Joint forces arrested three individuals, including a commander of the Rohingya armed group ARSA, in two separate operations in Ukhiya, Cox’s Bazar, on Wednesday. The detainees were identified as ARSA commander Zahid Hossain alias Lalu, 38, and two alleged drug traffickers, Mizan, 35, and Rakib, 18. Authorities recovered local and foreign weapons, ammunition, and narcotics during the raids.

According to military sources, an army team from Ukhiya Army Camp conducted a raid in Palongkhali Union’s Nolbonia area based on intelligence, detaining two yaba traders and seizing drug paraphernalia, local liquor, and illegal weapons used in robbery and smuggling. In a separate morning operation, ARSA commander Lalu was captured from a tea shop inside Kutupalong Camp-1 (West), where a pistol and two rounds of ammunition were found on him.

Officials stated that legal action has been taken against the detainees. Sources said Lalu had long been involved in abduction, extortion, and arms trade within the Rohingya camps, and was accused of links to multiple killings under former ARSA leader Ataullah Jununi.

Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman has expressed hope that justice will be ensured for the hacking of his verified X (Twitter) account. In a Facebook post on Wednesday afternoon, he confirmed that the person involved in the hacking had been detained by law enforcement authorities. He thanked the police for their prompt action and said ensuring punishment would deter others from committing similar cybercrimes.

Earlier, Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s Detective Branch arrested Mohammad Saroware Alam, an assistant programmer at Bangabhaban, in connection with the hacking. The arrest took place after midnight on Tuesday during a raid at a government quarter near the east side of the Rajarbagh Police Lines auditorium. DMP’s Detective Branch chief Additional Police Commissioner Shafiqul Islam confirmed the arrest and said the suspect’s mobile phone and laptop had been seized for examination.

Dr. Rahman emphasized that legal measures against cybercrime are essential for maintaining control over digital offenses and ensuring a fair upcoming election.

Joint forces in Lohagara upazila of Chattogram conducted two separate operations early Wednesday, arresting a top criminal and another suspect’s father. The raids took place in the Barahatia area at around 4 a.m. and 9 a.m. Acting on intelligence, the team led by Lt. Colonel Mohammad Bhumedin detained Kala Babul, 35, from his home in Ward 7 of Barahatia Union, recovering one LG gun, two cartridges, seven machetes, and four mobile phones.

Kala Babul, son of Md. Yunus of Chakphirani area, was identified as a top criminal in the region. In a separate operation, the forces raided the home of the leader of the local criminal group “Tawhid Bahini” and arrested his father, Abu Taher, 65, son of the late Anu Mia. Both detainees were handed over to Lohagara Police Station following the operations.

According to the army official in charge, the operations were based on secret intelligence and aimed at curbing criminal activity in Barahatia Union.

A large-scale anti-terror operation in Pakistan’s Balochistan province has left 255 people dead over three days, according to the country’s security forces. Officials claimed that 197 members of an ‘India-backed’ separatist group were killed during the operation, along with 22 Pakistani soldiers who died in the line of duty. The violence began on January 31 when the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) launched coordinated attacks across 12 towns, killing 17 security personnel and 31 civilians.

Following the attacks, Pakistani forces and law enforcement agencies initiated a clearance operation across the province. Security sources reported that 36 civilians, including women and children, were killed in subsequent assaults over the weekend. The military’s media wing, ISPR, stated that the militants targeted ordinary citizens to disrupt normal life and development in Balochistan.

ISPR added that security forces responded with determination and professionalism, though intense fighting led to further casualties among troops. The situation remains tense as operations continue in multiple districts.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s Detective Branch (DB) has detained Mohammad Saroware Alam, an assistant programmer at Bangabhaban, in connection with the hacking of Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman’s X account. The arrest took place early Tuesday night following a DB operation at a government quarter near Rajarbagh Police Lines. DB Chief Additional Commissioner Shafiqul Islam confirmed the detention and said Alam’s mobile phone and laptop were seized for examination.

The incident followed a viral post from the Jamaat chief’s X handle on Saturday night containing objectionable remarks about working women. The post was later removed, and Jamaat issued a statement claiming that the account had been hacked and false statements were spread in the Ameer’s name. The DB operation was launched to trace the source of the cyberattack.

