Bangladeshi UN peacekeeper Sabuj Mia, who was killed in a drone attack on a UN base in Sudan’s Abyei region, was buried with full state honors in his home village of Palashbari, Gaibandha. His body arrived by helicopter on Sunday afternoon and was later taken to his family home, where hundreds of villagers gathered to pay their respects. The funeral prayer was held at the local Eidgah field, followed by burial beside his father’s grave.

Army officials representing the Chief of Army Staff and local administration officers paid floral tributes during the ceremony. The attack, carried out by a separatist armed group on December 13, killed six Bangladeshi peacekeepers stationed at the Kadugli logistics base. Family members, including Sabuj’s mother and young wife, were seen grieving deeply as the community mourned the loss.

The government and military have condemned the attack, calling for stronger international measures to ensure the safety of peacekeepers deployed in conflict zones under UN missions.

Bangladesh has formally questioned India after a group identified as Hindu extremists breached the security perimeter of the diplomatic zone in New Delhi and staged a protest outside the Bangladesh High Commission on Saturday night. According to Foreign Affairs Adviser Touhid Hossain, the demonstrators even issued threats to the High Commissioner, raising serious concerns about the adequacy of Indian security measures.

Hossain rejected India’s explanation that the protest was peaceful and limited to slogans over the killing of Bangladeshi citizen Dipu Chandra Das in Mymensingh. He argued that the protesters’ ability to reach deep into the secured diplomatic area suggested a lapse or deliberate allowance. Bangladesh has already arrested several suspects in connection with the murder, he added, calling the linkage to minority safety issues misleading.

India’s Ministry of External Affairs maintained that the protest did not involve any breach or attempt to disrupt security. Dhaka has noted India’s assurance to review mission security, but the incident has added tension to bilateral relations, highlighting sensitivities over cross-border communal narratives.

Two Bangladeshi peacekeepers from Kurigram, killed in a drone attack on a UN mission base in Sudan’s Abyei region, were buried in their home villages on Sunday. The bodies of Sergeant Mominul Islam, 38, and Private Shanto Mondol, 26, arrived by military helicopter in Kurigram, where the Bangladesh Army provided a guard of honor before funeral prayers and burial.

According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), six Bangladeshi peacekeepers were killed and eight injured when separatist militants launched a drone strike on the Kadugli logistics base on December 13. Both soldiers had been deployed to Sudan only weeks earlier as part of Bangladesh’s long-standing contribution to UN peacekeeping operations.

Local officials, family members, and villagers attended the funerals, expressing pride and grief. Mominul leaves behind his wife and two daughters, while Shanto’s wife is five months pregnant. The government and military have pledged support for the families as Bangladesh mourns the loss of its peacekeepers abroad.

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Interior announced the arrest of 18,880 undocumented migrants during a week-long nationwide operation conducted between December 11 and 17, 2025. The coordinated raids, carried out with the support of multiple government agencies, targeted individuals violating residency, border, and labor laws across the kingdom.

According to Saudi daily Okaz, 11,190 people were detained for lacking valid residency documents, 3,801 for illegal border entry, and 2,889 for labor law violations. Authorities also arrested 15 Saudi citizens accused of sheltering or assisting undocumented migrants. The Interior Ministry warned that citizens or residents found aiding illegal migrants could face up to 15 years in prison and fines reaching 1 million riyals. Vehicles and properties used in such offenses may also be confiscated.

The crackdown reflects Saudi Arabia’s ongoing efforts to regulate its labor market and curb irregular migration. Officials emphasized that enforcement will continue, signaling stricter oversight of both employers and intermediaries facilitating illegal employment.

Several European countries have expressed concern over new US sanctions imposed on two judges of the International Criminal Court (ICC). The sanctions, announced by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, target judges Gocha Lordkipanidze and Erdenebalsuren Damdin. European governments argue that such measures undermine the court’s independence and the global fight against impunity.

France called for the immediate withdrawal of the sanctions, condemning all forms of coercion against ICC officials and supporting organizations. Belgium’s Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot warned that the move weakens efforts to uphold judicial freedom. Denmark, Finland, Spain, the Netherlands, and Norway also reaffirmed their support for the ICC as an impartial judicial body.

The dispute highlights ongoing tensions between Washington and European allies over the ICC’s authority. Analysts suggest the sanctions could complicate transatlantic cooperation on international justice and accountability issues, particularly in cases involving alleged war crimes.

Turkey’s intelligence chief, Ibrahim Kalin, met with a Hamas delegation in Istanbul to discuss the implementation of the Gaza ceasefire agreement and the next phase of the peace plan. The meeting, held on Saturday, was led by Khalil al-Hayya, a senior member of Hamas’s political bureau and head of its negotiation team, according to Middle East Monitor.

