At least 12 people were killed and three others abducted when armed men attacked a mining site in Atoso village, Plateau State, Nigeria, late Tuesday night. Local leaders told Reuters that the assailants, identified by residents as armed Fulani militia, opened fire on workers before fleeing the scene. Five more victims were hospitalized with gunshot wounds.

Police spokesperson Alfred Alabo confirmed that an investigation has been launched into the incident. The attack underscores the persistent insecurity in central Nigeria, where ethnic and religious tensions between farming communities and herders have repeatedly erupted into violence. Local youth leader Daliop Solomon Mwantiri of the Berom Youth Moulders Association condemned the assault and urged authorities to strengthen protection for rural communities.

Despite repeated government pledges to restore peace, Plateau State continues to experience deadly clashes. Analysts warn that without stronger law enforcement and reconciliation efforts, such attacks could further destabilize the region’s fragile security landscape.

The Bangladesh Coast Guard has detained 53 fishermen and seized around 5,500 kilograms of marine fish in two separate operations off the Cox’s Bazar coast. Officials also confiscated three artisanal trawling boats and 30 fishing nets, with the total value of the seized items estimated at over BDT 6.5 crore. The operations were conducted in the Khathkhali River estuary of Banshkhali and near Saint Martin’s Island.

According to Coast Guard media officer Lieutenant Commander Siam-ul-Haq, the first raid took place late Tuesday night based on intelligence reports, leading to the arrest of 16 fishermen and seizure of one illegal trawler. The second operation, conducted early Wednesday, resulted in the detention of 37 more fishermen and two additional trawlers. Authorities said legal proceedings against the detainees are underway.

Officials emphasized that such drives are part of ongoing efforts to protect marine resources and curb illegal fishing in Bangladesh’s coastal waters, with further operations planned in the coming months.

An arson attack struck the Grameen Bank branch office in Shorshodi Bazar, Feni Sadar upazila, early Thursday morning. According to local sources, unidentified miscreants set fire to the building’s stairwell area around 3:40 a.m., damaging three motorcycles and two benches before the blaze was brought under control. Bank officials and employees, who were sleeping on the upper floor, managed to contain the fire with the help of local residents and firefighters.

Branch manager Ashok Kumar Debnath confirmed that the fire was limited to the stairwell and did not spread to the main office. He stated that the bank would take further steps as directed by higher authorities. Feni Model Police Station’s Officer-in-Charge Muhammad Fouzol Azim said a written complaint had been received and an investigation was underway to identify those responsible.

Authorities have yet to determine the motive behind the attack. The incident has raised security concerns for financial institutions operating in semi-urban areas of Bangladesh.

Police in Dhaka recovered the hanging body of Jannat Ara Rumi, a 30-year-old leader of the National Citizen Party (NCP), from the fifth floor of a women’s hostel on Jigatola Old Kitchen Market Road in Hazaribagh on Thursday morning. Rumi served as the joint coordinator of the Dhanmondi Thana coordination committee under NCP’s Dhaka South unit.

Authorities identified her as the daughter of Zakir Hossain and Nurjahan Begum from Nazipur in Patnitala, Naogaon district. Law enforcement officials have initiated an investigation to determine whether the death was a suicide or if foul play was involved. Hostel residents reportedly alerted police after discovering her body.

The incident has drawn attention within local political circles, as Rumi was an active organizer in Dhaka’s grassroots political network. Police stated that an autopsy will be conducted to confirm the cause of death, while NCP representatives expressed shock and called for a transparent inquiry.

Bangladesh Border Guard (BGB) has reported a sharp rise in arms smuggling along the Chapainawabganj-India border as the country prepares for its 13th national election. In a recent operation, BGB seized four U.S.-made pistols, nine magazines, and 24 rounds of ammunition from smugglers who fled during a chase near Monoharpur. Officials fear the weapons are being brought in to incite unrest and violence during the election period.

Chapainawabganj’s 129-kilometer border with India has long been a sensitive route for illegal trade. Following the shooting of a political figure in Dhaka, BGB launched special operations and set up additional checkpoints. Lieutenant Colonel Kazi Mustafizur Rahman confirmed that intelligence reports indicated attempts to smuggle arms to destabilize the political environment. The BGB has since strengthened surveillance and patrols to prevent further infiltration.

Authorities warn that the influx of foreign arms could threaten national security and disrupt the election process. Enhanced intelligence coordination and cross-border cooperation are expected to continue in the coming weeks.

