The Bangladesh Election Commission has published a gazette redefining the boundaries of four parliamentary constituencies—Pabna-1, Pabna-2, Faridpur-2, and Faridpur-4. The gazette, signed by Md. Mamunur Rashid, Deputy Director of the Department of Films and Publications attached to the Commission, was released on Wednesday. The decision follows a writ petition filed with the High Court Division of the Supreme Court.

According to the gazette, Pabna-1 (constituency 68) will now include Santhia Upazila and several unions and the municipality of Bera Upazila. Pabna-2 (constituency 69) will cover Sujanagar Upazila and the remaining parts of Bera Upazila, excluding the areas included in Pabna-1. Faridpur-2 (constituency 212) will consist of Nagarkanda and Saltha upazilas, while Faridpur-4 (constituency 214) will include Bhanga, Charbhadrasan, and Sadarpur upazilas.

The redefinition aims to align constituency boundaries with administrative and legal considerations as directed by the High Court petition.

Fatima Tasnim Juma, spokesperson for the Dhaka University branch of Inquilab Manch, expressed strong anger at the interim government’s stance on the murder of Shaheed Sharif Osman Hadi. On Friday, December 26, after the Juma prayers, Inquilab Manch leaders, students, and supporters marched from the university’s central mosque to Shahbagh, where they blocked the road and halted traffic. The protest site filled with slogans demanding justice for Hadi’s killing.

In her speech, Juma recalled Hadi’s legacy as a humble activist who never claimed leadership but inspired others through his dedication. She criticized the authorities for failing to provide clear information about the suspects’ whereabouts and accused intelligence agencies of negligence. Juma also warned against attempts to label their movement as mob activity, calling such claims a tactic to delay justice and elections.

Juma declared that the protesters would not leave the streets until Hadi’s killers are brought to justice, vowing that the trial must take place in Bangladesh and that Shahbagh would witness its outcome.

After Friday prayers, leaders and activists of Inquilab Mancha, along with students and the public, marched from Dhaka University Central Mosque to Shahbagh intersection and began a sit-in. The demonstration was organized to demand justice for Sharif Osman Hadi, who was shot on December 12 and later died in a Singapore hospital on December 18.

Inquilab Mancha member secretary Abdullah Al Jaber announced that the protesters would not leave Shahbagh until the interim government’s advisers publicly respond regarding Hadi’s case. He stated that they were prepared to stay overnight and even risk their lives to continue the protest. A reliable source indicated that the sit-in would continue until Home Adviser Lieutenant General Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury arrives at the site.

The protesters accused government advisers of avoiding accountability and vowed to maintain their position at Shahbagh until their demands are addressed.

A record crowd gathered in Dhaka’s 300 Feet area to welcome BNP’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman, defying the season’s coldest spell. Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam described the turnout as clear evidence of the nation’s readiness for the upcoming general election and referendum. In a verified Facebook post on December 26, he confirmed that both events would proceed on schedule, just seven weeks away.

Alam stated that the recent developments had dispelled any remaining doubts about the February 12 election date. He added that nomination submissions for parliamentary seats would begin within days, followed by campaign activities across the country. Printing presses and television debates were expected to intensify as the election approached.

Political analysts cited in the report said the massive turnout and the government’s high-level remarks reflected growing political engagement and tension ahead of the polls. Alam concluded that only a truly credible election could heal the deepening national divisions.

BNP’s acting chairman Tareq Rahman was on his way to the National Martyrs’ Memorial in Savar after visiting the grave of late president Ziaur Rahman on Friday, December 26, 2025. His vehicle was on the Gabtoli road when it became clear he would not reach the memorial before sunset.

