Police
Hilsa ban: 18 detained in Bhola after fishermen clash with police again
Four people, including two cops, were injured in a clash that ensued after fishermen allegedly attacked the police in the Padma River in Bhola Saturday.
Police have detained 18 fishermen in connection with the attack so far.
Md Akhtar Hossain, officer-in-charge of Ilisha River Police Station, said being informed they conducted a drive in Char area under the Sadar upazila by a trawler around 5am.
Sensing the presence of the law enforcers, the fishermen, who were netting fish in the river, hurled brickbats targeting the cops when they were chased, he said adding that police retaliated with shotgun rounds, leaving four people including two sub-inspectors injured in the attack.
Read: Cops among 20 injured in attack by fishermen in Barishal
Later, a total of 18 fishermen were detained, 10,000 metres of current net and a fishing trawler were also seized, he said.
A case was filed in this connection, the OC added.
15-year-old boy killed five people in a shooting spree in Raleigh: Police
A 15-year-old boy killed five people and injured two more in a shooting rampage in Raleigh, police said, horrifying a community that is now mourning victims whose lives were cut short as they were going about their daily routines.
Raleigh Police Chief Estella Patterson said the teen was captured hours after the victims were gunned down Thursday evening. He was hospitalized and in critical condition following his arrest, but authorities have not said how he was injured. Patterson said Friday that police haven’t determined a motive for the attack.
The victims were different races and ranged in age from 16 to their late 50s, Patterson said. Family members and friends said some of the victims were gunned down while doing normal, everyday activities — an off-duty police officer was killed while on his way to work, one of the women who died was on her porch talking to a neighbor, another woman who died was out walking her dog and another was out exercising.
Gov. Roy Cooper called the shooting an “infuriating and tragic act of gun violence.” He added: “No neighborhood, no parent, no child, no grandparent, no one should feel this fear in their communities — no one.”
The gunfire broke out around 5 p.m. Thursday in a residential area northeast of downtown, Raleigh Mayor Mary-Ann Baldwin said. Police said from there, the teenager fled to a nearby walking trail and continued shooting.
The teen, who was not immediately identified by police, eluded officers for hours — setting off a manhunt across a crime scene that stretched for 2 miles (3 kilometers) — before he was cornered in a home and arrested, Patterson said.
The Hedingham neighborhood is a residential area of single family and town homes. The Neuse River Greenway, a walking and biking trail, is behind some of the houses. The trail runs about 27 miles (43 kilometers) along the river and connects to the state’s Mountains-to-Sea Trail that’s popular with hikers. The stretch of trail behind the neighborhood is paved and lies down a grassy slope from the houses.
Police said Officer Gabriel Torres, 29, was among the five killed. He was off-duty and heading to work when the shooting began. The other victims were Nicole Connors, 52; Mary Marshall, 34; Susan Karnatz, 49; and James Roger Thompson, 16. Connors’ husband told The Associated Press she was on the porch talking to a neighbor when she was killed. Marshall’s sister told NBC News that she was walking her dog, Scruff.
Marcille Lynn Gardner, 59, was talking to Connors when she was shot. Gardner remained hospitalized in critical condition Friday. A second police officer, Casey Joseph Clark, 33, was also wounded and released from the hospital.
Karnatz’s husband, Tom Karnatz, said she was an avid runner who often ran on the greenway.
“She was a very loving wife and amazing mother to our three sons,” he said through tears when he answered his door Friday. “We’re absolutely heartbroken and miss her dearly.”
In the driveway, a silver minivan and a Toyota Camry had matching 26.2 stickers — symbolizing the miles of a marathon. The minivan’s license plate read simply: “RUNNR.”
Woodrow Glass, a 74-year-old retiree and neighbor of Connors, said he talked to her nearly every day as she walked her small dog.
“She was friendly with everybody in the neighborhood, spoke with everybody ... and was really respected here. And we’re going to miss her,” he said.
In a statement Friday, President Joe Biden said he and first lady Jill Biden are grieving with victims’ families, and his administration is working with Cooper to help local authorities with their investigation.
“Enough. We’ve grieved and prayed with too many families who have had to bear the terrible burden of these mass shootings,” he said.
