Police in Ishwardi, Pabna, arrested Zulmat Haydar, 62, the office and organizational secretary of the banned Ishwardi Upazila Awami League and Sahapur Union, on Saturday evening from Alibardi Road in the municipal area. The arrest was made in connection with a case filed over his alleged opposition to students during an anti-discrimination movement, confirmed Ishwardi Circle Additional Superintendent of Police Pranab Kumar Sarkar.

According to police sources, Haydar, son of the late Fakir Uddin Sardar, had also served as president of the Ishwardi Upazila Mill Owners’ Group for a long time. Afzal Hossain, in charge of the Ambagan Police Outpost, said Haydar was named as an accused in the case for his active role against students during the movement. Ishwardi Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md. Mominuzzaman stated that Haydar was being held for preliminary questioning and would be sent to Pabna Jail through court proceedings the following day.

The arrest follows ongoing legal actions related to the anti-discrimination movement in Ishwardi, with authorities continuing investigations into those accused of opposing student demonstrators.

Leaders and activists of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) have collected nomination papers for Gabtali Upazila BNP president Morshed Milton to contest from Bogura-7 (Shajahanpur-Gabtali), the parliamentary seat of BNP chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia. The papers were collected on Saturday afternoon from Upazila Executive Officer Mohammad Hafizur Rahman, with Gabtali Upazila BNP vice-president Ashraful Islam acting on Milton’s behalf.

Several local BNP leaders, including organizational secretary Julfikar Naeem Gama, Mominul Islam, Sagar Khan, and Gabtali municipal BNP organizational secretary Tarikul Islam, were present during the submission. Both the Upazila Executive Officer and the Upazila Election Officer, Anisur Rahman, confirmed that the nomination papers were collected for Milton as the BNP’s official candidate.

The report recalls that in 2018, Morshed Milton had also received BNP’s nomination for the same constituency, but the Election Commission later canceled it. Following that decision, BNP extended its support to independent candidate Rezaul Karim Bablu, who contested under the “Rag” symbol.

Thirty members of the National Citizens Party (NCP) have expressed opposition to the party’s decision to join an eight-party alliance that includes Jamaat-e-Islami. According to multiple central leaders of the NCP, the dissenting members, out of a total 214 in the party’s central committee, have submitted a formal letter of objection. The confirmation came on Saturday, as reported by Amar Desh Online.

The report indicates that the NCP’s move to align with Jamaat-e-Islami and other parties has not received unanimous support within its leadership. The internal disagreement highlights divisions over the party’s strategic direction and its choice of political partners. Details about the content of the objection letter or the party’s next steps were not disclosed.

Further information on the development is expected as the situation evolves, with the NCP leadership yet to issue a public statement addressing the internal dissent.

Asif Mahmud, who resigned from his post as an adviser in Bangladesh’s interim government, has clarified that he will contest the upcoming national election from Dhaka-10 as an independent candidate. His statement followed reports that a nomination form had also been collected in his name for the Cumilla-3 constituency. Mahmud told BBC Bangla that he did not personally collect the Cumilla form, explaining that local residents from his home area in Muradnagar obtained it without his knowledge.

Mahmud, originally a voter from Muradnagar in Cumilla, applied in November to change his voter registration to Dhaka-10. On December 12, he announced via a social media video message his intention to run independently from that constituency. He had resigned from the interim government’s advisory council on December 10, a day before the election schedule was announced.

As a former student leader who represented participants in the July uprising, Mahmud previously oversaw the Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Ministry and the Youth and Sports Ministry during his tenure as an adviser.

BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman visited his in-laws’ residence, Mahbub Bhaban, in Dhanmondi on Saturday, December 27, after a 17-year gap. He left his Gulshan residence at 4:25 p.m. and traveled by road to the house. A verified post from the BNP media cell shared a photo of Rahman petting cats at the residence, describing him as an animal lover.

Rahman returned to Bangladesh on December 25 after years of exile in the United Kingdom. He arrived at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 11:39 a.m. on a Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight. Following his arrival, he addressed supporters at a mass reception on the July-36 Expressway and later visited his mother, BNP chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia, who is under treatment at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka.

