The Sheikh Hasina Weavers Village project, launched on November 1, 2018, across 120 acres in Shibchar of Madaripur and Zajira of Shariatpur, has reportedly collapsed amid allegations of large-scale corruption and mismanagement. Construction, which included land acquisition, soil filling, and boundary wall development, has been halted for about one and a half years following a change in government. The site, once intended for weaving factories, housing, and training centers, now lies abandoned and partially occupied by watermelon cultivation.

Local residents said the project stopped after August 5, 2024, leaving the area deserted. Farmers who had given up their farmland for the project expressed frustration over the uncertainty of its future, though they acknowledged receiving compensation. The project is now being renamed Haji Shariatullah Weavers Village, according to local officials, but no new work has started yet.

Officials stated they are still gathering details about the project’s current status, while locals urged the government to resume construction to bring promised development and employment to the region.

The Bangladesh Meteorological Department has forecast that Dhaka and surrounding areas will experience moderate to dense fog until noon on Saturday, reducing visibility across the capital. The forecast, issued for the six hours from 7 a.m., also noted that the sky may remain partly cloudy and the weather is expected to stay dry during this period.

According to the department, light winds from the west and northwest at speeds of 6 to 12 kilometers per hour may prevail. The temperature is likely to remain nearly unchanged, with 13.0 degrees Celsius recorded at 6 a.m. and humidity at 99 percent. On Friday, Dhaka’s highest temperature was 20.4 degrees Celsius, and the lowest recorded today was 12.7 degrees Celsius. No rainfall was recorded in the past 24 hours.

The forecast further mentioned that sunset in Dhaka will occur at 5:24 p.m. on Saturday, while sunrise on Sunday is expected at 6:42 a.m.

The Bangladesh Meteorological Department has warned of multiple cold waves sweeping across the country throughout January 2026. According to its long-term forecast, two to three mild to moderate cold waves and one to two moderate to severe cold waves may occur, with temperatures in some areas expected to fall as low as 4 to 6 degrees Celsius. Northern regions and river basin areas are likely to experience the most intense cold.

The forecast, issued after a meeting of the department’s expert committee, also predicts moderate to dense fog from midnight to morning, sometimes lasting until noon. This fog is expected to reduce the difference between day and night temperatures, intensifying the overall cold sensation. Despite normal rainfall being expected for the month, no cyclones or low-pressure systems are anticipated over the Bay of Bengal.

In December, rainfall across the country was 99.3 percent below normal, and the lowest temperature recorded was 7.5 degrees Celsius in Gopalganj on December 31. The department cautioned that cold wave days could disrupt normal life even if average temperatures remain typical for the season.

Retired Commodore Jasim Uddin Bhuiyan has cautioned that leasing Chattogram Port to foreign operators such as Maersk Group, RSJGT, or DP World could endanger Bangladesh’s sovereignty. Writing in the newspaper ‘Amar Desh’ on January 3, 2026, he argued that strategic ports are not mere infrastructures but vital instruments of national power. Drawing parallels with Ukraine’s Sevastopol Port, he warned that foreign control through long-term leases can lead to economic and political dependency.

The article highlights that over 92 percent of Bangladesh’s trade passes through Chattogram Port, making it the country’s economic lifeline. Bhuiyan criticized the move toward foreign concession models, calling it a potential 30-year trap that could turn the port into a foreign-managed gateway. He proposed an alternative “operator model” combining local and global operators to maintain national control while improving efficiency.

He urged transparency in all port agreements, rejection of non-disclosure clauses, and cancellation of any deals that compromise revenue or authority. The piece concludes that sovereignty cannot be leased and warns policymakers to learn from global maritime history before finalizing such arrangements.

A 6.5 magnitude earthquake struck Mexico’s southern Guerrero state on Friday morning, killing two people and triggering widespread tremors. According to the National Seismological Service, the quake’s epicenter was located 35 kilometers beneath San Marcos, about 92 kilometers from the Pacific coastal city of Acapulco. More than 500 aftershocks were recorded following the initial quake, and landslides were reported in several parts of the state.

Guerrero Governor Evelyn Salgado confirmed that a 50-year-old woman died when her house collapsed near the epicenter, while another person in Mexico City died after falling during a building evacuation. A hospital in the state capital, Chilpancingo, sustained structural damage, prompting the evacuation of patients. Residents and tourists in Mexico City and Acapulco rushed into the streets as the ground shook.

