United News of Bangladesh

A case was filed Thursday over a violent attack on two Customs officials in Chattogram, who were allegedly targeted by criminals for preventing the illegal release of imported goods, according to the National Board of Revenue (NBR). The incident occurred around 10:20am in the CDA Residential Area under Double Mooring Police Station, when three unidentified assailants on a motorcycle intercepted a vehicle carrying Md Asaduzzaman Khan, Revenue Officer of the AIR section at Chattogram Customs House, and Assistant Revenue Officer Md Badrul Arefin Bhuiyan. Asaduzzaman Khan lodged the case at Double Mooring Police Station. The attackers reportedly attempted to kill them, striking the car with a machete and kicking in the left-side window while shouting “shoot, shoot.” The officials escaped unharmed by quickly driving toward their office. Authorities believe the attack is linked to several recent enforcement drives by Chattogram Customs House aimed at preventing revenue evasion. Recent seizures include illegally imported poppy seeds and banned sodium cyclamate worth nearly Tk 10 crore, and a consignment of restricted cigarettes valued at around Tk 30 crore back in May. Customs officials also intercepted multiple consignments of cosmetics brought through false declarations, prompting threats from fraud syndicates. On October 5, an anonymous caller threatened one of the two attacked officials over WhatsApp, following the seizure of misdeclared cosmetics, leading to a general diary being filed at Bandar Police Station the next day. The NBR strongly condemned the assault, describing it as a heinous act against officers performing their lawful duties to curb smuggling, preventing tax evasion, and preventing imports through false declarations. It reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring the safety of honest and dedicated officials and urged law enforcement agencies to bring the perpetrators to justice without delay.

The OCs (officers-in-charge) of 50 police stations under Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) have been transferred and given new postings, in the latest round of reshuffles. Dhaka Metropolitan Police headquarters issued three separate notifications in this regard on Thursday. Read More: Reshuffle in Police Admin: Additional IGP among 82 officers made OSD    

The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has imposed a ban on all forms of public gatherings in key areas of the capital, including the Bangladesh Secretariat and Jamuna, the official residence of the Chief Adviser, effective from Saturday. The restriction has been enforced under the Section 29 of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police Ordinance, 1976, citing the need to maintain public order and safety of the Chief Adviser, said a public notice issued by DMP Commissioner Sheikh Md Sazzat Ali. According to the notice, all types of meetings, assemblies, processions, human chains, sit-ins, and similar activities are strictly prohibited in and around the Bangladesh Secretariat and Jamuna. The areas under the restriction included Hotel InterContinental Crossing, Kakrail Mosque Crossing, Officers Club Crossing, and Mintu Road Crossing. The order will remain valid until further notice. The DMP commissioner urged people to cooperate to help maintain peace and security in the designated areas.

The High Court (HC) on Thursday delivered a split verdict on the legality of the ongoing process to sign an operational agreement between the Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) and a foreign company for running the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT). The joint bench of Justice Fatema Najib and Justice Fatema Anwar issued separate orders. Justice Fatema Najib declared the contract process illegal, while Justice Fatema Anwar ruled an opposite one. Following the split decision, lawyers said the matter will now be sent to the Chief Justice, who will assign another HC bench to settle the issue. Barrister Muhammad Jamiruddin Sircar, Advocate Ahsanul Karim, Barrister Mahbub Uddin Khokan and Barrister Kayser Kamal argued for the writ petitioners. Attorney General Md Asaduzzaman and Additional Attorney General Anik R. Huq represented the state. Container handling at Ctg Port up 9% in Aug-October: CPA Chairman Earlier, on November 25, the court concluded hearings on the rule regarding the legality of the foreign-operator agreement for NCT and set December 4 for delivering the order. On July 30, the HC bench of Justice Md. Habibul Gani and Justice Sheikh Taslim Ali issued a rule asking why the contract process should not be declared beyond legal authority. The bench also questioned why a directive should not be given to ensure fair and competitive public bidding, in line with relevant laws and policies, before appointing any operator for the NCT. Bangladesh Young Economists Forum president Mirza Walid Hossain filed the petition challenging the legality of handing over the terminal to a foreign operator. The shipping secretary, the chairman of the Chittagong Port Authority, and the CEO of the Public-Private Partnership Authority were made respondents.

