United News of Bangladesh

Members of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) have arrested three individuals who were mistakenly released from Mymensingh Central Jail after a prison officer misinterpreted their summons as bail. The accused—Anis Mia, 32, Rashedul Islam, 25, and Zakirul Islam, 28, sons of Hazrat Ali of Madhyatarati village in Tarakanda upazila—were apprehended in Ghatail upazila of Tangail around 11:30 pm on Thursday. RAB-14 commander Naymul Hasan briefed reporters at a press conference on Friday morning, saying the accused had initially been arrested on January 23 in connection with a murder case under Tarakanda police station and were handed over to the court. “On January 27, they were mistakenly released from jail due to a misinterpretation of an appearance warrant as bail, with the involvement of some jail staff. This created a huge stir,” he said. He added that following the release, RAB-14 launched an operation with CPSC and CPC-3 Tangail units and successfully apprehended the three accused. They will be sent back to jail after completing the necessary legal procedures. Senior Jail Superintendent Md. Aminul Islam said a prison official “mistakenly” released the accused. A three-member investigation committee was immediately formed, and Deputy Jailor Zakaria Imtiaz was temporarily suspended. Mymensingh Divisional Prisons Deputy Inspector General (DIG Prisons) Mohammad Touhidul Islam said a committee led by Dhaka Division-2 DIG Prisons Tipu Sultan is conducting an investigation. “If the report, expected within three working days, finds negligence on anyone else’s part, strict action will be taken,” he added.

The Council of Advisers on Thursday approved six draft ordinances, three proposals, and one policy, including the draft Prevention of Sexual Harassment at the Workplace and Educational Institutions Ordinance 2026. The Council also decided to open a new diplomatic mission in Georgetown, Guyana, a Caribbean nation. The mission will operate at the level of Chargé d’Affaires or First Secretary, with personnel deployed from existing foreign missions. Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam briefed reporters at the Foreign Service Academy on the outcomes of the meeting, which was chaired by Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus at his office. Alam said the Council discussed and approved 11 key agenda items. Among the approved draft ordinances are the Domestic Violence Prevention Ordinance 2026, the National Sports Council (Amendment) Ordinance 2026, the Bangladesh Animal and Animal Products Quarantine Ordinance 2026, the Narayanganj Development Authority Ordinance 2026, and the Cumilla Development Authority Ordinance 2026. The meeting also approved a proposal to declare March 23 as Bangladesh National Cadet Corps (BNCC) Day, to be observed annually. Another proposal approved at the meeting was the withdrawal of Bangladesh’s declaration submitted under Article 14(1) of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT). Cabinet receives final draft of ‘Dhaka Central University’ ordinance In addition, the Council approved a proposal for Bangladesh to become a party to the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction, 1980. It also approved the draft Import Policy Order 2025–2028. Chief Adviser’s Deputy Press Secretary Mohammad Abul Kalam Azad Majumder, Senior Assistant Press Secretary Foyez Ahammad and Assistant Press Secretary Shuchismita Tithi were present at the briefing.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) on Wednesday arrested former Chief Engineer of the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) Md Habibur Rahman on charges of embezzling Tk150 crore in connection with the construction of the terminal and runway at Cox’s Bazar International Airport. A team of the ACC held Habibur Rahman from the Segunbagicha area of Dhaka, ACC Assistant Director (Public Relations) Tanzir Ahmed said. Following his arrest, Tanzir said, he was produced before a court. According to ACC sources, a case was filed on January 27, 2025, against 10 individuals, including former Prime Minister’s Military Adviser Tarique Ahmed Siddique, over alleged irregularities and corruption in the runway expansion project at Cox’s Bazar Airport. Habibur Rahman’s arrest comes amid the ongoing investigation of the case. The ACC has requested his detention until the probe is completed, citing concerns over potential evidence tampering and witness influence. Other accused in the case include former Senior Secretary Muhibul Haq, former Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism Janendranath Sarkar, former CAAB Chairman M Mofidur Rahman, former Chief Engineer Md Abdul Malek, owner of Aerones International Lutfullah Majed, its Managing Director Mahbub Anam, former Deputy Secretary Md Shafiqul Islam, and Project Director Md Yunus Bhuiyan. CAAB flight safety chief Habib withdrawn The case statement alleges that irregularities amounting to nearly Tk1,500 crore have been uncovered in the Cox’s Bazar Airport development project. It claims that Tarique Ahmed Siddique and others directly facilitated the awarding of the project contract to a Chinese company in violation of existing procurement rules. The ACC said the accused allegedly ensured the project was awarded to a preferred contractor and, in collusion with local agent Aerones International Limited, misappropriated at least Tk150 crore from the project.

Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) personnel arrested three people after raiding an illegal counterfeit currency factory in Gazipur on Monday. Acting on a tip-off, the RAB personnel raided a rented house in the Bonomala area of Tongi, where the factory had reportedly been operating for an extended period. They seized more than Tk 5 lakh in counterfeit banknotes of various denominations, along with specialised printing paper, printers, scanners, ink and a laptop. During preliminary investigations, the suspects confessed to producing and distributing fake currencies. Muggers loot Tk 24 lakh firing shots, exploding crude bombs in Gazipur Investigators are examining whether additional individuals were involved in the criminal acts. Legal proceedings are underway against those arrested, according to Lt Commander Md Nafiz-bin-Jamal, company commander of RAB-1’s Porabari Camp in Gazipur.

The International Crimes Tribunal-1 sentenced three former police officials to death and five others to different jail terms in the case over the killing of six people during the July Uprising at Chankharpul in the capital. A three-member bench of the tribunal, led by its Chairman Justice Golam Mortuza Mozumder, delivered the verdict. The condemned convicts are former Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) commissioner Habibur Rahman, former joint commissioner Sudip Kumar Chakraborty and former additional deputy commissioner of Ramna Division Shah Alam.  All three are now on the run. Another fugitive accused, Assistant Commissioner (AC) Md Imrul, was sentenced to six years in prison. Among the four arrested accused, inspector Arshad Hossain was sentenced to four years in jail while constables Sujan Hossain, Imaj Hossain and Nasirul were each sentenced to three years in jail. Chief Prosecutor Tajul Islam said an appeal will be filed against the verdict, as, he said, the accused have been found guilty and the verdict is not fair enough. On January 20, the tribunal deferred the verdict although it had set January 20 for delivering the judgment. According to the prosecution, on August 5, 2024, police opened fire on a peaceful student movement at Chankharpul, leaving six people dead. Chankharpul killings: Tribunal orders protection for witness facing security threat The victims were Shahriar Khan Anas, Sheikh Junayed, Md Yakub, Md Rakib Hawladar, Md Ismamul Haque and Manik Mia Shahrik. After finding evidence against the accused, the tribunal on July 14 last year framed charges against all eight and ordered the commencement of the trial.

The International Crimes Tribunal-1 will deliver its verdict in the case over the killing of six people during the July Uprising of 2024 at Chankharpul in the capital on Monday. On January 20, the three-member bench of the tribunal led by its Chairman Justice Golam Mortuza Mozumder, deferred the verdict although it had set January 20 for delivering the judgment. Eight people are facing trial in the case. Of them, four are currently in jail: former Shahbagh Police Station inspector (operations) Md Arshad Hossain, constable Md Sujan Mia, Md Imaz Hossain Iman and Md Nasirul Islam. The four other accused are absconding. They are former Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) commissioner Habibur Rahman, former additional commissioner Sudip Kumar Chakraborty, former additional deputy commissioner of Ramna Division Shah Alam Md Akhtarul Islam, and former assistant commissioner Mohammad Imrul. According to the prosecution, on August 5, 2024, police opened fire on a peaceful student movement at Chankharpul, leaving six people dead. Read More: Ex-BGB official, 3 others indicted over killing 28 people during July uprising The victims were Shahriar Khan Anas, Sheikh Junayed, Md Yakub, Md Rakib Hawladar, Md Ismamul Haque and Manik Mia Shahrik. After finding evidence against the accused, the tribunal on July 14 framed charges against all eight and ordered the commencement of the trial. ICT grants first bail in July Uprising crimes against humanity case

The High Court on Sunday issued a rule asking why punitive action should not be taken against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) A M M  Nasir Uddin for failing to comply with a court order. The HC bench of Justice Fahmida Quader and Justice Md Ashif Hasan issued the rule following a contempt petition filed by Supreme Court lawyer Md Eunus Ali Akond. Advocate Eunus Ali, representing the petitioner, told the court that on August 27 last year, the High Court had directed the CEC to dispose of a petition submitted by a Krishak Sramik Janata Party ,political party, for registration. Court bars disconnection of utility services to under-construction buildings However, the order was not implemented even after a long delay, he said. He added that due to non-compliance with the court’s directive a contempt of court petition was filed against the CEC, leading to the issuance of the rule.

