United News of Bangladesh

Today marks 13 years since the brutal murder of journalist couple Sagar Sarowar and Meherun Runi, yet law enforcement agencies have not been able to identify the motive behind the much-discussed crime. Over the years, the submission date for the investigation report in the Sagar-Runi murder case has been postponed over 100 times and the investigating authority has been changed four times. In a bid to expedite the long-stalled investigation, the current interim government formed a high-powered task force on October 23 last year, led by the chief of the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI). Both the PBI chief and the plaintiff’s lawyers expressed hope that the mystery surrounding the case would finally be solved. On January 27, a Dhaka court once again rescheduled the submission date for the investigation report, setting it for March 2. This marks the 115th time the submission has been delayed. Six years ago, in a progress report submitted to the court, the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) revealed that DNA samples from two unidentified people were found at the crime scene. However, those people are yet to be identified. Sagar, a news editor at private television channel Maasranga TV, and Runi, a senior reporter at ATN Bangla, were murdered in their rented apartment in Dhaka’s West Rajabazar on February 11, 2012. Their four-and-a-half-year-old son, Mahir Sarowar Megh, was present in the house at the time of the murder. Following the killings, then home minister Sahara Khatun (late) assured that the perpetrators would be arrested within 48 hours. Two days later, then inspector general of police (IGP) Hasan Mahmud Khandker claimed the investigation had made positive progress. However, a solution has been elusive. Hopeful PBI can solve Sagar-Runi murder case: Shafiqul Alam On February 5 last year, former law minister Anisul Huq told the National Parliament that he did not want to set a deadline for completing the Sagar-Runi murder investigation. “As a lawyer, I know it is not possible to set a timeframe for an investigation.” Probe should not be concluded until investigators successfully debunk the mystery, he said. Runi’s brother, Naosher Alam, filed the murder case with Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station following the murders. Initially, police handled the investigation, but after four days, it was transferred to the Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP). DB admitted its failure before the High Court on April 18, 2012, after 62 days of investigation. The case was subsequently assigned to RAB. Despite years of legal proceedings, the case remains unresolved. Adding to the grief, Runi’s mother, Nurun Nahar Mirza, passed away two years ago without seeing justice for her daughter and son-in-law. On September 30, 2024 the HC ordered the formation of the task force to probe the case that remained unsolved for 12 years. The court also directed the Home Ministry to execute the decision after removing the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) from the investigation as the elite force had repeatedly been failing to submit the probe report. Earlier, the submission date of the probe report on the double murders has been deferred for the 114th time till October 15. On October 1 this year, Runi’s brother Nowsher filed a petition with a trial court seeking permission for appointment of nine lawyers to assist the state in the case. Sagar-Runi murder case: Court reschedules submission date for investigation report Later, the court appointed nine lawyers, including Supreme Court lawyer Shishir Monir. On October 10, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Md Moinul Islam said police started reinvestigating the case. Police arrested Tanvir Rahman in connection with the murder case on October 1, 2012. Later, he secured bail in 2014. The seven other suspects are Rafiqul Islam, Bakul Mia, Abu Syed, Mintu alias Baggira Mintu alias Masum Mintu, Quamrul Hasan alias Arun, security guard Enam Ahmed alias Humayun Kabir and Palash Rudra Pal. Out of the eight people arrested in connection with the case, two were granted bail, while the others are in jail.

A Habiganj court has sent former Awami League MP  Advocate Majid Khan to jail in a murder case. Judge of Habiganj Chief Senior Judicial Magistrate Abdul Ali passed the order after police produced him before the court, said Baniachong police station’s Officer-in-Charge Golam Mostafa. Earlier on Monday, police arrested Majid, ex-MP  from Habiganj-2 constituency (Baniachong- Ajmiriganj), from Farmgate area of Dhaka and handed over to the Baniachong police station. Police said the former MP is the second accused in a case over the killing of nine people during the anti-government movement on August 5 last year. Moreover, Majid was an accused in another case over the murder of Ripon Shil who was killed during the movement. He was elected as MP in the 2009, 2014, and 2018 national elections, but failing to secure party nomination in 2024, he contested as an independent candidate and faced a defeat.

