Government documents reveal that Sajjad Hossain, known as ‘Chhoto Sajjad’ and listed by police as a top Chattogram criminal, received bail in several murder cases without any state challenge or suspension request. The bail orders, issued between September 15 and 22, 2025, covered seven murder cases involving Sajjad and his wife, Sharmin Akter Tamanna. Despite the gravity of the charges, internal notes from the Attorney General’s Office marked the cases with ‘no objection.’

Additional Attorney General Mohammad Arshadur Rauf, who was acting Attorney General at the time, said he was unaware of Sajjad’s criminal background when approving the decision. He explained that the office handles a large volume of case files, often lacking full background details. After media exposure, Rauf said he personally sought to suspend the bail orders through the Appellate Division.

Police identify Sajjad as a key figure in organized crime, extortion, and murder in Chattogram’s Bayezid and Chandgaon areas. The incident has raised concerns about case management and information flow within the Attorney General’s Office.

A case has been filed four days after a deadly house fire in Lakshmipur that killed an eight-year-old girl and injured three others. The fire broke out late on December 19 at the home of Belal Hossain, an assistant organizing secretary of the Bhabaniganj Union BNP. Belal, who was also injured, lodged the case on December 23 at Sadar Model Police Station against unidentified assailants.

Police confirmed the filing, stating that an investigation is underway to identify those responsible. The incident left Belal’s daughter Ayesha Akter dead, while his two other daughters, Salma Akter Smriti (17) and Samia Akter Bithi (14), sustained severe burns. Smriti, with 90 percent burns, remains in critical condition at Dhaka Medical College Hospital’s burn unit.

Authorities have yet to determine the motive behind the arson. The case has drawn local attention amid heightened political tensions, as the victim’s father is a local BNP leader. Investigators are focusing on whether the attack was politically motivated or a personal dispute.

The International Crimes Tribunal-1 of Bangladesh is set to issue an order today to frame charges against four accused, including former Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) officers Lt. Col. Redwanul Islam and Maj. Md. Rafat Bin Alam, in a case over the killing of 28 people during the so-called July Revolution in Dhaka’s Rampura area. The tribunal, chaired by Justice Golam Mortuza Mojumdar, will hear the matter with two other members, Justice Shafiul Alam Mahmud and retired judge Mohitul Haque Enam Chowdhury.

Two of the accused, Redwanul Islam and Rafat Bin Alam, are currently in custody and will be produced before the tribunal, while two others — former DMP ADC Md. Rashedul Islam and former Rampura OC Md. Mashiur Rahman — remain absconding. Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam concluded the hearing on charge framing earlier on December 6.

The case marks another significant step in addressing alleged crimes committed during the July Revolution, with the tribunal’s decision expected to shape subsequent proceedings and accountability measures within Bangladesh’s justice system.

A Dhaka court has ordered the freezing of eight bank accounts belonging to Faisal Karim Masud, the prime suspect in the murder of Inqilab Manch spokesperson Shahid Sharif Osman Hadi, and his associates. The order was issued by Vacation Judge Mohammad Abdullah Al Mamun of the Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge’s Court following a petition from the case’s investigating officer.

According to the Detective Branch, Hadi was shot on December 12 in the capital’s Paltan area and later died on December 18 while undergoing treatment in Singapore. Following his death, the case was reclassified as a murder under Section 302 of the Penal Code. The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) reported over Tk 127 crore in suspicious transactions linked to Faisal and related individuals, prompting a separate money laundering probe. The court has also imposed a travel ban on Faisal.

Authorities are now examining the financial trail to determine possible links between the murder and alleged illicit fund movements. Further legal proceedings and forensic financial analyses are expected in the coming weeks.

A video showing a local student leader in Feni, Bangladesh, allegedly blackmailing a young man and woman at gunpoint has gone viral on social media, prompting police investigation and public condemnation. The accused, Anwar Hossain Choton, a former assistant secretary of the Bogadana Union unit of the Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD), is seen brandishing a foreign-made pistol while threatening the pair. Following the video’s circulation, Choton reportedly went into hiding, and the victims remain untraced.

Local residents claim Choton and his associates had long been extorting money from young people by trapping them in compromising situations and filming them under duress. Party officials confirmed that Choton currently holds no official position, limiting their ability to take disciplinary action. Feni district JCD leaders urged law enforcement to act swiftly, while police said they are working to identify the victims and locate the suspect.

Authorities believe internal disputes among Choton’s associates may have led to the video’s release. The incident has reignited debate over political impunity and the misuse of party affiliation for criminal activities in local communities.

