United News of Bangladesh

Members of the joint forces, led by the Bangladesh Army, arrested 278 suspected criminals in nationwide drive between Jan 16 and Jan 22, said the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Friday. The operations were conducted in different parts of the country including the capital by units under various infantry divisions and independent brigades in coordination with other law enforcement agencies. Those arrested include suspected terrorists, drug traders, drug users, robbery gang members, juvenile gang members, thieves and smugglers. ISPR said the joint forces also recovered 22 illegal firearms, 822 rounds of different types of ammunition, seven crude bombs, locally-made weapons and narcotics during the drives. The arrestees were handed over to the respective police stations for interrogation and legal proceedings, it said. Traffic restricted for Khaleda Zia’s janaza: ISPR ISPr it is continuing regular patrols and security operations in different areas to ensure public safety. It also said troops are performi duties in industrial areas to help keep labour unrest under control. The security efforts will continue to help keep the overall law and order situation normal, urging people to inform the nearest Army camp if they notice any suspicious or unusual activities, it added.

Police have arrested an administrative officer of Sharmin Academy in Naya Paltan area in Dhaka over allegations of physically and mentally abusing a four-year-old student. Pabitra Kumar Barua,47, was arrested around 4:30 am on Friday from Mirpur-6 during a special drive.  A video of the incident circulated widely on social media, triggering strong public outrage. . The victim, Muhammad Farz Bin Aman, joined the academy’s play class on November 19, 2025. On January 18, 2026, his mother dropped him at the school around 11:20 am. When she returned in the afternoon, she found the school’s principal Sharmin Jahan and Pabitra holding the child inside an office room. Marriage media fraudster arrested in Dhaka Later, he told his parents that he had been beaten and threatened not to disclose the incident. Police said CCTV footage collected with the help  locals  shows the child being abused. The child sustained injuries to his head, neck and ears and was first taken to Naya Paltan Islami Bank Hospital before being referred to Dhaka Medical College Hospital for further treatment. Following a complaint filed by the child’s mother on January 22 under the Children Act, police registered a case against the principal, her husband and . Pabitra Police said Pabitra was arrested using technological assistance and later sent to court.

Costa Rica has expressed its support for Bangladesh’s upcoming candidacy as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, as the two countries seek to strengthen relations across all potential areas. Mushfiqul Fazal Ansarey, Ambassador of Bangladesh to Mexico with concurrent accreditation to Costa Rica, recently held a “very warm and productive” meeting with Arnoldo André Tinoco, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Costa Rica. “During our discussions, we covered a wide range of bilateral and multilateral issues, including visa waivers for diplomatic and official passport holders,” Ambassador Mushfiqul said in a brief message following the meeting, shared via his verified Facebook page. They also discussed ways to strengthen trade cooperation, particularly through the import of textile and pharmaceutical products from Bangladesh, as well as closer collaboration in international forums, on which they reached a shared understanding. “We also exchanged views on future UN leadership, during which the Foreign Minister sought Bangladesh’s support for the possible candidacy of Rebeca Grynspan, the current Secretary-General of UNCTAD,” the Ambassador said, noting that he deeply appreciated the warm hospitality of Costa Rica. Bangladesh-Costa Rica relations, managed through Bangladesh’s embassy in Mexico (with concurrent accreditation), focus on fostering cultural ties, facilitating consular services such as visas and emergency assistance, and exploring avenues for bilateral cooperation. Recent diplomatic engagements reflect a strong commitment by both sides to strengthening connections despite the geographical distance.

At least 35 people were detained in overnight special raids conducted by the Task Force in the Ershad Nagar and Haji Mazar slum areas of Tongi in Gazipur ahead of the national elections, officials said. During the operations, the authorities also recovered one kilogram of heroin, 347 Yaba tablets, domestic weapons, and three hand grenades, District Administration Executive Magistrate Abu Bakkar Siddique said. The detainees were later handed over to Tongi East and West police stations. They will be formally produced in court later in the afternoon, the magistrate added. Magistrate Siddique, who led the raids, said the operations were carried out with the cooperation of the army, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) personnel, police, and the dog squad. The Task Force raids will continue until the elections to maintain law and order, he added.  

In the last two years, Bangladesh Coast Guard has arrested 57 bandits and recovered 43 firearms in operations across the Sundarbans, the Coast Guard Headquarters said. Of the total, 49 bandits were arrested in 2025 alone, compared to only eight in 2024. During the period, the Coast Guard also seized five hand grenades, 78 indigenous weapons, and a large quantity of ammunition and weapons-making equipment. In 2025, 448 cartridges were recovered, and 52 men and women were rescued from hostage situations. In 2024, the recovered items included five firearms and yaba tablets. The Coast Guard said at least 27 successful operations were conducted in the Sundarbans over the past year. These led to the arrest of active members of around 10 robber groups, including Achabur Bahini, Hannan Bahini, Anarul Bahini, Manju Bahini, and Ranga Bahini. Coast Guard Commander Lt. Col. Siam said patrols and operations have been further strengthened to keep the Sundarbans free of robbers and ensure the safety of tourists and forest dwellers.  

