Police in Sylhet’s Zakiganj upazila have arrested a 28-year-old man, Dulal Ahmed, for possession of a large quantity of yaba tablets. Acting on a tip-off, law enforcement officers conducted a raid on Saturday evening, December 20, in the West Madarkhal area of Khalachhara Union, where they detained Dulal from his residence.

During the search, police discovered two plastic jars containing 21,000 yaba pills concealed inside a rice drum in his home. Authorities have filed a case under the Narcotics Control Act at Zakiganj Police Station. The suspect is scheduled to be presented before the court on Sunday, December 21.

Police officials stated that the operation was part of an ongoing anti-narcotics drive in the Sylhet region, which has seen a rise in yaba trafficking cases in recent months. The arrest underscores law enforcement’s continued efforts to curb the spread of synthetic drugs across border areas.

Law enforcement agencies in Bangladesh have arrested ten individuals in connection with the fatal beating of 27-year-old Dipu Chandra Das, a Hindu youth from Valuka in Mymensingh district. The arrests were confirmed in a statement released Saturday night by the Chief Adviser’s Press Wing, following coordinated operations by the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and local police.

According to the statement, RAB detained seven suspects, while police apprehended three others from different locations. The suspects range in age from 19 to 46. Officials said the arrests followed a series of raids conducted after the killing sparked public outrage and demands for swift justice. No motive has yet been officially disclosed.

Authorities have stated that investigations are ongoing and that further arrests may follow. Human rights groups and community leaders have urged transparency in the inquiry and called for measures to prevent communal tensions in the area.

Detective Branch (DB) police have arrested Zahid Hossain Milon, widely known as ‘Tak Milon,’ a former councilor and influential Awami Youth League figure from Jessore. The arrest took place on Friday night in Dhaka’s Rampura area, and Milon was brought to Jessore the following day. Law enforcement officials describe him as one of the district’s top criminal suspects, with at least 14 cases filed against him under murder, explosives, and other criminal laws.

DB Officer-in-Charge Mohammad Ali confirmed the arrest, noting that Milon had long faced allegations of abuse of power during the Awami League government. Police records link him to the 2018 murder of a local Youth League activist and a 2019 bomb attack on MP Kazi Nabil Ahmed’s residence. He was also accused of running illegal gambling operations in Jessore.

Authorities say Milon had previously been detained in 2020 and 2024 but continued his activities after release. His latest arrest is expected to revive several pending investigations and may expose broader political-criminal networks in the region.

A former leader of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement in Barishal has filed a rape case against a young man named Suan Al Talukdar, alleging multiple assaults under the pretext of marriage. The complaint was lodged on December 18 at the Kotwali Model Police Station, though it became public on December 20. Police confirmed the filing but said the accused has not yet been arrested.

According to the case statement, the complainant and Suan developed a relationship following their activism. The accused allegedly raped her several times, including at a residential hotel in Barishal, where he recorded a video and later used it to threaten her. When pressured to marry, Suan reportedly refused and physically assaulted her. Police said efforts are ongoing to locate the accused, whose phone remains switched off.

Suan, previously linked to the now-banned Chhatra League, had been active in local political movements and was arrested earlier this year before being released on bail. The case has drawn attention to ongoing concerns about gender-based violence and accountability in student politics.

The Asian University of Bangladesh has expressed deep sorrow over the untimely and tragic death of Sharif Osman Hadi, spokesperson of the Inquilab Mancha, calling for a fair and speedy investigation into his killing. The university described Hadi’s death as not only the loss of a young, courageous voice but also a painful blow to a generation committed to justice, rights, and democratic values.

Hadi, known for his activism inspired by the spirit of the July Revolution, was recognized as a fearless advocate for truth and justice and a symbol of resistance against oppression. The university extended condolences to his family, colleagues, and fellow activists, emphasizing that his ideals would continue to inspire unity among those striving for a just Bangladesh.

The statement urged authorities to ensure the safety of all citizens engaged in democratic movements and reaffirmed that freedom of expression and peaceful protest are non-negotiable. The university pledged to uphold principles of justice, humanity, and democracy in honoring Hadi’s legacy.

Italian police have arrested 384 people and seized 1.4 tons of narcotics in a sweeping anti-drug operation across multiple provinces. The coordinated raids, conducted on Friday at 312 locations, also led to the temporary closure of five cannabis shops in three cities. Authorities reported confiscating 35 kilograms of cocaine, 296 kilograms of cannabis products, and over 40 firearms.

