The National Sports Council (NSC) of Bangladesh has sparked widespread criticism after reinstating 95-year-old Khorshed Alam to the ad-hoc committee of the Bangladesh Rowing Federation. Alam, who previously served as general secretary for 46 years, had been removed earlier under a government reform directive barring long-serving officials from new committees. His sudden reappointment on December 7, without consultation with federation members, has raised questions about transparency and motives behind the decision.

Federation officials formally protested the move on December 11, citing Alam’s alleged involvement in financial irregularities and prolonged mismanagement that hindered the sport’s development. Former NSC executive director Kazi Nazrul Islam stated that he acted on higher directives, while others within the sports community suspect political influence and possible financial dealings behind the inclusion. Alam, however, denied all allegations, claiming his long service and prior NSC recognition justified his return.

The controversy underscores persistent governance issues in Bangladesh’s sports federations, where entrenched leadership and lack of accountability continue to impede progress in traditional sports like rowing and boat racing.

Police in Sylhet’s Zakiganj upazila have arrested a 28-year-old man, Dulal Ahmed, for possession of a large quantity of yaba tablets. Acting on a tip-off, law enforcement officers conducted a raid on Saturday evening, December 20, in the West Madarkhal area of Khalachhara Union, where they detained Dulal from his residence.

During the search, police discovered two plastic jars containing 21,000 yaba pills concealed inside a rice drum in his home. Authorities have filed a case under the Narcotics Control Act at Zakiganj Police Station. The suspect is scheduled to be presented before the court on Sunday, December 21.

Police officials stated that the operation was part of an ongoing anti-narcotics drive in the Sylhet region, which has seen a rise in yaba trafficking cases in recent months. The arrest underscores law enforcement’s continued efforts to curb the spread of synthetic drugs across border areas.

Law enforcement agencies in Bangladesh have arrested ten individuals in connection with the fatal beating of 27-year-old Dipu Chandra Das, a Hindu youth from Valuka in Mymensingh district. The arrests were confirmed in a statement released Saturday night by the Chief Adviser’s Press Wing, following coordinated operations by the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and local police.

According to the statement, RAB detained seven suspects, while police apprehended three others from different locations. The suspects range in age from 19 to 46. Officials said the arrests followed a series of raids conducted after the killing sparked public outrage and demands for swift justice. No motive has yet been officially disclosed.

Authorities have stated that investigations are ongoing and that further arrests may follow. Human rights groups and community leaders have urged transparency in the inquiry and called for measures to prevent communal tensions in the area.

Police in Faridpur’s Saltha upazila have arrested Shawon Kazi, a local leader of the banned Chhatra League, in connection with the 2018 case involving the vandalism of BNP central organizing secretary Shama Obaid Islam’s car. Kazi, aged 30, was detained from Phulbaria area on Saturday afternoon following a tip-off. He had been wanted under the Speedy Trial Act and was sent to the Faridpur court after his arrest.

According to police inspector Maruf Hasan Russell, Kazi had been absconding for a long time in case CR 112/24. The case stems from a violent attack on a BNP rally held in December 2018 at Saltha College field, organized in support of Obaid ahead of the national election. Following the fall of the Awami League government in August, a fresh case was filed naming 82 Awami League leaders and 200–300 unidentified individuals.

The arrest marks a renewed push in politically sensitive cases reopened after the change in government, potentially signaling further legal actions against those accused of past election-related violence.

Detective Branch (DB) police have arrested Zahid Hossain Milon, widely known as ‘Tak Milon,’ a former councilor and influential Awami Youth League figure from Jessore. The arrest took place on Friday night in Dhaka’s Rampura area, and Milon was brought to Jessore the following day. Law enforcement officials describe him as one of the district’s top criminal suspects, with at least 14 cases filed against him under murder, explosives, and other criminal laws.

DB Officer-in-Charge Mohammad Ali confirmed the arrest, noting that Milon had long faced allegations of abuse of power during the Awami League government. Police records link him to the 2018 murder of a local Youth League activist and a 2019 bomb attack on MP Kazi Nabil Ahmed’s residence. He was also accused of running illegal gambling operations in Jessore.

Authorities say Milon had previously been detained in 2020 and 2024 but continued his activities after release. His latest arrest is expected to revive several pending investigations and may expose broader political-criminal networks in the region.

Former BNP lawmaker and freedom fighter Major (Retd.) Akhtaruzzaman Ranjan publicly announced his allegiance to Jamaat-e-Islami during a gathering in Kishoreganj’s Katiadi upazila on Saturday evening. Speaking at a ‘clarification meeting’ at Gachihata College field, Ranjan said Jamaat had given him shelter at a difficult time in his life and that he would remain forever grateful. He stated that he would no longer contest elections but hoped Jamaat would assign him a meaningful role if it came to power.

