A wedding ceremony in Shahjadpur, Sirajganj, ended abruptly after a playful tradition of hiding the groom’s shoes escalated into a violent altercation. The incident occurred on Friday at Guliakhali Char in Kaijuri Union, when members of the groom’s side reacted angrily to the prank, leading to vandalism of furniture and property at the bride’s home. Following the chaos, the groom’s family announced they would not proceed with the marriage.

Local police confirmed they were alerted through the national emergency hotline 999 and dispatched officers to the scene. Shahjadpur Police Station Officer-in-Charge Saiful Islam said no formal complaint had been filed, as the bride’s family opted for a social resolution. Relatives of the bride expressed shock, noting that arrangements had been made for over 200 guests, including gifts and meals, all of which went to waste.

The incident has stirred local discussion about the fragility of social customs and the need for restraint during celebratory events. Authorities are monitoring the situation for any further disputes.

A political rift has emerged in Panchhari upazila of Khagrachhari after a Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) joining event sparked allegations of covert rehabilitation of Awami League (AL) leaders. The December 2 program, attended by former MP and district BNP president Abdul Wadud Bhuiyan, reportedly saw over a hundred activists from various parties join the BNP.

However, local BNP members claim that around 70 of the new entrants were active or former AL leaders, including union-level officeholders and youth front members. Veteran BNP activists, who endured years of repression, expressed anger, saying the inclusion of former rivals undermines their sacrifices. Allegations also surfaced that financial transactions influenced the recruitment process.

Analysts warn that such cross-party realignments could destabilize local politics ahead of the 13th national election. The situation has been further complicated by claims that local Jamaat-e-Islami units are sheltering former AL activists. Residents have questioned the administration’s inaction amid the nationwide “Devil Hunt” anti-crime campaign, raising concerns about governance and political accountability in the region.

Police in Matlab North, Chandpur, rescued a local carpenter who was allegedly abducted and brutally tortured for four days inside a cowshed. The victim, Lokman Hossain Bhuiya, was reportedly taken from his home on December 18 by a man named Md. Masud, a resident of Gazaria in Munshiganj, after being accused of poisoning fish in Masud’s illegal fish enclosure.

According to police and local sources, Masud had long been living in the area and was known for unruly behavior. During the captivity, Lokman was chained, beaten, and pressured to confess to damaging Masud’s fish enclosure. When Lokman’s mother sought his release, Masud allegedly demanded a ransom of BDT 500,000. After she filed a complaint, police launched a rescue operation, freeing Lokman and arresting Masud.

Sub-Inspector Suman Chandra Das confirmed the arrest and said a case has been filed. The incident has sparked local outrage and renewed calls for stricter action against illegal detentions and private torture practices in rural Bangladesh.

Inqilab Mancha has called for the immediate and live arrest of those involved in the killing of Sharif Osman Bin Hadi, rejecting any possibility of so-called 'gunfight dramas.' The organization made the demand through a verified Facebook post on Sunday night, emphasizing that justice must be served transparently and without extrajudicial actions.

Earlier, the group announced a protest march scheduled for Monday afternoon, starting from Shahbagh’s Shaheed Hadi Chattar and ending at the Central Shaheed Minar, urging authorities to expedite the investigation. Meanwhile, a court has issued a travel ban on Faisal Karim Masud, also known as Dawood Khan Rahul, the prime suspect in the case. The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) reported discovering over BDT 127 crore in suspicious transactions linked to Masud and his associates.

The developments have intensified public scrutiny of the case, with civil society groups calling for accountability and transparency in law enforcement operations. Authorities are expected to provide further updates as the investigation progresses.

Bangladesh secured a total of 11 medals, including one gold, six bronze, and four technical awards, at the 27th International Robot Olympiad (IRO) held from December 17 to 20, 2025, in Gold Coast, Australia. The event brought together young innovators from across the globe to showcase their robotics and creative engineering skills. Mohammad Abdullah Al Titu from Anandamohan College won the gold medal in the senior creative category.

According to the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications, and Information Technology, Bangladesh’s bronze medalists represented schools such as YWCA Higher Secondary Girls’ School, Mohammadpur Preparatory School and College, Ideal School and College, Dhaka Residential Model College, and Scholastica. Four additional students received technical awards for excellence in physical computing and creative movie categories.

The Bangladesh Open Source Network organized the national selection process earlier in 2025, with top performers chosen through online and in-person rounds. Officials hailed the achievement as a milestone for the country’s growing robotics education movement and a sign of Bangladesh’s emerging talent in global technology competitions.

