United News of Bangladesh

Members of the Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) have arrested the driver of the bus that crashed into three vehicles at the toll plaza of  Dhaka-Mawa Expressway on Friday, claiming six lives. The driver, Nuruddin, was arrested from Siddhirganj in Narayanganj on Friday night, Lt. Col. Munim Ferdous, director of the RAB media wing, said on Saturday. He said Nuruddin went into hiding in Siddhirganj after the accident. Five of a family perish as speeding bus crashes into their car on Dhaka-Mawa Expressway Tipped off, police conducted a drive and arrested him, he said. A speeding bus of Bepari Paribahan crashed into the Mawa-bound private car from behind at the Toll Plaza on Friday morning, leaving five members of a family dead on the spot. The bus also rammed into a microbus and a motorbike that left four others injured. Among the injured, one succumbed to injuries later. The bus was seized but the staffers managed to flee.

 The Traffic Division of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has filed 2,678 cases for traffic law violation during  drives conducted in different areas of the capital on Thursday and Friday.   As part of the operation, 77 vehicles were dumped, and 94 others were wrecked.  The drives were carried out to ensure adherence to traffic regulation and maintain discipline on the roads.  DMP's Traffic Division has announced that such operations will continue to uphold traffic discipline in s Dhaka Metropolitan area.

Temporary Secretariat entry passes—except for those issued to government officials and employees working in the Secretariat—have been canceled due to security concerns following the recent fire incident. The Ministry of Home Affairs issued a notification on Friday, informing that the cancellation includes all temporary entry passes issued to private individuals, as well as accreditation cards for journalists, until further notice. Holders of different categories of Secretariat entry passes that have been canceled can apply for new temporary entry passes through the special cell located at Bangladesh Police, Crime Command and Control Center, DMP, 15 Abdul Gani Road, Dhaka within the next 15 days, said the notification.  

An 18-year-old youth was stabbed to death over a badminton game in Brahmanpara upazila of Cumilla, said police on Friday. The deceased Shafiullah was son of Ershad Mia of Khanka Sharif area under Brahmanpara Sadar upazila. Locals said Shafiullah’s younger brother Sanaullah and a local Hridoy locked into an argument over the badminton game in the Khanka Sharif area on Thursday night. At one stage, Hridoy allegedly slapped Sanaullah. After a while, Shafiullah accompanied by some people went to Hridoy’s house to settle the matter. At one point of argument between the groups, Hridoy and seven to eight others attacked Shafiullah with knives, leaving him critically injured. Read: Elderly man murdered over land dispute in Natore He was first taken to Brahmanpara Upazila Health Complex and later shifted to Cumilla Medical College Hospital where physicians declared him dead upon arrival. Brahmanpara police station’s Inspector (investigation) Tomas Barua confirmed the murder saying that the body was handed over to the family after autopsy at the hospital. No case has been filed as yet in this connection, the inspector added.

Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) arrested 16 Bangladeshis, including a child, for illegally crossing the border from India into Bangladesh through Benapole border on Thursday night. The arrestees are Mintu, 37, Roni, 28, Joni, 32, Kamal Pramanik, 22, Aslam, 32, Abu Salek, 36, Bellal Hossain, 41, Rafiqul Islam, 29, Sakibul Hasan, 17, Rashida Begum, 37, Rina Khatun, 27, Rakibul Islam, 7, Nazma Khatun, 30, Bonani Shikder, 35, Shahinur Rahman, 35, and Jihad, 27. They hail from different areas of Pirojpur, Narail, and Khulna districts. Lt. Col Saifullah Siddiqui, commanding officer of the BGB-49 Battalion, said the detainees had gone to India illegally through Satkhira border on March 18 and 21 in search of jobs. Read: 15 Bangladeshis return home thru Benapole port after serving jail in India However, they were held while trying to return to the country through Dhanjkhola border with the help of brokers. A case was filed against them and they were handed over to Benapole Port Police Station, the BGB official added.

