United News of Bangladesh

The 2009 BDR mutiny at Pilkhana headquarters, which took place on February 25–26, was a premeditated conspiracy aimed at destabilising Bangladesh, prolonging political power, and weakening the country’s security forces, said Major General (retd) Fazlur Rahman, head of the National Independent Inquiry Commission. Fazlur Rahman made the remarks on Sunday evening (November 30) while briefing reporters at the commission’s office in Dhaka’s Science Lab area after submitting the investigation report to the Chief Adviser. The commission found involvement of several influential political figures in the mutiny, with names of senior Awami League leaders surfacing during the probe.  Read more: Govt to ensure justice for deprived armed forces members: Chief Adviser Those mentioned include former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Barrister Fazle Noor Taposh, Sheikh Selim, Mirza Azam, Jahangir Kabir Nanak, Sahara Khatun, then Security Adviser Maj Gen (retd) Tarique Ahmed Siddique, former Army Chief Gen (retd) Moeen U Ahmed, and former DGFI Chief Maj Gen (retd) Akbar. Discussing the causes of the mutiny, Fazlur Rahman cited multiple factors, including dissatisfaction with the Dal-Bhat programme and the creation of the BDR Shop, which significantly increased BDR personnel workloads.  He also noted opposition among some personnel to the presence of army officers within the force, along with internal crises within BDR. “Fundamentally, the mutiny aimed to weaken the army and destabilise Bangladesh. The main reasons were to undermine the army, with neighbouring India seeking to destabilise the country. Extending the political tenure of the ruling Awami League was also among the motives. India was a beneficiary from the incident,” he said. On reports of missing army officers, the commission found evidence supporting claims that five army officers disappeared after the mutiny. BDR Mutiny: Probe body says Hasina had 'green signal' for entire incident Fazlur Rahman said that RAB personnel were deployed at Pilkhana’s Gate 5 at the time but did not intervene, reportedly due to instructions from then RAB Additional Director General Col Reza Nur.  He stressed that RAB and police do not require special orders to act during such incidents. On foreign involvement, he stated that the commission identified a “neighbouring country” linked to the incident, noting that Sheikh Hasina and her associates had taken refuge there.  He added that grievances tied to Operation Dal Bhat were reportedly used to mask the underlying objective of destabilising the country and weakening BDR. Dhaka-Delhi ties won’t get stuck over Hasina issue: Foreign Adviser The inquiry also highlighted that political decisions blocked army action during the mutiny, terming the absence of a military response a “major conspiracy.”  Witness accounts suggested participation from outsiders alongside BDR personnel, some affiliated with Awami League, Jubo League, and Chhatra League.  The commission said a group of 20–25 people entered the compound and later emerged with a procession of around 200. Referring to intelligence lapses, Fazlur Rahman described them as “mountain-sized.”  Regarding former Army Chief Gen (retd) Moeen U Ahmed’s statement on not conducting an army operation during the mutiny, he said the former chief informed the commission online that intervention might provoke Indian involvement, warning, “they might not return to India like 1971.” The investigation also found that 721 Indian nationals entered Bangladesh during the period, with 67 unaccounted for.  The commission recommended that the government trace them and seek explanations from India. Some perpetrators inside Pilkhana reportedly spoke in Hindi. “If we fail to properly evaluate this incident, the country may face another BDR-like mutiny in the future. For national security, truth and corrective measures are essential,” Fazlur Rahman told journalists. Read more: Sacked BDR men dispersed near Kakrail while marching to Jamuna

