Police in Dhaka recovered the bodies of two siblings, aged 10 and 1, from an apartment in the Wireless area of Hatirjheel on Sunday morning. The children, Afrida and Ilham Chowdhury, were found dead after reportedly falling ill following a family meal. Their bodies were sent to Dhaka Medical College Hospital for autopsy, with police confirming no visible injury marks.

Family members said the illness began after the family consumed leftover food from Afrida’s birthday celebration held on December 16. Afrida fell sick first and died early Saturday at a local hospital, while her younger brother Ilham died later that day during treatment at another facility. Police are investigating possible food contamination or poisoning as the cause of death.

Authorities await post-mortem results to determine the exact cause. The tragic deaths have raised renewed concerns over food safety and storage practices in urban households, with police urging families to exercise caution when consuming stored or reheated food.

Police in Noakhali’s Hatiya upazila have arrested a young man accused of issuing death threats to Abdul Hannan Masud, senior joint chief coordinator of the National Citizen Party (NCP). The suspect, Israt Raihan Omi, son of former Char Ishwar Union Parishad chairman Abdul Halim Azad, was detained late Saturday night from Nandaroad area. Authorities confirmed that Omi faces three prior cases filed with Hatiya Police Station.

According to police, Omi sent a highly provocative message through Facebook Messenger to an NCP activist, threatening violence against party leaders if his father was arrested. The message reportedly contained explicit threats against Hannan Masud and others. Officer-in-Charge Saiful Alam stated that legal proceedings are underway and warned that anyone attempting to incite unrest, online or offline, will be brought under the law.

The arrest underscores growing concerns over the misuse of social media for political intimidation. Law enforcement officials have pledged increased monitoring of digital communications to prevent similar incidents in the future.

At least nine people were killed and ten others injured in a mass shooting near Johannesburg, South Africa, early Saturday morning. Police said around a dozen unidentified gunmen arrived in two vehicles and opened fire inside a bar in Bekkersdal township shortly before 1 a.m. local time. The attackers continued shooting as they fled the scene, prompting an extensive police operation to track them down.

National and provincial crime units, along with detectives and intelligence officers, have been deployed to investigate. Authorities are interviewing witnesses, though the motive behind the attack remains unclear. The injured victims were transported to nearby hospitals for treatment.

This incident follows a similar bar shooting earlier in December near Pretoria that left at least 12 people dead, highlighting growing concerns over violent crime and gun-related attacks in South Africa. Police have urged the public to assist with information as investigations continue.

A joint press conference is scheduled in Dhaka today to present the progress of the investigation into the killing of Sharif Osman Hadi, convener of the Inqilab Manch. Officials from the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), and police are expected to detail findings, arrests, and evidence gathered so far. The case, initially filed as an attempted murder, has now been reclassified as a murder case following a court directive.

Hadi, an independent candidate for Dhaka-8 constituency and a key figure in the July uprising, was shot in the head on December 12 while campaigning. He died six days later in a Singapore hospital. Authorities have arrested 11 people, including relatives and associates of the main suspect Faisal Karim Masud, a banned student leader. RAB’s media director Wing Commander M Z M Intekhab Chowdhury said the briefing would present a comprehensive update on the investigation.

The killing has drawn wide public attention ahead of the upcoming national elections, with investigators under pressure to ensure transparency and swift justice.

Nearly twelve years after the brutal killing of six people, including self-proclaimed spiritual leader Lutfor Rahman Faruk, in Dhaka’s Gopibagh area, the investigation remains unfinished. Despite 147 extensions, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has yet to submit its final report. The Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate’s Court has now set January 14, 2026, as the next deadline for the report.

The case, filed by Faruk’s son Abdullah Al Faruk on the night of the murders in December 2013, has passed through multiple law enforcement agencies before reaching the CID. Investigators cite the case’s complexity and the time elapsed as reasons for delay. Families of the victims express frustration, saying prolonged delays have denied them justice. Defense lawyers argue that their clients, all currently on bail, suffer financial and psychological strain from repeated court appearances.

The killings, allegedly linked to ideological disputes and extremist motives, remain one of Dhaka’s most protracted murder investigations. Legal experts warn that continued delays risk eroding public confidence in the justice system and prolonging the suffering of both victims’ families and the accused.

An investigation in South Keraniganj, Dhaka, has revealed widespread illegal brick kilns and unauthorized ferry operations along the Dhaleshwari River. The report identifies Akhtar Hossain, an organizing secretary of the local Swechchhasebak Dal, as allegedly running a business involving stolen soil and substandard bricks under political cover. Locals claim that farmland has been seized to operate the ferry, which transports trucks at night, reportedly collecting Tk 500 per trip.

Former Krishak League leader Haji Abu Taleb and BNP figures have traded accusations over control of the ferry and illegal land occupation. Law enforcement officials confirmed awareness of the issue, with the local police chief and Upazila Nirbahi Officer acknowledging that no official lease or permit exists for the ferry. The BIWTA also confirmed it had not authorized any pontoon or toll collection at the site.

Authorities have promised enforcement actions, but residents remain skeptical, citing years of unchecked illegal trade and political protection. The case underscores persistent governance and environmental challenges in peri-urban Dhaka.

In Mymensingh’s Bhaluka upazila, 27-year-old garment worker Dipu Chandra Das was beaten and burned to death after being accused of religious defamation. Investigations and family accounts suggest the killing was premeditated, linked to his activism for workers’ rights at Pioneer Knitwears (BD) Ltd. His brother filed a murder case against 150 unidentified individuals, while joint operations by RAB-14 and district police have led to ten arrests.

