Local Awami League leaders and influential individuals in Shariatpur have been accused of illegally occupying government-acquired land along the Shariatpur–Chandpur regional highway to build shops, markets, and restaurants. The occupied land, owned by the Roads and Highways Department (RHD), is part of a 31-kilometer road development project approved in 2019 with a budget of Tk 859.63 crore. Despite public anger over the encroachment, local administration and RHD officials have shown little visible action. Field visits revealed that dozens of structures are being built on acquired plots in Balarbazar area, allegedly by Awami League activist Mejbahauddin Dewan and his relatives. Mejbahauddin claimed they built shops because compensation for their land had not been paid. RHD Executive Engineer Md Nabil Hossain confirmed awareness of the illegal occupation and said eviction drives will begin soon to remove unauthorized structures along the highway.

Begum Rokeya University in Rangpur has expelled three students and issued show-cause notices to nine others following a ragging incident at Bijoy 24 Hall. The university’s 118th syndicate meeting on November 26 decided to expel Mamun Mia and Rafi Ahmed for two academic years, and Azizul Hakim for one year. The incident occurred on November 23 when senior students allegedly assaulted a junior, Din Islam, causing a ruptured eardrum. After the matter came to light through journalists, the university formed a three-member investigation committee led by Assistant Provost Dr. A.T.M. Jinnatul Basar. Based on the committee’s report, disciplinary action was taken. Vice-Chancellor Dr. Md. Shawkat Ali condemned the incident, reaffirming the university’s zero-tolerance policy toward ragging and sexual harassment in line with High Court and UGC directives. The administration emphasized that preventive measures and awareness campaigns against ragging are ongoing across the campus.

Police in Savar arrested notorious gang leader Roni Mia, known locally as 'Kutta Roni', during an attempted robbery on National Citizen Party (NCP) leader Tamim Azhar on Wednesday night. The incident occurred around 10:30 p.m. in the Dogormora area, where locals helped capture Roni and his associate Rabbi before handing them over to police. Roni, 48, has a long criminal record including murder, robbery, and drug-related cases, and leads a gang of about 30 active members. Police recovered a Chinese switchgear from Roni and a modern knife from Rabbi. Officers said Roni had been released on bail just a month earlier in a murder case and had resumed criminal activities. Authorities plan to present both suspects in court while launching a special operation to arrest other members of the 'Kutta Roni gang'. Residents expressed relief and hope that the gang will finally be dismantled and justice ensured.

A shooting occurred near the White House in Washington, D.C., leaving two National Guard members critically injured. The incident took place less than two blocks from the White House on Wednesday afternoon, according to BBC reports. Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser described the attack as a 'targeted shooting.' FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed that multiple agencies are investigating the case, calling it a matter of national security. President Donald Trump, who was in Florida at the time, stated that the suspect had been detained and would face severe consequences. Metropolitan Police official Jeffrey Carroll said the attacker acted alone and was shot at the scene before being taken to a hospital. Former President Joe Biden expressed his sorrow over the violence, emphasizing that all forms of violence are unacceptable and urging unity against such acts. Authorities are continuing to investigate the motive behind the attack.

A dispute has erupted in Siddhirganj, Narayanganj, after allegations surfaced that a businessman named Shahidul Islam demolished a 30–35-year-old mosque built on waqf land to construct a commercial multi-story building. The Baitus Salam Jame Mosque, established by industrialist Haji Salauddin Mia on seven decimals of waqf land, was reportedly torn down under the pretext of reconstruction. Locals and religious devotees protested the move, filing complaints with the Waqf Administrator and other government offices. Family members of the original donor accused Shahidul Islam and his associates of attempting to seize the property with political backing. Community leaders and residents intervened to halt the demolition, and the local police assured that the mosque would remain. Shahidul Islam, however, claimed ownership of the land, stating that the new building would include mosque floors. Authorities have urged both sides to cooperate on mosque development.

Bangladesh’s Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) has recovered a sound grenade that was looted from a Sylhet police station during last year’s anti-discrimination student movement. The grenade was found abandoned late Tuesday night at a house in Khidirpur area of Mollagaon, South Surma upazila, following a tip-off. According to a press release from RAB-9, the operation was conducted based on intelligence linking the grenade to weapons stolen during the July 2023 unrest. Since August 2023, RAB-9 has conducted multiple raids in Sylhet and Brahmanbaria, seizing 25 firearms, 100 rounds of ammunition, explosives, detonators, and airguns. Officials said the recovered grenade has been handed over to South Surma Police Station after filing a general diary. RAB authorities confirmed that intelligence surveillance and recovery operations are continuing to locate other stolen weapons and explosives.

A Faridpur court has sentenced Murad Khondokar, 43, to life imprisonment for raping a girl in Bhanga upazila’s Dakshin Aknabaria area in 2019. The verdict was delivered on Wednesday by Judge Shamima Parvin of the Faridpur Women and Child Repression Prevention Tribunal. The convict was also fined Tk 200,000. According to the case details, on May 15, 2019, Murad lured a young girl into his house while she was playing outside. When the girl’s elder sister went to bring her back, Murad raped the elder sister. The incident was later reported to their mother, and the victim’s father filed a case with Bhanga Police Station. The prosecution expressed satisfaction with the verdict, saying justice had been served. The convict was absent during the announcement of the judgment.

A Dhaka court has ordered the seizure of former Detective Branch (DB) chief Mohammad Harun-or-Rashid’s income tax documents following a request from the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). The order was issued by Metropolitan Sessions Judge Md Sabbir Faez on Wednesday, November 26, after ACC Deputy Director Muhammad Zainal Abedin sought access to Harun’s tax files. According to the ACC’s petition, Harun allegedly abused his official authority to amass wealth worth Tk17.51 crore beyond his known sources of income, in violation of the Anti-Corruption Commission Act. The ACC argued that reviewing his tax records is essential for a fair and thorough investigation. Court bench assistant Md Riaz Hossain confirmed the order. The case marks another high-profile corruption probe involving a senior police officer, as the ACC intensifies scrutiny of public officials suspected of illicit enrichment.

Bangladesh’s Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has discovered 832 tola (approximately 9,707 grams) of gold in two lockers at Agrani Bank’s principal branch in Motijheel, Dhaka, linked to former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her family members. According to ACC Director General Akhter Hossain, the gold items, including ornaments and decorative pieces such as a golden boat and deer, were deposited under the names of Hasina, her sister Sheikh Rehana, and daughter Saima Wazed. The ACC is now verifying whether the assets are legally acquired. The discovery followed a court-approved operation to open three lockers—two at Agrani Bank and one at Pubali Bank—declared by Hasina in her 2007 wealth statement. Officials from the Bangladesh Bank, National Board of Revenue, and other agencies were present during the inventory process. One locker at Pubali Bank was found empty. The investigation is part of a broader corruption inquiry involving Hasina and her family’s declared assets.

Several Baul artists were attacked in Thakurgaon on Wednesday while gathering to join a protest demanding the release of fellow Baul singer Abul Sarkar, who had been arrested on charges of hurting religious sentiments. The incident occurred around 2:30 p.m. in front of a tea stall near the Thakurgaon court premises. Witnesses said a group identifying themselves as 'Tawhidi Janata' launched a sudden assault on the Bauls, causing them to disperse. Police quickly intervened to bring the situation under control and ensure the safety of the artists. Thakurgaon Sadar Police Station Officer-in-Charge Sarwar Alam Khan confirmed the incident, stating that law enforcement had been deployed in advance to prevent unrest but the attack happened separately near the court area. Authorities are working to identify and detain those responsible for the assault.

Authorities in Rajshahi’s Bagha upazila uncovered a factory producing counterfeit molasses without using any sugarcane or date juice. The operation, conducted by the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) on Wednesday morning, led to the seizure of a large quantity of adulterated molasses and sugar. The factory owners, Lucky and Santu, were fined a total of 100,000 taka by the Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection. Investigators found that the molasses was made using sugar, flour, fabric dye, hydrogen, gas powder, and lime instead of natural juice. The fake products were distributed across Rajshahi, Natore, and Pabna markets. RAB officials confirmed that about one ton of adulterated molasses was destroyed. Health experts warned that consuming such chemically produced molasses could cause severe health issues, including cancer, particularly among children. The authorities said further raids and penalties would follow in other suspected factories.

Bangladesh’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has filed a Tk 107 crore money laundering case against Khandaker Enayet Ullah, owner of Ena Transport and former general secretary of the Dhaka Road Transport Owners Association. According to CID, Enayet Ullah and his associates amassed vast wealth through systematic extortion from transport owners across the country. The Financial Crime Unit lodged the case at Ramna Police Station after uncovering evidence of organized extortion and illegal financial transactions. Investigators found that Enayet Ullah controlled transport terminals nationwide, using intimidation and armed groups to collect daily and monthly payments. Authorities have frozen 53 bank accounts with Tk 110 crore in deposits and seized properties worth Tk 10 crore. CID’s analysis revealed over Tk 2,131 crore in deposits across 199 accounts linked to Enayet Ullah and his businesses, with Tk 107 crore allegedly laundered through structured transactions. The case also names five associates as co-accused under the Money Laundering Prevention Act.

Three young men from Shibchar, Madaripur, who traveled illegally to Libya hoping to reach Italy, have reportedly been brutally tortured by human traffickers demanding Tk 6 million in ransom. A disturbing video circulating on social media shows the victims tied up and beaten, allegedly in a desert or border area of Libya. The traffickers have been threatening the families with further violence if the ransom is not paid. Human rights activists have condemned the incident as a severe violation of human rights and a growing humanitarian crisis linked to illegal migration. They emphasize that awareness campaigns alone are insufficient to curb such trafficking and call for strict legal action against traffickers. Authorities in Shibchar have detained two suspects based on complaints from the victims’ families, and legal proceedings are underway. The case highlights the urgent need for safer, legal migration channels and stronger enforcement against human trafficking networks.

A Dhaka court has ordered the seizure of income tax records belonging to former Additional Commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Mohammad Harun-or-Rashid. The directive was issued by Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Sabbir Faiz on Wednesday, November 26, to the Tax Region-20 office in Dhaka. The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Deputy Director Muhammad Zainal Abedin had requested access to the records, citing the need for a thorough investigation. According to the ACC’s petition, Harun-or-Rashid allegedly abused his official power to amass and possess assets worth approximately Tk 17.51 crore beyond his known sources of income. The court’s order aims to facilitate a detailed review of his tax documents to determine the legitimacy of his wealth and support the ongoing corruption probe.

The prosecution has filed a contempt of court petition against Advocate Fazlur Rahman at the International Crimes Tribunal. Prosecutor Gazi M H Tamim confirmed the development on Wednesday, November 26. The petition accuses Rahman of actions or remarks deemed disrespectful to the authority and dignity of the tribunal. Details of the alleged contempt and the specific grounds for the petition have not yet been disclosed. The tribunal is expected to review the application and determine whether formal contempt proceedings will be initiated. Such cases are handled seriously by the tribunal, which maintains strict standards regarding conduct and respect for its judicial process.