United News of Bangladesh

Police have arrested three alleged members of a mugging gang while they were reportedly planning a mugging operation in the Uttarkhan area of Dhaka late Sunday night. The suspects, identified as Md. Nayan (20), Md. Sabbir Hossain (21), and Md. Jihad, were arrested by a team from the Uttarkhan Police Station under the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP). Acting on a tip-off, officers conducted a raid near the Rajabari Ghat area around 11:30 pm and arrested the three individuals before they could carry out their plans. During the operation, police recovered two knives and an iron rod from their possession, said Deputy Commissioner (media) of DMP Talebur Rahman. According to Uttarkhan Police sources, the suspects were preparing to target victims on a paved road near Rajabari Ghat when law enforcement intercepted them. Preliminary investigations have revealed that the three men are active members of a professional gang involved in muggings and theft across Uttarkhan and other areas of Dhaka. During initial questioning, the suspects admitted to their involvement in numerous previous criminal activities, including mugging and theft. Police believe the gang has been operating in various neighborhoods of Dhaka, targeting unsuspecting victims under the cover of darkness. A case has been filed at the Uttarkhan Police Station in connection with the incident, and further legal action is in progress. Investigators are working to uncover additional details about the gang’s operations and identify other members who may be involved.

The High Court (HC) on Monday stayed the recruitment process of 3, 534 job seekers as junior instructors and physical education instructors under the Bangladesh Public Service Commission (BPSC) for three months. The HC bench of Justice M Akram Hossain Chowdhury and Justice KM Rasheduzzaman Raja passed the order after hearing a petition in this regard. The court also issued a rule asking the government to explain as to why the recruitment process should not be declared illegal. The BPSC issued a circular on October 26 in 2021 announcing vacant posts for the junior instructors and physical education instructors for polytechnic institutes and technical schools and colleges under the Technical and Madrasha Education Board.    The recruitment tests were held on March 18, 2023.   The BPS issued a circular appointing 3, 534 applicants on January 20 this year and ordered the successful candidates to join on January 29. But challenging the legality of the appointment, 18 people filed a writ petition with the HC. Barrister Kaisar Kamal accompanied by several lawyers stood for the petitioners at the court.  

Students from the seven colleges affiliated with Dhaka University have issued a four-hour ultimatum to the government, demanding immediate action on their six demands and threatened to wage tougher measures if their demands are not met by 4:00 pm today (Monday). Addressing a press conference held at Dhaka College’s Shaheed Minar, representatives of the protesting students outlined their demands and condemned the events of the previous night in Dhaka University areas. They accused Dhaka University authorities and local police of the clashes that happened overnight in the New Market, Nilkhet and Dhaka University areas, which left over 40 people injured, including journalists and students. Six-Point Demand The students presented six demands, including a public apology from Dhaka University for its alleged role in the conflict. They also called for the resignation of DU Pro-Vice Chancellor Mamun Ahmed by the deadline. A significant demand focuses on the removal of New Market Police Station officials, including the Assistant Commissioner and officer-in-charge, who were allegedly involved in attacks on Dhaka College students. Protesters called for their withdrawal and departmental investigation for punitive action. The clashes, which began on Sunday night, reportedly left Dhaka College student Rakib critically injured. Protesters allege he was attacked with the intent to kill and described police actions during the unrest as "barbaric." Read: DU suspends Monday's exams, classes following clashes The students also demanded the complete severance of academic and administrative ties between Dhaka University and the seven colleges. They called on the government to draft a framework for an independent university for the seven colleges within 24 hours.  

Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) arrested three suspected muggers along with sharp weapons during a drive at Mohammadpur in the capital on Sunday night. The arrestees are Md Abu Zafar,32, Md Roni,19, and Md Shawon,19. Tipped off, a team of RAB-2 battalion conducted a drive on Sunday night and arrested the three suspects. During the arrest, RAB recovered one machete and two knives from their possession, said Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Khan Asif Topu, Assistant Director (Media) of RAB-2. Read: 10 ‘muggers’ held in Dhaka’s Mohammadpur The arrestees were handed over to Mohammadpur Police Station for further legal action, the official said.

A Dhaka court on Monday granted bail to film actress Pori Moni and her costume designer Junayed Karim Jimmy alias Jimmy in a case over threat and attempt to murder businessman Nasir Uddin Mahmud. Judge of Dhaka Chief Judicial Magistrate Mohammad Junaid approved it after the actress and the costume designer surrendered before it with a plea for bail, said Pori Moni’s lawyer Nilanjana Rifat Surovi who submitted the bail prayer. Earlier on Sunday, the court issued arrest warrants for Pori Moni and Jimmy as the two were absent while the court framed charges against them. However, the duo had been on bail in the case before the arrest warrant was issued. According to the case statement, Pori Moni and his accomplices entered the Boat Club after 12:00 pm on June 9, 2021, and insisted the the plaintiff gives them a free bottle of alcohol. Read: Pori Moni indicted, faces arrest warrant As the plaintiff did not agree to this, Pori Moni insulted the plaintiff and threw a serving glass at him and also threw the mobile phone in his hand. Nasir Uddin was injured in the head and chest. On July 6 in 2022, Nasir filed the case bringing the allegations of threatening and attempting to murder him. Later, Pori Moni filed a case against Nasir and two others accused of attempted rape and murder at Savar police station. Md Monir Hossain, investigation officer of Nasir's case and also a Police Bureau of Investigation official, submitted the chargesheet against the duo with Dhaka's Senior Judicial Magistrate Court. The evidence of assault and threat was found during the investigation, reads the chargesheet.

