A hawker named Al Amin was killed and another, Milon, injured in a violent altercation between popcorn and coconut sellers aboard the Ekota Express train on Monday night. The incident occurred after the train left Setabganj station in Dinajpur en route to Thakurgaon’s Pirganj. Witnesses said the dispute stemmed from a long-standing rivalry over selling rights inside the train. Al Amin, from Ulipur in Kurigram, was fatally attacked with a knife by rival hawkers identified as Akash-Sujon and Kudrat. Passengers took the injured men to Pirganj Upazila Health Complex, where Al Amin was declared dead. The attackers fled before police arrived. Passengers criticized railway authorities for poor security and lack of police patrols on trains, warning that such negligence endangers lives. Railway and local police confirmed the incident and said an investigation is underway to identify and arrest the perpetrators.

The Shahid Wasim Akram Expressway, stretching from Lalkhan Bazar to Patenga in Chattogram, has increasingly become a death trap due to overspeeding, risky bends, incomplete construction, and lack of safety measures. Despite several fatal accidents in recent months, including three car crashes in November alone, the Chattogram Development Authority (CDA) and traffic police have yet to implement effective safety controls. Locals complain that CDA only set up a toll plaza without ensuring surveillance or enforcement across the 15-kilometer elevated road. Motorcycles, CNGs, and other restricted vehicles continue to use the expressway freely, while pedestrians and social media users are often seen walking or filming on it. Although CDA claims 92% of the project is complete, many sections remain unfinished, and the number of vehicles using the road is far below projections. Authorities now plan to install CCTV and speed cameras to monitor violations, but residents remain skeptical about safety improvements.

A young man named Al Amin Hossain Rayhan, reportedly a leader of the banned Chhatra League, was found hanging in a flat in Dhaka’s Vatara area late Monday night. Police recovered the body from a residence in Bashundhara Residential Area’s E Block around midnight and sent it to Dhaka Medical College for autopsy. Local residents expressed suspicion about the nature of his death, with one witness suggesting it might be a planned murder due to the unusual position of the body. Another neighbor mentioned that Rayhan had been showing signs of depression in recent days. According to police sources, an investigation is underway to determine whether the incident was suicide or homicide. Rayhan was said to be the general secretary of the banned Laksham Upazila unit of the Chhatra League in Cumilla. Authorities are awaiting the post-mortem report to confirm the cause of death.

Bangladesh’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has seized assets worth approximately Tk 5.45 crore belonging to AHM Fuad, former assistant personal secretary (APS) to ex-LGRD minister Engineer Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain. The seizure, ordered by the Faridpur Senior Special Judge’s Court, includes a luxury flat and nearly 39 decimals of land. Fuad is accused of amassing illegal wealth through tender manipulation, extortion, and forming a gang known as the ‘Helmet Bahini’ to dominate government contracting processes in Faridpur. Investigations revealed that he laundered money and purchased properties under the names of his two wives, mother-in-law, and relatives. The CID filed a money laundering case on August 3 under the Money Laundering Prevention Act and continues to investigate Fuad’s financial network and associates. Officials said the operation aims to uncover the full extent of his illicit activities and bring all involved individuals under legal scrutiny.

Thirty-five former members of the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) were released on bail from Kashimpur Central Jail in Gazipur on Monday evening in connection with a case filed under the Explosives Control Act related to the 2009 BDR mutiny. Their release followed a court order issued last Thursday granting bail to 53 accused. According to prison officials, the bail documents arrived at the jail on Monday afternoon and were verified before the prisoners were released around 6:30 p.m. Among those freed, one was from the Kashimpur High Security Central Jail, two from Central Jail Part-1, and 32 from Part-2. The 2009 BDR mutiny at the Pilkhana headquarters in Dhaka resulted in the deaths of 74 people, including 57 army officers. Following the incident, separate murder and explosives cases were filed, leading to one of the largest trials in Bangladesh’s history, with hundreds convicted and others acquitted.

