United News of Bangladesh

The government has sent police’s Special Branch (SB) chief Md Shah Alam into retirement on Thursday. A gazette notification, signed by Abu Sayeed, deputy secretary of the Public Security Division of the Ministry of Home Affairs, was issued on Thursday in this regard. According to Section 43(1) of the Public Service Act-2018, Additional Inspector General Shah Alam has been sent into retirement upon completion of his 59-year of service career, it reads. Read: 7 police officials sent on forced retirement Earlier on August 13 this year, he was appointed as the head of the SB. He served the Bangladesh Railway as deputy inspector general. He joined Bangladesh police as assistant police super on January 20, 1991. Read more: Three army officers sent into forced retirement, one dismissed

Acting Editor of the Amar Desh Mahmudur Rahman was granted bail by a Dhaka court in a case related to the alleged conspiracy to abduct and kill former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s son Sajeeb Wazed Joy. Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge As-Shams Jaglul Hossain issued the bail order on Thursday. Earlier, on September 29, Mahmudur Rahman was sent to jail by a different court in the same case. On that day, he was produced before the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court of Dhaka and he surrendered at around 10:30 am. Sagar-Runi murder: Court approves appointing 9 lawyers to assist public prosecutor During his appearance, Mahmudur Rahman also sought bail. But Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Mahbubul Haque rejected his bail plea and ordered his detention after a hearing. The case dates back to 2011 when, according to the allegations, senior BNP leaders and its cultural wing, Jatiyatabadi Samajik Sangskritik Sangstha (JASAS), along with other political figures, conspired to kidnap and murder Sajeeb Wazed Joy in the United States. The charges also included that the accused met at various locations, including the JASAS office in Paltan, Dhaka, New York, the United Kingdom and other places in Bangladesh.

RAB on Wednesday arrested former lawmaker of Rajshahi-4 constituency Abul Kalam Azad in connection with a case filed over attacking protesters during the student movement. He was arrested from the capital's Mirpur area, said ASP Imran Khan of RAB Headquarters (media wing). The RAB official, however, did not disclose any further details regarding the arrest.

In preparation for the upcoming Durga Puja, the interim government has issued several directives aimed at ensuring a stable law and order situation throughout the country.   These directives were issued on Wednesday through an official memorandum signed by Md. Zahirul Haque, Senior Assistant Secretary of the Political-2 branch of the Public Security Division of the Ministry of Home Affairs. The guidelines follow decisions made during the second meeting of the Law and Order Advisory Council, chaired by the Home Affairs Advisor on October 1. The key directives include: 1. To maintain law and order during the celebration of Sharadiya Durga Puja 2024, police, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), and Ansar and Village Defense Party (VDP) forces will enhance visible patrols and increase intelligence surveillance. Armed forces members deployed for maintaining order will also provide necessary assistance.    2. Preparations must be made to prevent any unwanted incidents. Should any unexpected events arise, effective measures must be taken immediately in coordination with all relevant parties.  3. Local administration and law enforcement agencies must conduct inspections of the puja pandals (temporary structures).  4. Authorities are advised to be vigilant against the spread of any objectionable or inflammatory statements on social media that may hurt religious sentiments. 5. Puja celebration committees are required to appoint a sufficient number of volunteers and guards for round-the-clock monitoring of the puja pandals, with at least three during the day and four at night. 6. Arrangements must be made to install CCTV cameras at each puja pandal.  7. Adequate numbers of police personnel, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), Ansar and VDP, RAB, and other forces must be deployed for the celebrations.  8. Monitoring committees should be formed, including respected individuals and students from various sectors of society, to ensure the security of the puja pandals, involving both Hindu community members and local officials. Deputy Commissioners and Upazila Nirbahi Officers will be responsible for forming these committees.

A court in Sirajganj on Wednesday placed ex-MP for Sirajganj-2 Jannat Ara Henry and her husband Md Labu Talukdar, former chairman of Sirajganj Zilla Parishad, on a seven-day remand in a case filed over the death of local Jubo Dal leader Sohannur Rahman Ranju during the recent movement. Sirajganj Senior Judicial Magistrate Court-2 judge Md Russel Mahmud passed the order after police produced them before the court seeking a 10-day remand. The court also ordered to send them to jail, Defendant's lawyers Advocate Rafique Sarker and Sirajganj Bar Council's general secretary Advocate Masudur Rahman confirmed. Sirajganj Sadar police produced them before the court showing arrested in district Jubo Dal vice-president Sohanur Rahman Ranju murder case and pleaded to the court to place them on a 10-day remand. Earlier, Rapid Action Bangladesh (RAB) arrested them from the Sonapur area of Moulvibazar town at around 3:30pm on Monday.

