Three suspects have been arrested by Rapid Action Battalion (RAB)-11 in connection with the killing of college student Ashraful Islam in Raipur, Lakshmipur. The arrests were made late Friday night in Bhulta Gausia area of Rupganj, Narayanganj, and announced on Saturday by RAB-11 Noakhali Camp Commander Md. Muhit Kabir Serniabat. The detainees are Shakil Bepari, 23, Sohag Bepari, 19, and Moktar Patwari, 20, all residents of Charbanshi village under North Charbanshi Union in Raipur.

According to RAB, Ashraful, a final-year degree student at Raipur Rustam Ali College, was attacked on January 14 by local drug users and teenage gang members led by Nahid Bepari and Shahin Bepari. He was severely injured and later died while undergoing treatment in Dhaka. His father, Azizul Haque, filed a murder case on January 16 naming 11 accused and 16 unidentified persons. The attack reportedly stemmed from Shahin’s suspicion that Ashraful had informed police about his earlier drug arrest.

RAB stated that the arrested suspects have been handed over to Raipur police, and operations are continuing to capture others involved in the killing.

Indian actor and social media personality Kamal R Khan, known as KRK, was arrested by Mumbai Police on the night of January 23. The arrest followed his January 22 post on X (formerly Twitter) where he commented on Bangladesh’s reported refusal to play in the T20 World Cup in India. Police stated that the arrest was linked to a shooting allegation, but many social media users claimed he was targeted for criticizing India’s attitude toward Bangladesh and Pakistan.

The controversy arose after reports that Bangladesh’s government expressed reluctance to send its team to India for the tournament due to security and political concerns. The International Cricket Council has not yet announced any change in venue. KRK’s detention has reignited debate over the intersection of cricket and politics in India and the limits of free expression.

KRK, born in Deoband, Uttar Pradesh, began his career in the early 2000s as a screenwriter before acting in films such as “Deshdrohi” and appearing in the reality show “Bigg Boss.” He currently runs a YouTube channel and works as a film critic.

The Bangladesh Navy conducted a special operation early Saturday, January 24, 2026, in the Naytongpara area of Teknaf municipality, Cox’s Bazar, recovering crystal methamphetamine (‘ice’) valued at Tk 6 crore, along with firearms and ammunition. Two individuals, identified as Junaid alias Munna and his Rohingya associate Hamid Ullah, were arrested on charges of involvement in drug trafficking. The Navy’s media cell confirmed the operation later that day.

According to a Navy statement, the raid was part of ongoing security and anti-crime operations ahead of the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election. Acting on a tip-off, a specialized naval team searched the suspects’ homes, seizing 1,250 grams of crystal meth, 126 yaba tablets, one single-barrel gun, two walkie-talkies, eight local weapons, and 47 rounds of live ammunition. The detainees reportedly admitted that the items were stored for sale through Rohingya intermediaries.

Following the operation, the seized drugs and weapons, along with the arrested suspects, were handed over to Teknaf Police Station for legal action. The Navy continues intensified patrols in coastal and border areas to ensure election-time security.

Police in Chattogram uncovered a gruesome murder after two severed human hands were found in a black plastic bag near Shahidnagar, Bayezid Bostami area, early on January 21. Officers from Bayezid Bostami Police Station arrived at the scene and sent the hands to Chattogram Medical College Hospital. Fingerprint analysis through the national ID database identified the victim as Md. Anis, 38, from Rauzan’s Chikdair union, who had been missing since January 20.

Following the identification, investigators traced the case to Sufia Akter, 39, who had a long-standing relationship and recent disputes with Anis. She was arrested from Pathanpara in the early hours of January 22. During interrogation, Sufia confessed to killing Anis at her home on January 20 and dismembering the body with the help of accomplices. The body parts were packed in black plastic bags and dumped across different locations.

Police later recovered the remaining body parts based on Sufia’s information. Officials confirmed the killing was premeditated and solved swiftly using technology and field operations.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s Detective Branch (DB) has stated that former Volunteer Party leader Md. Azizur Rahman Musabbir was murdered in a planned attack linked to control over extortion in the capital’s Karwan Bazar area. At a press briefing on January 24, DB Additional Commissioner Md. Shafiqul Islam said the killing was carried out by hired shooters under the direction of underworld figure Binash Dada, also known as Dilip, who is currently abroad. Two shooters, Jinnat and Rahim, were directly involved, with Rahim recently arrested in Narsingdi’s Madhabdi area. Weapons used in the killing were recovered, and Rahim faces a separate arms case.

DB reported that CCTV footage and other technical evidence confirmed the shooters’ involvement. Musabbir, a former general secretary of the BNP-affiliated Volunteer Party’s Dhaka North unit, was shot dead on January 7 in Tejgaon. His wife filed a murder case naming unidentified suspects. With Rahim’s arrest, five suspects have now been detained, and Jinnat has given a confessional statement under Section 164.

