Sylhet Metropolitan Police (SMP) have detained nine individuals, including several with political affiliations, under the ongoing 'Devil Hunt-2' operation. The arrests were made across different parts of the city over a 36-hour period, targeting suspects linked to explosive-related cases and other criminal charges under the Penal Code and Explosive Substances Act.

Police sources confirmed that among those detained are former and current leaders of the Awami League, Jubo League, and Chhatra League. The list includes a former vice-president of the Kulaura upazila Awami League, a city Jubo League general secretary, and several local organizational heads. Authorities stated that all detainees have been presented before the court following legal procedures.

Law enforcement officials said the operation is part of a broader crackdown on politically linked criminal networks in Sylhet. Investigations are ongoing, and further legal action will be taken based on evidence gathered during the inquiry.

Two leading Bangladeshi newspapers, Prothom Alo and The Daily Star, came under attack late Thursday night as unidentified assailants set fires and vandalized their offices in Dhaka. Fire Service officials confirmed that two units were dispatched to control the blaze at the Prothom Alo building, while separate reports indicated that The Daily Star office was also targeted by arsonists.

Army personnel were deployed to the scene to restore order and assist emergency responders. The extent of the damage and any casualties were not immediately confirmed as of early Friday morning. Authorities have yet to release details on the motive or identity of those involved.

The attacks have raised concerns about press freedom and security for journalists in Bangladesh. Media organizations and civil society groups are expected to issue statements condemning the violence and urging the government to ensure accountability. Further investigations are underway to determine whether the incidents were coordinated or politically motivated.

A 12-second video filmed in Netrakona’s Purbadhala upazila has triggered widespread outrage after going viral on social media. The footage, showing a young man appearing to harass a girl near a madrasa, was later revealed to be a staged act recorded by twin brothers Roman and Rakib, both 18, with a 13-year-old boy playing the female role. The video was reportedly made to gain online views under their page ‘Rakib is Skating Blog.’

Local authorities confirmed the video was pre-planned and condemned the act as socially harmful. Purbadhala Union Council Chairman Siddiqur Rahman Bulbul warned that such content spreads fear among schoolgirls and urged legal action. Police said the accused have gone into hiding and their social media page has been removed. The Upazila Nirbahi Officer has directed police to take immediate legal measures.

The incident highlights growing concerns over the misuse of social media for sensational content and its psychological impact on communities. Law enforcement continues efforts to locate and arrest the suspects.

The Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) seized illegal Indian sarees valued at approximately Tk 6.28 million during separate anti-smuggling operations along the Comilla border on Thursday, December 18. The raids were conducted by special patrol teams under the Comilla Battalion (10 BGB) in the Tikkar Char, Kabiraj Bazar, and Chauddagram areas, where the sarees were found abandoned within eight kilometers inside Bangladesh territory.

According to BGB sources, the operations were part of ongoing efforts to curb cross-border smuggling of goods and narcotics. Comilla Battalion Commander Colonel Mir Ali Ejaz confirmed the seizure and stated that the confiscated items would be handed over to customs authorities following legal procedures. He emphasized that the BGB would continue such drives to prevent illegal trade across the frontier.

The incident underscores persistent challenges in controlling cross-border smuggling activities along the Bangladesh-India boundary, where textile and consumer goods are frequently trafficked. Authorities are expected to strengthen surveillance and coordination with customs to enhance border security.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) arrested 392 individuals in the capital within 24 hours under 'Operation Devil Hunt Phase-2'. Among those detained were 15 active members of the banned Awami League and its affiliated organizations, while 377 were wanted in various cases or named in charge sheets. The DMP said the operation was part of ongoing efforts to maintain law and order in the city.

In addition to the arrests, police set up 11 special checkpoints at key entry and exit points of Dhaka on December 17 to inspect suspicious vehicles and ensure public safety. During these checks, 769 vehicles were searched, and five more people were detained. The DMP emphasized that such operations will continue to preserve stability in the capital.

Authorities have not disclosed further details on the charges against the detainees, but the large-scale operation signals intensified security measures amid heightened political and public safety concerns in Dhaka.

Bangladesh’s Rapid Action Battalion (RAB-6) has arrested Md. Ijazul Hossain, a listed top criminal and active member of the 'Grenade Babu' gang, for his alleged direct involvement in the daylight double murder at the Khulna District and Sessions Judge Court premises. He was detained on December 17 from the Aichgati area across the Rupsha River. According to RAB, Ijazul confessed to participating in the killing of Fazle Rabbi Rajon and Hasib Howlader on November 30.

