Large-scale illegal sand extraction has severely damaged hills and streams in Bahubal upazila of Habiganj. Over recent months, sand looters have cut through hills and channels, removing vast quantities of valuable silica sand. The report states that these groups are not ordinary traders but politically connected networks operating at night. Their activities have caused major damage to the road passing through the 10th section of Amtali Plantation in Vadeswar Union, turning parts of it into a canal and triggering hill collapses.

According to the upazila administration, no sand quarry has been officially leased in Bahubal during the current fiscal year. Yet, politically linked sand syndicates based in Mirpur continue to control the illegal extraction from Mushai Hill. The Amtali Plantation authorities have strengthened night patrols to stop the theft, while the administration has conducted multiple raids in Sundratiki stream, Mushai Hill, and deep forest areas.

Assistant Commissioner (Land) Md. Mahbubul Islam said that operations against sand smuggling and soil cutting are ongoing, with fines and jail terms being imposed. The administration plans to continue these enforcement drives.

A continuous cold wave for five days has severely disrupted daily life in Taraganj upazila of Rangpur. Freezing temperatures, dense fog, and the absence of sunlight have made normal activities nearly impossible. The harsh weather has hit low-income workers the hardest, including day laborers, rickshaw pullers, and van drivers, many of whom are unable to work due to the cold.

Thick fog from dawn until noon has reduced visibility, making road travel risky and delaying workers, students, and traders. The biting cold has forced many to stay home, while those who venture out struggle without adequate warm clothing. As a result, daily earnings have dropped, deepening financial worries for poor families.

With the cold intensifying, crowds have increased at local markets where people are seeking warm clothes. However, rising prices have prevented many from buying enough garments. Some residents are lighting fires along roadsides at night to stay warm, while health concerns are growing among children and the elderly.

The modernization and renovation work of the Sixth Bangladesh-China Friendship Bridge, also known as the Mukterpur Bridge, officially began in Munshiganj. The project, supported technically and financially by the Chinese government, aims to ensure structural safety and enhance the bridge’s long-term durability. The inauguration ceremony was held on the banks of the Dhaleshwari River, attended by Chinese Ambassador Yao Wen as chief guest and chaired by Bridge Division Secretary and Bangladesh Bridge Authority Executive Director Mohammad Abdur Rouf.

Senior officials from the Bridge Division, Bangladesh Bridge Authority, representatives from the Chinese Embassy, and engineers involved in the project were present. The Bridge Secretary stated that the renovation is being carried out under the guidance and supervision of the Adviser to the Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges, Muhammad Faozul Kabir Khan. He emphasized that the project will improve connectivity between Dhaka, Munshiganj, and southern Bangladesh.

The secretary expressed gratitude to the Chinese government, noting that the initiative reflects the Belt and Road cooperation and symbolizes mutual trust between the two nations. He also called for the construction of a second Mukterpur Bridge to meet growing traffic demand in the region.

A 24-year-old student from Tripura, Angel Chakma, was killed in Dehradun, Uttarakhand, after being attacked by a group of youths who allegedly hurled racial slurs and accused him of being Chinese. The incident occurred on December 9 when Angel and his younger brother went shopping. After protesting the insults, Angel was stabbed in the neck and spine, leaving him critically injured. He remained on life support for 14 days before dying. His father is a Border Security Force (BSF) soldier. The case has sparked outrage across India, particularly in the northeastern states.

Police have arrested five suspects, including two minors, while the main accused, Yagya Awasthi, remains at large and is believed to have fled to Nepal. Authorities have announced a reward for information leading to his capture. The suspects face charges of murder and criminal conspiracy.

Student organizations across northeastern India have demanded a national law against hate crimes. Tipra Motha Party leader Pradyot Bikram Manikya Debbarma condemned the attack, calling it a blow to national unity and dignity.

Two associates of Faisal, the prime suspect in the murder of Inkilab Mancha spokesperson Shahid Sharif Osman Bin Hadi, have been arrested in India, according to Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Additional Commissioner (Crime and Operations) S N Md Nazrul Islam. He disclosed the information at a press briefing on Sunday at the DMP Media Centre, where he discussed progress in the investigation.

Nazrul Islam said Faisal fled to Meghalaya, India, where local police detained his two aides. So far, eleven people, including Faisal’s parents, wife, brother-in-law, and girlfriend, have been arrested in connection with the case. Investigators recovered two foreign pistols, 52 rounds of ammunition, a motorcycle with a fake number plate, and cheques worth Tk 218 crore linked to 53 accounts. The official described the killing as premeditated and confirmed that six suspects have given confessional statements.

