United News of Bangladesh

Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) conducted operations across the country’s borders and other areas in March, seizing smuggled goods worth a total of Tk 1,65,76,74,000. During the operations, BGB arrested 112 smugglers — 82 Bangladeshi citizens, 9 Indian nationals, and 21 Myanmar nationals — for illegal border crossings and smuggling, the BGB said in a press release on Wednesday. The confiscated items included 465 grams of gold, 16,678 sarees, 6,056 shirts, sheets, and blankets, 6,994 ready-made garments, 772 meters of cloth, 469,864 cosmetic items, 9,239 imitation jewelry pieces, 65,02,457 firecrackers, 3,829 cubic feet of timber, 6,259 kg of tea leaves, 2,982 kg of betel nuts, 8,590 kg of coal, 7,090 cubic feet of stones, 230 cubic feet of sand, 382 mobile phones, 11,900 mobile displays, 70,081 eyeglasses, 53,988 kg of cumin, 20,723 kg of sugar, 9,961 food packets, 2,309 kg of onions, 1,879 kg of garlic, 1,940 kg of fertilizer, 1,614 pesticide packets, 2,09,021 chocolates, several stone statues, and various vehicles including trucks, tractors, pickups, CNGs, motorcycles, and bicycles. Seized weapons included one SMG, one pistol, 13 magazines, 35 rounds of ammunition, two mines, and three other firearms. The BGB also confiscated large quantities of drugs, including 11,25,975 yaba tablets, 845 grams of heroin, 12 LSD bottles, 2,045 bottles of Phensedyl, 1.79 kg of crystal meth, 8,129 bottles of foreign liquor, 170.5 liters of local liquor, 2,368 cans of beer, 1,133.45 kg of cannabis, 1,24,840 bidi packets, 1,83,661 narcotic tablets/injections, 4,665 bottles of cough syrup, 2,968 Viagra/Sildenafil tablets, 36,860 alcohol pills, and 21,44,152 other medicine tablets.  

Inspector General of Police (IGP) Md Ali Hossain Fakir on Wednesday underscored that public trust is the foundation of effective policing, urging newly inducted officers to carry out their duties with honesty, professionalism and patriotism. “Public trust and love are the greatest strengths of Bangladesh Police. Officers must act with integrity, dedication and humanity, uphold the rule of law in all circumstances, and take a firm stand against corruption,” he said. The police chief was addressing the passing-out parade of the 41st Cadet Sub-Inspector (SI) batch-2025 at the Bangladesh Police Academy in Sardah. He said the rigorous training the police officers underwent at the academy had strengthened the recruits’ physical fitness, mental resilience and moral values. “The path ahead is both honourable and demanding. You must work tirelessly to ensure public safety, maintain law and order, and uphold justice,” he said, addressing them. Highlighting the evolving nature of crime, Ali Hossain Fakir stressed the need to enhance skills and awareness to tackle technology-driven offences, including cybercrime and militancy. He also urged the new officers to continuously update themselves and make effective use of their training to meet modern policing challenges. Describing policing as a noble service, the IGP called on officers to stand by people in distress, extend support in times of need, and uphold the principles of justice. Earlier, the IGP took the salute at the parade and distributed awards among trainees for outstanding performance. A total of 209 trainees participated in the parade. Among them, Ejaz Ahmed Himel was named Best Cadet and Best in Academic, Oliullah Best in Field Activities, Shubho Biswas Best Shooter, and Md Raihan Best Swimmer. Principal (Additional IGP) of the Bangladesh Police Academy GM Azizur Rahman, senior police officials, public representatives and local dignitaries, among others, were present. After completing their basic training, the 209 cadet SIs will be deployed to different units of Bangladesh Police for two years of practical training.

A female activist of Jamaat-e-Islami, Bibi Sauda, was granted bail Tuesday by the Chief Judicial Magistrate Court in Bhola, a day after her arrest over alleged anti-state and anti-government posts on Facebook. Senior Judicial Magistrate Saurav Rai Mithu approved her bail petition in the afternoon. According to the case statement, Sauda was arrested Sunday night from her home in Adarshapara, Bhola, along with her mobile phone. She was later remanded in jail under Section 54 of the law. District Jamaat leaders held a press conference Monday, claiming Sauda’s arrest was made without specific evidence and protesting her detention. During Tuesday’s hearing, her lawyers, including Faridur Rahman, Abdullah Al Mamun, and Ahmad Ullah, argued for her release. The court granted her bail. Afterward, Jamaat leaders and activists welcomed her at the courthouse with flower garlands. Speaking to reporters, Sauda said she had spoken for the people and stressed that detaining citizens for expressing opinions could silence public voices. She urged that freedom of speech be protected, noting it was the very reason for the July movement and the sacrifices made by its participants. Her lawyer Ahmad Ullah confirmed that the court found no concrete allegations against her and granted unconditional bail.

