Six Arrested, Including Victim’s Wife, in Mirzapur Kidnapping and Extortion Case in Tangail

 Police in Tangail’s Mirzapur have arrested six individuals, including the victim’s wife, Aklema Begum, in connection with the kidnapping of Rahim Miah and a demand for 4 lakh taka in ransom. The arrests were made on Saturday, August 2, and the accused were produced before a court the same day.

On Friday evening, police rescued Rahim Miah from captivity in Palpara village, Gorai Union, and apprehended the suspects. The arrested individuals are Hasan Molla (34), son of Nazim Uddin from Mir Deohata village; Imran Hossain (25), son of the late Atowar Hossain from Mir Deohata; Jahirul Islam (24), son of Rahim Sikdar; Md. Rana (20), son of Khorshed Ali from Kodalia village; Arif (33), son of Mongol Sikdar from Bahuria village; and Aklema Begum (40), daughter of Alkesh from Talchana village, Kaliakair, Gazipur.

According to police and local sources, Rahim Miah and Aklema Begum developed a romantic relationship while working at the same brick kiln and later married. After the kiln shut down, Rahim returned to his native area, where he had another wife. When Rahim ceased contact with Aklema for seven months, she planned to confront him. She lured him to Mirzapur by phone, and upon his arrival at her rented house, he was assaulted and held hostage in another house. The perpetrators then demanded 4 lakh taka from his relatives.

The victim’s family reported the incident to the national emergency service number 999. Using technology, the police identified and arrested the suspects.

Mirzapur Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Md. Rashedul Islam said, “The arrested individuals were leading an anti-drug committee in the area, but behind the scenes, they were involved in various extortion activities. A case has been filed against them, and they have been handed over to the court.”

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Businessman in Abhoynagar Held Hostage and Extorted for 4 Crore Taka: Allegations Against Suspended BNP Leader and Journalist

 In Abhoynagar, Jessore, a businessman named Shahnawaz Kabir, alias Tipu, was allegedly held at gunpoint, buried up to his chest in sand, and extorted for four crore taka in multiple phases. The accusations have been leveled against Asaduzzaman Joni, a suspended organizational secretary of Noapara Poura BNP, and Mofiz Uddin, the general secretary of Noapara Press Club. The victim’s wife, Asma Khatun, filed a written complaint at Rajghat Army Camp on July 31, 2025.

According to the complaint, on September 2 of the previous year, an individual named Saikat Hossain, alias Hira, lured Shahnawaz Kabir to Asaduzzaman Joni’s private office. There, Joni allegedly assaulted him and held him at gunpoint, demanding two crore taka. Asma Khatun transferred two crore taka to Joni’s business account via South Bangla Bank, after which the businessman was released.

Asma further alleged that on September 18 of the same year, while Shahnawaz was traveling to Noapara Bazar from Chalishia on a motorcycle, Saikat Hossain intercepted him. His phone remained unreachable until 3 PM, and it was later discovered that he had been taken to Joni’s Kana Ecopark. There, Joni, Samrat Hossain, and Mofiz Uddin allegedly assaulted him at gunpoint, buried him up to his chest in sand, and demanded another two crore taka. Under duress, Shahnawaz instructed his manager to transfer 68 lakh taka from Pubali Bank and 32 lakh taka from South Bangla Bank to Mofiz’s account. Additionally, Mofiz allegedly collected a cheque for one crore taka and threatened to kill him if he spoke about the incident.

Asma Khatun stated, “My husband has fled the area out of fear. We are living in extreme insecurity. Our business is nearly shut down, and we are left with only a house on four decimals of land. We cannot even afford our son and daughter-in-law’s education expenses. I demand justice.”

Attempts to contact Asaduzzaman Joni were unsuccessful as his phone was switched off. Mofiz Uddin, when reached, said, “I am not the Mofiz you are looking for,” before disconnecting the call.

Abdul Alim, the Officer-in-Charge of Abhoynagar Police Station, told Prothom Alo, “We have not received a written complaint yet, but we are investigating based on the verbal complaint.”

Asma Khatun expressed frustration, noting that three days after filing the complaint at the army camp, no one had contacted her, and despite informing the police verbally, no progress has been made.

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Surge in Violence Against Women and Girls in Bangladesh: 438 Cases Reported in June-July 2025

 Incidents of violence against women and girls have seen a concerning rise in Bangladesh, with a total of 438 cases reported in June and July 2025, including 51 cases of rape. These findings were highlighted in a report on violence against women and girls released by the Bangladesh Mahila Parishad (Bangladesh Women’s Council).

On Thursday (July 31), a press release signed by General Secretary Maleka Banu detailed the report, which is compiled monthly based on news published in 15 national daily newspapers and maintained by the organization’s Central Legal Aid Sub-Council.

According to the report, in July alone, 51 women and girls were victims of rape, including 32 girls and 19 women. Among these, four girls and seven women were subjected to gang rape. One girl was killed following rape, and attempts to rape were made against eight girls and two women.

Additionally, 15 individuals (nine girls and six women) faced sexual violence. Seven women were victims of acid attacks or burns, with three suffering acid burns and one dying due to burns. A total of 17 individuals (three girls and 14 women) died by suicide, and three women faced violence due to dowry demands.

