United News of Bangladesh

A local leader of Jubo Dal, the youth wing of BNP, was killed and another critically injured in a clash between two rival groups over establishing supremacy and drug peddling in Pabna Sadar upazila on Saturday night. The deceased was identified as Mehdi Masud Pavel Molla, 40, son of late Muslem Master of Islampur village and joint general secretary of Goyespur union unit of Jubo Dal. The injured, Imran Sajib Molla, 25, son of Abdur Sabur Molla of the same village and cousin of Pavel, was admitted to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital in critical condition. Police and locals said Pavel and Imran had a long-standing dispute with rivals Jony, Jewel, Nazrul, Mufiz Uddin, and others over drug dealing and dominance in the area. Jubo Dal leader hacked dead in Khulna Around 10:30pm, the two groups locked into a fight near Islampur Bridge. During the fight, Pavel and Imran were hacked with sharp weapons, leaving them critically injured. Locals took them to Pabna General Hospital where physicians declared Pavel dead. Officer-in-charge of Pabna Sadar Police Station Abdur Salam said the body was sent to the hospital morgue for autopsy.

Police arrested a 19-year-old man on Saturday after allegations surfaced that he assaulted an 11-year-old girl in Sabujbagh of Dhaka. The arrestee was identified as Rimon who lives in the same neighborhood. The girl's father, a van-puller, alleged that their neighbor Rimon tricked his child into his house around 6 in the morning and violated her. The child later returned home crying and disclosed the incident to her family, who rushed her to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH). Police confirmed the arrest soon after the complaint was filed. Md Rezaul, Sub-Inspector of Sabujbagh Police Station, confirmed the arrest of the accused and said that the girl was getting proper treatment.

A general diary has been filed with Ramna police on Thursday night over the disappearance of senior journalist and columnist Bibhuranjan Sarker. His son, Wreet Sarker, filed the GD night over his father, a 71-year-old journalist, currently employed at the Bangla daily Ajker Patrika, missing since leaving his Siddheshwari residence around 10:00 am. Bibhuranjan left home for office, Wreet said. “But he never reached office. We searched for him in several of his possible destination as well, including parks and hospitals, but couldn’t find him. Finally, we decided to report the matter to the police,” Wreet said. As of 5:00 pm on Friday, Wreet told UNB that his father was still missing. Arup Talukder, sub-inspector of Ramna Police Station, said that their work became a bit difficult for Bibhuranjan left his cell phone behind.

The Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police's Mirpur Division has arrested seven individuals involved in a honey trap and job fraud scheme. The arrestees are Md. Biplob Khan, 33, Farin Tanha Tofa, 29, Sampa Akhter, 24, Shah Mohammad Jobayer Avik, 23, Md. Al-Masud, 32, Mosha Monika Akhter, 18, and Md. Abu Sufian, 27. They were apprehended on Thursday in the Sheorapara and Tejgaon areas of the capital, said DMP's Deputy Commissioner (Media) Talebur Rahman. During preliminary interrogation, the suspects admitted to long-term involvement in defrauding people by offering fake job opportunities and other services through platforms like Facebook, Imo, and Telegram. Many victims reportedly chose not to report the crimes out of fear of social embarrassment, allowing the group to continue its activities undetected for an extended period. Legal proceedings are currently underway against the arrested individuals, said the DMP official.  

The Bangladesh Army, in coordination with other law enforcement agencies, has arrested 56 people during joint operations across the country from August 14 to August 21, as part of its continued efforts to maintain law and order amid the prevailing national situation. According to a statement from the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the arrestees include terrorists, illegal arms dealers, robbers, juvenile gang members, extortionists, gamblers, drug dealers, and drug users. The operations were carried out by units under various infantry divisions and independent brigades, including in the capital. During the operations, the army recovered 16 illegal firearms, six hand grenades, 103 rounds of various types of ammunition, two empty cartridges, locally made weapons used in terrorist activities, narcotics, stolen white stones from Sylhet, mobile phones, motorcycles, and cash. All arrestees were handed over to the respective police stations for further interrogation and legal action. The army is also conducting regular patrols and security operations in key areas to ensure public safety, and is actively involved in managing labour unrest in industrial zones. The Bangladesh Army has reaffirmed its commitment to continuing such operations to stabilise the overall law and order situation in the country. People are urged to report any suspicious activity to their nearest army camp.

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) on Thursday suspended Deputy Tax Commissioner Lincoln Roy over allegations of causing a massive revenue loss to the government by issuing unlawful tax orders. According to an official order, while serving as Deputy Tax Commissioner at Tax Zone-5, Dhaka, Roy allegedly created new tax demands by issuing fresh assessment orders (IT-39) and tax determination orders (IT-88) for Dhamsur Economic Zone Ltd. for the assessment years 2020–2021 and 2021–2022. The move allegedly resulted in a revenue loss of Tk 146.57 crore to the government. The orders had earlier been settled by his predecessor Deputy Tax Commissioner Jane Alam. Following the findings, the authorities decided to initiate departmental proceedings against Roy. In line with Rule 12(1) of the Government Servants (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 2018, Lincoln Roy, currently posted at the Tax at Source Management Unit in Dhaka, has been suspended from service. During the suspension period, he will be entitled to subsistence allowance as per rules. The suspension order, issued in public interest, has come into immediate effect.

