United News of Bangladesh

Police have arrested 16 more people in Naogaon in the last 24 hours as part of the ongoing ‘Devil Hunt Phase-2’ operation, police said on Saturday. All the arrestees are leaders and activists of different organs and affiliated bodies of the Awami League, whose activities have been banned, Naogaon Superintendent of Police Mohammad Tariqul Islam said in a press release. The arrestees are Arman Khan Palin, 34, of Bangabaria area in Naogaon Sadar upazila; Mostafizur Rahman Firoz, 55, of Chakdev Masterpara; Rezaul Haque, 72, of Krittipur; Mehedi Hasan Nirob, 28, of Bacharigram; Md Hasan, 45; Abdul Kader, 60, of Kachua (Gahelapur) area of Raninagar upazila; Rafi Hasan, 25, of Meerut area in Jalalabad; Jahangir Alam, 63, of Gana (Dighi Purbapara) area; Ayet Ali, 56, of Sonaidanga area of Atrai upazila; Motibul Islam, 54, of Harirampur area of Patnitala upazila; Mizanur Rahman, 40, of Battali area; Momtaz Uddin, 55, of Sherpur area of Mahadevpur upazila; Rafiqul Islam, 42, of Haripur area; Moslem Prodhan, 41, of Kusmail area of Niamatpur upazila; Chaiful Islam, 42, of Kharapa area of Porsha upazila; and Jotiranjan Adhikari, 46, of Mainam area of Manda upazila. SP Mohammad Tariqul Islam said the operation is being conducted as part of regular police activities to curb crime and maintain law and order in the district. “A total of 55 people have been arrested in recent days, including accused persons in various cases and those with outstanding warrants,” he added. The police official said the operation would continue to ensure overall law and order in the district.  

The chiefs of three services – Bangladesh Army, Bangladesh Navy and Air Force– will meet Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin on Sunday. “The meeting will be held at 12:00pm at Nirbachan Bhaban,” said EC Director (PR) Ruhul Amin Mollik on Saturday. Due to the meeting, the Election Commission shifted its pre-scheduled meeting over law and order from 10am to 2:30pm. In the afternoon, the EC will sit with top representatives of law enforcing agencies and intelligences to review the overall law and order situation ahead of the upcoming national election and referendum scheduled to be held on February 12, 2026. CEC Nasir will chair the meeting on law and order at the Conference Room of the Election Commission in the city. Top representatives of the armed forces, the Principal Secretary, the Home Affairs Secretary, the Principal Staff Officer of the Armed Forces Division, the Inspector General of Police, Directors general of Border Guard Bangladesh, the Coast Guard, Ansar and VDP, Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI), National Security Intelligence (NSI), National Telecommunication Monitoring Centre (NTMC) and Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), along with additional IGPs of Special Branch (SB) and Criminal Investigation Department (CID), and the Inspector General of Prisons are supposed to attend the meeting. The major agendas of the meeting are to review pre-election law and order situation, the activities of joint forces to recover illegal arms and prevent terror acts, and the compliance with electoral code by candidates and political parties as well as the issues related to maintaining an election-friendly environment.  Four election commissioners will be present in the law and order meeting. Meanwhile, the Election Commission on Saturday amended the election schedule gazette bringing change in the timeframe to file appeals challenging the decisions of the returning officers against the acceptance and rejection of nomination papers during the scrutiny. According to the amended gazette, the appeals against the decisions of the returning officers can be filed from January 5 to 9, while the appeals will be disposed of on January 10-18. In the original schedule, the time for submission of appeals was January 5-11 and the time for disposal of the appeals was January 12-18. CEC takes attack on Hadi seriously, orders immediate action: EC Earlier on December 11, the Chief Election Commissioner announced the schedule to arrange the 13th parliamentary election and the referendum on the July National Charter (Constitutional Reform) Implementation Order simultaneously on February 12 next. According to the election schedule, the deadline for the submission of nomination papers is December 29, while the last date for the withdrawal of candidature is January 20. The election campaign will start on January 22 and continue till 48 hours before the balloting period (7:30am on February 10).  