Omer Rosas, a sophomore at Knightdale High School, said he was shocked to learn Friday that his classmate was arrested in the shooting.
“I did not expect it to be him,” Rosas told the AP. “He was very calm. He wasn’t like a mean person. He was open to be nice to everyone.”
Rosas said the teen is personable and athletic — a smaller guy who enjoys running and was considering joining the school’s track team.
Thompson, the 16-year-old victim, was a junior at the school.
Prosecutors will seek to charge the suspect as an adult, Wake County District Attorney Lorrin Freeman said in an email. Authorities have not commented on what charges the teen could face.
The Raleigh shooting was the latest in a violent week nationwide. Five people were killed Sunday in a shooting at a home in Inman, South Carolina. On Wednesday, two police officers were fatally shot in Connecticut after apparently being drawn into an ambush by an emergency call about possible domestic violence. Police officers have been shot this week in Greenville, Mississippi; Decatur, Illinois; Philadelphia, Las Vegas and central Florida. Two of those officers, one in Greenville and one Las Vegas, were killed.
Thursday’s violence was the 25th mass killing in 2022 in which the victims were fatally shot, according to The Associated Press/USA TODAY/Northeastern University Mass Killings database. A mass killing is defined as when four or more people are killed excluding the perpetrator.
The walking trail was quieter than usual Friday. Sara Cutter, 31, said she sensed “a lingering sadness over Raleigh” as she walked the greenway, about a mile from the shootings.
“We’re all hurting today, the entire city,” Cutter said. “I’ve seen some somber faces while I’ve been out walking today. But it’s also been good to see people out. The community — that’s what will get us through.”
Deal with any intimidation in next polls, CEC asks DCs, SPs
Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal on Saturday asked deputy commissioners and superintendents of police to be aware of their duties to deal with any intimidation in the next general elections expected to be held late next year or in the beginning of 2024.
“If any illegal interferences in the election are not handled with an iron hand, that’s not an election, that’s a farce,” he said.
Read: EC to sit with DCs, SPs ahead of election
“This could have a serious negative impact on the next election. You must be accountable. So, in the future, you will exercise all the necessary powers to successfully conduct each election,” he said.
His statement came when the Election Commission held a meeting with deputy commissioners and superintendents of police from across the country on Saturday to discuss issues related to next general elections.
The meeting was crucial to build up momentum ahead of the next national elections amid threats by BNP and its allies that they will not take part in the elections under a partisan government. But the government has been arguing that there is no such provision in the constitution of returning to a controversial caretaker government system to oversee the elections. The previous caretaker government system was nullified through the 15th amendment to the constitution in 2011 after the Supreme Court struck down the 13th amendment that had introduced the system in 1996.
On Thursday, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina urged all political parties to join the national elections.
Saturday’s meeting was held at the auditorium of the Election Commission in the capital city, Dhaka.
The CEC in the meeting said that a stricter stand by the DCs and the SPs would reinforce the people’s interest and trust in the electoral process, encouraging them to exercise their voting rights. Next elections to local government bodies also came up in the discussion.
The CEC reminded the DCs and SPs of avoiding their own political ideologies when they play their role. “You are public servants,” he said.
Read EVMs in 150 constituencies: EC finalises Tk 8,711cr project
"You will have to be neutral in your position. You must follow your duty according to the laws of the land. This is the expectation of the people. You have to earn trust by fulfilling the expectations of the people with the application of all rules and regulations," he added.
The CEC also said it is not the issue of the Election Commission to resolve disputes among bickering political parties.
“The EC cannot interfere in the political decisions as the constitution, laws and rules have set our scope of work, power and responsibilities. Political problems should be settled politically,” he said.
He also said the DCs and SPs must understand the importance of forming new national government and local government bodies through elections in a democratic system.
He said that the EC has proof that it is easier to control violence, rigging in polls by using Electronic Voting Machine (EVM).
“We have decided to use EVMs in not more than 150 seats but we will have preparation to hold elections through ballot paper in all seats if needed,” said CEC.
In the 12th National Parliamentary Election, votes will be cast in 42-45,000 centres simultaneously in one day which is not an easy task but not impossible, he added.
