More than 30 people were detained after mobile handset traders attacked and vandalized the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) building in Dhaka’s Agargaon area on Thursday, January 1. The protest erupted around 4 p.m. against the government’s decision to launch the National Equipment Identity Register (NEIR) without reducing import duties. Police said the protesters threw bricks and stones at the building, breaking windows and damaging property.

Tejgaon Division Deputy Commissioner of Police Ibne Mizan stated that the attack was sudden and that officers were working to bring the situation under control. He added that glass windows of the BTRC mosque were shattered while employees were praying, though no injuries were immediately reported. A BTRC official said several hundred protesters gathered on the street and hurled bricks, trapping staff inside the building even after office hours.

The incident highlights growing tensions between mobile phone traders and authorities over the NEIR initiative, which makes handset registration mandatory. Police have taken control of the situation and detained those involved.

Two associates of the prime accused in the murder of Inqilab Manch spokesman Shahid Sharif Osman Hadi have confessed their involvement before a Dhaka court. On Thursday, January 1, Metropolitan Magistrate Jamshed Alam recorded the confessional statements of Sanjay Chisim and Md. Faisal after they were produced in court. The investigating officer, DB Police Inspector Faisal Ahmed, had applied to record their statements, after which the court sent both to jail.

Earlier, the Rapid Action Battalion recovered the weapon used in the attempted murder from Tarua Beel in Narsingdi district and arrested Faisal, who is a friend of the main accused Faisal Karim Masud’s brother-in-law. The case was initially filed as an attempted murder case on December 14 by Abdullah Al Jaber, member secretary of Inqilab Manch, and later upgraded under Section 302. So far, ten people have been arrested in connection with the case.

Among the arrested, six others have already confessed, while the main accused Faisal Karim Masud has been barred by the court from leaving the country.

The government of Bangladesh has reduced the prices of all types of fuel by Tk 2 per liter. The Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources announced the decision in a press release issued on Wednesday, December 31. The new prices will take effect from Thursday, January 1. According to the announcement, the retail price of diesel has been reduced from Tk 104 to Tk 102 per liter, octane from Tk 124 to Tk 122, petrol from Tk 120 to Tk 118, and kerosene from Tk 116 to Tk 114.

The ministry stated that fuel prices are adjusted monthly through an automated system to align with fluctuations in global oil markets. The revised pricing formula aims to ensure the supply of fuel at comparatively affordable rates for consumers in January.

The adjustment reflects the government’s ongoing policy of synchronizing domestic fuel prices with international market trends, maintaining stability in the energy sector and consumer costs.

Bangladesh has reduced taxes on mobile phones, according to Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam. He announced that the customs duty on imported mobile phones has been cut from 25 percent to 10 percent, while the tax on locally produced phones has been lowered from 10 percent to 5 percent. The announcement was made on Thursday afternoon at a briefing held at the Foreign Service Academy auditorium in Dhaka.

The press secretary said the government expects this move to expand the country’s mobile phone industry. He noted that many used phones are imported, refurbished, and sold domestically, which harms consumers and causes tax losses for the government. The new tax structure is expected to increase demand for locally produced phones and reduce their prices.

During the same briefing, officials also discussed textbook distribution for the new academic year, stating that 83 percent of books have already been delivered to students and the rest will be distributed by January 15 after correcting errors in 123 titles.

A Dhaka court has ordered the seizure of a multi-storey building and land in Gulshan owned by Afroza Begum, wife of Bashundhara Group Chairman Ahmed Akbar Sobhan, following corruption allegations. The Metropolitan Senior Special Judge’s Court, presided over by Acting Judge Md. Alamgir, issued the order on Thursday, January 1, in response to a petition from the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). The order also includes the confiscation of 3.377 acres of land in the Vatara area of Dhaka.

According to court information, ACC Deputy Director Md. Jahangir Alam filed the petition seeking the seizure, citing money laundering allegations against Sobhan and his associates. A ten-member investigation team has been formed to probe the allegations. Investigators reportedly found evidence suggesting that Sobhan and his family members own substantial illegal assets both in Bangladesh and abroad.

The court noted that Afroza Begum was attempting to transfer ownership of her immovable properties, which could undermine the ongoing investigation and potential legal proceedings. The seizure was therefore deemed necessary to ensure fair investigation and justice.

Biman Bangladesh Airlines reported a net profit of Tk 785.21 crore for the 2024–2025 fiscal year, marking a 178 percent increase from the previous year. The announcement was made at the airline’s annual general meeting held on December 30, chaired by Board Chairman Sheikh Bashir Uddin. The airline’s total revenue reached Tk 11,559 crore, up 9.46 percent year-on-year, while operational profit stood at Tk 1,602 crore.