A Faridpur court on Monday acquitted six of the 12 accused in the controversial Tk 10 crore curtain scam case at Faridpur Medical College Hospital. The case, filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), involved alleged corruption in equipment procurement and attempted embezzlement. Faridpur Special Judge’s Court Judge Md. Sharifuddin passed the order after hearing the charge framing. Those acquitted are Mizanur Raman, associate professor of the surgical department; Sheikh Abdul Fattah, former professor of the medicine department; Md. Alamgir Fakir, former sub-divisional engineer of Faridpur Public Works Department; Abdus Sattar, social service officer; Omar Faruk, engineer of Faridpur Medical College Hospital; and Mia Mortaza Hossain, engineer of Nimue & TC Dhaka Headquarters. Of the remaining six accused, former professor of pediatrics Barun Kanti Biswas and contractor Munshi Kafrul Hossain are absconding. The other four—Abdullah Al Mamun of M/s Anik Traders, Munshi Sajjad Hossain, former senior consultant eye Enamul Haque, and Md. Alamgir Kabir of M/s Ali Traders—are out on bail. The case dates back to 2015, when contracting firms M/s Anik Traders and M/s Ali Traders supplied goods worth Tk 10 crore for the opening of the ICU department. After not receiving payment, the companies approached the High Court, which directed the ACC to investigate. Following the investigation, ACC filed a case on November 27, 2019, against three doctors and three contractors associated with the procurement committee. The case saw several revisions of charge sheets, with 12 people eventually facing charges as of August 31, 2025. ACC Public Prosecutor Kubbat Hossain said April 6 was the day for charge framing, resulting in acquittal of six accused while charges were framed against the remaining six. Lawyer MA Samad, representing the acquitted, described the case as harassment. He said, “The two contracting companies supplied goods worth Tk 10 crore for the ICU unit, but the government did not pay them. Where there is no embezzlement, high-profile individuals were harassed over alleged ‘attempted embezzlement.’ Their signatures on contract tenders were treated as a crime. Despite the accusations, the ICU unit has served the public effectively over the years.” The case, widely reported as the “curtain scandal,” drew national attention after it was revealed that the cost of ICU curtains alone was Tk 37.5 lakh.

Authorities have seized a total of 4,48,456 litres of illegally stored fuel during drives conducted across the country up to April 5, the Energy Division said in a statement on Monday. A total of 6,242 drives were carried out between March 3 and April 5, resulting in 2,456 cases being filed. The statement added that fines totaling Tk 1,25,39,500 were imposed, and 31 people were sentenced to imprisonment during the drives. The seized fuel included 3,33,157 litres of diesel, 36,405 litres of octane, and 78,894 litres of petrol. Meanwhile, the government on Monday ordered that fairs, trade fairs, cultural programmes, and billboard lights be shut by 7:00 pm to save electricity and energy nationwide.

The Department of Narcotics Control (DNC) in separate drives arrested two alleged drug traders – one dubbed “Heroin Queen” and the other “Yaba King” – along with a large quantity of drugs. According to the DNC, a team from the Uttara Circle of Dhaka Metro North conducted a drive at Demra in Dhaka around 5:00pm on Sunday and arrested Hosne Ara Begum, 38, from a four-storey building in Purbo Dogair. Hosne Ara, wife of Abu Taher, hails from Chargaon village under Srinagar upazila of Munshiganj. Law enforcers recovered 400 grams of heroin and 500 Yaba tablets from her possession. Based on information provided by the arrestee during primary interrogation, another drive was conducted in the Chanpara Bottola area under Rupganj upazila of Narayanganj. Md Idris, 45, was arrested from a third-floor flat of a building owned by Sagar Ahmed. He is a resident of Douyapara village under Daudkandi upazila of Cumilla. During the drive, officials seized 20,000 Yaba tablets from his possession. The drives were led by DNC Uttara Circle Inspector Dewan Mohammad Zillur Rahman, said Deputy Director Shamim Ahmed. The DNC said Hosne Ara used to collect heroin from Benapole border in Jashore and distribute it to various locations, including Dayaganj in Old Dhaka. Idris, meanwhile, allegedly smuggled Yaba through the Cumilla border and supplied it to different areas in Narayanganj’s Chanpara and parts of Dhaka. Payments for the drugs were made through hundi channels, the DNC said.  

