United News of Bangladesh

The verdict in the case filed over the rape and murder of eight-year-old Ramisa Akter in the city’s Pallabi area will be delivered today. Judge Masrur Salekin of the Dhaka Metropolitan Children Violence Suppression Tribunal is scheduled to announce the judgement around 11:00am. The verdict in the sensational case is going to be delivered in just 19 days following the incident. Ramisa murder: Trial against Sohel Rana, wife begins On June 4, the tribunal fixed today for delivering the judgement in the case on completion of arguments from both the prosecution and the defence. The prosecution sought the highest punishment for prime accused Sohel Rana under the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act. It also sought legal punishment for his wife Swapna Akter, alleging that she assisted in the crime and failed to prevent it. Earlier, on June 3, the tribunal heard self-defence statements from the two accused after the testimony phase in the case concluded within a single day on June 2. Out of 18 witnesses, 16 made their depositions against prime accused Sohel Rana and his wife Swapna Akter before the tribunal. State-appointed defence counsel Musa Kalimullah cross-examined the witnesses. Ramisa’s father Abdul Mannan Molla, who is also the plaintiff of the case, was the first to make his deposition, followed by her mother, elder sister and others. In their depositions, the victim’s father and mother recounted the horrifying sequence of events that took place on May 19. On June 1, the tribunal framed charges against the two accused in the case. Before that, on May 24, the IO – Sub-Inspector Ohiduzzaman of Pallabi Police Station – submitted the charge sheet before the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM) Court of Dhaka. Later, the case was transferred to the tribunal. Ramisa Akter was raped and murdered by Sohel Rana, a tenant of a neighbouring flat on the 2nd floor of the building, on May 19. According to the case details, Sohel lured her into his room and later killed her after rape. Ramisa’s decapitated body was found beneath the bed while her severed head was found inside a bucket in the bathroom. While Swapna Akter was detained from the scene, Sohel Rana managed to escape by cutting through a window grille. He was tracked down and arrested by police later in Fatullah of Narayanganj.

Health and Family Welfare State Minister Dr. M A Muhith on Saturday said that public health improvement is not possible solely through hospital construction, government initiatives or the efforts of doctors unless people are made aware and actively involved. He said the government will take initiatives to control dengue by engaging and raising awareness among citizens with the cooperation of all city corporations, including the Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC). Govt asks DNCC, DSCC to deploy sanitation workers in two daytime shifts The state minister made the remarks while inaugurating a rally organised by DNCC marking the launch of a three-month programme to control the spread of Aedes mosquitoes through mosquito eradication and public awareness activities. DNCC Administrator Md. Shafiqul Islam Khan also spoke as the session chair, saying that the three-month programme undertaken by DNCC would help control the dengue situation in the city through public awareness and coordinated efforts. The minister said that successful programmes such as the immunisation of two crore children against measles were achieved in a short time due to public participation and cooperation. Similarly, if everyone considers dengue control a personal responsibility, changes daily behaviour, and keeps surroundings clean while making others aware, dengue can be prevented and controlled. The rally was attended by the state minister, DNCC administrator, Prime Minister’s health assistant and research officer, leaders of Gulshan and Banani societies, DNCC officials and employees, and people from all walks of life.

Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapon on Saturday emphasized that digital security has become more important than conventional border security in today's rapidly evolving world. He said that as societies continue to transform into knowledge and technology-driven ecosystems, ensuring digital security has become a national priority and the government is taking the necessary initiatives to address emerging challenges. BNP govt will resolve Farakka issue with support of domestic, international stakeholders: Zahir Uddin Swapon The minister made the remarks while addressing a roundtable titled "Combating Fake News in Bangladesh: Policy, Technology, and Accountability," organized by the Nationalist ICT Forum (NICTF) at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh (IEB) in Dhaka. Highlighting the growing threat of misinformation, Swapon said Bangladesh has been discussing fake news and disinformation for years, but the time has now come to move beyond identifying problems and focus on implementing practical solutions. "We welcome discussions on the challenges, but we also expect stakeholders to present realistic policy recommendations. If effective solutions are proposed for national issues, the government will work swiftly to implement them," he said. The keynote paper was presented by Imtiaz Mirza, Vice President of NICTF. The roundtable, moderated by Riyad Hasnain, CEO of Smart-Lab, featured a panel of media and technology experts who stressed the need for stronger institutional measures to combat misinformation. Abbas Uddin Noyon, Chief Reporter of The Business Standard, observed that only a handful of media organizations in Bangladesh currently maintain dedicated fact-checking teams. He recommended making independent fact-checking units mandatory for all news organizations to ensure responsible journalism through rigorous verification before publication. Rakib Hasan, Editor and Host of Ekattor TV's "Fake News Scanner," said misinformation, rumors and disinformation have evolved beyond a social problem into a commercial enterprise. According to him, organized groups intentionally create misleading narratives, spread rumors to increase social media followers and later monetize those platforms for financial gain. The roundtable was chaired by Rafel Kabir, President of NICTF.  A K M Wahiduzzaman, Information, Communication & Technology Affairs Secretary of BNP; Engr Md Reazul Islam, Chairman of RAJUK and President of IEB; Engr Shahrin Islam Tuhin, Former MP and Convener of AEB; Dr. Shah J. Mia, Professor of Business Analytics and Applied AI at the Newcastle Business School, Australia; Dr. Maruf Mallik, Adviser to NICTF; along with representatives from the media, information technology sector and policymaking institutions were present.

Three members of a family sustained burn injuries after a blast apparently from a gas cylinder leak in the kitchen of their house in the capital's Uttarkhan area on Saturday morning. The injured were identified as Ali Hossain, 50, his wife Hasnahena, 40, and their daughter Akhi, 30. They were rushed to the emergency department of the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery around 7:30 am in critical condition. 3 suffer burn injuries in Mirpur blast ‘from gas pipeline leak’ Resident physician Dr. Shawon Bin Rahman said Ali Hossain sustained burns over 100 percent of his body, Hasnahena suffered 60 percent burns, while Akhi received 15 percent burn injuries. As the extent of their injuries is serious, all three have been shifted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), he said. Ratul Hasan Tushar, who accompanied the victims to the hospital, said the explosion occurred while Hasnahena  was working in the kitchen in the morning.

A Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) staffer was shot by miscreants in the capital’s Jatrabari area on Friday night. The victim, identified as Tanzid, 35, was shot near the Saidabad water pump under Jatrabari at around 10:30pm and later he was rescued and rushed  to the Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) emergency unit. 5 inter-district robbers held in Jatrabari with firearms, explosives Tanzid is employed as a worker at the Dhaka South City Corporation, reportedly engaged in mosquito control activities. His friend Mamun, said around 10–15 unidentified miscreants arrived at the scene and opened fire on Tanzid, hitting him below the knee of his left leg before fleeing the area. He could not confirm the motive behind the attack or identify the attackers, he added. Inspector Md Faruk, in-charge of the DMCH police camp, said an injured man was brought to the hospital from Jatrabari and admitted to the emergency department. “We have informed Jatrabari Police Station about the incident,” he added.

A fire that broke out at the Cargo Village of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on Friday night was brought under control within 14 minutes, according to the Fire Service and Civil Defence. The fire erupted at a goods warehouse near Gate No. 9 of the Cargo Village at 11:24 pm. The first firefighting unit from the Airport Fire Station reached the scene at 11:27 pm and began extinguishing the blaze. Later, a total of four units worked to control the fire. The fire was brought under control at 11:38 pm, said Anarul Islam, warehouse inspector of the Media Cell at the Fire Service and Civil Defence Headquarters. Firefighting units from the Uttara and Kurmitola fire stations were also dispatched, but the fire came under control before they arrived at the scene. The cause of the fire and details of any damage could not be known immediately, he said.

