The UK Met Office has confirmed that 2025 was the warmest and one of the sunniest years in the country's recorded history. According to the agency, the record reflects the clear impact of human-induced climate change. Based on data dating back to 1884, 2025 now ranks among the top three warmest years alongside 2022 and 2023, with an average annual temperature of 10.09 degrees Celsius. It was only the second time the UK’s annual average temperature exceeded 10 degrees Celsius, the first being in 2022.

The Met Office noted that four of the five warmest years since 1884 have occurred within the past five years, and all ten warmest years have been recorded in the last two decades. In addition to temperature, 2025 also set a new record for sunshine, with 1,648.5 hours of sunlight—the highest since records began in 1910 and 61.4 hours more than the previous record set in 2003.

Mark McCarthy, head of the Met Office’s climate attribution division, said the findings align with expectations from human-driven climate change and that global warming continues to influence the UK’s climate.

Consumers across Bangladesh are facing an acute shortage of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) as prices have soared far above official rates. Cylinders that cost Tk 1,253 only days earlier were sold on Friday for Tk 1,800 to Tk 2,500, yet many areas still reported no availability. Retailers said dealers were not supplying gas, while several Dhaka neighborhoods also reported severe pipeline gas shortages. The Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) accused the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) of failing to monitor the market, allowing manipulation to flourish.

CAB’s vice president said suppliers and retailers were exploiting the situation while the government focused on elections. The LPG Distributors Association blamed most companies for halting supply, leaving only a few active and charging extra. BERC has written to the LPG Operators of Bangladesh (LOAB) demanding enforcement of the fixed December price of Tk 1,253 per 12-kg cylinder. LOAB officials cited a 40% drop in December imports due to global shipping disruptions and higher costs.

BERC is expected to announce new LPG prices on January 4, after reviewing import cost data submitted by companies.

Ferry services on the Shariatpur-Chandpur river route have been temporarily suspended due to dense fog. According to the Narsinghpur BIWTC terminal authorities, the suspension began at 1 a.m. on Friday, January 2, to prevent possible accidents caused by poor visibility. The Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) confirmed the decision, citing safety concerns for vessels navigating the fog-covered river.

Md. Iqbal Hossain, Deputy Manager of the BIWTC Narsinghpur ferry terminal, stated that visibility on the river and surrounding areas had dropped significantly, increasing the risk of accidents. As a precaution, ferry movement was halted until conditions improve. He also confirmed that no ferries were stranded mid-river during the suspension.

The Shariatpur-Chandpur route is considered an important communication link for the southern region of Bangladesh, currently served by six ferries of varying sizes. Authorities said ferry operations will resume once the fog clears and visibility returns to normal levels.

Joint forces have arrested top-listed criminal 'Belgium Suman' along with local weapons and ammunition in Lakshmipur. The arrest took place on Friday, January 2, 2026, during an operation led by Major Md. Rahat Khan of the Lakshmipur Army Camp. The operation was conducted in the Hanif Miaji’s Hat area of North Joypur Union under Sadar Upazila. Authorities recovered one rifle ammunition, one pistol ammunition, a binocular, two button mobiles, three local weapons, a router, a knife, and a hammer from his possession. He was later handed over to Chandraganj Police Station.

According to Major Rahat Khan, Suman, son of Siraj from Kansh Narayanpur village in North Joypur Union, faces multiple cases including murder and arms charges and was out on bail. Acting on secret information about his involvement in illegal arms trading, the joint forces carried out the operation. Although no firearms were found, Suman reportedly admitted his involvement in arms trading. He has been transferred to Chandraganj Police Station for further legal action.

Bangladesh set a new record in 2025 by sending more than 750,000 workers to Saudi Arabia, the highest number ever deployed to a single country in one year, according to the Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET). BMET Additional Director General Ashraf Hossain confirmed the figure, noting that over 1.1 million Bangladeshi workers went abroad in total during the year, with more than two-thirds choosing Saudi Arabia as their destination.

BMET data show a 16 percent increase in worker deployment to Saudi Arabia compared to 2024, when about 628,000 workers went there. Currently, around 3.5 million Bangladeshis live and work in Saudi Arabia, sending home over five billion dollars in remittances annually. Authorities said recent years have seen a focus on sending more skilled workers, strengthened by the launch of Saudi Arabia’s Skill Verification Program in Bangladesh in 2023.

