United News of Bangladesh

Former Law Minister Anisul Huq was attacked by members of the public, including lawyers, who were gathered at the Narayanganj court premises on Monday afternoon, where he was taken for a hearing. A section of lawyers and justice seekers slapped and landed punches on the helmet of the former minister but he was not reportedly injured in the attack. Earlier in the day, Anisul was produced before the court in a case over the murder of 19-year-old madrasa student Sulaiman involving the July movement. After hearing, the court placed him on a four-day remand. Ex-ministers Inu, Menon, Anisul, Dipu Moni remanded again As police escorted him out of the courtroom, the accused attacked him within the police cordon, forcing the law enforcers to hurriedly move him into a prison van to protect him. Md Kaiyum Khan, inspector of court police, said police intervened to prevent serious harm. Narayanganj District Bar Association President Advocate Sarker Humayun Kabir claimed that BNP-backyers protested but did not assault Anisul. Angry mob might have assaulted him, he said. Anisul, Shajahan, 7 others shown arrested in July uprising cases Earlier, protesters chanted slogans demanding Anisul’s execution.

Eight lakh cubic feet of sand, valued at an estimated Tk 3.2 crore, were seized on Saturday by a task force operating against illegal sand extraction that uses dredgers to scrape the riverbeds, in this case of the Muhuri River in Feni's Parshuram upazila. The operation was conducted on both banks of the Muhuri, under the leadership of Feni’s Additional Deputy Commissioner, Fahmida Haque. The team behind the operation included the Upazila Nirbahi Officer, or UNO of Parshuram, two magistrates, and members of the BGB, police, and Ansar forces. Nine held with arms, drugs in Cumilla joint raid  Fahmida Haque, the Feni ADC, said that a lease held by Shapla Traders expired in April 2024. Following the floods in August, the district administration had suspended the lease, and Shapla Traders did not receive any new lease. "The district administration will file a case against those involved in the illegal extraction and sale of sand, " she added. 2 excavators disabled, 4 trucks seized in Feni for illegal soil extraction Lt. Col. Mohammad Mosharraf Hossain, commander of Feni’s 4th BGB, said that the operation aimed to ensure border security, prevent smuggling, curb illegal infiltration, and stop the environmental damage caused by sand extraction from the river. He added that ongoing operational and intelligence activities would continue, supporting the local administration in taking legal action against the perpetrators of illegal sand extraction.

Inspector General of Police (IGP) Md Baharul Alam on Monday said the police force is still awaiting the implementation of the recommendations made by the Police Reform Commission. "We were very hopeful about the Police Reform Commission. We wished for the police administration to be governed by an independent commission rather than being directly under the executive. We also submitted our opinions on several matters to the commission," he said while addressing a press briefing on Police Week at the Foreign Service Academy in the capital. Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam and Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder, were, among others, present at the briefing. The police chief said the Home Ministry has been assigned the responsibility of implementing the commission’s proposals. "Many say if reforms do not take place during this government's tenure, they may never happen. We are still waiting," he said. IGP warns against vandalism, orders arrest Responding to a question about false cases allegedly being used for extortion and intimidation, the IGP explained that, due to legal obligations, the police are required to register a written complaint as a case without initially verifying its veracity. "Since 5 August last year, it has been observed that, in many cases, additional names are included beyond the actual perpetrators. The Home Ministry, the Police Headquarters, as well as various police units, have already instructed that no innocent person should be harassed or arrested," he added. Speaking about the investigations into incidents during the July-August student-people uprising last year, the IGP informed that each case is under investigation. "There are about 1,500 cases, including around 600 murder cases. Once investigations are complete, we will be able to determine who ordered the shootings, who fired, and how many were killed," he said. Regarding measures for victims of false cases, he mentioned that action could be taken against those filing false cases, but only upon conclusion of investigations. When asked about this year’s recipients of police awards, the IGP revealed that 62 police personnel would be recognised for their bravery and dedicated service. Police to strengthen vigilance countrywide during Eid: IGP About militancy, he said, "No one can give absolute assurance that there are no militants. Several agencies, alongside the police, are actively working to contain militancy. Many individuals have already served prison sentences for militancy-related crimes. At present, we are alert and capable of handling any situation."

