United News of Bangladesh

Inspector General of Police (IGP) Md. Mainul Islam stated that action has been taken in response to all unpleasant incidents centring the Hindu community's largest festival, Durga Puja, this year in the country. Durga Puja is being celebrated at over 32,000 puja mandaps nationwide, and the police have responded to each isolated incident, he noted. The IGP made these remarks to journalists after visiting the Banani Pujamandap in the capital on Friday night. So far, 11 cases and 24 general diaries (GDs) have been filed concerning 35 untoward incidents, resulting in the arrest of 17 individuals. Police on high alert to prevent rumors during Durga Puja Celebrations: IGP The IGP stated that this year's Durga Puja posed significant challenges, with many expressing concerns about the celebrations. "We assured you of a peaceful Puja, and it is now being celebrated with great grandeur," he said. He emphasized that the constitution upholds the right of individuals of all faiths to practice their religion. Aside from a few criminals, the people of Bangladesh are generally peaceful, and the police are committed to supporting law-abiding citizens while ensuring that those who engage in criminal behavior are held accountable. Later, the IGP visited the Durga Puja Mandaps in Bashundhara and Uttara, where he exchanged greetings with worshippers.

A Dhaka court on Friday ordered four days of remand for each of the five accused arrested in connection with the murder of Tanjil Jahan Islam Tamim in the capital’s Hatirjheel area. The accused—Md Abdul Latif, Md Kurban Ali, Mahin, Mozammel Haque Kabir, and Badhon—were presented before Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Md Mahbub Ahmed, who made the ruling after police requested a seven-day remand in the case filed with Hatirjheel Police Station. The accused did not have legal representation during the hearing. Earlier, four accused were arrested shortly after the incident on Thursday and the fifth one was arrested from Malibagh area early Friday. On Thursday morning, 32-year-old Tanjil Jahan Islam Tamim was beaten to death allegedly by the owner and employees of a real estate company, following a dispute over the handover of flats in Dhaka’s Hatirjheel. Tamim’s father and two other individuals are co-owners of a plot of land in the Mahanagar Project area, where a building had been constructed by the real estate developer Pleasant Properties (Pvt) Ltd. The dispute arose when the developer repeatedly delayed handing over five flats that were promised to Tamim’s father under their agreement. On Thursday morning, Tamim, along with laborers, was in the process of clearing one of the flats on the seventh floor when the situation escalated. The real estate company’s manager, Abdul Latif Mirza, along with owner Rabiul Alam and others rushed to the flat and allegedly attacked Tamim, beating him severely. Tamim’s elder brother, Samvir Jahan Islam, tried to intervene but was also attacked by the group. As the assailants fled the scene, Tamim’s family quickly called the national emergency service 999 for help. Tamim, critically injured, was rushed to a private hospital, but doctors declared him dead upon arrival. The victim’s father Sultan Ahmed filed a murder case accusing 16 people with the concerned police station.    

Police have so far arrested five people in connection with the murder of an employee of a private television channel over the handover of flats of a building to the landlord by a real estate company in Dhaka’s Hatirjheel area. Of them, four were arrested shortly after the incident and the fifth one was rounded up from the Malibagh area early Friday. The arrestees are Abdul Latif, 46, Qurban Ali, 24, Mahin, 18, Mozammel Haque Kabir, 52, and Badhan, 20. Ruhul Kabir Khan, deputy commissioner (DC-Tejgaon zone) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), provided the information at a press conference at the DMP’s media centre on Mintoo Road on Friday morning. Rabiul Alam, owner of the developer company and a BNP leader, will be arrested if his involvement is found with the murder, he said. Drives are on to arrest the rest accused, the AD informed. On Thursday morning, the 32-year-old Tanjil Jahan Islam Tamim, the employee of the television channel and son of one Sultan Ahmed, was beaten to death allegedly by the owner and employees of the real estate company over the issue. Tamim had been drawn into a long-standing property conflict involving his family. Tamim’s father and two other individuals are co-owners of a plot of land in the Mahanagar Project area, where an eight-storey building had been constructed by the real estate company Pleasant Properties (Pvt) Ltd. The dispute arose when the developer repeatedly delayed handing over five flats that were promised to Tamim’s father under their agreement. Of the flats, the developer company had sold a flat to one Mamun’s father-in-law. Later Tamim’s father and the real estate company filed cases against each other over the matter. Both parties reportedly reached a settlement on Wednesday to hand over two of the flats on Thursday. On Thursday morning, Tamim, along with laborers, was in the process of clearing one of the flats on the seventh floor when the situation escalated. Being informed by Mamun, the real estate company’s manager, Abdul Latif Mirza, along with owner Rabiul Alam and others, rushed to the flat and allegedly attacked Tamim, beating him severely. Tamim’s elder brother, Samvir Jahan Islam, tried to intervene but was also attacked by the group. As the assailants fled the scene, Tamim’s family quickly called the national emergency service 999 for help. Tamim, critically injured, was rushed to a private hospital, but doctors declared him dead upon arrival. The victim’s father Sultan Ahmed filed a murder case accusing 16 people with the concerned police station.