Ranjan, who previously represented Kishoreganj-2 constituency as a BNP MP, criticized his former party for neglecting him over the past three years. He claimed BNP members had distanced themselves, even excluding him from social events. Addressing the audience, he outlined three appeals to Jamaat: building a corruption-free Bangladesh, ensuring peace through truth, and establishing social justice and human dignity. He also demanded justice for the killing of Inqilab Mancha spokesperson Sharif Osman Hadi.

Local Jamaat leaders, including candidate Maulana Shafiqul Islam Morol, attended the event, which drew thousands of supporters and ended with special prayers for Hadi’s soul.

Bangladesh’s Education Adviser, Professor Dr. C. R. Abrar, has strongly condemned recent attacks on cultural and media institutions that occurred while the nation mourns the death of martyr Sharif Osman Hadi. In a statement issued Saturday, Abrar said extremist groups exploited the grief to incite chaos and anarchy across several locations in the country.

He detailed that the long-standing cultural organization Chhayanaut’s building was attacked and set on fire, destroying musical and educational materials, and that its affiliated school, Nalanda, was also damaged. Abrar further denounced assaults on the offices of cultural group Udichi, as well as on the newspapers Prothom Alo and The Daily Star, and the reported mistreatment of veteran journalist Nurul Kabir.

Calling these actions an attempt to tarnish the spirit of the July Movement, Abrar warned that such violence could advance the agenda of anti-Bangladesh fascist forces. Authorities have yet to confirm who is behind the attacks, but concerns are rising over escalating political and ideological tensions.

A former leader of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement in Barishal has filed a rape case against a young man named Suan Al Talukdar, alleging multiple assaults under the pretext of marriage. The complaint was lodged on December 18 at the Kotwali Model Police Station, though it became public on December 20. Police confirmed the filing but said the accused has not yet been arrested.

According to the case statement, the complainant and Suan developed a relationship following their activism. The accused allegedly raped her several times, including at a residential hotel in Barishal, where he recorded a video and later used it to threaten her. When pressured to marry, Suan reportedly refused and physically assaulted her. Police said efforts are ongoing to locate the accused, whose phone remains switched off.

Suan, previously linked to the now-banned Chhatra League, had been active in local political movements and was arrested earlier this year before being released on bail. The case has drawn attention to ongoing concerns about gender-based violence and accountability in student politics.

BNP Assistant International Affairs Secretary Barrister Rumin Farhana has voiced deep concern over possible violence and irregularities surrounding Bangladesh’s upcoming national election. Speaking at a prayer and discussion event in Brahmanbaria’s Sarail upazila on Saturday, she criticized what she described as conspiracies both inside and outside the country to derail the electoral process. Referring to the funeral of slain BNP leader Osman Hadi, she said she did not know whose name might come next, implying fears of continued political persecution.

Farhana also stated she would not purchase her nomination, asserting that it should come from the will of her local voters. She accused the ruling Awami League of past electoral interference, recalling her father’s independent candidacy in 1973. Criticizing the Home Affairs Adviser’s comment about arming candidates, she said such remarks legitimized mob violence and posed a grave threat to national security.

Her remarks reflect the BNP’s growing apprehension over election-time security, with concerns about uncollected illegal weapons and the potential for unrest during campaigning and vote counting.

A funeral in absentia for Shahid Sharif Osman Hadi, convener of the Inquilab Mancha, was held in Cox’s Bazar on Saturday afternoon. The event took place at the Central Shaheed Minar, organized by the Anti-Fascist All-Party Unity Platform. Local political and civic leaders gathered to pay their respects and offer prayers for the deceased activist.

Speakers at the brief pre-funeral discussion included former Cox’s Bazar mayor Sarwar Kamal, Cox’s Bazar Press Club president Mahbubur Rahman, and representatives from the National Citizens Party, Jamaat-e-Islami, and Islami Chhatra Shibir. They recalled Hadi’s contributions to political activism and unity movements in Bangladesh, emphasizing his role in mobilizing youth and promoting democratic ideals.

The gathering reflected ongoing political solidarity across party lines in remembrance of Hadi. Similar events have been reported in other districts, suggesting a broader network of tributes to the late activist.

