Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal has postponed its order on charge framing against 17 accused, including former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, in a case related to alleged abductions and torture at the Taskforce for Interrogation (TFI) Cell. The tribunal, led by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Majumder, rescheduled the order for December 23 after defense lawyers sought additional time during Sunday’s hearing.

Ten detained army officers were produced before the tribunal from Dhaka Cantonment’s special prison. Defense counsel Mansurul Haque Chowdhury requested the delay on behalf of several officers, while Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam objected, accusing the defense of intentionally delaying proceedings. The tribunal previously ordered public notices for six absconding defendants, including former security adviser Tariq Ahmed Siddiq and ex–Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal.

The case, involving allegations of enforced disappearances and torture, marks one of the most politically sensitive proceedings since the change of government. Observers say the tribunal’s next session on December 23 will be crucial in determining whether formal charges move forward against the high-profile accused.

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman has collected nomination papers to contest the upcoming national election from the Bogura-6 (Sadar) constituency. The papers were received on his behalf by district BNP President Rezaul Karim Badsha from the Bogura Deputy Commissioner and Returning Officer Taufiqur Rahman on Sunday afternoon.

Following the submission, Rezaul Karim Badsha stated that Tarique Rahman’s candidacy from Bogura-6 marks a moment of pride for the party. Senior BNP leaders including Mahbubur Rahman, GM Siraj, VP Saiful Islam, Zainal Abedin Chan, and district acting general secretary Mosharraf Hossain were present during the collection.

Tarique Rahman, currently residing in the United Kingdom, has long been a central figure in BNP politics. His potential participation in the election could significantly influence the party’s campaign strategy and voter sentiment in northern Bangladesh, where Bogura remains a BNP stronghold.

A Border Security Force (BSF) member from India was detained by the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) on Sunday, December 21, 2025, for allegedly crossing into Bangladeshi territory at the Dahagram-Angarpota border in Lalmonirhat’s Patgram upazila. The detained soldier, identified as Bed Prakash from the 174 Arjun Camp, reportedly entered about 200 yards inside Bangladesh while chasing cattle across the zero line. BGB patrol members apprehended him near border pillar DAMP 1/7 S and seized a shotgun, two rounds of ammunition, a wireless set, and an Android phone.

Local sources and the Dahagram Struggle Committee confirmed the incident, though BGB has not yet issued an official statement. Committee secretary Rejanur Rahman Reza criticized what he described as repeated provocative actions by BSF personnel in the enclave area and called for restraint. Subedar Ayub Ali of the Dahagram-Angarpota BGB camp confirmed the detention. The incident highlights ongoing sensitivities along the India-Bangladesh border, particularly in the geographically complex Dahagram enclave, where coordination between the two border forces remains crucial.

Two young workers from the Ruppur Nuclear Power Plant died following a head-on collision between a truck and a motorcycle in Ishwardi, Pabna. The accident occurred late Saturday night near Alhaj Mor when the victims, Rabbi Hossain (27) and Nishan Munshi (22), were returning home from Ishwardi town. Both sustained critical injuries and were first taken to Ishwardi Upazila Health Complex before being transferred to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital, where they died during treatment.

Police confirmed that the truck involved in the accident has been seized, and a case has been filed at Ishwardi Police Station. The bodies are being returned to their families without autopsy upon request. The incident has cast deep mourning over the villages of Joynagar and Maniknagar in Salimpur Union, where the victims lived. Authorities have urged drivers to maintain caution on the busy Ishwardi roads, which have seen several recent accidents.

Local residents have called for stricter traffic enforcement and better lighting in accident-prone areas to prevent further tragedies.

The Bangladesh Election Commission (EC) has instructed all government and armed forces employees involved in the upcoming 13th National Parliament election and referendum to complete their registration for postal voting by December 25. The directive, signed by Additional Secretary K.M. Ali Newaz, was sent to the Finance Ministry for distribution via SMS to all eligible officers and employees listed in the iBAS++ payroll system. Registration must be completed through the ‘Postal Vote BD’ app, which enables IT-supported postal ballot participation.

According to the EC, registered voters will receive postal ballots by mail and must return them to their respective returning officers after casting their votes. The initiative aims to ensure that officials engaged in election duties can still exercise their voting rights. The EC has also published a detailed election schedule, with candidate nomination closing on December 29 and polling set for February 12, 2026.

Officials say the move reflects the commission’s broader effort to modernize election logistics and enhance voter inclusion among public servants.

BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed stated that while politicians drive the state, journalists serve as its navigators. Speaking at a discussion with media editors and journalists in Banani, Dhaka, he condemned recent arson attacks on media outlets, calling them a national disgrace and questioning the government’s role in preventing such incidents.

Ahmed alleged that certain media organizations were deliberately targeted and criticized the government’s failure to act preemptively. He warned against the rise of mobocracy and urged firm measures to restore order. Emphasizing the BNP’s commitment to strengthening democracy, he said the party seeks cooperation from all citizens, not for partisan gain but for national progress.

Referring to Tarique Rahman’s anticipated return after 18 years in exile, Ahmed expressed hope that his comeback would reinforce Bangladesh’s democratic foundation. He called for unity in overcoming past divisions while remembering the lessons of authoritarian periods.

Bangladesh’s Election Commission (EC) announced that 557,695 expatriate citizens have registered to vote through postal ballots in the upcoming national election and referendum. The data, published on the EC’s website as of Sunday noon, shows that 523,086 men and 34,607 women have completed registration via the ‘Postal Vote BD’ app. Registrants come from a wide range of countries including South Korea, Japan, South Africa, China, the United States, and Saudi Arabia.

According to the EC, voters assigned to election duties, government employees stationed outside their constituencies, and those in legal custody can register for postal voting until December 25. The initiative is part of the Out of Country Voting System and Implementation (OCV-SDI) project, led by Salim Ahmad Khan. The EC has urged expatriates to provide accurate addresses during registration to ensure ballot delivery.

This marks a significant step toward expanding electoral participation among Bangladeshis abroad, reflecting the government’s broader goal of integrating overseas citizens into the democratic process. The registration deadline and subsequent voting logistics will test the EC’s capacity to manage remote participation efficiently.

A case has been filed at Dhanmondi Police Station following a violent attack, arson, and looting at the Chhayanaut cultural center in Dhaka. The incident occurred on the night of December 20, when unidentified assailants vandalized and set fire to parts of the building. Chhayanaut’s chief manager, Dulal Ghosh, lodged the case against 300 to 350 unidentified individuals, police confirmed on Sunday.

According to Chhayanaut officials, the attackers destroyed CCTV cameras, furniture, and musical instruments including tablas, harmoniums, and violins. The total extent of the damage has not yet been determined. The attack took place following the death of Inquilab Mancha spokesperson Shahid Sharif Osman Hadi, after which several media offices and Chhayanaut were targeted.

Interim government cultural affairs adviser Mostofa Sarwar Farooki visited the site and reviewed CCTV footage, promising that those responsible would be brought to justice. Authorities are continuing investigations to identify the perpetrators and assess the full scale of losses.

The Bangladesh Election Commission (EC) has identified three categories of potential risks ahead of the upcoming national elections, while the armed forces have requested judicial authority under the Mobile Court Act and permission to enter polling centers on election day. The proposal was raised during a recent meeting between the EC and law enforcement agencies chaired by Chief Election Commissioner Nasir Uddin. The commission has yet to make a decision on the army’s request.

Election Commissioner Brigadier General (Retd.) Abul Fazl Mohammad Sanaullah outlined the risks as heightened public excitement after a long gap between elections, possible acts of sabotage by certain groups, and the influence of black money, counterfeit currency, and cross-border networks. These factors, he warned, could threaten the integrity and order of the polls if not effectively managed.

The EC is expected to deliberate further on the army’s proposal and risk mitigation strategies in the coming weeks as preparations intensify for the national vote.

Relatives of Bangladeshi army member Mohammad Jahangir Alam are waiting in Pakundia, Kishoreganj, for his body to arrive following his death in a terrorist drone attack in Sudan’s Abyei region. The body was expected to reach his home village, Tarakandi, on Sunday morning, but poor weather delayed the helicopter carrying it. Jahangir Alam was among six Bangladeshi peacekeepers killed in the December 13 attack on a UN peacekeeping base.

According to army officials, the bodies of all six soldiers reached Bangladesh on Saturday. Jahangir Alam, son of Mohammad Hazrat Ali, joined the Bangladesh Army in October 2014 as a mess waiter and was stationed at Rangpur Cantonment before being deployed to Sudan on November 7 this year. His funeral prayer is scheduled to be held at his home after the noon prayer.

