United News of Bangladesh

Following the government's cancellation of its license, Ad-din Hospital authorities in a appeal on Thursday expressed hope that the government would allow them to continue regular hospital operations for the interest of patients until a final decision is reached on the matter. The hospital authorities emphasized that despite the unwanted and tragic incident, all medical services at the Moghbazar facility—widely considered a reliable healthcare destination for lower-middle and middle-class citizens—remain fully functional and regular. "To ensure that ongoing patient care is not disrupted, all healthcare departments are operating normally," said Tarikul Islam Mukul, Director of Company Affairs at Ad-din Foundation. The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) has cancelled the operational license of Ad-din Medical College Hospital in the capital's Moghbazar following the recent tragic deaths of six newborn babies. According to a notification issued by the DGHS, the hospital management has been given 30 days to appeal to the government against the license cancellation order. The hospital authorities in a statement said that a total of 416 patients are currently admitted across various departments of the hospital. On June 11 alone, the outpatient department (OPD) provided medical consultations and services to approximately 1,000 patients. Furthermore, the hospital’s critical care units are heavily occupied, with 60 newborns currently receiving treatment in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), 20 patients admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), and four patients under close monitoring in the Coronary Care Unit (CCU). The hospital management re-emphasized that a sudden halt to operations would trigger a severe healthcare crisis for the hundreds of critically ill individuals and infants currently under their care.  

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has arrested a man for allegedly embezzling money by impersonating a judge and using an artificially generated version of his voice to deceive victims. The arrestee was identified as Md Mehedi Hasan Mim, 27, son of Mohammad Abdul of Ramaigachi village in Natore district, said Jasim Uddin Khan, Special Police Superintendent (Media) of the CID. A team from the Cyber Investigation and Operations unit of the Cyber Police Center (CPC) arrested him from his residence in Natore on Wednesday night. According to the case statement, the complainant was serving as a Joint District and Sessions Judge when the incident took place. An unidentified fraudster allegedly used the judge’s name, identity and designation to spread false and misleading information among his friends, colleagues and relatives in an attempt to extort money. The accused allegedly used artificial intelligence technology to imitate the judge’s voice and contacted several people known to him, claiming that his mother had died at a hospital in Dhaka and that he urgently needed money to cover hospital and ambulance expenses. Believing the story to be genuine, one victim transferred Tk50,000 to the fraudsters through a mobile financial service (MFS). Similar attempts were also made to collect money from several other friends, colleagues and acquaintances of the judge through calls and messages. After learning about the incident, the judge filed a case with Sherpur Sadar Police Station. During initial interrogation, the accused reportedly admitted his involvement in the incident and provided important information related to the case, the CID said. He has been produced before the concerned court for further legal proceedings. The CID urged the public to remain vigilant against such scams and to verify information before making any financial transactions.

The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) will deliver its judgement any day in a crimes against humanity case filed against Awami League Joint General Secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif and three others in connection with the killing of six people in Kushtia during July 2024 uprising. The three-member ICT-2, led by Justice Nozrul Islam Chowdhury, kept the verdict on curia advisari vult (CAV), a Latin term meaning the tribunal reserves the judgement, after concluding arguments from both sides in the case. State-appointed defence counsel Amir Hossain presented arguments on behalf of the accused, while Prosecutor Mizanul Islam rebutted the defence submissions. Prosecutors Faruk Ahmed, Abdus Sattar Palowan and others were present during the proceedings. The other accused are Kushtia district Awami League President Sadar Uddin Khan, General Secretary Azgar Ali and Kushtia town unit General Secretary Ataur Rahman Ata. All four accused are currently absconding. Earlier, on June 7, the prosecution concluded its arguments, seeking the highest punishment for the accused. Arguments in the case began on May 11. On November 2 last year, the ICT-2 framed charges against the four accused.

Muggers stabbed a police sub-inspector (SI) and snatched case-related documents from his possession in Bogura city early Wednesday. The injured officer, identified as SI Moinul Islam, is posted at the Kaigari Police Outpost under Bogura Metropolitan Police. He is currently undergoing treatment at Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College Hospital in Bogura. SI Moinul was travelling on a motorcycle from Banani towards the Kaigari Police Outpost when several muggers intercepted him around 1.00 am. At one stage, the attackers snatched case documents he was carrying and stabbed him in the right leg before fleeing the scene. Ashiq Iqbal, Officer-in-Charge(OC) of Shahjahanpur Police Station, said police have launched an operation to identify and arrest those involved in the attack. He downplayed concerns that the attack was aimed at snatching the important documents. “The reason behind the attack has not yet been confirmed,” he said.

