United News of Bangladesh

The Department of Environment (DoE), under a special initiative of the Ministry of Environment, has conducted 1,540 mobile court drives across the country between January 2 and September 11, 2025, resulting in 3,797 cases and fines amounting to Tk 26,38,26,900. As part of the enforcement drive, 489 illegal brick kilns were completely shut down with their chimneys demolished. Directives were issued to close another 216 kilns, and raw bricks from 133 kilns were destroyed. In addition, 25 illegal polythene factories were sealed off with their utility connections cut, while 132 other establishments had their electricity or service connections disconnected due to environmental violations, according to a press release. During this period, four people received prison sentences without parole. The authorities also seized nine truckloads of lead and battery melting equipment from 13 institutions and shut down their operations. On September 12 alone, three mobile courts in Feni, Chattogram, and Narayanganj took action against the illegal production and marketing of banned polythene products under the Bangladesh Environment Conservation Act.

Officers-in-charge (OCs) of eight police stations under Khulna Metropolitan Police (KMP) have been reshuffled. The changes have been made through an order signed by KMP Commissioner Md Zulfikar Ali Haidar on Thursday. According to the order, OC Md Shafiqul Islam of Sonadanga Model Police Station has been transferred to Khulna Sadar Police Station, while OC Haoladar Sanwar Hossain Masum of Khulna Sadar has been posted to Labanchora. Also, OC Sheikh Khairul Bashar of Horintana has been transferred to Arongghata, OC Md Tohiduzzaman of Labanchora to Horintana, OC Md Tuhinuzzaman of Arongghata to Khan Jahan Ali, and OC Kabir Hossain of Khan Jahan Ali to Sonadanga Model. Besides, OC Mir Atahar Ali of Daulatpur Police Station has been transferred to Khalishpur, while OC Md Rafiqul Islam of Khalishpur has been posted to Daulatpur. According to the source of KMP, the reshuffle is part of routine transfers to maintain law and order and improve administrative activities. Assistant Police Commissioner (Media) Khondokar Hossain Ahmed says that the officers will soon join their new workplaces.

Law enforcement agencies have arrested two individuals and recovered a cache of illegal firearms and ammunition during a joint operation in Maheshkhali upazila of Cox’s Bazar, following an armed attack on a police patrol team. The arrestees have been identified as Md Ansar and Gaffar. They were apprehended during a coordinated drive by members of the police, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), and the Bangladesh Navy. According to sources at the Police Headquarters, the joint forces recovered five locally made single-barrel guns, five country-made LG firearms, 24 rounds of live bullets, and six cartridges during the ongoing crackdown. The operation was launched after unidentified assailants opened fire on a police patrol vehicle with shotgun pellets around 12:45 AM on Wednesday night in the Afzalia Para area under Kalarmarchhara union of Maheshkhali upazila. Three members of the Maheshkhali police patrol team sustained injuries in the attack. Cabinet okays draft law to expedite implementation of mega schemes in Maheshkhali Officials stated that joint forces have intensified operations in the area to identify and apprehend other individuals involved in the assault, and to ensure the safety of law enforcement personnel and local residents. Further details will be shared as the operation progresses, they added.

Detectives have arrested three suspected drug peddlers with 5,000 Yaba tablets from the Kaptanbazar area in the capital on Thursday. The arrestees have been identified as Ehsan Ullah, 40, Abdul Gafur, 50, and Md Sabir, 37. Acting on a tip-off, a team from the Illegal Arms Recovery and Narcotics Control Unit conducted the drive around 8:45 AM on Thursday, said Talebur Rahman, Deputy Commissioner (Media) of the DMP. During the operation, the trio was arrested and 5,000 Yaba tablets were recovered from their possession. Businessman Mithu sent to jail over health sector graft The arrestees are active members of an organised drug syndicate and, during primary interrogation, admitted to collecting Yaba tablets from Cox’s Bazar and distributing them across different areas of Dhaka. A case has been filed under the Narcotics Control Act with Wari Police Station. The arrestees have been sent to court.