The DMP expects to submit the charge sheet within 7–10 days, by January 7. Hadi was attacked on December 12 in Dhaka’s Paltan area and later died on December 18 while under treatment in Singapore.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has stated that two individuals involved in the murder of Inquilab Moncho convener Sharif Osman Hadi have fled to India. The information was disclosed by DMP Additional Commissioner (Crime and Operation) S N Nazrul Islam during a press briefing at the DMP Media Center on Minto Road in Dhaka on Sunday morning. He said the investigation is being conducted with high priority and that a charge sheet will be submitted within eight to ten days.

According to the DMP official, the suspects currently in custody revealed during police interrogation that two others had escaped to India. The police are continuing their investigation to identify the motive behind the killing and to locate the fugitives. The case remains under active investigation, with authorities emphasizing their commitment to completing the process promptly.

The DMP’s statement indicates that cross-border coordination may become necessary as the suspects are believed to have crossed into India, potentially complicating the next phase of the investigation.

Amar Desh editor Mahmudur Rahman filed a case in Dhaka’s Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM) Court on Sunday, accusing two individuals of spreading false propaganda that linked his newspaper to recent attacks and arson at the offices of Prothom Alo and The Daily Star. The accused are Prothom Alo columnist A.F.M. Rashedul Haque Mallik, also known as Maruf Mallik, and BNP’s Information and Technology Affairs Secretary A.K.M. Wahiduzzaman Apollo. The case was filed under Penal Code sections 500 and 505.

According to the complaint, the two accused allegedly posted fabricated and defamatory statements on Facebook on December 19, inciting hatred against Amar Desh. Mahmudur Rahman personally appeared before Magistrate Md. Jewel Rana, who recorded his statement and kept the case pending for an order, noting that action under section 505 requires government approval. Rahman requested arrest warrants and exemplary punishment for the accused.

The case follows violent attacks on December 18 at the offices of Prothom Alo’s associate publication Prothoma and The Daily Star, after news of martyr Osman Hadi’s death in Singapore. Police have arrested 18 people in connection with those incidents.

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) of Bangladesh has extended the deadline for submitting online income tax returns by one month. According to an order signed by NBR Secretary Md. Ekramul Haque, the new deadline has been moved from December 31 to January 31. This marks the second extension of the filing period for the current fiscal year 2025–26.

Previously, the NBR had already extended the submission deadline once from the original legal deadline of November 30 to December 31. The extension applies to all taxpayers who are now required to file their returns online, following a directive issued in August making e-filing mandatory for all. So far, more than 2.6 million taxpayers have submitted their e-returns for the fiscal year.

The decision aims to provide additional time for taxpayers to complete their online submissions and ensure compliance with the mandatory e-filing system introduced earlier in the year.

Mahmudur Rahman, editor of the newspaper Amar Desh, filed a case at the Dhaka Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM) Court on Sunday, December 28, 2025. The case accuses two individuals, Rashedul Haque Mallik alias Maruf Mallik and A.K.M. Wahiduzzaman Apollo, of spreading false and fabricated allegations on Facebook that linked Amar Desh to recent attacks and arson at the offices of Prothom Alo and The Daily Star. The case was filed under sections 500, 505, and 10 of the Penal Code. Magistrate Jewel Rana of Court No. 10 stated that an order would be issued subject to government approval under section 505.

According to the complaint, the accused allegedly posted false claims on December 19 intended to incite public hatred against Amar Desh. Mahmudur Rahman requested the court to issue arrest warrants and seek exemplary punishment for the accused. Barrister Tanvir Al Amin represented Amar Desh during the hearing.

The background of the case involves violent incidents on December 18, when unruly groups attacked and set fire to the offices of Prothom Alo’s associate publication Prothoma and The Daily Star following reports of Shahid Osman Hadi’s death in Singapore. Police have already arrested 18 people in connection with those attacks.

A severe winter storm has blanketed the northeastern United States in snow, disrupting transportation and prompting emergency measures. As of Saturday evening local time, about 29 million people across Minneapolis, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Vermont were under winter weather alerts. According to the National Weather Service, Connecticut’s New Haven County saw more than 10 inches of snow between Friday and Saturday, while Fairfield County recorded over 9 inches. New York’s Phoenicia reported the highest snowfall at 13 inches.

Central Park in New York City recorded 4.3 inches of snow, the highest since January 2022. New York Governor Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency in more than half of the state’s counties as snow and ice made roads hazardous for travel. Flight tracking website FlightAware reported over 8,700 flight delays and more than 1,400 cancellations across the United States by Saturday night.

Authorities warned that icy conditions could continue to disrupt travel and essential services as cleanup efforts proceed across affected regions.

