United News of Bangladesh

Police have arrested seven members of a well-entrenched gang involved in stealing electricity meters across Naogaon, Joypurhat and Bogura districts. The arrested are Masud Rana, 34, of Paharpur, Sanjeev Dewan, 30, of Anandanagar, Irak, 32, of Shialapara in Chakrampur, Faisal, 30, of Paschimpara in Chakrampur, Hakim, 24, of Kathaltali Bhabanipur, Rubel, 32, of Anandanagar Mridhapara, and Abdullah, 30, of Dupchanchia in Bogura. Several stolen electric meters and eight mobile phones used in the thefts were recovered from their possession. Naogaon Superintendent of Police Mohammad Shafiul Sarwar disclosed the arrests at a press conference at his office on Saturday afternoon. They were arrested during overnight raids in different parts of the district. SP Sarwar said the gang had long been stealing electric meters under the cover of darkness. After removing a meter, the group would leave a mobile number inside the meter box. When victims called the number, the thieves demanded payments through bKash or Nagad in exchange for returning the stolen meters. He said a meter was recently stolen from JK Agro Industries (Rice Mill) in Dohali village of Mahadevpur upazila, with a mobile number written inside the box. Two days later, a deep tube-well meter was stolen from the same spot using the same method. When owners called the number, they were told to send money through bKash to retrieve their meters. After one of the victims reported the theft to the electricity office, the case was forwarded to police. DB police later conducted coordinated raids and arrested the gang members. Each has multiple theft and robbery cases pending against them in various police stations. SP Sarwar said the suspects confessed during initial interrogation. They will be produced before court and remand will be sought for further questioning.

A Dhaka court on Saturday granted bail to content creator Ashraful Alam, popularly known as Hero Alam, who was arrested earlier in the day. Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Md. Rakibul Hasan granted the bail following a hearing. Ria Moni, former wife of Hero Alam and the plaintiff in the case, was present in court during the proceedings. Earlier, on November 12, Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Wahiduzzaman issued an arrest warrant against Hero Alam and his associate, Ahsan Habib Selim, for failing to appear in court regularly. Following the issuance of the warrant, police arrested Hero Alam from his residence on Ulon Road in the capital. According to police, Ria Moni filed a case with Hatirjheel Police Station accusing Hero Alam and his associate of attempted murder, assault, and issuing threats.

Police in Bhanga, Faridpur, have arrested 22 individuals in connection with cases filed under the Special Power Act. The arrests relate to separate incidents, including attacks on the police station, vandalism at the Upazila Parishad, and damage to the Highway Police outpost. The suspects were detained during a special operation across various areas of the upazila on Friday night. On Saturday around 2:00 pm, they were produced in court and sent to jail. The arrests drew large gatherings of family members at the police station. The arrested include Ripon Sheikh (34), Jalal Sheikh (37), Lavlu Matubber (48), Romij Molla (52), Chokdar (30), Ujjal Mia (39), Ayub Ali Molla (50), Mahindranath Biswas (62), Raihan Matubber (30), Motaleb Sikder (47), Kohinur Howlader (53), Mintu Matubber (52), Hridoy Molla (40), Sojib Molla (24), Nuru Molla (55), Palash (47), Abul Hossain (52), and Aminul Matubber (50). Bhanga police officer-in-charge, Md. Ashraf Hossain, confirmed that the arrests were made in four separate cases, including vandalism of the police station, Upazila Parishad, and Highway Police outpost. The accused have been charged under the Special Powers Act and relevant sections of the Penal Code. All were sent to jail on Saturday afternoon.