Newly appointed Director General of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) Md Ahsan Habib Palash on Sunday said the force has not yet received any request from the International Crimes Tribunal regarding allegations of enforced disappearances and crossfire incidents but pledged full cooperation if approached. Any request related to judicial proceedings would be duly honoured, he said a media briefing at the RAB Media Centre in the capital’s Karwan Bazar. Responding to a question about the Chief Prosecutor’s remarks on summoning and examining RAB’s crossfire records, the DG said, “If any cooperation is sought in relation to the judicial process, RAB will provide it. We will share whatever information we have and if any information is unavailable, we will inform accordingly. However, the tribunal has not yet contacted us.” On reported domestic and international calls for disbanding RAB, he said such decisions lie with the government. “RAB’s responsibility is to carry out its assigned duties properly and build public trust through its work,” he added. Addressing allegations that the force was used for political purposes in the past, the DG said recent activities suggest a decline in major irregularities. “If managed properly, RAB can play a constructive role,” he said. On tackling piracy and separatism, he said intelligence surveillance has been strengthened and operations are being conducted based on gathered information. Without directly commenting on militancy, he said RAB continues to work against all forms of terrorism and will maintain that effort in the future. Expressing concern over the rise of juvenile gangs, he said the problem is increasing across the country. “Police and RAB are working jointly, but bringing juveniles under the law often remains challenging,” he noted, urging journalists to support efforts through investigative reporting. Regarding the possible renaming or restructuring of RAB, he said it is entirely a policy matter for the government. “Our priority is to perform our duties. Internal investigations into allegations of human rights violations are ongoing, and no one will be spared,” he said. On US sanctions, the DG acknowledged that the situation stemmed from past shortcomings. “If those are addressed, we hope such sanctions will not continue in future,” he added.

Eight platoons of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) have been deployed to maintain law and order for the Bogura-6 (Sadar) by-election scheduled to be held on April 9. According to a BGB handout issued on Saturday, the deployment aims to ensure that the by-election is held in a free, fair, impartial and peaceful manner. As per the instructions of the Election Commission, BGB personnel will remain on duty in the constituency until April 11. The eight platoons, drawn from BGB’s Naogaon Battalion (16 BGB) and Patnitala Battalion (14 BGB), have already begun their duties by setting up three base camps in Bogura Sadar upazila. BGB members will be deployed as both mobile and static forces to maintain overall law and order, including conducting patrols before, during and after the election. BGB said it regularly assists the civil administration in maintaining internal law and order across the country. As part of this role, its members will work in coordination with other law enforcement agencies during the by-election. The force expressed hope that voters will be able to cast their votes without hindrance and that the election will be conducted in a peaceful and orderly manner. The by-election was necessitated after the Bogura-6 seat fell vacant as Prime Minister Tarique Rahman relinquished the seat while retaining the Dhaka-17 constituency.

A five-member committee has been formed to investigate the fire at a tin-shed gas lighter factory in Kadamtali of Keraniganj that left at least five people dead. The committee is headed by the Director (Operations and Maintenance) of the Fire Service and Civil Defence (FSCD), said Shahjahan Sikder, Deputy Assistant Director of the FSCD headquarters media cell. The committee has been asked to submit its report within seven working days. The fire broke out around 1pm at the factory, which manufactured gas lighters. Seven firefighting units rushed to the scene around 1:16pm after receiving the information and brought the blaze under control around 2:30pm, he added. The fire was completely extinguished at 4:44pm.

Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) has seized smuggled Indian goods worth nearly Tk 2 crore in separate drives conducted along the Brahmanbaria and Cumilla border areas. According to BGB’s Sultanpur Battalion (60 BGB), the drives were carried out on Saturday based on specific intelligence in border areas of Kasba upazila in Brahmanbaria and Brahmanpara and Adarsha Sadar upazilas in Cumilla. Patrol teams from Khadla BOP in Kasba, Shashidal BOP in Brahmanpara, and Barojwala BOP in Adarsha Sadar conducted the drives separately under the leadership of Battalion Commander Lt Col SM Shariful Islam. During the drives, a pickup vehicle along with a large quantity of smuggled Indian goods was seized. The recovered items include cumin, henna, various cosmetics, sarees, basmati rice, soap, fuchka, fireworks, and different types of medicines. The estimated value of the seized goods is Tk 1,90,66,070. The seized items will be handed over to the concerned customs office following due legal procedures. Lt Col Shariful Islam said BGB remains vigilant in preventing smuggling while ensuring border security, in line with the directives of the BGB Director General. He added that intelligence surveillance and operational activities along the border have been strengthened and such drives will continue.