United News of Bangladesh

Jahangirnagar University (JU) authorities on Monday detained a candidate for using the artificial intelligence tool ChatGPT to cheat in the 2025–26 academic year undergraduate (honors) first-year admission test (55th batch). A mobile court, after establishing his guilt, sentenced the student to seven days of simple imprisonment. The incident occurred during the second shift of the ‘A’ unit admission test under the Faculty of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, in Room 102 of the Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) department. According to the source of university administration, the arrested student, Md. Mahmudullah Hasan, a resident of Akashkuri village in Dimla Upazila, Nilphamari, was found secretly using a mobile phone to collect answers via ChatGPT and fill out the OMR sheet. Suspicious of the student’s activity, the invigilator immediately informed the proctorial body, and Hasan was later taken to the proctor’s office. During questioning, Hasan admitted to previously using the same method in the ‘D’ unit admission test of the Faculty of Biological Sciences on Dec 23, taking photos of the question paper in Room 401 of the Chemistry department to collect answers via ChatGPT. He secured the 242nd position in the merit list of that unit in results published on Dec 25. Following the investigation, the university administration canceled Hasan’s admission tests for all units. Professor Mohammad Mafruhi Sattar, acting dean of the Faculty of Biological Sciences, said, “The student’s results will be annulled.” Proctor AKM Rashidul Alam added, “The student will not be allowed to participate in any future admission tests at Jahangirnagar University. The executive magistrate’s court sentenced him to seven days in jail, and he is currently serving the sentence.”

Inspector General of Police (IGP) Baharul Alam on Monday instructed field-level police officers to maintain law and order at any cost, giving the highest priority to the upcoming national election. Addressing the monthly crime review meeting at the Police Headquarters, the IGP emphasised that any election-related disorder must be met with immediate and strict legal action. Prof Yunus reaffirms fair polls as preparations underway in full swing “Pre-election law and order is of paramount importance. The visible presence of police must be increased through regular patrols and strengthened searches at check-posts,” he said, adding that anyone obstructing lawful police duties must be arrested and produced before court. Baharul Alam also directed officers to intensify efforts to recover weapons looted from police stations during last year’s August student–public mass movement, and to widely publicise government-declared rewards for such recoveries. All metropolitan police commissioners, range DIGs, and district superintendents of police (SPs) joined the meeting virtually. Arms smuggling attempts rise ahead of Bangladesh polls: Home Adviser At the headquarters, Additional IGP (Administration) AKM Awlad Hossain, Additional IGP (Crime and Operations) Khondaker Rafiqul Islam, DIG (Operations) Md Rezaul Karim, and DIG (Confidential) Md Kamrul Ahsan attended. The meeting also reviewed the overall crime situation for November 2025, covering execution of conviction warrants, progress of case investigations and trials, conviction rates and other key issues.

Police have arrested three people in connection with the murder of a college student in broad daylight in Sirajganj district town on Sunday afternoon. The arrestees are Md Ashiq, 22, son of Abdus Sattar of Dhanbandhi Mohalla of the town; Md Shakib Ibrahim, 28, son of Jamal Sheikh of the same Mohalla; and Mehedi Hasan, 18, son of Ujjal Hossain. Sirajganj Additional Superintendent of Police (Sadar Circle) Nazran Rouf said police conducted raids at various locations throughout Sunday night and arrested them. The arrestees are currently being interrogated, he added. Arms smuggling attempts rise ahead of Bangladesh polls: Home Adviser According to CCTV footage, the victim, 18-year-old Abdur Rahman Riyad, was sitting in a CNG-powered auto-rickshaw on Bahirgola Road, a busy Press Club area in the district town, at around 4:30 pm on Sunday. At that time, several youths approached from different directions and stabbed him repeatedly with locally made weapons inside the auto-rickshaw, leaving him critically injured. He was rescued and admitted to Shaheed M Mansur Ali Medical College Hospital in critical condition, where he died later that night while undergoing treatment. The brutal incident quickly went viral on social media. Police arrest suspect with firearm, explosives in Osman Hadi killing case In this connection, the deceased’s father, Rezaul Karim, filed a murder case naming 11 people and 15–20 unidentified individuals as accused. Abdur Rahman was a first-year student at Islamia Government College.

