United News of Bangladesh

Members of a joint security force arrested two suspected criminals along with a large cache of local and foreign-made weapons in Lakshmipur early Thursday,. The arrests were made late Wednesday night in Alaiyapur Union, a border area between Lakshmipur and Begumganj upazila. The arrestees were identified as Mohammad Imran, 23, son of Kajol Islam Suman of Deopara village under Chandraganj police station, and Mohammad Sajib, 24, son of Anwar Hossain of Bhagabati village in Alaiyapur Union of Begumganj upazila. Police said both were wanted in several cases and carrying deadly weapons. During the operation, the joint force recovered one foreign-made pistol, 11 rounds of pistol ammunition, two pistol magazines, four empty cartridges, four LGs, 26 shotgun shells, 53 fireworks, two cocktails, one locally made weapon and one explosive device. Captain Arman Habib Opu, who is in charge of Chandraganj Police Station, said the arrests were made based on secret intelligence. “During interrogations, the suspects admitted that they were trying to disrupt the upcoming national election,” he said, adding that such operations will continue to ensure a peaceful and credible election for the nation.

A motorcyclist was killed and another rider seriously injured in a head-on collision between a passenger bus and a motorcycle on the Chattogram–Khagrachhari regional road in Guimara upazila on Wednesday night. The accident occurred around 8:30pm near Bailyachari School. The deceased was identified as Kuben Joy Tripura, 28, son of Kripacharya Tripura, a resident of the Pankhimura area under Sindukchhari union in Guimara upazila. The injured rider, 19-year-old Tripura, son of Monohari Tripura of the Bhaibonchhara area in Khagrachhari Sadar upazila, was on the same motorcycle and sustained serious injuries. Police said the accident occurred when a Shanti Paribahan bus travelling from Chattogram to Khagrachhari collided head-on with a speeding motorcycle coming from the opposite direction. The injured is undergoing treatment at Matiranga Upazila Health Complex, while the body has been kept at the hospital. Guimara Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md Suhrawardy said the bus has been seized, but its driver and assistant are absconding. The body will be handed over to the family after completion of legal formalities, the OC added.

Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) seized a large amount of Indian goods smuggled in a courier service in Feni on Wednesday. The items included Indian sarees, three-piece dresses, oil, body spray, soap, toothpaste, face wash, and fireworks. The total estimated value of the goods is about Tk 1.215 crore. The operation was carried out in the morning at S.A. Transport Courier Service on Shahid Shahidullah Kaiser Road in Feni city. Two people were detained during the raid - Manager Md. Atikur Rahman, 37, and assistant manager Md. Faruk Hossain, 35. According to BGB sources, the Feni-4 Battalion team conducted the raid based on a tip-off. The smuggled goods were recovered from inside the courier service. Lt. Col. Mosharaf Hossain, commander of Feni-4 BGB; Executive Magistrate Chayan Barua of the Feni district administration, and other officials were present during the operation. The seized goods were taken to the Feni BGB headquarters. 3 sentenced to death in Feni schoolboy killing case Lt. Col. Mosharaf Hossain said, “BGB continues operations at the border to prevent smuggling, illegal entry, and drug trafficking, even while deployed for election duties.” He added that the force will maintain a strict policy against smuggling.

Police have filed a case against two people including a Jamaat-e-Islami leader after seizing six illegally made ballot seals in Lakshmipur. The accused are Sourav Hossain Sharif, secretary of Jamaat’s Ward No. 4 unit of Lakshmipur municipality and the son of Mohammad Shajahan of South Banchanagar area and businessman Sohel Rana, son of Khorshed Alam of Tumchar village in Sadar upazila. Sohel was shown arrested on Wednesday afternoon and sent to court, said Additional Superintendent of Police (Administration and Finance) Hosain Mohammad Raihan Kazemi . Earlier, on Tuesday night, Sub-Inspector Humayun Kabir of Lakshmipur Sadar Police Station, filed the case naming the two as accused. Police said Sohel Rana is the owner of Mariam Printers on Old Court Road in the district town. Acting on a tip-off, police raided his shop on Tuesday afternoon and seized six ballot seals with 16 boxes each  along with a computer and a mobile phone. He was later detained and taken to the police station. Based on his statements and evidence including WhatsApp conversations and voice messages, Jamaat leader Sourav Hossain Sharif was also named in the case. Police said the seals were prepared by Sohel on Sharif’s order. Following the seizure, BNP and Jamaat held separate press conferences on Tuesday night, blaming each other over the incident. At a press conference, BNP Joint Secretary General and BNP candidate for Lakshmipur-3 (Sadar) constituency Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Annie claimed Jamaat’s involvement in the seal incident and alleged that the arrested Sohel was a Jamaat activist. Jamaat should never be allowed to come to power: Abdul Awal Mintu In a counter press conference, Jamaat’s candidate for the same constituency and  also secretary of Jamaat’s Dhaka North city unit  Rezaul Karim said Sohel was not associated with Jamaat. Lakshmipur district Jamaat Ameer Ruhul Amin Bhuiyan said Sharif had been expelled from the party immediately after the incident and a press release on the expulsion would be issued.

