A mobile court in Baliakandi upazila of Rajbari district fined three individuals Tk 200,000 on December 27 for illegally cutting and selling soil to brick kilns. The operation took place in the Amtala area of Baliakandi Sadar Union, led by Upazila Assistant Commissioner (Land) Ehsanul Haque Shipon. The fined individuals were identified as Touhid Biswas, son of Moslem Biswas; Hasan Molla, son of Shukur Molla; and Rashed Sheikh, son of Sadek Sheikh. Police personnel from Baliakandi Police Station were present during the operation.

According to the Upazila Assistant Commissioner, the offenders violated Section 7(a) of the Balumahal and Soil Management Act 2010 and were penalized under Section 15(1) of the same law. He stated that similar drives would continue against anyone involved in illegal soil or sand extraction within the upazila.

The enforcement action underscores the local administration’s ongoing efforts to curb unauthorized soil extraction and protect land resources in the Rajbari region.

The Sylhet district administration honored 103 expatriate Bangladeshis for their contributions to remittances and professional success. The ceremony took place on Saturday afternoon at the Kabi Nazrul Auditorium in Rikabibazar, Sylhet city. The recognition was divided into six categories: successful professionals, businesspersons, community leaders, women entrepreneurs, achievers in sports, and importers of Bangladeshi products abroad. Abdul Nasher Khan, Secretary of the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications, presented the awards as the chief guest.

The event was attended by senior officials including the Divisional Commissioner Khan Md. Reza Un Nabi, Sylhet Metropolitan Police Commissioner Abdul Quddus Chowdhury, Deputy Commissioner Md. Sarwar Alam, Superintendent of Police Kazi Akhtarul Alam, and Additional Deputy Commissioner (Education and ICT) Masud Rana. The program began with a rally in honor of the remittance contributors, joined by expatriates, government officials, and people from various professions.

According to the district administration, 582 applications were submitted over the past 20 days, and after verification, 103 individuals were selected for the honor.

A severe winter storm named Devin caused major travel disruptions across the United States on Friday, leading to the cancellation of 1,802 flights and delays to more than 22,000 others, according to Reuters. The storm struck during the Christmas holiday season, heavily affecting the northeastern region. The worst disruptions occurred at John F. Kennedy International, Newark Liberty, and LaGuardia airports, where more than half of all cancellations and delays were reported. JetBlue canceled 225 flights, Delta 212, Republic Airways 157, American Airlines 146, and United Airlines 97.

Airline representatives said ticket change fees were waived for affected passengers. JetBlue reported canceling about 350 flights over two days, mostly in the northeastern United States. The storm also impacted Boston, Chicago, and Toronto in Canada. Authorities declared states of emergency in parts of New Jersey and New York as the National Weather Service forecast four to five inches of snow from New Jersey through southern Connecticut.

By Friday evening, snowfall reached seven inches in New York’s Pawling and Wolcott and 6.5 inches in Waterbury, Connecticut, with snow, rain, and ice expected to continue into early Saturday.

A powerful winter storm has disrupted daily life across the northeastern United States, prompting emergency declarations in parts of New York and New Jersey. The U.S. weather service forecasted between four and five inches of snow from New Jersey through New York City to southern Connecticut. As of Friday evening, heavy snow, rain, and ice were affecting the region and were expected to continue until early Saturday.

According to the weather department, by 8:15 p.m. Friday, seven inches of snow had been recorded in Pawling, New York, 6.5 inches in Waterbury, Connecticut, and seven inches in Wolcott, New York. New York Governor Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency in more than half of the state, covering 36 counties, including all five boroughs of New York City.

Forecasts indicated that snow would persist through Saturday morning, with the Mid-Hudson, New York City, and Long Island areas expected to see the heaviest accumulation. Snowfall could reach 4 to 8 inches in many areas, with some places seeing up to a foot, raising concerns about power outages and accidents.

In Sariakandi upazila of Bogura, women from 117 chars along the Jamuna River are leading a quiet revolution in agriculture. They work across the sandy river islands, cultivating crops and contributing significantly to the rural economy. From seedbed preparation to harvesting and threshing, women now participate equally with men in nearly all farming activities, helping bring stability and prosperity to their families.

Despite their vital role, these women face deep-rooted wage discrimination. Female laborers report earning only 200 to 260 taka per day, while men receive 500 to 600 taka for the same work. Local sources note that both government and non-government organizations are conducting advocacy programs to raise awareness about women’s rights, but wage inequality remains unresolved. Agricultural officer Mohammad Ali Jinnah praised the women’s skill and dedication, emphasizing that ensuring fair pay could further strengthen the rural economy.