In addition to the arrests, 655 individuals—including 39 minors—were placed under investigation. Police described the operation as part of a broader crackdown on organized drug networks following Italy’s June 2025 decree that banned all forms of cannabis trade, including hemp-based products previously considered legal.

Officials stated that similar operations will continue as part of a long-term strategy to dismantle trafficking networks and curb the illegal drug market. The government has pledged stricter enforcement and closer coordination among regional law enforcement agencies.

Police in Pirgachha, Rangpur, have arrested five members of the banned Awami League and its affiliated organizations under the ongoing ‘Operation Devil Hunt Phase-2’. The arrests, conducted on Friday night, also included three other individuals with outstanding warrants, bringing the total number of detainees to eight. The suspects were presented before the local court on Saturday afternoon following their detention.

According to Officer-in-Charge A.K.M. Khondoker Mohibbul Islam, the operation aims to maintain law and order in the region. He stated that the campaign will continue and that anyone involved in criminal or violent activities will be brought under legal action. The arrested individuals were identified as Abdul Kuddus Bhuiyan (72), Kamruzzaman Palash (38), Mamunur Rashid (35), Khorshed Alam alias Masud Rana (38), and Ashiqur Rahman (39).

Authorities have intensified monitoring in Rangpur amid heightened political tensions. The continuation of the operation signals a broader law enforcement effort to curb unrest and ensure stability in the area.

A Dhaka court has granted a fresh four-day remand for three accused — the wife, sister-in-law, and friend of fugitive prime suspect Faisal Karim Masud — in connection with the murder of Inqilab Mancha spokesperson Shahid Sharif Osman Hadi. Metropolitan Magistrate Md Siddiq Azad issued the order on Saturday, while another accused, rent-a-car businessman Nuruzzaman Nomani alias Uzzal, was sent to jail after his earlier remand.

The investigation officer from the Detective Branch sought seven days’ remand for further interrogation, citing the need to uncover the motive, identify financiers, and trace other suspects involved in the killing. Previously, the same three accused had been placed on a five-day remand on December 15. Faisal’s parents, who are also accused, have already confessed before the court.

Hadi, an independent candidate for Dhaka-8, was shot on December 12 while campaigning and later died in Singapore. The case, filed on December 14, alleges a wider conspiracy aimed at destabilizing the country and obstructing the upcoming 13th National Election.

A Jamaat-e-Islami activist named Shah Alam from Bhurungamari, Kurigram, has reported receiving a death threat after an anonymous note was found at his rented home. The note, written in red ink and containing a threatening message, was discovered by his wife on Friday evening. Alarmed by the incident, Shah Alam filed a General Diary (GD) at Bhurungamari Police Station the same night.

According to police sources, Shah Alam, who also runs a private madrasa and a small business, resides in a rented house near the Government College Road area. Officer-in-Charge (OC) Azim Uddin confirmed the report and said that an investigation is underway to identify those responsible. Shah Alam stated that he canceled his travel plans to attend a local religious gathering after learning about the threat.

Authorities have assured that the matter is being treated seriously, with local law enforcement increasing vigilance in the area. The incident has raised concerns about political intimidation and personal safety in the region.

After more than a decade of waiting, the Sonalia-Kortia railway station in Tangail has officially opened to the public. The inauguration took place on Saturday morning when Bangladesh Railway Director General Afzal Hossain cut the ribbon and waved the green flag to mark the first train’s departure. Senior railway officials, local leaders, and hundreds of residents attended the ceremony, celebrating the long-anticipated launch.

The station, located in Sonalia village of Basail upazila near the border of Tangail Sadar’s Kortia area, was constructed around 2010 but remained unused due to naming complications and administrative delays. Locals expressed relief, noting that the unused facility had been wasting government resources. They expect the new station to benefit several hundred thousand residents across three upazilas. Officials confirmed that initially one train will operate, with plans to include the Sirajganj Express and a new Tangail commuter service in the future.

The reopening is expected to boost local trade and connectivity in the Kortia commercial zone, while residents have also called for improvements to surrounding roads and transport infrastructure.