The Commission, formed to reinvestigate the 2009 BDR massacre, the brutal massacre committed in the name of BDR mutiny submitted its report to Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus on Sunday (November 30), noting that then PM Sheikh Hasina had a 'green signal' for the entire incident to take place while then MP Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh played the role of the main coordinator behind. Chief of the National Independent Investigation Commission Maj Gen (retd) ALM Fazlur Rahman, who was also former director general of BGB, and other members submitted the report to the Chief Adviser at the State Guest House Jamuna. Major General Md Jahangir Kabir Talukder (retd), Brigadier General Md Saidur Rahman Bir Pratik (retd), Munshi Alauddin Al Azad, Dr M Akbar Ali, Associate Professor of the Department of Political Science, Dhaka University Md Shariful Islam, Assistant Professor of the Institute of Education and Research, Jagannath University Md. Shahnewaz Khan Chandan are the members of the commission. Read more: Govt to ensure justice for deprived armed forces members: Chief Adviser "The nation was in the dark about the BDR massacre for a long time. The nation will remember the role you played in uncovering the truth. On behalf of the nation, I thank you,” Prof Yunus said. He said the nation had many questions about this most horrific incident in history and these questions will be answered through this work. Prof Yunus said there are many lessons to be learned from this report. “It will be a valuable asset for the nation.” Commission chief Fazlur Rahman said the highest professionalism has been maintained in the interest of making the investigation fair, impartial and error-free. He said when they started the work, many signs of this incident 16 years ago had been destroyed and many people involved in this incident have gone abroad. “We went through two processes. We called witnesses; we listened to some of them for up to 8 hours - as long as the individual wanted to say. We talked to those who were involved in the investigation. We collected their investigation reports and other elements,” Fazlur Rahman said. He said through this investigation, answers have been sought for every question in the public mind about the BDR killings, an attempt has been made to uncover who had what role and why the army did not take action. Fazlur Rahman said the investigation has found strong evidence of the direct involvement of external forces in the BDR killings and the direct involvement of the then ruling party Awami League. Read more: BDR mutiny a planned conspiracy to destabilise Bangladesh: Inquiry Commission chief Jahangir Kabir Talukder said about the commission’s findings that the commission has found some external and real reasons for this incident. He said the killings were planned and the role of the main coordinator behind it was played by the then MP Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh, according to the Chief Adviser’s press wing. Jahangir said the local Awami League played a direct role in protecting those involved in the murder. They entered Peelkhana with a procession of 20-25 people and when they came out, there were more than two hundred people in that procession. Jahangir said that Hasina had a 'green signal' for the entire incident to take place, according to the press wing. Regarding the assessment of responsibility for the incident, Jahangir said that the responsibility for the incident lies with the then head of government and the army chief. A decision has been made to resolve this incident politically. The police, RAB and intelligence agencies have also failed miserably. Jahangir said that the role of some print and electronic media and some journalists during the incident was unprofessional. He said that the exact names and information of the BDR members with whom Sheikh Hasina met at the State Guest House Jamuna (the then Prime Minister's residence) during the murder were not preserved. The commission made several recommendations in its report so that such incidents can be avoided in the future and the victims of this incident get justice. The meeting was attended by National Security Advisor Dr Khalilur Rahman, Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser on Defense and National Integration Development Lieutenant General (retd) Abdul Hafiz, and Home Secretary Nasimul Gani. Read more: Sacked BDR men dispersed near Kakrail while marching to Jamuna

Mayor of Dhaka South City Corporation Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh on Friday said Awami League leaders and workers will stay alert in Dhaka city from today to prevent BNP men from occupying roads of the city. He said this at a rally organised at the Mahanagar Natyamancha by by Dhaka South Awami League. "From today the leaders and activists of Awami League will be in the field. After making Sheikh Hasina the winner again in 2024 elections, they will return home, " he said. The rally was held what they said to protest against BNP-Jamaat's terrorism, militancy, anarchy, apathy and continued anti-national conspiracy. AL presidium member members Abdur Razzak, Advocate Jahangir Kabir Nanak, Abdur Rahman, Bir Bikram Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya, Shahjahan Khan, Joint General Secretary AFM Bahauddin Nashim, Organizing Secretary Ahmad Hossain, SM Kamal Hossain, Mirza Azam, Afzal Hossain were also present.

Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Mayor Fazle Noor Taposh has said bus service on three more routes under the bus route rationalization programme will be launched on September 1. Taposh said this after visiting the renovation and development works of Sayedabad Bus Terminal Wednesday morning. “We’ve taken up a Tk 30 crore project to develop the Sayedabad Bus Terminal so that the bus route rationalization programme can gain pace. The bus terminal’s infrastructures were in a dilapidated condition as no renovation work was done since the terminal’s construction. We hope that the modernization programme of the terminal will be completed within March next year,” said Taposh. The Mayor added that the Sayedabad Bus Terminal is being transformed into an efficient, modern, and automated terminal to speed up the bus route rationalization programme and bring the city’s public transport sector under discipline. “We’re building bus parking space, rest house for transport workers and washrooms inside the terminal compound. We’re developing the terminal in a way so that people can avail services from inside the terminal,” added the Mayor. Read: DSCC working to improve Dhaka’s place in liveability index: Taposh Replying to a question, Taposh said that two new inter-district bus terminals will be built in Kachpur and Keraniganj. “Land acquisition for building the two bus terminals is ongoing. It’ll take three to four years to build the terminals. We’re renovating the existing bus terminals so that buses can operate in a systematic way,” said Taposh. Later, Taposh released 300kg spawns of various fish in the Dhanmondi Lake commemorating National Fisheries Week-2022.   Farid Ahmed, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of DSCC, Kh Mahbubul Haque, Director General (DG) of Fisheries Department, Saleh Ahmed, Chief Engineer of DSCC and Moshiur Rahman, Additional Secretary of Fisheries and Livestock Ministry, among others, were present at the programme. 

Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Mayor Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh has called upon the capital's residents to get their sacrificial slaughters done by the second day of Eid ul Azha, set to be observed from Sunday. He made the call while talking to journalists after observing the last-minute preparations for the Eid jamaat (congregation) at National Eidgah Maidan on Saturday. “I urge the city dwellers to complete their qurbani (sacrificial slaughter) by the second day of Eid (Monday), not to wait for the third day as workers of the corporation will be removing animal waste from different spots for 72 hours continuously, and they too should get some rest and some time off to celebrate Eid themselves," Taposh said. Elaborating on the massive clean up operation that will be taken up to allow people to enjoy one of the two biggest festivals in the Muslim faith, the Dhaka South mayor informed that the corporation’s workers would start cleaning up around the makeshift cattle markets (haats) from 11: 00pm tonight, and the first slaughter sites from 2pm on the day of Eid (tomorrow). He hoped that the city corporation would be able to remove all wastes within 24 hours as earlier.    Taposh informed that all kinds of preparations have already been completed to hold the Eid jamaat at the National Eidgah Maidan where some 35,000 people will be able to pray together. Also read: DSCC Control Room to oversee waste disposal on Qurbani Eid Dhaka district Deputy Commissioner (DC) Md Shahidul Islam, DNCC Chief Executive Officer Farid Ahamad, Secretary Akramuzzaman, Chief Engineer Saleh Ahmed and among others were present during the visit of the mayor.

Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) mayor Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh on Tuesday asked the standing committee on market price control of the city corporation to expand their monitoring activities.  “DSCC has formed a standing committee on Market price observation, monitoring and controlling for the first time, and already the committee conducted drives in many markets and kitchen markets,” Taposh said. The DSCC mayor revealed this information while addressing a views-exchange meeting at the Nagar Bhaban on Tuesday. Also read: Enough stock of edible oil to keep the price stable: Tipu

