United News of Bangladesh

Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner Mainul Hasan on Tuesday said comprehensive security preparations have been taken to ensure the peaceful celebration of Durga Puja at all mandaps in Dhaka city. He said this while talking to reporters after inspecting the security arrangements at the Dhakeshwari temple on Tuesday afternoon. He said that a designated number of police personnel will be deployed at each puja mandap. Besides, volunteers, plainclothes police officers will also be on duty along with necessary numbers of Ansar personnel. Mainul said that as part of the security measures, there will be checkpoints at each mandap, along with archways and metal detectors for thorough screenings. The Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and members of armed forces will also be patrolling the areas alongside conducting their regular operations. Regarding traffic management during the festival, he said necessary arrangements were taken to ensure smooth traffic flow throughout the city. However, in some areas of Old Dhaka, where roads are narrow, there might be minor challenges, he said adding the puja celebration committees will ensure that no fairs or large gatherings take place near the temples to avoid further congestion. The DMP Commissioner also said that the immersion should be completed by 7 pm and 15 places were fixed in Dhaka city for immersion. Postogola crematorium, Buriganga river adjacent to Wiseghat and Demra are among these designated places, he added. He also requested people to avoid all kinds of fireworks and crackers and not to consume alcohol during the immersion.

An application has been submitted to a Dhaka court seeking permission to file a defamation case against suspended assistant commissioner Tapashee Tabassum Urmi for her defamatory remarks about Abu Sayed and others who were killed during July-August mass uprising. The application was submitted on Tuesday at the court of Metropolitan Magistrate Zakir Hossain by Abu Hanif, a member of the Gonaodhikar Parishad and its media coordinator. After recording the complainant's statement, the court said that it would pass an order on the matter at a later date, said complainant's lawyer Md. Khademul Islam. Travel ban imposed on former NSI DG, his wife According to the case statement, October 5, Tapashee she allegedly made defamatory remarks not only about martyr Abu Sayed but also targeting the government established through the student-people’s movement and its Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus. Her statements were disrespectful and undermined the legitimacy of a constitutionally formed government. Her comments could create public fear by threatening the stability of the government and damaging the reputation of its officials, it said.

The traffic division of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) filed 1,017 cases and imposed a fine of Tk 40,84,500 after conducting drives against traffic rule violators on Sunday. Talebur Rahman, DC (media) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), shared the information in a media release on Monday. Furthermore, 224 vehicles were impounded and 70 others were towed during the operations conducted in various areas of the capital. The drive will continue to uphold traffic order in Dhaka, it stated.

A Dhaka court has imposed a travel ban on Chowdhury Nafeez Sarafat, former chairman of Padma Bank PLC, over allegations of bribery, corruption, and embezzlement linked to his tenure at the bank. Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Mohammed Ash-Shams Joglul Hossain passed the order on Monday, following a petition filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). Court Inspector Amir Hossain confirmed the development. The petition said that there are allegations against Sarafat of bribery, corruption, forgery, and abuse of power, involving the embezzlement of a large amount of money through deception with customers. The allegations suggested that Nafeez Sarafat has acquired a vast amount of assets in various places in the country and in Canada by misusing his position and through political connections, and is propagating statements in his favour by disseminating advertisements in national daily newspapers from unknown locations.

A Dhaka court on Monday placed former Environment Minister Saber Hossain Chowdhury on a five-day remand in connection with the murder of BNP activist Mokbul in 2022. Dhaka Additional Metropolitan Magistrate Mahbubul Haque issued the remand order after the investigation officer Nazmul Hasan — sub-inspector of Paltan Model Police Station— produced Chowdhury before the court, seeking a 10-day remand to further investigate the matter. Ex-MP Sheuly Azad placed on 8-day remand in Brahmanbaria murder case On Sunday, the Detective Branch (DB) of police held Saber Hossain, also the former MP from Dhaka-9 constituency, from Gulshan area of the capital. The murder case dates back to December 2022, when the BNP announced a political programme in support of their one-point demand. This move followed a police raid on the BNP’s Naya Paltan office on December 7, led by former DB chief Harun-Or-Rashid and DMP Joint Commissioner Biplob Kumar Sarker. The raid, which was marked by police use of force, saw officers charging with batons and firing shots at BNP members, leaving several injured, including Mokbul. Former food minister remanded for 7 days He was admitted to hospital in critical condition but later succumbed to his injuries. On September 30 this year, Abbas Ali, a former member of the Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal central committee, filed a murder case against 256 people. The accused include several top Awami League leaders and multiple police officials. An additional 400 unidentified people were also named in the complaint.  

A Brahmanbaria court has placed former reserved seat MP Umme Fatema Nazma Begum Sheuly Azad on an eight-day remand in connection with a murder case. Brahmanbaria Senior Judicial Magistrate Court-5 Judge Swagata Samya passed the order on Monday. Brahmanbaria Court Inspector Md Habibullah Sarkar confirmed the matter. The murder case dates back to 2021, following the death of Liton Mia during anti-Modi protests in the Sarail Bishwaroad area. Former land minister Narayan Chandra arrested from the border in Jhenaidah Sheuly was arrested by the Detective Branch (DB) police at her residence in Dhaka’s Niketan on Sunday night. The case was in connection with the murder case filed on September 3, 2024. After the court's decision, she was transferred to the district jail, added the inspector. The case was filed by Maulana Sultan Uddin on behalf of the victim, naming 67 individuals, including Sheuly, along with several hundred unidentified others.