Two padestrians were killed and four others injured after a bus struck on the Dhaka–Mawa highway in Rajendrapur area under South Keraniganj in Dhaka on wednesday afternoon. The deceased were identified as Jamal, 36, and Mahfuz, 35. The accident occurred near the Dhaka Central Jail opposite area. Saiful Alam, South Keraniganj Police Station Officer-in-Charge(OC), confirmed the incident. Four more pedestrians were injured in the accident. The injured are Chan Mia, 40, Selim, 35, Barkat, 32, and Jasim, 34. Sazzad Hossain, Ward Master of Mitford Hospital confirmed that the injured were admitted to Mitford Hospital for treatment. Police said the bus, which was travelling to Dhaka from Barishal carrying passengers, was moving recklessly when it hit the victims, causing the fatal accident. Further legal procedures are underway, police said.

Police have arrested two alleged professional muggers in connection with the brazen snatching of bags and valuables from two sisters outside their residence in Mohammadpur after they returned to Dhaka from their Eid holidays. Police said the suspects were members of a professional mugging  gang who previously lived in Mohammadpur but later shifted their base to Narayanganj to evade arrest while continuing to carry out muggings in the area. ‘Mugger’ arrested in city A pickup van used in the crime, a machete and some of the stolen items have been recovered, although a trolley bag and a mobile phone remain missing. Fazlul Karim, Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) of Tejgaon Division of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), disclosed at a press briefing held at the DMP Media Centre on Minto Road on Wednesday. The incident occurred around 3:40am on May 31 when the two sisters returned to Dhaka from Thakurgaon after spending Eid holidays there. After getting off a vehicle with their belongings in front of their residence on Nurjahan Road in Mohammadpur, three men arriving in a pickup threatened them with a machete and snatched a trolley bag, a handbag and another bag before fleeing. Police came to know about the incident through the national emergency service 999 and launched an investigation by collecting CCTV footage from the surrounding area. One of the victims later filed a case with Mohammadpur Police Station. ADC Fazlul Karim said investigators first arrested Jewel after CCTV footage showed him loading the stolen bags into the pickup. Based on information provided by him, police conducted a raid in Bandar area of Narayanganj and recovered the pickup and machete used in the hijacking. Police said Jewel has five cases filed against him at different police stations, including two narcotics cases, one robbery case and two cases related to violence against women and children, all currently under trial. Later, another suspect, Anwar, was arrested in connection with the incident. Responding to a question ,  the ADC said the driver and owner of the pickup was involved with the gang. Police have identified them and expect to arrest them soon. He said Jewel was carrying the machete during the offence, while Anwar loaded the stolen bags onto the pickup van. Police have also identified another person believed to be the mastermind behind the crime, though his identity has not been disclosed in the interest of the investigation. According to police, the stolen trolley bag has not yet been recovered. After learning about the arrest of one of the suspects, another accused allegedly instructed his wife to remove the bag, making its recovery difficult. Fazlul Karim said police patrols have been strengthened in Mohammadpur and adjoining areas, particularly around bus stands and locations where passengers arrive in the early hours. He added that special drives are being conducted daily to curb crime. Assuring city residents, he said there was no reason to panic and that Dhaka Metropolitan Police remained committed to public safety.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Tuesday congratulated Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman on his election as president of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). In a Facebook post, the Prime Minister said, “Many congratulations to our Minister of Foreign Affairs, Khalilur Rahman, on his election as the President of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly.” He said this achievement reflects Bangladesh’s increasing contribution and credibility on the global stage. “We believe he will proudly represent Bangladesh and forge connectivity, dialogue, and cooperation in addressing multilateral, shared challenges,” Tarique Rahman said. He also wished Khalilur Rahman every success in carrying out his new responsibilities. Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman was elected president of the 81st session of the UNGA after defeating Cyprus in a closely contested election held at the UN headquarters in New York on Tuesday. Of the 190 votes cast, Bangladesh secured 99, while Cyprus received 91. Under the UN’s regional rotation system, the presidency of the 81st session was allocated to the Asia-Pacific Group. Bangladesh last held the position in 1986-87, when former Foreign Minister Humayun Rasheed Choudhury served as president of the 41st session of the General Assembly. The 81st session of the UNGA is scheduled to open on September 8, 2026, while the annual high-level General Debate will begin on September 22.

