United News of Bangladesh

Two separate cases were filed in connection with the mob attack over allegation of rape of a girl in Dhaka’s Khilkhet area on Tuesday. Kamal Hossain, officer-in-charge of Khilkhet Police Station, said one case was filed against 4000-5000 people for carrying out an attack on police on Wednesday. Besides, the father of the child filed another case against Rabiul Islam alias Jan Mia for his alleged involvement in violating the girl. However, police arrested two people from the spot at night. They were identified as Sajeeb and Yusuf. Earlier a suspected rapist, identified as Rabiul Islam alias Jan Mia was beaten severely by a mob after being snatched from a police vehicle in Khilkhet area on Tuesday night. Seven to eight police personnel including Khilkhet police station’s Inspector Ashiqur Rahman were injured in the mob attack. 2 arrested over alleged gang-rape of female journalist in Dhaka's Pallabi Ismail Hossain, duty officer of Khilkhet Police Station, told UNB that a police team went to Madhyapara at night after being informed about a child rape incident. Police detained Jan Mia but when he was being taken to the police station, an agitated mob attacked the police vehicle and snatched him away. They beat him up mercilessly, leaving Jan Mia critically injured. Seven to eight cops were also injured as they tried to protect the accused from mass beating. They first sent Jan Mia to Kurmitola Medical College Hospital and later shifted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital following deterioration of his condition. The injured cops are undergoing treatment at Kurmitola Hospital, he added. "We are not yet sure if this is a case of rape. However, the child's father has filed a case. After the investigation, it will be clear whether the young man is involved in the crime,” said OC.

Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution PLC continues its drive against illegal gas connections. As part of its regular operations, a mobile court led by Executive Magistrate Fazle Wahid, Senior Assistant Secretary of the Energy and Mineral Resources Division, conducted a raid in the Puran Baushia and Gazaria areas under the Jobi Area-Meghnaghat zone on Tuesday. During the operation, authorities severed an illegal gas connection to a lime factory and seized approximately 20 feet of MS pipe and 150 feet of hose pipe. Officials estimated that removing the illegal connections would save around 12,000 cubic feet of gas per hour, equivalent to Tk 195,725 per day. NBR launches Spot Assessment programme to increase tax net On the same day, a special operation led by the Deputy General Manager of the Regional Vigilance Department-Narayanganj, along with vigilance units from Narayanganj-Sonargaon and Rupganj-Narsingdi, inspected five CNG stations in the Jobi Area-Narsingdi. Among them, A.H.B CNG Filling Station in South Shibmandir, Panchdona, Narsingdi, was found tampering with its captive-run meter. In line with the Gas Marketing Regulations-2014, both gas connections were immediately disconnected.

A tribunal in Dhaka on Wednesday sentenced a man to death for violating a seven-year-old child in Banasree area in Dhaka. Judge Mosammat Rokshana Begum of Dhaka's Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal-3 delivered the verdict. The tribunal also fined the convict, Zahidul Islam, son of Md. Fazlul Haque from Parikhal village in Barguna, Tk 50,000. Expressing satisfaction over the verdict, the plaintiff stated said all rapists should receive severe punishment so that no one dares to commit such heinous crime. Uncle and his two associates sentenced to death for killing two brothers over land dispute in Sirajganj The defense counsels said they would appeal to a higher court. According to the case details, on March 23, 2021, Zahidul Islam, who used to work as a home tutor at the victim’s house, went to her house in the absence of her parents and raped her. Later the victim's father filed the case at Khilgaon Police Station. On July 24, 2021, the investigating officer of the case, submitted a charge sheet to the court against Zahidul. During the trial, the court recorded testimonies from of 10 witnesses.

A Dhaka court on Wednesday put former ministers Hasanul Haq Inu, Rashed Khan Menon, Anisul Huq, Dipu Moni, and Ex-MP Sadek Khan on remand for  different periods in cases related to the July uprising. Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Shahin Reza passed the order after the accused were produced before the court with pleas for remand. Inu, Menon, Dipu Moni were placed on a 4-day remand each in a case over the killing of one Obaidul Islam in Dhaka’s Jatrabari during the last year’s July uprising. According to the case statement, on August 4 last year activists of Awami League and its associate bodies opened fire on a procession near Kazla Petrol Pump in Jatrabari, leaving Obaidul dead. Ex-Shipping Minister Shahjahan Khan, his son put on 4-day remand His family later filed a case against 58 people including Sheikh Hasina and Obaidul Quader. Former Minister Anisul Huq was placed on a three-day remand in a case over the death of Md. Sujan in a firing in Dhaka’s Mohammadpur-Basila during the movement. According to the case, on July 20 last year Sujan was shot dead in front of the Awami League party office in Mohammadpur’s Basila area. His brother, Md. Rafiqul Islam, later filed a case at Mohammadpur Police Station. EX-MP MA Malek placed on 4-day remand Former lawmaker Sadek Khan was placed on a three-day remand in connection with the death of one Mirajul Islam Arnob during the movement in Mohammadpur’s Basila area.