Sources indicate Das had long advocated for fair wages, overtime pay, and better working conditions, creating friction with management. On December 18, he was allegedly pressured to resign and threatened with false blasphemy charges. CCTV footage later revealed that most attackers were outsiders, not local residents. Political leaders from BNP and Jamaat have called the incident a conspiracy to destabilize the country.

Local reports allege that the factory’s owner, known for ties to ruling Awami League figures, may have influenced events. Authorities face growing pressure for an impartial investigation amid concerns over labor rights, misuse of religious sentiment, and industrial accountability.

Three people have died after five vehicles, including a truck, fell into the Dhaleshwari River from a ferry in Fatullah, Narayanganj, on Saturday night. The accident occurred around 10 p.m. at the Baktabali ferry terminal when a truck reportedly lost control mid-river, striking several smaller vehicles before plunging into the water. The truck driver and his assistant managed to swim ashore, but others were missing.

According to witnesses, the ferry had departed from Narsinghpur and was halfway across the river when the truck suddenly accelerated. The impact sent a motorcycle, two battery-run rickshaws, and a van into the river. Naval police later recovered the bodies of three victims — identified as motorcyclist Rafik, van driver Swadhin, and expatriate Masud. Authorities have temporarily halted the search operation for the night.

Police officials stated that recovery efforts for the submerged vehicles will resume Sunday morning. The incident has raised renewed concerns over ferry safety and vehicle management practices on river crossings in Bangladesh.

The US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has charged a Bangladeshi national for allegedly running an online marketplace selling digital templates of forged US passports and Social Security cards. The FBI confirmed the operation on social media platform X on December 21, noting that the accused had been distributing highly sensitive document replicas that could be used to create fake identities.

The operation was conducted in collaboration with the Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit of Dhaka Metropolitan Police. Acting on a warrant from the US District Court in Montana, authorities seized several domains linked to the illegal activities. Visitors to the seized websites now see a notice displaying the logos of the FBI, US Department of Justice, and CTTC, stating that the domains were taken over under Title 18 of the US Code.

Officials have not yet disclosed the suspect’s identity or location, citing ongoing investigations. The case underscores growing cross-border cooperation on cybercrime and document fraud prevention between the United States and Bangladesh.

At least three people went missing after a truck lost control on a moving ferry and pushed an auto-rickshaw and two motorcycles into the Dhaleshwari River in Fatullah, Narayanganj, on Saturday night. The incident occurred around 10 p.m. near the Boktabali ferry terminal. The truck driver and his helper managed to swim ashore immediately after the accident.

Local authorities, including the Narayanganj Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer, police, and fire service units, rushed to the site. However, due to cold weather and darkness, a full-scale rescue operation could not be launched overnight. Witnesses reported that the truck suddenly started its engine mid-river, lost control, and struck the vehicles ahead, sending them into the water. Among the missing are a couple traveling in the auto-rickshaw and a recently returned expatriate.

Officials said a diving team from Dhaka was on its way to assist in the rescue. The administration has instructed all relevant agencies to take maximum measures as the search continues Sunday morning.

Bangladesh’s joint law enforcement forces have arrested 5,949 individuals over the past seven days under the nationwide ‘Operation Devil Hunt Phase-2’. The Home Ministry’s public relations officer, Faisal Hasan, confirmed the figures on Saturday night, noting that several firearms were also recovered during the raids. In the last 24 hours alone, 783 people were detained, while over 20,000 motorcycles and 17,000 vehicles were searched, leading to the seizure of 356 illegal motorcycles.

The intensified operation was launched following the shooting of Inquilab Mancha spokesperson Sharif Osman Hadi on December 13. At a core committee meeting that day, Home Affairs Adviser Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Md. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury said the campaign aimed to recover looted and illegal weapons and suppress violent extremist groups. The first phase of the operation began in February 2025 after attacks in Gazipur prompted a coordinated law enforcement response.

Authorities say the current phase will continue until stability is restored, though human rights groups have urged transparency and due process in the ongoing arrests.

Bangladesh’s elite Rapid Action Battalion (RAB-7) has arrested Shahidul Islam, known locally as Buissha and described as a key lieutenant of notorious Chattogram gangster Boro Sajjad. The arrest took place on Saturday night near Finlay Square in the city’s 2 No. Gate area, where Buissha was intercepted while riding a motorcycle. RAB officials said he attempted to draw a pistol before being subdued.

According to RAB sources, Buissha had long been involved in extortion, intimidation, and armed operations across Chattogram. He allegedly managed field operations for Sajjad’s network, which has been linked to violent incidents targeting construction sites and business owners. Multiple criminal cases under the Arms Act and extortion laws are pending against him.

Authorities described the arrest as a major breakthrough amid rising public concern over recent shootings and open weapon displays in the city. Investigators are now questioning Buissha to trace the group’s arms supply chain and identify other members. RAB said he will be handed over to local police following legal procedures.

Police have converted the attempted murder case of Shahid Sharif Osman Hadi, convener of the July Revolution’s Inquilab Manch, into a homicide investigation following his death from gunshot wounds sustained on December 12. The application for conversion was submitted to a Dhaka court on Saturday, which subsequently directed that the case be investigated as a murder. Detective Branch Inspector Faisal Ahmed of the Motijheel zonal team has been assigned to lead the probe.

The original case was filed on December 14 by Inquilab Manch’s member secretary Abdullah Al Jaber, naming Faisal Karim Masud and several unidentified suspects. The case was later transferred from Paltan Police Station to the Dhaka Metropolitan Detective Branch. Law enforcement agencies have so far arrested 14 individuals in connection with the incident.

Authorities have not yet disclosed a motive, but investigators are focusing on possible political links and internal disputes. The case’s progression to a murder investigation is expected to intensify scrutiny of political violence and law enforcement accountability in the capital.

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.