Dhaka North BNP has initiated a waste removal campaign following the massive public gathering held to celebrate BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman’s historic return to the country. The cleanup began on Friday morning under the leadership of Aminul Haque, the convener of Dhaka North BNP. According to party sources, waste accumulated along the 36 July Expressway (300 Feet Highway), Airport Road, and adjacent areas is being cleared.

The cleanup operation is being carried out under the supervision of Dhaka North BNP, with active participation from volunteers and party members. Leaders stated that the initiative aims to ease public inconvenience and ensure normal movement for city residents. They emphasized that the activity reflects the party’s commitment to maintaining environmental cleanliness and public order.

BNP leaders further noted that the waste removal effort is part of their ongoing practice of conducting peaceful and disciplined programs while upholding environmental responsibility.

The Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir has begun its Central Members’ Conference 2025 at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Center, with participation from over six thousand members from across the country. The event, which started on Friday morning, will elect the organization’s new central president for the 2026 term through direct and secret voting by delegates. Current president Zahidul Islam has decided to step down as his student tenure has ended.

According to party sources, the race for the top post is led by current Secretary General Nurul Islam Saddam, followed by central office secretary and former Dhaka University unit president Sibgatullah, central publicity secretary Azizur Rahman Azad, and central publication secretary and DUCSU vice president Sadik Kayem. Historically, the secretary general has usually succeeded as president, making Saddam the frontrunner.

Leaders view this year’s conference as a major challenge, given the approaching national election. They emphasize the need for capable and strategic leadership to attract young voters and to strengthen the organization’s position in the evolving landscape of student politics following recent anti-discrimination movements.

Leaders from several Bangladeshi political and Islamist parties have welcomed the return of BNP’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman and his family to Bangladesh after 17 years abroad. Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman, Islami Andolan Bangladesh Ameer Mufti Syed Muhammad Rezaul Karim, Khelafat Majlish Ameer Maulana Abdul Basit Azad, and National Citizen Party (NCP) convener Nahid Islam publicly expressed their greetings through social media and media statements. They described his return as a positive development for national politics following years of political unrest.

Dr. Shafiqur Rahman said Jamaat would closely observe Tarique Rahman’s role and plans for political unity. The Islami Andolan chief, known as the Charmonai Pir, said Rahman’s return could restore leadership within the BNP and help end a culture of political vengeance. Khelafat Majlish leaders called the event a victory for anti-fascist struggles, while Nahid Islam and NCP leader Sarjis Alam linked it to the democratic movement that followed the July uprising.

According to these leaders, Tarique Rahman’s return may strengthen multiparty democracy and promote a healthier political culture in Bangladesh.

Imran Ahmed, a British national and head of the U.S.-based Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH), has filed a lawsuit against President Donald Trump’s administration in a New York district court. Ahmed described the U.S. visa ban imposed on him as unconstitutional and an attempt to expel him from the country. The State Department recently announced that five European figures involved in technology regulation, including Ahmed, would be denied visas, accusing them of pressuring U.S. social media platforms to censor views they dislike.

The European Union and several member states have strongly condemned the decision, pledging to defend Europe’s regulatory autonomy. Ahmed, a U.S. green card holder and permanent resident, named Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy Sarah Rogers, Attorney General Pam Bondi, and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem as defendants. A district judge has temporarily barred his arrest or detention, with a follow-up hearing scheduled for next Monday.

The State Department has maintained its position, stating that the Supreme Court and Congress have repeatedly affirmed that the U.S. has no obligation to allow foreign nationals to enter or reside in the country.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has organized nationwide prayers today, Friday, after Jumma prayers in mosques across the country for the recovery of party chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia and to mark the return of acting chairman Tarique Rahman to Bangladesh. The announcement was made in a press release sent to the media on Thursday night, December 25.

According to the statement, the prayers will be held in all mosques, including those in Dhaka, under the initiative of the BNP. The event is dedicated to the recovery of Khaleda Zia, who is currently receiving treatment at Evercare Hospital in the capital, and to celebrate Tarique Rahman’s homecoming with his family after 17 years abroad. The BNP has called on leaders, activists, and the general public to participate in the prayers.

The party’s directive emphasizes unity among its members and supporters during this occasion, reflecting both concern for Khaleda Zia’s health and enthusiasm over Tarique Rahman’s return.

