Journalist Akram Hossain, the Manikganj district representative of the daily Amar Desh, has filed a general diary at Manikganj Sadar Police Station after allegedly receiving threats over a published news report. According to the diary, on the night of January 14 around 8:19 p.m., he received a phone call from a foreign number. The unidentified caller used offensive language about the news and its caption and issued multiple threats.

The caller reportedly warned that if Akram Hossain or his family faced any harm, even a local MP candidate from Manikganj-3 would not be able to help him. When the journalist asked for the caller’s identity, the person hung up. The diary states that Akram and his family have been living in fear since the incident.

Manikganj Superintendent of Police Mohammad Sarwar Alam said the matter is being taken seriously and that necessary legal action will follow after investigation.

RAB-11 has arrested a suspect in connection with an attack on an NCP candidate during an election campaign in Narayanganj-4. The arrested individual, identified as 22-year-old Maruf Hasan from Kashipur Union, was detained in a special operation at Char Kashipur around 2 a.m. on January 15. The incident occurred on the evening of January 14 when Advocate Abdullah Al Amin, the NCP candidate, was conducting campaign activities in Bashmuli area under Fatullah Police Station. Two unidentified youths followed him and his team, leading to the detention of one suspect from whom a machete was recovered.

During the attack, two of Abdullah Al Amin’s associates were injured, though the candidate and his team managed to leave safely with local assistance. Later, the detained suspect was reportedly freed by accomplices wielding local weapons. The incident gained wide attention after video footage spread across media platforms.

According to RAB, the arrested suspect has been handed over to Fatullah Police Station for legal proceedings. Additional Superintendent of Police Tarek Al Mehdi stated that legal action is underway and security monitoring has been intensified in the area to ensure election safety.

A case has been filed in a Dhaka court against five individuals, including three officials of Bangladesh Telecommunications Company Limited (BTCL). The case was lodged by Muha. Tajul Islam, adviser to the University of Skill Enrichment and Technology (USET), before Metropolitan Magistrate Md. Hasan Shahadat’s court. The court recorded the plaintiff’s statement and directed the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to investigate the allegations and submit a report.

According to the case, USET, located in Narayanganj’s Signboard area, manages two websites—www.uset.ac.bd and www.uset.edu.bd. The university had requested BTCL not to share the admin panel password in April 2025. Later, BTCL raised objections regarding the domain and demanded Tk 23,000 and related documents by November 30, 2025. Although the university submitted the payment and documents, BTCL allegedly refused to accept them, citing an expired deadline.

The complaint further states that after legal notices and a High Court petition, the accused shut down both university domains on January 11, causing significant damage. The court has ordered CID to probe the matter and report its findings.

Inqilab Manch has rejected the charge sheet filed in the murder case of Shaheed Sharif Osman Hadi, accusing the state of severe negligence and non-cooperation in the investigation. The organization made the allegation during an emergency press conference held Thursday afternoon in front of Dhaka University’s Madhur Canteen, following a court hearing on the charge sheet review. Member Secretary Abdullah Al Jaber stated that the group expressed formal dissatisfaction with the investigation report and charge sheet during the hearing.

Jaber questioned the conduct of law enforcement and intelligence agencies, citing contradictory statements about the suspect’s whereabouts and the failure to provide him, as the complainant, with a copy of the case. He described the charge sheet as vague and incomplete, claiming it omitted the names of key planners and downplayed the involvement of an organized group. He also alleged that Hadi had filed a general diary before his death reporting death threats, which police initially denied.

Inqilab Manch announced nationwide sit-ins and protest rallies on Friday, vowing to continue demonstrations until justice for Osman Hadi’s murder is ensured.

A Dhaka court has directed the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to carry out further investigation into the murder case of Inkilab Moncho spokesperson Shahid Sharif Osman Bin Hadi and to submit its report by January 20. The order was issued on Thursday, January 15, by Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Joshita Islam. According to DMP Prosecution Division DC Mia Mohammad Ashis Bin Hasan, the court instructed CID to re-investigate and file the report within the specified deadline.

Earlier, on January 6, the Detective Branch (DB) police submitted a charge sheet naming 17 accused in the case. However, Inkilab Moncho expressed dissatisfaction with the DB’s report. During Monday’s hearing, Abdullah Al Jaber requested two additional days to review the charge sheet, which the court granted, setting Thursday for its acceptance.

On the same day, the complainant filed a petition expressing discontent with the DB’s charge sheet. Advocate Mostafizur Rahman Mukul represented the complainant during the hearing.