A Dhaka court has ordered nine individuals to be sent to jail in connection with the violent attack, arson, and looting at the office of The Daily Star in Karwan Bazar. The order was issued by Metropolitan Magistrate Md Jamshed Alam after the accused were produced before the court. The suspects, hailing from various districts including Dhaka, Rajshahi, and Sylhet, were denied bail following a hearing where both prosecution and defense presented arguments.

According to the case filed at Tejgaon Police Station, the attack occurred around 12:35 a.m. on December 19, when a group of armed assailants entered the newspaper’s premises, assaulted staff, and set multiple floors on fire. The attackers allegedly looted cash and equipment worth approximately BDT 40 crore, damaging CCTV systems and fire safety infrastructure. The incident led to the rescue of 30 employees.

The case was filed by The Daily Star’s Head of Operations, naming 350–400 unidentified suspects. Investigations are ongoing as authorities assess the extent of damages and possible motives behind the attack.

The Office of the Chief Adviser of Bangladesh’s interim government has expressed deep sorrow over the killing of factory worker Dipu Chandra Das in Mymensingh’s Bhaluka area. Education Adviser Professor C.R. Abrar visited the victim’s family on behalf of the government, offering condolences and assurances of continued support during this difficult time.

In a statement issued Tuesday evening, the Chief Adviser’s Press Wing described the murder as a heinous crime with no justification. It reaffirmed the government’s commitment to the rule of law, emphasizing that only the state has the authority to investigate and ensure justice through proper legal procedures. Law enforcement agencies have so far arrested 12 suspects, and the investigation is ongoing.

The government reiterated its pledge to protect all citizens equally, regardless of religion or identity, and called on communities and leaders to reject violence and uphold restraint and humanity. Financial and welfare assistance will be provided to the victim’s family, with authorities maintaining regular contact to ensure continued support.

A Dhaka court has granted a five-day remand for Kabir, a close associate of Faisal Karim Masud alias Rahul Dawood, the prime suspect in the murder of Inquilab Mancha leader Shaheed Sharif Osman Hadi. The order came from Additional Metropolitan Magistrate Sefatullah after Kabir was produced before the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court upon completion of a previous seven-day remand.

According to Detective Branch Inspector Faisal Ahmed, Kabir accompanied Faisal multiple times to Hadi’s office and owned the motorcycle allegedly used in the killing. The prosecution, led by Dhaka Metropolitan Public Prosecutor Omar Faruk Faruki, argued that Kabir’s close ties with Faisal and his possession of the vehicle warranted further interrogation. The court approved five days of additional remand despite Kabir not having legal representation during the hearing.

Investigators are still uncertain whether Faisal has fled the country or remains in hiding. Authorities have emphasized the need for a thorough investigation to identify the actual perpetrators behind the high-profile murder that has drawn nationwide attention.

Police in Dhaka recovered the body of a newborn boy from a narrow alley in the Chandni Ghat area of Chawkbazar on Tuesday afternoon. The infant, estimated to be about one day old, was found wrapped in a black plastic bag after locals alerted authorities. Officers from Chawkbazar Police Station took the body into custody and began an investigation.

Sub-Inspector Ashraful Alam confirmed the recovery and stated that the identity of those who abandoned the newborn remains unknown. After completing initial legal procedures, police sent the body to Dhaka Medical College Hospital morgue for autopsy. Officials said the post-mortem report will determine the exact cause of death.

The incident has sparked concern among residents and child rights advocates, who called for stronger social awareness and support systems to prevent such tragedies. Investigators are reviewing nearby CCTV footage and seeking witnesses to trace those responsible.

At least five people were killed and several others injured on Tuesday in a gunfight between two rival groups over control of Jaglar Char, a disputed island area in Hatiya upazila of Noakhali district. The confrontation reportedly began in the morning between factions led by Shamsuddin and Alauddin, both claiming authority over the land.

Local sources said hundreds of landless families currently live on the island, which is partly government-owned and partly privately held. Shamsuddin had allegedly been selling plots to settlers for years but recently withheld payments owed to local enforcers, sparking the attack. Police confirmed that five bodies were recovered, including those of Shamsuddin, his son Mobarak Hossain, and Alauddin.

Authorities have launched an investigation into the incident, while security has been tightened across the area to prevent further violence. Officials said the conflict underscores long-standing disputes over land rights and illegal occupation in coastal regions of Bangladesh.