Five days after the burial of Shaheed Sharif Osman Hadi, people continue to gather at his grave near the central mosque of Dhaka University. Hadi, a frontline participant in the July uprising and spokesperson of Inquilab Mancha, is being mourned by hundreds who visit daily to pray, recite the Quran, and lay flowers at the site near the National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam’s mausoleum. Visitors include students, workers, professionals, and families who have traveled from across the country to pay their respects.

Many mourners expressed deep emotion and admiration for Hadi’s ideals, describing him as a symbol of honesty, patriotism, and resistance against injustice. Some called for justice for his killing, echoing Hadi’s own demand for accountability. Others said his sacrifice had inspired renewed commitment to his cause and that his ideals had spread widely among the people.

The continuing crowds and tears around Hadi’s grave have turned the area into a place of collective mourning and reflection, with visitors saying his spirit and ideals remain alive and stronger than ever.

BNP’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman claimed that spies of various imperialist powers remain engaged in conspiracies against Bangladesh. He made the statement on Thursday, December 25, during a public reception organized by the party on the 300 Feet Road in Dhaka. Rahman urged supporters to remain calm and patient in the face of provocations, emphasizing the need for peace in the country.

Drawing inspiration from Martin Luther King Jr.’s historic speech, Rahman said he too has a dream for Bangladesh and possesses a concrete plan to change the fate of its people, which requires collective cooperation. He stressed the importance of justice and vowed that future leadership would strive to govern the nation guided by the principles of fairness exemplified by the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

Rahman concluded by seeking prayers for the recovery of his mother, former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia, and called on the youth to take responsibility for building a strong democratic and economic foundation for the country.

Tarique Rahman, leader of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and potential next prime minister, returned to Dhaka on Thursday after 17 years in exile. Arriving with his wife and daughter at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, Rahman was greeted by thousands of supporters under heavy security. His return comes as Bangladesh prepares for elections on February 12 under an interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, following the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in a 2024 student-led uprising. Rahman’s mother, former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, remains critically ill in hospital.

Rahman, 60, has led the BNP as acting chairman since 2018 while living in London. Once a powerful political figure during his mother’s rule, he faced allegations of corruption and political violence, which he and the BNP have called politically motivated. Most of his convictions were stayed or overturned after Hasina’s fall, enabling his return. Analysts say his comeback completes preparations for the upcoming polls, where the BNP is seen as the frontrunner after the Awami League was barred from contesting.

A recent poll by the International Republican Institute showed the BNP leading with 30 percent support, positioning Rahman to potentially guide Bangladesh’s next government.

Bangladeshi cricketer Shakib Al Hasan, who previously contested the 12th National Parliamentary Election as an Awami League candidate, has expressed deep sorrow over the suffering of children affected by recent violence. On Thursday, December 25, he posted on his official Facebook page, mourning the deaths of several children and urging collective responsibility to ensure a better future for them. He also extended Christmas greetings at the end of his message.

The post follows a period of public criticism directed at Shakib for his silence during last year’s student and public movements and other violent incidents across the country. Critics argue that his sudden humanitarian message may be an attempt to mask a perceived lack of political neutrality.

The statement marks a rare public reflection from Shakib on social issues, contrasting with his earlier avoidance of political commentary.

Indian Congress leader Shashi Tharoor has defended India’s decision to allow former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to remain in the country following her ouster in the July revolution. Speaking to the Indian news agency ANI on Wednesday, Tharoor said India acted in the spirit of humanity by not forcing Hasina’s return, describing her as a long-time friend of India. He emphasized that India could not send back someone who had maintained a close friendship with the country for many years.

Tharoor noted that extradition matters involve complex legal provisions and treaties understood by only a few experts. He added that while the government should make the final decision, India should continue to provide Hasina with safety and hospitality until the legal and diplomatic issues are fully examined.

His remarks came amid renewed tensions between India and Bangladesh following the killing of Sharif Osman Hadi, spokesperson of Dhaka’s Inquilab Mancha, an incident that has strained bilateral relations.

