United News of Bangladesh

Abdul Jabbar, a local Awami League leader, was arrested by the Kafrul police on Thursday night in connection with an attack on students during the anti-discrimination movement. The protest, largely led by student activists, turned violent when a group of Awami League supporters allegedly opened fire on the crowd. Jahangir Kabir, assistant commissioner (media) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, confirmed the matter on Friday. The incident occurred on July 19, 2024, when Md Mubarak Hossain, one of the victims, was heading to his uncle’s house in Dhaka’s Senpara Parbata area. At the time, a peaceful demonstration against systemic discrimination was being held by student activists and local residents. During this gathering, Awami League leaders and their affiliates allegedly launched an unprovoked attack, opening fire on the protesters. Mubarak was critically injured in the gunfire and was first taken to Islami Hospital in Pallabi. He was later transferred to the National Institute of Traumatology and Orthopedic Rehabilitation (Pangu Hospital) for specialised treatment. Following the attack, Mubarak’s uncle, Md Rubel Hossain, filed a case at Kafrul Police Station on September 16. The complaint named 107 individuals and implicated another 150 unidentified people. After reviewing CCTV footage from the area, police identified Abdul Jabbar as one of the key individuals involved in the violence. Legal proceedings are now underway against Abdul Jabbar, confirmed Kafrul police.

Members of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB-15) arrested one more key suspect over the killing of Lt Tanjim Sarwar Nirjon of the Bangladesh Army. The accused, Md. Sadek (41), was arrested during a joint operation conducted by RAB-15 and other law enforcement agencies in Fasiakhali under Chakaria Police Station in Cox’s Bazar early Friday. Md Abul Kalam Chowdhury, Additional Superintendent of Police and Senior Assistant Director (Law and Media) of RAB-15, confirmed the matter on Friday. Acting on secret information, the joint force launched a raid around 2:15 am and arrestedSadek, one of the named suspects in the murder case. Sadek, the son of Md. Khairuzzaman, a resident of Fasiakhali, admitted his involvement in the killing during primary interrogation, according to RAB officials. Following his arrest, Sadek was handed over to Chakaria Police Station for further legal proceedings. RAB has been actively pursuing all those involved in the case, and efforts to bring the remaining suspects to justice are ongoing.

Department of Narcotics Control (DNC) has arrested 846 individuals, including 71 major drug dealers, during a special operation lasting 21 days.This extensive initiative involved 3,397 operations across the country, resulting in 762 cases being filed, according to a press release from the home ministry.Among those arrested, eight individuals have been identified as drug kingpins. The joint operation, which began on September 4, has been a nationwide effort to combat the escalating threat of narcotics.During these operations, authorities seized a substantial quantity of drugs and related items, including 227,258 pieces of yaba pills, 2.665 kg of heroin, 1 kg of ice, 1,630 bottles of phensedyl, 1,078 bottles of foreign liquor etc. Additionally, a shotgun, nine rounds of ammunition, nine vehicles, and cash amounting to Tk 1,717,770 were also recovered.This information has been sourced from the Department of Narcotics Control, as stated in the release.

A Cox’s Bazar court on Thursday acquitted BNP standing committee member Salahuddin Ahmed in two cases filed under the Special Power Act with Chakaria police station around 17 years back. Cox’s Bazar Senior Judicial Magistrate Aktar Jabed acquitted him from the cases as no state or defence witnesses appeared before the court for testimony in the past 17 years, said the court’s senior lawyer Abu Siddik Osmani. Under section 249 of the Penal Code, the court acquitted him from the charges, he said. Being acquitted, Salahuddin said people from different walks of life, including political leaders and journalists, have been subjected to false and harassing cases by the fascist government for the past 16 years. It will be a relief for people of the country and democracy if they are freed from those cases, he said, adding that “Today justice has been established.” According to the court sources, two people—Badiur Rahman and Mahmudur Haque of Palakata and Badarkhali areas respectively—of the upazila filed the cases against Salahuddin in 2007 following two incidents in 2001 and 2002 on allegations of stealing fish from two fish enclosures.