Police arrested a couple on charge of trafficking two teenage girls from Sylhet to Cox’s Bazar and forcing them into illegal profession early Monday. Earlier on Sunday night, the victims’ mother filed a case against them with Shahporan police. The arrestees are Shahnaz and her husband Murad Ahmed Raju, hailing from Tikerpara area of Pirer Bazar of Sylhet city. According to police, the couple lured the teenagers on the pretext of giving garment factory jobs in Dhaka. Rather they were sent to Cox’s Bazar, where their (arrestees) son Iman Hossain and daughter Pinky alias Brishti confined them in two hotels for 15 days and forced them allegedly into prostitution. The victims returned to Sylhet after falling ill and shared the matter with their mother. Later, they were admitted to the One-Stop Crisis Center (OCC) at Sylhet Osmani Medical College Hospital for treatment. Additional Deputy Commissioner (Media) of Sylhet Metropolitan Police Mohammad Saiful Islam said they arrested the couple and produced them before court on Monday. Human trafficking gang member arrested at Dhaka airport The victims said that on April 7 they traveled to Cox’s Bazar with Shahnaz, initially staying at Iman’s residence. The next day, under the pretense of taking them to a garment factory, they were left at a residential hotel where they were locked up and subjected to repeated abuse for 14 days, without any means of contacting their families. Meanwhile, the victims’ families filed a general diary (GD) at Shahporan police station on April 9 after losing contact. Under family pressure, the traffickers released the girls, warning them never to return to Cox’s Bazar.

A rickshaw puller and an auto-rickshaw passenger were sentenced to jail terms by a mobile court for obstructing traffic police from performing their duties and assaulting officers at separate locations in Dhaka city on Sunday. According to Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) sources, rickshaw puller Md Akhtar Hossain ignored a traffic signal at Tantibazar intersection under Bangshal Police Station. When he was asked to stop, the rickshaw puller attacked a traffic officer. Special Metropolitan Magistrate Arifur Rahman sentenced him to one month’s simple imprisonment under Section 102 of the Road Transport Act, 2018, said Deputy Commissioner (Media) of the DMP Talebur Rahman on Sunday evening. Ex-MP Zafar Alam arrested in Dhaka In a separate incident at Bottola intersection under Lalbagh Police Station, auto-rickshaw passenger Sohel Rana physically assaulted an on-duty traffic officer when the auto-rickshaw was signaled to stop. He was also sentenced to seven days’ simple imprisonment under the same section, the DC (Media) of the DMP said. DMP urged city residents and drivers to strictly follow traffic rules to maintain order in the capital.

Former MP of Cox’s Bazar-1 constituency Zafar Alam was arrested from Dhaka’s Dhanmondi area on Sunday. Tipped off, members of the Detective Branch (DB) arrested him around 3:30pm, said Deputy Commissioner (Media and Public Relations) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Muhammad Talebur Rahman. Nine held with arms, drugs in Cumilla joint raid  He said there are cases against Zafar Alam but a decision on under which case he will be shown arrested is yet to be taken, he said. Zafar Alam was elected MP in 2018 with Awami League’s nomination.

Police have arrested the prime suspect in the murder of Md Rafique, also known as ‘Boba Rafique’ from Karwan Bazar area on Friday night. Md Saddam, 22, was arrested along with a knife – during a drive at around 11:30 pm on Friday, said Deputy Commissioner (Media) of DMP Md Talebur Rahman on Sunday afternoon.  He said Rafique, also known as Jibon, was standing in front of a restaurant near Karwan Bazar around 11:00 am on April 24 when Saddam attacked him with the knife over previous enmity. Rafique sustained critical injuries and later died from excessive bleeding at a hospital. Following the incident, Rafique’s grandmother filed a murder case with Tejgaon Police Station on April 25. During the investigation, police reviewed CCTV footage from the scene and surrounding areas and identified Saddam as the attacker. Based on information provided by the arrestee, police recovered the knife used in the killing from the Kamarpatti area of Karwan Bazar, wrapped in a towel. Saddam is a known mugger in Karwan Bazar area with seven previous cases related to mugging, robbery, and drugs filed against him at Tejgaon and Hatirjheel police stations. Youth arrested for murdering uncle in Netrokona During preliminary interrogation, he confessed that the killing was triggered following a dispute over the distribution of mugged mondy. Earlier on Friday morning, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) arrested another accused Md Asif alias Ashik alias Ibrahim Khalil, 22 from Tejgaon and handed him over to Tejgaon Police Station.      

