United News of Bangladesh

The verdict in the crimes against humanity case over the killing of six people during the July Uprising of 2024 at Chankharpul in the capital will be delivered Tuesday, and the proceedings will be broadcast live on Bangladesh Television. Prosecutor Gazi MH Tamim confirmed this on Monday. He said the reconstituted International Crimes Tribunal-1 will deliver its second verdict on January 20 in the case filed over the Chankharpul killings. The tribunal will announce the verdict against eight accused, including former Dhaka Metropolitan Police commissioner Habibur Rahman. Earlier, after hearing arguments from both the prosecution and defence, the tribunal fixed January 20 for delivering the verdict. The date was set on December 24 by a three-member panel led by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Majumder. Hearing of appeal seeking death penalty of Hasina, Kamal on Jan 20 During the hearing, lawyer Md Ziaur Rashid argued for accused Imaz Hossain Iman, while state defence lawyer Qutubuddin Ahmed represented four fugitive accused. Prosecutor Mizanul Islam placed rebuttal arguments, assisted by Shahidul Islam and Abdullah Al Noman. Eight people are facing trial in the case. Four of them are currently in jail. They are former Shahbagh Police Station inspector (operations) Md Arshad Hossain, constable Md Sujan Mia, Md Imaz Hossain Iman and Md Nasirul Islam. The remaining four accused are on the run. They are former DMP commissioner Habibur Rahman, former additional commissioner Sudip Kumar Chakraborty, former additional deputy commissioner of Ramna division Shah Alam Md Akhtarul Islam and former assistant commissioner Mohammad Imrul. APBN seize 680g gold from Umrah trip leader at Dhaka airport On August 5, 2024, police fired on a peaceful student movement at Chankharpul, killing Shahriar Khan Anas, Sheikh Junayed, Md Yakub, Md Rakib Hawladar, Md Ismamul Haque and Manik Mia Shahrik. After finding evidence against the accused, the tribunal on July 14 framed charges against all eight and ordered the start of the trial.

The International Crimes Tribunal-1 on Monday issued warrants for the arrest of 12 people including former MP Shamim Osman and his son Ayan Osman in a case filed over the crimes against humanity during July-August movement. A three-member ICT bench led by its chairman Justice Golam Martuza Majumdar passed the order after taking charges into cognisance. Prosecutor Gazi MH Tamim stood for the petitioner. The tribunal  also asked police to produce them before January 26 after their arrest. At least ten people were killed during on July 19, July 21 and August 5 at Fatullah-Signboard during mass uprising in 2024. International Crimes Tribunal-2  formed with Justice Nazrul Islam as chair Earlier in the day, the prosecutor submitted chargesheet against 12 people.

A Chattogram court on Monday indicted 39 people including spokesperson for Bangladesh Sammilit Sanatan Jagran Jote and former ISKCON leader Chinmoy Krishna Das in lawyer Saiful Islam Alif murder case. Chattogram Speedy Trial Tribunal Judge Zahidul Haque framed charges against them after hearing the law-point arguments from both sides. Though the indictment the trial in the case started officially, said public prosecutor SUM Nurul Islam. An unprecedented security measures were taken on the court premises during the hearing and check-post was set up at the main gate of the court. Twenty-three accused including Chinmoy Das were produced before the court around 9:45 am amid tight security. Sixteen other accused in the case remained absconding. Slain lawyer Alif’s father Jamal Uddin was present at the court. On November 26, 2024, followers of Chinmoy Das intercepted a prison van carrying him after his bail prayer was rejected by a court in a sedition case. Lawyer Alif was stabbed to death during a clash between law enforcers and Chinmoy’s supporters on the court premises. On November 29, 2024, victim’s father Jamal Uddin filed a case naming 31 accused and 15 to 16 unnamed others with Kotwali Police Station. Ctg Lawyer Alif Murder: Police press charges against 38 On July 1, 2025, police pressed charges against 38 people but the plaintiff of the case filed a ‘naraji’ a no-confidence motion) petition. Three main accused in the case—Chandan Das, Ripon Das and Rajib Bhattarcharya gave confessional statements before the court.  

