United News of Bangladesh

A khatib (who leads Jumma prayers) was hacked to death inside his own home in Bhola town on Saturday night. The deceased was identified as Maulana Aminul Haque Nomani, a teacher at Bhola Darul Hadis Kamil Madrasa and khatib of the Sadar Upazila Parishad Mosque. He was also a well-known Islamic speaker in the area. Locals said Aminul returned home around 9 pm after leading the Esha prayers at the Paschim Charnoabad Jame Mosque. At the time, his wife, daughter and two sons were away visiting relatives, leaving him alone in the house. Around 9:15 pm, unknown assailants reportedly attacked him inside his room, hacking him multiple times before fleeing. Neighbours rushed to his house after hearing his screams, but found the front gate locked from inside. They broke through a tin-fence and found him lying in a pool of blood with severe injuries to his head, neck, chest and abdomen. He was taken to Bhola General Hospital where physicians declared him dead around 10 pm. Police later visited the crime scene and hospital. Blood stains were found on the floor of the drawing room, near a sofa set. A computer and webcam were found switched on, with Aminul’s cap lying on a nearby table, police sources said. Locals described Aminul as a respected alim (religious scholar), popular among the people of the area, and said he had founded a madrasa himself. Jubo League figure hacked to death in Jashore Hearing the news, leaders of various Islamic groups and residents held a protest march on Sadar Road in Bhola town, demanding immediate arrest of those responsible. They also staged a rally near K Jahan Market, issuing a 24-hour ultimatum to law enforcers to identify and arrest the killers. Officer-in-charge (OC) of Bhola Sadar Model Police Station Abu Shahdat Md Hachnain Parvez said several police teams have already launched operations to trace and arrest the perpetrators. “The motive behind the killing is not yet clear, but we are investigating with utmost priority,” the OC said.

A man was killed and another injured in a clash between two groups of cousins over a land dispute in Pabna Sadar upazila on Saturday night. The deceased was identified as Abu Bakar Mondal, 40, a brickfield worker and son of Lobu Mondal of Chakpara village under Tarabaria union. Abdul Aziz Mondal, son of Kabir Mondal alias Kabu of the same village and also a brickfield worker, sustained serious head injuries in the clash. Police and locals said the two families had a longstanding conflict over homestead land.  Around 9:30 pm, an altercation flared up and quickly escalated into a clash involving spears and other sharp weapons. Abu Bakar was critically injured after being struck with a spear, while Aziz suffered severe head injuries.  Clash over land dispute leaves 3 dead in Netrakona Locals took them to Sujanagar Upazila Health Complex, where doctors declared Abu Bakar dead.  Aziz was later referred to Pabna General Hospital as his condition deteriorated. Several others were also injured and are receiving treatment at local hospitals. Pabna Sadar Police Station officer-in-charge Abdus Salam said, “The clash erupted between cousins over a land dispute. One person has died and another is critically injured. Legal action is underway."    

Local administration in Hathazari upazila of Chattogram district has slapped Section 144 after tensions escalated between two groups over a Facebook post related to Eid-e-Miladunnabi. At least 20 people were injured and several vehicles vandalised in the upazila on Saturday after the post triggered clashes. Police said a youth named Arian Ibrahim sparked outrage after posting on Facebook a photo showing him making obscene gestures during a religious procession held to mark Eid-e-Miladunnabi. The procession had passed in front of Al-Jamiatul Islamia Darul Uloom Muinul Islam Madrasa, one of the country’s largest Qawmi madrasas. Local sources said the photo quickly went viral, angering madrasa students and followers in Hathazari and nearby Fatikchhari. Although Arian later posted a video message apologising for his actions, the situation escalated at night when agitated madrasa students blocked the Chattogram–Khagrachhari highway and vandalised several vehicles, leaving at least 20 people injured. Section 144 imposed in Godagari after factional clash within BNP Meanwhile, police detained Arian for questioning. Madrasa authorities, through loudspeaker announcements, urged students to maintain calm and return to the campus. However, groups of students continued their demonstrations for hours before finally dispersing following intervention by the madrasa authorities. To prevent further escalation, additional police forces have been deployed in the upazila. Hathazari Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Abdullah Al Mumin told UNB that Section 144 was enforced from Mirerhat to Egaromile Substation area starting at 11:30 pm Saturday. The restrictions will remain in effect until 3 pm Sunday. “Considering the prevailing tension, any kind of gathering, procession or demonstration has been completely banned in the designated areas until Sunday afternoon,” the UNO said.    

