United News of Bangladesh

The interim government is providing financial and housing assistance to Dipu Chandra Das, who was beaten and burned to death in the Square Masterbari area of Bhaluka Upazila in Mymensingh district on December 18, 2025. Dipu Das was lynched by a mob, beaten severely, and later set on fire after being hung from a tree over allegations that he made an insulting remark. As Dipu Das was the sole breadwinner, the government has assured comprehensive financial assistance to ensure the family’s security, including the construction of a permanent home. 10 arrested for killing Dipu Chandra Das in M’singh The initiative will be implemented under the supervision of the UNO of Tarakanda Upazila, with Tk 25 lakh allocated for house construction through the National Housing Authority, based on the family’s needs, said the Chief Adviser’s press wing on Tuesday. In addition, the government will provide Tk 10 lakh in cash to Dipu Das’s father and wife each, while an FDR worth Tk 5 lakh will be created to secure the future of his child, according to the Chief Adviser’s press wing. Following the directive of Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus, Education Adviser Dr CR Abrar visited the home of the deceased on December 23, 2025, expressing condolences to the family on behalf of the government. Speaking on Tuesday, Education Adviser CR Abrar described the killing as a “brutal and inexcusable crime that has no place in our society.” He said that no amount of state assistance could compensate for the loss of a human life, but emphasized that the government is committed to ensuring justice. “The killing of Dipu Das through the spread of communal hysteria is a shame for the entire nation,” he said, adding that only justice can help overcome this collective disgrace. He said the state respects the peaceful right of people of all religions, ethnicities, and communities to express their opinions - provided it is done with mutual respect. “Even in moments of disagreement, no one has the right to take the law into their own hands,” he added. So far, 12 individuals directly involved in the incident have been arrested, and the investigation is ongoing. The education adviser reaffirmed that all those responsible would be brought to justice through due legal process. Dipu’s killing in Mymensingh a heinous criminal act, reiterates govt

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) on Monday filed a case against eight people over allegations of unethical, discriminatory and illegal allocation of luxury duplex flats of two former Commissioners of the Anti- Corruption Commission (ACC) under the “Grihayan Dhanmondi (Phase-1)” project of the National Housing Authority (NHA). ACC Deputy Director and Public Relations Officer Akhtarul Islam briefed the reporters in the headquarters of the Commission. Case statement explained that the flats—formed by combining D-12 and D-13, and C-12 and C-13—have areas of approximately 4,105.05 square feet and 4,308.68 square feet respectively. These duplex flats were allegedly approved and allocated in favour of Md Jahurul Haque, former retired judge and former commissioner of the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) and the ACC, and Dr Md Mozammel Haque Khan, former senior secretary and former ACC commissioner. ACC files cases against former Bhandaria Upazila chairman, his wife ACC said that through discriminatory and unlawful decisions taken at the 222nd and 225th board meetings of the National Housing Authority, approvals were granted for the construction and allocation of two large duplex flats in the project located at House No-711 (new 63), Road No-13 (new 6/3), Dhanmondi Residential Area. The accused include Delwar Haidar, Chairman of the National Housing Authority;  Shahjahan Ali, Member (Administration and Finance); Dr Md Moinul Haque Ansari, Member (Land and Estate Management); Bijoy Kumar Mondal, Member (Planning, Design and Special Projects); and Kazi Wasif Ahmad, Project Official (Engineering and Coordination), all of the National Housing Authority. Former Registrar General (Senior District Judge) Syed Aminul Islam has also been named in the case for allegedly submitting false affidavits and being involved in the abuse of power. The ACC case said that the accused, while holding important public positions, committed criminal breach of trust, fraud and misconduct by misusing state resources and approving architectural designs in a discriminatory and unlawful manner. The case has been filed under Sections 409, 420 and 109 of the Penal Code, 1860, read with Section 5(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1947. According to the case statement, while serving as public servants, several senior officials allegedly abused their power and acted in collusion to approve and allocate two duplex flats—each nearly double the size of standard flats—in violation of rules and regulations. 10 former senior officials under scanner ACC sought wealth statements from 10 individuals linked to allegations of irregularities in the “Grihayan Dhanmondi (Phase-1)” housing project, suspecting that they may possess undisclosed assets beyond known sources of income. According to ACC officials, there is a possibility that the accused individuals own or control additional properties. As it is not possible to verify the accurate amount and sources of their assets without official disclosures, the Commission has decided to invoke Section 26(1) of the ACC Act, 2004, directing the concerned individuals to submit detailed statements of their assets. The individuals who will be asked to submit wealth statements include Md Jahurul Haque, former retired judge and former commissioner of the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission and the ACC. Also on the list is Eunusur Rahman, former senior secretary of the Financial Institutions Division under the Ministry of Finance, currently serving as chairman of the board of directors of Jamuna Oil Company Limited. Former senior secretary and former ACC commissioner Dr Md Mozammel Haque Khan has also been included, along with MA Kader Sarker, former secretary of the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives. The ACC will further seek asset details from Dr M Aslam Alam, former rector of BPATC, senior secretary to the government and current chairman of the Insurance Development and Regulatory Authority (IDRA), and Aktari Mamtaz, former secretary of the Bangladesh Public Service Commission. Other individuals named are Serajul Huq Khan, former secretary of the Health Services Division under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare; Syed Aminul Islam, former Registrar General (Senior District Judge) and current member of the Judicial Reform Commission; and Anisur Rahman, former senior secretary of the Energy and Mineral Resources Division and former secretary of the Ministry of Religious Affairs, who also served as an election commissioner during the 13th Election Commission led by Habibul Awal. The list also includes SM Golam Faruk, former senior secretary of the Local Government Division, former member of the Public Service Commission, former member of the Bangladesh Planning Commission, and former senior secretary of the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives. The ACC said the move is aimed at ensuring transparency and verifying whether the individuals acquired assets beyond their known and lawful sources of income. ACC approves case against Essential Drugs ex-MD, 5 others