The state on Wednesday filed an appeal against the High Court verdict that had acquitted all accused including BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman and former state minister Lutfozzaman Babar in the 21st August grenade attack case. Mohammad Abdul Jabbar Bhuiya, additional attorney general,  filed the appeal with the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court, said the Attorney General's office. On 12th January, the High Court acquitted Tarique Rahman, who had been sentenced to life imprisonment, and Lutfozzaman Babar, ,who had been sentenced to death, along with other accused in case. The HC bench comprising Justice AKM Asaduzzaman and Justice Syed Enayet Hossain delivered the judgment. Tarique Rahman, Mamun acquitted in money laundering case The grenade attack was carried out on August 21, 2004 in Dhaka’s Bangabandhu Avenue that left  24 people dead nearly 300 others injrued. On October 10, 2018, a Dhaka Speedy Trial Tribunal pronounced a verdict in one of the cases (pertaining to murder and explosives). The tribunal sentenced 19 accused, including Lutfozzaman Babar and former deputy education minister Abdus Salam Pintu, to death. Besides, 19 others, including Tarique Rahman, were handed life term imprisonment while 11 accused received various terms of imprisonment and fines. The judgment was subsequently transferred to the HC in 2018, registered as a death reference case. The grenade attack on August 21, 2004 prompted the filing of two cases—one for murder and another for explosives—at Motijheel Police Station. Tarique Rahman urges Ulema to consider unified Ramadan, Eid observance In 2008, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) charged 22 people, alleging that the attack was orchestrated by militants aiming to assassinate Sheikh Hasina and render the Awami League leaderless. Subsequently, under the Awami League government, further investigation led to the submission of an additional charge sheet, naming 30 people, including Tarique Rahman.

The High Court (HC) on Wednesday acquitted former State Minister for Home Affairs Lutfozzaman Babar from 17 years of imprisonment in a case over recovery of arms from his Gulshan house around 21 years back. An HC bench of Justice Mustafa Zaman Islam and Justice Nasrin Akter passed the order after disposing of a rule in this regard, said the defendant’s lawyer Mohammad Shishir Manir. According to the case statement, law enforcers had recovered “illegal arms and several rounds of bullets from his bedroom” at his Gulshan residence on May 28, 2007. On June 3, a case was filed accusing him with Gulshan police station in this regard. On October 30 of the same year, a Dhaka court sentenced him to 17 years of imprisonment, while the convict submitted an appeal to the HC, challenging the verdict. Lutfozzaman Babar finally walks out of jail Issuing a rule, the HC stayed activities of the case later. Babar was arrested on May 28, 2007 and he had been in jail for around 17 years since then. Following the political changeover on August 5 last, he walked out of the jail on January 16 this year after securing bail and acquitting in cases.

A suspected rapist was beaten severely by a mob after being snatched from a police vehicle in Dhaka’s Khilkhet area on Tuesday night. Seven to eight police personnel including Khilkhet police station’s Inspector Ashiqur Rahman were also injured in the mob attack. The police station’s duty officer Ismail Hossain told UNB that a police team went to Madhyapara at night after being informed about a child rape incident. Police detained the suspect but when he was being taken to the police station agitated mob attacked the police vehicle and snatched him away, the duty officer said. Cash, mobile phones looted in Sirajganj highway robbery They beat him up mercilessly, leaving him critically injured. Seven to eight cops were also injured as they tried to protect the accused from mass beating. Officer-in-Charge Md Kamal Hossain said they first sent the suspect to Kurmitola Medical College Hospital and later shifted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital when his condition deteriorated. The injured cops are undergoing treatment at Kurmitola Hospital, he added.

In a major breakthrough, Rapid Action Battalion-11 arrested ten members including the top leadership, of the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA), an armed rebel group that draws its membership mainly from the persecuted Rohingya community, in separate operations conducted in Narayanganj and Mymensingh. According to RAB-11, the arrested individuals include Commander Ataullah (48) and Second-in-Command Mostak (66). Senior AD Muttajil Islam of RAB HQ Media Wing said that acting on intelligence reports, RAB-11 conducted operations on the nights of March 16 and March 17 in two separate teams. The raids took place in the Bhumipolli residential area of Siddhirganj, Narayanganj, and at Nabin Bazar Garden City in Mymensingh. During the arrests, authorities seized a total of Tk 51,39,100 in cash, along with US dollars, Malaysian ringgit, and other foreign currencies. Top ARSA leader arrested with firearm, bullets in Cox’s Bazar Additionally, ARSA combat uniforms, mobile phones, steel chain knives, wristwatches, and other evidence were recovered from their possession. The arrested individuals have been identified as Ataullah Abu Ammar Jununi alias Ataullah (48), Mostak Ahmed (66), Moniruzzaman (33), Salimullah (27), Mosammat Asmaul Husna (23), Md Hasan (15), Asmat Ullah (24), Md Hasan (43), Mosammat Shahina (22) and Mosammat Senowara (17). The arrestees have been handed over to the police for further legal proceedings, he said.

