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.

Real Madrid returned to winning form in La Liga with a 2–0 victory over Sevilla, led by goals from Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappé. The French forward’s late penalty not only sealed the win but also allowed him to equal Cristiano Ronaldo’s club record of 59 goals in a calendar year. The result brought Madrid to 42 points from 18 matches, just one point behind league leaders Barcelona, who have played one game fewer.

Mbappé’s goal-scoring consistency continues to define Real’s season, with 18 goals in 18 league matches making him La Liga’s top scorer. His celebration mirrored Ronaldo’s signature gesture, symbolizing both respect and rivalry with the Portuguese legend. Sevilla, meanwhile, remain in ninth place with 20 points from 17 matches.

The win strengthens Madrid’s title challenge as the season approaches its midpoint. With Mbappé and Bellingham in top form, Carlo Ancelotti’s side appears poised to maintain pressure on Barcelona in the coming fixtures.

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.

At least nine people were killed and ten others injured in a mass shooting near Johannesburg, South Africa, early Saturday morning. Police said around a dozen unidentified gunmen arrived in two vehicles and opened fire inside a bar in Bekkersdal township shortly before 1 a.m. local time. The attackers continued shooting as they fled the scene, prompting an extensive police operation to track them down.

National and provincial crime units, along with detectives and intelligence officers, have been deployed to investigate. Authorities are interviewing witnesses, though the motive behind the attack remains unclear. The injured victims were transported to nearby hospitals for treatment.

This incident follows a similar bar shooting earlier in December near Pretoria that left at least 12 people dead, highlighting growing concerns over violent crime and gun-related attacks in South Africa. Police have urged the public to assist with information as investigations continue.

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.

A joint press conference is scheduled in Dhaka today to present the progress of the investigation into the killing of Sharif Osman Hadi, convener of the Inqilab Manch. Officials from the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), and police are expected to detail findings, arrests, and evidence gathered so far. The case, initially filed as an attempted murder, has now been reclassified as a murder case following a court directive.

Hadi, an independent candidate for Dhaka-8 constituency and a key figure in the July uprising, was shot in the head on December 12 while campaigning. He died six days later in a Singapore hospital. Authorities have arrested 11 people, including relatives and associates of the main suspect Faisal Karim Masud, a banned student leader. RAB’s media director Wing Commander M Z M Intekhab Chowdhury said the briefing would present a comprehensive update on the investigation.

The killing has drawn wide public attention ahead of the upcoming national elections, with investigators under pressure to ensure transparency and swift justice.

Blue Origin, the space company founded by billionaire Jeff Bezos, is set to make history by sending the first wheelchair-using woman into space. Mikela Benthaus, a spacecraft and mechatronics engineer, will join five other crew members aboard the New Shepard rocket for the upcoming NS-37 suborbital mission. The flight will cross the Kármán line, 62 miles above Earth, marking the internationally recognized boundary of space.

Benthaus, who became paralyzed after a 2018 motorcycle accident, has since been an advocate for inclusive space exploration. Joining her on the mission will be engineer Hans Koenigsmann, entrepreneur Neil Milc, investor Joey Hyde, Adonis Porolis, and space enthusiast Jason Stansell. The crew will experience several minutes of microgravity before returning to Earth during the 10–12 minute flight.

This will be Blue Origin’s 16th human spaceflight and its latest step toward expanding accessibility in commercial space travel. The company has previously flown 86 people past the Kármán line, with 80 of them being first-time space travelers.

The World Health Organization (WHO) announced that 1,092 patients in Gaza have died while awaiting permission to leave the enclave for medical treatment. The deaths occurred over the past 18 months, as the territory remains under blockade and frequent Israeli attacks. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that 10,600 critically ill patients, including 5,600 children, have been evacuated during the same period, but thousands still need urgent transfers.

WHO spokesperson Tarik Jasarevic stated that 18,500 patients, including 4,000 children, are still waiting for medical evacuation, many of whom cannot afford further delays. The organization urged more countries to open their borders to Palestinian patients, warning that lives are at stake. Meanwhile, U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner have proposed a $112 billion plan to rebuild Gaza over ten years, with the U.S. covering 20% of the cost.

Israeli bombardments continue despite ceasefire talks, killing at least six people in Gaza City on Friday. The Palestinian Health Ministry reports over 70,000 deaths since the start of the conflict, underscoring the worsening humanitarian crisis.