A 16-year-old Bangladeshi was shot dead allegedly by Khasia people along the Bangladesh-India border near Jaintiapur upazila of Sylhet on Thursday. The victim, Md Maruf Mia, was the son of Md Shahabuddin of Jhingabari village in Jaintiapur upazila. The incident occurred near International Main Pillar No. 128/7, in the Minatila area along the Bangladesh-India border, in the afternoon. 13 Bangladeshis detained by India’s BSF across Sylhet border, locals say Locals reported that Maruf was injured by gunfire from the Khasia people while attempting to cross the border illegally into India around 12:30 pm. He was later rescued and taken to Sylhet M.A.G. Osmani Medical College, where he succumbed to his injuries around 3 pm. Bangladeshi man shot dead by India’s BSF along Panchagarh border Lieutenant Colonel Md. Hafizur Rahman, commander of the BGB Sylhet 48 Battalion, said that a flag meeting was held with the commandant of the Indian BSF 4 following the incident.  

A teacher of the forensic department at Sher-e-Bangla Medical College in Barishal has been sent to jail on charges of raping a private university student. The accused, Dr Shakil Ahmed, was arrested from his residence on Dhangabeshana Road in Barishal city on Thursday, according to Mizanur Rahman, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Barishal Kotwali Police Station. The arrest followed a case filed earlier in the day by the victim, a final-year honors student at a private university in Dhaka and a resident of Roumari in Kurigram. 7 murdered on cargo vessel: Arrested Irfan remanded for 7 days Dr Ahmed, who hails from Masterbari under Uttar Khan Police Station in Dhaka, was subsequently produced before the Additional Chief Metropolitan Court, where the judge ordered him to be sent to jail. According to the case details, the victim first met the accused in 2016 while he was a student at Dhaka City College and she was a ninth-grade student at Habibullah Model School and College. A romantic relationship developed between them, during which he allegedly took her to various places and raped her multiple times, inducing her into a sexual relationship by promising eventual marriage. 26 arrested in Army's special anti-crime operation in Dhaka city Despite repeated discussions about marriage involving the victim’s family, Shakil reportedly delayed the commitment with various excuses. Later, he joined the forensic department at Sher-e-Bangla Medical College and relocated to Barishal. The victim claimed that even after his move to Barishal, the accused continued to exploit her, including an incident on December 24 when he summoned her to the city under the pretext of marriage. She was allegedly taken to a rented house on Dhangabeshana Road, where she was allegedly raped again. Enamul Haque, General Recording Officer (GRO) at the court, said that no bail application was filed on behalf of the accused during the hearing.

Two committees have been formed to assess the damages to the Labour and Employment Ministry’s documents in the Secretariat fire incident. A committee will assess the damages to the ministry's documents and important records, while another will determine the extent of damage to the ministry's assets. Labor and Employment Adviser Brigadier General (rtd) Dr M Sakhawat Hussain on Thursday directed the formation of the two committees while visiting building 7 of the Secretariat, said a PID handout. Following his directive, the ministry formed the two five-member committees, making its two joint secretaries as the conveners of the two bodies. The committee headed by joint secretary Morsheda Aktar will assess the document and record-related damages, while the committee headed by joint secretary Abdus Samad Al Azad will estimate the asset-related damages. Committee formed to probe Secretariat fire The Labor and Employment Adviser asked the two bodies to submit their reporters within the next seven working days. A fire broke out at the 7th building of the Bangladesh Secretariat at approximately 1:50 am on Thursday.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) on Thursday filed three cases against former state minister for power, energy and mineral resources Nasrul Hamid, his wife Seema Hamid and son Zareef Hamid on charge of acquiring wealth beyond known sources of income. 60 kathas plot: ACC to probe allegations against Hasina, family members ACC Director General Akhtar Hossain disclosed the decision in front of its headquarters in the city. Deputy director Mostafizur Rahman filed the cases with district coordinated office, Dhaka-2. Earlier on August 20, the bank accounts of Nasrul Hamid and his wife were frozen by the Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU). Burning bodies of protesters: ICT issues arrest warrants against ex-MP, 4 cops Day after the freezing notice, law enforcement agencies conducted a drive at a building owned by Nasrul Hamid in Banani and seized TK one crore, a weapon and 50 rounds of ammunition.  

