United News of Bangladesh

A crude bomb went off outside the rented house of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami candidate Advocate Yakub Ali Chowdhury, who is contesting the election from Khagrachhari. According to Jamaat-e-Islami, the explosion occurred around 10:00pm on Tuesday in the Shalbagan area of Khagrachhari town, near the Development Board rest house. Condemning the incident, Khagrachhari District Jamaat Ameer Prof Syed Abdul Momen alleged that miscreants carried out the cocktail attack in an attempt to disrupt a fair election environment. “The attackers must be identified immediately and brought to justice,” he said. Read More: Jamaat nominee Abdul Haque reenters Dhaka-2 election race Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Khagrachhari Sadar Police Station Mohammad Kay Kislu said police visited the spot after receiving the complaint. “The house owner and nearby residents heard a loud sound resembling an explosion, but no visible evidence was found at the scene,” he said, adding that a piece of plastic was collected for forensic examination. The OC also said the sound could have originated from a firecracker or fireworks. “Since a formal complaint has been lodged by Jamaat-e-Islami, the matter is being investigated seriously,” he added.

Ameer of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Dr Shafiqur Rahman on Saturday called for unity among all anti-fascist political parties to build a “new Bangladesh” driven by the aspirations of the youth who are fighting for freedom with the spirit of the 2024 Liberation War. Speaking at the 12th General Council session of Khelafat Majlish held at Suhrawardy Udyan in the capital in the morning, the Jamaat Ameer stressed the importance of collective action to establish a democratic future for the nation. No compromise on national unity: Jamaat Ameer  “Bangladesh will move forward according to the aspirations of the youth participating in the Liberation War of 2024. In the new Bangladesh, all anti-fascist political parties will stand united,” he said. The Jamaat chief, however, lamented, "Over the past decade and a half, the nation’s Islamic scholars have been subjected to unprecedented levels of injustice and vendetta in the country." Leaders and activists from various Islamic political organisations joined the conference. AL's accomplices tasked with destabilising country: Jamaat Ameer

A leader of a faction of the Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ) was held Tuesday as police raided a residence in Feni’s Sonagazi and picked up nine women leaders and activists of Jamaat-e-Islam Bangladesh. BFUJ central committee president M Abdullah was visiting his sister’s house in Ward-3 of Sonagazi, at the same time as a clandestine meeting of Jamaat, the party without a registration, was being held on the property,  according to police.  Abdullah’s sister is married to ex-Jamaat Ameer of the upazila, Kalimullah, who wasn’t home during the raid.  At around 8pm, police raided the house and broke up the allaged meeting, making 10 arrests. The arrestees included the nine leaders and activists of Jamaat, all women, and journalist leader Abdullah- although police say they are merely interrogating him. READ: 4 Joypurhat Jamaat leaders held for allegedly planning vandalism The Jamaat leaders are Mahila Jamaat secretary Shaheda Akter, Jahanara Begum, Lutfun Nahar, Amina Begum, Shahida Akhter, Shahnaz Akhter, Zakia Akhter, Rabia Akhter and Kusum Akhter. Assistant Superintendent of Police Masukur Rahman of Sonagazi Circle confirmed the arrests, adding that jihadi literature and anti-government propaganda, a membership list and written action plans were also recovered during the raid.   A case was being prepared against them, the ASP said. READ: Info Minister blames BNP Jamaat for recent anti-Hindu violence M Abdullah, who already gave his identity as a journalist, is being interrogated. He would be shown arrested with the others if he fails to explain his presence at the house at that time satisfactorily. M Abdullah said, “Police arrested me while I was visiting my sister's house. I have no idea who was  in that house.”

Maqbul Ahmed, former Ameer of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islam has died of coronavirus at a Dhaka hospital on Tuesday afternoon. He breathed his last at the Intensive Care Unit of Ibn Sina Medical College Hospital. The party's current Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman confirmed the news through a statement at his official Facebook page. Also read: Covid-19 in Bangladesh: 69 more die, 6,028 infected He expressed deep sorrow at the demise of the former  Ameer and sought pardon for his departed soul. Maqbul will be buried at his family graveyard following two namaz-e-janaza at the field of Jamaiatul Falahiya Kamil Madrasa and in front of his home respectively. Also read: Patuakhali Jamaat leader killed over land dispute Makbul was the acting Ameer of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islam from 29 June 2010 to October 2016. Later he served as the elected Ameer of the organization from 2017 to 2019 before handing over the responsibility to Dr Shafqur.