United News of Bangladesh

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Sheikh Md. Sajjad Ali said on Thursday that strict security measures will be implemented to maintain law and order during the upcoming Christmas and New Year’s Eve (December 31st night) celebrations. He made the announcement at a coordination meeting held at the DMP headquarters, where he emphasised the importance of cooperation from the public to ensure peaceful celebrations. Christmas, the largest religious festival for Christians, will be celebrated on December 25, followed by New Year’s Eve on December 31, marking the end of the year. Surveillance intensified as criminal activities rise at Kamrangirchar: DMP DC The DMP has promised comprehensive security arrangements for both events to ensure there are no disruptions. At the meeting, DMP Joint Police Commissioner (Operations) Mohammad Shahidullah presented a detailed security plan for the celebrations. For Christmas, security measures will include the deployment of a sufficient number of uniformed and plainclothes police officers at each church. Visitors will be screened through metal detectors and manual checks, while dog squads will sweep the premises. Fire service and ambulance teams will be on standby, and an uninterrupted power supply will be ensured in church areas. Police must reach the scene of an incident within an hour: DMP Commissioner To maintain order, no floating shops or hawkers will be allowed near churches, and bags will be prohibited inside church premises. For the New Year’s Eve celebrations, the DMP plans to increase regular patrols and set up check posts across key areas. Fireworks, crackers, and lanterns will be banned in open spaces. In addition, access to the Dhaka University area will be restricted, with only individuals carrying valid ID cards allowed entry. Traffic management measures will be implemented in areas like Gulshan, Hatirjheel, and Dhaka University to control vehicle movement. DMP commissioner attends courtesy meeting with US Embassy delegation Besides, the DMP will enhance intelligence surveillance and cyber patrolling to prevent rumors, monitor social media, and ensure overall safety during the festivities. The meeting also included contributions from various government agencies, armed forces, Dhaka University, city corporations, and other stakeholders, all working together to ensure a safe and smooth celebration of the two festivals.  

The Appellate Division on Thursday upheld the High Court's order to acquit businessman Giasuddin Al Mamun, a close associate of BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman, in a case filed for accumulating illegal wealth. The Appellate Division's full bench headed by Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed passed the order. Sabbir Hamza Chowdhury, the lawyer for Giasuddin Al Mamun, said the High Court had acquitted Giasuddin Al Mamun of the charges. On May 8, 2007, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) filed a case at the Cantonment police station after Giasuddin Al Mamun failed to submit his wealth statement. The ACC charged him with amassing illegal wealth worth over Tk 101.73 crore. On March 27, 2008, the lower court sentenced Mamun to 10 years imprisonment  with a fine of Tk 10 lakh. When he appealed against that verdict in the High Court, a bench of Justices AKM Asaduzzaman and Abu Taher Md. Saifur Rahman acquitted Mamun on July 30, 2012. The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) later filed a Leave to Appeal against the High Court verdict. On November 1, 2015, the Appellate Division scrapped the High Court's acquittal verdict and ordered a re-hearing of the appeal in the case. Gias Uddin Al Mamun acquitted in money laundering case Gias Uddin filed an application for a review of the Appellate Division's order. When the Appellate Division granted his review, he appealed and the appeal was granted today.  

All allegations of enforced disappearance and killing against Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) will be investigated, said its Director General AKM Shahidur Rahman on Thursday. "I assure you that as long as I am in charge, RAB will not be involved in any enforced disappearances or killings," he said while speaking at a press conference held at Media Center in Karwran Bazar in Dhaka. A commission is investigating all allegations against RAB, including enforced disappearances and killings, he added, "We are fully cooperating with the commission and we believe that legal actions will be taken based on the investigation reports.” Replying to a question about changing the uniform of the elite force, the top RAB official said, “We are thinking about it as RAB has its own law. We are thinking of making a separate law for RAB and will take necessary measures based on public and media feedback regarding reforms.” Referring to the arrest of the members of elite force involved in mugging, the DG said 16 members of the force were arrested in connection with their alleged involvement in mugging and extortion after August 5. ‘Have patience for restoration of democracy’, says Tarique    Since the establishment of RAB, a total of 58 officers and 4,246 members were brought to book. Mentioning about the challenges faced by the elite force after August 5, the RAB chief said a total of 14,500 accused were arrested while 20,000 illegal arms were seized during this period.  

