Police in Patiya, Chattogram, have arrested two local leaders from the Krishak League and Awami League for alleged involvement in anti-state activities. The detainees are Nurul Abbas Khan, 32, organizational secretary of Baralia Union Krishak League, and Ratan Chakraborty, 62, a local Awami League leader. Abbas was detained Sunday afternoon from Kolagaon Union, while Chakraborty was arrested Saturday night during an ongoing special operation titled “Devil Hunt Phase-2.”

According to police, Abbas was charged under the Anti-Terrorism Act and Chakraborty under the Explosives Act. Both were presented before court following their arrests. Investigating Officer Yujutsu Yash Chakma stated that preliminary interrogation revealed evidence of their involvement in activities deemed harmful to the state. Local law enforcement has intensified surveillance under the special operation to curb subversive activities in the region.

Authorities have not disclosed further details about the nature of the alleged offenses. The arrests come amid heightened security operations across Chattogram, and further investigations are underway to identify any wider network linked to the suspects.

Denmark’s national postal service, PostNord, announced it will deliver its final batch of letters on December 30, 2025, marking the end of a 400-year-old tradition that began in 1624. The decision follows a dramatic decline in letter volumes, with mail usage dropping by over 90% in the past 25 years as digital communication and e-commerce reshaped postal demand.

As part of the transition, PostNord will lay off around 1,500 employees and remove 1,500 of its iconic red mailboxes. The company has already sold 1,000 mailboxes within hours of listing them, with additional units set for auction in January. Private courier DAO will expand its letter delivery services from January 1, offering online payment and home collection options.

Experts note that while physical letters are fading, their emotional and cultural value is rising. Younger Danes, particularly those aged 18–34, are reportedly sending more letters than older generations, viewing handwritten correspondence as a meaningful counterbalance to digital saturation.

Bangladeshi non-governmental organization CSS has announced a new recruitment circular for 2025, seeking to hire 200 loan officers. The circular, published on December 20, 2025, invites both male and female candidates with at least an HSC or bachelor’s degree to apply. Applications must be submitted online between January 9 and January 30, 2026, depending on the chosen deadline. The salary range for the positions is set between BDT 23,080 and BDT 25,000 per month.

According to the announcement, both fresh graduates and experienced applicants are eligible to apply, provided they meet the minimum age requirement of 18 years. The recruitment process will be conducted through a formal examination. CSS, known for its community development and microfinance programs, aims to expand its workforce to strengthen its financial inclusion initiatives.

The recruitment is expected to support CSS’s ongoing rural development projects and microcredit operations. Interested candidates are advised to complete their online applications within the specified dates to ensure eligibility for the selection process.

Bangladesh Bank has reduced the provisioning rate for loans in the agriculture and cottage, micro, small, and medium enterprise (CMSME) sectors to encourage banks to expand credit to these areas. According to a circular issued on Sunday, banks will now need to maintain only 0.5% provisioning against standard and special mention account (SMA) loans in these sectors until December 31, 2026. This marks a reduction from the previous 1% rate set in October 2025.

The central bank stated that the decision aims to stimulate short-term agricultural lending and support small-scale industries that are vital for rural employment and economic resilience. Financial analysts view the move as a liquidity-friendly measure that could ease credit flow to underserved sectors. However, some caution that lower provisioning may heighten risk exposure if loan recovery remains weak.

The revised policy is expected to help banks allocate more funds to productive sectors, potentially boosting rural output and SME growth in 2026. Bangladesh Bank will monitor compliance and loan performance under the new framework.

Bangladesh Bank reported that the country received $2.17 billion in remittances during the first 20 days of December 2025, equivalent to about Tk 26,499 crore at an exchange rate of Tk 122 per US dollar. The data highlights strong inflows through private and state-owned banks, reflecting continued reliance on expatriate earnings to support the national economy.

According to the central bank’s updated report, private banks handled the majority of remittances, totaling $1.58 billion, while state-owned banks received $371 million and specialized banks $215 million. Islami Bank Bangladesh Limited topped the list with $484.9 million, followed by Bangladesh Krishi Bank and Janata Bank. Eight banks, including five foreign ones, reported no remittance inflows during the period.

Economists note that the steady remittance flow remains a vital source of foreign exchange amid global economic uncertainty. Analysts expect total December inflows to surpass previous months if the current pace continues, helping to stabilize the country’s reserves and currency value.

Bangladesh Bank has purchased $2.93 billion from commercial banks in the first half of the current fiscal year, including $60 million from four banks last Sunday. The central bank confirmed the move as part of its strategy to prevent the dollar’s value from falling too sharply amid increased foreign currency supply.

