United News of Bangladesh

A group of robbers looted a gold shop in Panchbibi upazila of Joypurhat early Saturday, taking about 35 bhori of gold ornaments and cash Tk 6 lakh, the shop owner calimed. The robbery took place at Mondol Jewellers on Station Road in Panchbibi municipal town. The owner, Nur Islam, said the robbers tied up the night guard and broke into the shop before fleeing with the valuables. Police visited the spot in the morning after receiving the information. No one has been arrested yet and the stolen gold or cash has not been recovered. According to local traders and police sources, at around 4am on Saturday, a gang of robbers arrived in a microbus in front of Mondol Jewellers. They tied up the night guard on duty, Bhuttu, then broke open the shop’s lock and entered inside. The robbers later forced open the safe and fled with the stated amount of gold ornaments and cash kept there. Hafiz Md Raihan, Officer in Charge of Panchbibi Police Station confirmed the inciden and said, “Police have started an investigation and are collecting CCTV footage from nearby areas. Efforts are underway to identify and arrest those involved.” The process of filing a case is ongoing at Panchbibi Police Station. Following the incident, fear has spread among local traders in Panchbibi municipal town.  

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) arrested 98 people in the last 24 hours in the capital under Operation Devil Hunt Phase-2. The arrests were made through conducting separate drive by police of Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Mirpur, Jatrabari, Darus Salam and Rupnagar police stations of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) during the period till 8:00 am on Saturday. Of the arrestees, Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station arrested 50 people, Mirpur Model Police Station 11, Jatrabari Police Station 12, Darus Salam Police Station 14 and Rupnagar Police Station 11, said DMP's Deputy Commissioner (Media) Talebur Rahman on Saturday afternoon. According to sources at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station, police conducted day-long raids on Friday in different crime-prone areas under the police station as part of Operation Devil Hunt and arrested 50 people, including accused in regular cases, wanted persons and those involved in various crimes. Mirpur Model Police Station sources said police conducted drives in different crime-prone areas under the police station on Friday and arrested 11 people. During the operation, 500 grams of cannabis and two mobile phones were recovered from their possession. Meanwhile, Jatrabari Police Station sources said police carried out raids in different crime-prone areas under the station on Friday and arrested 12 people. Three knives and two mobile phones were recovered from their possession. According to Darus Salam Police Station sources, police conducted operations in different crime-prone areas under the station on Friday (January 2) and arrested 14 people. Rupnagar Police Station sources said police conducted raids in different crime-prone areas under the police station on early Saturday till 8:00 am and arrested 11 people, including accused in regular cases and those involved in various crimes. A mobile phone was recovered from their possession.

A bus driver of the ‘Victor Classic’ bus service has been accused of threatening a woman with rape in Tongi, Gazipur. Following the incident, a case was filed at West Tongi Police Station on charges of assault and attempted murder after another passenger was beaten for protesting the act. Police have since detained two individuals in connection with the incident. The matter was confirmed on Saturday (3 January) by the Officer-in-Charge (OC) of West Tongi Police Station, Md. Shahin Khan. The OC said, “The driver and his assistant were detained on the day of the incident. During preliminary interrogation, they admitted the truth of the incident. The bus has been seized, and necessary legal action will be taken in accordance with the law.” According to the victim’s complaint, on 1 January, the wife of Md. Naim Islam, a 16th batch student of the History Department of Jagannath University, began her journey on a ‘Victor Classic’ bus from the Uttara BNS area to Hossain Market in Tongi. She was seated in the reserved seat for women beside the driver. The complaint states that after the woman introduced herself as a member of a Jagannath University student’s family, the driver began making provocative and obscene remarks. At one point, when the bus reached the traffic police box in front of Safiuddin Sarkar Academy, Naim Islam attempted to record a video on his mobile phone. At that time, the driver pushed him against the bus window and threw his phone away. When the victim asked the driver to stop the bus in front of the police box, he refused. As she started screaming, the driver allegedly threatened her with rape inside the bus. A passenger named Nur Nabi came forward to protest the incident, leading to a scuffle among the driver, his assistant, and other passengers. Later, when the bus stopped at the Hossain Market area, the woman was safely helped off the bus with the assistance of passengers. However, after everyone else had gotten off, Nur Nabi was attacked when he was alone. The driver, his assistant, and another person allegedly beat him with iron rods, leaving him seriously injured. Subsequently, with the help of local residents, the bus was stopped. Although the driver and his assistant managed to flee, another driver was detained and handed over to the police. In this incident, Md. Naim Islam filed a case at West Tongi Police Station on charges of threatening rape and attempted murder. He alleged, “After the incident, around 3:30 am, 15–20 people from the bus owners’ association came to the police station and threatened us to withdraw the case.” He further claimed that the accused driver had been released on bail four days earlier in a drug-related case from Uttara East Police Station.

