United News of Bangladesh

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.  

Four fishermen were rescued after a gunfight between forest guards and a gang of robbers at Singartek in Kokilmoni area of the Sundarbans on Wednesday morning. Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Md Rezaul Karim Chowdhury said during a joint patrol by the Shelarchar patrol team and the Smart Team, the robbers’ presence was detected in Singartek area. When the patrol team conducted a drive the robbers opened fire, triggering a gunfight with the forest guards. About seven rounds were fired during the gunfight and the robbers later fled the scene, leaving behind a trawler and four hostages. After the gunfight, forest guards rescued four fishermen who had been tied up. They also recovered an engine-run boat, a rifle and ammunition left by the robbers. The rescued fishermen are Abdul Barek Khan of Sonatala village in Sharankhola upazila, Md Hasan of the same upazila, Nasim of Batiaghata upazila in Khulna, and Irak Sheikh of Dakop upazila. The DFO said the rescued fishermen are now at the Shelarchar patrol post and arrangements are being made to return them to their families. The robbers involved are believed to be members of the ‘Sharif Bahini’.  

Ankhi Khatun, a mother of three minor children from Naogaon, was granted bail on Wednesday after spending 15 days in jail in a drug-related case. She was released from Naogaon District Jail around 4:00pm following the bail. Ankhi had been imprisoned under a mobile court order. Her husband died in March. With no one to support the family, her three young children were left in distress, often waiting near the jail. The matter drew public attention after a private television channel ran a report on it. Following this, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman directed the authorities concerned to look into the matter and ensure legal assistance for the woman. Following his instructions, local BNP leaders, led by Mahadevpur upazila BNP President Rabiul Alam Bullet, stepped in to provide legal support for the woman. Subsequently, the court granted her bail after due process. Public Prosecutor of the Naogaon District and Sessions Judge’s Court Md Shahriar said he was instructed to take necessary steps so the woman receives justice in accordance with the law. He said after the matter was placed before Senior District and Sessions Judge Mohammad Raknuzzaman, the court asked the defence to file a petition. The accused’s lawyer, Advocate Abu Zayed Mohammad Rafiqul Alam Rafiq, submitted the application and after hearing both sides, the court granted bail to the woman. After her release, Ankhi held her children close, as if trying to make up for every lost moment. Tears streamed down her face – not of sorrow alone, but of relief, of love, of finally being home. Her children clung to her, feeling a warmth they had missed every single day. It was more than just a reunion—it was a healing of broken time. In that moment, the world seemed kinder. The Prime Minister’s humanitarian initiative did not just free a woman—it restored a family, rekindled love, and gave lost hearts a new direction in the darkness.  

A court in Sylhet on Tuesday acquitted missing BNP leader M Ilias Ali and 37 other leaders and activists of the party in a case filed over the torching of a bus in 2011, which left one passenger dead. Judge Md Shariful Islam the District and Sessions Judge Court delivered the verdict. Among those acquitted are senior BNP leaders and activists, including Advocate Samsuzzaman Jamal and ATM Fayez. 3 to die, 6 get life in prison for killing Rajbari village doctor The case was filed after a bus was set on fire and another bus was vandalised on the Dhaka-Sylhet highway in South Surma’s Badikona area during a programme on December 18, 2011, leaving a passenger dead. According to the case statement, the victim was later identified as Kazi Nasir, 70, father of film actress Shabnur, nearly two weeks after being buried as an unclaimed body. He was reportedly travelling to Sylhet for a cultural programme when the incident occurred. Police had filed one murder case and another under the Speedy Trial Act over the incident against BNP leaders and activists, including Ilias Ali, who has been missing since April 2012.