Police have detained two youths who were in a group that rendered songs, including one having Islamic theme, at JM Sen Hall Puja mandap on Thursday evening. Kazi Md Tarek Aziz, additional deputy commissioner of Chattogram Metropolitan Police (CMP), shared this at a press conference at the media centre of the CMP on Friday morning. The detainees are Shahidul Karim, 42, a teacher of Tanzimul Ummah Madrasa, and Md Nurul Islam, a teacher of Darul Irfan Academy. The filing of a case in this regard was underway, he said. Chattogram City Puja Celebration Committee’s Joint General Secretary Sajal Dutta had earlier requested Chattogram Cultural Academy to perform songs on the stage on Thursday night, he said. As per the request, six members of the academy performed two songs and one of the songs hurt religious sentiments of the Hindu community, the ADC said. Read: Six youths to be arrested for disrupting Puja celebration in Ctg Police are still looking for other members of the group. They are Abdullah Iqbal (30), Rony (28), Golam Mostafa (27) and Mamun (36). They sang 'Shudhu Muslims er Lagi Aseniko Islam' and Shah Abdul Karim's famous song 'Agee Ki Sundar Din Kataitam'. A video of the incident went viral on social media, with some claiming that the offenders were Shibir members, although the identities of the youths have yet to be confirmed. Rumour Scanner, an independent Bangladeshi fact-checking website that debunks fake news, myths, and misinformation, confirmed that the viral video was real and unedited. Read more: Shibir denies involvement in Islamic song performance at Chattogram puja mandap Being informed, Chattogram Deputy Commissioner Farida Khanom rushed to the spot and said that the authorities would arrest six youths within 48 hours who took the stage at a puja mandap and sang two songs, including an Islamic one, claiming they would only sing a patriotic song.

The Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) has seized goods valued at over Tk 1 crore that were being smuggled into India across the borders in Sylhet and Sunamganj on Wednesday and Thursday. In addition to the seized goods, a motorcycle, a truck, and a pickup truck were also seized, according to BGB Sylhet Battalion Commander Lt Col. Md. Hafizur Rahman on Thursday. A special patrol team from 48-BGB conducted raids in the border areas of Sylhet and Sunamganj districts, resulting in the seizure of 10,180 kg of Indian sugar, 201 three-piece outfits, 270 T-shirts, 7 cows, 1,600 packets of cigarettes, 93 bottles of liquor, and 4,275 kg of Bangladeshi garlic. The total estimated value of the seized goods is Tk 1,14,58,250 (one crore fourteen lakh fifty-eight thousand two hundred fifty). The confiscated items will be handed over to the customs. He further noted that BGB's intelligence operations are ongoing to ensure border security and prevent smuggling. As part of these efforts, the smuggled goods were seized during the recent raids.

Bangladesh Police have heightened their vigilance to prevent the spread of false information and rumors during Durga Puja celebrations, said Inspector General of Police (IGP) Md. Mainul Islam. Speaking to reporters during a visit to the Ramakrishna Mission puja mandap in Narayanganj this evening, the IGP emphasized that Durga Puja, the biggest festival of the Hindu community, is being celebrated safely and peacefully across the country. Hindus celebrating Puja peacefully: Home Adviser “We are committed to maintaining communal harmony, and everyone in Bangladesh can practice their religion safely,” IGP Mainul said. He also warned that any attempt to disrupt the festival or create unrest will be met with swift and firm action from law enforcement. He assured that police are closely monitoring the situation and acting immediately on any reports of disturbances. "Whenever we receive information regarding incidents during Durga Puja, we take prompt action to address the issue," he added. The IGP urged the public to assist the police by reporting suspicious activities or incidents through the national emergency service 999, as well as local police stations, district control rooms, and police headquarters. The police chief also provided updates on significant criminal investigations. He confirmed that the investigation in Taqi murder case, which had previously been closed, has been reopened. Additionally, the investigation into the murder of journalist couple Sagar Sarowar and Meherun Runi has resumed, he noted. Durga Puja celebrations in Dhaka draw crowds amid tight security measures “We are celebrating Durga Puja in a new environment, made possible by the supreme sacrifices of students and the police.” He later exchanged greetings with worshippers, accompanied by senior police officers and leaders from the Hindu community.  

