A Jamaat-e-Islami activist named Shah Alam from Bhurungamari, Kurigram, has reported receiving a death threat after an anonymous note was found at his rented home. The note, written in red ink and containing a threatening message, was discovered by his wife on Friday evening. Alarmed by the incident, Shah Alam filed a General Diary (GD) at Bhurungamari Police Station the same night.

According to police sources, Shah Alam, who also runs a private madrasa and a small business, resides in a rented house near the Government College Road area. Officer-in-Charge (OC) Azim Uddin confirmed the report and said that an investigation is underway to identify those responsible. Shah Alam stated that he canceled his travel plans to attend a local religious gathering after learning about the threat.

Authorities have assured that the matter is being treated seriously, with local law enforcement increasing vigilance in the area. The incident has raised concerns about political intimidation and personal safety in the region.

Thousands of people, mostly young men and women, gathered at Manik Mia Avenue in Dhaka on Saturday to attend the funeral prayer of political leader Osman Hadi. The crowd began assembling hours before the scheduled prayer, with many participants wearing or carrying the national flag as a symbol of unity and patriotism. The southern gate of the National Parliament was opened to accommodate the large turnout.

Attendees came from across Dhaka and nearby districts, chanting slogans honoring Hadi’s legacy and demanding justice for his killing. Many described him as a fearless voice against inequality and domination. Mominur Islam from Uttara said Hadi stood for justice throughout his life, while Motakabbir Hossain from Khilgaon called his words a lifelong lesson for the youth.

The massive turnout reflected Hadi’s influence among younger generations and his reputation as a nationalist figure. Authorities have yet to release detailed information about the investigation into his death, while public mourning continues nationwide.

The burial of Sharif Osman Hadi, spokesperson for the July Fighters and Inquilab Mancha, drew hundreds of mourners to Dhaka University’s central mosque on Saturday. Following funeral prayers, Hadi was laid to rest beside the mausoleum of poet Kazi Nazrul Islam, where the atmosphere turned deeply emotional as colleagues and supporters broke down in tears during the final prayers.

The special prayer, led by Hadi’s elder brother Abu Bakar Siddiq, sought forgiveness for the deceased and strength for his grieving family. Political associates, volunteers, and law enforcement officers joined the gathering, reflecting Hadi’s wide network of influence and respect. Witnesses described the area falling into silence as many wept openly and recited verses from the Qur’an.

Hadi’s death has sparked widespread mourning across activist circles. His burial marks the end of a turbulent chapter for the Inquilab Mancha movement, with supporters pledging to continue his work amid calls for justice regarding his killing.

Supporters of Sharif Osman Hadi, a revolutionary leader and spokesperson of the Inquilab Mancha, took an oath of lifelong resistance against aggression and dominance during his funeral in Dhaka’s Manik Mia Avenue on Saturday. The emotional gathering took place before Hadi’s funeral prayers, where followers expressed their grief and pledged to continue his ideological and cultural struggle.

Participants declared their commitment to uphold Bangladesh’s sovereignty and democratic values, emphasizing independence from foreign influence, particularly regional dominance. They described Hadi as a martyr for national dignity and vowed to complete the cultural movement he had initiated. Many attendees were seen chanting slogans and expressing hope that his sacrifice would inspire future generations.

The event highlighted growing nationalist sentiment among Hadi’s supporters and renewed calls for self-determination and cultural revival. Authorities have yet to release detailed information about the circumstances of Hadi’s death, while investigations reportedly continue.

A funeral prayer in absentia for Sharif Osman Hadi, spokesperson of Inquilab Mancha, was held in Naogaon on Saturday, December 20, 2025. The prayer took place at 2:30 p.m. at the Nawjowan Field in the town, drawing a large gathering of local residents, political figures, and community representatives.

The prayer was led by Maulana Habibur Rahman, president of the Bangladesh Majlisul Mofasshirin Naogaon district branch. Officials from the local administration, as well as members of BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami, Islami Andolan Bangladesh, Hefazat-e-Islam, NCP, AB Party, and the anti-discrimination student movement, attended the event. Participants paid tribute to Hadi’s contributions to social and political causes.

The gathering reflected cross-party respect for Hadi’s activism and highlighted his influence across ideological lines. Local leaders said his death leaves a void in progressive and religious discourse in the region.