The report further noted that 78 individuals were victims of homicide in July, including 10 girls and 56 women. One woman faced an attempted murder, and five girls and six women died under mysterious circumstances. Family violence affected six individuals (two girls and four women), while three individuals (two girls and one woman) died by suicide due to domestic worker abuse. Additionally, 10 individuals (eight girls and two women) were abducted, and 10 women were victims of trafficking. Attempts at child marriage were made against two girls, three women faced physical abuse, and six women were subjected to various forms of violence.

The Bangladesh Mahila Parishad has called for urgent measures and stricter legal enforcement to curb violence against women and girls in the country.

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Five Passengers Killed in Cox’s Bazar Express Collision with CNG Auto-Rickshaw in Ramu

 Five passengers, including women and children, were killed when the Dhaka-bound Cox’s Bazar Express train collided with a CNG-run auto-rickshaw at Dhali Chhara Crossing in Ramu Upazila, Cox’s Bazar. The identities of the deceased could not be immediately confirmed.

The tragic incident occurred around 1:15 PM on Saturday (August 2). The impact scattered the victims’ bodies across a one-kilometer stretch along the railway tracks. Local sources reported that around 2:30 PM, when the Chittagong-bound Prabal Express train reached the accident site, locals blocked the train, demanding that the bodies be recovered before allowing it to proceed.

Eidgaon Police Station’s Officer-in-Charge (OC) Mashiur Rahman confirmed the incident, stating that police have reached the site and are working to manage the situation. “We are at the scene, and the process of recovering the bodies is underway. The cause of the accident will be investigated,” he added.

The incident has sparked widespread grief and tension in the area. Locals have raised allegations of signal system failures against the railway authorities. Police have stated that further details will be provided after the investigation is complete.

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Couple Arrested in Mathbaria, Pirojpur for Blackmailing with Obscene Videos

 Police have arrested a couple in Mathbaria Upazila of Pirojpur district on charges of luring individuals into romantic traps, secretly recording obscene videos, and using them for blackmail. The arrests were made on Friday night (August 1) in the Mahila College Road area of Ward No. 2 in the municipal town.

The arrested individuals are Sajib (25) and his wife Hira Moni (28), residents of the Andharmanik area in the upazila. According to police and local sources, the couple allegedly enticed young men into romantic relationships, secretly recorded compromising videos, and later threatened to make these videos public to extort large sums of money.

Victims have alleged that Sajib’s mother was also involved in the blackmailing scheme. One anonymous victim stated, “In 2023, Sajib and his mother blackmailed me, demanding a hefty amount. I was saved with the help of locals.” After locals became aware of these criminal activities, they lodged a complaint with the police, leading to a raid that resulted in the arrest of Sajib and Hira Moni.

Mathbaria Police Station’s Officer-in-Charge (OC) Abdullah Al Mamun confirmed, “The arrested individuals were sent to jail through the court on Saturday (August 2). The investigation is ongoing, and action will be taken against any other involved parties.”

The incident has caused significant unrest in the area. Locals have praised the police action and demanded stringent measures against such crimes.

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Decomposed Body of Unidentified Man Recovered from Sea in Kutubdia, Cox’s Bazar

 Police recovered the decomposed body of an unidentified man floating in the sea near Kutubdia Upazila, Cox’s Bazar, on Saturday, August 2, at around 10:30 AM. The body was found in the Kaiyarbill Union area of the upazila.

According to local sources, several residents spotted the body floating in the sea and promptly informed the Kutubdia Police Station. Acting on the information, police arrived at the scene, retrieved the body, and transported it to the station.

Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Kutubdia Police Station, Arman Hossain, confirmed the recovery, stating, “Based on information provided by locals, we recovered the decomposed body of an unidentified person from the sea. The individual is estimated to be between 30 and 35 years old. He was wearing a full-sleeved shirt and half-pants.”

He further added that the identity of the deceased could not be immediately established. An unnatural death case has been filed, and the body has been sent to the morgue at Cox’s Bazar Medical College Hospital for an autopsy. The police have initiated an investigation to determine the cause of death and identify the individual.

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Fire at Sundarban Square Market in Gulistan Brought Under Control by Fire Service

 The Fire Service and Civil Defence successfully brought a fire under control at Sundarban Square Market in Gulistan, Dhaka, on Saturday, August 2, at 11:12 AM. The blaze, which broke out on the fifth floor of the market around 10:00 AM, was contained within approximately an hour.

Lima Akter, the duty officer at the Fire Service’s control room, confirmed the details. She stated, “We received the alert around 10:00 AM. Immediately, 11 fire service units were dispatched to the scene. Nine units actively worked to extinguish the fire, while two remained on standby. The fire was fully brought under control by 11:12 AM.”

According to the Fire Service, the building was listed as a high-risk structure. Notably, it lacked any fire suppression systems, which posed significant challenges during the operation. The absence of such safety measures heightened concerns about the building’s vulnerability.

The cause of the fire and the extent of the damage remain unclear, as no immediate information was available. The Fire Service, along with relevant authorities, has initiated an investigation to determine the origin of the blaze and assess the losses incurred.

The incident has sparked concern among local traders and residents, particularly regarding the lack of fire safety measures in high-risk commercial buildings like Sundarban Square Market.

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