United News of Bangladesh

The Appellate Division has upheld the High Court's decision to dismiss five labour-law related cases against Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus. A three-judge bench of the Appellate Division, led by Justice Md Ashfaqul Islam, issued the ruling, rejecting the state’s appeal for permission to challenge the High Court's verdict. During the court proceedings, Additional Attorney General Mohammad Anik Rushd Haque represented the state, while Senior Advocate Mustafizur Rahman Khan represented Dr Yunus. The Appellate Division's full order says that there were no legal flaws in the High Court's ruling and order. As a result, the court found no need for legal problem in the decision, leading to the dismissal of the state’s leave to appeal. Five labour court cases were filed against Dr Yunus in 2019, alleging wrongful dismissal linked to the formation of a proposed trade union during his tenure as Chairman of Grameen Telecommunications. High Court rejects ex-NBR Official Matiur’s writ petition to travel abroad In 2020, Dr Yunus petitioned the High Court for the cancellation of the cases, and the High Court issued a rule to that effect. After the final hearing, the High Court delivered its verdict on October 24, 2024, canceling the proceedings of all five cases. The state subsequently sought permission to appeal the decision, but the Supreme Court dismissed the leave to appeal application on December 8. Senior Advocate Mustafizur Rahman Khan said, "The Appellate Division has issued its full order, dismissing the state’s leave to appeal against the High Court’s ruling. As a result, Prof Yunus and the relevant officials of Grameen Telecommunications at the time have been relieved from the cases, and the legal proceedings against them will no longer have any effect."

Police have arrested three members of a mugging gang from Kalshi of Dhaka’s Pallabi. The suspects, identified as Md. Raihan (21), Md. Shuvo, and Md. Rana Islam (22), were arrested by a team from Pallabi Police Station during an operation around 10:15 pm on Friday, said to Talebur Rahman, deputy commissioner (media) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police on Saturday. The arrests followed a complaint lodged by Md Anwar Mia, a deliveryman for Transcom Distribution Company. DMP files 3,447 cases for traffic rule violations in 2 days On January 2, while returning with cash collected from deliveries, Anwar Mia was intercepted near the Kalshi intersection rickshaw stand at Bawniyabadh. The assailants, armed with local weapons, forcibly took Tk 65,108 belonging to the company before fleeing. After the complaint was filed, police launched an investigation and used intelligence and technology to track down and arrest the suspects, said the DC. Deaths of 4 family members in Savar: 2 drivers arrested During primary interrogation, the arrestees admitted their involvement in the robbery and confessed to being active members of a professional mugging gang.

The Traffic Division of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) filed 3,447 cases for traffic rule violations during operations conducted in various areas of the capital in the last two days. The drives were conducted on Thursday and Friday, said Deputy Commissioner (Media) of the DMP Talebur Rahman. DMP files 2,206 cases for traffic rules violation The authorities also dumped 158 vehicles and towed away 79 others as part of the crackdown. The Traffic Division’s crackdown on traffic rule violations will continue in the coming days to maintain order on the roads, he added. DMP files 2,243 cases for traffic rules violation

Police arrested two drivers on Saturday following the accident in Savar involving an ambulance and two buses that led to the deaths of four members of the same family. The arrestees are ambulance driver Zahid Hasan and Shyamoli Paribahan driver Zahirul Islam, said Savar Highway Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Saugatul Alam. 4 of a family killed, 15 injured as ambulance, 2 buses catch fire in Savar Both drivers admitted to the reckless driving, which led to the accident. Following their appearance in court, they were sent to jail. Efforts are also ongoing to arrest the driver of another bus involved, identified as a Jhumur Paribahan vehicle, said the OC. CCTV footage revealed that the ambulance, Shyamoli Paribahan, and Jhumur Paribahan buses were racing from Nabinagar to Fulbaria in Savar when the collision took place at approximately 1:45 am Thursday. 7-year-old loses parents, brother in Savar ambulance fire The ambulance, which had been travelling ahead of the buses, was struck from behind by the two vehicles almost simultaneously. The impact sent the ambulance onto a roadside island, triggering an explosion of the ambulance’s gas cylinder. The explosion set all three vehicles on fire. Four members of a family from Ghatail upazila of Tangail, who were inside the ambulance, died from the fire. Police filed a case at Savar Highway Police Station, accusing several unidentified individuals involved regarding the matter.

