A Dhaka court has ordered the imprisonment of Daily Nawroj editor Shamsul Haque Durrani after he surrendered in an extortion case. The order was issued on Sunday, December 7, by Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Md. Mahbubur Rahman. Durrani’s lawyer, Dhaka Bar Association President Khorshed Mia Alam, had sought bail, but the court rejected the plea and sent him to jail.

The case was filed on November 12 by contractor Rajibul Islam, who accused Durrani of demanding BDT 2 million to allow construction work at a government seed office site in Melandah, Jamalpur, to proceed without interference. The contractor alleged that Durrani threatened to obstruct the project if the payment was not made. Following the complaint, the court had earlier issued an arrest warrant against Durrani.

The incident has drawn attention to alleged misuse of influence by media figures. Legal analysts note that the case underscores growing scrutiny of press accountability in Bangladesh’s judicial process.

Local leaders of Jamaat-e-Islami have been accused of attacking government revenue collectors and looting collected funds at the Char Lengta ferry ghat in Companiganj upazila, Noakhali. According to officials, the incident occurred when government staff were collecting revenue from the state-owned ghat, which had not been leased due to an ongoing court petition. The attackers allegedly assaulted the staff and took away around 12,000 to 13,000 taka before ordering them to leave the site.

Assistant Land Officer Selim Chowdhury confirmed the incident and said preparations are underway to file a case. He added that the matter has been reported to higher authorities. The accused Jamaat leaders, Mahbubul Haque and Helal, claimed they had leased the ghat but failed to produce any documents. Companiganj Assistant Commissioner (Land) Rubaiya Binte Kashem stated that legal action will follow upon receiving a written report.

The disruption has halted revenue collection since Thursday, depriving the government of income and raising concerns about law enforcement in the area.

A fire broke out early Sunday morning in the Ambag Nozordighi area of Gazipur’s Konabari police station, destroying four jhoot (garment waste) warehouses. According to the Fire Service and local residents, the blaze started in one warehouse and quickly spread to three others owned by Shahadat Hossain, Sanaullah, and Abu Sayeed. Locals initially attempted to extinguish the flames before alerting the fire department.

Four units from Konabari Modern and Chourasta Modern Fire Service stations responded to the call and managed to bring the fire under control after about an hour of effort. The tin-shed warehouses and stored jhoot materials were completely burned, though no injuries or fatalities were reported. Fire Service Inspector Saiful Islam said preliminary investigations suggest the fire may have originated from an electrical short circuit.

Authorities are assessing the extent of property damage, while fire officials have urged warehouse owners to improve electrical safety and fire preparedness to prevent similar incidents.

A 14-year-old boy named Tajim Molya died after falling from a tree while allegedly stealing betel nuts in Lohagara upazila of Narail district, Bangladesh. Police recovered the body on Sunday and sent it to Narail Sadar Hospital for autopsy. The incident occurred late Saturday night when Tajim and three friends went out after playing carrom to steal betel nuts from a local tree.

According to police, Tajim’s friends — Injamul Sheikh (15), Shipon Sheikh (17), and Ibrahim Sheikh (15) — fled the scene after the fall. When Tajim did not return home, his family began searching for him. The next morning, locals discovered his body near a pond close to his home. Police later detained the three friends for questioning.

Investigators said the death appears accidental, pending autopsy results. Authorities are continuing inquiries to confirm the exact circumstances and determine if further legal action is necessary.

A madrasa principal, HM Mostafa Joardar, aged 52, died after being hit by a speeding motorcycle in Monohardi, Narsingdi, on Saturday night. He was declared dead at Dhaka Medical College Hospital after being transferred there from Monohardi Upazila Health Complex due to critical injuries. The accident occurred around 8:30 p.m. while he was crossing the Dhaka–Kishoreganj regional highway near Monohardi bus stand.

Mostafa Joardar, a resident of Sallabaid area under Monohardi municipality’s Ward 6, served as the superintendent of Purachar Paratala Jalal Uddin Dakhil Madrasa in Kishoreganj’s Katiadi upazila and was a local leader of Jamaat-e-Islami. Police said they are awaiting a formal complaint to initiate a full investigation. Local witnesses reported that the motorcycle fled the scene immediately after the collision.

Authorities have urged caution among motorists and pedestrians on the busy regional highway, where several similar accidents have been reported in recent months. The incident has sparked renewed calls for stricter traffic enforcement and improved road safety measures in the area.

