United News of Bangladesh

Police have arrested a woman for allegedly setting fire to a shoe factory in the Ganguli Lane area of Dhaka's Bangshal.  The arrestee, identified as Asma Begum (28), was caught red-handed while attempting to ignite a shoe factory. She was detained with a gas lighter at around 10:30 am, police said.  The fire broke out on the balcony of the second-floor room of Sanjid Shoe Factory, causing damages worth an estimated Tk 10 lakh. The blaze was brought under control by local residents and firefighters, said Deputy Commissioner (Media) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Talebur Rahman. 2 arrested over selling free textbooks in Dhaka “Shortly after the fire, Asma Begum was found attempting to set fire to another factory in the vicinity. She was detained with the help of locals,” Talebur Rahman said, adding that four accomplices—identified as Rocky, Nipuni Begum, Sumon, and Al Amin—managed to flee the scene.  Police have filed a case against Asma, her four accomplices, and 10-15 unidentified individuals for their alleged involvement in the arson.  Biman bomb threat came from Pakistani number: DMP During primary interrogation, Asma admitted to being part of a premeditated plan to cause damage to the factory. Efforts are underway to arrest the other suspects involved in the incident, police said. 

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Sheikh Mohammad Sajjat Ali has announced that a policy is being drafted concerning the operation of battery-run rickshaws. Under the proposed guidelines, no individual would be permitted to own more than one battery-powered rickshaw, in line with the principle that the driver should also be the owner, he said during a meeting with battery-run rickshaw owners and workers' associations at the DMP headquarters on Thursday afternoon. While highlighting the challenges associated with these vehicles, he said, “Although battery-powered rickshaws have created employment opportunities, they have also led to various problems. We must collectively address these issues.” He urged owners and drivers to ensure these rickshaws avoid major roads and bus routes. He also instructed authorities to take legal action against battery-powered rickshaws entering Dhaka from outside the metropolitan area. Sufficient security measures taken for Ekushey Boi Mela: DMP Commissioner During the meeting, the commissioner issued a firm warning against extortion in the transport sector, stating, “Any form of extortion will not be tolerated. Neither owners nor workers should pay any extortion money. If anyone demands such payments, report it to the nearest police station or outpost.” Representatives from rickshaw owners and workers' associations raised several concerns and requested the DMP Commissioner's intervention in resolving them.

Inspector General of Police (IGP) Baharul Alam on Thursday asked the newly appointed police officers to earn the public's trust by carrying out their duties impartially. He emphasised that when the police earn the trust of the people, the public will be more inclined to cooperate in maintaining law and order. The IGP made the comments during the concluding ceremony of the 43rd BCS (Police) batch Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Orientation Course at the Police Headquarters on Thursday. "You are the future leadership of the police force. The dignity of the police department depends on you. Therefore, you must carry out your responsibilities with honesty and set an example for others to follow," said the police chief. DMP to introduce a new hotline for real-time information exchange: Commissioner He further pointed out that recent movements against discrimination have provided the police with an opportunity to reconsider the expectations the public has of them. "As guardians of law and order, the police must be in tune with the emotions and sentiments of the people while carrying out their duties professionally," he added. The IGP also highlighted the challenging nature of the policing profession, urging the new officers to acquire the necessary skills through training to face various challenges. He stressed the importance of gaining knowledge in constitutional rights, human rights, and new laws. In addition, IGP Baharul Alam pointed out the significance of modern technology in policing. "In today's technological age, it is crucial to acquire skills and knowledge in advanced technologies to effectively control crime," he said. The ceremony was also attended by Additional IGP (HRM) Abu Nasir Mohammad Khaled, DIG (HR) Kazi Zia Uddin, and other relevant officials. A total of 84 officers from the 43rd BCS (Police) batch have joined as Assistant Superintendents of Police, including 78 men and six women.

Detectives have arrested two people for their suspected involvement in selling free textbooks which were intended for distribution among primary and secondary school students. The arrestees were identified as Sirajul Islam Ujjal, 55 and Md. Delwar Hossain,56. They were arrested  in a drive at 5:30 pm on Wednesday at Ispahani Lane warehouses in Banglabazar of Sutrapur, said DC (media) of DMP Talebur Rahman.  . About 10,000 textbooks worth Tk 8 lakh were seized during the drive. Preliminary interrogation revealed that the arrestees and their accomplices had been hoarding and selling the books to undermine the government's efforts to provide free textbooks to students at the start of the academic year, police said. Tamabil police seize 90 bottles of Phensedyl Legal action will be taken against Sirajul and Delwar, he said.

A court in Natore on Thursday sentenced a woman to 10 years of jail in a case over the killing of her mother in Gurudaspur upazila of the district around four years back. Judge of Natore Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal Muhammad Abdur Rahim tried her in absentia, said the court’s Public Prosecutor Abdul Kader Mia. The court issued an arrest warrant for convict Nusrat Jerin Boby Khan, he said. Unauthorised fishmeal factory sealed off in Natore The convict was aged 16 when she committed the crime, he added. According to the case deposition, Nusrat killed her mother Selina Begum with a sharp weapon out of anger for not buying a motorbike for her husband in Naribari village of the upazila on March 22, 2021. Later, the victim’s brother Sultan filed a case in this regard.              

