Police in Pakundia, Kishoreganj arrested Motayem Hossain Swapon, a 65-year-old leader of the banned Awami League, late Wednesday night. The arrest took place around 11:30 p.m. at his residence in Charpakundia under the municipal area. Swapon is a former joint convener of the Pakundia Upazila Awami League and the son of late freedom fighter Rafiqul Haque Chandu Mia of Charpakundia village.

Pakundia Police Station’s Second Officer, Sub-Inspector Binoy Sarkar, confirmed the arrest and stated that Swapon faces a political case. He was sent to court on Thursday morning following his detention. The report did not specify details of the case or the reasons behind the ban on the local Awami League activities.

The incident highlights ongoing law enforcement actions in the region involving political figures, though further information about the case proceedings or party response was not provided in the source.

Former state minister for home affairs and BNP leader Lutfozzaman Babar stated that the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) never used the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) for party interests. Speaking to reporters on Thursday, January 1, after visiting the grave of Begum Khaleda Zia, he said the force was formed under her directive to ensure public safety, not for political purposes. Babar emphasized that no one could prove that RAB was politically used and that even BNP members were not spared if they committed wrongdoing.

He described Khaleda Zia as uncompromising on national security and sovereignty and said he found similar qualities in her son, acting BNP chairman Tarique Rahman. Babar added that he came to the graveyard out of personal emotion, not political intent, and had obtained permission from law enforcement authorities.

The remarks highlighted Babar’s continued loyalty to the BNP leadership and his call for prayers for a people’s government under Tarique Rahman’s leadership.

Police in Faridpur’s Saltha upazila arrested two local Awami League leaders during a special drive under Operation Devil Hunt Phase-2. The detainees are Md. Yunus Molya, 65, president of the Ballavdi Union Awami League, and Yusuf Matubbar, 70, president of the 2nd ward of Bhawal Union Awami League. Yunus Molya was arrested from Phulbari area on Wednesday night, while Yusuf Matubbar was detained from Saltha Bazar on Thursday morning. Both were sent to the Faridpur court on Thursday afternoon.

According to Saltha Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md. Bablur Rahman Khan, the arrests were made on allegations of involvement in activities aimed at creating unrest and sabotage in the area. The police official stated that the special operation would continue as part of the ongoing law enforcement efforts in the region.

The report did not mention any further details about the charges, court proceedings, or responses from the Awami League or other stakeholders.

On January 1, 2026, the nomination paper scrutiny for Narsingdi-2 (Palash) and Narsingdi-4 (Monohardi-Belabo) constituencies was conducted as part of the 13th National Parliamentary Election process. A total of 18 nomination papers were reviewed on the first day, and four candidates were disqualified for failing to meet the required conditions.

In Narsingdi-2, three candidates were excluded: Engineer Mohshin Ahmed of Islami Andolan Bangladesh for loan default, A N M Rafiqul Islam Selim of Jatiya Party for lacking proper party nomination papers, and Mohammad Ibrahim of Insaniyat Biplob Bangladesh for incomplete personal information. In Narsingdi-4, Kazi Shariful Islam of Bangladesh Congress Party was disqualified due to issues with proposer and supporter signatures.

Returning Officer and Narsingdi Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Anwar Hossain stated that scrutiny was carried out in two of the district’s five constituencies according to election procedures, and four nominations were canceled for not fulfilling submission requirements.

In Chattogram-11 (Bandar–Patenga) constituency, Jamaat candidate Mohammad Shafiul Alam’s election affidavit has drawn attention for unusual financial disclosures. The document lists his three children—two sons and a daughter—as earning nearly five lakh taka annually, despite all being students. The eldest studies BBA at a private university, the second is an HSC student, and the youngest is in seventh grade. Each is shown as engaged in separate professions, including teaching, legal consultancy, and salaried employment, with shares and business interests under their names.

The disclosures have sparked surprise among voters and prompted questions in political circles about how minors or full-time students could hold such jobs or business stakes. Some have questioned whether the candidate’s actual assets were partially declared under his children’s names. Shafiul Alam’s own affidavit lists an annual income slightly above fourteen lakh taka, cash holdings of 27.84 lakh, and total assets exceeding one crore seven lakh taka, further fueling discussion about the sources of his wealth.

Attempts to contact the candidate through the phone numbers listed in the affidavit were unsuccessful, as both numbers were found switched off.

Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) representatives met BNP’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman on Thursday, January 1, at the party chairperson’s political office in Gulshan. The meeting focused on preserving the spirit of the July Revolution and other national issues. At the start, the delegation signed the condolence book for the late former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia. After the meeting, DUCSU Vice President Sadiq Kayem said Tarique Rahman gave important advice to the student community, emphasizing unity among all anti-fascist forces.

According to Kayem, Rahman stated that political differences are part of democratic beauty but urged all to remain united for Bangladesh and the July Revolution. He advised all anti-fascist parties, including BNP and Jamaat, and student groups such as Chhatra Dal and Chhatra Shibir, to work shoulder to shoulder. Kayem also called for rebuilding state institutions, ensuring fair elections, and implementing the “July Charter” through a referendum.

The meeting also discussed justice for slain activist Osman Hadi. Kayem alleged that the masterminds behind Hadi’s killing remain unarrested and demanded their trial. He reaffirmed that despite ideological differences, students would continue their united struggle to fulfill the July Revolution’s goals.

On January 1, 2026, three candidates were disqualified during the second day of nomination scrutiny for the 13th national election in Khulna-1 (Dacope-Batiaghata) constituency. The disqualifications were based on allegations of signature forgery and submission of nominations with proposers registered in different constituencies. The review began at 11 a.m. and concluded with 10 candidates declared valid out of 13 who had submitted nomination papers.

According to District Commissioner and Returning Officer A.S.M. Jamshed Khondaker, the verification process is ongoing and will continue for other constituencies in the coming days. The disqualified candidates include Gano Adhikar Parishad’s G.M. Rokonuzzaman, whose proposer was a voter from another area, and two independent candidates, Gobinda Halder and Achintya Kumar Mondal, both accused of signature forgery.

The 10 valid candidates represent various political parties, including Islami Andolon, BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami, Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish, JSD, Bangladesh Minority National Party, Bangladesh Samadhikar Parishad, Communist Party of Bangladesh, Jatiya Party, and Islami Front.

Jatiya Party Chairman GM Quader has reported an increase in his cash holdings compared to two years ago, while his wife Sherifa Quader’s cash amount has decreased, according to the affidavit submitted for the 13th National Parliamentary Election. The affidavit shows Quader now holds Tk 6,032,405 in cash, up from Tk 4,988,253 during the 12th election, whereas his wife’s cash has fallen to Tk 4,890,938 from Tk 5,959,563. Both own houses in Lalmonirhat and Dhaka valued at over Tk 20 million combined, though neither owns agricultural land.

The affidavit lists Quader’s profession as politician and his wife’s as singer and businessperson. Quader uses a car worth Tk 8,498,475, while his wife drives one valued at Tk 8 million. His movable assets are valued at Tk 19.5 million and his wife’s at Tk 17.2 million. Quader has Tk 4 million in savings certificates or fixed deposits, and his wife has Tk 1,183,368. Their reported incomes include allowances, savings returns, and business earnings.

The affidavit also notes no income from agriculture, rent, or business for Quader, aside from allowances and investment returns.

Chattogram City Corporation Mayor Dr. Shahadat Hossain wrote in a condolence book on Thursday, January 1, expressing deep sorrow over the death of former three-time Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia. The condolence book was opened at the BNP Chairperson’s office in Gulshan, Dhaka, for the public to pay tribute. He described Khaleda Zia as a leader who transcended party and ideology, noting that the massive attendance at her funeral prayer demonstrated her acceptance as a national leader.

In his message, Dr. Hossain referred to Khaleda Zia as an uncompromising leader and recalled his long association with her. He also shared memories of her political journey, stating that she began organizing the student wing during the 1980s democratic movement and earned the title of “uncompromising leader” at Chattogram’s Laldighi Maidan. He contrasted her political stance with that of Sheikh Hasina during the Ershad regime, emphasizing Khaleda Zia’s steadfastness.

The mayor prayed for Khaleda Zia’s eternal peace and highlighted her leadership as a unifying force for the people of Bangladesh.

Jagannath University has announced that the Central Student Parliament (JAKSU) and hall student council elections will take place on January 6. To ensure smooth conduct of the polls, the university administration has issued several new directives for teachers, officers, and employees. The notice, signed by Acting Registrar Professor Dr. Md. Sheikh Gias Uddin on January 1, outlines mandatory attendance and operational guidelines during the election period.

According to the notice, all teachers, officers, and employees must remain present at their respective workplaces from January 4 to 6, and no leave applications will be accepted during this time. The administration has also requested that no academic tours or study trips be scheduled by any institute or department during the election period.

