United News of Bangladesh

A court in Narayanganj on Tuesday convicted a man and sentenced him to death for killing a schoolboy in 2020. Narayanganj District and Sessions Judge Abu Shamim handed down the punishment. The condemned convict, Ripon, was tried in absentia. The court also fined him Tk 2 lakh. According to the prosecution, Ripon took Arafat, son of Rafiqul Islam of Madanpur in Bandar upazila, to a Victory Day concert on December 15, 2020. Mobile court fines two illegal brick kiln owners 7 lakhs taka Later that night, he took Arafat to an abandoned school building, strangled him to death over a dispute with his brother and dumped the body into a pond. Locals spotted Arafat’s floating body on December 18, 2020 and informed police, who recovered it. A case was filed with Bandar Police Station the following day. Police later arrested Ripon in this connection and he gave a confessional statement before a court under Section 164. Police submitted a chargesheet against two people, including Ripon. Ripon later secured bail and went into hiding. After examining the records and witnesses, the court acquitted another accused, Rabbi, as the allegations against him could not be proved.

The government has appointed administrators to 14 more Zila Parishads in  the country. The Local Government Division issued a notification in this regard on Tuesday. The 14 districts are Dhaka, Nilphamari, Lalmonirhat, Pabna, Narail, Barguna, Jamalpur, Gazipur, Manikganj, Narsingdi, Faridpur, Habiganj, Chandpur and Feni. According to the notification, Md Yasin Ferdous Morad has been appointed administrator for Dhaka, Md Mizanur Rahman Chowdhury for Nilphamari, AKM Mominul Haque for Lalmonirhat, Mohammad Zahurul Islam for Pabna, Md Mostafizur Rahman Alek for Narail, Md Nazrul Islam Molla for Barguna and Md Sirajul Haque for Jamalpur. Besides, Chowdhury Ishrat Ahmad Siddiqui has been appointed administrator for Gazipur, Jamilur Rashid Khan for Manikganj, Tofazzal Hossain for Narsingdi, Md Afzal Hossain Khan Palash for Faridpur, Ahmed Ali for Habiganj, AKM Salim Ullah Selim for Chandpur and Prof MA Khalek for Feni. Govt appoints administrators to 42 Zila Parishads Earlier on March 15, the government appointed administrators to 42 Zila Parishads across the country. Most of the newly appointed administrators are reportedly associated with BNP politics.

A total of 7,400 liters of illegally stored diesel were seized in a drive in Kaliganj upazila of Narail on Monday night. Kaliganj Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Md. Jinnatul Islam said a drive was conducted on Baripara Ferrighat Road where a nosimon vehicle coming from Khulna was stopped and 1,800 liters of diesel stored in nine barrels were recovered. The owner, Pintu Sheikh,  of Mauli village failed to provide legal documents for the fuel and was fined Tk 10,000. Meanwhile, Assistant Commissioner (Land) and Executive Magistrate Shraboni Biswas conducted a separate drive  in Kalabaria, seizing 5,600 liters of diesel stored in 28 barrels from a truck. The fuel, being transported illegally for sale by Khairul Sheikh of Jogania village was confiscated and he was fined Tk 25,000 for failing to present valid papers. UNO Jinnatul Islam said the administration will continue its crackdown against illegal fuel hoarding and sale. The seized 7,400 liters of diesel will be sold at government-fixed prices at Kaliganj Filling Station.

A mobile court in Gazipur recovered 34,000 litres of fuel illegally stored at a filling station in Konabari area on Monday and sentenced the station manager to one month in prison. The convicted manager, Abul Kashem Babul, 60, son of the late Abdul Alim of Baimail under Konabari Police Station, was found guilty of illegal fuel hoarding, officials said. The operation was conducted at night under the supervision of Executive Magistrate Salehur Rahman. Law enforcement personnel, including members of Ansar and the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), participated in the drive. According to the mobile court, intelligence reports indicated that Messrs Abdul Ali Filling Station, located along the Dhaka-Tangail Highway in Konabari, was illegally stockpiling fuel. Authorities seized 28,521 litres of diesel and 5,419 litres of octane during the raid. Despite having fuel in stock, the station had stopped selling under the pretext of “no fuel available.” Sitakunda authorities seize 25,000 litres diesel from depot, fine filling station Tk 50,000 Salehur Rahman said the manager was sentenced to one month’s simple imprisonment, and the filling station was sealed immediately. The seized fuel will be sold under the supervision of the officer in charge of Ward No. 9 of Gazipur City Corporation, with all proceeds deposited into the government treasury, he added.    

