Biman Bangladesh Airlines has received official approval to operate direct flights between Dhaka and Karachi, marking the resumption of air connectivity between Bangladesh and Pakistan. According to Geo News, the authorization will remain valid until March 30, 2026, and may be reviewed later. The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) of Pakistan stated that Biman must strictly follow the approved route and provide detailed flight information to Karachi airport authorities before departure, ensuring operational coordination and safety compliance.

The decision comes amid increasingly close relations between Pakistan and Bangladesh, which have paved the way for restoring direct air services. Currently, travelers between the two countries transit through Dubai or Doha. Bangladesh’s High Commissioner to Pakistan, Iqbal Hossain Khan, earlier confirmed that Biman is preparing to operate three weekly flights to Karachi.

Flights are expected to begin by the end of January, potentially strengthening bilateral connectivity and facilitating easier travel between the two nations.

Police in Kishoreganj, Nilphamari, have arrested Youth League leader Tarapada Roy in connection with an anti-terrorism case. The arrest took place on Thursday night at the Putimari Shoshan Bazar area based on a secret tip-off. Police confirmed that Tarapada, aged 40, was sent to the district jail on Friday following his arrest.

According to police sources, Tarapada Roy had been in hiding for a long time before being captured. He serves as the joint convener of the Putimari Union unit of the Youth League and is the son of Jitendra Roy from Sadhupara village in the same union. Kishoreganj Police Station Officer-in-Charge Lutfor Rahman confirmed the arrest and subsequent transfer to jail.

The report did not provide details about the specific charges or the background of the anti-terrorism case, and no further official comments were included.

A Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) member was found dead from a rifle shot at the Gongerhat border outpost in Phulbari upazila of Kurigram early Thursday night. The deceased was identified as Nasim Uddin, 24, son of Abul Mondol from Khajura village in Jhenaidah. He was serving as a sepoy under Lalmonirhat BGB Battalion 15. According to police and BGB sources, Nasim was preparing for a border patrol when a gunshot was heard near the soldiers’ barracks around 12:45 a.m. Fellow members found him lying in a pool of blood and took him to Phulbari Health Complex, where doctors declared him dead.

Police and BGB officials believe Nasim may have taken his own life with his service rifle, as the bullet wound was found in the middle of his chest. However, the exact reason behind the suspected suicide remains unknown. Phulbari Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mahmud Hasan confirmed that an unnatural death case has been filed and the body sent for autopsy.

Attempts to reach the commanding officer of BGB Battalion 35 for an official statement were unsuccessful, leaving the force without a formal comment on the incident.

Flight operations at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka were disrupted on Friday due to dense fog, prompting authorities to divert several flights to ensure passenger safety. According to airport sources, nine flights were redirected to alternative airports as visibility dropped sharply in the morning.

Of the diverted flights, four were sent to Chattogram’s Shah Amanat International Airport, four to Kolkata Airport in India, and one to Bangkok Airport in Thailand. The decision was taken as part of standard safety measures during adverse weather conditions.

Authorities later confirmed that flight operations gradually returned to normal as weather conditions improved. With visibility restored, all flights resumed regular takeoff and landing schedules at the Dhaka airport.

The Pay Commission has indicated that it aims to submit its final recommendations for the ninth pay scale to the government by mid-January 2026. According to commission sources, a tentative obligation exists to complete the submission within that period, though the exact date will be confirmed after the next full commission meeting. The report could be submitted earlier if all preparations are completed on time.

Discussions within the commission remain ongoing regarding the number of salary grades and the minimum and maximum pay levels. Members are divided on whether to retain the existing 20-grade structure or reduce it to 16 or 14 grades to address pay disparities. At least two more full meetings are expected before a consensus is reached and the final report is prepared.

The commission is currently analyzing hundreds of proposals and opinions received from various organizations and departments. Officials said that the drafting process is underway, but additional time is needed to ensure the recommendations are realistic and sustainable.

A hearing-impaired farmer named Akimuddin Kazi was killed after being struck by a Dhaka-bound train in Bhanga upazila of Faridpur district on Friday morning. The incident occurred around 7:30 a.m. near the Brahmankanda railway bridge in Manikdah Union. The death was confirmed by local Union Parishad member Mohammad Alamgir Hossain. Railway station manager Zillur Rahman said the body was handed over to the family as no complaint was filed.