Barrister Rumeen Farhana, an independent candidate for the Brahmanbaria-2 constituency, on Saturday quarrelled with an executive magistrate over an alleged violation of the election code of conduct. The violation was related to holding a campaign rally before the official campaign period. The incident occurred in the Islamabad (Gogad) area of Noagaon Union under Sarail upazila when Assistant Commissioner and Executive Magistrate Shahria Hasan Khan went to stop the rally. In a video that went viral on social media, it was seen that Rumeen Farhana became agitated when the magistrate attempted to discuss the alleged violation. She told him, “This is the last time, I am warning you, I will not listen to this. Today I am leaving just for politeness and I will not do it in the future.” She and her supporters also alleged that others are violating the code of conduct but the administration did not take action against them. At one stage, she warned the magistrate, saying, “If I do not allow you, you cannot leave this place, Sir, mind it.” She also said, “Those whose words you are following now, they used to stay under the bed by holding their ears during Sheikh Hasina's time. I am Rumeen Farhana, I do not need any party." Executive Magistrate Shahria Hasan Khan said the rally violated Rule 18 of the election code of conduct. “As the programme was against the rules, we went there and asked them to stop holding the rally,” he said. According to Section 18 of the Code of Conduct for Political Parties and Candidates in Parliamentary Elections Rule, 2025, the electioneering can be conducted from three weeks before the polling day until 48 hours prior to the start of voting, subject to compliance with the prescribed conditions. “Outside the stipulated campaign period, national and international days can be observed as well as religious, social and similar events can be organised without hampering the electoral environment and in compliance with the code of conduct. However, prior consent or permission from the returning officer concerned must be obtained,” said a circular signed by EC Deputy Secretary Mohammad Monir Hossain. The executive magistrate added that after the rally was stopped, its organiser, Md Jewel, was fined Tk 40,000. “The candidate left the spot without being able to hold the rally and behaved disrespectfully towards me,” the magistrate said, adding that the matter had been reported to the Additional District Magistrate.

A restaurant owner was beaten to death over a trivial matter in Kaliganj Municipality of Gazipur on Saturday. The deceased was identified as Liton Chandra Ghosh, 55, owner of Baishakhi Sweetmeat and Hotel on Baranagar Road adjacent to Kaliganj Municipality. Three people were detained in connection with the killing, said Md Zakir Hossain, officer-in-charge (OC) of Kaliganj Police Station. The detainees are Swapan Mia, 55, his wife Majeda Khatun, 45, and their son Masum Mia, 28. Police said Masum Mia had an altercation with a restaurant worker, Ananta Das, 17, in the morning, which later turned into a scuffle. Swapan Mia and Majeda Khatun later joined the incident and beat the worker. When Liton Chandra Ghosh intervened to defuse the situation, he was also attacked and was hit on the head with a shovel, killing him on the spot. Local people later detained the three and handed them over to police. OC Zakir Hossain said that legal action was underway, and no case had been filed at the time of this report.  

Members of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) have recovered two rifles that were stolen from the Muradnagar highway police outpost in Cumilla. Acting on a tip-off, a team from RAB-11, CPC-2 conducted an operation late Thursday night in the area adjacent to Bhuiyan Bari Bridge in Lajoir village under Babutipara union of the upazila, and recovered the rifles. Major Sadman Ibne Alam, Company Commander of RAB-11, CPC-2, said a Chinese rifle and a locally made rifle were recovered during the two- to three-hour operation. The weapons were found abandoned. He added that RAB remains committed to recovering all stolen arms in a short time to ensure the upcoming election is held peacefully. Legal action regarding the recovered weapons is underway.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) arrested 29 people in separate drives across five police station areas of the capital over the last 24 hours as part of Operation Devil Hunt Phase-2. The arrests were made by Jatrabari, Rupnagar, Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Kalabagan and Motijheel police stations, said DMP’s Deputy Commissioner (Media) Talebur Rahman on Thursday. Of the total, Jatrabari police arrested nine people, Rupnagar and Sher-e-Bangla Nagar police arrested six each, Motijheel police arrested seven, while Kalabagan police arrested one. According to police, Jatrabari Police Station arrested nine people on Wednesday during drives in crime-prone areas under its jurisdiction. The arrestees are Md Sohag Mia, 20, Md Monir, 35, Alauddin, 28, Ratan Mia, 30, Md Sifat, 20, Md Machum, 25, Md Liton, 29, A Karim, 45, and Md Shafiqul Islam, 33. Those who were arrested by Rupnagar Police Station are Md Ulad Mia, 24, Md Raihan Ali, 18, Md Roni, 18, Md Nazmul Hasan, 22, Md Mostaqin, 25 and Md Naeem Howlader, 31. Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station also arrested six people in similar drives during this period. The arrestees are Md Babul, 22, Md Sagar Sardar, 22, Md Riyad Hossain, 19, Md Nahidul Islam, 38, Md Shakil Ahmed, 28, and Md Islam, 38. Kalabagan Police Station arrested Md Sabuj Hossain, 32, during a drive in crime-prone areas, while Motijheel Police Station arrested seven people identified as Sumon Basak, 45, Md Anisur Rahman, 44, Md Niaz Hossain Lotus, 45, Md Monir, 55, Md Nur Alam, 24, Md Suruj Mia, 30, and Md Harun, 50. All the arrestees were produced before the court, police said.