Police in Tetulia, Panchagarh, have detained Md. Ashraful Islam, chairman of the 4 No. Shalbahan Union Parishad and president of the local Jubo League unit, who is also a member of the 'Dhanmondi 32' Facebook page. The arrest took place early Saturday night during a police operation led by Officer-in-Charge Rashedul Islam of Tetulia Model Police Station.

Authorities also detained Md. Ashraf Ali, general secretary of the local Krishak League, during the same operation. According to the OC, the arrests are part of a broader security drive aimed at ensuring a peaceful and secure environment ahead of the upcoming national parliamentary elections.

Police have stated that operations against suspected miscreants will continue across the region. The detentions highlight growing law enforcement activity in northern Bangladesh as authorities seek to prevent unrest and maintain order before the polls.

After more than a decade of waiting, the Sonalia-Kortia railway station in Tangail has officially opened to the public. The inauguration took place on Saturday morning when Bangladesh Railway Director General Afzal Hossain cut the ribbon and waved the green flag to mark the first train’s departure. Senior railway officials, local leaders, and hundreds of residents attended the ceremony, celebrating the long-anticipated launch.

The station, located in Sonalia village of Basail upazila near the border of Tangail Sadar’s Kortia area, was constructed around 2010 but remained unused due to naming complications and administrative delays. Locals expressed relief, noting that the unused facility had been wasting government resources. They expect the new station to benefit several hundred thousand residents across three upazilas. Officials confirmed that initially one train will operate, with plans to include the Sirajganj Express and a new Tangail commuter service in the future.

The reopening is expected to boost local trade and connectivity in the Kortia commercial zone, while residents have also called for improvements to surrounding roads and transport infrastructure.

Thousands of people attended the absentee funeral prayer for slain activist Osman Sharif Hadi on Saturday at Altafunnesa playground in Bogura town. The event, organized by Inquilab Mancha Bogura, drew leaders and supporters from multiple political parties including BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami, NCP, and JSD. The prayer was led by Hafiz Ahsan Habib Saki, khatib of Shahpara Jame Mosque, and concluded with special prayers for Hadi’s soul.

Before the prayer, local political leaders delivered speeches condemning what they described as ongoing fascist repression and covert attacks aimed at destabilizing the country. Speakers vowed that no conspiracy would obstruct upcoming national elections and framed Hadi’s death as symbolic resistance against foreign dominance. The gathering reflected growing political polarization and heightened rhetoric ahead of the election period.

Observers note that such large-scale political funerals often serve as platforms for opposition unity and mobilization. Authorities have yet to comment on the event, but security concerns remain as tensions rise across several districts.

Sharif Osman Hadi, spokesperson of the Inquilab Mancha and a key figure in the July Revolutionary movement, was laid to rest beside the grave of national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam at Dhaka University’s central mosque complex on Saturday, December 20, 2025. His funeral prayer was held earlier at the South Plaza of the National Parliament, attended by supporters and political activists mourning his death.

Hadi was shot in the head on December 12 while campaigning in Dhaka’s Bijoynagar area. He was initially treated at Dhaka Medical College Hospital and later transferred to Singapore, where he died on December 18. Authorities confirmed the autopsy was completed before his burial. Police have yet to identify the main suspect, though reports link the attack to banned political operatives.

Hadi’s death has sparked widespread condemnation and renewed debate over political violence in Bangladesh. Civil society groups have called for an independent investigation and stronger protection for opposition activists ahead of the upcoming elections.

Seven wild Asian elephants were killed and one calf injured when a high-speed passenger train collided with a herd in northeastern India. The incident occurred near Sairang in Mizoram as the Capital Express, carrying 650 passengers from Guwahati to New Delhi, struck the animals. The impact caused the train’s engine and five coaches to derail, though no passengers were injured, according to Indian Railways spokesperson Kishore Sharma.

Officials said the driver applied emergency brakes after spotting nearly 100 elephants on the tracks but could not avoid the collision. The accident site, about 125 kilometers southeast of Guwahati, lies outside a designated elephant corridor. Veterinary teams conducted autopsies on the elephants, which will be buried the following day.

Assam, home to roughly 7,000 wild elephants, has seen several similar accidents in recent years. Conservationists have urged authorities to improve monitoring and install early-warning systems along railway routes intersecting elephant habitats to prevent future tragedies.