A Dhaka court on Thursday placed former deputy commissioner (DC) of Detective Branch (DB) Mashiur Rahman on a seven-day fresh remand in a case filed over the death of a teenager Abdul Motalib during the student movement. Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Farzana Shakila Sumu Chowdhury passed the order following a 10-day remand plea of investigating officer Inspector of the Ramna Zonal Team Nazrul Islam. On the same day, the defense lawyer submitted a petition to cancel the remand and requested bail, which the prosecution opposed. After hearing arguments from both sides, the court denied the bail request and granted a seven-day remand. Abdul Motalib was shot dead on August 4 while participating in a procession during the anti-discrimination student movement at the Zigatola bus stand in Dhanmondi. His father, Abdul Matin, filed a murder case with the Dhanmondi police station on August 26. Ex-prime minister Sheikh Hasina, former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, and former road transport and bridges minister Obaidul Quader were among 127 accsued. Mashiur Rahman was arrested by the DB police in the capital on the night of September 19. The next day, a court placed him on a seven-day remand in connection with the murder of businessman Abdul Wadud in the New Market area.  

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Md. Mainul Hasan on Thursday emphasized that police officers must work strictly within the bounds of the law to meet public expectations, which remain high. Addressing a special meeting organized by the DMP’s Welfare and Force Division at the Shaheed SI Shirumia Auditorium in Rajarbagh Police Lines, Hasan highlighted the need for renewed efforts to fulfill these expectations. “The police force is a vital part of the state, and every action we take is regulated by law. There is no room for us to act beyond it—we must work within the law,” he said, underscoring the importance of legal compliance in police operations. During the meeting, members from various ranks of the DMP presented specific concerns and demands to the DMP commissioner. Hasan assured them that their issues would be addressed and committed to improving conditions within the force, particularly at the Rajarbagh Police Lines. He promised necessary actions to enhance the cleanliness and appearance of the police lines, alongside prioritizing the welfare of the force. “We are committed to addressing these concerns, and steps will be taken to ensure a better working and living environment for our personnel,” he said. To further boost morale, the commissioner emphasized the importance of organizing regular sports activities and ensuring quality food in the police mess. He also stressed the need to maintain a healthy environment in the barracks. The meeting was attended by Additional Police Commissioner (Logistics, Finance, and Procurement) Hasan Md. Shoukat Ali, Joint Police Commissioners, relevant Deputy Police Commissioners, and members of the Welfare and Force Division, all of whom participated in discussions aimed at improving the well-being of DMP personnel.

A writ petition was filed with the High Court on Wednesday seeking its directive to ban the export of hilsa permanently from the country. Lawyer Md Mahmudul Hasan filed the writ petition with the wing concerned of the High Court on Tuesday, attaching the reports published in media about the export of hilsa. Commerce, Fisheries and Livestock, Civil Aviation and Tourism secretaries , the Chairman of the National Board of Revenue (NBR), the Office of the Chief Controller of Imports and Exports and the chairman of Bangladesh Tourism Corporation were made respondents in the writ. In addition, the writ asked why the inaction of the defendants to refrain from exporting hilsa to India will not be illegal. Apart from this, instructions were given to the Secretary of Fisheries and Livestock to arrange the sale of hilsa in the country at affordable prices. Earlier on September 11, lawyer Mahmudul Hasan sent a legal notice to the defendants to permanently stop the export of hilsa to India. He requested to take measures to permanently stop the export of hilsa to India within seven days upon receiving the notice. But three days after giving this notice, on September 14, the Ministry of Commerce approved the export of another 500 tons of hilsa to India in the second phase. On the occasion of Durga Puja, on September 4, it approved the export of 2, 450 tons of hilsa in the first phase. The Ministry of Commerce has so far approved the export of a total of 2,950 tons of hilsa in two phases for export to India, according to the writ perition. Petitioner Mahmudul Hasan filed the writ petition due to the lack of response from the defendants regarding the export of hilsa, the national fish of Bangladesh. The writ is set to be heard by the competent bench next week. The petition highlights the increasing prices of hilsa, which are making it unaffordable for poor and middle-class families in Bangladesh. Hasan criticizes the Ministry of Commerce for allowing the export of hilsa to India without considering the needs of the local population, leading to a spike in domestic prices. Alarmingly, hilsa is reportedly being exported at lower prices than what consumers pay in the domestic market, he said. Furthermore, the petition mentioned that according to Bangladesh's export policy for 2021-24, hilsa should not be a freely exportable product. Despite this, the Ministry of Commerce unjustly permitted the export, ignoring public interest. Hilsa is usually exported to India on the occasion of Durga Puja. Hilsa exports to India were halted from 2012 to 2018, but resumed in 2019. Last year, Bangladesh exported 1,400 tons of hilsa fish to India.