A Dhaka court has accepted a fraud case against Beximco Group Vice Chairman Salman F Rahman, his brother and Group Chairman ASF (Sohel) Rahman, and four others over allegations of deceiving three pilots of Beximco Aviation. The plaintiffs—Captains Mahbub Alam, Rashedul Amin, and Zahidur Rahman—claimed they were defrauded of BDT 12.05 million in unpaid dues after being terminated from the company in February.

According to the plaintiffs’ lawyer, Tariqul Islam, the pilots were employed between 2021 and 2024 and provided flight services for the company’s helicopter operations. They later discovered that Beximco Aviation Limited was allegedly a fake entity used to exploit their services. The court has directed the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to investigate and submit a report.

Salman F Rahman, currently in custody since August 1 following the fall of the Awami League government, faces multiple allegations of financial misconduct, including stock market manipulation and large-scale loan fraud. His relatives are reportedly abroad. The case adds to growing scrutiny of the Beximco Group’s financial dealings and political influence.

A Pabna administrative court has granted bail to Nishi Rahman, a housewife accused of killing eight puppies by drowning them in a pond in Ishwardi. The decision was made on Sunday, December 7, by Judge Tarikul Islam of Pabna Administrative Court-2 after a hearing. Prosecutor Mosfeka Jahan Kanika confirmed the bail, noting that the offense is bailable and that the court considered the accused’s gender in its decision. The next court appearance is scheduled for January 11.

The case drew public attention after the puppies, belonging to a dog named Tom living near the Ishwardi Upazila Executive Officer’s residence, were found dead in a pond. Witnesses alleged that Rahman, wife of a local development officer, had tied the puppies in a sack and disposed of them at night. The local livestock officer filed the case, leading to Rahman’s arrest. Authorities have stated that the investigation will continue, and a charge sheet will be submitted after completion.

Animal rights advocates have called for a fair investigation and stronger enforcement of animal cruelty laws in rural areas.

A tragic incident in Gazipur’s Tongi area has sparked public outrage after a family allegedly threw a stillborn baby girl from a fourth-floor apartment window early Sunday morning. Police recovered the infant’s body and sent it for autopsy at Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmad Medical College Hospital. The baby’s mother, identified as 28-year-old Riva Akter, has been detained for questioning.

According to police, Riva gave birth to a stillborn child at her home in Ward 54, Auchpara College Gate area, before the baby was allegedly thrown from the kitchen window. Locals alerted authorities after discovering the body near the building. Investigators suspect that family conflict may have influenced the decision not to bury the stillborn child properly.

Tongi West Police Station Officer-in-Charge Harun-or-Rashid confirmed that legal proceedings are underway. The incident has raised concerns about social awareness, mental health support, and the handling of stillbirths within families in Bangladesh.

Bangladesh’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has begun exhuming 114 bodies from Dhaka’s Rayerbazar graveyard to identify victims of the July popular uprising. The operation, launched Sunday morning, aims to conduct autopsies and collect DNA samples before reburial with full religious respect, CID chief Additional IGP Md. Shibgat Ullah confirmed.

The initiative follows a Dhaka court order responding to petitions from families of unidentified martyrs. Argentine forensic expert Luis Fondebrider, invited through the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR), is leading the forensic process. CID officials said at least 10 families have already applied for identification, though the actual number of victims may exceed 114.

Authorities emphasized that the process adheres to international forensic standards. Once DNA profiles are matched, families may reclaim remains if desired. The CID plans to release hotline numbers for relatives seeking information. The exhumation marks a major step toward documenting the human cost of the 2024 July uprising and ensuring accountability through scientific verification.

A Dhaka court has once again postponed the submission of the investigation report in the long-running murder case of Bangladeshi film actor Salman Shah. The report, which was due on December 7, could not be submitted by the investigating officer, prompting Metropolitan Magistrate Jewel Rana to set a new date of January 13 for submission. The case names 11 accused, including Salman Shah’s former wife Samira Haque, her mother Latifa Haque Luchi, businessman Aziz Mohammad Bhai, and actor Don.

The case has a complex history dating back to 1996, when Salman Shah was found dead at his Eskaton residence. Initially treated as an unnatural death, the case was later reclassified as a murder following petitions from Shah’s family. Multiple investigations by the CID and judicial authorities have alternately concluded suicide or homicide, leading to repeated legal challenges. The latest revision petition was filed in June 2022 after the PBI’s final report was accepted in 2021.