A late-night arson attack targeted the Grameen Bank branch at Shorshodi Bazar in Feni Sadar upazila, Bangladesh, on Wednesday, December 17. Unknown assailants allegedly poured petrol outside the bank’s main gate and set it on fire, burning three motorcycles and several pieces of furniture. Bank staff, who were asleep on the second floor, were awakened by the night guard’s alarm and helped control the blaze before firefighters arrived to extinguish it completely.

Branch manager Ashok Kumar Debnath stated that the attackers climbed over the boundary wall and ignited the fire from outside the gate. Police from Feni Model Station visited the site and confirmed that a formal complaint had been filed by the bank authorities. Inspector (Investigation) Sajal Kanti Das said an inquiry is underway, and legal measures will follow based on the findings.

The incident has raised concerns over security at rural financial institutions, prompting calls for enhanced surveillance and nighttime protection in remote banking areas.

Sharif Osman Hadi, spokesperson of the Inquilab Mancha, remains in extremely critical condition at Singapore General Hospital after sustaining a gunshot wound to the head. His brother Omar bin Hadi was allowed a brief visit on Thursday morning. Doctors report that Hadi suffered a massive heart attack and a spreading infection, further worsening his condition overnight.

Dhaka Medical College neurosurgeon Dr. Abdul Ahad confirmed the deterioration, describing Hadi’s state as 'extremely critical.' The Chief Adviser’s Office issued a statement echoing that assessment and announced that a senior Foreign Ministry official has been dispatched to Singapore to coordinate with Hadi’s family, hospital authorities, and Singaporean officials. The government’s advisory council also held an unscheduled discussion on Hadi’s condition and the ongoing investigation into the attempted murder.

Authorities are reviewing security measures and progress in identifying those responsible for the attack. Further updates are expected following consultations between Dhaka and Singapore medical teams.

Dhaka Metropolitan Detective Police (DB) have revealed possible links between Faisal Karim Masud, the prime suspect in the shooting of Inquilab Mancha spokesperson Sharif Osman Hadi, and multiple professional shooters as well as underworld networks. Investigators recovered a motorcycle, helmet, and fake license plate used in the attack from a residential area in Agargaon, tracing the vehicle through eight ownership transfers before it was allegedly purchased using a fake identity.

Authorities said Faisal’s parents were detained in Keraniganj but denied knowledge of his whereabouts, though they admitted he had contact with former home minister and banned Awami League leader Nanak. The DB continues efforts to arrest Faisal and his associate Alamgir, while a court granted three-day remand for a suspect accused of aiding Faisal’s escape.

The attack, which occurred on December 11 following the announcement of Bangladesh’s 13th parliamentary election schedule, is being investigated as part of a broader plot to destabilize the country and intimidate candidates ahead of the polls.

The parents of Faisal Karim Masud, also known as Daud Khan or 'Shooter Faisal', the prime suspect in the attempted murder of Inquilab Mancha spokesperson Sharif Osman Bin Hadi, have confessed their involvement before a Dhaka court. On Wednesday afternoon, Humayun Kabir and his wife Hasina Begum were presented before the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate’s Court, where their statements were recorded under Section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. Following the confession, the court ordered their transfer to jail custody.

According to Dhaka Metropolitan Police officials, the couple was arrested by the Rapid Action Battalion from Hasnabad in South Keraniganj on December 16. The case stems from a December 12 shooting in Purana Paltan, where Hadi was critically injured by assailants on a motorcycle. He remains in critical condition, currently receiving treatment in Singapore. Several other suspects, including Faisal’s wife and associates, have been remanded for interrogation.

Authorities continue to investigate the motive and network behind the attack, which has drawn public concern over rising political violence in Dhaka.

The Chamber Judge Court of Bangladesh has suspended all bail orders previously granted by the High Court to Chattogram’s alleged top criminal Sajjad Hossain, known as ‘Chhoto Sajjad,’ and his wife Sharmin Akter Tamanna. The decision, issued by Justice Rezaul Haque, means the couple will no longer benefit from bail in any of their pending cases.

According to Additional Attorney General Barrister Anik R Haque, Sajjad faces 19 cases, including 10 for murder, while Tamanna is accused in eight separate cases. Earlier, a High Court bench led by Justices Mostafa Zaman Islam and Yusuf Abdullah Suman had granted them bail until the disposal of related rulings. The state later appealed, prompting the Chamber Judge to halt the bail orders.

Legal observers note that the suspension underscores the judiciary’s cautious stance in high-profile criminal cases. The matter is expected to return to the Appellate Division for further hearing, potentially setting a precedent for similar bail disputes involving serious criminal allegations.

