Former army officer Major (retired) Mohammad Mozzafar Hossain, accused in the 1981 assassination of Bangladesh’s President Ziaur Rahman, was arrested by the Detective Branch from Dhaka’s DOHS area on Wednesday night after 45 years on the run. He was later handed over to the army. Mozzafar, one of 18 officers convicted by a military tribunal for the killing, had fled to India and lived under a changed name, occasionally returning to Bangladesh.

Investigations and eyewitness accounts cited in the report describe Mozzafar’s role in the operation at Chittagong Circuit House, where Zia was shot dead by mutinous soldiers on 30 May 1981. Mozzafar reportedly informed Major General Abul Manzoor of the president’s death and helped bury Zia and two other officers in a remote hill area. The bodies were later recovered and flown to Dhaka.

Researcher Mohiuddin Ahmed told the newspaper that Mozzafar’s arrest could allow the government to enforce his pending sentence and shed new light on the conspiracy behind Zia’s killing, depending on the outcome of his interrogation.

An attack on police officers was reported in Sujanagar, Pabna, early Thursday morning after a mosque loudspeaker announcement allegedly mobilized supporters of the banned Awami League. The incident occurred around 4:30 a.m. in the Doppora area of Mathurapur, leaving the officer-in-charge of Sujanagar Police Station, Mozzafar Hossain, and constable Sabuj injured. Both are receiving treatment at a local private hospital. Pabna Superintendent of Police Md. Shufi Ullah confirmed the attack.

According to police sources, the officers were patrolling the area following intelligence that local leaders of the banned Awami League, led by Sujanagar unit president Abdul Wahab, were planning a rally or sabotage under cover of World Cup football celebrations. Police claim that after their arrival, a mosque loudspeaker announcement drew hundreds of people armed with sticks and local weapons, who attacked the patrol and vandalized two police vehicles.

Abdul Wahab denied the allegations, calling them false and baseless. He said he was not present and that the clash occurred when locals intervened as police detained several youths. The police superintendent stated that legal action is being taken against those involved.

The Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police is conducting a cautious and detailed investigation into 59 cases linked to the July movement. DB Additional Commissioner Shafiqul Islam said at a press conference at the DMP Media Center on Thursday that the investigations have reached a critical and complex stage involving a large number of accused individuals, extensive digital data, video footage, and forensic analysis. The DB aims to identify the actual perpetrators based on digital evidence, eyewitness testimony, and technical analysis before submitting reports to the court.

According to Shafiqul Islam, investigators are verifying each suspect’s role, location, and available evidence with great care. Around 40 gigabytes of digital data are being analyzed, and the process includes forensic and video examinations. He emphasized that the investigation will proceed strictly according to law, ensuring punishment for the guilty while avoiding wrongful accusations. The DMP has formed a monitoring cell to review progress, and the police headquarters is also overseeing the process.

He noted that analyzing vast digital information and determining each suspect’s role are the main challenges, as the cases differ in nature, allegations, and context.

A college student named Din Islam Siam, aged 20, died after suffering severe burns in a bathroom explosion in Dhaka’s Bangshal area. The incident occurred on July 12 at Nazimuddin Road’s Ali Naki Deuri area when Siam attempted to light a cigarette. He was admitted to the burn unit of Dhaka Medical College Hospital, where he died around 1:45 p.m. on Thursday while under treatment. Police confirmed the death and said the explosion happened when gas accumulated in the bathroom ignited.

Siam was originally from Bikrampur in Munshiganj and worked at a polythene shop while studying at a local college. His family said they tried their best to save him, but his condition worsened as about 60 percent of his body was burned. Relatives recalled hearing a loud explosion before finding him engulfed in flames.

Fire safety experts warned that gas accumulation in enclosed spaces like bathrooms or kitchens can cause severe explosions if exposed to fire or sparks. Police said they are investigating the incident and will take legal steps after receiving the autopsy and investigation reports.

Residents of Sirajganj municipality are facing severe hardship due to the dilapidated condition of the Goyla-Ekdala main road, which has remained unrepaired for about 15 years. Potholes, stagnant dirty water, and foul odors have made daily movement difficult, especially for students and patients. Locals report repeated complaints to the municipality without any effective response. The municipal executive officer said neglected wards, including Ward 9, have been prioritized for upcoming repair projects.

At the same time, crime rates in Sirajganj city have increased following the breakdown of all CCTV cameras installed for surveillance. The cameras, set up in 2021 at 65 points, became inoperative within a few years due to neglect and theft. As a result, incidents of theft, mugging, and harassment have risen, with about 40 thefts and 17 assault cases reported in the past three months. Business and civic leaders have urged authorities to restore the CCTV network to curb crime.

Police Superintendent Saiful Islam Santu confirmed that the Ministry of Power and Energy has approved a plan to reinstall CCTV cameras at 118 city points soon.