After nearly ten months of restrictions, the Bangladeshi government has reopened Saint Martin Island for overnight stays this December, reigniting tourist interest. However, travelers report steep increases in travel expenses and logistical difficulties, particularly due to limited ship tickets and the lengthy six-hour journey from Cox’s Bazar. The minimum round-trip fare has risen to about BDT 3,500 per person—more than triple previous rates from Teknaf.

On-site observations reveal severe disorganization at the island’s jetty, where ongoing repair work leaves passengers without proper waiting areas and exposed to safety risks. Delays in ship schedules and narrow, unsafe access routes have heightened concerns among visitors, especially families and elderly travelers. Local business owners argue that environmental restrictions have hurt livelihoods, urging authorities to curb pollution instead of tourism.

Officials claim that safety and coordination measures are being strengthened and that infrastructure repairs will be completed soon. Yet, without improved transport efficiency and management, the island’s renewed tourism momentum may falter amid growing visitor frustration.

Elon Musk’s net worth has surged to a record $749 billion, making him the first individual in history to surpass the $700 billion mark, according to Forbes’ Billionaire Index. The sharp increase followed a Delaware Supreme Court ruling that reinstated Musk’s previously annulled stock-based compensation package at Tesla, valued at $139 billion. The 2018 pay plan, once deemed excessive by a lower court, was restored after the Supreme Court found the earlier decision unjust.

The ruling comes as Tesla’s shareholders recently approved a separate trillion-dollar compensation plan for Musk, the largest in corporate history. Investors have expressed confidence in Musk’s vision to transform Tesla from an electric vehicle manufacturer into a leader in artificial intelligence and robotics. Reports suggesting that SpaceX may soon go public also contributed to the rapid rise in Musk’s wealth.

Musk’s fortune now exceeds that of Google co-founder Larry Page by roughly $500 billion, underscoring his dominance in both the technology and space industries.

The Indian Assistant High Commission in Chattogram has suspended operations at its visa application center, citing security concerns. The announcement was posted on the official Bangladesh visa website on Sunday, stating that services would remain closed from December 21 until further notice. The decision follows recent unrest near the commission’s premises.

According to reports, the closure comes after clashes between police and protesters erupted on December 19 in Chattogram’s Khulshi area. The protests followed the death of Sharif Osman Bin Hadi, convener of the Inquilab Mancha. The Indian mission said it would review the situation before deciding when to reopen the center.

The suspension is expected to affect visa applicants from southeastern Bangladesh who rely on the Chattogram center. Officials have advised applicants to monitor official channels for updates. Diplomatic observers note that such closures, while temporary, can disrupt travel and trade ties between the two neighboring countries.

Panchchar High School in Shibchar, Madaripur, has marked over a century of educational excellence, evolving from its 1920 founding as 'The Panchchar High English School' into a model institution blending traditional learning with modern technology. Established by a group of visionary youths led by Dhirendranath Chatterjee, the school has produced generations of accomplished alumni, including national leaders, educators, and professionals.

Currently hosting 950 students, the school features digital classrooms, a library, and sports facilities, while maintaining strong academic results — achieving a 100% pass rate in the 2025 SSC exams with 21 students earning GPA-5. Principal Md. Shah Alam Siraji highlighted the school’s commitment to inclusive education, offering free tuition and uniforms to underprivileged students. However, he noted the need for additional classrooms and a new computer lab to meet growing demands.

School board president and former national football coach Sajjad Hossain Siddiqui emphasized preserving the institution’s legacy and ensuring continued academic excellence as Panchchar High School advances toward becoming a fully smart educational model.

Nearly twelve years after the brutal killing of six people, including self-proclaimed spiritual leader Lutfor Rahman Faruk, in Dhaka’s Gopibagh area, the investigation remains unfinished. Despite 147 extensions, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has yet to submit its final report. The Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate’s Court has now set January 14, 2026, as the next deadline for the report.

The case, filed by Faruk’s son Abdullah Al Faruk on the night of the murders in December 2013, has passed through multiple law enforcement agencies before reaching the CID. Investigators cite the case’s complexity and the time elapsed as reasons for delay. Families of the victims express frustration, saying prolonged delays have denied them justice. Defense lawyers argue that their clients, all currently on bail, suffer financial and psychological strain from repeated court appearances.

The killings, allegedly linked to ideological disputes and extremist motives, remain one of Dhaka’s most protracted murder investigations. Legal experts warn that continued delays risk eroding public confidence in the justice system and prolonging the suffering of both victims’ families and the accused.