United News of Bangladesh

Arif Hasan, managing director of private television channel Desh TV, had been arrested from Dhaka's Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, said police early Sunday. Talebur Rahman, deputy commissioner (media and public relations) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), said a team of Airport Police Station held him from the airport on Saturday night. Read: Prime suspect in sensitive rape case arrested in Keraniganj Arif is accused in an attempted murder case filed with the Airport Police Station during the recent student-led movement. Arif Hasan holds the general secretary post of the Association of Television Channel Owners (ATCO).

Police have arrested three persons in a case filed over the murder of 17-year-old Sahadat Hossain Shanto, who was killed while attempting to stop a bicycle thief in Dhaka’s Hazaribagh area on Saturday. The arrestees are Mohammad Shukur Ali (22), Mohammad Siam (20), and Mohammad Shakil Hossain (23). A sharp knife, believed to be the murder weapon, was recovered from their possession, said Talebur Rahman, joint commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police. Victim’s mother filed the murder case, he said. The incident happened on Thursday on Moneshwar Lane of the area when the suspects attempted to steal a bicycle from a house, said police. The homeowner, Azad, spotted the theft on CCTV and immediately called for help. Shanto and his friends responded to the call and pursued the suspects. During the confrontation, Shukur allegedly attacked Shanto with a sharp knife. When Shanto's friends tried to intervene, the suspects also assaulted them. The attack only ceased when local residents, alerted by the commotion, arrived at the scene, causing the assailants to flee. Later, Shanto was rushed to Dhaka Medical College Hospital but succumbed to his injuries on Friday morning.

Bangladesh Army has sought support from people to check deception in the name of jhut (unused fabric of garment factories) business by using the army's name. In a media release, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) made the call on Friday morning. Recently, it has been noticed that some unscrupulous and vested quarters have been using the names of senior army officials in offering the jhut business and carrying out misdeeds in industrial zones which have tarnished the image of the armed force. The army has relentlessly been performing duty to maintain the law and order and ensure a production-friendly environment in the industrial areas, it reads. Recommendation for the jhut business or any other business isn’t included in the army’s activities, according to the release. People are requested to inform the army following the mobile phone numbers--01769091020, 01769095198 and 01769095209, if anyone tries to use the name of the army in offering any illegal facility.

Police said on Friday they took custody of Golam Kibria Tipu, general secretary of Dhaka metropolitan unit of Awami League’s voluntary wing Swechasebak League after locals caught him from his hideout in Dakshin Keraniganj of Dhaka. Dakshin Keraniganj police station’s Officer-in-Charge Mazharul Islam said locals caught him from Bir Baghoir area on Thursday night and handed him over to them. Tipu is an accused in a case filed with Motijheel police station, the OC said. He was later handed over to the Motijheel police station. Tipu was elected Member of Parliament from Barishal-3 constituency from Jatiya Party in the 2008 election. Later, he joined the Awami League. He hails from Agarpur area under Barishal Sadar upazila.

Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury today said that now is the time for the police force to prove themselves by providing service.  “The interim government is a non-political one. With the absence of political influence, there is opportunity to work with honesty, efficiency, and impartiality. The police force should utilise this opportunity to dedicate themselves to the service of the nation,” he said. The adviser made these remarks while delivering the keynote address at a views exchange meeting with members of the Armed Forces Division, various police units, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), Coast Guard, Ansar and VDP, Prisons Department, Fire Service and Civil Defense Department, and Narcotics Control Department at the Barishal Police Lines. The adviser also emphasised the crucial role of law enforcement in controlling prices. He said, “The law enforcers play an important role in controlling the prices of goods. The members of the forces have to stop extortion and stay away from it.”  Failure to do so would tarnish the force's reputation, he said. The adviser said, “No one can be arrested in civil clothes. No one can be brought under the law without identity.”  The adviser also mentioned that the condition of police stations, including food and sanitation facilities, was not satisfactory. He directed senior officials to focus on resolving these issues for police personnel. He said the armed forces had been granted magisterial power to assist in maintaining law and order, adding, “The term would be extended further and the BGB and Coast Guard would be included.”  While briefing reporters after the meeting, the adviser said, “The current government is trying to transform the police into a people-friendly force. To this end, efforts such as the formation of a police reform commission are ongoing.” He remarked that the law and order situation in Barishal is relatively better compared to other areas. He further instructed the police to be more vigilant in preventing various public disturbances, including road blockades due to various demands.  Inspector General of Police Md Moinul Islam, Director General of RAB A.K.M. Shahidur Rahman, Divisional Commissioner of Barishal Md Raihan Kawser, were present at the time, among others.  

Dhaka-7 former Member of Parliament and son of Haji Mohammad Salim, Md. Solaiman Salim, has been sent to jail in connection with the killing of Md. Rakib Howlader during the student movement. The order was issued by Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Awlad Hossain Mohammad Zunaid on Thursday. During the hearing, Police Inspector Md. Abul Khayer of Chawkbazar Model Police Station, the investigating officer of the case, appealed for a 10-day remand for Salim. However, the defense lawyer sought bail and requested the cancellation of the remand. Since the case's main documents were not available, the court ordered Salim’s detention in jail and scheduled the remand hearing for November 27. Salim was arrested late Wednesday night from Gulshan area by Chawkbazar police. The case alleges that on the morning of August 5, leaders and activists of the Awami League and its affiliates indiscriminately opened fire and exploded cocktails on student protesters at Chankharpul. Md. Rakib Howlader was critically injured in the shooting. Attempts to rush him to Dhaka Medical College Hospital were blocked by Awami League activists. He was later taken to Sir Salimullah Medical College (Mitford) Hospital, where doctors declared him dead. On September 23, Rakib’s father, Md. Jahangir Hossain, filed a murder case at Chawkbazar Model Police Station regarding the incident.

