United News of Bangladesh

Police have arrested another accused, who allegedly hanged the body of Dipu Chandra Das from tree after his death in a lynch-mob attack, from Gazipur district in connection in Bhaluka upazila of Mymensingh district on December 18. The arrestee was identified as Nibir Islam Anik, 20, son of Kalimullah of Trishal upazila in Mymensingh district. Police arrested Nibir from Cherag Ali area of Tongi in Gazipur district around 5:30 pm on Tuesday, said Additional Superintendent (Administration) of Mymensingh Police, Abdullah Al Mamun. In a video footage, Nibir was found hanging the body of Dipu and set it on fire after his death, he said. On Wednesday, police produced him before a court seeking a seven-day remand. Police said videos and images spread after the incident showed a man wearing a white shirt pulling Dipu up a tree with a rope. After analysing footage collected from social media the investigation team identified Nibir. Police also said he had been absent from his workplace since the incident. With this the number of arrestees in this connection rose to 19. Dipu Chandra Das, 28, a local garment worker, was beaten to death by a mob over alleged blasphemy in Bhaluka Upazila of Mymensingh district on December 18.

Twenty seven platoons of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) have been deployed at key points of Dhaka to ensure tight security around the janaza and burial of BNP Chairperson and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia. Md Shariful Islam, public relations officer of the BGB headquarters, said the deployment covers Evercare Hospital, the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban area and Zia Udyan to strengthen overall security. The namaz-e-janaza of Khaleda Zia is scheduled to be held at 2pm on Wednesday at Manik Mia Avenue and she will be laid to rest at 3:30pm beside her husband, martyred President Ziaur Rahman. Curtain falls on a political giant as Khaleda Zia passes into history Begum Khaleda Zia passed away at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka at 6am on Tuesday. She was 80. On the other hand, Bangladesh is observing a three-day state mourning and general holiday on Wednesday over the death of Khaleda Zia. Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus announced the decision in a televised address to the nation on Tuesday.

All necessary arrangements are being made by the security forces and relevant state authorities to allow the public to participate in the funeral of former Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia, officials said Tuesday night. According to a press release from the Chief Adviser’s Press Wing, the funeral will be held at Manik Mia Avenue on Wednesday, after Zohr prayers, around 2:00 pm. The coffin will be placed at the western end of Manik Mia Avenue instead of the South Plaza of the National Parliament. The ceremony will take place both inside the National Parliament grounds and across Manik Mia Avenue, with measures in place to ensure that people can participate safely. Roads surrounding the avenue will also be managed to allow public access. After the funeral, around 3:30 pm, Begum Khaleda Zia will be laid to rest with state honors beside the late President and freedom fighter Ziaur Rahman. Members of her family, high-ranking state officials, government authorities, foreign guests, diplomats, and BNP-nominated politicians are expected to attend. Access will be restricted to designated personnel during the burial, and public movement in Zia Udyan, Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, will be limited until the completion of the burial rites.

The Ministry of Home Affairs has directed that no assemblies or programmes, including the Bishwa Ijtema, be held at the Tongi Ijtema ground during the pre-election period to ensure the smooth conduct of the 13th Jatiya Sangsad election and the 2026 referendum. The directive was issued on Tuesday through a letter sent to the Inspector General of Police (IGP). According to the letter, requests had been made to organise Khurujer Jor from January 2–4 and Bishwa Ijtema-2026 from January 22–24 at the Tongi Ijtema ground. However, considering the need to ensure a free, fair, peaceful and uninterrupted election and referendum, the ministry asked the IGP to take necessary measures to prevent any gatherings or events, including Khurujer Jor and the Bishwa Ijtema, at the venue during the pre-election period. The letter also noted that keeping the Tongi Ijtema ground free of assemblies during the election period is necessary in view of overall law and order, public safety and administrative preparedness surrounding the nationally significant election and referendum. The Home Ministry instructed the police and all concerned authorities to take required steps and ensure full cooperation in implementing the directive.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has expressed deep shock at the sad demise of three-time former Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia. On behalf of the DMP, its commissioner SM Sazzat Ali conveyed the sadness. As a three day state mourning will be observed showing respect to Khaleda Zia from Wednesday to Friday. Considering the situation, the DMP commissioner has issued the instructions exercising his powers conferred by Sections 28 and 29 of the DMP Ordinance. 1. During that time, all types of fireworks, bursting of crackers, flying lanterns and gas balloons have been banned in the DMP area. 2. No cultural programmes, DJ parties, rallies or processions can be held in open spaces. 3. Loud honking of car horns or any other activity that creates public nuisance is prohibited. The DMP seeks the full cooperation of the respected city residents to observe the mourning.

Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) arrested a listed criminal and recovered  two firearms and ammunition during a drive in the Pallabi area of the capital late Monday night. The arrestee was identified as Ashikur Islam Shanto, 20. Based on secret information,  a team of DB (Mirpur Division) conducted the operation in front of Meghbaran Restaurant in Section-11 under Pallabi Police Station around 11:10pm. The detectives had information that a gang of armed men and drug dealers were staying inside the restaurant, said DMP's DC (Media) Talebur Rahman on Tuesday afternoon. Sensing presence of the law enforcers, arrested Ashikur was trying to flee the scene but finally he was caught. Acting on his information got during primary interrogation,the detectives carried out another drive  on the ground floor of an abandoned DNCC market at Paris Road in D Block of Mirpur-10 Section and recovered a foreign-made revolver, a foreign pistol with a magazine loaded with two rounds of 9mm bullets, and 20 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition by digging under the staircase . A case was filed with Pallabi Police Station in this connection. DB arrests 13 AL, affiliate leaders for attempting to disrupt public order During interrogation, Ashikur reportedly confessed to being an active member of a terrorist group known as “Bhaira De.” He and his associates had long been involved in drug trading, extortion and snatching in the Pallabi area by intimidating people with firearms, the DC (Media) said. Police also said Ashikur is a charge-sheeted accused in 10 cases, including snatching, preparation for robbery, theft and narcotics cases filed with different DMP police stations.

