Crime and Justice
‘Ghost Electricity Bills’ Shock Residents in Jhenaidah
Residents of several villages in Jhenaidah’s Maheshpur upazila have been left stunned after receiving unusually high electricity bills—many several times higher than their regular charges.
In Azampur village, daily wage earner Khokon Biswas said he received a bill of Tk 33,450 this month, despite using only two fans, two light bulbs, and a refrigerator.
“Our usage hasn’t changed, yet the bill came as if we’re millionaires. How can I pay this?” he told reporters.
Shopkeeper Jakir Hossain from Bhairaba Bazaar shared a similar experience. His usual bill is around Tk 1,000, but this month it was Tk 8,500.
“When we go to the office, they say an investigation is underway, but they cut the line in the meantime,” he said.
Residents allege that the bills were prepared on estimated averages instead of actual meter readings, causing inflated charges.
Despite multiple complaints—both written and verbal—no effective solution has been provided so far.
Abhijit Saha, Assistant Engineer at the Maheshpur zonal office of the Rural Electrification Board, confirmed the issue.
“We are aware that some customers received unusually high bills. An investigation is underway. If there are meter faults or reading errors, they will be corrected. Disciplinary action will be taken if any irregularities are found,” he said.
Meanwhile, discussions across Maheshpur’s tea stalls and markets now center on one issue—the electricity bill crisis—as residents await relief from what they call “ghost billing.”
A youth wing activist of the opposition BNP was shot dead by unidentified assailants in Raozan upazila of Chattogram on Saturday afternoon. The victim was identified as Mohammad Alamgir, known as Alam, 49, son of Abdus Sattar from Siddiq Chowdhury Para under East Raozan.
According to police and witnesses, Alamgir was returning home on a motorcycle after attending a family program when gunmen opened fire near the old graveyard beside Rashid’s Para mosque around 4:30 p.m. He died on the spot.
Locals alleged that law and order in Raozan has long been under the influence of “individual control” rather than administration. “There’s no real authority here — one strongman replaces another, but violence never stops,” said a resident who preferred anonymity.
Officer-in-Charge of Raozan Police Station Monirul Islam Bhuiyan said no case has been filed yet but police are conducting raids to arrest the attackers.
Earlier on October 7, another BNP activist from Raozan, Muhammad Abdul Hakim, was shot dead in neighboring Hathazari upazila. The two killings have sparked tension and fear across the region.
Crime and Justice
Body Handler Arrested for Necrophilic Act with Woman’s Corpse in Mymensingh Morgue
A body handler has been arrested in Mymensingh for allegedly committing a necrophilic act with the corpse of a 20-year-old woman inside the morgue of Mymensingh Medical College Hospital. Police confirmed the arrest on Wednesday.
The accused, Abu Saeed (19), is the son of Zainal Abedin from Khandakpara village in Haluaghat upazila and worked as a body carrier for Haluaghat police.
Police said the woman from Ghoshberi area of Haluaghat had died by suicide on 19 October. Her body was sent to the hospital morgue for autopsy. As her relatives were not present, Abu Saeed allegedly violated the corpse.
During the post-mortem, a physician discovered signs of recent sexual abuse of the body and informed the authorities. The suspect was later detained and, during interrogation, confessed to the crime.
Saeed was arrested on Tuesday from Pathagar Mor in Haluaghat based on a tip-off. He was charged under the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act and produced before a court, where he gave a confessional statement.
Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Mymensingh Kotwali Model Police Station, Shibirul Islam, said: “The accused has confessed. The investigation is ongoing.”
The shocking incident has sparked widespread outrage in the area.
Fifteen army officers, currently in custody over charges of enforced disappearances and killings during the Awami League’s 15-year rule, filed bail petitions before the International Crimes Tribunal on Wednesday (October 21). The officers were brought to the tribunal in Dhaka under tight security early in the morning.
Their lawyers submitted three separate petitions, including one seeking bail. The hearing is being conducted by a three-member bench led by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Majumdar, with Justices Md Shafiul Alam Mahmud and Md Mohitul Haque Enam Chowdhury as members.
The cases—three in total—accuse 32 individuals, including 25 current and former military officers, of crimes against humanity. Two cases relate to allegations of abduction and torture during the Awami League’s tenure, while the third involves alleged atrocities committed during the July uprising in Rampura and Banasree.
Among the accused are former RAB chiefs Benazir Ahmed, M Khurshid Hossain, and Harun-or-Rashid, who remain absconding, as well as former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and several high-ranking military intelligence officials.
Law enforcement maintained strict security around Kakrail, Motsho Bhaban, and Paltan, with police, RAB, BGB, and army personnel deployed since dawn to ensure order during the high-profile hearing.
