Education adviser Professor Dr. Chowdhury Rafiqul Abrar stated that the government made its utmost effort to ensure high-quality and error-free textbooks for students. He made the remarks on Sunday during the inauguration of the ‘2026 academic year textbook softcopy upload’ program. Despite various obstacles and pressures, he said no shortcomings were allowed in fulfilling this responsibility.

Abrar explained that the Ministry of Education and the National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB) held multiple meetings to ensure textbook accuracy. Around 250 skilled teachers from Dhaka schools worked for weeks editing hard copies, while about 6,000 teachers nationwide provided feedback online. Their verified suggestions were incorporated through an expert committee. Printing challenges such as unpaid bills, bank loans, electricity supply, and book transport were addressed through continuous supervision by ministry officials.

He added that 26 printing institutions have completed full delivery of textbooks, with six more expected to finish by tomorrow. The government chose to rely on domestic printers instead of foreign printing or direct purchase proposals, emphasizing trust in local capacity.

The National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB) has released online versions of all 2026 academic year textbooks as concerns grew that not all students would receive printed copies on time. Starting Sunday, students from primary, ibtedayi, secondary, and dakhil levels can read and download free PDF versions of their textbooks from the NCTB website. The launch event was inaugurated by Education Adviser Professor Dr. Chowdhury Rafiqul Abrar and Mass Education Adviser Professor Dr. Bidhan Ranjan Roy Poddar.

According to NCTB, a total of 647 textbooks covering pre-primary, primary (Bangla and English versions), ibtedayi, five indigenous languages, secondary (Bangla and English versions), dakhil, dakhil (vocational), and technical levels are now available online. The board reported that 100 percent of pre-primary and primary textbooks—totaling 117,046,461 copies—were printed and distributed nationwide by December 16. Printing and distribution for other levels are nearing completion, with 78.72 percent of ibtedayi and secondary books printed and 58.68 percent delivered.

NCTB expects that at least 80 percent of secondary students will receive their printed books on the first day of the new year, with the remainder distributed within days.

The Bangladesh Navy will conduct missile firing exercises on December 29 and 30 in the sea area between Cox’s Bazar and Hatiya. The Inter-Services Public Relations Directorate (ISPR) announced the exercise in a press release issued on Saturday. The navy has requested all vessels, including fishing boats and trawlers, to avoid the designated area during the operation period for safety reasons.

According to the ISPR statement, the advisory aims to ensure the safety of lives and property while the missile firing takes place. The notice specifically calls on maritime operators to refrain from staying or moving within the affected zone during the scheduled dates.

The announcement serves as a precautionary measure to prevent accidents or disruptions during the naval exercise, which is part of routine operational activities in Bangladesh’s maritime region.

Authorities in Kishoreganj reported that the donation boxes of the Pagla Mosque contained Tk 11 crore 78 lakh 48 thousand 538 after counting on Saturday. The counting took place under the supervision of Additional District Magistrate Md Ershadul Ahmed, who confirmed the total amount at night. Alongside the cash, foreign currency, gold, and silver ornaments were also found. An anonymous individual left a note in the donation box demanding public justice for the killing of Hadi.

The counting began at 9 a.m. after the boxes were opened at 7 a.m. in the presence of District Commissioner Mohammad Aslam Molla, Police Superintendent Dr. S.M. Farhad Hossain, and other officials. More than 400 students, mosque staff, bank employees, and law enforcement members participated in the process. Officials said 35 sacks of money were collected from 13 donation boxes.

District Commissioner Aslam Molla announced plans to build a ten-story Islamic complex centered on the mosque, which will include education facilities for orphans, a library, cafeteria, and IT section.

The Inter-Services Public Relations Directorate (ISPR) has issued a special advisory urging all fishing boats, trawlers, and other vessels to avoid the sea area between Cox’s Bazar and Hatiya on December 29 and 30, 2025. The notice, released on December 27, stated that the Bangladesh Navy will conduct missile firing exercises in that maritime zone during those two days.

According to the ISPR statement, the advisory aims to ensure the safety of lives and property while the naval exercise is underway. All types of marine vessels, including fishing boats and trawlers, have been specifically requested not to remain or move within the designated area during the exercise period.

