United News of Bangladesh

At least five people were killed and 10 others injured in a fierce clash between two groups over occupying Jaglar Char in Hatiya upazila of Noakhali district on Tuesday. Police said the incident occurred around 10:00 am in the char along the border of Wards 7 and 8 of Sukchar union. Three of the deceased have been identified as Samsuddin, his son Mobarak, and Alauddin, 40, son of Mohiuddin. Further details about the victims could not be gathered yet. Locals said several hundred landless families currently live on Jaglar Char, as nearly half of it is owned by the government while the rest is controlled by a private group. For years, an armed group allegedly led by Farid Member, also known as Farid Commander of Hironni union, and former chairman Mushfiq, had been controlling the char and its newly formed land. The group reportedly sold lands on the char to landless people at around Tk 20,000–30,000 per acre. On Tuesday morning, an armed group of 30-40 people, led by Kauya Kamal, Alauddin, and Nizam Member, attempted to seize control of the char. Sensing the move, supporters of Farid and Mushfiq, armed with lethal weapons, attacked their rivals, leaving four dead on the spot and several others injured. Of the injured, Alauddin was rushed to Noakhali General Hospital, where physicians declared him dead. Samsuddin, his son Mobarak, and two others from Farid and Mushfiq’s group were found dead at the scene. Officer-in-charge of Hatiya Police Md Saiful Alam said five people were killed in the clash and it took considerable time to control the situation due to the remote location of the char. Along with Coast Guard and Navy personnel, additional police forces have been deployed in the area to prevent further incidents, he added.

Finance Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed said Tuesday Bangladesh manages its ties with India by keeping economic interests distinct from political rhetoric, with trade-related decisions driven by competitiveness and national interest rather than diplomacy. “Our trade policy is not driven by political considerations. If importing rice from India is cheaper than sourcing it from Vietnam or elsewhere, then it makes economic sense to buy from India,” he said while talking to reporters after a meeting of the Advisers Council Committee on Government Purchase. He said Bangladesh would import essentials such as rice from India if prices remain competitive, regardless of the prevailing political discourse between the two neighbours, mentioning that imports from alternative markets could cost Tk 10 more per kilogram. Dr Salehuddin stressed that Bangladesh has never pursued punitive trade measures against India for political reasons. “We do not believe in using trade as a tool for political retaliation. Our priority is to ensure supplies at the best possible price for our people,” he added. Referring to recent imports of onions from India, the finance adviser said delays had occurred despite surplus production in the Indian market, where farmers were reportedly unable to sell produce even at low prices. He said the issue had been addressed through direct engagement with the commerce ministry to facilitate imports in the interest of consumers. On the broader state of Bangladesh–India relations, Dr Salehuddin acknowledged that political rhetoric, particularly during periods of heightened political activity, can sometimes appear strained. He, however, maintained that such statements do not reflect the actual state of bilateral ties. “Political rhetoric is common, especially in public discourse. But that does not mean relations are deteriorating. Diplomacy involves many sensitive and nuanced aspects that are not always visible in public statements.” He dismissed concerns that relations with India had worsened, saying there was no abnormality in diplomatic or economic engagement between the two countries. “Nothing has gone bad. We are continuously working to maintain and improve relations.” Dr Salehuddin also addressed speculations that external forces might be attempting to create misunderstandings between Bangladesh and India, saying the interim government has no desire to see tensions between neighbouring countries. “We do not want any bitterness between the two nations. If anyone from outside is trying to instigate problems that is not in the interest of either country,” he said, adding that both sides are mindful of national sentiments and the need for mutual respect. He said Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus remains actively engaged in diplomatic efforts, including maintaining communication with individuals and institutions that have strong ties with India. The finance adviser also said he had personally spoken to the Indian High Commissioner, who assured him that efforts were underway to manage misunderstandings and maintain constructive engagement. “Some statements may appear in the media, and not everything can be controlled in a free environment. But that should not be interpreted as official policy,” he said. Police help Finance Adviser exit after 6 hours confined at Secretariat Highlighting Bangladesh’s regional outlook, Dr Salehuddin said the country believes strongly in regionalism and constructive engagement with all neighbours. “India is our largest neighbour and a major partner in trade, health services and many other sectors. We also maintain good relations with Bhutan and Nepal, and are gradually improving ties with Pakistan,” he added. He reiterated that Bangladesh cannot remain isolated and must work with countries in the region for shared prosperity. “Our economic and social interactions with India are extensive. These realities guide our approach, beyond temporary political narratives,” he said.    