Selim Prodhan, the alleged mastermind behind the casino ring in the country, was arrested again from the capital’s Baridhara area early Saturday. Deputy Commissioner (Media) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Md Talebur Rahman said Selim was arrested by Gulshan police around 4am along with eight others on charges of operating an unauthorised shisha bar. Shisha equipment was also recovered during the raid.  Later, a narcotics case was filed against him, and he was subsequently produced before a court. Selim was previously arrested in October 2019 while attempting to flee abroad through Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. At that time, law enforcers seized foreign currencies, liquor, passports, wildlife skins, bank cheques, and an online gaming server from his properties in Gulshan and Banani based on his information. He was later released on bail.

Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) has arrested two main accused in the attack on Sohag Paribahan counter case in the capital’s Malibagh. The arrestees were identified as Billal Talukder, the prime accused in the case, and Bappi, the third accused, said RAB’s media wing director Wing Commander Inthikab Chowdhury on Saturday. On September 3, around 11:15 pm, a group of 30 to 35 men armed with sharp weapons including machetes attacked two counters of Sohag Paribahan on DIT Road in Malibagh.  The incident, captured on CCTV and widely circulated on social media, sparked countrywide discussion. RAB intensified its intelligence monitoring activities after a case was filed with Ramna Model Police Station on September 4, accusing 16 people by name and several unidentified others. Based on CCTV footage analysis and technological surveillance, RAB arrested Billal from Hatirjheel’s Ambagan area and Bappi from Keraniganj's Model Town area today ( Saturday).

A total of 710 people have been arrested so far in the ongoing ‘Operation Devil Hunt’ in the Sylhet Metropolitan area, which was launched to curb political violence, armed terrorism, and other criminal activities. Sylhet Metropolitan Police Additional Deputy Commissioner (Media) Mohammad Saiful Islam said the arrests were made from various locations over the past seven months. Among them, 341 were detained for creating instability, while 369 were arrested on other charges. "Many of those arrested had been absconding in multiple cases," said Saiful Islam. "Some were directly involved in recent incidents of political violence, arson, and acts of terrorism." He added that the operation is being conducted to suppress terrorism and maintain social stability. “Anyone involved in criminal activity is being brought to justice, regardless of political affiliation. No one will be spared involved in the criminal activities," added ADC Saiful Islam.

The government has formed a three-member investigation commission to probe the attack that left Gono Odhikar Parishad President Nurul Haque Nur seriously injured. The Cabinet Division issued a notification to this end on Thursday night. The commission will be headed by Justice Md Ali Reza of the Supreme Court's High Court Division. The other members include the Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Principal Staff Officer of the Armed Forces Division. The commission has been tasked with identifying those responsible for the attack and recommending legal actions. It has also been instructed to suggest preventive measures to avoid such incidents in the future. The commission has been asked to submit its report within 30 working days. According to the notification, the Ministry of Home Affairs will provide full logistical and secretarial support to the commission and may appoint any government personnel to assist in the investigation. On August 29, violence broke out when a procession by the Gono Odhikar Parishad passed near the Jatiya Party’s central office in Kakrail, triggering a clash. Following the altercation, members of the army and police allegedly attacked leaders and activists of the Gono Odhikar Parishad near their own office on the opposite side of the road. Nur was waiting to hold a press conference in front of his own office, when joint forces swooped on him and his supporters. The ferocity with which Nur was beaten, coupled with the injuries he sustained, left the nation stunned. Nurul Haque Nur sustained a severe head injury and a broken nose during the attack. Even now he is not completely out of danger, and yesterday the chief adviser directed to send him abroad for treatment. He was initially taken to the Islami Bank Central Hospital in Kakrail, before being transferred to the ICU of Dhaka Medical College Hospital. He was moved to a cabin on Monday.