Two rival groups on Tuesday clashed over an Islamic religious event, leaving one person dead and several others injured in Harinakundu upazila of Jhenaidah, police said. The deceased was identified as Mosharraf Hossain, 42, a resident of Hakimpur village of the upazila. He happened to be a BNP activist, locals said adding the clash was not political. The injured--Nasir Uddin, Hanef Ali, Abdul Khaleq, Arab Ali Rabin, Kawsar Mondal and Abdul Alim were admitted to Jhenaidah Sadar Hospital. Of them, the condition of Nasir and Kawsar was stated to be critical. Garment worker stabbed dead in Dhaka Locals said the groups led by one Dulu and Sayeed respectively got locked into the clash with sharp weapons centring fixing guests for a religious event. The fighting occurred over the local Hakimpur Bridge around 6:30am on Tuesday. It left eight people, including Mosharraf, critically injured, they said. They all were rushed to the Sadar Hospital where Mosharraf was declared dead by on-duty doctors. Man stabbed dead in Dhaka's Lalbagh Officer-in-Charge of Harinakundu police station MA Rauf said additional police personnel were deployed in the area to avoid any further violence, the OC added.

Eighty-one people have been arrested in Gazipur on the third day of ongoing drive 'Operation Devil Hunt.' With these, a total of 261 people, suspected to be activists of the fallen Awami League, have so far been arrested. Of them, 80 and 100 were arrested on the first and second day respectively. According to police, Monday night's arrests included 12 people from five police stations in Gazipur district and 69 from the metropolitan area. Deputy Commissioner of City Special Branch Alamgir Hossain said they arrested 69 accused from different areas under Gazipur city overnight. 'Operation Devil Hunt': 100 arrested in Gazipur on day 2 Superintendent of Police Dr. Chowdhury Md. Jaber Sadeque said Chayan Islam said they arrested 12 people from parts of the district. Locals alleged that the root-level activists of the Awami League are being arrested but those who attacked the protesters during the anti-government movement last year are still at large. The government announced the operation following an attack on some activists of Anti-Discrimination Student Movement at the residence of former minister AKM Mozammel Haque in Dakshinkhan that left 18 people injured. The Anti-Discrimination Student Movement and the Jatiya Nagarik Committee staged demonstrations demanding the arrest of those involved in the attack.

Unidentified miscreants have shot an 18-year-old to death in a remote char area under Daulatpur upazila of Kushtia, police said early Tuesday. The deceased was identified as Raju Hossain, son of Ibrahim Promanik of Farakpur Bhangapara area under Maricha union of the upazila. He worked as day-labourer at a sand quarry on the bank of the Padma River. Officer-in-Charge of Daulatpur police station, Nazmul Huda, said that being informed, they recovered the body around 1am and sent it to the 250-bed Kushtia General Hospital for autopsy. Woman shot dead, UP chairman’s house vandalised in Narsingdi Police have already detained a man for interrogation and drives are underway to nab the accused, he said. Touhid Hasan Tuhin, an official of Daulatpur Upazila Health and Family Planning, said the victim had bullet injuries in the chest and succumbed to his injuries before being brought to the hospital.

Former Awami League MP from the Habiganj-2 constituency, Md. Abdul Majid Khan, has been arrested. He was apprehended on Monday night from the Farmgate area in the capital. Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) DC Media Talebur Rahman confirmed the arrest. Ex-Sirajganj MP Chayan arrested in Gazipur Khan is facing charges in connection with a murder case in which nine people were killed during the anti-discrimination student movement in Habiganj’s Baniachong upazila on August 5. In addition, police said that his name is listed as number 3 in the Ripon Shil murder case, which occurred during the same movement in Habiganj district. Ex-AL Minister Abdul Latif Biswas arrested in Sirajganj Golam Mostafa, officer-in-charge (OC) of Baniachong Police Station, said that the police have left for Dhaka to bring Majid Khan back to face further legal proceedings.

