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.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police recovered a cache of firearms and ammunition during an operation in the Pallabi area on Friday afternoon. Acting on a tip-off, officers from Pallabi Police Station discovered three revolvers, 73 rounds of live ammunition, a revolver cover, a machete, and two small knives abandoned on the third floor of an old City Corporation market building in Mirpur-11, Block-C.

Deputy Police Commissioner Muhammad Talebur Rahman of the DMP’s Media and Public Relations Division confirmed the recovery in a press release. He stated that the weapons were found in an abandoned state and that an investigation is underway to trace their origin and identify those involved. The discovery follows a series of recent police operations aimed at curbing illegal arms circulation in Dhaka.

Authorities believe the seizure may help uncover links to local criminal networks. Police have increased surveillance in the area and are analyzing forensic evidence to determine whether the weapons were intended for future criminal activities.

Police in Gobindaganj, Gaibandha, have arrested four individuals in two separate cases, including two local Awami League leaders accused of vandalizing a Jamaat-e-Islami office. The arrests took place on Friday night, when officers detained Ranjit Sarkar, general secretary of ward no. 4 of Kamaradaha Union Awami League, and Sajjadul Mondol Saju, joint general secretary of Darbasta Union Jubo League, from their homes.

According to police, both leaders are accused in a case related to the vandalism of the Jamaat office in Gobindaganj upazila. In a separate operation earlier that day, police arrested two alleged drug traffickers with five kilograms of cannabis from a passenger bus on the Dhaka–Rangpur highway near Chapriganj.

Officer-in-Charge Mozammel Haque confirmed that separate cases have been filed under the Penal Code and the Narcotics Control Act. All four detainees were sent to Gaibandha District Jail following court orders. The incidents highlight ongoing political and criminal law enforcement challenges in the region.

A Chakma man named Shankuching, aged 35, was abducted by an armed group while farming on a hillside in Baharchhara Union of Teknaf, Cox’s Bazar, on Saturday afternoon. Another local farmer, 60-year-old Ebadullah, narrowly escaped the attack and reported the incident to police after fleeing the scene.

According to Ebadullah, around 20 to 30 armed assailants suddenly surrounded them during fieldwork and forcibly took Shankuching away. The attackers reportedly fired two rounds of gunshots as Ebadullah ran for his life. Teknaf Model Police Station’s Officer-in-Charge Md Saiful Islam confirmed that a police team was dispatched immediately and that an investigation is underway.

Authorities suspect the involvement of local hill-based armed groups active near the Bangladesh-Myanmar border. Law enforcement agencies have intensified patrols in the area to prevent further incidents and locate the abducted farmer.

Abdullah Al Jaber, member secretary of Inquilab Manch, alleged that the killing of Osman Hadi was carried out by an organized criminal group rather than a lone assailant. Speaking before Hadi’s funeral prayer near the National Parliament complex on Saturday, Jaber criticized the government for failing to arrest any suspects or provide a clear assurance a week after the shooting.

Jaber demanded that Home Affairs Adviser Jahangir Alam Chowdhury and the Chief Adviser’s Special Assistant Khoda Box Chowdhury publicly disclose within 24 hours what steps had been taken in the past week. He warned that failure to do so should lead to their resignation. He also called for identifying alleged collaborators within civil and military intelligence agencies.

The Inquilab Manch leader urged supporters to remain peaceful and await official instructions from the organization, while emphasizing that Hadi’s death would not go unpunished. The group announced plans for a gathering at Shahbagh following the funeral rites.

A Dhaka court on Saturday ordered Anis Alamgir to be sent to jail following the completion of a five-day police remand in a case filed under Bangladesh’s Anti-Terrorism Act. Metropolitan Magistrate Md Hasan Shahadat issued the order after the investigating officer, DB Inspector Kazi Shahnewaz, presented Alamgir before the court and sought his detention. The prosecution claimed that Alamgir provided important information during interrogation, which is now being verified.

Defense lawyers, led by Nazneen Nahar, requested that Alamgir receive division facilities in jail, which the court said would be handled according to prison regulations. The case, filed by a man named Arian Ahmed, accuses Alamgir and three others — actress Meher Afroz Shaon, model Maria Kispatta, and presenter Imtu Ratish Imtiaz — of conspiring to destabilize the state and inciting a banned organization through social media and talk shows.

The incident has drawn public attention due to Alamgir’s outspoken political commentary on television and Facebook. Authorities indicated that further remand could be sought if new evidence emerges.

National Life Insurance Company Limited has been awarded the Gold Medal in the Life Insurance category at the 15th ICMA Bangladesh Best Corporate Award 2024. The award ceremony took place on December 17 at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Center, where Commerce Adviser Sheikh Bashir Uddin presented the honor to CEO Md. Kazim Uddin and CFO Probir Chandra Das FCA.

The Institute of Cost and Management Accountants of Bangladesh (ICMAB) recognized National Life for its excellence in corporate governance, transparency, and contribution to the national economy. Senior officials including NBR Chairman Md. Abdur Rahman Khan, Commerce Secretary Mahbubur Rahman, and Financial Reporting Council Chairman Dr. Md. Sajjad Hossain Bhuiyan attended the event.