RAB officials stated that seven attackers took part in the assault, which stemmed from a long-standing feud between the 'Grenade Babu' and 'Palash' gangs over territorial control, drug trade profits, and extortion money. CCTV and mobile footage captured Ijazul at the scene, leading to his arrest. The victims’ families did not initially file a case, prompting police to register two cases under murder and arms laws on December 3.

Authorities continue to investigate the broader network behind the attack as law enforcement intensifies operations against organized crime groups in Khulna.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) of Bangladesh has approved a chargesheet against former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, his wife, and two children for allegedly amassing illegal wealth worth over Tk 220 million and conducting suspicious transactions totaling Tk 870 million. The charges were confirmed by ACC Director General Md. Akhter Hossain on Thursday.

According to the chargesheet, Kamal, while serving as a public official, abused his authority to acquire assets inconsistent with his known sources of income. Investigators also found evidence of money laundering through nine bank accounts, allegedly used to conceal or transfer illicit funds. The charges were filed under the Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2004, the Prevention of Corruption Act 1947, and the Money Laundering Prevention Act 2012.

Kamal was previously sentenced to death by the International Crimes Tribunal in November for crimes against humanity during the July uprising. The new corruption case adds to his legal troubles, signaling intensified scrutiny of former high-ranking officials accused of financial and wartime offenses.

Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) has recovered 150,000 yaba tablets valued at approximately Tk 45 million during a special operation in Ukhiya, Cox’s Bazar. The seizure took place early Thursday morning when a patrol team from BGB’s 64th Battalion spotted a suspect crossing from Myanmar. Upon being challenged, the individual abandoned a black plastic bag and fled across the Naf River back into Myanmar.

According to Lieutenant Colonel Mohammad Jasim Uddin, commander of the Ukhiya Battalion, the confiscated drugs were found inside airtight blue packets within the bag. Intelligence surveillance has been intensified to identify and arrest the fleeing trafficker. The recovered yaba consignment is being handed over to Ukhiya Police Station for further legal procedures.

BGB officials reaffirmed their commitment to combating cross-border drug trafficking and smuggling, emphasizing that such operations will continue. The seizure underscores the persistent challenge of narcotics entering Bangladesh through the Myanmar border, a hotspot for yaba trafficking in recent years.

A Dhaka court on Thursday granted a three-day remand for Sibion Diu and Sanjoy Chisim, who were arrested for allegedly helping Faisal Karim Masud flee to India following the attempted murder of Sharif Osman Hadi, spokesperson of the political-cultural platform Inquilab Moncho. The order was issued by Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Jashita Islam after police sought seven days of remand for interrogation.

According to investigators, the two suspects were detained from Mymensingh’s Haluaghat and Dubaura areas. The prosecution argued that their interrogation was necessary to trace Masud’s escape route and identify other accomplices. No defense lawyer was present during the hearing. The case was filed on December 14 by Inquilab Moncho’s member secretary Abdullah Al Jaber.

Hadi was shot on December 12 in Dhaka’s Paltan area by unidentified assailants on a motorcycle and remains in critical condition in a Singapore hospital. Several other suspects, including Masud’s family members and associates, have already been placed on remand as the investigation expands.

Police recovered the hanging body of Jannatara Rumi, a leader of the Nationalist Citizens’ Party (NCP), from a private women’s hostel in Jigatola, Dhaka. Authorities have registered an unnatural death case, though questions remain over whether it was suicide or foul play. Family members cited her long struggle with depression, while party colleagues pointed to sustained online harassment as a possible contributing factor.

According to NCP senior joint convener Ariful Islam Adib, Rumi had faced months of cyberbullying and threats of violence from activists linked to the now-banned Awami League. Her personal and family information had reportedly been circulated online, leaving her distressed and withdrawn in recent weeks. Police confirmed that the family’s case mentioned her mental health issues and ongoing treatment.

The incident has sparked debate over the growing problem of political cyber harassment in Bangladesh. Rights groups have urged a transparent investigation and stronger digital safety measures for women in politics. Police said they are awaiting autopsy results before determining the cause of death.

