United News of Bangladesh

Members of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB-13) recovered 17 rounds of ammunition and cartridges from the bank of a pond in Mithapukur upazila of Rangpur early Saturday. The ammunition was recovered from Rashidpur village under Latibpur Union, said Biplob Kumar Goswami, senior assistant director (media) of RAB-13. The recovered items include eight lead-ball shotgun cartridges, eight rubber shotgun cartridges and one live round of 7.62mm rifle ammunition. Ruhul Amin, officer-in-charge (OC) of Mithapukur Police Station, said RAB handed the ammunition and cartridges to the police. A case was filed in connection with the recovery, he said. He added that intelligence and anti-crime operations would continue to help build a society free from terrorism.

Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) on Friday successfully foiled an attempt by India's Border Security Force (BSF) to illegally push 10 to 12 unidentified individuals into Bangladesh through the Kalindi River border in Satkhira district amid adverse weather and heavy rain. Members of Char Sahebkhali BSF Camp under the 77 BSF Battalion attempted the illegal push-in using one country boat and one speed boat on Friday morning at a place named 'Chhot Banshjharia Mini Forest' in a mid-river char area of the Kalindi River, located approximately 3.5 kilometers south of Khurmi Border Outpost (BOP) under the Nildumur Battalion (17 BGB), according to a BGB press release. Upon spotting the activity, a patrol team from Khurmi BOP immediately dispatched a speed boat to the scene despite heavy rainfall and blocked their entry into Bangladeshi territory. Faced with BGB's firm stance, BSF members failed in their attempt and eventually took the 10 to 12 individuals back into Indian territory at around 11 a.m. Lieutenant Colonel Khandakar Abu Sahal Abdullah, commanding officer of Nildumur Battalion (17 BGB), said that 17 BGB is maintaining maximum alertness, professionalism and responsibility to ensure national border security. "No individual or group will be allowed to illegally enter Bangladeshi territory," Abdullah said, emphasizing that any push-in attempt violating international border management guidelines, existing laws and bilateral agreements will be strictly resisted.

Airport Armed Police Battalion (APBn) have detained three people with 861.8 grams of gold jewellery, equivalent to around 74 bhori, at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. The detainees were identified as Md Nasir Molla, 40, Sohag Sheikh, 24, and Md Hasan Mia, 23. According to APBn, the three were seen moving suspiciously on the footpath on the northern side of the airport roundabout late Thursday night. Sensing the presence of police, they allegedly tried to flee discreetly, but APBn personnel detained them. A body search led to the recovery of 861.8 grams of gold jewellery in their possession. The jewellery was made of 21- and 22-carat gold and had an estimated market value of Tk 1,36,86,160. During preliminary interrogation, the detainees reportedly said the jewellery had been brought into Bangladesh from different countries through unidentified passengers for the purpose of smuggling. APBn said the three had allegedly been involved in gold smuggling at the airport for a long time. A regular case was filed against them with the Airport Police Station on Thursday. The case alleges that the three, in collusion with one another and with the assistance of unidentified passengers, brought the gold into the country illegally for smuggling while evading government revenue and kept it in their possession. Mohammad Rezaul Kabir, superintendent of police of Airport (13) APBn, said the force remains committed to maintaining security at the airport and preventing crime. “We remain active and vigilant in preventing smuggling and controlling other crimes. Airport APBn is determined to prevent gold and drug smuggling, and our operations to stop any form of smuggling through the airport will continue,” he said.

