United News of Bangladesh

Residents of Refugee Colony in Barishal were thrown into panic after a public shooting erupted between rival groups overnight. The incident occurred near Sardar Manzil behind Nuria School late Wednesday night. A video of the incident shows two young men riding a motorcycle and firing shots in public, while others on the street, armed with homemade weapons, engaged in a chase. The gunfire took place around 11:00 PM in front of Sardar Manzil. Locals alleged that Roki, son of “Kasai Salam” from Refugee Colony, fired at Rubel, also known as “Nak Kata Rubel,” amid a long-standing dispute between the two. The shooting caused widespread fear among residents. Kotwali Model Police Station Officer-in-Charge Al Mamun Ul Islam, however, denied the report of gunfire, saying the incident stemmed from a drug-related chase between the two sides. He added that no firearms were used, only homemade weapons, and that a written complaint has been filed. “Appropriate action will be taken following investigation,” he said.

Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed on Thursday emphasised that the judiciary should view amendments to the Constitution not as a threat, but as a reflection of democratic reality. “People hold constitutional authority and can amend the Constitution over time. The judiciary must accept this not as a threat but as a democratic reality,” he said while addressing a farewell reception at Courtroom No 1 of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court. The Chief Justice said the strength of the judiciary does not lie in any single office but in a collective commitment to serve with justice, balance and foresight. Addressing judges and lawyers of both divisions of the Supreme Court, the Chief Justice said they have together passed through a significant period in the country’s judicial history. He expressed gratitude for the cooperation he received over the last 16 months. Refaat Ahmed said the state is run under the Constitution through three principal organs, namely the legislature, the executive and the judiciary. “The Supreme Court building is not merely a structure but one of the three foundations of civic life. Judges are usually credited for verdicts but it is the lawyers who shape the language, reasoning and structure of those judgments.” Refaat Ahmed said in an unstable world, the judiciary’s stability, restraint, integrity and courage can be the most reliable source of national steadiness. Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed will retire on December 27. The farewell reception was organised to mark his last working day in line with tradition. Attorney General Md Asaduzzaman first spoke on the Chief Justice’s professional life followed by speeches from Supreme Court Bar Association President AM Mahbub Uddin Khokon. Following the fall of the Awami League government after the July mass uprising, Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed took oath as the country’s 25th Chief Justice on August 11 last year. As per the Constitution, judges retire at the age of 67. Born on December 28, 1958, the Chief Justice will reach that age on December 27. Syed Refaat was born on 28 December 1958. His father, Syed Ishtiaq Ahmed, was a legendary legal mind and an Attorney General of Bangladesh and his mother, Language Movement veteran Sufia Ahmed, was a National Professor of Bangladesh and a professor of Islamic History and Culture at the University of Dhaka. He obtained LL.B. (Hons) (First Class, First in order of merit), University of Dhaka. He completed a bachelor of arts in jurisprudence and masters at the Wadham College of Oxford University in 1983. Later, he completed his Masters and PhD from The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy of Tufts University, USA. He was also a Ford Foundation Fellow in Public International Law at The Fletcher School. In 1984, Ahmed became a lawyer of the District Courts. He became a lawyer of the High Court Division in 1986. In 2002, he became a lawyer of the High Court Division. Later, he was appointed an additional justice of the Bangladesh High Court on 27 April 2003. Ahmed was made a permanent Judge on the High Court Division on 27 April 2005. Justice Refaat Ahmed also worked as a Lawyer in the City of London and with the UNHCR in Hong Kongand Washington, D.C.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Sheikh Md Sazzat Ali on Thursday said law enforcers must ensure public safety while allowing normal daily activities to continue uninterrupted. He made the remarks at a meeting at the DMP Headquarters ahead of Christmas, the largest religious festival of the Christian community, and the English New Year’s Eve. The DMP commissioner said security measures should be taken in a way that does not hamper the normal movement of people. He said adequate arrangements would be in place to ensure that Christmas is observed in a solemn and festive atmosphere. He said Christmas-related religious programmes will be held at 73 churches across the capital. To prevent the spread of rumours and misinformation, cyber patrolling has been intensified alongside enhanced intelligence surveillance. Referring to upcoming events, the commissioner urged all concerned to remain alert to prevent any untoward incidents on the 31ar night. He also requested city residents to refrain from motor racing, warning that vehicles involved in racing on 31st night would be seized. Additional Police Commissioner (Administration) Md Sarwar said prior permission must be obtained to organise any event on the occasion of 31st night. Additional Police Commissioner (DB) Md Shafiqul Islam said fireworks and sky lanterns would not be allowed. Leaders of the Christian community, Additional Police Commissioner (Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime) Md Masud Karim, Additional Police Commissioner (Traffic) Md Anisur Rahman, representatives of various agencies, joint commissioners of DMP, deputy commissioners and officers in charge of concerned police stations were present at the meeting.