No plan to improve the living standard of Dhaka dwellers will work unless the capital-bound migration is stopped, DSCC mayor Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh said on Saturday. "Around 2 crore 10 lakh people live in Dhaka now. Without decentralisation this might go up by 3 crore within 2030 and 5 crore by 2041," Taposh said. All the master plans taken to increase the standard of living for the residents of Dhaka will fail if people continue to flock into the capital from outside, he said.  Read: Combing operation to help contain dengue: Taposh For this reason, the villages and suburbs of the cities should be provided with all modern facilities so that people don't have to come to the capital for the smallest of reasons, the mayor advised.  He was speaking at a seminar titled "Achievements and Future of 50 Years in Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Sector" organized by Local Government Department and Water Aid Bangladesh at the ballroom of Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel in the capital on Saturday. Speaking as the chief guest, the Minister of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Tajul Islam said," A group is trying to disturb the communal harmony of the country for their own selfish interest." Read: Taposh blames development projects for city’s waterlogging People's representatives at all levels, including the local government, must be vigilant to deal with this conspiracy, he said. Describing the recent incidents in Cumilla as part of a conspiracy, the local government minister said, "Strict action will be taken against those involved in the incident by identifying them."

Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) mayor Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh today urged city dwellers to inform municipal authorities about Aedes mosquitoes so that  they can take necessary steps to free their homes of the menace. “We cannot reach the rooftops of your(city dwellers) buildings. So if you(residents) watch stagnant water, either clean it by yourselves or inform us and we will clean it,” he said while visiting Dhaka match factory colony area to observe the water logging situation on a regular weekly visit. “Inform us if you know the breeding sources of Aedes mosquitos in your surroundings as it is impossible for us to locate and destroy them all by going home to home,” he said. READ: DSCC drive: Aedes larvae found in 5 buildings including DOM-INNO’s Besides, 27 mobile courts of the DNCC on Wednesday sued 27 individuals and collected a fine of Tk 2,16,500  as they found conditions conducive to the breeding of Aedes mosquitoes on their premises. Sources within Dhaka North City Corporation confirmed the news to UNB. Similar drives are also going on everyday in South Dhaka too. READ: Destroy aedes-breeding puddles or face penalty, warns LGRD minister Ten mobile courts of the DSCC on Tuesday  fined owners of 24 under-construction buildings and houses Tk 3.31 lakh over the matter.

Mayor of South Dhaka Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh has blamed management of development projects, including Metro Rail,  for causing waterlogging  in the capital and consequent public sufferings. “Their lack of coordination and inability to consider the bigger picture is one of the reasons behind waterlogging in the capital,” he told reporters after inaugurating a playground at Tikatuli in Ward 39 of the city on Wednesday. “ For example , the waterlogging problem in Sonir Akhra has not been solved even after recovering the Kajla canal of the area because of the metro rail project going on in that area.” “ We are trying to coordinate with the development project runners and are hopeful to solve this problem very soon,” the DSCC Mayor added. READ: Return to Dhaka after lockdown ends: Mayor Taposh Besides, the city dwellers have not stopped indiscriminate dumping of wastes and plastic bottles which are blocking the drainage system, jeopardising all efforts in solving waterlogging problem, a disappointed mayor added. "Dhaka South City Corporation is working to solve the problem of waterlogging. Once that is done, the city dwellers will gradually be relieved of the sufferings, "Taposh said. On the issue of waterlogging in Motijheel area, the mayor said, "The contractor was not able to complete the project on time. Work is also underway to alleviate waterlogging on the Toynbee Circular Road in Fakirapul. Once these are completed, there will be no waterlogging. " READ: Close shops by 8 pm: Mayor Taposh    Earlier today, the mayor inaugurated the Interim Waste Transfer Center at Muktangan in Ward 13 of the city and inspected development works and sewer cleaning activities from Fakirapul Junction to Motijheel Petrol Pump area. He later visited several waterlogged areas from Rayerbagh to Sonir Akhra. He also inaugurated Azimpur Children's Park.

Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Mayor Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh has urged people who left for their native places to celebrate Eid with their families to return to Dhaka as soon as thelockdown restrictions are lifted. He made this request while exchanging festive greetings after attending the first Eid Jamaat at National Mosque Baitul Mukarram on Friday morning. Also read: Close shops by 8 pm: Mayor Taposh    Barrister Taposh said, "Those who are outside Dhaka to celebrate Eid with their parents and families, I request you to return to Dhaka as soon as the restrictions are lifted." He also warned people to adhere to health safety rules "as we’re celebrating Eid amid the Covid pandemic".