NEW YORK: A violent clash erupted between two rival factions of the Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) in Jackson Heights, Queens, leaving one senior leader seriously injured and another arrested by the New York City Police Department (NYPD). The incident occurred at approximately 10:30 p.m. on August 3 during an event held on 73rd Street, commonly known as “Bangladesh Street,” in Jackson Heights.

According to eyewitnesses and local sources, a heated verbal altercation broke out between members of the two factions over longstanding organizational disputes and leadership rivalry. The confrontation quickly escalated into a physical fight, resulting in a bloody clash.

During the violence, several people at the scene were heard shouting warnings that a weapon or firearm might be present, prompting panic among attendees. Multiple videos of the incident later circulated widely on social media, drawing significant attention and concern within the Bangladeshi-American community.

Mohammad Shihab, Joint General Secretary of the United States Bangladesh Chhatra League, was reportedly assaulted during the clash and sustained serious injuries. Local residents and bystanders rushed him to a nearby hospital, where he remains under medical treatment.

Responding to emergency calls, officers from the NYPD arrived promptly at the scene and brought the situation under control. Based on allegations of assault, police detained and later arrested Zakir Hossain Rahul, also a Joint General Secretary of the United States Bangladesh Chhatra League.

Local party members said the violence stemmed from longstanding internal divisions within the organization, including demands for the resignation of the recently appointed president of the U.S. unit, Mahmud Hasan, and disagreements over the current leadership committee. They alleged that the clash was the result of escalating political rivalry and a struggle for organizational control.

The incident has drawn criticism from many members of the Bangladeshi diaspora, who expressed disappointment over the outbreak of violence involving a prominent student organization on U.S. soil.

Following the incident, the President of the United States Awami League, Dr. Siddiqur Rahman, and General Secretary Abdus Samad Azad issued a joint statement urging party leaders and activists to remain calm and exercise restraint.

In the statement, Dr. Rahman said those responsible for the violence would be investigated and that strict organizational action would be taken in accordance with the party’s constitution. The leaders also urged supporters to refrain from spreading rumors or misinformation on social media and to rely only on verified information regarding the incident. The NYPD investigation into the incident remains ongoing.

New Jersey: Two Bangladeshi nationals have been arrested in New Jersey after allegedly posing as bank security officials to scam a woman out of $25,000 and attempting to collect an additional $30,000, according to police. The suspects, identified as Mohammad N. Islam, 48, of Egg Harbor, and Mohammad Z. Islam, 58, of Westville, were arrested Friday by the Riverside Township Police Department. Authorities said N. Islam is originally from Narail, Bangladesh, while Z. Islam is from Mirsharai in Chattogram.

According to a spokesperson for the Riverside Township Police Department, both men have been charged in connection with fraud and deception offenses.

Police said the investigation began after a local woman reported that she had been targeted by a sophisticated scam. According to her complaint, fraudsters falsely claimed that her computer had been infected with a virus that was compromising the security of her Wells Fargo bank account. They also warned that the FBI was investigating the matter and threatened that she could face serious legal consequences if she failed to cooperate.

The woman was then instructed to call a phone number provided by the scammers. During the call, she was told that paying $25,000 in cash would resolve the issue. She was further instructed to withdraw the money, place it in a Wells Fargo envelope, and hand it over to a person posing as a bank security employee, who would collect the cash from her residence.

Believing the claims to be legitimate, the woman withdrew the money from her bank and handed over $25,000 to an individual who arrived at her home.

Shortly afterward, the scammers contacted her again and demanded an additional $30,000. At that point, the woman became suspicious and contacted police.

Following police instructions, she agreed to have the suspects return to her home to collect the second payment. Officers, who had been waiting inside the residence, arrested the two men when they arrived.

Investigators said the suspects later appeared in court and were released pending further court proceedings.

Riverside Township Police are urging residents to remain vigilant against similar scams and to contact law enforcement immediately if they receive suspicious calls demanding money or claiming to represent banks, government agencies, or law enforcement.

The case follows another fraud-related arrest involving a Bangladeshi national earlier this year. In February, police arrested Niamat Ullah, 31, a resident of Buffalo, New York, in connection with a spam-call scam. Authorities said he allegedly impersonated a member of the Norton Antivirus support team and threatened a victim into paying a large sum of money. Police recovered gold coins and more than $100,000 in cash from his vehicle. He faces multiple felony charges and was lodged at Tygart Valley Regional Jail, according to law enforcement.