Over 300 members of Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) are being freed  on bail after 16 years in jails in an explosive case over the BDR carnage at Dhaka’s Pilkhana. The prisoners started coming out of Dhaka Central Jail in Keraniganj and Kashimpur Central Jail in Gazipur on Thursday morning. Of them, 178 BDR members are set to be freed from Dhaka Central Jail and 126 from Kashimpur Central Jail. Earlier on Sunday, Judge of Dhaka Special Tribunal-1 Md Ibrahim Mia granted the bail to the BDR members in the explosive case. The court was set up temporarily inside the Dhaka Central Jail. On Tuesday, the jail authorities disclosed the list of the convicts who secured bail. The necessary documents for the bail were sent to both jails on Wednesday. After completing legal procedures, the Dhaka Central Jail authority started releasing 178 prisoners. The rest will be freed later, said jailer AKM Masud. The authority of Kashimpur Central Jail has released 38 inmates till 1am on Thursday. Read: Awami League orchestrated BDR massacre for political gain: Shahidul Alam

Highway police have seized a CNG-run autorickshaw along with 90 bottles of contraband Phensedyl in Jaintapur upazila of Sylhet on Wednesday night. Tamabil Highway Police Station’s Officer-in-Charge Mohammad Habibur Rahman said being tipped-off they set up a checkpost on Sylhet-Tamabil Highway in Katagang area around 10:30pm. Read: Five drug peddlers held with phensedyl in Sylhet Sensing the presence of the checkpost, the drug dealers fled away leaving the autorickshaw with the phensedyls, he said. The vehicle had no number plate. Later, the vehicle with the drugs was seized, the OC said, adding that a process was underway to file a case in this connection.

The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has said that the WhatsApp message claiming that a Dhaka-bound Biman flight from Rome was carrying explosives originated from a Pakistani phone number. DMP Deputy Commissioner (Media and Public Relations) Muhammad Talebur Rahman said on Wednesday night that while the WhatsApp number is from Pakistan, they could not confirm the location from which the message was actually sent. Bomb threat: Passenger's immigration delayed pending completion of search Earlier, Kamrul Islam, executive director of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, informed the media in a message: “A bomb threat was received at Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport from an unknown number. Following the threat, Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight BG-356 made an emergency landing at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 9:20 am on Wednesday (January 22).” Later, the Bomb Disposal Unit conducted searches inside the plane. The flight had departed from Leonardo da Vinci Airport in Rome at 8:00 pm local time on Tuesday (January 21).

Comprehensive security measures have been taken for the upcoming Amar Ekushey Boi Mela 2025, said DMP Commissioner Sheikh Md Sazzat Ali. Speaking at a coordination meeting on Wednesday at the DMP Headquarters, he assured that robust security, law and order, and traffic management arrangements are in place for the fair. Publications at Boi Mela still not back to pre-Covid levels "Every year, the Bangla Academy organises the Amar Ekushey Boi Mela, which will run throughout February at the academy and Suhrawardy Udyan premises. This year, DMP has ensured sufficient security around the event," he said. Both uniformed and plainclothes police officers will be stationed inside and outside the fairgrounds. Continuous surveillance will be carried out via CCTV cameras, and additional safety measures such as watch towers, fire tenders, and first aid facilities will be deployed, said the DMP official. Longest Boi Mela wraps up, with 6 million visitors across 31 days Other security protocols include sweeping event locations, deploying special plainclothes teams, and monitoring social media and drone surveillance around the fairgrounds, he added. The DMP commissioner added that all visitors must enter the venue through an archway. Large bags, cartons, and flammable materials will be strictly prohibited. As in previous years, a Lost and Found centre, help desk, and child care centre will be available to assist visitors. The DMP Commissioner expressed confidence that the fair would be conducted smoothly with cooperation and coordination from all involved. DMP Deputy Commissioner (Operations), AFM Tariq Hossain Khan, presented the security plan for the fair via a PowerPoint presentation at the meeting. Holidays are for the kids at Boi Mela; sales surge, and catching Sisimpur live Representatives from various government agencies, including the Fire Service, DPDC, Health Department, and the Ministry of Culture were present in the meeting.

The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has urged people to avoid using black glasses on vehicles. In a statement on Wednesday, DMP called on vehicle owners to follow Section 40 of the Road Transport Act-2018, refraining from applying black paper and removing it if already installed. DMP also urged drivers to avoid using unnecessary loud horns to reduce noise pollution and its harmful effects. According to Section 45 of the Road Transport Act-2018, motor vehicle drivers must refrain from using loud horns unnecessarily. DMP to introduce a new hotline for real-time information exchange: Commissioner Pedestrians, passengers, other drivers, city dwellers and especially the sick are being seriously affected due to the excessive use of loud horns by motor vehicles in the Dhaka metropolis. The DMP has also instructed drivers not to use horns near schools, colleges, hospitals, or airport crossing areas. Even when ambulances and emergency service vehicles are not carrying patients, they should refrain from using horns or hooters unless necessary for urgent work. Besides, pedestrians are often seen crossing roads without using zebra crossings or foot-over bridges, leading to accidents, traffic disruptions, and jams. Extortionists must be brought to book: DMP Commissioner Pedestrians are urged to use designated crossings and foot-over bridges for safety, DMP added. It also warned that legal action will be taken against any motor vehicle driver failing to follow these regulations, and sought the cooperation of all concerned in ensuring compliance with these regulations.