United News of Bangladesh

The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) on Wednesday ordered that 15 army officers accused in three separate cases over enforced disappearances, killings, and other crimes against humanity allegedly committed during the Awami League regime be sent to jail after being shown arrested. A three-member panel, headed by ICT-1 Chairman Justice Md Golam Mortuza Majumder, passed the order after hearing a petition. Two other members are Justice Md Shofiul Alam Mahmood and Judge Md Mohitul Haq Enam Chowdhury. The accused officers, held in custody over allegations of enforced disappearances and killings during the Awami League’s regime, were brought to the tribunal amid strict security around 7:15 am. They appealed for bail but the tribunal rejected their petitions and ordered their detention in jail. Among those sent to prison are former Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) Additional Director General Brig Gen Md Jahangir Alam, Brig Gen Tofayel Mostafa Sarwar, Brig Gen Md Kamrul Hasan, Brig Gen Md Mahbub Alam, Brig Gen K.M. Azad, Col Abdullah Al Momen and Col Anwar Latif Khan (now on retirement leave). Jamaat Ameer appreciates move to try army officers linked to enforced disappearances, killings Others include ex-Rab intelligence wing officials Lt Col Md Mashiur Rahman, Lt Col Saiful Islam Sumon, Lt Col Sarwar Bin Kashem, Lt Col Mohammad Redwanul Islam, and former Borger Guard Bangladesh (BGB) officer Maj Md Rafat-bin-Alam. The tribunal also ordered the imprisonment of three former DGFI directors -Maj Gen Sheikh Md Sarwar Hossain, Brig Gen Md Mahbubur Rahman Siddiqui, and Brig Gen Ahmed Tanvir Majahar Siddiqui. Earlier in the morning, the accused were produced before the ICT in connection with the three cases. According to the prosecution, 34 individuals, including former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, have been named as accused in the three cases. One case names 17 accused, another 13 and the third four. Retired army officers demand exemplary punishment for perpetrators of BDR massacre Hasina has been named in two of the cases. Among the 25 army officers charged, 15 are currently in custody. Security was tightened in the capital from early morning with police, Rab, BGB, and army personnel stationed around Kakrail, Matsya Bhaban, Paltan and the High Court’s Mazargate area. The first case involves allegations that opposition figures were abducted and secretly detained and tortured inside the Task Force Interrogation (TFI) cell operated by Rab during the Awami League’s tenure. In the case, the formal charges naming Hasina and 16 others were submitted on October 8. The second case was filed against Hasina, and 12 others over enforced disappearances allegedly carried out at the Joint Interrogation Cell (JIC), also known as the “Aynaghar.” The third case accuses four officers, including BGB’s Lt Col Redwanul Islam, of crimes against humanity for the killing of 28 people during the July-August movement in Rampura. Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam presented the charges before the tribunal and requested that they be accepted for trial. After a preliminary hearing, the tribunal issued arrest warrants and ordered the accused to appear by today (October 22).

Four courts in Dhaka on Tuesday recorded the confessional statements of three arrestees in connection with the sensational murder of Jagannath University (JnU) student Md Zobeyed Hossain, who was also a Chhatra Dal leader of the university unit. The arrestees are the victim’s student Barjis Shabnam Barsha, her boyfriend Md Mahir Rahman and their friend Fardin Ahmed Aynal. Of them, Mahir gave his statement before Magistrate Mehedi Hasan, Barsha before Magistrate Masum Mia, and Aynal before Magistrate Md Jewel Rana. Meanwhile, Mahir’s friend Pritom Das also testified in the case before another court, said Omar Farooque, the public prosecutor. The courts recorded the statements under Section 164 and ordered that the accused be sent to jail, he added. Mother hands over son suspected in JnU student murder to police Earlier, police produced the arrestees before the court amid protests by JnU students and others demanding justice for the slain student. According to court sources, sub-inspector Md Ashraf Hossain, the investigation officer (IO) of the case, appealed to the court to record the arrestees’ statements as they had admitted their involvement in the murder and agreed to confess. On Tuesday morning, Dhaka Metropolitan Police Additional Commissioner (Crime and Operations) Nazrul Islam briefed the media about the murder at the DMP Media Centre. Earlier, on Sunday afternoon, Zobayed was killed in a building on Noor Box Lane in Armanitola of Old Dhaka when he went to tutor Barsha. He was attacked with a sharp weapon and had his throat slit by Mahir and his friend with Barsha’s help. Suspect Mahir surrenders over JnU student murder Following the murder, police took Barsha into custody and later arrested Mahir and Aynal from Keraniganj and Shantinagar areas. Zobayed’s elder brother, Enayet Hossain Shoikat, filed a case with Bangshal Police Station on Monday morning. The trio were named in the case, while four to five others remain unidentified. CCTV footage and local sources suggested that the attack was carried out in a planned manner.