The Appellate Division on Thursday (December 04, 2025) upheld a High Court (HC) order that declared the swearing-in and formation of the interim government valid, dismissing a leave-to-appeal petition over the government. A top court bench, led by Chief Justice Dr. Syed Refaat Ahmed, passed the order. During Wednesday’s (December 03, 2025) hearing, Attorney General Md Asaduzzaman argued that the writ challenging the government’s legality was based on a mistaken notion. Read more: Writ petition filed challenging provision of party symbols in the alliance's vote Lawyers representing the government said that the formation of a government following a popular uprising cannot be questioned, and that raising doubts before the Supreme Court, which was reconstituted after the government took oath, is impermissible. The petitioner’s counsel defended that during the August 5 uprising, the then Chief Justice and Appellate Division judges had sought shelter in the cantonment. Consequently, under Article 106 of the Constitution, they were unable to provide the President with advice regarding government formation, rendering the current government’s oath-taking and formation process illegal. In December last year, senior lawyer Mohsin Rashid first submitted a petition with the HC challenging the legality, which the court rejected, stating that the people’s approval legitimises the interim government and no one could question it. Read more: Writ petition filed seeking stay on election activities Following that, the petitioner sought leave to appeal in the Appellate Division, which was dismissed today (Thursday).

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) on Wednesday filed a case against six former senior officials of the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC), including its former chairman Sunil Kanti Bose, for allegedly causing a financial loss of Tk 9,010 crore to the government through criminal breach of trust and abuse of power. The accused are former BTRC chairman Sunil Kanti Bose, former vice-chairman Brig Gen (retd) Md Ahsan Habib Khan, former chairman Dr Shahjahan Mahmood, former commissioner Md Jahurul Haque, Md Rezaul Kader and Md Aminul Hasan. ACC officials said the accused, while serving at BTRC between October 2015 and January 2018, violated relevant laws, guidelines and government instructions by continuing an “experimental” facility without approval from the authorities. The move allegedly caused significant revenue losses to the state while benefiting themselves or International Gateway (IGW) operators financially. Investigators found that during a one-year experimental phase — from September 18, 2014 to September 30, 2015 — the international incoming call termination rate was set at USD 0.015 per minute instead of the approved USD 0.03. The government’s revenue share was reduced from 51.75% to 40%, while IGW operators’ share was increased from 13.25% to 20%. Although the experimental period expired, the accused unlawfully continued the facility for 28 more months (October 2015 to January 2018). ACC calls for fact-based review of Tulip Siddiq's sentencing reports As a result, the government incurred the following losses: Revenue share disparity: Tk 383.73 crore, lower call rate loss:Tk 2,941.99 crore, Loss of foreign currency earnings:Tk 5,685.01 crore (equivalent to USD 72.10 million) In total, the government suffered an estimated loss of Tk 9,010.74 crore. The ACC filed the case under Sections 409/418 of the Penal Code, Section 5(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1947, and Sections 4(2) and 4(3) of the Money Laundering Prevention Act, 2012.    

Police and members of Rab have arrested a suspect in connection with the killing of Shahadat Islam Rocky, 25, a grocery shop employee who was stabbed to death in the capital’s Kamrangirchar area early Tuesday. According to police, the planned armed attack took place around 3:45am on early Tuesday in East Islamnagar. Unidentified assailants stabbed Rocky multiple times on both thighs with a sharp weapon and fled the scene. Locals rescued him after hearing his screams and took him to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, where doctors declared him dead. Family members said Rocky left home around 4pm on the previous Monday to join his work at a grocery shop. The next day (Tuesday) morning, relatives were informed that he had been found critically injured. Initial findings from the investigation suggest that Rocky, reportedly involved in local grouping and known for drug addiction, may have been targeted due to disputes arising from his identifying himself as a police source to intimidate rivals. Following a complaint filed by the victim’s father, Kamrangirchar Police Station registered a case. The investigating officer then sought assistance from RAB-10 to arrest the fugitives. Acting on intelligence and with police support, a RAB-10 team from CPSCS Lalbagh Camp conducted a raid in Chamta area under Naria Police Station in Shariatpur around 12:30am on early Wednesday and arrested Md Arman, 22, identified during the investigation as a suspect in the murder. RAB said Arman has four previous cases related to robbery and dacoity. He has since been handed over to the concerned police station.