District authorities in Sitakunda conducted separate drives on Monday against illegal fuel hoarding, seizing 25,000 litres of diesel from a depot and imposing a Tk 50,000 fine on a local filling station. The Bhatyari Filling Station was fined Tk 50,000 for concealing information about its fuel stock. Officials said about 1,700 litres of octane were found stored at the station during a mobile court operation led by Executive Magistrate Fakhrul Islam. In a separate drive based on intelligence reports, authorities recovered approximately 25,000 litres of diesel from a depot in the Jalil Gate area of Salimpur in the evening. Officials said an organised group had been illegally siphoning fuel from vessels and depots during transport and storing it secretly. The operations were overseen by Assistant Commissioner (Land) and Executive Magistrate Abdullah Al Mamun, with senior district administration officials, police, and members of intelligence agencies present. Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Zahidul Islam Mia said the drives against illegal fuel hoarding began on March 27. “Earlier, 6,000 litres of diesel were recovered. Today, about 25,000 litres were seized in Salimpur. Our intelligence agencies are working effectively to prevent illegal hoarding,” he said. He warned that individuals creating artificial shortages to exploit consumers would face strict legal action. “Those who hoard fuel and manipulate supply are criminals, not businessmen. They will be brought under the law and punished,” he said. Addressing public concerns about fuel shortages, the deputy commissioner said the country has sufficient fuel supply. “We have adequate stocks of octane, petrol, and diesel. People should collect fuel as needed and avoid panic buying. Anyone attempting to hoard fuel illegally will face action,” he added. Authorities seize 6,000 liters of illegally stored diesel in Chattogram Authorities said several fuel-carrying vessels have recently arrived in Chattogram, with additional shipments expected. The district administration said mobile courts and enforcement drives have maintained discipline in the fuel sector. So far, 98 operations have been conducted, with fines totaling Tk 4 to 4.5 lakh and 18 to 20 cases filed. Officials added that the crackdown on illegal hoarding and overpricing will continue to ensure fair supply.  

Police recovered the body of a retired bank official from a residential hotel in Habiganj town on Monday. The deceased was identified as Kamrul Hasan, 65, a retired assistant general manager of Janata Bank. Police broke open room 425 of Sonartari Hotel at Ashraf Jahan Complex in the afternoon and found him dead inside. Hotel and police sources said Kamrul checked into the hotel around 1:50pm on March 23 and had been staying there for several days. On Monday afternoon, a cleaner went to the room for routine cleaning. Despite repeated knocks, there was no response from inside. The matter was then reported to the hotel authority, who informed police. Police arrived at the scene and, in the presence of locals and hotel staff, broke open the door and recovered the body. Hotel manager Dwiman Kanti Nath said Kamrul had been staying in the room for the past few days. “When the cleaner got no response, we informed police,” he said. Sub-Inspector Dhrubesh of Habiganj Sadar Police Station said the body would be sent to Habiganj Sadar Modern Hospital morgue after preparing an inquest report. “The exact cause of death will be known after the autopsy,” he said. Elderly woman hacked to death over minor dispute in Habiganj village clash Police also recovered a mobile phone from the room. However, they could not contact family members immediately as the device was locked. Efforts are underway to trace his relatives. Local sources said Kamrul Hasan used to stay at this and other residential hotels in the town at times.  

Judges of the District and Sessions Judge Court and the Chief Judicial Magistrate Court of Pabna paid a courtesy call on President Mohammed Shahabuddin on Monday evening. The meeting was held at the Pabna Circuit House during the President’s visit to the district. Senior District and Sessions Judge Md Akhteruzzaman led the delegation, which included judges of the District and Sessions Judge Court as well as other judges serving in the district. During the meeting, the judges briefed the President on the overall activities of the judiciary in Pabna district and highlighted the existing challenges in conducting judicial proceedings. They also sought the President’s support in addressing those issues. The President assured them of his cooperation in resolving the problems. President meets Pabna Chamber leaders At the time, President Shahabuddin also recalled memories from his long professional career as a lawyer and a member of the Judicial Service. Secretaries to the President were also present on the occasion.

