Rashed Pradhan, vice president and spokesperson of the National Democratic Party (JAGPA), has described Sheikh Mujibur Rahman as the founder of extrajudicial crossfire in Bangladesh. He made the remark on Friday at 11 a.m. after placing a floral wreath and offering prayers at the grave of Siraj Sikder in Mohammadpur Central Cemetery, marking the 51st anniversary of Sikder’s death.

Pradhan said that Siraj Sikder, one of the organizers of the Liberation War, realized after independence that Bangladesh had become a subservient state to India. He alleged that Sikder was brutally killed the day after his arrest to suppress his anti-Indian revolutionary movement. According to Pradhan, this marked the beginning of extrajudicial crossfire in the country.

He further stated that patriots like Siraj Sikder, Abrar Fahad, and Osman Hadi were martyred for protesting Indian dominance, while figures such as Major Jalil, Allama Delwar Hossain Sayeedi, and Shafiul Alam Pradhan faced persecution. Warning pro-India elements, Pradhan said that those who bow to India would face the same fate as Sheikh Mujib and Sheikh Hasina. Several JAGPA leaders were present at the event.

BNP National Standing Committee member and former minister Salahuddin Ahmed visited the home of journalist Ansar Hossain in Cox’s Bazar on Friday, January 2, 2026. Hossain, a staff reporter and office head of the daily Amar Desh in Cox’s Bazar, recently lost his wife and son within two months. Salahuddin arrived at Cox’s Bazar Airport around 1 p.m., performed Friday prayers at Uttor Nuniarchar Jame Mosque, and then visited the graves of Hossain’s wife Rokhsana Nur and their 13-year-old son Abdullah Ritaz Hossain. He offered prayers for the deceased and expressed sympathy to the grieving family.

During his visit to Hossain’s residence, Salahuddin met with family members, including the journalist’s elder son Abdullah Nur Hossain Rudra, and conveyed his condolences. He remarked that losing both wife and child in such a short time is an indescribable loss and prayed for the family’s strength and patience.

According to the report, Rokhsana Nur passed away on October 14, and their son Abdullah Ritaz died on December 27, reportedly from illness brought on by grief. The tragedy has drawn condolences from journalists and various political and social organizations.

Cumilla district police have transferred Debidwar Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Golam Sarwar in the public interest following a report published in the daily Amar Desh. The report, titled 'Student arrested claiming to be a Swechchhasebak League leader,' drew attention ahead of the upcoming national parliamentary election. According to an order signed by Cumilla Superintendent of Police Anisuzzaman on Thursday, Sarwar has been attached to the district police lines, while Mohammad Moniruzzaman, officer-in-charge of Kotbari outpost in Cumilla Sadar, has been appointed as the new OC of Debidwar. The order takes immediate effect.

Earlier, Golam Sarwar had joined Debidwar Police Station on December 8 of the previous year after a divisional reshuffle of all OCs in Chattogram Division through a lottery signed by Additional DIG Ahsan Habib. The transfer follows public criticism after student Nazmul Hasan, who participated in an anti-discrimination movement, was arrested on December 13 from his father’s grocery shop and later sent to jail in a sabotage case. Local movement representatives and residents condemned the incident.

The transfer decision appears linked to maintaining administrative neutrality before the national election, as indicated in the official order.

In the verification process for the 13th National Parliamentary Election, three out of ten nomination papers submitted for the Chattogram-1 (Mirsarai) constituency were canceled. The review took place on Friday at the office of the District Commissioner and Returning Officer. Seven candidates, including nominees from BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami, Islami Andolan Bangladesh, Insoniyat Biplob Bangladesh, Jatiya Party, Muslim League, and JASAD (ASM Abdur Rob), were declared valid.

According to the report, the nomination of Shahidul Islam Chowdhury, former convener of the upazila BNP, was canceled due to the absence of party endorsement. Independent candidate Advocate Ashraf Siddiqui’s nomination was rejected after his voter signature information was found false. The nomination of Ershad Ullah, submitted on behalf of the Jatiya Party, was also canceled due to missing documents.

Mirsarai Upazila Nirbahi Officer and Assistant Returning Officer Somaiya Akter stated that three nominations were canceled for lack of required documents, and the affected candidates may appeal within four working days.

The board of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), led by its president Mahmud Hasan Khan, visited the grave of former Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia at the Zia Udyan in Dhaka on Friday morning. The delegation laid floral wreaths and offered prayers seeking forgiveness for the late leader’s soul.

Senior Vice President Inamul Haque Khan, Vice Presidents Vidhya Amrit Khan and Md. Shihab Uddoja Chowdhury, and several directors including Shah Raeed Chowdhury, Faisal Samad, Nafis-ud-Doula, Mozumdar Arifur Rahman, Kazi Mizanur Rahman, Dr. Rashid Ahmed Hossaini, and Sakif Ahmed Salam accompanied the president. After the prayer, the BGMEA leaders stood in silence to honor her memory.

