Businessman Jasim Uddin Ahmed, once known as a close associate of former IGP Benazir Ahmed during the Awami League era, has been nominated by the BNP to contest from Chattogram-14 constituency. His election affidavit shows Tk 15.01 crore in cash and his wife’s legal savings of Tk 14.57 lakh. The declaration lacks clear explanations about the source, banking records, or income consistency behind such large cash holdings, sparking debate over whether old political influences still persist.

BNP insiders said Jasim was nominated at the last moment by the party’s central leadership without consulting the South District BNP, prompting internal criticism. Local sources claim he had close ties with former ministers and ex-IGPs Benazir Ahmed and Shahidul Haque. Photos of his meetings with them have circulated on social media. Jasim was previously elected as an independent chairman in the 2024 upazila polls, which BNP boycotted, and was once jailed in a 2024 attempted murder case.

South District BNP convener Idris Mia said the party likely chose Jasim for his financial capacity to challenge rival candidates, adding that local leaders would now support the central decision.

A funeral in absentia for BNP Chairperson and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia was held in Bhangura, Pabna, on Thursday, January 1. The prayer took place after Asr at the Government Haji Jamal Uddin Degree Honors College field in the municipal area. The event was organized by the upazila and municipal units of the BNP, drawing hundreds of party leaders, activists, and local residents. The prayer was led by Hafiz Maulana Ashraf Ali.

Before the prayer, brief speeches were delivered by several local BNP leaders, including former upazila president Mojibur Rahman, convenor Nur Mojahid Swapon, member secretary Sardar Zafar Iqbal Hirok, senior joint convenor Abdul Aziz, former organizing secretary Abdul Matin Raju, municipal BNP president Rafiqul Islam, and general secretary Saidul Islam Buruj.

The gathering reflected local BNP members’ participation in honoring their party leader through the religious ceremony organized at the upazila level.

The Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir Rajshahi University (RU) branch has announced its new committee for the 2025–26 session. Mujahid Faisal was elected president, and Hafiz Mehedi Hasan was appointed secretary general. The announcement was made on Thursday afternoon through an official statement on the organization’s Facebook page. The election took place during a members’ assembly at the university, where voting was conducted using ballot papers signed by the central president.

After vote counting, Secretary General Sibgatullah declared Mujahid Faisal as the new president and administered his oath. Based on members’ consultation, Faisal nominated Mehedi Hasan as the branch secretary. According to Shibir sources, Faisal previously served as secretary in the outgoing committee and is a student of the Islamic Studies Department from the 2016–17 session, currently pursuing an MPhil. Mehedi Hasan is a student of the Arabic Department from the 2018–19 session.

The newly elected leaders are expected to announce the full committee soon. The assembly was attended by the central education secretary Ibrahim Hossain, outgoing president Mostakur Rahman Zahid, and branch members.

Khan Muhammad Mursaleen, the central joint chief coordinator of the National Citizens Party (NCP), has resigned from all his party positions. He announced his resignation on Thursday, January 1, through a Facebook post, stating that he was stepping down from his responsibilities effective immediately.

In his post, Mursaleen mentioned that he had served as the central joint chief coordinator of the NCP and had also worked in the party’s media, publicity, and publication cells. Recently, he had been serving as the secretary of the party’s election-time media subcommittee for a short period. He confirmed that he was resigning from all duties and posts within the NCP from that day.

The report did not specify the reasons behind his resignation or any official response from the party leadership regarding his departure.

Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar will visit Beijing from January 3 to 6, 2026, to co-chair the seventh round of the Pakistan-China Foreign Ministers’ Strategic Dialogue. The visit comes at the invitation of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, according to statements from both countries’ foreign ministries. The dialogue is described as the highest consultative framework between the two nations, serving as a structured platform to review bilateral cooperation and regional and international issues of mutual interest.

The meeting takes place as Pakistan and China prepare to mark 75 years of diplomatic relations amid changing regional and global dynamics. The Pakistani Foreign Ministry said the visit is part of regular high-level exchanges and reflects both countries’ commitment to expanding their all-weather strategic partnership while reaffirming their shared dedication to regional peace, stability, and sustainable development.

The previous, sixth round of the dialogue was held in Islamabad in August, where Wang Yi met with Dar, Prime Minister Sheikh Habib Sharif, and President Asif Ali Zardari. China then reiterated its pledge to work with Pakistan for regional peace and development.

