French prosecutors have announced that three individuals will stand trial next year over the theft of valuable silverware from the Élysée Palace, the official residence of the French president. The case centers on a palace caretaker accused of stealing silver tableware and service items valued between €15,000 and €40,000. The missing pieces were first noticed by the palace’s chief steward and later traced through online auction listings.

Investigators discovered that several stolen items, including pieces marked with the French Air Force and Sèvres Manufactory insignia, were being sold online. Searches of the suspect’s home, car, and locker led to the recovery of around 100 objects, such as copper pots, Sèvres porcelain, a René Lalique sculpture, and Baccarat champagne glasses. All items have since been returned to the palace.

The three accused face charges of jointly stealing movable property classified as part of France’s national heritage. If convicted, they could face up to ten years in prison and fines of up to €150,000. The trial is scheduled to begin on February 26, 2026.

Bangladesh’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has uncovered more than Tk127 crore in suspicious financial transactions connected to Faisal Karim Masud, the prime suspect in the murder of Shahid Sharif Osman Hadi, a key figure of the July Revolution and spokesperson of Inquilab Mancha. The CID revealed the findings in a press release on Sunday, noting that the transactions may be linked to money laundering and organized crime financing.

Following Hadi’s fatal shooting on December 12 in Dhaka’s Purana Paltan area, CID launched a shadow investigation, collecting CCTV footage and forensic evidence. Several associates and family members of Masud have been arrested for allegedly concealing evidence and aiding his escape. Investigators also found unexecuted cheque records worth about Tk218 crore.

Authorities have initiated a separate money laundering probe and are taking steps to confiscate Tk65 lakh from related bank accounts. CID teams are also examining whether a broader criminal network was involved in financing or planning the killing, while efforts to arrest the main suspect continue.

Police in Patiya, Chattogram, have arrested two local leaders from the Krishak League and Awami League for alleged involvement in anti-state activities. The detainees are Nurul Abbas Khan, 32, organizational secretary of Baralia Union Krishak League, and Ratan Chakraborty, 62, a local Awami League leader. Abbas was detained Sunday afternoon from Kolagaon Union, while Chakraborty was arrested Saturday night during an ongoing special operation titled “Devil Hunt Phase-2.”

According to police, Abbas was charged under the Anti-Terrorism Act and Chakraborty under the Explosives Act. Both were presented before court following their arrests. Investigating Officer Yujutsu Yash Chakma stated that preliminary interrogation revealed evidence of their involvement in activities deemed harmful to the state. Local law enforcement has intensified surveillance under the special operation to curb subversive activities in the region.

Authorities have not disclosed further details about the nature of the alleged offenses. The arrests come amid heightened security operations across Chattogram, and further investigations are underway to identify any wider network linked to the suspects.

Bangladesh police have stated that there is still no confirmed information on the whereabouts of Faisal, the prime suspect in the murder of Inquilab Mancha spokesperson Shahid Sharif Osman Hadi. Additional Inspector General (AIGP) Khondker Rafiqul Islam made the remarks during a press briefing at the Ministry of Home Affairs on Sunday evening, where he also discussed the progress of the 'Devil Hunt Phase-2' operation and the overall law and order situation.

The AIGP clarified that authorities have not received any reliable evidence suggesting Faisal has fled abroad, warning that misinformation about suspects’ locations often circulates. He added that multiple police units are investigating different aspects of the case, and ten individuals allegedly involved in planning the murder have already been arrested.

Officials emphasized that the investigation remains active, with forensic evidence being analyzed. Law enforcement agencies are under pressure to locate Faisal and bring all perpetrators to justice as public attention on the case continues to grow.

A Dhaka court has granted bail to Abdul Hannan, the owner of a motorcycle suspected to have been used in the shooting of Inquilab Mancha spokesperson Shahid Sharif Osman Hadi. The order was issued on Sunday by Metropolitan Magistrate Md. Hasan Shahadat following a hearing on Hannan’s bail petition. Hannan had been arrested on December 13 by RAB-2 and later remanded for three days under Section 54 of the Criminal Procedure Code.

During interrogation, investigators verified his vehicle registration with BRTA, discovering two motorcycles registered in his name—a Suzuki Gixxer and a Yamaha. However, the motorcycle used in the attack was a Honda Hornet, with a registration number differing by one digit from Hannan’s vehicle. After his remand ended on December 17, he was sent to jail pending further investigation.