Two young men died after being electrocuted during a boat trip on the Bangshai River in Mirzapur, Tangail, on Thursday evening, July 16. The victims were identified as Jitul, 18, from Sherpur, and Sajjad, 18, from Rangpur. The incident occurred around 7:30 p.m. when a group of 40 youths from Bhawal Mirzapur in Gazipur were returning from a picnic at the Mahera Zamindar Bari spot.

According to eyewitnesses, six people came into contact with an overhead electric wire while on the river. Two of them lost consciousness immediately and were taken to Kumudini Hospital, where doctors declared them dead. Four others were injured and are currently receiving treatment at the same hospital.

Sub-Inspector Rashed Fazal of Mirzapur Police Station confirmed the incident and said preparations were underway to send the bodies to the Tangail morgue after completing formal procedures.

Three young men were killed and two others seriously injured in a road accident in Ajmiriganj upazila of Habiganj district on Thursday evening. The collision occurred around 6:30 p.m. on July 16, 2026, at the Jalsukha area of the under-construction Ajmiriganj–Shalla regional highway, when three speeding motorcycles lost control and collided head-on. One rider, Tanvir Thakur, died on the spot, while four others were taken to Habiganj Modern District Sadar Hospital, where two more were declared dead at around 7:30 p.m.

The deceased were identified as Abidul Laskar, 23, son of Nurul Laskar of Amirkhani village; Tanvir Mia, 18, son of Ful Mia of the same village; and Antor Das, 25, son of Chandan Das of Paharpur village in Ajmiriganj. The injured, Bachchu Mia, 25, and Mizan Mia, 22, were later transferred to Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital as their conditions worsened.

Ajmiriganj Police Station Officer-in-Charge Akbar Hossain confirmed the incident, stating that police visited the scene and an investigation is underway to determine the exact cause of the crash.

An alleged data breach from a Reliance Group server has led to the release of around 19,000 documents related to India’s Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant on the dark web, according to a Reuters report published on July 16, 2026. The ransomware group ‘World Leaks’ reportedly uploaded about 858,000 files from Reliance, including 14.3 gigabytes of material tied to the Tamil Nadu-based plant. Cybersecurity researcher Rakesh Krishnan told Reuters that the files have been accessible online since June 11.

The Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) stated that the leaked data only concerns general infrastructure and public utility systems, not nuclear safety or reactor operations. Reliance confirmed the breach occurred through a third-party data service provider, Yotta, which detected suspicious activity on May 29 and later shut down the affected server. Yotta said it informed Reliance of a possible leak in late June and cooperated fully with the investigation.

Environmental group Friends of the Earth warned that publishing such infrastructure data on the dark web could pose security risks and criticized the Indian government’s silence on the issue.

A Dhaka court on Thursday, July 16, 2026, ordered Haridas Chandra Tarani Das, the entrepreneur behind a Ram Murti construction project, to be sent to jail after completion of his remand in a money laundering case. Additional Metropolitan Magistrate Joshita Islam denied his bail and accepted the Criminal Investigation Department’s (CID) request to keep him in custody. CID Inspector K.M. Rakibul Huda submitted the petition, stating that Haridas had been extensively interrogated and provided important information about the sources and transfers of funds in his bank and mobile financial accounts.

The CID informed the court that the information obtained from Haridas would assist in the ongoing investigation and that verification of the data was underway. Investigators argued that releasing him on bail could disrupt the probe. Defense lawyer Shyamal Kumar Roy sought bail, which the court rejected. The case was filed on July 12 by CID’s Financial Crime Unit over allegations of laundering Tk 9.35 crore through illegal currency transfers and hundi operations.

Haridas was arrested the same night from Gaibandha’s Palashbari area and remanded for four days on July 13 for interrogation.

Police in Jorarganj, Mirsarai upazila of Chattogram, arrested Kamal Uddin, known as a key figure in an illegal Indian goods smuggling network. He was detained on Wednesday night in the Dakshin Alinagar area of Korerhat Union. Kamal, son of Aman Ullah from Amolighat, is accused of controlling cross-border smuggling operations involving Indian products. Local sources said he used Indian mobile SIM cards for communication and had two existing cases against him related to seized Indian goods.

Residents alleged that Kamal and several associates, including Imon, Janu Mia, Selim Uddin, and Faruk, have long operated along the hilly border with India’s Tripura state, using remote routes to bring in items such as sugar, clothing, cattle, and consumer goods. The area’s terrain reportedly allows smugglers to evade border patrols.

Police have intensified anti-smuggling operations in recent weeks, seizing Indian goods worth about 450,000 taka on June 24, 180 Indian sarees on June 28, and 19 Indian cattle on June 30. Authorities said further operations are underway to arrest others linked to the network.

