United News of Bangladesh

A mobile court seized around one lakh cubic feet of sand illegally extracted from the Sari River in Jaintapur upazila of Sylhet on Thursday. For a long time, a group had been lifting sand with dredgers from the Baon Haor and Shewlatuk areas without government approval. Locals complained on social media that the illegal sand mining was damaging farmland and roads along the river. Acting on the reports, Executive Magistrate Mohammad Farhad Uddin Ovi led a mobile court drive and seized the illegally extracted sand. Sada Pathor spot to be brought under 24/7 CCTV surveillance: Sr Secy Mokhlesur Rahman He said, “Operations are being carried out throughout Sylhet as per the directives of the higher authorities.” Officials from the land office and police assisted in the operation as well.

Police detained former minister Latif Siddique and several others after tensions erupted during an event organised by ‘Manch 71, a platform of freedom fighters, in the capital on Thursday.  A group of youths, identifying themselves as ‘July Fighters’, handed them over to police around 12pm as they were allegedly trying to create chaos  at the event at Shafiqul Kabir Auditorium of Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU), witnesses said. ‘Manch 71’ organised a roundtable titled ‘Our Great Liberation War and the Constitution of Bangladesh’. Freedom fighters, lawyers, writers, journalists, teachers and former bureaucrats attended the event. Ex-minister Inu threatens police: ‘I will destroy your entire lineage’ Lawyer ZI Khan Panna, one of the organisers, said, “If events cannot be held even at a place like Dhaka Reporters Unity then where does the freedom of expression in this country exist? Everyone knows these incidents take place at the behest of those in power.” Television footage showed Siddique sitting quietly on a chair while angry people surrounded him shouting slogans.

A Dhaka court on Wednesday placed former Vice Chancellor of Begum Rokeya University Dr Nazmul Ahsan Kalimullah on a five-day remand in a graft case. Acting Judge of the Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Court Md Ibrahim Mia passed the order after hearing a petition filed by ACC. Assistant Director of ACC Minhaz bin Islam also the investigating officer of the case, sought 10-day remand for him. Detectives arrested Kalimullah from Dhaka’s Mohammadpur area in a graft case on August 7. Court imposes travel ban on Begum Rokeya University VC Kalimullah, 4 others ACC filed a case against five people including Kalimullah and former vice-chancellor of the university AKM Nurun Nabi in a graft case on June 18. According to the case statement, all of them in collusion with each other changed the design of the Begum Rokeya University Development Project through abusing power disregarding the Development Project Proposal (DPP). Teacher suspension sparks protests at Bashundhara branch Viqarunnisa Noon School & College They allegedly signed contracts exceeding Tk 30 crore in value without seeking approval from the relevant ministry or department. Besides, they were also involved in misusing security deposits deducted from the contractor’s running bills by keeping them as Fixed Deposit Receipts (FDRs) in a bank and subsequently issued No Objection Certificates (NOCs) to allow the contractor to secure loans against those FDRs, embezzling Tk 4 crore from government funds.

A Barguna tribunal on Wednesday convicted a man and sentenced him to death for killing a madrasha student after rape in 2024. Barguna Woman and Child Repression Prevention Tribunal Judge Lailatul Ferdous handed down the punishment. The condemned convict was identified as Hridoy Khan, 20, son of Shahidul Islam Khan of Islampur village in Amtoli upazila of the district. The tribunal also fined him Tk two lakh, in default, to suffer six months more in rigorous imprisonment. The tribunal also sentenced Zahidul Islam to five years jail for assisting Hridoy in the crime. The court also fined him Tk 50,000, in default, to suffer six months more in rigorous imprisonment. According to the prosecution, a 12-year-old girl identified as Tanjila went missing on February 5, 2024 after she had gone out of her home to collect spinach from an adjacent field. Finding the girl missing, her parents lodged a complaint with Amtoli Police Station on February 8, 2024. Someone gave a message on the mobile phone of the plaintiff saying to provide Tk 15 lakh as ransom for release of the girl. Later, police arrested Hridoy on February 7. During interrogation, Hridoy said he abducted the girl for ransom and after failing to realise the money he violated her and strangled her to death. Man gets death penalty for raping 6-year-old girl in Cox's Bazar He also gave a confessional statement before the court on February 7, 2024. Following the confessional statement, police recovered the body of the girl on February 8, 2024.

A court in Cox’s Bazar on Tuesday sentenced a man to death for raping and killing a 6 years old girl in Maheshkhali upazila in 2022. The convict was identified as Md. Soleman, son of late Syed Karim of Chakmarkul area in Teknaf’s Howaikeng union. The verdict was delivered by Judge Mohammad Osman Goni of Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal-2 in Cox’s Bazar in the presence of the accused. After the judgment, Soleman cried and claimed that he was innocent while being taken back to prison. The victim, Mahiya, 6, was the daughter of Mohammad Ataullah of Dakshin Sairardail area under Matarbari union in Maheshkhali and a first grader at Dakshin Sairardail Government Primary School. Aunt gets life term, her lover death penalty for killing minor boy in Cumilla According to the statement of Ataullah, Mahiya went missing while playing near her home after returning from school on November 30, 2022 and later, her dead body was recovered from Koriardiya area in Pekua upazila. He filed a case with Maheshkhali Police Station on December 3, 2022. Public Prosecutor Mosharraf Hossain Titu expressed satisfaction over the verdict and said, “Justice has been served. This punishment will deter others from committing such heinous crimes.”

