Barrister Mir Ahmad Bin Kashem Arman, the Jamaat-e-Islami candidate for the Dhaka-14 constituency, submitted his nomination papers on Monday at the office of the Returning Officer located in the Dhaka Divisional Commissioner’s premises. The submission marks his formal entry into the upcoming parliamentary race for the seat.

During the submission, Barrister Arman stated that he was freed because people had united during the July movement, setting aside divisions. He described the current campaign as a struggle against corruption, black money, and muscle power, expressing confidence that his side would prevail in this fight.

The nomination submission comes amid broader political activities across Dhaka constituencies, with several parties finalizing their candidates for the upcoming election.

Mia Golam Parwar, Secretary General of Jamaat-e-Islami and the party’s candidate for Khulna-5 constituency, submitted his nomination papers to District Commissioner and Returning Officer A S M Jamshed Khondkar on Monday. Other Jamaat candidates also filed nominations in Khulna-1, Khulna-2, and Khulna-6 constituencies.

After submitting his papers, Parwar said the nation seeks change and that those who previously held power cannot bring it. He emphasized that a new coalition, now expanded to ten parties, could deliver the desired transformation. He called for immediate measures to address the deteriorating law and order situation and urged citizens to remain united to ensure a free and fair election, warning against any attempt to manipulate votes.

Parwar also defended the nomination of Hindu candidate Krishna Nandi in Khulna-1, stating that Jamaat’s politics is based on justice and good governance, not religion. He invited people of all faiths who share these values to join the party and urged a “yes” vote in the referendum on implementing the July Charter.

The Bogura district unit of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) is renovating a long-unused office room at its Nawabbari Road headquarters for acting chairman Tarique Rahman. The room, which had remained unused for 17 years, is being prepared as Rahman is expected to contest from the Bogura Sadar constituency. Renovation work includes new flooring, tiles, fly board, and ceiling decoration. On Monday morning, five to six workers were seen working on the walls and ceiling, while doors were being cleaned for repainting.

Interior engineer Saikat, who is overseeing the project, said the room will feature two book shelves, a large table, and more than ten chairs. District BNP media cell official Rashedul Islam Rashed confirmed that the work is progressing quickly under the supervision of district president Rezaul Karim Badsha. Several local leaders, including MR Islam Swadhin and Sheikh Taha Uddin Nine, visited the site Sunday night.

The BNP district office houses various party wings, and the building regularly draws hundreds of activists, according to the report.

The chief coordinator of the BNP’s election management committee for Dhaka-17, Abdus Salam, submitted nomination papers on behalf of the party’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman for the 13th National Parliamentary Election. The submission took place around noon on Monday. Dr. Farhad Halim Donar was the proposer, and Advocate Alamgir Hossain was the supporter. Dhaka Metropolitan North BNP convener Aminul Islam and others were present during the submission.

After submitting the nomination, Abdus Salam told reporters that Tarique Rahman had been kept outside the country for 17 years and had faced oppression. He sought prayers for Rahman and expressed confidence that Rahman would win the seat by a large margin and work to resolve the current national crisis as head of government.

According to the election schedule, scrutiny of nomination papers will take place from December 30 to January 4, 2026. Appeals against returning officers’ decisions can be filed between January 5 and 9, with disposal from January 10 to 18. The final date for withdrawal of candidacy is January 20.

Mufti Habibur Rahman, a central executive member of Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis and a prominent Islamic scholar from Muktagacha in Mymensingh, passed away on Sunday night at his home after falling ill. He was 57 years old and is survived by his wife and three sons. His funeral prayer is scheduled for Monday after the Zuhr prayer at his residence in Garai Kutir, Muktagacha, followed by burial in the family graveyard.

Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis Secretary General Maulana Jalaluddin Ahmad expressed deep sorrow over the death, describing Mufti Habibur Rahman as a dedicated scholar, principled organizer, and steadfast worker of the Islamic movement. In a statement to the media, he praised Rahman’s contributions to religious preaching, organizational duties, and his exemplary personal character marked by humility and piety.

The party leader said Rahman’s death is not only a loss to his family and organization but also to the broader religious community. He prayed for the departed soul’s forgiveness and requested the nation to join in prayers for him.

The Chamber Court of the Appellate Division has ordered the removal of Nagorik Oikya President Mahmudur Rahman Manna’s name from the list of loan defaulters. The directive was issued on Monday at around 11 a.m. following a hearing. According to lawyers, this decision clears the way for Manna to contest the national election from Bogura.