Six deans of Rajshahi University resigned late Sunday following a day-long student protest demanding their removal. The deans, reportedly aligned with the Awami League-backed Yellow Panel, declared their inability to continue duties during an evening meeting, confirmed Public Relations Administrator Professor Akhtar Hossain Majumder. The resignations came after students locked the deans’ offices and confined the registrar in protest.

The six deans represented key faculties including Law, Science, Business Studies, Social Science, Engineering, and Geoscience. Their terms had officially expired earlier in the week, but the vice-chancellor had instructed them to remain in office until new elections were held. Student leaders, including those affiliated with Islami Chhatra Shibir, led the demonstrations, demanding immediate resignations. Attempts to reach Vice-Chancellor Professor Saleh Hasan Naqib for comment were unsuccessful.

The resignations highlight growing tensions between politically aligned academic panels and student groups. The university administration is expected to announce further decisions regarding interim appointments and upcoming dean elections in the coming days.

Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued a formal statement rejecting India’s claim that local media reports on a protest outside the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi were misleading. The ministry described the December 20 incident as deeply regrettable, noting that demonstrators were allowed to gather just outside the mission without prior notice, causing alarm among staff inside the compound.

The statement came a day after India’s official response and emphasized that Bangladesh expects the Indian government to uphold its commitment to ensuring the safety of all Bangladeshi diplomatic posts. Dhaka also dismissed Indian authorities’ attempt to portray a recent isolated attack on a Hindu citizen in Bangladesh as a broader assault on minorities, stressing that suspects had already been arrested.

Bangladesh reiterated that interfaith relations in the country remain comparatively stable within South Asia and underscored that protecting minority communities is a shared responsibility of all regional governments. The exchange highlights ongoing sensitivities in bilateral relations between the two neighbors.

Around 48,910 expatriate Bangladeshis from Sylhet Division have registered to vote in the upcoming 13th National Parliament election and referendum, according to the Election Commission’s website. The registration, conducted through the Postal BD app, began on November 18 and will close in four days. Despite an estimated 1–1.2 million Sylhetis living abroad, only a small fraction have completed registration.

Officials note that this marks the first time expatriates will be able to vote since Bangladesh’s independence, following a landmark decision by the interim government. However, progress has been slow due to limited technical capacity at embassies, lack of awareness, and the busy schedules of migrant workers. Sylhet district recorded the highest number of registrants at 23,687, followed by Moulvibazar, Sunamganj, and Habiganj.

Observers say the initiative could strengthen expatriate engagement in national governance, though low participation remains a concern. Expatriate leaders have urged all political parties to promote full registration before the deadline.

Farmers in Khansama upazila of Dinajpur are facing severe financial uncertainty despite a good early potato harvest this season. While yields have been strong across several unions, market prices have dropped to just 8–12 taka per kilogram, far below production costs of 20,000–30,000 taka per bigha. Many small farmers say they are unable to recover their investment and are sinking deeper into debt.

Local farmers blame middlemen and wholesalers for manipulating prices, claiming that consumer prices remain high despite low farm-gate rates. The lack of affordable cold storage facilities has forced many to sell directly from the fields at a loss. According to the upazila agriculture office, early potato cultivation has already declined from 1,150 hectares last year to 890 hectares this season.

Officials acknowledge that oversupply has depressed prices and say they are advising farmers on storage and marketing. Farmers, however, demand stronger government intervention, including direct procurement and better market management, warning that continued losses could further reduce cultivation and harm the local economy.

Inquilab Mancha has called a press conference for Monday, December 22, at noon in Dhaka University’s Madhur Canteen to announce its next course of action. The group made the announcement through a Facebook post on Sunday night, citing dissatisfaction with the government’s inaction on its two-point demand.

According to the statement, despite mass participation and public endorsement, none of the demands have been met. The group criticized the absence of the Home Adviser and Deputy Home Adviser at previous briefings and accused authorities of downplaying the killing of activist Shahid Osman Hadi. It also alleged that the chief adviser failed to assert full control over civil and military intelligence agencies.

The upcoming press conference is expected to outline new protest programs and demands. Political observers suggest the event could signal a renewed phase of mobilization by the group amid growing tensions between civil movements and the interim administration.

In Lakshmipur’s Kamalnagar upazila, Union Parishad administrator Md. Shakil Ahmed faces allegations of misusing a government ‘Swapnajatra’ ambulance for personal purposes. Reports claim he used the vehicle to transport family members to his in-laws’ residence in Faridpur. The ambulance driver confirmed the trip, stating he acted under the administrator’s and secretary’s instructions.