A Dhaka court has ordered the exhumation of the mortal remains of film actor Salman Shah, who died on September 6, 1996, as part of the ongoing investigation into his death. Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Jewel Rana passed the order on May 24 following a petition filed by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of police, seeking permission to exhume the body for further examination. However, the matter was disclosed only on Wednesday, said lawyer Faruk Ahmed. On May 20, CID Inspector Ziaul Morshed filed the petition seeking exhumation of the actor’s body for preparation of an inquest report and completion of a fresh autopsy in the presence of an executive magistrate, he said. Ziaul Morshed, also the investigating officer of the case, said the petition was filed to determine the actual cause of the death. Mohammad Alamgir Kumkum, maternal uncle of Salman, filed a murder case against 11 people at Ramna Police Station on October 21, 2025 following a court order. The accused are Salman’s wife Samira Haque, her mother Latifa Haque Lucy, businessman Aziz Mohammad Bhai, Don, David, Zaved, Faruk, Rubi, Abdus Sattar, Saju and Rizvi Ahmed alias Farhad. According to the case statement, Salman Shah was found dead at his Easkaton flat in the capital on September 6, 1996. Later, his father Shah Kamaruddin Chowdhury filed an unnatural death case. On July 24, 1997, a petition was filed stating that Salman Shah was murdered. The court later asked the CID to investigate the issue. On November 3, 1997, the police unit gave its final report, saying Salman Shah committed suicide. Later, rejecting the CID’s claim, Kamaruddin Chowdhury filed a revision case in this regard. On May 19, 2003, the court sent the case to the judicial department for investigation. On August 3, 2014, Metropolitan Magistrate Emdadul Haque submitted the judicial statement in the case terming it a suicidal case. On February 10, 2015, Nila Chowdhury, mother of Salman Shah, filed a naraji petition in this regard. Finally, the case was shifted to the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI). On February 25, 2020, PBI Inspector Sirajul Islam submitted the investigation report before the court. On October 31, 2021, the court disposed of the case after accepting the report. However, on June 12, 2022, a revision case was filed with the Dhaka Metropolitan Session Judge, alleging that Salman Shah was murdered.

Health Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Husain on Wednesday said the government has taken a series of measures, including tannery relocation and waste-treatment facilities to prevent the use of hazardous tannery waste in poultry and fish feed production. “The use of tannery waste in poultry and fish feed poses a serious threat to public health,” he said while replying to a scripted question from ruling party lawmaker Nilufar Chowdhury Moni (reserved seat-10) during the question-answer session in Parliament. "The issue is entirely true, and evidence from various studies and reports supports it," he said. The Minister said large quantities of chromium and other heavy metals are used in leather processing, while unscrupulous traders often utilise toxic tannery waste to produce low-cost protein feed for poultry and fish. As a result, highly toxic Hexavalent Chromium (Cr-VI) accumulates in chicken meat and eggs, he said, adding that the hazardous substance is not destroyed even by cooking. He warned that consumption of contaminated poultry and fish could lead to serious health complications, including cancer, liver cirrhosis, ulcers and kidney failure. Highlighting government initiatives to address the problem, the minister said one of the most significant measures was the relocation of tanneries from Hazaribagh in Dhaka to the Leather Industrial City at Hemayetpur in Savar. Considering public health and environmental concerns, the tannery industry was shifted from Hazaribagh to Savar, he said. "In 2017, following a High Court directive, utility connections to the Hazaribagh tanneries were disconnected to ensure the relocation was fully implemented," he added. The minister said a Central Effluent Treatment Plant (CETP) has been established at the Savar Leather Industrial City to properly treat chemical waste generated by tanneries. "The primary objective of the CETP is to ensure that hazardous tannery waste is treated appropriately so that it cannot spread indiscriminately or be illegally used in poultry feed production," he said. Sakhawat Husain said the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and the Department of Environment have been conducting regular mobile court drives against illegal factories producing poultry and fish feed from tannery waste in Hazaribagh and adjacent areas. He said many such illegal factories have been permanently shut down through enforcement actions. The minister also said the cancer risk associated with poultry feed produced from tannery waste is a scientifically established fact and noted that the government's interventions have significantly reduced the threat.

