United News of Bangladesh

A proposal to recruit 2,526 additional personnel for the Tourist Police is currently under consideration by the Ministry of Public Administration to enhance security and service quality across tourist destinations, Additional Inspector General of Police (IGP) G. M. Azizur Rahman said on Saturday. He disclosed the information while speaking as a special guest at a discussion and Bangladesh Tourism Award presentation ceremony held at the China Friendship Conference Center in the capital on Saturday evening to mark World Tourism Day. Highlighting the critical role of safety in sustainable tourism development, Azizur Rahman said tourists prioritize security alongside natural beauty, culture, and entertainment when choosing a destination. "Tourist Police is one of the visible public service institutions providing security, information, and emergency assistance at tourist sites," he said. Starting its journey in 2013, the Tourist Police currently operates across 32 districts and 130 tourist destinations. In the first eight months of this year, over 10,000 foreign tourists visited these areas. During this period, the Tourist Police reunited 365 missing children with their families, rescued 31 people alive from dangerous situations, and arrested 92 individuals involved in crimes and harassment, while also recovering lost mobile phones, bags, and money for tourists. Chaired by Civil Aviation and Tourism Ministry Secretary Fahmida Akhter, the event featured a welcome address by Bangladesh Tourism Board Chief Executive Officer Barrister Motasim Billah Faruqui. Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister M. Rashiduzzaman Millat attended the ceremony as the chief guest. Parliamentary Standing Committee Chairman on Civil Aviation and Tourism Ministry Abul Kalam Azad Siddiqui, Ministry Additional Secretary Md. Abdur Rouf, and Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation Chairman Md. Samimuzzaman were also present as special guests.

A Dhaka court on Saturday granted one-day remand to Major (retd) Akhtaruzzaman, a former lawmaker and leader of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, in a case filed over alleged disorder and obstruction of government duties at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Al-Beruni Mir passed the order after a hearing in the afternoon, said Additional Public Prosecutor of the Dhaka Metropolitan Court Muhammad Shamsuddoha Sumon. Earlier, the investigation officer in the case, Sub-Inspector Majedul Islam of Airport Police Station, sought five days' remand for Akhtaruzzaman. According to the First Information Report (FIR), the incident occurred around 10:40 a.m. on Thursday when passengers arriving on a Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight (BG-338) from Madina faced a shortage of trolleys and baggage collection delays at Belt No. 8 amid heavy passenger pressure. As frustration and tension among passengers escalated, Airport Executive Director Group Captain SM Ragib Samad went to the spot to bring the situation under control following a request from Dhaka-5 MP Mohammad Kamal Hossain. The FIR said while Ragib Samad attempted to calm the situation, Akhtaruzzaman-who was expelled from the BNP multiple times before joining Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami in December 2025-allegedly approached him aggressively, verbally abused him, and threatened to beat him and throw him out of the airport by the neck.  He also allegedly made offensive remarks regarding the Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister. The situation worsened when protocol assistants accompanying Akhtaruzzaman began recording videos on mobile phones within the airport’s restricted Key Point Installation (KPI) area. When Security Supervisor Warrant Officer Mohammad Kamal Uddin asked them to stop recording, Akhtaruzzaman allegedly verbally abused and physically assaulted him. The FIR further alleged that Akhtaruzzaman threw bottles of holy Zamzam water collected by other passengers from their trolleys, causing damage, and exhibited aggressive behavior toward a representative of Biman Bangladesh Airlines. DB police arrested Akhtaruzzaman from his residence in the Cantonment area of the capital on Friday. He was later shown arrested in the case filed with Airport Police Station. Akhtaruzzaman joined Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami on December 13, 2025.

Police arrested three people for extorting Tk 159,000 from a man in Uttara allegedly by posing as members of the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI). The arrestees are Md Russell Mahbub alias Masum, 42, Sohel Mirza, 41, and Md Sajib, 36. Quoting Uttara East Police Station, DMP's DC (Media) Akhter Hossain said Saturday noon that a patrol team from the police station went to a flat on the 10th floor of a building on Road No. 3 in Sector 4 around 8am on Friday after receiving information through the national emergency service 999. Police said several people were threatening flat owner Kaiyum Shahriar Zahedi claiming to be DGFI members and telling him that a case had been filed against him. At one stage, they demanded Tk 10 lakh from him to settle the purported case and Zahedi paid them Tk 159,000 out of fear. Later, suspecting their activities, he sought police assistance by calling 999. Police subsequently reached the spot and found a DGFI identity card in the possession of one of the suspects. During questioning, the suspects admitted to extorting money while posing as DGFI members, police said. Police recovered a fake DGFI identity card, a motorcycle, Tk 159,000 in cash, a walkie-talkie and a pair of handcuffs from their possession. A case has been filed with Uttara East Police Station and legal procedures are underway to send the arrestees to court.