Beyond the ambulance misuse, Shakil Ahmed is also accused of irregularities in distributing fishermen’s relief rice, withholding tax collection records, and monopolizing administrative control of the council. Secretary Saiful Islam acknowledged the administrator’s unilateral decision-making, while Upazila Nirbahi Officer Md. Rahat Uz Zaman said he had not granted permission for any personal use of the ambulance.

Shakil Ahmed defended his actions, claiming his daughter was ill and required transport. The allegations have raised questions about accountability and oversight in local government operations, with potential administrative inquiry expected in the coming days.

In Cumilla’s Debidwar upazila, around 200 suspended Awami League leaders and activists formally joined the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) at the residence of Manjurul Hasan Munshi, BNP’s candidate for Cumilla-4 and former district president. The mass defection, held on Sunday, has sparked widespread criticism across political circles, with many describing it as a controversial act of political rehabilitation.

Leaders from Jamaat-e-Islami, the National Citizen Party (NCP), and even several BNP grassroots members voiced disapproval, arguing that those accused of past political repression should not be accepted into the opposition. NCP’s southern region organizer Hasnat Abdullah called the move “a naked attempt at power politics,” while Cumilla BNP’s member-secretary AFM Tarek Munshi labeled it “embarrassing” for the party. BNP candidate Munshi did not respond to calls for comment.

The incident underscores growing unease within the opposition alliance ahead of the next election, raising questions about candidate selection, internal discipline, and the party’s broader strategy to expand its support base in key constituencies.

Two brothers from Mirzapur, Tangail, have each collected nomination papers to contest the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election from the same constituency, Tangail-7. According to local election officials, Firoz Haidar Khan collected his nomination papers on Thursday, followed by his younger brother, Dipu Haidar Khan, on Sunday. The Mirzapur Upazila Election Officer, Shahanaj Akter, confirmed the submissions on December 21.

Firoz Haidar Khan is the president of the Bangladesh Brick Manufacturers Association and a former member of the Tangail District BNP. His younger brother, Dipu Haidar Khan, serves as the organizing secretary of the BNP-affiliated Jatiyatabadi Krishak Dal’s central committee and is also the convener of the Tangail District Krishak Dal. Although Dipu was not initially nominated by the BNP, he proceeded to collect nomination papers independently.

The unusual development of two brothers seeking candidacy from the same party and constituency has drawn local attention, highlighting internal competition within the BNP’s Tangail unit. Party insiders suggest the nomination process may intensify as the election approaches, with the final candidate list expected after party scrutiny.

The Bangladesh Ethnosport team achieved notable success at the Tuguzkumalak and Mangala Asian Cup 2025, held in Ankara, Turkey, from December 16 to 22. Competing in the open category, Bangladeshi player Md. Rezaul Karim Molla secured third place, marking a significant milestone for the nation in the traditional mind-sport arena.

The event featured participants from Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Russia, and Mongolia, making it a highly competitive and prestigious tournament. The opening ceremony was attended by Ankara’s Sincan District Governor Levent Kilik and Mayor Murat Eras, while dignitaries including Bangladeshi diplomat Dr. Muhammad Shahanur Alam and international federation officials joined the award ceremony. The three-member Bangladesh delegation was led by Md. Al Mamun, president of the International Ethnosport Bangladesh Association.

Observers believe this achievement will enhance Bangladesh’s reputation in global ethnosport competitions and inspire greater participation in future international events, promoting the country’s cultural and intellectual sporting heritage.

A mobile court in Daganbhuiyan, Feni, sentenced two young men to two months in jail for illegally excavating and selling soil from agricultural land. The operation took place on Sunday afternoon in the Sridharpur area, led by Assistant Commissioner (Land) and Executive Magistrate Shahidul Alam. The convicts, Mohin Uddin (24) and his brother Main Uddin (22), are residents of Noakhali’s Companiganj upazila.

Authorities reported that an excavator used in the soil cutting could not be moved from the site and was rendered inoperative. Magistrate Shahidul Alam stated that the drive aimed to protect farmland and the environment from illegal excavation practices. He emphasized that such enforcement actions will continue regularly to deter violations.

The case highlights ongoing administrative efforts to curb environmental degradation and preserve cultivable land in Feni district. Officials reaffirmed that strict legal measures will be taken against anyone involved in unauthorized soil extraction, underscoring the government’s commitment to sustainable land use.