United News of Bangladesh

Inspecto of Gurudaspur Police Station Abu Raihan, who allegedly ordered to open fire on students during July uprising, was closed to the office of superintendent of Natore district. Inspecto Abu Raihan was attached to the office of Superintendent of Natore on Monday by an order signed by Natore police chief Natore Superintendent of Police (SP) Amzad Hossain. When performing duty at Sadar Police Station, Abu Raihan ordered his junior officers to open fire and to unleash torture on the students during the movement. After the fall of the Sheikh Hasina-led government, Abu Raihan was transferred to the Gurudaspur Police Station with promotion instead of taking action against him.  

The investigation agency of the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) on Monday submitted  its report accusing eight policemen in a case over the killing of six students during July-August movement  in Dhaka's Chankharpul area. The accused are former DMP Commissioner Habibur Rahman, former Joint Commissioner Sudip Kumar Chakraborty, former Additional Deputy Commissioner (Ramna Zone) Shah Alam, former Assistant Commissioner Md Imrul, former Inspector (Operations) of Shahbagh Police Station Arshad Hossain, and constables Sujon, Imad Hossain, and Nasirul Islam. This is the first case investigated over the killings that took place during July-August. The 90-page report was prepared and submitted to the prosecution within 195 days of initiating the investigation, Chief Prosecutor of the International Crimes Tribunal  Tajul Islam said. “The investigation into Chankharpul  massacre has been completed. The investigation agency submitted the report to us on Sunday .This marks the completion of the first investigation related to the July-August killings,”he said. Families of victims of enforced disappearances demand justice According to the report, six people were killed in Chankharpul on August 5 last year. Tajul Islam said the report includes evidence—collected through various video footages—of direct involvement of some accused in the shooting. Others, mostly senior officials, were charged under the doctrine of command responsibility. Four of the eight accused are currently on the run, the chief prosecutor added.

Police have detained at least 25 leaders and activists of Awami League and its affiliated bodies including banned Chhatra League following several flash processions in the city and upazilas. Additional Deputy Commissioner (Media & CP) of Khulna Metropolitan Police Md Ahsan Habib on Sunday night said police in separate drives arrested 25 leaders and activists of Awami League, bannedChhatra League, a Jubo League in connection with the flash processions. He said the drives will continue to arrest others involved. Among the detainees, Dumuria Upazila Awami League’s organising Secretary Kazi Alamgir Hossain was picked up by Harintana police in connection with a procession at Zero Point. Besides, former president of Phultala Upazila Chhatra League Ashraful Alam was detained by Phultala police. Kazi Zakaria Ripon, president of a ward-level Awami League unit in Shiromoni was also held while preparing for a procession.  

Coast Guard members have detained two members of notorious ‘Karim-Sharif Gang’, a Sundarbans-based robbery gang, and rescued two fishermen held hostage by the gang during separate operations in Dacope upazila in Khulna. The arrestees were Md Shahjahan Mollah, 48, of Dacope upazila in Khulna, and Md Suman Hawlader, 30, of Mongla upazila in Bagerhat. The rescued fishermen were Azizul Sheikh, 55, and Alam Gazi, 37, both residents of Paikgachha upazila in Khulna. Lieutenant Commander Sayeam-ul Haque, media officer of the Coast Guard, said tipped off, the Coast Guard launched a joint drive with police around 11pm on Saturday in Kamar Khola area near the Sundarbans under Dacope upazila. During the drive, Shahjahan Molla was detained along with a single-barrel gun, two rounds of cartridges, and one blank cartridge. Another member of the gang, Suman Hawlader, was detained from the Naliyan Thakur Bari Ferry Ghat area near the Sundarbans around 3am on Sunday. During primary interrogation, the detainees reportedly confessed  to their long-standing involvement with the Karim Sharif gang, including participation in robberies and supplying weapons, ammunition, and other essentials to the gang. The Coast Guard members rescued the two fishermen, had reportedly been held captive since April 8, from the Arshibasa river area near the Sundarbans around 5am on Sunday. Legal proceedings are underway to hand over the arrestees and seized firearms to Dacope Police Station while the rescued fishermen have been reunited with their families. The Coast Guard continues its round-the-clock patrols in the coastal and riverside regions to maintain law and order which has significantly improved in recent times and such operations will continue to free the Sundarbans from criminal activities, the Coast Guard official added.

