United News of Bangladesh

The Anti- Corruption Commission ( ACC) on Thursday decided to investigate the irregularities in the allocation of 60 kathas plot at Purbachal new city project of Rajuk in the name of ex-Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her family members . ACC spokesperson Aktarul Islam informed media about the development of the investigation. The ousted ex-prime minister allegedly became the owner of plots for herself and the members of her family at Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk) Purbachal New Town Project secretly.  Her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy, daughter Saima Wazed Putul, Hasina's younger sister Sheikh Rehana, and her two children reportedly received up to 10 katha of land each.  ACC to reinvestigate Padma Bridge corruption case against Sheikh Hasina The family reportedly took possession of a total of 60 katha plots in 2022 after which the matter was classified as highly confidential.  According to the final allocation letter signed by Naib Ali Sharif, deputy director (Estate and Land-3) of Rajuk, the price for a one-katha plot was set at Tk 3 lakh per katha, totaling Tk 30 lakh for a 10-katha plot. Sheikh Hasina took plot No-9 on Road No-203 in Sector-27 of the proposed diplomatic zone within the Purbachal project. The allocation letter in her name was issued on August 3, 2022.

The Traffic Division of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) filed 2,596 cases for traffic rules violations during operations conducted in various areas of the capital over two days until Thursday morning. The authorities also dumped 102 vehicles and towed 92 others as part of the crackdown. Irfan killed 7 on Meghna vessel over wage ‘dispute, deprivation’: RAB The DMP Traffic Division started the drives to ensure discipline on Dhaka’s roads and those will continue in the coming days.

A court in Chandpur on Wednesday placed Akash Mondal alias Irfan on a seven-day remand in connection with the murders of seven people on board fertilizer-laden vessel MV Al-Bakhera on the Meghna River near Eshanbala Char in Chandpur's Haimchar upazila. Chandpur Judicial Magistrate Muhammad Farhan Sadiq granted the remand after Inspector Mohammad Kalam Khan of the River Police, the investigating officer, presented Irfan before the court and pleaded for a 10-day remand. Advocates Sharif Mahmud Sayem, Masud Pradhaniya, Yasin Arafat Ikram, and Md Shahjahan Khan represented the state during the hearing. However, no lawyer was present to represent the accused. Irfan killed 7 on Meghna vessel over wage ‘dispute, deprivation’: RAB Earlier, a team of RAB-11 arrested Irfan from Bagerhat's Chitalmari area on Tuesday night over the murders. On Monday afternoon, the Coast Guard and River Police recovered five bodies and rescued three injured victims from the cargo vessel. Later, two of them succumbed to their injuries at the hospital.The bodies were handed over to families after completing legal procedures on Tuesday. Later on Tuesday night, a case was filed at Haimchar Police Station following a complaint lodged by the vessel owner Mahbub Morshed.  Chandpur tragedy: RAB arrests an accused from Bagerhat A separate investigation committee has been formed by the Ministry of Industries, the district administration, and the district police to investigate the incident. Meanwhile, family members of the victims claimed that the killings were planned and demanded justice. 

Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) has revealed that arrestee Irfan murdered the seven people onboard fertiliser-laden vessel in the Meghna River out of anger after being deprived of wages for long and misconduct with him by the vessel’s master Golam Kibira. Major Sakib Hossain, deputy commandant of the RAB-11 in Cumilla, disclosed this at a press briefing in Cumilla on Wednesday. He said Irfan, son of Jagodish Mandol of Bagerhat’s Fakirhat upazila, used to work as a helping-hand of the vessel’s staff. The RAB official said they recovered a hand glove, two empty packets of sleeping pills, seven mobile phones of the deceased, a blood-stained jeans pant from the procession of Akash Mondal alias Ifran who was arrested from Bagerhat’s Chitalmari upazila. Major Sakib informed that the vessel’s master Kibria didn’t pay wages to Irfan for the past eight months and used to misbehave with him, causing anger to the accused. From this point, the accused hit upon a plan to kill the master and bought three packets of sleeping pills from a Pabna Bazar when the vessel anchored there, the RAB officer said. The accused made the master and others senseless by feeding the sleeping pills after mixing with meals, he said. Read: Killings on vessel: Families demand investigation, justice First, he murdered the master with a Chinese axe wearing hand gloves and later the six others when they witnessed the matter, Major Sakib said. After killing all, the accused took the vessel near Eshanbala Char in Chandpur's Haimchar upazila from the Meghna River and anchored it there, he said, adding that later Irfan fled the scene by a trawler. On the other hand, the vessel’s owner Mahabub Morshed filed a murder case accusing some unidentified people with the relevant police station, said Haimchar police station’s officer-in-charge Md Mohiuddin Suman on Wednesday. On Monday afternoon, the Coast Guard and River Police recovered five bodies and rescued three injured victims from the vessel. Later, two of the injured succumbed to their injuries at the hospital. Read more: Chandpur tragedy: RAB arrests an accused from Bagerhat The bodies were handed over to families after completing legal procedures on Tuesday. The Ministry of Industries on Tuesday formed a four member probe body headed by an additional secretary and asked to submit a report within five working days. Family members of the victims claimed that the killings were planned and demanded justice. They made the demand while receiving the bodies from Chandpur Sadar Hospital on Tuesday afternoon. The deceased were Golam Kibria ,55, captain of the vessel hailinh from Faridpur, his nephew Sheikh Sabuj,35, a sailor, Aminul Munshi, 40, helmsman from Narail district, Majedul,16, a sailor from Magura Sajibul Islam ,26, sailor from Magura, Salahuddin,40, an engineer from Narail and Kazi Rana 24, its cook from Munshiganj.

Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) has claimed to have arrested one Akash Mondal alias Irfan in connection with the murders of seven people onboard fertiliser-laden vessel MV Al-Bakhera in the Meghna River near Eshanbala Char in Chandpur's Haimchar upazila. A message sent from the elite force said the accused was arrested from Chitalmari upazila of Bagerhat. But it didn’t mention the time when he was arrested. On Monday afternoon, the Coast Guard and River Police recovered five bodies and rescued three injured victims from the vessel. Later, two of the injured succumbed to their injuries at the hospital. The bodies were handed over to families after completing legal procedures on Tuesday. Expressing grave grief, the Ministry of Industries on Tuesday formed a four member probe body headed by an additional secretary and asked to submit a report within five working days.  Read more: Ministry of Industries shocked, forms probe body over MV Al Bakera incident in Chandpur Family members of the victims claimed that the killings were planned and demanded justice. They made the demand while receiving the bodies from Chandpur Sadar Hospital on Tuesday afternoon. The deceased were Golam Kibria ,55, captain of the vessel hailinh from Faridpur, his nephew Sheikh Sabuj,35, a sailor, Aminul Munshi, 40, helmsman from Narail district, Majedul,16, a sailor from Magura Sajibul Islam ,26, sailor from Magura, Salahuddin,40, an engineer from Narail and Kazi Rana 24, its cook from Munshiganj.    

The Traffic Division of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has filed 1, 529 cases against violators of traffic laws during a drive conducted in various parts of the capital. Moreover, 30 vehicles were dumped and 63 vehicles were towed away during the drive. The drive was conducted on Monday by the DMP's Traffic Division, according to Talebur Rahman, DC (Media) of the DMP. The DMP has announced that such operations will continue to ensure traffic discipline across Dhaka metropolitan areas.

The International Crimes Tribunal(ICT) has issued  warrants for the arrest of  former Dhaka-19 MP Saiful Islam and four police officers in a case over burning the bodies of six students after killing them at Ashulia in Savar.  The three-member ICT bench led by its Chairman  Justice Golam Mortuza Majumdar passed the order on Tuesday following a petition filed by the prosecution. After the order, Chief Prosecutor of the tribunal Tajul Islam told the media that six students were shot dead on August 5 and their bodies were deliberately burned, he said. Investigation found that former MP Saiful Islam was involved in the incident, he added. Arrest warrants have also been issued for four police officers whose identities have been kept confidential, said Tajul adding that a hearing has been scheduled for January 26 to review the status of the arrest warrants. Legal costs escalate due to lawyers’ syndicate: ICC Chief Prosecutor Tajul said the trial process will be easier if former prime minister Sheikh Hasina is brought back to the country.  Earlier on September 11, separate cases were filed against 70 people including Sheikh Hasina in connection with the killings and burning. On August 5, six protesters were shot dead during a protest and their bodies were allegedly burned on a van. A video of the incident which was widely shared on social media helped the victims' families identify two of the victims.  The video shows several bodies lying on the back of a van while police officers are seen loading another body onto the vehicle. The bodies were covered with dirty cloths and banners found on the streets before being set on fire, according to witnesses.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has taken all necessary security arrangements for peaceful celebration of Christmas on Wednesday. Additional Police Commissioner of DMP’s Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit Mohammad Masud Karim said this on Tuesday after inspecting a security drill at St Mary's Cathedral Church at Kakrail in Dhaka. He said adequate number of plainclothes and uniformed police have been deployed at every church in the city. Specialized units, including SWAT, Bomb Disposal Teams and other counter-terrorism units will be on duty during the celebrations. He also said Bangladesh Army is working alongside the police to ensure security. “Christmas will be celebrated in a very joyful atmosphere with the cooperation of everyone,” he said. DMP solicits public cooperation in helping police shift to more community-based approach In response to a question about potential security threats during the Christmas celebrations, he said, "We have not received any information about security risks so far and we are remaining vigilant. As in previous years, Christmas will be celebrated peacefully and joyfully." Senior officials from the DMP, as well as priests from St Mary's Cathedral and media personnel from both print and electronic outlets were present during the exercise.  

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has filed a case against Showkat Hasanur Rahman Rimon, former MP of Barguna-2 constituency, for allegedly acquiring illegal wealth worth Tk 5.96 crore. The ACC has also asked Rimon’s wife Rawnak to submit her wealth statement as it has information on her acquiring illegal assets worth Tk 2.52 crore. According to ACC Director General Md Akhtar Hossain Rimon owns movable and immovable properties worth Tk 35.98 crore. He also has liabilities amounting to Tk 15.25 crore, leaving his net assets at Tk 20.73 crore. Call for inclusive police reform to rebuild trust, accountability His legitimate sources of income amount to only Tk 1.11 crore that showed that he illegally accumulated Tk 35.96 crore, he said. The ACC began investigating Rimon’s alleged corruption on September 17, said ACC Deputy Director Md Akhtarul Islam. Rimon misused his authority to amass significant illegal assets through irregularities and corruption. Rimon was elected MP from Barguna-2 in the 10th and 11th parliamentary elections. On October 16, a court imposed a travel ban on him following an ACC petition.

The 46th Independent Infantry Brigade, through its various units, conducted operations from December 18 to 22 in Dhaka's Tejgaon, Mohakhali, Dhanmondi, Mohammadpur, and Kamrangirchar areas, resulting in the arrest of 26 individuals involved in criminal activities. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Directorate provided this information in a press release. Among the arrested are individuals accused of murder, drug trafficking, extortion, and employment fraud. During the operations, a significant quantity of illegal drugs, sharp weapons, and unlawfully obtained cash were recovered from the apprehended individuals. Notably, local residents actively cooperated with the army during these operations. The army has assured that such operations will continue to improve the law-and-order situation in the region.