Bangladesh's Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today (March 19, 2023) asked law enforcement agencies to take action against cybercrime and the trend of teen gangs. “We’ll have to monitor cybercrimes and take action accordingly. RAB and intelligence agencies will have to play a decisive role in this regard,” she said. The prime minister was speaking at the 19th founding anniversary of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) at the force’s headquarters in Dhaka’s Kurmitola. Saying that her government developed the country as “Digital Bangladesh”, the PM said cybercrimes have increased as the scope of digitization expanded. Also Read: PM meets UK’s cross-party delegation, discusses Rohingya Sheikh Hasina said the aim of Digital Bangladesh is to ensure the wellbeing of the people, not to cause distress. She said there are some anti-state forces. They see “nothing, no matter how much advancement Bangladesh achieves.” There is another section of people who “defame Bangladesh to foreigners and secure financial or other benefits through this,” the PM said. Talking about the US sanction imposed on RAB officials, the premier asked RAB personnel not to be upset at what others said about them but rather move ahead resolutely. “This is our country that was freed through the sacrifice of blood… We know who does what and we’ll assess accordingly. We have to work with confidence,” she said. Read More: Man killed in RAB gunfire for 'protesting neighbour's arrest,' family says “We will have to identify those who carry out propaganda and defame Bangladesh. We will have to find out why they are doing it and their purpose,” she added. The PM said Bangladeshis can judge who has done good or bad. “If anyone commits an offense, we must speak about it. Don’t be upset at what some people are saying. You will have to move ahead with a sense of self-esteem and confidence,” she said. About the rising trend of teen gangs, Sheikh Hasina said parents, teachers and public representatives alongside law enforcers must take responsibility to put an end to the culture of teen gangs. “The teen gangs must be stopped,” she said. Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan and RAB Director General Additional IGP M Khurshid Hossain also spoke at the programme. Read More: 8 arrested while trying to rob a RAB vehicle in Narayanganj: RAB

A 14-year-old boy was killed and 10 people were injured in a clash between two factions of Awami League over establishing supremacy at Charkasia village in Raipur upazila of Laxmipur district on Wednesday. Russel Hossain, son of Manir Hossain Bhuttu of the village, was stabbed to death in a fierce clash between two rival factions of AL, said Mahfuzzaman Ashraf, officer-in-charge of Laxmipur police station. Shahjalal Rahul, joint general secretary of Charbongshi union unit AL and Nazrul Islam, a member of the same AL unit had been at loggerheads over establishing supremacy in the area, he said. As a sequel to the enmity, the supporters of both groups equipped with sharp weapons, attacked each other in Miarhat area in the morning, leaving Russel dead on the spot and 10 others wounded. The injured were taken to Sadar Hospital. On information, police rushed in and brought the situation under control. They recovered the body from the spot. Additional police have been deployed to avert further trouble.

Nine Bangladeshi teenage girls returned to the country via the Benapole border on Friday after serving a two-year jail term in India. They were handed over to Benapole Immigration Police through a special travel permit, said Abul Kalam Azad, officer-in-charge of Benapole Check-post Immigration Police. The returnees are--Akhi Khatun, 16, Priya Das, 18, Riya Biswas, 19, Shanti Das, 17, Mithu Begum ,19, Sonia Akter, 18, Shirina Akter, 17, Bithi Khatun, 18 and Banu Khatun, 16. They are residents of Dhaka, Narail, Satkhira and Patuakhali districts. Sonia Akter, one of the returnees said, they went to India through different borders of Jashore with help of brokers two and half years ago in search of work. Indian police arrested them while working at home in India's Hyderabad and a court later sentenced them to two years in jail. After the completion of their jail sentences, they were kept at a local Shelter Home, Sonia added. Jashore Justice and Care Centre and Mahila Ain Samiti will receive them from the police and they will hand them over to their respective family members, said the OC.

A 15-year-old fisherman was killed and two others went missing as a Barishal-bound launch sailed over a fishing boat in the Meghna River in Chandpur on Sunday night. The deceased was identified as Abdul Jalil, 15, said Md Mizanur Rahman, in-charge of Chandpur Harina River Police Outpost. The missing fishermen are Md Riyad, 17, son of Matin Bhuyia  and Md Moktar, 18, son of Nuruzzaman Sheikh. One of the fishermen, Md Faruk, 20, son of Gafur Bepari was rescued alive. They all are residents of Eidgah Bazar of Ibrahimpur union under Chandpur Sadar upazila, he said. Later, Faruk was admitted to the district Sadar hospital in critical condition. The four fishermen were fishing in the river in the Harina area on Sunday night. At one point, a Barishal-bound launch, suspected to be the MV Karnaphuli-3,  hit the boat due to dense fog. Three fishermen went missing while one (Faruk) was rescued alive, he said. Of the three, Abdul Jalil's body washed ashore. The other two fishermen are still missing till this evening, the policeman added. The police officer, however, said that it was not possible to identify the launch, whether it was MV Karnaphuli-3, due to heavy fog. However, an investigation is going on in this regard. The river police are still continuing the search operation for the missing fishermen in the river, he added. A joint rescue operation will be conducted in the Meghna River and its surrounding areas tomorrow morning (Tuesday). An unnatural death case has been filed over the accident. The body was handed over to the family after the due procedure, he added. Read more: Narail boat capsize: Death toll rises to 4

A 16-year-old boy was stabbed to death allegedly by another youth following a brawl while watching the World Cup football match between Brazil and Croatia in Morelganj upazila of Bagerhat district on Friday night. The deceased was identified as Tutul Hawladar, son of Abdul Barek Hawladar of Gulishakhali village of the upazila. SM Ashraful Alam, inspector of Bagerhat District Police media cell, said local people arranged a big screen to watch the world cup football match between Brazil and Croatia at Samaddar Bazar of the village in the night. Also read: Bagerhat Hindu house attacked over altercation on India’s prophet comment issue During watching the football match, Turul locked into an altercation with Rubel Samaddar. At one stage, Rubel hit Tutul with a sharp weapon, leaving him critically injured. Later, Tutul was taken to a local hospital where doctors declared him dead. Police kept the body at the Bagerhat Sadar Hospital morgue.  