Speaking to the media, Mahmud Hasan Khan described Khaleda Zia as an uncompromising leader for democracy and acknowledged her contribution to the development of Bangladesh’s garment sector. He expressed condolences to her bereaved family and prayed for her eternal peace.

A special prayer and munajat were held on Friday after Juma prayers seeking forgiveness for former Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia. The event took place beside her grave at Zia Udyan in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka, led by BNP Standing Committee member Mirza Abbas. Leaders and activists from across the country joined the gathering, along with general worshippers, many of whom were seen in tears as they prayed.

The prayer session began immediately after Juma prayers, with participants visiting the grave in sequence to offer prayers for Khaleda Zia’s soul. Among the attendees was Md. Sajib Chowdhury from Turag, who said he had attended her funeral and came again on the first Friday to pray for her forgiveness. He described Khaleda Zia’s patience and determination during her political struggles, imprisonment, and illness as inspiring.

The gathering reflected the continued emotional connection of BNP supporters with their late leader, as people from different areas came together to honor her memory.

The Sylhet Press Club held its 2026–2027 biennial election on Thursday at the Subidbazar Club building in Sylhet city in a festive atmosphere. Out of 92 registered voters, 91 exercised their voting rights. Muktabis-un-Nur, editor of the Daily Jalalabad, was elected president, while Mohammad Sirajul Islam, chief reporter of the Daily Sylheter Dak, was elected general secretary. The election commission announced the results in the evening after the voting concluded.

Other elected office bearers include M A Hannan of the Daily Sylhet Bani as senior vice president, Md. Foysal Alam of the Daily Shubho Protidin as vice president, Khaled Ahmad (Mehedi) of Desh Television as joint secretary, Sheikh Ashraful Alam Nasir of The Daily Star as sports secretary, and Muhibur Rahman of the Daily Nawroj as library and publication secretary. Members elected include Amzad Hossain of Bangladesh Betar, Anas Habib Collins of the Daily Sylheter Dak, and Abdul Awal Shipar of Mohona Television.

The election was completed smoothly with strong participation from club members, reflecting an active and engaged journalist community in Sylhet.

The nomination paper of Mahmudur Rahman Manna, president of Nagorik Oikya and former DUCSU vice president, has been canceled for the Bogura-2 (Shibganj) constituency. The district returning officer and Bogura Deputy Commissioner Md. Taufiqul Islam announced the decision on Friday at 4 p.m. during the scrutiny of nomination papers for the 13th National Parliamentary Election. The cancellation was based on inconsistencies in the affidavit information and discrepancies in the date of signature on the notary public documents. The returning officer advised that appeals could be filed against the decision.

Earlier, the nomination of Jatiya Party’s former MP Shariful Islam Jinnah was also canceled due to a pending case related to the July Movement attack. Other valid candidates for the constituency include Mir Shahe Alam (BNP), Maulana Abul Azad Md. Shahadatuzzaman (Jamaat-e-Islami), and Md. Jamal Uddin (Islami Andolan). A total of seven candidates had submitted nomination forms for Bogura-2, but the nominations of Ganadhikar Parishad’s Selim Sarkar and independent candidate Rezaul Karim Talukder were also rejected.

Eleven candidates, including Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami nominee Mohammad Yusuf Hakim Sohel, had their nominations canceled in Comilla-1, Comilla-2, and Comilla-3 constituencies. The decision came on Friday afternoon following a scrutiny session at the Comilla Deputy Commissioner's office, where the district returning officer declared their nomination papers invalid.

The returning officer, Md. Reza Hasan, confirmed the cancellations after the verification process. Meanwhile, the scrutiny committee validated the nominations of several candidates, including BNP nominees Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Khandaker Maruf Hossain, and others from Comilla-1, Comilla-2, and Comilla-3. Jamaat candidate Yusuf Sohel stated that his nomination was rejected due to a minor error and that he plans to appeal after resolving the issue.

Election-related sources explained that nominations can be canceled for errors, inconsistencies, or missing documents. According to Election Commission rules, disqualified candidates may appeal within the stipulated timeframe. The verification of nomination papers for the remaining five of Comilla’s eleven constituencies is scheduled for Saturday.

In the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election, candidates from the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami have submitted nomination papers for the Cox’s Bazar-4 constituency, which includes Ukhiya and Teknaf. Analysis of their affidavits shows a major disparity in wealth and income between BNP’s Shahjahan Chowdhury and Jamaat’s Principal Nur Ahmad Anwari. Shahjahan, the district BNP president and former MP, declared assets worth about Tk 10.9 crore, roughly 21 times higher than Anwari’s Tk 51.5 lakh.