DB said operations to recover illegal firearms and curb extortion are being intensified ahead of the upcoming national election.

Nine people were killed and eight others injured in an explosion at a cocaine laboratory on Colombia’s Pacific coast, police said on Friday. The incident occurred in the country’s southwestern Nariño department, an area known for cocaine production and home to the indigenous Awa community. Several armed groups are active in the region.

Authorities reported that the victims worked for the National Coordinator Bolivarian Army, a dissident faction of the former rebel group FARC. Preliminary investigations indicated that a gas cylinder exploded during drug production, triggering the blast. The rebel group also confirmed in a statement that improper handling of the cylinder caused the fire that engulfed the lab within seconds.

The group had rejected FARC’s 2016 peace agreement but is currently engaged in talks with President Gustavo Petro’s leftist government. The explosion site has long been part of a major cocaine trafficking route to the United States, where local smugglers operate with support from Mexican cartels.

Nine Indian officials working at the Rampal Thermal Power Plant in Bagerhat, operated by Bangladesh-India Friendship Power Company Limited (BIFPCL), left Bangladesh without official permission. The incident occurred on Saturday, January 24, 2026, when the officials were found missing during breakfast. Later, it was confirmed that they had crossed into India through the Bhomra land port. The plant authorities immediately informed the Power Development Board and relevant ministries, expressing deep concern over the unauthorized departure.

According to plant sources, the officials left citing security concerns, though the area is under four layers of security involving the army, police, and Ansar. The project director, Ramanath Pujari, confirmed their departure and the stated reason. However, officials noted that none of the individuals had previously reported any security issues or complaints. The sudden and unexplained exit has been described as mysterious by plant authorities.

The plant’s Deputy General Manager (Public Relations), Anwarul Azim, said the matter is being investigated seriously to determine the reasons behind their departure.

More than 8,000 flights scheduled for the weekend were cancelled as a major winter storm swept across the United States, bringing heavy snow and dangerous ice from east Texas to North Carolina. According to FlightAware, at least 3,400 flights were delayed or cancelled on Saturday and over 5,000 were called off for Sunday. Roughly 140 million people from New Mexico to New England were under winter storm warnings, with forecasters warning that ice damage could rival that of a hurricane.

Snow began falling in Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas on Friday as the storm combined with Arctic cold to engulf much of the country. Meteorologist Jacob Asherman described it as the season’s most intense storm, with wind chills dropping below minus 45 degrees Celsius in the Dakotas and Minnesota. The worst conditions were expected in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee, where ice could reach an inch thick.

Governors in more than a dozen states declared emergencies or urged residents to stay home. President Donald Trump said federal agencies were coordinating with local officials, while New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani mobilized the city’s sanitation department for large-scale snow removal.

Two people were killed and at least 30 others injured in a head-on collision between a passenger bus and a brick-laden truck on the Faridpur-Barishal highway at Nawpara area of Bhanga upazila on Saturday, January 24, 2026, around 11 a.m. The deceased were identified as truck driver Rashed Sheikh, 28, and his helper Nabin Sheikh, 22, both from Kamalapur Dhlar Mor under Faridpur Sadar Kotwali police station. Police and fire service personnel conducted a one-hour rescue operation, recovering the bodies and sending the injured to Bhanga Upazila Health Complex.

According to Bhanga Highway Police Sub-Inspector Mamun, the accident occurred when the Faridpur-bound bus and the Bhanga-bound truck collided head-on. The crash caused a several-kilometer traffic jam on both sides of the highway, which was later cleared after the damaged vehicles were removed. Bhanga Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mohammad Abdul Alim said legal procedures were underway to hand over the bodies to the victims’ families.

A surviving truck helper named Rahman said they were driving the truck themselves as the main driver was delayed, and the accident occurred on their way to unload bricks in Bhanga.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s Detective Branch (DB) has said that the killing of BNP-affiliated volunteer leader Azizur Rahman Mushabbir in the capital’s Tejaturi Bazaar stemmed from disputes over territorial control and extortion. DB Chief Additional Commissioner Md Shafiqul Islam disclosed the findings at a media briefing on Saturday, noting that investigations are ongoing to uncover the full motive. Police have arrested five suspects so far, including alleged shooter Md Rahim, who was detained in Narsingdi’s Madhabdi area on January 23 with two foreign pistols, two magazines, and 12 rounds of ammunition. A separate case under the Arms Act has been filed against him.

Mushabbir, former general secretary of BNP’s Dhaka North Volunteer Wing, was shot dead on January 7 near Hotel Super Star in West Tejaturi Para. His wife filed a murder case against several unidentified suspects at Tejgaon Police Station. The DB has also intensified operations to recover illegal firearms ahead of the upcoming 13th general election and referendum, arresting two more individuals with weapons in Jatrabari.