During a morning briefing at the National Palace, President Claudia Sheinbaum and journalists were forced to evacuate when the earthquake alarm sounded. Civil defense teams continued to assess damage and monitor aftershocks across the affected areas.

Ferry operations on the Shariatpur–Chandpur river route returned to normal on Saturday morning after being suspended overnight because of dense fog. According to the BIWTC terminal authorities, services resumed at around 10:45 a.m. when visibility improved. The suspension had begun at 1 a.m. on Friday night to prevent possible accidents amid heavy fog, causing congestion of passengers and vehicles on both sides of the river.

Md. Iqbal Hossain, deputy manager of the BIWTC Narsinghpur ferry terminal, said the decision to halt operations was taken for safety reasons as fog density increased late at night. Once conditions improved, ferry movement was restored. Currently, six ferries of various sizes are operating on the route.

With the resumption of ferry services, both passenger and cargo transport have returned to normal, easing pressure on the terminals and restoring regular movement across the Shariatpur–Chandpur route.

Ferry services on the Shariatpur–Chandpur river route were temporarily suspended early Friday, January 3, 2026, due to dense fog. The Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) halted operations from 1 a.m. to prevent potential accidents as visibility on the river sharply decreased. The decision was taken as a safety precaution amid worsening fog conditions overnight.

According to BIWTC’s Narsinghpur ferry terminal deputy manager Md. Iqbal Hossain, visibility on the river route dropped significantly, prompting the suspension to ensure the safety of passengers and vehicles. He confirmed that no ferry was stranded on the river and that services would resume once the fog clears.

The suspension has caused congestion at both ferry terminals, where passengers and drivers are waiting for improved weather conditions to continue their journeys.

Bangladesh is experiencing an unusually prolonged and intense cold wave, with dense fog covering much of the country and temperatures dropping sharply. The Bangladesh Meteorological Department reported that the cold conditions are expected to worsen from January 5, with mild to moderate cold waves likely in northwestern districts. On Friday, nine flights were diverted from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport due to poor visibility caused by fog, though operations later resumed as conditions improved.

Meteorologists said the persistent fog and lack of sunlight have intensified the cold, with Dhaka recording a minimum temperature of 13.3°C and Jessore 8°C. Northern regions such as Rangpur and Rajair are facing severe cold, halting work and increasing hardship for low-income workers. Health authorities confirmed at least 32 deaths in Rangpur Division from cold-related illnesses over the past week, mostly among children, women, and the elderly.

Experts attributed repeated flight diversions to the absence of a Category-2 Instrument Landing System at Dhaka airport. The cold wave has severely affected daily life, particularly for the homeless and day laborers lacking warm clothing, while fog continues to disrupt road and air transport nationwide.

The UK Met Office has confirmed that 2025 was the warmest and one of the sunniest years in the country's recorded history. According to the agency, the record reflects the clear impact of human-induced climate change. Based on data dating back to 1884, 2025 now ranks among the top three warmest years alongside 2022 and 2023, with an average annual temperature of 10.09 degrees Celsius. It was only the second time the UK’s annual average temperature exceeded 10 degrees Celsius, the first being in 2022.

The Met Office noted that four of the five warmest years since 1884 have occurred within the past five years, and all ten warmest years have been recorded in the last two decades. In addition to temperature, 2025 also set a new record for sunshine, with 1,648.5 hours of sunlight—the highest since records began in 1910 and 61.4 hours more than the previous record set in 2003.

Mark McCarthy, head of the Met Office’s climate attribution division, said the findings align with expectations from human-driven climate change and that global warming continues to influence the UK’s climate.

Consumers across Bangladesh are facing an acute shortage of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) as prices have soared far above official rates. Cylinders that cost Tk 1,253 only days earlier were sold on Friday for Tk 1,800 to Tk 2,500, yet many areas still reported no availability. Retailers said dealers were not supplying gas, while several Dhaka neighborhoods also reported severe pipeline gas shortages. The Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) accused the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) of failing to monitor the market, allowing manipulation to flourish.

CAB’s vice president said suppliers and retailers were exploiting the situation while the government focused on elections. The LPG Distributors Association blamed most companies for halting supply, leaving only a few active and charging extra. BERC has written to the LPG Operators of Bangladesh (LOAB) demanding enforcement of the fixed December price of Tk 1,253 per 12-kg cylinder. LOAB officials cited a 40% drop in December imports due to global shipping disruptions and higher costs.

