United News of Bangladesh

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has filed a case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act against eight individuals and organisations, including Orbitals International, owned by Nafisa Kamal, for allegedly laundering around Tk 33.44 crore through manpower exports to Malaysia. The case was filed with Gulshan Police Station on charges of fraud and illegal financial transactions, CID special superintendent of police (media) Jasim Uddin Khan said on Monday. According to the investigation, Orbitals International — owned by Nafisa Kamal, daughter of Awami League politician and businessperson Mustafa Kamal — along with other manpower exporting agencies, formed a syndicate that embezzled the money by overcharging workers seeking employment in Malaysia. Other accused organisations and owners are Hafizul Bari Mohammad Lutfar Rahman of Irving Enterprise, Rafiqul Islam Patwary of Aman Enterprise, Jasim Uddin Ahmed of Ahad International Ltd., Md Akhtar Hossain of Akhtar Recruitment Agency, Shiuli Begum of Malaysia Bangladesh Holdings (Pvt) Ltd., Kausar Mridha of Mridha International Corporation, and Mohammad Bashir of Rabbi International. The investigation found that from 2022 to 2024, the syndicate sent 3,111 workers to Malaysia, charging each Tk 1.5 lakh, while the government-fixed migration cost was Tk 78,990. In addition, each worker was charged an extra Tk 36,500 beyond approved costs such as passport fees, Covid-19 tests, medical exams, and clothing. In total, the accused allegedly embezzled Tk 1,07,510 per worker, amounting to Tk 33,44,63,610. The CID’s Financial Crime Unit is currently investigating the case. Investigators are tracing the accused individuals’ movable and immovable assets across the country. The CID said raids and inquiries will continue to identify and apprehend all those involved in the syndicate.

Home Affairs Adviser Lt General (retd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury on Monday warned that strict administrative and legal action will be taken against any police personnel who show indiscipline, disobey commands or act unprofessionally ahead of the upcoming national election. “The police must maintain professionalism, discipline and respect for the government and the state. Anyone failing to do so will face stern measures,” he said while speaking at a special crime review meeting held at the Bangladesh Police ‘Hall of Pride’ conference room at the Police Headquarters in the capital. He urged senior officers to strengthen professionalism, team spirit and morale among subordinates and cautioned them against harassing innocent people. Jahangir Alam said the police will play the most crucial and leading role in ensuring that the forthcoming national election is free, fair and neutral. SIM registration limit to be reduced before election: Home Adviser “The greatest responsibility for fulfilling the expectations of the people of Bangladesh, including political parties and all sections of society, rests on the shoulders of the police,” he said. He expressed the hope that the police would set a standard in the coming election that earns praise both at home and abroad, adding that both the Bangladesh Police and the current interim government are working together to achieve this goal. In the electoral field, he said, the police are not only law enforcers but also symbols of the people’s safety, trust and democratic rights.

Police rescued a Pakistani woman who was allegedly tortured by her Bangladeshi husband and mother-in-law in Lalkuthi Borobazar area of Darussalam in Dhaka on Sunday after receiving a call through the national emergency helpline 999. An English-speaking woman called the helpline on Sunday afternoon, claiming she was a Pakistani citizen with a three-month-old baby, said a press release signed by Anwar Sattar, Inspector of Police and Media and Public Relations Officer of the National Emergency Service 999. Woman gives birth at Jashore Railway Station amid heavy rain, rescued thru 999 She alleged that her husband Nobel Ahmed, 27, and mother-in-law physically assaulted her almost daily, confined her to a room, and took away her passport. The woman requested immediate assistance so she could be rescued and return to Pakistan. The call was received by constables Sumaiya Jahan and Plaban Dev who immediately informed the Darussalam Police Station for necessary action. The rescue operation was coordinated by 999 Dispatcher SI Biren Chandra Das. Foreigners in Bangladesh can now access emergency help via 999 in English: IGP Although the caller could not provide her exact address, a team from Darussalam Police Station swiftly located the residence, rescued the 25-year-old Pakistani woman, and brought her to the station. Later, the victim’s sister-in-law and other relatives from her husband’s side arrived at the police station and returned her passport. IGP orders to ensure transparency, accountability of 999 calls They also assured police that they would arrange a passport for the three-month-old child born in Bangladesh within 10 days and facilitate the mother and child’s return to Pakistan. The woman then voluntarily went into the custody of her sisters-in-law and declined to file a written complaint.  

Police have arrested a local Jamaat-e-Islami leader from Fenchuganj upazila in Sylhet in connection with two cheque dishonor cases. The arrestee, Shah Mohammad Habibur Rahman (Lipon), a former secretary of Jamaat-e-Islami’s Fenchuganj upazila unit, was detained from his business establishment in the Moglabazar area of Dakshin Surma on Saturday. Fenchuganj Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Moniruzzaman Khan confirmed the arrest, saying, “There are two cheque dishonor cases against Shah Mohammad Habibur Rahman, and arrest warrants were issued by the court in both cases. He has been detained and legal procedures have been initiated.” Police sources said Habibur Rahman was produced before a court on Sunday.

Members of the Bangladesh Army seized a cache of foreign-made firearms, ammunition, and explosives from a train at the Airport Railway Station in the capital on Sunday morning. Acting on a tip-off, personnel from the Army, National Intelligence Agency, and Railway Police jointly conducted a special drive on the Dhaka-bound Banalata Express from Rajshahi around 11:15 am. They recovered eight foreign-made pistols, 16 magazines, 26 rounds of bullets, 2.39 kg of gunpowder, and 2.23 kg of plastic explosives, according to a media release from the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR). Four people were also detained for their suspected involvement and handed over to police for primary interrogation. The Bangladesh Army reiterated its commitment to public safety, law and order, and national security, adding that coordinated operations against terrorism, sabotage and crime will continue.