Party leaders, including BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and members of the standing committee, welcomed Rahman with flowers at the airport’s VIP lounge before his public appearance.

Dr. Tasnim Jara has resigned from the National Citizen Party (NCP) and announced her candidacy as an independent contender for the Dhaka-9 constituency in the upcoming national parliamentary election. She made the announcement on Saturday, December 27, 2025, through a statement on her verified Facebook account.

Around the same time, three other senior NCP leaders—Senior Joint Convener Samanta Sharmin, Joint Member Secretary Nusrat Tabassum, and Joint Member Secretary Dr. Mahmuda Mitu—also made posts on Facebook. Samanta Sharmin wrote that they would not give up their struggle, Nusrat Tabassum emphasized that politics should not outweigh principles, and Dr. Mahmuda Mitu expressed distrust toward certain Western-aligned groups while praising those who openly state their positions.

The posts come amid internal tensions within the NCP, as several members have recently expressed dissent over the party’s political direction and alliances.

Adilur Rahman Khan, adviser to the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives, said that any attempt to disrupt the upcoming election will be firmly resisted. He made the remarks on Saturday at Matherbazar in Madaripur Sadar upazila after paying respects at the grave of July Movement martyr Naimur Rahman. He stated that patriotic citizens will work together to ensure a fair, free, and impartial election.

According to Adilur Rahman, the interim government is working to ensure the safety of July Movement participants and all citizens ahead of the election, while fascist forces are trying to obstruct the process. Earlier, he visited Ghatmajhi area to meet the family of July martyr Mamun Sardar and paid tribute at the July Memorial near Shakuni Lake in the morning.

Senior district officials, including Deputy Commissioner Jahangir Alam and Additional Deputy Commissioner Al Noman, were present during the visit, reflecting administrative engagement in the adviser’s activities.

Somalia has strongly condemned Israel’s decision to formally recognize Somaliland, calling it an act of state aggression and demanding its immediate withdrawal. The reaction came a day after Israel announced its recognition of the breakaway region. Somali Deputy Foreign Minister Ali Omar told Al Jazeera that the move constitutes direct interference in Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. He said the government would use all diplomatic means to counter what it described as Israeli intervention in its internal affairs.

The announcement has sparked widespread criticism across African and Arab nations, many of which expressed concern that Israel’s move could be linked to plans for the forced displacement of Palestinians. Somalia’s government reiterated that such actions are unacceptable to its people and urged Israel to comply with international law and reverse its divisive decision.

Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in 1991 after a civil war but has not been recognized by any UN member state. Despite having its own currency, flag, and parliament, its sovereignty remains internationally unacknowledged.

A total of 184 central committee members of the National Citizens Party (NCP) have supported a seat-sharing agreement with the eight-party alliance that includes Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami. However, 30 members of the 214-member committee have opposed the arrangement. The figures indicate that 86 percent of the NCP’s central leadership favor the deal, while 14 percent remain against it. The information was confirmed on Saturday by several central leaders of the party.

The development highlights internal divisions within the NCP over joining the alliance led by Jamaat-e-Islami. While the majority of the leadership supports the move, a notable minority has expressed reservations about aligning with the Islamist party and its coalition partners. The report did not specify the reasons behind the dissent or identify the opposing members.

The confirmation of the seat-sharing stance suggests that the NCP is moving closer to formalizing its participation in the eight-party bloc, though internal opposition could influence future negotiations or party unity.

Former interim government adviser Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan has collected nomination papers for the Cumilla-3 (Muradnagar) constituency as an independent candidate. The papers were collected on his behalf by Ramzanul Karim, a worker of the National Citizen Party (NCP), from the office of the Cumilla District Commissioner and Returning Officer on December 24. The matter became public on the night of December 26, and was confirmed to the media the following day by administrative officer Md. Saheb Ali.

According to the nomination register, Asif Mahmud’s current address is listed in Dhaka South City Corporation’s New Market area, while his permanent address is in Akbpur, Muradnagar. NCP’s Muradnagar coordinator Minhajul Haque stated that Asif had sent his national ID to the party and that they were hopeful he would contest from Muradnagar. He added that multiple nomination papers were collected due to possible alliance decisions, and final choices would depend on the evolving situation.