A young man has been sentenced to three months’ imprisonment in Ranisankail upazila of Thakurgaon after his mother complained to the authorities about his drug addiction and alleged abuse of his parents. The accused, James alias Milon, 35, is the son of Md Sirajul Islam of the Nekmarad Bazar area. Ranisankail Assistant Commissioner (Land) and Executive Magistrate Mujibur Rahman said Milon had been consuming cannabis and Yaba for several years and verbally abused and physically assaulted his parents frequently when they failed to give him money for drugs. Finally, his mother Fatema Khatun lodged a complaint against him with the AC (Land) office. On Thursday, the upazila administration raided the family's home and found Milon apparently under the influence of drugs and in possession of 100 grams of cannabis. Later, a mobile court sentenced him to three months' imprisonment. Fatema Khatun said her family had been struggling to cope with her son's behaviour for a long time. "We were at our wits' end because of him. We could no longer manage the situation. So, we were compelled to hand him over to the law. It would be a relief if he returns free from his addiction," she said. Md Amanullah Al Bari, officer-in-charge (OC) of Ranisankail Police Station, said Milon had been addicted to drugs for a long time and often assaulted family members to obtain money. "Following the family's complaint, the mobile court sentenced him to three months in prison and handed him over to the police," he said.

A man was injured after allegedly being hit on the head with a firearm during a dispute at Bangla Motor in the capital on Thursday night, while two blank shots were reportedly fired at the scene. Police detained four people, including Ferdous Ahmed Simon, a former and expelled Jubo Dal convener, in connection with the incident. The incident occurred around 8:10pm in an alley near the old petrol pump at Bangla Motor intersection under Hatirjheel Police Station. The injured man was identified as Sohan, 45. He lives at New Eskaton in the capital. According to police, Sohan had an argument with Simon over a local dispute. At one stage, Simon allegedly struck Sohan on the head with the butt of a firearm, leaving him bleeding. Simon then allegedly fired two blank shots before leaving the scene. Habibur Rahman, in-charge of the Dhaka Medical College Police Outpost, said Sohan was taken to the emergency department of Dhaka Medical College Hospital around 10:30pm. Hatirjheel Police Station Officer-in-Charge Asaduzzaman said four people, including Simon, had been detained. “A case is being processed in connection with the incident,” he said. Following the incident, local BNP leaders and activists staged a procession in the Bangla Motor area. Additional police have been deployed at the scene, police said.

The High Court has granted six-month interim bail to prime accused Mahmudul Hasan Mahin in the murder case of Lal Chand alias Sohag who was killed in front of Sir Salimullah Medical College and Mitford Hospital in the capital last year. The HC bench of Justice Md Ruhul Quddus and Justice Syed Hasan Zobair passed the order on September 28 after hearing a petition. The HC also issued a rule asking the government to explain as to why Mahin should not granted permanent bail in the case. Meanwhile, a petition was filed with the High Court on Thursday seeking a stay on the bail order, said Attorney General Ruhul Quddus Kazal. Sohag, 39, a scrap trader, was hacked and beaten to death in broad daylight at the hospital gate on July 9, 2025. The video footage of the killing went viral on social networking site Facebook, which drew huge flak. Following the incident, the victim’s elder sister filed a murder case with Kotwali Police Station against 19 identified people and 15-20 unidentified others. The court framed formal charges against 21 accused in the case on July 12, 2026.

Customs officials at the Inland Container Depot (ICD) in Dhaka have prevented the import of 1,980 drones weighing 658 kg, worth nearly Tk 1 crore, which were declared as rechargeable remote-control (RRC) toys. The drones were detected during a physical examination of a consignment imported by Mim Collection of Chawk Bazar, Dhaka, according to a press release issued by the National Board of Revenue (NBR). Acting on a tip-off received by Customs House ICD Commissioner Kazi Muhammad Ziauddin, customs officials examined the consignment on September 29. The consignment had been imported under Bill of Entry No. 12367, dated September 27, declaring various types of toys. During the physical examination, officials found the drones concealed among the declared goods, the release said. The customs authorities said the revenue and applicable fines related to the imported drones would be recovered. Further action will be taken after verifying the flying range of the seized drones and the relevant documents, it said. The authorities are processing strict action against those involved in accordance with the Customs Act 2023 and relevant regulations. Commissioner Kazi Muhammad Ziauddin said Customs House ICD, Dhaka, was maintaining a strict position against imports that violate the import policy and attempts to evade revenue, in line with instructions from the NBR chairman. The authorities are also examining the consignment and related documents to determine the extent of violations and the appropriate legal measures.

