United News of Bangladesh

The government has suspended 14 employees from various ministries and divisions following protests at the Bangladesh Secretariat demanding a special allowance. The action comes after a court accepted the chargesheet in a case filed against the employees. Different ministries and divisions issued notifications in this regard on Monday. On December 10, officials and employees staged protests in several offices of the Bangladesh Secretariat, demanding a Secretariat Allowance. During the protest, led by a section of the Bangladesh Secretariat Officers and Employees Joint Council, Financial Adviser Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed was confined to a Secretariat office for around six hours. Some employees leading the demonstrations were detained. Subsequently, a case was filed against them under the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2009 and they were formally shown as arrested. The employees are currently on remand in connection with the case. Among those suspended are Badiul Kabir, president of Bangladesh Secretariat Officers and Employees Sangjukta Parishad, vice-president Shahin Golam Rabbani and Nazrul Islam. Other suspended employees include Md. Tayeful Islam, Bikash Chandra Roy, Islamul Haque, Md. Mohsin Ali, Roman Gazi, and Abu Belal of the Ministry of Health; Mizanur Rahman Sumon of the Ministry of Information; Kamal Hossain and Mohammad Alimuzzaman of the Ministry of Public Administration; Bipul Rana Biplob of the Ministry of Finance; and Nasirul Haque of the Cabinet Division.  

The Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has recovered a motorbike, a helmet and a fake number plate used in the attack on Osman Hadi, spokesperson of Inquilab Moncho, from the capital’s Bonolota Residential Area. The motorcycle, helmet and fake number plate were recovered in abandoned condition at around 8:45am on Sunday from the Bonolota Residential Area, DMP's DC (media) Talebur Rahman said on Wednesday afternoon. According to the sources, a CTTC team, after examining CCTV footage, found that the number plate of the motorbike used in the attack had been changed. Acting on intelligence information, the team recovered the bike and the helmet from the ground-floor parking area of a building in Bonolota Residential Area under Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station. Later, the fake number plate was recovered from inside a manhole where it had been abandoned. CTTC sources said an in-depth investigation was carried out to identify the ownership of the motorbike. The bike changed hands eight times before it was purchased in the name of Mainuddin Islam using the national identity card of Md Kabir, an associate of Faisal, the prime suspect in the attack, CTTC sources said. The recovered goods have been handed over to the Detective Branch (DB) for further legal action, the sources added.

The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has intensified security through setting up more check posts in the capital on Wednesday to ensure public safety and maintain law and order. The checkposts will be operational from 4:00pm at several strategic locations under different crime divisions of the DMP, said DMP Deputy Commissioner (Media) Talebur Rahman on Wednesday afternoon. The areas include Bosila under Ramna Division; Babubazar under Lalbagh Division; Postogola Bridge, Matuail U-loop and Staff Quarter under Wari Division; Basabo Road (Kamalapur) under Motijheel Division; Gabtoli under Mirpur Division; 300 Feet Road under Gulshan Division; and Abdullahpur Bridge, Kamarpara and Dhaur Bridge under Uttara Division. DMP intensifies drive to arrest attackers of Hadi Law enforcement officials said the checkposts will focus on monitoring suspicious movements, verifying vehicles and individuals, and preventing any untoward incidents. The DMP has urged city residents to cooperate with police personnel during the checkpost operations in the greater interest of public safety and security.  

