Sarowar Alam, an assistant programmer at the President’s Office, denied any involvement in the case filed over the hacking of the Jamaat-e-Islami chief’s X account. He made the statement on Thursday during a bail hearing before Dhaka’s Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Awlad Hossain Muhammad Jonaid. Police said he was shown arrested on Wednesday night under the Cyber Security Act in a case filed with Hatirjheel Police Station.

During the hearing, the investigating officer, SI Khondoker Saleh Abu Naim, sought to keep Alam in jail, while defense lawyer Md. Alamgir applied for bail, arguing that his client had been falsely implicated due to political vendetta. The prosecution lawyer, Abdur Razzak, opposed bail, alleging that Alam acted to create unrest and provoke voters by hacking the Jamaat chief’s account.

Alam told the court he was arrested from his home and had voluntarily handed over his mobile phone, laptop, and desktop to investigators. He insisted he had never imagined committing such an act and pledged full cooperation with the investigation.

A Dhaka court has granted bail to Mohammad Saroware Alam, an assistant programmer at Bangabhaban, in a case filed over the hacking of Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman’s X (formerly Twitter) account. The order was issued on Thursday by Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Awlad Hossain Muhammad Junaid after a hearing. Saroware Alam was produced before the Dhaka CMM Court at 3 p.m., where the investigating officer, Sub-Inspector Khandaker Saleh Abu Nayeem of Hatirjheel Police Station, sought to keep him in custody.

During the hearing, defense lawyer Md. Alamgir argued for bail, while prosecution lawyer Md. Abdur Razzak opposed it, citing specific allegations and a forensic report from the accused’s mobile phone. The prosecution claimed the act aimed to create unrest before the election and warned that the accused might abscond if released. Saroware Alam denied the allegations, asserting his innocence and cooperation with investigators, saying he voluntarily handed over his mobile and laptop.

The case was filed under the Cyber Security Act at Hatirjheel Police Station following the hacking incident involving the Jamaat chief’s X account.

A recently released set of documents from the U.S. Department of Justice concerning convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein has reignited discussion around a 2017 interview with former Dutch banker Ronald Bernard. In that interview, Bernard alleged that some members of the global financial elite practiced ritualistic acts, including child sacrifice, as part of occult or Luciferian beliefs. He claimed to have been invited to a ceremony abroad that involved such practices, which he refused to attend.

Bernard told Netherlands-based DVM TV that many high-level financial figures he knew followed what he described as Luciferian worship. He said he had visited places known as the 'Church of Satan,' where rituals involving nudity and alcohol took place, though he admitted uncertainty about their authenticity. His statements resurfaced after the new Epstein-related files hinted at links between several influential individuals and Epstein’s network.

Epstein, who faced charges of child sex trafficking, was found dead in a New York jail in 2019 while awaiting trial. The renewed attention to Bernard’s claims and the Justice Department’s disclosures has again raised questions about the extent of hidden crimes behind wealth and power.

The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) filed 1,561 cases over two days against traffic law violators across various areas of the capital. The operation was conducted on Tuesday and Wednesday, according to a statement issued Thursday by Muhammad Talebur Rahman, Deputy Commissioner of DMP’s Media and Public Relations Division. The cases involved different types of vehicles, including buses, trucks, covered vans, CNGs, and motorcycles.

According to DMP traffic sources, the highest number of cases was recorded in the Mirpur division with 300, followed by Uttara with 228 and Motijheel with 177. Other divisions such as Ramna, Lalbagh, Wari, Tejgaon, and Gulshan also reported numerous cases. During the operation, 523 vehicles were dumped and 213 were towed. The DMP stated that these actions are part of its ongoing efforts to maintain traffic discipline in Dhaka.

The traffic department confirmed that similar enforcement drives will continue across the city to ensure compliance with traffic regulations and improve road safety.

A Bangladesh tribunal has sentenced former Member of Parliament Saiful Islam and five others to death for crimes against humanity related to the killing of seven people and burning of six bodies in Ashulia during the July uprising. The verdict was delivered on Thursday afternoon by the three-member judicial panel of Tribunal-2, chaired by Justice Nazrul Islam Chowdhury. Seven others received life imprisonment, and two were sentenced to seven years in prison. Former Ashulia police sub-inspector Sheikh Abzalul Haque was acquitted.

The court also ordered the confiscation of Saiful Islam’s assets for distribution among the victims’ families. Those sentenced to death include former Ashulia police officials and a local youth leader. The tribunal area and the Supreme Court premises were placed under tight security, with police, RAB, BGB, army, and intelligence personnel deployed.

The ruling marks a significant judgment in a case tied to violent events during the July uprising, underscoring the tribunal’s continued pursuit of accountability for crimes against humanity.