Observers believe that addressing wage disparity would not only recognize women’s true contribution but also enhance national agricultural productivity.

Mohammad Hossain, a young farmer from Purba Charumed in Lalmohan’s Ramaganj Union of Bhola, has achieved notable success in jujube cultivation. Over the past five years, he has expanded his orchard to 160 decimals of land, growing four varieties of jujube—Bol Sundari, Thai Apple Kul, China Tok-Mishti Kul, and Bharat Sundari. Despite unfavorable weather this year, his yield has been the highest among local growers, and he expects to sell around Tk 1.6 million worth of jujube this season.

Hossain began his venture on one acre of fallow land and gradually expanded due to consistent profits. He has already sold 2,000 kilograms of China Tok-Mishti Kul for about Tk 250,000, with wholesale prices at Tk 130 per kilogram and retail at Tk 150. His success has motivated 16 other farmers from nearby areas to start jujube cultivation under his guidance, receiving hands-on training and advice from him.

According to Lalmohan Upazila Agriculture Officer Abu Hasnain, Hossain’s orchard is managed hygienically and produces sweet, juicy fruits. The agriculture office has pledged full support to anyone interested in starting commercial jujube farming in the area.

The 35-kilometer Chandpur-Shariatpur four-lane road project has remained stalled for five years due to financial shortages, land acquisition complications, and administrative paralysis. Approved in the 2019–2020 fiscal year with a budget of Tk 860 crore, the project aimed to expand the road from Shariatpur’s Monohar Bazar to Vedarganj’s Ibrahimpur. Only six kilometers of work have been completed, leaving 29 kilometers unfinished and causing severe suffering for residents across 21 southern and southwestern districts.

According to the Roads and Highways Department (RHD), Tk 431.68 crore was allocated for acquiring 95.85 hectares of land, but Tk 430.29 crore was spent acquiring only 49 hectares. The remaining 46.85 hectares require an additional Tk 300 crore, which was not included in the original budget. Many landowners have received only acquisition notices without compensation, leaving them unable to sell or repair their properties.

Officials said the project’s tenure has been extended three times, with the current term ending on December 31, 2025. The RHD has requested another extension and a revision of the Development Project Proposal (DPP) to secure additional funds and restart the tendering process.

Farmers in the Padma char areas of Veramara upazila in Kushtia are facing financial losses despite achieving a bumper onion harvest this season. The losses have been attributed to the government’s decision to import onions from India, which has caused local market prices to fall sharply. Farmers have urged the government to suspend onion imports for two months to help them recover their costs.

According to local sources, 255 hectares of land in Veramara upazila were cultivated with murikata onions this season, with farmers expecting yields of 70 to 80 maunds per bigha. Although favorable weather supported strong production, rising costs of fertilizer, pesticides, and labor have increased overall expenses. Farmers who took loans from NGOs now fear they will be unable to repay them due to the price drop. Some reported potential losses of up to five lakh taka.

Upazila agriculture officer Mahamuda Sultana confirmed that government incentives and technical support helped achieve the cultivation target and good yields. However, she noted that the high yield and ongoing imports have contributed to lower market prices.

A mild cold wave is sweeping across several districts of Bangladesh, including Jessore, Chuadanga, Gopalganj, Rajshahi, Pabna, Sirajganj, and Nilphamari, and is expected to continue until Saturday. The Bangladesh Meteorological Department reported that temperatures have fallen significantly over the past five days, with Dhaka recording around 13 degrees Celsius on Friday. In at least two districts, temperatures dropped below 10 degrees Celsius, marking the lowest of the season.

According to the weather office, the cold conditions are being influenced by a subcontinental high-pressure zone. The forecast for the next 120 hours warns of moderate to dense fog in parts of the country, which may temporarily disrupt air, river, and road transport. The lowest temperature was recorded at about 9 degrees Celsius in Tetulia, Panchagarh, while similar conditions were observed in Jessore.

The cold has severely affected daily life, particularly in northern Bangladesh, where low-income and floating populations are suffering the most. The intensity of cold and fog is expected to increase further in the coming days.

All types of vessel movement on the Dhaka-Chandpur-Barishal route have been suspended due to dense fog. The decision was confirmed late Friday night, December 26, by Babu Lal Baidya, Deputy Director (Naval Traffic) of BIWTA Chandpur. He stated that the sudden increase in fog density over the rivers made navigation unsafe, prompting authorities to halt all passenger vessel operations across southern Bangladesh, including routes to Bhola and Barishal.