The International Crimes Tribunal has ordered the start of trial against former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and 12 others, including five former DGFI DGs  in a crimes against humanity case over enforced disappearances and torture at the Joint Interrogation Cell (JIC) during the Awami League regime. A three-member panel of Tribunal-1 headed by its Chairman Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mojumder passed the order. Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam appeared for the prosecution along with prosecutors Mizanul Islam, Gazi MH Tamim, Shaikh Mahdi and others. Of the 10 fugitive accused, five served as DGFI directors general at different times. They are Lieutenant General (retd) Mohammad Akbar Hossain,  Major General(retd) Saiful Abedin,  Lieutenant General(retd) Md Saiful Alam, Lieutenant General(retd) Ahmed Tabrez Shams Chowdhury and Major General(retd) Hamidul Haque. The other accused are Sheikh Hasina’s former defence affairs adviser retired Major General Tarique Ahmed Siddique, former DGFI director Major General(retd) Mohammad Touhidul Ul Islam, Major General(retd) Kabir Ahmed and Lieutenant Colonel(retd)  Mokhsurul Haque. December 14 was fixed for the order on framing of charges but no order was issued that day and the tribunal later set Thursday for the decision. At the same time, three accused who were earlier arrested by police were produced before the tribunal. On November 9, advocate Azizur Rahman Dulu argued for the discharge of the three arrested accused, citing four grounds. The tribunal said it would consider three grounds related to illegal detention, abduction and torture while the fourth ground concerned enforced disappearance. The prosecution submitted five charges in the case. During the December 7 hearing on charge framing, Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam detailed what he described as horrific incidents of enforced disappearance and torture of government critics at the JIC. He presented accounts of 26 people who were allegedly disappeared between October 22, 2015 and August 5, 2024, and sought framing of charges against all 13 accused. Earlier, on November 23, state defence counsel was appointed for the fugitive accused. Senior lawyer ZI Khan Panna was initially appointed to represent Sheikh Hasina at her request but he withdrew on December 3 due to illness after which Md Amir Hossain was appointed as her counsel. On October 8, formal charges were submitted against the 13 accused. The tribunal took cognisance of the charges and issued arrest warrants against them.

Police recovered the hanging body of a leader of National Citizen Party (NCP) from a female student hostel in the capital’s Hazaribagh area early Thursday. The deceased was identified as Jannatara Rumi, 30, joint coordinator of the NCP’s Dhanmondi thana unit and daughter of Md Jakir Hossain of Nazirpur under Patnitala upazila in Naogaon district. Hazaribagh thana police said being informed at around 4:10am, a team from the police station rushed to the spot and recovered her hanging  body from a room on the fifth floor of Jannati Female Student Hostel at Zigatola Old Kachabazar Road. The room was found locked from the inside, police said. Hazaribagh police station Officer-in-Charge Hafizur Rahman said Rumi used to live alone in the room of the five-storey hostel. After preparing the inquest report, the body was sent to the Dhaka Medical College Hospital morgue for autopsy, the OC said. Police said it is yet to be ascertained whether the death was a case of suicide or murder and it is under investigation.

