A mild cold wave has swept across Kurigram district, located near the Himalayas, severely disrupting daily life. The district recorded a minimum temperature of 10 degrees Celsius with 99 percent humidity on January 3, according to the local agricultural meteorological office. Dense fog and cold winds have reduced visibility, halting agricultural work, slowing long-distance transport, and causing frequent accidents. Boat passengers in riverine areas have faced severe hardship as fog causes boats to lose direction.

Kurigram, home to about 2.5 million people, has a poverty rate of 71 percent. Many low-income residents are struggling to buy warm clothes, relying instead on cheap roadside garments. The Civil Surgeon’s Office reported that in December alone, 1,400 people were hospitalized with diarrhea and about 3,000 with fever, cold, and pneumonia, mostly children and the elderly. Authorities have advised special care for vulnerable groups.

District relief officials said 27,000 blankets have been distributed and each of the nine upazilas received six lakh taka in aid. The cold wave is expected to intensify in the coming days.

Bangladesh’s Food Adviser Ali Imam Majumder said on Sunday that rice prices are not expected to increase this year, citing the country’s highest-ever food grain reserves. Speaking to reporters at the Secretariat, he explained that last year’s price hike was driven by government formation and natural disasters, but current stock levels are strong enough to stabilize the market.

According to Majumder, government warehouses currently hold 2,027,420 metric tons of food grains, with the capacity to increase reserves by another 2.4 million tons. He noted that this year’s stock is the highest in the past five years. The adviser emphasized that maintaining a smooth supply chain will be key to keeping rice prices steady.

Majumder also confirmed that rice imports from India remain normal and that no political issues are affecting the trade flow.

After the launch of the National Equipment Identity Register (NEIR), alarming data has emerged about the prevalence of cloned and counterfeit mobile phones in Bangladesh. According to Fayez Ahmad Tayyeb, Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser for the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology, millions of fake and duplicate IMEI numbers are currently active on national mobile networks. In a verified Facebook post on Friday night, he cited examples such as “1111111111111”, “0000000000000”, and “9999999999999”, noting that these IMEIs are not being blocked at present.

Tayyeb stated that millions of people are using low-quality counterfeit phones that have never undergone radiation or safety testing, including Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) checks. These devices are active across all four mobile operators. Instead of immediate disconnection, they will be tagged as “grey” devices. He added that over the past decade, one IMEI number alone was linked to 39,122,534 different combinations of document IDs, MSISDNs, and IMEIs. Operators currently cannot distinguish between phones, SIM-connected devices, and IoT devices, though tagging of legally imported IoT devices has begun.

Grameenphone, the leading telecommunications service provider in Bangladesh, has launched Wi-Fi calling services using Voice over Wi-Fi (VoWiFi) technology. The announcement was made on January 3, 2026. This new feature allows Grameenphone’s VoLTE customers to make high-quality voice calls over designated Wi-Fi networks without requiring any additional applications. The company described the launch as a milestone in the country’s digital connectivity journey.

To ensure uninterrupted service, Grameenphone has initially partnered with several internet service providers, including BracNet, Carnival Internet, Chittagong Online Limited, and MIM Internet. The service is designed to enhance call quality and provide a seamless calling experience. Grameenphone’s Chief Product Officer, Solaiman Alam, stated that the company remains committed to continuous innovation and delivering the best digital experiences for its customers.

According to the company, the introduction of Wi-Fi calling strengthens Grameenphone’s transformation from a mobile operator to a telco-tech company. The initiative reflects its ongoing commitment to innovation and providing improved voice call services at no additional cost.

A man named Abdus Salam, aged 35 and a tube-well mechanic by profession, was killed in a wild elephant attack in Baishari Union of Naikhongchhari upazila, Bandarban. The incident occurred around 6:45 a.m. on Saturday at Titarpara Galasira area along the Alikhyong road. According to local accounts, Salam approached the elephant to take a photograph as it crossed the road near his house. The animal became agitated by barking dogs nearby and suddenly charged at him, trampling him to death on the spot.

Salam was the sole breadwinner of his family, supporting three young children and his physically disabled father, Abdus Sattar. Following the incident, the in-charge of Baishari Police Investigation Center, Inspector Md. Anwarul Islam, visited the scene and prepared an inquest report. The tragic death has cast a pall of grief over the entire area.

The report highlights the severe impact on Salam’s family, now facing deep uncertainty after losing their only source of income.

