Rakib, joint convener of the Raipur Government College unit of the student organization Chhatra Dal, died after being electrocuted in Lakshmipur’s Raipur upazila on Thursday evening. The accident occurred around 5 p.m. in Ward No. 2 of Charbanshi Union when he came into contact with electricity while preparing hot water at his home poultry farm. Family members and locals rushed him to the emergency department of Raipur Upazila Health Complex, where duty doctor Sohel Rana declared him dead.

His sudden death has cast a pall of grief over the area. Family members are mourning his loss, and members of Raipur Government College Chhatra Dal and local political circles have expressed deep sorrow and condolences. Leaders described Rakib as an active and dedicated organizer whose death is an irreparable loss to the organization.

The incident has drawn widespread sympathy in the community, highlighting the risks of household electrical accidents in rural areas.

Ferry operations on the Daulatdia–Paturia route, a key waterway connecting Rajbari’s Daulatdia and Manikganj’s Paturia, resumed on Friday morning after being suspended for nine and a half hours due to dense fog. According to the report, services were restored around 9:30 a.m. on December 26, 2025, once visibility improved on the Padma River.

The Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) temporarily halted all ferry and vessel movement from midnight on Saturday when thick fog severely reduced visibility across the river basin. BIWTC’s Daulatdia office assistant general manager (commerce) Mohammad Salauddin stated that operations were restarted after the fog cleared and navigation conditions became normal.

The prolonged suspension caused significant traffic congestion at both ferry terminals, leaving trucks, buses, and private cars stranded. With the resumption of ferry movement, the backlog began to ease, bringing relief to drivers, assistants, and passengers waiting at the terminals.

Pakistan’s security forces conducted separate operations in Balochistan’s Kalat district and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Dera Ismail Khan district, killing ten militants described as India-backed extremists. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said the actions followed intelligence reports about the presence of such groups. During the Dera Ismail Khan operation, two militants, including their leader Dilwar, were killed. Dilwar was on Pakistan’s most-wanted list for involvement in multiple terrorist acts, with a government bounty of four million rupees for his capture.

ISPR stated that weapons and ammunition were recovered from the dead militants, who were allegedly involved in attacks against security forces and civilians. In a separate operation in Kalat, eight militants linked to the group Fitna al Hindustan were killed after an intense exchange of fire. The ISPR claimed these militants acted as Indian proxies in Pakistan. Arms, ammunition, and explosives were seized from the site.

The operations highlight Pakistan’s ongoing counterterrorism efforts in regions affected by militant activity, according to the ISPR statement.

Bangladesh’s financial regulatory bodies have agreed to implement three major initiatives aimed at improving coordination and efficiency across the sector. The decisions were made at a meeting titled “Strengthening the Financial Reporting Council and Ensuring Structural and Coordinated Cooperation,” held at the FRC office in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar under the chairmanship of Dr. Anisuzzaman Chowdhury, Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser. Representatives from the Ministry of Finance, Bangladesh Bank, FRC, BSEC, IDRA, RJSC, MRA, and NBR attended the meeting.

The three initiatives include single-point enlistment of auditors and audit firms under the Financial Reporting Council (FRC), creation of a common report submission portal for all regulators, and establishment of a real-time common data-sharing platform. The FRC will lead the implementation of these projects, with deadlines set between January 15 and January 31, 2026. The FRC chairman stated that these measures will enhance transparency, reduce information concealment, and strengthen financial discipline.

According to the meeting’s proceedings, the initiatives are expected to reduce procedural delays, improve inter-agency data exchange, and curb manipulation in loan management and stock valuation.

Police detained a Jubo League leader named Russel Pathan at the Benapole International Checkpost immigration point on Thursday afternoon while he was allegedly attempting to flee to India. The arrest took place around 12:30 p.m. after immigration officials found his name on the stop list during passport verification. Pathan identified himself as the joint convener of the Mymensingh Metropolitan Jubo League.

According to police, Russel Pathan is accused in two sabotage cases filed with Mymensingh Kotwali Police Station. He is the son of Abdur Razzak Pathan from Sankipara village in Mymensingh Sadar upazila. The Benapole Checkpost Immigration Officer-in-Charge, Sakhawat Hossain, confirmed that Pathan was detained due to his name appearing on the stop list.

After initial questioning, police handed him over to Benapole Port Police Station, from where he was later sent to the Jashore court for further legal proceedings.

