United News of Bangladesh

Police have arrested a minor boy in connection with the brutal murder of his friend, a third-grade student, over a dispute involving a mobile video game in Baraigram upazila of Natore. Acting on a tip-off and using technology, police detained the accused, early Friday and recovered the stolen smartphone used by the victim, said Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) of Baraigram Circle, Shovon Chandra Hor. UNB is not identifying the accused since he is a minor. According to ASP Shovon, during initial questioning, the accused admitted that on Thursday afternoon, he and his now deceased friend, Abir, went out together in the Mohishbhanga area. The two engaged in a heated argument over playing the mobile game ‘Free Fire’ on Abir’s phone, which escalated into a physical altercation. At one point, the accused struck Abir on the head with a brick, causing him to collapse. He then struck further blows with the brick, killing him on the spot, before fleeing with the victim's smartphone. Earlier on Thursday evening, Abir’s family reported him missing. Around 8:30pm, locals found Abir's blood-stained bicycle abandoned beside the main road in the Mohishbhanga area. Upon receiving information, police arrived at the scene with the help of locals and discovered Abir’s mutilated body hidden under maize plants inside an under-construction spice factory nearby. Crime scene units from both the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) and the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) visited the location later that night and collected evidence. Due to the accused being a minor, police have refrained from disclosing further personal details.

Three people, including two suspected drug dealers, were killed and another was injured in separate incidents in Rupsa and Harintana areas of Khulna on Thursday night. The deceased were identified as suspected drug smugglers Sabbir, Saddam and sand trader Bablu Dutta. The bullet-hit Miraz fled from a private hospital after receiving first-aid. Locals said there had long been a dispute between drug dealers Sohag and Ashique groups in the Rajapur area under Rupsa Police Station of Khulna Metropolitan Police (KMP). Around 10:30pm on Thursday, Sabbir, Miraz and Saddam went to the house of Sohag in Rajapur area. On information, a group of 10 to 12 people led by one Sazzad Hossain of the Ashique group swooped on the house and opened fire, leaving Sabbir dead on the spot and Saddam and Miraz critically injured. As the criminals fled, locals took Saddam, who sustained bullet injuries in head’s back, to Khulna Medical College Hospital (KMCH) where physicians referred him to Dhaka. He succumbed to his injuries on the way to Dhaka in an ambulance while Mirza received a bullet in the waist and managed to flee after receiving primary treatment. Gunfight leaves 2 killed in Munshiganj Officer-in-charge of Rupsa Police Station Mustafizur Rahman said they were working to identify the accused involved with the murders. The dominance over the drug smuggling in the area might have led to the casualties, he assumed, saying that the concrete reason will be unfolded through investigation. Earlier around 9pm, miscreants slaughtered sand and land trader Bablu on his way to home in Rajbandha area under Harintana Police Station. Locals said that riding bike Bablu was returning home after completing personal work at night. The miscreants intercepted him in the Rajbandha area and took him to an under-construction building where they slaughtered him. Agony Hearing screams, locals went to the spot and found him critically injured when the miscreants left Being informed, a police team from the Harintana Police Station rushed to the spot and recovered the body, said officer-in-charge Sheikh Khairul Bashar. He said the body was sent to KMCH morgue for autopsy and efforts were on to nab the accused.

A case was filed on Thursday against 156 people including former prime minister Sheikh Hasina for their alleged involvement in an attack on a BNP programme in 2023. General Secretary of Khulna Metropolitan unit BNP, Shafiqul Alam Tuhin submitted a petition with Khulna Metropolitan Session Judge court on Thursday morning seeking permission to file a case against them. Khulna Metropolitan Session Judge Sharif Haidar accepted the petition after hearing in the afternoon. ICT schedules July 1 for hearing to frame charges against Hasina, 2 others According to the case statement, BNP organised a programme at Khulna Press Club on May 19, 2023. Some 50-60 people were injured when police charged batons and fired bullets. Police also arrested nine people in this connection. A number of police officials, former MPs, former ministers and Awami League leaders were made accused in the case.