Dhaka University Central Students' Union (Daksu) Vice President Sadiq Kayem signed the condolence book opened for the late BNP Chairperson and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia. The signing took place on Thursday evening at the BNP Chairperson’s office in Gulshan, Dhaka.

During the visit, several Daksu representatives were present, including Literary and Cultural Secretary Musaddiq Ali Ibn Mohammad, Social Welfare Secretary A.B. Zubair, and Executive Members Raihan Uddin and Shahinur Rahman. The condolence book was opened to honor the memory of the late leader.

The event reflected participation from student leadership in paying respects to the deceased political figure, highlighting continued engagement between student representatives and national political developments.

Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman will visit BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman and his bereaved family to offer condolences. The visit is scheduled for Thursday at 7 p.m. at the BNP Chairperson’s office in Gulshan, the day after the burial of former Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia. The information was confirmed through an urgent message from Jamaat-e-Islami’s central publicity department.

Earlier, on the day of Khaleda Zia’s death, Jamaat’s Naib-e-Ameer Dr. Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher and a delegation visited the Gulshan office to sign the condolence book and meet BNP leaders. Jamaat’s top leadership, including its Ameer, also attended the funeral prayer held on Wednesday.

The condolence visit underscores continued political communication between Jamaat-e-Islami and BNP leadership following the passing of Khaleda Zia, as both parties maintain engagement during the mourning period.

Bangladesh’s Foreign Affairs Adviser Md. Touhid Hossain said it is too early to determine whether Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar’s visit to Dhaka will ease existing tensions between the two countries. Speaking to reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday, Hossain described the visit as a courteous gesture rather than a political event, noting that Jaishankar’s trip was brief but he attended the entire ceremony before departing.

Hossain clarified that there was no one-on-one meeting between him and Jaishankar, as the occasion did not allow for bilateral discussions. He added that Jaishankar also exchanged greetings with other South Asian dignitaries, including Pakistan’s National Assembly Speaker, calling such interactions a matter of diplomatic courtesy. The adviser emphasized that their brief conversation contained no political content.

Jaishankar, along with representatives from Pakistan, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka, visited Dhaka on December 31 to pay last respects to former Bangladeshi Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia. Hossain said Zia enjoyed broad respect across South Asia, and participation by regional leaders in her funeral was natural.

Taiwanese President Lai Ching vowed to defend his country’s sovereignty in a televised New Year’s address amid escalating tensions with China. The statement came after Beijing launched continuous missile tests around Taiwan’s main island and deployed warplanes, naval vessels, and coast guard ships. Taipei condemned the Chinese military drills as highly provocative.

China maintains that democratic Taiwan is part of its territory and has threatened to use force to bring the island under its control. In his speech, Lai reaffirmed his commitment to strengthening national defense, ensuring social stability, and building a robust democratic security system. He emphasized that Taiwan’s international support has remained strong.

The United States, Taiwan’s main security partner, recently announced a major arms sale to Taipei, while Japan also expressed support for Taiwan. Japan’s prime minister warned that any Chinese use of force against Taiwan could prompt a military response from Tokyo.

Bangladesh’s interim government foreign affairs adviser Md. Touhid Hossain has advised against interpreting Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar’s visit to Dhaka in political or inter-state terms. Speaking to reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday, January 1, he said Jaishankar’s brief participation in the funeral events for former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia was a gesture of goodwill and should not be overanalyzed.

Hossain clarified that there was no one-on-one meeting between him and Jaishankar, and no bilateral issues were discussed. He noted that representatives from all South Asian countries attended the event, including Pakistan’s National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, Bhutan’s Foreign Minister D.N. Dhungyel, and others. Hossain described Jaishankar’s interactions, such as handshakes with other dignitaries, as acts of courtesy.

He added that Khaleda Zia held a positive image across South Asia and that participation by regional leaders in her funeral was natural. When asked whether Jaishankar’s visit might ease tensions between Bangladesh and India, Hossain said the answer would become clear in the future.

An analysis of affidavits submitted by candidates in Chattogram’s 16 constituencies shows that BNP nominees possess significantly higher wealth compared to their Jamaat counterparts. The richest candidate is BNP’s Aslam Chowdhury from Chattogram-4 (Sitakunda), who declared assets worth about Tk 456.95 crore but also reported loans totaling Tk 1,700 crore. In contrast, Jamaat’s Md. Anwar Siddiqui from the same constituency is the poorest candidate, declaring assets of Tk 43.84 lakh. Other wealthy BNP candidates include Humam Quader Chowdhury of Rangunia with Tk 134 crore and Golam Akbar Khondkar of Raozan with Tk 52 crore.