Bangladesh’s joint security forces conducted a series of coordinated operations across the country from December 18 to 25, recovering 13 illegal firearms and arresting 21 individuals. The Inter-Services Public Relations Directorate (ISPR) announced the results in a statement released on Thursday, noting that the raids were carried out under various army infantry divisions and independent brigades in cooperation with other law enforcement agencies in Dhaka and other regions.

According to the ISPR, those detained include suspected terrorists, drug dealers, addicts, robbers, members of juvenile gangs, and smugglers. In addition to the firearms, authorities seized 114 rounds of ammunition, explosives, narcotics, and sharp weapons. The arrested individuals were handed over to local police stations for interrogation and legal proceedings.

The coordinated crackdown reflects ongoing efforts by Bangladesh’s security agencies to curb illegal arms possession and organized criminal activity across the country.

A shocking incident in Eidgaon, Cox’s Bazar, has raised serious allegations against local police officers who allegedly framed an innocent autorickshaw driver, Jafar Alam, in a false weapons case. The event, which occurred on October 13, was captured on nearby CCTV cameras showing police officers planting a firearm in Jafar’s vehicle while he was sent to buy water. Moments later, he was arrested and forced to pose with the weapon for photographs. The operation was reportedly led by Sub-Inspector Badiul Alam, known for previous controversies, along with two constables.

According to Jafar’s family, the incident was an act of revenge after they filed an eve-teasing case against local miscreants. His wife claimed police took money to frame him, while his daughter described ongoing harassment by the same group. Locals alleged that influential youths have long manipulated police actions in the area. Additional Superintendent of Police Alok Biswas confirmed after reviewing the footage that Jafar was indeed framed and promised strict action.

Badiul Alam has faced multiple prior accusations, including extortion and wrongful arrests, but had avoided punishment due to lack of evidence. Authorities now say the CCTV proof leaves little room for impunity.

A 19-year-old Muslim construction worker from West Bengal, Jewel Rana, was beaten to death in Odisha’s Sambalpur district on Wednesday night after being accused of being Bangladeshi. Two of his coworkers were also assaulted and hospitalized. Police have arrested six suspects and launched an investigation into the incident, which occurred in the Danipali area under Ainthapalli police station.

Witnesses said the attackers demanded identification before assaulting the workers, forcing them to chant religious slogans. Migrant worker organizations and human rights advocates have linked the killing to a broader pattern of mob violence targeting Bengali-speaking Muslims, allegedly fueled by recent government directives to identify and deport undocumented Bangladeshis and Rohingyas.

The case has reignited debate over communal tensions and migrant safety in India. Activists have urged both state and central authorities to address the growing trend of vigilante attacks, warning that political rhetoric and administrative inaction are emboldening extremist groups. The Odisha government has promised a thorough investigation.

Bangladesh is experiencing a sharp drop in temperature, with cold winds and dense fog gripping much of the country, including the capital Dhaka. According to the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD), the current cold spell is expected to persist for at least five more days, with nighttime temperatures falling by 1–2°C and daytime temperatures also slightly lower. The lowest temperature recorded on Thursday was 10.2°C in Rajshahi, while Dhaka saw 14°C.

Meteorologists said that while no formal cold wave has yet developed, the chill is being felt more intensely due to fog and reduced sunlight. Experts attribute the conditions to a subcontinental high-pressure system that is amplifying the cold. The BMD forecasts that temperatures may drop further around the start of the new year.

The cold has worsened hardship for low-income and homeless residents, many seen huddling on city streets. Meanwhile, sales of winter clothing have surged in local markets as people prepare for a potentially harsher cold phase ahead.

Bangladeshi activist Tahreema Jannat Survi, known online as the 'July Warrior,' was arrested early Thursday in Tongi by a joint security force. Authorities said she had posted a series of derogatory and inflammatory comments on social media targeting the government, several senior advisers, and the army chief. Following the operation at her home in the Morkun Purbo Para area, she was handed over to Tongi East Police Station.

Police confirmed that Survi had an outstanding arrest warrant from a separate extortion case filed in Kaliakoir, Gazipur. Law enforcement sources stated that her online activities were under surveillance due to concerns they could threaten public order and national stability. The arrest followed weeks of monitoring after her posts sparked public outrage online.

Officials said Survi has been transferred to Kaliakoir police custody for further legal proceedings. The case underscores growing scrutiny of online speech in Bangladesh and the increasing involvement of joint forces in cyber-related investigations.