Police have arrested 11 more people in connection with the attack, vandalism, looting and arson at the offices of Prothom Alo and The Daily Star in the capital’s Karwan Bazar area, raising the total number of arrests to 28. Of the latest arrestees, nine were arrested on Monday during raids conducted by the Detective Branch police in different areas in the city. The remaining two were arrested by Tejgaon police during the same period, DMP Deputy Commissioner (Media) Talebur Rahman said on Tuesday afternoon. The arrestees area Abdur Rahman, 30; Md Jannatul Naim, 21; Md Faisal, 24; Qari Muaz Bin Abdul Rahman, 33; Jubayer Hossain, 21; Md Almas Ali, 29; Julfikar Ali Sourav, 22; Niaz Mahmud, 28; Mohammad Mainul Islam, 22; Md Hashem, 26; and Arafat Yasin, 29. According to DB sources, a group of miscreants carried attack on the two newspaper offices on the night of December 18, taking advantage of unrest in Shahbagh and Karwan Bazar areas following the death of Osman Hadi, a spokesperson of Inquilab Moncho. The attackers vandalised the premises, looted valuables from the Prothom Alo office and later set fire to parts of the building before moving on to attack The Daily Star office at around 10:30 pm, the sources said. Police have collected CCTV footage from the scenes and launched multiple drives to identify and arrest those involved, they added. Two separate cases were filed with Tejgaon Police Station in connection with the incidents. Legal proceedings against the arrested people are underway, police said.

The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) on Tuesday framed charges against former premier Sheikh Hasina and 16 others including former and current army officers in a case over enforced disappearance and torture at the RAB’s Taskforce for Interrogation (TFI) cell during the Awami League regime. A three-member bench -1 headed by Chairman Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mozumder passed the order at noon. The trial in the case began formally through the framing of charges. Chief Prosecutor Md Tajul Islam, prosecutors Gazi MH Tamim, Shaikh Mahdi and others stood for the state while lawyers representing the arrested and fugitive accused were also present in the court. Rejecting the petitions submitted by the defence seeking discharge, the court framed charges against all the accused and ordered the trial to begin. Police produced 10 arrested army officers before the tribunal amid the tight security. They are former RAB Additional Director General Brig Gen Md Jahangir Alam, Brig Gen Tofayel Mostafa Sarwar, Brig Gen Md Kamrul Hasan, Brig Gen Md Mahabub Alam, Col KM Azad, Col Abdullah Al Momen, Col Anwar Latif Khan (on pre-retirement leave), former RAB Intelligence Wing Director Col Md Mashiur Rahman, Lt Col Saiful Islam Sumon and Lt Col Md Sarwar Bin Kashem. Trial begins against Hasina, 5 ex-DGFI chiefs over enforced disappearances, torture The fugitive accused are Sheikh Hasina, her former defence adviser Major General (retd) Tarique Ahmed Siddique, former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, former Inspector General of Police Benazir Ahmed, former RAB Director General M Khurshid Hossain, former RAB chief Barrister Harun-or-Rashid and former RAB director Lt Col (retd) Md Khairul Islam. The tribunal was initially scheduled to frame charges on December 21 but lawyer Mansurul Haque Chowdhury sought a hearing on behalf of accused Tofayel, Kamrul and Mashiur Jewel, requesting additional time. The tribunal later deferred the order by two days, fixing Tuesday for the decision. Earlier, on October 8, the ICT-1 issued arrest warrants for 30 people, including Sheikh Hasina, her security adviser and five former DGFI chiefs, in two separate cases over allegations of enforced disappearance and torture at Joint Interrogation Cells (JIC) and TFI cells during the then AL rule.

A case has been filed against 350-400 people in connection with the attack on The Daily Star office building at Kazi Nazrul Islam Avenue in the capital on Friday. Mizanur Rahman, head of operations at the Daily Star, filed the case with Tejgaon police station on Monday night, said Officer-in-Charge of the police station Kayesweenu. According to the case statement, the attackers carrying local weapons, sticks, and flammable materials, gathered outside The Daily Star building around 12:25am and chanted provocative slogans against the newspaper. Around 12:35am, the group forcibly broke steel gates and glass doors to enter the premises. They assaulted staff, vandalised office property, looted valuables, and set fire to furniture and documents. More than 200 computers, laptops, cameras, printers, and other electronic equipment were damaged or destroyed. Besides, around Tk 35 lakh in cash stored in several lockers was looted. The assailants set fire to the ground, second, and third floors of the building, severely damaging assets and documents. After the attack, the Daily Star was forced to suspend its print edition on December 19, and its online operations were halted for 17 hours, it added.

Drone operations have been banned in and around all airports including Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport due national security risks and safe air navigation. The Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) issued a letter in this regard informing all the authorities concerned, said a PID handout. According to the letter, although unauthorised drone operation in airport areas are completely prohibited under the Drone Registration and Flight Policy 2020, some electronic media outlets operated drones without permission on December 19 while covering the reception of the body of Inquilab Moncho leader Sharif Osman Hadi at the airport. The incident took place in the presence of three advisers and other important persons and drone footage was captured without prior approval which pose a serious threat to aviation safety, it said. CAAB urged representatives of electronic media and the general public to refrain from flying drones in and around airport areas.

