Staff Correspondent, Dhaka BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Advocate Ruhul Kabir Rizvi has said that some political parties are trying to exploit the murder incident in front of Mitford Hospital on Wednesday. Speaking at the inauguration of the Uttara Free Medical Camp on Saturday, he said: “One or two political parties are trying to politicize the incident by adding colour to it. They are holding rallies trying to blame BNP. But unlike Sheikh Hasina, we did not remain silent. We took swift action, expelled those involved, and condemned the incident. So why are you protesting now? Clearly, to gain political advantage.” Rizvi further says: “A heartbreaking incident took place in front of Mitford Hospital last Wednesday. It is the responsibility of law enforcement to uncover the truth behind the incident. However, those from BNP-affiliated organizations whose names have surfaced were expelled for life the very same night.” He alleged: “BNP is a large family. Occasionally, one or two wrongdoers may slip in through the cracks. But the party or Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman has never hesitated to take action against such individuals.” “The night before last, there was a clash between two BNP groups in Sujanagar, Pabna. The individuals involved were expelled that very night. The Mitford incident is also not political—it was a personal business dispute. The clash was over a scrap business. There had been a long-standing conflict between the victim and the attackers. It had nothing to do with the party’s ideology or positions. Neither the metropolitan nor central leadership was aware of the issue,” Rizvi said. He further stated: “Those involved in the clash or murder will not be spared by the party. Even if they go underground, they will be brought to justice and given exemplary punishment, so that such incidents do not occur in the future.” Addressing a particular political party, he added: “We haven’t forgotten the incidents where students at Rajshahi University or Chittagong University had their tendons cut, or where a Chhatra Dal leader was abducted from a bus and murdered in Binodpur village. People haven’t forgotten your brutality.

Staff Correspondent, Dhaka Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) Director General and Additional Inspector General of Police (IGP) AKM Shahidur Rahman on Friday said no one will be allowed to take the law into their own hands and disrupt public life through mob violence. “No matter who the offenders are or which party they belong to, we will bring them to justice and ensure strict punishment,” he said at a press briefing at the RAB media centre in the capital. About the killing of a scrap trader in Old Dhaka he said: “We are conducting a shadow investigation into the incident while DMP’s investigation unit is also handling the case.” The RAB DG said law enforcement agencies remain alert to swiftly arrest those involved in any kind of crime. “In recent months, RAB has arrested those responsible for various crimes and we are taking prompt measures to ensure they face justice. So far, around 20 people involved in mob violence have been brought under the law,” he added. He cited the July 2 incident in Patgram, Lalmonirhat, where a mob attacked police officers and snatched away detainees. “Within 48 hours, three suspects were arrested,” he said. On July 3, in a triple murder case in Muradnagar, Comilla, RAB arrested six people for their involvement in the brutal mob killing of a mother and her two children. About a bomb hoax at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on Saturday, he said a female caller had warned that there might be a bomb on a Dhaka-Kathmandu flight, prompting a security sweep, which found nothing suspicious. RAB and the Army later conducted a joint operation in Uttara and detained Emon, his wife Tahmina and Imran. “Initial investigation revealed Emon was heading to Kathmandu with his extramarital partner. Unable to stop him, his wife acted on a friend’s suggestion and made the false call to halt the flight,” he said. He said similar hoax calls had been made in the past. “Anyone involved in such misleading actions will be brought to justice. These operations against criminals will continue. RAB remains committed to arresting criminals and ensuring they face justice,” said the RAB DG.

Staff Correspondent, Dhaka The International Crimes Tribunal has said that former police chief Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun may be granted a conditional pardon for becoming a state witness in the July killings case, provided he discloses details of his own crimes as well as those of his associates. This directive was included in a written copy of the order issued by International Crimes Tribunal-1 on Saturday, following the signatures of the presiding judges. The order states that, considering all aspects, the tribunal believes the accused Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun may be granted a pardon on the condition that he reveals complete and truthful details about the July killings, and provides all information he has regarding the allegations and the individuals involved. He has accepted this pardon under the condition that he will comply with these requirements and appear before the tribunal to testify whenever summoned. The order further notes that since Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun has been pardoned and has accepted it, he must be kept separated from other inmates in prison for his safety. The relevant prison authorities have been instructed to take necessary measures, and the tribunal’s registrar has been directed to stay in contact regarding this matter. Earlier, on July 10, former inspector general of police (IGP) Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun admitted responsibility for crimes against humanity committed during the mass uprising of students and civilians. That day, he told the International Crimes Tribunal: “The allegations of murder and mass killings against us during the July–August movement are true. I plead guilty to these charges. I want to become a state approver and disclose the full details of the crimes committed during the July–August movement. I wish to assist the court in uncovering the truth.” Mamun made these statements during the charge-framing hearing in International Crimes Tribunal-1, led by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mojumdar and two other judges. On the same day, the tribunal formally framed charges against three accused, including former prime minister Sheikh Hasina. It rejected the plea for dismissal and ordered the trial to proceed.

SAT Desk US President Donald Trump’s decision to delay implementing major tariff hikes on most trading partners may have offered some relief, but the extension is also prolonging global trade uncertainty, the UN warned on Tuesday. Days before the three-month pause on his “Liberation Day” tariffs was set to expire, the US president said on Monday he would give trading partners an extra three weeks to hammer out deals to avoid paying sky-high levies for their exports to the world’s biggest economy. Trump had unveiled sweeping tariffs on imports on April 2, including a baseline 10% tariff on all countries, but following market turmoil he quickly suspended tariffs above 10% until July 9.

Staff Correspondent, Dhaka Haluk Görgün, secretary of Türkiye`s Defence Industries, met with Bangladesh Army Chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman at the army headquarters on Tuesday, exchanging greetings and discussing strengthening existing defence cooperation between the two countries. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Directorate said that during the meeting, the Turkish secretary assured the army chief of possible technical and strategic support to help develop Bangladesh’s defence industry. Meanwhile, General Waker-Uz-Zaman expressed interest in producing various modern military equipment and advancing defence technology in Bangladesh with Turkish assistance.