As a result, senior BNP leaders paid tribute to the martyrs of the Liberation War on his behalf. According to the party’s media cell, at 5:06 p.m., standing committee members Gayeshwar Chandra Roy and Dr. Abdul Moyeen Khan, along with advisory council members Amanullah Aman and Lutfozzaman Babar, placed wreaths at the memorial. They were joined by Dhaka district BNP president Khondoker Abu Ashfaq, advocate Nipun Roy Chowdhury, Dr. Dewan Mohammad Salauddin, Tamizuddin, Yasin Ferdous Murad, Ayub Khan, retired Major General Fazle Elahi Akbar, and media cell member Shairul Kabir Khan.

The BNP media cell stated that the tribute was made in accordance with the rule requiring visits to the memorial before sunset.

BNP’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman was on his way to the National Martyrs’ Memorial in Savar after visiting the grave of late President Ziaur Rahman on Friday, December 26, 2025. As he could not reach the memorial before sunset, senior BNP leaders paid tribute on his behalf under the leadership of Dr. Abdul Moyeen Khan. The tribute took place at 5:06 p.m.

According to BNP’s media cell, the delegation included Standing Committee members Gayeshwar Chandra Roy and Dr. Abdul Moyeen Khan, Advisory Council members Amanullah Aman and Lutfozzaman Babar, along with Dhaka District BNP President Khandaker Abu Ashfaq and several other party leaders. They placed floral wreaths at the memorial to honor the martyrs of the Liberation War.

The event highlighted BNP’s continued observance of national commemorations, even when its acting chairman could not be physically present at the memorial due to time constraints before sunset.

The Urban Development Journalists Forum Bangladesh (UDJFB) has formed a new executive committee for the 2026–27 term. Matin Abdullah, special correspondent of the daily Jugantor, was elected president, and Hasan Imon, staff reporter of Bangladesh Pratidin, was elected general secretary. The election took place on Friday at a restaurant in Banglamotor, Dhaka, during the forum’s biennial general meeting. Chief Election Commissioner Amitosh Pal announced the results, assisted by commissioners Khalid Saifullah of Naya Diganta and Mizanur Rahman of The Daily Observer.

Other elected members include Faisal Khan as vice president, Yasin Rana as joint general secretary, Rashedul Hasan as finance secretary, Zahidul Islam as organizational secretary, Md. Billal Hossain (Sagar) as publicity and publication secretary, Latiful Islam as office secretary, Rahat Hossain as training and research secretary, and Delaowar Hossain Dolon as hospitality and welfare secretary. Executive members are Mahmuda Dolly, Moinul Islam (Rajib), Niaz Morshed, and Abdul Kaiyum.

The meeting was presided over by newly elected president Matin Abdullah and conducted by Faisal Khan, with all forum members and leaders in attendance.

Inqilab Mancha, founded by the late Sharif Osman Bin Hadi, has called on the people of Bangladesh to gather at Shahbagh in Dhaka to demand justice for Hadi’s killing. The call was made through the group’s official Facebook page following a protest march organized by its Dhaka University branch after Friday prayers. The procession started from the university’s central mosque and ended with a sit-in at Shahbagh.

According to Inqilab Mancha, the movement will continue until a swift and exemplary trial is ensured for the murder of Sharif Osman Hadi. Hadi, who was the spokesperson of the organization and a potential independent candidate for Dhaka-8 constituency, was shot in the head on December 12 in Purana Paltan, a day after the announcement of the 13th national election and referendum schedule. He was later flown to Singapore for advanced treatment but died on December 18.

Investigators reportedly identified a banned Chhatra League leader as the shooter, who is believed to have fled to India, though this remains under discussion.

Nurul Islam Saddam has been elected as the new president of Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir, while Sibgatullah Sibga has been appointed as the organization’s secretary general. The election took place on Friday at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Center in Agargaon, Dhaka, where members of the organization voted to select the central leadership for the 2026 term.

According to the organization’s constitution, the newly elected president nominates the secretary general following the election. Sibgatullah previously served as the president of the Dhaka University branch of Islami Chhatra Shibir. The announcement marks the beginning of the organization’s new central leadership for the upcoming term.

The leadership transition follows the group’s internal electoral process, which determines its central committee for each term based on member votes and constitutional procedures.

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.