The murder of Hadi, an independent candidate for Dhaka-8, has drawn political attention amid allegations of broader conspiracies to destabilize the upcoming 13th national election. Authorities continue to investigate the case and identify the gunmen involved.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) of Bangladesh has filed three separate cases against three subsidiaries of S. Alam Group, accusing them of embezzling Tk 6,243 crore from state-owned Janata Bank under the guise of business loans. The cases were lodged at the ACC Chattogram-1 office, naming S. Alam Group chairman Saiful Alam Masud, his wife Farzana Parveen, and several Janata Bank officials as defendants.

According to the ACC, the alleged embezzlement occurred between 2005 and 2024 through S. Alam Vegetable Oil Ltd, S. Alam Cold Rolled Steel Mills Ltd, and S. Alam Trading Company Ltd. Each entity is accused of obtaining loans and misappropriating funds with accrued interest. The cases follow two earlier lawsuits filed on December 17 involving another Tk 3,085 crore linked to the group’s sugar and edible oil mills.

Investigators said the probe is ongoing and may expand to include additional individuals and institutions. The cases highlight growing scrutiny of corporate loan practices and potential collusion between private conglomerates and state-owned banks.

Bangladesh’s Religious Affairs Adviser A F M Khalid Hossain announced that several individuals involved in the recent arson attacks on the offices of national newspapers Prothom Alo and The Daily Star have been identified. Speaking to reporters at the Secretariat on Sunday, he said law enforcement agencies have been instructed to arrest the suspects and bring them under legal process. The adviser also condemned the mob killing of a Hindu garment worker in Mymensingh, calling it a heinous act and reaffirming the government’s stance against vigilante justice.

Hossain acknowledged the difficulty of preventing sudden attacks across multiple locations, including incidents at cultural institution Chhayanaut, but rejected claims of government complicity. He stated that the administration remains committed to maintaining law and order and ensuring a free and fair election. When asked about intelligence failures, he said such events are hard to predict but emphasized that prompt action had prevented further violence elsewhere.

The adviser further noted that misinformation and incitement from abroad via social media platforms like Facebook and YouTube remain outside direct government control, though authorities are monitoring the situation closely.

Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal has postponed its order on charge framing against 17 accused, including 10 army officers, in a case involving enforced disappearances and torture. The tribunal, led by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Majumder, rescheduled the hearing to December 23 after defense lawyers requested additional time. Senior lawyer Monsurul Haque Chowdhury represented three detained officers during the session.

Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam objected strongly to the defense’s repeated petitions, alleging that the defense team was deliberately attempting to mislead the tribunal and delay proceedings. He argued that such tactics were meant to obstruct justice and prevent the framing of charges despite the existence of prima facie grounds. The tribunal panel includes Justices Md Shafiul Alam Mahmud and retired District Judge Mohitul Haque Enam Chowdhury.

The delay highlights ongoing tensions in high-profile war crimes cases, where procedural motions often slow progress. Observers note that the tribunal’s next session will be crucial in determining whether formal charges proceed against the accused officers.

Police in Netrakona recovered the body of Helal Uddin, a 60-year-old farmer, who was found with his hands, feet, and mouth bound and his throat slit in his bedroom early Sunday morning. The incident occurred in Nariyapara village of Kaliyara Gabragati Union under Netrakona Sadar upazila. According to local sources, Uddin’s wife discovered the body around 4 a.m. and alerted neighbors, who then informed police.

Law enforcement officials, including the Superintendent of Police Md. Tariqul Islam, visited the scene along with detectives and the CID crime scene unit, collecting evidence for investigation. Police suspect the murder was premeditated. Authorities noted inconsistencies in the wife’s statement, and she has been taken in for questioning. The body was sent to Netrakona Modern Sadar Hospital for autopsy.

Investigators are prioritizing the case, emphasizing that legal action will follow based on forensic findings and investigative progress. The killing has shocked the rural community, prompting heightened security and scrutiny of possible personal or financial motives.

Police in Kishoreganj upazila of Nilphamari district arrested two individuals, including a local Jubo League ward president, during separate raids on Saturday night under an anti-terrorism case. The detainees were identified as Ziaur Rahman, 42, president of the Jubo League’s Ward No. 9 unit in Putimari Union, and Jagdish Chandra Barman, 55, of Uttar Barovita Dangapara village. Both were sent to the district jail on Sunday afternoon following their arrest.

According to Abdul Kuddus, the investigating officer of Kishoreganj Police Station, the arrests were made as part of the ongoing “Devil Hunt Phase-2” operation targeting individuals accused in anti-terrorism cases. Police stated that the operation aims to strengthen law enforcement presence and curb militant or extremist activities in the region.

Local sources said the arrests have drawn attention within political circles, as one of the accused holds a leadership role in the ruling party’s youth wing. Authorities have not disclosed further details about the specific charges or the next steps in the legal process.

