United News of Bangladesh

A Dhaka court on Monday placed former Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) KM Nurul Huda on a four-day remand in a case over election manipulation. Dhaka Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Mohammad Mustafizur Rahman passed the order after hearing a petition filed by the investigation officer of the case, said Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate court’s Public Prosecutor Omar Faruq Faruqi. Earlier, he was produced before the court with a plea for a 10-day remand, he said. On Sunday evening, police detained Nurul Huda from his residence in the capital’s Uttara area. The detention came just hours after a case was filed by the BNP at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station on Sunday morning, accusing 24 people, including former Chief Election Commissioners, Election Commissioners and other officials involved in conducting the 10th, 11th and 12th national elections, of irregularities and biased conduct. Ex-CEC KM Nurul Huda detained from Uttara residence Earlier on Sunday, a four-member BNP delegation led by National Executive Committee member Salahuddin Khan filed the case with Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station. The complaint named 24 people, including former CECs Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad, KM Nurul Huda and Kazi Habibul Awal, along with several unidentified persons. BNP alleges that the 2014, 2018, and 2024 general elections were manipulated and held in a partisan manner, despite repeated calls for a non-partisan caretaker government and the deployment of army personnel with magistracy powers during polling.

Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury on Monday dismissed reports of former Chief Election Commissioner Habibul Awal’s arrest, saying the news circulated on Sunday was incorrect. "The news published yesterday (Sunday) regarding the arrest of former CEC Habibul Awal is not correct, he has not been arrested yet. It is Nurul Huda who has been arrested," he said while talking to reporters after visiting the Horticulture Centre in Mouchak area of Kaliakair upazila in Gazipur on Monday morning. The Home Adviser said mob violence carried out during the detention of ex-CEC KM Nurul Huda is in no way acceptable. “The way mob justice was carried out during his detention is not acceptable. Such chaos took place in the presence of law enforcers. An investigation will be conducted. If any member of the law enforcement agencies is found involved legal action will be taken,” he added. The adviser said the government is working to formulate a law to protect agricultural land from illegal occupation. Govt warns against mob justice, vows action against chaos creators He stressed the importance of increasing the production of local fruits alongside foreign varieties to ensure that native fruits are not lost. Gazipur Deputy Commissioner Nafisa Arefin, Superintendent of Police Dr. Chowdhury Jaber Sadeq, Kaliakair Upazila Nirbahi Officer Kawsar Ahmed, Horticulture Centre officials including Enamul Haque were, among others, present during the visit. The adviser inspected various areas of the Horticulture Centre, spoke to officials and employees and provided necessary instructions.

Police detained former Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) KM Nurul Huda from his residence in the capital’s Uttara area on Sunday evening. The detention came just hours after a case was filed by the BNP at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station on Sunday morning, accusing 24  people, including former Chief Election Commissioners, Election Commissioners and other officials involved in conducting the 10th, 11th and 12th national elections, of irregularities and biased conduct. Deputy Commissioner (Uttara Division) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Md Hafizur Rahman confirmed the detention, saying that based on secret information, a team from Uttara West Police Station conducted a raid on a house in Uttara Sector-5 around 7:30 pm and detained KM Nurul Huda. "For security reasons, he was handed over to the Detective Branch (DB) office on Minto Road shortly after he was detained," the DC said. As Huda is an accused in the case filed with Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station, he is likely to be shown arrested in connection with that case, he added. Rokeya University teacher Mahamud gets bail; OC transferred Earlier in the day, a four-member BNP delegation led by National Executive Committee member Salahuddin Khan filed the case at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station. The complaint named 24 people, including former CECs Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad, KM Nurul Huda and Kazi Habibul Awal, along with several unidentified persons. BNP alleges that the 2014, 2018, and 2024 general elections were manipulated and held in a partisan manner, despite repeated calls for a non-partisan caretaker government and the deployment of army personnel with magistracy powers during polling. Talking to reporters, Salahuddin Khan said, “Despite widespread complaints during those elections, the then CECs failed to take any corrective measures. We hope the current Election Commission will investigate and take action.” The 10th parliamentary election in January 2014 saw 153 Awami League candidates elected unopposed after the BNP and other opposition parties boycotted the polls. That election was held under the leadership of CEC Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad. Ex-ministers Anisul, Qamrul, 2 others shown arrested in murder cases In the 11th parliamentary election of December 2018, overseen by CEC KM Nurul Huda, the BNP alleged that ballots were stuffed the night before voting. The 12th election in 2024, conducted under CEC Kazi Habibul Awal, was dismissed by the BNP as a “dummy election,” as the party chose not to participate. Earlier this month, Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus directed the authorities to form a committee to investigate the roles of those involved in conducting the three controversial elections.

