United News of Bangladesh

Mahdi Hasan, member secretary of the Habiganj district unit of Students Against Discrimination (SAD), was granted bail on Sunday (January 04, 2026) after appearing before the Chief Judicial Magistrate Court in Habiganj. Hasan was arrested on Saturday evening (January 03, 2026) by the Detective Branch (DB) from a house in Shayestaganj and later handed over to Habiganj police. Authorities did not disclose the reason for his arrest when contacted by journalists. His lawyer, Abdul Malek Hriday, filed a bail petition, which the court approved. SAD demands unconditional release of Mahdi Hasan by tonight According to police, an FIR (No. 1/26) was filed at Shayestaganj Police Station accusing Hasan of obstructing government work through illegal assembly. The arrest triggered protests by SAD leaders and activists outside the police station in Habiganj and at Shahbagh in Dhaka, demanding his immediate release. Police, army personnel and members of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) were deployed to maintain law and order. Hasan was taken to court early Sunday morning, where the magistrate granted him bail. SAD Habiganj Member Secretary detained after video goes viral The incident followed the detention of Enamul Hasan Nayan, vice-president of Shayestaganj Sadar Union Chhatra League, by police late Thursday night over allegations of involvement with the banned Chhatra League. After Nayan’s detention, SAD leaders and activists laid siege to Shayestaganj Police Station on Friday, demanding his release. A group led by Mahdi Hasan reportedly entered the office of the officer-in-charge (OC) and argued with police officials. A video of the incident later went viral on Facebook, showing Mahdi making controversial remarks while addressing the OC, which drew widespread criticism. In the video, Mahdi is heard saying, “We burned down Baniachong police station, and we set SI Santosh on fire. SAD issues show-cause notice to Habiganj leader over unwarranted statements at police station From that position, how dare you say, ‘So what if he is an SAD activist?’ Did so many of our brothers come here for nothing? Through the July movement, we formed the government. In this context, you are part of our administration. Yet you have arrested our people.” Following mediation by Additional Superintendent of Police (Habiganj Sadar Circle) Shahidul Islam, Nayan was released around 3:30 pm on Friday. Mahdi Hasan later acknowledged receiving a show-cause notice, claiming his remarks were a 'slip of the tongue'.

The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court on Wednesday (12th November 2025) stayed the High Court’s order granting bail to former Narayanganj City Corporation (NCC) mayor Selina Hayat Ivy in five cases, including one over murder. The chamber Judge of the Appellate Division Justice Md Rezaul Haque passed the order after hearing a petition filed by the state. Additional Attorney General Barrister Anik R Haque represented the state while Barrister Sara Hossain stood for Ivy. Read more: Ivy put on another two-day remand in murder case The High Court on November 9, granted bail to Ivy in five separate cases including a murder case. Later, a petition was filed challenging the HC order. On July 20 last year, Minarul Islam, a garment worker, was shot dead during the July movement in Adamzi area of Narayanganj district. Nazmul Haque, brother of Minarul, filed a case against 132 people, including Ivy, with Siddhirganj Police Station on September 23, 2024. Police arrested Ivy from her Deubhog residence in Narayanganj on May 9, 2025 in connection with the murder of Minarul Islam. Later, she was sent to jail. Ex-N’ganj mayor Selina Hayat Ivy gets bail in 5 cases Ivy was wanted in six cases filed with Siddhirganj and Fatullah police stations.

The High Court on Sunday granted bail to former mayor of Narayanganj City Corporation (NCC) Selina Hayat Ivy in five separate cases including a murder case. The HC bench of Justice ASM Abdul Mobin and Justice Md Sagir Hossain passed the order after hearing five separate petitions. Barrister Sara Hossain and Advocate SM Hridoy Rahman stood for Ivy and Deputy Attorney General Sultana Akter Rubi represented the state. Advocate SM Hridoy Rahman said to his knowledge, there is no legal bar to release his client from prison as she secured bail from all five cases. On July 20 last year, Minarul Islam, a garment worker, was shot dead during the July movement in Adamzi area of Narayanganj district. Nazmul Haque, brother of Minarul, filed a case against 132 people including Ivy with Siddhirganj Police Station on September 23, 2024. Police arrested Ivy from her residence on May 9, 2025 in connection with the murder of Minarul Islam. Ivy is wanted in six cases filed with Siddhirganj and Fatullah Police Stations.