The price of onions has suddenly surged in Khulna after remaining stable throughout Ramadan, even though it is currently peak harvesting season. Onions that were selling for Tk 30–35 per kg only days ago are now being sold at Tk 48–50 per kg in Khulna’s wholesale markets, depending on quality. In retail markets across the city, prices have reached as high as Tk 60 per kg. India withdraws 20% duty on onion export effective from April 1 Consumers have attributed this abrupt hike to a lack of effective market monitoring. According to traders, some buyers who usually purchase onions directly from farmers have allegedly begun hoarding supplies instead of releasing them into the market. They are reportedly using the excuse of a ban in Indian onion imports to make the market unstable. By stockpiling locally produced onions during peak season, these traders are believed to be fueling an artificial crisis. Consumers in Khulna have already started feeling the impact of the price spike and expressed concerns that the situation may worsen in the coming days. Many households have begun stockpiling onions in fear of further price increases, increasing the demand in local markets. Faridpur farmers hope for bumper onion harvest this season Frustrated consumers have urged the authorities to take immediate legal action against hoarders and strengthen regular monitoring of the market. The Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection (DNCRP), Khulna, stated that those responsible for the price manipulation will be identified and brought under legal recourse as soon as possible. During a visit to several wholesale markets in Khulna on Saturday, the UNB correspondent found that traders collecting onions from areas such as Shailkupa and Langolbandh in Jhenaidah, Pangsha in Rajbari, Kumarakhali and Panthi in Kushtia, as well as Chourangi, Rashgram, Chakmohra, and Hazirhat, are reportedly hoarding supplies rather than releasing them into the market. Currently, onions are being bought at Tk 1,800–1,900 per maund (around 40kg), or Tk 45–47 per kg in the wholesale market. Traders say if hoarding can be prevented, prices could quickly return to normal. Retail traders, meanwhile, claimed they are not responsible for the price hikes, stating that they sell onions based on wholesale rates with a minimal profit margin. Consumers, however, alleged that an organised syndicate manipulates onion prices every year, and this year is no different. During Ramadan, local onions were selling at Tk 30–35 per kg, which increased to Tk 40 post-Eid, and has now reached Tk 60 per kg. Onion farmers in Shailkupa hit by fertiliser shortage during peak season During visits to retail markets in Moylapota, New Market and Daulatpur on Saturday, the UNB correspondent found onions selling at Tk 60 per kg in the first two markets and Tk 53 per kg in Daulatpur. Zahid Hasan, a shopper in Daulatpur, said, "Market instability has returned. During Ramadan and Eid, prices were under control, but now dishonest traders are making things difficult. The onions I used to buy at Tk 30–35 now cost Tk 55–60. If this trend continues, prices will rise further. The government should resume the level of market monitoring seen during Ramadan and Eid." Touhidul Islam, a wholesaler at Sonadanga market, noted that the price hike is largely demand-driven. He added that panic buying and stockpiling at home are further pushing up prices. He also mentioned that some dishonest traders are hoarding onions fearing that LC (Letter of Credit) for imports may not resume, adding more pressure to the supply chain. Abu Sufian, owner of M/s Jonaki Bhandar, said that onions are being purchased at elevated prices in the wholesale market for stockpiling, and this has impacted the entire supply chain. Retailer Harun Moral said, “Retailers have no role in this price surge. We sell at the rates set by the wholesalers.” He also blamed illegal hoarding for the sudden price increase. Kawser, a retailer at Moylapota market, said they are purchasing onions at Tk 54 per kg from the Sonadanga wholesale market and selling them at Tk 60. “The price hike is due to hoarders,” he said. Advocate Qudrat-e-Khuda, Secretary of Sushashoner Jonno Nagorik (Shujan), Khulna City unit, said although the government had effectively controlled prices during Ramadan, the trader syndicate remains active. “Prices have doubled in just a few days. If this syndicate isn’t broken and market monitoring isn’t reinforced, the situation will spiral out of control,” he warned. He urged the government to take strong action against such syndicates and called on the Directorate of Consumer Rights to play a more proactive role. Mohammad Selim, Deputy Director of DNCRP, Khulna Division, said the agency is conducting regular monitoring and market raids. “We’re already taking legal action, including imposing fines on those violating consumer rights. Since being informed about the hoarding issue, we will monitor the market closely and take necessary steps. Anyone found operating outside government policies will face strict action,” he added.    