DHAKA: Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed today said the government has placed law enforcement and security agencies on high alert ahead of August 5 to ensure public safety and maintain law and order across the country

“All necessary measures have been taken to ensure a peaceful and secure environment across the country ahead of August 5,” he said while speaking to journalists at the Home Ministry in Bangladesh Secretariat here.

The heightened security measures are part of routine precautionary steps taken in view of the significance of the day and prevailing security considerations, he said.

Ahmed said the Home Ministry has issued specific directives to police and other security agencies to strengthen vigilance and remain fully prepared to respond to any untoward situation.

As part of the instructions, police vehicles have been directed not to remain unattended, while security personnel have been advised to maintain continuous vigilance to ensure uninterrupted monitoring and rapid response capability.

Ahmed said a high-level coordination meeting involving the government, law enforcement agencies and relevant stakeholders will be held to review the overall security situation and finalize necessary arrangements for August 5.

The minister also referred to the recent recovery of bomb-like objects in Motijheel and Ashulia, describing the incidents as attempts to create panic and disrupt social harmony.

He said a coordinated investigation is underway to identify those responsible and determine whether there are any links between the incidents.

Ahmed added that intelligence and law enforcement agencies are closely monitoring the activities of banned organizations and certain groups operating from abroad.

Further details will be disclosed once the ongoing investigations are completed, he said.

Dhaka: Six senior officials from Bangladesh’s leading intelligence agencies are set to visit Washington, D.C., following an official invitation from the United States. The visit is scheduled to take place from April 10 to April 15. According to sources, the delegation includes two officials each from three major agencies: the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI), the National Security Intelligence (NSI), and the Special Branch (SB). They are expected to depart from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka.

The primary objective of the visit is to strengthen bilateral intelligence cooperation and enhance information sharing on internal and regional security matters. During the visit, discussions will focus on security collaboration, strategic coordination, and exchange of intelligence between the two countries.

The Special Branch representatives reportedly include an Additional Inspector General and a Special Superintendent of Police. However, the identities of officials from the other agencies have not been disclosed. The visit has been approved by Bangladesh’s new government, and analysts believe it could further deepen security ties between Bangladesh and the United States.

With its political activities banned under an amended anti-terrorism law, the Bangladesh Awami League’s only remaining path to resuming operations now lies in the courts, legal experts say. The 13th National Parliament on Wednesday approved the Anti-Terrorism (Amendment) Bill, formalising an ordinance issued during the interim government’s tenure that allows authorities to prohibit activities of individuals or entities accused of involvement in terrorism.

Under the law, the government can ban organisational activities through a gazette notification, restrict public statements, and prohibit meetings, processions and campaigns across all platforms. While the Awami League as an entity has not been dissolved, the ban on its activities effectively sidelines it from political engagement.

Senior Supreme Court lawyer Mamun Mahbub said the party still has a constitutional avenue to challenge the decision. “The Awami League has not been banned as a party, only its activities,” he said. If it wants to return, it must file a writ petition in the High Court. He added that the court could examine whether the restrictions are legally justified and consistent with constitutional provisions.

The ban has sparked debate among legal experts, particularly over its compatibility with Article 38 of the Constitution, which guarantees freedom of association.Human rights lawyer Manzil Morshed said such restrictions may not withstand judicial scrutiny unless clearly justified. Citizens have a fundamental right to organise. If this law is challenged, the court will assess whether that right has been unlawfully curtailed, he said.

He argued that only organisations engaged in activities threatening state security or public order can be legally banned, and any broader restriction could be struck down.

The amendment empowers the government to declare any individual or organisation involved in terrorist activities as banned, either by listing them in an official schedule or by prohibiting all activities. It also restricts any form of communication or mobilisation in support of such entities, including through media and social platforms.

The ordinance was originally issued in May 2025 under presidential powers when Parliament was not in session and has now been enacted into law without changes. Analysts say the issue now shifts from the political arena to the judiciary.

With the law in force, the Awami League’s ability to operate depends largely on whether it chooses to challenge the ban – and how the courts interpret constitutional safeguards against state restrictions. For now, the High Court stands as the final avenue for the party to seek restoration of its political activities.

A Dhaka court on Sunday granted bail to former Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury in an attempted murder case linked to the 2024 July uprising. haka Additional Metropolitan Magistrate Zakir Hossain passed the order on Tk 50,000 on bond considering her illness and gender, said Public Prosecutor M Omar Faruq Faruqi.