Seven wild Asian elephants were killed and one calf injured when a high-speed passenger train collided with a herd in northeastern India. The incident occurred near Sairang in Mizoram as the Capital Express, carrying 650 passengers from Guwahati to New Delhi, struck the animals. The impact caused the train’s engine and five coaches to derail, though no passengers were injured, according to Indian Railways spokesperson Kishore Sharma.

Officials said the driver applied emergency brakes after spotting nearly 100 elephants on the tracks but could not avoid the collision. The accident site, about 125 kilometers southeast of Guwahati, lies outside a designated elephant corridor. Veterinary teams conducted autopsies on the elephants, which will be buried the following day.

Assam, home to roughly 7,000 wild elephants, has seen several similar accidents in recent years. Conservationists have urged authorities to improve monitoring and install early-warning systems along railway routes intersecting elephant habitats to prevent future tragedies.

Unidentified miscreants set fire to the Kushtia District Election Office building early Saturday morning, damaging some stored documents in the Sadar Upazila election office storeroom. The incident occurred between dawn and 9 a.m., when attackers reportedly broke a rear window to start the blaze. Local residents noticed smoke and, with the help of the office night guard, managed to bring the fire under control before it spread further.

Senior District Election Officer Mahbubur Rahman confirmed the incident, stating that while some documents were burnt, no major losses were reported. District Commissioner Iqbal Hossain, Sadar Upazila Executive Officer Roknuzzaman, and senior police officials visited the site shortly after. Kushtia Model Police Station Officer-in-Charge Kabir Hossain Matubbar said an investigation has begun to identify those responsible.

Authorities are assessing the extent of the damage and reviewing security measures at election offices across the district to prevent similar incidents ahead of upcoming electoral activities.

The Bangladesh Navy conducted a late-night raid in Teknaf’s Hnila Union on Friday, recovering a cache of illegal firearms, ammunition, and narcotics. Acting on intelligence, a specialized naval force and local police jointly searched the residence of alleged top criminal ‘Lamba Mizan,’ seizing three pistols, nine rounds of live ammunition, two locally made weapons, and 10,000 yaba tablets. The seized items were later handed over to Teknaf Police Station for legal proceedings.

Authorities said the operation was part of the Navy’s ongoing efforts to strengthen internal security and curb criminal activities in coastal and border regions. The Navy has been conducting regular anti-smuggling and anti-drug drives to maintain law and order in sensitive areas. Officials emphasized that such coordinated actions with law enforcement agencies are crucial to dismantling organized crime networks.

Security analysts note that continued naval engagement in inland operations reflects growing inter-agency cooperation to combat drug trafficking and illegal arms trade along Bangladesh’s southern coastline.

A crude bomb, locally known as a cocktail, exploded on the second floor of an under-construction shop inside a commercial building in Dhunat town, Bogura, on Saturday afternoon. The explosion occurred around 12:15 p.m., causing widespread panic among traders operating on the ground floor of the same building near the Central Shaheed Minar area.

According to police and local sources, unidentified individuals detonated the explosive device in the unfinished shop space. No casualties were reported, but the loud blast alarmed nearby shopkeepers and residents. Law enforcement officials, including senior officers from Dhunat Police Station, visited the site shortly after the incident. Officer-in-Charge Atikul Islam confirmed that evidence from the scene had been collected and CCTV footage from surrounding areas was being reviewed.

Police have launched an investigation to identify and apprehend those responsible. Authorities have heightened security in the area to prevent further disturbances, while business owners have urged swift action to ensure their safety and restore normalcy in the local market.

In Panchagarh, Bangladesh, the parents of a young woman named Amina Akter Ratna held a press conference demanding justice for what they allege was her murder by her husband’s family. The couple, Amir Uddin and Nargis Akter, claimed their daughter was killed two years after marriage and that the in-laws staged her death as a suicide. Ratna was taken to Atwari Upazila Health Complex on November 22, where she was declared dead, with her husband’s family claiming she had ingested poison.

However, Ratna’s family reported finding multiple injury marks on her body and no evidence of poisoning. They filed a case with Atwari Police Station on November 24 after rejecting an alleged offer for an out-of-court settlement. Amir Uddin further alleged that the accused family has since issued threats and attempted to bribe officials to alter the autopsy report.

Local residents and relatives attended the press conference, calling for a transparent investigation and protection for the victim’s family amid growing concerns over intimidation and manipulation of evidence.