United News of Bangladesh

Inspector General of Police (IGP) Baharul Alam on Tuesday said that out of 1,760 cases filed over last year’s anti-discrimination movement, charge sheets have so far been submitted in only 55 cases, while the remaining cases are still under investigation. The IGP disclosed the information at a press briefing held at the police headquarters. He said police, under section 173-A of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), have already recommended relief for 136 people found primarily innocent, and courts have granted them exemption from the charges. Applications for another 236 individuals are currently under consideration. Of the total cases, 766 are murder cases and 974 fall under other sections. Among the 55 cases where charge sheets have been filed, 18 are murder cases indicting 1,941 accused, while the remaining 37 cases involve 2,185 accused. The IGP said the charge sheets in the 18 murder cases were submitted in Dhaka, Chattogram, Sherpur, Feni, Chandpur, Noakhali, Pabna, Kurigram, Bogura and Rajshahi Metropolitan Police (RMP) areas. The other 37 charge-sheeted cases are from Bogura, Chapainawabganj, Sirajganj, Naogaon, Mymensingh, Rajshahi, Narsingdi and Barguna districts. Govt okays procurement of 40,000 body cameras for police use during polls He added that senior officers are supervising the investigations, while also mentoring junior officers who are not yet fully capable of handling complex probes on their own. On allegations of false cases and harassment, the IGP acknowledged that in some instances innocent people were wrongfully accused. “The government has introduced a legal provision to provide relief to such individuals even before charge sheets are filed.” He assured that police headquarters is taking measures to ensure no innocent person faces harassment, and warned that action would be taken against any officer found involved in malpractice. The IGP also urged those who consider themselves innocent to apply under section 173-A so their cases can be reviewed and forwarded to the court for exemption.

Fourty seven more new dengue cases were reported in the 24 hours leading up to Saturday morning, bringing the total number of cases to 2,972 this year. According to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), new cases were reported as follows: one in Chattogram Division (Out of CC), 29 in Barishal Division (Out of CC), two in Dhaka Division (Out of CC), eight in Dhaka North City Corporation and seven in Dhaka South City Corporation. The number of deaths remained at 21, with no new fatalities reported during this period, the DGHS added. Currently, 243 dengue patients are receiving treatment in hospitals across the country. Dengue: 22 more dengue cases reported in 24hrs Last year, dengue claimed the lives of 575 people. According to the DGHS, there were 101,214 dengue cases and 100,040 recoveries in the same year.      

A total of 1, 695 cases have so far been lodged in police stations across the country against those involved in the attacks, instigation and giving orders to brutally kill students during the recent Anti-Discrimination Movement, according to police. Law enforcers have arrested 3, 195 accused including 74 high profile figures of the then ruling party for their alleged involvement in the heinous acts upon specific evidence, said a press release signed by Enamul Haque Sagor, AIG (Media and PR), at police headquarters on Sunday. The law enforcers are taking actions against the accused, according to the release. Legal actions including filing cases and arrest have been taken against those who were involved with extortion, terrorism and other criminal activities under the blessing of the then political party, it said. Read: 92 arrested, 216 looted arms recovered from Sept 4 to Sept 25: Police HQ Assuring people of providing harassment-free and people-friendly services, the police headquarters said no one will face unnecessary harassment. It also stated that the general public who were part of the Anti-Discrimination Movement have no reason to worry about harassment. Calling the Anti-Discrimination Movement an epoch-making milestone in building a discrimination-free society and ensuring all human rights, the release said the movement has ushered in the door of immense possibilities for all. The police are determined to work with the students and the people to build the desired Bangladesh.

Two cases were filed against 450 leaders and activists of BNP, including the district presidents and general secretaries of Jubo Dal, Chhatra Dal, and Sramik Dal, in relation to a recent clash between Awami League and BNP in Patuakhali.  The clash occurred during a peace rally organized by the Awami League at the Muslimpara intersection in the municipality. Two Awami League leaders filed the two cases at the Sadar police station.  Also Read: AL-BNP clash leaves 30, inclucing policemen, injured in Patuakhali No arrests have been made thus far by the police. AL leader Raihan Hossain filed a written complaint on the night of May 20. According to the complaint, while the peace rally was underway, BNP supporters allegedly ambushed the participants, vandalizing houses and shops, resulting in several activists being injured and subsequently admitted to the hospital. The main defendant, in this case, is Monir Munshi, the General Secretary of the district Sramik Dal, along with 29 other leaders and workers. Additionally, 150-200 unidentified individuals have been named as defendants.  In another case filed at the same police station on May 21, District Jubo League Joint General Secretary Nasir Uddin, the plaintiff, stated that Jubo Dal members had launched an attack during their peace rally at the Muslimpara intersection, causing similar damages.  District Jubo Dal President Monirul Islam was made the main defendant in this case, listing 16 individuals by name and 200-250 others as unnamed defendants. Md. Moniruzzaman, the Officer-in-Charge of the Patuakhali Sadar Police Station, said that both plaintiffs had made identical complaints.  He said, "The accused are currently evading arrest. Our efforts to arrest them are ongoing."  District Juba Dal President Monirul Islam Liton expressed that the BNP would also file a case against the Awami League attackers at the police station. He further stated that if the police failed to take action, they would approach the court. A rally held in front of the Patuakhali district BNP office on Saturday morning, demanding the government's resignation, was disrupted by an attack from Jubo League and Chhatra League members.  The clash escalated into a violent confrontation, with both sides engaging in brick-throwing and vandalizing the BNP offices. Police resorted to firing tear gas to disperse the activists from both parties.  District Chhatra Dal president Ujjal Talukder and 30 leaders and activists from the BNP and Awami League reportedly sustained injuries during the clash.    

