United News of Bangladesh

Hallmark Group Managing Director (MD) Md. Tanvir Mahmud, who had been serving a jail term in connection with the Hallmark loan scam, died while undergoing treatment at Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) on Saturday night (November 29). He was 55. AIG (Development) of the Prisons Department Md. Jannat-ul Farhad confirmed that Tanvir Mahmud passed away around 10:30 pm. Tanvir had been imprisoned in cases filed with Ramna Police Station and Kafrul Police Station. Read more: HC rejects Hallmark chairperson’s bail plea in graft case Prison authorities said he had been suffering from multiple health complications, including chronic kidney disease (CKD), hypertension, diabetes, benign prostatic enlargement (BEP), bronchial asthma, chronic pancreatitis, vomiting, and urinary retention. As his condition deteriorated, he was taken from Dhaka Central Jail to DMCH at 1:35 pm on Saturday and admitted around 4 pm. He was placed in Bed No. 19 of ward number 602 under medical supervision. His health worsened rapidly after admission, and doctors later declared him dead at around 10:30 pm, the prison official said. Read more: Dhaka court sentences 9 including Hallmark MD Tanvir, wife to life imprisonment

Jamaat-e-Islami Assistant Secretary General ATM Azharul Islam, who was acquitted by the Appellate Division from a death sentence in a war crimes case, has been released from jail. According to Dhaka Central Jail’s Jailer AKM Masum, the Jamaat leader walked free at 9:05am on Wednesday, after verification of the release order and other relevant documents. Azharul was warmly received by party leaders and activists at the jail gate, marking the end of nearly 13 years in prison. This is the first exoneration of a war crimes convict through a review petition since the fall of the Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League government on August 5 last year. On Tuesday, a seven-member full bench of the Appellate Division, headed by Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed, delivered the verdict in Azharul’s favour after hearing his second appeal. Earlier, on April 22, the court had stayed the hearing of his review petition until May 6. SC acquits Jamaat leader Azharul in crimes against humanity case ATM Azharul Islam was arrested on August 22, 2012, from his Moghbazar residence in Dhaka on charges of war crimes. Since then, he had been in custody. He faced nine charges of crimes against humanity, including the killing of 1,256 people, the abduction of 17 individuals, and the rape of 13 women during the 1971 Liberation War in the Rangpur region. He was also accused of torturing civilians, setting fire to hundreds of homes, and committing other atrocities. The International Crimes Tribunal sentenced him to death on December 30, 2014, in five of the nine charges. Azharul filed a petition with the Appellate Division on January 28, 2015, maintaining his innocence. Later, on July 19, 2020, he submitted a review petition. SC sets May 27 for delivering judgment on Azharul’s appeal Following the appeal hearing, a bench led by then-Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain upheld the death penalty in a verdict delivered on October 23, 2019. The full text of that verdict was released on March 15, 2020, after which ATM Azharul Islam filed his final review petition.

Kaaktaal, the Dhaka-based experimental band acclaimed for its poetic lyrics and socially driven music, has officially announced its disbandment on Saturday night, bringing an end to its four-year journey in the country's independent and mainstream music scene. The announcement was made through a statement shared on the band’s verified social media pages, where the members expressed their appreciation to fans for their unwavering support. “We had a fulfilling journey of nearly four years, made possible by all of you who listened and stood by us. It was an experience that exceeded our expectations, and we hope to have left a mark in your memories,” the statement reads. “But the journey ends here, as it no longer brings peace — which was our core reason for making music. We hope both you and we continue to seek and find peace. Godspeed,” the band stated. Established in 2021, it introduced music as an expressive medium for inmates at Dhaka Central Jail. The founding members — Asif Iqbal (also known as AiA Lemonsky), Nazm Anwr, and Alex Joven — were later joined by Soumya Anindya Riddho and Antar, forming the core lineup. Lights, camera, glitter ball: The Eurovision Song Contest reaches its grand final Known for their introspective songwriting and minimalistic musical arrangements, Kaaktaal carved out a space for emotionally resonant, grassroots-inspired music. Their work attracted a dedicated listenership, drawn to the band's authenticity and socially conscious themes. During its critically acclaimed four-years-long journey, the band released six albums, including the "Kaaktaal Raw" series and "Karagarer Gaan (Karagar Versions)," reflecting their unique origins and evolving artistic vision. Among their most recognized tracks were “Rokto Gorom Matha Thanda,” released during the student-led movements against discrimination, as well as “Ei Poth Cholar Gaan” and “Shikkhar Jobanbondi.”  

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir turned 77 on Friday with birthday greetings by the family members at Dhaka Central Jail in Keraniganj. Fakhrul’s wife Rahat Ara Begum along with his younger daughter  Mirza Safaruh and sister Najma Kalam met him at the central jail at noon and greeted him with happy birthday there, said BNP media cell member Sayrul Kabir Khan. He said the family members took Mirza Fakhrul's favourite food and a cake to the jail on his birthday. They spent around 45 minutes with the BNP leader in the jail. Neither parliament nor current govt was formed with people’s mandate: Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan Contacted, Rahat Ara said they became upset after meeting Fakhrul as his health condition is not good. “He lost five kg of weight as he is sick. So I feel sad to see him in such poor health condition,” she said. Fakhrul’s wife urged the country’s people to pray for her ailing husband. Fakhul has been staying in jail since he was arrested on October 29, a day after violent clashes between the police and BNP leaders and activists centring the party’s grand rally in the capital’s Nayapaltan area. BNP, like-minded parties set to hold black-flag processions Friday, Saturday Fakhrul was born on January 26, 1948 in Thakurgaon. His father late Mirza Ruhul Amin was a Muslim League leader and a minister of the Pakistan government. Fakhrul, who had involvement with left politics during his student life, completed his graduation and post-graduation from Dhaka University's Economics department. Later, he took up teaching as his profession through the BCS examination. Fakhrul quit teaching during the 80s and joined politics formally. He was elected MP from Thakurgaon-1 with BNP's ticket in 2001 and then made a state minister. He was also elected MP from Bogura-6 seat in the 11th parliamentary election. But he did not take oath yet as the BNP rejected the election results. New education policy, school curriculum are anti-national: Rizvi  Fakhrul was made acting secretary general of BNP after the death of the party's then-secretary general. Khandaker Delwar Hossain, in 2011. He was given the full charge of the party's secretary general position five years later in 2016.