According to Shahjahan’s affidavit, his annual income is around Tk 12 lakh, with most earnings from house rent, agriculture, and fisheries. His immovable assets include 15 acres of agricultural land, 0.52 acres of non-agricultural land, 20.66 acres of leased government land, a house, and 2.5 flats. He also owns a shotgun, a revolver, a Proton Jeep, and 10 tolas of gold, with no liabilities. In contrast, Anwari’s assets include a house, 0.6 acres of land, Tk 15.24 lakh in bank deposits, and 10 tolas of gold.

The nomination papers for Cox’s Bazar-4 will be scrutinized at the district returning officer’s office at noon on Saturday, where five candidates are competing in total.

U.S. President Donald Trump has reignited debate about his age and health after claiming in a lengthy interview that he is in 'perfect' condition. Speaking to The Wall Street Journal, Trump said he takes more aspirin than doctors recommend, uses makeup to cover hand injuries, and avoids regular exercise because he finds it boring. He also clarified that he underwent a CT scan in October, not an MRI as he had previously told reporters.

At 79, Trump is the oldest president in U.S. history, and reports suggest he has shown signs of aging, including dozing off during meetings and occasionally missing questions. The Journal reported that Trump expressed irritation over public discussions about his health.

Trump said he has taken 325 milligrams of aspirin daily for 25 years, despite doctors advising 81 milligrams. He explained that he does not want to change his routine due to superstition and prefers golf as his only form of exercise.

Hasnat Abdullah, the central chief organizer (southern region) of the National Citizen Party (NCP), said his income decreased following the July Revolution. Speaking on Friday at a prayer event in Debidwar municipal hall for the late BNP chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia, he stated that his annual income is about 1.25 million taka, with total assets worth 5 million taka. Abdullah emphasized that his income had been higher before the revolution and claimed transparency about his earnings.

During his speech, Abdullah praised Khaleda Zia as an uncompromising leader who resisted autocracy and endured imprisonment. He called on supporters to back reform and change through a “yes” vote in the upcoming referendum. He also criticized the rule of fugitive Sheikh Hasina, alleging lack of freedom to express dissent, and pledged to defend political freedom in Debidwar.

Abdullah further warned against drug-linked politicians and urged expatriates to exercise their voting rights, noting that remittances would influence future elections. The event was attended by NCP and Jamaat leaders, including Jamaat candidate Saiful Islam Shahid.

Two independent candidates in Bhola-2 (Daulatkhan-Borhanuddin) constituency had their nomination papers canceled during the scrutiny process for the 13th National Parliamentary Election. The verification took place on Thursday under the supervision of Bhola Deputy Commissioner and Returning Officer Dr. Shamim Rahman, who rejected the nominations of Mohibullah Khokon and Taslima Begum after examining the required documents.

According to the Returning Officer, nomination papers of seven other candidates were declared valid following the review. These include BNP’s Md. Hafiz Ibrahim, Jamaat-e-Islami’s Mufti Maulana Fazlul Karim, Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish’s Maulana Abdus Sobhan, Liberal Democratic Party’s Mokfar Uddin Chowdhury, Jatiya Party’s Advocate Jahangir Alam Ritu, Amjonotar candidate Mohammad Alauddin, and independent candidate Zakir Hossain.

Officials from the district administration, police, National Board of Revenue, Rural Electrification Board, and local banks were present during the verification process organized by the Bhola district administration.

A doa and milad mahfil was held in Madaripur on Thursday evening in memory of former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia. The event took place at the DC Bridge area of the town, organized by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). Participants prayed for the forgiveness of Khaleda Zia’s soul and for peace and prosperity of the nation.

Following the prayers, party leaders, activists, and local worshippers paid their respects and expressed condolences for the late national leader. The gathering was attended by BNP’s Madaripur-2 constituency candidate Jahandar Ali Mia, district BNP convener Jafar Ali Mia, member Tofazzal Hossain Santu Khan, district Swechchhasebak Dal general secretary Advocate Masud Parvez, organizational secretary Mizan Shikder, and other leaders and activists from various BNP-affiliated organizations.

The event reflected the local BNP’s continued reverence for their late leader and served as a moment of collective remembrance and unity among party members in Madaripur.

On Friday, the third day after her burial, large numbers of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) leaders, activists, and ordinary citizens continued to visit the grave of former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia at the Jatiya Zia Udyan in Dhaka. Delegations arrived from various districts including Natore, Jhalokathi, and Faridpur to offer prayers at the graves of both Khaleda Zia and late President Ziaur Rahman.

Among those present were BNP leaders such as Aman Ullah Aman, Ruhul Kuddus Talukder Dulu, and Sanjida Islam Tuli, who led groups of party members and parliamentary candidates from different constituencies. From early morning, families and supporters gathered despite cold and foggy weather, reflecting the late leader’s enduring popularity and symbolic status as a figure of independence and sovereignty.

Khaleda Zia, who had been under treatment at Evercare Hospital for a prolonged illness, passed away on December 30. She was buried with state honors beside her husband, former President Ziaur Rahman, following funeral prayers at Manik Mia Avenue on Wednesday.