The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) conducted a special operation across the capital to maintain law and order, resulting in the arrest of 47 individuals in Mirpur and Uttara. The arrests were made by three police stations—Pallabi, Uttara East, and Uttara West—during a daylong drive on December 15, confirmed DMP Deputy Commissioner of Media and Public Relations Muhammad Talebur Rahman on Tuesday.

According to police sources, Pallabi Police Station detained 17 suspects from Mirpur, while Uttara East and Uttara West stations arrested 16 and 14 individuals respectively. The detainees include suspects in regular criminal cases, narcotics-related offenses, and those with outstanding warrants. Authorities stated that all arrestees have been sent to court following legal procedures.

The DMP has recently intensified its citywide operations to curb rising street crimes and ensure public safety. Officials indicated that similar drives will continue in other parts of Dhaka as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen urban security and community confidence.

A man named Hafizul Islam, 45, was killed in Kushtia’s Sadar upazila on Tuesday afternoon after a violent altercation with his cousin over chickens entering a garlic field. Police confirmed that the incident occurred in Mothpara village, where Hafizul was attacked with a sharp weapon by his cousin Mahid following a long-standing family dispute. Two individuals have been detained, though no formal case has yet been filed.

According to Hafizul’s brother, the conflict had been ongoing for months as the chickens repeatedly damaged Mahid’s garlic plants. When the issue resurfaced on Tuesday, an argument escalated into physical violence, leading Mahid to strike Hafizul with a spear-like weapon. Hafizul was rushed to Kushtia General Hospital, where he died from excessive bleeding, confirmed the hospital’s resident physician Dr. Hossain Imam.

Police are investigating the incident and awaiting autopsy results. The case highlights recurring rural disputes in Bangladesh that often escalate into fatal violence over minor property or livestock issues.

Police in Dhunat upazila of Bogura have arrested four local leaders of the Awami League and Jubo League in connection with two separate cases involving arson, vandalism, and a cocktail attack. The cases stem from incidents targeting former MP GM Siraj’s vehicle and a local Jubo Dal leader. The detainees were sent to Bogura District Jail on Tuesday following their arrest from their homes.

According to case details, one incident occurred in February when Awami League activists held a torch procession in Dhunat town, leading to a clash with Jubo Dal members and an alleged cocktail attack. Another case relates to a 2018 campaign event where GM Siraj’s vehicle was attacked and set on fire. Police said efforts are ongoing to apprehend other accused individuals.

The arrests come amid heightened political tensions in the region ahead of national elections, with law enforcement under pressure to curb politically motivated violence. Authorities have pledged further operations to prevent recurrence of such incidents.

Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) detained a woman on Tuesday evening while she allegedly attempted to cross into India illegally through the Baghdanga border in Maheshpur upazila of Jhenaidah district. The arrest was confirmed in a press release signed by Musi Imdadur Rahman, Assistant Director of BGB Battalion 58, based in Maheshpur.

According to the statement, a patrol team from Baghdanga Border Outpost (BOP) conducted an operation along the frontier and apprehended the woman as she tried to enter Indian territory without valid documents. In a separate anti-narcotics drive, BGB personnel from Medinipur and Uthli BOPs recovered 744 Viagra tablets abandoned by unidentified suspects.

BGB officials stated that the detained woman would be transferred to the Justice and Care shelter in Jashore for further legal and humanitarian processing. The incident highlights continued challenges in managing cross-border movement and smuggling activities along the Bangladesh–India frontier.

The Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) has been unable to launch Bangladesh’s first commodity exchange as the Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) has not yet approved the proposed products and broker registrations, despite more than four months passing since applications were filed. CSE had applied for approval of gold, silver, and crude palm oil trading, along with registration for five brokers, but both remain pending.

BSEC officials say the commission is positive about the initiative but is still reviewing legal and operational aspects before granting final approval. CSE claims it has completed all technical preparations, including automated trading tests, and is conducting five days of mock trading from December 19 to 23. Officials express frustration over the delay, noting that nearly Tk 100 crore has already been invested in the project.

The delay reflects regulatory indecision and limited experience with commodity markets in Bangladesh. Analysts suggest that faster approval could help diversify the country’s capital market, while further delays risk eroding investor confidence and slowing financial innovation.

A Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Court has granted a seven-day remand for Kabir, known as “Dantbhanga Kabir,” a close associate of Faisal Karim Masud, the prime suspect in the attempted murder of Inquilab Moncho convener Sharif Osman Hadi. Kabir was arrested in Fatullah, Narayanganj, and produced before the court on Tuesday, where Detective Branch Inspector Faisal Ahmed had sought a ten-day remand for interrogation.

