United News of Bangladesh

Religious Affairs Adviser Dr AFM Khalid Hossain on Sunday said taking the law into one's own hands is a major obstacle to good governance. “This is an extremely condemnable and heinous act. We will not allow anyone to take the law into their own hands. Mob justice is a major obstacle to good governance,” he said while talking to reporters at the Secretariat. The adviser said he had sent a message and had requested the Home Affairs Adviser to take action against those involved in the killing of a man in Mymensingh and in setting the body on fire. Dipu Chandra Das, a local garment worker, was beaten to death by a mob over alleged blasphemy in Bhaluka Upazila of Mymensingh district on Thursday night.  His body was later set on fire. Replying to another question, the adviser claimed that the law and order is now fully under control. He said violent incidents were still occurring, but considering the current situation, they remained hopeful that elections would be held on time in a free, fair, inclusive and festive manner and that such an environment still existed. Asked about recent arson attacks on two newspapers—The Daily Prothom Alo and The Daily Star—the adviser said “Efforts are on to prevent such incidents.To ensure police control at all establishments in advance is very difficult. Often, we do not know in which direction an attack may occur. That is why we always discourage such acts.” Based on intelligence reports, several individuals involved in setting fire to Prothom Alo and The Daily Star have been identified, he said, adding, “We have already taken measures to arrest them and bring them under book.” Regarding the attack on Chhayanaut, the adviser said that who said what was not within their jurisdiction, but as a government they could never accept arson attacks on government-approved institutions or the killing of people by burning them, adding that they considered such acts heinous crimes and were determined to bring the perpetrators to justice. When asked whether there was any intelligence failure as attacks took place on Prothom Alo, The Daily Star, Chhayanaut and other locations across the country on the same night, Khalid Hossain said it would not be appropriate for him to label it directly as an intelligence failure. Drawing attention to allegations of incitement from abroad, the adviser said comments made from outside the country are beyond the direct control of the Bangladesh government. He pointed out that those were open platforms such as Meta and YouTube, which they could not directly control, and that even from within Bangladesh many people posted abusive comments every day.

A trader was stabbed to death allegedly by muggers in the capital’s Jatrabari area early Saturday. The deceased was identified as Ashish Joaddar, 32, a cloth trader and son of Amal Joyaddar of Paturia village in Magura Sadar. Al Amin, a witness, said when Ashish was walking past a warehouse under the Jatrabari flyover two to three muggers blocked his way and stabbed him with a knife. Hearing his screams, locals rushed to the spot, prompting the attackers to flee without managing to snatch anything, he said. He was taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital in critical condition around 1:30am where doctors on duty at the emergency department declared him dead. Inspector Md Faruk, in-charge of the police camp at Dhaka Medical College Hospital, the body has been kept at the hospital morgue and the matter has been reported to Jatrabari Police Station.

Law enforcement agencies have arrested ten people in connection with the killing of a Hindu youth who was beaten to death in Bhaluka Upazila of Mymensingh district. Of them, seven were arrested by the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and three by the police, the Chief Adviser’s Press Wing said on Saturday. Those arrested by RAB are Md Limon Sarkar, 19; Md Tarek Hossain, 19; Md Manik Mia, 20; Ershad Ali, 39; Nizum Uddin, 20; Alamgir Hossain, 38; and Md Miraj Hossain Akon, 46. The police arrested Md Ajmal Hasan Sagir, 26; Md Shahin Mia, 19; and Md Nazmul. RAB-14 and the police conducted operations at different locations to detain the suspects, the press wing added. The victim, Dipu Chandra Das, a local garment worker, was beaten to death by a mob over alleged blasphemy in Bhaluka Upazila. His body was later set on fire.

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.