Tensions are reportedly rising between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and top advisers to U.S. President Donald Trump. According to a report by Axios, Trump’s senior aides believe Netanyahu is deliberately undermining the Gaza peace process. The report states that frustration among Trump’s inner circle has grown as they suspect Netanyahu is taking active steps to delay the peace agreement and weaken the ceasefire.

The report names Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, peace envoy Steve Witkoff, and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles as among those disappointed with Netanyahu. A White House official indicated that Netanyahu has largely lost the support of Trump’s core team, though Trump himself continues to back him and wants the agreement to move forward quickly.

Under Trump’s peace plan, the first phase of the ceasefire took effect on October 10, but Israel has reportedly failed to comply. Israeli forces have continued attacks in Gaza, with 412 people killed and 1,118 injured since the ceasefire began, according to TRT World.

BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman visited the grave of martyr Osman Hadi on Saturday at around 11:30 a.m. He also paid respects at the nearby grave of National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam and participated in prayers with senior BNP leaders. The visit took place before Rahman departed for the Election Commission to register as a voter at 11:40 a.m.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed, Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, and Joint Secretary General Habibun Nabi Khan Sohel were present during the visit. Rahman also spoke with Hadi’s brother, Abu Bakar Siddique. Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor Professor Niaz Ahmed Khan, along with other university officials and DUCSU Vice President Sadik Kayem, welcomed Rahman at the site.

The visit highlighted Rahman’s engagement with party leaders and university officials ahead of his voter registration process.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir stated that concerns over the upcoming election have subsided, though conspiracies remain active. He made the remarks on Saturday while speaking to journalists before visiting the grave of Shaheed Sharif Osman Hadi near Dhaka University. Fakhrul said Tarique Rahman demonstrated political wisdom by deciding to visit Hadi’s grave and would also pay respects at the tomb of national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam.

Responding to questions, Fakhrul noted that while conspiracies cannot be fully predicted, Tarique Rahman’s return to the country has largely dispelled election-related plots. He added that Rahman’s arrival has simplified the political equation and revived nationalist ideology within the party. According to him, nationalism remains the most suitable philosophy for the people’s liberation.

Fakhrul further expressed optimism that Tarique Rahman’s leadership and new political plans would open a new direction for national politics and that he would achieve significant political success in the forthcoming election.

BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman is set to become a registered voter today, Saturday, at the Election Commission (EC) office in Agargaon, Dhaka. According to EC and BNP sources, he is expected to visit the EC between 11 a.m. and 12 p.m. The voter registration form was completed on Friday using his Gulshan address. EC Commissioner Abdur Rahmanel Ma’sud confirmed there is no legal barrier to his registration, noting that the EC can enroll any eligible citizen at any time.

Sources from both the EC and BNP said Rahman may register using the address of his Gulshan residence ‘Firoza,’ though his birthplace Bogura is also under consideration. The final decision will be made before his photograph is taken. EC officials clarified that registering after the election schedule announcement is not unprecedented, citing previous cases including Sheikh Rehana in 2001 and Dr. Badiul Alam Majumdar.

Rahman returned to Bangladesh last Thursday after 17 years abroad. The 13th national election schedule was announced on December 11, with voting set for February 12 next year. To contest in the election, being a registered voter is mandatory.

Myanmar’s military junta has announced dates for a three-phase election, with the final round scheduled for January 25. According to a notice published in the state-run Global New Light of Myanmar, voting will take place in 202 of the country’s 330 administrative areas on December 28 and January 11, followed by 63 townships in the third phase. Junta leader Min Aung Hlaing admitted that nationwide voting would not be possible. This will be the first election since the military seized power in 2021, though no date has been set for vote counting or result announcements.

The junta hopes the election will legitimize its rule and improve its international image. Analysts, however, doubt the process will lead to stability, noting that the country remains in civil conflict, with the main political party dissolved and about one-third of Myanmar under rebel control. Many question whether a free and fair election is possible under military rule.

Western governments and the United Nations have dismissed the vote as a sham, while China, the junta’s key ally, supports it as a step toward stability. Conflict monitoring group ACLED reported a 30 percent rise in air and drone strikes this year, with civilian infrastructure increasingly targeted.

A new report has revisited Bangladesh’s first parliamentary election held on 7 March 1973, following the adoption of the country’s constitution in December 1972. The election, conducted under the leadership of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s Awami League, resulted in the party winning 293 seats and forming a government without any opposition presence in parliament. Researchers and political analysts cited widespread irregularities and manipulation across the country, including allegations that ballot boxes were flown to Dhaka to ensure the victory of certain candidates.