The ISPR emphasized that the temporary restriction is precautionary and limited to the missile firing schedule, after which normal navigation is expected to resume.

The Directorate of Primary Education has opened the online portal for downloading admit cards for the government primary school assistant teacher recruitment written examination. The process began on Saturday, December 27, 2025, at 10 a.m. Applicants can access their admit cards through the website http://admit.dpe.gov.bd/applicant/login using either their user ID and password or their SSC roll, board, and year. The written examination is scheduled to take place on Friday, January 2, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. in each candidate’s respective district.

According to the official notice, candidates will receive an SMS from the number 01552-146056 with instructions for downloading their admit cards. Participants must bring a color printout of the downloaded admit card along with their original national identity card (NID or smart card) to the examination center. The admit card will also contain instructions for filling out the OMR sheet and other exam-related details.

The Directorate emphasized that only candidates with valid printed admit cards and identification will be allowed to sit for the examination.

A new madrasa and orphanage named Alhaj Mawlana Bakhtiar Ahmad Nurani Madrasa and Orphanage has been inaugurated in Ukhiya, Cox’s Bazar, to provide both religious and general education for dropout, underprivileged, and orphaned children. The inauguration took place on Saturday morning at Kutupalong Amgachtala area along the Ukhiya-Teknaf main road, with local Union Parishad member Engineer Helal Uddin officiating the opening.

According to the madrasa authorities, the institution will offer free education for orphaned and Nurani (primary-level) students, along with accommodation, food, and moral instruction. Plans are in place to help students pursue higher education at reputed institutions across the country. During the ceremony, Helal Uddin praised the initiative as a vital step to reintegrate dropout children into mainstream society and pledged continued support.

Ukhiya Upazila Nirbahi Officer Rifat Asma described the project as a humanitarian effort, emphasizing that free education and housing for disadvantaged children strengthen the nation’s foundation. Local teachers, community leaders, and residents attended the event, which concluded with prayers for national welfare.

The Bangladesh Navy will conduct a missile firing exercise in the Bay of Bengal between Cox’s Bazar and Hatiya on Monday and Tuesday. The Inter-Services Public Relations Directorate (ISPR) announced the exercise in a statement issued on Saturday, urging all types of vessels to avoid the designated area during the operation for safety reasons.

According to the ISPR, the restriction applies to all maritime traffic, including fishing boats and trawlers, to ensure the safety of lives and property during the missile firing. The advisory emphasized that no vessels should remain or move within the specified zone while the exercise is underway.

The notice serves as a precautionary measure to prevent accidents and maintain operational security during the naval exercise in the Bay of Bengal.

Thirteen iron donation boxes of the historic Pagla Mosque in Kishoreganj were opened on Saturday morning, yielding thirty-five sacks of cash. The counting process began at 7 a.m. with the participation of more than four hundred people, including members of the mosque management committee, teachers and students from the mosque’s madrasa and orphanage, students from the nearby Jamia Emdadia Madrasa, and officials and employees of Rupali Bank.

The donation boxes, usually opened every three months, were opened this time after three months and twenty-seven days. Two new boxes were also added before this opening. The previous opening, held on August 30 of the same year, had revealed a record collection of 120.9 million taka along with a large amount of foreign currency and gold ornaments.

The opening was conducted in the presence of Kishoreganj Deputy Commissioner and Pagla Mosque Management Committee President Mohammad Aslam Molla, Superintendent of Police S.M. Farhad Hossain, and Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) Mizabe Rahmat.

Eight days after the death of Inquilab Moncho spokesperson Shaheed Sharif Osman Hadi, large numbers of people continued to visit his grave at the Dhaka University Central Mosque premises. On Friday, December 26, after the Asr prayer, the gate of the Kazi Nazrul Islam Mausoleum was opened, allowing admirers to enter and pay their respects.

Visitors stood beside Hadi’s grave, offering prayers and supplications. Many were seen tearfully demanding justice for his killing, while some lamented over the perpetrators. The turnout reflected that public affection and interest in Hadi had not diminished but rather seemed to grow with time.

The continued gatherings at the site underscored the emotional connection many still feel toward Hadi and their ongoing call for justice surrounding his death.