Police arrested two individuals in connection with the alleged gang rape of a female journalist in Pallabi, Dhaka. The incident occurred on Monday night, starting at approximately 11:30pm, according to Deputy Commissioner (Media) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Talebur Rahman. 5 ‘ARSA members’ among 6 arrested in N’ganj The two arrested suspects have been identified as Enamul Haque (38) and Mohidur Rahman (50). They were picked up at 8am on Tuesday. The victim herself filed the case with police, accusing a total of 16 individuals, with 8 named and 8 unnamed.

The High Court (HC) on Tuesday ordered an investigation into allegations of a large-scale fraud involving K-Telecom, a company linked to the family of Awami League leader Shamim Osman. The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the police and the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) have been directed to conduct the probe and submit their findings within 90 days. The order was issued following the preliminary hearing of a writ petition filed by an affected individual, Sakhawat Hossain. A High Court bench comprising Justice Fatema Najib and Justice Shikdar Mahmudur Raji also issued a rule questioning why the authorities' failure to take action on the petitioner’s request should not be declared illegal. The court has instructed the secretary of the posts and telecommunications ministry, the home secretary, the BTRC chairman, the registrar of joint stock companies, the governor of Bangladesh Bank, the chairman of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), the CID chief, the inspector general of police (IGP), the officer-in-charge (OC) of Banani Police Station, and five members of Shamim Osman’s family to respond to the rule within four weeks. Advocate Mohammad Shishir Monir represented the petitioner in court. The writ petition was filed based on a report published in a national daily on January 14, titled “Tk 126 crore owed to govt: Osman family's unthinkable fraudulence." According to the newspaper report, Sakhawat Hossain, who operates a small travel agency from a rented office in Fakirapool, Dhaka, was falsely listed as a shareholder and Managing Director of K-Telecom, later renamed International Voice Tel Ltd. This company held an International Gateway (IGW) licence, enabling it to handle international call traffic to Bangladesh. Court orders freezing of 31 bank accounts belonging to Hasina, family BTRC records indicate that K-Telecom owes over Tk 126 crore to the government. To evade this liability, BTRC has filed a lawsuit against the company’s owners. However, Sakhawat claims he was unaware of his involvement until BTRC officials, accompanied by local police, visited his ancestral home in Rangunia, Chattogram, on October 18 last year. The company was originally owned by the family of former MP Shamim Osman. His wife, Salma Osman, and son, Imtinan Osman, obtained K-Telecom’s IGW licence in 2012 for a 15-year period. Additionally, Shamim Osman’s brother-in-law Tanvir Ahmed and close associates Joynal Abedin Molla and Jahangir Hossain Molla held stakes in the company. Documents reveal that on August 4, 2013, the Osman family transferred ownership of K-Telecom to three individuals—Sakhawat Hossain, Debabrata Choudhury, a schoolteacher from Sylhet, and Rakibul Islam, an office assistant from Bogura—without their knowledge or consent. All three claim they had no prior knowledge of this transaction and that their names were used fraudulently. BTRC and other sources allege that the Osman family hurriedly transferred ownership to avoid repaying the government dues. The process involved falsified documents and fake photographs. Concerns have been raised over potential collusion between regulatory authorities and the Osman family. Following the fall of the Awami League government on August 05 last year, the Osman family has reportedly gone into hiding. Efforts to obtain comments from Shamim Osman have been unsuccessful. After Awami League came to power in 2009, several IGW licences were issued, making international call termination a lucrative business. Among the beneficiaries were party leaders such as Jahangir Kabir Nanak, Shamsul Haque Tuku, and Shamim Osman. Licence holders were required to pay a fee and share a portion of their revenue with BTRC. However, many companies allegedly failed to make these payments and eventually shut down operations. Court freezes 21 bank accounts linked to P.K. Halder's associates BTRC records indicate that six IGW companies collectively owe the government over Tk 921 crore. The regulator filed a case against K-Telecom on June 22, 2014 to recover its dues. Investigators visited the newly listed 'owners' in 2023 and 2024. Rakibul Islam, one of the individuals fraudulently listed as a shareholder, said he had no idea how he became an owner of K-Telecom. He worked at a garment factory in Savar from 2006 to 2017 and is now employed as an office assistant at a small contracting firm in Bogura. In May 2024, BTRC officials visited his home to verify his identity and financial status. He suspects his National ID card was misused for this fraudulent transaction. He also revealed that his ID had been used previously to open unauthorised mobile financial service (MFS) accounts. Debabrata Choudhury, a government schoolteacher in Sylhet’s Golapganj area, was arrested in February 2023 after BTRC traced his name to the company records. Following protests by his students, he was released on a written undertaking the next day. He has been employed at MC Academy since 2003 and lives in a rented two-room flat with his wife in Sylhet city.