A Dhaka court on Sunday granted bail to Azizur Rahman, a rickshawpuller who was detained from Dhanmondi 32 area on August 15, and shown arrested in an attempted murder case. Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate AM Azharul Islam passed the order on bond of Tk 1,000 when Azizur’s lawyer Advocate Farzana Yeasmin Rakhi filed a petition seeking bail for her client. Earlier on Saturday, a court sent Azizur to jail. Azizur was arrested in a case filed in an attempted murder case during the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement in 2024. Detained rickshaw-puller not shown arrested in murder case: DMP Md Ariful Islam filed a case with Dhanmondi Police Station on April 2. According to the case statement, Ariful participated in the anti-discrimination student movement on August 4, 2024. Ariful suffered bullet injuries in an attack carried out by the leaders and activists of Awami League when he along with the protesters were heading towards Science Lab from New Market area of the capital on that day. Azizur Rahman, 27, a rickshaw puller and a resident of Jhenaidah Sadar upazila, was beaten by a mob at Dhanmondi 32 in the capital on Friday afternoon (Aug 15) while attempting to pay tribute to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on his death anniversary. He had come to the area with a bouquet of flowers in hand. During interrogation, Azizur said that he was not affiliated with any political party and had come solely out of respect for Bangabandhu.    

A Dhaka court on Monday granted bail to model and chairperson of Miss Bangladesh Foundation Meghna Alam in a fraud and extortion case filed with Dhanmondi police station. Dhaka Additional chief Metropolitan Magistrate Md Sanaullah passed the order after hearing a bail petition filed by Meghna’s counsel. Earlier on April 17, Meghna Alam was shown arrested in a fraud case filed with Dhanmondi police station. Judge of Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Court Masum Mia passed the order after the investigation officer (IO) of the case produced her before the court with a plea for showing her arrested. BFIU summons model Meghna Alam's bank accounts The court also placed Dewan Samir, an aide of the model, on a five-day remand after showing him arrested in the same case. According to the case statement, Megna and Samir along with two to three unidentified people were active members of a ‘fraud gang’. Allegations have been brought against them that they were involved in aluring foreign diplomats and representatives stationed in Bangladesh, as well as wealthy local businessmen, into romantic affairs through attractive women. Once involved, they applied different tactics to tarnish their reputation in order to extort money through engaged them into illicit relationships and subsequently blackmailed using various deceptive methods. It is also mentioned that Samir, CEO of a business entity called Kawaii Group and the owner of a manpower company named Sanjana International, operated a business entity named MirAI International Event Management Ltd. He allegedly appointed various attractive and smart women as brand ambassadors of the company to facilitate easy access to foreign diplomats and wealthy businessmen. As part of a scheme to make his manpower and other businesses more profitable, Samir, with the help of his co-accused and driven by dishonest intentions, would target foreign diplomats and blackmail them. Using these women as intermediaries, he would extort large sums of money from the victims under threat of reputational harm. On April 9, DB picked up Meghna from her residence in Bashundhara residential area of Dhaka and later taken into custody the following day for 30 days, triggering criticism over the matter. The DB claimed that she was arrested under Special Power Act-1974. Ahead of the arrest, Meghna in a Facebook live alleged that people posing them as police personnel were trying to enter her house breaking open its door. Amid the severe criticism, Law Adviser Prof Asif Nazrul admitted that the way she got arrested was not appropriate. Centering the matter, DB Chief Rezaul Karim Mallick was removed from his position. On April 13, the High Court issued a rule asking the government to explain as to why the arrest of model Meghna Alam should not be declared illegal.  

Shariful Islam Shehzad, who has been in the spotlight since January for allegedly attacking actor Saif Ali Khan during a robbery attempt at his Bandra residence, has applied for bail in the Mumbai Sessions Court. The application, filed by his lawyer Ajay Gawali, argues that Islam is innocent and the charges against him are fabricated. The plea states that the FIR is entirely false, claiming that a baseless case has been lodged against him. It emphasizes that Islam has fully cooperated with the investigation. His lawyer also points out that crucial evidence, such as CCTV footage and call records, has already been gathered by the prosecution, and there is no risk of him tampering with evidence or influencing witnesses. Islam is accused of breaking into Khan's house on January 16, 2024, with the intent to rob, during which he allegedly attacked the actor and his staff member, Gita, with a wooden weapon and a hexa blade. Khan suffered severe injuries, with part of the weapon lodged in his back, requiring multiple surgeries. He was hospitalized for five days before being discharged on January 21. Mumbai Police arrest Saif Ali Khan’s attacker using facial recognition technology The case was filed by Khan's staff member, Elima Philip, and is currently being heard in Bandra Magistrate Court. Once the Bandra Police files the chargesheet, the case will be transferred to the Mumbai Sessions Court for trial. The bail application further argues that continuing Islam's detention serves no purpose other than pre-trial punishment. "The applicant has cooperated with the investigation. Thus, further detention will serve no useful purpose except pre-trial punishment," the plea asserts. The Bandra Police have not yet filed the chargesheet, and the court is expected to hear Islam's bail request soon. Source: India Today