A woman, who was stabbed allegedly by her husband over a family feud in Gaibandha on Friday night, died while undergoing treatment on Saturday night. The deceased was identified as Azeda Begum, 35, wife of Shamim Mia of MP Para under Gobindaganj municipality in the district. According to police and locals, Azeda had reportedly been maintaining an extramarital affair with a man over the phone. On Friday night, Shamim allegedly caught his wife talking to the man, leading to a heated argument between the couple, police said. 15-year-old stabbed dead in Keraniganj In a fit of rage, they said, Shamim stabbed Azeda in the abdomen with a sharp weapon, leaving her critically injured. She was first taken to the Upazila Health Complex and later transferred to Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College Hospital in Bogura, where she succumbed to her injuries on Saturday night. Bulbul Islam, officer-in-charge of Gobindaganj Police Station, said action will be taken once a case is filed in this regard.

Within days of a similar gruesome discovery, another young man has been found dead in Old Dhaka, this time in the Bangshal area, with a GI cable wrapped tightly around his neck, raising alarm over a disturbing pattern of deaths in the capital’s old quarters. The deceased, identified as Sajib, had recently appeared for the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) examinations from a local college but reportedly failed. According to his family, he had just returned from a Tabligh Jamaat trip to Dohar and seemed to be adjusting to life back home. His paternal cousin Md Islam recounted that Sajib went out around 3pm on Saturday after receiving a phone call, the last time anyone saw him alive. “Later, we heard that his body was found on a staircase of a building at Agamasi Lane,” Islam told UNB. JnU Chhatra Dal leader's body recovered from Dhaka’s Armanitola Family members claim Sajib’s death may not have been an accident or suicide. Islam alleged that Sajib had a long-standing relationship with a girl whose family lived on the same floor of the building where his body was discovered. The relationship had reportedly faced strong opposition from the girl’s family. “The girl’s maternal uncles, Iqbal and Kamal, revoked the relationship. We believe they planned and killed him,” Islam alleged, adding that the girl’s family members have been missing since the incident. Responding to the scene, sub-inspector Md Dulal Haque of Bangshal Police Station said officers found the body lying on the staircase with a GI wire twisted around his neck.  “Only one family lived on the fourth floor while the rest of the building was used as warehouses. The flat adjacent to where the body was found was locked from outside,” the SI said. “Preliminary findings indicate he might have been strangled to death. We are investigating the matter with importance,” Dulal added. Three confess to JnU student Zobeyed murder The killing bears a disturbing resemblance to another recent incident. On October 19, the bloodied body of Jagannath University student and Chhatra Dal leader Md Zobayed Hossain was recovered from a staircase in Old Dhaka, also under mysterious circumstances.

A bank official was caught impersonating a candidate during the Food Department’s Sub-Inspector recruitment exam in Rangpur, on Saturday. He was sentenced to one month in jail by a mobile court. The convicted man, Golam Rabbani, an officer at Janata Bank’s Rangpur Corporate Branch and a resident of Tiormari village in Pirganj upazila, was taking the exam on behalf of a candidate named Rahaduzzaman Sujon at Siddique Memorial School and College centre. Executive Magistrate Sheikh Mahbube Sobhan sentenced Rabbani to one month of simple imprisonment under the Public Examinations (Offences) Act. Sources said Rabbani had previously taken part in various exams as a proxy in exchange for money. Magistrate Mahbube Sobhan confirmed that both individuals faced action — Rabbani received the jail sentence while Sujon was expelled and banned from taking part in any future Food Department exams. The Sub-Inspector recruitment exam under the Directorate General of Food was held from 10 am to 11 am at 46 centres in Rangpur, with 50,775 candidates appearing.

In a shocking incident in Chouddagram, Cumilla, a husband allegedly detained his wife for three days and forced her to be raped by other men. The victim filed a case with the local police, who have arrested five suspects in connection with the crime. The arrested are identified as, the husband Raju Ahmed (26), Belal Hossain (35), son of the late Siraj Maji, Hridoy (25), son of Abul Kashem, Mohin (26), son of Chan Mia Maji, and Abul Kalam (45), son of Shah Alam from Munshitola village. Chouddagram OC Hilal Uddin Ahmed confirmed the arrests, on Saturday, adding that the suspects have been sent to jail through the court. According to the case, the victim, Beauty Akter (20, alias), married Raju in 2023. After marital conflicts due to Raju’s addiction, she returned to her parental home in Sudharam, Noakhali. Earlier this month, she was taken back to her husband’s home with both families present. On October 15, Raju took her to his workplace at the Islamia Brick Field in Mirshwani, where Belal Hossain arranged a room for her. On the night of October 16, Belal and Abul Kalam entered the room; later Raju restrained the victim while Belal raped her. On October 18, Hridoy and Mohin also entered and raped her in Raju’s presence. On October 20, Hridoy attempted to assault her again while she was asleep, but fled after she raised an alarm. Chouddagram OC Hilal Uddin Ahmed confirmed the arrests, on Saturday, adding that the suspects have been sent to jail through the court.

Police have arrested a man for displaying a dummy rifle during a rally in Dhaka’s Turag area. Mujahidul Islam Chowdhury, 49, was arrested along with the dummy rifle in a drive at a  house in Sector 12 under Uttara West Police Station around 4:30 pm on Friday, said DMP's DC (Media ) Talebur Rahman on Saturday afternoon. A patrol team of Turag police station received information on Friday that several people had gathered near the Khalpar Police Box in Turag and were displaying weapons, spreading fear among residents. A police team rushed to the scene but the suspects fled upon sensing their presence. Later, based on video footage captured by locals and subsequent questioning  Mujahidul was identified and arrested. A case has been filed against him under the Anti-Terrorism Act.