United News of Bangladesh

Former lawmaker for the Sylhet-2 constituency and central leader of the Jatiya Party (JP), Yahya Chowdhury, has been released on bail a month after being arrested on charges of attacking students and the public during the July uprising. Chowdhury walked out of Sylhet Central Jail at 5 pm on Wednesday, confirmed Sylhet Central Jail Jailor Md. Sakhawat Hossain. He was arrested in a joint operation by RAB-1 and RAB-9 from the capital’s Uttara on November 12. A case was filed against him at the Sylhet Kotwali Police Station on October 2. Yahya Chowdhury was elected as a Jatiya Party candidate from the Sylhet-2 constituency in the 10th National Parliamentary Election of 2014.  

The consumer market surveillance team of the Directorate of National Consumers' Rights Protection (DNCRP) and a special task force have been conducting raids against market manipulation and the price hike of goods. On Wednesday, raids were carried out in all divisions and districts of the country, including Dhaka Metropolitan area, to stabilize the prices of daily necessities such as onions, sugar, and edible oil, ensuring a normal supply, according to a press release. In the Dhaka Metropolitan Area, market surveillance activities were conducted in different areas of the city by six teams led by six officers from the department. A total of 100 organisations were fined a total of Tk 518,500 during a campaign conducted by 45 teams of the Department across 35 districts of the country, read the release. ACC to start probe against ‘big fish’ soon: New Commissioner Representatives from both government and private sector organisations, including district and upazila administrations, were present during the raids. All these efforts, including the DNCRP raids, will continue nationwide to protect consumer rights, it added.  

Police have arrested three people in a case filed for raping of a student of Pabna University of Science and Technology (PUST). The arrestees are Mehedi Masud, 26, son of Abdul Jalil of Kalachandpara area of Pabna town, Mahmudul Hasan Sajid, 23, son of Motaleb Hossain of Chawk Ramchandrapur area, and Harun Or Rashid, 27, son of Zamir Uddin of Oshalgariya Forest Para area, said Pabna Sadar Police Station Officer-in-Charge (operation) Sanjay Kumar Saha. CID arrests man posing as an army officer for blackmail and fraud They were arrested from different areas of the town on Tuesday night and sent to jail today (Wednesday), the OC said. On Monday, the victim's ex-boyfriend, Mehedi, lured her to a forested area near the town's Meril Bypass under the pretext of having tea together. Later, three men took her to an abandoned enclosure in the forest, where they raped her, the police official said. Surveillance intensified as criminal activities rise at Kamrangirchar: DMP DC Later, a case was filed at Pabna Sadar Police Station following a complaint lodged by the victim's mother on Tuesday night, he added.

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has arrested a man posing as an army officer in a case involving blackmail and fraud. The suspect, identified as Santu Biswas (39), is the son of Shyamal Biswas from Sahapara village under Keshabpur Police Station in Jashore. CID’s Special Superintendent (Media Wing) Azad Rahman confirmed the arrest. A CID Cyber Police Centre team apprehended Biswas from a supermarket at Gazipur Chowrasta and seized three mobile phones from his possession. According to CID sources, Shamima (pseudonym), a divorced mother of two, met Biswas in 2021. He introduced himself as a Muslim and an army officer of Major rank. Using his fabricated identity, Biswas gained Shamima’s trust, exploited her naivety, and forged fake marriage documents for her to sign. Posing as her husband, Biswas secretly recorded her through private videos and pictures. In addition to claiming he was an army officer, Biswas falsely presented himself as the owner of Jashore Travels, a transport company operating on the Dhaka-Jashore route, and Biswas Garments. He took money from Shamima under the pretext of resolving business issues. Eventually, Shamima discovered that Biswas was neither an army officer nor a businessman but a fraud. She cut all ties with him after uncovering his deceit. However, Biswas resumed contact, threatening to release her private photos and videos on social media. On May 8, Biswas sent some objectionable pictures and videos to Shamima and her son's phones. He demanded Tk 5 lakh and warned that if the money was not paid within a specified time, the material would be circulated online, CID Special Superintendent Azad Rahman said. Shamima’s son lodged a case against Biswas at Lalbagh Police Station on June 11. After CID took over the investigation, they arrested Biswas in Gazipur. During interrogation, he admitted to his involvement in the incident, added Azad.