Police detained a youth with a toy pistol from behind the stage of Inqilab Mancha sit-in programme in the capital’s Shahbagh on Monday evening (December 29, 2025). Police said several people spotted the youth behaving suspiciously behind the stage of the rally and held him before handing him over to police. Read more: Inqilab Moncho's Shahbagh blockade continues demanding justice for Hadi A pistol-like object was recovered from his possession, and he was immediately taken to Shahbagh Police Station. According to the National ID card recovered from him, the detainee was identified as Md Arafat Zaman, a resident of Jigatola. Shahbagh Police Station Officer-in-Charge Moniruzzaman said the object recovered from Arafat was verified as a toy pistol. “He has been kept in police custody for questioning. During primary interrogation, he claimed he used the toy pistol for playing at home and brought it out today by mistake,” the OC said. Read more: Hadi murder case to be tried under current govt: Home Adviser

Jahangirnagar University (JU) authorities on Monday detained a candidate for using the artificial intelligence tool ChatGPT to cheat in the 2025–26 academic year undergraduate (honors) first-year admission test (55th batch). A mobile court, after establishing his guilt, sentenced the student to seven days of simple imprisonment. The incident occurred during the second shift of the ‘A’ unit admission test under the Faculty of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, in Room 102 of the Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) department. According to the source of university administration, the arrested student, Md. Mahmudullah Hasan, a resident of Akashkuri village in Dimla Upazila, Nilphamari, was found secretly using a mobile phone to collect answers via ChatGPT and fill out the OMR sheet. Suspicious of the student’s activity, the invigilator immediately informed the proctorial body, and Hasan was later taken to the proctor’s office. During questioning, Hasan admitted to previously using the same method in the ‘D’ unit admission test of the Faculty of Biological Sciences on Dec 23, taking photos of the question paper in Room 401 of the Chemistry department to collect answers via ChatGPT. He secured the 242nd position in the merit list of that unit in results published on Dec 25. Following the investigation, the university administration canceled Hasan’s admission tests for all units. Professor Mohammad Mafruhi Sattar, acting dean of the Faculty of Biological Sciences, said, “The student’s results will be annulled.” Proctor AKM Rashidul Alam added, “The student will not be allowed to participate in any future admission tests at Jahangirnagar University. The executive magistrate’s court sentenced him to seven days in jail, and he is currently serving the sentence.”

Inspector General of Police (IGP) Baharul Alam on Monday instructed field-level police officers to maintain law and order at any cost, giving the highest priority to the upcoming national election. Addressing the monthly crime review meeting at the Police Headquarters, the IGP emphasised that any election-related disorder must be met with immediate and strict legal action. Prof Yunus reaffirms fair polls as preparations underway in full swing “Pre-election law and order is of paramount importance. The visible presence of police must be increased through regular patrols and strengthened searches at check-posts,” he said, adding that anyone obstructing lawful police duties must be arrested and produced before court. Baharul Alam also directed officers to intensify efforts to recover weapons looted from police stations during last year’s August student–public mass movement, and to widely publicise government-declared rewards for such recoveries. All metropolitan police commissioners, range DIGs, and district superintendents of police (SPs) joined the meeting virtually. Arms smuggling attempts rise ahead of Bangladesh polls: Home Adviser At the headquarters, Additional IGP (Administration) AKM Awlad Hossain, Additional IGP (Crime and Operations) Khondaker Rafiqul Islam, DIG (Operations) Md Rezaul Karim, and DIG (Confidential) Md Kamrul Ahsan attended. The meeting also reviewed the overall crime situation for November 2025, covering execution of conviction warrants, progress of case investigations and trials, conviction rates and other key issues.

Police have arrested three people in connection with the murder of a college student in broad daylight in Sirajganj district town on Sunday afternoon. The arrestees are Md Ashiq, 22, son of Abdus Sattar of Dhanbandhi Mohalla of the town; Md Shakib Ibrahim, 28, son of Jamal Sheikh of the same Mohalla; and Mehedi Hasan, 18, son of Ujjal Hossain. Sirajganj Additional Superintendent of Police (Sadar Circle) Nazran Rouf said police conducted raids at various locations throughout Sunday night and arrested them. The arrestees are currently being interrogated, he added. Arms smuggling attempts rise ahead of Bangladesh polls: Home Adviser According to CCTV footage, the victim, 18-year-old Abdur Rahman Riyad, was sitting in a CNG-powered auto-rickshaw on Bahirgola Road, a busy Press Club area in the district town, at around 4:30 pm on Sunday. At that time, several youths approached from different directions and stabbed him repeatedly with locally made weapons inside the auto-rickshaw, leaving him critically injured. He was rescued and admitted to Shaheed M Mansur Ali Medical College Hospital in critical condition, where he died later that night while undergoing treatment. The brutal incident quickly went viral on social media. Police arrest suspect with firearm, explosives in Osman Hadi killing case In this connection, the deceased’s father, Rezaul Karim, filed a murder case naming 11 people and 15–20 unidentified individuals as accused. Abdur Rahman was a first-year student at Islamia Government College.