The testimony phase in the rape and murder case of eight-year-old Ramisa Akter concluded within a single day on Tuesday. Out of 18 witnesses, 16 made their depositions against prime accused Sohel Rana and his wife Swapna Akter before the Dhaka Metropolitan Children Violence Suppression Tribunal. After recording the depositions of witnesses, Judge Masrur Salekin fixed Wednesday for the accused to present their self-defence statements. State-appointed defence counsel Musa Kalimullah cross-examined the witnesses during the session, which started at 10:30am, said tribunal Bench Assistant Pankaj Peter Gomes. Ramisa’s father Abdul Mannan Molla, who is also the plaintiff of the case, was the first to make his deposition, followed by her mother, elder sister and others. In his deposition, the victim’s father recounted the horrifying sequence of events. After being informed by his wife that their youngest daughter was missing, he rushed home from his office. Upon arriving, he found neighbours gathered outside the locked apartment of their neighbour Sohel Rana. The door lock was broken with a hammer. "We broke into the apartment and saw blood stains in the bathroom. When we lifted the steel bed in the main room, we discovered my daughter's decapitated body. Her severed head was hidden inside a bucket next to the bed," the father testified. The victim's mother provided a harrowing account of the morning of May 19. She noted that while cooking, she heard a child's scream emanating from Sohel Rana’s flat but initially assumed it was another infant. Suspicion arose later when she noticed her own front door standing open and her youngest daughter missing. Upon searching the building, she found her daughter’s shoe sitting right outside Sohel Rana’s door. Due to her legal status as a minor, the victim's elder sister testified under a "camera trial" (closed-door session) following an application by Special Public Prosecutor Azizul Haque Dulu. Depositions were also recorded from the victim’s aunt, uncle, building residents, neighbours, police constables Ruma Akter and Sharif Mia, Sub-Inspector (SI) Iqbal Hosain who prepared the inquest report, Dr Nasad Jamin who prepared the autopsy report, and Metropolitan Magistrate Aminul Islam Junaid who recorded the initial confessional statements, SI Rashedul Islam and Investigating Officer (IO) Ohiduzzaman. Special Public Prosecutor Azizul Haque told UNB that legal arguments will begin after the completion of the defence hearing. After that, the tribunal will deliver its verdict. Completing the testimony recording of a case within a single day is a rare occurrence, he said, describing it as an example of speedy trial proceedings in serious and sensitive cases. Before the testimony recording, accused Sohel Rana and his wife Swapna Akter were produced before the tribunal. Meanwhile, the tribunal instructed that no statements from accused persons held in police custody shall be broadcast in connection with the case. The order came following a petition filed by the state. Azizul Haque argued before the tribunal that under the law, no accused person in police custody has the right to make public statements before a trial court. He said there are clear instructions from higher courts on this matter. The Special PP further requested the tribunal to issue necessary directives to prevent any situation that could affect the ongoing judicial process, including restrictions on media dissemination of statements made by accused persons in police custody. Following the hearing, the tribunal granted the petition and instructed the authorities concerned to take necessary measures. Earlier, on Monday, the tribunal framed charges against the two accused in the case and fixed Tuesday for recording testimonies of witnesses. Before that, on May 24, the IO – Sub-Inspector Ohiduzzaman of Pallabi Police Station – submitted the charge sheet before the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM) Court of Dhaka. Later, the case was transferred to the tribunal. Ramisa Akter was raped and murdered by Sohel Rana, a tenant of a neighbouring flat, on May 19. According to the case details, accused Sohel lured her into his room and later killed her after rape. Ramisa’s decapitated body was found beneath the bed while her severed head was found inside a bucket in the bathroom. While Swapna Akter was detained from the scene, Sohel Rana managed to escape by cutting through a window grille. He was tracked down and arrested by police later in Fatullah of Narayanganj.