Detectives have arrested nine more people from different parts of the country for their alleged involvement in vandalism and arson attacks on the offices of Prothom Alo and The Daily Star in the capital’s Karwan Bazar area during protests over the death of Inqilab Moncho leader Osman Hadi. The identities of the arrestees could not be known immediately. Read more: NCP labour leader shot, injured in Khulna Based on intelligence information, DB police arrested them from various locations across the country, said Talebur Rahman, Deputy Commissioner (Media) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), on Tuesday morning. With the latest arrests, the total number of arrestees has risen to 26. Taking advantage of protests in the Shahbagh and Karwan Bazar areas over the death of Osman Hadi, a group of miscreants carried out vandalism and arson attacks, and looted valuables from the Prothom Alo office, before targeting The Daily Star office at around 10:30 pm on Friday. Later, a case was filed in connection with the incidents. Read more: Police disclose special security measures for Christmas, New Year’s Eve

Law Adviser Asif Nazrul on Monday said the Osman Hadi murder case will be tried under the Speedy Trial Tribunal to ensure quick justice. In a Facebook post in the afternoon, Asif Nazrul said the trial will be held under the Speedy Trial Tribunal Act, 2002. Under Section 10 of the law, he said, the trial must be completed within a maximum of 90 days after the submission of the police report. The announcement came amid growing demand for prompt justice in the killing of Hadi. Inqilab Moncho to hold protest rally demanding immediate arrest of Hadi's killers Osman Hadi, a leading figure in the 2024 July uprising and served as spokesperson for Inquilab Moncho, was shot a day after the Election Commission announced that the next national election would take place on February 12. For advanced treatment he was airlifted to Singapore, where he succumbed to his injuries on the night of December 18. The death triggered widespread outrage and calls for exemplary punishment of those responsible.

Law enforcement agencies have arrested at least nine people in connection with recent attacks on the offices of Prothom Alo, The Daily Star and two cultural organisations in Dhaka and elsewhere in the country. Seven of the arrestees were identified as Md Kashem Faruk, Md Saidur Rahman, Rakib Hossain, Md Naim, Faisal Ahmed Pranto, Md Sohel Rana and Md Shafiqul Islam, according to a Facebook post by the Chief Adviser’s Press Wing on Monday morning (December 22, 2025). Kashem, a former student of Al-Jamia Al-Islamia Kasemul Uloom Madrasa in Bogura, currently lives in Dhaka’s Mohammadpur area. Saidur hails from Noakanda village in Bhanga upazila of Faridpur district. Rakib Hossain, from Sherpur district, was identified in video footage taking part in vandalism and arson at the offices of Prothom Alo and The Daily Star. He also posted images of the wreckage along with provocative messages on Facebook. Read more: Attacks on Daily Star, Prothom Alo a direct assault on democracy: Fakhrul Md Naim, a resident of Kunipara in Tejgaon, was arrested in Chauddagram upazila of Cumilla with Tk 50,000 looted during the attacks. During primary interrogation, he admitted to looting Tk 123,000, part of which he used to purchase a television and a refrigerator from Mohammadpur. The items were later recovered. Sohel Rana, arrested from the Karwan Bazar rail-line area, has 13 cases filed against him, including drug-related charges, at different police stations in Dhaka. Shafiqul Islam, arrested from the same area, has two previous cases related to arson and grenade attacks. Meanwhile, the Counter-Terrorism Unit of the police, along with intelligence agencies, has detained two more individuals whose identities are currently being verified. At a meeting on Sunday, police informed Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus that primary video analysis had identified 31 suspects involved in the incidents. In Chattogram, three people who attempted to create unrest near the residence of the Indian Assistant High Commissioner were also identified from video footage. Efforts are underway to arrest the remaining accused. Read more: 17 arrested over attacks on Prothom Alo, Daily Star offices: DMP

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus has said the law and order situation must be maintained at any cost before the upcoming national election.  The meeting, held on Sunday afternoon (December 21, 2025), discussed in detail various issues, including the return of BNP acting Chairman Tarique Rahman to the country, security measures taken on the occasion of the upcoming Christmas and New Year celebrations. Prof Yunus ordered the prompt arrest of those involved in the murder of youth leader Sharif Osman Hadi and other illegal activities. The issues were discussed at a meeting held at state guest house Jamuna on Sunday afternoon with Prof Yunus in the chair. The meeting reviewed the overall law and order situation in the country. Home Affairs Adviser Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, National Security Advisor Dr Khalilur Rahman and top officials of various security and law enforcement agencies were present at the meeting, said Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder on Monday. Editors’ Council, NOAB condemn arson attacks on Prothom Alo, Daily Star. Besides, the arrest of those involved in the murder of Inqilab Mancho spokesperson and July fighter Shaheed Sharif Osman Hadi and the progress of the investigation were discussed in detail. The police informed the Chief Adviser that 31 people have already been identified through video footage on suspicion of being involved in the recent attacks on the offices of two national dailies and two cultural organizations. At least six people have been arrested in various parts of the country, including Dhaka, in these incidents till Monday morning. The arrestees are Md Kashem Farooqui, Md Saidur Rahman, Rakib Hossain, Md Naeem, Md Sohel Rana and Md Shafiqul Islam. Mob incited by Elias Hossain sets fire to Daily Star office in Dhaka The operation to arrest the remaining identified suspects is underway. In addition, three of those who tried to create chaos near the residence of the Assistant High Commissioner of India in Chattogram have been identified through video footage.