United News of Bangladesh

The police are examining two video messages reportedly released by Faisal Karim, the prime suspect in the Inqilab Moncho spokesperson Osman Hadi murder case. “We have got the two video messages from Faisal and are currently scrutinising those. No comment on this now. We will speak after verification,” DMP Commissioner Md Sajjat Ali told reporters on Saturday (January 03, 2026). He was speaking at the ‘A4 Bashundhara Paper CRAB Best Reporting Award-2025’ ceremony at Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU). Read more: Inqilab Moncho stages protests demanding justice for Hadi The force is placing highest priority on maintaining law and order ahead of the upcoming national election, said Md Sajjat Ali. The DMP Commissioner urged journalists to remain responsible, saying inaccurate or exaggerated reports could harm police officers. He said DMP’s reshuffle of officers-in-charge was conducted through a lottery system and the force continues to operate within its limitations. “If we can keep law and order under control for the next 40 days it will be possible to hold a fair election.” Speaking about election candidates’ security, he said those facing genuine threats are being provided with armed protection upon SB verification. Hadi’s killers will be tracked down even if they flee abroad: Shipping Adviser Security for election commissioners has also been strengthened, he added. Referring to limited manpower, he said, “If we deploy police everywhere, who will guard the polling centres?” The DMP Commissioner claimed that incidents of mugging and other crimes have decreased in the capital and sought public cooperation to maintain the current situation.

Police in Ashulia have arrested a local Jubo League leader in connection with a murder case during the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement. The arrest was made on Friday afternoon based on a tip-off. The arrested, Mahbub Sarkar, 38, is known as a close aide of Nurul Amin Sarkar, president of Ashulia’s Iarpur Union Jubo League. Mahbub, a resident of Tajpur area, is the son of the late Monu Sarkar. He faces multiple cases, including a charge of arson on a parked bus on November 13 last year at Ashulia Police Station (case no. 54) and a murder case filed on September 4, 2024 (case no. 85), among others. Police said Mahbub was arrested during the investigation into the murder case linked to the anti-discrimination movement. Local sources said he was an active political figure in the area and known as an armed cadre. He is also reportedly a close aide of Tajibur, a jailed criminal with multiple cases. News of his arrest prompted locals to distribute sweets in celebration. OC of Ashulia Police, Rubel Hawladar, confirmed that Mahbub Sarkar was arrested based on confidential information.

A police constable in Rajshahi has been withdrawn from his post after a woman filmed a TikTok video wearing his uniform, on Thursday. Constable Saifuzzaman, stationed at Kashiadanga Police Station, came under scrutiny after it was reported that he was living with a woman named Sima Khatun without proper documentation of marriage. The video, showing Sima Khatun wearing a police uniform, was uploaded to social media. Upon verification, the Rajshahi Metropolitan Police (RMP) confirmed the authenticity of the uniform used in the video. Acting promptly, RMP Commissioner Dr. M. Zillur Rahman ordered Saifuzzaman’s withdrawal from the station. He later reported to the police lines. RMP spokesperson Gaziur Rahman said, “Police uniforms cannot be worn by spouses or anyone else. This is a criminal offence. Following initial investigation confirming the allegation, the constable has been withdrawn. Disciplinary action will follow after a full inquiry.” Sima Khatun’s family is originally from Mirpur Upazila in Kushtia. She has reportedly been regularly filming videos in police attire for TikTok over a long period.

Shipping Adviser Brigadier General (retd) Dr M Sakhawat Hossain on Friday said the killers of Sharif Osman bin Hadi would be tracked down and brought to justice even if they had fled abroad. He said all those involved in the killing would be exposed and their identities revealed. “By the middle of this month, the entire matter will be made public,” he told reporters. The adviser made the remarks after unveiling a plaque renaming the Nalchity launch terminal as “Shaheed Sharif Osman bin Hadi Launch Ghat” at Nalchity in Jhalakathi district in the afternoon. Dr Sakhawat said Hadi’s name was no longer confined to Bangladesh but had spread globally. “As long as this world exists and revolutionaries are remembered, people will remember Hadi,” he said, adding that the launch terminal in his birthplace was renamed in line with local demand. Present on the occasion were Hadi’s sister Masuma Hadi, brother-in-law Amir Hossain, Sultan Hossain—the father of July Movement martyr Selim, Joint Secretary of the Shipping Ministry Rafiqul Karim, BIWTA Director (Barishal) Amjad Hossain, Jhalakathi Deputy Commissioner Md Momin Uddin, Superintendent of Police Mizanur Rahman, Nalchity UNO Jobayer Habib and OC Ariful Alam. Meanwhile, Hadi’s colleagues, neighbours and local youths staged a protest with banners demanding justice for the killing in front of the adviser. The protest ended after assurances of justice. Later, Masuma Hadi told journalists that shooting Hadi in the head amounted to an attack on Bangladesh’s independence and sovereignty. She demanded exemplary punishment of all those involved and urged political leaders to govern the country by upholding the values Hadi stood for.