Liberation War Affairs Adviser Farooq-e-Azam on Wednesday said fake freedom fighters will get amnesty if they apologise, or else, action will be taken against them for fraudulence. “There are allegations that fake freedom fighters have been included in the gazetted list and have long been enjoying benefits. This is not a small crime in any way … it’s a serious crime,” he told a press conference at his ministry’s conference room. Mentioning an ongoing court case regarding the cancellation of certificates of 2,111 people who claimed to be freedom fighters, the adviser said, "Once the court decides, we will cancel these certificates and arrange for punishment."  “If we can specify the verification process in other cases and such fake fighters listed there, similar action will be taken against them. They must be given exemplary punishment. Hopefully, we will be able to come up with an effective system in this regard very soon, the adviser said. ACC to start probe against ‘big fish’ soon: New Commissioner Farooq-e-Azam mentioned that there are many lists of freedom fighters -- blue, red, Indian, and in many cases, it is seen that many people have been made freedom fighters here out of ‘passion’ or because of someone's kinship or some other temptation. “We’ll detect, but it may take some time.” The adviser stressed the importance of protecting the dignity of genuine freedom fighters. “We will not allow their dignity to be tarnished. Completing this task while safeguarding their legacy is a challenge, but we are determined to do.” He said the government may allow an indemnity so that those who are not freedom fighters may step aside on their own. “If they do, they may even get a general amnesty. And if that doesn't happen, we will accuse them of fraud, as we said."  

New Chairman of the Anti-Corruption Commission ( ACC) Mohammad Abdul Momen on Wednesday said the commission will start investigation into the allegations  against ‘big fish’ immediately as it is the expectation of people. "Work as per public expectations is top priority. We will take action immediately about those cases of corruption which affected the country significantly and take action against culprits who were behind these graft and irregularities," he said while talking to reporters on the premises of the head office of the Commission after taking charge. TIB urges new ACC chairman, commissioners to disclose income-asset statements "ACC is a part of the society. It is not impossible to be corrupt in the corrupt society in some cases. It is your duty (journalists) to investigate disinterestedly if you find any complaints against me and my commission," he said. He also sought cooperation from the media to reach out the right information to people. Momen, a former senior secretary to the government was serving on a contractual basis in the Ministry of Home Affairs, resigned from his position earlier. BFIU summons bank account details of Sheikh Hasina, Rehana One of the ACC Commissioners (investigation) Miah Mohammad Ali Akbar Azizi also took charge today while Brig Gen (retd) Hafiz Ahsan Farid, is set to assume office on December 17.

Police have intensified surveillance as criminal activities have increased remarkably at Kamrangirchar, Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Lalbagh Division Jasim Uddin has said. “Special attention is being given to identifying potential threats and preventing criminal acts,” he said at press briefing at the DMP media center on Wednesday. The recent murder of 42-year-old print shop owner Mohammad Nur Alam shocked the residents of the area, he said. On December 6, Nur Alam, a resident of Kamrangirchar who also operated a fabric business from a rented shop, was brutally murdered and police arrested three suspects Miraj Mia ,20, Mohammad Millon ,23, and Rifat, 19 utilizing intelligence and technological support on December 10, he said. During interrogation, the suspects confessed to their involvement, the said DMP official. Police must reach the scene of an incident within an hour: DMP Commissioner Between 4:25 am and 4:45 am on December 6, the trio, along with an accomplice named Jihad and several unidentified people attacked Nur Alam at his shop, said the DMP official. They struck his head with a hammer, stabbed him multiple times and then wrapped the body in polythene and cloth. They buried it under the printing press floor after breaking and covered it with sand and cement. Based on their statements, police recovered a hammer, scissors, and a knife from the scene, he added. Nur Alam’s body was exhumed and sent for autopsy to Dhaka Medical College Hospital.  