The case was filed on December 14 by Inquilab Moncho’s member secretary Abdullah Al Jaber, following the December 12 shooting of Hadi in Dhaka’s Paltan area. Hadi, an independent candidate for Dhaka-8 in the upcoming 13th national election, was attacked while returning from a campaign event. He was critically injured and later transferred to Singapore for advanced treatment. Several others, including Faisal’s wife, friend, and brother-in-law, are already in police custody.

Investigators suspect the attack was politically motivated, linked to attempts to disrupt the upcoming election. Authorities continue to pursue leads amid heightened security and political tension in Dhaka.

Police in Bhangura, Pabna, have arrested two activists of the banned Chhatra League in connection with an explosives case. The detainees, identified as Bayezid Hossain of Puibil village and Suman Hossain of Patharghata village, were taken into custody from their homes late Monday night. Officer-in-Charge SM Mostafizur Rahman confirmed the arrests and said both were wanted in a case involving a cocktail explosion near the BNP office in Ashtamanisha Union.

Bayezid is also the second accused in a previous assault case against journalist Manik Hossain, who suffered a broken leg during the attack. Following legal procedures, both suspects were sent to Pabna Jail on Tuesday afternoon. Local authorities said the arrests are part of ongoing efforts to curb political violence and ensure accountability for recent unrest.

The incident underscores rising tensions between rival political groups in the region, with law enforcement maintaining heightened vigilance ahead of upcoming political events.

The Indian rupee fell to a record low of 90.74 against the U.S. dollar on Monday, surpassing its previous all-time low of 90.55 recorded on December 12. The decline came amid prolonged deadlock in U.S.-India trade talks and continued foreign investor withdrawals from India’s bond and equity markets. The rupee weakened by 0.3 percent as investor confidence waned following new U.S. tariffs of up to 50 percent on Indian goods.

Foreign investors have sold over $18 billion worth of Indian equities so far in 2025, making India one of the hardest-hit emerging markets for portfolio outflows. More than $500 million in bonds were also offloaded in December. Analysts expect India’s trade deficit to narrow to $32 billion from October’s record $41 billion, though concerns over external financing remain.

Finrex Treasury Advisors’ Anil Bansali warned that the rupee may test support levels at 90.80, with risks extending toward 91–92. The Reserve Bank of India is reportedly allowing market forces to dictate pricing, intervening only to curb excessive volatility.

Bangladesh’s Rapid Action Battalion (RAB-1) has arrested alleged top criminal Altaf, also known as 'Thotkata Altaf', along with two associates in Tongi, Gazipur. The arrests were made early Monday during a raid at the Tongi BSCIC industrial area in connection with an attempted murder case filed by Yusuf Ali Redwan, a member of the group 'July Rebels'. Altaf, 46, is the son of Nayeb Ali from Dhaka’s Dakshinkhan area and faces 16 prior criminal cases across multiple police stations.

According to RAB, the arrests followed a violent attack on December 13 in Uttara, where Altaf and his group allegedly assaulted Redwan with local weapons after a protest event, leaving him critically injured. The attack also involved vandalism and intimidation near the July Rebels’ office. RAB confirmed the arrests through a press release issued by Senior Assistant Director Md Rakib Hasan.

Authorities have handed the detainees over to local police for further legal action. The incident underscores ongoing concerns about organized crime and political violence in Dhaka’s suburban areas.

A fatal road accident occurred on Tuesday morning in Raiganj upazila of Sirajganj district, where a truck struck a motorcycle from behind, killing the rider and injuring his wife. The deceased was identified as Akbar Hossain, son of the late Zainal Abedin from Mirpur, Dhaka. His wife was taken to Raiganj Upazila Health Complex for treatment.

According to Hatikumrul Highway Police Station Officer-in-Charge Ismail Hossain, the couple was traveling toward Bogura when the accident took place around 9:30 a.m. near Bhuyagati Palli Bidyut intersection on the Dhaka–Bogura highway. Police have initiated an investigation into the incident, and the truck involved reportedly fled the scene.

The accident highlights ongoing road safety concerns on major highways in Bangladesh, where collisions involving heavy vehicles remain frequent. Authorities continue to urge stricter enforcement of traffic laws and improved driver awareness to reduce such fatalities.