Most Jamaat candidates come from teaching or small business backgrounds, declaring assets between Tk 30 lakh and Tk 1 crore, with limited cash holdings. Only Fatikchhari’s Nurul Amin stands out with Tk 13 crore in assets. Economist Dr. Moinul Islam noted that many candidates’ declared assets appear disproportionately high compared to their income and called for independent audits to ensure transparency. Regional Election Officer Mohammad Belayet Hossain Chowdhury emphasized that false or concealed information in affidavits could lead to legal consequences, including disqualification.

The Election Commission has instructed that both candidates and transparency-focused organizations verify affidavit accuracy, underscoring its legal importance in maintaining electoral accountability.

A Krishak Dal leader was assaulted in Gaibandha’s Saghata upazila after protesting derogatory remarks about Begum Khaleda Zia’s reported death. The incident occurred at Patilbari Char in Holdia Union, where Shahjahan Mondal, member secretary of the local Krishak Dal and a shopkeeper, was attacked at his grocery store. He was later admitted to Saghata Health Complex for treatment.

Local residents said that on Wednesday, Farid Mirza, a banned Awami League ward president from the same area, made offensive comments in public about the former prime minister and BNP chairperson. Shahjahan Mondal protested the remarks, leading to a heated exchange. Farid Mirza and his associates then allegedly launched a sudden attack on Mondal’s shop, beating him severely.

Holdia Union BNP president Omar Ali stated that Mondal was attacked for protesting the insult. Saghata Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mahmudul Alam said that action would be taken if a formal complaint is received.

The Advisory Council of Bangladesh’s interim government has approved the official public holiday calendar for 2026. According to the list, there will be a total of 28 public holidays throughout the year, nine of which fall on regular weekends, leaving 19 effective working-day holidays. The decision applies to all government, semi-government, statutory, autonomous, and semi-autonomous institutions across the country. Optional holidays have also been designated: five for Muslims, nine for Hindus, eight for Christians, seven for Buddhists, and two for employees from small ethnic communities.

The calendar outlines opportunities for extended breaks by combining official and weekend holidays. February offers a four-day break around Shab-e-Barat, while March provides the longest stretch with up to seven consecutive days off around Eid-ul-Fitr and Shab-e-Qadr. In May, employees could enjoy up to ten days off around Eid-ul-Azha by taking two additional leave days. Other months such as April, August, October, and December also feature multiple long-weekend opportunities.

The approved schedule standardizes holiday observance across all public institutions, ensuring uniformity in 2026’s national leave structure.

A deep sense of mourning has enveloped Indurkani upazila in Pirojpur following the death of BNP Chairperson and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia. As a mark of respect, all business establishments in the upazila remained closed from Thursday morning, January 1. Markets including Parerhat, Pattashi, and Ghosherhat were shuttered, with many shops locked and black flags and half-masted national flags displayed in mourning.

Md. Shahidul Islam, senior joint secretary of the Indurkani Market Management Committee, said traders voluntarily decided to close their businesses to express deep respect and sorrow for Begum Khaleda Zia. He added that all commercial activities would remain suspended throughout the day.

Begum Khaleda Zia had visited Indurkani on April 21, 2002, when she declared the then Jianagar area a full-fledged upazila. Later, the Awami League government renamed it Indurkani. Residents across the upazila are expressing grief and respect for the late leader, reflecting her lasting connection with the area.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said people across Bangladesh are deeply saddened by the passing of party chairperson Khaleda Zia at a critical juncture for the nation. He made the remarks on Thursday at the BNP chairperson’s political office in Gulshan, Dhaka. Fakhrul noted that an unprecedented number of people attended her funeral, reflecting the public’s affection for her as a rare political figure who never compromised on principles or national sovereignty.

He described Khaleda Zia as a lifelong fighter for democracy who endured imprisonment and illness but never left the country. Fakhrul said her love for the nation and its people inspired millions. He added that her absence at this crucial time has left citizens grief-stricken, yet hopeful that the upcoming election will bring victory to the BNP.

Fakhrul also stated that Tarique Rahman would continue Khaleda Zia’s and Ziaur Rahman’s vision of Bangladeshi nationalism, working to safeguard sovereignty and democracy with public support.