Bangladesh Border Guard (BGB) personnel have recovered two foreign-made pistols, four magazines, and five rounds of ammunition near the Shibganj border in Chapainawabganj. The operation, conducted early Tuesday in the Raghabbati area under Monaksha Border Outpost, followed intelligence reports of illegal arms entering the country. A suspect fled the scene, leaving behind a bag containing the weapons.

Lieutenant Colonel Kazi Mustafizur Rahman, commanding officer of BGB Battalion 53, told reporters that the arms were likely smuggled in with the intent to incite violence ahead of the upcoming national parliamentary elections. He said additional patrols, checkpoints, and intelligence surveillance have been intensified along the border to prevent further infiltration. Earlier this month, the same battalion seized four pistols and 24 rounds of ammunition in a separate operation.

Authorities are investigating the source of the weapons and possible links to political groups. Security agencies have been instructed to remain on high alert as election-related tensions rise nationwide.

Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) has detained four individuals, including a suspected human trafficker, and seized 46 bottles of Indian liquor during separate operations along the Thakurgaon and Dinajpur border areas. The arrests took place late on December 22 and early the next morning, following intelligence-led raids by patrol teams from Fakirganj and Chapsha Border Outposts. The detainees were later handed over to local police for legal proceedings.

According to the 42 BGB Battalion in Dinajpur, the liquor was recovered from an abandoned spot inside Bangladesh territory near pillar 342 in Pirganj upazila. In another operation near pillar 348 in Haripur upazila, three individuals, including a human trafficker named Saddam Hossain, were apprehended while attempting cross-border movement. BGB officials stated that intelligence teams are working to identify other suspects involved in smuggling and trafficking networks.

The BGB reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening patrols and surveillance along the northern border to prevent smuggling, drug trade, and illegal crossings, emphasizing continued cooperation with local law enforcement agencies.

A Chattogram Metropolitan Magistrate Court has ordered the transfer of the murder case of lawyer Saiful Islam Alif to the Chattogram District Sessions Judge Court for trial commencement. Magistrate Abu Bakkar Siddique issued the order on Tuesday morning, marking the completion of lower court procedures. Alif’s father and case plaintiff, Jamal Uddin, was present during the hearing and subsequently petitioned the Home Minister through the District Commissioner to move the case to a special tribunal for expedited trial.

The investigation concluded on June 1, 2025, with a charge sheet naming 39 accused, including 17 fugitives. Arrest warrants, property seizures, and public notices have been issued for the absconding suspects. Government prosecutor Raihan Wazed Chowdhury confirmed that the case is now legally ready for trial. The murder, committed by alleged extremists linked to ISKCON after a mass uprising, sparked nationwide outrage. Legal professionals and civic groups continue to urge the government to transfer the case to a speedy trial tribunal to ensure justice.

Observers note that the government’s delay in forming a special tribunal has raised public concern over judicial efficiency and victim justice.

Police in Bogura recovered the body of businessman Pintu Akanda, 35, seven hours after he was abducted at gunpoint from his Lotto showroom in Dupchanchia upazila on Monday night. Witnesses reported that four masked men forced him into a white microbus around 9:08 p.m. and drove toward Adamdighi. His body was later found in the Kumarpara area of Adamdighi upazila.

Law enforcement officials have detained three suspects, including the microbus driver, Sanowar Hossain, and two others named Sakil and Sagor, for questioning. Bogura Additional Superintendent of Police Atowar Hossain confirmed that the vehicle used in the crime has been seized, and efforts are underway to identify and arrest the remaining perpetrators. The motive behind the killing remains unclear.

The incident has sparked fear among local business owners in the area, prompting calls for stronger security measures. Police are reviewing CCTV footage that captured the abduction and continuing their investigation to uncover the full circumstances surrounding the murder.

A Feni court has issued arrest warrants against Nizam Uddin Hazari, general secretary of the Feni district Awami League, and 71 other fugitives in connection with the killing of autorickshaw driver Md. Sabuj during a protest in August 2024. The order was given by Senior Judicial Magistrate Mohammad Hasan of the Feni Sadar court after accepting the charge sheet filed by police.

According to case records, Sabuj was shot dead when armed activists of the Awami League and its now-banned affiliates opened fire on demonstrators demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The case, filed by Sabuj’s brother, named 65 individuals and implicated up to 400 others. Police later charged 124 people, of whom 54 have been arrested so far, while 71 remain at large.

Authorities stated that copies of the arrest warrants will soon be sent to local police stations. The case is one of 24 filed over the violent crackdown, including seven murder and 17 attempted murder cases, highlighting ongoing political tensions in Feni.