Five students of Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) were injured when locals from the Sheshmor area attacked them late on Thursday night, January 1. The incident occurred around 11 p.m. as students from Isha Khan Hall went to the area for dinner. Four students from Isha Khan Hall and one from Maulana Bhasani Hall sustained serious injuries and were first treated at the university’s health care center before being transferred to Mymensingh Medical College Hospital.

According to the report, the conflict began earlier that morning when several outsiders entered a dormitory compound and were detained by students on suspicion of theft. After intervention by hall authorities, the outsiders were released. Later that night, when students went to Sheshmor, locals obstructed them and began throwing bricks and striking them with iron pipes, injuring two students severely. Witnesses said the attack escalated quickly as more students came out of their halls.

University Proctor Professor Md. Abdul Alim stated that police from Mymensingh Kotwali station were conducting operations in the area and that legal action would be taken against those responsible for the assault.

On the first day of the new year, customers of five long-troubled Islamic banks in Bangladesh began withdrawing money following their merger into the newly established Sammilit Islami Bank. Under the Bangladesh Bank’s resolution scheme, withdrawals of up to two lakh taka from current and savings accounts were allowed starting Thursday. Branches reported smooth transactions without major crowds as customers accessed their funds after a prolonged suspension.

The merged institutions—Social Islami Bank, First Security Islami Bank, Union Bank, Global Islami Bank, and EXIM Bank—have transferred their assets, liabilities, and staff to Sammilit Islami Bank, headquartered at Sena Kalyan Bhaban in Dhaka’s Motijheel. The central bank’s scheme set the new bank’s authorized capital at Tk 40,000 crore and paid-up capital at Tk 35,000 crore, with the government contributing Tk 20,000 crore as Class A shares.

Depositors can withdraw up to Tk 2 lakh at once, and for larger deposits, Tk 1 lakh every three months for up to two years. Fixed depositors outside financial institutions may also access investment or loan facilities up to 20 percent of their balances.

Law enforcement agencies have recovered 17 active SIM cards from one of the accused in the murder case of Inqilab Mancha spokesperson Shahid Sharif Osman Hadi. The identity of the accused has not been disclosed. Following this discovery, security agencies have urged the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) to reduce the number of SIM cards allowed per person. The Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology confirmed the matter in a notice issued on Thursday.

The notice stated that the murder of Hadi has caused nationwide concern, prompting calls for the implementation of the National Equipment Identity Register (NEIR) and restrictions on the number of SIMs per user. Hadi was shot in the head on December 12, 2025, in Dhaka’s Bijoynagar area and later died on December 18 after being taken to Singapore for treatment. So far, 11 suspects have been arrested, six of whom have confessed in court.

The government has decided to transfer the case to a speedy trial tribunal, with the charge sheet expected to be submitted by January 7, according to the Home Affairs adviser.

A fish farmer in Muksedpur upazila of Gopalganj has alleged that poison was applied to his ponds, killing fish worth around five lakh taka. The incident occurred early Thursday, January 1, in the Kahaldia Ruitar Beel area under Batikamari Union. Later that afternoon, a written complaint was filed at Muksedpur Police Station naming three individuals as accused.

According to local sources, the victim, Montu Molya of Kahaldia village, had leased five ponds this year for cultivating various native fish species. He claimed that unknown persons poisoned the ponds, destroying all the fish and leaving him financially devastated. The accused in the complaint are Israfil Sheikh, Asad Kazi, and Rafik Sheikh.

Muksedpur Police Station’s second officer, Sukanta Baul, confirmed receiving the complaint and stated that legal action would be taken after investigation.

A police sub-inspector named Abdul Alim died of a heart attack while on duty at the Chapainawabganj Police Lines on Thursday evening. He was being taken to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital when he passed away. Abdul Alim was the son of the late Bander Ali from Baroipara village in Sujanagar upazila of Pabna district and was serving at the Chapainawabganj Police Lines. The officer-in-charge of Chapainawabganj Sadar Police Station, Nure Alam, confirmed the incident.

According to reports, Alim suddenly felt unwell in the afternoon while performing his duties. Fellow police members first took him to the 250-bed Chapainawabganj District Hospital, where doctors found his condition critical and referred him to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital. He died on the way to Rajshahi. Dr. Rumali Khatun, emergency medical officer at Chapainawabganj District Hospital, said the officer was admitted after a heart attack and later referred due to his serious condition.

