United News of Bangladesh

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.  

A Dhaka court has ordered the seizure of a flat and a villa in Dubai belonging to former Padma Bank chairman Chowdhury Nafeez Sarafat. Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge Md Zakir Hossain Galib passed the order on Wednesday following a plea filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission, said ACC Prosecutor Advocate Mir Ahmed Ali Salam. Khaleda Zia, 35 others acquitted in Cumilla sabotage case An investigation into his alleged involvement is graft is underway, he added. On January 7, the same court ordered the seizure of 18 flats in Dhaka owned by Sarafat, his wife Anjuman Ara Shahid, and son Chowdhury Rahib Safwan Sarafat. The properties included a 20-storey building and plot in Gulshan, four plots in Dhaka Cantonment, a flat and two plots in Nikunja, a 50% share of a flat in Bashundhara, a plot in Badda, a 20-katha plot in Kaliakoir (Gazipur), another plot in Gazipur Sadar, a plot in Joar Shahara, and a 7.5-katha plot in Purbachal. Govt approves ordinance for transparent HC judge appointments Anjuman Ara's seized properties include a four-storey building on a 7.5-katha plot in Bashundhara, flats in Panthapath, Gulshan Link Road, Mirpur DOHS, and Shahjadpur, a 50% share of a flat in Bashundhara, a three-katha plot in Nikunja, a 2.5-katha plot in Badda, and another plot in Gazipur Sadar. The court also ordered the seizure of three flats in Banani and four flats in Baridhara belonging to Rahib Safwan Sarafat.

A court in Cumilla has acquitted BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and 35 others in a sabotage  case filed around 10 years back. Judge of Cumilla Additional Sessions Judge Court-1 Afroza Jesmin passed the order on Monday, said the court’s Public Prosecutor Advocate Kaimul HaqueRinku on Wednesday. Petition filed at HC challenging presidential pardon to convicts According to the case statement, a covered van was vandalised and torched amid a countrywide strike on Dhaka-Chattogram highway in Haiderpul area in Chauddagram upazila of the district on January 25, 2015. Later, police filed the case under the Special Powers Act against 32 people including Khaleda Zia. 2 men sentenced to 10 years for harassing minor, inciting suicide Police submitted chargesheet against 42 people in the case.

A Dhaka court on Wednesday placed former state minister for ICT Zunaid Ahmed Palak and two others on a two-day remand in connection with an attempted murder case filed with Mohammadpur Police Station. The other accused are Dhaka-13 MP Sadeq Khan and ex-councillor Salimullah Solu.  Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate GM Farhan Ishtiak passed the order when police produced him before the court with a 5-day remand prayer. Graft case: Ex-AL MP gets 4 years jail in Jashore According to the prosecution, Insan Ali sustained bullet injuries while passing through Mohammadpur Bus Stand area during the movement on July 19. Later, he was taken to the hospital. Unauthorised fishmeal factory sealed off in Natore Mother of Insan filed a case against 266 people including Palak with Mohammadpur Police Station on November 13 last year. On August 14, 2024,  Zunaid Ahmed Palak was arrested by the Detective Branch (DB) police from Nikunja residential area. Later, he was shown arrested in 46 cases and the court palced him on a 31-day remand in various cases.

A Jahsore court on Wednesday sentenced former Awami League MP Shahin Chakladar to four years of jail in a case filed by Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) around 16 years back. Judge of Jashore Special and Session Judge Court SM Nurul Islam also fined him Tk 20, 000 and ordered to confiscate his properties worth Tk 38 lakh and 3685. The court issued a warrant for his arrest , said district unit of Awami League law affairs secretary Advocate Gazi Abdul Kadir who stood for the former lawmaker. On March 30 in 2008, the then deputy director of the ACC (Jashore office) Manjur Morshed filed a case against Shahin Chakladar, current general secretary of the district unit of Awami League, on charge of concealing information of properties worth Tk 38 lakh. The ACC found inconsistency between the tax file and submitted statement of properties. Read: Khaleda, Tarique acquitted in Zia Orphanage graft case In the statement of properties, the former MP mentioned that he had properties worth Tk 1 crore, 96 lakh and 21400, with a loan of Tk 1 crore, 91 lakh and 515. But the ACC found the actual value of his properties was Tk 56 lakh and 26,200 and he concealed information properties worth Tk 38 lakh and 383, 685. On January 5 in 2009, the ACC submitted chargesheet against him.