The circular further instructs all deans, institute directors, department chairmen, and office heads to take necessary steps to implement and ensure compliance with these directives.

On the first day of scrutiny for the 13th National Parliamentary Election, four nomination papers were canceled in the Jashore-2 constituency, including that of Jamaat-e-Islami candidate Dr. Mosleh Uddin Farid. The Election Commission office stated that the Jamaat candidate would have the opportunity to appeal and could regain his candidacy upon providing proper information regarding the identified error.

Following the cancellation, Dr. Farid called on voters in his constituency not to be confused by the development. In a post on his verified Facebook page, he explained that the objection raised by the Election Commission was previously unknown to him but had since been resolved. He added that the Commission advised him to appeal with the necessary correction, and his legal team assured him that the issue would be settled through the appeal process.

Dr. Farid announced that the appeal would be submitted within the next two working days and sought prayers and support from his constituents as he proceeded with the appeal process.

Eight victims buried as unidentified after the July uprising have been identified through DNA testing, according to a briefing held Thursday evening at the Foreign Service Academy in Dhaka. Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam announced that the remains were among 118 bodies exhumed from the Rayerbazar graveyard. Families of the identified individuals have been informed, and the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs will soon release further details.

The identification process is being conducted under international standards. Shafiqul Alam said that the same international experts who worked on identifying victims of the Srebrenica massacre in Bosnia trained Bangladeshi specialists for this effort. Local experts have been equipped to perform precise DNA-based identification.

The press secretary emphasized that the government remains committed to confirming the identity of every martyr, despite the process being time-consuming and complex. The initiative began after the interim government took office to identify those buried as unclaimed following the July–August mass uprising.

Jamaat-e-Islami’s central Nayeb-e-Ameer Dr. Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher stated that the people are ready to vote for the Islami Dal to build a better Bangladesh. He made the remarks on Thursday afternoon during a meeting with local Jamaat leaders at Konkapait Union in Chauddagram upazila of Cumilla district.

Dr. Taher said that the people of Bangladesh are now divided into two sides—one supporting a political party and the other comprising the general public backing the Islami coalition. He emphasized that the spirit of the mass uprising should be implemented and that citizens are prepared to vote for the Islami Dal to establish a corruption-free and peaceful Bangladesh. He urged all to seek votes from everyone, regardless of political affiliation, to make the election festive.

The meeting was presided over by VP Shahab Uddin, convener of the Konkapait Union election management committee, and attended by local Jamaat leaders including Maulana Hasan Mojumdar, former UP chairman Iqbal Hossain Mojumdar, and union secretary Peyar Ahmed.

Joint forces intensified vehicle searches across Gopalganj to maintain law and order and ensure public safety ahead of the upcoming national parliamentary election. On Wednesday night, December 31, from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m., a joint team of police and army personnel set up a checkpoint at Gohardanga Chourangi intersection on the Dhaka–Pirojpur highway in Tungipara. Over a hundred vehicles were inspected during the operation.

Executive Magistrate and Assistant Commissioner (Land) Al-Amin Halder led the inspection, verifying driving licenses, registration papers, and safety equipment. Five cases were filed for missing helmets and invalid documents, resulting in fines totaling Tk 15,000. Passenger bags were also checked, but no untoward incidents were reported.

Officials stated that such coordinated operations involving the army, police, and magistrates will continue regularly in key and crowded areas to keep law and order stable and raise awareness among drivers about carrying valid documents and using helmets.

The Election Commission has canceled the nominations of four candidates and validated eight others in Chattogram-11 (Bandar–Patenga) constituency following the scrutiny of nomination papers for the 13th National Parliamentary Election. The decision was announced on Thursday, January 1, by Chattogram Regional Election Officer and Returning Officer Mohammad Belayet Hossain Chowdhury after completing the verification process.

According to the election office, the four canceled candidates are independent Mohammad Jahangir Bhuiyan, Islami Andolan Bangladesh’s Md. Nur Uddin, Gono Odhikar Parishad’s Muhammad Nezam Uddin, and BNP’s rebel candidate A.K.M. Abu Taher. Their nominations were rejected for reasons including incorrect voter support lists, incomplete party forms, unpaid city corporation dues, and loan default. Eight candidates from various political parties, including BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami, Jatiya Party, and others, were declared valid.

The election office stated that a total of 12 candidates had submitted nomination papers for Chattogram-11, while 23 had collected forms earlier. After verification, four nominations were canceled and eight were approved for the upcoming election.