A 32-year-old man was brutally beaten to death on Thursday, allegedly by the owner and employees of a real estate company, following a dispute over the handover of flats in Dhaka’s Hatirjheel area. The victim, identified as Tanjil Jahan Islam Tamim, worked at a television channel in Dhaka. Tamim had been drawn into a long-standing property conflict involving his family. Sub-Inspector Rajib Hossain of Hatirjheel Police Station explained that Tamim’s father and two other individuals are co-owners of a plot of land in the Mahanagar Project area, where an eight-storey building had been constructed by the real estate company Pleasant Properties (Pvt) Ltd. The dispute arose when the developer repeatedly delayed handing over five flats that were promised to Tamim’s father under their agreement. Both parties reportedly reached a settlement on Wednesday to hand over two of the flats on Thursday. Read: UP member murdered, several injured over in Khulna’s Terokhada On Thursday morning, Tamim, along with laborers, was in the process of clearing one of the flats on the seventh floor when the situation escalated. The real estate company’s manager, Abdul Latif Mirza, along with owner Rabiul Alam and others, allegedly attacked Tamim, beating him severely, the sub-inspector said quoting victim’s family. Tamim’s elder brother, Samvir Jahan Islam, tried to intervene but was also attacked by the group. As the assailants fled the scene, Tamim’s family quickly called the national emergency service 999 for help. Tamim, critically injured, was rushed to a private hospital, but doctors declared him dead upon arrival. Read more: Youth murdered for 'not supplying Yaba' in Ctg’s Mirsarai 

A Dhaka court on Thursday sent former food minister Sadhan Chandra Majumder to jail in a case over the murder of Daffodil International University student Ramij Uddin Ahmed Roop in the capital's Karwan Bazar area during the recent student-led movement. Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Md Mehedi Hasan passed the order after the police produced them before the court following a seven-day remand in the case . On October 4, the court of Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Saifuddin Hossain placed the former minister on a seven-day remand in the case. Ex-NBR chairman Nojibur, ex-secretary Aminul denied bail, sent to jail Members of the Detective Branch of Dhaka Metropolitan Police arrested Sadhan from the capital's Bashundhara residential area on October 3. Earlier on September 7, AKM Rakibul Ahmed, father of the victim, lodged a murder case with Tejgaon Police Station against former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and 222 others. Hasina, 65 others sued over attack on Mahmudur Rahman in Kushtia On August 4, Ramij, 24,  the student was shot in front of Karwan Bazar Metro Rail Station around 4pm. Later, he was rushed to Dhaka Medical College Hospital where doctors declared him dead.  

A Dhaka court on Thursday sent Ex-Chairman of the National Board of Revenue (NBR) Md. Nojibur Rahman and former Senior Secretary Md. Aminul Islam Khan to jail upon completion of their remand period in the murder case of Jubo Dal leader Shamim. Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Mehedi Hasan passed the order after rejecting a bail pleas submitted on their behalf. The state strongly opposed the bail petitions during the hearing. Sub-Inspector Tanmoy Kumar Biswas, the investigating officer of the case, produced Nojibur and Aminul to the court. After reviewing the matter, the magistrate denied the bail application and ordered both to be sent to jail. Nojibur Rahman was arrested by the Detective Branch (DB) of the police on October 6 from the Gulshan area of the capital, while Aminul was arrested the same day from Banani. They were arrested in a case filed on September 24 at Paltan Police Station over an attack on a BNP grand rally held on October 28, 2023.

JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) has called upon Bangladesh’s interim government, led by Nobel laureate Prof. Dr. Muhammad Yunus to abolish the death penalty in all its forms. The statement from the France-based rights group came on the occasion of World Day Against the Death Penalty 2024 being observed on Thursday. The statement asserts that the death penalty is an irreversible and inhumane punishment that has no place in a just and civilized society. This stance aligns with national and international legal frameworks that prioritise human dignity, the right to life, and fairness. Article 32 of the Constitution of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh guarantees the right to life and personal liberty, yet the death penalty contradicts this fundamental right, it noted. “While justice and accountability are essential, capital punishment is neither a deterrent to crime nor a path to true justice,” JMBF emphasised. “It disproportionately affects the marginalized, the underprivileged, and those who lack access to proper legal representation.” According to JMBF, over 2,000 individuals are currently on death row in Bangladesh. The organisation calls for an urgent reconsideration of the practice as part of the global movement toward abolition. From 2013 to 2023, Bangladesh carried out at least 30 executions, mostly in cases involving murder, terrorism, and war crimes related to the 1971 Liberation War. Read: France-based group speaks out on state of lesbian rights in Bangladesh JMBF expressed concern about the fairness of trials, with reports of coerced confessions, inadequate legal defense, and the use of torture, which undermine the credibility of the justice system and increase the risk of wrongful executions. JMBF pointed to flaws in Bangladesh’s justice system, such as overcrowded courts, prolonged detention without trial, and the lack of legal aid. In some cases, death sentences were handed down without proper representation or fair trials, violating fundamental rights. JMBF highlighted global studies showing that the death penalty does not deter crime, citing over 85 nations that have abolished it since 1976. Robert Simon, a French human rights activist and Chief Adviser of JMBF, stated, “The death penalty is an irreversible punishment that reflects not justice, but the shortcomings of our legal system.” Advocate Shahanur Islam, founder president of JMBF, emphasised, “Our fight is not just for those on death row but for the integrity of our justice system and the future of human rights in Bangladesh. Abolishing the death penalty sends a clear message that justice should protect human dignity, not take human life.” Read more: France-based rights group voices concern over mob violence in Bangladesh