Bangladesh reported eleven more Covid-19 cases in the 24 hours till Wednesday morning. With the new numbers, the country's total caseload rose to 2,037,840, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). However, the official death toll from the disease remained unchanged at 29,445 as no new fatalities were reported. The daily case test positivity rate increased to 0.57 percent from Tuesday’s 0.56 percent as 1,940 samples were tested. The recovery rate increased to 98.29 percent. However, the death rate remained unchanged at 1.44 percent. Bangladesh registered its highest daily caseload of 16,230 on July 28 last year and highest number of fatalities of 264 on August 10 the same year.

Bangladesh reported eleven more Covid-19 cases in the 24 hours till Tuesday morning. With the new numbers, the country's total caseload rose to 2,037,829, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). However, the official death toll from the disease remained unchanged at 29,445 as no new fatalities were reported. The daily case test positivity rate increased to 0.56 percent from Monday’s 0.44 percent as 1,982 samples were tested. The recovery rate increased to 98.27 percent. However, the death rate remained unchanged at 1.44 percent. Bangladesh registered its highest daily caseload of 16,230 on July 28 last year and highest number of fatalities of 264 on August 10 the same year.

 Bangladesh reported nine more Covid-19 cases in the 24 hours till Tuesday morning. With the new numbers, the country's total caseload rose to 2,037,773, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). However, the official death toll from the disease remained unchanged at 29,445 as no new fatalities were reported. The daily case test positivity rate increased to 0.72 percent from Monday’s 0.49 percent as 1250 samples were tested. The recovery rate increased to 98.15 percent. However, the death rate remained unchanged at 1.44 percent. Bangladesh registered its highest daily caseload of 16,230 on July 28 last year and highest number of fatalities of 264 on August 10 the same year.  

Twenty-seven more people were hospitalised with dengue in the 24 hours to Saturday morning. However, no fatalities were reported during this period, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). Also, the DGHS did not report any dengue death in the first six days of this year. The country recorded 281 dengue deaths in 2022 – the highest on record after 179 deaths recorded in 2019. A total of 202 dengue patients, including 94 in the capital, are now receiving treatment at hospitals across the country. The DGHS has recorded 242 dengue cases and 40 recoveries so far this year. It recorded 62,423 cases and 61,971 recoveries last year. Read more: Govt fixes cost of dengue test

Bangladesh reported another Covid-linked death and 35 more Covid cases in 24 hours till Wednesday morning. With the new numbers, the total fatalities rose to 29,430 while  the caseload rose to 2,036,268, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). Read more: Covid-19: One death, 69 new cases reported The daily case test positivity rate rose to 1.05 per cent from Tuesday’s 0.91  per cent as 3,324 samples were tested during the period. The deceased was a man from Dhaka division. The mortality rate remained unchanged at 1.45 percent and the recovery rate at 97.44 per cent. In October, the country reported 60 Covid-linked deaths and 10,043 cases. Bangladesh registered its highest daily caseload of 16,230 on July 28 last year and daily fatalities of 264 on August 10 the same year.

The overall number of global Covid cases is gradually nearing 625 million. According to the latest global data, the total case count mounted to 624,918,177 while the death toll from the virus reached 6,555,411 on Thursday morning. The US has recorded 98,411,240 cases so far and 1,086,685 people have died from the virus in the country, both highest counts around the world. India recorded 2,459 new Covid-19 cases, according to federal health ministry data released on Wednesday. The new cases marked an increase from the daily caseload of 1,968 on Tuesday. India's total tally of Covid-19 cases has risen to 44,601,934, with the active caseload being 33,318 currently. Read: Global Covid cases top 623 million The country also logged 17 new Covid-related deaths in 24 hours, bringing the overall death toll to 528,733 since the beginning of the pandemic, the ministry said. Covid in Bangladesh Bangladesh reported two more Covid-linked deaths with 549 fresh cases in 24 hours till Wednesday morning. With the new numbers, the country's total fatalities rose to 29,374 and the caseload to 2,028,114, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). The daily case test positivity rate rose to 14.66% from Thursday’s 13.86% as 3,961 samples were tested.   The mortality rate remained unchanged at 1.45% and the recovery rate dropped to 97%.