As the country gears up for the national election, Narsingdi is witnessing a surge in the use of illegal firearms, raising serious concerns about public safety and the polls environment. In char areas of the district where fights once meant sticks and locally-made weapons, gunfights have now become common. Locals said criminal gangs armed with looted and smuggled weapons are locked in violent conflicts over political dominance, extortion, drugs and the illegal sand trade. A series of murders and clashes over the past year has deepened public fear and shaken confidence in law enforcement’s ability to keep the peace, police said. Read more: Police recover 9 locally made guns from Fatikchhari in Chattogram Of particular concern is the cache looted from Narsingdi District Jail during July 19, 2024 unrest when the prison was attacked, set ablaze and vandalised. All 826 inmates fled during the chaos and 85 firearms along with 8,015 rounds of ammunition were stolen. Additional Superintendent of Police (Crime) Sujan Chandra Sarker said over the past one and a half years, 58 of those weapons have been recovered but 27 firearms and 6,336 rounds of ammunition are still missing. The unrecovered cache includes China and BD rifles as well as bore shotguns now believed to be circulating in the district’s criminal underworld, he said. “These weapons are being used in political rivalries, extortion, drug trafficking and control over illegal sand business,” said another senior police officer requesting anonymity. “We have stepped up intelligence operations, but the network behind the arms trade is complex and well-organised,” he added. Police said in the last year alone, they recovered 42 firearms and 200 rounds of ammunition in different raids, filed 27 regular cases and arrested 56 people. Read more: 10 Indian air guns recovered from Sylhet’s Jaintapur The dangers rose further last December when Sharif Osman Hadi, an independent candidate for Dhaka-8 and spokesperson of Inqilab Moncho, was shot dead in the capital’s Paltan area. Police later said the weapon used in the killing was recovered from Narsingdi town. Over the past year, the district recorded 94 murders, 17 robberies, 184 thefts, 85 rape or gang rape cases and 43 incidents of mugging, according to police record. Although 94 murder cases were filed most of the accused remain at large. The residents of Banshgari and Saidabad villages in Raipura upazila said armed criminals move around openly, spreading fear. Two retired army sergeants are alleged to be training local gangs in firearms use. Both are named in multiple cases, including murder. “People here live in constant fear. We see men with guns walking in the open. No one dares to protest” said a shopkeeper in Banshgari. Following a recent visit by the Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Jahangir Alam, special drives were ordered in the char areas. In two such drives, law enforcers recovered several illegal weapons and arrested a number of suspects, said Additional Superintendent of Police (Crime) Sujan Chandra. Many believe policing efforts have been hampered by instability in leadership. Three superintendents of police were transferred in the past five months, causing what locals describe as a temporary disruption in law enforcement activities. One killed, 10 injured in clash over supremacy in Narsingdi Since taking charge, new superintendent of police Md Abdullah Al-Faruk has launched special drives against illegal arms and drugs. “The election will only be credible if people feel safe to go to the polling centres,” said a local rights activist. “Recovering every single looted weapon must be the top priority. Otherwise, fear will rule the ballot,” he added.