One of the most controversial cases was in Comilla-9, where Awami League candidate Khandaker Moshtaque Ahmed reportedly won after ballot papers were taken to Dhaka for recounting. Analysts said the ruling party’s dominance left no space for opposition, with several Awami League leaders, including Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, winning uncontested. Contemporary newspapers described the election as a “mockery,” while opposition figures alleged that results in dozens of constituencies were altered through coercion and irregularities.

The 1973 election remains a defining episode in Bangladesh’s political history, marking the beginning of a parliament without an opposition and raising questions about the democratic process in the newly independent nation.

BNP’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman left his residence in Gulshan on Saturday morning to visit the grave of martyr Osman Hadi. According to the report, he departed around 10:45 a.m. before heading to the Election Commission office in Agargaon to complete his voter registration process.

Reliable sources from the Election Commission and the BNP confirmed that Tarique Rahman is set to become a registered voter. The formalities for his voter form were completed on Friday, using his Gulshan address in Dhaka. His visit to the Election Commission marks the next step in finalizing his registration.

The report highlights that the process follows official procedures and that both the Election Commission and BNP sources have verified the information.

Inkilab Mancha has temporarily vacated the Shahbagh intersection in Dhaka due to security measures surrounding the visit of BNP’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman. He is scheduled to visit and pay respects at the grave of Shaheed Osman Hadi, located beside the tomb of national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam. The group, which had been staging a continuous sit-in demanding justice for Hadi’s killing, moved its protest site to the front of Aziz Super Market on Saturday morning.

Leaders of Inkilab Mancha stated that they would return to Shahbagh and resume their sit-in after Tarique Rahman completes his visit. Following their departure, members of the Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal took position at Shahbagh, chanting slogans ahead of Rahman’s arrival. The area saw a significant presence of BNP activists.

Extensive security arrangements have been implemented across Shahbagh and the Dhaka University area, with personnel from BGB, police, RAB, and the BNP chairperson’s special security force (CSF) deployed to maintain order. Authorities reported that the situation remains fully under control.

The Ministry of Public Administration has taken custody of 30 luxury Pajero vehicles worth about Tk 400 crore that were imported under duty-free privileges in the names of several fugitive former ministers and MPs of the Awami League. The vehicles, which had been stuck for one and a half years in the car shed of Chattogram Port, were transported to Dhaka on Friday morning with approval from the National Board of Revenue (NBR). Earlier, the cars had been put up for auction but failed to attract expected bids.

According to customs sources, the vehicles were imported after the 2024 dummy election by at least 40 former MPs and ministers using duty-free facilities. Most of the cars remained unclaimed amid the quota reform movement, leading to their seizure by customs. Attempts to auction them failed due to alleged manipulation by a syndicate offering unrealistically low bids. The government then decided to allocate the cars for official use through the transport pool after resolving legal complications.

Officials said the decision prevents national assets from being wasted, while future claimants may still retrieve the vehicles by paying full duties. Business representatives welcomed the move but suggested reforming the auction process to ensure fair competition and revenue collection.

Barrister Rafique Ahmed’s article, published on December 27, 2025, examines Bangladesh’s intelligence agencies and argues that they have become symbols of chronic institutional failure. He cites repeated intelligence breakdowns from the assassinations of national leaders to recent killings, describing them as evidence of deep structural and accountability crises. The author questions whether these failures are historical accidents or symptoms of an ongoing institutional epidemic.

The article identifies several core problems: excessive focus on data collection over analysis, political misuse of intelligence for partisan surveillance, lack of inter-agency coordination, and weak counter-intelligence against foreign espionage. It also highlights impunity for intelligence-linked killings and inadequate professional training in cyber and psychological operations. Ahmed calls for depoliticization, transparency, and a supervisory board including government, opposition, civil society, and experts to ensure accountability.

He concludes that minor reforms will not suffice and urges a fundamental transformation of Bangladesh’s intelligence structure—technological modernization, ethical training, and a renewed mission centered solely on national security.

An informal eight-party alliance led by Jamaat-e-Islami is making strong efforts to maintain unity ahead of the upcoming election through seat-sharing arrangements. Despite complications over finalizing single candidates in various constituencies, leaders expect the issues to be resolved soon. Discussions are also underway to include additional parties such as the NCPC in the coalition. Multiple meetings were held on Friday, with further talks scheduled for Saturday, and final decisions are expected within a few days.