A Dhaka court on Monday granted bail to film actress Pori Moni and her costume designer Junayed Karim Jimmy alias Jimmy in a case over threat and attempt to murder businessman Nasir Uddin Mahmud. Judge of Dhaka Chief Judicial Magistrate Mohammad Junaid approved it after the actress and the costume designer surrendered before it with a plea for bail, said Pori Moni’s lawyer Nilanjana Rifat Surovi who submitted the bail prayer. Earlier on Sunday, the court issued arrest warrants for Pori Moni and Jimmy as the two were absent while the court framed charges against them. However, the duo had been on bail in the case before the arrest warrant was issued. According to the case statement, Pori Moni and his accomplices entered the Boat Club after 12:00 pm on June 9, 2021, and insisted the the plaintiff gives them a free bottle of alcohol. Read: Pori Moni indicted, faces arrest warrant As the plaintiff did not agree to this, Pori Moni insulted the plaintiff and threw a serving glass at him and also threw the mobile phone in his hand. Nasir Uddin was injured in the head and chest. On July 6 in 2022, Nasir filed the case bringing the allegations of threatening and attempting to murder him. Later, Pori Moni filed a case against Nasir and two others accused of attempted rape and murder at Savar police station. Md Monir Hossain, investigation officer of Nasir's case and also a Police Bureau of Investigation official, submitted the chargesheet against the duo with Dhaka's Senior Judicial Magistrate Court. The evidence of assault and threat was found during the investigation, reads the chargesheet.

Over 300 members of Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) are being freed  on bail after 16 years in jails in an explosive case over the BDR carnage at Dhaka’s Pilkhana. The prisoners started coming out of Dhaka Central Jail in Keraniganj and Kashimpur Central Jail in Gazipur on Thursday morning. Of them, 178 BDR members are set to be freed from Dhaka Central Jail and 126 from Kashimpur Central Jail. Earlier on Sunday, Judge of Dhaka Special Tribunal-1 Md Ibrahim Mia granted the bail to the BDR members in the explosive case. The court was set up temporarily inside the Dhaka Central Jail. On Tuesday, the jail authorities disclosed the list of the convicts who secured bail. The necessary documents for the bail were sent to both jails on Wednesday. After completing legal procedures, the Dhaka Central Jail authority started releasing 178 prisoners. The rest will be freed later, said jailer AKM Masud. The authority of Kashimpur Central Jail has released 38 inmates till 1am on Thursday. Read: Awami League orchestrated BDR massacre for political gain: Shahidul Alam

A Cox’s Bazar court on Thursday granted bail to a seventh grader who was picked up ‘along with arms’ instead of his father on November 26. Cox’s Bazar Woman and Child Repression Prevention Tribunal Judge Zillur Rahman granted bail to Tousiful Karim Rafi, 14, a class VII student of Teknaf Hnila High School, after his 9 days of imprisonment. Rafi’s lawyer Ayasul Rahman said the court granted him bail considering his age. Ex-minister Sujan denied bail in murder case On November 26, a team of Teknaf Model Police Station led by Officer-in-Charge Gias Uddin, conducted a drive at the house of Rezaul Karim, a panel chairman of Hnila Union Parishad but he managed to flee. Locals said they picked up Rafi failing to arrest his father. Police claimed they detained Rafi along with arms.

A Dhaka court on Sunday sent former independent lawmaker Barrister Syed Sayedul Haque Suman to jail after his bail was denied on completion of five-day remand in a case over an attempt to murder. The court of Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Md Sefatuallh passed the order. Though the defendant’s lawyer submitted a petition for bail, the prosecution opposed it. After hearing arguments from both sides, the court ordered to send him to jail, said Mirpur Model Police Station’s Sub Inspector Abdul Halim, also investigation officer of the case. Earlier on October 22, a Dhaka court placed him on a five-day remand in the case filed with Mirpur Model Police Station. Read: Barrister Suman put on 5-Day remand Suman was arrested for his alleged involvement in the killing of a student during the July-August student-led movement. Before the arrest Barrister Suman said on his verified Facebook account, "I am going with the police. See you in court. Pray for me, everyone." Suman was elected as an independent candidate in controversial January 7 polls from Habiganj-4 constituency.