A Dhaka court on Thursday directed the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to carry out further investigation into the murder case of Inqilab Moncho spokesperson Sharif Osman Hadi. Dhaka Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Jashita Islam passed the order after the complainant expressed dissatisfaction with the investigation and submitted a naraji petition (a no-confidence motion) against the charge sheet, seeking a further probe. The court also ordered the submission of the probe report by January 20, said Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Deputy Commissioner of Prosecution, Miah Mohammad Ashis Bin Hasan. Plaintiff’s lawyer Mostafizur Rahman Mukul told the court that the charge sheet failed to identify the main accused or the planners behind Hadi’s murder. Earlier, Inqilab Moncho member secretary Abdullah Al Jaber, the complainant in the case, submitted an objection to the court after reviewing the charge sheet. On January 6, DB Inspector Faisal Ahmed, the investigating officer of the case, submitted charges against 17 accused. Among the main accused named in the chargesheet are Faisal Karim Masud alias Daud, his associate Alamgir Hossain, Dhaka Metropolitan North Jubo League organising secretary and former ward councillor Taizul Islam Chowdhury Bappi, Philip Snal Philips, Mukti Akter, and Faisal’s sister Jasmine Akter. They are currently absconding. The remaining 11 accused are now in custody. They include Faisal Karim Masud’s father Md Humayun Kabir, mother Mst Hasi Begum, wife Saheda Parvin Samia, friend Maria Akter Lima, brother-in-law Wahid Ahmed Shipu, rent-a-car businessman Mufti Md Nuruzzaman Nomani alias Ujjwal, close associate Md Kabir, Sibion Dew, Sanjoy Chisim, Md Aminul Islam alias Raju, and Md Faisal, who was arrested with weapons in Narsingdi. The investigating officer has also sought arrest warrants against the six absconding accused. Osman Hadi, who was also running for the Dhaka-8 constituency in the coming election, was shot by assailants on a motorcycle around 2:30pm on December 12 in the Box Culvert Road area of Paltan, sustaining bullet wounds to the head and below his right ear. He was first taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital and later shifted to Evercare Hospital. As his condition worsened, he was flown to Singapore by air ambulance on December 15 for advanced treatment, where he died on December 18.

The interim government on Thursday approved the draft of the 'July Mass Uprising Protection and Liability Determination Ordinance 2026' granting indemnity to the participants in the 2024 July Uprising. The Council of Advisers gave the approval at its weekly meeting at the Chief Adviser's Office with Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus in the chair. The ordinance would be promulgated as law through a gazette notification within the next five to seven days, said Law Adviser Dr Asif Nazrul while briefing the media at the Foreign Service Academy in the capital. Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam and Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder were also present at the briefing. The key objective of the ordinance is to grant immunity to July mass uprising participants from activities carried out with the purpose of political resistance during the uprising in July and August 2024, said the Law Adviser. The ordinance means activities carried out with the objective of restoring democratic governance through the fall of the fascist government. Participants involved in such activities during July and August in 2024 will be exempted from criminal responsibility, he added.

The International Crimes Tribunal-1 on Thursday fixed January 20 for hearing the appeal filed seeking death penalty of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and ex-Home Minister Asaduzzaman Kamal in a case over crimes against humanity. Chamber Judge of the Appellate Division Md Rezaul Haque passed the order. On December 15, last year, the state counsel filed the appeal seeking the death penalty of Sheikh Hasina and Asaduzzaman in the case. On November 17, 2025, the International Crimes Tribunal sentenced them to death on one charge and sentenced them to imprisonment unto death on a separate charge. Read More: ICT-1 sets dates for charge framing hearing against Hasina, army officers Later, Chief Prosecutor of the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) Tajul Islam sought the death penalty for former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal in the case. On October 13 last year, the prosecution presented several documentaries as evidence which it said could play a significant role in the trial. On October 14, 2025, during the third day of arguments, the prosecution played recorded conversations involving Sheikh Hasina, ex-ministers Hasanul Haq Inu and Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh, alongside presenting footage of the July-August movement and testimonies of several witnesses. Chief Investigation Officer Md. Alamgir was cross-examined by state-appointed defence lawyer Md. Amir Hossain, representing Sheikh Hasina and Kamal on the same day. The defence challenged the July massacre claims and argued that law enforcement officers were compelled to use force under duress. On July 10, 2025, former IGP Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun confessed before the tribunal admitting to crimes against humanity committed during the mass uprising. The prosecution brought five charges of crimes against humanity against the three accused.