Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal has postponed its order on charge framing against 17 accused, including 10 army officers, in a case involving enforced disappearances and torture. The tribunal, led by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Majumder, rescheduled the hearing to December 23 after defense lawyers requested additional time. Senior lawyer Monsurul Haque Chowdhury represented three detained officers during the session.

Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam objected strongly to the defense’s repeated petitions, alleging that the defense team was deliberately attempting to mislead the tribunal and delay proceedings. He argued that such tactics were meant to obstruct justice and prevent the framing of charges despite the existence of prima facie grounds. The tribunal panel includes Justices Md Shafiul Alam Mahmud and retired District Judge Mohitul Haque Enam Chowdhury.

The delay highlights ongoing tensions in high-profile war crimes cases, where procedural motions often slow progress. Observers note that the tribunal’s next session will be crucial in determining whether formal charges proceed against the accused officers.

Police in Netrakona recovered the body of Helal Uddin, a 60-year-old farmer, who was found with his hands, feet, and mouth bound and his throat slit in his bedroom early Sunday morning. The incident occurred in Nariyapara village of Kaliyara Gabragati Union under Netrakona Sadar upazila. According to local sources, Uddin’s wife discovered the body around 4 a.m. and alerted neighbors, who then informed police.

Law enforcement officials, including the Superintendent of Police Md. Tariqul Islam, visited the scene along with detectives and the CID crime scene unit, collecting evidence for investigation. Police suspect the murder was premeditated. Authorities noted inconsistencies in the wife’s statement, and she has been taken in for questioning. The body was sent to Netrakona Modern Sadar Hospital for autopsy.

Investigators are prioritizing the case, emphasizing that legal action will follow based on forensic findings and investigative progress. The killing has shocked the rural community, prompting heightened security and scrutiny of possible personal or financial motives.

Police in Kishoreganj upazila of Nilphamari district arrested two individuals, including a local Jubo League ward president, during separate raids on Saturday night under an anti-terrorism case. The detainees were identified as Ziaur Rahman, 42, president of the Jubo League’s Ward No. 9 unit in Putimari Union, and Jagdish Chandra Barman, 55, of Uttar Barovita Dangapara village. Both were sent to the district jail on Sunday afternoon following their arrest.

According to Abdul Kuddus, the investigating officer of Kishoreganj Police Station, the arrests were made as part of the ongoing “Devil Hunt Phase-2” operation targeting individuals accused in anti-terrorism cases. Police stated that the operation aims to strengthen law enforcement presence and curb militant or extremist activities in the region.

Local sources said the arrests have drawn attention within political circles, as one of the accused holds a leadership role in the ruling party’s youth wing. Authorities have not disclosed further details about the specific charges or the next steps in the legal process.

Police in Taraganj upazila of Rangpur district have arrested a local leader of the banned student organization, Chhatra League. The arrest took place around 1 p.m. on Sunday during an operation at Taraganj Bazar. The detainee, identified as Md. Ruhul Amin, 27, was serving as the general secretary of the Ikarchali Union unit of the group and is the son of Md. Abdul Majid from Ikarchali (Pashchimpara) village.

Officer-in-Charge Ruhul Amin of Taraganj Police Station confirmed the arrest and stated that the accused was sent to Rangpur Jail following a court order. Authorities have not disclosed further details about the charges or the specific reasons behind the ban on the organization. Local sources indicated that the arrest followed ongoing surveillance of banned political activities in the area.

The incident underscores the government’s continued enforcement against proscribed political groups in northern Bangladesh. Further legal proceedings are expected in the coming days as police continue monitoring similar organizations.

Police in Dhunat upazila of Bogura have arrested two local leaders of the Awami League and Jubo League in connection with a case filed over an alleged cocktail explosion during a torch procession. The detainees, Golam Mostafa, 56, organizational secretary of Mathurapur Union Awami League, and Sohel Rana, 40, former organizational secretary of Mathurapur Union Jubo League, were sent to Bogura District Jail on Sunday following court orders.

According to the case, Awami League activists organized a torch procession on November 30 in Bhubangati Uttarpara area, where explosions reportedly caused panic among residents. On December 10, former Gopalnagar Union Chhatra Dal president Raju Ahmed filed a case naming 35 individuals and 60–70 unidentified persons. The two arrested leaders were among those unidentified suspects.

Dhunat Police Station Officer-in-Charge Atikul Islam said efforts are ongoing to apprehend the remaining accused. The arrests have drawn attention locally, as they involve ruling party figures amid heightened political tensions in the region.