A joint security force in Boalmari, Faridpur, arrested Shamim Bin Ismail, a 22-year-old leader of the BNP’s student wing, Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, early Tuesday. The operation, conducted late Monday night at his home in the Sotashi Momin Market area, led to the recovery of 49 Yaba tablets and various bomb-making materials. Authorities filed separate cases under the Narcotics Control Act and the Explosives Act.

Boalmari Police Officer-in-Charge Anwar Hossain confirmed the arrest, stating that it followed a tip-off about illegal activities. The suspect was presented before a Faridpur court on Tuesday morning. Law enforcement officials said they are investigating whether others were involved in the alleged activities.

The arrest has stirred local attention, with residents expressing concern over the presence of explosives in the area. Police have intensified surveillance and indicated that further arrests could follow based on ongoing investigations.

Two police officers were killed in a road accident on Tuesday afternoon near the toll plaza on the western side of the Lalon Shah Bridge in Bheramara, Pabna. The victims were Inspector Mozaharul Islam, newly appointed Officer-in-Charge of the Detective Branch (DB) at Ishwardi Police Station, and Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Kayes Uddin. The accident occurred when a covered van struck their motorcycle, killing both officers on the spot.

Additional Superintendent of Police Pranab Kumar Sarkar confirmed the incident, noting that Inspector Mozaharul had joined his new post only a day earlier. Following the crash, highway police recovered the bodies and transferred them to the Bheramara Upazila Health Complex. Legal procedures are underway before handing the bodies over to their families.

The tragic deaths have cast a pall of grief over the local police force, with colleagues expressing condolences and emphasizing the risks officers face while performing their duties on the road.

Aditya Dhar’s new film *DhuranDhar*, released on December 5 across Indian cinemas, has ignited intense political and social debate. The three-hour spy thriller revisits major terror incidents such as the 1999 Kandahar hijacking, the 2001 Parliament attack, and the 2008 Mumbai attacks. While audiences have praised its cinematic scale and storytelling, critics argue that the film carries hyper-nationalist overtones and religious bias, prompting bans in several Gulf countries.

Political reactions have been sharply divided. Congress MP Tariq Anwar accused the film of promoting Islamophobia, while BJP leaders defended it as a factual portrayal of terrorism. Actor Hrithik Roshan publicly expressed discomfort with the movie’s political stance. Analysts note that Dhar’s work, including his earlier *Uri: The Surgical Strike*, aligns with government narratives on national security and patriotism.

Experts suggest *DhuranDhar* reflects a broader trend of Bollywood films reinforcing state ideology since 2014. Its upcoming second part, due in March, is expected to reignite debates over religion, nationalism, and the politicization of Indian cinema.

A fatal road accident occurred on the Padma Bridge early Tuesday, leaving one person dead and at least 20 others injured. The collision took place when a Dhaka-bound Basumati Paribahan bus was struck from behind by a Kuakata-bound Padma Special Paribahan bus traveling at high speed. The deceased was identified as Md. Tofayel Mia, 27, a bus helper from Madaripur’s Dakshin Para area.

According to police and eyewitnesses, the Basumati bus sustained severe damage, and several passengers were critically injured. Emergency responders transported the wounded to hospitals in Dhaka and nearby districts. Mohammad Shahe Alam, Officer-in-Charge of Padma South Police Station, confirmed that both vehicles involved were seized and legal procedures are underway.

Traffic on the bridge was temporarily halted following the crash but resumed shortly after authorities cleared the site. Officials said the overall law and order situation and vehicular movement on the Padma Bridge have since returned to normal.

The Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) seized smuggled Indian goods and vehicles worth approximately Tk 3.5 crore in a series of operations across Habiganj district over the past 24 hours. Acting on intelligence, a special patrol from the 55th Battalion intercepted a covered van near Jagadishpur Muktiyoddha Chattar in Madhabpur upazila, about five kilometers inside Bangladesh from the border. Hidden compartments inside the van contained Indian sarees and shawls, while a separate sand-laden truck was found concealing cosmetics and cumin.

Additional raids in nearby border outposts recovered Indian liquor and onions. The seized vehicles were also taken into custody. Lieutenant Colonel Md Tanjilur Rahman, commanding officer of the 55 BGB Battalion, stated that the force continues its relentless operations to curb smuggling and narcotics trafficking along the frontier. He emphasized that such drives not only suppress cross-border crimes but also safeguard the nation’s economic and social stability.

Authorities indicated that intensified surveillance and intelligence-led operations will continue to prevent illegal trade across the Bangladesh-India border.