Police said the drive to seize illegal arms and apprehend fugitives will continue.

An associate of the notorious bandit leader Shahin, identified as Shafiul Alam alias Ledaputu, 28, was shot dead early Saturday, January 24, in Ramu upazila of Cox’s Bazar. The incident occurred around 5 a.m. in front of the Majhirkata Beltali Kata Mosque in Gojonia Union. Police and local sources reported that rival bandit and criminal Abdur Rahim and his group ambushed and opened fire on Shafiul Alam, killing him on the spot. Police later sent the body to Cox’s Bazar Sadar Hospital morgue for autopsy.

Ramu Police Station Officer-in-Charge Monirul Islam Bhuiyan confirmed the death and said necessary legal steps were being taken. However, family sources claimed that Shafiul Alam was taken out of his house during dinner and killed in a planned attack. Local sources said Ledaputu had long worked as an associate of Shahin, a top criminal in the hilly areas of Ramu, and was allegedly involved in smuggling and other crimes using the Myanmar border area.

Police stated that at least 11 criminal cases, including murder, were filed against the deceased.

The Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI), under the Ministry of Industries, has issued a recruitment notice to fill 50 vacancies across 10 categories under its revenue sector. The online application process began on January 15, 2026, and will remain open until February 15, 2026, at 5 p.m. Eligible Bangladeshi citizens aged between 18 and 32 years as of January 1, 2026, can apply online.

The available positions include computer operator, UDC-cum-cashier, office assistant-cum-computer typist, data entry operator, lab assistant, cataloger, driver, office assistant (MLSS), and security guard. Educational requirements vary by position, ranging from completion of class eight to a bachelor’s (honors) degree. Applicants for computer-related roles must meet specific typing speed criteria, while lab assistants must have passed HSC in science. Application fees must be paid via SMS from a Teletalk prepaid mobile within 72 hours of submitting the online form.

BSTI’s recruitment aims to fill its vacant posts through direct appointment, offering salary grades between 13 and 20 as per the national pay scale.

A joint operation led by the army in Dirai, Sunamganj, resulted in the arrest of Ujjal Mia, 36, the general secretary of the banned Chhatra League. Acting on intelligence, security forces detained him on Friday evening in Chandipur area of Dirai municipality. The army handed over the recovered weapons and equipment to Dirai police after the arrest. A case has been filed against him under the Arms Act.

According to police, the raid recovered a foreign pistol, eight rounds of ammunition, weapon-cleaning tools, locally made sharp weapons, several passports, and other items from Ujjal Mia’s house and farm. He is the son of Mosharraf Mia, a former mayor and Awami League leader. Reports indicate that Ujjal Mia had previously faced multiple cases, including triple murder and attacks on journalists, and was known for his influence during the Awami League’s rule.

Authorities stated that Ujjal Mia will be sent to jail through the court following the filing of the case.

A group of armed pirates identifying themselves as 'Don Bahini' abducted 20 fishermen from the Satkhira range of the western Sundarbans on Thursday night. The abductors have demanded a ransom of 40,000 taka per person for their release. The fishermen were taken at gunpoint from the Mahamuda, Chunkuri, and Malancha river areas. According to survivors, an eight-member armed group seized one fisherman from each of 20 boats and later provided a phone number for families to contact.

The abductors are reportedly led by Veto Safiqul and Shahajan, who had previously surrendered arms to the Rapid Action Battalion but allegedly resumed piracy under the 'Don Bahini' name in recent months. Twelve of the abducted fishermen have been identified as residents of various villages in Shyamnagar upazila, while eight remain unidentified. Families of the victims are in fear and attempting to negotiate reduced ransom payments instead of approaching law enforcement.

Local residents claim pirate activity has increased in the Satkhira range over the past three months, while officials confirm receiving reports and have informed higher authorities.

Tipu Chowdhury, a 50-year-old resident of Mirsharai in Chattogram, was shot dead by assailants in South Africa. The incident occurred on Friday, January 23, 2026, around 3 p.m. local time at his business establishment in the KwaMthlanga area of Pretoria. According to family sources, he had been living in South Africa for about 35 years. His body is currently kept at a local police station, and arrangements are underway to bring it back to Bangladesh.

Tipu’s cousin Litu Chowdhury said that the attackers opened fire suddenly while Tipu was at his business premises, killing him instantly before fleeing the scene. He also mentioned that about 20 years ago, Tipu’s brother Abu Sayem was similarly shot dead by assailants in South Africa. Another expatriate, Md. Ashraf Uddin, expressed deep sorrow over the incident, recalling personal memories with Tipu.

The report did not mention any arrests or official statements from South African authorities regarding the attack.