United News of Bangladesh

Police have arrested five people in connection with the attacks on minority families in Rangpur after a Hindu youth allegedly made derogatory remarks on Islam on social media, triggering outrage. The arrests follow a case filed by Rabindranath Roy, a local man, according to a statement issued from the Police Headquarters (PHQ) on Wednesday morning. The identities of the arrestees were, however, not disclosed yet.  Another suspect arrested in Sohag murder case Recently, a mob allegedly vandalised houses and looted valuables in Aldadpur Balapara village under Gangachara upazila after allegations of derogatory remarks on Islam and its Prophet Muhammad (SM) on social media surfaced. Later on Tuesday, local Rabindranath filed the case with Gangachara Model Police Station against 1,000–1,200 unidentified people.

The Police Headquarters (PHQ) on Tuesday said that most recent incidents involving attacks on religious minorities were not communal in nature but instead resulted from personal, financial, or family disputes, and general criminal motives. The statement came in response to allegations made at a recent press conference jointly organised by the Bangladesh Hindu-Buddhist-Christian Oikya Parishad and the Minority Oikya Murcha where statistics on violence and killings against minorities were presented. In the press conference they claimed that 27 people were killed between January and June this year and 2,442 communal attacks and incidents of violence took place over the past 11 months. In its statement, the police headquarters said 22 murder cases and five unnatural death cases were filed in connection with the deaths during the period but the underlying causes included land disputes, financial transactions, robbery, terrorist attacks, and family conflicts. Among them, three people committed suicide, 11 bodies were recovered and rest are still under investigation. Besides, So far, 48 suspects have been arrested, 15 have surrendered and 18 have given confessional statements, it said. PHQ warns SI job aspirants against financial transactions The police clarified that no communal motive was found behind these killings. Regarding the 20 cases of rape and sexual assault mentioned at the press conference, police said 16 cases were filed and 25 accused have been arrested. No complaints were lodged in three cases while the allegations in two incidents in Tanore (Rajshahi) and Magura were found to be unsubstantiated. The joint press conference also referred to 2,010 incidents of violence between August 4 and 20 last year. Police reviewed records from 56 districts and confirmed 1,457 of those incidents. Besides, 62 cases and 951 general diaries (GDs) were filed in connection with these and 35 people were arrested. Of the 1,769 incidents that occurred on August 5, 2024, 1,234 were identified as stemming from political conflicts, said the statement. Out of 127 incidents involving puja mandaps and places of worship, 66 cases were filed and 64 individuals were arrested. Concerning 60 complaints involving theft, idol vandalism, arson, and land grabbing at temples and family shrines, police said 14 cases and five GDs were filed over 20 theft incidents. Eighteen cases were filed for 24 incidents of idol and temple vandalism and 15 were arrested. No evidence of sabotage was found in four arson cases, and six land-related complaints were not proven to be land grabs. Incidents like the eviction from railway land in Khilkhet and the vandalism at a cremation ground in Bogura were resolved through administrative intervention. PHQ orders all units to take all-out security measures during blockade The Police Headquarters reiterated that law enforcement agencies are taking regular measures to ensure the safety and rights of minority communities and that every allegation is being investigated with due seriousness.

An inspector aged over 52 has been posted as Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Sonargaon Police Station in Narayanganj, in violation of a directive from the Police Headquarters. According to a source at the Police Headquarters, on June 17 a circular was issued to all Range DIGs, Metropolitan Police Commissioners, and relevant unit heads, stating that no police inspector over the age of 52 should be posted as Officer-in-Charge of any police station. The directive followed a policy group meeting held on April 16 at the Police Headquarters, presided over by Inspector General of Police (IGP) Baharul Alam. One of the key policy decisions taken during the meeting was the age restriction for OC postings. Despite the instruction, Inspector Md Ismail Hossain, who is approximately 54 years old, was posted as the OC of Sonargaon Police Station on Monday by the Superintendent of Police (SP) of Narayanganj. He formally joined his new post on Monday evening. When contacted, SP Narayanganj district Pratyush Kumar said that decisions are often made in consultation with senior officials for the betterment of the department. Police sub-inspector withdrawn over bribery allegation in Feni He confirmed that Inspector Ismail Hossain’s posting was made following discussion with seniors. However, he declined to comment on whether the posting violated the Police Headquarters' directive. Inspector Ismail Hossain, when reached for comment, said he joined as OC after receiving the posting order. He claimed to be unaware of any directive from the Police Headquarters regarding age restrictions.

An additional superintendent of police of the Immigration Police has been withdrawn for his alleged negligence in performing duty in connection with the departure of former President Abdul Hamid for Thailand. Besides, the investigating officer of cases filed with Kishoreganj Sadar police station against the former President and an officer of Special Branch of the district were suspended on the same ground, said a statement sent form police headquarters on Thursday night. Two Narsingdi police officials withdrawn over drug sale allegations However, the identities of the police officials have not been disclosed yet. Early Thursday, the former president left the country for Thailand through Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka.