Police have arrested the prime suspect and uncovered the motives behind the gruesome murder of Ashraful Haque, whose dismembered body was found inside two plastic drums near the High Court adjacent to the National Eidgah on Thursday in the capital. The arrested suspect has been identified as Mohammad Zarezul Islam, 39, according to the Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police. DB officials said Ashraful Haque, 44, was a trader of onion and garlic at Hili land port in Dinajpur. On the night of November 11, Ashraful travelled from Rangpur to Dhaka with his friend Zarezul. After reaching Dhaka, Ashraful’s mobile phone was found switched off. On the evening of November 13, Shahbagh Police recovered 26 pieces of a dismembered body from two drums placed near the gate of the National Eidgah. Fingerprint analysis confirmed the identity of the victim, and his sister later identified the body at the morgue. A murder case was subsequently filed with Shahbagh Police Station. Following the incident, the DB launched a shadow investigation. Through CCTV footage analysis and technological tracking, investigators identified the movements of those involved. On Friday, November 14, DB personnel conducted a raid in Daudkandi of Cumilla and arrested Zarezul. Based on his information, a machete used in the killing was recovered from Sayedabad bus terminal, along with scotch tape and a hammer from a rented house. Briefing reporters at the DMP Media Centre on Saturday noon, Additional Commissioner (DB) Mohammad Shafiqul Islam stated that Zarezul, a Malaysia expatriate, had returned home about one and a half months ago. While abroad, he developed a relationship via the Bigo Live app with a woman named Shamima Islam from Cumilla. After Zarezul returned home, his wife discovered the affair, leading to marital tensions. She then sought help from Ashraful, giving him Shamima’s number in an attempt to dissuade Zarezul from the relationship. Instead, Ashraful himself became involved with Shamima. Trusted friend turns killer: How Jarez orchestrated trader Ashraful’s murder According to preliminary findings, Ashraful had promised to arrange Tk 14 lakh to send his friend Zarezul to Japan, of which Shamima was supposed to contribute Tk 7 lakh. In anticipation of the money and to meet in private, they travelled to Dhaka. They rented a house in Bank Colony under Demra Police Station on the afternoon of November 12, cleaned the residence together, and purchased basic household items including a mattress, pillows, and curtains. Police said the three engaged in physical relations mutually, but an altercation broke out when Ashraful insisted on unnatural acts with Shamima, which she refused. As she began crying, Zarezul became angry. Shamima then tied Ashraful’s hands under the pretext of the act. When Ashraful persisted, Zarezul struck him with a hammer. As Ashraful screamed, Shamima tied him with her scarf and scotch tape. Ashraful died from the assault and suffocation. Panicked after the killing, the duo stayed in the house with the body throughout the night. The next morning, they bought two plastic drums, polythene sheets, and a machete from local shops. In the bathroom, with the water tap running, Zarezul dismembered the body while Shamima assisted. They packed the remains into the drums and later hired a CNG-run autorickshaw. On November 13, they abandoned the drums on the footpath near the High Court water pump on the National Eidgah and quickly returned home. After collecting their belongings, Shamima left for Cumilla, while Zarezul initially planned to head to Rangpur but later travelled to a friend’s house in Cumilla, where DB personnel arrested him. Police say the investigation is ongoing, and legal action against those involved is underway. Meanwhile, RAB earlier said at a press briefing on Saturday morning that after the arrest of Zarezul’s girlfriend, Shamima Akhter, it was learned that Zarezul had planned to extort Tk 1 million from Ashraful by using her to lure him into a trap. Shamima told RAB that, under that plan, Ashraful was brought to Dhaka. However, it still remains unclear why he was killed instead of extracting the money. Read more: ‘Extramarital affair’ led to trader Ashraful’s murder: DB, RAB

Content creator Ashraful Alam, widely known as Hero Alom, was arrested on Saturday afternoon from his residence on Ulon Road in the capital. Inspector (Investigation) Sajjad Hossain of Hatirjheel Police Station said Hero Alom was arrested in a case filed by his wife Ria Moni. According to police, Ria Moni filed a case with Hatirjheel Police Station accusing Hero Alom of attempted murder, assault, and issuing threats. Another person named Ahsan Habib Selim was also named as an accused in the case.

Rangpur trader Ashraful Haque was allegedly lured to his death by his friend Jarez, who then killed and dismembered him in a planned manner, said Lt Col Fayezul Arefin, commanding officer of RAB-3. “The brutal killing was the result of a calculated plot carried out under the guise of friendship,” he told a press briefing in the capital’s Karwan Bazar after the interrogation of Jarez and his girlfriend Shamima following their arrest in connection with Ashraful’s murder. Following Jarez’s instructions, Shamima lured Ashraful into a romantic trap through phone communication over a month ago and brought him from Rangpur to Dhaka. The CO of Rab-3 said the trio met on November 12 at a rented house in Nurpur area of Shanir Akhra where Shamima mixed sleeping pills into a drink, leaving Ashraful unconscious. Jarez then recorded intimate footage of Shamima and Ashraful as part of an extortion plan. Once Ashraful was fully incapacitated, Jarez tied his hands, sealed his mouth with tape and struck him repeatedly with a hammer, killing him through the blows and suffocation, said the RAB official. The Rab Commander said the body was left in the room overnight while Jarez and Shamima stayed there. The following day, Thursday, they purchased a machete and dismembered Ashraful’s body into 26 pieces, stuffing the remains into two drums, said the RAB official. They later transported the drums by CNG-run auto-rickshaw and abandoned them under a large tree near the High Court’s National Eidgah water pump area before fleeing. During questioning, Shamima claimed she tried to stop the killing but she was assaulted by Jarez. Read more: ‘Extramarital affair’ led to trader Ashraful’s murder: DB, RAB She also said Jarez had planned to flee the country to Malaysia and arrangements for a passport were underway for Jarez. Shamima told RAB that they had planned to extort Tk 10 lakh from Ashraful using the intimate video. Based on Shamima’s information, RAB recovered bloodstained clothing, ropes, tape and other items used in the murder from the Nurpur area of Shanir Akhra. Lt Col Arefin said although the suspects cited extortion as the motive, “the level of brutality suggests there may be more behind the crime and further interrogation of Jarez would clarify the real motive.” Ashraful Haque’s dismembered body was found stuffed into two drums and dumped beside the National Eidgah ground on Thursday.  Read more: Woman’s throat-slit body found in Gazipur; husband critically injured

Police recovered 35 crude bombs and a large quantity of bomb-making materials from an abandoned house in the capital's Geneva Camp area on Friday. Acting on prior intelligence, a team of Mohammadpur police station conducted a raid around 6:10pm and recovered the crude bombs and bomb making materials from an abandoned house in Sector 7 of the camp. Being informed, a Bomb Disposal Unit of Dhaka Metropolitan rushed to the scene and began the process of defusing the recovered explosives, DMP's DC media Talebur Rahman on Friday evening. Legal proceedings in connection with the recovery are underway, police said.

