Bangladesh Law Adviser Dr. Asif Nazrul announced that the trial for the murder of Sharif Osman Hadi will be conducted in a Speedy Trial Tribunal and completed within 90 days after the police report is submitted. The statement was made on Monday through his verified Facebook page, citing Section 10 of the Speedy Trial Tribunal Act, 2002, which allows for expedited proceedings in serious criminal cases.

The announcement follows growing public and organizational pressure for swift justice. The group Inquilab Moncho held a press conference in Dhaka’s Shahbagh area, urging the inclusion of international investigative agencies such as the FBI and Scotland Yard in the probe. Its member secretary, Abdullah Al Jaber, emphasized the need for transparency and international cooperation to ensure accountability.

Legal experts note that the decision to use a fast-track tribunal underscores the government’s intent to deliver justice efficiently, though concerns remain about maintaining due process. The case is expected to draw significant attention as it proceeds under heightened public scrutiny.

A journalist and five student activists from Sreemangal, Moulvibazar, have reported receiving death and abduction threats through Facebook Messenger. The threats, allegedly sent from an account named 'No Caption', mentioned multiple individuals and outlined a plan for sequential killings. The victims, including journalist Md. Ehsanul Haque (Ehsan Bin Mujahir) and student leader Md. Mujahidul Islam, filed a general diary (GD) at Sreemangal Police Station on Sunday night.

Ehsanul Haque, known for reporting on corruption and anti-drug issues, said he has faced similar threats and attacks before, expressing frustration over the lack of progress in earlier investigations. The Sreemangal Press Club strongly condemned the incident, calling it an attack on press freedom and demanding swift legal action. Police confirmed receipt of the GD and stated that digital evidence and screenshots are being verified.

The incident has sparked concern among local journalists and activists, highlighting growing risks for those involved in advocacy and investigative reporting in regional Bangladesh. Authorities have pledged to identify the perpetrators and ensure security for the victims.

The Bangladesh Garment Buying House Association (BGBA) held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Saturday night at Uttara Club in Dhaka. The event was attended by BGBA members and key guests including founding president Kaiyum Reza Chowdhury, Director General of the Department of Textiles Md. Shahidul Islam, NBR First Secretary Shahriar Hasan, and Adnan Masud, AMD of United Commercial Bank PLC. The meeting began with a moment of silence for the late Sharif Osman Hadi, followed by prayers led by BGBA Treasurer Fazlul Haque Saeed.

Presided over by BGBA President Mofazzal Hossain Pavel, the AGM reviewed the association’s 2024–25 financial audit and discussed progress on previous initiatives. Secretary General Md. Zakir Hossain presented the annual report, while members raised questions and offered recommendations for organizational improvement. Pavel noted that after a High Court ruling, multiple AGMs had been consolidated in 2024, and the 2025 session marked a return to the regular calendar cycle. He expressed optimism for continued unity and thanked all members, committees, and donors for their support.

A 22-year-old street vendor named Shahin Mia was allegedly beaten to death in Nasirnagar, Brahmanbaria, after being accused of theft. According to police and family sources, the incident occurred on Sunday afternoon in the Madhyapara area, where Shahin was forcibly confined and assaulted by several villagers. His body was later taken to the district hospital morgue for autopsy.

Family members claim that Shahin had been wrongly accused of stealing a silver chain belonging to a local resident’s relative. They allege that Arfat Ali and his nephews led the attack. Police have recovered the body and initiated an investigation to determine the cause of death and identify those involved. Inspector Krishna Lal Ghosh confirmed that legal action will follow based on the post-mortem report and family complaint.

The incident has sparked local outrage and renewed concerns over mob justice in rural Bangladesh. Authorities have urged residents to avoid taking the law into their own hands as investigations continue.

Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) conducted two coordinated operations under the Dighaltari Border Outpost (BOP) in Lalmonirhat, seizing Indian cattle and various smuggled goods. The raids, carried out by the 15 BGB Battalion, led to the confiscation of two Indian cows, cumin, sugar, snacks, a blanket, and a bicycle, with a total seizure value of approximately BDT 281,680.

According to BGB officials, one suspect fled toward India after being challenged by patrol members near Namatari on November 21. The seized items included 12 kilograms of cumin, 38 kilograms of sugar, and other goods. Lieutenant Colonel Mehedi Imam, commanding officer of the Lalmonirhat Battalion, stated that the BGB remains vigilant to prevent smuggling and drug trafficking, emphasizing increased intelligence surveillance and patrols in sensitive border zones.