Police in Dhaka’s Badda area have arrested four individuals in connection with the murder of Nazmul Haque Niaz, who was killed in his home between 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. on December 29, 2025. The suspects—Sifat Hossain (21), Sakib Al Hasan (19), Rayan (20), and Nayon Pramanik (21)—were detained in separate operations in Gazipur and Moghbazar on January 14, 2026. Authorities recovered a television, a mobile phone, and clothing used during the crime.

According to Badda police, Niaz first met a man named Alif through a banned gay app, who later introduced him to Sifat and Sakib. The suspects reportedly visited Niaz’s home multiple times, used drugs, and developed a physical relationship. When they needed money for personal expenses, they planned to extort Niaz. On December 29, they bought a knife, and Sifat fatally attacked Niaz after he became semi-conscious. The group then fled with two Samsung phones, a television, and a wallet.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s media division confirmed the arrests and recovery of evidence following the investigation.

A 4.2-magnitude earthquake struck southern Israel on Thursday morning, with tremors felt across the central and northern regions. The quake occurred around 9 a.m. local time, prompting authorities to issue an alert for the Dead Sea area. According to officials and residents, the shaking was noticeable in several parts of central Israel, though no injuries or property damage were reported.

The Home Front Command confirmed that its automatic alert system was activated following the quake, leading to precautionary warnings in parts of the Dead Sea region. The incident was reported by local media outlets including the Times of Israel and Ynet News.

Authorities have not indicated any further risk, but the alert remains in effect for the Dead Sea area as a safety measure.

Bangladesh’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has uncovered a major racket involved in stealing and selling confidential national identity (NID) data. Two Election Commission employees—a computer operator and a data entry operator—were arrested in Dhaka on January 14 and 15, 2026. They allegedly used secret login credentials to access and sell sensitive citizen information through social media, earning over ten million taka monthly.

Investigators found that data entry operator Md Alamin shared his high-level access ID and password with computer operator Md Habibullah in exchange for weekly payments. Habibullah then sold NID records online for 200 to 300 taka each. An internal Election Commission probe revealed that 112,150 NID records were accessed in one week and 365,608 in a month, generating an estimated 110 million taka. The suspects admitted to using OTP transfers to enter the main server and selling data for profit.

A case has been filed under the Cyber Security Act and the National Identity Registration Act at Paltan Model Police Station. CID’s Cyber Police Center is currently investigating the case.

A Venezuelan man was shot and killed by a federal immigration officer in Minneapolis on Wednesday, according to city officials who confirmed the incident and urged residents to remain calm. The shooting occurred just a week after another fatal encounter involving federal agents and a U.S. woman, reigniting public tension in the city.

Officials from Minneapolis stated on social media that they understood the public’s anger and concern, while again calling for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to leave the city and state. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed the shooting, saying the Venezuelan man, described as an undocumented immigrant, was targeted during a traffic stop and allegedly resisted arrest. TRT World reported that two individuals from a nearby apartment attacked an officer with a snow shovel and broom handle during the incident.

DHS said the officer fired a defensive shot to protect his life, hitting the man in the leg; he later died. Several elected officials from Minneapolis and Minnesota condemned the actions of ICE and other federal agents under DHS following the incident.

Abdullah Al Jaber, member secretary of the political-cultural platform Inquilab Moncho, has filed a no-confidence petition against the charge sheet submitted by the Detective Branch (DB) police in the murder case of the platform’s spokesperson, Shaheed Sharif Osman Bin Hadi. The petition was filed on Thursday, January 15, 2026, at the court of Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Jashita Islam in Dhaka through lawyer Mostafizur Rahman Mukul. The court accepted the petition and kept its order pending.

According to the plaintiff’s lawyer, the DB’s charge sheet failed to establish links between the alleged planners and the shooters, and did not reflect the scale of planning behind Hadi’s killing. The lawyer argued that the inclusion of a ward councillor as a suspect was insufficient and that the investigation overlooked key conspirators. The charge sheet, submitted on January 6 by DB Inspector Faisal Ahmed, named 17 accused, including six fugitives and eleven in custody.

The case stems from the December 12 shooting of Hadi in Dhaka’s Paltan area. He later died on December 18 in Singapore after being transferred for advanced treatment. The court will decide on the petition after reviewing the charge sheet’s admissibility.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) arrested 29 individuals on January 14, 2026, during citywide raids under Operation Devil Hunt Phase-2. The arrests were made by police teams from Jatrabari, Rupnagar, Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Kalabagan, and Motijheel police stations. According to DMP’s Media and Public Relations Division, the operation targeted crime-prone areas across the capital.