Other election commissioners and top officials from the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Additional IGP attended the meeting.
Outgoing IGP pays farewell call on president
Outgoing Inspector General of Bangladesh Police (IGP) Benazir Ahmed Thursday paid a farewell call on President Abdul Hamid at Bangabhaban.
The outgoing IGP thanked the president and expressed gratitude for the support received during his tenure, President's Press Secretary Md Joynal Abedin said.
Read: IGP Benazir Ahmed to go on retirement on Sept 30
President Hamid thanked the outgoing police chief for successfully discharging his duties, he added.
Police: Munshiganj Jubo Dal activist Shaon died from head injury, not from bullets
Shahidul Islam Shaon, a Jubo Dal activist, who died following a clash with police during a BNP rally in Munshiganj's Muktarpur on September 21, died from “head injuries, not from bullet wounds”, Mahfuzur Rahman Al Mamun, superintendent of Munshiganj Police, said.
“It was mentioned in his death certificate that Shaon died after being hit by bullets but that is not true, and we are investigating why the death certificate says so,” he said while talking at a press briefing after receiving the post-mortem report.
The post-mortem and viscera reports were provided on Tuesday where it was mentioned that Shaon died as he sustained “head injuries during the clash”, he added.
On September 21, 50 people, including several policemen, were injured in a clash between police and BNP leaders and activists in Munshiganj’s Muktarpur over holding a rally of the party protesting price hike of fuel, daily essentials and the killing of three opposition leaders in Bhola and Narayanganj in police firing.
Shaon was critically injured during the skirmish as police tried to stop the protest rally.
Read: Police-BNP clash in Munshiganj: Injured Jubo Dal man dies at DMCH
He succumbed to his injuries the following day.
SP Mahfuzur Rahman said Shaon along with others were hurling brickbats towards police during the clash.
“At one stage, he fell while trying to bring a stick. Smoke was billowing at that moment which went viral on social media. He was wounded by bricks thrown by other Jubo Dal activists,” he claimed.
Police press chargesheet within 24 hrs of murder case in Manikganj
Police on Monday pressed the chargesheet against a sole accused, who is currently in jail, within 24 hours of a case filed over the murder of a youth.
The chargesheet was submitted to Chief Judicial Magistrate Court Judge Abdur Nur on Monday.
The accused Sohel Nurrun Nabi, 26, son of late Altu Mia of Kendua upazila in Netrokona district, gave a confessional statement to the killing before the court, Masudur Rahman, investigation officer (IO) of the case told UNB.
On Friday midnight, Sohel allegedly stabbed his sister-in-law Rubel Mia, son of Renu Mia of Itna upazila in Kishoreganj district, to death over theft of bricks from a hatchery in Kouitora area under Sadar upazila in Manikganj.
Read: Chargesheet submitted against Regent Chairman Shahed in 2 cases
Police rounded him up soon after the murder while the victim’s wife Champa Begum filed a murder case at the local police station in this connection on Sunday.
“Well-off individuals as well as journalists, police also involved in drug trade”
Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal today said that well-off individuals as well as journalists and police are also involved in drug trade, and they too face justice without exception.
The minister made the remark while speaking at a roundtable meeting in Dhaka’s CIRDAP auditorium.
“In prison, you will find police, Rab personnel along with businessmen in narcotic cases. Law is not different for policemen,” he said.
Also read: “Govt, law enforcement alone can’t eradicate drugs, need help from all”
Regarding dope test, the home minister said police are going under dope tests and if results are positive, they are being suspended. “We have taken a strict position in this regard,” he said.
He said dope test during initial selection for jobs will be introduced.
“It is said that doctors are the ones who are mostly into drug abuse but I have no idea about this. Doctors, engineers, journalists – anyone of us can take drugs, as there are misguided people in every profession,” he added.
Also read: 44 arrested in DMP anti-drugs drive
To curb drug abuse, the government is not only running newspaper supplements but also producing short TVCs – generating awareness, increasing manpower and capacity of Narcotics Control Directorate in every district and setting up labs, he said.
