United News of Bangladesh

The government has suspended a Customs official after her arrest by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) in Jashore earlier this month. According to a notification issued by the Internal Resources Division (IRD) under the Ministry of Finance, Shamima Akter, Revenue Officer at Benapole Customs House, was arrested on October 7, 2025 by the ACC’s Integrated District Office in Jashore. Invoking Section 39(2) of the Government Servants Act, 2018, the government deemed it appropriate to place her under suspension from the date of her arrest. During the suspension period, she will be entitled to subsistence allowance as per existing rules, the order stated. The IRD said the order was issued in the public interest. The ACC arrested the customs officer from Belapole land border on bribery charges along with a NGO worker suspecting him to be her accomplice. ACC Director General Akhtar Hossain had said the graft body personnel arrested Shamima Akter from western Jashore on charges of routinely taking bribes from clearing and forwarding (C&F) agents at the western land border port with India. The ACC team earlier arrested NGO worker Hasibur Rahman from Benapole Custom House complex adding he used to collect bribes on Akter’s behalf. The ACC officials said Akter was arrested a day after the NGO worker’s arrest with Tk.2.76 lakh. A case was filed against them under sections 161, 162, 163, 164, 165A and 109 of the Penal Code and Section 5(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1947.  

A female student of a private university was allegedly gang-raped in Christian Para area in Savar on Wednesday afternoon. Three youths picked up the rape survivor, a second-year student, from a road in Kamalapur Goailpara area in the afternoon. On condition of anonymity, witnesses said three local drug addicts- Sohel Rosario, Biplob Rosario, and Mithu Rosario- intercepted her and forcibly took her to a nearby jungle where they raped her. The girl’s family filed a case with Savar Model Police Station. SSC examinee 'gang-raped' in Cumilla; 2 held Officer-in-Charge Mohammad Jewel of Savar Model Police Station said the accused went into hiding soon after the incident and efforts are underway to arrest them. The rape survivor has been sent to a hospital for medical examination, he added.

Detectives have detained Md Shahadat Hossain, younger of former minister Obaidul Quader and eight others involved with Awami League politics, in Dhaka. Muhammad Talebur Rahman, deputy commissioner (DC-Media) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), said this on Thursday morning. A Detective Branch (DB) team of the DMP conducted a drive in the city and arrested them, including Shahadat, he said, adding that further details about the arrests will be disclosed later. 8 ‘members of human trafficking gang’ held in Savar As an independent candidate, Shahadat contested elections for the post of chairman in Companyganj upazila parishad in Noakhali last year and suffered a defeat. Obaidul Quader has another younger brother named Abdul Quader Mirza, who held the post of mayor of Basurhat municipality and was criticised for controversial remarks about his elder brother and the Awami League. Following the fall of the Sheikh Hasina-led government on August 5 last year, Mirza Quader reportedly fled the country to the USA.     

A Kishoreganj court on Wednesday sentenced a former union parishad (UP) member to life imprisonment for killing a businessman in Tarail upazila of Kishoreganj. Judge Muhammad Nurul Amin Biplob of Kishoreganj District and Sessions Judge Court pronounced the judgment in presence of the accused. The lifer,  Islam Uddin, was fined Tk 10,000, in default, he will have to serve six months more in jail. He was a former UP member of Ward No. 4 in Dhala Union. According to the case details, businessman Kamrul Islam of Uttar Dhala Chokbari and former UP member Islam Uddin locked into altercation over debt on February 15, 2018. During the altercation, Islam Uddin stabbed Kamrul Islam. When Kamrul’s nephew, Anwar Fakir aka Anar, 37, tried to intervene, he was also stabbed. Locals rushed the critically injured Anwar Fakir to Tarail Upazila Health Complex where doctors declared him dead. The following day, the victim’s younger brother, Akhlakul Fakir, filed a murder case at Tarail Police Station against 15 people. After investigation, the PBI submitted charge sheet on December 6, 2018 naming Islam Uddin as the sole accused.