Former lawmaker for the Sylhet-2 constituency and central leader of the Jatiya Party (JP), Yahya Chowdhury, has been released on bail a month after being arrested on charges of attacking students and the public during the July uprising. Chowdhury walked out of Sylhet Central Jail at 5 pm on Wednesday, confirmed Sylhet Central Jail Jailor Md. Sakhawat Hossain. He was arrested in a joint operation by RAB-1 and RAB-9 from the capital’s Uttara on November 12. A case was filed against him at the Sylhet Kotwali Police Station on October 2. Yahya Chowdhury was elected as a Jatiya Party candidate from the Sylhet-2 constituency in the 10th National Parliamentary Election of 2014.  

The consumer market surveillance team of the Directorate of National Consumers' Rights Protection (DNCRP) and a special task force have been conducting raids against market manipulation and the price hike of goods. On Wednesday, raids were carried out in all divisions and districts of the country, including Dhaka Metropolitan area, to stabilize the prices of daily necessities such as onions, sugar, and edible oil, ensuring a normal supply, according to a press release. In the Dhaka Metropolitan Area, market surveillance activities were conducted in different areas of the city by six teams led by six officers from the department. A total of 100 organisations were fined a total of Tk 518,500 during a campaign conducted by 45 teams of the Department across 35 districts of the country, read the release. ACC to start probe against ‘big fish’ soon: New Commissioner Representatives from both government and private sector organisations, including district and upazila administrations, were present during the raids. All these efforts, including the DNCRP raids, will continue nationwide to protect consumer rights, it added.  

Police have arrested three people in a case filed for raping of a student of Pabna University of Science and Technology (PUST). The arrestees are Mehedi Masud, 26, son of Abdul Jalil of Kalachandpara area of Pabna town, Mahmudul Hasan Sajid, 23, son of Motaleb Hossain of Chawk Ramchandrapur area, and Harun Or Rashid, 27, son of Zamir Uddin of Oshalgariya Forest Para area, said Pabna Sadar Police Station Officer-in-Charge (operation) Sanjay Kumar Saha. CID arrests man posing as an army officer for blackmail and fraud They were arrested from different areas of the town on Tuesday night and sent to jail today (Wednesday), the OC said. On Monday, the victim's ex-boyfriend, Mehedi, lured her to a forested area near the town's Meril Bypass under the pretext of having tea together. Later, three men took her to an abandoned enclosure in the forest, where they raped her, the police official said. Surveillance intensified as criminal activities rise at Kamrangirchar: DMP DC Later, a case was filed at Pabna Sadar Police Station following a complaint lodged by the victim's mother on Tuesday night, he added.

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has arrested a man posing as an army officer in a case involving blackmail and fraud. The suspect, identified as Santu Biswas (39), is the son of Shyamal Biswas from Sahapara village under Keshabpur Police Station in Jashore. CID’s Special Superintendent (Media Wing) Azad Rahman confirmed the arrest. A CID Cyber Police Centre team apprehended Biswas from a supermarket at Gazipur Chowrasta and seized three mobile phones from his possession. According to CID sources, Shamima (pseudonym), a divorced mother of two, met Biswas in 2021. He introduced himself as a Muslim and an army officer of Major rank. Using his fabricated identity, Biswas gained Shamima’s trust, exploited her naivety, and forged fake marriage documents for her to sign. Posing as her husband, Biswas secretly recorded her through private videos and pictures. In addition to claiming he was an army officer, Biswas falsely presented himself as the owner of Jashore Travels, a transport company operating on the Dhaka-Jashore route, and Biswas Garments. He took money from Shamima under the pretext of resolving business issues. Eventually, Shamima discovered that Biswas was neither an army officer nor a businessman but a fraud. She cut all ties with him after uncovering his deceit. However, Biswas resumed contact, threatening to release her private photos and videos on social media. On May 8, Biswas sent some objectionable pictures and videos to Shamima and her son's phones. He demanded Tk 5 lakh and warned that if the money was not paid within a specified time, the material would be circulated online, CID Special Superintendent Azad Rahman said. Shamima’s son lodged a case against Biswas at Lalbagh Police Station on June 11. After CID took over the investigation, they arrested Biswas in Gazipur. During interrogation, he admitted to his involvement in the incident, added Azad.