The Appellate Division on Tuesday stayed the High Court verdict that had directed the establishment of a separate Secretariat under the Supreme Court for subordinate courts within three months. A four-member bench of the Appellate Division led by Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury passed the order after hearing a petition filed by the state. The court also fixed June 16 for hearing appeal challenging the High Court judgment. The High Court verdict will remain stayed until the disposal of the appeal. Attorney General Md Ruhul Quddus Kajal represented the state while Senior lawyer Mohammad Shishir Manir stood for the writ petitioner. The High Court on September 2, last year, asked the authorities concerned to establish a separate Secretariat under the Supreme Court for subordinate courts within three months. The full text of the judgment was published on April 7 this year. On April 20, Secretary of Shushashoner Jonno Nagorik (SUJAN) Dr Badiul Alam Majumdar filed an appeal seeking maintenance of the status quo regarding the Supreme Court secretariat and suspension of the provisions of the Supreme Court Secretariat (Repeal) Act. On May 21, the state filed an appeal seeking cancellation of the High Court verdict and requested a stay on its operation pending disposal of the appeal.

Police have arrested two suspects in connection with the killing of former Swechchhasebak Dal leader Billal Hossain Talukdar in Mouchak area in Dhaka. The arrestees are Al Amin, convener of Ward No. 19 Jubo Dal and Riaz, an activist of the same ward unit. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Ramna Division) Sheikh Zahidul Islam said on Tuesday that the two suspects were arrested from Dhaka and Munshiganj in connection with the killing. Based on secret information, police conducted special drives on Monday night and arrested them. The ex-Swechchhasebak Dal leader was killed on Monday at the parking area of Anarkali Super Market beside Siddheshwari Boys' School. Billal, a former convener of Ramna Thana Swechchhasebak Dal, was a businessman engaged in cement and sand trade. According to police, preliminary findings suggest that the murder stemmed from a longstanding rivalry over control of footpaths, extortion and local influence in the area. Further legal proceedings are underway.

Amid repeated attempts of ‘push-ins’ by the Indian Border Security Force (BSF), upazila and station-level Ansar-VDP members have been deployed in 11 border districts. The districts are Chapainawabganj, Naogaon, Joypurhat, Jashore, Jhenaidah, Satkhira, Thakurgaon, Dinajpur, Sylhet, Jamalpur and Khagrachhari, according to Ansar-VDP headquarters. Ansar-VDP members have been deployed in border areas to strengthen coordinated security operations and improve border management under a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed with the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) in 2025, it said. According to the agreement, Ansar-VDP members perform duties in coordination with the BGB based on national needs and security requirements. In addition, Ansar battalion members have been kept on standby to respond quickly to emerging situations and provide additional manpower when required. Officials said the involvement of Ansar-VDP strengthens the national security framework and supports BGB operations. They added that this coordinated approach helps improve surveillance, prevent cross-border crimes and ensure the safety of people living in border areas.

Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Md. Asaduzzaman on Sunday expressed hope that the entire judicial process in the Ramsia murder case could be completed within the next three months. “Today's fast-track trial of the Ramsia murder case was not achieved by the government alone. It should be remembered that if the Hon'ble Chief Justice had not cancelled the leave of judges until June 15, it would not have been possible for the government to facilitate such a fast-track process,” he told reporters at Secretariat after the verdict. Explaining how the case could reach its final legal conclusion within three months, the minister said that if the case records are sent to the High Court within a week and paper books are prepared within the following 15 days, the death reference hearing could be completed within two weeks under special consideration. “After that, the case will move to the Appellate Division. I believe the entire process can be completed within three months,” he said. However, he said not all cases could be handled through a similar fast-track process. “We are trying to find a way out to determine how quickly we can dispose of such cases in the future,” he added. Regarding the death reference process, Asaduzzaman said the Chief Justice intends to take a more focused approach to ensure the speedy disposal of death reference cases including the Ramisa murder case. “I have spoken to the Chief Justice regarding the Ramisa case. He told me that once the court reopens, he will take more focused decisions to expedite all pending death reference cases,” he said. Asaduzzaman said he would continue to pursue the matter to ensure the swift disposal of both older cases and the Ramisa case. Responding to another question, he said there is no specific legal timeframe for the disposal of death reference cases, but efforts would be made to ensure that such cases are resolved as quickly as possible. Earlier in the day, a Dhaka tribunal sentenced prime accused Sohel Rana and his wife Swapna Khatun to death in a case over the rape and murder Ramisa Akter in the city’s Pallabi area.