United News of Bangladesh

Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) has taken special security measures across the country including capital Dhaka, marking Eid-ul-Fitr as in previous years. As part of the initiative, RAB’s Acting Director General Colonel Iftekhar Ahmed on Friday inspected Sadarghat Launch Terminal in the capital and reviewed the overall security arrangements. RAB’s Legal and Media Wing said multi-layered security arrangements have been adopted to ensure that people across the country can celebrate Eid without disruption. To ensure overall security, RAB has set up control rooms, striking reserves, foot and mobile patrols, vehicle scanners, observation posts, checkpoints and CCTV monitoring system. Special surveillance has been ensured at bus terminals, railway stations, launch terminals, ferry ghats and other crowded places to provide security for homebound people during Eid journey. RAB also warned that strict action will be taken against any irregularities involving ticket manipulation or overcharging passengers. Security has been tightened at important Eid congregations including the National Eidgah, Sholakia Eidgah and Dinajpur Eidgah. Necessary security sweeping and CCTV coverage will be ensured at these venues. In addition, RAB has increased patrols and surveillance to prevent theft and robbery at residences, workplaces and shopping malls during the Eid holidays, it said. The elite force also said its cyber monitoring team is maintaining round-the-clock surveillance online to prevent the spread of rumours, provocative content and misinformation centering Eid-ul-Fitr.

Saudi Arabia on Wednesday announced that Eid-ul-Fitr, the biggest religious festivals for Muslims, will be observed on Friday, as the Shawwal crescent moon was not sighted in the country. The moon-sighting committee convened and verified the matter, marking the end of Ramadan after 30 days of fasting, reports GulfNews This aligns with the Islamic tradition of determining the start of a new month through lunar observation. Earlier this month, Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development announced that holidays for Eid for employees in the private and non-profit sectors will begin tonight, Wednesday, and last for four days, in accordance with the provisions of the Saudi Labour Law. Mohammed Al Ruzaiqi, the ministry’s spokesperson, said at the time that the announcement aimed to provide clarity for employers and employees ahead of the holiday period, allowing organisations to organise work schedules and ensure operational continuity in essential sectors while safeguarding workers’ rights to the festive break.    

Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) is maintaining round-the-clock security across Dhaka city during the Eid holidays as large numbers of residents leave the capital. Commanding Officer of RAB-10, Mohammad Kamruzzaman, made the remarks on Tuesday afternoon while speaking to reporters after inspecting Sadarghat launch terminal. Kamruzzaman said a large number of people are leaving Dhaka for Eid, leaving many residential areas vulnerable to theft and robbery. Citing official estimates, he said around 15 million people are expected to depart the capital during the holiday period. “In such situations, incidents of burglary and mugging tend to increase, especially as many homes remain vacant,” he added. To prevent crime, RAB will intensify patrols in key areas across the city, particularly at night, focusing on empty homes and less crowded neighborhoods. The RAB official also said strict monitoring has been in place at major transport hubs, including Sadarghat launch terminal and Sayedabad bus terminal, to ensure passengers are not harassed or overcharged for tickets during the Eid rush. He urged passengers to report any complaints of harassment or overcharging to the RAB control room, which will operate 24/7 throughout the holiday. Victims can contact the hotline at any time, with personnel on duty to take immediate action.

The government on Monday carried out a major reshuffle in the top ranks of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and Bangladesh Police, giving new postings to eight senior officials. According to separate notifications issued by Police-1 branch of the Public Security Division under the Ministry of Home Affairs, officials holding the ranks of additional inspector general of police (AIG) and deputy inspector general (DIG) were reassigned to different positions. DIG of Chattogram Range Md Ahsan Habib Palash, recently promoted to the rank of additional IGP, has been appointed as the new director general (DG) of RAB, replacing the incumbent chief. According to the notifications, Additional IGP at Police Headquarters Sardar Nurul Amin has been appointed additional IGP of the Special Branch (SB). Additional IGP of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Md Chibgat Ullah has been transferred to the Police Headquarters as additional IGP. Additional IGP at Police Headquarters Mosleh Uddin Ahmed has been made the additional IGP of CID. Chattogram Metropolitan Police (CMP) Commissioner Hasib Aziz has been appointed additional IGP of the Armed Police Battalion (APBn). Additional Commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Hasan Md Shawkat Ali has been made the new commissioner of CMP. DIG of the Special Branch Md Moniruzzaman has been appointed DIG of Chattogram Range. Meanwhile, DIG at Police Headquarters Md Ashrafur Rahman has been given the current charge of additional IGP at Police Headquarters.  