Detective Branch (DB) members have arrested eight members of a Telegram-based fraud syndicate including five Chinese nationals  in separate raids in the capital’s Bashundhara and Uttara West areas. The arrestees are Chen Ling Feng, Zeng Kong, Zeng Changqiang, Wen Jian Qiu, Huang Zheng Jiang, Mohammad Zakaria (26), Niaz Masum (20) and Kamrul Hasan alias Hasan Joy (38). During the drives, DB police recovered 51,251 SIM cards of different mobile operators, 51 mobile phones and equipment of 21 VoIP gateways. Deputy Commissioner Hasan Mohammad Naser Rikabdar of the DB’s Cyber and Special Crime (North) Division disclosed the information at a press briefing held at the DMP Media Centre on Tuesday morning by. He said the Web-Based Crime Investigation Team of the DB Cyber and Special Crime (North) Division traced the syndicate while probing allegations of online job scams, financial fraud through Telegram groups and other cybercrimes. Following the investigation, the DB members conducted a drive in Bashundhara Residential Area on Thursday and arrested Niaz Masum and Kamrul Hasan Joy. From their possession, police recovered 14 VoIP gateway devices used for online fraud, 51,067 SIM cards of various operators, four mobile phones, two CPUs and a laptop. Read More: Over 700 arrested in Sylhet’s 'Operation Devil Hunt' to tackle crime Police later received information about similar fraud networks operating in other parts of the capital. Acting on the intelligence, the DB carried out another drive on Monday in Sector 9 of Uttara West Police Station area and arrested six people including five foreign nationals. During that operation, seven illegal VoIP gateway devices, 47 mobile phones, 184 SIM cards and five laptops were seized. According to DB cyber officials, the arrestees used various tactics to defraud people including offering fake jobs, promising high returns on investments and advertising essential commodities at unusually low prices. Among the arrestees, Niaz Masum and Kamrul Hasan Joy have already been sent to court, while legal proceedings against the others are underway, police said.