Eleven members of the Ansar force were injured on Sunday morning when a passenger bus lost control and hit a flyover pillar in the Poyartola area of Brahmanbaria town along the Cumilla–Sylhet highway. The accident occurred as the group was returning to Suhilpur camp after completing a firing camp at the district Ansar and VDP office. Two of the injured were later transferred to Brahmanbaria Medical College Hospital due to critical conditions.

According to officials, the bus, operated by Diganta Paribahan, struck a pillar of an under-construction four-lane flyover, severely damaging the vehicle’s front section. Local authorities and rescue teams quickly transported the injured to the district hospital for treatment. Adjutant Mohammad Harun Rashid of Brahmanbaria Ansar and VDP confirmed that all victims were receiving medical care.

The incident highlights ongoing safety concerns on the busy Cumilla–Sylhet highway, where construction work and heavy traffic often contribute to accidents. Authorities are expected to review road safety measures and driver compliance in the area.

A violent knife attack in Lohagara, Chattogram, left Muhib, brother of July martyr Ishmam, critically injured on Saturday evening. Witnesses said a group of banned Chhatra League activists ambushed him near Lohagara Station after evening prayers. Locals rescued Muhib and admitted him to the upazila hospital, where he remains under treatment. One of the attackers, identified as Chhatra League leader Minhaj, was detained by residents and handed over to police.

Police confirmed the incident and launched an investigation, pledging legal action against those involved. Muhib is known as the plaintiff in a high-profile case filed in Dhaka’s Chankharpul murder incident involving former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and others. His family alleged the attack was a premeditated attempt driven by political revenge. Local National Citizen Party (NCP) coordinator Zahir Uddin condemned the assault, demanding swift arrests and protection for plaintiffs in related cases.

The attack has sparked widespread outrage among residents, who called for exemplary punishment of the perpetrators to prevent further political violence.

A local BNP leader in Fulgazi, Feni, has been accused of locking the Amjadhat Darul Qur'an Islamia Madrasa and orphanage following a dispute over its management committee. Witnesses reported that around 50–60 men, allegedly led by union BNP organizing secretary Anwar Hossain Tipu, forced students out and locked the premises. A teacher, Hafiz Ahmad Hossain, was reportedly assaulted when he tried to intervene. Police arrived at the scene after a 999 emergency call was made.

According to police, the madrasa was locked due to internal conflict over committee leadership rather than political motives. The locks were removed the following day after the incident drew public attention. Teachers and local residents condemned the attack, calling it deeply regrettable. Tipu denied involvement, claiming his name was used due to local political rivalry.

The dispute reportedly began after the madrasa’s founder fell ill and management was transferred to another religious institution, which later replaced the acting principal over alleged irregularities. Authorities are monitoring the situation to prevent further unrest.

Sharif Osman Hadi, spokesperson of the Inquilab Mancha and a university lecturer, was buried on December 20 beside the grave of national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam at Dhaka University. Hadi, who hailed from a family of Islamic scholars in Nalchity, Jhalakathi, was shot in the head by assailants on December 12 in Purana Paltan, Dhaka. He was first treated in Dhaka before being flown to Singapore, where he died from his injuries.

Hadi, a former political science student at the University of Dhaka, was known for his activism against authoritarianism. His father, Maulana Abdul Hadi, was a madrasa teacher, and most of his siblings and in-laws are engaged in religious education or teaching. Thousands attended his funeral prayer at the South Plaza of the National Parliament, led by his elder brother Abu Bakkar Siddiq.

Authorities have yet to confirm the motive behind the attack, though investigations are ongoing. Hadi’s death has drawn widespread attention, highlighting concerns over political violence and the safety of activists in Bangladesh.

Traffic on the Dhaka–Mymensingh highway was halted for about an hour on Sunday after garment workers from the P.A. Knit factory in Valuka blocked the road. The protest erupted following a collision between a worker transport bus and a passenger bus operated by Shoukhin Paribahan near Jamirdia area. Workers alleged that after the minor accident, Shoukhin Paribahan staff forcibly took away the helper of the factory bus, identified as Aminul.

Police from the Bharadoba Highway Station arrived at the scene and persuaded the workers to end the blockade, restoring traffic flow. Officer-in-Charge A.B.M. Mehedi Masud confirmed that the protest was triggered by the alleged abduction and that the situation was resolved peacefully. The blockade caused severe disruption for commuters and office-goers during the morning rush hour.