Bangladesh Army are working along with the law enforcement agencies to prevent attacks and sabotage at important installations or Key Point Installations (KPIs) across the country and ensure their security. The issues are regularly reviewed with other law enforcement agencies, said Colonel-Staff of Military Operation Directorate under the Army Headquarters Colonel Intekhab Haider Khan while briefing reporters at the Banani Army Officers Mess-A of Dhaka Cantonment on Thursday noon regarding the activities of the army deployed under the campaign, In Aid to Civil Power. When his attention was drawn to Thursday's fire at the important installation like Bangladesh Secretariat , Colonel Intekhab said the incident just occurred, and they have not yet received detailed information in this regard. However, the army is working on the security of important establishments, he added. In response to another question, he said how long the army will serve in the field is a matter of the government's decision. The army is working to maintain law and order according to the government's decision. Therefore, the army’s withdrawal depends on the government's decision. He also said that the army has taken training to take pressure while maintaining law and order. However, the army is working in coordination with other law enforcement agencies to keep law and order, he added In response to another question regarding security risk in the Cox's Bazar area, Col Intekhab said, there is no threat to the sovereignty of the country of security at the moment. The army in the area has always on alert. If there ever is a security threat, the army is ready to take action accordingly. Moreover, the BGB and Coast Guard and the law enforcement agencies are working on the Rohingya infiltration. Army, BGB deployed outside Bangladesh Secretariat after fire, gates closed When asked about the arson attack on Tripura community in Bandarban district, he said the incident occurred due to a land dispute and no other reason. Though incidents related to law and order has occurred there has been no deterioration. In this regard, the army is continuing to work in coordination with the police and others to keep the law and order situation tolerable. Earlier in a written statement, Col Intekhab said that members of Bangladesh Army have recovered  28 illegal fire arms and 424 rounds of ammunition conducting drives across the country in the past one month since November 28. During the period, the army played an active role in controlling 67 unstable situations and 13 main road blockades arising from such situations in various industrial areas of the country (mainly in Gazipur, Ashulia and Savar areas). In addition, they (army members) have been working to keep the factories running in coordination with all concerned, including the police, BGMEA, the owners, workers and the concerned ministries. As a result, all but one of the country's 2,093 garment factories are currently operational, he added. Apart from the industrial area, the army members have also controlled 45 different types of disorderly situations in the last one month. Of which five were related to educational institutions, three to government organisations/offices, seven were political conflicts and 30 were other types of incidents. In addition, on December 19, the army members provided direct assistance to the police in the attempted robbery at Rupali Bank in Keraniganj, which made it possible to quickly bring the incident under control without any incident. Besides, 200 suspected drug dealers or people associated with drugs have been arrested in joint operations along with recovery of a good amount of illegal drugs, such as Yaba, Phensedyl, illegal liquor, etc. Around 1,405 people involved in various types of crimes were also arrested from different parts of the country during the joint drives. 26 arrested in Army's special anti-crime operation in Dhaka city The army personnel worked with law enforcement agencies and religious leaders to ensure that the recently concluded Christmas celebrations of Christians across the country wre celebrated safely. A total of 4,241 churches across the country celebrated Christmas without any incidents, he said. In addition to these tasks, the army is also continuously performing its duties of maintaining communal harmony in the country, ensuring the security of foreign diplomats and embassies, maintaining peace and order in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, and providing security to the FDMN camp area in Cox's Bazar district.