A juice vendor was stabbed to death during an Islamic gathering organised by Darul Aman Trust in Pabna Sadar upazila on Wednesday. The victim was identified as Sujan Mollah, 17, son of Saiful Mollah of Titpulia villag under Sathia upazila.   Police, however, detained the suspect, identified as 20-year-old Md. Sohan, elder son of Sheikh Sharif from Mahendrapur area in the Sadar upazila. According to witnesses, Sohan visited a sharbat stall near the gathering around 9:30am. After drinking the juice, he delayed paying the shopkeeper leading to an argument between them. At one stage, the accused allegedly said, “You know me, so what will you do if I don’t pay?” The altercation escalated when Sohan suddenly stabbed the seller in multiple places, leaving him critically injured. He was rushed to Pabna General Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries at 4:15pm on Wednesday. Officer-in-charge Md. Dulal Uddin of Pabna Sadar Police Station said a murder case has been filed in this connection. 

Members of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB has arrested two people on charge of abducting a man and subsequently torturing in Sylhet. The abductors allegedly also stripped him and filmed before demanding the ransom. On Wednesday night, a RAB team arrested the suspects from the Barthkhala area under Dakshin Surma Police Station in Sylhet city; a media release sent from the RAB-9 shared this information on Wednesday night. The arrestees are Ahmed Hossain Mahin, 30, son of Nazmul Hossain of Barthkhala, and Suhel Ahmed, 24, son of Anwar Hossain of Halishar of Naria upazila under Shariatpur district. On 30 November, the victim, after attending a court hearing in Sylhet, was going to home in Kanaighat upazila by a bus. The kidnappers intercepted the moving bus near Kadamtoli Overbridge under Dakshin Surma Police Station and forcefully took him to a vehicle. The victim’s eyes were blindfolded, and his hands tied behind his back before being taken to an unknown location. There, he was stripped, physically tortured, and beaten. The accused then sent a video of the torture to the victim’s family, demanding a ransom of Tk 8 lakh. Later Tk 5 lakh and Tk 3 lakh were separately sent to the abductors. On 7 December evening, the victim was released in the Talatala area of Sylhet to his father and sister. The victim, a resident of Sonarkhejur area in Kanaighat upazila, filed a case with the police station concerned, naming the kidnappers.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police arrested 392 people in 24 hours under Operation Devil Hunt Phase-2 from 1 am to 11.59 pm on Tuesday (December 16) at various locations in the capital. Among those arrested were 15 active leaders and activists of the Awami League and its affiliated organisations, along with 377 individuals wanted in various cases or held on existing warrants with warrants, said Talebur Rahman, Deputy Commissioner (Media) of DMP. The operation was carried out as part of the ongoing efforts to maintain normal law and order in the capital. In addition, special checkposts were set up at eleven entry and exit points of the capital from 4.00 pm to 6.00 pm on Wednesday (December 17) to search suspicious vehicles and ensure public safety. During this operation, 769 vehicles were searched and five people were arrested. The DMP’s ongoing operation will continue to ensure law and order in the capital, DC Talebur added.    