Earlier, Islami Bank Bangladesh Limited’s Bogura Barogola branch had issued a call-back notice on December 10 to recover Tk 38 crore 4 lakh 76 thousand in defaulted loans. The notice was sent to Afaku Cold Storage Limited, a company led by Manna. The company’s ownership structure includes 50 percent held by Manna, 25 percent by Managing Director ABM Nazmul Kadir Shajahan Chowdhury, and 25 percent by his wife Ismat Ara Laiju. The notice required repayment by December 18, warning of legal action for noncompliance.

Manna had previously filed a writ petition in the High Court seeking removal of his name from the defaulter list, but the petition was dismissed last Wednesday before the Chamber Court’s latest directive.

Hezbollah’s Secretary-General Sheikh Naim Qassem declared on Sunday that the group will not surrender under any circumstances. Speaking at a public event, he called for national unity to resist Israel’s air, land, and sea offensives, emphasizing the need to end Israeli aggression. Qassem demanded full implementation of the ceasefire withdrawal agreement and the release of prisoners, warning that if southern Lebanon falls under Israeli control, the rest of the country would be at risk.

Qassem stated that despite the 2024 ceasefire agreement, Israeli attacks on Lebanon have continued. He described the current situation as a historic crossroads, saying Lebanon must either allow full U.S. and Israeli control or rise to reclaim its sovereignty and territory. He also argued that calls for Hezbollah’s disarmament are part of an Israel-U.S. project serving Israeli interests rather than Lebanon’s.

The Hezbollah leader reiterated that national unity is essential to defend Lebanon’s sovereignty and prevent further territorial losses, urging all citizens to stand together against Israel.

The final day for submitting nomination papers for Bangladesh’s 13th parliamentary election and national referendum is Monday, December 29, 2025. The Election Commission’s central coordination committee reported that by Sunday, 2,780 nomination papers had been collected nationwide, though only about fifty had been submitted. The election and referendum are scheduled to take place on February 12, 2026, with voting from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

According to the Election Commission, scrutiny of submitted nominations will occur from December 30 to January 4, appeals against returning officers’ decisions can be filed between January 5 and 9, and appeal resolutions will be completed by January 18. The deadline for candidate withdrawal is January 20, symbol allocation will take place on January 21, and voting will be conducted using transparent ballot boxes. Dhaka region recorded the highest number of nomination collections at 501, followed by Comilla with 405 and Mymensingh with 339.

The Commission noted that most candidates traditionally submit on the final day. Restrictions remain in place limiting attendance during submission to five persons and prohibiting rallies or showdowns to ensure compliance with the electoral code of conduct.

Home Affairs Adviser Md. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury has called on the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) to take necessary preparations to ensure a peaceful election. He made the remarks on Monday morning while addressing an event marking BGB Day. The adviser emphasized the need for strategic measures to resolve border issues and urged vigilance to prevent terrorists from escaping through border areas.

According to the adviser, maintaining security along the borders is crucial for national stability, particularly during the election period. His comments came as part of broader discussions on law enforcement readiness and coordination among security agencies ahead of the polls.

The call for BGB’s preparedness highlights the government’s focus on preventing cross-border threats and ensuring a secure environment for the upcoming election process.

Advocate Monjila Sultana Jhuma, a leader of the National Citizens Party (NCP), has announced that she will not participate in the upcoming 13th national parliamentary election. She made the announcement on Sunday night through a post on her Facebook page, confirming that she had informed the party’s Khagrachhari district convener, Nahid Islam, of her decision earlier that day.

According to Jhuma, the NCP had initially nominated her to contest from Khagrachhari-298 constituency with the party’s ‘Shapla Koli’ symbol, and the nomination form had already been collected on her behalf on December 24. The final date for submission was the following day, but she decided to withdraw from the race. Her announcement follows recent resignations from the NCP by senior joint member secretary Dr. Tasnim Zara, who declared her candidacy as an independent from Dhaka-9, and joint convener Tajnuva Jabin.

Jhuma concluded her post expressing faith that young people will eventually enter parliament, reflecting optimism about future political participation.

Azad Khan Bhasani, grandson of Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhasani and chief coordinator of the farmers’ wing of the National Citizens Party (NCP), has resigned from the party. His resignation came on Sunday night through a Facebook post, following reports that the NCP had formed an alliance with Jamaat. Several other party leaders also resigned after the news of the alliance emerged.

