United News of Bangladesh

Barrister Rumeen Farhana, an independent candidate for the Brahmanbaria-2 constituency, on Saturday quarrelled with an executive magistrate over an alleged violation of the election code of conduct. The violation was related to holding a campaign rally before the official campaign period. The incident occurred in the Islamabad (Gogad) area of Noagaon Union under Sarail upazila when Assistant Commissioner and Executive Magistrate Shahria Hasan Khan went to stop the rally. In a video that went viral on social media, it was seen that Rumeen Farhana became agitated when the magistrate attempted to discuss the alleged violation. She told him, “This is the last time, I am warning you, I will not listen to this. Today I am leaving just for politeness and I will not do it in the future.” She and her supporters also alleged that others are violating the code of conduct but the administration did not take action against them. At one stage, she warned the magistrate, saying, “If I do not allow you, you cannot leave this place, Sir, mind it.” She also said, “Those whose words you are following now, they used to stay under the bed by holding their ears during Sheikh Hasina's time. I am Rumeen Farhana, I do not need any party." Executive Magistrate Shahria Hasan Khan said the rally violated Rule 18 of the election code of conduct. “As the programme was against the rules, we went there and asked them to stop holding the rally,” he said. According to Section 18 of the Code of Conduct for Political Parties and Candidates in Parliamentary Elections Rule, 2025, the electioneering can be conducted from three weeks before the polling day until 48 hours prior to the start of voting, subject to compliance with the prescribed conditions. “Outside the stipulated campaign period, national and international days can be observed as well as religious, social and similar events can be organised without hampering the electoral environment and in compliance with the code of conduct. However, prior consent or permission from the returning officer concerned must be obtained,” said a circular signed by EC Deputy Secretary Mohammad Monir Hossain. The executive magistrate added that after the rally was stopped, its organiser, Md Jewel, was fined Tk 40,000. “The candidate left the spot without being able to hold the rally and behaved disrespectfully towards me,” the magistrate said, adding that the matter had been reported to the Additional District Magistrate.

A restaurant owner was beaten to death over a trivial matter in Kaliganj Municipality of Gazipur on Saturday. The deceased was identified as Liton Chandra Ghosh, 55, owner of Baishakhi Sweetmeat and Hotel on Baranagar Road adjacent to Kaliganj Municipality. Three people were detained in connection with the killing, said Md Zakir Hossain, officer-in-charge (OC) of Kaliganj Police Station. The detainees are Swapan Mia, 55, his wife Majeda Khatun, 45, and their son Masum Mia, 28. Police said Masum Mia had an altercation with a restaurant worker, Ananta Das, 17, in the morning, which later turned into a scuffle. Swapan Mia and Majeda Khatun later joined the incident and beat the worker. When Liton Chandra Ghosh intervened to defuse the situation, he was also attacked and was hit on the head with a shovel, killing him on the spot. Local people later detained the three and handed them over to police. OC Zakir Hossain said that legal action was underway, and no case had been filed at the time of this report.  

Members of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) have recovered two rifles that were stolen from the Muradnagar highway police outpost in Cumilla. Acting on a tip-off, a team from RAB-11, CPC-2 conducted an operation late Thursday night in the area adjacent to Bhuiyan Bari Bridge in Lajoir village under Babutipara union of the upazila, and recovered the rifles. Major Sadman Ibne Alam, Company Commander of RAB-11, CPC-2, said a Chinese rifle and a locally made rifle were recovered during the two- to three-hour operation. The weapons were found abandoned. He added that RAB remains committed to recovering all stolen arms in a short time to ensure the upcoming election is held peacefully. Legal action regarding the recovered weapons is underway.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) arrested 29 people in separate drives across five police station areas of the capital over the last 24 hours as part of Operation Devil Hunt Phase-2. The arrests were made by Jatrabari, Rupnagar, Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Kalabagan and Motijheel police stations, said DMP’s Deputy Commissioner (Media) Talebur Rahman on Thursday. Of the total, Jatrabari police arrested nine people, Rupnagar and Sher-e-Bangla Nagar police arrested six each, Motijheel police arrested seven, while Kalabagan police arrested one. According to police, Jatrabari Police Station arrested nine people on Wednesday during drives in crime-prone areas under its jurisdiction. The arrestees are Md Sohag Mia, 20, Md Monir, 35, Alauddin, 28, Ratan Mia, 30, Md Sifat, 20, Md Machum, 25, Md Liton, 29, A Karim, 45, and Md Shafiqul Islam, 33. Those who were arrested by Rupnagar Police Station are Md Ulad Mia, 24, Md Raihan Ali, 18, Md Roni, 18, Md Nazmul Hasan, 22, Md Mostaqin, 25 and Md Naeem Howlader, 31. Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station also arrested six people in similar drives during this period. The arrestees are Md Babul, 22, Md Sagar Sardar, 22, Md Riyad Hossain, 19, Md Nahidul Islam, 38, Md Shakil Ahmed, 28, and Md Islam, 38. Kalabagan Police Station arrested Md Sabuj Hossain, 32, during a drive in crime-prone areas, while Motijheel Police Station arrested seven people identified as Sumon Basak, 45, Md Anisur Rahman, 44, Md Niaz Hossain Lotus, 45, Md Monir, 55, Md Nur Alam, 24, Md Suruj Mia, 30, and Md Harun, 50. All the arrestees were produced before the court, police said.

A Dhaka court on Thursday directed the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to carry out further investigation into the murder case of Inqilab Moncho spokesperson Sharif Osman Hadi. Dhaka Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Jashita Islam passed the order after the complainant expressed dissatisfaction with the investigation and submitted a naraji petition (a no-confidence motion) against the charge sheet, seeking a further probe. The court also ordered the submission of the probe report by January 20, said Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Deputy Commissioner of Prosecution, Miah Mohammad Ashis Bin Hasan. Plaintiff’s lawyer Mostafizur Rahman Mukul told the court that the charge sheet failed to identify the main accused or the planners behind Hadi’s murder. Earlier, Inqilab Moncho member secretary Abdullah Al Jaber, the complainant in the case, submitted an objection to the court after reviewing the charge sheet. On January 6, DB Inspector Faisal Ahmed, the investigating officer of the case, submitted charges against 17 accused. Among the main accused named in the chargesheet are Faisal Karim Masud alias Daud, his associate Alamgir Hossain, Dhaka Metropolitan North Jubo League organising secretary and former ward councillor Taizul Islam Chowdhury Bappi, Philip Snal Philips, Mukti Akter, and Faisal’s sister Jasmine Akter. They are currently absconding. The remaining 11 accused are now in custody. They include Faisal Karim Masud’s father Md Humayun Kabir, mother Mst Hasi Begum, wife Saheda Parvin Samia, friend Maria Akter Lima, brother-in-law Wahid Ahmed Shipu, rent-a-car businessman Mufti Md Nuruzzaman Nomani alias Ujjwal, close associate Md Kabir, Sibion Dew, Sanjoy Chisim, Md Aminul Islam alias Raju, and Md Faisal, who was arrested with weapons in Narsingdi. The investigating officer has also sought arrest warrants against the six absconding accused. Osman Hadi, who was also running for the Dhaka-8 constituency in the coming election, was shot by assailants on a motorcycle around 2:30pm on December 12 in the Box Culvert Road area of Paltan, sustaining bullet wounds to the head and below his right ear. He was first taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital and later shifted to Evercare Hospital. As his condition worsened, he was flown to Singapore by air ambulance on December 15 for advanced treatment, where he died on December 18.

The interim government on Thursday approved the draft of the 'July Mass Uprising Protection and Liability Determination Ordinance 2026' granting indemnity to the participants in the 2024 July Uprising. The Council of Advisers gave the approval at its weekly meeting at the Chief Adviser's Office with Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus in the chair. The ordinance would be promulgated as law through a gazette notification within the next five to seven days, said Law Adviser Dr Asif Nazrul while briefing the media at the Foreign Service Academy in the capital. Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam and Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder were also present at the briefing. The key objective of the ordinance is to grant immunity to July mass uprising participants from activities carried out with the purpose of political resistance during the uprising in July and August 2024, said the Law Adviser. The ordinance means activities carried out with the objective of restoring democratic governance through the fall of the fascist government. Participants involved in such activities during July and August in 2024 will be exempted from criminal responsibility, he added.

The International Crimes Tribunal-1 on Thursday fixed January 20 for hearing the appeal filed seeking death penalty of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and ex-Home Minister Asaduzzaman Kamal in a case over crimes against humanity. Chamber Judge of the Appellate Division Md Rezaul Haque passed the order. On December 15, last year, the state counsel filed the appeal seeking the death penalty of Sheikh Hasina and Asaduzzaman in the case. On November 17, 2025, the International Crimes Tribunal sentenced them to death on one charge and sentenced them to imprisonment unto death on a separate charge. Read More: ICT-1 sets dates for charge framing hearing against Hasina, army officers Later, Chief Prosecutor of the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) Tajul Islam sought the death penalty for former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal in the case. On October 13 last year, the prosecution presented several documentaries as evidence which it said could play a significant role in the trial. On October 14, 2025, during the third day of arguments, the prosecution played recorded conversations involving Sheikh Hasina, ex-ministers Hasanul Haq Inu and Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh, alongside presenting footage of the July-August movement and testimonies of several witnesses. Chief Investigation Officer Md. Alamgir was cross-examined by state-appointed defence lawyer Md. Amir Hossain, representing Sheikh Hasina and Kamal on the same day. The defence challenged the July massacre claims and argued that law enforcement officers were compelled to use force under duress. On July 10, 2025, former IGP Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun confessed before the tribunal admitting to crimes against humanity committed during the mass uprising. The prosecution brought five charges of crimes against humanity against the three accused.