At a time when the ‘Sada Pathor’ looting scam has drawn widespread attention, renowned magistrate Md Sarwar Alam has officially assumed office as the new Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Sylhet. Divisional Commissioner of Sylhet Khan Md Reza-Un-Nabi welcomed him upon arrival at the DC office on Thursday morning. Later, the new DC presided over a workshop session on ‘Public Procurement Code and Conduct’, with the divisional commissioner and senior officials attending it. Earlier, on Wednesday evening, magistrate Sarwar, who was also the personal secretary to Law Adviser Prof Asif Nazrul, arrived at Osmani International Airport, Sylhet where a delegation from the district administration received him. On August 18, previous DC Sher Md Mahbub Murad was made officer-on-special Duty (OSD) amid severe criticism over the stone plundering. 137 named in Sylhet ‘Sada Pathor’ looting; 10 recommendations to stop recurrence On the same day, the Ministry of Public Administration issued a notice appointing Sarwar as the new DC. On Wednesday, a committee formed to investigate the looting of stones from Bholaganj  in Companiganj upazila of Sylhet district, submitted its report, naming the involvement of 137 people and proposing 10 recommendations to prevent future looting.

The Appellate Division has set September 4 to deliver the final verdict on a petition filed challenging a High Court (HC) order that acquitted all convicts, including BNP acting Chairman Tarique Rahman, in the sensational August 21 grenade attack case. A six-member bench, led by Chief Justice Dr Syed Refaat Ahmed, on Thursday fixed the date upon completion of appeal hearing. On December 1 last year, the HC overturned the verdict of a lower court in two cases filed over the August 21 grenade attack, acquitting all convicts, including BNP's acting chairman Tarique Rahman and former state minister for home affairs Lutfozzaman Babar.   On March 19, the state filed an appeal against the HC verdict in the 21st August grenade attack case. On July 31, the SC set August 13 to hear the petition filed challenging the HC order. Grenade Attack Case: SC fixes Aug 13 to hear appeals againat acquittal of Tarique For the past few days, the court heard the petition and finally set September 4 to deliver the verdict. The grenade attack, a shocking incident, occurred on Dhaka's Bangabandhu Avenue on August 21, 2004. On October 10, 2018, a speedy trial tribunal in Dhaka issued a verdict in one of the cases (pertaining to murder and explosives). The tribunal sentenced 19 accused, including former state minister for home affairs Lutfozzaman Babar and former deputy education minister Abdus Salam Pintu, to death. Grenade Attack Case: SC adjourns appeal hearing against acquittal of Tarique, Babar Besides, 19 others, including BNP’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman, were handed life imprisonment sentences, while 11 accused received various terms of imprisonment and fines. The judgment was subsequently transferred to the HC in 2018, registered as a death reference case.

Thieves have stolen Tk 2.25 lakh from national team footballer Mosammet Sagorika’s house at Rangatungi village in Ranisankail upazila of  Thakurgaon district. The theft occurred on August 14th night when Sagorika was in Dhaka and her parents were in an adjacent mud house but the matter was disclosed on Wednesday. Her father Md Liton Ali said police were informed and visited the house.  “I never thought my daughter’s hard-earned money would be stolen like this,” he said. Sagorika said that she did not immediately inform the media out of embarrassment but informed Thakurgaon DC who advised filing a police complaint. “They have taken my money, but not my fortune. I can earn again if I stay healthy but my family now feels insecure,” she added. Arshadul Haque, officer-in-charge of Ranisankail Police Station, said legal action will be taken.

The Chamber Judge of the Appellate Division on Wednesday stayed HC order granting bail to sub-inspector of Jatrabari Police Station Sazzad Uz Zaman in connection with the murder of Imam Hasan Taim during the July uprising. The chamber judge of the Appellate Division Justice Md Rezaul Haque passed the order after hearing a petition filed by the state. It also asked the SI Sazzad to surrender before the court the soonest. Additional Attorney General Barrister Anik R Haque represented the state. Spirit of July Uprising fading amid govt missteps: Saiful Haque Earlier on May 20, the High Court granted bail to SI Sazzad in the case. Later, he was freed from jail on bail. On July 19, the family members of July martyrs and injured victims staged demonstration in front of the Secretariat demanding re-arrest of SI Sazzad. They also demanded resignation of Law adviser Asif Nazrul and two justices of the High Court who granted bail to Sazzad.