The International Crimes Tribunal-2 on Thursday sentenced former MP Muhammad Saiful Islam and five others to death in the Ashulia seven-murder case, which involved the killing and burning of six bodies during the July Revolution. The tribunal also ordered the confiscation of Saiful’s properties for distribution among the victims’ families. The verdict was delivered at 1:15 p.m. by a three-member panel led by Justice Nazrul Islam Chowdhury.

The other death-row convicts are former Ashulia police officers AFM Sayed Rony, Abdul Malek, Biswajit Saha, constable Mukul Chowdhury, and Jubo League member Rony Bhuiyan. Seven others, including former DIG Syed Nurul Islam and SP Asaduzzaman Ripon, received life imprisonment, while two were sentenced to seven years. SI Afzalul Haque was pardoned for testifying as a state witness. The tribunal panel also included retired judges Manjurul Bashid and Nur Mohammad Shahriar Kabir.

The case stemmed from the August 5, 2024 incident in front of Ashulia Police Station, where five people were shot dead and one fatally injured before police allegedly set fire to a vehicle carrying the bodies.

The International Crimes Tribunal-2 on Thursday sentenced former Member of Parliament Saiful Islam to death in the Ashulia case involving the burning of six bodies and the killing of seven people during the July Revolution. The tribunal also ordered the confiscation of all his properties for distribution among the poor. The verdict was delivered at 1:15 p.m. by a three-member panel led by Justice Nazrul Islam Chowdhury, with judges Manjurul Bashid and Nur Mohammad Shahriar Kabir.

According to the prosecution, the case was filed against 16 accused, including eight who are currently in custody and eight, including Saiful Islam, who remain absconding. The tribunal heard testimony from 24 witnesses, including ASI Sheikh Abzalul Haque, who turned state witness and sought forgiveness from the victims’ families. The prosecution submitted 313 pages of documents, 62 witness statements, 168 pages of evidence, and two pen drives.

Chief Prosecutor Tazul Islam described the Ashulia killings as one of the most brutal acts in human history, asserting that the crimes were proven beyond doubt through video evidence and eyewitness testimony.

Serious allegations have emerged against a contractor over substandard roadwork on the M A Gani Road in Burichang upazila of Comilla. Locals claim that the contractor ignored tender conditions, used low-quality materials, and completed the carpeting hastily at night without following the approved schedule. As a result, the newly carpeted surface began to peel off within just seven days, sparking anger and concern among thousands of users of the Burichang–Brahmanpara road.

Residents alleged that the required quality standards were not maintained, with minimal bitumen used and carpeting thickness far below the specified 50 millimeters—sometimes only 5 to 25 millimeters. Witnesses reported that the contractor’s team continued nighttime repairs despite local objections, raising further doubts about transparency. Contractor Mohammad Abul Hossain acknowledged hearing about damaged sections and said repairs were being arranged.

Locals have demanded an impartial investigation into the project’s quality and strict action against those responsible. The Comilla Roads and Highways Department’s executive engineer, Khondaker Golam Mostafa, stated that post-completion re-carpeting should not occur and confirmed that an investigation is underway.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s Detective Branch (DB) has reported progress in the investigation into the hacking of Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman’s verified X (formerly Twitter) account. At a press briefing at DMP Media Center on Wednesday night, DB Chief Shafiqul Islam said that Mohammad Saroware Alam, an assistant programmer at Bangabhaban, has been shown arrested in a case filed with Hatirjheel Police Station. He added that Alam’s direct involvement in the hacking would be confirmed only after forensic and detailed investigation.

According to police, the case was filed under the Cyber Security Act by Sirajul Islam, coordinator of Jamaat’s National Election Steering Committee, naming Alam and 20 unidentified persons as accused. The DB seized Alam’s mobile phone, computer, and other devices for forensic examination. The investigation follows a January 31 complaint alleging that Dr. Rahman’s account was hacked to post misleading and offensive content about working women, which was later deleted after public criticism.

Police stated that several other senior Jamaat leaders’ social media accounts were also recently targeted. The DB urged the public to avoid spreading unverified information and assured a transparent investigation.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has filed a case under the Cyber Security Act following the hacking of its Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman’s official X (Twitter) account. The complaint was lodged on Wednesday night around 8:30 p.m. at Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s Hatirjheel Police Station by Sirajul Islam, coordinator of Jamaat’s National Election Steering Committee. The case names Bangabhaban official Mohammad Saroware Alam and 20 unidentified individuals as accused.

According to the case statement, on January 31, unauthorized access was gained to Dr. Rahman’s X account, where posts containing misogynistic, obscene, and hate-inciting content were published. The party later filed a general diary at Hatirjheel Police Station after discovering the incident. Police confirmed receiving the case and noted that the complaint includes both named and unnamed suspects.

The report also mentions that several senior Jamaat leaders, including Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar, have recently faced similar cyberattacks on their social media accounts. The investigation is expected to focus on identifying those responsible for the coordinated hacking incidents.