A permanent fish sanctuary has been established in the Chithlia canal area of Parshuram, Feni, under a government initiative aimed at conserving aquatic biodiversity and promoting the breeding of native fish species. The sanctuary, located on both sides of the Shreebhanga Bridge along the Feni-Parshuram road, covers 1.4 hectares and was developed at a cost of about 40,000 taka for the 2025–26 fiscal year. Measures include bamboo fencing, red flags marking restricted zones, and tree branches placed underwater to create a safe habitat for mother fish during breeding seasons.

According to the Upazila Fisheries Department, the initiative seeks to protect endangered native fish species, ensure safe breeding environments, and restore ecological balance disrupted by overfishing, pesticide use, and natural disasters. A 12-member beneficiary group from nearby villages is maintaining the sanctuary. Local fishermen expressed optimism that proper management will help revive native fish populations.

The fisheries office also plans to establish another sanctuary on the northern side of the Bailey Bridge over the Muhuri River, pending government funding approval.

The Sheikh Hasina Weavers Village project, launched on November 1, 2018, across 120 acres in Shibchar of Madaripur and Zajira of Shariatpur, has reportedly collapsed amid allegations of large-scale corruption and mismanagement. Construction, which included land acquisition, soil filling, and boundary wall development, has been halted for about one and a half years following a change in government. The site, once intended for weaving factories, housing, and training centers, now lies abandoned and partially occupied by watermelon cultivation.

Local residents said the project stopped after August 5, 2024, leaving the area deserted. Farmers who had given up their farmland for the project expressed frustration over the uncertainty of its future, though they acknowledged receiving compensation. The project is now being renamed Haji Shariatullah Weavers Village, according to local officials, but no new work has started yet.

Officials stated they are still gathering details about the project’s current status, while locals urged the government to resume construction to bring promised development and employment to the region.

The Bangladesh Meteorological Department has forecast that Dhaka and surrounding areas will experience moderate to dense fog until noon on Saturday, reducing visibility across the capital. The forecast, issued for the six hours from 7 a.m., also noted that the sky may remain partly cloudy and the weather is expected to stay dry during this period.

According to the department, light winds from the west and northwest at speeds of 6 to 12 kilometers per hour may prevail. The temperature is likely to remain nearly unchanged, with 13.0 degrees Celsius recorded at 6 a.m. and humidity at 99 percent. On Friday, Dhaka’s highest temperature was 20.4 degrees Celsius, and the lowest recorded today was 12.7 degrees Celsius. No rainfall was recorded in the past 24 hours.

The forecast further mentioned that sunset in Dhaka will occur at 5:24 p.m. on Saturday, while sunrise on Sunday is expected at 6:42 a.m.

The Bangladesh Meteorological Department has warned of multiple cold waves sweeping across the country throughout January 2026. According to its long-term forecast, two to three mild to moderate cold waves and one to two moderate to severe cold waves may occur, with temperatures in some areas expected to fall as low as 4 to 6 degrees Celsius. Northern regions and river basin areas are likely to experience the most intense cold.

The forecast, issued after a meeting of the department’s expert committee, also predicts moderate to dense fog from midnight to morning, sometimes lasting until noon. This fog is expected to reduce the difference between day and night temperatures, intensifying the overall cold sensation. Despite normal rainfall being expected for the month, no cyclones or low-pressure systems are anticipated over the Bay of Bengal.

In December, rainfall across the country was 99.3 percent below normal, and the lowest temperature recorded was 7.5 degrees Celsius in Gopalganj on December 31. The department cautioned that cold wave days could disrupt normal life even if average temperatures remain typical for the season.

Retired Commodore Jasim Uddin Bhuiyan has cautioned that leasing Chattogram Port to foreign operators such as Maersk Group, RSJGT, or DP World could endanger Bangladesh’s sovereignty. Writing in the newspaper ‘Amar Desh’ on January 3, 2026, he argued that strategic ports are not mere infrastructures but vital instruments of national power. Drawing parallels with Ukraine’s Sevastopol Port, he warned that foreign control through long-term leases can lead to economic and political dependency.

The article highlights that over 92 percent of Bangladesh’s trade passes through Chattogram Port, making it the country’s economic lifeline. Bhuiyan criticized the move toward foreign concession models, calling it a potential 30-year trap that could turn the port into a foreign-managed gateway. He proposed an alternative “operator model” combining local and global operators to maintain national control while improving efficiency.