The political platform Inqilab Manch has announced nationwide prayers and protest rallies on Friday, December 26, seeking justice for the killing of Sharif Osman Hadi. Hadi, a key organizer of the July uprising and spokesperson for the group, was shot on December 12 while campaigning in Dhaka’s Paltan area. He later died on December 18 in Singapore General Hospital after being transferred from Dhaka Medical College Hospital.

The organization made the call Thursday night via its official Facebook page, urging supporters to join prayers for Hadi’s soul and to demand the arrest and trial of his killers. Hadi’s funeral on December 20 drew an estimated one million mourners at the National Parliament’s South Plaza, reflecting widespread public grief.

Despite the passage of two weeks since the shooting and a week since Hadi’s death, authorities have yet to report significant progress in identifying or arresting the perpetrators, raising concerns about accountability and political violence in Bangladesh.

Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) Vice President Abu Sadiq Kayem alleged that groups aligned with the ruling Awami League and foreign interests have resorted to planned assassinations. He made the claim in a verified Facebook post on Thursday night, citing the recent killing of Sharif Osman Hadi as an example. Kayem’s post came on the eve of the Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir’s central members’ conference, scheduled to take place at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Center.

In his statement, Kayem said that under previous administrations, Shibir had been denied permission to hold public conferences, forcing the organization to conduct leadership elections online. He described the upcoming 2025 conference as a continuation of the group’s struggle and a symbolic step toward fulfilling the aspirations of its fallen members. He also asserted that Shibir activists had faced severe repression, including killings, disappearances, and assaults, throughout Bangladesh’s political history.

Kayem called on supporters to remain committed to the movement’s goals and expressed hope that participants traveling to Dhaka for the conference would arrive safely.

After 17 years abroad, BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman returned to Bangladesh and addressed a massive reception at Purbachal’s ‘36 July Expressway’ on Thursday, December 25, 2025. In his 16‑minute speech, he outlined his vision for a secure and discrimination‑free Bangladesh, promising equal rights and safety for all citizens regardless of religion or background. He called for national unity and collective effort to rebuild the country on democratic and economic foundations.

Rahman recalled key moments in Bangladesh’s political history, including the 1971 Liberation War, the 1975 and 1990 movements, and recent struggles in 2024. He honored those who lost their lives for democracy and sovereignty, mentioning slain activist Osman Hadi. He urged the youth to take leadership in shaping the nation’s future and emphasized patience and peace in the face of provocation.

Concluding his address, Rahman asked for prayers for his mother, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, and appealed to all citizens to maintain peace and discipline while working together toward a just and safe Bangladesh.

The National Citizens Party (NCP), known as the July fighters’ group, has formally decided to form an electoral alliance with Jamaat-e-Islami, according to party sources. Discussions on seat-sharing between the two parties are already underway, and a formal announcement of the alliance could come soon. Jamaat’s Assistant Secretary General Dr. Hamidur Rahman Azad confirmed that talks with NCP are in progress and that several other parties have also reached out to Jamaat.

An NCP joint convener, speaking anonymously, confirmed that the party passed a resolution approving the alliance and assigned its president and secretary to handle communications. The move has sparked discussions among eight other parties already engaged in seat-sharing talks with Jamaat, as NCP’s inclusion may require adjustments in seat allocations.

Former student leader Abdul Kader criticized the decision on social media, calling it a betrayal of youth politics. He claimed NCP initially sought 50 seats but settled for 30, agreeing not to field candidates in the remaining 270 constituencies where it would support Jamaat candidates.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami convened a preparatory meeting of its Grand Rally Implementation Committee at the party’s central office in Moghbazar, Dhaka, ahead of a major rally scheduled for January 3. The meeting, chaired by Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar, focused on ensuring the successful organization of the event, which aims to promote social awareness amid the country’s evolving political situation.

During the session, committee members reviewed logistical and organizational aspects of the rally and formed several subcommittees to oversee specific responsibilities. Senior leaders including Maulana ATM Masum, Maulana Abdul Halim, Advocate Ehsanul Mahbub Zubair, and Dr. Shafiqul Islam Masud were among those present. The participants emphasized coordination and community engagement to maximize turnout and impact.

The upcoming rally is expected to serve as a key platform for Jamaat-e-Islami to demonstrate its organizational strength and political relevance. Party officials expressed optimism about broad participation and concluded the meeting with prayers for the event’s success.