Sylhet Metropolitan Police is set to launch a new mobile app ‘GenieA’ to make the city safer and smarter. Speaking at a meeting with journalists on Thursday , the newly appointed Sylhet Metropolitan Police Commissioner, Abdul Kuddus Chowdhury (PPM), said, “The app will help citizens get emergency police support with one click. It will include location sharing, notifications, complaint tracking, reporting, and special services for women, children and expatriates.” He added that police should use modern technology considering the changes in crime patterns. Police arrest 1,823 people in nationwide anti-crime crackdown “Future features of the app may include child abduction alerts, domestic violence prevention, drone surveillance, legal help, and blockchain-based evidence protection”, he added. He also urged citizens to work together with police, saying that building a safe and smart Sylhet is a shared responsibility.

A Dhaka court on Thursday sent Motazzarul Islam Mithu, known as a central figure in health sector corruption during the Awami League government, to jail in a case filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) over graft. Acting Judge Ibrahim Miah of the Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Court passed the order following a hearing. The court has set September 18 as the date for a hearing on both remand and bail petitions. Earlier, Detectives from the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DB) detained Mithu late Wednesday night from the capital’s Gulshan area. After his arrest, Mithu was brought to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) for interrogation on Thursday before being produced in court. According to the ACC investigation report, Mithu, owner of two firms — Lexicon Merchandise and Technocrat — illegally accumulated vast sums of wealth. Businessman Mithu held in health sector graft:ACC His immovable assets (purchase of farmland, land leases, plots, flats, and house construction) stood at Tk 18.40 crore while movable assets (shares and investments in different companies, cars, bank deposits, gold ornaments, furniture, and electronic goods) is found at Tk 57.44 crore. Together, Mithu’s total wealth amounts to Tk 75.85 crore. Additionally, his family expenditures were estimated at Tk 71.45 crore bringing his total wealth and expenses to Tk 147.30 crore. In contrast, investigators traced legitimate sources for only Tk 71.49 crore. This indicates that Mithu amassed Tk 75.80 crore in illegal assets. Mithu’s name surfaced in the 2016 Panama Papers leaks. Allegations suggest that through his contracting firms, he abused his influence in supplying goods and executing development projects, siphoning off vast sums of public money.

Motazzarul Islam Mithu, known as a central figure in health sector corruption during the Awami League government, has been taken to court following his arrest. Detectives from the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DB) detained him late Wednesday night from the capital’s Gulshan area. After his arrest, Mithu was brought to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) for interrogation on Thursday before being produced before court. Confirming the matter, ACC Director General Md Akter Hossain said, “Mithu, arrested on charges of amassing wealth beyond known sources of income, has been taken to court. The investigating officer may seek remand if necessary.” According to the ACC investigation report, Mithu, owner of two firms — Lexicon Merchandise and Technocrat — illegally accumulated vast sums of wealth. His immovable assets (purchase of farmland, land leases, plots, flats, and house construction) stood at Tk 18.40 crore while movable assets (shares and investments in different companies, cars, bank deposits, gold ornaments, furniture, and electronic goods) is found Tk 57.44 crore. City Corporation shut for 40 days, yet millions spent on fuel: ACC Raid

