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.

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.