United News of Bangladesh

The Airport Armed Police Battalion (APBn) detained a passenger with 6,378 Yaba pills concealed inside his stomach at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on Saturday night. The detainee Md Pannu Howlader,30, hails from Amtoli upazila in Barguna district. He was detained in front of the domestic terminal's arrival gate based on a tip-off after arriving in Dhaka from Cox's Bazar on US-Bangla Airlines flight BS 142, said the APBn. An X-ray examination revealed a large number of oval-shaped objects inside his stomach. He was later taken to Kurmitola General Hospital, where doctors extracted 136 packets of Yaba tablets, totaling 6,378 pieces. A case has been filed against him with Airport Police Station under the Narcotics Control Act, 2018. APBn Operational Commander Mohammad Mozammel Haque said transporting such a large quantity of drugs inside the human body is truly shocking. “We are continuing regular operations to prevent any illegal activities, including drug smuggling, around the airport," he added.

Bangladesh Border Guard (BGB) K-9 dog squad member named 'Meghla' thwarted an innovative attempt to smuggle locally brewed liquor in an easy bike at the Damdamia checkpoint under Teknaf battalion (2 BGB) on Saturday morning. Sources at the BGB headquarters on Saturday evening said, a team of BGB -2 stopped a Teknaf-bound easy bike coming from Hnila for a routine search around 10:30 am in the morning. K-9 member Meghla’s persistent signals and the driver’s suspicious behavior led the patrol team to confirm that the vehicle was carrying illegal substances. Acting swiftly, the BGB’s dog squad (K-9 team) searched the vehicle and Meghla (K-9 member) detected a hidden chamber beneath the rear seat, where 28 liters of locally brewed liquor were concealed in 14 water bottles. The driver, identified as Md. Abdur Rahim (30), son of Abdus Salam and Momena Khatun of Purbo Phuler Dil village under Hnila union (Ward-3) in Teknaf, was arrested on the spot. Seized items include 28 liters of country-made liquor, an easy bike, and a button phone. Legal action under the Narcotics Control Act is underway, and the detainee along with the seized items will be handed over to Teknaf Model Police Station, officials said. Lt. Col. Ashiqur Rahman, commanding officer of the Teknaf Battalion (2 BGB), said, “Smugglers are constantly adopting new tactics, but our members remain vigilant. With advanced technology and specialized teams like our K-9 unit, BGB is determined to thwart all smuggling attempts and ensure a drug-free nation.”

The Department of Environment (DoE) held a mobile court in Kakrail, Dhaka, on Friday to control noise pollution. During the mobile court operation, a total of six vehicles were fined Tk 23,000 for violating Rule 8(1) of the Noise Pollution (Control) Rules, 2006, by generating excessive noise and using hydraulic horns. In addition, 22 vehicle owners and drivers received advice to raise awareness about preventing noise pollution. Executive Magistrate Khairunnahar conducted the mobile court, while Inspector Md. Tariqul Islam of the DoE, Dhaka Metropolitan Office, handled the prosecution. Nationwide DoE drives lead to Tk 86,000 fines, power cutoffs, and seizure of hydraulic horns DoE authorities urged all vehicle owners and drivers to avoid using hydraulic horns and actively participate in controlling noise pollution. Additionally, the department informed that such operations will continue to ensure a healthy and peaceful environment for city residents.    

The long-delayed investigation into the sensational murder of Narayanganj youth Tanvir Muhammad Taqi is expected to conclude very soon as the probe has made significant progress, said RAB-11 Commanding Officer Lt Col HM Sajjad Hossain on Saturday.  “We have already made considerable developments. We are hopeful of submitting the charge sheet very soon,” he said at a press briefing at the RAB Media Centre in the capital’s Karwan Bazar. “Once the investigation concludes, all details will be disclosed. Until then we must allow the process to reach its proper conclusion,” he said. He added that RAB maintains regular communication with Taqi’s family. “The lengthy investigation must be completed thoroughly to ensure a fair outcome.” Taqi, son of cultural activist and rights campaigner Rafiur Rabbi of Narayanganj city, was abducted on March 6, 2013, while heading to a local library from his Shahesta Khan Road residence. Two days later, his body was found floating in the Shitalakkhya River. Despite multiple investigations over the past 12 years, no charge sheet has yet been submitted in the case. Following the fall of the Awami League government in August last year and the recent arrest of six suspects rekindled hope among Taqi’s family for long-awaited justice. RAB sought additional time from a Narayanganj court on September 18 to complete the charge sheet. After hearings, the court directed the agency to expedite the process. Additional Superintendent of Police Dipak Ranjan Muzumder of RAB-11 is currently investigating the case.

Members of Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) on Saturday arrested eight suspected criminals along with arms and ammunition in Raipura upazila of Narsingdi district. The arrestees were Rafik Mia, 48, Gias Uddin Mia, 40, Shahin Mia, 40, Jalal Mia, 37, Pulin Mia, 35, Azizul Hossain, 32, Rajib Mia, 30 and Mazharul Islam, 22. Man held over killing of 2 minor boys in Lalmonirhat Tipped off, a team of Rab-11 conducted a drive in Srinagar union of the upazila early Saturday and arrested them along with two foreign made pistols, six local made guns, one trigger gun, two LG, five pipeguns, 36 rounds of managazine and 82 rounds of bullets, said a press release of Rab. Amid recent deterioration in law and order situation, Rab intensified its operations and preliminary investigations revealed that some local armed groups were involved in these crimes.