Authorities confirmed that legal proceedings are underway to identify and prosecute those involved in cross-border smuggling. The operation reflects BGB’s ongoing efforts to curb illegal trade and maintain security along Bangladesh’s northern frontier.

Mohammad Motaleb Shikdar, convenor of the National Citizen Party’s (NCP) Khulna divisional committee, was shot and critically injured on Monday, December 22, 2025. The incident occurred around noon, and he was immediately taken to Khulna Medical College Hospital for treatment. The attack has sparked widespread concern within the party and among local residents.

According to NCP joint chief organizer Dr. Mahmuda Mitu, who confirmed the news on social media, Shikdar was targeted in a sudden shooting. Law enforcement agencies have begun an investigation to determine the motive and identify those involved. Police officials are preparing an official statement regarding the incident.

Senior NCP leaders have strongly condemned the attack, urging authorities to ensure a swift and transparent investigation. The incident highlights growing political tensions in the region, with observers warning that such violence could further destabilize local political activities if not addressed promptly.

The Bangladesh Meteorological Department has forecast that the country will experience mostly dry weather with partly cloudy skies over the next five days. The forecast, issued Monday morning for the next 120 hours, indicates that night and day temperatures may fluctuate slightly but will largely remain stable. Moderate to dense fog is expected in several regions, particularly from midnight to morning, affecting visibility and transportation.

According to the department, the extended outlook shows no significant weather changes during this period. The subcontinental high-pressure ridge currently lies over West Bengal and adjoining areas, while a seasonal low is positioned over the South Bay of Bengal. On Sunday, Chuadanga recorded the lowest temperature at 11.7°C, while Teknaf in Cox’s Bazar registered the highest at 30.8°C.

Officials advised caution for drivers and river transport operators during early morning hours due to fog. No cold wave is expected, but cooler nights may persist in northwestern districts.

Former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun has appealed against the five-year prison sentence handed to him by Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal. The appeal, filed on December 17, seeks acquittal from charges related to crimes against humanity allegedly committed during the July Uprising. The tribunal had delivered its verdict on November 17, sentencing Mamun to five years in prison.

The judgment was issued by a three-member panel of the International Crimes Tribunal-1, chaired by Justice Golam Murtuza Mozumdar, with Justices Shafiul Alam Mahmud and Mohitul Haque Enam Chowdhury as members. Prosecutors had earlier, on March 16, requested that Mamun be made an accused in the case, a motion the tribunal accepted.

Legal analysts note that the appeal will test the tribunal’s procedural robustness and may set a precedent for future cases involving senior officials. The Supreme Court is expected to schedule a hearing date in early 2026, with both prosecution and defense preparing extensive documentation.

Bangladesh’s stock market has gone 16 months without a single company listing or submitting an initial public offering (IPO) application, marking the longest such pause since the COVID-19 pandemic. The last company to list was Techno Drugs in July 2024. Despite directives from Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus to accelerate listings of state-owned and multinational firms, no progress has been made, raising concerns among investors and market analysts.

Officials attribute the stagnation to the Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission’s (BSEC) ongoing revision of IPO regulations. The new Public Offer of Equity Securities Rules, 2025, has completed public consultation and awaits final approval. BSEC spokesperson Abul Kalam said companies could still apply under the 2015 rules but lacked initiative due to governance issues and restrictive pricing models. Market leaders, including the DSE Brokers Association, criticized the regulator for failing to maintain supply and investor confidence.

Analysts warn that the prolonged freeze has set the market back by at least two years, with over a quarter of listed firms now in weak ‘Z’ category. The new IPO framework, expected by December, may determine whether investor trust can be restored in 2026.

Farmers in Kaukhali upazila of Pirojpur district have seen a remarkable turnaround in fortunes this season through early bottle gourd cultivation. With favorable weather and strong market demand, wholesalers from various regions are purchasing directly from fields, ensuring steady income for growers. Around 58 hectares of land have been brought under bottle gourd cultivation this year, alongside other vegetables such as pumpkin, beans, cucumber, and bitter gourd.

Local farmers report significant profits. Mamun Hossain from Purba Keundia village earned about 250,000 taka from early sales and expects to sell another 200,000 taka worth of produce, with production costs of only 30,000–35,000 taka. Another farmer, Sujit, reported sales of around 150,000 taka. Agricultural officers credit the success to Kaukhali’s fertile alluvial soil and continuous technical support.

Officials say government projects and training programs have encouraged farmers to adopt improved vegetable varieties. With rising prices and expanding cultivation, bottle gourd farming is emerging as a sustainable income source for rural households in southern Bangladesh.