The police are examining two video messages reportedly released by Faisal Karim, the prime suspect in the Inqilab Moncho spokesperson Osman Hadi murder case. “We have got the two video messages from Faisal and are currently scrutinising those. No comment on this now. We will speak after verification,” DMP Commissioner Md Sajjat Ali told reporters on Saturday (January 03, 2026). He was speaking at the ‘A4 Bashundhara Paper CRAB Best Reporting Award-2025’ ceremony at Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU). Read more: Inqilab Moncho stages protests demanding justice for Hadi The force is placing highest priority on maintaining law and order ahead of the upcoming national election, said Md Sajjat Ali. The DMP Commissioner urged journalists to remain responsible, saying inaccurate or exaggerated reports could harm police officers. He said DMP’s reshuffle of officers-in-charge was conducted through a lottery system and the force continues to operate within its limitations. “If we can keep law and order under control for the next 40 days it will be possible to hold a fair election.” Speaking about election candidates’ security, he said those facing genuine threats are being provided with armed protection upon SB verification. Hadi’s killers will be tracked down even if they flee abroad: Shipping Adviser Security for election commissioners has also been strengthened, he added. Referring to limited manpower, he said, “If we deploy police everywhere, who will guard the polling centres?” The DMP Commissioner claimed that incidents of mugging and other crimes have decreased in the capital and sought public cooperation to maintain the current situation.

Police in Ashulia have arrested a local Jubo League leader in connection with a murder case during the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement. The arrest was made on Friday afternoon based on a tip-off. The arrested, Mahbub Sarkar, 38, is known as a close aide of Nurul Amin Sarkar, president of Ashulia’s Iarpur Union Jubo League. Mahbub, a resident of Tajpur area, is the son of the late Monu Sarkar. He faces multiple cases, including a charge of arson on a parked bus on November 13 last year at Ashulia Police Station (case no. 54) and a murder case filed on September 4, 2024 (case no. 85), among others. Police said Mahbub was arrested during the investigation into the murder case linked to the anti-discrimination movement. Local sources said he was an active political figure in the area and known as an armed cadre. He is also reportedly a close aide of Tajibur, a jailed criminal with multiple cases. News of his arrest prompted locals to distribute sweets in celebration. OC of Ashulia Police, Rubel Hawladar, confirmed that Mahbub Sarkar was arrested based on confidential information.

A police constable in Rajshahi has been withdrawn from his post after a woman filmed a TikTok video wearing his uniform, on Thursday. Constable Saifuzzaman, stationed at Kashiadanga Police Station, came under scrutiny after it was reported that he was living with a woman named Sima Khatun without proper documentation of marriage. The video, showing Sima Khatun wearing a police uniform, was uploaded to social media. Upon verification, the Rajshahi Metropolitan Police (RMP) confirmed the authenticity of the uniform used in the video. Acting promptly, RMP Commissioner Dr. M. Zillur Rahman ordered Saifuzzaman’s withdrawal from the station. He later reported to the police lines. RMP spokesperson Gaziur Rahman said, “Police uniforms cannot be worn by spouses or anyone else. This is a criminal offence. Following initial investigation confirming the allegation, the constable has been withdrawn. Disciplinary action will follow after a full inquiry.” Sima Khatun’s family is originally from Mirpur Upazila in Kushtia. She has reportedly been regularly filming videos in police attire for TikTok over a long period.

Shipping Adviser Brigadier General (retd) Dr M Sakhawat Hossain on Friday said the killers of Sharif Osman bin Hadi would be tracked down and brought to justice even if they had fled abroad. He said all those involved in the killing would be exposed and their identities revealed. “By the middle of this month, the entire matter will be made public,” he told reporters. The adviser made the remarks after unveiling a plaque renaming the Nalchity launch terminal as “Shaheed Sharif Osman bin Hadi Launch Ghat” at Nalchity in Jhalakathi district in the afternoon. Dr Sakhawat said Hadi’s name was no longer confined to Bangladesh but had spread globally. “As long as this world exists and revolutionaries are remembered, people will remember Hadi,” he said, adding that the launch terminal in his birthplace was renamed in line with local demand. Present on the occasion were Hadi’s sister Masuma Hadi, brother-in-law Amir Hossain, Sultan Hossain—the father of July Movement martyr Selim, Joint Secretary of the Shipping Ministry Rafiqul Karim, BIWTA Director (Barishal) Amjad Hossain, Jhalakathi Deputy Commissioner Md Momin Uddin, Superintendent of Police Mizanur Rahman, Nalchity UNO Jobayer Habib and OC Ariful Alam. Meanwhile, Hadi’s colleagues, neighbours and local youths staged a protest with banners demanding justice for the killing in front of the adviser. The protest ended after assurances of justice. Later, Masuma Hadi told journalists that shooting Hadi in the head amounted to an attack on Bangladesh’s independence and sovereignty. She demanded exemplary punishment of all those involved and urged political leaders to govern the country by upholding the values Hadi stood for.