A Dhaka court has fixed January 15 for a hearing on the acceptance of charges submitted in the murder case of Inqilab Moncho spokesperson Sharif Osman bin Hadi. Dhaka Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Jashita Islam set the date on Monday (January 12, 2026) after the plaintiff, Inqilab Moncho member secretary Abdullah Al Jaber, sought additional time to review the chargesheet submitted by the Detective Branch (DB) of police. Read more: Hadi murder: Court orders freezing of 53 bank accounts of Faisal Earlier on Sunday, three lawyers were appointed on behalf of the plaintiff. They are Abdus Sobhan Tarafdar, Barrister SM Mainul Karim, and Assistant Attorney General Mustafizur Rahman Mukul. On January 6, DB Inspector Faisal Ahmed, the investigating officer of the case, submitted charges against 17 accused. Among the main accused named in the chargesheet are Faisal Karim Masud alias Daud, his associate Alamgir Hossain, Dhaka Metropolitan North Jubo League organising secretary and former ward councillor Taizul Islam Chowdhury Bappi, Philip Snal Philips, Mukti Akter, and Faisal’s sister Jasmine Akter. They are currently absconding. The remaining 11 accused are now in custody. They include Faisal Karim Masud’s father Md Humayun Kabir, mother Mst Hasi Begum, wife Saheda Parvin Samia, friend Maria Akter Lima, brother-in-law Wahid Ahmed Shipu, rent-a-car businessman Mufti Md Nuruzzaman Nomani alias Ujjwal, close associate Md Kabir, Sibion Dew, Sanjoy Chisim, Md Aminul Islam alias Raju, and Md Faisal, who was arrested with weapons in Narsingdi. The investigating officer has also sought arrest warrants against the six absconding accused. Sharif Osman Bin Hadi, who was also running for the Dhaka-8 constituency in the coming election, was shot by assailants on a motorcycle around 2:30pm on December 12 in the Box Culvert Road area of Paltan, sustaining bullet wounds to the head and below his right ear. Read more: DU Syndicate recommends renaming Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Hall after Shaheed Osman Hadi He was first taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital and later shifted to Evercare Hospital. As his condition worsened, he was flown to Singapore by air ambulance on December 15 for advanced treatment, where he died on December 18.

A Dhaka court on Monday (January 12, 2026) placed three accused on a seven-day remand in connection with the murder of Swechchhasebak Dal leader Azizur Rahman Musabbir on January 7. Dhaka Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Jashita Islam passed the order when DB inspector Aminul, produced the trio -- Md Billal, Md Abdul Kadir and Md Riaz-- before the court with a seven-day remand prayer. Read more: Swechchhasebak Dal gives 24-hour ultimatum to arrest Musabbir’s killers Another accused in the case identified as Jinnah, who was involved in shooting Musabbir, gave a confessional statement before the court under section 164. Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Sarah Farzana Haque recorded the statement. According to the case statement, Azizur Rahman Musabbir, former member secretary of BNP’s Dhaka North unit, was shot by assailants on January 7. He was rushed to hospital where doctors declared him dead. Suraiya Begum, wife of Musabbir, later filed a murder case with Tejgaon Police Station. Read more: Sunamganj witnesses protest, rally over killing of Musabbir

Two policemen of Nabinagar Police Station in Brahmanbaria district have been suspended over bribery charges. The punitive action was taken against Sub-Inspector Zahid Ahsan and Constable Abu Kawsar on Friday night, said Additional Superintendent of Police (Crime) Obaidur Rahman. An allegation has been brought against the two policemen that they intercepted a hemp-laden pickup on Nabinagar-Salimganj road at Kanabari in the upazila and released it after taking money from the vehicle. Read More: Three injured in Brahmanbaria clash over local dominance The video footage of the incident went viral on social media. Based on information, the Superintendent of Police, instructed the Officer-in-Charge of Nabinagar Police Station to conduct an investigation and submit a report to the police superintendent’s office. Rafiqul Islam, officer-in-charge of Nabinagar Police Station, said that after the preliminary investigation they found evidence supporting the allegations brought against the two policemen. The report was submitted on Friday.

A daring jewellery heist in Dhaka’s Mohammadpur neighbourhood has reignited concerns over worsening public security in one of the capital’s most crime-prone areas, where police say organised gangs and repeat offenders are operating with increasing confidence. Police said burglars early Monday (January 05, 2026) broke into New Rana Jewellers at Chandrima Bazar, escaping with 70 bhori of gold, 600 bhori of silver and Tk 4 lakh in cash, according to police and the shop owner. The estimated value of the stolen gold was said to be Tk 1.54 crore, while the silver is valued at around Tk 21.6 lakh. Elderly woman killed, valuables looted in Bogura burglary