A decomposed human skeleton, believed to be that of 22-year-old Ismail Hossain, was discovered in a forested area of Eidgaon, Cox’s Bazar, two months after his disappearance. The remains were found along with clothing and sandals matching those he wore when last seen, near the border of Islampur and Islamabad unions.

Family members, who had been searching for Ismail since he went missing, identified the items and informed local police. His aunt, Jyotsna, said Ismail had been mentally unstable and vanished from home two months earlier. About a month after his disappearance, an unidentified caller demanded a ransom of 100,000 taka from Ismail’s father, threatening to kill him if unpaid.

Police have dispatched a team to the site and are awaiting forensic confirmation of the identity. Authorities are investigating whether the case involves abduction and murder or other causes. The discovery has raised concerns among locals about safety and law enforcement in the area.

Three people were killed and one critically injured in a motorcycle collision late Wednesday night in Golapganj, Sylhet. The accident occurred around midnight on the Sylhet-Bianibazar-Jakiganj road near Termaile. Police confirmed that one person died at the scene, while two others succumbed to injuries at Sylhet Osmani Medical College Hospital. Among the four riders involved, only one remains under treatment.

The deceased were identified as Abdul Ahad (42) from Goaspur village, Sabbir Ahmed (21) from Ranaping Chhatrish village, and Ariful Haque Joy (35) from Fazilpur village. The injured, Zakir Ahmed (20) from Juri upazila of Moulvibazar, is receiving treatment at the hospital. Golapganj Model Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md Ariful Islam said locals rescued the victims before police arrived and sent them to the hospital.

Authorities are investigating the cause of the crash, which adds to a rising trend of fatal motorcycle accidents in the Sylhet region. Road safety advocates have urged stricter enforcement of traffic laws and helmet use to prevent further tragedies.

Police in Patiya, Chattogram, are under scrutiny after a detained student leader, Sheyaib-ul Islam Fahim, allegedly posted selfies and Facebook statuses while in police custody. Fahim, president of the Baralia Union Ward 7 unit of the banned Chhatra League, was arrested on December 17 on charges of involvement in anti-state activities. Despite being detained, he reportedly used a hidden mobile phone to post photos and messages, including one showing a sleeping police officer.

The incident sparked widespread criticism on social media, with many questioning how a detainee could access a phone under police supervision. Patiya Police Station Officer-in-Charge Ziaul Haque stated that Fahim had concealed the phone in his undergarments, which was later confiscated. He confirmed that the suspect was sent to court under the Anti-Terrorism Act.

The controversy has raised concerns about custodial oversight and police accountability, prompting calls for an internal investigation into the breach of detention protocols.

Former anti-discrimination student movement coordinator Tarekul Islam, known as Tarek Reza, has claimed that the death of activist Jannat Akter Rumi was not a suicide but a murder. In a Facebook post on Thursday, he accused ruling party supporters of relentless cyberbullying and threats that allegedly drove Rumi to take her own life. Rumi, a joint coordinator of the NCP Dhanmondi unit, reportedly faced continuous online harassment and phone threats over the past month.

According to Reza, despite repeated appeals, authorities failed to provide protection or take action against those responsible. He vowed to seek justice, declaring that those who destroyed his “sister’s life” would not live in peace. The incident has sparked outrage among student activists and renewed debate over digital harassment and political intimidation in Bangladesh.

Observers say the case highlights the growing dangers of online abuse targeting political activists, particularly women. Calls are mounting for a transparent investigation and stronger cybercrime enforcement to prevent similar tragedies.

Police recovered the body of Jannatara Rumi, a leader of the National Citizens Party (NCP), from a women’s hostel in Jigatola, Dhaka, on Thursday morning. Rumi, who served as joint coordinator of the NCP’s Dhanmondi unit, was found hanging from the fifth floor of the building. Authorities have yet to confirm whether the death was a suicide or involved foul play.

Following the discovery, former Bangladesh Students’ Union president Bappaditya Basu drew public criticism after expressing apparent satisfaction over Rumi’s death in a Facebook post. Basu, a former organizer of the Shahbagh-based Gonojagoron Mancha movement, had previously faced arrest in 2024 on charges of embezzlement and fraud. His remarks have reignited debate over political intolerance and online hate speech in Bangladesh.

Investigators are examining the circumstances surrounding Rumi’s death, while political observers warn that such reactions on social media risk deepening divisions among activist groups. The NCP has not yet issued an official statement, and police said an autopsy report will determine the cause of death.