A Special Metropolitan Magistrate Court under the Mirpur Division of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has sentenced 24 criminals to varying jail terms for crimes including drug trafficking, mobile phone snatching, theft, and other anti-social activities. Special Metropolitan Magistrate Md. Bilal Hossain handed down the judgement, said DMP’s Deputy Commissioner (Media) Talebur Rahman. They were jailed based on 16 cases filed across multiple police stations — including Mirpur Model, Darussalam, Kafrul, Bhashantek, Rupnagar, Shah Ali, and Pallabi. According to DMP, swift legal proceedings like these are proving effective in combating street-level crimes such as theft, drug abuse, illegal occupation of public spaces, and eve-teasing. Wife, two others sentenced to death for killing man in Ctg “These rapid trials ensure justice is delivered promptly, benefiting both victims and the community,” the DMP said in a statement. The Dhaka Metropolitan Police reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining law and order, noting that regular operations and expedited trials are key to ensuring a safer urban environment.

Joint security forces carried out an operation on the Meghna River in Munshiganj’s Gazaria on Tuesday following a gun attack by pirates on a police patrol speedboat. Around 150 members of Gozaria police, river police, Coast Guard, and RAB-11 took part in the operation, which started at 3:45 pm. The forces conducted searches along riverbanks in Jamalpur, Baluakandi, and nearby areas. During the operation, joint forces searched the homes of listed criminals Ashraf Uddin and Abul Kalam. Other operations were conducted at the houses of top criminals Noyon, Pias, and Ripon in Jamalpur village.

Army will kept as a ‘striking force’ at the university’s main entrances during Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (Ducsu) election scheduled for September 9. Under a three-tire security arrangement, members of the university BNCC and the proctorial team will guard polling centers, police will be deployed and the army will remain stationed at the seven entrances of the university as ‘striking force’. The decisions were disclosed on Tuesday at a views-exchange meeting between returning officers and candidates for VP, GS, and AGS posts, held at the Nabab Nawab Ali Chowdhury Senate Building. DUCSU and hall union election campaign rules and regulations Returning officers also urged candidates to follow the electoral code of conduct and help ensure a fair atmosphere. Officials said that if necessary, army personnel will enter the campus during polling and after the voting ends polling centers will remain cordoned off by the army until results are announced. Entry during vote counting will be restricted to only authorised persons. It was also announced that the Dhaka University station of the metro rail will remain closed on September 8 and 9. On the election day, the campus will be completely sealed off with access restricted to valid students, accredited journalists, and those directly involved in election management. From September 2, no outsiders will be allowed to stay in residential halls, a measure to be enforced through regular patrols. DUCSU election: 21 step down, Julius Caesar recommended for exclusion Special bus services will be operated on different routes to facilitate voters residing outside the campus. Citing Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), returning officers said patrol teams are already active and police will act under the directives of the returning officers. DUCSU: Umama admits to breaching code of conduct

The Directorate of Prisons has taken an initiative to rename prisons as ‘Correction Services Bangladesh’, said Inspector General of Prisons (IGP) Brigadier General Syed Md. Motaher Hossain on Tuesday.   The draft of the Correction Service Act-2025 has been finalised and submitted for approval, he said at a press conference held at the prison headquarters.   He said two new central jails and four district jails have recently been inaugurated to address overcrowding.   Highlighting manpower shortages Motaher Hossain said the government has approved 1,899 new posts and a proposal for an additional 1,500 positions is under consideration.   He said all prisons across the country have been connected under the directorate’s own fiber network.   Digital attendance systems, team trackers, comprehensive mobile jamming systems, body scanners, luggage scanners, ground sweeping machines and mobile detectors are being used to strengthen security.   AI-based CCTV cameras and body cameras for duty officers have also been introduced, he said.   The IGP added that telephone calls and visitation for inmates have been digitalised to ensure transparency and reduce harassment with hotline service 16191 launched for prisoner-related information.   On food facilities, he said protein intake has been increased in inmates’ diets with further enhancements including allocations for breakfast and special occasions approved.   Besides, a central prison hospital will be built in Keraniganj to serve inmates as well as prison staff, he said.   Initiatives for mental health include sports, cultural programmes, religious education and counseling sessions.   Brig Gen Motaher Hossain said the government has approved lifelong ration facilities for retiring prison guards while officers and employees will receive improved packaged rations and allowances for special occasions. Mandatory physical training and fitness monitoring have also been introduced.   The IGP reiterated the department’s “zero tolerance” policy on drugs noting that 29 members were sent to prison over narcotics-related offenses last year while a dope-testing machine has been procured to strengthen monitoring.   On corruption, he said strict action has been taken, including compulsory retirement, dismissal of 34 staff, departmental action against 440, and transfer of 172 on administrative grounds.    

A youth was hacked to death and his friend injured by some miscreants in Shanir Akhra area of Jatrabari in Dhaka on Monday night. The deceased was Shanto Ahmed Babu, 30, son of late Sadar Ali, a resident of Mridhabari in Shanir Akhra and worked at an IT company. Injured Chanchal Sharif was admitted to Dhaka Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) as his condition was stated to be critical. Shanto’s younger brother’s mobile phone was snatched from a nearby alley, said Shanto’s friend Tanmoy. He said when Shanto and four to five of his friends went to inquire about the snatched mobile phone 20-30 men attacked them around 10:30. Trucker stabbed to death ‘by muggers’ in Savar The attackers severed Shanto’s throat with a sharp weapon and Sharif sustained serious injuries. “Shanto was hacked to death before our eyes while another friend is fighting for his life,” Tanmoy said adding that they identified some of the attackers. Inspector Md Faruk, in-charge of the DMCH Police Outpost, said the body has been kept at the hospital morgue while Sharif is under treatment. Jatrabari police were informed about the incident, he added.