United News of Bangladesh

Police have arrested two suspects in connection with the sensational murder of a child domestic worker, Rikta Moni, in the capital's Dhanmondi area. The arrestees are Md Sabibur Rahman, 46, and his wife Farah Nusrat, 40, also known as Borni, police said. According to Dhanmondi Police Station sources, Rikta Moni had been working as a domestic help in Dhaka for nearly 31 months due to her family's financial hardship. She was reportedly employed at a residence in Dhanmondi through an acquaintance of the complainant, Md Gazibur Rahman, and another individual named Ayub Ali. Police said allegations had surfaced that the child was subjected to physical and mental abuse at the house. According to police, at around 6am on Friday, Rikta fell from the balcony of the 10th floor of the apartment building and sustained critical injuries. She was taken to Bangladesh Medical College Hospital in Dhanmondi, where doctors declared her dead. Police found multiple injury marks on her body and her left arm was broken, raising suspicions surrounding the circumstances of her death. Based on a complaint filed by the victim's father, a murder case was lodged with Dhanmondi Police Station on Saturday. Following the filing of the case, a team from Dhanmondi Police Station conducted a raid at around 3:30 am on Saturday and arrested homeowner and engineer Sabibur Rahman and his wife Farah Nusrat from their residence in Dhanmondi. Additional Deputy Commissioner (Media and Public Relations) of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police Niaz Mehdi said the two accused had been produced before a court.

A case has been filed against five leaders and activists of the BNP and its associate bodies on charges of gang-raping a 46-year-old woman in Puthia upazila of Rajshahi. Police have arrested one suspect in connection with the incident. The case was filed at Puthia Police Station around 12:30 am on Friday. Following the filing of the case, police arrested BNP activist Mohammad Murad, 32, a resident of Dhopapara Karigarpara village. The other accused in the case are: Jiupara Union Sramik Dal President Mohammad Firoz, 35; Jiupara Union Swechchhasebak Dal Member Secretary Saiful Islam, 40; BNP activist Mohammad Bulbul, 28; and Jubo Dal activist Mohammad Suman, 32. Several unidentified individuals were also accused. The suspects, however, denied the allegations, claiming the case was fabricated. According to police sources, the victim, originally from Naldanga upazila in Natore, has been living in rented houses in different areas of Puthia for a long time. The victim was sent to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital on Saturday for a medical examination. In the case statement, the victim mentioned that she rented a house in the Dhopapara Karigarpara area on June 1 and moved in on June 4. At around 9:00 pm that night, the accused spotted a teenage boy in front of her house, detained him, and accused the woman of involving in illicit activities with him. The statement further alleged that the accused then entered her house and looted Tk 25,000 in cash, silver anklets worth Tk 22,000, and a mobile phone valued at Tk 40,000. Following this, Saiful Islam allegedly raped her. The victim claimed that Firoz then offered to take her to a safer location on his motorcycle but instead drove her to an isolated field in Ujalpur village. He then called Murad over the phone. Murad arrived at the spot around 11:00 pm and raped her, according to the statement. Later, Firoz dropped her off at Bashbari Bazar, from where she took a van back to her village in Naldanga. When contacted, Jiupara Union Sramik Dal President Firoz claimed that a youth had gone to the woman's house for illicit purposes and locals detained them. "It was later decided that the woman would have to leave the village that very night. I only dropped her off at the local market on my motorcycle," he said. He further claimed that no looting or rape took place and a false case was filed against them over the expulsion from the village. Faridul Islam, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Puthia Police Station, said it is too early to comment on whether the allegations are true or false, as the truth will emerge after a thorough investigation. "One suspect was arrested immediately after the case was filed and has been sent to jail through the court. The victim's medical examination has been arranged, and drives are underway to arrest the remaining suspects," the OC added.

Police in a drive arrested the prime accused in connection with the death of a seven-year-old girl, who was rescued with her throat slit from a remote hilly area of Sitakunda Botanical Garden and Eco Park, from Sitakunda upazila of Chattogram district on Tuesday. The arrestee was identified as Babu Sheikh of Kumira area in Sitakunda upazila. Shakila Zahan, additional superintendent of Chattogram police (Sitakunda circle), said after citing the CCTV footage of the area, police identified Babu Sheikh and arrested him. 2 construction workers die after falling from Chattogram building The girl, identified as Jannatul Ira, breathed her last early Tuesday while undergoing treatment at Chittagong Medical College Hospital. Victim’s mother filed a case over abduction and attempted murder on Sunday night and it will now be converted into a murder case, said ASP Shakila Zahan. Police said the girl was found with her throat slit in a deep hilly area of the eco park on Monday morning. Workers engaged in renovation work on the Chandranath Temple road first spotted her lying in a bloodied condition. She was rescued with the help of locals and taken to Sitakunda Upazila Health Complex before being shifted to Chattogram Medical College Hospital as her condition deteriorated. Hospital Director Brig Gen Taslim Uddin said the girl underwent throat surgery on Monday night. As her condition worsened, she was moved to the ICU, where she died early Tuesday. He said it would be confirmed after medical tests whether the child had been sexually assaulted. Mohammad Sujan, uncle of the victim, said Jannatul was shifted to a ward after surgery but developed breathing complications on Monday night. Doctors later found that a device placed in her throat had become blocked. Due to delays in arranging necessary equipment, she was taken to the ICU, where doctors declared her dead in the early hours. The body was sent to the hospital morgue around 11am for autopsy, he added.