The alliance, which evolved from an issue-based movement platform, includes Jamaat-e-Islami, Islami Andolan Bangladesh, Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish, Khelafat Majlish, Khelafat Andolan, Nezame Islam Party, Jatiya Ganatantrik Party (JAGPA), and Bangladesh Development Party (BDP). A liaison committee began selecting single candidates for each seat on December 9, and the process is now in its final stage. However, disputes over the number of seats allocated to each party have delayed the final agreement.

Leaders, including Maulana Mamunul Haque and Dr. Hamidur Rahman Azad, expressed optimism that the alliance will remain intact and that discussions with new parties are progressing. They expect the seat-sharing deal to be finalized within two to four days.

BNP’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman returned to Bangladesh last Thursday after 17 years in exile, drawing massive crowds and widespread attention. Political analysts described his homecoming as a positive development for both the BNP and the country, noting that his speech at the reception inspired hope and a sense of renewal. Rahman called for national unity and urged the youth to dream of building a new Bangladesh, referencing the vision of Martin Luther King Jr. He also paid tribute at the National Martyrs’ Memorial and at the grave of his father, late President Ziaur Rahman, and is expected to contest the next parliamentary election from Bogura-6.

Analysts including Professor M Shahiduzzaman, Dr Dilara Chowdhury, Dr Mahbub Ullah, and others viewed his return as filling a leadership void and sparking optimism among citizens. They praised his non-confrontational tone and emphasis on unity, while acknowledging that his plans face significant challenges. Some noted that his political proposals, including earlier 27- and 31-point agendas, could be strengthened further to meet national aspirations.

Observers expect Rahman’s leadership to shape BNP’s future direction and influence Bangladesh’s political landscape ahead of the next election.

Multiple Islamic scholars remain imprisoned for years due to disputed charge sheets in the murder case of former finance minister Shah A.M.S. Kibria. According to the report, three separate charge sheets were filed in the lower court, each differing from the others. The third, submitted in 2015 by CID officer Meherunnesa Parul, added several prominent scholars allegedly to show links with opposition and militancy. Among them, two died mysteriously in custody, while others, including Mufti Abdul Hai and Mufti Shafiqur Rahman, remain detained.

The investigation officer later admitted under oath that political pressure influenced the inclusion of certain accused and that she was rewarded by the then government for filing the false charge sheet. Kibria’s son, Reza Kibria, accused Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her associates of manipulating the case for political motives. Legal experts and academics have called for an independent committee to review politically sensitive cases involving innocent scholars.

Experts argue that repeated charge sheet changes and prolonged detentions indicate a justice system driven by political suspicion rather than evidence, urging immediate re-investigation and fair resolution.

In Dhaka’s Shahbagh area, protesters have continued a late-night blockade demanding justice for Sharif Osman Hadi, spokesperson of Inquilab Moncho, who was shot on December 12 and later died in Singapore. Despite freezing winter temperatures, men, women, children, and the elderly gathered under makeshift tents, chanting slogans for justice. The demonstrators vowed not to leave until the trial for Hadi’s killing begins.

Inquilab Moncho announced that the blockade would continue day and night until judicial proceedings start. Member Secretary Abdullah Al Jaber stated that no assurance would end the protest unless a trial begins within 30 working days. The group reiterated three demands: formation of a special tribunal to complete the trial within 30 days, an impartial investigation by an internationally recognized agency, and resignation of the home adviser and others responsible for the incident.

The protest followed a rally after Friday prayers from Dhaka University’s central mosque to Shahbagh, joined by students, political activists, and citizens. Emotional participants said they sought justice, not politics, and would remain until accountability is ensured.

The National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB) has made major revisions to Bangladesh’s 2026 academic textbooks, emphasizing the July Revolution, its background, events, and the sacrifices of students and citizens. The new editions also include accounts of the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government and the end of fascism, along with improvements in overall quality. Officials said the changes follow widespread criticism of last year’s textbooks and were made under recommendations from a high-level committee.

According to NCTB sources, the revised content spans grades six to ten, particularly in the Bangladesh and World Identity and Civics books, which now present a broader political history. The eighth-grade book’s third chapter has been renamed “Bangladesh’s Liberation War and Democratic Struggle,” expanding coverage from the 1990 uprising to the July Revolution and Hasina’s downfall. Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s March 7 speech has been removed from the eighth-grade Bangla literature book.

NCTB officials said printing and distribution are ongoing, with all students expected to receive the new books at the start of the academic year despite production challenges.