sebak Colony of the city.

The International Crimes Tribunal-2 on Monday issued warrants for the arrest of 26 people, including Begum Rokeya University’s former Vice Chancellor Hasibur Rashid, in the Abu Sayed murder case. The three-member tribunal, headed by its Chairman Justice Md Nazrul Islam Chowdhury, passed the order after taking the charges against 30 accused into cognisance. The formal charges were submitted to the tribunal in the morning. Chief Prosecutor Advocate Md Tajul Islam read out the charges. Abu Sayed murder: ICT finds evidence against 30 people Former Rangpur Metropolitan Police Commissioner Moniruzzaman is also among those facing the arrest warrant, said sources at the court. Four accused -- former proctor of Begum Rokeya University Shariful Islam, former assistant sub-inspector of police Amir Hossain, police constable Sujan Chandra Roy and Bangladesh Chhatra League leader Imran Chowdhury -- are currently behind bars in the case. Earlier on June 24, the investigation agency submitted its report to the prosecution along with the weapon used in the sensational murder. Abu Sayed murder: ICT orders completing investigation within 2 months According to the report, a total of 30 people were involved in the killing of Abu Sayed during the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement in 2024. Abu Sayed was shot dead on July 16 last year in front of Begum Rokeya University at Park Mor in Rangpur.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) on Sunday launched a probe against six senior officials of the National Board of Revenue (NBR) on charges of corruption, abuse of power and nepotism in facilitating illegal benefits for individuals and institutions over the past two decades. ACC Director General Akhtar Hossain disclosed the development at a press briefing held at the Commission's headquarters in the capital’s Segunbagicha. The six officials under investigation are: AKM Badiul Alam, Member (Income Tax Policy); Mirza Ashiq Rana, Additional Tax Commissioner, Tax Zone-8, Dhaka; Mohammad Morshed Uddin Khan, Joint Tax Commissioner, BCS Tax Academy; Monalisa Shahreen Sushmita, Deputy Tax Commissioner, Tax Zone-16, Dhaka; Hasan Tarek Rikabdar, Additional Commissioner, Audit, Intelligence and Investigation Directorate, VAT, Dhaka; and Sadhan Kumar Kundu, Additional Commissioner, Customs, Excise and VAT Commissionerate, Dhaka (South). Among them, Hasan Tarek serves as the president of the NBR Reform Unity Parishad, which is currently leading a movement seeking structural reform of the board instead of its dissolution. When asked if the inquiry was linked to the officials’ involvement in the ongoing protest, the ACC official said there was no connection. Will be compelled to be tough if agitation continues: Govt to NBR protesters He said the investigation is based on specific allegations and the recommendation of the preliminary scrutiny committee that reviewed complaints submitted to the Commission. Hasan Tarek said the officials are accused of enabling tax evasion, providing undue tax benefits, and engaging in corrupt practices across various postings over the last 15–20 years. “They abused their positions to assist individuals and institutions in evading duties, VAT and income taxes. In return, they received personal financial benefits, causing significant revenue losses to the state,” he said. According to the ACC, the officials allegedly accepted bribes in exchange for reducing tax liabilities and, in some cases, filed false cases against business owners when demands for bribes were not met. Akhtar further said that there are reports that tax refunds were deliberately delayed, and taxpayers were compelled to offer bribes or gifts—sometimes amounting to half the refundable amount—to receive the dues. He warned that if further allegations surface against others, those will also be brought under investigation. “The Commission will not spare anyone involved in corrupt practices, regardless of their rank or position,” the ACC official said.

Thirteen senior police officers have been suspended from service for remaining absent from their workplaces for extended periods. Separate notifications were recently issued by the Public Security Division of the Home Ministry regarding the suspensions. During their suspension period, they will be entitled to subsistence allowance. The orders were issued in the public interest, the notification added. 5 OCs among 8 police officials transferred in Brahmanbaria Among the suspended officers are three Superintendents of Police (SP), eight Additional Superintendents of Police, and two Assistant Superintendents of Police. It is understood that they have not returned to work after the political changeover of August 5, last year. The suspended officers are: Masudur Rahman Monir, Additional SP and Acting Company Commander of RAB-8 Barishal; former Additional Deputy Commissioner of DMP S.M. Shamim; Rubaiyat Zaman, Additional SP at In-Service Training Centre, Sunamganj; Mohammad Imrul, ASP of 8 APBn in Ukhiya; Hasanuzzaman Mollah, Additional SP at DIG APBn Office (Hill Districts), Rangamati; former SP of Narayanganj Golam Mostafa Russell; former SP of Rangpur Md. Shahjahan; Mahmudul Hasan, Telecom Officer (ASP) at Police Telecom, Rajarbagh; Ifthekharul Islam, Additional SP of 16 APBn in Cox’s Bazar; former SP of Dhaka ATU Mohammad Sanowar Hossain; Akhtarul Islam, Additional SP at In-Service Training Centre, Sylhet; S.M. Jahangir Hassan, Additional SP of River Police, Tangail; Mishu Biswas, Additional SP at In-Service Training Centre, Jamalpur; and Al Imran Hossain, Assistant Police Commissioner of Rangpur Metropolitan Police.