Authorities are currently analyzing the seized devices to determine the extent of the hacking and any possible accomplices involved in the incident.

Dhaka Metropolitan Detective Police (DB) launched a raid in the AGB Colony area of Motijheel late Tuesday night to identify and apprehend those responsible for hacking the X account of Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman. The operation began shortly after midnight, according to DB Additional Police Commissioner Shafiqul Islam, who said further details would be shared after the raid concludes.

The move follows a social media controversy that erupted last Saturday night when a screenshot from the Jamaat chief’s X handle circulated online, containing offensive remarks about working women. The post was later removed from the account. In response, Jamaat-e-Islami issued a statement claiming that the post resulted from a cyberattack and that false statements had been spread in the name of its leader.

Authorities have yet to disclose the outcome of the ongoing operation or confirm whether any suspects have been detained in connection with the hacking incident.

A Dhaka court has postponed the submission date for the further investigation report in the murder case of Inquilab Moncho convener Sharif Osman Hadi for the fifth time. The new date has been set for February 9 after the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) failed to submit the report on Tuesday. Metropolitan Magistrate Md. Sefatullah made the decision, confirmed by court prosecution officer SI Ruknuzzaman. CID’s Assistant Superintendent of Police Abdur Kadir Bhuiyan, the current investigating officer, could not present the report.

Earlier, on January 6, the Detective Branch (DB) police had filed a charge sheet against 17 accused. However, the plaintiff, Abdullah Al Jaber, member secretary of Inquilab Moncho, expressed dissatisfaction with the DB investigation and filed a petition of objection on January 15. Following this, the court ordered the CID to conduct a further investigation.

Sharif Osman Hadi, known for his role in the July uprising, had announced his candidacy as an independent for the Dhaka-8 constituency in the upcoming 13th parliamentary election. He was shot by motorcycle-borne assailants during campaigning on December 12 and later died in Singapore on December 18. Five of the accused, including prime suspect Faisal Karim Masud, remain absconding.

A Dhaka court has issued a travel ban on former Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) commissioner Abdul Halim and former additional secretary Md Sabur Hossain. The order was given on Tuesday, February 3, by Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Md Sabbir Foyez. The Anti-Corruption Commission’s (ACC) public relations officer Tanzir Ahmed confirmed the court’s decision following a petition filed by ACC Deputy Director Mohammad Zainal Abedin.

According to the petition, the ACC is investigating allegations of irregularities and corruption in the procurement process of a project under the rural electrification program involving the installation of 500,000 smart pre-payment meters and related communication systems. The investigation team was formed to examine the allegations, which remain under inquiry.

The ACC stated that credible sources indicated the accused might attempt to flee abroad, prompting the request for a travel restriction to ensure a fair investigation. The court granted the order after a hearing.

A Dhaka court has ordered the freezing of a bank account belonging to former Director General of the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI) Saiful Alam and the seizure of a five-katha plot registered under the names of his wife and daughters in Trust Green City. The order was issued on Tuesday, February 3, by Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Md Sabbir Foyez in response to a petition from the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).

According to ACC public relations officer Tanzir Ahmed, the petition was filed by ACC Deputy Director Tahasin Munabil Haque, who sought to block the bank account and seize the assets amid an ongoing corruption inquiry. The ACC stated that an investigation team had been formed to verify Saiful Alam’s wealth statement and found indications that he and his family were attempting to transfer or conceal funds and property. The court ruled that freezing the account and seizing the land were necessary under the Money Laundering Prevention Act, 2012, and the ACC Rules, 2007.

The court’s order aims to prevent the suspected illicit assets from being transferred or hidden before the investigation concludes.

Formal charges have been submitted against former Detective Branch (DB) chief Harun-or-Rashid and nine others, including former Inspectors General of Police (IGP) AKM Shahidul Islam and Javed Patwary, over the alleged killing of seven youths in Gazipur in 2016. The charges were filed on Tuesday at the office of the registrar of the International Crimes Tribunal, confirmed by prosecutor Gazi MH Tamim.

Among the accused are also former Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Asaduzzaman Mia and former Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) chief Monirul Islam. The case alleges that the accused staged a militant operation in Gazipur in 2016, during which seven young men were killed.