According to the official, launches currently on the river have been instructed to anchor at their present locations until visibility improves. The suspension will remain in effect until the fog clears, after which normal vessel operations will resume. The measure aims to prevent accidents and ensure passenger safety amid poor visibility conditions.

The temporary halt affects key southern waterways linking Dhaka with Chandpur and Barishal, disrupting regular passenger transport and cargo movement until weather conditions stabilize.

Ferry services on the crucial Daulatdia–Paturia river route between Rajbari and Manikganj were suspended again on Friday evening due to dense fog. The suspension took effect from around 7:15 p.m., as authorities at the ferry terminals halted all operations citing safety concerns. Visibility on the river dropped sharply after sunset, making navigation lights unclear and increasing the risk of accidents.

The Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) Daulatdia office confirmed that the decision was taken to prevent possible river accidents. Assistant General Manager (Commercial) Mohammad Salauddin said fog began forming before sunset and intensified rapidly, reducing visibility to a dangerous level. As a result, all ferries and other vessels were temporarily stopped for safety.

The suspension left passengers and drivers of buses, trucks, and private cars stranded in the cold night, with long queues forming at both ferry terminals. Authorities said ferry operations would resume once fog density decreases and conditions improve.

A poem by Inquilab Mancha spokesperson Shahid Sharif Osman Hadi, previously shared on Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus’s verified Facebook page, was suddenly removed along with the page’s profile photo. The disappearance, noticed on Friday morning, quickly drew widespread discussion and speculation across social media platforms.

The poem had earlier sparked nationwide attention after being posted on the Chief Adviser’s page. When users found the post and profile photo missing, questions arose about the cause. Senior Assistant Press Secretary Fayez Ahmad stated that neither the government nor the press office deleted any content. He attributed the incident to a technical error on Facebook’s side and confirmed that communication with the platform’s authorities was underway to resolve the issue.

According to the press wing, the changes were temporary and the page was expected to return to normal soon. However, the unexplained timing of the “technical error” continued to fuel public curiosity during a sensitive period.

The Rehab Fair 2025, one of the largest events in Bangladesh’s housing sector, is set to conclude tomorrow. On Friday, the third day of the fair, large crowds gathered at the China–Bangladesh Friendship Conference Center despite traffic congestion and personal commitments. Visitors came with families, friends, and colleagues, exploring options for affordable apartments and residential plots. The fairgrounds became lively in the afternoon as people sought information and offers from developers.

Developers such as Hawk Homes & Builders and Credence Housing Limited participated with ready and ongoing projects across key locations in Dhaka. Credence Housing announced special discounts and booking offers for buyers, while Hawk Homes reported increased attendance later in the day as temperatures rose. The fair has become more than a marketplace, serving as a platform for inspiration and planning for those aspiring to own homes.

With only one day remaining, many visitors are making preliminary discussions and comparisons, hoping to finalize decisions before the fair ends tomorrow.

A severe cold wave has gripped Bhurungamari in Kurigram, where residents have endured four consecutive sunless days. The temperature dropped to 11.4°C on Friday morning, December 26, according to the Rajarhat Agricultural Meteorological Office. Dense fog has blanketed the area from evening until noon, forcing vehicles to use headlights during the day. The biting cold has particularly affected children, the elderly, and low-income workers, many of whom are struggling to continue their daily activities.

Local residents have been lighting fires to stay warm, while demand for second-hand clothing has surged. Auto-rickshaw drivers reported reduced income due to poor visibility and fewer passengers. Relief efforts are underway, but supplies remain insufficient. The Upazila Project Implementation Officer said Tk 600,000 was allocated by the Ministry of Disaster Management, with 1,300 blankets distributed across ten unions and 600 more received from the district.

Officials warned that temperatures could fall further until December 31, with the cold wave expected to persist, heightening hardship for vulnerable communities in the region.

Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) has removed a total of 148 tons of waste from the 300 Feet area in the capital, where a reception was held for BNP’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman’s homecoming. The cleanup operation began on Friday morning following instructions from DNCC Administrator Mohammad Ejaz, who had directed officials the previous night to ensure swift waste removal.

A special cleaning drive was conducted with the participation of 350 DNCC sanitation workers. Using 20 trucks, the collected waste was transported in 148 trips to the Aminbazar landfill for safe disposal. By noon, the entire venue was cleared and made accessible for public movement. Some local BNP leaders and activists voluntarily joined DNCC workers in the cleanup effort from 10 a.m.

Administrator Mohammad Ejaz thanked all participants, emphasizing that collective involvement of citizens and political activists after large gatherings can make the city cleaner and more livable, while easing the delivery of civic services.