A Dhaka court has ordered the freezing of 21 bank accounts belonging to former Dhaka South City Corporation mayor Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh, his sons Sheikh Fazle Nashwan and Sheikh Fazle Nawar, and their associates. The order was issued by Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Md Sabbir Foyez following a petition from the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). The ACC alleged that Taposh abused his power to amass illegal wealth worth over Tk 73 crore. Investigators found that between September 2013 and August 2024, Taposh deposited and withdrew a total of Tk 539 crore across 27 bank accounts, along with significant foreign currency transactions. The ACC argued that the freeze was necessary to prevent the transfer or concealment of assets while the investigation continues. The court granted the request after reviewing the evidence presented by the ACC’s assistant director and investigation officer, Md Ferdous Rahman.

Police in Jessore have arrested a man named Babul Hossain, 32, for allegedly running an illegal Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) operation and smuggling information to India and other countries. Acting on a tip-off, police raided a rented house near Chuadanga Bus Stand early Sunday and detained Hossain, while two or three others managed to flee. Officers seized a Dell laptop, 317 Indian SIM cards—47 from VI and 270 from BSNL—a black VOIP device, two Bangladeshi SIM cards, and a mobile phone. Investigators said Hossain had been importing Indian SIM cards illegally and using them to conduct VOIP calls that evaded government taxes. He was charged under the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulation Act and sent to jail on Monday following a court order. Authorities suspect the operation had been ongoing for a long time, causing financial losses to the state through revenue evasion.

Online activist Asif Saikat and filmmaker Anonno Mamun have called for the strictest punishment for Baul singer Abul Sarkar, who was arrested on charges of making derogatory remarks about Islam and Allah during a musical performance in Ghior, Manikganj. Saikat stated that Sarkar’s comments constituted clear blasphemy and should be dealt with under existing laws, rejecting any call for his release. He also alleged that certain political groups used Sarkar to provoke religious sentiments. Mamun echoed similar sentiments, saying that artistic freedom cannot justify insulting religious beliefs. Following the October 4 incident, widespread criticism erupted on social media, and various Islamic organizations demanded Sarkar’s arrest. Police detained him in Madaripur and brought him to Manikganj, where he was sent to jail after appearing before a magistrate. The case, filed by a local imam, accuses Sarkar of distorting Quranic verses and misleading followers under the guise of spirituality. Authorities confirmed that the investigation is ongoing.

Former Inspector General of Police (IGP) A K M Shahidul Haque has alleged misconduct during his interrogation by the investigation agency of Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal. His lawyer, Sifat Mahmud, told Tribunal-1 on Monday that investigators asked Shahidul Haque about the promotion status of the current coordinator, which he described as inappropriate and unrelated to the inquiry. Prosecutor Md Mizanul Islam denied the allegation, saying that any complaint should be filed formally. The tribunal scheduled a hearing on the complaint for January 22, coinciding with the submission date for the investigation report in the same case. Shahidul Haque, along with former Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner Asaduzzaman Mia and former DMP Deputy Commissioner Md Jasim Uddin Molla, is under arrest in connection with the 2016 Kalyanpur ‘Jahaz Bari’ operation, where nine youths were allegedly killed. The tribunal also set separate hearing dates for other war crimes cases involving former military and police officers.

A case has been filed in Manikganj following an attack on followers of jailed Baul artist Abul Sarkar, who was imprisoned for allegedly making derogatory remarks about Allah and Islam. The complaint, lodged by the father of injured Baul artist Zohirul Islam, names 200 unidentified individuals. The incident occurred during a human chain organized by Baul artists demanding Sarkar’s release, which clashed with a rally by a group called Touhidi Janata demanding his execution. Several people from both sides were injured in the ensuing violence. Police confirmed that a separate general diary was also filed regarding the incident and that an investigation is underway to identify and arrest those involved. Abul Sarkar, president of the Bangladesh Baul Association, was arrested on November 20 after allegedly making offensive comments during a performance in Ghior, Manikganj. His bail plea was rejected twice by the court, and he remains in custody.

