United News of Bangladesh

The charge sheet in the murder case of Sharif Osman bin Hadi, spokesperson of Inqilab Moncho, will be submitted by January 7, said Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Md Sajjat Ali on Saturday night. “We have already arrested 10 suspects involved in the Hadi murder and are working to arrest others who were behind the killing,” he said while addressing protesters at Shahbagh in the capital. The DMP chief also said police have made significant progress in the investigation but declined to disclose details in the interest of the ongoing probe. Protests demanding justice for Sharif Osman bin Hadi continued for the second consecutive day at Shahbagh in the capital on Saturday. Protesters, including women and children, joined the demonstration and chanted various slogans. Similar protest rallies were also held in different parts of the country, including the New Market area in Chattogram. Osman Hadi, who was also a prospective candidate for the Dhaka-8 constituency, was shot in the head on December 12 while travelling in a rickshaw on Culvert Road in Purana Paltan. He was later airlifted to Singapore for advanced treatment, where he succumbed to his injuries on the night of December 18.

Members of the Bangladesh Navy detained 11 people for attempting to smuggle diesel and cement to Myanmar through the Saint Martin’s area on Friday. Acting on a tip-off, a Bangladesh Navy team intensified patrols in Saint Martin’s Island and adjacent areas. The team from the naval ship Shahid Mohibullah detected a suspicious fishing boat about 42 nautical miles from the Qutubdia Lighthouse. When the navy ship signalled the boat to stop, it changed course and attempted to flee. The naval team chased and eventually seized the fishing boat, identified as FB Ankita Annesha. During a search, the law enforcers recovered 1,000 litres of diesel and 650 bags of Bangladeshi Diamond Cement from the boat, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Saturday. The detainees admitted that they were transporting the diesel and cement to Myanmar for smuggling in hopes of making higher profits. Later, the detainees, along with the seized goods, were handed over to Patenga Model Police Station for further legal action.

Members of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) recovered 24 powerful electric detonators during a drive along Tahirpur border in Sunamganj district on Friday morning. A patrol team of Charagaon Border Outpost (BOP) under Sunamganj Battalion conducted the drive near the border pillar 1195/1-S at Maizhati, 30 yards off India border around 8am. During the operation, 24 electric detonators were found wrapped in polythene and tactfully concealed under tree branches. No arrests were made in connection with the recovery. Lt. Col AKM Zakaria Kadir, commandant of Sunamganj Battalion, said the recovered detonators were highly powerful and could be used to make Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs). He said BGB suspects the explosives were smuggled in from India with malicious intent to destabilise the country and carry out acts of sabotage amid the prevailing stable situation. BGB’s surveillance along the border will continue in the future to safeguard national sovereignty and ensure public safety, he added. BGB also confirmed that legal procedures are underway regarding the recovered explosives.

Members of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) have been deployed at key points, including Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka, to maintain order ahead of Tarique Rahman’s return. According to the BGB headquarters, several platoons of the paramilitary force have been assigned at the 300 Feet, where a grand reception will be accorded to Tarique Rahman, and Gulshan where he will stay. Dog squad of the BGB has been deployed at the VIP terminal of the Shahjalal Airport in Dhaka. Tarique Rahman is expected to leave the airport via the terminal. Meanwhile, BNP senior leader Salahuddin Ahmed, Gayeshwar Chandra Roy and others arrived at Dhaka airport to welcome Tarique Rahman. Moreover, the 300 Feet area has now turned into a human sea as the party fellows from the parts of the country have thronged at the venue.

Police have arrested one Himon Rahman Shikdar, an Adabar Thana Jubo League activist and an associate of Alamgir, the motorcyclist allegedly involved in the killing of Inqilab Mancha spokesperson and Dhaka-8 prospective candidate Sharif Osman Hadi. The arrest was made on Wednesday around 2:00pm during a raid at a residential hotel in the Adabar area, based on secret information received by the Intelligence and Analysis Division (IAD), said Officer-in-charge of Adabar Thana Ziaur Rahman. Following information provided by the arrestee, police recovered a foreign-made pistol, three rounds of live ammunition, fireworks, crackers, gunpowder and various materials used for making cocktails from the house of his associate Mehdi in the Baitul Aman Housing area under Adabar Thana. Police said preliminary interrogation revealed that Himon Rahman Shikdar and his associate were planning subversive activities. Efforts are underway to arrest others involved in the incident.          

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) have arrested three more people in connection with the attack on the offices of  The Daily Star and Prothom Alo  in the capital’s Karwan Bazar area. With the latest arrests, the total number of arrestees has risen to 31. The arrestees are Mohammad Jakir Hossain Shanto (29), Mohammad Swapan Mondol (30) and Niaz Mahmud Farhan (21). Quoting the Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit DMP’s DC (Media) Talebur  Rahman on Wednesday evening said Jakir Hossain Shanto was arrested on Tuesday  from Bailey Road area, while Swapan Mondol from Abdullahpur Mor area under Tongi Police Station in Gazipur district. 11 more arrested over attacks on Prothom Alo, The Daily Star offices Meanwhile, a team of the DB Cyber North Division under the DMP  arrested Niaz Mahmud Farhan early Tuesday  during a drive in Bhola district.  The arrestees have been produced before a court, police said.      