A new employment agreement signed between Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia in October aims to enhance worker protection, wage systems, welfare, and healthcare. The deal is expected to create around 300,000 new job opportunities for Bangladeshi workers in 2026, particularly under Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 construction projects.

Police in Dhaka’s Uttara West area conducted a daylong special operation on Friday, arresting 17 individuals linked to various criminal cases. According to Dhaka Metropolitan Police spokesperson and Deputy Commissioner Muhammad Talebur Rahman, a significant quantity of drugs was recovered during the operation. The arrests included suspects involved in regular cases, terrorism, and drug trafficking.

Police sources said the coordinated operation took place across multiple points under Uttara West Police Station. The detainees include Sheikh Monirul Islam, Abul Kalam, Robiul Islam, Zillur Rahman Ahad, Jahangir Alam Zidan, Al Bashar alias Bashir, Ibn Sina Akash, Saifur Rahman Miraj, Mahbub, Shakil, Shariful Islam, Rakib, Momin, Jewel, Sakib, Hasib Khan, and Zahid Hasan. Officers recovered five yaba tablets, five packets of heroin, and one packet of cannabis from them. All detainees were sent to court following legal procedures.

Officials from Uttara West Police Station stated that such targeted operations will continue regularly to ensure public safety and curb criminal activities in the area.

Police have arrested Awami League leader Rashedul Islam Bhuiyan, 42, in connection with the murder of madrasa student Hafez Siam in Enayetpur, Sirajganj. The arrest took place on Friday, January 2, 2026, at Rashedul’s home in Gopinathpur village under Enayetpur Police Station. Officer-in-Charge Zahid Hossain confirmed that the arrest was made following a raid at his residence.

According to the case record, Hafez Siam was killed on August 4, 2024, during an anti-discrimination student movement in front of Enayetpur Police Station. Later, on August 21, 2024, Enayetpur unit Jubo Dal’s joint convener, Hazrat Ali Molla, filed a case over the incident. Rashedul, who serves as the office secretary of Enayetpur Thana Awami League and is the son of local rural physician Rafiqul Islam Bhuiyan, was named in that case.

Police said the arrest is linked to the ongoing investigation into the 2024 killing, which occurred amid student protests in the area.

RAB-4 has arrested three top criminals and a drug dealer during operations in Dhaka’s Pallabi and Shah Ali police station areas. The arrests were announced at a press conference at the RAB-4 headquarters in Mirpur’s Paikpara on Friday afternoon. The detainees were identified as Faizur Rahman Mukti alias Don Mukti, Shakir Ahmed Suman alias Hockey Suman, and Golam Mostafa Kamal Bappi alias Shooter Bappi. A foreign pistol, a revolver, a magazine, and 11 rounds of ammunition were recovered based on their information, along with yaba tablets seized from a drug dealer named Babu alias Picchi Babu.

According to RAB, the arrested individuals were involved in extortion, armed robbery, mugging, and other criminal activities across Mirpur, Pallabi, Rupnagar, and Shah Ali areas. They face multiple cases related to murder, weapons, and narcotics. RAB officials stated that the seized firearms were smuggled into Bangladesh through a neighboring country’s border and were used in at least four armed robberies and extortion incidents in the past six months.

RAB said further operations are planned to dismantle the wider criminal network and identify the sources of the smuggled weapons in coordination with other agencies.

Police in Shibaloy, Manikganj, have detained Khondaker Ziaur Rahman Sujon, 41, the joint general secretary of the Arua Union unit of the Chhatra League, during an operation titled 'Devil Hunt Phase-2'. The arrest took place on Friday night, and Sujon was later sent to Manikganj jail through a court order. He is the son of the late Khondaker Shah Alam from Ghonapara area of the upazila.

According to Shibaloy Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md. Monir Hossain, Sujon was detained on allegations of involvement in subversive activities. The officer stated that similar operations are continuing across different areas of the police station to maintain law and order.

The report indicates that the 'Devil Hunt Phase-2' operation is part of an ongoing law enforcement effort in the region, though further details about the broader campaign or specific charges against Sujon were not provided.

The Bangladesh Meteorological Department has forecast that up to five cold waves may sweep across the country during January, with temperatures possibly dropping to as low as four degrees Celsius. Director Md. Mominul Islam stated that two to three of these cold waves are expected to be mild to moderate, ranging between 8–10°C and 6–8°C, while one or two could be moderate to severe, between 6–8°C and 4–6°C.