Arrested former Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal on Thursday described the 2024 national election as a ‘dummy and fabricated exercise’, citing the failure of political parties to reach a consensus ahead of the polls. The former CEC said this in his confessional statement to the court of Dhaka Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM) Mohammad Mustafizur Rahman during a remand hearing on Thursday. As the court asked him why he had not resigned, Awal tactfully avoided the query saying that no CEC had stepped down in Bangladesh’s history. Later, the ex-CEC put cited the elections held during Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s regime and irregularities occurred during the 1996 election. The Dhaka court placed Awal on a three-day remand in a case filed by BNP over alleged irregularities and biased role in conducting the 12th national election.  Ex-CEC Habibul Awal put on 3-day remand A team of DB police arrested Awal from Moghbazar area on Wednesday. The arrest came two days after BNP filed a case with Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station accusing 24  people, including former CECs, Election Commissioners and other officials involved in conducting the 10th, 11th and 12th national elections, of irregularities and biased conduct. Meanwhile, police detained another former CEC KM Nurul Huda from his residence in the capital’s Uttara area on Sunday evening. In the 11th election, held in December 2018 under CEC KM Nurul Huda, the BNP alleged ballot-stuffing overnight hours before the voting. Ex-CEC Nurul Huda placed on 4-day remand The 12th election held in 2024, overseen by CEC Kazi Habibul Awal, was rejected by the BNP as a ‘dummy election’, as the party did not take part in it. Earlier this month, Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus instructed authorities to form a committee to investigate the roles of those involved in conducting the three elections.

Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury on Thursday said the government plans to set up separate prisons and rehabilitation centres for drug addicts in each divisional city. The adviser said this while addressing a programme marking the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium in Dhaka. Jahangir Alam said the government has already approved a project to construct seven divisional drug rehabilitation centers spending Tk 1,400 crore. Highlighting various government initiatives against drugs, the adviser said the country’s development is being hindered by the ‘aggressive spread’ of drug abuse. “The driving force of any country’s progress is a productive youth population. To become a developed and successful state, we must protect our youth from drugs.” Focus also on drug kingpins, not just carriers: Home Adviser He expressed concern that people from different walks of life are getting involved with drugs and that women, children and adolescents are being used in drug trafficking, increasing their vulnerability to addiction and crime. To address this, the adviser said, the Ministry of Home Affairs is working in coordination with the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs and the Ministry of Social Welfare. He said the emergence of new synthetic and semi-synthetic drugs due to technological advancements worldwide, further complicates the drug abuse and trafficking landscape. “We need new strategies to combat these new substances.” The Adviser said all law enforcement and intelligence agencies are vigilant against new drugs and that efforts to curb their spread are ongoing. He mentioned that the Department of Narcotics Control (DNC) currently has 2,943 personnel, including 1,622 enforcement officers, for a population of about 180 million. The DNC operates through 64 district offices, one special zone, eight divisional intelligence offices and eight divisional offices across the country. Despite limited manpower and logistical support compared to other enforcement agencies, the adviser said efforts are underway to strengthen the DNC’s capacity. Referring to recent major drug seizures by the DNC, he said the anti-drug drive will continue, with enhanced coordination among police, BGB, RAB, Coast Guard and the DNC as the nodal agency. Under the current government’s directive, the “DNC Arms Policy 2024” has been formulated, and the first batch of DNC officers has completed firearms training, he added. Terming drug abuse and trafficking a ‘multi-dimensional problem’, the adviser called on all stakeholders to engage in a social movement against drugs alongside law enforcement. Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser Md Khoda Bakhsh Chowdhury, Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs Nasimul Ghani and Director General of the DNC Md Hasan Maruf, among others, spoke at the event.

A man was arrested on Wednesday in connection with the rape of a pregnant woman in the area under Sylhet Airport Police Station. The arrestee was named as Abdul Halim, 35, son of Dr. Abdul Hekim of Dargabari Rampur,  that falls under the jurisdiction of the same police station. Syed Anisur Rahman,  officer-in-charge (OC) of Sylhet Airport Police Station, said that Halim was apprehended around 3pm on Wednesday in connection with the incident. He will be presented before the court on Thursday.  Meanwhile the victim is currently receiving treatment at the One Stop Crisis Center (OCC) at Sylhet Osmani Medical College and Hospital. "The investigation of the case is underway," added the OC.

The Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) on Wednesday arrested three individuals for allegedly leading anti-government protests in the capital’s Mirpur area on June 22 and 23. The arrestees are GM Wahid Parvez, a Jubo League leader and two others identified as Sagar Biswas, 25, and Md Apon, 20. “They were arrested in separate operations conducted in Mirpur and Mohammadpur areas today,” said DMP Deputy Commissioner (media) Talebur Rahman. According to the police official, GM Wahid Parvez led several anti-government protest marches in different parts of Mirpur on June 22 and 23. Acting on intelligence inputs, a CTTC team arrested him from Mirpur earlier today. Youth held with five gold bars in Jashore Later, around 2:30pm, another CTTC team arrested Sagar Biswas, described by police as a notorious criminal, drug dealer, and mugger, from Chand Udyan area in Mohammadpur, he said. Based on information provided by Sagar, police also detained Md Apon at around 3:30pm from the Sat Masjid Housing area of Mohammadpur. Both of them are named accused in a case filed with Mohammadpur Police Station, the DC added. “Legal action is underway against the arrestees,” said Talebur.