This marks the fourth consecutive year that National Life Insurance has received the prestigious Gold Award, reinforcing its leadership in Bangladesh’s life insurance sector and its commitment to ethical business practices and financial reporting standards.

Police detained a suspected mugger in front of Dhaka University’s Central Mosque on Saturday afternoon, following swift intervention by local citizens. The incident occurred around 2:30 p.m., when the suspect allegedly attempted to snatch two mobile phones from pedestrians. Bystanders managed to apprehend the individual and handed him over to law enforcement officers.

According to police sources, the detained suspect was taken to Shahbagh Police Station for further questioning and legal processing. Witnesses reported that the quick response of nearby people prevented the suspect from escaping, highlighting growing public vigilance against street crimes in the area.

Authorities have increased patrols around the university campus in recent months due to a rise in petty thefts and snatching incidents. Police officials said the investigation is ongoing and urged residents to report suspicious activity immediately to maintain campus safety.

James Cameron’s long-awaited science fiction sequel, *Avatar: Fire and Ash*, premiered worldwide yesterday, marking a synchronized release in Bangladesh’s Star Cineplex alongside major global markets. The film continues the saga of the Sully family, exploring grief, identity, and survival amid new threats on Pandora. Critics at a London preview praised its visual scale and reaffirmed the cinematic importance of large-screen storytelling.

Cameron revealed at a Paris press conference that the film delves into themes of displacement and the search for belonging, aiming to connect emotionally with audiences. Composer Simon Franglen spent seven years crafting the score, writing over 1,900 pages of notation and inventing new instruments for Pandora’s inhabitants. Early reviews highlight the film’s technological innovation and emotional depth.

The director noted that the commercial success of *Fire and Ash* will determine the future trajectory of the *Avatar* franchise, which has already grossed billions worldwide through its previous installments.

Bangladesh’s Adviser on Shipping and Labour, Brigadier General (Retd.) Dr. M Sakhawat Hossain, inaugurated a new launch terminal at Dhalchar (Ananda Bazar) in Charfashion upazila of Bhola district. The terminal, established by the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA), aims to provide safe and regular river transport to one of the country’s most remote island regions near the Meghna River estuary and the Bay of Bengal.

For decades, residents of Dhalchar faced severe travel hardships due to unsafe and irregular boat services, especially during adverse weather and tidal conditions. Speaking at the inauguration, Dr. Hossain said the new facility would ease access to healthcare, education, and administrative services while boosting local economic activity. BIWTA Chairman Rear Admiral Arif Ahmed Mostafa and local officials attended the event.

The government has prioritized developing water transport infrastructure to integrate marginal and isolated island communities into the national development framework. Officials said the project reflects a broader goal of ensuring equitable growth across Bangladesh’s riverine regions.

The sister of slain activist Sharif Osman Hadi arrived at Dhaka University on Saturday afternoon to visit her brother’s grave, located beside the tomb of national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam at the university’s central mosque complex. Hadi, a key organizer of the Inquilab Mancha and known as a July revolutionary, was buried there following his death in Singapore after sustaining gunshot wounds in Dhaka.

According to reports, Hadi was shot in the head on December 12 while traveling in a rickshaw near Bijoynagar. He was first treated at Dhaka Medical College Hospital and later transferred to a private hospital before being flown to Singapore for advanced care. He succumbed to his injuries on December 19. Family members, friends, and supporters gathered at the funeral, many breaking down in tears as they bid farewell.

The killing has sparked widespread grief and renewed discussions about political violence and safety for activists in Bangladesh. Authorities have yet to release details about the investigation or identify suspects involved in the shooting.

An eight-year-old girl was killed and at least six others injured when unidentified assailants locked the doors of a BNP leader’s home from outside and set it ablaze in Lakshmipur early Friday. The attack targeted the residence of Belal Chowdhury, assistant organizing secretary of Bhabaniganj Union BNP, in Char Mansa village. Firefighters recovered the child’s body and rescued several family members with severe burns, two of whom were later transferred to Dhaka for advanced treatment.

Family members alleged that the fire was a deliberate act, with petrol poured before ignition. Local BNP leaders condemned the attack as a barbaric assault and demanded exemplary punishment for those responsible. Police have visited the scene, confirming one fatality and multiple injuries, and said an investigation is underway to identify the perpetrators.

Authorities are treating the case as a serious criminal incident, with community members urging swift justice. The tragedy has sparked local outrage and renewed concerns over political violence in rural Bangladesh.

At the funeral prayer of slain Inqilab Mancha spokesperson Sharif Osman Hadi, his elder brother Abu Bakr Siddiq made an emotional appeal for justice. The funeral took place at the South Plaza of the National Parliament in Dhaka, where Siddiq led the prayer and addressed mourners, recalling Hadi’s courage and his wish for his infant son to embody revolutionary spirit.

Siddiq expressed deep grief over his brother’s killing and criticized the authorities for failing to apprehend the gunmen even after a week. He questioned how the attackers could flee the capital in broad daylight and possibly cross the border within hours, calling it a matter of national shame. His remarks resonated with attendees, many of whom demanded swift investigation and accountability.

The killing of Hadi, a young political activist, has sparked widespread outrage and renewed debate over public safety and political violence in Bangladesh. Law enforcement agencies have yet to confirm any arrests, and pressure is mounting for a transparent inquiry.