Police have arrested one of the accused in a triple murder case in Tutpara Darbesh Molla Gali under Lobonchara Police Station. The accused is Bismillah Sheikh, also known as Bismillah,35, son of Sheikh Atiyar and a resident of Tutpara 2 No Cross Road, Kabi Nazrul Road. Bismillah was taken into custody around 11:30 pm on Tuesday from Tutpara Darogar Bosti by Khulna Police Station. He had sentenced to two years jail in another case filed with Khulna Police. Khulna Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md. Kabir Hossain said the arrest followed a tip-off about Bismillah’s location. He was later sent to jail through the court. Schoolgirl abducted in Khulna rescued from Sylhet; kidnapper held OC(investigation) of  Lobonchara Police Station Md. Yusuf Ali said Bismillah’s name was mentioned by the main planner of the triple murder, Shamim Ahmed, and other accused in their statements under Section 164. He will be shown arrested and remanded for further investigation, he said.

Two earth-cutting workers were critically injured when bomb exploded while they were digging soil in Sharsha upazila of Jashore on Wednesday morning. The injured were identified as Abdul Kader, 45, son of Nizzak and Zakir Hossain, 48, son of Abdul Barik of the village. The explosion occurred in the morning when the bomb which was kept about one and half feet deep under the earth exploded with a big bang after being stuck by a hoe, leaving them injured. Later, they were taken to 250-bed Jashore General Hospital. Among them, Zakir’s condition was stated to be critical. School student killed in Narsingdi clash Maruf Hossain, Officer-in-Charge of Sharsha Police Station, said initially it is suspected that the bomb had been buried underground for a long time. However, police are investigating whether this was part of any planned act of sabotage. Additional police have been deployed in the area to maintain law and order.

A 14-year-old school student was shot dead in a clash between rival groups over establishing dominance in Saidabad area in Raipura upazila early Wednesday. The deceased was identified as Mustakim Mia. Police and local sources said rivalry between two local groups, one led by Hanif Master and and another by Ershad Mia, has been ongoing for a long time, with previous incidents of gunfire, attacks, and looting. On Wednesday morning, followers of Ershad Mia attacked Hanif Master’s supporters with firearms, triggering a clash during which Mustakim, who was standing in a courtyard, was shot. At least 10 people, including three others, were injured and admitted to hospitals. Raipura police Offier-in-Charge Mujibur Rahman said additional forces, including police and army have been deployed to maintain law and order. An investigation is underway to identify and arrest those responsible.

A chase and counter-chase took place between law enforcement agencies and protesting technical education students in Sylhet on Tuesday as demonstrations continued over quota reform demands. The students are demanding reforms to a proposed 33 percent quota and the cancellation of what they describe as a discriminatory inter-ministerial committee. The incident occurred around noon, according to witnesses. Protesters claimed that at least 20 people, including students and teachers, were injured during the clashes. Some of the injured received first aid at Sylhet Polytechnic Institute, while others were admitted to nearby hospitals, they said. Read More: Motorcycle rider killed in truck accident in Sylhet According to eyewitnesses, Diploma Engineering students began their protest by blocking roads in the Chowhatta area of Sylhet city around 12pm. After demonstrating for more than half an hour, most of the protesters moved to the nearby Shaheed Minar, though some remained on the road. Later, an army team arrived at the scene and asked the students to clear the road. Tensions rose as arguments broke out, after which police and army personnel jointly removed the protesters from the area. Several rounds of chase and counter-chase followed between police and demonstrators. Students alleged that several protesters were injured during the operation. However, police denied any injuries. Sylhet Kotwali Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mainul Zakir said the situation is now calm. “We persuaded the students to disperse peacefully. No one was injured,” he said. Read More: Truck crushes motorcyclist in Sylhet’s Golapganj The protesters said they are opposing a proposed 33 percent quota for BCS engineers in posts of sub-assistant engineers and equivalent positions. They claimed the move is discriminatory against diploma engineers, who they say have long been deprived of fair job opportunities and promotions. They demanded the immediate withdrawal of the proposed quota and related decisions, warning that their movement would continue until their demands are met.

Ahead of the upcoming national election for Khagrachhari-298, the lone constituency in the district, Army Khagrachhari Region Commander Brigadier General KM Obaidul Haque held a meeting with election candidates on Tuesday to ensure a free, fair and peaceful voting process. The meeting took place at the region auditorium and was attended by BNP candidate Wadud Bhuiyan, Jamaat-e-Islami candidate Yakub Ali Chowdhury, independent candidate Samiron Dewan, along with other contestants and representatives of the local administration. Discussions at the meeting focused on the overall election environment, law and order situation, voter safety, and the role of the army in ensuring an impartial and credible election. Read More: Army Chief urges officers to perform election duties impartially Brigadier General Obaidul Haque said elections are a democratic process and safeguarding citizens’ voting rights is a key responsibility of the state. He urged all candidates to strictly follow the election code of conduct and refrain from violence and irregularities. He also said the army would perform its duties impartially in coordination with the administration and law enforcement agencies to maintain law and order and ensure voter security during the election period. During the meeting, the candidates shared their concerns and opinions, and the region commander assured them of necessary cooperation to support a transparent and orderly election.

Police recovered the body of an unidentified young man from a haor area in Mithamoin upazila of Kishoreganj early Tuesday. The body was found at the eastern haor area of Midaband under Keoarjor Union of the upazila. According to police and local sources, farmers spotted the body while heading to the haor to tend their boro fields and informed police. Police later recovered the body, believed to be of a man aged between 35 to 37, from the eastern haor near Keoarjor Bazar and sent it to Kishoreganj morgue for autopsy. Read More: Auto-rickshaw driver killed in Dhaka road crash The identity of the deceased could not be determined until the filing of this report. Confirming the incident, Mithamoin Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Liaqat Ali said the body remains unidentified and an investigation is underway. Legal action will be taken accordingly, he added.