A  Dhaka court has issued a travel ban on Saiful Alam, the owner of S Alam Group, his wife Farzana Parveen and 11 family members. Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Mohammad Zoglul Hossain passed the order in response to a petition from Anti-Corruption Commission’s Public Prosecutor Mir Ahmed Ali Salam on Monday. Travel ban imposed on former NSI DG, his wife In addition to Saiful Alam and his wife, those barred from leaving the country include his sons Ashraful Alam and Ahsanul Alam, brothers Morshedul Alam, Shahidul Alam, Rashedul Alam, Abdus Samad, Osman Gani, and Mohammad Abdullah Hasan, Abdus Samad’s wife Shahana Ferdous, Osman Gani’s wife Farzana Begum, and an unidentified man, Miskat Ahmed.

Ahead of Durga Puja, security has been significantly ramped up across nearly 31,500 puja mandaps nationwide. Inspector General of Police (IGP) Md Mainul Islam today said that members of the Ansar and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) will be on 24-hour duty at each mandap to ensure a safe and peaceful celebration. During a press briefing at Dhakeshwari Temple today, the IGP emphasized that the Bangladesh Police, alongside other law enforcement agencies, are taking extensive measures to create a festive environment free of disruptions. “All puja mandaps will celebrate the festival in a peaceful and joyous atmosphere, with religious enthusiasm," he said, assuring that security has been prioritized at every level. Read: No security threat around Durga Puja: Home Adviser The IGP detailed a robust three-tier security plan: "We have increased patrols at every location ahead of the puja. Security measures have been heightened, and both Ansar and BGB personnel are stationed at key puja mandaps. Armed forces are positioned in every district to maintain order, while BGB personnel are active along the borders. Meanwhile, the Coast Guard and specialized police units are monitoring the coastal and naval regions." He also warned against potential disruptions, particularly on social media, where increased cyber monitoring will be in place to prevent the spread of misinformation. "There is no room for disorder. We will take immediate action against anyone involved in subversive activities," he stressed. Read more: Durga Puja around the corner; 257 mandaps set up in Dhaka To further enhance security, police control rooms have been set up in every district and upazila, allowing citizens to report incidents or concerns at any time during the festivities.

JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) has expressed grave concern over mob violence and lynchings in Bangladesh following the recent political upheaval. JMBF has urgently called on Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus to take immediate and decisive action to stop all forms of mob violence and lynchings, according to an statement received here on Monday. The non-profit organisation also has demanded a thorough investigation into these gross human rights violations, led by judicial officials from the High Court Division of the Bangladesh Supreme Court. A transparent tribunal must be established to ensure that those responsible—both directly and indirectly—are held accountable and face appropriate punishment to uphold justice, it said. Reports from various news outlets, citing the Manabadhikar Songskriti Foundation, have highlighted a disturbing surge in mob attacks following the political transition. In August and September alone, 53 incidents were reported, resulting in the tragic deaths of at least 44 people. The month of September 2024 witnessed 33 mob attacks, leading to 24 deaths and 22 serious injuries. Read: Rights group JMBF demands release of Asaduzzaman Noor, Shahriar Kabir, journalists Robert Simon, a prominent French human rights activist and Chief Adviser to JMBF, said, “This outbreak of lawlessness is a blatant violation of fundamental human rights and justice principles. Mob lynchings, driven by frustration and a breakdown of law and order, pose a serious threat to democracy, the rule of law, and human dignity.” Advocate Shahanur Islam, founder and president of JMBF, said, “The rising tide of mob justice in Bangladesh is a direct consequence of a failing system. No society can claim to be just or humane if it allows mob violence to replace due process and the rule of law. We call on the interim government and law enforcement agencies to take immediate action to prevent further bloodshed.” JMBF insists that the recent surge in mob lynchings in Bangladesh underscores the urgent need to strengthen legal institutions and promote respect for human rights. Violence and lawlessness have no place in a civil society. The interim government must safeguard the rule of law. JMBF stands in solidarity with the victims of these horrific attacks and demands immediate justice and accountability for those responsible. Read more:  Global community must hold Bangladesh accountable, protect rights of its citizens: JMBF JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) will continue to advocate for victims’ rights, hold governments accountable, and work toward a Bangladesh where justice is delivered through legal institutions, not violence.

Detectives of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) arrested former Prime Minister’s Principal Secretary and also former National Bureau of Revenue (NBR) Chairman Nojibur Rahman from Ramna area of Dhaka on Sunday night, said authorities. Rezaul Karim Mallik, additional deputy commissioner (ADC-DB) of the DMP confirmed the matter to media. Read: Ex-AL lawmaker Shahidul Islam arrested: DB He informed that the arrestee will be produced before a Dhaka court on Monday. Nojibur served as the PMO principal secretary and NBR chairman during the rule of ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina. Read more: DB arrests ex-food minister Sadhan Chandra from Dhaka’s Bhatara