BNP leaders Abdus Salam and Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Annie were freed from jail on bail on Wednesday evening. They walked out of Dhaka Central Jail in Keraniganj around 6 pm after the bail order reached the jail authorities, said BNP’s media cell member Sayrul Kabir Khan. Read more: Nayapaltan clash: BNP’s Salam, Annie get 6-month interim bail Leaders and activists of BNP's Dhaka Metropolitan South received them at the jail gate. On January 16, the High Court granted BNP's Dhaka Metropolitan South convener Abdus Salam and publication secretary Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Annie six months’ interim bail in a case over the clash between police and the party activists in the capital’s Nayapaltan. On December 7 last year, a Swechchasebak Dal leader was killed and around 50 others were injured in a clash between police and the BNP activists in front of the party’s Nayapaltan central office, ahead of its December 10 rally. Police arrested 470 BNP activists and leaders in connection with the clash and they were sued in two cases filed with Paltan and Motijheel police stations. Read more: Nayapaltan clash: 445 BNP activists including Rizvi, Annie sent to jail, 2 get bail Abdus Salam and Annie were arrested on the same day following the clash. A Dhaka court sent 445 BNP leaders and activists including Annie and Salam to jail in two cases filed over the violence and order to give division in jail to the five leaders on the following day. Party’s Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, Chairperson’s Special Assistant Shimul Biswash, Joint Secretary General Khairul Kabir Khokon, former organizational secretary Fazlul Haque Milon, Co-Organisational Secretary Selimuzzaman, are among others who were sent to jail in the case.

An inmate of Dhaka Central Jail in Keraniganj died at Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) on Tuesday morning. The deceased was identified as Anowar Hossain alias Khabir Uddin, 55, son of Asiul Haq in Al Amin village of Hatia upazila of Noakhali district. Read:Physician who set herself on fire dies at DMCH He was taken to the hospital after falling ill and was declared dead around 10:30am, said Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) police outpost in-charge Md Bacchu Mia. "The body was kept at the hospital morgue for an autopsy," he added. "The deceased was incarcerated in a drug case."

BNP leader Ishraque Hossain was freed from jail on Tuesday evening, hours after he was granted bail in an arson attack case. He walked out of Dhaka Central Jail in Keraniganj around 6:15pm as the bail order reached the jail authorities, said jail sources. Also read:BNP leader Ishraque gets bail BNP’s Dhaka south city unit leaders and activists received him at the jail gate. Earlier in the day, Ishraque secured bail, six days after he was arrested and jailed in an arson attack case. Dhaka Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Tofazzal Hossain passed the order on a bond of Tk 5,000. Ishraque’s lawyer Taherul Islam Tawhid said his client was out of the country on the day of incident of torching a vehicle for which he was arrested. He said the BNP leader was granted bail as he submitted the proof before the court in this regard. Earlier on April 6, police arrested Ishraque Hossain, while he along with Jatiyatabadi Sramik Dal leaders was distributing leaflets highlighting the Awami League government’s failure in controlling the prices of daily essentials and against its alleged corruption. Police said they arrested Ishraque, son of former Dhaka city mayor Sadeque Hossain Khoka, as an arrest warrant was pending against him in a case filed over setting a car on fire near the Bangladesh Bank building in the capital in 2020. Ishraque was BNP’s mayoral candidate in the last Dhaka South City Corporation elections. An FIR was lodged against 42 people in connection with vandalising and torching a vehicle on November 12, 2020. Ishraque was made an accused in the case. Also read: BNP leader Ishraque lands in jail On November 18, 2020, the BNP leader secured bail from the High Court in the case. On January 5, 2021, he surrendered before a lower court after completion of his bail period, granted by the High Court and sought bail again in the case. On August 18, 2021, the court issued a warrant for the arrest of Ishraque after rejecting his bail petition in the case.

Bangladesh is observing Jail Killing Day on Wednesday to mark the assassination of four national leaders inside Dhaka Central Jail. The ruling Awami League and its associate bodies paid tributes to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the four national leaders who were killed in state custody on this day way back in 1975. Awami League leaders and supporters paid homage by laying wreaths at the portrait of Bangabandhu in front of Bangabandhu Bhaban on a limited scale following Covid-safety protocols. Tributes were also paid to the four national leaders -- Syed Nazrul Islam, Tajuddin Ahmed, Captain Mansur Ali and AHM Qamruzzaman.  Read:Jail Killing Day to be observed Wednesday The ruling party has arranged a discussion at its central office in Bangabandhu Avenue at 11 am.

Photojournalist Shafiqul Islam Kajol has been freed from Dhaka Central Jail in Keraniganj.

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal on Tuesday said the fugitives killers of four national leaders will be brought back home and executed.   “The verdict in the killing case has been executed partially while the work to bring back the fugitive convicts is underway. They will be brought back one by one  and executed ,” he said.