'Underworld' criminal Dilip alias Binash ordered the killing of Swechchhasebak Dal leader Azizur Rahman Musabbir over extortion and control in the capital’s Karwan Bazar area, detectives said on Saturday. Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Additional Commissioner and Detective Branch (DB) Chief Shafikul Islam disclosed the information while briefing reporters at the DMP Media Centre on Minto Road on Saturday morning. He said eight to nine extortion syndicates are currently operating at Karwan Bazar and the murder stemmed from rivalry over control of extortion earnings. Shafikul said the DB is working to dismantle the syndicates and will launch drives soon. Replying to a question, he said preliminary findings indicate that Dilip alias Binash is currently staying abroad. Musabbir, former general secretary of Swechchhasebak Dal’s Dhaka North City unit, was shot dead on January 7 in an alley beside Kazi Nazrul Islam Avenue. His wife filed a murder case with Tejgaon Police Station the following day against four to five unidentified individuals. Earlier, on January 11, DB arrested Jinnat (24), Abdul Kadir (28), Md Riaz (31) and Md Bilal in connection with the killing. On Friday morning, another alleged shooter, Rahim, was arrested from Narsingdi, bringing the total number of arrests to five. Asked about the identities of the arrestees Shafikul Islam said they should be described as extortionists. “Extortionists have no political ideology and often misuse political identities or banners to carry out illegal activities.” he added. Responding to another query, he said police reviewed CCTV footage from the crime scene immediately after the incident and identified two shooters. One of them, Jinnat, was arrested earlier while the second shooter, Rahim, was arrested on Friday.

Detectives have arrested another shooter from Narsingdi district in connection with the murder of Musabbir and recovered two pistols, two magazines and 12 rounds of ammunition. A reliable source at the Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police said several DB teams conducted raids in Narsingdi on Friday based on secret information and arrested the shooter, identified as Rahim. With Rahim’s arrest, the total number of arrestees in the killing of Swechchhasebak Dal leader Azizur Rahman Musabbir has risen to five. Earlier, DB police arrested four suspects, including one shooter. The source said the arrestee is being interrogated, but for the sake of the investigation, no more details could be divulged. A formal press briefing will be held on Saturday to disclose more information. Earlier on January 10, several DB teams conducted raids at different locations in the capital as well as in Manikganj, Mymensingh and Netrakona, arresting four suspects in the case. The arrestees were identified as Jinnat, the alleged main shooter; Md Billal, the alleged main coordinator; Abdul Kadir, an alleged associate of the killers; and Md Riaz. Azizur Rahman Musabbir, a leader of the BNP’s volunteer wing Jatiyatabadi Swechchhasebak Dal, and Abu Sufian, general secretary of Karwan Bazar Van Association, were shot at around 8:15pm on January 7, in front of the Ahsanullah Institute of Technical and Vocational Education and Training Centre in Tejturibazar area of the capital. Musabbir was declared dead when he was rushed to Dhaka Medical College Hospital while Abu Sufian is still undergoing treatment in the hospital. DB officials said the investigation is continuing to identify all involved and recover weapons used in the crime.

At least 35 people were detained in overnight special raids conducted by the Task Force in the Ershad Nagar and Haji Mazar slum areas of Tongi in Gazipur ahead of the national elections, officials said. During the operations, the authorities also recovered one kilogram of heroin, 347 Yaba tablets, domestic weapons, and three hand grenades, District Administration Executive Magistrate Abu Bakkar Siddique said. The detainees were later handed over to Tongi East and West police stations. They will be formally produced in court later in the afternoon, the magistrate added. Magistrate Siddique, who led the raids, said the operations were carried out with the cooperation of the army, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) personnel, police, and the dog squad. The Task Force raids will continue until the elections to maintain law and order, he added.