Asaduzzaman said the capacity of jails in Bangladesh is more than 41,000 and it will be increased soon. But there are more than 80 lakh inmates and 60 percent of them are drug peddlers, he said.
“There is long backlog of cases, and a separate special tribunal for drugs cases is needed. If the punishment becomes more visible, both supply and demand of drugs will decline,” he said.
Read Bangladesh gets drug, precursor test kits from Japan through UNODC
There are 6 to 7 million drug addicts in Bangladesh, for whom no quality hospital is available, he said.
“Our drug addiction treatment centers do not have experienced doctors or psychiatrists. No one from upper and middle-class goes to the drug treatment center in Tejgaon,” said the home minister.
He assured that government will support the establishment of drug addiction treatment centers in Bangladesh through the private sector.
Read Drug peddler held with yaba pills in Dhaka
2 held with Yaba worth over Tk 1 cr in Dhaka
Police arrested two drug peddlers with 35,000 pieces of Yaba worth Tk 1.05 crore from Aftabnagar in the capital on Tuesday.The arrestees were identified as Jomirul Islam, 45, of Kulia village in Jamalpur district and Belaluddin Mridha, 55, of Basudebpur village in Natore.Acting on a tip-off, a team of DMP's Badda Thana police conducted drives in the capital's Aftabnagar area and first arrested Jomirul with 2,000 pieces of yaba, said a media statement.
Read: 3 held with 13000 yaba pills in cityLater, based on the information given by Jomirul the law enforcers conducted a drive again in Aftabnagaar's Eastern Housing area and arrested Belal with 33,000 pieces of yaba, added the release.A case was filed at Badda police station against the accused, it said.
Brahmanbaria: Drug dealers ambush police, make off with arrested comrade
Two police personnel including an inspector sustained bullet injuries in a gunfight with drug dealers as the criminals ambushed them to snatch away their arrested comrade in Nabinagar upazila of the district early Friday.
The injured cops are Nabinagar Police Station’s Inspector (investigation) Mohammad Sohel and Sub-Inspector Rony Soro Rana.
Sohel, who was hit in the head, is undergoing treatment at Nabinagar Upazila Health Complex, and Rana at a hospital in Cumilla.
Saifuddin Anwar, officer-in-charge of the police station, said one Mannaf alias Monek and his son Shipon are accused in several cases including drug peddling, robbery, murder and rape.
Mannaf was released from jail a few days back, but got involved in drug dealing again with his accomplices, the OC said.
A team led by Inspector Sohel conducted a drive in Nurjahan village of Barikandi union early Friday and arrested Mannaf from his home.
However, absconding Shipon along with accomplices ambushed the team bringing Mannaf to the station, and a gunfight ensued, said OC Saifuddin.
Read: Muggers strike with sharp weapons, make off with Tk 5 lakhs from Rocket agent
SI Rana was shot in the head, and Inspector Sohel in his arm, while the criminals managed to escape with Mannaf.
An assault case was filed accusing four named individuals, and 4 unnamed.
Molla Mohammad Shaheen, additional superintendent of police, said they are trying to nab all of the accused.
SI Kanok withdrawn from DB over death of Shaon in Narayanganj
The Detective Branch (DB) of Narayanganj officer who allegedly shot dead a Jubo Dal activist with a Chinese Rifle he wasn't authorised to carry has been withdrawn and attached to the Police Lines.
The officer has been identified as Sub Inspector Mahfuzur Rahman Kanok.
Fakhruddin Bhuiyan, inspector of DB, confirmed the matter to UNB.
He said SI Kanok had been withdrawn from the DB and attached to the Police Lines soon after the incident.
Replying to a question, he said that investigation will be carried out in this connection.
He also said that the high ups officials know better whether the probe body has been formed to look into the matter.
On the other hand, Superintendent of Police Golam Mostafa and other high ranked officers refused to say anything in this regard.
Mentionable, on September 1, Jubo Dal activist Shaon was killed and 50 people were injured in a clash between police and the BNP activists in Narayanganj as the law enforcers tried to prevent local BNP leaders and activists from holding a rally during their founding anniversary.
Also read: Shaon’s brother joins Jubo Dal rally, seeks justice