A petrol bomb was thrown at the Suapur branch of Grameen Bank in Dhamrai, Dhaka, early Wednesday morning. The incident occurred around 4:30 a.m. when two unidentified individuals arrived on a motorcycle and hurled the bomb at the bank office located on the second floor of a two-storey building in Suapur Bazar. The bomb hit a wall and fell onto the roof of an adjacent tin-shed room, causing a small fire. Local residents and the night guard quickly extinguished the flames, preventing any damage or injuries. CCTV footage captured the attack and the resulting fire. Police have visited the scene and launched an investigation. According to Dhamrai Police Station’s Officer-in-Charge Monirul Islam, five of the six Grameen Bank branches in the area operate from rented premises with local security guards, and police monitoring has been increased. Legal action is being taken regarding the incident.

A Dhaka court has sentenced a woman to one year in prison for concealing her previous marriage from her second husband. The court also handed a two-year jail term to the marriage registrar (kazi) involved in the wedding and revoked his license. The verdict was delivered by Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Md. Zakir Hossain on Tuesday in a fraud case filed by computer engineer Zahid Hasan. The convicted woman, identified as Mosammat Nusrat Jahan Tasnim alias Tasmin Nahar (26), and kazi Abu Musa Ahmed were each fined 5,000 taka, with an additional one-month jail term if unpaid. Nusrat was sent to prison immediately after the verdict, while the kazi remains absconding and a warrant has been issued for his arrest. The case originated in 2020 after Zahid discovered that Nusrat had hidden her earlier marriage when marrying him in 2017. Another accused, Aminul Islam, was acquitted due to lack of evidence.

The Business Community Bangladesh (BCB) has announced the closure of all mobile phone retail shops across the country in protest against the alleged detention of SumashTech CEO Abu Sayeed Piyas by the Detective Branch (DB) of police. The announcement was made at a press conference held at the Dhaka Reporters Unity on Wednesday, November 19. According to Piyas’s family, he was taken from his Mirpur-1 residence around 3 a.m. by DB officers, who also confiscated his mobile phone. The association’s leaders demanded his immediate release, warning of a nationwide movement if he is not freed within the day. The incident has sparked concern among business communities and raised questions about the circumstances of Piyas’s detention. Law enforcement authorities have not yet issued an official statement regarding the matter.

An unidentified group set fire to a stationary bus along the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway near the MC Bazar area of Sreepur upazila in Gazipur early Wednesday, November 19. The bus was parked beside Sufia Textile Mills when the incident occurred. A video showing the burning bus later circulated widely on social media, prompting public concern. Police officials, including Sreepur Police Station Officer-in-Charge Muhammad Abdul Barik, confirmed that they had seen the video but were yet to verify its authenticity. Law enforcement teams have been dispatched to the scene to investigate the incident and identify those responsible. Authorities have not yet determined the motive behind the arson or whether it was linked to any broader unrest or criminal activity. No casualties were reported at the time of filing this report.

A petrol bomb was thrown at a Grameen Bank office in Dhamrai, on the outskirts of Dhaka, causing panic among local residents and staff. According to initial police reports, the attack occurred late at night, though no casualties were reported. Firefighters quickly responded and brought the situation under control before the flames could spread. Authorities have launched an investigation to identify those responsible and determine the motive behind the incident. Law enforcement officials suspect the attack may be linked to recent political tensions or attempts to create unrest ahead of national events. Security measures around financial institutions in the area have been tightened following the incident. Grameen Bank officials have condemned the attack and urged for swift justice. The government has also assured that there is no broader threat to public safety at this time.

A massive fire broke out at the Standard Phoenix coil factory in the Bagherbazar area of Gazipur Sadar upazila on Wednesday afternoon. The blaze started around 1 p.m., prompting immediate efforts by factory security personnel to contain it. As the fire intensified, the Fire Service was alerted, and four units from the Joydebpur Fire Station rushed to the scene to bring the situation under control. According to Md. Mamun, Deputy Assistant Director of Gazipur Fire Service, all four units are currently working to extinguish the fire. As of the latest reports, the fire had not yet been fully controlled, and the extent of damage or any casualties remains unknown. Authorities are investigating the cause of the fire while emergency teams continue their operations at the site.

Rapid Action Battalion (RAB-4) has arrested two suspects, Pata Sohel alias Monir Hossain and Sujon, for their alleged involvement in the murder of Golam Kibria, member secretary of the Pallabi Thana Jubo Dal. The arrests were made during overnight raids in Savar and Tongi areas of Dhaka on Tuesday, confirmed RAB-4 Commander Lt. Col. Md. Mahbub Alam. Kibria was shot dead on Monday evening inside a hardware store in Mirpur-12 by three masked gunmen. During their escape, the attackers also shot a battery-run rickshaw driver for not driving fast enough. The driver is currently hospitalized. Following the murder, Kibria’s wife filed a case naming five suspects, including Sohel, and several unidentified individuals. Police and RAB are continuing investigations, and further details are expected to be shared in a press briefing at the RAB Media Center in Karwan Bazar.

A group of unidentified arsonists set fire to a local train coach stationed at the Mymensingh Railway Station wash pit early Wednesday morning. The incident occurred around 4 a.m. and was quickly brought under control by three members of the Railway Security Force (RNB) — Habildar Masud Rana, Sipahi Asaduzzaman, and Nayek Ismail — who acted swiftly using wet jackets to extinguish the flames. Their prompt response prevented the fire from spreading to other coaches and the engine, averting a potential catastrophe. Authorities reported that several seats were partially burned, and traces of gunpowder-like substances and petrol-based liquids were found, suggesting an attempt to intensify the blaze. The suspects managed to flee in the darkness. Railway officials are reviewing CCTV footage to identify and apprehend those responsible for the attack.