According to local sources, Akimuddin left his home early in the morning without informing anyone and was crossing the railway bridge when the moving train hit him. Family members, with help from locals, recovered the body before railway police arrived. Akimuddin, son of the late Hossain Kazi, was the father of three sons and one daughter. His death has cast a shadow of grief over the area.

Police confirmed that no further legal action was taken as the family did not lodge any complaint regarding the incident.

A fruit trader named Ershad Khan, aged 35, was killed in a road accident in Naria upazila of Shariatpur on Friday morning. The incident occurred around 7 a.m. in front of the Naria Livestock Office on the Naria–Shariatpur road when a truck ran over him. Police later conducted an operation and detained both the truck and its driver.

According to the report, Ershad Khan, son of Mesher Kha from South Naria village under Naria municipality, was heading to Naria market by motorcycle as part of his daily routine. While overtaking a cement-laden truck, his motorcycle collided head-on with an oncoming trolley. He lost control, fell onto the road, and was crushed under the truck’s rear wheel, dying instantly at the scene.

The accident caused temporary disruption to traffic and deep sorrow among local residents. Police quickly arrived, brought the situation under control, and recovered the body. Naria Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md. Bahar Mia confirmed the incident.

Two motorcyclists were killed and two others injured when a speeding truck hit a motorcycle from behind in Gobindaganj upazila of Gaibandha early Thursday night. The accident occurred around midnight on the Dhaka–Rangpur highway at the Fasitla flyover area under Kamardah Union. The truck crushed the motorcycle, killing two riders on the spot. The truck’s helper and another motorcyclist were seriously injured and later taken to Gobindaganj Upazila Health Complex by the local fire service team.

The deceased were identified as Jony Mia, 40, of Buzruk Boalia village in Gobindaganj municipality, and Siddiqur Rahman Siddiq, 42, of Patoa village in Nakai Union. The injured motorcyclist was Shariful Islam, 45, from Dhankhunia village of the same union. Officer-in-Charge Mozzafar Hossain of Gobindaganj Highway Police confirmed the deaths, stating that the victims’ bodies were handed over to their families and the truck involved in the crash was seized.

Police have taken the truck into custody as part of the ongoing investigation into the fatal road accident.

A severe cold wave and dense fog have paralyzed daily life in Bahubal upazila of Habiganj district. The cold weather has particularly affected day laborers, children, and the elderly, while continuous low temperatures have disrupted normal activities. Farmers are struggling to cultivate land, and livestock owners are facing difficulties protecting their animals. The dense fog, lasting from evening until noon, has reduced visibility on roads, forcing vehicles to move under risky conditions. The sun has not been visible for two days, preventing many workers from going to work.

The cold has also led to a rise in cold-related illnesses such as cough, pneumonia, and respiratory problems, especially among children and the elderly. Many patients have been admitted to the upazila health complex over the past week. Poor and homeless people are suffering acutely due to a shortage of warm clothing. Although local voluntary organizations and the upazila administration have begun distributing winter clothes, the assistance remains insufficient compared to the growing need.

Severe cold has disrupted daily life in Chuadanga, where the temperature dropped to 9.0 degrees Celsius on Friday morning, January 2, 2026. After five days without sunshine, residents finally saw the sun, but the cold remained intense. People were seen lighting fires to keep warm, while vehicles moved with headlights on due to fog. Hospitals reported an increase in patients, especially children and the elderly.

According to the Chuadanga Weather Office, the cold wave is being caused by northern winds, dense fog, and cloudy skies. The biting cold has severely affected day laborers and homeless people, forcing many to endure extreme hardship. Streets have become deserted, and poor and low-income families are struggling to find work, leading to worsening living conditions.

Acting officer Jaminnur Rahman of the Chuadanga Weather Office said humidity was 95 percent at 9 a.m. He added that the lowest temperature in the country was recorded in Jessore at 8 degrees Celsius.

