United News of Bangladesh

The High Court on Wednesday issued a rule asking the authorities concerned why the family of Abul Kalam, who died after a metro rail bearing pad fall, should not be given compensation of Tk 2 crore. The HC also ordered the formation of an expert committee to examine overall metro rail safety and accident-related issues, and submit a report within 30 days. The HC bench of Justice Fahmida Quader and Justice Asif Hasan issued the rule during the initial hearing of a writ filed in public interest. Supreme Court lawyer Barrister Abdullah Al Mamun filed the writ on Monday naming the Road Transport and Bridges Secretary, Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL), Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority (DTCA), and Italian-Thai Development Corporation Limited as respondents. During the hearing, Additional Attorney General Arshadur Rouf told the court that the government has already formed an investigation committee and that a safety audit of the metro rail is underway. Abul Kalam, a resident of Ishwarkathi village in Naria upazila of Shariatpur, was killed on Sunday at Farmgate when a bearing pad fell from a Metro Rail pillar. Following the incident, Rail and Road Transport and Bridges Adviser Faozul Kabir announced Tk 5 lakh in compensation for the victim’s family.      

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has filed a case against four individuals, including a senior engineer of the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED), for allegedly embezzling Tk 1.22 crore by fabricating construction records for a Dhaka school building that was never built. According to the ACC, the accused include Muhammad Bachchu Mia, Executive Engineer of Dhaka District LGED; Md Shaber Ali, Senior Assistant Engineer; Md Shams Javed, Sub-Assistant Engineer; and Abu Sayed Khan, owner of M/s Nirman Prokousholi, an engineering firm. The case was lodged on Tuesday by ACC Assistant Director Swapan Kumar Roy at the commission’s Dhaka-1 Coordinated District Office. 163 bank accounts in Nayeemul Islam Khan's family; ACC files case for failing to submit timely wealth statements As per the First Information Report (FIR), the four men colluded to misuse their official authority and breach public trust for personal gain.  They allegedly falsified entries in the official Measurement Book (MB Book), claiming that the third and fourth floors of Gabtoli Government Primary School had been constructed, though no such work had actually been carried out. By submitting these fabricated measurement records, the accused secured approval for an additional government payment of Tk 1.22 crore, which they subsequently embezzled, the ACC said. The commission said the case was filed under charges of fraud, forgery, and abuse of power for unlawful enrichment.

A Dhaka court on Tuesday sentenced former Dhaka South Jubo League president Ismail Hossain Chowdhury Samrat, an alleged kingpin of the illegal casino business in Dhaka, to life imprisonment in a case filed over illegal possession of firearms and ammunition. Judge Md Ibrahim Miah of Dhaka Second Special Tribunal handed down the judgment in absence of the convict as he has been absconding since the beginning of the trial. This is the first conviction among several cases filed against Samrat on various criminal charges. Samrat came under the spotlight after an anti-casino drive led by the Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) exposed illegal gambling operations in Dhaka’s Motijheel on September 18, 2019. Following the operation, he went into hiding. Jamaat leader arrested in Sylhet over cheque dishonor cases On October 7 of the year, Rab arrested Samrat and his close aide Enamul Haque Arman from Cumilla’s Chauddagram. Later that day, Rab conducted a five-hour search at his Kakrail office in the capital. During the raid, the elite force said they recovered a foreign pistol with bullets, 1,160 yaba pills, 19 bottles of foreign liquor, two kangaroo hides and electric devices allegedly used for torture. Due to possession of the unauthorised wildlife items, a mobile court sentenced Samrat to six months in jail under the Wildlife Conservation Act. Later, Rab-1 filed separate cases with Ramna Police Station under the Arms Act and the Narcotics Control Act. After investigation, police submitted the charges to court on November 6 next year. The tribunal recorded testimonies of 10 witnesses before delivering the verdict on Tuesday. He walked out of jail on bail in August,2022 and went into hiding after August 5,2024.      

Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) on Monday decided to file a case against senior journalist and former press secretary to former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Nayeemul Islam Khan, and his wife Nasima Khan Monty, for failing to submit their wealth statements within the stipulated time. The decision to approve the case was confirmed on Monday by the ACC’s Public Relations Officer and Deputy Director Md Akhtarul Islam. Just two months before the fall of the Awami League-led government, Nayeemul Islam Khan, Emeritus Editor of the daily Amader Notun Somoy, was appointed as Sheikh Hasina’s press secretary. The Ministry of Public Administration issued the appointment circular on June 6, 2024. According to a report by the Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU), a total of 163 bank accounts were found under the names of Nayeemul Islam Khan and his family members. Approximately Tk 386 crore was deposited in these accounts, of which Tk 379.52 crore has already been withdrawn. The remaining balance currently stands at Tk 6.27 crore. Nayeemul Islam Khan himself holds 91 bank accounts, where deposits totaling Tk 238.98 crore were made between 1990 and 2024. Of this, Tk 238.34 crore has been withdrawn, leaving a balance of Tk 64 lakh. His wife, Nasima Khan Monty, maintains 13 bank accounts with total deposits of Tk 16.96 crore, from which Tk 13 crore has been withdrawn. These transactions took place between 2004 and 2024. In addition, 46 bank accounts belonging to institutions linked to Nayeemul Islam Khan recorded deposits of Tk 127.64 crore, with only Tk 21 lakh ecurrently remaining. These transactions occurred between 2008 and 2020. Travel ban imposed on Hasina's last press secretary Nayeemul Islam Khan, family members The couple and their children jointly use 12 credit cards with a combined credit limit of Tk 28,35,367, and an outstanding balance of Tk 48,408. Following the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government, Nayeemul Islam Khan’s bank accounts were frozen on August 25, along with those of his wife. However, reports suggest that almost all the funds had already been withdrawn prior to the freeze.  