Bangladesh Bank announced that depositors of five troubled Islamic banks undergoing merger will be able to withdraw up to Tk 200,000 from next Monday. The funds will be disbursed through the Deposit Insurance Fund, and withdrawals can be made directly from the respective branches. The five banks—First Security Islami Bank, Global Islami Bank, Social Islami Bank, EXIM Bank, and Union Bank—are being consolidated into the newly approved Combined Islami Bank PLC.

According to central bank officials, the withdrawal process faced initial complications but is now ready to proceed. Customers with deposits exceeding Tk 200,000 will be allowed phased withdrawals every three months, while senior citizens and cancer patients will face relaxed restrictions. The new bank’s paid-up capital is set at Tk 350 billion, with Tk 200 billion from the government and Tk 150 billion from the insurance fund.

The merger aims to restore depositor confidence and stabilize the banking sector after years of loan defaults. Bangladesh Bank has also ordered the cancellation of existing shares of the five banks due to negative asset values under the Bank Resolution Ordinance.

A sharp drop in temperature has brought intense cold to Tetulia, Panchagarh, where the local weather office recorded 10.5°C on Thursday. Dense fog and chilly northern winds have disrupted normal life, forcing residents to stay indoors except for urgent needs. Visibility on highways has been severely reduced, prompting vehicles to move with headlights on throughout the day.

According to Jitendranath, acting officer of the Tetulia Meteorological Observatory, a mild cold wave had passed earlier this month, but temperatures have been steadily falling again since December 20. He warned that another cold wave may be approaching, likely intensifying the current cold conditions.

Authorities and residents are bracing for harsher weather in the coming days, with concerns about health risks and disruptions to agriculture and transportation. Relief measures, including distribution of warm clothing, are expected to be stepped up if the cold persists.

A bomb explosion inside a mosque in Maiduguri, the capital of Nigeria’s Borno State, killed at least seven worshippers during evening prayers on Wednesday, December 24. Witnesses and security sources confirmed the incident, though no group has claimed responsibility. Local anti-jihad militia leader Babakura Kolo described it as a deliberate attack, while some witnesses suggested it might have been a suicide bombing. Police confirmed the blast and said bomb disposal units were deployed to the site.

The explosion occurred in the Gamboru market area, a district that has previously faced attacks from insurgent groups. An NGO operating in Maiduguri advised its staff to avoid the area following the incident. Borno State has long been the epicenter of the Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) insurgencies, which have killed around 40,000 people and displaced nearly two million since 2009.

Although large-scale attacks in Maiduguri have declined in recent years, analysts warn that militant groups retain the capacity to launch deadly assaults, highlighting persistent instability in Nigeria’s northeast.

More than 13,000 low-income farmers in Langadu upazila of Rangamati are facing severe difficulties as the water level in Kaptai Lake has not receded, leaving vast tracts of farmland submerged. Farmers who usually begin Boro rice cultivation in the Bengali month of Poush are unable to plant this season, raising fears of a potential food shortage in the coming year.

According to the local agriculture office, about 6,500 hectares out of 8,000 hectares of cultivable land remain underwater. Farmers allege that the government has kept the Kaptai Dam closed, preventing water release. Local officials have urged the district administration to consider releasing water to save the crops. However, a Power Development Board (PDB) manager stated that a proposal was made to maintain the current water level until the upcoming national election.

If the water does not recede within the next two weeks, farmers warn that they will miss the planting window entirely, threatening both livelihoods and local food security.

Bangladesh has finalized the draft of its first major Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with Japan, marking a milestone in bilateral economic relations. Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) Chairman Choudhury Ashiq described the achievement as historic, emphasizing that it reflects Bangladesh’s commitment to policy continuity, investment protection, and credible dispute resolution mechanisms.

The agreement is expected to open new opportunities beyond traditional manufacturing and energy sectors, extending to automobiles, digital services, logistics, and healthcare. Ashiq noted that Japanese investment will bring advanced technology, skills, and standards, reshaping Bangladesh’s economic landscape. The move aligns with Bangladesh’s preparations for graduation from Least Developed Country (LDC) status, positioning the nation for broader global integration.

Officials indicated that this is only the beginning, as Bangladesh seeks similar agreements with key markets such as the United States, the European Union, and South Korea. The EPA is seen as a strategic foundation for sustaining growth and competitiveness in the post-LDC era.