According to the forecast, no cyclones or low-pressure systems are likely to form over the Bay of Bengal this month, and the country’s major rivers are expected to maintain normal water flow. The five-day weather outlook indicates dry conditions nationwide with partly cloudy skies and widespread fog, particularly from midnight to morning, which may persist until noon in some areas.

Dense fog may temporarily disrupt air travel, inland water transport, and road communication. The mild cold wave currently affecting several districts could expand further, and temperatures in various regions are expected to drop slightly in the coming days.

A mobile court in Araihazar upazila of Narayanganj conducted an operation against the sale of LPG gas cylinders at inflated prices. The drive took place on Friday afternoon at Kamranirchar Bazar, led by Assistant Commissioner (Land) and Executive Magistrate Mostafizur Rahman Imon. During the inspection, the court fined Satata Enterprise 10,000 taka for selling LPG cylinders above the government-fixed price.

Executive Magistrate Mostafizur Rahman stated that selling any product beyond the government-approved rate is a punishable offense under the law. He emphasized that such monitoring and enforcement drives will continue regularly to maintain discipline in the market and protect consumer interests.

The operation reflects ongoing efforts by local administration in Narayanganj to ensure price compliance and safeguard consumers from unfair trade practices.

A female police officer named Razia Sultana Mim, aged 28, was found dead in a rented apartment in the Koshaibari area of Dakshinkhan, Dhaka. The incident occurred late Thursday night, when she was discovered unconscious and taken to the emergency department of Dhaka Medical College Hospital, where doctors declared her dead. Her father claimed that she had taken her own life.

According to her father, Mohammad Nasir Uddin Bachchu, Razia worked in the police force, as did her husband, Rajib Mia. The couple lived together with their daughter in the rented apartment. He alleged that a family dispute led Razia to hang herself from a ceiling fan using a scarf around 10 p.m. Her husband later found her unconscious and took her to the hospital.

Inspector Mohammad Faruk, in charge of the police camp at Dhaka Medical College Hospital, confirmed that the body was kept in the hospital morgue and that the local police station had been informed of the matter.

Bangladesh Bank has reported that the country's foreign currency reserves stand at 33.18 billion US dollars. The figure was released on Friday, February 2, based on the central bank’s latest data. The information provides an updated view of the nation’s reserve position at the beginning of 2026.

According to the International Monetary Fund’s Balance of Payments and International Investment Position Manual (BPM6) standard, Bangladesh’s reserves currently amount to 28.51 billion US dollars. The difference between the two figures reflects the variation in calculation methods used by the central bank and the IMF.

The report highlights the ongoing monitoring of Bangladesh’s reserve levels by both domestic and international institutions, underscoring the importance of transparency in financial reporting.

Police in Noakhali arrested two men with a foreign-made pistol and bullets from a residential hotel in Chaumuhani market. The detainees were identified as Md. Zahid Hasan Rasel, 40, of Hajipur village under Chaumuhani municipality, and Mohammad Bosu, 42, of Rajapur village under Durgapur union. Begumganj Model Police Station Officer-in-Charge M A Bari confirmed the arrests on Friday afternoon, stating that the raid took place at Hotel Riyad on Thursday night based on a tip-off.

During the search, police recovered one foreign pistol and two rounds of 7.65-caliber live ammunition. According to the police, Rasel has six previous cases and one arrest warrant against him. The two men were reportedly staying at the hotel with the intent to commit criminal activities.

A case has been filed under the Arms Act, and the arrested individuals were presented before the Noakhali District Chief Judicial Magistrate Court following their detention.

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has issued the Shipping Agent Licensing Regulations 2025, introducing several procedural relaxations. According to a notification released on December 30 and announced on Friday, applicants will no longer need prior approval from the NBR to determine the number of shipping agent licenses per customs station. This change is expected to allow licensing authorities to issue licenses more quickly.

Under the new regulations, applicants are no longer required to take written or oral examinations conducted by the Customs, Excise and VAT Training Academy. Licenses will now be granted within a maximum of 30 working days upon proper submission of required documents. Previously, licenses were valid only for the specific customs station that issued them.

The updated rules now allow license holders to operate their shipping agent businesses at any seaport or river port across Bangladesh, expanding operational flexibility and simplifying the licensing process nationwide.