Police have arrested a doctor on charges of raping a nurse at a private clinic in Rajshahi. The arrestee, Ahsan Habib, 29, was a resident medical officer at Al-Arafah Clinic and Diagnostic Center. He was arrested from the city’s Lakshmipur area on Monday afternoon and later sent to jail through the court. According to the case statement, on the night of September 8, Ahsan Habib raped a 25-year-old nurse in a chamber of the clinic after luring her with a false promise of marriage. The victim, who works at another private clinic, reportedly met Ahsan Habib on Facebook two years ago. The doctor later persuaded her to leave her job in Dhaka and move to Rajshahi with the assurance of marriage. The complaint states that he subsequently engaged in physical relations with her at a rented house and at the clinic without fulfilling his promise to marry. Although the relationship continued for some time, Ahsan Habib recently cut off communication with the victim, who later discovered that he had married someone else. Upon learning this, she filed a rape case with Rajpara Police Station on September 23. Abdul Alim, Inspector (Investigation) of Rajpara Police Station, said the victim received treatment at the One Stop Crisis Center of Rajshahi Medical College Hospital following the incident. Al-Arafah Clinic Director Mostafizur Rahman said Dr. Ahsan Habib was dismissed from his position after the clinic’s name surfaced in the case.  

A Dhaka court on Monday imposed a travel ban on late film superstar Salman Shah’s wife, Samira Haque, and film actor Ashraful Haque alias Don, in connection with a case filed over the actor’s alleged premeditated murder in 1996. Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Saifuzzaman passed the order following a plea filed by the investigation officer (IO) of the case. The plea was submitted on October 22 by the IO and Ramna Police Station inspector Atiqul Alam Khandaker. Earlier, on October 21, Salman Shah’s maternal uncle, Mohammad Alamgir Kumkum, lodged the case against 11 individuals with Ramna Police Station, nearly 29 years after the death of Chowdhury Mohammad Shahriar (Emon), popularly known as Salman Shah. Samira Haque has been named as the main accused. The other accused are Aziz Mohammad Bhai, Latifa Haque Lusi, Don, David, Zaved, Faruk, Ruby, A. Sattar, Saju, and Rijvi Ahmed Farhad. Court orders further investigation into Actor Salman Shah killing case Salman Shah’s body was discovered hanging from a fan at his residence in Dhaka’s Eskaton on September 6, 1996. Following a lengthy investigation, the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) had submitted a report concluding that the incident was a suicide.    

An Unnatural Death (UD) case has been filed at Tejgaon Police Station after a pedestrian, identified as Abul Kalam Azad (35), was killed when a bearing pad fell from a metro rail pillar near Farmgate station in Dhaka on Sunday. Azad, hailed from Naria upazila in Shariatpur, died instantly around 12:15 p.m. on Sunday noon after being struck by the heavy rubber component—estimated to weigh between 140–150 kg. Two others were also injured. Metro rail services were temporarily suspended following the incident. His wife, Irene Akter Pia, filed the UD case Sunday night, confirmed Officer-in-Charge of Tejgaon Police Station Md Mubarak Hossain. A similar incident occurred in September 2023, when another bearing pad became loose, halting metro operations for hours but causing no casualties. Road Transport and Bridges Adviser Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan visited the site soon after the incident and announced an initial compensation of Tk 5 lakh for the victim’s family. The DMTCL has already pledged to take full responsibility for the family, including offering a job to a capable family member. A-five-member probe committee, led by Bridges Division Secretary Abdur Rouf, was formed to determine the cause—whether due to technical failure or possible sabotage—and must submit its report within two weeks. Metro rail operations were temporarily halted between Motijheel and Uttara, later resuming partially on the Uttara–Agargaon section from 3 p.m. Bearing pads are specialized rubber components placed between viaducts and piers to absorb vibration and allow controlled structural movement. Their dislodgement poses serious safety risks, as demonstrated by this fatal accident.

Police have filed a case against 224 people following a violent clash during a municipal eviction drive in Bhola, which left 12 staff members injured and three government garbage trucks destroyed. Mohammad Faruk, sanitary inspector at Bhola Municipality, lodged the case on Sunday night, naming 24 individuals and 150–200 others whose identities are yet unknown, Bhola Sadar Model Police Station Officer-in-Charge Abu Shahadat Md. Hachanain Parvez confirmed on Monday afternoon. The named accused are Md. Dulal, Md. Shuvo, Md. Liton, Md. Nur Islam, Md. Rakib, Md. Ismail, Md. Yamin, Md. Lokman, Md. Mostafa, Md. Kabir, Md. Tariqul Islam, Md. Habib, Md. Shahidul Islam, Md. Sohel, Md. Khokon, Md. Shahabuddin, Md. Ahmed Ullah, Md. Hridoy, Md. Ruhul Amin, Rafizal Haque Monir, Md. Shahjahan, Jasim Hawlader, and Tapan Karmakar. All are residents of Dhania and Bapta unions of Sadar Upazila and other areas of the municipality. According to the case statement, illegal structures and shops have long been occupying footpaths and roads across Bhola Municipality, disrupting public movement. Despite repeated warnings, the occupants ignored municipal notices and continued their unauthorized activities. During an ongoing campaign to remove these illegal structures, at least 20 shops and houses built on roughly 30.75% of municipal land near Model Mosque Square in the Notun Bazar area were evicted on October 25. While municipal workers carried out the operation, 150–200 unidentified individuals, led by the named suspects, attacked them using various weapons. In the violence, 12 municipal staff members were seriously injured. The attackers also set three government garbage trucks on fire, causing a loss of approximately Tk 85 lakh. OC Abu Shahadat Md. Hachanain Parvez said police are working to arrest those involved in the attack and arson.  

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.