The Directorate of Primary Education has postponed the recruitment examination for the position of accounts assistant. The exam was originally scheduled to take place on Friday from 3:00 p.m. to 4:20 p.m. According to an official notice issued on Thursday afternoon, the test was deferred due to unavoidable reasons. The authority stated that the new date and schedule for the postponed examination will be announced later.

The notice clarified that the decision to postpone was made under the Directorate’s jurisdiction and applies specifically to the accounts assistant post. No further explanation was provided regarding the cause of the postponement. The announcement emphasized that candidates should wait for further instructions and updates from the Directorate.

The Directorate confirmed that the revised schedule will be communicated in due course, ensuring that applicants are informed once a new date is finalized.

Dhaka University authorities announced that additional metro rail services will operate on Saturday, December 27, to ease transportation for candidates attending the 2025–26 academic year science unit undergraduate admission test. The measure aims to prevent travel congestion as both Dhaka University (DU) and the Military Institute of Science and Technology (MIST) are holding admission tests on the same day. The DU Public Relations Office confirmed the arrangements on Friday, December 26.

A total of 114,114 students will compete for 1,891 seats in the DU science unit admission test, which will be held at Dhaka University and seven public universities in divisional cities including Rajshahi, Chittagong, Barishal, Khulna, Sylhet, Mymensingh, and Rangpur. To accommodate students who shifted their DU exam centers to Dhaka due to the MIST schedule, three additional centers have been set up in Mirpur and Farmgate.

Authorities have also shortened metro rail intervals and arranged extra trains to ensure safe and smooth travel for examinees. Additionally, MIST rescheduled its architecture department’s second phase exam from December 27 to December 28 following DU’s request.

The National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB) will upload the online versions of free primary and secondary textbooks for the 2026 academic year on its official website this Sunday, December 28. The launch event will be attended by Education Adviser Professor Dr. Chowdhury Rafiqul Abrar and Mass Education Adviser Professor Dr. Bidhan Ranjan Roy Poddar. According to a letter signed by NCTB’s public relations officer, students of both Bangla and English versions will be able to access and read the books before the new school year begins.

The NCTB website, www.nctb.gov.bd, will host a total of 647 textbooks covering all levels of primary and secondary education. The initiative aims to make the government’s free textbooks available online ahead of the academic session, ensuring early access for students across the country.

The official inauguration ceremony, titled “Uploading of 2026 Academic Year Textbooks Online,” will be organized by NCTB on December 28, marking a step toward digital accessibility in the national education system.

The Directorate of Primary Education has suspended the recruitment examination for the post of 'Accounts Assistant' that was scheduled for Friday afternoon. The decision was announced in an official notice signed by the director (administration) of the directorate, stating that the exam, set for 3:00 p.m. to 4:20 p.m., was postponed due to unavoidable reasons. The new date and time for the exam will be announced later.

Although the directorate cited unavoidable circumstances, individuals involved in the process claimed that the suspension followed allegations of a question paper leak. Job seekers reportedly raised the issue earlier in the day, alleging that the exam questions had been leaked and shared on social media platforms. The incident caused significant inconvenience to candidates who had arrived to take the test.

The report indicates that the alleged leak spread rapidly online, prompting the directorate to issue the suspension notice. No further details were provided regarding any investigation or rescheduling plans.

Jagannath University has announced that its undergraduate ‘A’ and ‘C’ unit admission tests will be held on December 26 and 27, 2025. The ‘A’ unit, covering Science and Life & Earth Sciences faculties, will test 72,474 applicants competing for 860 seats, while the ‘C’ unit, under the Commerce faculty, will see 20,537 candidates vying for 520 seats. Each one-hour exam will run from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.

The ‘A’ unit test will take place at 12 centers, including three outside Dhaka—Comilla University, Khulna University, and Rajshahi University—while the rest will be in Dhaka. The ‘C’ unit exam will be held at Jagannath University and three other Dhaka centers. Each test carries 100 marks, with 72 from multiple-choice questions and 18 based on SSC and HSC results.

Faculty deans confirmed that all preparations are complete, emphasizing the inclusion of regional centers to ease travel for candidates. Upcoming tests for other faculties are scheduled in January 2026, continuing the university’s phased admission process.