The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Directorate of the Bangladesh Armed Forces has confirmed the detention of six individuals directly involved in the killing of Lieutenant Tanzim Sarwar of the Bangladesh Army. This announcement comes in the wake of the tragic incident that occurred during an operation to prevent robbery. Lieutenant Tanzim, aged 23, was martyred around 3 am on Tuesday, while conducting a mission based on intelligence information in a remote area of Chakaria of Cox's Bazar. Following the incident, the Bangladesh Army conducted a combing operation in the area, resulting in the arrest of six suspects associated with the killing. The authorities recovered significant evidence from the detainees, including two locally-made firearms, 11 rounds of various types of ammunition, a knife believed to have been used in the murder, a pickup truck, and a motorcycle. Preliminary interrogations revealed that four of the detainees were directly involved in the crime, while the remaining two assisted by providing critical information. The suspects have been identified as Md Babul Prakash (44), Md Helal Uddin (34), Md Anwar Hakim (28), Md Arif Ullah (25), Md Ziabul Karim (45), and Md. Hossain (39). Among them, Md Babul Prakash has been identified as the main financier of the operation and has provided a preliminary confession, admitting that he fatally stabbed Lieutenant Tanzim. In addition, the second-in-command of the robber gang, Md Helal Uddin, along with driver Md Anwar Hakim, armed member Md Arif Ullah, and informants Md. Ziabul Karim and Md. Hossain, have all admitted to their direct involvement in the incident. The Bangladesh Army's operation to apprehend other involved members of the robber gang is ongoing. The six detained individuals have been handed over to the Chakaria Police Station, and the process of filing a case at the police station by the army personnel is currently underway.

A Narsingdi court on Wednesday sent former industries minister Nurul Majid Mahmud Humayun to jail after rejecting his bail prayer in several cases including murder during the recent mass upsurge. Narsingdi Senior Judicial Magistrate Rakibul Islam passed the order after hearing a petition in this regard, said the plaintiff’s lawyer Abdul Kadir Titu. Earlier he was produced before the court with a prayer for a five-day remand while the court sent him to jail after rejecting bail, he said. The court also permitted the authorities concerned to quiz the arrestee at the jail gate. Members of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) arrested him from Dhaka's Gulshan area early Wednesday. He was arrested over allegations of assault, attacks, and killings during the anti-discrimination student movement in the Madhabdi area of Narsingdi on August 4.

Ninety-two people have been arrested and 216 arms looted in recent times from police stations, police lines, police outposts and other places have been recovered during the nationwide joint forces’ drive from September 4 to September 25 . Police headquarters shared this information on Wednesday afternoon. Moreover, a total of 2,86,082 rounds of bullets, 22,139 tear gas shells, and 2,116 sound grenades have been recovered till date, it said. A large number of arms and ammunition were looted from the police stations and other protected zones after attacking law enforcers before and after August 5. Members of the Bangladesh Army have also been working to recover the looted arms across the country.