The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has expressed gratitude to all agencies and citizens for ensuring the peaceful and orderly completion of the funeral and burial of Inqilab Manch spokesperson Shaheed Sharif Osman Hadi. The event, held on Saturday, drew one of the largest crowds in recent memory, reflecting widespread public respect and emotion toward the late leader.

According to a DMP press release issued by Media and Public Relations Deputy Commissioner Muhammad Talebur Rahman, the police deployed a large number of personnel and used around one thousand body-worn cameras to maintain discipline and security. The DMP extended special thanks to the Special Security Force, Bangladesh Army, Border Guard Bangladesh, Rapid Action Battalion, Ansar, and Dhaka University authorities for their cooperation.

The police also acknowledged the assistance of political parties, media representatives, and the general public. Officials noted that the smooth management of this large-scale religious event demonstrated effective coordination among law enforcement and civic bodies, setting an example for future public gatherings in the capital.

The Asian University of Bangladesh has expressed deep sorrow over the untimely and tragic death of Sharif Osman Hadi, spokesperson of the Inquilab Mancha, calling for a fair and speedy investigation into his killing. The university described Hadi’s death as not only the loss of a young, courageous voice but also a painful blow to a generation committed to justice, rights, and democratic values.

Hadi, known for his activism inspired by the spirit of the July Revolution, was recognized as a fearless advocate for truth and justice and a symbol of resistance against oppression. The university extended condolences to his family, colleagues, and fellow activists, emphasizing that his ideals would continue to inspire unity among those striving for a just Bangladesh.

The statement urged authorities to ensure the safety of all citizens engaged in democratic movements and reaffirmed that freedom of expression and peaceful protest are non-negotiable. The university pledged to uphold principles of justice, humanity, and democracy in honoring Hadi’s legacy.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Freedom Fighters’ Generation, an affiliate of the BNP, has announced a new 151-member central convening committee. The committee lists BNP’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman as its first member and the late Arafat Rahman Koko as the second. The announcement, signed by Ishtiak Aziz Ulfat, president of the BNP-affiliated Nationalist Freedom Fighters’ Council, was made with Tarique Rahman’s approval. All previously declared district and metropolitan committees have been dissolved.

The statement instructs all members to coordinate with local freedom fighter leaders to actively participate in upcoming national election activities. Convenor Engineer Ishraque Hossain emphasized that the group aims to counter attempts to distort the history of Bangladesh’s Liberation War and to promote the authentic narrative among younger generations. Member secretary Advocate K.M. Kamruzzaman Nannu said the new committee will strengthen organizational unity and expand BNP’s ideological outreach.

Political analysts view the restructuring as part of BNP’s broader strategy to mobilize pro-liberation sentiment and consolidate grassroots networks ahead of the next parliamentary elections.

Police in Pirgachha, Rangpur, have arrested five members of the banned Awami League and its affiliated organizations under the ongoing ‘Operation Devil Hunt Phase-2’. The arrests, conducted on Friday night, also included three other individuals with outstanding warrants, bringing the total number of detainees to eight. The suspects were presented before the local court on Saturday afternoon following their detention.

According to Officer-in-Charge A.K.M. Khondoker Mohibbul Islam, the operation aims to maintain law and order in the region. He stated that the campaign will continue and that anyone involved in criminal or violent activities will be brought under legal action. The arrested individuals were identified as Abdul Kuddus Bhuiyan (72), Kamruzzaman Palash (38), Mamunur Rashid (35), Khorshed Alam alias Masud Rana (38), and Ashiqur Rahman (39).

Authorities have intensified monitoring in Rangpur amid heightened political tensions. The continuation of the operation signals a broader law enforcement effort to curb unrest and ensure stability in the area.

Bangladeshi shuttlers Al Amin Zumar and Urmi Akter made history by reaching the mixed doubles final of the Unex-Sunrise International Challenge but fell short of the gold medal. The pair lost to a Malaysian duo in straight sets, 27–21 and 21–14, after a competitive opening game. Despite the defeat, their silver medal marks Bangladesh’s best-ever finish in an international badminton event.

Due to the national day of mourning for Sharif Osman Hadi’s death, no formal ceremony was held, and players wore black badges. Bangladesh Badminton Federation President Habib Ullah Don awarded the pair a total of USD 1,000 and pledged enhanced training facilities, including foreign coaching support. Zumar expressed mixed feelings, calling the final appearance a proud yet bittersweet moment, while Urmi credited their three-month pre-tournament training for the achievement.

The tournament also saw victories for players from India, the United States, Vietnam, and Thailand across other categories. The Bangladeshi duo’s success is expected to boost national interest and investment in badminton ahead of the upcoming South Asian Games.