United News of Bangladesh

Members of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) 6 have arrested former lawmaker from Jhenaidah-1 constituency Nayeb Ali Jowardar, in connection with an attack, vandalism, and arson that took place in the Jhenaidah Sadar area on August 4. He was arrested from Arappur Bus Stand area of Jhenaidah at 11:55 pm on Thursday, confirmed ASP Imran Khan of RAB Headquarters (media wing).

The Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit has arrested two suspected militants in the Shah Ali Mazar area of Mirpur, Dhaka, and seized some “bomb-making” materials. The arrested individuals have been identified as Rezwanul Islam (23) and Md. Mahmudul Islam (26), both sons of Monirul Islam. Among the items recovered from their possession are two gas cans, auto switches, chili lights, two large machetes, gunpowder, matchsticks, capacitors, a remote-control key, a clock, GI pipes, sockets, switches, a weighing scale, ball bearings, wires, scotch tape, pliers, and other bomb-making components.

Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) seized goods valued at over Tk 2 crore being smuggled into India through the Sunamganj border on Wednesday and Thursday. In addition to the goods, a truck and four pickups were also confiscated, according to a press release issued by BGB on Thursday. A special patrol team, led by Subedar Abul Bashar, commander of the Banglabazar Border Outpost (BOP), conducted a raid in the Kushiara area early Thursday. Acting on a tip-off about an attempt to smuggle Bangladeshi garlic, betel nut, and catfish to India through the Banglabazar border in Doarabazar Upazila of Sunamganj, the BGB seized 6,000 kg of betel nuts, 6,000 kg of garlic, and 4,000 kg of catfish (Shing Machh). Earlier, on Wednesday, BGB personnel confiscated 11,15,552 pieces of Indian Skin Bright Cream during a raid at the Gowainghat border in Sylhet. The total value of the seized goods is estimated at Tk 2,68,15,600 (two crore sixty-eight lakh fifteen thousand six hundred). The confiscated items have been handed over to customs, the press release added.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has initiated an investigation against former Narayanganj City Corporation Mayor Dr. Selina Hayat Ivy and her personal assistant Abul Hossain over allegations of acquiring illegal wealth, money laundering, abuse of power, and other irregularities. The ACC confirmed the decision today from its headquarters. Selina Hayat Ivy first came into public office in 2003 as the Chairman of Narayanganj Municipality during the tenure of the Four-Party Alliance government. She made history in 2011 by defeating Shamim Osman by over 100,000 votes in the first-ever Narayanganj City Corporation election, becoming the country’s first female mayor. She was re-elected as the mayor of Narayanganj City Corporation (NCC) in 2016 and 2022. Allegations against Abul Hossain, Ivy’s personal assistant, include abusing power, extortion from CNG and auto-rickshaw drivers, and amassing millions of taka. He allegedly owns 4-5 apartments in Narayanganj metropolitan area. Furthermore, two additional flats are reported to be in the name of Ivy’s driver in the Bor Kol and Pani Kol areas of Narayanganj. The allegations also extend to Ivy’s brothers, Ali Reza Ripon and Ahmed Ali Reza Uzzal, who are accused of embezzling more than 1 crore taka annually from the solid waste collection and disposal management project in the Siddhirganj region of Narayanganj City Corporation. Additionally, the ACC has obtained information about Ivy's involvement in the demolition of the historic Chitta Binodan Club in Narayanganj to build a market, as well as the illegal occupation of 18 acres of Bangladesh Railway land to construct Sheikh Russel Park. The ACC has also found evidence of assets disproportionate to her known sources of income.

A Dhaka court on Thursday placed former Dhaka district’s Additional Superintendent of Police Abdullahhil Kafi on a five-remand in a case over the killing of Military Institute student Shaikh Ashabul Yameen. Dhaka Senior Judicial Magistrate Md Julhas Uddin passed the order after hearing a remand petition. Earlier, Savar Model Police Station’s Inspector Abdullah Biswas produced him before the court with a prayer for a seven-day remand. Though the defendant’s lawyer appealed for bail, the court rejected it and granted the remand. On August 25, the victim’s father filed the case against 49 people including former premier Sheikh Hasina with a Dhaka court. According to the case statement, during the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, Sheikh Hasina made provocative statement to resist the movement at a press conference. Following the order, the law enforcement agencies, Awami League, Jubo League and Chhatra League activists attacked the protesters. In view of this, police and Awami League jointly attacked the peaceful procession at 1:30 pm on July 18. They dragged Yameen to a police armoured vehicle and shot him in the left side of his chest. In this situation, the policemen on duty kept Yameen on top of the police armored vehicle and drove the car to intimidate the protesting students and people. Later, Yameen was thrown almost dead on the street and a policeman came out of the armored vehicle and shot him in the leg again. The policeman dragged Yameen from one end of the road to the other and threw him beside the road divider. He was taken to Enam Medical College Hospital in Savar where doctors declared him dead. Abdullahhil Kafi was arrested at the airport on September 2. The next day, a Dhaka court placed him on an eight-day remand in a case filed with the Hazaribagh Police Station.

Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) arrested three people, including former Awami League lawmaker ABM Fazle Karim Chowdhury, from Brahmanbaria’s Akhaura border early Thursday. The two others are Md Hannan Molla, former union parishad member of Nurpur area under Akhaura upazila and local Md Nayeem Chowdhury, also a suspected human trafficker. Md Shariful Islam, public relations officer of the BGB Headquarters, confirmed the matter. Lt. Col Farah Md Imtiaz, commandant of the BGB-25 Battalion in Sarail, said a BGB team arrested the trio while trying to intrude into India through Akhaura border in Abdullahpur area around 6:50am. Fazle Karim served as the chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee of the Railways Ministry. He was elected several times from Chattogram’s Raozan upazila.

Former Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Asaduzzaman Mia was arrested on Wednesday night. A team of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) arrested him from the capital's Mohakhali area, said Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Imran Khan of the RAB headquarters media wing. The RAB offical, however, did not disclose details regarding the arrest.

Police arrested one person on charge of grabbing the home and land of a Hindu resident and vandalizing idols in Rajshahi’s Bagha upazila. The arrestee is Mohammad Altaf Ali, 52, a resident ofJotraghu village in Bagha. It was learnt that minority Rupa Sanatan Dube, 50, of Jotraghu village, went to India on August 2 last month for a trip. While he was in India, on August 5, 2024, he heard about the political change in the country. During his absence, the accused reportedly broke into his home, where his aunt Ranju Dube was staying, and stole Tk 46,000 in cash by breaking a steel box in the bedroom, said a media release signed by Md Rafiqul Islam, additional Superintendent of Police (DSB) of Rajshahi. The attackers also assaulted Ranju and desecrated idols in a temple and damaged other worship places. Accused Altaf occupied Rupa's home and an adjacent land. On information, Rajshahi Superintendent of Police Md Anisuzzaman ordered the concerned police station to arrest those involved. On September 9, police arrested Altaf from Arani Bazaarin Rajshahi around 9pm. Efforts to arrest the other suspects involved in the attack are underway. Police have already recovered the seized property and land and returned to Ranju Dube. A case was filed with the police station naming three people and five or six unnamed suspects.

Inspector General of Police (IGP) Md. Mainul Islam on Tuesday instructed all police units across the country to take immediate action against militants, terrorists and the enemies of communal harmony. In the instruction from Police headquarters, the IGP said that Bangladesh is a shining example of communal harmony. The position of Bangladesh Police is very strict against any possible destruction of the communal harmony in this country, regardless of party affiliation, he said. He further said that Bangladesh Police is determined to take immediate strict action against any person or group who spread the poison of communalism and create an unstable situation in the country. The chief of police said that the position of Bangladesh Police against militant and terrorist activities is 'zero tolerance'. Bangladesh Police's specialized Anti-Terrorism Unit (ATU), Counter-Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC)unit, SB, CID, RAB and District Police are constantly working to combat militancy and terrorism. The police headquarters is regularly monitoring the matter with utmost importance. Police are very strict and vigilant against militancy and terrorist activities so that militancy and terrorism cannot rise again in the country, he added. The top officer of the police force said, the specialized units of the police are keeping a close watch on the militants and other criminals who are on bail so that they do not get involved in any kind of crime. If they are involved in crime then they will be arrested immediately and legal action will be taken. The police headquarters is regularly monitoring the matter with utmost importance, he added. Bangladesh Police is committed to maintain normal law and order in the country. If anyone tries to create instability in the country through any activity that disrupts public security, the police will take immediate legal action including arresting the culprit.

A case was filed against former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and 33 others at the International Crimes Tribunal(ICT) in connection with the killing of student Residential  Model College student Farhan Faiyaz during the quota reform movement. Farhan’s father, Shahidul Islam Bhuiyan, filed the case on charges of genocide and crimes against humanity, said ICT Deputy Director (Administration) Ataur Rahman. Awami League general secretary and minister Obaidul Quader, Anisul Huq, Barrister Fazle Noor Taposh, Jahangir Kabir Nanak, Sheikh Fazle Shams Parash, Chhatra League President Saddam Hossain, General Secretary Wali Asif Inan, and police officer Biplob Kumar were among the accused. Farhan Faiyaz was shot dead by police during in Dhanmondi during the student-led mass movement. Farhan was supposed to take the HSC exams with the batch of 2025.