He urged transparency in all port agreements, rejection of non-disclosure clauses, and cancellation of any deals that compromise revenue or authority. The piece concludes that sovereignty cannot be leased and warns policymakers to learn from global maritime history before finalizing such arrangements.

A 6.5 magnitude earthquake struck Mexico’s southern Guerrero state on Friday morning, killing two people and triggering widespread tremors. According to the National Seismological Service, the quake’s epicenter was located 35 kilometers beneath San Marcos, about 92 kilometers from the Pacific coastal city of Acapulco. More than 500 aftershocks were recorded following the initial quake, and landslides were reported in several parts of the state.

Guerrero Governor Evelyn Salgado confirmed that a 50-year-old woman died when her house collapsed near the epicenter, while another person in Mexico City died after falling during a building evacuation. A hospital in the state capital, Chilpancingo, sustained structural damage, prompting the evacuation of patients. Residents and tourists in Mexico City and Acapulco rushed into the streets as the ground shook.

During a morning briefing at the National Palace, President Claudia Sheinbaum and journalists were forced to evacuate when the earthquake alarm sounded. Civil defense teams continued to assess damage and monitor aftershocks across the affected areas.

Ferry operations on the Shariatpur–Chandpur river route returned to normal on Saturday morning after being suspended overnight because of dense fog. According to the BIWTC terminal authorities, services resumed at around 10:45 a.m. when visibility improved. The suspension had begun at 1 a.m. on Friday night to prevent possible accidents amid heavy fog, causing congestion of passengers and vehicles on both sides of the river.

Md. Iqbal Hossain, deputy manager of the BIWTC Narsinghpur ferry terminal, said the decision to halt operations was taken for safety reasons as fog density increased late at night. Once conditions improved, ferry movement was restored. Currently, six ferries of various sizes are operating on the route.

With the resumption of ferry services, both passenger and cargo transport have returned to normal, easing pressure on the terminals and restoring regular movement across the Shariatpur–Chandpur route.

Ferry services on the Shariatpur–Chandpur river route were temporarily suspended early Friday, January 3, 2026, due to dense fog. The Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) halted operations from 1 a.m. to prevent potential accidents as visibility on the river sharply decreased. The decision was taken as a safety precaution amid worsening fog conditions overnight.

According to BIWTC’s Narsinghpur ferry terminal deputy manager Md. Iqbal Hossain, visibility on the river route dropped significantly, prompting the suspension to ensure the safety of passengers and vehicles. He confirmed that no ferry was stranded on the river and that services would resume once the fog clears.

The suspension has caused congestion at both ferry terminals, where passengers and drivers are waiting for improved weather conditions to continue their journeys.

Bangladesh is experiencing an unusually prolonged and intense cold wave, with dense fog covering much of the country and temperatures dropping sharply. The Bangladesh Meteorological Department reported that the cold conditions are expected to worsen from January 5, with mild to moderate cold waves likely in northwestern districts. On Friday, nine flights were diverted from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport due to poor visibility caused by fog, though operations later resumed as conditions improved.

Meteorologists said the persistent fog and lack of sunlight have intensified the cold, with Dhaka recording a minimum temperature of 13.3°C and Jessore 8°C. Northern regions such as Rangpur and Rajair are facing severe cold, halting work and increasing hardship for low-income workers. Health authorities confirmed at least 32 deaths in Rangpur Division from cold-related illnesses over the past week, mostly among children, women, and the elderly.

Experts attributed repeated flight diversions to the absence of a Category-2 Instrument Landing System at Dhaka airport. The cold wave has severely affected daily life, particularly for the homeless and day laborers lacking warm clothing, while fog continues to disrupt road and air transport nationwide.

The UK Met Office has confirmed that 2025 was the warmest and one of the sunniest years in the country's recorded history. According to the agency, the record reflects the clear impact of human-induced climate change. Based on data dating back to 1884, 2025 now ranks among the top three warmest years alongside 2022 and 2023, with an average annual temperature of 10.09 degrees Celsius. It was only the second time the UK’s annual average temperature exceeded 10 degrees Celsius, the first being in 2022.

The Met Office noted that four of the five warmest years since 1884 have occurred within the past five years, and all ten warmest years have been recorded in the last two decades. In addition to temperature, 2025 also set a new record for sunshine, with 1,648.5 hours of sunlight—the highest since records began in 1910 and 61.4 hours more than the previous record set in 2003.

Mark McCarthy, head of the Met Office’s climate attribution division, said the findings align with expectations from human-driven climate change and that global warming continues to influence the UK’s climate.