Ferry operations on the Daulatdia–Paturia river route, one of Bangladesh’s key transport links, returned to normal on Friday morning after being suspended for about seven and a half hours due to dense fog. The suspension began around 2:30 a.m. on Thursday night when heavy fog over the Padma River severely reduced visibility, prompting authorities to halt all ferry and vessel movement for safety reasons.

According to local sources, the decision was taken to ensure the safety of passengers and vehicles as navigation became difficult in the thick fog. During the suspension, hundreds of vehicles were stranded at both terminals, causing significant inconvenience to travelers. Operations resumed around 10 a.m. on Friday after the fog lifted and visibility improved to a safe level.

Officials from the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) confirmed that ferry movement was restored once conditions normalized. The report noted that such disruptions are common during winter when dense fog frequently affects ferry operations on this vital route, impacting travel and goods transport to the southern region.

Dhaka experienced severe cold and dense fog on Friday morning, disrupting normal life across the capital. The city was covered in a thick layer of fog from dawn, forcing vehicles to move with headlights on due to poor visibility. The biting cold and chilly winds made it difficult for residents to cope, even with multiple layers of warm clothing. As it was a holiday, fewer people were seen on the roads, but those who ventured out faced significant discomfort.

According to weather updates, the country’s overall weather may remain dry with partly cloudy skies. Moderate to dense fog is likely to occur in many areas from midnight to morning, possibly persisting until noon in some places. The intensity of cold has increased across the country, including Dhaka, with forecasts suggesting that the cold conditions may continue for several days.

The weather office also indicated that after January 4, the cold may intensify again, while 17 districts are expected to see a gradual reduction in the ongoing cold wave.

At least 17 people have been killed and 11 injured after sudden floods struck several regions of Afghanistan following heavy rain and snowfall, according to reports on Thursday. In Herat province’s Kabkan area, five members of a single family died when their house roof collapsed. The governor’s spokesperson, Mohammad Yusuf Saeedi, confirmed that two of the victims were children.

Mohammad Yusuf Hammad, spokesperson for Afghanistan’s National Disaster Management Authority (ANDMA), said the casualties occurred in flood-affected districts since Monday. The floods have disrupted daily life across northern, southern, and western parts of the country. Infrastructure damage and livestock deaths have been reported, with around 1,800 families affected. Observation teams have been deployed to the worst-hit areas.

The report noted that decades of conflict, weak infrastructure, deforestation, and the intensifying effects of climate change have worsened the impact of natural disasters, particularly in remote regions. In August, a 6.0-magnitude earthquake killed more than 1,400 people in Afghanistan.

Saudi Arabia’s Oversight and Anti-Corruption Authority, known as Nazaha, has arrested 116 government officials on corruption charges following an extensive investigation. The arrests were made after a nationwide campaign in December 2025 targeting bribery and abuse of power. According to a report citing the Arabic daily Okaz, Nazaha questioned 466 individuals as part of the probe.

In an official statement, Nazaha said that 1,440 operations were conducted this month across several ministries, including Interior, Municipal and Rural Affairs, Housing, Education, and Health. The investigation primarily focused on allegations of bribery and misuse of authority. Legal procedures are being completed to hand over the accused to the judiciary, and some detainees have been released on bail under criminal procedure laws.

Nazaha stated that the campaign aims to protect public funds, ensure integrity and accountability, and prevent corruption across the public sector. The authority also urged citizens to report any suspected financial or administrative corruption through its toll-free number 980 or its official website.

The Bangladesh Meteorological Department has reported that a mild cold wave is currently sweeping across 16 districts, including Rajshahi, Dinajpur, Jessore, and Sylhet. Temperatures are expected to rise slightly over the next two days, easing the cold conditions temporarily. However, the department forecasts that temperatures will fall again after January 4, leading to another spell of cold weather across parts of the country.

According to the latest forecast, nighttime temperatures may increase slightly while daytime temperatures could rise by 1 to 2 degrees Celsius. The weather is expected to remain dry with partly cloudy skies. Moderate to dense fog may occur from midnight to morning in many areas, potentially disrupting air, river, and road transport. The highest temperature recorded on Thursday was 26.5°C in Teknaf, while the lowest was 7.8°C in Jessore.

Meteorologist Tariful Newaz Kabir stated that as January is typically the coldest month of the season, the intensity of winter may increase later in the month.