Jamaat-e-Islami–nominated candidate and Nagarkanda Upazila Jamaat Amir Maulana Sohrab Hossain has withdrawn his candidacy for the upcoming national election in Faridpur-02 constituency, which covers Nagarkanda and Saltha. His decision came after an eight-party alliance declared Allama Shah Akram Ali, known as Dhola Huzur, as its official candidate. On Monday at 10 a.m., Sohrab Hossain announced his withdrawal through a Facebook post, expressing full support for the alliance’s nominee in the interest of Islamic unity.

The announcement has sparked discussion in local political circles, with party activists describing the move as a significant step toward strengthening unity among Islamic parties. Leaders of the eight-party alliance stated that all members would work together in support of Shah Akram Ali and expressed optimism about achieving favorable results through this cooperation.

Local observers noted that the Jamaat candidate’s withdrawal is expected to bolster the alliance’s position in Faridpur-02 and reshape the electoral dynamics in the constituency.

Former president of Islami Chhatra Shibir, Md. Abdul Jabbar, has withdrawn his candidacy from the Narayanganj-4 constituency ahead of the upcoming national parliamentary election. He announced the decision on Monday through a verified Facebook post, stating that he stepped down in accordance with his organization’s decision and emphasized that the nation’s interest remains the top priority.

In his post, Abdul Jabbar expressed gratitude to his supporters, including members, well-wishers, students, and youth who worked tirelessly during the campaign. He extended his best wishes to Advocate Abdullah Al Amin, the central leader of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), who received the coalition’s nomination for the same seat on Sunday.

The withdrawal marks a shift in the electoral dynamics of Narayanganj-4, as the 10-party alliance consolidates its support behind the NCP candidate following Jabbar’s decision.

BNP’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman visited the party’s central office in Naya Paltan, Dhaka, on Monday afternoon, marking his first appearance there in 17 years. He left his residence on Gulshan Avenue at 3 p.m. and arrived at the office around 4 p.m., where senior party leaders including Ruhul Kabir Rizvi and M Rashiduzzaman Millat welcomed him with flowers. Several central leaders, advisers, and staff members were also present during the visit.

Addressing party members, Tarique Rahman said there was no formal event scheduled and requested that roads be reopened quickly to avoid public inconvenience. He asked everyone to pray for each other’s well-being and called on supporters to contribute from their respective positions to rebuild the country anew. He added that he would deliver a speech when future programs are announced.

The visit was seen as a symbolic return to the party’s central hub after a long absence, with Tarique emphasizing unity and collective effort for national reconstruction.

Law enforcement agencies have been unable to arrest Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader and six other top leaders of the party’s affiliated organizations in a war crimes case related to killings during the July Revolution. The prosecution informed International Crimes Tribunal-2 on Monday that officers visited both permanent and temporary addresses but could not locate the accused. The tribunal, led by retired district judge Md Manjurul Basid with member judge Nur Mohammad Shahriar Kabir, said further orders would follow after receiving all reports.

The accused include Awami League Joint General Secretary A.F.M. Bahauddin Nasim, former State Minister for Information and Broadcasting Mohammad Ali Arafat, Jubo League President Sheikh Fazle Shams Parash, General Secretary Mainul Hossain Khan Nikhil, Chhatra League President Saddam Hossain, and General Secretary Wali Asif Enan. Arrest warrants were issued on December 18 after the prosecution filed formal charges and presented specific allegations against each accused, including three counts against Quader for instruction, provocation, and incitement.

The tribunal will issue its next order once the remaining address report for Sheikh Fazle Shams Parash is submitted.

The government has canceled the appointments of one deputy attorney general and three assistant attorneys general over allegations of irregularities. A formal notification announcing the decision was issued on Monday afternoon, according to the report published on December 29, 2025.

Those whose appointments have been revoked are Deputy Attorney General Zulfiqar Ali Shimul and Assistant Attorneys General Ibrahim Khalil, Ayub Ali, and Montu Alam. The report did not provide further details about the nature of the alleged irregularities or the specific circumstances leading to the decision.