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus joined Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and FAO Director-General Dr Qu Dongyu to inaugurate the new office of the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty at the FAO headquarters in Rome. The event was held on Monday, said Chief Adviser’s Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder on Tuesday. Brazil and Bangladesh are co-founders of the Global Alliance, a vision first proposed by President Lula nearly a decade ago. The three formally opened the facility, shaking hands inside the newly inaugurated office space of the Alliance. Prof Yunus to return home Wednesday morning from Italy Describing the initiative as a critical milestone in the global fight against hunger, they emphasised the urgency of collective action, especially at a time when the world faces two major famines in Gaza and Sudan, and over 300 million people remain food insecure globally.  

Law and order in the country’s largest land port area has reportedly deteriorated as Benapole Port Police Station remains without an officer-in-charge (OC) for the past 25 days. According to police sources, former OC Russel Mia was transferred on September 19, but no replacement has been appointed since. Sub-Inspector Manik Kumar Saha is currently serving as acting officer-in-charge. The post of investigation officer has also remained vacant for the past seven years, sources said. Residents have complained that the absence of a full-time OC has led to a rise in theft, mugging, and fraud incidents across the three unions under the police station. Being a border area, smuggling and drug trafficking have also reportedly increased in recent weeks. Locals said fraudulent activities targeting passport holders and travelers at the Benapole Check post have become more frequent, while the police response has been minimal due to lack of leadership. They also alleged that young people from different areas are gathering in Benapole, Putkhali, Baropota and Shikri in search of narcotics, as drug supplies—particularly cannabis and Phensedyl—are flowing in from across the border. When contacted, Mohammad Arif Hossain, Assistant Superintendent of Police (Navaran Circle, Jashore), said the matter of appointing a new OC will be decided by higher authorities, including the DIG and SP.

A Habiganj court on Tuesday sentenced a man to jail until death and 14 others to life in prison in a case over the killing of a Jamaat-e-Islami leader in the district around 12 years back. Judge Syed Mohammad Kaiser Yusuf of Habiganj Additional District and Sessions Judge Court-1 handed down the judgment. The convict who was sentenced to jail unto death is Shafiqul Alam Chowdhury, a resident of Puran Munsefipara area of Habiganj town. The lifers are Shahidul Alam Akik, Jahangir Alam, Shebul Mia, Rubel Mia, Shamim Ahmed, Abdul Mukit, Alamgir, Shamsul Huda Sharful, Maksud alias Chaw Mia, Tara Mia, Ratish Das, Chayed Mia, and Nahid Mia. The court also acquitted five people from the charges. Among them involvement of two in the murder was not proved and three others died during trial proceedings. According to the case statement, On June 17, 2013,  Mohibur was attacked near Boropukur in Puran Munsefipara where the attackers hacked him indiscriminately with sharp weapons. He died at Habiganj Sadar Hospital. His brother Mujibur Rahman later filed a murder case. Public prosecutor Advocate Gulzar Khan said they are partially satisfied with the verdict and would review it before taking further steps. Expressing dissatisfaction, victim’s younger brother Mahfuz Chowdhury said they will appeal to the higher court.

The Anti-Corruption Commission has launched a formal investigation into the allegations brought against Islamic University's former vice-chancellor Professor Shaikh Abdus Salam including corruption in teacher recruitment, mismanagement of mega development projects, and unauthorised withdrawal of institutional funds. ACC assistant director Bulbul Ahmed Riyad, accompanied by a team of four engineers, visited the Islamic University campus to conduct an on-site inspection and gather evidence related to the alleged irregularities on Monday. Speaking to journalists after the visit, Riyad said they are investigating multiple allegations, including manipulation in faculty recruitment, submission of falsified bills, and financial misconduct in large-scale infrastructure projects.  "The issues were not properly examined earlier. Field inspections are crucial to determine the actual extent of the irregularities," he added. ACC Assistant Director expressed his optimism  to complete the investigation within one to one-and-a-half months. The investigation followed the leak of at least 14 audio recordings—widely circulated on social media—that allegedly feature Professor Salam discussing arrangements for illegal appointments and fund disbursements in exchange for bribes. The authenticity of the recordings has not yet been independently verified, but they have triggered widespread public outcry. In response, several petitions and formal letters demanding accountability were submitted to the office of the former Prime Minister and other relevant authorities. Subsequently, the University Grants Commission, acting on directives from the Ministry of Education, formed a three-member inquiry committee to examine the allegations of corruption and recruitment malpractice against the former VC. Case filed over assault on IU bus driver in Jhenaidah IU pro-vice-chancellor Professor M Yeaqub Ali said, 'The ACC officials paid a courtesy visit to the university. Beyond formal greetings, no substantive discussions took place. The investigation is being conducted independently, and we are cooperating as required,' he added. The ACC team inspected project sites across the campus, including newly constructed academic buildings, dormitories, and roadworks, to verify compliance with tender procedures, quality of work, and financial documentation. This marks one of the most high-profile anti-corruption drives in Bangladesh’s higher education sector in recent years, raising renewed concerns about transparency and governance in public universities. “Findings will be submitted to the appropriate legal authorities upon completion of the probe,” said the ACC Asst Director.    