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has issued the Shipping Agent Licensing Rules, 2025, introducing a dedicated regulatory framework for the first time to ensure greater competition, transparency and accountability in the issuance of shipping agent licences at the country’s sea and river ports. The new rules were promulgated through a gazette notification on December 30, 2025, aiming to modernise and streamline shipping agent-related operations linked to customs stations across Bangladesh. Until now, there was no standalone set of regulations governing shipping agent licensing. Licences in this sector were previously issued under the Customs Agent Licensing Rules, 2020, a framework that stakeholders long argued was not fully suited to the operational realities of shipping agents. The NBR in a press release said that the introduction of a separate set of rules reflects the growing importance of shipping agents in facilitating trade and port operations. According to the NBR, the new rules have been formulated to make licensing procedures more time-efficient and business-friendly, while aligning them with contemporary trade facilitation needs. One of the key changes under the Shipping Agent Licensing Rules, 2025 is the removal of the requirement for prior approval from the NBR to determine the number of shipping agent licences at a particular customs station. Previously, customs stations had to seek clearance from the board before issuing licences, a process that often caused delays. With this requirement scrapped, the licensing authority at the relevant customs station will now be able to issue licences in significantly less time than before, the NBR said. In another major departure from past practice, applicants will no longer be required to sit for written and viva voce examinations conducted by the Customs, Excise and VAT Training Academy. Instead, licences will be granted solely on the basis of verification and correctness of submitted documents. The NBR said that, subject to proper documentation, licences must be issued within a maximum of 30 working days, a move expected to reduce procedural hurdles and compliance costs for applicants. The new rules also address a long-standing limitation faced by shipping agents. Under the previous regime, a shipping agent licence was valid only for the sea or river port under the issuing customs station. This meant that a licence obtained from one station could not be used to operate at another port governed by a different customs station. Under the Shipping Agent Licensing Rules, 2025, this restriction has been lifted. A licence issued under the new framework will allow a shipping agent to conduct business activities at any sea or river port across Bangladesh, significantly expanding operational flexibility and reducing the need for multiple licences. Trade experts say this change is likely to lower entry barriers, promote competition and support more efficient logistics services, particularly for importers and exporters operating through multiple ports. The NBR said the introduction of the new rules is part of its broader effort to create an investment-friendly environment and simplify import and export procedures in line with global best practices. By reducing administrative complexity and standardising licensing procedures, the board expects the new framework to contribute to smoother port operations and improved ease of doing business. The NBR reiterated that its ongoing reform initiatives are aimed at facilitating legitimate trade, enhancing transparency and supporting Bangladesh’s growing role in regional and global supply chains.

Mohammad Arshadul Rouf, Additional Attorney General, will assume the responsibilities of the Attorney General on an additional charge. The Law and Justice Division of the Ministry of Law issued a notification on Thursday confirming his appointment. The notification, signed by Law and Justice Secretary Liakat Ali Molla, stated that the President has assigned Arshadul Rouf the additional duties of Bangladesh’s Attorney General. At the same time, the President has accepted the resignation of Md. Asaduzzaman, who had been serving as Attorney General. A separate notification was issued regarding his resignation. Asaduzzaman stepped down from the post following his nomination by the BNP for the Jhenaidah-1 constituency ahead of the 13th National Parliamentary Election.

Sanjay Chisim and Md. Faisal, arrested in connection with the murder of Sharif Osman Hadi, have given confessional statements. This is a different Faosal from the one who is the main accused in the murder, Faisal Karim. After a three-day remand, the two accused provided their statements before Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Jamshed Alam on Thursday. Following the confessions, the court sent Sanjay, Faisal, and Sibun Diuke to jail. Hadi was attacked on December 12 in Bijoynagar, Dhaka. The assailants, riding a motorcycle, shot at Hadi while he was in a moving rickshaw, hitting him in the head. He succumbed to his injuries seven days later, on December 18. Sanjay Chisim and Sibun Diuke were arrested on December 14 from the Nalitabari border in Sherpur, while Faisal was apprehended on December 16 by a RAB-11 team in Taruar Bill, Narsingdi Sadar, with firearms and ammunition recovered from water. So far, the police have arrested 12 individuals in connection with the case. The accused include Faisal’s father Md. Humayun Kabir, mother Mosa Hasi Begum, wife Saheda Parvin Samia, girlfriend Maria Akter Lima, brother-in-law Wahid Ahmed Sipu, hired private car businessman Mufti Md. Nuruzzaman Nomani (alias Uzzal), Faisal’s associate Md. Kabir, and those who assisted in fleeing to India—Sibun Diuke and Sanjay Chisim—along with Aminul Islam Raju and Md. Faisal.