Eight Arab and Islamic countries have condemned Israel’s continued closure of the Al-Aqsa Mosque during the holy month of Ramadan for the 12th consecutive day. The countries include Qatar, Jordan, Indonesia, Turkiye, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates, according to Al Jazeera report. In a statement Wednesday, their foreign ministers called Israel’s restrictions on Palestinian access to Jerusalem’s Old City and its holy sites a “flagrant violation of international law, including humanitarian law, the historical and legal status quo, and the principle of unrestricted access to places of worship.” “The Ministers strongly rejected and condemned this illegal measure and Israel’s provocative actions against worshippers at Al-Aqsa Mosque/Al-Haram Al-Sharif,” the statement read, emphasizing that Israel has no sovereignty over occupied Jerusalem or its Islamic and Christian holy sites. The ministers reaffirmed that Al-Aqsa Mosque remains “exclusively” for Muslims, under the jurisdiction of the Jerusalem Endowments and Al-Aqsa Mosque Affairs department affiliated with Jordan’s Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs. They urged Israel to immediately reopen the mosque, lift restrictions on the Old City, and allow Muslim worshippers unrestricted access. Palestinian authorities and Hamas have also condemned the closure, calling it a violation of Palestinian rights and a “dangerous historical precedent” undermining freedom of worship.

In preparation for the first session of the 13th Jatiya Sangshad on Thursday, the Kalema Tayyeba, the foundational declaration of faith in Islam, has been inscribed in Arabic calligraphy on the high wall directly above the Speaker’s chair in the session hall of the National Parliament. Prime Minister’s Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Rumon confirmed the matter on Wednesday night. He said the parliament building underwent renovation following the 2024 student-led mass uprising. On the instruction of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, Rumon said the relevant authorities installed the calligraphy in the session hall. “Accordingly, the Arabic calligraphy of the Kalema Tayyeba — ‘La ilaha illallahu Muhammadur Rasulullah’ — has been placed on the wall of the session hall,” he said.

Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) seized contraband  drugs smuggled from India and arrested a trafficker in separate drives along the Chapainawabganj border in Shibganj upazila on Tuesday night. The arrestee is Alim, 32, son of Khairul Islam from Argara Choksirampur in Shibganj. During the drives in Sonamasjid and Chakpara border areas, BGB recovered a total of 427 bottles of Indian psychoactive syrup Escof DX (a Phencidyl substitute) and 3,170 pieces of Tensuin tablets. Lt Col Golam Kibria, commander of the 59th BGB Battalion, told reporters on Wednesday tipped-off, a BGB patrol team from the Sonamasjid BOP conducted a raid in Raghunathpur Hatipara area and arrested Alim along with long with 377 bottles of Escof DX syrup. Besides, another patrol team from the Chakpara BOP recovered 50 bottles of Escof DX syrup and 3,170 Tensuin tablets left abandoned in the Namochakpara border area. The arrestee and the seized drugs have been handed over to Shibganj Police Station, BGB officials said.

A young man was killed after his leg veins were cut in the capital’s Jatrabari area, reportedly following a dispute over drug trading. The deceased was identified as Mehedi Hasan Apu, 25, son of the late Badsha Mia of Chagalkanda village under Rajapur Police Station in Jhalakathi district. He used to live in the Kacha Bazar area under Jatrabari Police Station. The incident occurred around 11pm on Sunday (March 8) at a shop in Jatrabari Kacha Bazar. Police recovered the body on Monday morning and sent it to Dhaka Medical College morgue for autopsy. Mohammad Raju, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Jatrabari Police Station, the murder may be linked to drug dealing. However, police are working to determine the exact cause,” he said. The OC said one of the victim’s leg veins had been cut and there were several other injury marks on the body. The victim’s relatives have been informed. Police said drives are underway to identify and arrest those involved in the incident.

Two people, a Bangladeshi and an Indian, were killed and 12 others injured in a missile strike in central Saudi Arabia, the country’s civil defence agency reported on X. Iran’s Revolutionary Guard said it targeted radar systems in locations including al-Kharj, where the deaths occurred, reports Al Jazeera. The attacks come amid ongoing Iranian strikes on Israel and U.S. military assets in Gulf states, following initial U.S.-Israeli operations on February 28 and the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Drone attacks also targeted the U.S. embassy in Saudi Arabia and the U.S. consulate in the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday.

Two youths have been sentenced to five days’ simple imprisonment for threatening an on duty police member during a footpath eviction drive in Jatrabari area of the capital. The punishment was handed down by the Special Metropolitan Magistrate Court of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police. The convicts were identified as Md Tuhin, 24, and Md Arif, 30. According to police, the eviction drive was jointly conducted by Jatrabari Police Station and traffic police on Saturday along the Mawa incoming road and Shaheed Faruk Sarani in the Jatrabari area. During the drive to clear illegal footpath occupations, Tuhin and Arif allegedly made objectionable remarks about the on-duty police personnel and issued various threats, said DMP's DC (Media) Talebur Rahman on Sunday afternoon. Police immediately detained the two and produced them before the Special Metropolitan Magistrate Court, which later sentenced both to five days’ simple imprisonment each, the DC (Media) added. Authorities said such drives will continue to keep footpaths free from illegal vendors and maintain law and order in the area.