BNP’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman visited the grave of his father and party founder Ziaur Rahman at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar on Friday afternoon, a day after returning to Bangladesh from a 17-year exile. He arrived at the site around 4:40 p.m., offered prayers, and stood silently for some time in an emotional moment. Senior BNP leaders, including Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and members of the party’s standing committee, accompanied him.

Earlier on Thursday, Tarique Rahman returned to the country after years abroad. Upon arrival, he attended a reception organized by the party at Purbachal’s 300 Feet area, visited his ailing mother at Evercare Hospital, and then went to his residence. From noon on Friday, thousands of BNP leaders and activists gathered around Chandrima Udyan and the mausoleum area with banners and festoons to witness his visit. A large number of police, BGB, Ansar, and plainclothes security personnel were deployed to maintain order and ensure his safety.

Following the grave visit, Tarique Rahman was scheduled to pay tribute to the martyrs of the Liberation War at the National Memorial in Savar.

The Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) has accused the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) of failing in political compromise and responsibility, leading to a complex and uncertain democratic transition in Bangladesh. The allegation was made on Friday, December 26, at a press conference organized by JSD at the Jatiya Press Club’s Zahur Hossain Chowdhury Hall, where the party’s general secretary, Shahid Uddin Mahmud Swapan, presented a written statement.

In his remarks, Swapan said that BNP had not shown the expected respect and commitment to the politics of compromise and declared political responsibility in the current political context. He urged all to avoid provocation and rumors, stand for humanity, and choose unity over division. He emphasized that building a broader national unity is the only effective and sustainable way to overcome the ongoing crisis.

JSD senior vice-president Tania Rob, presiding over the event, reiterated the party’s stance against injustice and its commitment to lead the state based on the spirit of the Liberation War. She said that despite divisions and doubts, the youth would eventually find their direction, and JSD would stand beside them.

Tarique Rahman, acting chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), visited the grave of his father and party founder, Ziaur Rahman, at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar on Friday, December 26, 2025. The visit took place a day after his return to Bangladesh following 17 years of exile. He arrived at the site at around 4:40 p.m. and offered prayers in an emotional atmosphere.

On Thursday, Rahman returned to the country and attended a reception organized by the party at the 300 Feet area in Purbachal, Dhaka. Later, he visited his ailing mother at Evercare Hospital before returning to his residence. From noon on Friday, thousands of BNP leaders and activists gathered at Chandrima Udyan and the mausoleum area, carrying banners and festoons to welcome him. To maintain order and ensure security, large contingents of police, Border Guard Bangladesh, Ansar, and plainclothes law enforcement officers were deployed.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, standing committee members, and senior central leaders accompanied Rahman during the visit. He was also scheduled to pay tribute to the martyrs of the Liberation War at the National Memorial in Savar afterward.

Malaysia’s former Prime Minister Najib Razak has been found guilty of abusing his power in connection with the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) fund. On Friday, the Kuala Lumpur High Court convicted him on four counts related to the illegal transfer of about 539 million dollars from the 1MDB project. Judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah stated that the prosecution had proven the case beyond reasonable doubt.

Prosecutors accused Najib of misusing his positions as prime minister, finance minister, and chairman of the 1MDB advisory board to divert large sums into his personal accounts. The 1MDB scandal, first exposed in 2015, revealed Malaysia’s involvement in global fraud and corruption. Najib had previously been sentenced in 2020 to 12 years in prison for misappropriating 9.9 million dollars from the same fund, later reduced to six years.

Najib, who served as prime minister from 2009 to 2018, still faces 21 additional charges of money laundering, each carrying potential prison terms of 15 to 20 years. He has claimed that fugitive financier Jho Low misled him, though Low remains wanted by Interpol since 2016.

Election Commissioner Abdur Rahmanel Machud stated that there is no legal obstacle preventing BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman from becoming a registered voter in Bangladesh. He explained that the Election Commission (EC) has the authority to register any eligible person as a voter at any time. Machud made these remarks on Friday while speaking to a national media outlet.

Tarique Rahman returned to the country on Thursday after 17 years abroad. Earlier, on December 22, BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed said after a meeting with Chief Election Commissioner A. M. M. Nasir Uddin that Tarique Rahman would register as a voter on Saturday, December 27. However, Commissioner Machud could not confirm whether Rahman would appear at the Election Commission office on that date.