Police in Taraganj upazila of Rangpur district have arrested a local leader of the banned student organization, Chhatra League. The arrest took place around 1 p.m. on Sunday during an operation at Taraganj Bazar. The detainee, identified as Md. Ruhul Amin, 27, was serving as the general secretary of the Ikarchali Union unit of the group and is the son of Md. Abdul Majid from Ikarchali (Pashchimpara) village.

Officer-in-Charge Ruhul Amin of Taraganj Police Station confirmed the arrest and stated that the accused was sent to Rangpur Jail following a court order. Authorities have not disclosed further details about the charges or the specific reasons behind the ban on the organization. Local sources indicated that the arrest followed ongoing surveillance of banned political activities in the area.

The incident underscores the government’s continued enforcement against proscribed political groups in northern Bangladesh. Further legal proceedings are expected in the coming days as police continue monitoring similar organizations.

Police in Dhunat upazila of Bogura have arrested two local leaders of the Awami League and Jubo League in connection with a case filed over an alleged cocktail explosion during a torch procession. The detainees, Golam Mostafa, 56, organizational secretary of Mathurapur Union Awami League, and Sohel Rana, 40, former organizational secretary of Mathurapur Union Jubo League, were sent to Bogura District Jail on Sunday following court orders.

According to the case, Awami League activists organized a torch procession on November 30 in Bhubangati Uttarpara area, where explosions reportedly caused panic among residents. On December 10, former Gopalnagar Union Chhatra Dal president Raju Ahmed filed a case naming 35 individuals and 60–70 unidentified persons. The two arrested leaders were among those unidentified suspects.

Dhunat Police Station Officer-in-Charge Atikul Islam said efforts are ongoing to apprehend the remaining accused. The arrests have drawn attention locally, as they involve ruling party figures amid heightened political tensions in the region.

Eleven members of the Ansar force were injured on Sunday morning when a passenger bus lost control and hit a flyover pillar in the Poyartola area of Brahmanbaria town along the Cumilla–Sylhet highway. The accident occurred as the group was returning to Suhilpur camp after completing a firing camp at the district Ansar and VDP office. Two of the injured were later transferred to Brahmanbaria Medical College Hospital due to critical conditions.

According to officials, the bus, operated by Diganta Paribahan, struck a pillar of an under-construction four-lane flyover, severely damaging the vehicle’s front section. Local authorities and rescue teams quickly transported the injured to the district hospital for treatment. Adjutant Mohammad Harun Rashid of Brahmanbaria Ansar and VDP confirmed that all victims were receiving medical care.

The incident highlights ongoing safety concerns on the busy Cumilla–Sylhet highway, where construction work and heavy traffic often contribute to accidents. Authorities are expected to review road safety measures and driver compliance in the area.

A violent knife attack in Lohagara, Chattogram, left Muhib, brother of July martyr Ishmam, critically injured on Saturday evening. Witnesses said a group of banned Chhatra League activists ambushed him near Lohagara Station after evening prayers. Locals rescued Muhib and admitted him to the upazila hospital, where he remains under treatment. One of the attackers, identified as Chhatra League leader Minhaj, was detained by residents and handed over to police.

Police confirmed the incident and launched an investigation, pledging legal action against those involved. Muhib is known as the plaintiff in a high-profile case filed in Dhaka’s Chankharpul murder incident involving former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and others. His family alleged the attack was a premeditated attempt driven by political revenge. Local National Citizen Party (NCP) coordinator Zahir Uddin condemned the assault, demanding swift arrests and protection for plaintiffs in related cases.

The attack has sparked widespread outrage among residents, who called for exemplary punishment of the perpetrators to prevent further political violence.

A local BNP leader in Fulgazi, Feni, has been accused of locking the Amjadhat Darul Qur'an Islamia Madrasa and orphanage following a dispute over its management committee. Witnesses reported that around 50–60 men, allegedly led by union BNP organizing secretary Anwar Hossain Tipu, forced students out and locked the premises. A teacher, Hafiz Ahmad Hossain, was reportedly assaulted when he tried to intervene. Police arrived at the scene after a 999 emergency call was made.

According to police, the madrasa was locked due to internal conflict over committee leadership rather than political motives. The locks were removed the following day after the incident drew public attention. Teachers and local residents condemned the attack, calling it deeply regrettable. Tipu denied involvement, claiming his name was used due to local political rivalry.

The dispute reportedly began after the madrasa’s founder fell ill and management was transferred to another religious institution, which later replaced the acting principal over alleged irregularities. Authorities are monitoring the situation to prevent further unrest.