The Appellate Division on Monday (December 29, 2025) ordered the immediate removal of Nagorik Oikya President Mahmudur Rahman Manna’s name from the list of loan defaulters, clearing the way for his participation in the upcoming national polls. A single member bench of Justice Md Rezaul Haque passed the order after hearing a petition submitted by Manna challenging a High Court (HC) order. The court also stayed the HC order for eight weeks. Following the order, Manna has now no barriers to contest the election from the Bogura-2 constituency. Read more: Arms smuggling attempts rise ahead of Bangladesh polls: Home Adviser Senior lawyers Ahsanul Karim, Syed Mamun Mahbub, Barrister Jyotirmoy Barua, and Mostafizur Rahman stood for Manna while senior lawyer Abdul Kaiyum represented Islami Bank during the hearing at the court. The appeal followed the HC’s rejection of Manna’s writ petition on Sunday seeking removal of his name from the loan defaulter list. Earlier, on Wednesday, an HC bench of Justice Md Bazlur Rahman and Justice Md. Mansur Alam dismissed the petition, barring him from taking part in the elections. Then, deputy attorney general Shafiqul Rahman said as the court had rejected Manna’s petition, thereby he was disqualified now. Later, Manna filed another petition with the Appellate Division on Sunday challenging the HC order. The legal controversy surfaces after a notice issued by Islami Bank Bangladesh Limited’s Bogura Bargola branch on December 10 regarding Afacu Cold Storage Limited, a company led by Manna. The notice demanded repayment of Tk 38.04 crore in defaulted loans, instructing full payment by December 18 and warning of legal action in case of non-payment. Awami League could return if PR system is used in polls: Manna The notice, signed by branch manager Touhid Reza, was sent to the company’s chairman Manna and Managing Director ABM Nazmul Kadir Shajahan Chowdhury. According to the documents, Manna owns 50 percent of the cold storage, while couple Shajahan Chowdhury and his wife Ismat Ara Laizu each hold 25 percent shares. Although the company was profitable, it failed to pay regular profits, charges and fines, resulting in the outstanding amount. The bank described the notice as a final warning to prompt repayment, according to the notice. The bank manager said Manna had made no effort to repay the loan despite the company’s profitability. As per the agreement, the payment obligations were not fulfilled, which prompted the notice.

Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury on Monday acknowledged an increase in attempts to smuggle arms into Bangladesh through border points ahead of the national election, saying law enforcement agencies are regularly intercepting and seizing the weapons. “Some weapons are indeed entering through the border. However, these are being seized regularly—almost every day weapons are being recovered,” he told reporters. The adviser was speaking after a medal-giving ceremony and reception for freedom fighters marking Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) Day at Pilkhana. Jahangir Alam said all necessary security preparations for the upcoming national polls are underway, with the BGB set to play a crucial role. “About 35,000 BGB members will be deployed for election duties. They are fully prepared,” he added. BGB seeks people’s support to prevent firearms smuggling Responding to queries about the Keraniganj madrasah explosion and overall law-and-order concerns ahead of the election, he said the prime accused in the incident remains absconding, but his accomplices have already been arrested and the investigation is continuing. Asked whether recent bomb incidents could disrupt the election process, the adviser said attempts to obstruct elections are not new. “Fascist forces always try to hinder elections. But with public support and law enforcement efforts, the polls will be fair, peaceful and festive,” he said, adding that the government is committed to delivering a credible and acceptable election. Steps underway to check arms smuggling: Adviser Jahangir Alam He also said special training has been provided to security personnel to deal with any situation during the polls and reiterated that they are ‘fully prepared’ to ensure safety and stability.

Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury on Monday said the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) must maintain a strategic relation with neighbouring countries while performing duty along the borders. The instructions came while he was addressing the BGB’s annual day programme at Shaheed Shakil Ahmed Hall in Pilkhana in the morning. The Adviser warned that strict action would be taken against smugglers and drug traffickers, instructing officials to strengthen vigilance in sensitive areas. He also said any official or personnel found collaborating with criminals would face legal action. 14 platoons of BGB deployed in Dhaka, adjoining districts He instructed BGB members to take all necessary preparations and training to ensure a smooth, peaceful and festive national election. Jahangir Alam said the role of the paramilitary force would be crucial in maintaining law and order. “The election is approaching. To make it smooth, peaceful and festive, all necessary preparations and training must be undertaken. This is a major responsibility, and I believe you will fulfill it and offer the nation a credible election,” he said. He further urged close coordination with district administrations to prevent smuggling and ensure that border criminals are brought to justice.

Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) members seized 2.15 kg of gunpowder and materials used to make crude bombs from an abandoned mango orchard in Chapainawabganj’s Shibganj upazila on Sunday night. A team from the Chapainawabganj RAB camp conducted a drive based on secret information and recovered 2.15 kg of gunpowder from a polythene bag. Another polythene bag contained bomb-making materials, including glass powder, broken blades, iron wires, three rolls of red tape and three containers of jorda, according to a press release issued by RAB-5’s Chapainawabganj camp on Monday morning. No one was arrested in connection with the recovery, the press release said. The seized gunpowder and bomb-making materials have been handed over to Shibganj Police Station for further legal action.

Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury said on Sunday that the trial of Sharif Osman Bin Hadi’s murder would be completed during the tenure of the current interim government. “I want to assure you that the trial of Hadi’s murder will be completed during the term of the current interim government, InshaAllah,” he told the media after a meeting of the Core Committee on Law and Order at the Secretariat. The adviser said the interim government is determined to ensure justice in the murder of Hadi, a frontline fighter of the July uprising. “As you know, the police, BGB, RAB and other intelligence agencies are working intensively and in a coordinated manner to uncover the real facts.” Jahangir Alam said significant progress has already been made in the investigation. “For the sake of the investigation and to identify the real criminals and their associates, not everything can be disclosed at this moment. I am sharing only what can be made public without hampering the investigation.” He said 11 people have been arrested in connection with the case so far and six of whom have given confessional statements under Section 164, while four witnesses have also recorded their statements under the same section. Law enforcement agencies have recovered two foreign pistols, 52 rounds of bullets, magazines and knives used in the murder, along with the motorcycle and fake number plate used in the crime, bullet shells, video and CCTV footage, and other evidence from the crime scene. Signed cheques worth a total of Tk 218 crore from around 53 accounts have also been seized, he said. The adviser said law enforcement agencies are continuing efforts to identify those behind the murder. “The investigation is now at its final stage, he said, expressing hope that a charge sheet would be submitted within the next 10 days, by January 7. Requesting patience from all concerned, he said the main mystery behind the murder and the full list of those involved would be revealed soon. He added that a decision has already been taken to transfer the case to a Speedy Trial Tribunal, and authorities are making their utmost efforts to ensure justice in the heinous murder. The adviser also warned that fascist allies, miscreants and terrorists are attempting to disrupt the process. He urged everyone not to do anything that may strengthen our enemies or hinder the trial process of Hadi’s murder. Osman Hadi, also a prospective candidate for the Dhaka-8 constituency, was shot in the head on December 12 while travelling in a rickshaw on Culvert Road in Puratan Paltan. Later, he was airlifted to Singapore for advanced treatment, where he succumbed to his injuries on the night of December 18.

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus, also chairman of the National Cyber Security Council, on Sunday said the government needs to strengthen its technological capacity ahead of the national election and take strict action against all forms of cybercrime. The Chief Adviser directed the National Cyber Security Agency to ensure robust cyber security ahead of the upcoming parliamentary election and referendum. The directive came at a meeting of the National Cyber Security Council held at the State Guest house Jamuna with the Chief Adviser in the chair. He said the government is working to bring all citizen services on online platforms and many services are already being delivered digitally at home and abroad. To ensure these services remain secure and uninterrupted, the Chief Adviser said, strengthening cyber security is essential. Professor Yunus instructed the authorities concerned to give special priority to sectors providing citizen services. “Institutions including the Cyber Security Agency that adopt cyber security measures must regularly update their software and hardware, while the personnel involved must also be made more skilled.” Institutions and related personnel should be brought under a rating system so that proper evaluation of cyber security and overall performance becomes easier, he said. Prof Yunus directed the National Cyber Security Agency to play an effective role alongside the judiciary to ensure that no one involved in crimes in the financial sector goes unpunished. At the meeting, Chief Adviser’s Special Assistant for the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb i said 35 institutions have already been listed as Critical Information Infrastructure and suggested including more institutions in the list. He stressed the importance of coordination between the National Cyber Security Agency and the BTRC to prevent rumours, misinformation, disinformation and other cybercrimes surrounding the upcoming election. Bangladesh Bank Governor Ahsan H Mansur said various measures have already been taken to further strengthen cyber security in the banking sector and more initiatives are in the pipeline. He also praised the initiative to form sectoral Computer Emergency Response Teams. Member Secretary of the National Cyber Security Council and Director General of the National Cyber Security Agency Dr Md Tayebur Rahman presented the agency’s activities and future action plans through a PowerPoint presentation. He also detailed the ‘Cyber Incident Reporting and Response System’ designed for receiving complaints of cybercrimes and processing them. Others present at the meeting included Law Adviser Dr Asif Nazrul, ICT Secretary Shish Haider Chowdhury, Inspector General of Police Baharul Alam and National Board of Revenue Chairman Md Abdur Rahman Khan. Following the promulgation of the Cyber Security Ordinance 2025 on May 21, the National Cyber Security Council was formed on August 26 to ensure cyber security for state institutions and citizens under the amended ordinance.