Officials said the market has seen a turnaround since the fall of the previous government, with remittance inflows and export earnings both rising following tighter anti–money laundering measures. Between fiscal years 2021–22 and 2023–24, the central bank sold nearly $34 billion to stabilize the market, but this year it has shifted to buying dollars as supply now exceeds demand.

Bangladesh Bank spokesperson Arif Hossain Khan stated that the intervention aims to maintain exchange rate balance and protect exporters and remittance earners from losses. As a result, the country’s foreign exchange reserves have risen to $32.57 billion, or $27.87 billion under IMF’s BPM–6 methodology. Analysts say sustained inflows could further strengthen reserves if the trend continues.

In Naldanga upazila of Natore, Bangladesh, farmers have begun planting onion and garlic with renewed optimism for the winter season. Favorable weather and last year’s good prices have encouraged many to expand cultivation, with local agricultural officials setting ambitious acreage targets and promoting improved seed varieties.

However, this optimism is clouded by an acute fertilizer shortage. Farmers allege that local dealers are distributing fertilizer selectively, forcing many to buy at inflated retail prices—up to Tk 1,000 higher per sack and often underweight. Small and medium farmers say these irregularities are undermining their ability to cultivate properly. Agricultural officers acknowledge the problem and stress the need for transparent distribution and stronger monitoring.

If the shortage persists, farmers fear reduced yields could disrupt future market supply, potentially driving up prices. They are urging the administration to ensure fair fertilizer access and curb dealer malpractice before the planting season’s critical window closes.

National Tubes Limited (NTL), Bangladesh’s only manufacturer of MS and GI pipes licensed by the American Petroleum Institute (API), held its 45th Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Sunday at its Tongi, Gazipur factory premises. The meeting was chaired by Md. Anwarul Alam, Additional Secretary and Chairman of Bangladesh Steel and Engineering Corporation (BSEC) and NTL’s Board of Directors.

The event was attended by board members including A.K.M. Mizanur Rahman, Director (Finance) of Petrobangla; Nurunnahar, Deputy Secretary of the Ministry of Industries; Dr. Ridwanul Haque, Professor at IBA, University of Dhaka; Company Secretary Mohammad Abu Sayeem; and Managing Director Engineer Nirupam Singh. Shareholders, BSEC officials, and employees from all levels of the company were also present.

The AGM highlighted NTL’s continued role in Bangladesh’s industrial sector and its strategic importance as the country’s sole API-certified pipe producer. Stakeholders discussed operational performance, future growth opportunities, and the company’s contribution to national infrastructure development.

Bangladesh police have stated that there is still no confirmed information on the whereabouts of Faisal, the prime suspect in the murder of Inquilab Mancha spokesperson Shahid Sharif Osman Hadi. Additional Inspector General (AIGP) Khondker Rafiqul Islam made the remarks during a press briefing at the Ministry of Home Affairs on Sunday evening, where he also discussed the progress of the 'Devil Hunt Phase-2' operation and the overall law and order situation.

The AIGP clarified that authorities have not received any reliable evidence suggesting Faisal has fled abroad, warning that misinformation about suspects’ locations often circulates. He added that multiple police units are investigating different aspects of the case, and ten individuals allegedly involved in planning the murder have already been arrested.

Officials emphasized that the investigation remains active, with forensic evidence being analyzed. Law enforcement agencies are under pressure to locate Faisal and bring all perpetrators to justice as public attention on the case continues to grow.

A Dhaka court has granted bail to Abdul Hannan, the owner of a motorcycle suspected to have been used in the shooting of Inquilab Mancha spokesperson Shahid Sharif Osman Hadi. The order was issued on Sunday by Metropolitan Magistrate Md. Hasan Shahadat following a hearing on Hannan’s bail petition. Hannan had been arrested on December 13 by RAB-2 and later remanded for three days under Section 54 of the Criminal Procedure Code.

During interrogation, investigators verified his vehicle registration with BRTA, discovering two motorcycles registered in his name—a Suzuki Gixxer and a Yamaha. However, the motorcycle used in the attack was a Honda Hornet, with a registration number differing by one digit from Hannan’s vehicle. After his remand ended on December 17, he was sent to jail pending further investigation.

The murder of Hadi, an independent candidate for Dhaka-8, has drawn political attention amid allegations of broader conspiracies to destabilize the upcoming 13th national election. Authorities continue to investigate the case and identify the gunmen involved.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) of Bangladesh has filed three separate cases against three subsidiaries of S. Alam Group, accusing them of embezzling Tk 6,243 crore from state-owned Janata Bank under the guise of business loans. The cases were lodged at the ACC Chattogram-1 office, naming S. Alam Group chairman Saiful Alam Masud, his wife Farzana Parveen, and several Janata Bank officials as defendants.