A Rangpur court on Sunday granted bail to Begum Rokeya University teacher Mahamudul Haque who was arrested in a murder case filed over the death of a grocer during the anti-discrimination student movement last year. Judge Mosammat Marzia Khatun of Rangpur Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court passed the bail order after a hearing in the afternoon. Advocate Shamim Al Mamun, counsel for Mahamudul Haque, said, “The plaintiff in the case did not even know that Mahamud had been named as an accused. He doesn't even recognise him.” Advocate Mamun said they first sought bail from the Metropolitan Magistrate’s Court which heard their statement but deferred the hearing to June 24. "Then, in our pursuit of justice, we appealed to the Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court, which granted the bail," he said. Prior to the bail hearing, a group of the university students gathered on the court premises, staged demonstrations demanding Mahamudul’s bail and exemption from what they termed a ‘conspiratorial’ case. Meanwhile, officer-in-charge (OC) of Hajirhat Police Station Abdul Al Mamun Shah, also the investigating officer of the case, was transferred. Earlier on June 19, police arrested Mahamudul Haque, an assistant professor at the Department of Mass Communication and Journalism at the Begum Rokeya University, in connection with the case filed over the death of grocer Somes Uddin. Former state minister for planning Shamsul Alam arrested in Dhaka According to the case statement, on August 2, last year, police and Awami League activists threatened Somes at his shop in Radhakrishnapur area under Ward 12 of Rangpur city. He was injured in an attack by the activists of AL associate bodies. His family took him to Prime Medical College Hospital where doctors declared him dead. Ten months after the incident, Somes Uddin’s wife Amena Begum filed a case with Hajirhat Police Station on June 3 accusing 54 people, including ex-prime minister Sheikh Hasina and minister Obaidul Quader. Mahamudul Haque was listed as the 54th accused and described as the Central Assistant Secretary for Information and Research of the Bangabandhu Parishad. Amena Begum and her son Ashiqur Rahman reportedly admitted that they filed the case under pressure from law enforcers and had no knowledge of who was named as accused. They said they only gave their signatures on papers.

A total of 251 people, including former MPs Lt Gen (retd) Masud Uddin Chowdhury and NizamUddin Hazari, have been sued in a case over last year’s July uprising. Jamshedur Alam, a resident from Samaspur village under Dagonbhuiyan upazila of the district, filed the case naming 151 people and 50 to 100 unnamed others with Feni Model Police Station on Friday last, said officer-in-charge Md Shamsuzzaman. The rest of the accused mentioned in the case include former Chairman of Feni Sadar Upazila Parishad and General Secretary of Awami League Shushen Chandra Shil, General Secretary of Feni Municipal Awami League and former Mayor Nazrul Islam Swapan Miazi, and President of District Juba League and Chairman of Dagunbhuiyan Upazila Didarul Kabir.  Five Feni villages innundated after collapse of flood embankments amid heavy rain According to the case statement, the accused assaulted the victim when he had joined an anti-discrimination movement under Mohipal Flyover on August 4 last. The accused left him behind assuming to be dead while locals rushed him to Feni Sadar Hospital where he received the treatment. The statement says he delayed filing the case due to health issues and his busy schedule. OC Shamsuzzaman said efforts were underway to arrest the accused.

Former ministers Anisul Huq and Qamrul Islam, former adviser Salman F Rahman and former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun were shown arrested in three murder cases in Gazipur on Sunday. Judge of Gazipur Metropolitan Magistrate Court Omar Faruk passed the order after hearing separate petitions, said court inspector Ahsan Ullah Chowdhury. Ex-Ministers Anisul, Mosharraf, another remanded in 2 cases Earlier, the four were brought in from Dhaka Central Prison amid the tight security and produced before the court in the cases filed with Gacha Police Station under Gazipur Metropolitan Police. All the four were named in the cases involving last year’s July uprising.

Although 26 days have passed after the murder of BNP leader Kamrul Ahsan Sadhan on the Road no-4  of Gudarghat area along the Badda-Gulshan Link Road, investigators have yet to determine a clear motive behind the killing. Despite reviewing CCTV footage from the area and identifying four young men involved in the attack, police have not been able to confirm their identities. The case remains a mystery, with investigators admitting they are working on it as a "clueless murder." Initially, police suspected a dispute over internet business might be behind the killing, but no concrete evidence has emerged to support that theory. No arrests have been made, and no suspects have been detained. According to investigators, the assailants visited the area before executing the killing mission, which they believe indicates a targeted killing. Executing such a killing in a densely populated area and fleeing without resistance suggests the killers were well-prepared. Police say they have reviewed footage from a number of CCTV cameras across nearby area, but only one camera captured the suspects walking, executing the attack, and fleeing the scene. Police sources said the victim’s family has not reported any known enmity, nor have residents mentioned any disputes involving Sadhan. Police suspect that the attackers came from outside Dhaka, carried out the mission, and left the city immediately. Witnesses said Sadhan was sitting with several local BNP leaders when two young men approached from behind and opened fire. The killers fired blank shots while fleeing, causing panic in the area. No one dared to intervene. BNP leader gunned down in Badda Sadhan was first taken to the National Institute of Diseases of the Chest and Hospital and then to the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, where doctors declared him dead. His wife, Dilruba Akter, later filed a murder case with Badda Police Station, but did not name any suspects.Sub-Inspector Ibrahim of the police station has made Investigation Officer of the case. Following the incident, senior officials of Dhaka Metropolitan Police and several intelligence agencies visited the scene and spoke to locals. Residents said they did not recognize the attackers, suggesting they were not from the neighborhood. This is not the first such incident. On March 20 this year, another internet businessman, Suman Mia alias Teli Suman, was shot dead in front of Police Plaza in a similar nighttime attack. That investigation later revealed a conflict over internet business. Given the similarities in timing and context, police suspect the same motive may apply in Sadhan’s case. Contacted for comment, Officer-in-Charge of Badda Police Station Saiful Islam told UNB that no arrests have been made yet, and the motive remains unclear. “CCTV footage shows four people were involved in the mission—two shooters and two others behind them. But we haven’t been able to identify them yet, which is why arrests have not been possible,” he said.  “We are working on several possible motives,” he added. “Once any of the killers is caught, the exact motive will become clear. The investigation is ongoing.”