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has issued the Shipping Agent Licensing Rules, 2025, introducing a dedicated regulatory framework for the first time to ensure greater competition, transparency and accountability in the issuance of shipping agent licences at the country’s sea and river ports. The new rules were promulgated through a gazette notification on December 30, 2025, aiming to modernise and streamline shipping agent-related operations linked to customs stations across Bangladesh. Until now, there was no standalone set of regulations governing shipping agent licensing. Licences in this sector were previously issued under the Customs Agent Licensing Rules, 2020, a framework that stakeholders long argued was not fully suited to the operational realities of shipping agents. The NBR in a press release said that the introduction of a separate set of rules reflects the growing importance of shipping agents in facilitating trade and port operations. According to the NBR, the new rules have been formulated to make licensing procedures more time-efficient and business-friendly, while aligning them with contemporary trade facilitation needs. One of the key changes under the Shipping Agent Licensing Rules, 2025 is the removal of the requirement for prior approval from the NBR to determine the number of shipping agent licences at a particular customs station. Previously, customs stations had to seek clearance from the board before issuing licences, a process that often caused delays. With this requirement scrapped, the licensing authority at the relevant customs station will now be able to issue licences in significantly less time than before, the NBR said. In another major departure from past practice, applicants will no longer be required to sit for written and viva voce examinations conducted by the Customs, Excise and VAT Training Academy. Instead, licences will be granted solely on the basis of verification and correctness of submitted documents. The NBR said that, subject to proper documentation, licences must be issued within a maximum of 30 working days, a move expected to reduce procedural hurdles and compliance costs for applicants. The new rules also address a long-standing limitation faced by shipping agents. Under the previous regime, a shipping agent licence was valid only for the sea or river port under the issuing customs station. This meant that a licence obtained from one station could not be used to operate at another port governed by a different customs station. Under the Shipping Agent Licensing Rules, 2025, this restriction has been lifted. A licence issued under the new framework will allow a shipping agent to conduct business activities at any sea or river port across Bangladesh, significantly expanding operational flexibility and reducing the need for multiple licences. Trade experts say this change is likely to lower entry barriers, promote competition and support more efficient logistics services, particularly for importers and exporters operating through multiple ports. The NBR said the introduction of the new rules is part of its broader effort to create an investment-friendly environment and simplify import and export procedures in line with global best practices. By reducing administrative complexity and standardising licensing procedures, the board expects the new framework to contribute to smoother port operations and improved ease of doing business. The NBR reiterated that its ongoing reform initiatives are aimed at facilitating legitimate trade, enhancing transparency and supporting Bangladesh’s growing role in regional and global supply chains.

Mohammad Arshadul Rouf, Additional Attorney General, will assume the responsibilities of the Attorney General on an additional charge. The Law and Justice Division of the Ministry of Law issued a notification on Thursday confirming his appointment. The notification, signed by Law and Justice Secretary Liakat Ali Molla, stated that the President has assigned Arshadul Rouf the additional duties of Bangladesh’s Attorney General. At the same time, the President has accepted the resignation of Md. Asaduzzaman, who had been serving as Attorney General. A separate notification was issued regarding his resignation. Asaduzzaman stepped down from the post following his nomination by the BNP for the Jhenaidah-1 constituency ahead of the 13th National Parliamentary Election.

Sanjay Chisim and Md. Faisal, arrested in connection with the murder of Sharif Osman Hadi, have given confessional statements. This is a different Faosal from the one who is the main accused in the murder, Faisal Karim. After a three-day remand, the two accused provided their statements before Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Jamshed Alam on Thursday. Following the confessions, the court sent Sanjay, Faisal, and Sibun Diuke to jail. Hadi was attacked on December 12 in Bijoynagar, Dhaka. The assailants, riding a motorcycle, shot at Hadi while he was in a moving rickshaw, hitting him in the head. He succumbed to his injuries seven days later, on December 18. Sanjay Chisim and Sibun Diuke were arrested on December 14 from the Nalitabari border in Sherpur, while Faisal was apprehended on December 16 by a RAB-11 team in Taruar Bill, Narsingdi Sadar, with firearms and ammunition recovered from water. So far, the police have arrested 12 individuals in connection with the case. The accused include Faisal’s father Md. Humayun Kabir, mother Mosa Hasi Begum, wife Saheda Parvin Samia, girlfriend Maria Akter Lima, brother-in-law Wahid Ahmed Sipu, hired private car businessman Mufti Md. Nuruzzaman Nomani (alias Uzzal), Faisal’s associate Md. Kabir, and those who assisted in fleeing to India—Sibun Diuke and Sanjay Chisim—along with Aminul Islam Raju and Md. Faisal.

A youth was hacked to death allegedly by miscreants in Jhauchhar area under Hazaribagh Police Station of Dhaka early Thursday, on the first day of 2026. The victim was identified as Md Shipon, 24, son of Md Shah Alam of local Boro Mosque area under the same police station. The concerned police station’s sub-inspector Suman Chandra Shil a group of assailants hacked him with sharp weapons and left critically injured. On information, they rushed to the spot and found the youth lying in a pool of blood in an alley near Siam School in the Jhauchhar area, he said. He was rushed to Dhaka Medical College Hospital where physicians declared him dead upon arrival around 3:30am, the sub-inspector said, adding that the body has been kept at the hospital morgue for autopsy. Efforts were underway to identify those involved in the murder, he added.

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.