The government has promulgated ‘Bangladesh Haor and Wetland Conservation Ordinance, 2026’ as part of its tough stance to protect the country’s ecological balance and conserve haors and wetlands. The new ordinance strengthens the Haor and Wetland Development Directorate and introduces tough punishment, including imprisonment and heavy fines for encroachment, land filling and environmental damage in haor and wetland areas. Under the law, the directorate has been given clearly defined responsibilities. Based on lists prepared by deputy commissioners, the government will publish a final gazette of haors and wetlands.  A master plan will be prepared to ensure protection and integrated management of wetlands and obtaining the directorate’s opinion will now be mandatory before taking up any development project. The ordinance also empowers the government to declare any haor or wetland a protected area if special conservation is required based on the opinions of the relevant authorities. The law provides for strict punishment depending on the nature of the offence. Anyone found illegally occupying haor or similar land, filling wetlands, carrying out unauthorised excavation, or constructing infrastructure that disrupts the natural flow of wetland water will face up to two years’ imprisonment or a fine of up to Tk 10 lakh  or both. The same punishment will apply to those who extract soil, sand, stone or any other natural resources without proper permission. Read more: Govt promulgates ordinance with fines for illegal tree cutting Besides, using banned nets, poison bait or electric shocks to catch fish, hunting migratory birds in haor areas, or destroying swamp forests will be punishable with up to two years’ jail and a fine of up to Tk 500,000. If natural resources are extracted in a manner that disrupts fish breeding, the offender will face up to one year’s imprisonment or a fine of up to Tk 500,000. To curb environmental pollution anyone whose actions pollute haor water or soil will be punished with up to two years’ imprisonment or a fine of up to Tk 200,000. Violating any special protection order or directive issued by the directorate, or breaching restrictions in areas declared as protected will also face up to two years’ jail and a fine ranging from Tk 500,000 to Tk 10,0000. If any individual or institution causes damage to the wetland ecosystem, the director general of the directorate will be able to assess the extent of the damage and order its recovery. He will also be empowered to direct necessary measures to restore the affected area, which must be complied with.

Airport Armed Police Battalion (APBN) at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on Tuesday detained a man with 680 grams of gold, Tk 77,550, and foreign currency 16,125 Saudi riyals. The suspect, identified as Gias Uddin, 46, was stopped around 11:15 am near Canopy Area 2 after his movements appeared suspicious. He was taken to the APBN office for questioning and a body search. Officers recovered 680 (six hundred eighty) grams of gold jewellery, 77,550 (seventy-seven thousand five hundred fifty) Bangladeshi taka, and 16,125 (sixteen thousand one hundred twenty-five) Saudi riyals from a bag around his neck and recorded in the seizure register. The gold items are 21 carat. During interrogation, Gias Uddin said he had returned from Saudi Arabia after performing Umrah as a group leader. He admitted bringing the gold into Bangladesh illegally through different Umrah pilgrims, evading customs duties. Officials said the suspect is involved with an active gold smuggling syndicate at the airport and worked as a receiver. APBn detains man with Yaba at Dhaka airport A case has been filed against him at the Airport Police Station under Section 25-B(1)(b) of the Special Powers Act, 1974 for conspiring with unknown passengers to smuggle gold and evade government revenue. Airport APBN Operational Commander Superintendent of Police Mohammad Mozammel Haque said, “Gold smugglers take different forms to commit crimes. APBN remains vigilant to stop gold and drug smuggling. Our efforts to prevent any criminal activity at the airport will continue.”

Members of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) have arrested a life-term convict during a raid in the Shialkol Bazar area of Sirajganj Sadar Upazila. Acting on a tip-off, a team conducted the raid on Monday afternoon and apprehended Sohel, 32, said RAB-12 Operations Officer Assistant Superintendent of Police Md. Usman Gani on Tuesday. He was later handed over to the local police station for further legal action, he added. Sohel, the son of late Fotik of Sayadhangara Moholla, was sentenced in a drug-related case lodged in 2020. RAB officials said that a case was filed against Sohel on March 19, 2020. After completing the investigation, police submitted a charge sheet to the court. Following hearings and taking testimony, the Additional Sessions Judge Court-1 sentenced him to life imprisonment. He was also sentenced to an additional six months’ imprisonment in default of a Tk 10,000 fine.