Members of a teen gang allegedly stabbed an 18-year-old fish seller to death in a dispute over Tk 100 Khulna city on Friday morning. The victim, Yeasin Arafat, 18, was a fish trader of Sandhabazar in the city. Locals and police said the gangsters aged between 15 and 18 attacked Yeasin over a debt of Tk100 they owed him.  The gangsters numbering about eight came on a battery-powerd three-wheeler at the southern end of Kashem Road in the city and hit Yeasin on the head with brick around 11am, they said. Later, the teens stabbed him in the chest with meat cleavers and fled the scene leaving him critically injured. Read: 6 teen gang members held over murder in Cumilla He was rushed to Khulna Medical College Hospital where he succumbed to his wounds while undergoing treatment, Abul Hannan, sub-inspector of Nirala Police Outpost, said.   “We are trying to determine the actual reason for the murder and a drive is underway to nab the perpetrators,” the SI added.

A 16-year-old teenager was subjected to a "swift, bloody and merciless" knife attack in Dhaka's Shahjahanpur Wednesday night, police said. Md Maruf from Cumilla's Meghna upazila worked in an automobile repair shop in the capital. He suffered serious wounds after being repeatedly stabbed by unidentified attackers and left at a roadside. "It was not possible to say who delivered the fatal blows. However, all of the attackers shared a common intention: that Maruf should die, or suffer very serious injuries," Bachchu Mia, in-charge of Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) Police Outpost, said. He added: "Maruf was rushed to DMCH where he was declared dead at 11pm. The body was sent to the hospital morgue for post-mortem examination." Also read: Youth stabbed dead by miscreants in Chattogram

A 14-year-old boy was hacked to death on Saturday following a clash over a football game. The incident occurred at Mohammadpur upazila in Magura. The deceased was identified as Hasib Munshi, son of Shaykeh Munshi and a student of class nine at a madrasa at Jhama village in the upazila, said Ahraful Islam, Officer-in-Charge of Mohammadpur police station. Also read: BCL leader hacked to death in Cox's Bazar An hour-long armed clash broke out between two groups over playing football at Char Jhama Primary School playground and previous rivalry which injured several people, said the OC. After the initial clash died down, some opponents found Hasib alone near the playground and hacked him with sharp weapons, said the police quoting locals. He was taken to Faridpur Boalmari Hospital around 8pm but the doctors declared him dead on arrival. Also read: Mother, son hacked dead in N’ganj “Efforts are on to arrest the accused and additional police have been deployed in the area,” said OC Ashraful Islam. Hasib’s brother Amanat Munshi said, “Hasib had no involvement with any of the clashing groups. We demand justice for our innocent brother’s death.”

Body of a 16-year-old male who went missing on Sunday falling from a moving train while taking selfies at Akkelpur upazila in Joypurhat. The deceased was Mehedi Hasan, son of Anwar Hossain from Rajmahal area in Panchagarh district, said SM Hasibul Hasan, Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) of Akkelpur upazila. His body was recovered around 8 am by a diving team of Rajshahi Fire Service after 14 hours of remaining missing, said Delwar Hossain, Officer-in-Charge of Santahar railway police station. Also read: Bid to take selfie from moving train leaves teen dead in Chuadanga According to police, Mehedi was traveling with his grandmother by Panchagarh-bound inter-city train Ekota Express on Sunday. At around 6 pm when the train was on Halhalia Bridge, unaware Mehedi while clicking selfie crashed into the bridge structure and fell in the river, said the OC. Locals found his amputated hand, mobile phone, and money bag on the river after the train crossed and informed police. Until 10 pm on Sunday, fire service members and police conducted a drive to rescue him but failed, he said. Also read: Teenager dies of electrocution in Kishoreganj “A case of unnatural death was filed in this regard and the body was handed to family after autopsy,” said OC Delwar Hossain.

A 17-year old boy died falling from a moving train while taking a selfie  in Chuadanga. The deceased was identified as Rohan, 17 , a student of class X and  son of Rayhan Hossain of Paschimpara village in Jibannagar upazila, said  Mohammad Abdul Khaleque, Officer-in-Charge of Jibannagar police station. The accident occurred around 5:30 pm near Farm Para area in Chuadanga municipality area, he said. Also read: Fire on moving train: Dhaka-Sylhet rail communication restored after 3 hours Rohan was at the door of Khulna-bound Goalanda mail train. He slipped from the running train  while trying to take a selfie, according to witnesses. Locals immediately brought him to Chuadanga Sadar hospital with a critical head and left leg injuries, said Dr Nurjahan Rumi, a doctor of the hospital. Rohan succumbed to his injuries around 10:30 pm while shifting to a Dhaka hospital, said Sabed Ali, his uncle. Also read: Train crushes school student in Dinajpur