Police will consider all kinds of activities of the banned militant outfit Hizb ut-Tahrir as punishable offense, said police headquarters on Friday. In a message, the police headquarters warned of the action, calling it a banned organisation. The warning was issued as the banned outfit put up posters across the city urging people to join a ‘March for Khilafat’ on Friday. DMP's Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit arrested three operatives of the banned outfit from Uttara of the capital early Friday. On October 22, 2009, the government banned Hizb ut-Tahrir considering that it is a threat to public security. According to the Anti-Terrorism Act-2009, all activities including meetings, rallies, processions, distribution of posters and leaflets and publicity through other means by any banned organisation are punishable offences, it said.

Members of the Joint Forces arrested 1,308 people under "Operation Devil Hunt" until Sunday afternoon, according to sources at the police headquarters. They were arrested from different parts of the country, said an official wishing anonymity, as they were not authorised to inform the media. DMP arrests 3 with anti-govt leaflets from Dhaka’s Arambagh The government launched the nationwide security operation on Saturday night, ostensibly aiming to curb unrest and ensure public safety. The context in which it came about, however, suggested a particular focus on supporters and activists of the Awami League, including its banned student front, the Chhatra League. The operation was devised following Friday night's attack on students and civilians in Gazipur, a traditional den of the Awami League. Mob dismantles offices of AL and ally JSD in Bogura Meanwhile, Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury said today that the countrywide crackdown ‘Operation Devil Hunt’ would continue until the devils are eradicated. “The operation will target those who are desperate to destabilise the country,” he warned.  

The Police Headquarters (PHQ) has urged candidates applying for the post of Sub-Inspector (SI Unarmed) to refrain from engaging in any form of financial transactions related to the recruitment process. In a directive issued on Sunday, the PHQ advised job aspirants to avoid financial irregularities and cautioned them against falling victim to fraudulent activities. Read: Online applications open for sub-inspector, constable positions: Police HQ The directive also encouraged candidates to report any instances of deception to the nearest police station or the office of the superintendent of police. Earlier, the government had released a circular inviting applications for the SI post, with the deadline set for October 20.

Inspector General of Police Benazir Ahmed on Sunday asked the newly promoted deputy inspector generals to work diligently for the welfare of the people.  The IGP was addressing as the chief guest the rank batch wearing ceremony of the new DIGs at the Hall of Pride of the Police Headquarters.   Also read: Serve with the spirit of patriotism, IGP tells his men The IGP said, "Bangladesh Police have given you a lot. Now it's your turn to give back. You will work for the country, the people and the police force."  He extended his sincere congratulations to the promoted officers and their family members.  Additional IG (A&I) Md Moinur Rahman Chowdhury, CID Chief (Additional IG) Barrister Mahbubur Rahman, and among the promoted officers, Md. Mozammel Haque and Syed Nurul Islam also spoke. Additional IGs and senior police officers were present on the occasion.  Also read: IGP urges police members to stay away from crime The newly promoted DIGs pledged to play a responsible role in addressing any challenge in performing their duty.   Spouses of the promoted officers were also present at the function.   The government has recently promoted 32 Additional DIGs to the post of DIGs. 

The Taliban captured a provincial capital near Kabul on Thursday, the 10th the insurgents have taken over a weeklong blitz across Afghanistan as the U.S. and NATO prepare to withdraw entirely from the country after decades of war. The militants raised their white flags imprinted with a famous Islamic proclamation over the city of Ghazni, just 130 kilometers (80 miles) southwest of Kabul. Sporadic fighting continued at an intelligence base and an army installation outside the city, two local officials told The Associated Press. The Taliban published videos and images online showing them in Ghazni, the capital of Ghazni province. Read:US keeping distance as Afghan forces face Taliban rout Afghan security forces and the government have not responded to repeated requests for comment over the days of fighting. However, President Ashraf Ghani is trying to rally a counteroffensive relying on his country’s special forces, the militias of warlords and American airpower ahead of the U.S. and NATO withdrawal at the end of the month. While the capital of Kabul itself has not been directly threatened in the advance, the stunning speed of the offensive raises questions of how long the Afghan government can maintain control of the slivers of the country it has left. The government may eventually be forced to pull back to defend the capital and just a few other cities as thousands displaced by the fighting fled to Kabul and now live in open fields and parks. Ghazni provincial council member Amanullah Kamrani told the AP the two bases outside of the city remain held by government forces. Mohammad Arif Rahmani, a lawmaker from Ghazni, similarly said the city had collapsed to the insurgents. Fighting meanwhile raged in Lashkar Gah, one of Afghanistan’s largest cities in the Taliban heartland of Helmand province, where surrounded government forces hoped to hold onto the capital after the militants’ weeklong blitz has seen them already seized nine others around the country. On Wednesday, a suicide car bombing marked the latest wave to target the capital’s regional police headquarters. By Thursday, the Taliban had taken the building, with some police officers surrendering to the militants and others retreating to the nearby governor’s office that’s still held by government forces, said Nasima Niazi, a lawmaker from Helmand. Read: Battle gains challenge US hopes of better-behaved Taliban Niazi said she believed the Taliban attack killed and wounded security force members, but she had no casualty breakdown. Another suicide car bombing targeted the provincial prison, but the government still held it, she said. The Taliban’s other advances have seen the militants free hundreds of its members over the last week, bolstering their ranks while seizing American-supplied weapons and vehicles.

Members of Bangladesh Police on Friday arrested a suspected militant from Bhola Sadar upazila.