United News of Bangladesh

A Dhaka court on Sunday ordered the seizure of six flats in Chattogram owned by former land minister in the Awami League government, Saifuzzaman Chowdhury, and machinery belonging to eight companies linked to him. The order came from Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Md Sabbir Foyez following a petition filed by Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Deputy Director Moshiur Rahman, ACC informed. This is the latest in a series of asset seizures and account freezes in the graft investigation against the former minister. On August 28, the court ordered the freezing of 120 bank accounts of Saifuzzaman and his associates. Earlier, on July 9, it froze the beneficiary owner (BO) accounts of 26 individuals connected to him, while the court froze shares worth TK102.85 crore in 23 companies owned by Saifuzzaman and his family on March 9 and ordered the seizure of 957 bighas of land. Earlier, on March 5, it froze 29 bank accounts that recorded transactions of TK 5.26 crore. Last year, on October 7, the court also imposed a travel ban on Saifuzzaman and his wife, Rukmila Zaman, after the ACC alleged that the former minister laundered thousands of crores of taka abroad. According to ACC findings, Saifuzzaman allegedly purchased 350 houses in the United Kingdom, 228 in the United Arab Emirates, nine in the United States, and other properties in several countries, alongside amassing significant illegal assets at home.

Detectives have arrested former Awami League MP from Shariatpur-1 constituency BM Mozammel Haque from the capital’s Niketan area. Deputy Commissioner of DMP’s Media and Public Relations Division Muhammad Talebur Rahman said tipped off, a team of DB Gulshan Division conducted a drive and arrested Mozammel around 2:45 pm on Sunday. 17 arrested in joint drive at Geneva Camp According to DB sources, Mozammel, also organising secretary of AL central executive committee, is an accused in at least eight cases including one murder case during the July movement. Mozammel was elected a member of parliament in the 9th national election held on December 29, 2008, and was re-elected uncontested in the 10th national election in 2014.

No evidence of sexual harassment has been found in the medical report over the alleged rape of an indigenous girl in Khagrachhari district, said Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury on Sunday. He made the statement following a meeting of the law and order core committee at the Secretariat. It has already been proved that the collaborators of the fascist elements hatched conspiracy to create unrest in the Chittagong Hill Tracts over the alleged rape of the girl and by placing a beard on the demon’s face in the Durga Puja mandap to destabilise the communal harmony, the adviser said. He said, “While the Durga Puja idol was being made in a neighbouring country, reports emerged showing our respected Chief Adviser being portrayed in a derogatory manner, and his connection is also seen in the act of placing a beard on the demon’s face.” After eight days, Section 144 to be lifted in Khagrachhari The adviser praised the law enforcement agencies and intelligence services for actively monitoring the situation, working alongside the Puja committees to prevent the conspiracies. On September 23, the eight-grader girl was allegedly raped by three youths in Khagrachhari Sadar upazila, triggering criticism. On the next day, the victim’s father filed a case against three unidentified people with the police station concerned. Later, the police, with army assistance, arrested a suspect, Shoyon Sheel, who is now in custody for interrogation. Unrest broke out when protests demanding punishment began under the banner of ‘Jumma Chhatra Janata,’ including indefinite road blockades. On September 27, the local administration imposed Section 144 for an indefinite period amid escalating tensions. Khagrachhari Violence: 1, 000 unidentified people sued in 3 cases On September 28, at least three people were killed and several others injured as protesters clashed with law enforcement at Ramessu Bazar in Guimara upazila during the indefinite blockade. Later, a five member panel was formed to investigate the incident. October 1, police filed three separate cases against 1,000 unidentified people over the recent violence in Khagrachhari Sadar and Guimara upazilas for attacks on law enforcers and murders.

Robbers looted around 22 bhories of gold from a jewelry shop in Paschim Dashra area of Manikganj sadar upazila and assaulted the jeweler late Saturday night. Police said two robbers entered ground-floor shop ‘Abhi Alankar’ in Pandav Bhaban around 12:15am. They threatened jeweler Shuvo Das placing a sharp weapon on his neck and looted gold jewelry worth around Tk 36 lakh breaking a locker. When Shuvo tried to resist, the robbers stabbed him with the weapon, leaving him seriously injured. Later, he was rushed to Manikganj Sadar Hospital. Additional Superintendent of Police and officials from the police station concerned visited the scene and started an investigation. Officer-in-charge of Manikganj Police Station SM Aman Ullah said they are investigating the incident and drives are on to arrest the suspects.

The body of an 18-year-old youth was recovered from Dhanmondi Lake in the capital on Sunday. The deceased was Omar Faruk, son of Abdul Quddus Molla of Hazaribagh Bou Bazar Tanery Mor. Locals spotted the body floating in the lake around 7:30am and informed police, said Officer-in-Charge of Dhanmondi Police Station Kashainu Marma. Police later retrieved the body and sent it to Dhaka Medical College Hospital for postmortem. Quoting the family, the OC said Omar Faruk had left home on Friday after an argument with his father over his irregular participation in the family fish business and had been missing since then.