During the talks, Hamas representatives reiterated their compliance with the ceasefire terms and presented evidence of alleged Israeli violations. Both sides discussed Turkey’s ongoing efforts to ensure the ceasefire holds and to prevent further breaches. They also reviewed the conditions necessary to advance to the second phase of the Gaza peace initiative and reaffirmed their commitment to establishing an independent Palestinian state.

The discussions come amid continuing humanitarian devastation in Gaza, where since October 2023, Israeli operations have reportedly killed over 70,700 Palestinians, most of them women and children, and injured more than 171,000 others.

The Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Dhaka has expressed profound grief and condolences over the death of Sharif Osman Hadi, spokesperson of the Inquilab Mancha and a figure associated with the July revolutionary movement. In an official condolence message released on Sunday, the embassy extended sympathy to the government and people of Bangladesh, as well as to Hadi’s family and colleagues.

The statement conveyed Iran’s solidarity with Bangladesh during this period of mourning, emphasizing shared values of peace, stability, and prosperity. The embassy noted that it remembers Hadi’s contributions with respect and stands beside the Bangladeshi people in their loss. The message reflects Iran’s continued diplomatic outreach and cultural engagement with Bangladesh, particularly in moments of national grief.

Observers view the embassy’s message as a reaffirmation of Iran’s commitment to maintaining warm bilateral ties and mutual respect between the two nations, underscoring the importance of people-to-people and cultural solidarity.

Hundreds of demonstrators gathered in Stockholm’s Odenplan Square on Saturday to protest Israel’s actions in the occupied Palestinian territories. The protesters condemned Tel Aviv’s alleged failure to uphold a ceasefire agreement and its reported plans to annex parts of the West Bank. Marching toward the Swedish Parliament, participants carried banners calling for an end to violence and the protection of Palestinian rights.

Protesters chanted slogans demanding freedom for Palestine and denouncing Israeli government policies. Activist Malin Åkerström highlighted the worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza, exacerbated by winter conditions, and urged the international community to intervene. The demonstration coincided with a statement from over 100 Swedish lawmakers calling for stronger measures to halt Israeli violence in the West Bank.

The protest reflects growing European concern over the ongoing conflict and humanitarian crisis. Observers note that Sweden’s political establishment faces increasing pressure to take a firmer stance on Middle East peace efforts and human rights accountability.

Two Palestinians, including a 16-year-old boy, were killed and two others injured in Israeli military operations across the occupied West Bank, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. The incidents occurred near Jenin, in the towns of Qabatiya and Silat al-Harithiya, where witnesses reported extensive Israeli raids. The body of the teenage victim remains in Israeli custody.

The Palestinian news agency WAFA reported additional injuries in separate shootings near the Nur Shams refugee camp and Al-Ram, north of Jerusalem. Since October 2023, Israeli forces and settlers have killed over 1,100 Palestinians, injured around 11,000, and detained more than 21,000 in the West Bank. The International Court of Justice ruled in July that Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories is illegal and called for the evacuation of all settlements.

The latest violence underscores the ongoing volatility in the West Bank despite international legal pressure. Human rights groups warn that continued military operations risk further destabilization and humanitarian deterioration in the region.

Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry has summoned Afghanistan’s deputy ambassador following a deadly militant attack on a Pakistani military base in North Waziristan that killed four soldiers. The ministry said the assault was carried out by the Khariji Gul Bahadur group, which Islamabad claims operates from Afghan territory. The summoning was intended to deliver a strong protest and demand that Kabul prevent its soil from being used against Pakistan.

The incident has further strained relations between the two neighbors, already tense over cross-border militancy. Afghan officials have repeatedly assured that their territory will not be used for attacks against any country, particularly Pakistan, but have not yet issued a formal response to the summoning. Political analyst Moeen Gul Samkani suggested that Afghanistan might reciprocate by summoning Pakistan’s envoy in Kabul.

The episode underscores the fragile security dynamics along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. Analysts warn that continued militant activity could derail regional counterterrorism cooperation and complicate diplomatic engagement between Islamabad and Kabul.

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.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan stated that Israel’s repeated ceasefire violations are making it extremely difficult to advance the Gaza peace plan. His remarks followed a high-level meeting in Miami involving representatives from the United States, Turkey, Egypt, and Qatar, who discussed the fragile situation in Gaza and the next phase of the ceasefire process.

Fidan explained that the first stage of the ceasefire, based on agreements reached at the Sharm el-Sheikh Peace Conference, had been completed after the release of the last hostages. However, he warned that Israel’s continued breaches of the truce threaten to derail progress toward the second phase. The discussions also addressed obstacles encountered during the initial phase.

Reiterating Turkey’s position, Fidan emphasized that Gaza must be governed by Palestinians, remain territorially unified, and that all reconstruction efforts should prioritize the welfare of its residents. He added that significant investments are being planned for Gaza’s rebuilding, signaling Ankara’s intent to play a constructive role in the post-conflict recovery process.

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.

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.

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.