Bangladesh’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has seized approximately 45 million shares of Meghna Bank PLC owned by former land minister Saifuzzaman Chowdhury Javed, his brother Anisuzzaman Chowdhury Rony, and Rony’s wife Imrana Zaman Chowdhury. The shares, valued at nearly Tk 60 crore, were allegedly purchased using illicit funds. According to CID, the accused had long been involved in extortion, fraud, and organized crime, generating large sums of illegal money. A portion of these funds was laundered abroad and later repatriated to Bangladesh through associates before being invested in bank shares. The Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge’s Court ordered the asset seizure on November 18 following CID’s request. The investigation, supervised by the Financial Crime Unit, is ongoing to identify other individuals involved and trace the full extent of the financial crimes.

The Internal Resources Division of Bangladesh has demoted Sajid Khan, an Additional Tax Commissioner of the Rangpur tax region, for irregularly granting BRB Cable Industries Limited tax benefits totaling around Tk 180 crore. While serving in the Khulna tax region’s Circle-1 Companies division, Khan approved Tk 151 crore in tax credits and Tk 29 crore in refunds for the 2018–19 and 2019–20 fiscal years without proper authorization. A departmental investigation confirmed the irregularities, leading to disciplinary action under the Government Servants (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 2018. Following a personal hearing on November 13, the allegations were proven beyond doubt. As a result, Khan was demoted by one grade, with his salary fixed at Tk 45,330. The case highlights ongoing efforts by the Internal Resources Division to enforce accountability and transparency within the tax administration system.

Testimony is scheduled today against former Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Habibur Rahman and seven others in a case over the killing of six people during the July-August 1975 uprising in Dhaka’s Chankharpul area. The chief investigating officer, Md Monirul Islam, is set to testify before International Crimes Tribunal-1, marking the final witness session in the case, where 26 witnesses have already testified. Separately, the International Crimes Tribunal-2 will continue hearing testimony for the 18th day in another crimes against humanity case involving the burning of six bodies and the killing of seven people in Ashulia, with former MP Saiful Islam and 15 others accused. The prosecution stated that SI Sheikh Abzalul Haque, who turned state witness, will testify soon. Of the 16 accused in the Ashulia case, eight are currently in custody and were presented before the tribunal this morning.

Hundreds of buyers across Bangladesh have reportedly fallen victim to online fraud schemes involving fake advertisements for Katimon mangoes from Chapainawabganj. Despite the mango season being over, several social media pages have been offering 'juicy and delicious' mangoes year-round, luring customers to pay in advance. One such page, 'BD Official Mango House,' allegedly deceived a buyer from Charghat, Rajshahi, who lost 11,000 taka after being tricked by scammers posing as couriers. Investigations revealed that the page had no physical office in Chapainawabganj as claimed and that the perpetrators were operating from Narail. Victims and local residents have demanded swift action against these fraudulent online businesses. Police have urged consumers to verify sellers before placing online orders and warned against making advance payments until goods are received.

Former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun, convicted of crimes against humanity linked to the July uprising and sentenced to five years in prison, has been transferred to Gazipur’s special jail. Following his conviction, Mamun will lose his Division-1 prison privileges and be downgraded to Division-2 status, as per prison regulations. The Inspector General of Prisons, Brigadier General Syed Motaher Hossain, confirmed that once a prisoner is sentenced, Division-1 privileges are automatically revoked. Mamun may apply to retain certain privileges, but government approval is required. If denied, he will be treated as a regular inmate and must wear the standard prison uniform. Sources indicate that over 150 cases are pending against Mamun in various courts and police stations. A 1982 BCS police cadre officer, Mamun served as Bangladesh’s 29th IGP and previously led the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) before his arrest on September 4, 2024.

A major fertilizer smuggling operation has been uncovered in Khulna, Bangladesh, involving urea imported under the supervision of the Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation (BCIC). Following the seizure of around 20 tons of fertilizer in Chuadanga, authorities have begun investigating allegations that a powerful syndicate, including warehouse officials and transport operators, is diverting government fertilizer to the black market. The fertilizers, meant for farmers, are reportedly sold illegally at lower prices for massive profits. Summit Associates, the official distributor, and its subcontractor Jewel Transport are under scrutiny after one of their trucks was caught transporting smuggled fertilizer. Despite evidence of systemic irregularities, BCIC officials have been accused of ignoring the issue. The scandal has raised concerns about corruption in fertilizer distribution and its damaging impact on farmers and agricultural productivity in the region.

Murad Hossain, a 65-year-old Awami League leader and former commissioner of Mirpur’s Ward 12, died on Tuesday after falling ill at Gazipur’s Kashimpur High-Security Central Jail. Prison officials said he was an undertrial prisoner facing three murder cases. Around 3:15 p.m., Hossain suddenly became ill, prompting authorities to transfer him first to Dhaka Central Jail in Keraniganj and then to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH). He was declared dead by on-duty doctors at approximately 4:30 p.m. Inspector Md Faruk, in charge of the DMCH police outpost, confirmed the death. The body has been kept at the hospital morgue for autopsy in the presence of an executive magistrate. After the post-mortem examination, prison authorities will formally hand over the body to his family. The cause of death has not yet been officially determined.