Police have taken special security measures ahead of the twin celebrations for Christmas and New Year’s Eve. A meeting on security and law and order was held at the Hall of Pride of Police Headquarters on Wednesday (December 17, 2025), chaired by Inspector General of Police (IGP) Bangladesh Baharul Alam, ahead of the Christmas celebration on December 25 and the New Year’s Eve on December 31. Welcoming leaders of the Christian community, the IGP said Christmas is a universal festival and emphasized that the police would remain alert throughout the celebrations. He expressed hope that, with the capabilities of the Bangladesh Police, both Christmas and New Year’s Eve would be celebrated in a peaceful environment. Read more: Missing Guns: Can Bangladesh’s arms crackdown ensure peaceful polls? Authorities warned that any individual or group attempting to disrupt communal harmony by posting misleading content, comments, or images on social media during the festive period would face immediate legal action. Cyber monitoring will be strengthened to prevent the spread of rumors. The meeting urged concerned parties to recruit volunteers, arrange adequate lighting, standby generators or chargers, and ensure the security of churches across the country in coordination with law enforcement agencies. Security will also be heightened in all tourist areas, including Cox’s Bazar and Kuakata, during the New Year’s Eve celebrations. Authorities said action would be taken against anyone who honks loudly or drives recklessly on the roads. People are urged to contact the National Emergency Service 999 or their nearest beat police officer in case of any emergency. During the meeting, Christian community leaders expressed satisfaction with the security measures and thanked the police administration. They expressed hope that, with everyone’s cooperation, Christmas would be celebrated in a festive atmosphere while maintaining religious solemnity, as in previous years. Read more: Freedom fighter, wife found dead in Rangpur RAB Director General (Additional IGP) AKM Shahidur Rahman, concerned Additional IGPs and senior officers of Police Headquarters, St. Mary’s Cathedral Church Pastor Father Albert Rosario, Bangladesh Christian Association President Nirmal Rosario, Joint Secretary General James Subrata Hazra, Public Relations and Communications Secretary Apu Placid Madhu, and The Christian Cooperative Credit Union Limited President Michael John Gomez and Secretary Manju Maria Palma were present at the meeting. All police commissioners, Range DIGs, and district police superintendents were connected to the meeting virtually.

The government has decided to amend several provisions of the Money Laundering Prevention Act, 2012 to make the recovery of money and assets siphoned off abroad more efficient and effective. The decision was taken at the 30th meeting of the National Coordination Committee on the Prevention of Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing, held on Wednesday, with Finance Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed in the chair. The meeting reviewed overall policy directions, strategic guidelines and implementation measures aimed at strengthening Bangladesh’s framework for preventing money laundering and terrorist financing. In this context, members agreed that certain sections of the existing law need to be updated in line with evolving challenges and international best practices, particularly to facilitate faster tracing, attachment and recovery of illicitly transferred assets from overseas jurisdictions. The committee discussed in detail the progress of joint enquiry and investigation teams formed to handle 11 priority cases identified for the recovery of laundered money and assets abroad. Officials informed the meeting that, so far, 104 cases have been filed in connection with these priority cases, charge sheets have been submitted in 14 cases and courts have already delivered verdicts in four cases. The meeting was also apprised of the scale of assets attached and frozen as part of the ongoing recovery drive. According to the figures presented, immovable and movable properties worth Tk 55,638 crore have been attached and frozen within the country, while assets worth Tk 10,508 crore have been attached and frozen abroad. In total, assets amounting to Tk 66,146 crore have been brought under attachment and freezing measures. In addition, 21 Mutual Legal Assistance Requests (MLARs) related to the 11 priority cases have already been sent to the concerned countries to facilitate cooperation in investigation, evidence collection and asset recovery. Stressing the need for momentum, the chair directed the relevant authorities to expedite the submission of charge sheets, send MLARs to foreign jurisdictions without delay and take effective steps to ensure swift disposal of cases under the priority list. The meeting also focused on Bangladesh’s preparedness for the upcoming fourth-round Mutual Evaluation by the Asia/Pacific Group on Money Laundering (APG), scheduled for the 2027–28 cycle. Emphasising that the mutual evaluation is a matter of the highest importance for the country, the committee instructed all concerned ministries, divisions and agencies to take necessary and timely preparations to ensure full compliance with international standards on anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing. Among those present at the meeting were the Chairman of the Anti-Corruption Commission, the Principal Secretary to the Chief Adviser, the Governor of Bangladesh Bank, the Finance Secretary, the Secretary of the Financial Institutions Division, the Chairman of the National Board of Revenue, the Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce, the Secretary of the Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Division, the Chairman of the Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission, the Secretary (Bilateral) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Additional Attorney General, the Chief of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), and representatives from the Ministry of Home Affairs, Bangladesh Police and the Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU).