United News of Bangladesh

Police have arrested former female councillor of Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) and Mohila Awami League leader Hajera Khatun Nargis from Gulshan area. Deputy Commissioner (Media) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Talebur Rahman said she was arrested from the Gulshan on Tuesday night. Being tipped-off, a special team from Gulshan Police Station conducted a drive and rounded her up, he said. Later she was taken to Gulshan Police Station and a process was underway to take legal action against her, the official added.

  The Airport Armed Police (AAP) Battalion on Tuesday arrested a mother and her daughter at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport with a total of 7,580 yaba pills. The arrested women have been identified as Rozina (40) and Fahmida Yasmin (20). The two were allegedly carrying the drugs in a specially concealed manner inside the steel handles of two trolley bags and on their bodies while travelling as airline passengers. The arrests took place at 1:35 pm based on secret information, when Rozina and Fahmida arrived on an internal flight (BS-146) from Cox’s Bazar. The women were taken to the AAP office for questioning, during which the concealed drugs were recovered. Officers found 5,800 pills in the trolley handles and 1,780 pills hidden on Rozina’s body. DB arrests 3; seizes 5,000 Yaba tablets A case has been filed against them under the Narcotics Control Act 2018 at the Airport Police Station in Dhaka. Authorities said both women have been allegedly involved in drug trafficking and distribution for a long time. Commenting on the arrest, AAP Operational Commander Police Superintendent Mozammel Haque said, “There has been a recent surge in drug smuggling attempts using the airport. We remain vigilant to prevent any criminal activity through airport channels.”  

Police were deployed on Tuesday at the home of former United States Chhatra League president Zahid Hasan in Shariatpur following an egg-throwing incident in New York that sparked controversy. Zahid Hasan’s family home is located in Telipara village of Chamta union, Naria upazila of Shariatpur district. Following the incident, tensions rose in the area, prompting authorities to take precautionary measures. Police are stationed at the residence to prevent any untoward situation and maintain law and order. Dr. Ashiq Mahmud, Additional Superintendent of Police (Naria Circle), said, “We have sent police to the area due to concerns that the law and order situation might deteriorate. The deployment is a precautionary measure to ensure safety and prevent any conflict.” The controversy began on September 22, when Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus visited New York to participate in the United Nations General Assembly. 'Not afraid of this', NCP leader Akhter says after harassment by AL in NY

A court has ordered the authorities concerned to confiscate moveable and immoveable properties and freeze bank accounts of former Thakurgaon-2 MP Md Dabirul Islam following an appeal by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).  Senior Special Judge Md Jamal Hossain passed the order on Sunday, said assistant director of ACC’s integrated Thakurgaon district office Azmir Sharif Marzi. On September 11 ACC Assistant Director and investigating officer Imran Hossain filed a petition seeking confiscation of Dabirul Islam’s property. The ACC found that Dabirul amassed assets worth Tk 1.48 crore beyond his known income under his and his family members’ names through abuse of power, irregularities, and extensive corruption. In petition the ACC said these immovable and movable assets could be transferred or sold if not confiscated. Court orders ACC to seek Interpol red notice against ex-MP Saifuzzaman, wife Dabirul, currently in Dinajpur district jail, faces multiple cases including murder and extortion and has secured bail in several of them. Dabirul first became an MP in 1986 and was elected seven consecutive times from Thakurgaon-2 serving until the 2018 eleventh national parliament. On October 2 last year, police arrested him from the residence of Thakurgaon Sadar Awami League leader Alamgir Hossain in connection with an extortion case.

A Chattogram court on Sunday ordered the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) to request Interpol to issue red notice against former land minister Saifuzzaman Chowdhury Javed and his wife Rukmila Zaman in a graft case. Chattogram Senior Metropolitan Special Judge Abdur Rahman passed the order after hearing a petition filed by the ACC. Advocate Mokarram Hossain, a counsel of ACC said a petition was filed by the National Central Bureau of Police Headquarters with the court seeking to make a request to the Interpol to issue red notice against Saifuzzaman and his wife on September 18. Saifuzzaman served as State Minister for Land from 2014–2018 and as full minister from 2019–2023. Ctg, Narsingdi, Naogaon get new DCs ahead of election Ahead of the 2024 election, allegations surfaced of his vast overseas assets, particularly in the United Kingdom. Media reports claimed he fled to London with his family in August 2024, just before the Awami League government fell. Over 300 such properties have subsequently been frozen by the UK's National Crime Agency. The value of these properties has been estimated in excess of $230 million. Meanwhile, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) on Sunday seized 23 sacks of documents from the Chattogram home of Saifuzzaman Chowdhury’s driver Elias during a raid linked to a probe into his suspected overseas assets and money laundering.

Gosairhat Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Maksud Alam was withdrawn and attached to the police lines after allegations surfaced that he gave special privileges to a BNP leader in exchange for money, confirmed Additional Superintendent of Police (Gosairhat Circle) Tanvir Hossain on Saturday afternoon. According to police and local sources, BNP’s former Nagerpara Union president Liton Hawlader was arrested recently and sentenced to one year and two months. Allegations emerged that OC Maksud provided him a VIP bed inside the lockup and allowed him to use a mobile phone after taking bribes. Photos of Liton's life behind bars spread on social media, drawing criticism about police accountability. Further allegations against the OC included releasing accused persons in exchange for bribes, taking payments from illegal sand extractors, collecting money during hilsa conservation drives, running arbitration at the police station late at night and making deals with illegal traders. Following primary investigation, the allegations were found true. Additional SP Tanvir Hossain said, “Further action will be taken as per higher authorities’ decision.” The incident sparked strong reactions in the local political community, with residents saying such practices undermine public trust in the justice system.

The Bangladesh Army is conducting a long-term operation against armed hill groups in the remote Jogapara area of Panchhari upazila in Khagrachhari district. Early Saturday, during a search operation at the house of a suspected active member of the United People's Democratic Front (UPDF), an exchange of fire took place between an army patrol team and 15-20 armed members of the UPDF in the neighborhood. During the operation, the army recovered a Russian pistol, 2 magazines, 200 rifle rounds, 8 bullets, a walkie-talkie set, uniforms and other accessories from the area, according to the source of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR). However, due to rugged and remote terrain, the armed group managed to escape. Army members seize firearms, drugs from Narail shop The Bangladesh Army quoted, “We remain committed to protecting the lives and property of all communities in the Chittagong Hill Tracts and will continue strict operations against armed groups in the future”. Legal action against the involved members is underway.

There is no alternative to strengthening tobacco control law with a view to achieving SDGs, preventing loss of lives and building a tobacco-free generation, experts said at a roundtable in the capital on Saturday. The roundtable titled "Building a Tobacco-Free Generation: Citizens' Perspectives on Strengthening TC Law", organised jointly by PROGGA (Knowledge for Progress) and Anti-Tobacco Media Alliance (ATMA) was held at CIRDAP Auditorium. The experts said tobacco works as a major impediment towards achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Bangladesh. In particular, tobacco frustrates SDG Target 3.4 which is to reduce premature mortality from non-communicable diseases (NCDs) by one-third within 2030, said the speakers. In Bangladesh, 71% of all deaths are attributed to non-communicable diseases, including cardiovascular diseases and cancer with tobacco use being a major contributing factor. On average, tobacco claims the lives of 442 individuals every day, they said. Speakers also said that tobacco works as a barrier to achieving all major sustainable development goals, such as Good Health, Poverty Reduction, Food Safety and Sustainable Agriculture, Quality Education, Gender Equality, Conservation of Environment and Climate; thus, potentially hindering the realization of SDGs within 2030. Dr. Hossain Zillur Rahman, a former caretaker government adviser and prominent economist, said, "The harms of tobacco are multifaceted. Since the current government is undertaking reforms in many sectors, the amendment of the tobacco control law would be a signature reform for the government." Professor Dr. Golam Mohiuddin Faruque, President, Bangladesh Cancer Society (BCS) who conducted experience-sharing session of tobacco-induced cancer victims, said, "We have listened to the woes of the victims. We do not want to hear such dreadful experiences anymore. To safeguard the future generation, the draft amendment of the tobacco control law needs to get the nod as soon as possible." Dr. Abu Jamil Faisel, public health expert and president-elect of Public Health Association, said, "There is no alternative to strengthening tobacco control law to deal with the prevalence of NCDs. I urge the government to ensure quick passage of the amendment." Experts call tobacco industry report “absurd, laughable” Dr. Mahfuz Kabir, Research Director of Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS), said, "The amendment of tobacco control law has no relation with potential loss in revenue inflow. To protect public health, the amendment process must be free from tobacco industry interference." Professor Dr. Anupam Hossain, Public health expert and international sports development consultant; said, "E-cigarettes and vaping are equally harmful to traditional tobacco products. So, these products must be banned at all cost." Among the discussants were Mortuza Haider Liton, Convenor of ATMA; AMB Zubair, Executive Director, PROGGA and representatives of a number of anti-tobacco organizations. Nadira Kiron, Co-convener of ATMA hosted the event whereas Hasan Shahriar, Head of Programs, PROGGA, presented the key points.

Authorities have imposed Section 144 in the Pather Bazar area of Dighalia Upazila from 5pm to 10pm on Friday, following announcements of rallies by two opposing factions of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) scheduled at the same venue. Ariful Islam, Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) of Dighalia, confirmed that the emergency measure was taken to prevent potential clashes between the groups. He said that police and Navy personnel have been deployed and are currently patrolling the area to maintain law and order. So far, no untoward incidents have been reported, he added.

A young man was detained from the Parbatipur station area in Dinajpur on charges of leaking question papers for the upcoming BCS examination. The accused Mohibul Islam, 25, is a resident of Uttar Atrai village in Palashbari union, Parbatipur upazila, and a student at a private university in Dhaka. Tipped-off, the Dhaka Metropolitan Detective Police (DMP DB) launched a shadow investigation into the alleged leak of the BCS exam paper scheduled for Friday. Upon learning of the probe, Mohibul reportedly left Dhaka and attempted to return home to Parbatipur by boarding the Panchagarh-bound intercity Ekota Express on Thursday morning (18 September). Using information technology, investigators tracked his journey and coordinated with railway police to identify him onboard. A team from the Dinajpur District Detective Branch (DB) then boarded the train at Birampur Railway Station and detained him near Parbatipur Station on Thursday evening. Rafiquzzaman, officer-in-charge (OC) of Dinajpur DB, said that the suspect was handed over to the DMP Detective Branch later that night for further investigation.