BERC is expected to announce new LPG prices on January 4, after reviewing import cost data submitted by companies.

Ferry services on the Shariatpur-Chandpur river route have been temporarily suspended due to dense fog. According to the Narsinghpur BIWTC terminal authorities, the suspension began at 1 a.m. on Friday, January 2, to prevent possible accidents caused by poor visibility. The Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) confirmed the decision, citing safety concerns for vessels navigating the fog-covered river.

Md. Iqbal Hossain, Deputy Manager of the BIWTC Narsinghpur ferry terminal, stated that visibility on the river and surrounding areas had dropped significantly, increasing the risk of accidents. As a precaution, ferry movement was halted until conditions improve. He also confirmed that no ferries were stranded mid-river during the suspension.

The Shariatpur-Chandpur route is considered an important communication link for the southern region of Bangladesh, currently served by six ferries of varying sizes. Authorities said ferry operations will resume once the fog clears and visibility returns to normal levels.

Bangladesh set a new record in 2025 by sending more than 750,000 workers to Saudi Arabia, the highest number ever deployed to a single country in one year, according to the Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET). BMET Additional Director General Ashraf Hossain confirmed the figure, noting that over 1.1 million Bangladeshi workers went abroad in total during the year, with more than two-thirds choosing Saudi Arabia as their destination.

BMET data show a 16 percent increase in worker deployment to Saudi Arabia compared to 2024, when about 628,000 workers went there. Currently, around 3.5 million Bangladeshis live and work in Saudi Arabia, sending home over five billion dollars in remittances annually. Authorities said recent years have seen a focus on sending more skilled workers, strengthened by the launch of Saudi Arabia’s Skill Verification Program in Bangladesh in 2023.

A new employment agreement signed between Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia in October aims to enhance worker protection, wage systems, welfare, and healthcare. The deal is expected to create around 300,000 new job opportunities for Bangladeshi workers in 2026, particularly under Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 construction projects.

The Bangladesh Meteorological Department has forecast that up to five cold waves may sweep across the country during January, with temperatures possibly dropping to as low as four degrees Celsius. Director Md. Mominul Islam stated that two to three of these cold waves are expected to be mild to moderate, ranging between 8–10°C and 6–8°C, while one or two could be moderate to severe, between 6–8°C and 4–6°C.

According to the forecast, no cyclones or low-pressure systems are likely to form over the Bay of Bengal this month, and the country’s major rivers are expected to maintain normal water flow. The five-day weather outlook indicates dry conditions nationwide with partly cloudy skies and widespread fog, particularly from midnight to morning, which may persist until noon in some areas.

Dense fog may temporarily disrupt air travel, inland water transport, and road communication. The mild cold wave currently affecting several districts could expand further, and temperatures in various regions are expected to drop slightly in the coming days.

Bangladesh’s government has confirmed that no illegal or cloned mobile phones will be deactivated within the next 90 days following the official launch of the National Equipment Identity Register (NEIR) on January 1. The clarification came from Faez Ahmad Tayyeb, Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser for the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology, who addressed public confusion over multiple phone registrations under single national IDs.

Tayyeb explained that the NEIR system, which links all mobile devices’ IMEI numbers to a national database, received over three billion data sets from operators, including historical records. This caused some users’ national IDs to show an unusually high number of active devices. The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) and mobile operators are jointly working to archive old data and display only currently active handsets. He also noted that the system had been initially developed in 2021 and recently upgraded with additional features.

According to the government, the NEIR will help identify stolen and illegal phones, raise public awareness, and allow citizens to monitor SIM and device usage linked to their national IDs, enhancing transparency and security in mobile communications.

Bangladesh Bank has reported that the country's foreign currency reserves stand at 33.18 billion US dollars. The figure was released on Friday, February 2, based on the central bank’s latest data. The information provides an updated view of the nation’s reserve position at the beginning of 2026.

According to the International Monetary Fund’s Balance of Payments and International Investment Position Manual (BPM6) standard, Bangladesh’s reserves currently amount to 28.51 billion US dollars. The difference between the two figures reflects the variation in calculation methods used by the central bank and the IMF.

The report highlights the ongoing monitoring of Bangladesh’s reserve levels by both domestic and international institutions, underscoring the importance of transparency in financial reporting.