Two traders were jailed and fined in Chandpur for illegally hoarding and selling fuel, while another trader was fined in Faridgonj for selling fuel at higher-than-approved prices, officials said on Monday. The drive, conducted around 4:30pm under the initiative of the district administration, was led by Executive Magistrate Tanvir Rabbi from the Deputy Commissioner’s office. During the drive, authorities detained Mizanur Rahman, owner of Messrs Naurin Filling Station on Stadium Road in Chandpur Sadar, and Md Monjur Hossain Talukdar, owner of Imran Traders and an agent of Padma Oil Company in Alimpur. They were later sentenced to one year’s simple imprisonment each and fined Tk 5,000 under Section 45 of the Consumer Rights Protection Act for illegal hoarding and sale of fuel. According to the district administration, such drives will continue to prevent illegal stockpiling and black marketing of fuel. Surveillance has also been strengthened in markets across the town. Meanwhile, in Faridgonj, a mobile court fined a trader Tk 10,000 for selling octane, petrol and diesel at excessive prices in the open market. The drive was carried out at a shop near Kerowa Bridge in Faridgonj Bazar following allegations that fuel was being sold at inflated prices taking advantage of shortages at filling stations. Acting on the allegations, a mobile court team led by Assistant Commissioner (Land) A R M Zahid Hasan, along with police, conducted the drive and found the accusation to be true. Authorities said although Chandpur district has around 15 licensed filling stations across its eight upazilas, motorists are facing long queues amid an apparent supply crisis. Several pumps have already suspended sales of octane and petrol, displaying notices, while some stations are limiting sales to around Tk 200 worth of fuel per motorcycle, causing long waiting times for riders. Visits to multiple filling stations over the past two days showed petrol and octane sales remain suspended in several outlets, including Sharmin Filling Station near the district council office. At Amir Hossain and Company Filling Station, supply to motorcycles was found to be nearly halted, with rationing limiting sales to just 2 litres per bike. Manager Kamal Hossain said fuel is being sold under a rationing system due to a shortage. However, Lokman Hossain, depot in-charge of Padma Oil Company under the Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation, dismissed claims of any fuel shortage, saying there is no deficit at depots or elsewhere. He urged the authorities to take swift action against those creating an artificial crisis. Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) Md Ershad Uddin said there are three fuel depots in Chandpur — Padma, Meghna and Jamuna — which supply fuel not only to the district but also to four neighbouring districts. Man killed, 3 injured in Chandpur road crash “We have appointed tag officers at every filling station and are monitoring the situation. Mobile courts are also being conducted when necessary,” he said, warning of strict legal action against any station found hoarding or rationing fuel without justification. Superintendent of Police Robiul Hasan urged people to provide information on illegal fuel hoarding or overpricing, assuring that informants’ identities would be kept confidential.

Authorities fined several businesses a total of Tk 200,000 in separate drives in Chuadanga and Natore on Monday for irregularities, including selling expired seeds, unauthorised fertiliser, fuel measurement fraud and illegal storage of petroleum products. A mobile court led by the Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection fined three businesses a total of Tk 100,000 for various irregularities in Chuadanga Sadar Upazila. The drive was conducted from Monday morning to noon in the Bhalaipur More and Daulatdiar areas, targeting markets dealing in daily essentials such as fuel oil, medicines, fertiliser and seeds. During the operation, M/s Kuddus Seed Warehouse and Pesticides in Bhalaipur Bazar was fined Tk 10,000 under Section 51 of the Consumer Rights Protection Act, 2009 for storing and selling expired seeds. In the same area, M/s New Tushar Traders was fined Tk 30,000 under Section 45 of the Act for selling fertiliser without proper authorisation and failing to maintain sales records. Meanwhile, M/s Rahman Automobile in Daulatdiar was fined Tk 60,000 for manipulating fuel measurements. Authorities found that customers were receiving 300 millilitres less per five litres of oil, along with evidence of tampered measuring devices. Following the drive, traders were instructed to display updated price lists, maintain proper documentation, sell products at fair prices, and avoid selling expired or substandard goods, including medicines, seeds and baby food. The operation was led by Assistant Director Mohammad Mamunul Hasan of the Chuadanga District Office. He was assisted by Field Officer Salma Jahan Nipa of the District Seed Certification Office, CAB representative Md Rafiqul Islam, and members of the Chuadanga District Ansar Battalion. In a separate incident in Natore, a businessman was fined Tk 100,000 for illegally storing fuel oil in Singra upazila. Acting on a tip-off, a team led by Upazila Executive Officer Abdullah Al Rifat conducted a drive in Raninagar village on Monday afternoon. During the drive, 65 barrels of diesel and petrol were seized from a warehouse owned by oil trader Altaf Hossain. He was fined Tk 100,000 for the offence. The court later ordered the immediate sale of the seized fuel in the open market at a fair price upon bond.

Police recovered the body of an unidentified man from the Central Shaheed Minar area under Shahbagh Police Station in the capital on Monday evening. The victim, estimated to be around 40 years old, was found lying on a footpath at around 7:00 pm, said Sub-Inspector Md Asad of Shahbagh Police Station. He was taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital at around 7:30 pm, where the on-duty doctor declared him dead. Woman killed after being hit by bus in Dhaka's Saydabad Police said they could not confirm the identity of the man after speaking to people at the scene. Efforts are underway to identify him using available technology. The body has been kept at the Dhaka Medical College Hospital morgue for autopsy to determine the exact cause of death. Legal proceedings are ongoing.