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has urged all concerned not to spread misinformation regarding the police role during the protests of United International University (UIU) students on Saturday morning on Madani Avenue. In a press release issued on Saturday, the DMP said that “Some people are circulating misleading and baseless reports on social media regarding the incident.” The release said a group of 30-40 students from UIU staged a demonstration at Natun Bazar intersection around 8:30am, blocking the road and disrupting vehicular movement as part of a pre-declared protest demanding the withdrawal of expulsion orders and other issues. At one stage, police personnel engaged in multiple rounds of discussion with the demonstrating students, requesting them to clear the road and refrain from causing public inconvenience, according to the DMP. DMP must deliver professional, quality service: IGP “Despite repeated requests, as the students refused to leave the road on-duty police officers attempted to remove them around 10:30am to ease public suffering, leading to a brief scuffle between the protesters and the police who eventually managed to clear the road,” the release said. The protesting students resumed their demonstration by reoccupying the road around 11:45 am and discussions with university authorities and students are ongoing to resolve the situation peacefully, the DMP added. The statement further mentioned that police have been trying to manage the situation peacefully without using any form of force and are continuing efforts to reach a resolution through dialogue. It also noted that one lane of the Badda-Kuril road remains open to traffic.

Former Additional Inspector General of Police (IGP) and ex-Commissioner of Chattogram Metropolitan Police (CMP) Iqbal Bahar was detained on Friday evening. He was taken to the Detective Branch (DB) office in the capital, a senior official at the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) told UNB on condition of anonymity. The official, however, declined to comment on the reason behind the detention or the specific allegations against the former police officer. According to sources, Iqbal Bahar is an accused in multiple murder cases filed last July in connection with deadly incidents that occurred during an anti-discrimination movement. The cases were filed with Gulshan, Mirpur Model and Jatrabari police stations. Former state minister for planning Shamsul Alam arrested in Dhaka In April this year, he was posted to the police headquarters as Additional IGP (T&I&M). Iqbal Bahar was appointed CMP Commissioner on April 10, 2016. During his tenure, he was widely considered a trusted figure within the ruling Awami League and was reportedly involved in executing the party’s agenda. He also faces allegations of arbitrary arrests, filing false cases and harassment of opposition activists during his time at the CMP.

A Sylhet court on Thursday issued arrest warrants against Bashundhara Group Chairman Ahmed Akbar Sobhan, Managing Director Sayem Sobhan Anvir, and four others in connection with a cheque fraud case. Judge of Sylhet Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate’s Court Mohammad Harun-or-Rashid passed the order after hearing an appeal. The case was filed by Ahmed Noor, former Sylhet bureau chief of Kaler Kantho newspaper and currently the editor of local daily Sylhet Mirror. Confirming the court order, plaintiff’s lawyer Emad Ullah Shahidul Islam said the warrants were issued after the accused ignored previous summons issued by the court. The other accused include Kaler Kantho publisher Moynal Hossain Chowdhury, current editor Hasan Hafiz, former editor and cheque signatory Shahed Muhammad Ali, and former Bangladesh Pratidin editor Naem Nizam. ICT issues arrest warrant for Hasina, Asaduzzaman Kaler Kantho newspaper has also been named as an institutional defendant. Court sources said the case was initially filed on December 5 last year. On that day, the court had ordered the six accused to appear before it. According to the case statement, the plaintiff served as Sylhet bureau chief of Kaler Kantho, a publication of Bashundhara’s East West Media Group, from its inception until September 2021. He alleged that the management delayed payment of his service benefits under the Wage Board. Although partial payment was made and 10 post-dated cheques were issued, eight of them—worth Tk 601,824—were dishonoured. Despite a legal notice and assurances from the accused's lawyer, the dues remained unpaid, prompting the filing of two cheque dishonour cases. The arrest warrants were issued in the first case on Thursday.