A case has been filed accusing the sole suspect who allegedly stabbed to death the 16-year-old son of a judge in Rajshahi city on Thursday. Abdur Rahman, Metropolitan Sessions Judge of Rajshahi, lodged the case on Friday afternoon against the accused with Rajpara police station, said Rajshahi Metropolitan Police (RMP) spokesperson Gaziur Rahman. After filing the case, the judge left for his ancestral home in Jamalpur with the body of his son Tausif Rahman Sumon. The accused is Limon Mia who has been undergoing treatment at a hospital in the city under police custody. After recovering he will be produced before a court. Police said Limon hails from Bhavaniganj village in Fulchhari upazila of Gaibandha district. His father SM Solaiman Sheikh is a former union parishad member and local BNP leader. Limon previously served in the army but lost his job in 2018 and later became addicted to drugs. He had a prior acquaintance with Judge Rahman’s wife Tasmina Nahar Lucy from whom he reportedly borrowed money. When the payments stopped, Limon allegedly began harassing and threatening them. Tasmina filed a general diary in Sylhet on November 6 regarding threats to her life. According to locals, Limon entered the rented residence of the judge in Dabtola area of the Rajshahi city on Thursday around 2:30pm, registering under Tasmina’s brother’s name with the guard. Law Adviser orders immediate action over attack on Rajshahi judge’s family During the intrusion, Tausif was first stabbed to death. Tasmina and Limon also sustained injuries in the scuffle and later were taken to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital. Friday morning, Tausif’s body underwent autopsy at the Rajshahi Medical Hospital conducted by Dr. Kafil Uddin and Dr. Sharmin Sobhan Kaberi of the Forensic Medicine Department. Dr. Kafil said Tausif suffered sharp-force injuries to his right thigh, right leg, and right arm, severing major blood vessels and causing internal bleeding, which led to his death. A faint ligature mark was noted on his neck, likely from soft material applied during the attack, but this was not the cause of death. After the autopsy, members of the Quantum Foundation Rajshahi Center performed the ritual cleansing of the body, which was then transported in a refrigerated ambulance. Tausif was a ninth-grade student at Rajshahi Government Laboratory School. Police are continuing the investigation and interrogating the accused to determine if others were involved, and legal proceedings will follow, RMP official Gaziur Rahman added. 

Three police personnel, including a sub-inspector, were injured in an attack allegedly by the accused of a case over the stalking and beating a woman in Parshuram upazila of Feni on Friday. The injured, SI Munna Dey, constables Ruhul Aman and Nazmul, were admitted to the Upazila Health Complex. SI Munna said one Shefali Akter lodged a written complaint against two brothers, Faisal and Rajib, who allegedly stalked her and beat up in Dakshin Kolapara village of the upazila a few days back. Around 10am, a three-member police team went to the plaintiff’s house to investigate the allegations, he said. At one stage, the plaintiff and the accused got locked into an altercation over the matter, prompting the police personnel to intervene, the SI said. During the chaos, the brothers and their father, Faruk Hossain, attacked them with sharp weapons, leaving the trio injured, he said. Later, locals rescued them and sent them to the Upazila Health Complex, the police official said, adding that the Faisal and Rajib are reportedly to be members of the upazila unit of Jubo Dal. Officer-in-charge of Md Nurul Hakim of Parshuram Police Station said a case would be filed against the accused and efforts were to detain them.

Police arrested Dhaka University’s Chemistry Department professor Md Ershad Halim on Thursday around 11:00pm from his Shewrapara residence in the capital for allegedly sexually harassing male students. Confirming his arrest on Friday, DU Proctor Associate Professor Saifuddin Ahmed said, “The legal process will take its due course. Police contacted us and we informed them that they could proceed with the arrest if the offence is cognisable." He said the university authorities have already instructed Prof Ershad to refrain from all academic and administrative duties after two students filed complaints of sexual harassment. “Further action will follow a thorough investigation. The charge sheet has been forwarded to the university’s anti-sexual harassment cell,” he said. On Thursday night, students of the Chemistry Department held a press conference at the Dhaka University Journalists’ Association (DUJA) office, alleging that Prof Ershad had harassed several male students and subjected them to physical and sexual abuse.