A murder case has been filed against a woman who used to work as a domestic help in the Mohammadpur flat where a woman and her daughter were found dead on Monday (December 08, 2025). AZM Azizul Islam, husband of the deceased woman and father of the girl, filed the case with Mohammadpur Police Station against their domestic aide Aysha. The accused has not been arrested yet. Read more: Motives behind Mohammadpur mother-daughter murders still unclear: Police Assistant Commissioner (Mohammadpur Zone) of DMP's Tejgaon Division Abdullah Al Mamun said an investigation is underway over the murder of Layla Afroz, 48, and her daughter Nafisa Binte Aziz, 15. According to the case statement, the accused, Ayesha, started working as a part-time domestic help at the flat four days earlier. Azizul Islam said he found his wife dead with multiple cut injuries and his daughter critically injured when he returned home around 11am on Monday. His daughter was taken to Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital where she was declared dead. Read more: Mohammadpur double murder: Maid disguised herself in victim’s school uniform to flee The complainant said CCTV footage showed the accused entering the flat at 7:51am and leaving around 9:35am with valuables, leading him to believe she killed the two during that period.

As Bangladesh approaches its national elections scheduled for February 2025, crime statistics indicate a rise in criminal incidents across the country, but police insist that the apparent deterioration in law and order does not reflect the real situation. A senior official at the Police Headquarters, preferring not to be named, said the force is “fully prepared” to ensure nationwide security during the polls. He cautioned that comparisons between past and present crime figures could be misleading. “Earlier, many crime incidents were not recorded at local police stations. Now, almost every incident is being documented. So when you compare the two periods, it may seem like crime has increased. But in reality, law and order is better in many areas than before,” he said. The official also highlighted the role of social media in timely case registration. “In the past, cases were often not recorded properly and on time. Now, when an incident occurs, social media becomes active instantly, compelling the police to register cases promptly and accurately,” he added. Crime Trends According to police headquarters statistics, October saw 319 murders nationwide, slightly up from 297 in September but just below 321 cases in August. Dacoity cases rose to 56 from 50 the previous month, while robbery increased to 180 from 169. Burglary incidents remained high at 301, compared with 295 in September and 311 in August. Kidnappings jumped to 110 in October, up from 96 in September and 90 in August. Theft incidents also increased, standing at 931 compared with 888 in September and 956 in August. These figures indicate that criminal activity continues to affect both urban and rural areas. Amir Khosru alleges plot to delay 13th parliamentary polls Particularly concerning is the persistently high number of crimes against women and children, with 1,985 incidents recorded in October, virtually unchanged from 1,904 in September and 1,904 in August. Police sources noted that violent and organised crimes are not only frequent but also increasingly sophisticated, with criminal syndicates reportedly impersonating law-enforcement officers to commit robberies and abductions. Election Preparedness Police officials stressed extensive preparations for the upcoming polls. “A total of 150,000 police personnel are being trained in phases. Training for around 50,000 members has already been completed. The rest will finish on schedule,” a Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) official said. The procurement of body-worn cameras is underway, expected to be purchased through the Direct Procurement Method (DPM) due to time constraints. “We expect to be fully ready to carry out our responsibilities during the polls,” the official added. Home Adviser Lieutenant General (retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury described the law-and-order situation as “satisfactory,” noting that while it is “not excellent, it’s not bad either.” Speaking after a meeting with field-level law enforcement officials at Barishal Police Lines, he emphasised that a fair election relies not only on law enforcement but also on the Election Commission and political parties. Ahead of the elections, Police Headquarters has instructed the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Special Branch (SB), and DMP to submit lists of honest, neutral, and administratively efficient police inspectors for appointment as officers-in-charge (OCs) at police stations across the country. The directive, issued on 16 November by the Personnel Management–2 wing of PHQ, states that deploying “competent, impartial and professionally credible” police station chiefs is crucial to ensuring a peaceful and fair parliamentary election. Officials said the neutrality of OCs will play a vital role in maintaining law and order during the election period. Govt reviewing body camera purchase plan: Finance Adviser