Indian police have arrested two people in Meghalaya for receiving prime suspect Faisla Karim Masud and his accomplice in the sensational murder of Sharif Osman bin Hadi from the Bangladesh border area of the state. The arrestees were identified as Putti and Sami. “Through informal communication with Meghalaya Police, we learned that Putti and Sami have already been arrested,” SN Md Nazrul Islam, additional commissioner (crime and operations) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), disclosed this at a press briefing at the DMP Media Centre on Sunday. In Haluaghat of Mymensingh district, the accused identified as Philip and Sanjay received Faisal and Alamgir and helped them cross into India’s Meghalaya state. They were later handed over to Putti, who passed them to taxi driver Sami, who took them to Tura town, he said, adding that they unearthed how and who helped the accused flee to India. Law enforcement agencies, including DMP, Detective Branch (DB), Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime Unit (CTTC), Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) began working jointly to identify and arrest those involved following the ‘heinous’ incident, Nazrul said. Using information from witnesses present at the scene, CCTV footage analysis, open-source intelligence and information technology, police identified the shooter as Faisal, alias Rahul, and his accomplice, motorcycle rider Md Alamgir Sheikh, on the day of the incident. Hadi Murder: Charge sheet likely within 10 days The law enforcers immediately conducted raids in Savar, Hemayetpur, Agargaon and Narsingdi to arrest the suspects. As part of the continued operation, a DMP team pursued the suspects up to the border areas of Haluaghat in Mymensingh. Nazrul said efforts are ongoing to bring all those involved to justice. The case has already been handed over to the DMP DB for intensive investigation. The charge sheet of the case will be submitted within the next seven to eight. “So far, we have arrested 11 people, including the two main masterminds involved in planning the incident, those who helped hide the weapons used, and individuals who assisted the accused in fleeing,” he said. The arrestees include Humayun Kabir, father of Faisal; Hasi Begum, his mother; Shahida Parvin Samia, his wife; Wahid Ahmed Shipu, his brother-in-law; Maria Akter Lima, his friend; Mohammad Kabir Nuruzzaman Nomaniya alias Ujjwal; Sibion Dio Sanjay Chisi; Md Aminul Islam Raju; and Abdul Mannan. Meanwhile, six of the arrestees have made confessional statements before the court, he said. Police recovered two foreign-made pistols used in the killing, 52 rounds of ammunition, magazines, the motorcycle used in the crime along with a fake number plate, the autorickshaw that was carrying Hadi at the time of the incident, spent bullet casings, CCTV footage and other evidence. Besides, he said, investigators also seized signed cheques worth Tk 218 crore linked to 53 bank accounts. Charge sheet in Hadi murder case by Jan 7: DMP chief According to the investigation, Faisal and Alamgir fled Dhaka immediately after the incident, first travelling by CNG-run autorickshaw to Aminbazar, then to Kalampur in Manikganj, before reaching Haluaghat by private car as per a pre-planned route. Nazrul said the killing was premeditated, enabling the suspects to cross the border before they could be intercepted. On December 12, assailants shot Hadi in the head during an election campaign event. After receiving initial treatment at Dhaka Medical College Hospital and Evercare Hospital, he was airlifted to Singapore for advanced medical care on December 15. Hadi died there on December 18 at around 9:45 pm (local time). The following day, his body was brought back from Singapore and his namaz-e-janaza was held at the South Plaza of Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban, with thousands of people in attendance. A case has been filed with Paltan Police Station in connection with the killing.