United News of Bangladesh

A writ petition was filed with the High Court on Sunday seeking an investigation into the 18-month activities of the interim government led by former chief adviser Muhammad Yunus. After a preliminary hearing, the High Court bench of Justice Ahmed Sohel and Justice Fatema Anwar fixed Thursday (21 May) for passing its order. Senior lawyer MK Rahman and petitioner-lawyer Mohsin Rashid appeared for the writ petitioners, while Attorney General Md Ruhul Quddus Kajol represented the state. Lawyer MK Rahman said the petition sought an investigation into the activities of the interim government over the past 18 months. He alleged that the government had created instability in several sectors, including the economy and healthcare. “A commission should be formed under the Commission of Inquiry Act to ensure that no elected government can be removed unconstitutionally in the future,” he said. He added that the court heard the matter and fixed Thursday for its order. Mohsin Rashid told reporters that the petition sought a comprehensive and neutral investigation into all incidents that took place during the period. “The government will decide how the investigation will be conducted,” he said. He also said the attorney general informed the court that he would seek instructions from the government on the matter.

Reflecting on the shared linguistic and artistic heritage, Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Afroza Khanam has stressed the importance of cultural and people-to-people exchanges to further deepen friendship and cooperation between Bangladesh and Nepal. The Minister commended the Embassy of Nepal and the Friendship Society for their efforts in strengthening the longstanding historical and cultural bonds between Bangladesh and Nepal. She made the remarks while speaking at a cultural event as the chief guest held at the district Shilpakala Academy, Manikganj on Saturday evening. The Embassy, in collaboration with the Bangladesh-Nepal Friendship Society, organised the “Nepal Cultural Evening. Nepalese Ambassador to Bangladesh Ghanshyam Bhandari highlighted the deep-rooted connections between Bangladesh and Nepal in the fields of art, culture, and language. He underscored the importance of strong people-to-people contacts as a cornerstone of bilateral relations. The Ambassador noted that the programme was organised to celebrate and further deepen the close cultural and artistic links between Nepal and Bangladesh. Deputy Commissioner of Manikganj Nazmun Ara Sultana, Superintendent of Police, Manikganj Mohammad Sarwar Alam, Chancellor of Pokhara Academy Padma Raj Dhakal, district Child Officer of Manikganj Dewan Hafizur Rahman, President of Bangladesh-Nepal Friendship Society Moshiur Ahmed, and General Secretary Salahuddin Kutu also spoke. The cultural programme featured fourteen artistic performances, including traditional dances, folk songs and musical presentations by visiting artists of Pokhara Academy, artists from the District Shilpakala Academy, and Shishu Academy, Manikganj. Nepali artists showcased traditional music and dance forms, including Sorathi, Sakhiya, Lathi, Salaijo, and Kaura, among others. Bangladeshi artists also presented a Nepali dance alongside Bangladeshi folk dances and musical performances. The programme brought together representatives from government and non-government agencies, cultural enthusiasts, civil society leaders, friends of Nepal, media persons, and Nepali students studying in Manikgunj.

Cyber Police Center (CPC) of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has arrested eight members including the alleged mastermind of an organised gang accused of operating online gambling sites and laundering crores of taka abroad. The arrestees are Md Ashraf Uddin Ahmed, 32, Sajeeb Chakraborty, 29, Md Ashraful Islam, 40, Md Jasim Uddin, 36, Taiyeb Khan, 26, Soumik Saha, 28, Md Kamruzzaman, 36, and Abdur Rahman, 47. CID Special Police Superintendent (Media and Public Relations) Jasim Uddin Khan said the group had been operating several international and local online gambling platforms for a long time. Gamblers used mobile financial services such as bKash, Rocket and Nagad, along with bank accounts and cryptocurrency wallets, to place transactions on the platforms. Investigators said the illegally earned money was later smuggled abroad through cryptocurrency and digital hundi networks. During preliminary interrogation, the accused reportedly admitted that they had been illegally handling around Tk 1.8 crore to Tk 2 crore daily over the past six months by attracting people to online gambling platforms and a large portion of the money was transferred abroad. The CID said its Cyber Monitoring Cell detected the activities during routine online surveillance and found that several groups were illegally operating online gambling sites in Bangladesh. In this connection, a case was filed with Paltan Model Police Station under the relevant sections of the Cyber Security Ordinance, 2025.