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Sheikh Mohammad Sajjat Ali on Sunday warned that strict departmental action will be taken against any police officer found to be engaging in biased conduct during the upcoming national elections. He made the remarks while addressing the monthly crime review meeting of the DMP held at the Bangladesh Police Auditorium in the city. "The national election is approaching. A suitable environment must be ensured for a free and fair election," he said. The DMP top officer also asked them keep thier attention so that thier weakness do not come to light toward any party or individual in the course of their duties. The DMP Commissioner also instructed all officers to remain vigilant so that no banned organisation can carry out secret activities. He emphasized strengthening patrol operations to enhance the sense of security among city residents. Tarique to return and lead BNP’s electioneering: Aman Additional Police Commissioner (Admin) Mohammad Sarwar stressed the need for enhanced security and cleanliness in DMP installations. He noted that modern facilities are being introduced in police stations for the benefit of service seekers. Speaking at the meeting, Additional Police Commissioner (Crime and Operations) SN Mohammad Nazrul Islam said that cases related to anti-discrimination movements must be investigated seriously and police reports submitted to the court as quickly as possible. He also urged the officers to ensure that no innocent person is harassed unnecessarily and instructed strict adherence to the amended Code of Criminal Procedure. The meeting was conducted by Joint Commissioner (Crime) Mohammad Faruq Hossain and attended by Additional Police Commissioner (DB) Mohammad Shafiqul Islam; Additional Police Commissioner (Finance, Logistics and Procurement) Hasan Mohammad Shawkat Ali; Additional Police Commissioner (Traffic) Mohammad Zillur Rahman; Legal Officer Mohammad Ataul Haque; as well as all Joint Commissioners, Deputy Commissioners, Additional Deputy Commissioners, Assistant Commissioners, and Officers-in-Charge of police stations.  

A Dhaka court dealing with food fraud on Monday granted bail to the proprietor of Ispahani Foods Limited, Mirza Salman, after he promised to recall from the market all unsold products of the batch of ISPI Power Drink that proved substandard in a recent government laboratory test. Mirza Salman is the chairman of MM Ispahani Limited, a conglomerate that owns Ispahani Foods Limited, which markets the drink. The court of Judge Kudrat-e-Khuda of Dhaka South City Corporation, also ordered Mirza Salman to provide the court with the identity of the quality manager who had supervised the production of the drink. On September 24, an arrest warrant was issued against Mirza Salman for producing the substandard drink. The arrest warrant followed the filing of a case based on the findings of a government laboratory test. The test found that the powder drink contained .032 per cent ash insoluble in acid against the permitted level of .005 per cent. The presence of sulfide ash was found to be 3.09 per cent against the permissible limit of a maximum of 2 per cent. The presence of excessive sulfide ash is an indication of adulteration and potential contamination with heavy metals or poor-quality ingredients, food experts say. “The bail was granted considering that the Ispahani chairman will recall all products belonging to the batch that proved substandard,” said Kamrul Hasan, a food inspector at the Dhaka South City Corporation. The businessman is expected to present a report on his actions at the next court hearing. “We will be watching over the market as well,” said Kamrul.