Unidentified miscreants set fire to the Kushtia District Election Office building early Saturday morning, damaging some stored documents in the Sadar Upazila election office storeroom. The incident occurred between dawn and 9 a.m., when attackers reportedly broke a rear window to start the blaze. Local residents noticed smoke and, with the help of the office night guard, managed to bring the fire under control before it spread further.

Senior District Election Officer Mahbubur Rahman confirmed the incident, stating that while some documents were burnt, no major losses were reported. District Commissioner Iqbal Hossain, Sadar Upazila Executive Officer Roknuzzaman, and senior police officials visited the site shortly after. Kushtia Model Police Station Officer-in-Charge Kabir Hossain Matubbar said an investigation has begun to identify those responsible.

Authorities are assessing the extent of the damage and reviewing security measures at election offices across the district to prevent similar incidents ahead of upcoming electoral activities.

The Bangladesh Navy conducted a late-night raid in Teknaf’s Hnila Union on Friday, recovering a cache of illegal firearms, ammunition, and narcotics. Acting on intelligence, a specialized naval force and local police jointly searched the residence of alleged top criminal ‘Lamba Mizan,’ seizing three pistols, nine rounds of live ammunition, two locally made weapons, and 10,000 yaba tablets. The seized items were later handed over to Teknaf Police Station for legal proceedings.

Authorities said the operation was part of the Navy’s ongoing efforts to strengthen internal security and curb criminal activities in coastal and border regions. The Navy has been conducting regular anti-smuggling and anti-drug drives to maintain law and order in sensitive areas. Officials emphasized that such coordinated actions with law enforcement agencies are crucial to dismantling organized crime networks.

Security analysts note that continued naval engagement in inland operations reflects growing inter-agency cooperation to combat drug trafficking and illegal arms trade along Bangladesh’s southern coastline.

A crude bomb, locally known as a cocktail, exploded on the second floor of an under-construction shop inside a commercial building in Dhunat town, Bogura, on Saturday afternoon. The explosion occurred around 12:15 p.m., causing widespread panic among traders operating on the ground floor of the same building near the Central Shaheed Minar area.

According to police and local sources, unidentified individuals detonated the explosive device in the unfinished shop space. No casualties were reported, but the loud blast alarmed nearby shopkeepers and residents. Law enforcement officials, including senior officers from Dhunat Police Station, visited the site shortly after the incident. Officer-in-Charge Atikul Islam confirmed that evidence from the scene had been collected and CCTV footage from surrounding areas was being reviewed.

Police have launched an investigation to identify and apprehend those responsible. Authorities have heightened security in the area to prevent further disturbances, while business owners have urged swift action to ensure their safety and restore normalcy in the local market.

In Panchagarh, Bangladesh, the parents of a young woman named Amina Akter Ratna held a press conference demanding justice for what they allege was her murder by her husband’s family. The couple, Amir Uddin and Nargis Akter, claimed their daughter was killed two years after marriage and that the in-laws staged her death as a suicide. Ratna was taken to Atwari Upazila Health Complex on November 22, where she was declared dead, with her husband’s family claiming she had ingested poison.

However, Ratna’s family reported finding multiple injury marks on her body and no evidence of poisoning. They filed a case with Atwari Police Station on November 24 after rejecting an alleged offer for an out-of-court settlement. Amir Uddin further alleged that the accused family has since issued threats and attempted to bribe officials to alter the autopsy report.

Local residents and relatives attended the press conference, calling for a transparent investigation and protection for the victim’s family amid growing concerns over intimidation and manipulation of evidence.

A large digital billboard campaign in central London has drawn attention for accusing the United Arab Emirates (UAE) of supporting Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group accused of atrocities during the Sudanese civil war. The campaign, organized by U.S.-based nonprofit Avaaz, uses AI-generated imagery showing a woman taking a selfie in Dubai, juxtaposed with war-torn Sudan in the reflection, carrying the caption: “Your selfie won’t look so good if you knew what they’re doing in Sudan.”

The billboard, projected on a moving van and looping every 80 seconds, includes a QR code linking to investigative reports from outlets such as *Middle East Eye*, *The Guardian*, and *The New York Times*. Passersby in London expressed surprise at the UAE’s alleged involvement, with some saying the campaign changed their perception of Dubai. The UAE has denied arming the RSF, calling related media reports fabricated, but analysts cite flight data, weapons serial numbers, and diplomatic sources suggesting ongoing Emirati support.

The campaign underscores growing international scrutiny of the UAE’s regional military activities and its potential implications for diplomatic relations with Western allies.