The EC’s clarification comes amid renewed political attention following Rahman’s return, with his potential voter registration seen as a significant step in his re-engagement with national politics.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman said the party prioritizes creating employment opportunities for youth instead of providing unemployment allowances. Speaking on Friday, December 26, 2025, at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Center in Dhaka during the central members’ conference of Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir, he stated that every young person should be given work to become skilled and self-reliant. He emphasized that Islami Chhatra Shibir has now assumed a guardian role for the nation’s student community in the post-2024 context.

Dr. Rahman highlighted the need for educational institutions to focus on moral education, character building, and modern research. He said the dark era of campus violence and insecurity is fading but not yet over. He urged Shibir members to ensure campuses remain free from weapons, drugs, and disorder, and to create a safe environment for female students.

He further called for building a corruption-free, just, and humane Bangladesh based on Quranic and prophetic principles, stressing that national unity should be founded on justice and integrity.

Nurul Islam Saddam has been elected as the new central president of Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir for the year 2026. The election took place on Friday through direct voting by the organization’s members. The announcement was made during the Central Members’ Conference 2025, which began in the morning at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Center in Dhaka.

More than six thousand members from across the country participated in the conference, marking a major organizational gathering for the student body. The event served as the platform for selecting the leadership for the upcoming term, confirming Saddam’s election as central president for 2026.

The conference highlighted the organization’s internal democratic process, with broad member participation in leadership selection for the next operational year.

Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman said the nation remains under a 'dark shadow' and vowed that the party and its student wing, Islami Chhatra Shibir, will continue their struggle until it is lifted. He made the remarks on Friday at the central members’ conference of Islami Chhatra Shibir held at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Center in Dhaka.

Dr. Rahman called for unity among all religions and political groups to build a corruption-free and just Bangladesh. He emphasized creating skilled citizens instead of relying on unemployment allowances and urged for an improved education curriculum. He said educational institutions should be free from drugs, terrorism, and fear, ensuring safety and dignity for women. He described the student-teacher relationship as one of mutual respect and responsibility.

The Jamaat chief stressed moral education, character building, and research-friendly environments in schools. He said the responsibility to restore these values now lies with Islami Chhatra Shibir, which he described as more than a student organization. Jamaat Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar alleged that false propaganda is being used to suppress the group.

Madhya Pradesh Urban Administration Minister and senior BJP leader Kailash Vijayvargiya has stirred fresh controversy by claiming that the Taj Mahal was originally a temple later converted into a mausoleum by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan. Speaking at the inauguration of a cricket tournament in Bina town of Sagar district, he said Mumtaz Mahal was first buried in Burhanpur and later moved to a site where a temple was under construction, which eventually became the Taj Mahal.

His remarks created a stir among attendees, and a video of his speech quickly spread across social media, drawing sharp and divided reactions. Supporters described his statement as a “historical interpretation,” while critics called it provocative and misleading. The debate has since intensified online.

At the same event, Vijayvargiya also made a remark about people from Bihar, saying humility was not mandatory for them but praised BJP national executive member Nitin Naveen for his modesty. This comment too triggered mixed reactions online, with some calling it normal political talk and others labeling it inappropriate.

The Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) prevented an attempt to push 14 Indian nationals into Bangladesh through the Daulatpur border in Kushtia. The incident occurred around 1 p.m. on Thursday at the Madaner Ghat border in Ramkrishnapur union, where six men, four women, and four children from the same family were reportedly being pushed in from India’s Bausmari border. BGB confirmed the matter in a statement issued on Friday morning.

According to BGB and local sources, the group, residents of Tarikunda village in Jagatsinghpur district of Odisha, India, were stopped near border pillar 157/1-S by a patrol team from Ramkrishnapur Border Outpost under the 47 BGB Battalion. Following a strong protest from BGB, a flag meeting between BGB and India’s Border Security Force (BSF) was held at the Chaidoba border at 1:40 p.m. Thursday.

After verifying their identities as Indian citizens, BSF took custody of the 14 individuals, and the meeting concluded peacefully. BGB stated it remains committed to preventing illegal crossings and border crimes, including drug trafficking, along the Kushtia frontier.

The Dhaka University branch of Inqilab Mancha staged a protest march on Friday after the Juma prayers, starting from the university’s central mosque and ending at Shahbagh intersection. The demonstrators blocked surrounding roads, causing severe traffic congestion, as they demanded justice for their slain spokesperson, Sharif Osman Hadi. As of the time of reporting, the protesters were continuing their sit-in at the site.