In his post, Azad explained that he had joined the NCP with hopes of building a new Bangladesh inspired by the ideals of the July uprising and the unfinished struggle of the Liberation War. He said he was motivated by his grandfather’s vision of people-oriented, anti-imperialist, and anti-discrimination politics. However, he expressed disappointment over what he described as a lack of commitment and depth within the party to fulfill those historical responsibilities.

Azad stated that his decision to leave was driven by his desire to remain true to the ideals of the Liberation War and Maulana Bhasani’s political philosophy. He wished the young members of the NCP success in their future political journey.

A massive crowd gathered at the funeral of Sharif Osman Hadi, where mourners chanted slogans calling for independence, justice, and reform. The unprecedented turnout was described as a reflection of Hadi’s influence and his vision for political and social transformation in Bangladesh. The article portrays Hadi as a leading reformist who sought to reshape the nation’s political culture and challenge external dominance.

Hadi’s ideology emphasized justice, human rights, and resistance against oppression, which he viewed as integral to Islamic principles. He advocated for reforming Bangladesh’s electoral system, criticizing the influence of money and disorderly campaigning. He also called for a Bangladesh-centered cultural movement to counter what he described as Indian hegemony and the enduring cultural dominance of the Awami League. His political struggle, according to the article, was intellectual and cultural rather than violent.

Hadi’s views on death were rooted in faith, seeing it as a noble end for those who die in pursuit of justice. The author concludes that his death and ideals will continue to inspire movements for fairness and reform in Bangladesh.

Following the July uprising, Bangladesh’s primary and secondary textbooks have undergone extensive revisions. The new editions prepared for the 2026 academic year have removed the honorific titles 'Father of the Nation' and 'Bangabandhu' previously used before Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s name. The updated content now includes references to the July Revolution, the BAKSAL period under Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the flight of Sheikh Hasina, and subsequent political developments under Ziaur Rahman, Hussain Muhammad Ershad, and Khaleda Zia.

A review of the National Curriculum and Textbook Board’s (NCTB) 2026 “Bangladesh and Global Studies” textbook for eighth grade shows that the word 'Bangabandhu' has been omitted in most instances describing the March 7 speech. According to an NCTB source, the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education (DSHE) issued a written directive to remove the title, prompting the board to make the changes. The revisions were made under the guidance of the National Curriculum Coordination Committee (NCCC), which oversaw additions and deletions across multiple subjects.

The new textbooks have already been printed and uploaded online for free access before the start of the school year, allowing students to read them in advance.

The Election Commission (EC) of Bangladesh has announced major logistical preparations ahead of the upcoming national parliamentary election and referendum scheduled for February. To ease voter pressure, the EC will add around 150,000 new secret booths for ballot marking, while the total number of polling centers will remain largely unchanged at 42,766. For the first time, an IT-supported postal ballot system will be introduced for expatriates, government employees working outside their constituencies, election officials, and prisoners.

According to EC data, there will be over 245,000 polling rooms and more than 400,000 secret booths nationwide. The number of voters per room has been reduced from up to 600 to between 350 and 400 to shorten waiting times. Voting hours have also been extended by one hour. However, field-level challenges have emerged, including inadequate entryways in educational institutions being converted into multiple booths.

A total of 778,351 officials have been appointed to conduct the polls, including presiding, assistant presiding, and polling officers. Sixty-nine returning officers, including district commissioners and regional election officials, will oversee the process.

Inkilab Manch has issued four demands, including the cancellation of work permits for all Indians residing in Bangladesh. The organization made the announcement through a statement on Sunday night. Among its demands are the completion of trials for the killers, planners, and accomplices of a murder case within 24 days, the cancellation of all Indian work permits, filing a case against India in the International Court if it refuses to return accused killers, and identifying and arresting fascist collaborators within civil and military intelligence.

Earlier, Inkilab Manch organized a blockade at Dhaka’s Shahbagh area from 2 p.m. on Sunday, demanding the arrest and trial of those responsible for the killing of Shaheed Sharif Osman Bin Hadi. Protesters began gathering at the site from 11 a.m., chanting slogans and blocking traffic after 2 p.m. The blockade continued until 10 p.m., halting all vehicular movement through Shahbagh.

The group had also called for similar blockades in all divisional cities the previous night as part of its nationwide protest program.