Members of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) have arrested three more people, including the parents of prime suspect Faisal Karim Masud, in connection with the attempted murder of Dhaka-8 aspiring independent candidate Sharif Osman Hadi in Puratan Paltan. With the latest arrests, the total number of detainees in the case has risen to 10. The newly arrested people are Faisal’s father Humayun Kabir, 70, his mother Hasi Begum, 60, and another suspect, Md Faisal, 25, a resident of Narsingdi. They were later handed over to the Detective Branch (DB) of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police, according to a media release issued by RAB-10 on Tuesday night (December 16, 2025). Read more: Inqilab Moncho provides first update from Singapore on Osman Hadi's condition RAB officials said a team conducted a special drive around 5:30am on Tuesday in Hasnabad Housing area under Dakshin Keraniganj Police Station and arrested Faisal’s parents. Preliminary investigations revealed that Faisal, the third of four siblings, frequently visited his sister Jesmin Akter’s apartment in Dhaka’s Agargaon area. On the night of the incident, he reportedly carried a bag to the apartment and later disposed of it discreetly. He subsequently sent his 18-year-old nephew, Jamil, to retrieve the bag. During the period, Faisal also threw one of his mobile phones from the rooftop and handed another phone to his mother, RAB officials said. Feeling insecure in Agargaon, Faisal allegedly moved to Mirpur and later to Shahjadpur, where he stayed at the residence of his cousin Arif, the nephew of his father Humayun Kabir. Read more: RAB arrests close aide of main accused in attempted assassination of Osman Hadi Investigators said Humayun Kabir later hired a CNG-run auto-rickshaw and provided cash to transport Faisal’s bag. Faisal also visited his younger brother Hasan Mahmud Bablu, also known as Raj, in Keraniganj, and used two newly purchased SIM cards. Meanwhile, RAB recovered three firearms and ammunition from a water body near Molla Bari in the Tarua area of Narsingdi Sadar during the operation. The seized items included two foreign-made pistols, two magazines, one toy pistol and 41 rounds of ammunition. However, forensic examination is yet to confirm whether the weapons were used in the shooting. Hadi, a spokesman of the Inquilab Moncho formed after last year’s July uprising, was shot in the head on Friday while campaigning in Puratan Paltan. The assailants opened fire from a moving motorcycle. CEC takes attack on Hadi seriously, orders immediate action: EC He was initially treated at Dhaka Medical College Hospital before being shifted to Evercare Hospital. On Monday, he was airlifted to Singapore for advanced treatment. With the consent of Hadi’s family, Abdullah Al Zaber, member secretary of Inquilab Moncho, filed a case with Paltan Police Station on Sunday night, naming Faisal Karim Masud and several unidentified individuals. The case, now under DB investigation, has already led to the arrest of Faisal’s wife, a female friend, his brother-in-law, the owner of the motorcycle used in the attack, an accomplice named Kabir, and two others from border areas accused of aiding his escape. Read more: CEC takes attack on Hadi seriously, orders immediate action: EC

The Inter Services Public Relations Directorate in a statement has condemned certain media outlets and social media platforms for circulating "false, misleading and unfounded reports involving the Bangladesh Navy. These reports allege that a Bangladesh Navy ship intruded into Indian waters and deliberately sank an Indian fishing trawler named PAROMITA-10 while it was engaged in fishing activities in the Bay of Bengal. In fact, at the time the Indian fishing trawler met with the accident, a Bangladesh Navy patrol ship was conducting routine maritime patrol well within Bangladesh waters, at a distance of more than 12 miles from the incident location. Bangladesh Navy had no involvement whatsoever in the said incident, says an ISPR media release on Tuesday evening. On Monday (Dec. 15), at 1515 hours Bangladesh Local Time, the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) of the Indian Coast Guard officially informed MRCC, Dhaka via email that an Indian Fishing Boat (IFB) named PAROMITA-10 had capsized and sunk in Indian waters in the Bay of Bengal with 16 fishermen on board.  Another Indian fishing trawler IFB RAGHUPATI successfully rescued 11 of the fishermen, while the remaining five remained missing. The Indian Coast Guard subsequently requested all nearby ships and fishing trawlers to assist in the ongoing search efforts.  Immediately upon receiving this information, Bangladesh Navy promptly directed its patrol ship to undertake search activities within Bangladesh waters. Through close coordination and cooperation with the relevant authorities of both countries, a Bangladesh Navy patrol ship actively participated in the searching efforts alongside the Indian Coast Guard and local Bangladeshi fishermen. Such initiatives reflect the Bangladesh Navy’s commitment to humanitarian assistance at sea and contribute significantly to strengthening mutual trust, cooperation and friendly relations between the two neighboring countries. ISPR said notwithstanding these facts, some sections of the News Media and Social Media have continued to disseminate unfounded allegations claiming that a Bangladesh Navy ship entered Indian waters and sank the fishing trawler PAROMITA-10. These claims are entirely baseless.  The publishing of such misinformation is deeply regrettable and unwarranted, the statement said. In this regard, all media outlets were "earnestly urged" to exercise responsible journalism and to refrain from publishing and circulating misleading, sensational or defamatory reports against Bangladesh Navy and Bangladesh.  

The Rapid Action Battalion (RAB-1) on Tuesday arrested the prime accused and two others in an attempted murder case over the attack on the members of ‘July Rebels’. The prime accused was Altaf alias Thotkata Altaf, 46, an accused in multiple cases. Tipped off, RAB-1 members arrested him in a drive in BSCIC Industrial Area, RAB officials said. On December 13 when members of the organization formed a human chain in front of Uttara BNS Centre around 6:30pm to protest the shooting of Inquilab Moncho spokesperson Osman Hadi a group of assailants armed with local weapons attacked them, they said. During the attack, Altaf allegedly struck July Rebels member Yusuf Ali Redowan on the head with intent to kill, causing serious injuries, said Md Rakib Hasan, Additional Superintendent of Police and Senior Assistant Director (Media Officer) of RAB-1. The attackers also vandalised July Rebels’ head office at Muktijoddha Market in Sector-6 under Uttara East Police Station and threatened its members before fleeing the scene, he added. Yusuf Ali Redowan filed an attempted murder case with Uttara East Police Station. The two other arrestees are Saiful Islam, 37, and Md Amir Hossain Firoz, 47. The arrestees were handed over to the police station concerned for further legal proceedings.

The Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) has arrested Kabir, a close associate of the prime accused Faisal, in connection with the attempted murder of Osman Hadi, spokesperson of Inqilab Moncho, according to information received from the RAB headquarters on Monday night. RAB said Kabir was a key accomplice of Faisal, who has been identified as the principal suspect in the gun attack on Osman Hadi. Further details about the arrest will be disclosed later, the elite force added. Osman Hadi, spokesperson of Inqilab Moncho and an independent candidate for the Dhaka-8 constituency, was shot by assailants on Friday after Jummah prayer at Bijoynagar Boxculvert road in the capital. He was rushed to Dhaka Medical College Hospital with bullet injuries from he was shifted to Evercare hospital. Finally, he was sent to Singapore by an air ambulance on Monday afternoon for better treatment. CEC takes attack on Hadi seriously, orders immediate action: EC Following the incident, law enforcement agencies launched a series of operations to identify and arrest those involved. The Dhaka Metropolitan Police earlier said Faisal Karim Masud, alias Daud Khan, and another suspect were identified in connection with the attack, while RAB and police have already earlier arrested seven suspects for their alleged roles in aiding the shooter.  

The Supreme Court has restricted access to its courtrooms for trial candidates and anyone other than lawyers in both its divisions from Monday, citing security concerns. The notification said the Supreme Court, being the highest judicial institution of the country, requires strict security to ensure the safety of the Chief Justice, judges of both divisions, lawyers conducting cases, and all concerned, said a notification issued on the order of the Chief Justice and signed by Supreme Court Registrar General Muhammad Habibur Rahman Siddiqui. It noted that recently trial candidates, litigants and other unauthorised persons have been entering the courtrooms, creating obstacles to security, a peaceful environment and the smooth conduct of judicial proceedings. Such activities, the notification said, have disrupted the security of judges, lawyers, officials and employees. Govt clears draft law to establish separate secretariat for Supreme Court “For the sake of security, access of trial candidates or any persons other than lawyers to the courtrooms of both divisions of the Supreme Court has been limited and restricted,” it said. The notification also said that any kind of gathering, procession, and carrying of legal or illegal weapons, including deadly weapons, explosives and narcotics, has been completely banned on the Supreme Court premises. The order will remain effective from December 15 to December 31. Legal action will be taken against anyone violating the order, it warned. Lawyers, their assistants, court officials and employees, and trial seekers have been asked to remain vigilant and comply with the directive.    

Journalist Anis Alamgir has been shown arrested in a case filed under the Anti-Terrorism Act at Uttara West Police Station in the capital. Officer-in-Charge of Uttara West Police Station Kazi Mohammad Rafiq Ahmed said a case has been lodged under the Anti-Terrorism Act and Anis Alamgir was shown arrested in connection with it. The OC said there are four other accused in the case but he did not disclose their identities. Investigation against them is underway, he added. Earlier, a team of the Detective Branch (DB) picked up Anis Alamgir from the capital after 8 pm on Sunday On Monday, Aryan Ahmed, a member of an organisation named ‘July Revolutionary Alliance’, filed the case at Uttara West Police Station, accusing Anis Alamgir and four others of conspiring to destabilise the state and inciting activities of the organisation, whose activities are currently restricted, the OC said.

Two days after the shooting of Inquilab Moncho spokesman Sharif Osman Hadi, a case has been filed naming prime suspect Faisal Karim Masud and several unidentified others. One Javed, a member of Inquilab Moncho formed during last year’s July Uprising, lodged the case with Paltan Police Station, its officer-in-charge Mustafa Kamal Khan told UNB on Monday. Among the accused, the prime suspect is on the run, while law enforcement agencies, including the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), have so far arrested six people. On Monday, RAB arrested three more people, including Faisal Karim’s wife and brother-in-law. The arrestees are Faisal’s wife Begum Samia, his brother-in-law Shipu, and Begum Maria. RAB also recovered several bank cheques signed by Faisal Karim Masud and seized electronic devices from the arrestees. Meanwhile, an air ambulance equipped with all emergency facilities for critical patients arrived at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on Monday morning to take Hadi to Singapore for advanced treatment.