According to the ACC, the alleged embezzlement occurred between 2005 and 2024 through S. Alam Vegetable Oil Ltd, S. Alam Cold Rolled Steel Mills Ltd, and S. Alam Trading Company Ltd. Each entity is accused of obtaining loans and misappropriating funds with accrued interest. The cases follow two earlier lawsuits filed on December 17 involving another Tk 3,085 crore linked to the group’s sugar and edible oil mills.

Investigators said the probe is ongoing and may expand to include additional individuals and institutions. The cases highlight growing scrutiny of corporate loan practices and potential collusion between private conglomerates and state-owned banks.

Bangladesh’s Religious Affairs Adviser A F M Khalid Hossain announced that several individuals involved in the recent arson attacks on the offices of national newspapers Prothom Alo and The Daily Star have been identified. Speaking to reporters at the Secretariat on Sunday, he said law enforcement agencies have been instructed to arrest the suspects and bring them under legal process. The adviser also condemned the mob killing of a Hindu garment worker in Mymensingh, calling it a heinous act and reaffirming the government’s stance against vigilante justice.

Hossain acknowledged the difficulty of preventing sudden attacks across multiple locations, including incidents at cultural institution Chhayanaut, but rejected claims of government complicity. He stated that the administration remains committed to maintaining law and order and ensuring a free and fair election. When asked about intelligence failures, he said such events are hard to predict but emphasized that prompt action had prevented further violence elsewhere.

The adviser further noted that misinformation and incitement from abroad via social media platforms like Facebook and YouTube remain outside direct government control, though authorities are monitoring the situation closely.

Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal has postponed its order on charge framing against 17 accused, including 10 army officers, in a case involving enforced disappearances and torture. The tribunal, led by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Majumder, rescheduled the hearing to December 23 after defense lawyers requested additional time. Senior lawyer Monsurul Haque Chowdhury represented three detained officers during the session.

Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam objected strongly to the defense’s repeated petitions, alleging that the defense team was deliberately attempting to mislead the tribunal and delay proceedings. He argued that such tactics were meant to obstruct justice and prevent the framing of charges despite the existence of prima facie grounds. The tribunal panel includes Justices Md Shafiul Alam Mahmud and retired District Judge Mohitul Haque Enam Chowdhury.

The delay highlights ongoing tensions in high-profile war crimes cases, where procedural motions often slow progress. Observers note that the tribunal’s next session will be crucial in determining whether formal charges proceed against the accused officers.

Police in Netrakona recovered the body of Helal Uddin, a 60-year-old farmer, who was found with his hands, feet, and mouth bound and his throat slit in his bedroom early Sunday morning. The incident occurred in Nariyapara village of Kaliyara Gabragati Union under Netrakona Sadar upazila. According to local sources, Uddin’s wife discovered the body around 4 a.m. and alerted neighbors, who then informed police.

Law enforcement officials, including the Superintendent of Police Md. Tariqul Islam, visited the scene along with detectives and the CID crime scene unit, collecting evidence for investigation. Police suspect the murder was premeditated. Authorities noted inconsistencies in the wife’s statement, and she has been taken in for questioning. The body was sent to Netrakona Modern Sadar Hospital for autopsy.

Investigators are prioritizing the case, emphasizing that legal action will follow based on forensic findings and investigative progress. The killing has shocked the rural community, prompting heightened security and scrutiny of possible personal or financial motives.

Police in Kishoreganj upazila of Nilphamari district arrested two individuals, including a local Jubo League ward president, during separate raids on Saturday night under an anti-terrorism case. The detainees were identified as Ziaur Rahman, 42, president of the Jubo League’s Ward No. 9 unit in Putimari Union, and Jagdish Chandra Barman, 55, of Uttar Barovita Dangapara village. Both were sent to the district jail on Sunday afternoon following their arrest.

According to Abdul Kuddus, the investigating officer of Kishoreganj Police Station, the arrests were made as part of the ongoing “Devil Hunt Phase-2” operation targeting individuals accused in anti-terrorism cases. Police stated that the operation aims to strengthen law enforcement presence and curb militant or extremist activities in the region.

Local sources said the arrests have drawn attention within political circles, as one of the accused holds a leadership role in the ruling party’s youth wing. Authorities have not disclosed further details about the specific charges or the next steps in the legal process.