Detectives arrested a bus driver and his helper with 4,000 yaba tablets during an anti-narcotics drive in the capital’s Jatrabari area on Friday. The arrestees were identified as bus driver Md Zakir Hossain, 45, and helper Md Shahin Chowkidar, 30. A team from the Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police stopped a bus named ‘Saint Martin Road Master’ at Sayedabad Janapath intersection around 9:05 am on Friday following a tip-off, Deputy Commissioner (Media) of DMP Talebur Rahman said. Red Alert issued to arrest ex-OC Shah Alam During a search, detectives recovered the yaba tablets from a bag the driver was carrying. The bus was also seized, the DC added. Police said the duo had been smuggling yaba from Cox’s Bazar to Dhaka under the guise of passenger transport. A case has been filed under the Narcotics Control Act with Jatrabari Police Station, and further legal actions are underway.

Authorities have issued a red alert across the country after Shah Alam, the former Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Uttara East Police Station, escaped from custody at the police station on Thursday. “We have issued a red alert nationwide to prevent Shah Alam from fleeing the country through airports, land ports, or border points,” Uttara East Police Station OC Hafizur Rahman told UNB. Two arrested at Sylhet airport on way to London Police have launched a manhunt and tightened security at all entry and exit points to apprehend him. Authorities have also initiated an investigation to determine how he managed to escape, he said. Shah Alam was arrested on Wednesday night outside Dhakal in connection with a case filed over a student-led anti-discrimination movement. He was brought to Uttara East Police Station on Thursday for legal proceedings but managed to escape around noon. Ex-OC escapes from police custody in Dhaka The former OC faced accusations of misconduct and alleged abuse of power during his tenure, particularly involving killings during student-led anti-discrimination protests. A case was filed against him following allegations of harassment, excessive use of force, and killings during the demonstrations. Officials warned that those found negligent in their duties will face strict disciplinary action.

A drug peddler was arrested with 15 kg of marijuana from Phulbari upazila of Kurigram on Friday. The arrestee was identified as Shafiqul Islam, 42, son of the late Kachu Mamud in the Shimulbari area of the upazila, said Mamunur Rashid, officer-in-charge (OC) of Phulbari Police Station. Two arrested at Sylhet airport on way to London Acting on a tipped off, a police team conducted an anti-drug operation in the Khejurer Tol area of Baravita Union on Friday afternoon and arrested Shafiqul Islam, he said. Later, police filed a case under the Narcotics Control Act and sent him to the Kurigram jail, added the OC.

Two men accused in a fraud case were arrested by the immigration police from Sylhet Osmani International Airport on Friday. The arrested were identified as Mohammad Gaffar Khan Liton and Millon Mia, said Officer-in-Charge of Shahporan Police Station Mohammad Monir Hossain. Actress Nipun stopped from going to London They were supposed to fly from Sylhet to London on flight BG-201 at 9:20 am. Later, they were handed over to Shahporan Police Station. Liton and Milon are the first and second accused in the fraud case (Case No. 8/8) at Shahporan Police Station. After their arrest, they were sent to court, added the OC. Russian worker found dead at Rooppur Power Plant According to airport sources, when Liton and Milon arrived at Sylhet Osmani International Airport on Friday morning to board the flight to London, they were detained by the immigration police. They were then handed over to Shahporan Police Station.

A ward level leader of Jubo League was hospitalised in critical condition after unknown attackers hacked him and cut the veins of his legs in Barishal city, said police on Friday. The attack on Shahriar Sachib Rajib, general secretary of the ward No-21 unit of the city, occurred on Thursday night. Rajib was shifted to a Dhaka hospital from Barishal Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital on Friday morning for advanced treatment, she said. Mizanur Rahman, officer-in-charge of Kotwali Model Police Station, said a video footage shows two men equipped with sharp weapons chasing him around 9:30pm. Read: Jubo Dal activist hacked to death in Barguna After catching him, the miscreants hacked him indiscriminately with the weapons and fled away, he said. There were marks of injuries in legs, hands and chest of Rajib, the OC said, fearing his condition was critical. Efforts were underway to nab those involved and uncover the reason behind the attack, the police official added.

Actress Nipun Akter was on Friday quizzed at Osmani International Airport in Sylhet and prevented from travelling to London. She was scheduled to fly to London by a flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines ‘BG-201’ from the airport at 10am. The Immigration police took her in their custody and questioned her for a while after she had arrived in the morning, said an official speaking on condition of anonymity. Appellate Division asks Zayed, Nipun to follow Chamber Judge order Her London trip was cancelled after scrutinising passport and other documents, said the official without providing any details. After quizzing about the trip, she was released, he said. Nipun served as general secretary of Bangladesh Film Artistes Association. SC clears way for Nipun to serve as general secretary of Film Artistes’ Association