A Dhaka court on Tuesday sentenced three persons to death and six others including a former Union Parishad chairman, to life imprisonment for killing a village doctor in 2019. Judge of the Dhaka Speedy Trial Tribunl-1 Rahibul Islam handed down the punishment. The condemned convicts are—Babul Sardar, Tekon Sardar and Gaziar Sardar of Goalanda upazila in Rajbari district. Over 40 lakh pending cases: Govt moves to fast-track lower court cases Those who get life imprisonment are-former chairman of Debgram Union Parishad Ator Ali, Raihan Sardar, Habibur Rahman alias Hobi Sardar, Helal Khan, Zillur Rahman and Zia Mandal. Except Zillur and Zia Mandal, seven convicts were tried in absentia and the court issued arrest warrant for them. According to the prosecution, Babul Sardar, a Jubo League leader and son of former chairman Ator Ali had an altercation with former chairman of Debgram Union Parishad Hafizul Islam Babul Sardar during Awami League council in Goalanda upazila on October 14, 2019. In a row, the supporters of Bubul sardar led by Ator Ali took position at Ali Bazar intersection point and beat the supporters of Hafizul Chairman while passing through the road. Rezaul Karim alias Abu doctor also beat up mercilessly by the supporters of Babul Sardar while passing through the road, leaving him injured. Later, he was taken to a local hospital from where he was referred to Faridpur Medical College and Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. A case was filed in this connection. Police submitted chargesheet against 22 people on October 5, 2022. After examining records and witnesses, the court acquitted 12 others as allegations brought against them could not be proved.

Detectives have arrested five members of an inter-district robbery gang along with illegal firearms, ammunition, gunpowder, crude bombs and motorcycles in a special drive in Jatrabari area of the capital. The arrestees are Md Liton Jabbar ,52, Ismail Hossain Mamun,55, Md Babul Babu 45, Ayub Bhuiyan,30 and Md Roman,35. They were arrested on Monday from Dayaganj to Jatrabari Shahid Faruk Road area under Jatrabari Police Station. According to DB police, tipped off, a team conducted a drive after learning that members of the inter-district robbery gang were gathering in front of Modern Bikalpo Wooden Furniture shop in the area for committing a robbery. During the operation, police arrested them and recovered two pistols, two magazines, seven rounds of bullet, 2.2 kg of explosives, one machete and two motorcycles from their possession, said Dhaka Metropolitan Police Deputy Commissioner (Media and Public Relations) NM Nasiruddin. During preliminary interrogation, the arrestees reportedly confessed that they had long been collecting firearms, gunpowder and bomb-making materials from the border area of Jashore and preparing crude bombs. They later supplied these to different criminal groups in Dhaka and used them to create panic and carry out robberies. Nasiruddin said two separate cases have been filed with Jatrabari Police Station in this connection. Legal proceedings against the arrestees are under way.    

The High Court on Monday deferred until May 14 the delivery of its order on bail petitions filed by Chinmoy Krishna Das, suspended ISKCON leader and spokesperson for the Bangladesh Sammilito Sanatani Jagran Jote, in four cases. The HC bench of Justice KM Zahid Sarwar and Justice Sheikh Abu Taher postponed the ruling after Additional Attorney General Aneek R Haque sought time to submit additional documents related to the cases. Earlier on Sunday, the same bench rejected Chinmoy’s bail petition in a case filed with Chattogram Kotwali Police Station over the killing of lawyer Saiful Islam Alif. Alif was beaten and hacked to death during clashes that erupted near the court building in Chattogram on November 26, 2024 following the denial of bail to Chinmoy, who arrested from Dhaka the previous day, in a sedition case. Following the murder, Alif’s father Jamal Uddin filed a murder case naming 31 people. In May last year, Chinmoy was shown arrested in four additional cases. On October 25, 2024, a large gathering of the Sanatani community was held in Chattogram under the leadership of Chinmoy. On October 31, a sedition case was filed against 19 people, including Chinmoy, on charge of belittling the national flag. On November 22 of the year, another large rally was held in Rangpur under the leadership of Chinmoy.