The incident has been officially confirmed by police authorities, and medical officers have detailed the sequence of treatment attempts before his death.

Bangladesh’s postal department-backed digital financial service provider Nagad recorded transactions worth approximately Tk 3.8 trillion in the recently concluded year, marking a 15 percent increase from the previous year’s Tk 3.3 trillion. The company disclosed the figures in a press release issued on Thursday, noting that December alone saw transactions totaling Tk 355.3 billion, the highest monthly volume to date.

According to Nagad’s administrator Md. Motasim Billah, the company consistently strives to offer value to its customers through various campaigns throughout the year, alongside maintaining the lowest cash-out charges in the market. The record transaction volume was primarily driven by cash-in, cash-out, money transfer, bill payments, mobile recharges, and remittance services.

The company’s continued growth underscores the expanding adoption of digital financial services in Bangladesh, with Nagad maintaining a strong position in the competitive mobile financial services sector.

A time-fuse explosive device discovered under the Meghna-Gomti Bridge on the Dhaka-Chattogram Highway in Daudkandi, Cumilla, was successfully defused by the Anti-Terrorism Unit’s bomb disposal team. The operation took place on Thursday, January 1, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., ensuring the area’s safety throughout the process. Law enforcement confirmed that no casualties or damage occurred during the defusal.

According to police sources, the explosive was first found on December 8 by an army patrol team under the bridge, hidden in bushes. The suspicious object, wrapped in red scotch tape and roughly the size of a tennis ball, weighed an estimated 400 to 500 grams. It was later seized after authorities were notified. The Daudkandi Model Police Station’s officer-in-charge, M Abdul Halim, stated that legal procedures related to the incident are currently underway.

Security measures were heightened in the surrounding area during the disposal operation, and the authorities reported that the situation remained fully under control.

The Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) will announce new prices for liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and autogas this Sunday. The announcement, scheduled for 3 p.m., will be based on the Saudi Aramco-declared Saudi CP for January 2026, according to a BERC notice issued on Thursday.

The last price adjustment took place on December 2, when the price of a 12-kilogram LPG cylinder was raised by 38 taka to 1,253 taka. The upcoming announcement will determine the consumer-level prices for private LPG distributors in line with international price movements.

The BERC’s monthly price adjustment reflects global market trends and aims to maintain consistency between domestic and international LPG pricing structures.

In Dinajpur’s Khansama upazila, a total of 30 unnatural deaths were recorded in 2025, according to police data covering January 1 to December 31. The causes included electrocution (2), hanging (9), drowning (11), poisoning (4), fire (1), wall collapse (1), machinery accident (1), and one unidentified case. Most hanging deaths involved married women, while most drowning victims were children.

Local residents and officials attributed the incidents to family conflict, emotional distress, and lack of awareness. Observers said easy access to pesticides contributed to poisoning cases among adolescents. Health officer Dr. Shafiqul Islam emphasized the need for psychological support and social solutions to family violence. Upazila Executive Officer Md. Kamruzzaman Sarkar noted a decline in such deaths compared to the previous year but stressed that even one death is unacceptable. Police Officer-in-Charge Abdul Baset Sardar said awareness efforts are ongoing to prevent further incidents.

Authorities and community members agreed that improved family communication, mental health care, and moral education could help reduce such tragedies in the future.

Bangladesh received a record remittance inflow of approximately 33 billion US dollars in 2025, according to data released by Bangladesh Bank on Thursday. The total marks a 23.34 percent increase compared to 2024, when expatriate income stood at 26.60 billion dollars. In December 2025 alone, remittances reached 3.22 billion dollars, the second-highest monthly figure in the country’s history, following the record 3.29 billion dollars in March of the same year.

The report attributes the surge mainly to a decline in money laundering, prompting more expatriates to send their earnings through formal banking channels. December’s remittance growth was 22.30 percent higher than the same month in 2024, when inflows totaled 2.63 billion dollars.

The record inflow underscores the growing reliance on remittances as a key source of foreign currency for Bangladesh, reflecting improved compliance and confidence in official transfer systems.