Chairman of the National Independent Inquiry Commission Major General (retd) A L M Fazlur Rahman on Wednesday said the intelligence agencies of that time displayed extreme negligence and failed to discharge their duties during the BDR mutiny that took place on 25–26 February 2009. He made the remarks at a press conference held at the new building of the Science Laboratory in the capital, where the National Independent Inquiry Commission outlined its findings. Fazlur Rahman said both the then armed forces command and law enforcement agencies failed to take timely decisions and remained inactive while the crimes were being committed. “No effective measures were taken to prevent the mutiny and the killings. Available information so far indicates gross negligence and failure on the part of the intelligence agencies,” he said. Fazlur Rahman said political procrastination, under the guise of seeking a peaceful resolution, coupled with the inaction of the armed forces and law enforcement, allowed the atrocities to unfold. Pilkhana carnage: 27 ex-BDR members released from Kashimpur jail on bail He also alleged that efforts were made to misdirect the investigation, stating that two previous inquiry commissions attempted to obscure the facts. “There was a deliberate effort to link the incident to militancy in order to divert the course of the investigation,” he added. The Commission Chairman further revealed that they had received several accounts from victims and eyewitnesses suggesting possible foreign involvement in the mutiny and killings. “These accounts are being verified and analysed. Based on the evidence gathered so far, the Commission believes that timely military intervention could have prevented the brutal killings and associated crimes,” he said. To date, the Commission has interviewed 158 individuals, including military and civilian officials as well as political figures. Testimonies from around 50 more people are still pending, he informed. A preliminary draft of the investigation report has already been prepared and is currently under review by the Commission’s members. Testimonies from key witnesses are still being recorded, and the Commission has requested the cooperation of several important individuals to support further analysis. BDR massacre: Dr Yunus says mystery must be uncovered Besides, communications are going on with a number of foreign embassies and organisations to gather additional information, which the Commission says will require more time. In light of these developments, the Commission has formally sought an extension of the deadline for submission of its final report, proposing a new deadline of 30 September.

Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) detained a man with five gold bars worth Tk 86.77 lakh in Jashore Sadar upazila on Wednesday morning. The arrestee, Moynal Mollah, 35, is the son of Asgar Mollah from the Court Bari area in Dhaka. According to a BGB media release, the paramilitary force launched a drive in the Jhumpur area following a tip-off about a planned gold smuggling attempt through the Satkhira border. Indian national held with 18 gold bars worth Tk 2cr in Meherpur BGB members intercepted Moynal on his way to Satkhira after noticing his suspicious movements. A search led to the recovery of five gold bars, each cleverly concealed inside the soles of his shoes, weighing over 585 grams in total. The recovered gold has been deposited with the government treasury, and a case has been filed against Moynal with Kotwali Police Station.

In a major breakthrough, DNA evidence has enabled the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to identify and arrest a previously unknown suspect involved in the brutal murder of a man in Jhalakathi earlier this year. The suspect, Md Selim Madbor alias Rafique, 49, son of late Md Ali Madbor of Ghatkhali (Chawra) village under Amtali Police Station in Barguna, was arrested on Monday from the Sarulia area under Demra Police Station in Dhaka. According to the CID, the arrest came after DNA collected from the murder scene matched Selim’s profile. “The Crime Scene Unit recovered biological evidence from the spot and sent it to our DNA lab. Analysis revealed the presence of an unknown male’s DNA, which was later confirmed to be Selim Madbor’s,” said Jashim Uddin, Special Superintendent of CID’s media cell. DNA samples of accused collected for testing in Magura child rape case  The murder took place on the morning of February 24, when Imran Hawladar, 32, was hacked to death and dumped in a waterbody covered with water hyacinth, approximately 200 yards east of the LifeCare Diagnostic Center in Nandikathi village under Nalchhiti municipality, Jhalakathi. His wife Fahima Begum was also seriously injured in the attack. Imran’s father, Abdur Rashid Hawladar, later filed a murder case with Nalchhiti Police Station, naming two suspects and accusing 8–10 unidentified people. CID’s Lawful Interception Cell (LIC) later conducted surveillance and data analysis to locate Selim, leading to his arrest in the capital. Further digging into his background revealed that Selim Madbor alias Rafique is also accused in two robbery cases filed with Munshiganj Sadar Police Station, and he was charge-sheeted in another case (Case No. 24, dated 10/11/2020) with Badda Police Station. DB rescues UP chairman; 5 kidnappers arrested CID also confirmed that the prime accused in the case, Al Amin Hawladar, had earlier surrendered to the court. His DNA profile was prepared and matched with evidence found at the scene. The arrestee, Selim, has been handed over to the investigation officer for further legal action.