Joint forces detained nine people, including teen gang members, after conducting drives at their dens in Cumilla city and  Sadar Dakshin upazila early Sunday. A huge amount of arms, bullets, drugs and illegal materials were also recovered during the raids. The forces include Bangladesh Army and Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) and the operation began at 3:50 am in Durgapur area under Cumilla Sadar Dakshin police station, where local ‘arms supplier’ Md Rubel was detained. Rubel had recently come into limelight for publicly displaying firearms in Cumilla and was reportedly supplying weapons to teenage gangs. Joint forces detain 20, seize 150 weapons in Narsingdi raid In a separate raid at Palashi Goli of Cumilla city, three others -- Md Akib Hossain, 29, Md Sajjad Hossain, 47, and Md Shahadat Hossain, 28, -- were detained. The joint forces recovered a 9mm pistol, four rounds of ammunition, one revolver with eight rounds, contraband Yaba pills, foreign liquor, gold chains, laptops and various other illegal items hidden under a table. Based on the information obtained from the detainees, the joint forces also later held four more teenage gang members—Md Saiful Islam, 19, Md Imran Hossain Ratan, 19, Md Mojahid, 21, and Md Rafiul Alam Shafi, 20, -- from different areas. Four mobile phones were also seized from them. Joint forces' 'Devil Hunt' gains momentum on 3rd day, with over 600 arrested During the operation, another suspect, Humayun Kabir, 45, believed to be associated with the gang, was also detained. A process was underway to hand over them to the respective police stations for legal action.

Detectives of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) have arrested 56 leaders and activists of the banned Chhatra League and various associate bodies of the Awami League in a number of operations over the past seven days, to curb the flash processions (jhotika michil) in the capital, the Detective Branch (DB) said on Saturday evening. Based on secret information, various teams of the DB conducted drives across the capital between April 19 and April 25, resulting in the arrests. The detainees face allegations of attempting to destabilize law and order and creating panic among the public through sudden protest processions, said DMP’s DC (Media) Md Talebur Rahman. Among the arrestees, Shamim Ahmed Shahid, Joint General Secretary of Ward-57 Jubo League unit (Kamrangirchar police station); Md. Zia Mia, President of Ward-33 Jubo League unit (Bongshal police station); Md. Abdur Rob Patwari, Vice President of Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Thana Awami League unit; and several former Chhatra League leaders and senior members of Awami League, Jubo League, Swechchhasebak League, Krishok League, and Sramik League are mentionable. Nine more AL and affiliated  org's activists arrested in capital: DB Besides, one of the arrestees, Md. Abed Ali Sheikh, is an accused in a case related to the arson attack on a military vehicle in Gopalganj. Another, Mohammad Zakir Hossain Sagar, is named in a case filed over the 2015 attack on former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia’s motorcade. Several others, including arrested leader Imon, face multiple cases across various police stations in Dhaka city. DB confirmed that all arrestees have been subjected to due legal procedures and that drives to prevent flash processions and activities of banned organizations will continue. Efforts to reinforce law and order across the capital have been intensified, the DC (Media) added.

Police on Saturday recovered the bodies of a mother and her son from their house in Muradnagar upazila of Cumilla. The deceased were identified as Rabeya Begum, 26, wife of Abdul Matin, an expatriate from the village, and their three-year-old son Abdullah. Police are working to determine whether it was murder or suicide, said Mahfuzur Rahman , Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Bangra Bazar Police Station. However, the locals and the family claim that the mother and son were killed and hanged. The father of the deceased, Idris Mia, said, "My daughter's feet are touching the ground." Looking at the hanging picture, it is clear that it was murder. "I will file a written complaint with the police," he added. The body was sent to the Cumilla Medical College Hospital morgue for an autopsy, added the OC.