Police in Gobindaganj, Gaibandha, arrested seven people, including two leaders of the banned Awami League and five gamblers, during separate overnight raids on Wednesday in Talukkanupur and Shalmara unions. The arrests were made based on secret information, according to local reports.

Those detained include Rezaul Karim, 47, organizational secretary of Talukkanupur Union Awami League and former union council member, and Sarwar Hossain Bepari, 56, former president of Shalmara Union Swechchhasebak League. In a separate operation the same night, police arrested five gamblers—Rabiul Islam, 39, Abdul Jobbar, 62, Madhu Mia, 42, Lichu Mia, 37, and Shariful Islam, 44—from Talukkanupur Bazar along with gambling materials.

Gobindaganj Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mozammel Haque confirmed the arrests and said all seven detainees were sent to Gaibandha District Jail through the court.

The Cumilla Battalion of Border Guard Bangladesh (10 BGB) seized illegal Indian goods worth about Tk 20 million from Rasulpur Railway Station in Cumilla district. The operation took place on the night of December 31, when a special task force comprising BGB and police members conducted a raid on the Chattala Express train bound for Chattogram. The seized items included fireworks, cosmetics, saris, basmati rice, and snacks, all found without any owner. The seizure was confirmed by Colonel Mir Ali Ejaz, commanding officer of the 10 BGB.

According to BGB sources, the Cumilla Battalion regularly conducts operations to prevent smuggling and cross-border crimes within its assigned border areas. The December 31 operation was carried out in the presence of Assistant Commissioner and Executive Magistrate Rafid Khan, under the leadership of the battalion’s adjutant. The seized goods were valued at Tk 1 crore 86 lakh 68 thousand 670.

Colonel Mir Ali Ejaz stated that necessary legal measures would be taken regarding the confiscated goods and that such anti-smuggling operations would continue.

The Government of Bangladesh has approved a plan to purchase 14 aircraft from U.S. manufacturer Boeing. The decision was endorsed in a Biman Bangladesh Airlines board meeting held on Tuesday, where members agreed in principle to proceed with formal negotiations on pricing and terms. Boeing’s proposal, submitted on November 24, 2025, and revised on December 20, 2025, includes two Boeing 787-9s, eight 787-10s, and four 737-8s. Biman’s managing director and CEO Md. Shafiqul Rahman confirmed in a letter to Boeing’s vice president that the approval marks only the start of formal discussions and does not yet create any financial or legal obligations.

The move aligns with Bangladesh’s broader strategy to strengthen trade and economic ties with the United States. Officials view the purchase as a step toward reducing the bilateral trade deficit and improving understanding on export tariff issues. A committee will now be formed to negotiate pricing and related matters with Boeing.

According to officials, if implemented, the fleet expansion could enhance Biman’s international competitiveness and bring positive changes to the country’s aviation sector.

Police in Mongla, Bagerhat arrested former Sundarban Union Chhatra League vice president Md. Bulbul Fakir during a special operation named 'Devil Hunt Phase-2' on Thursday, January 1. The arrest took place in the Bashatala area of Ward No. 3 under Sundarban Union. The 28-year-old detainee is the son of Md. Akrafil from the same area.

According to police sources, Bulbul Fakir was an active member of the Awami League and previously served as vice president of the local Chhatra League unit. He was detained as part of a regular case under the ongoing special operation. Mongla Police Station Officer-in-Charge Shahinur Rahman Shahin stated that the arrest was made in connection with a regular case and that similar operations will continue to maintain law and order.

Police confirmed that the arrested individual will be presented before the court following legal procedures.

The Bangladesh Jewellers Association (BAJUS) has announced a reduction in gold prices following record highs in the domestic market. In a notice issued on Thursday night, January 1, 2026, the association said the price of 22-carat gold has been lowered by Tk 1,458 per bhori, setting the new rate at Tk 222,724 per bhori. The revised price will take effect from Friday, January 2.

According to the BAJUS statement, the adjustment was made due to a decline in the price of pure or 'tejaabi' gold in the local market. The association said the new rate reflects the overall market situation. This marks the third consecutive reduction in gold prices after a period of record highs in Bangladesh.

The latest price adjustment indicates a continued correction in the gold market, aligning domestic rates with recent changes in the underlying value of pure gold.