A court in the district on Wednesday sent former MP of Noakhali-4 constituency Mohammad Ekramul Karim Chowdhury to jail . Judge of Senior Judicial Magistrate court Sajjad Hossain passed the order when he was produced before the court, Noakhali court inspector Shah Alam confirmed the information. He was arrested by the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) on Tuesday night in Khulshi area of Chattogram. According to RAB, Ekramul was arrested from his residence in Khulshi along with  26,200 dollars, 2,100 Singapore dollars, and Tk 10 lakh. Ekramul Karim Chowdhury was first elected as a Member of Parliament from Noakhali-4 with Awami League ticket in 2008 national election and was re-elected in the 10th, 11th, and 12th national elections.

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has launched an investigation into Nazrul Islam Majumdar, owner of NASSA Group, for allegedly laundering around $3 million to the United States through trade-based schemes. According to CID sources, Firoza Garments Ltd., a NASSA Group company owned by Majumdar, accepted 130 Letters of Credit (LCs) or sales contracts from National Bank Ltd. between March 2020 and 2024. Although the garments were exported to the U.S. under these contracts, CID’s preliminary investigation revealed that funds were smuggled out of Bangladesh without being repatriated. Additional allegations surfaced during the probe, with CID uncovering evidence that Majumdar purchased luxury properties in London, including homes in Phillimore Gardens and Brunswick Gardens, under his daughter Anika Islam’s name, allegedly through money laundering. Nazrul Islam Majumdar has evaded customs duties worth hundreds of crores of taka by importing raw materials under the duty-free bond facility and then selling those goods on the domestic market, said Additional Superintendent of Police Azad Rahman of the CID media wing. Further investigations have found that Majumdar secured approximately Tk 21,000 crore in loans for four companies affiliated with NASSA Group. These funds were purportedly smuggled abroad through under-invoicing and over-invoicing schemes involving several countries, including UAE, the United Kingdom, Canada, Singapore, and Thailand. The Financial Crimes unit is conducting a separate inquiry into these international money laundering allegations.

An investigation committee has been formed to probe the latest violence  in Khagrachhari district over the death of a school teacher in mob lynching . The 4-member committee will be led by the Additional District Magistrate of Khagrachari, said Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Shahiduzzaman on Wednesday. Besides, Section 144 imposed in the area after violence on Tuesday was withdrawn at 3 pm today. Meanwhile, two cases were filed over allegations of raping a student at Khagrachhari Technical School and College and the incidents of obstruction of government duties and assault. Now case has been filed over the mob lynching yet. No one was arrested in connection with the cases. Deputy Commissioner and the Police Superintendent visited the affected areas. A teacher of the school, Abul Hasanat Sohel Rana, was killed on Tuesday in a lynch-mob attack over the allegations that he had raped a student of class 7 at the same school. The aftermath of this incident sparked protests in the town  starting in the afternoon, leading to several clashes between the ethnic minority and Bengali communities. During the clashes , several vehicles were vandalized, and shops were damaged and torched.

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has taken a decision to investigate the money laundering allegation against Jahangir Alam also known as ‘Pani Jahangir’ a peon of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. An allegation has been raised against Jahangir, who was a peon of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, that he amassed a wealth of Tk 400 crore. He was also involved in dealing the business of posts of Awami League, job recruitment, transfer after using his name. Besides, he also submitted the nomination from Noakhali-1 constituency in the national election. According to sources, Kamrunnahar, wife of Jahangir, amassed a wealth worth Tk 7.30 crore and owned a flat of 2360 square feet in Dhanmondi, one vehicle, capital of Tk 73 lakh in business and deposited Tk 1.17 crore in her bank account. Besides, Jahangir owned lands worth Tk 4 crore, two business shops in Mohammadpur and New Market, a 7-story building in Mirpur, two flats, one one-story building and four-story building in Noakhali’s Chatkhil area. As his movable assets, his cash and bank account is Tk 2,52, 2,430, DPS Tk 2.75 lakh, FDR Tk 1.30 crore and his wife's bank account status is Tk 27.97 lakh, DPS is Tk 18.75 lakh and the capital of the partnership firm is Tk 6.24 crore. Jahangir Alam is the owner of a developer company named AK Real Estate Limited and has laundered a huge amount of money to the United States through Hundi.

A court has placed former Election Commission and Home Ministry secretary Mohammad Jahangir Alam on a 5-day remand in a case concerning the death of Abdul Motalib, a teenager who was shot during the student-led movement in Dhaka's Jigatala area. Metropolitan Magistrate Belal Hossain passed the order after hearing on Tuesday. Detective Branch Inspector Mohammad Nazrul Islam, also the investigating officer, sought a 10-day remand for further investigation. The defense opposed the remand and filed a bail petition. The court rejected the bail plea. Ex-DB officer remanded for 3 days over killing of Suman Sikder during July movement Lawyers Mohammad Yaar Khan and Morshed Hossain Shaheen stood for the accused. On August 4, Abdul Motalib was shot dead during protests at the Jigatala bus stand. Following the incidents, Motalib's father, Abdul Matin, filed a murder case on August 26 at the Dhanmondi police station against former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, Road and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader and176 others.