Former Member of Parliament for Bhola-2 constituency Ali Azam Mukul has been sent to jail in connection with the killing of Nahidul Islam during the anti-discrimination student movement. Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Md Sefatullah gave the order rejecting Mukul's bail plea on Thursday. The police had earlier sought to keep him in custody, and the investigation officer, Sub-Inspector Al-Amin Talukder of Mirpur Model Police Station, presented him in court, requesting continued detention. Amu sent to jail after remand in murder case The defence counsel, Khair Uddin Shikdar, argued for bail, while Public Prosecutor Omar Faruk Faruqi opposed it on behalf of the state. After hearing arguments from both sides, the court ruled against bail and ordered Mukul to be sent to jail. Mukul was arrested by RAB-2 on Wednesday night from Dhaka’s Hazaribagh. Nahidul Islam was shot dead in Mirpur on July 19 during the height of the anti-discrimination student protests. Following the incident, Nahidul’s brother-in-law filed the murder case at Mirpur Model Police Station.

Members of Bangladesh Army have recovered a large quantity of arms and ammunition during a drive in a hideout of armed organisation Kuki-Chin National Front (KNF) in the hilly area of Ruma upazila in Bandarban, according to a press release of the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Thursday. Army personnel recovered these arms and ammunition from the jungle near Munlai Para, a remote hilly area in Ruma, during the operation, it said. 2,460 kg polythene seized, 3 factories sealed in Dhaka In 2020, some youth from the Bawm community in the hilly districts formed the armed organisation. They committed bank robberies in Ruma and Thanchi and looted 16 weapons from police and Ansar personnel. Due to the increase in their armed activities, a joint force operation has been underway in Bandarban since October 2022. So far, a total of 120 members and associates of KNF have been arrested in operation by the joint forces. Several cases were filed against them in various upazilas of Bandarban.

In a major recruitment drive, Bangladesh's Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs has appointed 1,299 government law officers to courts across 25 districts from November 3 to 13. This includes Government Pleaders (GPs), Additional Government Pleaders, Assistant Government Pleaders, Public Prosecutors (PPs), Additional Public Prosecutors and Assistant Public Prosecutors. Besides, the Ministry appointed 20 more lawyers as special public prosecutors (PPs) for explosive-related cases under the Bangladesh Rifles (now Border Guard Bangladesh) court cases. Among the newly appointed officers, significant numbers were allocated to districts such as Munshiganj (30), Lakshmipur (41), Feni (47), Naogaon (62), Noakhali (75), Manikganj (48), Narsingdi (61), Tangail (151), and Rajshahi (124). Other districts included Chapainawabganj (26), Gazipur (71), Magura (31), Narail (14), Chuadanga (33), Gopalganj (18), Kushtia (55), Habiganj (38), Barguna (41), Bandarban (9), Rangamati (7), Chandpur (52), Patuakhali (78), Gaibandha (45), Jamalpur (64) and Pabna (78), according to an official media release. These officers will serve in their respective District and Sessions Courts, as well as various levels of tribunals and special judge courts. The Solicitor Wing of the Ministry's Law and Justice Division issued separate appointment orders on November 3, 10, and 13, with Sana Md Mahroof Hossain, Deputy Solicitor (GP-PP), signing the orders. These appointments revoke the positions of previously assigned law officers in the respective districts, relieving them from their duties to allow the newly appointed officers to assume their roles. This decision is seen as a measure to streamline the judicial process by introducing fresh appointments to the critical posts within district courts and special tribunals across the nation

The Ministry of Land has issued a circular directing the authorities concerned to take immediate action against employees of the ministry if found involved in corruption or irregularities in the delivery of land services. The circular, signed by Senior Secretary ASM Saleh Ahmed of the ministry, was issued on November 11. The circular, titled "Mandatory guidelines for employees to ensure transparency, accountability, and public-friendly land services," focused on the government's commitment to modernising land management processes and checking corruption. Among the measures aimed at improving service delivery are initiatives like the provision for e-name registration and online land development tax payments, designed to make services more efficient and accessible, it said. In response to widespread allegations of irregularities and corruption in the land service process, the government took measures to ensure hassle-free services for service seekers. The five directives are every employee must ensure transparency and accountability in the service delivery process. Any delays, negligence, or excuses will be considered misconduct and will lead to disciplinary action. Besides, employees must take a strong stance against corruption and irregularities. Employees are expected to treat service recipients with respect and respond to their inquiries and problems in a timely and sincere manner. Any inappropriate behavior or misconduct will not be tolerated. The public has the right to accurate information to help them make informed decisions regarding their property and land matters and employees should provide up-to-date and correct information related to land services. The Ministry mandates thorough supervision and regular inspections of land services to ensure proper service delivery. Comprehensive inspection reports must be prepared and submitted on time to the relevant authorities. It has called on all employees to demonstrate transparency, honesty, and dedication in their work to improve public services, said the circular.