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.

A thick blanket of fog continued to cover Nawabganj upazila in Dinajpur on Sunday morning, disrupting normal life despite the advancing day. The temperature dropped to 13°C at 6 a.m., with humidity at 95% and wind speed barely reaching 1 km/h, according to the local weather office. Vehicles were forced to move slowly with headlights on even after 10 a.m. due to extremely low visibility.

Residents, especially daily wage earners, have been hit hardest by the cold and fog. Many laborers reported being unable to work, leading to a sharp decline in daily income. CNG driver Tuhin Islam said visibility was so poor that vehicles could not be seen even a few meters ahead, while day laborer Jobbar Fakir lamented that the cold had halted work opportunities.

Officials noted that this is among the coldest periods of the season, with a previous low of 10.8°C recorded earlier. The persistent fog and chill are expected to continue affecting transportation and livelihoods in the coming days.

The Bangladesh Rural Electrification Board (Palli Bidyut Samiti) has announced its 2025 recruitment circulars, published on December 2 and 18, 2025. The authority plans to hire a total of six individuals across four job categories, offering permanent government positions for both male and female candidates. Applications can be submitted directly, by post, or online until December 22, 2025, and January 8, 2026, depending on the specific circular.

According to the announcement, educational qualifications range from completion of grade eight to a bachelor’s degree, depending on the position. While some posts require prior experience, others are open to fresh candidates. Salaries range from BDT 16,600 to BDT 46,240, with experienced positions offering higher pay. Applicants must be between 18 and 30 years old, with a two-year age relaxation for quota candidates.

The recruitment reflects ongoing efforts to expand employment opportunities in Bangladesh’s rural energy sector, which continues to play a crucial role in national electrification and rural development.

A new international study led by researchers at Leiden University in the Netherlands has found that increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide is diminishing the nutritional quality of major food crops. While higher CO₂ levels may boost crop yields, the research shows a decline in essential nutrients such as zinc, iron, and protein, alongside a rise in toxic elements like lead. The findings suggest that foods are becoming more calorie-dense but less nutritious.

The decade-long study examined 43 crops, including rice, wheat, potatoes, and tomatoes, analyzing 32 key nutrients. On average, nutrient levels were found to drop by 3.2%, with zinc in chickpeas projected to fall by as much as 37.5%. Lead researcher Sterre Ter Haar described the results as “alarming,” noting that the changes could have serious health implications.

Experts warn that this nutrient decline may worsen global malnutrition, even as food production increases. The study highlights the need for urgent climate action and agricultural adaptation to preserve food quality as atmospheric CO₂ levels have already reached 425.2 parts per million.

Blue Origin, the space company founded by billionaire Jeff Bezos, is set to make history by sending the first wheelchair-using woman into space. Mikela Benthaus, a spacecraft and mechatronics engineer, will join five other crew members aboard the New Shepard rocket for the upcoming NS-37 suborbital mission. The flight will cross the Kármán line, 62 miles above Earth, marking the internationally recognized boundary of space.

Benthaus, who became paralyzed after a 2018 motorcycle accident, has since been an advocate for inclusive space exploration. Joining her on the mission will be engineer Hans Koenigsmann, entrepreneur Neil Milc, investor Joey Hyde, Adonis Porolis, and space enthusiast Jason Stansell. The crew will experience several minutes of microgravity before returning to Earth during the 10–12 minute flight.

This will be Blue Origin’s 16th human spaceflight and its latest step toward expanding accessibility in commercial space travel. The company has previously flown 86 people past the Kármán line, with 80 of them being first-time space travelers.

After nearly ten months of restrictions, the Bangladeshi government has reopened Saint Martin Island for overnight stays this December, reigniting tourist interest. However, travelers report steep increases in travel expenses and logistical difficulties, particularly due to limited ship tickets and the lengthy six-hour journey from Cox’s Bazar. The minimum round-trip fare has risen to about BDT 3,500 per person—more than triple previous rates from Teknaf.

On-site observations reveal severe disorganization at the island’s jetty, where ongoing repair work leaves passengers without proper waiting areas and exposed to safety risks. Delays in ship schedules and narrow, unsafe access routes have heightened concerns among visitors, especially families and elderly travelers. Local business owners argue that environmental restrictions have hurt livelihoods, urging authorities to curb pollution instead of tourism.

Officials claim that safety and coordination measures are being strengthened and that infrastructure repairs will be completed soon. Yet, without improved transport efficiency and management, the island’s renewed tourism momentum may falter amid growing visitor frustration.

Elon Musk’s net worth has surged to a record $749 billion, making him the first individual in history to surpass the $700 billion mark, according to Forbes’ Billionaire Index. The sharp increase followed a Delaware Supreme Court ruling that reinstated Musk’s previously annulled stock-based compensation package at Tesla, valued at $139 billion. The 2018 pay plan, once deemed excessive by a lower court, was restored after the Supreme Court found the earlier decision unjust.

The ruling comes as Tesla’s shareholders recently approved a separate trillion-dollar compensation plan for Musk, the largest in corporate history. Investors have expressed confidence in Musk’s vision to transform Tesla from an electric vehicle manufacturer into a leader in artificial intelligence and robotics. Reports suggesting that SpaceX may soon go public also contributed to the rapid rise in Musk’s wealth.

Musk’s fortune now exceeds that of Google co-founder Larry Page by roughly $500 billion, underscoring his dominance in both the technology and space industries.

Bangladesh Bank’s latest report shows a steep decline in consumer loans during the July–September 2025 quarter, with total outstanding loans falling by over Tk 22,000 crore compared to the previous quarter. At the end of September, consumer loans stood at Tk 1,50,340 crore, representing 8.63% of total bank credit, down from Tk 1,72,621 crore or 9.95% in June. This marks a sharp reversal from the April–June quarter, when consumer lending had increased by nearly Tk 25,000 crore.

Economists and banking officials attribute the contraction to persistently high inflation, rising borrowing costs, and continued economic uncertainty following political transitions. Interest rates on personal loans now range between 11% and 14%, while credit card rates have reached up to 25%. The largest declines were seen in loans for electronics, vehicles, and housing.

Analysts warn that reduced consumer borrowing could further dampen domestic demand, slowing retail and service sectors. The central bank is expected to monitor credit trends closely as inflationary pressures and liquidity constraints continue to challenge household spending.

Bangladesh’s vast maritime resources remain underutilized due to chronic deficiencies in marine science research and infrastructure. Despite the Bay of Bengal’s economic and ecological importance, the country lacks adequate research vessels, hydrographic survey tools, and modern sonar or satellite data systems. This technological and institutional gap has left policymakers without reliable data on fish stocks, ocean currents, or breeding cycles, resulting in unscientific and often counterproductive fishing policies.

Experts note that the shortage of trained marine scientists, limited research funding, and weak international collaboration have further stalled progress. Universities offering marine science programs struggle with outdated laboratories and minimal publication output. Without regular stock assessments or genetic studies, valuable species such as hilsa, lobster, and shrimp remain vulnerable to overexploitation. Climate change impacts—rising sea levels, salinity shifts, and warming waters—are compounding the crisis.

Analysts urge immediate investment in research vessels, GIS and satellite monitoring, and international partnerships with Japan, Norway, and FAO. Strengthening marine science is seen as essential for sustainable fisheries, biodiversity protection, and unlocking Bangladesh’s blue economy potential.