BNP leader Advocate Fazlur Rahman has tendered an unconditional apology after being accused of contempt of court for making disparaging remarks about the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT). Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam confirmed the development on Wednesday during a press briefing at the tribunal premises. He said that Fazlur Rahman has already submitted his apology to the tribunal, which is scheduled to hold a hearing on the matter on December 8. Fazlur Rahman acknowledged that his earlier remarks were made in error and expressed hope that the court would show mercy. The prosecution had earlier filed a contempt petition against him for making derogatory comments about the tribunal and its proceedings related to crimes against humanity committed during July–August. On November 30, the ICT summoned Fazlur Rahman to appear on December 8 with his professional and academic certificates, following allegations of making controversial statements regarding the tribunal and its trials. The order was issued by International Crimes Tribunal-1, chaired by Justice Golam Mortuza Majumder.

The government has extended the tenure of the National Independent Investigation Commission formed to reinvestigate the BDR carnage till December 7. Cabinet Division issued a notification in this regard on Wednesday. The interim government formed the independent commission on December 24 last year with retired Major General ALM Fazlur Rahman as its chairman. Initially, the commission was given three months to submit its report. The tenure was later extended twice, each time by three months, followed by an additional two-month extension. The latest extension expired on November 30. According to the new notification, the seven-day extension will take effect from December 1. Recommendations of BDR massacre investigation committee to be implemented: Home Adviser The commission has been tasked with unearth the nature and full extent of the events that took place on February 25–26, 2009 at the then BDR headquarters in Pilkhana. The commission has been asked to identify those involved including perpetrators, accomplices, conspirators, evidence destroyers, instigators and any domestic or foreign individuals, groups, organisations, agencies, or institutions linked to the killings. The commission submitted its report to Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus on November 30.  

Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) arrested two suspects on Tuesday in connection with the killing of CNG auto-rickshaw driver Pappu Sheikh, who was shot dead in a reported planned attack in the capital’s Jurain area on Monday evening. The arrestees were identified as Md Yusuf Sardar, 45, and Md Uzzal alias Kanchi, 30. Yusuf was arrested from the Alambagh area of Jurain under Kadamtali Police Station and Kanchi was arrested from the Jurain Railway Gate area under Shyampur Police Station. Police quoting witnesses said the incident took place around 6:30pm on Monday at Kana Jobbar’s Goli on Kabi Nazrul Lane under Kadamtali Police Station. Pappu Sheikh, 26, was allegedly targeted by members of a local criminal group known as the Bapparaj alias Bappa group, reportedly following a dispute over drug-related activities. Police said Pappu had left his rented home in East Jurain to visit his in-laws when the attackers intercepted him. The group allegedly held him by force before Bapparaj alias Bappa fired three shots at him with a firearm. One bullet struck Pappu in the left side of his groin, causing him to collapse at the scene. Local residents rushed the critically injured victim to local Ad-Din Hospital, from where he was referred to Dhaka Medical College Hospital. Doctors at DMCH declared him dead upon arrival. Following a complaint filed by the victim’s father, police registered a case with Kadamtali Police Station. The investigation officer subsequently sought cooperation from RAB-10 to track down the suspects. Acting on intelligence, a team from CPC-1, Jatrabari Camp of RAB-10, conducted operations in different parts of Jurain. The elite force arrested one of the named suspects, Md Yusuf Sardar, 45, from the Alambagh area of Jurain under Kadamtali Police Station around 11:15am on Tuesday. About an hour later, around12:15pm, RAB members detained the second suspect, Md Uzzal alias Kanchi, 30, from the Jurain Railway Gate area under Shyampur Police Station, said Senior Assistant Superintendent of Police (Media) of RAB-10, Taposh Karmakar. He also said that Yusuf Sardar has three previous cases, including under the Narcotics Control Act, while Uzzal alias Kanchi faces two narcotics-related cases. Legal procedures against the arrested individuals are underway, the RAB media officer said.