A mobile court in Pirgachha upazila of Rangpur on Wednesday seized a large quantity of counterfeit soybean oil, along with raw materials and equipment used to produce it, and sentenced a trader to one month in jail and fined him Tk 20,000. The raid was conducted around 11am at the house of trader Mashiur Rahman, 40, son of Azizur Rahman of Guabari Balapara village in the upazila. Mashiur runs a wholesale and retail grocery shop in the old bus stand area of Pirgachha Bazar. According to locals, he had allegedly been producing and marketing counterfeit soybean oil at his house behind his shop for a long time. Acting on a tip-off, Executive Magistrate and Assistant Commissioner (Land) Tarek Hasan Tahsin led the mobile court operation. During the raid, around 50-60 cartons of counterfeit soybean oil, oil-making materials, empty bottles, equipment and fake labels were seized from three rooms on the ground floor of the house. The mobile court subsequently sentenced Mashiur to one month of simple imprisonment and fined him Tk 20,000. Some of the seized materials were later destroyed by burning at the scene. Tarek Hasan Tahsin said the accused was sentenced to imprisonment and fined, adding that such drives would continue in the public interest and to protect consumers.

Police on Wednesday arrested eight alleged members of an inter-district theft gang and recovered 94 stolen Android mobile phones during a joint operation in the Jamuna Bridge West Link Road area of Sirajganj. The arrestees are Alauddin, 25, Robiul, 33, Israfil, 27, Hridoy, 34, Al-Amin, 30, Akkas, 35, Imran, 30, and Yasin Arafat, 38. The arrests were made after police from three police stations searched a passenger bus in the area. They are residents of different areas in Cumilla, Chattogram, Narsingdi and Brahmanbaria districts. Jamuna Bridge West Police Station Officer-in-Charge Amirul Islam said the gang broke into Masud Telecom, a mobile phone shop in Dhunat municipality area of Bogura, by cutting its shutter early Wednesday and stole the phones. The suspects were fleeing towards Dhaka on a Shyamoli Paribahan bus with the stolen phones, he said. On information, police reviewed CCTV footage from the shop and traced the suspects' movements. They also collected information about their escape route by talking to drivers at a local CNG stand. Based on the information, police learned that the eight suspects had hired two CNG-run auto-rickshaws and travelled to the Sherpur bus stand in Bogura, from where they boarded a Shyamoli Paribahan bus bound for Dhaka. Following instructions from senior police officials, teams from Jamuna Bridge West Police Station, Sirajganj Highway Police Station and Dhunat Police Station launched a joint operation on the highway and arrested them in the Jamuna Bridge area. A case has been filed with the concerned police station in connection with the incident.

Inspector General of Police (IGP) Md Ali Hossain Fakir on Wednesday called upon police personnel to provide services to the people with professionalism, humanity and a service-oriented mindset. He made the call on Wednesday while inaugurating a two-day workshop on formulating a “Community Policing Policy” at the multipurpose hall of Police Staff College Bangladesh in Mirpur in the city. IGP Fakir said the foundation of people-oriented policing is to earn public trust and turn that trust into effective partnership. Regular communication and enhanced cooperation between police and the community can play an important role in preventing crime and building a safe society, he said, stressing the importance of community and beat policing. He also laid emphasis on preventing juvenile gangs and conducting anti-drug operations effectively through community policing. Referring to the “1st Community Policing Kabaddi Tournament-2026”, the IGP said the nationwide tournament has created enthusiasm as it aims to identify talented young players from remote areas and form a national kabaddi team with the best players. “Kabaddi is our national sport and a part of our pride,” he said, adding that such initiatives help the police reach people from all sections of society. The IGP said Bangladesh Police is committed to serving people with integrity, fairness and mutual respect. He urged police personnel to strengthen partnership with the community and build mutual trust to prevent crime and create peaceful and tolerant communities. Rector (Additional IGP)  of Police Staff College Bangladesh Kazi Md Fazlul Karim chaired the programme. He presented a keynote paper titled “Reforming Community and Beat Policing in Bangladesh: Towards a People-Oriented, Preventive and Intelligence-Led Policing Framework.” He stressed making community and beat policing more preventive, accountable, information-based and people-oriented based on existing experiences and achievements. Additional IGP (Crime and Operations) Md Sayedur Rahman and Vice-Rector Dr Md Abdus Sobhan took part in the discussion on the keynote paper and shared views on practical aspects of making community and beat policing more effective. Based on field-level experiences, opinions and recommendations from the workshop, a practical and implementable set of recommendations will be formulated to further institutionalise community and beat policing in Bangladesh Police. Community Affairs Officers and relevant police officials are participating in the workshop.