A Dhaka court on Tuesday afternoon placed a couple on a five- day remand each in a case over creating adult contents on an international website. Dhaka Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Md Jewel Rana passed the order after hearing a petition seeking a seven-day remand for Azim and Brishti, said Shamsuddoha Sumon, additional public prosecutor. Sub inspector Mizanur Rahman of Cyber Division at Criminal Investigation Department and also investigating  officer of the case produced the couple before the court. Azim and Brishti were arrested on the night of October 19 from a flat in a six-story building near Roangchhari Bus Station in Bandarban. Cumilla Rape: Police seek 7-day remand for 4 Chhatra League cadres under Pornography Act The couple had gone to Bandarban claiming to start a fruit business and rented the flat around 15 days back. They maintained minimal contact with neighbours and rarely left the house unless necessary, raising suspicion among locals. After the arrest, a case was filed with Paltan Police Station against them under the Pornography Control Act.

Police have arrested a police constable for allegedly raping a 12-year-old child at Bandar in  Narayanganj. The arrestee is Md. Ruhul Amin, 41, a constable in Dhanmondi Traffic Division of Dhaka Metropolitan Police and son of  Sheikh Sadi from Tongibari in Munshiganj. According to police and locald Ruhul Amin picked up the child from Kalabagan area to Siraj’s house near Rupali Jannat Mosque in Bandar under false pretenses. There, he allegedly raped the child. While returning her to Kalabagan in the evening she cried out in the No. 2 Railgate area of the city, prompting locals to beat the accused and hand him over to the police. Krishak Dal leader killed in Narayanganj The child’s maternal uncle filed at case at Bandar Police Station. Officer-in-Charge Liakat Ali said the accused was sent to court on Tuesday morning after a case was filed under the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act.  

A total of 131 leaders and activists of  Awami League and its associate bodies were arrested in Dhaka on Tuesday for participating in flash processions in various parts of the capital. They were arrested throughout the day in different areas under the DMP, said Deputy Commissioner (Media) of the DMP Talebur Rahman. Among the arrestees, six were arrested by Uttra East police, two by Uttara West police , 24 by Gulshan police, four by Khilkhet police  and  three by Cantonment police. Besides, Dhanmondi thana police arrested six people, New Market police arrested six, Shahbagh thana police arrested three, Mohammadpur thana police arrested eight, Hatirjheel thana police arrested one, Paltan thana police arrested six, and Motijheel police arrested 40 people and  DB (Wari zone) of DMP arrested 22 others. Legal proceedings against the arrestees are underway, the DMP added.

Severely injured Zobayed had sought help knocking on Barsha’s door but she refused to assist and then he died due to excessive bleeding, said police. Briefing reporters at DMP media centre on Tuesday, DMP Additional Commissioner (Crime & Operations) Nazrul Islam said Mahir and Barsha had been in a relationship for about one and a half years.  Later, Barsha developed a romantic relationship with Zobayed, which Mahir could not accept. Following repeated disputes, Barsha instigated Mahir to kill Zobayed, he said. Mahir then shared the plan with his friend Aylan and the two bought a switch-gear knife at Tk 500 from Bowbazar in South Keraniganj, he said. “On the day of the incident, Barsha informed Mahir when Zobayed would arrive at her house for tuition. As soon as Zobayed reached the building, Mahir confronted him and stabbed him in the neck during an altercation,” said Nazrul Islam. Suspect Mahir surrenders over JnU student murder Deputy Commissioner (Lalbagh zone) Mallik Ahsan Uddin Sami, who was also present at the press conference, said Barsha confessed that Zobayed’s last words were, “Save me,” to which she replied, “If you don’t move away, I can’t be with Mahir.” Police later conducted operations in South Keraniganj, Paltan and Bangshal areas and arrested three accused on Monday night. The arrestees are Md. Mahir Rahman, 19, Barjis Shabnam Barsha, 19, and Fardeen Ahmed Aylan, 20. The murder took place around 4:30 pm on Sunday (October 19) in Noor Box Lane area under Bangshal police station in Old Dhaka.

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has arrested a couple involved in producing content for international pornography websites from a rented apartment in Bandarban’s Rowangchhari Bus Station area, on Monday. The arrested duo, Mohammad Azim and his wife Brishti, both 28, had been running content creation operations that drew global viewership, and was first reported by The Dissent, a Bangladeshi website.  According to initial investigations, their first video was published in May 2024, and within a year, they had released 112 videos viewed more than 26.7 million times. Bandarban Additional Superintendent of Police Zinia Chakma said, “The CID team from Dhaka conducted the operation following verification of information with the help of digital technology.” Bandarban Police Station officer-in-charge Md. Parvez informed that the couple was taken to Dhaka early Monday morning and are now in CID custody. CID Senior Officer Josim Uddin Khan told reporters that the couple posed as fruit traders while staying in Bandarban. “They had been actively uploading content to multiple international adult platforms while promoting themselves as models on social media, including Telegram, Facebook, and Instagram,” he said. The couple allegedly recruited new content creators by offering cash incentives via Telegram channels and encouraged others to join the industry. Mastermind behind porn ring among 6 held for 'embezzling Tk30 crore through livestreaming' Investigators noted that despite coming from a modest background with limited education, the pair showcased a luxurious lifestyle online. During the raid, the CID seized mobile phones, SIM cards, cameras, tripods, and other equipment used to produce adult content. Legal proceedings are underway, including filing regular cases against Mohammad Azim and Brishti, submitting them to court, and seeking their remand. According to CID, investigations and operations are ongoing to identify and apprehend other involved members.  

Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) on Monday approved the chargesheet against 26 individuals, including former Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr. Atiur Rahman and former Janata Bank Chairman Dr. Abul Barakat. The ACC will soon submit the chargesheet to the court in connection with a case over the embezzlement of Tk 1,130 crore in the name of loans from Janata Bank. ACC Assistant Director Tanzir Ahmed said the commission approved the chargesheet after the investigation found the allegations of embezzling Tk 1,130 crore under the guise of loans to be true. Three of the accused named in the original case have been released from charges as the allegations against them were not proven. According to the chargesheet, despite being ineligible, 22 companies of the AnonTex Group were granted loans of Tk 531.43 crore based on fake documents and by relaxing the usual conditions. With accumulated interest, the total amount now stands at Tk 1,130.18 crore. The individuals named in the chargesheet are: Former Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr. Atiur Rahman, Deputy Governor Abu Hena Mohammad Razi, former Janata Bank Chairman Dr. Abul Barakat, AnonTex Group Chairman Md. Yunus Badal, former Executive Director Naushad Ali Chowdhury, former Janata Bank Director Jamal Uddin Ahmed, Managing Director of Suprav Spinning Ltd. Md. Anwar Hossain, Janata Bank officials Abduch Salam Azad, Azmul Haque, Ajay Kumar Ghosh, Golam Azam, Md. Shahjahan, Emdadul Haque, Golam Faruk, Md. Imdadul Haque, Nagibul Islam Dipu, Dr. R.M. Debnath, Sangeeta Ahmed, Professor Nitai Chandra Nag, K.M. Sarwar Rashid, Ahmed Shahnoor Hossain, Iftikhar Uz Zaman, A.K.M. Ashraf Uddin Khan, and Md. Golam Sarwar.

Mahir Rahman, one of the suspects in the murder of Jagannath University (JnU) student Zubayed Hossain, has surrendered to the police. Following overnight raids at various locations, Mahir's mother handed him over to Bangshal Police Station early Monday morning. Mahir is a first-year student at Burhanuddin College. Police said that Mahir’s mother appeared at the station at dawn on Monday (October 20) and surrendered him to law enforcement. As of now, no case has been officially filed in connection with the incident. Three people have been detained in connection with the murder, Lalbagh Zone Deputy Commissioner Mallik Ahsan Uddin Sami, said on Monday evening (October 20). He said, “In a special operation, we have so far detained three suspects. However, we will not disclose their identities at this moment for the sake of the investigation. We will brief the media in detail tomorrow morning.” On Sunday afternoon, Zubayed Hossain — a student of the Statistics Department (2019–20 session) and a member of the JnU Chhatra Dal convening committee — was murdered while tutoring in the Armanitola area of Dhaka. His bloodied body was recovered from a staircase inside a residential building. Around 1 pm on Monday, Zubayed’s body was brought from Mitford Hospital to the Jagannath University campus, where thousands of students gathered in mourning. His namaz-e-janaza was held at 1:45 pm in the presence of his father and other family members. Later, his body was taken to his hometown in Homna upazila of Cumilla district for burial. Meanwhile, police detained and questioned Zubayed’s tuition student, Bargis Shabnam Barsha, in connection with the case. Speaking to reporters on Monday morning, Rafiqul Islam, officer-in-charge (OC) of Bangshal Police Station, said there had been a romantic relationship between Barsha and Mahir Rahman, who grew up as neighbours in Armanitola. Zubayed’s elder brother, Enayet Hossain Saikat, said that the family intends to file a case against Barsha, her parents, Mahir, and another individual named Nafis. However, he alleged that the OC discouraged naming too many individuals in the complaint, warning that it could weaken the case.  

DB police have arrested Sohel Rosario, identified as the key suspect in a case filed over the rape of a private university student in Savar on October 14. Officer-in-Charge Jalal Uddin of Dhaka District North Detective Branch confirmed the arrest on Monday morning, saying that Sohel, 37, was detained from Kaliganj in Gazipur on Sunday night following multiple raids. Police said Sohel, son of Santosh Rosario of Goalpara area under Komlapur in Birulia Union, Savar, is now in DB custody and will be handed over to the concerned police station. The second suspect, Biplob Rosario aka Tilok, 40, remains absconding, while the third accused, Mithun Biswas, 35, was earlier arrested from Tejkunipara area in Dhaka’s Tejgaon on Saturday night. University student ‘gang-raped’ in Savar, 3 sued He has since been placed on a two-day remand. According to the case statement, the incident occurred on the evening of October 14, when the victim, a second-year student of International Relations at a private university, was allegedly raped by Sohel and his two accomplices. According to police, the accused lured her to a tin-shed house in Goailpara, Komlapur, on the pretext of dropping her home after a private tutoring session near Begunbari School in Birulia Union. The survivor later filed a case with Savar Model Police Station.