Police recovered the blood-soaked body of an upazila-level Awami League (AL) leader from the rooftop of his home in Dakshin Surma upazila of Sylhet district early Friday. The deceased was identified as Abdur Razzak, vice-president of the upazila unit of the party and a former general secretary of the upazila sports association. He was the son of late Maolul Hossain of Telirai village under Mollargaon union. According to locals, Razzak went to the rooftop early Friday after offering the Fajr prayer as he did every day. As he did not return home till 9am, family members went upstairs and found his body lying in a pool of blood. Being informed, police recovered the body and sent to Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital morgue for autopsy. Additional Deputy Commissioner (North) Md Saiful Islam of Sylhet Metropolitan Police said the killing occurred between 6:30 am and 9 am and marks of stab wounds were found on the body. He said police have launched an investigation, collected evidence from the scene and interrogated family members. No one has been detained so far. CCTV footage from the night until morning showed no outsiders entering the house, he said. Family members said Razzak had been suffering from mental distress for the past four to five months and was under treatment, though he never disclosed the reason behind his condition.

The Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) has arrested a smuggler in Jashore with six gold bars weighing 7.35 grams. The arrested individual, Abu Bakkar Siddique, is the son of Ruhul Amin from Chhoto Achra village under Benapol Port Thana. The arrest took place on Friday around 10:30 am during an operation by a patrol team of 49 BGB Battalion near Daitola Bridge on the Jashore-Narail highway. Authorities recovered six gold bars, two mobile phones, and Tk 9,087 in cash from him. The market value of the gold is estimated at Tk 1.26 crore, while the mobile phones are valued at Tk 22,000, bringing the total seizure value to Tk 1.26 crore. The BGB said the gold bars were shrewdly hidden inside the pockets of Siddique’s pants. During initial questioning, Siddique confessed that he had collected the gold from criminals in Dhaka’s Dholai Para area and planned to smuggle it to India via Benapole. Lieutenant Colonel Saifullah Siddiqui, commanding officer of 49 BGB Battalion, confirmed that a case has been filed with Jessore Kotwali Police Station in connection with the incident.

Members of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) have seized drugs and Indian cattle during separate anti-smuggling operations along the Lalmonirhat border. According to BGB, the Lalmonirhat Battalion (15 BGB) conducted drives on October 29 and 30 in North Jhaurani of Hatibandha, Mogolhat Zero Point in Lalmonirhat Sadar upazila, and Gangarhat area in Phulbari of Kurigram. During the operations, patrol teams seized eight Indian cows, 51 bottles of Phensidyl, 20 bottles of Escafe syrup, and a motorcycle. Suspected smugglers fled the scene, leaving the items behind. The seized goods have an estimated market value of Tk 1,108,400, the BGB said. Lieutenant Colonel Mehedi Imam, commanding officer of 15 BGB, said that patrol and intelligence surveillance have been intensified to curb cross-border smuggling and drug trafficking. He urged locals to cooperate with the authorities, assuring that the identities of informants will remain confidential.

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has frozen Tk 3.28 crore from several bank accounts belonging to former Sirajganj-1 lawmaker Tanvir Shakil Joy, his family members, and related organisations for allegedly acquiring the money through illegal means. According to a court order, the CID seized Tk 3,28,00,000 from the bank accounts of Tanvir Shakil Joy, his mother Laila Arjumand Banu, wife Sabrina Sultana Chowdhury, and other family members, said Jashim Uddin Khan, Special Superintendent of Police (Media). During the investigation, the CID found that Joy had allegedly earned the money through fraud, forgery, extortion, organised crime, and money laundering abroad. Investigators also discovered 96 bank accounts in the names of Joy, his wife, mother, brother Tamal Mansur, and other relatives. Upon reviewing the account statements, the CID found unusual transactions worth Tk 1,208 crore through these accounts. According to initial probe, Joy and his brother misused their power and amassed a large amount of illegal wealth through tender manipulation, extortion, sand mining, and recruitment rackets in various projects. The illegally obtained funds are believed to have been laundered abroad and invested in the names of family members as both movable and immovable assets.  

Police have rescued a 14-year-old girl from Jagannathpur in Sunamganj, two days after she was abducted in Sylhet. Shanur Mia (32), suspected of involvement in the kidnapping, has been arrested. The Sylhet Metropolitan Police confirmed the development on Wednesday. The arrested accused, Shanur Mia, is the son of Omar Ali of Balikandi village in Kalkalia Union, Jagannathpur Upazila, Sunamganj. Police said the girl went out to buy a pen on the morning of 26 October but did not return home. The next day, her father filed a general diary (GD No. 2729) with Kotowali Model Police Station in Sylhet reporting her disappearance. Following the GD, police, led by SI Syed Shafi Mahmud, launched an investigation. With the support of technology and secret information, the police conducted a raid in Balikandi village, Kalkalia Union, Sunamganj, rescuing the girl and arresting Shanur Mia. Following the rescue, a case was filed under the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act, and the accused has been handed over to the court, said Sylhet Metropolitan Police Additional Deputy Commissioner (Media) Mohammad Saiful Islam.