A case has been filed over the assault on a doctor and vandalism at the emergency department of Shariatpur Sadar Hospital following the death of a patient undergoing treatment there. Dr Akram Elahi of the hospital filed the case at Palang Model Police Station on Saturday evening against 11 named individuals and 50 unidentified ones, said its Officer-in-Charge Shah Alam. So far, six accused have been arrested, and efforts are underway to arrest the others, he said. Five of the arrested were identified as Solaiman Qazi alias Al-Amin, Jasim Qazi, Abdul Jalil Qazi, Rabiul Qazi and Zayeda Begum. According to police and hospital sources, Lal Mia Kazi, 50, from the Uttar Bilashkhan area of Shariatpur municipality, was taken to the hospital’s emergency department with chest pain around 10:00pm on Friday. Doctors provided primary treatment, but he died around 12:30am on Saturday while undergoing treatment. Following his death, relatives got agitated, alleging that the doctor arrived late. At one stage, they attacked and vandalised the emergency department. The doctor on duty, Md Nasir Islam, along with Ansar members Sohel Sardar, Kamrul, Azizul Haque and Kawsar, were injured in the attack. Nasir Islam, who was seriously injured, was later sent to Dhaka by air ambulance. CCTV footage from the hospital showed 20-25 people beating and dragging Nasir Islam out of the emergency room. Panic spread across the hospital premises before police brought the situation under control. Civil Surgeon Dr Md Rehan Uddin said a four-member investigation committee had been formed, which had been asked to submit its report within five working days. Deputy Commissioner Tahsina Begum described the attack on the hospital and doctors as “very sad” and said strict action will be taken against those involved. Shariatpur-1 MP Sayeed Ahmed Aslam said attacks on healthcare facilities were unacceptable and that none of those involved will be spared.  

Three members of the United People’s Democratic Front (UPDF-Main) were detained during a raid in the Budangchhara area under Guimara region in the Chittagong Hill Tracts on Saturday. The detainees were identified as Sathoai Marma, 32, Ronel Chakma, 28, and Sarching Marma alias Raju, 22. According to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Sathoai Marma sustained a bullet injury to the neck during the operation. Based on intelligence information, an army operation team took position in the Budangchhara area at around noon. At one stage, several armed men riding two motorcycles attempted to cross the area. When army personnel challenged them to stop, the suspects allegedly ignored the order and opened fire on the troops. The army personnel then returned fire in self-defence, the statement said. After the operation, security forces recovered one AK-22 rifle with a magazine, six rounds of live ammunition, one spent bullet cartridge and other related equipment from the spot. The injured Sathoai Marma was given first aid and taken to Ramgarh Upazila Health Complex before being shifted to Chittagong Medical College Hospital under police custody for advanced treatment. He is currently out of danger, the ISPR said. The statement added that such operations by security forces would continue to maintain peace, harmony and stability in the hill region and to curb extortion and militancy.   

A 26-year-old man sustained bullet injuries after allegedly being shot by a "teen gang" in the Shaheed Nagar area of Lalbagh in the capital on Thursday night. Injured Md Rafi, son of Md Taizuddin, lives with his family in the area. He is involved in online T-shirt sales. The incident occurred around 8:15pm in the third alley of Shaheed Nagar. Rafi was taken to the emergency department of Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) around 9:15pm. At the hospital, Rafi alleged that a group of 8-9 youths, including identified drug dealers and alleged teen gang members Emon, Shahbuddin, Mintu and Rezaul, waylaid him around 8:00pm and asked about a person named Shahin. “When I told them that I did not know anyone named Shahin, Emon shot me and they fled the scene,” he said. Rafi added that his family members and friends rescued him and rushed him to the DMCH. Inspector Md Faruk, in-charge of the DMCH police camp, said the youth was brought to the hospital with bullet wounds at night. “We have informed the police station concerned of the incident,” he added.

Police have recovered a mobile phone reportedly belonging to the prime suspect, Forkan Mollah, in the Gazipur family murder case, raising suspicion that he may have jumped into the Padma River. However, Gazipur District Superintendent of Police Sharif Uddin said investigators are still not certain whether he died by suicide. “We are not yet sure whether he committed suicide or not,” the SP said while briefing reporters on Thursday afternoon. He said the phone was recovered on May 11 from a truck helper in Meherpur Sadar upazila during the investigation. The helper told police that he had found the device near the railing in the middle of the Padma Bridge and kept it in his possession. After reviewing CCTV footage from the bridge, investigators observed a man wearing a white shirt and black pants stepping out of a white private car on May 11. The man was seen standing beside the bridge railing for several minutes before allegedly jumping into the Padma River. Police suspect that Forkan Mollah may have jumped from the bridge in an apparent suicide attempt after allegedly killing his wife, three daughters, and brother-in-law in a pre-planned attack. “Police stations adjacent to the Padma Bridge have been alerted about the matter. The investigation is ongoing,” SP Sharif Uddin added. Forkan, originally from Meri Gopinathpur village in Gopalganj Sadar upazila, worked as a private car driver. He had been living with his wife Sharmin and children in a rented house in Rautkona village of Kapasia upazila for nearly a year. Investigators suspect that sleeping pills or sedative substances were mixed with food to render the victims unconscious before they were hacked to death with sharp weapons. Following a complaint filed by the victim’s father, a murder case was lodged at Kapasia Police Station. Police later recovered the alleged weapon and other evidence from the scene. The bodies of five family members — Sharmin, 35, her three daughters Mim, 16, Maria, 8, Faria, 2, and her brother Rasul, 22 — were found with their throats slit at their home in Kapasia on May 9. Forkan Mollah had been absconding since the incident.

