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.

The Ministry of Primary and Mass Education of Bangladesh has officially upgraded the pay grade of all government primary school head teachers from the 11th to the 10th grade, granting them gazetted officer status. The new salary scale starts at BDT 16,000 and rises to BDT 38,640, replacing the previous range of BDT 12,500 to BDT 30,230. The gazette notification, signed on December 15 and published on December 23, affects 65,502 head teachers nationwide.

The decision follows a long legal and administrative process, including approval from the Ministry of Public Administration, the Finance Division, and the Administrative Development Secretary Committee. It also complies with a Supreme Court ruling that recognized head teachers as second-class gazetted officers. Untrained head teachers must complete Basic Training for Primary Teachers (BTPT) within 18 months.

The government expects the move to enhance financial security and social recognition for head teachers, motivating them to improve primary education quality. Meanwhile, assistant teachers—currently in the 13th grade—continue to press for an upgrade to the 11th grade, a proposal now under review by the National Pay Commission.

Jamuna Bank PLC has inaugurated its 170th branch in Naria, Shariatpur, reaffirming its commitment to modern and accessible banking services. The inauguration ceremony was attended by Additional Managing Director and COO Md. Abdus Salam as chief guest, with Md. Abdus Sobhan, Head of NRB Banking, Foreign Remittance, and Operations, presiding over the event. Local representatives, business leaders, and customers were also present.

Speakers highlighted the importance of remittances from Europe, particularly Italy, where a large Bangladeshi expatriate community contributes significantly to the national economy. Jamuna Bank emphasized its global remittance partnerships that ensure secure and fast fund transfers to beneficiaries in Bangladesh.

The new Naria branch is expected to enhance financial inclusion in the region, making banking services more efficient for residents and supporting the growing flow of remittances from abroad. The expansion aligns with the bank’s broader strategy to strengthen rural and semi-urban financial networks across the country.

The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC), chaired by Chief Adviser Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus, has approved a Tk 576.90 crore project to upgrade and modernize Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University (HSTU) in Dinajpur. The project, sanctioned for the 2025–26 fiscal year, aims to strengthen academic, administrative, and research infrastructure while promoting a technology-driven learning environment.

According to Professor Dr. Moniruzzaman Bahadur, Director of Planning, Development, and Works at HSTU, the initiative includes the construction of a 12-story academic building, new dormitories, residential facilities for faculty and staff, and expansions of the administrative and medical centers. It also covers internal roads, drainage, substations, water supply systems, and boundary walls.

Officials expect the project to alleviate accommodation shortages, enhance research capacity, and elevate the university’s academic environment to international standards. Implementation is anticipated to begin in the upcoming fiscal cycle, with long-term benefits for higher education infrastructure in northern Bangladesh.

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.

Bangladesh’s Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) has approved 22 new development projects totaling Tk 46,419 crore (approximately USD 4.2 billion). The approval came during the committee’s 18th meeting under the interim government, chaired by Chief Adviser and ECNEC Chairperson Dr. Muhammad Yunus at the NEC Conference Room in Dhaka. The Planning Ministry confirmed the decision in an official statement following the meeting.

Of the total allocation, Tk 30,482 crore will come from government funds, Tk 1,689 crore from project loans, and Tk 14,247 crore from implementing agencies’ own resources. This marks the seventh ECNEC meeting of the 2025–26 fiscal year, reflecting the government’s continued focus on infrastructure and socio-economic development despite the political transition.

Officials noted that the newly approved projects span key sectors including transport, energy, and rural development. Economists expect the investments to stimulate employment and regional connectivity, though they cautioned about ensuring transparency and timely implementation to maximize impact.

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.

Vince Zampella, the co-creator of the globally acclaimed video game series ‘Call of Duty,’ has died in a car accident near Los Angeles. Electronic Arts (EA) confirmed his death on Monday, stating that the 55-year-old gaming pioneer was driving his Ferrari on a mountainous road north of the city when the crash occurred on Sunday.

According to the California Highway Patrol (CHP), the vehicle veered off the road for unknown reasons, struck a concrete barrier, and caught fire. Both Zampella and a passenger sustained critical injuries and later died. Eyewitnesses shared footage on social media showing the burning red Ferrari at the crash site. Authorities are still investigating the cause of the accident.

Zampella was widely regarded as a trailblazer in first-person shooter gaming, having co-founded studios responsible for several of the best-selling titles in history. His death marks a major loss for the global gaming community, with tributes pouring in from fans and industry peers worldwide.

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.

Police in Khulna have detained a young woman named Tonima Tonbi in connection with the shooting of Md. Motaleb Shikdar, the divisional convener of the National Workers’ Power (NCP). Authorities confirmed that the shooting occurred at Tonbi’s rented residence on Monday afternoon. Detective Branch Officer-in-Charge Taimur Islam verified the arrest late Monday night but said more details would be shared after further investigation.

Earlier, the victim’s wife, Fahima Taslim Jhumur, held a press conference at Khulna Press Club, urging police to arrest Tonbi and her husband Miraj for questioning. She stated that her husband had gone to Khulna Medical College Hospital on Sunday night to visit a patient and did not return home. The next morning, she was informed that he had been shot.

Police have yet to determine the motive or identify the shooter. The victim’s family has demanded a thorough investigation to uncover the truth and bring the perpetrators to justice.

Authorities in Comilla have reported growing concerns over illegal arms entering Bangladesh through the Tripura border as the 13th national election approaches. The issue follows the unsolved case of 17 police firearms looted during last year’s student protests, which remain unrecovered. Recent Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) operations have seized both narcotics and foreign pistols, intensifying public anxiety about potential election-related violence.

Local political leaders and residents have expressed frustration at the administration’s failure to recover the missing weapons. Opposition figures allege that fugitive members of the former ruling party are orchestrating arms inflows from India to disrupt the polls. BGB officials confirmed that firearms were found alongside drugs in recent raids, marking the first such discovery in the district. Police say joint efforts with the army and Rapid Action Battalion are ongoing to locate the missing weapons.

Security analysts warn that the combination of unrecovered police arms and new smuggling routes could destabilize the region if not swiftly contained before election day.