There is no legal bar to the release of the former Speaker as she has not been shown arrested in any other cases, said court sources. A Dhaka court on April 7 sent her to jail in the case following her arrest the same day.

According to the case statement, Ashraful alias Fahim suffered bullet injuries to his left eye in the Azampur Bus Stand area of Uttara on July 18, 2024 during the mass uprising, which ultimately led to the fall of the Awami League government on August 5.

Later, he filed a case against 25 named individuals, including Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, and 120 unnamed ones. Following the fall of the Awami League government, she resigned on September 2, 2024.

Abdul Hamid was elected Speaker after the Awami League came to power through the 2008 general election. Following his election as President, Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury was elected Speaker on April 30, 2013. Since then, she had been serving as Speaker until the government’s fall. Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury was a Member of Parliament from Rangpur-6 constituency.

A Dhaka court has placed retired Lieutenant General Masud Uddin Chowdhury on a four-day remand in connection with the Delwar Hossain murder case filed with Mirpur Model Police Station. Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Md Monirul Islam passed the order on Tuesday afternoon following a hearing. Earlier, the investigation officer of the case, DB Police Sub-Inspector Kafil Uddin, produced the accused before the court and sought a seven-day remand. The court granted four days. Dhaka Metropolitan Public Prosecutor Omar Faruk Farooqui confirmed the matter.

According to the remand petition, the preliminary investigation found sufficient information and evidence regarding the accused’s involvement in the incident. It said remand was necessary for proper interrogation and to ensure a fair investigation. No lawyer appeared on behalf of the accused during the hearing.

Earlier, Chowdhury had been taken into remand for a total of 14 days in three phases in a separate case filed with the Paltan Model Police Station over alleged embezzlement and human trafficking involving Tk24,000 crore.

According to the case statement, an attack took place in the Falpatti area of Mirpur-10 on July 19, 2024, during an anti-discrimination student movement. The complaint states that the accused opened fire from different directions, leaving Delwar Hossain seriously injured.

He was first taken to the National Heart Institute and later shifted to a private hospital in Shyamoli, where he died at 7:40am on July 21 while undergoing treatment. In connection with the incident, the victim’s wife, Mosha Liza, filed a murder case with Mirpur Model Police Station on July 6, 2025.

Chowdhury was arrested from the Baridhara area of the capital on the night of March 23. The following day, the court placed him on a five-day remand. On March 24, he was shown arrested in the Paltan case and remanded again. Subsequently, the court granted him a second six-day remand on March 29 and a third three-day remand on April 4.

Former speaker of the National Parliament, Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, has been arrested by the Detective Branch (DB) of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP). She was taken into custody from her residence on Road 8/A in Dhanmondi, Dhaka, at around 4:30am on Tuesday.

Additional Commissioner of DB, Shafiqul Islam, confirmed the matter to Dhaka Tribune. Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner (DC) of the DMP’s media division, M N Nasir Uddin, told journalists on Tuesday morning that Chaudhury is currently being interrogated.

“As far as we know, cases have been filed against her over incidents during the July movement at Banani and Uttara police stations in the capital. There is also a case against her in Rangpur,” he said.

The DC added that she is now being questioned and further steps will be announced later. According to sources, a case was filed against Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury in connection with the fatal shooting of gold worker Muslim Uddin in Rangpur during the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement.

The murder case, lodged on August 27, 2024, names Chaudhury and 16 others, including former commerce minister Tipu Munshi. Munshi is currently in jail following his arrest in the same case.

Chaudhury was elected a member of parliament from Rangpur-6. After the 2008 Bangladesh election, the Awami League assumed power and Abdul Hamid was elected speaker. Following his elevation to the presidency, Chaudhury was elected speaker on April 30, 2013. She went on to serve four consecutive terms, most recently as speaker of the 12th National Parliament on January 30, 2024.

Desk Report: A new development has emerged in the widely discussed Bangladesh Bank reserve heist case. As part of a significant step forward in the proceedings, a court in New York has directed former governor Ahsan H. Mansur to provide a deposition. According to the court’s order, he is scheduled to testify on April 10.

This information was revealed in an internal document from the Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU). The document states that on March 11, legal representatives involved in the case confirmed the court’s directive via email. They also informed the relevant parties about preparations for the deposition.