The filing of formal charges marks a significant step in the legal process, with the tribunal expected to review the submission before proceeding to the next stage of hearings.

Police in Sherpur have arrested Mahmudul Hasan Rubel, joint convener of the Jhinaigati Upazila Volunteer Party, in connection with the murder of Rezaul Karim, secretary of the Shreebardi Upazila Jamaat. The arrest took place on Monday night in the Bongao area of Jhinaigati. Rubel, son of Gesu Mia from Bonkali village, is listed as the 55th accused in the case. Additional Superintendent of Police Md. Mizanur Rahman Bhuiyan confirmed the arrest and said the accused would be sent to court.

The Sherpur District Volunteer Party issued a press release condemning the arrest, calling the case false and fabricated. Its conveners claimed that such actions were attempts to obstruct the upcoming election and hinder democratic progress, demanding Rubel’s unconditional release. Earlier, the High Court granted six weeks’ anticipatory bail to 40 accused, including BNP candidate Mahmudul Haque Rubel, in the same case.

The murder case stems from a January 28 clash between BNP and Jamaat activists at a campaign event in Jhinaigati, where Rezaul Karim was fatally injured. His wife Marzia later filed the case naming 231 individuals and several hundred unidentified persons.

Brigadier General Abdullahil Aman Azmi testified before International Crimes Tribunal-1 as the third witness in a case concerning alleged abduction and torture inside the Joint Interrogation Cell, known as Ayna Ghar. In his second day of testimony on Monday, he described being taken from his Moghbazar residence on 22 August 2016 and held for years in DGFI custody. He said interrogators repeatedly questioned him about his writings critical of India and his supposed links to Jamaat-e-Islami, which he denied.

Azmi stated that during questioning, he was asked why he wrote against India and told his interrogators that if such writing was a punishable offense, he should be charged in court rather than detained illegally. He said his 30-year military career had taught him that India was the main adversary, and if that was a crime, all who taught it were equally guilty. He also described poor detention conditions, including bedbug-infested bedding and denial of basic necessities.

The tribunal scheduled cross-examination by defense lawyers for Thursday following the completion of Azmi’s testimony.

A man named Azizul Islam was caught by prison guards while serving a jail term in place of another accused in a drug case. The incident came to light on Monday, according to the Department of Prisons. The original accused, Md. Rajib, 26, from Kishoreganj’s Hossainpur area, had been sent to Gazipur District Jail on January 25 and later transferred to Kashimpur Central Jail-2 on January 31. During fingerprint verification for the online database, officials discovered major discrepancies in his identity.

Further checks revealed that the detainee’s real name was Md. Azizul Haque, son of Bachchu Mia. Upon interrogation, he admitted that he had agreed to serve the sentence on behalf of Rajib in exchange for money. Assistant Inspector General (Development) Jannatul Farhad Hossain described the incident as resembling a movie plot.

The discovery has raised questions about identity verification procedures within the prison system, though no further administrative action was reported in the source.

The Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) has announced maximum security measures across Bangladesh ahead of the holy Shab-e-Barat night, which will be observed on the night of February 3. According to a press release issued by RAB’s Law and Media Wing on Monday, the force will remain on full duty to ensure the safety and peaceful observance of religious activities. Adequate RAB personnel will be deployed nationwide until February 4, with intensified patrols in Dhaka and other key cities, especially around major mosques, shrines, and areas with large gatherings.

The statement said both uniformed and plainclothes teams will be active, supported by static and mobile units ready to respond to any situation. RAB has also strengthened cyber monitoring to prevent the spread of rumors, provocative content, or anti-state and anti-religious propaganda on social media. Intelligence-based preparations have been made to prevent any attempt to disrupt the religious atmosphere. Citizens have been urged to contact RAB’s control room for emergency assistance and to cooperate in maintaining law and order.

Muhammad Faozul Kabir Khan, adviser to the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, announced that his personal phone number had been hacked. He disclosed the incident on Monday through a post on his personal Facebook account, warning the public not to respond to any requests for money that might appear to come from his number.

In his Facebook post, the energy adviser clarified that he was not seeking any financial assistance and urged people to ignore such messages. The announcement was made to prevent possible misuse of his contact information following the hacking incident.

The report did not include further details about how the hack occurred or whether any official investigation had been launched into the matter.