Seven suspects were arrested in connection with the attack on an additional police superintendent when a team attempted to resist extortion from vehicles in Narsingdi Sadar upazila. Earlier, in-charge of town police outpost Sohel Ahmed filed a case naming five people and 25 to 30 unidentified ones with Sadar Police Station on Saturday night. Extortionists attacked a police team in Arshinagar area of the town when they attempted to stop extortion from vehicles and detained two extortionists on Saturday. The miscreants attacked Additional Superintendent of Police (Sadar Circle) Anwar Hossain, leaving him injured. Other police personnel and locals rescued the injured officer and took him to Narsingdi Sadar Hospital and later he was transferred to Central Police Hospital in Dhaka. A video showing a man carrying a stick hitting the police official went viral on social media. Superintendent of district police Menhajul Alam said they were verifying the involvement of the arrestees in this incident. He also said that details of the investigation will be shared later as efforts are on to arrest the remaining suspects.

A man was arrested in connection with setting fire to a passenger bus and opening fire in Dhaka’s Senpara Parbata area on Friday, according to the army. Suspect Nesar Uddin was arrested from the Rupnagar Eastern Housing area on Saturday following a complaint filed by the owners of the affected bus, said army officials during a press briefing. “Based on Nesar’s information, we are conducting operations to arrest another suspect, Pintu,” the army statement said. According to initial reports, Nesar and Pintu allegedly led a group of miscreants who set fire to a bus belonging to Alif Paribahan on Friday morning. The attackers also reportedly opened fire during the incident and physically assaulted the bus driver and his assistant.

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in Gazipur has arrested a robbery gang leader named Monir from Dhaka’s Sabujbagh area. CID officials said they recovered six cocktails, several robbery tools, and a looted mobile phone from his possession. A press briefing was held at the Gazipur CID district and metro office on Saturday afternoon. Special Superintendent of Police (SP) Md Shahed Mia said the arrest followed a major robbery that took place on October 2 in the Dhirashram area of Gazipur city. During the robbery, the gang tied up and beat the house members before looting gold ornaments, cash, and mobile phones worth about Tk 23 lakh. CID’s Gazipur district and metro teams conducted a special drive and arrested Monir around 1:30 am from Nandipara of Sabujbagh area in Dhaka. During interrogation, Monir confessed to his involvement in the robbery. Police also found that he faces several other cases in Dhaka and Narayanganj. CID has sent him to court, seeking a seven-day remand for further investigation.

Members of the Bangladesh Navy have been deployed across the sea, rivers, and coastal regions to enforce the ‘Maa Hilsa Conservation Campaign-2025’, which runs from October 4 to 25. According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the Navy is operating under the mandate of “In Aid to Civil Power” to support the civil administration in ensuring the effective implementation of the fishing ban. The aim is to curb illegal hilsa fishing, allow for safe spawning, and ensure long-term sustainability of the species. A total of 17 Bangladesh Navy warships have been deployed in nine coastal and riverine districts as part of the campaign. In Chandpur, naval ships Dhansiri, Shaheed Farid, and BNDB Gangchil are patrolling key areas. In Cox’s Bazar, the deployment includes Atandra, Shaheed Mohibullah, Durjoy, Sagar, and Shaheed Daulat. Khulna sees the presence of Meghna and Chitra/Titas, while in Bagerhat, ships Karatoya and Abu Bakar/Durgam are on patrol. Salam and Kushiyara are deployed in Pirojpur and Barguna, Padma and Chitra/Titas in Barisal, and LCVP-013 in Patuakhali. Surveillance is being carried out round-the-clock using Navy warships and advanced maritime patrol aircraft to monitor deep-sea areas and prevent illegal intrusion by domestic and foreign fishing trawlers. Navy ships, craft, and boats are strategically stationed in the main breeding zones of hilsa. The Navy is working in close coordination with the local administration, armed forces, Coast Guard, Naval Police, and the Department of Fisheries. The joint effort aims to prevent illegal hilsa harvesting and foreign fishing intrusions while ensuring enforcement of the seasonal ban. Strict legal action will be taken during the campaign against unauthorized individuals and mechanical fishing vessels involved in hilsa harvesting. Simultaneously, awareness activities are being conducted to inform the public about the importance of protecting hilsa during this crucial reproductive period. Naval personnel are committed to preserving hilsa breeding grounds, facilitating unhindered reproduction, and ensuring the conservation of mother hilsa as a national economic asset. The Bangladesh Navy continues its efforts to increase hilsa abundance and enhance the country’s fishery resources by securing safe breeding conditions in both maritime and inland waters.  

At least four people were injured, including three who were shot, in a clash between two local groups over establishing supremacy in Munshiganj Sadar on Friday, said police. Besides, several houses were vandalised during the clash. Police recovered 14 fresh grenades and nine bullet casings from the spot. Of the injured, Sakib Molla, 27, Akash Majhi, 25, and Mohiuddin Molla, 35, sustained bullet injuries while Sabbir Molla, 23, was hurt by the attack. All the injured were admitted to Munshiganj General Hospital, said officer-in-Charge of Munshiganj Sadar Police Station M Saiful Alam. According to police, members of Jalal Molla’s group gathered near Hoglakandi Boro Mosque after Friday prayers when supporters of acting chairman of Charkeoar union parishad Delwar Hossain Gazi attacked them. Youth shot dead in Khulna while asleep The clash escalated as both sides hurled grenades and opened fire. OC Alam said joint operations with the army and police were conducted and the situation in the area is now under control. The village remained largely deserted as male members fled following the clash.