National Citizen Party (NCP) Spokesperson and former Youth and Sports Adviser to the interim government, Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain, has sent a legal notice to Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Deputy Director and Public Relations Officer Akhtarul Islam, demanding withdrawal of his remarks that “preliminary truth” was found in graft allegations against him. In a message sent to the media on Friday, the NCP said Akhtarul Islam, at a press briefing on September 2, claimed that preliminary evidence supported allegations of irregularities in transfers, recruitment and promotions during Asif Mahmud's tenure as adviser. The remarks were widely circulated by various media outlets and on social media afterwards, it said. The party alleged that the statement, made without any formal investigation or concrete evidence, triggered what it said a large-scale media trial against Asif Mahmud, creating a public perception that the allegations were already proven and damaging his personal and political reputation. According to the NCP, Akhtarul Islam later sent a message to journalists in a WhatsApp group for ACC beat reporters, saying his earlier remarks were made "by mistake" and requesting that the phrase "preliminary truth" be dropped from news coverage. However, the party noted that the statement made at the public press conference was never formally withdrawn or corrected, allowing the resulting media trial and negative public perception to persist. The legal notice also pointed out factual inconsistencies in the allegations. While the ACC official claimed 38 upazila youth development officers were stripped of their current charge, the NCP said the actual number was 112, and that the decision was implemented as part of enforcing an Administrative Appellate Tribunal order. The party further said linking Asif Mahmud to the promotion of 150 assistant upazila youth development officers to upazila youth development officers was baseless, noting he resigned as adviser on December 10, 2025, while the promotions were made on May 11, 2026, five months after his resignation and three months into the BNP-led government's tenure. The notice calls on the ACC official to unconditionally withdraw his remarks within 15 days and refrain from making unverified, unsubstantiated statements in future. It warns that failure to comply will result in legal action, including under Section 500 of the Penal Code, which deals with defamation.

Police have arrested a man in connection with the murder of a 44-year-old man whose body was recovered from the Jirani Canal under Trimohoni Bridge in the capital's Khilgaon area. The arrestee was identified as Abdullah, 33. Harun-or-Rashid, deputy commissioner (Motijheel Division) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), said Abdullah was arrested on Thursday night. Police recovered the body of Joj Miah from the canal around 10am on Wednesday. As his identity was initially unknown, police collected his fingerprints and later identified him as Joj Miah, son of Anwar Hossain of the Bandar area in Narayanganj. He had been living in Khilgaon, police said. Citing family members, police said Joj left his Khilgaon home on Tuesday. Around 12:30am on Wednesday, he went to Mintu's garage in Merul Badda, where Abdullah and others allegedly stabbed him. The suspects later allegedly transported the body in a CNG-run auto-rickshaw and dumped it into the Jirani Canal, police said. Joj's wife Rozina Akter filed a murder case with Khilgaon Police Station after police recovered the body. "We have interrogated the suspect, and he has initially admitted his involvement in the murder," Daud Khan, officer-in-charge of Khilgaon Police Station, said, adding that efforts were underway to arrest the other suspects.

Police in a joint operation detained at least 63 foreign nationals for their suspected involvement in online gambling activities in the West Jalalabad area of the city on Thursday night. The Counter-Terrorism Unit and Khulshi Police Station conducted the operation at an eight-storey building in the area, said Mohammad Faisal Ahmmed, additional commissioner (Crime) of Chattogram Metropolitan Police (CMP). He, however, declined to provide details of the operation. According to preliminary police information, the detainees included 35 nationals from Laos, 21 from Pakistan, five from China, one each from Nepal and Vietnam. Of the 63 detainees, 41 are men, 21 women and one is a child. Police said 131 mobile phones and 170 laptops were seized from the building. Foreign currencies and casino gaming equipment were also recovered. Local residents said they noticed frequent movement of foreign nationals in and out of the building for about a month. However, they said they were unaware of the activities being carried out inside. Police suspect the building may have been rented for operating a casino or conducting online gambling activities. However, the exact nature of the activities and the purpose of the foreigners' stay are still being investigated.