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus has said the February 12 general elections would set a benchmark for all future polls in Bangladesh, stressing the government is fully prepared to hold 'free, fair, and transparent' elections. He said the European Union would deploy a large number of election observers and expressed hope that other development partners would also send observers to monitor the polls. “It will be a festive election. It will set the standard for good elections in the future. Let’s keep our fingers crossed,” the Chief Adviser said when the newly appointed US Ambassador to Bangladesh, Brent Christensen, paid his maiden courtesy call on the Chief Adviser at the State Guest House Jamuna on Thursday. During the meeting, the two sides discussed a wide range of issues, including the upcoming general elections, sweeping labour laws approved by the Interim Government, the planned Bangladesh-US tariff agreement and Rohingya crisis. The Chief Advisor also highlighted key foreign policy initiatives of the Interim Government including Dhaka’s planned bid for ASEAN membership, and the need to revive SAARC as a key platform for regional and economic cooperation in South Asia. Ambassador Christensen, who arrived in Bangladesh earlier this month, said he was looking forward to working with whoever wins the February elections, said the Chief Adviser’s press wing on Friday. The US envoy praised the Interim Government’s efforts to implement vital reforms and commended Professor Yunus’s leadership over the past 18 months.

A farmer in Jaintapur, Sylhet, has suffered nearly Tk 10 lakh in losses after unidentified individuals allegedly vandalized his watermelon field over a past dispute. According to the complaint, Mohammad Ahmad Ali (53) of Daiya village in Darbast Union cultivated watermelons this season on five bighas of land in Bedu Haor, owned by the local mosque. Between around 9 pm on Jan 20 and 8 am on Jan 21, vandals reportedly entered the field and cut down 900 to 1,000 flowering and fruit-bearing watermelon plants. Ahmad Ali filed a written complaint at Jaintapur Model Police Station. Following the incident, the Upazila Department of Agricultural Extension sent a sub-assistant agriculture officer to inspect the site. “I am an ordinary farmer, and this is my first season cultivating watermelon on this land. Overnight, my entire field was destroyed. This is a huge loss for me. I want a proper investigation and exemplary punishment for the culprits,” Ahmad Ali said. Sub-Assistant Agriculture Officer Shoaeb Ahmed confirmed the inspection, noting the total loss of the crop and describing it as a major setback for the farmer. He said Ahmad Ali’s plants had begun flowering and fruiting, with market-ready melons expected by Ramadan, but the vandals destroyed all prospects. Jaintapur Model Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mohammad Mahbubur Rahman Molla said the complaint has been recorded and the incident is being investigated. Efforts are underway to identify and take legal action against the perpetrators.

Two people, including a bus helper, were killed and at least 10 others injured when a mini-bus overturned on the Dhaka–Mymensingh highway in Bhaluka, Mymensingh, Thursday evening. The accident occurred around 7:30 pm near Sultana Garments in Mehrabari area of the upazila. The deceased were identified as bus helper Anik Mia (32), son of Altaf Hossain of Jagannathdia village in Ghior, Manikganj, and Shahjan Siraji (40), son of Nurul Islam of Birunia village in Bhaluka. Police and locals said the highway-bound mini-bus lost control near Sultana Garments and overturned on the road, killing Shahjan Siraji at the spot. The driver, helper, and at least 12 passengers were seriously injured. Bhaluka Fire Service and Veradoba Highway Police rushed the injured to Bhaluka Upazila Health Complex, where doctors declared Anik Mia dead. The critically injured driver was referred to Mymensingh Medical College Hospital, while others are receiving treatment at the Upazila Health Complex. ABM Mehedi Masud, officer-in-charge of Veradoba Highway Police Station, said the bodies were recovered, the mini-bus seized, and legal action would follow before handing the bodies to the families.

A mobile court in Monirampur upazila of Jashore has fined two parliamentary candidates a total of Tk 2.3 lakh for causing traffic congestion and violating the election code of conduct on the first day of campaigning for the 13th national parliamentary election. The court, presided over by Upazila Assistant Commissioner (Land) Mahir Dayan Amin and Executive Magistrate Ashish Kumar Das on Thursday afternoon, imposed Tk 1.5 lakh on independent candidate Shahid Iqbal Hossain (symbol: Kalash) and Tk 80,000 on Gazi Enamul Haque, backed by Jamaat-e-Islami (symbol: Daripalla). Shahid Iqbal’s fine was paid by Monirampur Sadar Union Parishad Chairman Nistar Faruk, while Professor Ahsan Habib Liton paid on behalf of Gazi Enamul Haque. The mobile court said both candidates’ supporters gathered in large numbers in Monirampur Bazar for rallies, blocking the main road and disrupting traffic. At the same time, another campaign procession by Gazi Enamul Haque further worsened the situation. Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Asheq Hasan, returning from a divisional meeting in Khulna on Thursday, witnessed the traffic congestion in Monirampur Bazar. Mahir Dayan Amin said the violations were registered under Section 27(k) of the 2025 election code of conduct, leading to the fines.

A one-year-old girl died after falling into a bucket of water at her home in Chan Mosque area of Kamrangirchar, Dhaka. The incident occurred on Thursday around 8:30 pm. The child, identified as Farzana, was found unconscious and rushed to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, where doctors declared her dead. Farzana’s father, Omar Faruq, a battery-operated auto-rickshaw driver, said the child was playing while he and his wife were talking. Suddenly, I noticed she was missing. After searching, we found her head submerged in a bucket of water in the bathroom. We rushed her to the hospital, but she was declared dead, he said. The family hails from Gendukuri village under Hathibandha police station in Lalmonirhat district and currently rents a home in Kamrangirchar. Farzana was their only daughter. Dhaka Medical College Hospital police camp in-charge, Inspector Md. Faruq said the body has been kept in the hospital morgue and the incident has been reported to the relevant police station.