The Traffic Division of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) filed 1,973 cases against offenders on charge of violating traffic rules on the city streets. During the drives, 44 vehicles were dumped, and 39 others towed. The cases were filed by the eight traffic Divisions under the DMP on Tuesday, aiming to bring traffic discipline in the capital, said Deputy Commissioner (DC-media) of DMP Talebur Rahman. Read: DMP files 2,004 cases for traffic rules violations The DMP's Traffic Division said that such drives would remain continued to ensure road safety.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has decided to investigate officials related to the 11th National Election. The Commission had received complaints regarding election manipulation during the 11th National Election, and a five-member team had been formed to investigate these complaints, ACC Director General (Prevention) Akhtar Hossain told reporters at a briefing held at the ACC headquarters on Wednesday. The investigation team, formed by the Commission, will specifically examine the actions of officers from the administration, the Election Commission, and the police, he added. Akhtar also said that allegations had been made regarding abuse of power, criminal misconduct, fraud, voting at night during the 2018 National Election, and the election of Members of Parliament through financial transactions. BFIU prepares to recover Tk 15,000 crore from seized accounts In the 2018 National Election, various irregularities, such as voting at night, ballot fraud, vote counts exceeding 90% in some centres, extensive financial transactions, and the use of power to influence winning candidates, were reported in the media. Some complaints had also been submitted to the ACC. The allegations were made under the leadership of then-prime minister Sheikh Hasina, the President of the Awami League, and under the overall management of Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader. The accusations also implicated leaders and activists from the Awami League at various levels, including officials from the government such as former IGP Javed Patwary, former DMP Commissioner Asaduzzaman Mia, former RAB DG Benazir Ahmed, former IGP Shahidul Haque, former PM’s Security adviser Major Gen (retd) Tarique Ahmed Siddique, HT Imam, and several other officials related to the election. ACC sues ex-secy Kabir Bin Anwar, his wife and ex-minister Shahid The investigation team will submit a report after reviewing various videos, news broadcasts from domestic and foreign media, election results, conducting seat inspections, and completing other necessary activities.

The Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) has seized 450,000 yaba tablets during an operation in Teknaf, Cox's Bazar. The operation was conducted early morning on Wednesday along the Naf River near the Bangladesh-Myanmar border. Lt Col Ashiqur Rahman, commanding officer of Teknaf Battalion (BGB 2), said that they received a tip-off about a large drug shipment entering Bangladesh from Myanmar. Acting on this intelligence, two BGB teams from the battalion headquarters and the Leda Border Outpost (BOP) launched an operation in the Member Post area under Leda BOP's jurisdiction. Read: 2.5 lakh Yaba pills seized from Teknaf During the raid, the smugglers abandoned two sacks and swam across the river to escape. Upon searching the sacks, BGB recovered 450,000 yaba tablets. Efforts are underway to identify those involved, Lt Col Ashiqur Rahman added.

A taskforce sealed off an unauthorised fishmeal factory and seized its valuables worth Tk 2 crore in Natore Sadar upazila on Tuesday night. A mobile court led by Executive Magistrate Saddam Hossain conducted the drive at Alfa Biotechnological Ltd in Balaripara area under Natore Sadar upazila. One Ripon Biswas, a resident of Gopalganj’s Kotalipara upazila, set up the factory in two rented houses and used to produce 31 types of fish meals and pack medicines. He failed to show legal documents against validity, forcing the taskforce to seal off. Army personnel and Upazila Fisheries Department assisted the taskforce in conducting the drive.