A Gazipur court on Thursday sentenced a man to life imprisonment and two others to different terms jail for killing a man in 2005. Judge of the Gazipur District and Sessions Judge Court-1, Amit Kumar Dey, handed down the punishment The lifer is Abdus Sattar of Sripur upazila in Gazipur district. The court also fined him Tk 1 lakh, in default, to suffer five more years in jail. 3 held with fake currency in Dhaka, Gazipur raids The court also sentenced Ahad to four years imprisonment and fined him Tk 10,000, in default, to suffer one more year in jail. It also sentenced another accused, Abul, to one year imprisonment and fined him Tk 1,000, in default, to suffer three more months in jail. According to the prosecution, Manik Mandal of Sripur upazila in Gazipur district was stabbed to death by the convicts on December 16, 2005. Police submitted a charge sheet against 28 people, among them three accused died during the trial proceedings. After examining records and ten witnesses, the court acquitted 22 accused as the allegations brought against them could not be proved.

The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) on Thursday ordered that former minister Dr Dipu Moni, and journalists Mozammel Babu and Farzana Rupa be shown arrested in a case filed over the 2013 Shapla Chattar massacre during a rally of Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh. The ICT-1, chaired by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mozumder, passed the order, sending the accused to jail in connection with the case. Earlier on May 7, the tribunal ordered the authorities concerned to produce them before it today, following petitions filed by the prosecution. On the day, Prosecutor Gazi MH Tamim told the tribunal that during the May 5, 2013 crackdown at Shapla Chattar, Dipu Moni was serving as foreign minister and allegedly promoted internationally that law enforcers had “eliminated a group of unruly people.” He further alleged that from the beginning, Mozammel Babu and Farzana Rupa portrayed Hefazat’s grand rally as provocative in broadcast and later played a role in diverting the Shapla Chattar killings to a different direction and concealing information regarding the deaths. After the hearing, the tribunal ordered that the accused be produced before it on May 14 and fixed June 7 for submission of the investigation report in the case, which is under investigation. Earlier, six people, including former Inspector General of Police Shahidul Hoque, former Director General of the National Telecommunication Monitoring Centre (NTMC), dismissed Major General Ziaul Ahsan, and Shahriar Kabir, have been arrested in connection with the case. ICT Chief Prosecutor Aminul Islam earlier alleged that Mozammel Babu and Farzana Rupa had attempted to deliberately divert the Shapla Chattar killings to a different direction and played a role in hiding information related to the deaths. On May 5, he said 58 people killed during the crackdown on the Hefazat rally have been identified. Besides, involvement of then Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and other senior government officials have been found, he said, adding that around 90 percent of the investigation into the incident has been completed and a formal report will be submitted to the tribunal by June 7. On May 5, 2013, Hefazat launched “Dhaka Blockade” programme protesting alleged insult to the Holy Quran and Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and to press for its 13-point agenda. On that day, thousands of religious scholars, madrasah students and supporters gathered in Dhaka and later occupied the Shapla Chattar area in Motijheel. A late-night joint forces operation was carried out when the gathering was dispersed amid gunfire, tear gas and sound grenades. Numerous casualties were reported although exact figures have long been disputed. Different organisations have provided varying estimates of the death toll. Hefazat published a preliminary list of 93 victims in 2025, while human rights group Odhikar reported 61 names in 2021. A 2014 publication titled “Shahidnama” documented 41 deaths. Despite 13 years passing since the incident, the trial has not yet been completed. However, the issue resurfaced following political changes on August 5, 2024. After the July uprising and formation of the interim government, Hefazat leader Azizul Haque Islamabadi filed a complaint with the ICT naming Sheikh Hasina and several others as accused. The complaint also includes names of former ministers, senior security officials and police chiefs.

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of police has arrested a former salesman in connection with the theft of a large quantity of gold from a jewellery firm at Bashundhara City Shopping Complex in the capital over several years. The arrestee was identified as Krishna Basak, also known as Swapan Basak, 47, son of Gaur Chandra Basak of Daulatpur in Manikganj. CID arrests app developer for alleged role in selling sensitive citizen data A special team of the CID’s Dhaka Metro West Division arrested him from in front of Bashundhara City Shopping Complex on Tuesday noon, according to a CID media statement issued on Wednesday. According to the case, the complainant’s father is the managing director of a jewellery business operating multiple shops at the complex. During a stock check, it was found that 7,550 bhoris of gold ornaments — estimated to be worth around Tk94.37 crore — had been embezzled from the shops at different times between January 2019 and September 2024. Investigators said Krishna Basak had been working as a salesman at the company and, in collusion with others, breached the owner’s trust and misappropriated a large amount of gold. The investigation also found a mismatch between his income and assets. Although he earned a monthly salary of around Tk10,000-Tk15,000, he was found to have accumulated significant wealth. This includes an investment of about Tk 33 lakh in a jewellery business, a flat and car parking worth Tk44.55 lakh, shares worth Tk16.78 lakh in the capital market, and 50 bhoris of gold declared in tax documents. Preliminary findings also indicate unusual transactions in his bank accounts. Police have sought remand to recover the embezzled gold and identify other suspects involved. Earlier, another accused in the case gave a confessional statement before a court under Section 164 of the Criminal Procedure Code. The CID’s Dhaka Metro West Division is continuing the investigation and operations to uncover further details and arrest others involved.