Dhaka's Hazaribagh schoolgirl was allegedly stabbed to death by her lover after he became enraged over her suspected involvement in another relationship, police said on Thursday. Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Ramna Division Masud Alam of Dhaka Metropolitan Police disclosed the details at a briefing held at the DMP Media Centre on Thursday afternoon. According to police, the victim, Shahriar Sharmin Binti, was a Class 9 student of Rayer Bazar High School under Hazaribagh Police Station. On Wednesday night around 9:30pm, the accused, Siam, allegedly called her over phone and asked her to come out of her residence. Schoolgirl stabbed to death in Dhaka’s Hazaribagh Police said Siam later attacked Binti from behind with a sharp knife on a paved road at Charkaghat area under Hazaribagh Police Station, leaving her critically injured. Locals rushed her first to Sikder Medical Hospital and later to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, where doctors declared her dead. Following the incident, the victim’s father, Md Billal Hossain, filed a murder case with Hazaribagh Police Station. DC Masud Alam said police arrested the accused around 10am on Thursday during a raid at Kathalbagan area under Kalabagan Police Station. A knife used in the killing, bloodstained vest and trousers, and a mobile phone were recovered from his possession. Police said Binti and Siam, also known as Iman, had studied at the same school and were in a romantic relationship for about four years. Over time, the relationship deteriorated, and the accused suspected that the girl had become involved with another boy. “The accused went there yesterday (Wednesday ) carrying the knife with prior planning. He may have initially wanted to resolve the issue through discussion, but when the argument escalated, he stabbed her to death,” the DC said in response to a question. Police are continuing further legal proceedings in the case.

Members of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB)-6 have arrested one of the key suspects in the brutal killing of four people in Narail following a violent clash over local dominance. The arrestee, Rony Shikder, was detained on Monday afternoon from the Tarapur Shikder Bari area of Narail Sadar upazila, hours after the incident, RAB sources said. He is the son of Amin Shikder of the area. BNP leader’s house torched in Narail RAB said Rony is being interrogated and efforts are underway to arrest other suspects involved in the killings. The incident took place around 5:30am on Monday at Borkula village under Singasholpur Union of Narail Sadar upazila, where rival groups clashed over control of the area, turning the village into a battleground. Four people, including a father and his son, were killed and at least 10-12 others were injured in the clash. Several houses were also attacked and vandalised. According to local sources, the violence stemmed from long-standing political rivalry within the BNP at the local level, often described as a conflict between “old” and “new” factions, triggered by a shift in political alignment of former Singasholpur Union chairman Khayer Mollah and a renewed struggle for control of the area. Father, son among 4 killed in Narail clash After the change in the political situation following August 5, supporters of Khayer Mollah reportedly began returning to the area, intensifying tensions with the rival Khalil Mollah group. During the clash, members of the Khalil group, including Khalil Rahman, his son Tahajjud Hossain, Ferdous Hossain, and  member of the Khayer group, Osibur Mia, was killed in retaliatory violence. Following the killings, law enforcement agencies launched operations to arrest those responsible. Acting on a tip-off, RAB-6 conducted the operation that led to the arrest of Rony Shikder. Police said additional forces have been deployed in the area to maintain law and order as the situation remains tense.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) on Wednesday arrested former Chief Engineer of the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) Md Habibur Rahman on charges of embezzling Tk150 crore in connection with the construction of the terminal and runway at Cox’s Bazar International Airport. A team of the ACC held Habibur Rahman from the Segunbagicha area of Dhaka, ACC Assistant Director (Public Relations) Tanzir Ahmed said. Following his arrest, Tanzir said, he was produced before a court. According to ACC sources, a case was filed on January 27, 2025, against 10 individuals, including former Prime Minister’s Military Adviser Tarique Ahmed Siddique, over alleged irregularities and corruption in the runway expansion project at Cox’s Bazar Airport. Habibur Rahman’s arrest comes amid the ongoing investigation of the case. The ACC has requested his detention until the probe is completed, citing concerns over potential evidence tampering and witness influence. Other accused in the case include former Senior Secretary Muhibul Haq, former Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism Janendranath Sarkar, former CAAB Chairman M Mofidur Rahman, former Chief Engineer Md Abdul Malek, owner of Aerones International Lutfullah Majed, its Managing Director Mahbub Anam, former Deputy Secretary Md Shafiqul Islam, and Project Director Md Yunus Bhuiyan. CAAB flight safety chief Habib withdrawn The case statement alleges that irregularities amounting to nearly Tk1,500 crore have been uncovered in the Cox’s Bazar Airport development project. It claims that Tarique Ahmed Siddique and others directly facilitated the awarding of the project contract to a Chinese company in violation of existing procurement rules. The ACC said the accused allegedly ensured the project was awarded to a preferred contractor and, in collusion with local agent Aerones International Limited, misappropriated at least Tk150 crore from the project.