Liberation War Affairs Adviser Farooq-e-Azam on Wednesday said fake freedom fighters will get amnesty if they apologise, or else, action will be taken against them for fraudulence. “There are allegations that fake freedom fighters have been included in the gazetted list and have long been enjoying benefits. This is not a small crime in any way … it’s a serious crime,” he told a press conference at his ministry’s conference room. Mentioning an ongoing court case regarding the cancellation of certificates of 2,111 people who claimed to be freedom fighters, the adviser said, "Once the court decides, we will cancel these certificates and arrange for punishment."  “If we can specify the verification process in other cases and such fake fighters listed there, similar action will be taken against them. They must be given exemplary punishment. Hopefully, we will be able to come up with an effective system in this regard very soon, the adviser said. ACC to start probe against ‘big fish’ soon: New Commissioner Farooq-e-Azam mentioned that there are many lists of freedom fighters -- blue, red, Indian, and in many cases, it is seen that many people have been made freedom fighters here out of ‘passion’ or because of someone's kinship or some other temptation. “We’ll detect, but it may take some time.” The adviser stressed the importance of protecting the dignity of genuine freedom fighters. “We will not allow their dignity to be tarnished. Completing this task while safeguarding their legacy is a challenge, but we are determined to do.” He said the government may allow an indemnity so that those who are not freedom fighters may step aside on their own. “If they do, they may even get a general amnesty. And if that doesn't happen, we will accuse them of fraud, as we said."  

New Chairman of the Anti-Corruption Commission ( ACC) Mohammad Abdul Momen on Wednesday said the commission will start investigation into the allegations  against ‘big fish’ immediately as it is the expectation of people. "Work as per public expectations is top priority. We will take action immediately about those cases of corruption which affected the country significantly and take action against culprits who were behind these graft and irregularities," he said while talking to reporters on the premises of the head office of the Commission after taking charge. TIB urges new ACC chairman, commissioners to disclose income-asset statements "ACC is a part of the society. It is not impossible to be corrupt in the corrupt society in some cases. It is your duty (journalists) to investigate disinterestedly if you find any complaints against me and my commission," he said. He also sought cooperation from the media to reach out the right information to people. Momen, a former senior secretary to the government was serving on a contractual basis in the Ministry of Home Affairs, resigned from his position earlier. BFIU summons bank account details of Sheikh Hasina, Rehana One of the ACC Commissioners (investigation) Miah Mohammad Ali Akbar Azizi also took charge today while Brig Gen (retd) Hafiz Ahsan Farid, is set to assume office on December 17.

Police have intensified surveillance as criminal activities have increased remarkably at Kamrangirchar, Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Lalbagh Division Jasim Uddin has said. “Special attention is being given to identifying potential threats and preventing criminal acts,” he said at press briefing at the DMP media center on Wednesday. The recent murder of 42-year-old print shop owner Mohammad Nur Alam shocked the residents of the area, he said. On December 6, Nur Alam, a resident of Kamrangirchar who also operated a fabric business from a rented shop, was brutally murdered and police arrested three suspects Miraj Mia ,20, Mohammad Millon ,23, and Rifat, 19 utilizing intelligence and technological support on December 10, he said. During interrogation, the suspects confessed to their involvement, the said DMP official. Police must reach the scene of an incident within an hour: DMP Commissioner Between 4:25 am and 4:45 am on December 6, the trio, along with an accomplice named Jihad and several unidentified people attacked Nur Alam at his shop, said the DMP official. They struck his head with a hammer, stabbed him multiple times and then wrapped the body in polythene and cloth. They buried it under the printing press floor after breaking and covered it with sand and cement. Based on their statements, police recovered a hammer, scissors, and a knife from the scene, he added. Nur Alam’s body was exhumed and sent for autopsy to Dhaka Medical College Hospital.