The Police Headquarters has said that strict action will be taken if anti-social elements threaten any peace-loving citizen, and strict legal action will be taken against them. In a statement, the PHQ said that it has recently come to the attention of the police that anti-social elements are issuing various types of threats to people from different classes and professions in the country. “Making any kind of threat to any person is a crime.” No innocent to be punished under 'Operation Devil Hunt': Adviser “If any person is a victim of such a threat, they are requested to immediately inform the national emergency service 999 or the nearest police station,” it added. Bangladesh Police is committed to ensuring the safety and security of every citizen of the country and maintaining law and order. Submit images, video footage of July Uprising on govt website: Police Headquarters

Joint forces arrested 343 people under 'Operation Devil Hunt' across the country on the second day of the operation. It brings the total arrested on the first two days of the operation till Monday afternoon to 1651, said sources at the police headquarters. Of them, 1178 were arrested in connection with different cases against them, it said. DB arrests ex-CHT state minister Dipankar Talukder from Sobhanbagh During the second day's operations, the joint forces also recovered arms and ammunition including one pistol, two magazines, 11 rounds of bullets, six cartridges, three knives, three swords, an axe, ten cocktails, one stick, four iron rods and four sharp weapons. Earlier, the joint forces arrested 1,308 people on the first day of the operation. The government launched the nationwide security operation on Saturday night, ostensibly aiming to curb unrest and ensure public safety. The context in which it came about, however, suggested a particular focus on supporters and activists of the Awami League, including its banned student front, the Chhatra League. CID collects bones from demolished Dhanmondi-32 home The operation was devised following Friday night's attack on students and civilians in Gazipur, a traditional den of the Awami League. Meanwhile, Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury said on Sunday that the countrywide crackdown ‘Operation Devil Hunt’ would continue until the devils are eradicated.

Detective Branch of Dhaka Metropolitan Police have arrested the former minister of state for the Chittagong Hill Tracts Dipankar Talukder from Dhaka’s Sobhanbagh. Dipankar was arrested earlier today (Monday), said DMP Deputy Commissioner (media) Talebur Rahman. CID collects bones from demolished Dhanmondi-32 home Details regarding the circumstances surrounding the arrest are still developing, and authorities have not yet revealed further information.

National Board of Revenue (NBR) on Monday scrapped two SROs related to tax waivers granted to the Shuchona Foundation, a non-profit and voluntary organisation run by Saima Wazed Putul, daughter of deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina. The Foundation was founded by former prime minister Sheikh Hasina's daughter Saima Wazed Putul. The two SROs were issued on April 6, 2016 and June 19, 2013. Putul’s Shuchona Foundation has no registered address: ACC The move of the revenue collecting authority came at a time when the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), after the change of Awami League regime, initiated a legal enforcement operation following allegations of misappropriation of state funds through irregularities and corruption by the foundation’s president and several others. On Wednesday they said that the Shuchona Foundation has no registered address and its illegal activities have been revealed. To investigate the tax exemptions granted to Shuchona Foundation, the team obtained relevant Statutory Regulatory Orders (SROs) from the National Board of Revenue (NBR). Upon review, the ACC team found preliminary evidence that the foundation had been exempted from paying income tax on all its earnings, including interest from permanent and savings bank deposits, consultancy fees, and research fees since 2016. Shuchona Foundation receives Tk 10 lakh as donation The ACC revealed that Saima Wazed, the Regional Director of the World Health Organization (WHO) for South-East Asia, had inaccurately provided information regarding her eligibility when she was nominated for the position, as she was a Canadian citizen at the time. The ACC also said that there are credible corruption allegations against her. According to the ACC, Saima Wazed allegedly misused her influence to secure financial benefits for the Shuchona Foundation, receiving gifts and funds from various social and business institutions. The ACC sources further claimed that Saima exerted undue influence over the NBR to secure tax exemptions for the foundation’s entitled funds. Earlier, on November 24, the Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU), the financial intelligence wing of the Central Bank, had ordered the freezing of the bank accounts of Shuchona Foundation. Association of Koreans to donate Tk 10 lakh to Shuchona Foundation It received crores of taka in donations from the country's top business conglomerates. Founded in 2014, Saima Wazed Putul, along with three other trustees — Muzharul Mannan, Md Shamshuzzman, and Zain Bari Rizvi — oversee the Shuchona Foundation, an organisation dedicated to supporting individuals with mental disabilities, neurological disorders, autism, and mental health challenges. Putul currently serves as the regional director for Southeast Asia at the World Health Organisation (WHO). Following the fall of the Awami League government on 5 August last year, several cases have been filed against her over various irregularities and corruption allegations.