Police in Dharwad, Karnataka recovered the bloodied body of anesthetist Dr. Kiran Hannanavar, 45, from his apartment on Karnataka University Road. His eight-year-old son was found in another room with serious stab injuries and was taken to a private hospital. The boy’s mother, ophthalmologist Dr. Priyanka, was reportedly lying on the bed using her phone when relatives discovered the scene. She has been taken into custody for questioning.

Police Commissioner N. Shashikumar said preliminary investigation found no evidence of any outsider entering the flat, which was inside a secured residential complex. Relatives had tried to contact Dr. Hannanavar since Tuesday evening, and Dr. Priyanka initially gave inconsistent explanations about his whereabouts. Investigators said she appeared mentally distressed and gave incoherent statements.

A murder case has been filed at the Suburban Police Station. Police are reviewing CCTV footage and interviewing family members. Early findings suggest a possible domestic dispute, though the exact motive and sequence of events remain unclear. The autopsy report is expected to provide further details, and the investigation continues.

A Bangladeshi expatriate from Cumilla, identified as Md. Nadim Hossain, 27, died in a workplace accident at a date processing factory in the Bukaria area of Saudi Arabia’s Al-Qassim region. The incident occurred around 7:45 p.m. Bangladesh time on Wednesday, July 16, 2026. Nadim reportedly entered a machine to clean it when co-workers accidentally turned it on, causing fatal injuries. Saudi police have launched an investigation and detained three factory workers for questioning.

According to family sources, Nadim had gone to Saudi Arabia about ten months earlier seeking better financial prospects and was employed at the date packaging and processing plant. His father, Samad Mia, alleged that his son might have been murdered and demanded a fair investigation and justice. He also appealed for government assistance to repatriate the body.

Burichang Upazila Executive Officer Md. Tanvir Hossain stated that authorities are gathering information and that the government can assist in bringing back the body if the family submits a formal request.

The Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police announced that charge sheets in 59 cases related to the July movement will be filed only against those proven guilty based on verified evidence. At a press briefing on July 16, 2026, DB Additional Commissioner Shafiqul Islam said the investigations have reached a critical and complex stage due to the large number of accused and extensive digital data. The DB is analyzing around 40 GB of digital information, including video footage, forensic reports, and witness statements, to determine each suspect’s role.

Shafiqul Islam emphasized that the investigation is being conducted with utmost caution to ensure accuracy and fairness. A monitoring cell at DMP and another at police headquarters are regularly reviewing progress to prevent false or motivated cases. He stated that only those against whom credible evidence is found will face charges, while innocent individuals will not be wrongfully accused.

Officials said the investigation prioritizes technology-based evidence to ensure transparency and strengthen the judicial process once completed.

A local BNP leader was stabbed to death in Kabirhat upazila of Noakhali on Wednesday night after protesting drug use and sales. The incident occurred around 11:30 p.m. near the Palli Bidyut substation at Tetultala Bazar in Sundalpur Union. The victim, Md. Faruk alias Shahid, 50, was a former publicity secretary of ward no. 6 BNP and a businessman at the same market. Locals detained two young men, Md. Arshad Akash, 26, and Md. Sajjad Hossain Akash, 20, and handed them over to police.

According to the victim’s son, a dispute had erupted the previous night between Faruk and Arshad Akash over drug use at a local shop, leading to the fatal attack the following evening. Police said the killing likely stemmed from that earlier conflict. The body was sent to Noakhali General Hospital for autopsy, and an investigation is underway.

Kabirhat BNP president Mostafizur Rahman Manju demanded exemplary punishment for those involved to prevent similar incidents in the future.

A Dhaka court has granted bail to Salman F Rahman, vice chairman of Beximco Group and former adviser on industry and investment to ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, in a cheque dishonor case. The bail was approved on a bond of 1,000 taka by Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Joshita Islam’s court on Thursday, July 16, 2026. Defense lawyer Mohammad Shamsuddoha Suman confirmed the order, noting that an arrest warrant had been issued against Rahman on May 7 after the case was filed.

The case was lodged on January 9 by Ujjal Mondal on behalf of the Export Import Bank of Bangladesh. Other accused include Ahmed Sayeon Fazlur Rahman, Mahfuzur Rahman, Imran Mondal, Md Lutfor Rahman, Mashkura Khanam, Md Saifur Rahman, Abu Nayeem Mohammad Selehin, Md Mostafizur Rahman Tanvir, and A S F Rahman. According to the complaint, a cheque worth 1.12 billion taka was issued on behalf of Beximco LPG Unit-1 Limited but was returned by the bank on November 19, 2025, due to insufficient funds.

After a legal notice was sent on November 26 demanding payment within 30 days, the accused failed to settle the amount, leading to the filing of the case.