A special operation by the Bangladesh Army in Babuganj, Barishal, led to the arrest of notorious criminal and drug dealer Shahid Pyada, aged 49, along with eight of his associates early Wednesday, February 4. The raid took place in the Bir Sreshtho Jahangirnagar Union area, where the army recovered yaba tablets, marijuana, drug paraphernalia, a large quantity of illegal cigarettes, and locally made weapons. Shahid Pyada was detained from his residence, while his associates were captured from his fish enclosure area.

The detainees, including Shahid Pyada, Shamim Sheikh, Shamim Mridha, Sirajul Islam, Shawon Sheikh, Faruk Sheikh, Washim Bepari, Mamun Khan, and Sultan, were handed over to Babuganj Police Station for legal action. The operation was conducted by a special team from the 62 East Bengal Regiment under the 6 Infantry Brigade of the 7 Infantry Division.

The arrests mark a significant step in the army’s ongoing efforts to curb organized crime and drug trafficking in the Barishal region, according to the report.

Police in Lakshmipur have filed a case and arrested businessman Sohel Rana after seizing six illegally prepared ballot seals from his printing shop, Mariam Printers, located on Old Court Road. Acting on a tip-off, officers also confiscated a computer and a mobile phone during the raid. Additional Superintendent of Police (Administration and Finance) Hossain Mohammad Raihan Kazemi confirmed the arrest on Wednesday and said Sohel’s statement would be recorded under Section 164 of the Criminal Procedure Code. The name of the second accused will be disclosed later for investigative reasons.

The incident sparked political tension as the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami held separate press conferences on Tuesday night, each blaming the other. BNP Joint Secretary General and Lakshmipur-3 candidate Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Annie alleged that Sohel was affiliated with Jamaat and that the group was involved in the seal incident. In response, Jamaat’s Lakshmipur-3 candidate and Dhaka North Secretary Rezaul Karim denied any link, asserting that Sohel was not connected to their party.

Police sources said Sohel claimed he made the seals on order but the client never collected them, adding that he had communicated with the client via WhatsApp voice messages.

Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) has arrested Emran Mia, 30, the main suspect in the murder of tomtom driver Kashem Ali in Bahubal, Habiganj. The arrest took place on February 3 at around 1:30 p.m. during a raid at Duliakhal Point in Habiganj Sadar upazila. The CNG autorickshaw used in the killing was also recovered. Emran, son of Dorbesh Ali, is from Lamatashi village in Mirpur Union, the same village as the victim.

According to PBI sources, the operation was led by Inspector Sujan Chandra Pal, the investigating officer, along with SI Mahmud, ASI Mir Shahin, and driver Constable Azim Molla. Investigators said Emran had been evading arrest for a long time by moving between different locations. Earlier, another accused named Faruk was taken into remand, through which PBI learned about Emran’s involvement.

Using advanced information technology, PBI has reportedly gathered all necessary evidence against Emran, marking a significant development in the high-profile murder case in Bahubal.

Joint forces arrested three individuals, including a commander of the Rohingya armed group ARSA, in two separate operations in Ukhiya, Cox’s Bazar, on Wednesday. The detainees were identified as ARSA commander Zahid Hossain alias Lalu, 38, and two alleged drug traffickers, Mizan, 35, and Rakib, 18. Authorities recovered local and foreign weapons, ammunition, and narcotics during the raids.

According to military sources, an army team from Ukhiya Army Camp conducted a raid in Palongkhali Union’s Nolbonia area based on intelligence, detaining two yaba traders and seizing drug paraphernalia, local liquor, and illegal weapons used in robbery and smuggling. In a separate morning operation, ARSA commander Lalu was captured from a tea shop inside Kutupalong Camp-1 (West), where a pistol and two rounds of ammunition were found on him.

Officials stated that legal action has been taken against the detainees. Sources said Lalu had long been involved in abduction, extortion, and arms trade within the Rohingya camps, and was accused of links to multiple killings under former ARSA leader Ataullah Jununi.

Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman has expressed hope that justice will be ensured for the hacking of his verified X (Twitter) account. In a Facebook post on Wednesday afternoon, he confirmed that the person involved in the hacking had been detained by law enforcement authorities. He thanked the police for their prompt action and said ensuring punishment would deter others from committing similar cybercrimes.

Earlier, Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s Detective Branch arrested Mohammad Saroware Alam, an assistant programmer at Bangabhaban, in connection with the hacking. The arrest took place after midnight on Tuesday during a raid at a government quarter near the east side of the Rajarbagh Police Lines auditorium. DMP’s Detective Branch chief Additional Police Commissioner Shafiqul Islam confirmed the arrest and said the suspect’s mobile phone and laptop had been seized for examination.

Dr. Rahman emphasized that legal measures against cybercrime are essential for maintaining control over digital offenses and ensuring a fair upcoming election.