Bangladesh’s tea production has dropped by 10–12% in 2025 due to adverse weather, labor unrest, and rising production costs, raising fears of a collapse in export trade. The National Tea Company and other producers reported that prolonged droughts, heavy rains, and delayed leaf growth have disrupted yields across major tea estates, particularly in Moulvibazar, which hosts more than half of the country’s 171 gardens.

Industry stakeholders say the government’s minimum price of Tk 245 per kilogram has failed to offset higher costs for fertilizer, fuel, and pesticides. Auction sales have also declined, while illegal imports of low-quality tea from neighboring countries are undercutting domestic producers. Laborers report reduced earnings as lower yields mean fewer leaves to pluck.

Experts warn that without urgent government intervention and improved irrigation, the industry could face long-term decline. Calls are growing for stricter border controls, better quality assurance, and modernization to restore competitiveness in both domestic and export markets.

Thousands of low-income farmers in Langadu upazila of Rangamati are facing severe difficulties as water levels in Kaptai Lake have not receded on time. More than 13,000 farmers are unable to plant Boro rice because their fields remain submerged, raising fears of a food shortage in the coming year. Normally, by the Bengali month of Poush, farmers begin seasonal cultivation, but this year the lake’s water continues to flood agricultural land.

Local farmers claim the government has kept the Kaptai dam closed, preventing water release. Agricultural officials report that of Langadu’s 8,000 hectares of farmland, about 6,500 hectares remain underwater. The Upazila Agriculture Office has urged authorities to lower water levels within the month to save the season’s crops. Meanwhile, a Power Development Board manager stated that a proposal was made to maintain current water levels until the upcoming election.

If water is not released soon, thousands of families could face economic hardship and food insecurity, prompting calls for urgent government intervention.

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) Chairman Md. Abdur Rahman Khan inaugurated an 'Income Tax Return Supporting Booth' for members of the Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) on December 21, 2025, at the DRU’s Shafiqul Kabir Auditorium. The initiative aims to assist journalists in submitting their income tax returns efficiently and confidently. DRU President Abu Saleh Akon presided over the event, while General Secretary Mainul Hasan Sohel conducted the session.

In his remarks, the NBR Chairman assured taxpayers that online return submissions are secure and that the board does not access personal banking data unless required by law. He praised DRU’s initiative, noting that online tax and VAT filing will soon become fully digital. Other speakers, including legal experts and DRU leaders, emphasized journalists’ civic duty to pay taxes and the importance of removing fear and confusion around the process.

The booth will provide members with professional tax advisory services. The NBR expects such initiatives to encourage broader tax compliance and digital adoption nationwide.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) of Bangladesh has initiated an investigation against 13 senior officials of the National Security Intelligence (NSI), including three additional directors and six joint directors, over allegations of corruption and illegal wealth accumulation. The ACC’s headquarters approved the inquiry on Sunday, assigning 13 of its own officers to conduct the probe, confirmed Deputy Director (Public Relations) Md. Akhtarul Islam.

According to the ACC, the accused officials face specific allegations of abuse of power, bribery, extortion, money laundering, and possession of assets beyond known sources of income, both in their own names and those of their spouses. The officials under scrutiny include Additional Directors Md. Azizur Rahman, M.S.K. Shaheen, and Mohammad Zahir Uddin, among others.

The investigation marks one of the most extensive corruption inquiries into a national intelligence agency in recent years. Legal experts note that the case could test the ACC’s independence and transparency in handling sensitive institutions. Further actions will depend on the findings of the initial inquiry, which is expected to take several weeks.

A wedding ceremony in Shahjadpur, Sirajganj, ended abruptly after a playful tradition of hiding the groom’s shoes escalated into a violent altercation. The incident occurred on Friday at Guliakhali Char in Kaijuri Union, when members of the groom’s side reacted angrily to the prank, leading to vandalism of furniture and property at the bride’s home. Following the chaos, the groom’s family announced they would not proceed with the marriage.

Local police confirmed they were alerted through the national emergency hotline 999 and dispatched officers to the scene. Shahjadpur Police Station Officer-in-Charge Saiful Islam said no formal complaint had been filed, as the bride’s family opted for a social resolution. Relatives of the bride expressed shock, noting that arrangements had been made for over 200 guests, including gifts and meals, all of which went to waste.

The incident has stirred local discussion about the fragility of social customs and the need for restraint during celebratory events. Authorities are monitoring the situation for any further disputes.