According to the document, Mansur has already submitted an affidavit at the court’s request. The next phase requires him to give an in-person deposition. To facilitate this, the legal firms appointed by Bangladesh Bank have arranged preparatory meetings for him on April 6 and April 10.

It has been reported that Mansur departed Dhaka for the United States on April 4. He is expected to travel via Washington, D.C., before arriving in New York. His return to the country is scheduled for April 12.

Sources indicate that a related official has been requested to accompany him on the trip. The BFIU document also notes that all expenses for the visit—including airfare, accommodation, and protocol—will be covered by Bangladesh Bank. He is expected to receive facilities equivalent to those of the current governor, with arrangements coordinated by the governor’s office.

Desk Report : In the wake of a massive public uprising that toppled the Awami League government, Nobel laureate Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus responded to the call of movement leaders and assumed a leadership role in the interim government, citing “national rescue” as his mission. At the time, the nation’s hopes were pinned on him, with many believing that his leadership could elevate Bangladesh’s global standing, enhance citizens’ dignity, and unlock long-suppressed potential.

However, from August 8, 2024, when he assumed office, until February 12, 2026, when power was transferred via election, how much of the public’s expectations were actually fulfilled by the Nobel laureate? Kaler Kantho launched an investigation to answer this question.

The inquiry revealed that during his roughly 18-month tenure, Dr. Yunus leveraged his position to secure extensive personal and institutional advantages. One notable example was the rapid approval of Grameen University, a project of the Grameen Trust founded by Dr. Yunus. While 22 other private universities had pending applications for years, Grameen University received approval within just three months—an unusually fast process, facilitated by Dr. Yunus’ role as chief adviser to the interim government.

Further findings indicate that he granted tax exemptions to Grameen Bank for five years, potentially costing the government over BDT 1,000 crore in revenue. In addition, the Grameen Welfare Trust reportedly received BDT 1,043 crore in tax exemptions, and another BDT 666 crore was waived under other financial arrangements. Beyond financial benefits, he used his authority to settle seven ongoing lawsuits against himself, including high-profile corruption cases, and expedited licenses for recruitment agencies and e-wallet services linked to Grameen Trust.

Senior Supreme Court lawyer Manzil Morshed told Kaler Kantho, “Anyone taking office to run the state must ensure there is no conflict between public duty and personal interest. Officials are expected to relinquish profitable positions before assuming government roles. Dr. Yunus, while serving as chief adviser, engaged in activities that raised serious questions about conflicts of interest, potentially violating his oath and deceiving the public.”

The approval of Grameen University raised further concerns. According to the Private University Act of 2010, a minimum reserved fund of BDT 5 crore is required to establish a university in Dhaka. However, the approval for Grameen University cited only BDT 1.5 crore, prompting questions of legality and fairness. Officials from the Ministry of Education and UGC could not provide clear explanations, with some claiming they were not in office at the time, and others saying they could not recall details. The university, meanwhile, insisted that all financial requirements were met and that the initiative was nonprofit.

Additionally, the interim government period saw significant deterioration in law and order, the economy, investment, and public safety. Incidents of mob violence, political clashes, murders, arson, looting, and attacks on journalists reportedly surged. Nonperforming loans, foreign debt, interest rates, and investment stagnation increased, while high inflation affected ordinary citizens’ daily lives. Major development projects stalled, foreign agreements sparked controversy, and no meaningful progress was made on the Rohingya issue. Overall, this period negatively impacted stability, economic momentum, and citizen security.

Legal experts argue that using state authority to benefit personal or affiliated institutions constitutes a conflict of interest and a breach of the oath of office. Dr. Yunus’ actions—rapid license approvals, settlement of pending lawsuits, tax exemptions, and other privileges—have drawn criticism for transparency, accountability, and fairness.

Senior lawyer Manzil Morshed emphasized, “Decisions taken for personal gain while holding a constitutional office constitute a conflict of interest and violation of the oath. Such actions should be annulled, and legal steps taken where necessary.” Similarly, lawyer Dr. Shahdeen Malik noted that under Article 147 of the Constitution, holding profitable engagements while in office is prohibited, raising further questions about the legality of benefits obtained by Dr. Yunus and his affiliated institutions.

In summary, experts conclude that the interim government period witnessed significant concerns regarding ethics, accountability, and constitutional limits in the actions of the chief adviser and related institutions. (Kalerkantha)