Legal observers note that the repeated delays underscore procedural challenges in Bangladesh’s high-profile criminal cases, with the next hearing expected to determine whether the investigation will finally move forward.

A late-night gas leak explosion in Kanchpur Patatta village of Sonargaon, Narayanganj, left four members of the same family severely burned early Friday. The incident occurred around 3 a.m. when accumulated gas inside their home ignited, causing a sudden blast. The victims—Jarina Begum (65), Alauddin (35), Sathiya Akter (14), and Saima (4)—were rushed to the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery in Dhaka around 4 a.m.

According to relatives, the family used piped gas for cooking, and a leak overnight allowed gas to fill the room. When a spark occurred, the explosion followed. Dr. Shawon Bin Rahman, a resident physician at the burn institute, said Alauddin sustained 40% burns and was admitted to the ICU, while the others suffered burns ranging from 12% to 30%. Police from Sonargaon station have been informed about the incident.

Authorities are investigating the cause of the leak, while safety experts again urged regular maintenance of household gas connections to prevent similar accidents.

At least 11 people, including a three-year-old child, were killed when gunmen opened fire inside a hostel in Pretoria, South Africa, early Saturday morning. Police reported that 25 people were shot, with 14 hospitalized and 12 others injured. The attack occurred in the Soshanguve area, about 18 kilometers from central Pretoria, at a hostel known for illegal alcohol sales.

Police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe said three armed men entered the hostel’s unlicensed drinking area around 4:30 a.m. and began shooting indiscriminately at a group of men. Victims also included a 12-year-old boy and a 16-year-old girl. Authorities have yet to determine a motive, and no arrests have been made as investigations continue.

South Africa has one of the world’s highest murder rates, and officials warn that illegal liquor outlets often become flashpoints for deadly violence. The incident has renewed calls for stricter enforcement against unlicensed taverns and better policing in high-risk communities.

Bangladesh’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID) will begin exhuming the remains of 114 unidentified martyrs from the July uprising on Sunday at the Rayerbazar graveyard in Dhaka. The operation aims to collect DNA samples to establish their identities, following a court order issued in August. CID officials confirmed that after forensic examination and DNA collection, the bodies will be reburied with proper procedures.

CID’s media superintendent Jasim Uddin Khan said the process will start early Sunday morning, with CID chief Mohammad Shibgat Ullah briefing the press beforehand. Forensic experts, including anthropologist and consultant Luis Fondibraider, will assist in the identification process. The burial site has been specially prepared with marble and tiles by the city corporation to preserve its sanctity.

The exhumation marks a significant step toward honoring the memory of those who died during the July movement. Authorities hope the DNA analysis will bring closure to families still searching for missing relatives and strengthen the historical record of the uprising.

Two key government offices in Magura — the Assistant Land Commissioner’s office and the District Sub-Registrar’s office — were set on fire early Saturday morning, reportedly by unidentified miscreants. The attackers allegedly poured petrol through windows and door gaps before igniting the blaze around 4 a.m. The fire damaged crucial land records, cash stamps, computers, and other official documents before firefighters managed to bring it under control.

According to police sources, bottles and petrol residues were recovered from the scene. The night guard alerted emergency services by calling 999, prompting a rapid response from the fire service. Additional Superintendent of Police Mirajul Islam stated that no formal complaint had yet been filed by either office, but law enforcement had already begun an independent investigation to identify those responsible.

Authorities are assessing the extent of the damage and potential data loss. The incident has raised concerns about the security of sensitive land and registration records in the district, prompting calls for enhanced surveillance and fire safety measures in government facilities.

Six members of a single family, including women and children, were severely burned in a gas line explosion at their home in Dhaka’s Agargaon area early Saturday morning. The incident occurred around 4:30 a.m., reportedly due to a gas leak that ignited inside the residence near the Islamic Foundation’s Paka Market. The injured were taken to the burn unit of Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) around 7:45 a.m. for emergency treatment.

The victims were identified as Jalil Mia (50), Aneeza Begum (40), Asif Mia (19), Sakib Mia (16), Monira (17), and Eva (6). According to their relative Afran Mia, the explosion happened suddenly while the family was inside the house. DMCH police camp in-charge Inspector Faruk confirmed that all six victims were receiving treatment, though the extent of their burns was not immediately known.

Authorities have informed the local police station, and an investigation is expected to determine whether the blast resulted from a gas leak or faulty pipeline maintenance.