Further information about the case is expected to be released later, as the report indicated that more details are forthcoming.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that Russia’s formal recognition of Afghanistan’s Taliban government has opened new opportunities for regional cooperation. Russia granted official recognition to the Taliban administration in July, a move welcomed by the Afghan government, according to Tolo News. Lavrov emphasized that the recognition has paved the way for collaboration between the two countries in areas including regional security.

The Taliban government in Kabul expressed appreciation for Russia’s stance, saying that expanding regional cooperation would contribute to regional stability. Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid called on other countries to normalize relations with Afghanistan, describing Russia’s decision as courageous and beneficial for positive engagement.

Political analyst Najibullah Hotak noted that Russia, as a regional power, could encourage Central Asian and other nations to strengthen ties with Afghanistan. Russia remains the only country to have officially recognized the Taliban government as of July 4.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has confirmed that another political party is joining its existing 10-party electoral alliance. The announcement was made by Jamaat’s central assistant secretary general Advocate Abdul Halim, who said the name of the new party would be revealed soon. He expressed hope that the alliance would succeed in building an inclusive and united Bangladesh. The statement came after Jamaat Amir Dr. Shafiqur Rahman’s nomination papers were submitted for the Dhaka-15 constituency, which includes Mirpur and Kafrul.

At a press conference following the submission, Jamaat assistant secretary general Advocate Ehsanul Mahbub Zubair said the alliance’s seat-sharing arrangement among 11 parties would be finalized and announced later in the afternoon. He clarified that Jamaat had not sought an extension for nomination submission and emphasized the need for the Election Commission to ensure a level playing field. Zubair described the alliance as a strong electoral understanding rather than a formal coalition, with each party fielding one candidate per seat while others offer support.

He also urged the interim government and the Election Commission to take necessary steps to create a fair electoral environment, including recovering illegal arms and arresting identified criminals.

More than 941,000 expatriate Bangladeshis have registered to vote in the 13th National Parliament election and referendum through the ‘Postal Vote BD’ app, according to the Election Commission’s website update as of Monday at 2 p.m. Among the registrants, 838,309 are men and 102,839 are women. Saudi Arabia accounts for the highest number of registrants at 176,840, followed by Qatar with 63,754, Oman with 47,069, Malaysia with 51,212, the United Arab Emirates with 31,180, and the United States with 27,088.

The Election Commission has extended the registration deadline to December 31. Expatriate voters, government employees, election duty personnel, and those in legal custody can register through the app until that date. The app, launched on November 18, allows registration from 148 countries.

To complete registration, expatriate voters must use a mobile number from their respective countries, as required by the Election Commission.

Former minister and Jatiya Party (JP) chairman Anwar Hossain Manju has announced that he will not contest in the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election. He cited physical illness as the reason for his withdrawal. Manju had earlier collected nomination papers for the Pirojpur-2 constituency, which includes Kawkhali, Bhandaria, and Nesarabad, but confirmed to the media on Monday that he would not submit them.

The nomination papers were collected on December 24 from the office of the assistant returning officer and upazila executive officer in Bhandaria. Senior leaders from JP’s local units and affiliated organizations were present at the time. On Sunday, a human chain was organized in Pirojpur under the banner of “Chhatra-Janata,” demanding the cancellation of Manju’s candidacy and his arrest over allegations of collaboration with the Awami League and involvement in violence during the July uprising.

Anwar Hossain Manju has been elected seven times from Pirojpur-2 and has served in multiple ministries. He and Anisul Islam Mahmud recently launched a new political alliance, the National Democratic Front (NDF), comprising 18 parties, which has already announced its candidates for the election.

The Chamber Judge Court of the Appellate Division has suspended the inclusion of Nagorik Oikya President Mahmudur Rahman Manna’s name in the loan defaulter list. The order, issued on Monday by Justice Md Rezaul Haque, effectively removes any legal barrier to Manna’s participation in the upcoming election, according to lawyers involved in the case.

Earlier, the High Court had rejected Manna’s writ petition seeking removal of his name from the defaulter list. The case stems from a December 10 call-back notice issued by Islami Bank Bangladesh Limited’s Bogura Barogola branch to recover Tk 38.04 crore in defaulted loans from Afaku Cold Storage Limited, a company chaired by Manna. The notice identified Manna as holding a 50 percent ownership stake, with ABM Nazmul Kadir Shajahan Chowdhury and Ismat Ara Laiju holding 25 percent each.