Police have arrested a man in connection with the alleged rape of an eleven-year-old girl in Golapganj upazila of Sylhet. According to sources, the incident occurred on Saturday (Sept 6) evening near Shahid Eidgah in the Goyaspur-Ruigarh area of Golapganj Sadar Union, while the child was returning home from a shop. Following the incident, the child’s mother filed a case at Golapganj Model Police Station under the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act against two individuals (Case No. 4, dated Sept 9, 2025). After the case was filed, police conducted a drive and arrested the accused, Selim Mia, on Tuesday night (Sept 9). On Wednesday morning, he was sent to jail through the court. Selim Mia is the son of Jitu Mia from Ruigar (Hazaribari) village in Golapganj Sadar Union. The other accused is Ehsan Ahmed, son of Moin Uddin from Dakharpara village under the same police station. According to the case details and the victim’s family, the child was sent on Saturday evening to Choughari Bazar in Golapganj Sadar Union to buy tea leaves and milk. When she did not return on time, her family went searching and found her shoes, tea leaves, and milk on the road near Shahid Eidgah in Ranaping Bazar, raising suspicion. Despite searching nearby houses and surrounding areas, she could not be located. DU expels student over ‘gang-rape’ threat to DUCSU petitioner Around 3 am that night, the child was found unconscious and bloodied, wearing her pajamas, inside the gate of a residential house. She was immediately rescued and taken to Golapganj Upazila Health Complex, where the duty doctor referred her to the Osmani Medical College Hospital (OCH) in Sylhet. After regaining consciousness at the hospital, the child told her family that while returning home from the market with milk and tea leaves, Ehsan Ahmed and Selim Mia had covered her mouth, forced her into a microbus, and took her to a house near Shahid Eidgah, where she was raped. Golapganj Model Police Station officer-in-charge (OC) Moniruzzaman Molla confirmed that one person has been arrested in connection with the case.

Members of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) on Tuesday seized 2.80 lakh pieces of Yaba tablets from Ukhiya upazila of Cox’s Bazar district on Wednesday. Acting on a tip-off, a team of BGB-64 from Ukhiya Battalion, challenged a group of people coming from Myanmar around 9:30 pm on Tuesday, said Commanding officer of BGB Ukhiya Battalion Lieutenant Colonel Mohammad Jashim Uddin. Sensing danger, the smugglers managed to flee the scene leaving behind two packets. Later, the BGB men seized the Yaba tablets from the two packets, wrapped in polythene. However, no one was arrested in this connection.

A legal notice has been served to the deputy commissioner of Shariatpur for shifting or closing the month-long ongoing trade fair organised in the district town, citing public inconvenience and safety concerns. Advocate Md Mustafizur Rahman, a lawyer of the Judge court served the legal notice through postal address which was sent to the deputy commissioner, superintendent of Shariatpur police and Sadar municipality authority of Shariatpur on September 8. According to the notice, the district administration granted permission to organise a month-long trade fair on the premises of the Shilpakala Academy field in the district town, adjacent to the 250-bed Shariatpur Sadar Hospital, Shariatpur Government Girls’ High School and a children’s park. The field is situated along a major road that frequently experiences severe traffic congestion, said the petition. Since the opening of the Padma Bridge, vehicular pressure has increased significantly on routes connecting Dhaka, Madaripur and Barishal, worsening the traffic situation. According to the notice, Advocate Mustafizur said that the fair is causing serious traffic gridlock on the main road, delaying ambulances and patient transport vehicles. Students and pedestrians are also facing extreme difficulties. He further noted that public safety is being compromised and alleged that immoral activities have been on the rise in the fair area. Man hacked to death in Habiganj Earlier, various social and political groups had staged demonstrations and submitted memorandums expressing concern over potential public suffering. Despite these warnings, permission was granted, violating citizens' constitutional rights to safety and mobility. According to the local administration, the fair was officially approved through a letter signed on August 12 by Assistant Commissioner (General) Sudipta Ghosh. The permit was granted to Dhaka-based New Style Marketing to organise the event from August 21 to September 19. Contacted, Deputy Commissioner Tahsina Begum said she had not yet received any legal notice. “I haven't received a legal notice. Earlier, I wasn’t aware that the fair would cause such severe traffic issues. Had I known, permission wouldn’t have been granted. No such fairs will be allowed in that location in the future,” she said. Advocate Mustafizur Rahman confirmed that a copy of the public interest legal notice has been retained for possible future legal action.