At a global summit in Marrakesh, Morocco, adviser Adilur Rahman Khan assured that Bangladesh will introduce a Road Safety Act by 2027. Sources from the Secretariat revealed that the government has already initiated steps toward this goal. Additionally, a National Road Safety Plan is in place, aiming to reduce road accidents by 50% by 2030. The government also announced plans to establish a central database system by 2026, which will collect, store, and analyze road accident-related data to improve safety measures.

Between January and December 2024, at least 35 people lost their lives in train accidents along the 100-kilometer Akhaura-Ashuganj-Mandabag-Mukundpur railway track. Among the deceased, 26 were men, 9 were women, and 2 were children. Most of the victims remain unidentified. Authorities have recorded 34 cases as unnatural deaths, while one was registered as a regular case.

September saw the highest number of fatalities, with 8 deaths reported. Reckless behaviors such as boarding or disembarking from moving trains, rooftop travel, sitting between train compartments, hanging onto train doors, walking along the tracks with headphones on, sitting on the railway lines, using unauthorized crossings, and carelessly crossing the tracks contributed to these tragic incidents.

As part of a prisoner exchange agreement, Hamas has handed over the bodies of four Israeli hostages. The remains of the captives, placed in coffins, were transported in Red Cross vehicles from Khan Yunis in the Gaza Strip. The four deceased hostages have been identified as Shiri, Ariel, Kfir Bibas, and Oded Lifshitz.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed that the Red Cross is transferring the bodies to Israeli security agencies. Hamas claimed that despite their best efforts, they were unable to protect the hostages from Israeli attacks. In a statement, Hamas criticized Israeli leadership, stating that Israel is governed by leaders who fail to protect their own citizens.

International Crimes Tribunal’s Chief Prosecutor Tazul Islam has stated that former RAB officer and ASP Alep Uddin was involved in the rape of a woman whose husband was forcibly disappeared. On Thursday, Tazul Islam revealed that Alep Uddin was responsible for numerous cases of enforced disappearances, murders, and torture. He reportedly forced a woman to break her fast before raping her.

Additionally, he subjected detainees to brutal torture, including blindfolding, electric shocks, and hanging them upside down. It is worth noting that prominent journalists and the Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary had previously posted investigative reports on Alep Uddin’s crimes.

The three-day annual conference of District Commissioners (DCs) has concluded, providing key directives for upcoming local and national elections, as well as law enforcement measures. The government has instructed officials to act with integrity, remain steadfast against any undue pressure, and ensure fair governance. The conference featured 34 separate working sessions, covering crucial topics such as law enforcement, prevention of illegal land grabs, controlling inflation, eliminating market syndicates, and improving education and healthcare services.

A Bangladesh Airlines flight carrying 408 passengers made an emergency landing at India’s Nagpur airport due to a technical issue. According to a report by The Hindu, the flight was en route from Dhaka to Dubai when it was diverted on Wednesday night. A senior airport official in Maharashtra confirmed the incident, stating that passengers would be accommodated on another Bangladeshi flight to continue their journey.

Nepali police have arrested an Indian citizen in connection with a balloon explosion that injured Nepal’s Deputy Prime Minister, Bishnu Poudel, during a tourism event. Authorities stated that Kamlesh Kumar was responsible for filling the balloons with highly flammable hydrogen gas. The incident occurred during the inauguration of the “Visit Pokhara Year 2025” campaign when the Deputy PM lit a candle, igniting the gas-filled balloons and causing an explosion. Poudel was airlifted to Kathmandu for medical treatment.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump has sparked controversy by labeling Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky a “dictator without elections” and urging immediate action to “save the country.” Zelensky dismissed Trump’s remarks, accusing him of being misled by Russian propaganda. In response, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz condemned the denial of Ukraine’s democratic legitimacy, while British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak expressed support for Zelensky during a phone call. Sweden’s Prime Minister criticized Trump’s statement, and Canada reaffirmed its commitment to Ukraine. Meanwhile, controversy is growing over the recent U.S.-Russia talks in Saudi Arabia, which excluded Ukraine and Europe.

The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) has issued a statement regarding the joint forces’ operation in the Mohammadpur’s Chand Udyan area. According to the statement, security personnel surrounded both sides of a narrow alley when militants suddenly opened fire from the rooftop of a single-story building. In response, the forces returned fire in self-defense. Five suspected militants were arrested, and two bodies were recovered from the premises. Authorities also seized a pistol, four bullets, and a machete. The arrested individuals have been handed over to Mohammadpur Police Station for further investigation.

Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus has declared that the nation is now stronger, more energetic, and more creative than ever before. Speaking at an event honoring recipients of the prestigious Ekushey Padak, he praised the younger generation for their bold aspirations, which he described as more ambitious than those of previous generations. He also emphasized that the spirit of the language movement played a crucial role in awakening the nation’s quest for self-determination.

The President of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, has firmly rejected any attempts to forcibly displace the Palestinian people from their homeland. During a meeting with visiting U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, he reiterated the UAE’s opposition to such proposals. The UAE emphasized the importance of rebuilding Gaza and advancing a two-state solution for regional stability. Previously, the U.S. had proposed relocating Gazans to two Arab nations as part of a plan to seize control of Gaza, a proposal that has been widely rejected across the Arab world.

The body of a five-year-old child, Ibrahim Khalil Naim, was recovered from a pond in Nangalkot, Comilla. The child's family has alleged that he was murdered. Naim, son of expatriate Mohammad Ali, went missing around 11 AM. Locals searched for him and made public announcements via loudspeakers. His body was found floating in the pond at 3 PM, and he was rushed to the Upazila Health Complex, where doctors declared him dead. The grieving mother claims her son was suffocated and then thrown into the pond, as there were visible injury marks on his body. The local police chief has stated that legal action will be taken if a formal complaint is filed.

Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus has presented the Ekushey Padak to 18 distinguished individuals and the SAFF-winning women’s football team for their outstanding contributions in various fields. The ceremony was held at Osmani Memorial Auditorium at 11 AM. Award recipients include Mehedi Hasan Khan, Mahmudur Rahman, Shahidul Alam, Moinul Hasan, Niaz Zaman, Ferdous Ara, Nasir Al Mamun, Rokeya Sultana, Tanbin Islam, and Shabab Mustafa. Posthumous awards were received by representatives of the deceased honorees. The Ekushey Padak is awarded annually in memory of the martyrs of the Language Movement.

The Department of Narcotics Control has arrested two drug traffickers with 428 bottles of banned alcohol in Chuadanga’s Badrganj area. Two motorcycles used for smuggling were also seized. The arrestees, Abul Kalam (43) and Russell (25), were caught in an operation based on secret intelligence. Inspector Nazmul Hossain Khan confirmed the incident, stating that the alcohol was found in two cartons strapped to the motorcycles. The seized alcohol is reported to be highly toxic.

A massive fire broke out at a sales center of Guardian Publications in Bangla Bazar, Old Dhaka, causing the loss of books worth millions. The fire started at around 4 AM on Thursday. Nazmul Huda, General Manager of the publishing house, confirmed the incident. According to him, the fire was reported to the fire service at 5 AM, and firefighters managed to extinguish it by 7:30 AM. The fire is suspected to have been caused by a short circuit. Authorities are reviewing CCTV footage for further details.