Jatrabari police detained nine suspects, Rupnagar six, Sher-e-Bangla Nagar six, Kalabagan one, and Motijheel seven. The detainees were reportedly involved in various criminal activities, including old cases. The coordinated daylong operation was part of an ongoing effort to curb urban crime under the DMP’s special campaign.

The DMP stated that the arrests were made following intelligence-led drives in multiple neighborhoods. Further legal actions against the detainees are expected as investigations continue under the supervision of respective police stations.

Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) detained four individuals, including an alleged human trafficker, while they were attempting to cross into India illegally through the Bokchar border in Chapainawabganj on Wednesday evening. The operation took place around 7 p.m. based on secret intelligence, and the arrests were confirmed by Lieutenant Colonel Kazi Mustafizur Rahman, commanding officer of BGB’s 53rd Battalion.

The detained trafficker was identified as Md. Shahin, son of Ebadul Islam from Bokchar village. The other detainees were Mizanur Rahman from Chapainawabganj’s Shibganj upazila, Shafiqul Islam Munna from Rajshahi city, and Tarajul Islam from Mithapukur in Rangpur. During questioning, the detainees reportedly said they were planning to travel to Chennai, India, with Shahin’s help to work as masons.

BGB handed the four detainees over to Chapainawabganj Sadar Police Station. Officer-in-Charge Md. Nure Alam confirmed that a case was filed based on BGB’s complaint and that the detainees would be presented before court.

Police in Chattogram have revealed that a series of arson attacks on minority homes in Raozan and Rangunia were part of a politically motivated conspiracy. According to investigators and confessional statements, the attacks were organized to create unrest and international pressure aimed at facilitating the return of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina. Before the fires, Tk 1.3 million was allegedly distributed among homeowners as compensation. The incidents occurred in December, destroying five houses belonging to Hindu, Buddhist, and hill communities, though no casualties were reported.

The main accused, Monir Hossain, confessed before a Chattogram court that he was introduced to local Awami League leaders and professional criminals who planned the attacks. Meetings were reportedly held in Khagrachhari to finalize the plan, and banners containing inflammatory messages and phone numbers were found at the sites. Police later arrested seven suspects and seized banners, kerosene containers, and vehicles used in the crimes.

At a press briefing, police officials described the incidents as deliberate and conspiratorial attempts to incite communal tension and mislead the international community. Three cases have been filed in connection with the attacks.

A case has been filed in a Dhaka court against five individuals, including three officials of Bangladesh Telecommunications Company Limited (BTCL), for allegedly abusing government authority to shut down the websites of the University of Skill Enrichment and Technology (USET) and threatening a university official. The case was lodged by USET adviser Muha. Tajul Islam before Metropolitan Magistrate Md Hasan Shahadat’s court, which directed the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to investigate and submit a report.

According to the case, the accused include BTCL’s Moghbazar Telephone Exchange Deputy General Manager (Broadband-2) Joyita Sen Rimpi, Deputy General Manager (Domain) Mostafa Al Mahmud, Assistant Manager (Domain) Abir Kalyan Abedin, and two officials from the Ministry of Education. The complaint states that despite USET’s compliance with payment and documentation requirements, BTCL refused to accept them and later deactivated the university’s domains www.uset.ac.bd and www.uset.edu.bd on January 11, 2026.

The plaintiff alleged that the accused verbally abused and threatened him, refused to accept legal documents, and acted with bias. The court’s directive for CID investigation marks the next procedural step in the case.

Serious allegations of systematic extortion have emerged at the Balukhali Customs, Excise and VAT checkpost on the Ukhiya–Teknaf highway in Cox’s Bazar. Victims claim a syndicate collects illegal payments from over a hundred goods-laden vehicles daily, charging between Tk 200 and Tk 500 per truck. The alleged activities are reportedly conducted under cover, with drivers forced to pay to avoid harassment or vehicle detention. Several major companies’ local distributors, including those of Pran, Akij, and RFL, are said to face regular extortion while transporting goods.

Field observations described vehicles being stopped and drivers taken behind covers to pay money. Victims also alleged irregularities in customs auctions, claiming that required public announcements are bypassed and auctions are confined to a select group. Seized vehicles were reportedly left neglected in open spaces. According to the Customs Act 2023 and National Board of Revenue rules, cash collection at checkposts is prohibited, yet the situation at Balukhali appears contrary to regulations.

Balukhali Customs chief Masud Al Helal denied all allegations, asserting that no money is collected at his post and that all procedures, including auctions, follow official rules.