A Dhaka court has granted a three-day remand for Md. Nuruzzaman Noman alias Ujjal, accused of assisting the prime suspect in the attempted murder of Sharif Osman Hadi, spokesperson of the political and cultural platform Inqilab Mancha. The order was issued by Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Jashita Islam on Wednesday, following a police request for custodial interrogation.

According to the police remand petition, digital evidence and intelligence sources indicate that Nuruzzaman was directly involved in helping main accused Faisal Karim Masud flee using a rented vehicle. Investigators claim he advised the driver and coordinated the escape. Police argue that his interrogation is essential to identify other conspirators, recover the weapon used, and uncover the full motive behind the attack.

The case stems from the December 12 shooting of Hadi in Dhaka’s Paltan area, where unidentified assailants on a motorcycle opened fire, leaving him critically injured. The incident has drawn public attention, with authorities emphasizing a thorough and transparent investigation to ensure justice.

A Dhaka court has granted a three-day remand for Md. Nuruzzaman Nomani, also known as Ujjal, who allegedly rented a microbus to help Faisal Karim Masud, the prime suspect in the attempted murder of Inqilab Mancha spokesperson Sharif Osman Hadi, flee the scene. The order was issued by Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Jashita Islam after police sought a five-day remand. The hearing was conducted in the absence of the defense lawyer.

The case, filed on December 14 by Inqilab Mancha’s member secretary Abdullah Al Jaber, accuses several individuals of involvement in the December 12 shooting of Hadi in Dhaka’s Paltan area. Hadi, an independent candidate for Dhaka-8 constituency, was critically injured and later transferred to Singapore for advanced treatment. Earlier, Masud’s wife, her friend, and his brother-in-law were placed on five-day remand, while a motorcycle owner was remanded for three days under Section 54.

The attack has raised concerns about election-related violence ahead of Bangladesh’s 13th national polls, with investigators probing possible political motives and organized networks behind the assault.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit has recovered a motorcycle, helmet, and fake number plate allegedly used in the recent attack on Inquilab Mancha spokesperson Osman Hadi. The items were found abandoned in the Bonolota residential area of Sher-e-Bangla Nagar on December 14, following a targeted search operation based on intelligence and CCTV footage analysis.

According to CTTC officials, investigators traced the motorcycle’s altered registration number through video evidence and discovered it had changed hands eight times before being purchased under a false identity. The fake plate was later recovered from a nearby manhole. The recovered evidence has been handed over to the Detective Branch (DB) for further forensic and ownership verification.

Authorities say the findings could help identify key suspects, including Faisal and his associate Md. Kabir, who allegedly used forged documents during the vehicle’s last transaction. Investigators are now focusing on mapping the chain of ownership to establish direct links to the attackers.

Bangladesh’s Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam announced that formal charges have been filed against retired Major General Ziaul Ahsan for alleged involvement in enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings. The tribunal accepted the charges, issuing a production warrant for Ahsan and scheduling the next hearing for December 21. The case accuses him of orchestrating operations that led to the abduction and killing of over 100 people across multiple districts.

According to the prosecution, the charges include three major incidents involving the abduction, torture, and killing of political dissidents and others between Dhaka, Gazipur, and coastal regions like Barguna and the Sundarbans. Victims were allegedly executed and their bodies disposed of in rivers to conceal evidence. The prosecutor claimed that the operations were conducted under the guise of anti-crime or anti-piracy missions.

The tribunal’s move marks a rare legal step against a former senior security official. Human rights groups are expected to closely monitor the proceedings, which could set a precedent for accountability in cases of state-linked disappearances.

Biru Molla, the president of the BNP’s Laxmikunda Union unit in Ishwardi, Pabna, was shot dead on Wednesday morning following a family dispute over land. The incident occurred in Kamalpur village when Molla visited his cousin Jahurul Molla’s home to discuss the contested property. According to police, an argument escalated, leading Jahurul and his son to open fire, fatally striking Biru Molla in the head.

Additional Superintendent of Police Pranab Kumar Sarkar confirmed that the killing stemmed from a long-standing family conflict. Ishwardi Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mominuzzaman said the body was sent for autopsy and legal proceedings are underway. Local residents reported heightened tension in the area after the shooting.

Police have been deployed to prevent further violence, as the killing of a local political leader has stirred unrest in the community. Authorities are investigating the incident to determine whether political motives were involved or if it was purely a domestic dispute.