The Council of Advisers on Wednesday approved the draft of Bangladesh Telecommunication ((Amendment) Ordinance aimed at improving service quality, strengthening regulatory oversight and preventing the misuse of surveillance powers. The approval came at a meeting of the Council of Advisers chaired by Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus at his office, according to an official release. One of the most significant changes under the amendment is a provision stating that internet or telecommunication services cannot be shut down under any circumstances (Section 97). The amendment also restores the independence and accountability of the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) by moving away from the controversial 2010 amendment framework and redefining the balance of authority between the Ministry and the regulator. Under the revised law, only select national-level licenses will require ministerial approval based on independent studies, while all other licensing powers will revert to the BTRC. To enhance oversight, an Accountability Committee chaired by the Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Posts and Telecommunications has been formed. The amendment also reduces the time required for license approvals and lowers previously high fines and recurring penalties to encourage investment in the telecom sector. Transparency measures have been strengthened, requiring the BTRC to hold public hearings every four months and publish follow-up actions online. Safeguards against conflicts of interest have also been introduced (Section 87). Strong protections against the misuse of personal data have been included. Surveillance or harassment using SIM and device registration information has been made a punishable offense (Section 71). Meanwhile, the controversial “speech offence” provision has been revised to criminalize only incitement to violence, aligning it with the Cyber Security Ordinance 2025 (Section 66A). The amendment introduces new provisions for appeal and arbitration in telecom-related disputes (Section 82B). A major institutional reform is the establishment of the Centre for Information Support (CIS) under the Ministry of Home Affairs (Section 97A), replacing the National Telecommunications Monitoring Centre (NTMC), which has been abolished. The CIS will only provide technical assistance for lawful interception and will not conduct surveillance itself. Lawful interception will be strictly limited to clearly defined circumstances such as national security, maintenance of law and order, urgent life-saving needs, and judicial or investigative purposes, following specific procedures and international best practices. To ensure accountability, the amendment establishes a quasi-judicial council and parliamentary oversight mechanisms. Complaints regarding unlawful interception may be filed with the council, while the Parliamentary Standing Committee will publish an annual public report on interception activities and review related budgets and institutional capacity. The ordinance also includes provisions for image and voice protection, SIM and device data protection, and alignment with international standards set by the United Nations and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).

The Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) has taken extensive security measures across the country to ensure peaceful celebration of Christmas. It has intensified nationwide intelligence surveillance and deployed an adequate number of personnel since December 23. Sources at the RAB headquarters said its dog squad and bomb disposal unit are conducting round-the-clock sweeping operations at important churches, places of worship and major event venues. Besides, Rab's commando teams have been kept  standby to deal with any emergency situation. Checkposts have been set up at key points including churches and important locations in metropolitan cities, district towns and upazila levels. Besides, necessary reserve forces have been kept ready in all metropolitan areas and important district towns, said a RAB media releaes. RAB’s cyber monitoring teams are maintaining round-the-clock online surveillance to prevent the spread of rumours and false information in the virtual space. CCTV monitoring is being conducted at important churches and event venues by Christmas Celebration Committees. Volunteers appointed by the committees along with on-duty RAB members are carrying out searches. Special measures have also been taken to prevent harassment, eve-teasing and sexual harassment of women attending churches and programmes. RAB battalions are coordinating with local representatives and other law enforcement agencies through their respective control rooms. RAB has requested the public to inform them through hotline: 01777720029  regarding attempts to sabotage or disrupt communal harmony surrounding Christmas. Considering the movement of foreign diplomats, VIPs, prominent Christian community members and clergy during Christmas programmes, RAB said it is ensuring venue security through intelligence-based risk assessment.

Members of Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) arrested one more person from Tejgaon area of the capital in connection with the attack, vandalism, looting and arson at the office of The Daily Star in the capital’s Karwan Bazar area. The arrestee was identified as Azmir Hossain Akash, 27, son of Alamgir Hossain of Tejturi Bazar in Tejgaon area of the capital. Tipped off, a team of Rab-3 conducted a drive in the area and arrested Azmir along with two monitors, one CPU, one hard disk, three cables, one switch adaptor and one mouse on Tuesday night. A group of miscreants carried out an attack on the newspaper office 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 Daily Star office and later set fire to parts of the building. Police have collected CCTV footage from the scenes and launched multiple drives to identify and arrest those involved, they added. A case was filed with Tejgaon Police Station in connection with the incident. 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.

International Crimes Tribunal-1 on Wednesday ordered commencement of  trial against four people including ex-BGB officer Lieutenant Colonel Redwanul Islam in connection with the killing of 28 people in Rampura during July-August Movement. The three-member tribunal led by Chairman Justice Md Golam Mortuza Majumder framed charges against them and passed the order. The other accused are ex- BGB Major Md Rafat Bin Alam, additional deputy commissioner of DMP Khilgaon zone Rashedul Islam and former Officer-in-Charge of Rampura police station Mashiur Rahman. Among them Major Rafat was produced before the court from Dhaka Cantonment sub-jail. Earlier on October 22, the two former BGB personnel were produced before the court. Ex-DMP Commissioner, 7 other policemen indicted in Chankharpool mass killing Later they were sent to jail after showing them arrested in the case. Earlier, prosecutor Faruk Ahmed brought charges against the four people. According to the prosecution, 28 people were killed and several others injured in Rampura area by members of law enforcement agencies during the July uprising.