According to Biman’s General Manager of Public Relations, Bosra Islam, the state-owned carrier has maintained profitability for five consecutive years and achieved net profit in nine of the past ten fiscal years. During the reporting period, Biman transported 3.383 million passengers across 30 domestic and international destinations using 21 owned and leased aircraft. It also earned Tk 925 crore from cargo operations, a 45.21 percent increase from the previous year.

Biman provided ground handling services to 31,112 foreign airline flights carrying about 6.1 million passengers and recorded its highest-ever ticket sales in January 2025. The airline attributed its success to efficient financial management, digital modernization, and improved passenger services, with future plans to expand routes and strengthen cargo operations.

The Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) seized Indian cattle and a large quantity of Eskaf syrup during special operations in Lalmonirhat’s border areas under the 15 BGB Battalion. The operations took place early Thursday near the Durgaipur and Burirhat Border Outposts (BOPs). Around 3:40 a.m., smugglers attempted to enter Bangladesh with cattle through the Chowratari area but fled when challenged by a BGB patrol, leaving behind three Indian cows. Another patrol at 3:30 a.m. in Khamarbhati area recovered 170 bottles of Indian Eskaf syrup after smugglers abandoned their goods and escaped toward India.

According to the 15 BGB Battalion, a total of six Indian cows worth approximately Tk 660,000 and 170 bottles of Eskaf syrup valued at Tk 68,000 were seized, with a combined estimated value of Tk 728,000. The identification of the smugglers and legal proceedings against them are ongoing.

Lieutenant Colonel Mehedi Imam, commanding officer of the 15 BGB Battalion, stated that BGB remains vigilant to keep the youth free from drugs and has intensified intelligence surveillance and patrols in sensitive border areas to prevent smuggling and drug trafficking.

A woman named Tapasi Rani Das, aged 42, was killed by her cousin in Kutubdia upazila of Cox’s Bazar on Thursday morning. The incident occurred around 11 a.m. at Ali Akbar Deil Kumirachhara fishing village, where the accused, identified as Kali Charan, allegedly attacked her with a machete. Locals rescued Tapasi and took her to the upazila health complex, where doctors declared her dead. Police later detained Kali Charan while he was attempting to flee through the Baraghop Steamer Ghat area.

According to Tapasi’s brother, the attack took place after a quarrel over a minor issue while her husband was away fishing. Dr. Biplob Kanti Rudra, who examined the body, reported at least four stab wounds. Officer-in-Charge Md. Mahbubul Haque said the body was sent to the district hospital for autopsy and that initial investigation suggests the dispute stemmed from a loan-related argument.

Police are currently interrogating the detained suspect to determine further details surrounding the killing.

A 25-year-old man named Raihan Khan was killed in a mob beating early Thursday in the Nagbari area of Fatullah, Narayanganj. Police from Fatullah Model Station recovered the body and sent it to Narayanganj General Hospital morgue for autopsy. Raihan, son of the late Billal Khan from Baharia Bazar in Chandpur, had been living as a tenant in Tatipara, Narayanganj.

According to local sources, Raihan had long been involved in drug dealing and mugging in the area, with multiple complaints filed against him at Fatullah Model Police Station. Preliminary reports suggest he may have been attacked following a dispute over the division of money from a robbery. Police officials stated that Raihan was a known mugger with several cases of murder and robbery against him.

Fatullah police said Raihan died after being beaten by locals when he allegedly attempted another robbery early Thursday. Investigators have begun inquiries to determine the full circumstances surrounding his death.

A government investigation committee has concluded that two bearing pads which fell from a metro rail pillar in Dhaka’s Farmgate area were defective. The findings were disclosed on Thursday at a briefing held at the Secretariat’s Road Transport and Highways Division conference room, attended by adviser Muhammad Faozul Kabir Khan from the power, energy, transport, and rail ministries. The committee stated that out of ten technical parameters, two did not meet expected standards, though this did not mean all components were faulty. No evidence of sabotage was found.

The incidents occurred on September 18 and October 26, 2024. The first caused an 11-hour suspension of metro service but no casualties. The second, involving an 80-kilogram pad, resulted in the death of a young man and led to another shutdown. Following the fatal accident, the government formed the investigation committee to determine the cause.

The committee’s findings suggest that technical flaws, not deliberate actions, were responsible for the accidents, though further evaluation of all components may be necessary.