The Pangaon Inland Container Terminal (ICT) in Keraniganj, Dhaka, is set to resume full operations in early January after years of losses and inactivity. The Chittagong Port Authority confirmed that Swiss company Medlog will take over management for 22 years, beginning in the first week of January. The terminal, built in 2013 on 64 acres at a cost of Tk 154 crore, can handle up to 200,000 containers annually. Officials expect the new arrangement to make the terminal profitable and strengthen Bangladesh’s trade and transport network.

Business leaders and port users have expressed both optimism and concern. They argue that profitability will depend on reducing customs delays, shipping costs, and vessel charges. Medlog Bangladesh Private Limited plans to invest about Tk 490 crore to modernize the terminal, add new cranes, and automate transport systems. The company will also introduce specialized vessels and barges for efficient cargo movement.

Experts believe the revived terminal could become a major logistics hub for Dhaka and surrounding industrial areas, easing pressure on road transport and boosting inland waterway trade efficiency.

Investigators are still trying to determine the motive behind the killing of Sharif Osman Hadi, spokesman of Inquilab Mancha and a leader of the July Revolution movement. Two suspects, Faisal Karim and Alamgir, who allegedly took part in the killing mission, remain at large and are believed to have fled to India, according to law enforcement sources. The case, initially filed as an attempted murder after Hadi was shot on December 12, was later converted to a murder case following his death. Fourteen people have been arrested so far, but investigators say no clear clue has yet emerged.

Officials involved in the investigation said they are examining who might have benefited from Hadi’s death and who financed or supported the network behind the killing. Preliminary findings suggest Hadi’s prominent role in the July movement, his strong stance against domination, and his leadership of Inquilab Mancha may have made him a target. Law enforcement agencies have recovered three firearms, including the weapon used in the murder, from a lake in Narsingdi, and continue to analyze Hadi’s digital content for further leads.

A bumper early potato harvest has been reported along the banks of the Gomti River in Comilla, where farmers are expressing concern over low market prices despite strong yields. The report, published on December 28, 2025, describes lush green fields and high-quality produce, yet growers fear they will not recover rising production costs. Farmers cite increased prices of seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides as major challenges and are calling for government support and market regulation.

According to the Department of Agricultural Extension, potatoes were cultivated on 8,310 hectares in Comilla this season, about 800 hectares less than last year. The highest cultivation occurred in Daudkandi, followed by Debidwar and Burichang upazilas. Farmers are currently selling potatoes at 18 taka per kilogram to wholesalers, who resell them in markets for 25–30 taka after transport costs. Officials note that although cultivation has declined slightly, existing stocks mean there is no shortage risk in the district.

Local agricultural officers said that while yields are good, it is too early to predict price trends until new potatoes reach broader markets.

A 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck off the northeastern coast of Taiwan late Saturday night, according to the island’s weather administration. The quake hit at 11:05 p.m. local time near Yilan County, with its epicenter located 73 kilometers beneath the seabed. Buildings in the capital Taipei shook, prompting residents to rush outdoors in fear. No major damage or casualties were immediately reported.

Taipei city authorities said there were no significant losses, though minor incidents such as gas and water pipe leaks and slight structural damage occurred in some buildings. Taiwan Power Company reported temporary power outages affecting tens of thousands of homes in Yilan. Chipmaker TSMC briefly evacuated some staff from its Hsinchu Science Park facilities before resuming normal operations.

The weather administration warned of possible aftershocks measuring between 5.5 and 6.0 within the next 24 hours. President Lai Ching-te stated that the situation was under control and urged citizens to remain alert for aftershocks.

Law enforcement and intelligence agencies have reported increased illegal arms infiltration through the Rajshahi border region as Bangladesh approaches its next parliamentary election. According to multiple sources, fugitive political leaders and militants based in Kolkata are directing a powerful smuggling syndicate operating across the Padma River and Rajshahi-Chapainawabganj frontier. The network reportedly involves former influential Awami League figures who fled to India but continue to manage operations through local associates.

Authorities said most firearms enter through the Shibganj border in Chapainawabganj, prompting heightened vigilance by RAB-5 and Border Guard Bangladesh. Recent seizures include foreign pistols, magazines, ammunition, and explosives, with several arrests made in Rajshahi and Naogaon. Intelligence reports indicate that many weapons, though marked as foreign-made, originate from Bihar’s Munger and are trafficked using fruit and vegetable consignments.

Political and security analysts warn that the stockpiling of illegal arms under political protection poses a serious threat to the upcoming election environment. They urge coordinated action by the executive branch and Home Ministry to dismantle the networks and prevent further destabilization.