Workers protested and blocked roads in the Sat Rasta area of Tejgaon, Dhaka following the arrest of a truck workers' leader, causing a traffic gridlock from Sat Rasta to Mohakhali. The situation began to normalize after 8:30pm when workers dispersed from the road, allowing vehicles to resume normal movement. Gazi Shamimur Rahman, Officer-in-Charge of Tejgaon industrial police station, said they arrested Talukdar Mohammad Monir, an accused in a murder case filed with Paltan police station, from Tejgaon Truck Stand area around 6:30 pm. After the arrest, the workers started their protest at the Sat Rasta intersection, blocking the road with trucks. Despite briefly dispersing, they regrouped and set tires on fire, which further intensified the traffic congestion. The situation began to improve after 8:30pm, he added.  

Four police officers, including former Deputy Commissioner (Mirpur Division) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), Md. Jasim Uddin Molla, were temporarily suspended on Tuesday. The other suspended officers are: Additional Deputy Commissioner (Gulshan Division) of DMP Md. Rafiqul Islam, Assistant Commissioner (Traffic-Jatrabari Zone) of DMP Tanjil Ahmed, and Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) of APBN, Md. Rafiqul Islam. Writ petition seeking probe into graft allegations against 51 judges, other staff rejected The suspension orders were issued by the Police-1 section of the Public Security Division under the Home Ministry on Tuesday. Separate notifications have already been issued, signed by Senior Secretary Dr Mohammad Abdul Momen on the order of the President. According to the notification, former DC of DMP and currently attached to the Rangpur Range DIG office Md. Jasim Uddin Mollah has been charged with crimes under the International Crimes Tribunal Act and an arrest warrant has been issued. He was arrested from Rangpur on October 30. Accordingly, Md. Jasim has been suspended from government service with effect from October 30 under the provisions of Section 39(2) of the Government Services Act, 2018 (Act No. 57 of 2018). During the period of suspension, he will be entitled to subsistence allowance as per the rules. Former ADC (Gulshan Division) Md. Rafiqul Islam's notification said that he was arrested on October 18 in a case filed by Badda Police Station and sent to court. Rafiqul has been temporarily suspended from government service from October 18 as per the provisions of Section 39(2) of the Government Services Act, 2018 (Act No. 57 of 2018). During the temporary suspension, Rafiqul will be attached to the office of the Chattogram Range DIG and will receive allowance as per the rules. SC stays 7 year jail sentence of Tarique in money laundering case The notification of AC (Traffic-Jatrabari Zone)Tanjil Ahmed said that he was arrested on October 15 in a case filed with Jatrabari Police Station and sent to court. Therefore, Tanjil Ahmed has been temporarily suspended from government service from October 15 as per the provisions of Section 39(2) of the Government Services Act, 2018 (Act No. 57 of 2018), the notification said. During the period of his temporary suspension, Tanjil will be attached to the office of the Barisal Range DIG and will be entitled to get allowance as per the rules. Another notification on ASP of APBN Md. Rafiqul Islam said that he was arrested on September 13 in a case filed with Hathazari Model Police Station of Chattogram and sent to court. Rafiqul has been temporarily suspended from government service from September 13 as per the provisions of Section 39 (2) of the Government Services Act, 2018 (Act No. 57 of 2018). During the period of temporary suspension, Rafiqul Islam will be attached to the office of Mymensingh Range DIG and will be entitled to get allowance as per the rules.  

The High Court has granted a three-month interim bail to actress and former president of the E-Commerce Association of Bangladesh (e-CAB) Shomi Kaiser in an attempted murder case. The HC bench of Justice AKM Asaduzzaman and Justice Syed Enayet Hossain passed the order after hearing her petition. Barrister Hamidul Misbah stood Shomi during the court proceedings. Writ petition seeking probe into graft allegations against 51 judges, other staff rejected According to the case statement,  Jubo League and Chhatra League activists opened fire on some protesters on July 18 in front of Nawab Habibullah High School in Azampur in Dhaka’s Uttara Awami League. Businessman Ishtiaq Mahmud was shot in the abdomen and later treated at Evercare Hospital. On September 29, Ishtiaq Mahmud filed an attempted murder case at the Uttara East Police Station mentioning names of 126 people including former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun and  Shomi Kaiser Shomi was arrested on November 5 from her residence at Uttara. She was remanded for three days on November 6.