Police arrested a man suspected of being involved in a series of five killings at an abandoned community centre in Savar. The accused was arrested on Sunday evening, confirmed Savar Model Police Station Officer-in-Charge Arman Ali. The accused, Mashirur Rahman Khan Samrat, also known as “Psycho Samrat” or “Mental,” was arrested following the recovery of two bodies from the second floor of the abandoned community centre near Savar municipality. 2 burnt bodies recovered from abandoned community centre at Savar Police said CCTV footage from the surrounding area helped identify Samrat, who had been moving around the area disguised as a homeless person. During preliminary investigation, the suspect allegedly confessed to his involvement in Sunday’s two murders as well as three earlier killings at the same location. The OC said the case is highly sensitive and brutal, he was detained in a swift operation, further investigation is underway.

The Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) has arrested the two main suspects in the stabbing murder of Chhatra Dal activist Zahidul Islam (25) in Narsingdi. Ariful Islam, Additional Superintendent of Police and Camp Commander of RAB-11 confirmed this at a press conference at the RAB-11 Narsingdi office. They were arrested on Thursday afternoon during a joint operation by RAB-11 Narsingdi and RAB-12 Kushtia in Bottoil, Bhadalia area of Kushtia district. The arrested couple, Rajon, 37, and his wife Zara, 30, are from Nawapara area under Madhabdi Police Station. During initial questioning, they admitted to being directly involved in the killing. They are handed over to Madhabdi Police Station for further legal proceedings. RAB said the operation to apprehend other suspects involved in the murder is ongoing. Grocery owner stabbed dead in Narsingdi Zahidul Islam, a union-level Chhatra Dal activist, was killed on December 29 after being lured from his home in Gayeshpur area of Zinaradi Union, Palash upazila. His father, Mosharaf Hossain Bhuiya, filed the murder case naming Rajon, Zara, and four to five unidentified individuals as accused.

Police detained a young man on charges of allegedly killing his grandmother after failing to get money for drugs in Sylhet’s Kanaighat upazila. The incident took place late Monday night at Kalinagar Dharmatila village under Lakshiprashadpashim Union. The accused was identified as Abdus Samad, 20. He was arrested following the incident. According to loacals, the victim, Amirun Nesa Hari, was found with severe head injuries. They suspect she was attacked with a sharp weapon while she was asleep. According to local sources, Abdus Samad is the son of Akmal Hossain of the same village and has long been addicted to yaba. His parents live in Beanibazar upazila where they work as caretakers at a house of an expatriate. On Monday night, Abdus Samad allegedly went to his grandmother and asked for money to buy drugs. When she refused, he became angry. Later, he allegedly entered her room and attacked her while she was sleeping. Body of elderly woman found near shrine in Sylhet On Tuesday morning, neighbours found Amirun Nesa Hari lying dead inside her house after getting no response from her. Police recovered the body and sent it to Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital morgue for autopsy. Aminul Islam, Officer-in-Charge of Kanaighat Police Station, said Abdus Samad has been detained in connection with the murder case. A case is being filed by the family, he added.      

Police have arrested another suspect in the murder case of BNP leader Alamgir Hossain in Jashore following confessions from the victim’s son-in-law and the main shooter. The accused, Shahin Kazi, 25, was caught Monday night (Jan 12) from Lon Office Para area of Jashore town. On Tuesday afternoon (Jan 13), he was presented in court and confessed his involvement in the killing. Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Asadul Islam accepted his statement and ordered him sent to jail. Shahin Kazi is the son of Kislu Kazi from Chanchra Raipara (Tulotola Mor) in Ward-6 of Jashore municipality. He was living in a rented house in Lon Office Para at the time of arrest. According to the source of investigatiuon, the victim’s son-in-law and main planner of the murder, Based Ali Porosh, and his associate Asabul Islam Sagar mentioned Shahin Kazi’s name while in police remand. Later, the main shooter Tridib Chakraborti Mishuk, arrested last week, also named Shahin Kazi in his confessional statement to the court. Based on this information, case investigator SI of DB Alok Kumar De arrested Shahin Kazi from Lon Office Para around 4:45 pm on Monday. According to police,  CCTV footage and information from previously arrested suspects indicate Shahin Kazi acted as a key accomplice. He coordinated with hired killers and planners and was present at the crime scene. Shahin Kazi also faces three previous cases, including extortion. Alamgir Hossain was shot dead on January 3 evening in Shankarpur area of Jashore town. Main shooter in BNP leader Alamgir murder arrested in Jashore His wife Shamima Begum filed the murder case at Kotwali police station. So far, four people have been arrested in connection with the case – the victim’s son-in-law Parash, associate Sagar, main shooter Tridib, and Shahin Kazi. Case investigator SI Alok Kumar De said, “Police are continuing their operations to arrest others involved and recover the weapons used in the murder.”