Students from various ethnic communities staged a protest rally in Khagrachhari on Sunday demanding the release of five Chittagong University (CU) students who were abducted from the Giriful area of the district town five days ago. They also demanded justice for the recent rape of girl of an ethnic community in Rangamati’s Kaukhali upazila. Under the banner of ‘Khagrachhari Adibasi Chhatra Samaj’, the demonstrators marched from Chengi Square and paraded through Shapla Chattar, Adalat Road, and ended their rally in front of the court premises. A protest meeting was held there, chaired by Tushon Chakma. Speakers included Sujon Chakma Zhimiti, president of the Pahari Chhatra Parishad; Ukkyanu Marma of the Bangladesh Marma Student Council; Akash Tripura, president of Tripura Students' Forum (Sadar unit); former CU student Rahel Chakma; and student leader Maya Chowdhury, among others. Human chain protests ‘baton charge by army’ on medical students in Sunamganj The speakers demanded the immediate and unconditional release of the abducted students and swift justice for the rape victim. They alleged that the United People's Democratic Front (UPDF) was involved in creating unrest in the Chittagong Hill Tracts by disrupting peace and engaging in abduction-related activities. They urged the UPDF to refrain from such heinous acts and return to a peaceful path.

A human chain formed in Sunamganj town on Sunday protested the alleged baton charge by the army personnel on the students of Sunamganj Government Medical College and Hospital during a road blockade programme.Sushashoner Jonno Nagorik (Shujan), a civil society platform for good governance, staged protest at Traffic Point in the afternoon.They also condemned the incident and urged the government to take necessary steps to implement the demand of the students. Nationwide anti-Trump protests spotlight concerns over democracy and civil rightsEarlier, in the day, the students of Sunamganj Medical College and Hospital blocked Sunamganj-Sylhet highway to press home various demands including starting of academic activities and ward facilities, halting vehicular movement on the highway.On information, a team of Bangladesh Army rushed to the spot and requested the students to move away from the road.At one stage, the army personnel charged batons on the protesting students and dispersed them from the road, leaving several students injured, said witnesses.Mezbah Uddin, a Major of Bangladesh Army, said they brought the situation under control.

Two women suffered burn injuriers when some miscreants hurled a petrol bomb on a moving CNG-run auto-rickshaw in Aturar Depot area in Chattogram city on Sunday. The injured were identified as Laila Begum, 50, daughter of Kabir Ahmed and Jharna Begum, 30, daughter of Badsha Mia of Raozan municipality area. Quoting witnesses, Nurul Alam Ashek, in-charge of Chattogram Medical College and Hospital police camp, said the miscreants hurled the petrol bomb at the CNG-run auto-rickshaw carrying five people while they were heading towards Kutubdia Malek Shah Darbar, leaving two women injured.  

A Jubo Dal activist was shot dead by miscreants at Garib Ullahpara in Raozan upazila of Chattogram district early Sunday. The deceased was identified as Mohammad Manik Abdullah, 36, son of Abdul Motaleb of Bhandari Colony in the upazila. Quoting witnesses, Mohammad Ali, sub-inspector of Raozan police station, said a group of miscreants swooped on the house of Manik around 1:30 am and opened fire on him, leaving him dead on the spot. On information, police recovered the body and sent it to Chattogram Medical College and Hospital morgue for autopsy. The miscreants managed to flee the scene by auto-rickshaw and motorbikes.    

A group of local people and students intercepted a Dhaka-bound vehicle transporting gas of a refueling company at Bhola Bus Stand on Friday night demanding that locally extracted gas be supplied to households and industries in the district rather than being sent to factories in Dhaka. The protesters intercepted the CNG-gas-laden truck belonging to Intraco Refueling Company around 10:30 pm near Bhola bus terminal on its way to Dhaka and blocked the road. They also staged demonstrations to press home their five-point demand, including establishment of gas-based industries in Bhola, household gas connections and an end to gas being transported out of the district without meeting local needs. Gas supply to stop for 15 hours Friday in parts of the capital The protesters also chanted slogans saying ‘Bhola’s gas to be distributed in Bhola’ and ‘Gas supply in every household’. On information, police rushed to the spot but the vehicle remained blocked and was not allowed to leave Bhola as of Saturday morning, said sub-inspector of Sadar Model Police Station Wasib Alam. Earlier in the day, members of the B-Dwip Student Welfare Council organised a human chain and rally in Bhola town, raising similar demands. The protestors also threatened to go for greater movement, including a long march to Dhaka or blockade programme and would prevent any gas from leaving Bhola, if their demands are not met. In May 2023, Intraco signed a deal with state-owned Sundarban Gas Company to transport gas cylinders from Bhola to 18 factories in Dhaka. Under the agreement, the company currently supplies around 5 million cubic feet of gas daily to these facilities.