The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) on Friday issued seven traffic directives ahead of the Janaza of Inqilab Moncho spokesperson Sharif Osman Hadi, scheduled to be held on Saturday (Dec 20) after Zohr prayers at the South Plaza of the National Parliament. In a press release issued Friday night, DMP Deputy Commissioner (Media) Muhammad Talebur Rahman said a large gathering is expected, which will restrict vehicular movement on Manik Mia Avenue. For the convenience of the Janaza, traffic from Khejur Bagan Crossing to Manik Mia Avenue will remain closed during the event. To ensure smooth traffic management, city residents and drivers have been requested to follow the following alternative routes: Mirpur Road to Farmgate via Manik Mia Avenue: Vehicles coming from the north toward Farmgate or Sonargaon should proceed via Ganabhaban Crossing–Lake Road–Urojahaj Crossing–Bijoy Sarani Crossing, then turn right toward Farmgate. Farmgate to Manik Mia Avenue via Indira Road: Vehicles should move from Farmgate to Khejur Bagan Crossing, turn right toward Urojahaj Crossing, then turn left onto Lake Road and proceed toward Ganabhaban Crossing. Dhanmondi to Farmgate: Vehicles from Dhanmondi-27 should go via Asad Gate–Ganabhaban Crossing, make a U-turn to Lake Road–Urojahaj Crossing–Bijoy Sarani Crossing, then turn right toward Farmgate. Asad Gate to Farmgate Crossing: Vehicles should turn left at Asad Gate, then right at Ganabhaban Crossing, proceed via Lake Road–Urojahaj Crossing–Bijoy Sarani Crossing, and turn right toward Farmgate Crossing. Elevated Expressway or Indira Road to Dhanmondi: Vehicles should turn right at Khejur Bagan Crossing, proceed to Urojahaj Crossing, turn left to Lake Road, then left again at Asad Gate and continue toward Dhanmondi. Mirpur Road to Dhanmondi-27: As the blockade on Manik Mia Avenue will be lifted for this route, southbound vehicles from Mirpur Road should use Shyamoli–Shishu Mela–Ganabhaban–Asad Gate and proceed straight toward Dhanmondi-27. Vehicles using the Elevated Expressway: During the Janaza, vehicles are requested to use the FDC (Hatirjheel) exit ramp instead of the Farmgate exit ramp. The DMP has urged all drivers to avoid the Manik Mia Avenue area from Saturday morning until the completion of the Janaza and burial, and to strictly follow the prescribed traffic instructions. For security reasons and to avoid inconvenience, attendees have also been requested not to carry any bags or heavy items. The DMP sought the full cooperation of city residents to ensure orderly traffic management and overall security.

An unruly mob, incited by ex-journalist Elias Hossain, attacked and set fire to the office building of The Daily Star, Bangladesh’s leading English-language daily, early Friday, creating panic in the area following the death of Sharif Osman Hadi, a frontliner of the July Uprising. Soon after news broke that Hadi, spokesman of Inquilab Moncho, had died from gunshot wounds sustained on December 12, Elias Hossain — who commands a large following on social media — posted on Facebook instructing his followers to set fire to the offices of Prothom Alo and The Daily Star. Prothom Alo was attacked first, and Hossain later posted again urging supporters to target The Daily Star, after which the mob moved to its office and carried out the arson. According to the Fire Service and Civil Defence Headquarters, duty officer Md Shahjahan said they received information about the fire at around 12:40am, following which a fire service unit was dispatched to the scene. Members of law-enforcement agencies, particularly personnel of the Bangladesh Army, reached the spot soon after the attack and took position to restore order. Firefighters began operations to douse the flames upon arrival. During the incident, the disorderly crowd also set fire to the adjacent road, further worsening the situation. Army personnel later assisted the fire service in bringing the fires under control.

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.