A Dhaka court has ordered the freezing of 28 bank accounts and two BO accounts belonging to former Dhaka Metropolitan Police Joint Commissioner Biplob Kumar Sarkar and his wife Hosneara Begum. The order was issued on Thursday by Acting Judge Md. Alamgir of the Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge’s Court following a petition from the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). Court bench assistant Md. Riaz Hossain confirmed the directive, while ACC Assistant Director Russel Rony filed the petition.

According to the petition, an investigation is underway against Biplob Kumar Sarkar and others for allegedly acquiring wealth beyond known income sources through bribery and corruption while in government service. The ACC alleged that the couple attempted to transfer or conceal funds from their accounts, which could hinder future recovery efforts. The freeze was imposed under Rule 18 of the ACC Rules 2007 and Section 14 of the Money Laundering Prevention Act 2012.

Earlier, on December 9, the court had barred Biplob Kumar Sarkar, his wife, his brother Pronoy Kumar Sarkar, and Hosneara Begum’s sister Shahanara Begum from leaving the country.

Police in Madan upazila of Netrakona have arrested two teenagers in connection with the throat-slitting murder of school student Shawon. The arrests were confirmed on Thursday by Madan Police Station Officer-in-Charge Hasnat Zaman. The detainees include Mahfuz, 17, a tenth-grade student of Jahangirpur Tahura Amin Government Pilot High School, and Kayes, another teenager from Changao Chakpara village. Mahfuz’s 13-year-old sister, Mahfuza Akter Eva, was also detained for questioning but later released.

According to police, the victim’s family, and local residents, Shawon and Mahfuz were classmates and friends. Shawon allegedly tried to develop a romantic relationship with Mahfuz’s sister, which angered Mahfuz and may have led to the killing. Police suspect the murder stemmed from this personal dispute but continue to investigate to uncover the full motive.

Shawon went missing on December 28, and his body was recovered from farmland in Kadamshree Haor on Monday morning. His father, Awlad Hossain Bhuiyan, filed a murder case on December 31 against unidentified persons.

Bangladesh Border Guard (BGB) detained three suspected members of a smuggling group along with two motorcycles at the Jagatber Union area of Patgram upazila in Lalmonirhat on Thursday, January 1, 2026. The arrests took place near the Mohammadpur area of the Nazirgomani border while the suspects were allegedly attempting to smuggle cattle across the India-Bangladesh frontier.

According to a press release from the 61 BGB Teesta Battalion, the operation was part of ongoing anti-smuggling drives in the Nazirgomani border region near pillar 868/5 S. The seized individuals were identified as residents of the Islampur area: Md. Abdul Jalil, Md. Mahidul Islam, and Abedar Ali. The confiscated motorcycles and other materials were handed over to Patgram Police Station.

Patgram Police Station Officer-in-Charge Nazmul Haque stated that a smuggling case was filed, and the detainees, along with the seized items, were transferred to police custody for further legal action.

The Bangladesh government has again reduced the profit rates on national savings certificates, effective from Thursday, January 1, 2026. The Internal Resources Division (IRD) announced the new rates, which will remain valid for the next six months. Under the revised structure, the maximum profit rate is set at 10.59 percent and the minimum at 8.74 percent. The previous adjustment took place in July 2025, as part of the government’s semiannual review process.

According to the new rates, the Family Savings Certificate now offers 10.54 percent profit for investments below Tk 7.5 lakh and 10.41 percent for higher amounts. Pensioner Savings Certificates will yield 10.59 percent and 10.41 percent respectively, while the five-year Bangladesh Savings Certificate will provide 10.44 percent and 10.41 percent. Quarterly profit-based certificates will offer 10.48 percent and 10.43 percent depending on investment size.

Savings certificates issued before July 1, 2025, will continue to earn the rates fixed at the time of issuance. However, reinvestments will follow the newly announced rates. The government will reassess and possibly revise the rates again after six months.

Four police officers were injured when drug dealers attacked a police team during a drug recovery operation in Sreepur, Gazipur, on Monday. The attackers vandalized two police vehicles and a CNG auto-rickshaw, freeing two detainees from police custody. Law enforcement later arrested ten individuals in connection with the assault.

According to the report, the Sreepur police team conducted the raid at a house in the Maona Peer Ali College area following a tip-off about drug trading. Officers initially detained three suspects with yaba tablets. Upon learning of the arrests, local drug traders and their associates armed with local weapons, machetes, and iron rods attacked the police, throwing bricks and stones. Additional police forces arrived to control the situation and rescued the injured officers, who were taken to Sreepur Upazila Health Complex.

Sub-Inspector Arup Kumar Biswas filed a case naming 24 individuals and 80–90 unidentified suspects for obstructing government work and attacking police. Police also seized three motorcycles left behind by the attackers and said operations to capture fugitives are ongoing.