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed on Sunday said a specialised cyber police unit will be formed to combat cybercrimes, online rumours and misinformation amid changing crime patterns in the digital age.   He made the announcement while addressing senior police officials at a programme marking Police Week 2026 at the Shapla Hall of the Prime Minister’s Office in Tejgaon.   The minister said the government would maintain a strict ‘zero tolerance’ policy against corruption within the police force and would not compromise on discipline and the chain of command.   Highlighting the government’s modernisation plans for the police, the minister said two new police training academies would be established at Jungle Salimpur in Chattogram to enhance professionalism.   “One academy will be for the elite force and the other for the general force,” he said, adding that a separate law would be enacted to ensure transparency and accountability in the operations of elite forces.   He also said steps would be taken to modernise and enhance the capacity of central and divisional police hospitals.   A full-fledged Police Sports Complex would also be constructed subject to land availability, he said.   Calling for greater transparency in operational activities, the minister instructed police authorities to expand the use of body-worn cameras.   “Police are being trained to follow the minimum use of force policy in line with United Nations standards. Law enforcers must be strategic in tackling crimes, but human rights must not be violated under any circumstances,” he said.   The minister also directed police officials to ensure quick delivery of public services including police clearance certificates and online general diary (GD) services.   He stressed enhancing the capacity of Tourist Police to strengthen the image of the country’s tourism sector.   Referring to the government’s electoral pledges, Salahuddin said stable law and order is a prerequisite for implementing the 31-point election manifesto.   “Every police station must be transformed into a centre of public service under the motto ‘Police are the people and  people are the police,’” he said.   He also emphasised preventive policing to stop crimes before they occur in line with modern policing doctrines.   Senior police officials, including additional IGPs, DIGs, additional DIGs and police superintendents, attended the meeting where future plans for police modernisation were discussed in light of the prime minister’s directives.   END/UNB/MJ-MAS/FH/1657 Hrs    

The High Court on Monday granted bail to journalist couple Shakil Ahmed and Farzana Rupa in 11 cases out of 13 including a murder case related to the July Uprising in 2024. The HC bench of Justice KM Zahid Sarwar and Justice Sheikh Abu Taher passed the order. Of the 11 cases, Farzana Rupa was granted bail in six cases while Shakil Ahmed secured bail in five. The court issued a rule in one remaining case against each of them, meaning they will not be released immediately as bail has not been granted in all cases, said their lawyer. Barrister Jyotirmoy Barua appeared for the petitioners while Additional Attorney General Anik R Haque represented the state. Shakil Ahmed had served as head of news at Ekattor Television  while Farzana Rupa was its chief reporter. They were removed from their posts on August 8, 2024, following the fall of the Awami League government. The couple was arrested at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on August 21, 2024, while attempting to travel to Paris on a Turkish Airlines flight.

A court in Brahmanbaria on Sunday sentenced two individuals identifying themselves as journalists to five years’ imprisonment in an extortion case. The convicts are SM Ali Azam and Ashiqur Rahman Roni. Judge Masud Parvez of the Brahmanbaria Additional District and Sessions Judge Court-2 delivered the verdict in the afternoon. The accused were present in the courtroom during the announcement and were later sent to jail. According to the case statement, SM Ali Azam and Ashiqur Rahman Roni visited Sharifpur East Government Primary School in Ashuganj upazila on September 14, 2021, introducing themselves as journalists. They reportedly sought access to various bills, vouchers and official documents of the school. When the headmaster informed them that relevant authorities handle such records, they allegedly became angry and threatened to publish false reports against the teachers unless Tk 20,000 was paid as extortion. They also misbehaved with staff members. At one stage, local residents and teachers detained SM Ali Azam, while Roni fled the scene on a motorcycle. Later, the detained suspect was handed over to police on instructions from the Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO). Following the incident, headmaster Md Habibur Rahman filed a case with Ashuganj Police Station under sections 419, 385 and 506 of the Penal Code. Police later submitted a charge sheet after investigation. After hearing witnesses and arguments, the court handed down the verdict. Plaintiff’s lawyer Syed Tafsir Ahmed Tanvir said the convicts had been involved in extortion at different institutions using the identity of journalists, and the verdict was delivered based on evidence. Ashuganj Press Club President Selim Parvez said journalism is a responsible profession and those convicted were not mainstream journalists, adding that they misused press identity cards and social media pages to deceive people.