Thirty-five former members of the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) were released from Kashimpur Central Jail in Gazipur on Monday evening after receiving bail in a case filed under the Explosives Control Act related to the 2009 BDR mutiny. The release began around 6:30 p.m., following verification of bail documents that arrived earlier in the day. Among those freed, one was from the high-security unit, two from Central Jail Part-1, and thirty-two from Part-2. Family members gathered outside the prison to welcome their relatives, expressing relief and gratitude after years of uncertainty. The BDR mutiny, which took place on February 25, 2009, at the Pilkhana headquarters in Dhaka, resulted in the deaths of 74 people, including 57 army officers. The subsequent trials became the largest in Bangladesh’s history, with hundreds convicted and many still serving sentences. The latest releases follow a court order granting bail to 53 individuals last week.

A Dhaka court has ordered the seizure of income tax documents belonging to Lutful Tahmina Khan, wife of former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, who was sentenced to death for crimes against humanity. The order was issued by Metropolitan Sessions Judge Md Sabbir Foyez following a petition from the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). According to the ACC, Tahmina allegedly amassed illegal assets worth about Tk 15.46 crore and conducted suspicious transactions totaling Tk 43.77 crore through ten bank accounts under her name and partially owned companies. Investigators suspect the funds were laundered in violation of the Money Laundering Prevention Act of 2012. The court stated that seizing her tax returns and related financial records is essential for a fair and thorough investigation into the allegations of corruption and money laundering.

The Bangladesh Army conducted a late-night operation in the Sorabaria area of Kaliganj upazila, Jhenaidah district, recovering a pistol marked 'Made in India,' three rounds of ammunition, and two locally made sharp weapons. The items were found abandoned in the yard of a suspect named Masud Hossain, who fled the scene during the raid. According to police, Masud is a fugitive facing more than ten criminal cases, including charges of murder and illegal arms possession. Officer-in-Charge Shafiqul Islam of Kaliganj Police Station confirmed that no arrests were made during the operation. Authorities are continuing efforts to locate and apprehend the suspect. The discovery of a foreign-made firearm has raised concerns about cross-border arms smuggling and illegal weapon circulation in the region.

A fire broke out on Monday evening at the canteen section of Dhaka University’s Bijoy Ekattor Hall extension area. According to the Fire Service, they received the alert at 6:13 p.m. and dispatched four units that quickly reached the site and brought the blaze under control. Witnesses reported that the fire may have originated from a gas cylinder explosion inside one of the food stalls. The incident caused panic among students, prompting many to evacuate the building. Hall Provost Dr. S. M. Ali Reza stated that the exact cause of the fire is yet to be confirmed, though a cylinder explosion is suspected. University Proctor Saifuddin Ahmed confirmed that the fire was fully contained within minutes, and no injuries or fatalities were reported. Authorities said the extent of damage and the definitive cause will be determined after an investigation.

The Bangladesh government has issued a formal reprimand against Barishal Metropolitan Police Deputy Commissioner and former Narsingdi Superintendent of Police (SP) Md Abdul Hannan after allegations of irregularities, abuse of power, and tarnishing the police’s image were proven true. According to a Ministry of Home Affairs circular signed by Senior Secretary Nasimul Gani, the disciplinary action followed an internal investigation that found Hannan had allegedly paid Tk 5 million in bribes in 2023 to secure his posting as Narsingdi SP. The posting was not realized due to political changes in August 2024. Later, in November 2023, after assuming office, Hannan and a subordinate officer reportedly collected Tk 500,000 from the same individual in Dhaka without authorization. Despite the serious nature of the offenses, which include bribery—a criminal act—the government imposed only a reprimand as punishment, raising questions about accountability within the police force.