The High Court on Thursday rejected a writ petition filed by Grameen Kalyan, a not-for-profit social business company founded by former interim government Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus, challenging the National Board of Revenue’s (NBR) demand for Tk 666 crore in taxes. The court order means Grameen Kalyan must pay the amount for five assessment years. The HC bench of Justice Md Mozibur Rahman Miah and Justice Rezaul Karim passed the order. Barrister Abdullah Al Mamun and Barrister Fida M Kamal appeared for Grameen Kalyan, while Deputy Attorney General Abdus Samad Azad represented the state. Mamun said they will appeal against the judgement before the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court after receiving its full text. According to Azad, Grameen Kalyan and Grameen Telecom had reached an agreement under which Grameen Telecom would provide financial assistance to Grameen Kalyan. In return, Grameen Telecom agreed to provide Grameen Kalyan with 42.50 percent of the profit it earned from dividends on its shares in Grameen Kalyan, he said. Later, the income tax authorities reopened Grameen Kalyan’s tax file under Section 120 and found that tax had not been deducted at source from the income received by Grameen Kalyan from Grameen Telecom, the deputy attorney general said. The matter was subsequently taken to the tax commissioner through a revision petition, against which Grameen Kalyan filed a writ petition with the High Court. After hearing the matter, the court on Thursday discharged the rule, upholding the tax department’s decision, Azad said. The NBR’s tax demand relates to five assessment years -- 2012-13, 2013-14, 2014-15, 2015-16 and 2016-17. Grameen Kalyan filed two separate writ petitions in 2017 challenging the legality of the NBR’s tax demands for those assessment years. Following preliminary hearings, the court issued rules in the cases. After reassessment, the tax commissioner determined that Tk 666 crore was payable for the five assessment years. Grameen Kalyan subsequently challenged the legality of the decision through separate writ petitions. After hearing the matters on their merits, the High Court rejected the writ petitions on August 4, 2024. However, following the change of government on August 5, 2024, the High Court on August 29 withdrew that judgement, which had ordered Grameen Kalyan to pay Tk 666 crore, and sent the case records to the Chief Justice. The case was subsequently assigned to a new bench.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir on Thursday reaffirmed Bangladesh’s strong and unwavering solidarity with the Palestinian people and their legitimate rights. He expressed deep concern over Israel’s plan to expand settlements in the E1 area of the occupied West Bank, stressing that such actions are contrary to international law and relevant UN Security Council resolutions. The State Minister expressed  the concern when Ambassador of the State of Palestine to Bangladesh Yousef S. Y. Ramadan called on him. The Ambassador greeted the State Minister on assuming his responsibilities and thanked Bangladesh for its continued support for the people of Palestine and the Palestinian cause. The two sides also discussed the situation in Gaza and ongoing bilateral cooperation in different sectors.  

Five people have been arrested in connection with a gunfight over “drug trade” in Koratitola area of Gandaria in the capital that left three people,including a woman, injured. The arrestees are Mohammad Jisan, 19, Mohammad Ramzan, 19, Mohammad Shaheen, 34, Shabab Hossain Shaikat, 29, and Mohammad Mahim, 18. The Rapid Action Battalion (Rab)-10 also recovered two foreign-made pistols, 12 rounds of ammunition, three magazines, and narcotics during the drives. Among the seized magazines, one was looted from police after Aug 5, 2024, said Additional DIG Md Asaduzzaman, commander of RAB-10, at a press briefing at the RAB Media Centre in Karwan Bazar on Thursday. A gunfight took place between Monir group and Auto Sajal group in Koratitola on Aug 30 over control of the drug trade, leaving passers-by Asha Akter, 20, and Siam, 18, and tea-stall owner Alamgir Hossain Rasel injured. The RAB official said Alamgir and Siam have undergone surgery and are now recovering, while Asha is also stable. The bullet lodged in her leg, however, could not yet be removed. Following the incident, a team of RAB-10's Jatrabari camp launched a shadow investigation. The team identified those involved after analysing CCTV footage from the scene and surrounding areas along with intelligence information, RAB said. On Sept 1, Jisan and Ramzan were arrested from  Munshiretek area of Gandaria around 7:30pm while Shaheen was arrested later on Sept 8. In separate drives on Wednesday, Shabab Hossain Shaikat and Mahim were arrested. RAB said two foreign-made pistols, 12 rounds of ammunition and three magazines were recovered from Shabab. Besides, 420 yaba pills valued at Tk 3.13 lakh, 400 packets of heroin, 900 grams of cannabis and cash were recovered. Shabab is an accused named in three drug cases filed with Jatrabari Police Station, RAB said. Earlier, four people were arrested by the Detective Branch (DB) of police's Wari division in connection with the same gunfight. Two foreign-made pistols, two magazines, two rounds of ammunition, a switchgear knife, a sharp knife and 160 yaba tablets were recovered from them.    

Two soldiers of the Bangladesh Army were killed and an officer was seriously injured in an accident during a field firing exercise at Hathazari Field Firing Range in Chattogram district on Wednesday. The accident occurred while a tank was firing during the exercise, according to a media release of ISPR. The identities of the deceased and injured officer have not been disclosed yet. The injured officer is being airlifted to the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) in Dhaka for better treatment. Investigation is underway to know the cause of the accident, it said.