According to the organization’s earlier Facebook post on Thursday night, the protest was part of a nationwide call for prayers and demonstrations seeking justice for Hadi’s killing. Hadi, who was a potential independent candidate for the Dhaka-8 constituency, was shot in the head on December 12 at Purana Paltan’s Box Culvert Road, a day after the announcement of the 13th national election and referendum schedule. Investigators reportedly identified a banned Chhatra League leader as the shooter, who is believed to have fled to India.

Hadi was initially treated at Dhaka Medical College Hospital and later transferred to a private hospital before being flown to Singapore for advanced treatment, where he died on December 18.

Christmas celebrations across India were overshadowed by fear and tension as reports of threats, disruptions, and attacks emerged from several states. Allegations pointed to the involvement of groups linked to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and other right-wing Hindu organizations. Incidents were reported in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Kerala, targeting churches, prayer meetings, carol events, and decorations. Police made arrests in some areas and increased security, while religious leaders urged protection of constitutional rights.

In Raipur, Chhattisgarh, a group of 80 to 90 people allegedly vandalized Christmas decorations at a shopping mall. The Vishva Hindu Parishad called on Hindus to avoid Christmas celebrations, labeling them a threat to cultural awareness, which critics said fosters exclusion and harassment. In Kerala, children under 15 singing carols were attacked, and one RSS-linked suspect was arrested. A BJP leader’s remark defending the assault drew public outrage. In Madhya Pradesh, a blind woman was reportedly harassed during a prayer meeting, and Christians faced intimidation.

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan condemned the incidents as contrary to India’s secular values, accusing RSS-linked groups of pressuring schools to cancel Christmas events.

National Board of Revenue (NBR) Chairman Abdur Rahman Khan has called for realizing the vision shown by the 'July warriors', saying they pointed out the right path for the nation. He stated that the country had been on the wrong track and must correct its course to build a prosperous Bangladesh. Khan made these remarks on Friday, December 26, at the centenary celebration of Dalta Rahmania High School in Ramganj, Lakshmipur, where he attended as the chief guest.

During his speech, the NBR chairman emphasized the need for social respect toward deserving individuals, noting that society often honors the wrong people while neglecting those who merit recognition. He also encouraged students to pursue education sincerely, saying that opportunities are open both at home and abroad for those who learn properly.

The event was presided over by education enthusiast and social worker Khorhshed Alam Bhuiyan and conducted by former student Abu Hannan Lavlu. Several notable figures, including Dhaka University Pro-Vice Chancellor Dr. Mamun Ahmed and industrialist Kamal Hossain, addressed the program virtually.

Supreme Court senior lawyer Mohammad Shishir Monir has collected nomination papers to contest the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election from the Sunamganj-2 (Dirai-Shalla) constituency as a candidate of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami. He collected the nomination papers on Friday, December 26, from the office of the Dirai Upazila Nirbahi Officer and Assistant Returning Officer.

During the submission, he was accompanied by senior teacher Pulin Bihari Das, freedom fighter Pandab Chandra Das, Jamaat’s Dirai Upazila Ameer Abdul Kaddus, Ashish Chakraborty, farmer Sudhanshu Biswas, Rabeya Monir, Sushma Pal, and physically challenged Samraj Mia, along with leaders of the eight-party alliance. After collecting the papers, Shishir Monir told journalists that he wanted a free, fair, and festive election in Dirai-Shalla.

He emphasized that all participants should follow the electoral code of conduct until the end of the campaign and urged the administration to ensure a level playing field so that no voter or candidate feels intimidated during the election process.

Former sports adviser Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan has said that his official Facebook page, which had around three million followers, was removed by Facebook authorities following mass reports. He claimed the removal occurred after posts about Sharif Osman Hadi, spokesperson of Inqilab Moncho, were reported. Asif shared the information in a Facebook post on Friday, stating that all posts and videos related to Hadi were targeted with strikes and coordinated reports.

According to Asif, links were circulated in various Telegram groups to organize the reporting campaign, and three videos about Hadi received strikes. The incident comes as Asif prepares to contest the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election as an independent candidate from Dhaka-10. He had earlier resigned as a student adviser of the interim government, along with Mahfuz Alam, a day before the election schedule was announced.

The removal of the page has drawn attention due to its timing before the election and the large follower base involved, though Facebook’s official reasoning for the removal has not been detailed in the report.