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has filed a money laundering case against former land minister Saifuzzaman Chowdhury and his wife Rukhmila Zaman on charges of siphoning off Tk 1200 crore to Dubai. CID’s Special Police Superintendent (Media) Jashim Uddin said the case was filed at Kotwali Police Station in Chattogram. Additionally, five to seven unidentified people have also been named in the case. During the investigation, authorities found that Saifuzzaman allegedly purchased 226 flats in various areas of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) between 2016 and 2023. These locations include Al Barsha South 3rd, Barsha South, Barsha South 4, Thaniya 5th, Jaddaf, Haiba 6th, Gulf Commercial, Khairan, Yalayes 2, Burj Khalifa, Jabal Ali, World Island, Zabeel 2nd, Marsa Dubai, Me’aisem the First, Nad Al Sheba First, and Wadi Al Safa 3. The total value of these properties is estimated at 33,56,57,168 dirhams. Additional information revealed two more properties under the name Q Gardens Boutique Residences – Block B in Al Barsha South 3rd, valued at 22,50,369 dirhams. Investigators also discovered four bank accounts in the names of Saifuzzaman and his associates—two with Dubai Islamic Bank, one with Janata Bank, and another with First Abu Dhabi Bank. These accounts contain transactions in both dirhams and US dollars, amounting to approximately Tk 311 crore 26 lakh, based on exchange rates. Besides, records show that Saifuzzaman and his associates established and operated two business entities in the UAE—Zeba Trading FZE (building and construction materials) and Rapid Raptor FZE (software business)—under the Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone authority. According to Bangladesh Bank, Saifuzzaman  did not obtain any official permission to register companies, invest, or purchase property abroad. CID said that these acts constitute money laundering under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2012 (Amended 2015).

The Supreme Court on Thursday acquitted BNP leaders Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku, Mir Mohammad Nasiruddin, and Mir Mohammad Helaluddin in separate corruption cases filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). A six-member bench of the Appellate Division, headed by Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed, handed down the verdicts, accepting their criminal appeals and cancelling the High Court (HC) sentences previously issued against them. Senior advocates Zainul Abedin, Md Ruhul Quddus Kazal, and Ragib Rouf Chowdhury represented the defence, while Advocate Shahin Ahmed appeared on behalf of the ACC. Case Against Mir Nasiruddin and Mir Helaluddin On March 6, 2007, the ACC filed a case with Gulshan Police Station against Mir Mohammad Nasiruddin, former state minister and BNP vice-chairman, and his son, Mir Mohammad Helaluddin, BNP’s assistant organising secretary. The case involved allegations of illegal wealth accumulation and concealment of property information. On July 4, 2007, a special judge court sentenced Nasiruddin to 13 years and Helaluddin to 3 years in prison. Although the High Court later overturned these convictions on appeal, the ACC challenged the acquittals. Following a fresh hearing, the HC upheld the original verdicts, prompting the father-son duo to file a leave-to-appeal petition with the Supreme Court. The apex court accepted their petition on March 17, 2025. Case Against Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku In a separate case, ACC Deputy Director Shahriar Chowdhury filed charges against former State Minister for Power Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku in March 2007, accusing him of concealing assets worth Tk 4.96 crore and failing to disclose the sources of income. The case was filed with Mohammadpur Police Station. On November 15, 2007, a trial court sentenced Tuku to nine years in prison. Later, he appealed to the High Court, which acquitted him on June 15, 2011. However, the ACC challenged this decision, and on January 21, 2014, the Appellate Division overturned the acquittal and ordered a retrial. Tuku’s subsequent review petition was also rejected. On July 26, 2023, the High Court directed Tuku to surrender within 15 days of receiving the verdict. When he failed to comply by the September 11 deadline, a warrant was issued for his arrest.

A Narayanganj court on Thursday sentenced a man to death and 17 others to life imprisonment for killing a young man over protesting drug selling in Narayanganj in 2012. Narayanganj District and Session Judge Mominul Islam handed down the punishment. The condemned convict is identified as Tawlada alias Zahirul, 48, son of Afsar Uddin while the lifers were identified as Mizan, 35, Md Ali, 38, Abdul Latif, 65, Hanif, 36, Sohel, 50, Sabuj, 35, Milon, 41, Selim, 43, Golzar, 39, Leda Faruk, 40, Russel, 40, Momen, 38, Saddam, Shahin, 39, Ruhul Amin, 38, Abul, 38 and Pandit, 43. Mob attack in Narayanganj claims 1 alleged robber’s life Among them, Md Ali was present at the dock while the others tried in absentia. According to the prosecution, Nazrul Islam Babu, son of Jalal Mia of Masimpur in Rupganj upazila was stabbed to death by the convicts for being obstructing for selling drugs on May 31, 2012. A case was filed in this connection.