Dhaka University authorities have suspended all examinations and classes scheduled for Monday, citing unavoidable circumstances. Mohammad Rafiqul Islam, acting director at the university’s Public Relations Office has confirmed this. The authorities took the decision hours after the students of DU and seven colleges, including Dhaka College, clashed on the streets till midnight on Sunday. At around 10pm, students of Dhaka College tried to enter the DU area with a protest march, aiming at surrounding the office of the DU Pro Vice-Chancellor (academic) Professor Mamun Ahmed, through the Liberation and Democracy Arch. When this news spread, students from several DU dormitories started to come out to resist them. Read: DU suspends 8 students over involvement in Tofazzal killing Students from both sides engaged in chase and counter-chase for several hours. They took positions, throwing bricks and stones at each other in the Nilkhet and New Market areas. To control the situation, the police used 12 rounds of sound grenades and stood between the two sides with water cannons and tear gas. At one stage, two platoons of Border Guard Bangladesh were deployed to reinforce the security. The incident began on Sunday afternoon when students from the seven colleges went to Prof Mamun Ahmed with a five-point demand. They were not satisfied with his handling of the matter leading to the late night clashes.

The students of Dhaka University (DU) clashed with students of Dhaka College and six other colleges and there was a tense situation prevailing late into the night in the DU campus. At around 10 PM, students of Dhaka College tried to enter the Dhaka University area with a protest march. Their aim was to surround the office of the DU Pro Vice-Chancellor, Professor Mamun Ahmed, attempting to enter the campus through the Liberation and Democracy Arch. When this news spread, students from various halls of Dhaka University started to make noise, and the situation became tense. For a prolonged period, students from both sides engaged in alternating clashes. They took positions, throwing bricks and stones, in the Nilkhet and New Market areas. To control the situation, the police used 12 sound grenades and stood between the two sides with water cannons and tear gas. The incident began on Sunday afternoon when students from the seven colleges went to Prof Mamun Ahmed with a five-point demand. They were not satisfied with his handling of the matter,that led to the late night clashes.

Detectives of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) arrested Dr Enamur Rahman, former state minister for disaster management and relief, from the capital’s Bashundhara area on Sunday night. Shooting from helicopter: ICT issues arrest warrant against ex-RAB DG DMP Deputy Commissioner (Media) Talebur Rahman confirmed the arrest. Authorities are yet to disclose further details about the arrest.

The Anti-Corruption Commission has found 55,000 Euros, US$167, 300, 1005 grams of gold, and FDR documents worth Tk70 lakh in three lockers of former Deputy Governor of Bangladesh Bank SK Sur Chowdhury. ACC Director Kazi Sayemuzzaman led a 7-member team of the commission as part of an investigation, who went to open the lockers of Sur at Bangladesh Bank’s headquarters. According to sources, the ACC team arrived at the BB at 11am on Sunday. After the two-party discussion, the central bank called a goldsmith to open the lockers. An executive magistrate and ACC Director Sayemuzzaman along with a seven-member delegation arrived at Bangladesh Bank to be present at the time of locker opening. On January 19, ACC recovered documents of Tk 16.25 lakh and fixed deposits worth Tk 4.5 crore from SK Sur's Dhanmondi house. There, they found documents of three lockers in the BB. The ACC was allowed to open these lockers on the court's order. ACC to investigate officials involved in 2018 Nat’l Election ‘manipulation’ Later, the agency learned that it was not a vault but a locker (safe deposit) for keeping the valuables of officers and employees at the central bank. After that, the ACC sent a letter to the BB asking it not to transfer and hand over the contents of the locker. On January 21, the central bank's security branch sent a return letter to the ACC informing it of the suspension of the transfer of the locker contents. The letter said that according to the rules, personal valuables of officers and employees working and retired at the bank are kept in BB lockers in their names in packets or boxes under their responsibility and sealed for 20 years from the date of deposit. Then, on January 23, Bangladesh Bank said in another letter that SK Sur had kept valuables in three locker numbers. Among them, on September 25 last year, he nominated his wife Suparna Sur Chowdhury for SD-44/61 and on February 25, 2018, for SD-48/12. On July 12, 2017, he nominated his daughter Nandita Sur Chowdhury for the items kept in SD-47/35.

A Dhaka court has framed charges and issued an warrant for the arrest of film actress Pori Moni and her costume designer Junayed Karim Jimmy alias Jimmy in a case over threatening and attempting to murder to businessman Nasir Uddin Mahmud. Judge of Dhaka Chief Judicial Magistrate Mohammad Junaid passed the order. Pori Moni’s lawyer Nilanjana Rifat Surovi  on Sunday said it was scheduled to hold a charge hearing in the case and her client Pori couldn’t present before the court due to her sickness. Besides, a petition was submitted seeking time for another accused Jimmy but the court rejected it, the lawyer said. According to the case statement, Pori Moni and his accomplices entered the Boat Club after 12:00 pm on June 9, 2021, and forced the plaintiff to give a free bottle of alcohol. As the plaintiff did not agree to this, Pori Moni insulted the plaintiff and threw a serving glass at the plaintiff and also threw the mobile phone in his hand. Nasir Uddin was injured in the head and chest. On July 6 in 2022, Uttara Club Limited's former president Nasir U Mahmud filed the case bringing the allegations of threatening and attempting to murder him. Read: Attempted murder case: Court summons Pori Moni Later, Pori Moni filed a case against Nasir U Mahmud and two others accused of attempted rape and murder at Savar police station. Md Monir Hossain, investigation officer of Nasir's case and also a Police Bureau of Investigation official, submitted the chargesheet against the duo with Dhaka's Senior Judicial Magistrate Court. The evidence of assaulting and threatening were found during the investigation, reads the chargesheet.