The attack has drawn deep sorrow across Bangladesh, with the government reaffirming its commitment to global peacekeeping missions while calling for stronger international protection for peacekeepers in conflict zones.

Bangladesh’s Ministry of Home Affairs has announced an emergency press conference to brief the media on the country’s overall law and order situation and the progress of the ongoing Operation Devil Hunt Phase-2. The briefing is scheduled for Sunday at 5:30 p.m. at the Secretariat, where Home Affairs Adviser Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Md. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury will address journalists and respond to questions.

According to ministry spokesperson Faisal Hasan, the joint forces launched Operation Devil Hunt Phase-2 on December 13 to curb rising criminal activities across the country. Over the past week, 5,949 individuals have been arrested, and several firearms have been seized during the operation. The ministry is expected to present detailed updates on these developments and outline the next steps in maintaining internal security.

The press conference comes amid heightened public attention on law enforcement activities and government efforts to stabilize security conditions nationwide. Analysts suggest the ministry’s transparency could help build public confidence ahead of upcoming political and social events.

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) A.M.M. Nasir Uddin held a high-level meeting with the chiefs of the Bangladesh Army, Navy, and Air Force on Sunday to assess the overall law and order situation ahead of the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election and national referendum. The meeting took place at the Election Commission Secretariat in Agargaon, Dhaka, around noon, followed by a formal session at 2:30 p.m. to discuss security coordination.

Officials said the discussion focused on ensuring a peaceful electoral environment and the possible deployment of armed forces to assist civil administration during the election period. The Election Commission is expected to finalize its security plan soon, with emphasis on maintaining neutrality and public confidence. Military representatives reaffirmed their readiness to support the commission’s directives.

The meeting signals heightened coordination between the Election Commission and the defense forces as Bangladesh prepares for a politically sensitive election. Further inter-agency meetings are anticipated in the coming weeks to refine operational strategies and ensure nationwide stability during the electoral process.

Police in Dhaka recovered the bodies of two siblings, aged 10 and 1, from an apartment in the Wireless area of Hatirjheel on Sunday morning. The children, Afrida and Ilham Chowdhury, were found dead after reportedly falling ill following a family meal. Their bodies were sent to Dhaka Medical College Hospital for autopsy, with police confirming no visible injury marks.

Family members said the illness began after the family consumed leftover food from Afrida’s birthday celebration held on December 16. Afrida fell sick first and died early Saturday at a local hospital, while her younger brother Ilham died later that day during treatment at another facility. Police are investigating possible food contamination or poisoning as the cause of death.

Authorities await post-mortem results to determine the exact cause. The tragic deaths have raised renewed concerns over food safety and storage practices in urban households, with police urging families to exercise caution when consuming stored or reheated food.

Police in Noakhali’s Hatiya upazila have arrested a young man accused of issuing death threats to Abdul Hannan Masud, senior joint chief coordinator of the National Citizen Party (NCP). The suspect, Israt Raihan Omi, son of former Char Ishwar Union Parishad chairman Abdul Halim Azad, was detained late Saturday night from Nandaroad area. Authorities confirmed that Omi faces three prior cases filed with Hatiya Police Station.

According to police, Omi sent a highly provocative message through Facebook Messenger to an NCP activist, threatening violence against party leaders if his father was arrested. The message reportedly contained explicit threats against Hannan Masud and others. Officer-in-Charge Saiful Alam stated that legal proceedings are underway and warned that anyone attempting to incite unrest, online or offline, will be brought under the law.

The arrest underscores growing concerns over the misuse of social media for political intimidation. Law enforcement officials have pledged increased monitoring of digital communications to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Two cabin crew members were removed from Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight BG-202, which is scheduled to carry BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman from London to Dhaka on December 25. The decision was reportedly made late at night following intelligence reports citing possible political affiliations and potential security risks to the VIP passenger.

The removed crew members, Junior Purser Md. Saugatul Alam Saugat and Flight Stewardess Jinia Islam Jinia, were replaced by Flight Purser Mostafa and Flight Stewardess Ayat, according to the airline’s flight service department. Intelligence sources indicated that the move was precautionary, aiming to ensure the safety of all passengers, including Rahman and senior BNP leaders accompanying him.

This is not the first such incident. In May, two other crew members were similarly removed from a flight carrying BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, also based on intelligence alerts. The latest replacement underscores heightened scrutiny and security measures surrounding high-profile political figures’ travel ahead of Rahman’s anticipated return to Bangladesh.