Following the High Court’s rejection, Manna appealed to the Appellate Division, which has now stayed the earlier order, allowing him to proceed with his election plans pending further proceedings.

Tasnim Zara, who recently resigned from the NCP, is facing difficulties collecting voter signatures required to run as an independent candidate in Bangladesh’s Dhaka-9 constituency. According to election rules, an independent candidate must submit signatures or affidavits from at least one percent of the total voters in their constituency, along with other required documents. Zara began collecting signatures from Khilgaon on Sunday but reported that obtaining voter serial numbers has become nearly impossible.

She stated that there are five official ways to access voter serial numbers—via SMS, online, phone calls, and QR codes—but claimed that none of these methods are currently functional. Zara alleged that the Election Commission has effectively blocked all avenues to retrieve voter numbers, and the commission’s website server remains down. She expressed concern that this situation makes it impossible to complete the required documentation.

With the nomination submission deadline set for today, uncertainty remains over whether Zara will be able to gather the necessary voter serial numbers in time to qualify as an independent candidate.

Jagannath University authorities have instructed all general students to vacate the campus by 3:30 p.m. on Monday, December 29, ahead of the Jagannath University Central Students’ Union (JAKSU) and hall student council elections. The directive was issued through an emergency notice signed by Acting Registrar Professor Dr. Md. Sheikh Gias Uddin.

According to the notice, voting for both the JAKSU and hall student council elections will take place the following day, starting at 9 a.m. and ending at 3 p.m. Only students whose names appear on the voter list will be allowed to enter the campus to cast their votes.

The university administration stated that the decision aims to ensure a fair election process, maintain discipline on campus, and uphold overall security during the election period.

Pakistan and Afghanistan are cautiously working to overcome deep differences regarding the banned militant group Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Recent developments suggest both sides are reducing public criticism to create a more positive environment for dialogue, though major progress remains elusive. Islamabad insists Afghan soil must not be used for attacks inside Pakistan, and discreet diplomatic efforts have reportedly yielded limited progress.

Mediators have encouraged both governments to tone down public rhetoric and focus on constructive engagement. Afghan religious leaders recently issued a fatwa prohibiting cross-border attacks, which Pakistan welcomed as a confidence-building measure. Soon after, Afghan Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani assured that Afghan territory would not be used against any country. Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar praised Haqqani’s remarks and emphasized dialogue over confrontation.

Despite multiple rounds of talks, progress remains limited. Pakistan continues to link improved relations to concrete action against TTP, while Kabul maintains it does not allow its territory to be used for attacks. Islamabad has indicated it expects visible change within two to four weeks before reassessing its approach.

BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman is scheduled to visit the party’s central office in Naya Paltan on Monday. Party sources said he will leave his Gulshan residence at noon and head directly to the central office. The visit is part of his review of political programs and organizational matters, according to those involved.

This marks his first appearance at the central office since returning to the country after a long period of exile. Party leaders and activists have shown heightened interest surrounding his visit. Security measures have been strengthened in the Naya Paltan area ahead of his arrival, with RAB’s dog squad conducting sweeping operations in and around the office premises.

On Sunday, a day before the planned visit, Tarique Rahman worked for the first time at the BNP Chairperson’s political office in Gulshan following his return to Bangladesh.

The nomination paper of BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia has been submitted for the Feni-1 constituency. The submission took place on Monday, when her election coordinator, Rafiqul Alam Majnu, who also serves as the convener of Dhaka South BNP, handed over the documents to the district returning officer and Deputy Commissioner Monira Haque, accompanied by party leaders.

As Khaleda Zia is currently undergoing treatment at Evercare Hospital, Rafiqul Alam Majnu also filed a nomination as an alternative candidate. He stated that although he submitted the nomination following the party’s decision, he would continue to work on behalf of Begum Khaleda Zia.

The submission marks BNP’s formal step in the electoral process for Feni-1, with the party maintaining its leadership’s involvement despite Khaleda Zia’s medical condition.