Earlier, on December 10, Asif Mahmud resigned from his advisory post in the interim government and announced his candidacy for Dhaka-10, where he has already begun campaigning.

Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury will be sworn in as the 26th Chief Justice of Bangladesh on Sunday. The oath-taking ceremony is scheduled for 10 a.m. at Bangabhaban, where President Md. Shahabuddin will administer the oath. The information was confirmed on Saturday by Md. Shafiqul Islam, Public Relations Officer of the Supreme Court’s Appellate Division.

President Md. Shahabuddin appointed Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury as the 26th Chief Justice on December 23. Justice Chowdhury earned his LLB and LLM degrees from the University of Dhaka and later obtained an LLM in International Law from the United Kingdom. He began his legal career in the district court in 1985 and joined the High Court Division as an advocate in 1987. He was appointed an additional judge of the High Court Division on August 27, 2003, and became a permanent judge two years later. He took oath as a judge of the Appellate Division on August 13, 2024.

According to the report, Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury is expected to retire on May 17, 2028.

Zahidul Islam, the recently outgoing central president of Islami Chhatra Shibir, has joined Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami. The joining took place on Saturday, December 27, 2025, at the party’s office in Bashundhara, Dhaka, in the presence of Jamaat Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman. Zahidul completed the associate membership form to formally become part of the organization.

According to the report, Zahidul Islam served as the central president of Islami Chhatra Shibir for the 2025 session. Before that, he held the position of publication secretary within the same student organization. He studied in the English department at Jagannath University and hails from Cumilla district.

The report did not include any statement from Zahidul Islam or Jamaat-e-Islami regarding his future role or responsibilities within the party.

Dr. Tasnim Jara has announced her resignation from the National Citizen Party (NCP) and her decision to contest the upcoming national parliamentary election as an independent candidate from Dhaka-9. The announcement was made on Saturday, December 27, through a verified Facebook statement, where she confirmed her candidacy and outlined her motivations for running independently.

In her statement, Jara said that as a native of Khilgaon, her lifelong dream has been to serve the people of her area. Although she had planned to serve the country as a member of parliament, she decided not to represent any political party or alliance in the current context. She emphasized her commitment to building a new political culture and appealed to residents of Khilgaon, Sabujbagh, and Mugda for their support, noting that she would not have a party office or organized campaign team.

According to election regulations, an independent candidate in Dhaka-9 must collect signatures from 4,693 voters. Jara said the signature collection would begin the next day and invited local residents to participate actively. She also offered to refund donations previously made to her campaign when she was considered a party candidate.

Dr. Tasnim Jara, senior joint member secretary of the Nationalist Citizen Party (NCP), announced her decision to contest the upcoming election as an independent candidate from Dhaka-9. She made the announcement on Saturday through a verified Facebook post, stating that although she had initially planned to run under a political party’s platform, she decided not to represent any specific party or alliance due to practical circumstances.

In her post, Jara reaffirmed her commitment to serving the people of Khilgaon, Sabujbagh, and Mugda, where she was born and raised. She emphasized her determination to uphold her promise of building a new political culture despite the change in her candidacy status. Addressing supporters who had contributed to her earlier fundraising campaign, Jara expressed respect for those wishing to have their donations refunded.

She instructed donors who contributed via mobile payment service bKash to fill out a provided online form for verification and refund. Those who donated through bank transfers will be informed soon about the refund process.

Tasnim Jara, senior joint member secretary of the National Citizen Party (NCP), has resigned from her position. The resignation was confirmed by an NCP source on Saturday evening. According to senior joint convener Ariful Islam Adib, Jara submitted her resignation letter in a party WhatsApp group and immediately posted about it on Facebook without waiting for the party’s decision.

Following her resignation, Tasnim Jara announced through her verified Facebook account that she intends to contest the upcoming election independently from the Dhaka-9 constituency. She stated that due to the current circumstances, she will not participate as a candidate of any specific party or alliance. Jara reaffirmed her commitment to building a new political culture and serving the people with honesty and dedication.

In her post, Jara acknowledged the challenges of running without party support, such as lacking local offices or organized workers, but expressed confidence that public trust and affection would be her main strength in the campaign.