Authorities are investigating the incident, and local officials have urged both transport operators and factory management to strengthen coordination to prevent future clashes between transport workers and industrial employees.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has dismissed as fabricated a photo circulating on social media that allegedly shows the grave of Inqilab Mancha spokesperson Sharif Osman Hadi. In a statement on Sunday, DMP Deputy Commissioner (Media) Muhammad Talebur Rahman said the image was intentionally misleading and urged the public not to be deceived. He confirmed that Hadi’s burial site, located beside the tomb of national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam near Dhaka University’s central mosque, remains under strict security.

Hadi was shot on December 12 in the capital’s Bijoynagar area while riding a motorcycle. After being treated in Dhaka and later transferred to Singapore General Hospital, he died on December 18. His body returned to Dhaka on December 19, and a large public funeral was held the following day at the South Plaza of the National Parliament.

Authorities have not commented on the motive behind the fake image, but the DMP’s warning highlights growing concerns over misinformation spreading online following Hadi’s death.

A ferry accident in Narayanganj’s Fatullah area left five vehicles, including a truck, submerged in the Dhaleshwari River late Saturday night. Fifteen hours after the incident, no rescue operations had begun, sparking anger among locals who rely on the ferry for daily trade and transport. The Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) and the Roads and Highways Department (RHD) have been accused of poor coordination, delaying the response.

Officials from BIWTA arrived at the site Sunday morning but lacked necessary recovery equipment. Assistant Director Kamruzzaman stated that the ferry belongs to the RHD, which has yet to send representatives or identify the exact recovery point. Meanwhile, the Coast Guard recovered three bodies—identified as a motorcyclist, a van driver, and an expatriate.

Witnesses reported that a truck lost control mid-river, hitting nearby vehicles before plunging into the water. The delay in rescue efforts has disrupted local commerce in Baktabali, where ferry operations remain suspended. Authorities are assessing river depth before launching recovery operations.

Two young workers from the Ruppur Nuclear Power Plant died following a head-on collision between a truck and a motorcycle in Ishwardi, Pabna. The accident occurred late Saturday night near Alhaj Mor when the victims, Rabbi Hossain (27) and Nishan Munshi (22), were returning home from Ishwardi town. Both sustained critical injuries and were first taken to Ishwardi Upazila Health Complex before being transferred to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital, where they died during treatment.

Police confirmed that the truck involved in the accident has been seized, and a case has been filed at Ishwardi Police Station. The bodies are being returned to their families without autopsy upon request. The incident has cast deep mourning over the villages of Joynagar and Maniknagar in Salimpur Union, where the victims lived. Authorities have urged drivers to maintain caution on the busy Ishwardi roads, which have seen several recent accidents.

Local residents have called for stricter traffic enforcement and better lighting in accident-prone areas to prevent further tragedies.

A Dalit migrant laborer from Chhattisgarh was beaten to death in Kerala’s Palakkad district after being suspected of being a Bangladeshi national. The victim, 31-year-old Ramnarayan Baghel, had arrived in Palakkad on December 13 seeking daily wage work. Local reports indicate that following a theft incident in the area, a mob accused him of stealing and assaulted him with sticks, leading to his death.

Police have arrested five individuals in connection with the killing and have strengthened security in the area to prevent further unrest. The incident has sparked fear among migrant workers, many of whom expressed concern over being targeted due to their appearance or language. Authorities confirmed that an investigation is underway to determine the motive behind the attack.

The case highlights ongoing tensions surrounding migrant laborers in southern India and the dangers of mob justice. Officials said the body will be sent to Baghel’s home village after autopsy procedures are completed, while human rights groups have called for stronger protections for internal migrants.

A case has been filed at Dhanmondi Police Station following a violent attack, arson, and looting at the Chhayanaut cultural center in Dhaka. The incident occurred on the night of December 20, when unidentified assailants vandalized and set fire to parts of the building. Chhayanaut’s chief manager, Dulal Ghosh, lodged the case against 300 to 350 unidentified individuals, police confirmed on Sunday.

According to Chhayanaut officials, the attackers destroyed CCTV cameras, furniture, and musical instruments including tablas, harmoniums, and violins. The total extent of the damage has not yet been determined. The attack took place following the death of Inquilab Mancha spokesperson Shahid Sharif Osman Hadi, after which several media offices and Chhayanaut were targeted.

Interim government cultural affairs adviser Mostofa Sarwar Farooki visited the site and reviewed CCTV footage, promising that those responsible would be brought to justice. Authorities are continuing investigations to identify the perpetrators and assess the full scale of losses.