Former information adviser Mahfuz Alam has confirmed that he will not participate in the upcoming national parliamentary election. Speaking to BBC Bangla on Monday, he said that although nomination papers had been collected on his behalf for the Lakshmipur-1 constituency, he had decided from the beginning not to run. Alam explained that his resignation from the government was not linked to any electoral ambition but rather to concerns raised about neutrality if student representatives remained in government during the election period.

He further clarified that his brother, Mahbub Alam, joint convener of the National Citizen Party (NCP), had already collected nomination papers for the same constituency and would contest based on his own decision. Mahfuz Alam stated that he had nothing to comment on his brother’s choice. Earlier, in a Facebook post, he announced that although he was involved in forming the Citizen Committee and the NCP, he would not be part of the NCP.

Explaining his stance, Alam said Bangladesh is currently in a “cold war” phase of history, and it is best to remain steadfast in one’s principles without taking sides.

The National Citizen Party (NCP) has submitted nomination papers in 47 constituencies for the 13th parliamentary election, according to its convener Nahid Islam. Former adviser Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan has formally joined the party as its spokesperson and head of the election management committee but will not contest this time. The announcement came during an emergency press conference at the party’s temporary central office in Banglamotor on Monday evening.

Nahid Islam said the NCP joined the Jamaat-led alliance to strengthen its electoral prospects, though the final seat-sharing arrangement has not yet been determined. He explained that the party submitted more nominations than expected to allow for possible disqualifications or errors. The NCP has no candidates in Dhaka-10 and Comilla-3, where it will support alliance nominees. Islam emphasized that all party members will work collectively for the alliance’s chosen candidates in the interest of unity.

Discussions on seat-sharing within the ten-party alliance, which includes Jamaat-e-Islami and the newly joined AB Party, are ongoing. Reports suggest the NCP may receive around 30 constituencies, with final decisions expected soon before the January 20 withdrawal deadline.

The government has appointed Supreme Court senior lawyer Ehsanul Haque Samaji as the special legal adviser in the murder case of Shahid Sharif Osman Hadi, spokesperson of Inquilab Moncho. The appointment was announced on Monday night through an order signed by Mofizul Islam, assistant secretary of the Ministry of Law.

According to the order, Samaji will serve as a special prosecutor adviser with the rank equivalent to that of the Attorney General. His role will be to ensure proper and prompt legal assistance to the investigating officer and the prosecution team handling the murder case filed at Paltan Police Station.

The appointment aims to strengthen the legal process surrounding the high-profile murder case and ensure that the investigation and prosecution proceed efficiently under expert legal guidance.

Former adviser to the interim government Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan has joined the National Citizens Party (NCP) and has been appointed as the party’s spokesperson. The announcement was made by NCP convener Nahid Islam at a press conference on Monday evening.

Nahid Islam stated that Asif Mahmud will not contest in the upcoming election. Instead, he will work to ensure that NCP-nominated candidates win and represent the cause of the July mass uprising in parliament. For this purpose, he has been given the responsibility of heading the NCP’s election management committee. The position was previously held by NCP leader Nasiruddin Patwari, who stepped down to participate in the election.

Asif Mahmud said he considers it a greater success to help his fellow activists reach parliament rather than running himself. He pledged to make every effort to support their election campaigns.

Analysts suggest that India’s expanding role as one of Israel’s key defense partners signals a deep moral and geopolitical shift in New Delhi’s foreign policy. Once known for its non-aligned stance and vocal support for Palestinian self-determination, India is now seen as moving toward transactional alliances with powers criticized for violating international law. The shift has become more visible amid the ongoing Gaza conflict, as India quietly fills part of the supply gap left by European countries constrained by legal and political pressures on arms exports to Israel.

Under the “Make in India” initiative, joint production, technology transfer, and domestic manufacturing of Israeli weapon components have tied India more closely to Israel’s military-industrial network. Experts describe the partnership as pragmatic and mutually beneficial: Israel provides advanced military technology, while India offers production capacity, markets, and diplomatic backing. Critics, however, argue that this pragmatism comes at the cost of moral clarity and silence on international law.

Observers also note that India’s abstentions at the UN on Gaza-related votes and cautious diplomatic language reflect risk management rather than neutrality, potentially weakening its traditional Global South leadership role.

The Amar Bangladesh (AB) Party has joined the Jamaat-e-Islami-led alliance ahead of the upcoming national parliamentary election. The announcement was made on Monday afternoon after the party’s general secretary, Asaduzzaman Fuad, submitted nomination papers at the Barishal returning officer’s office. He stated that seat-sharing discussions had already taken place and that further talks were ongoing. The party plans to formally join the alliance in Dhaka following the nomination submission.

According to AB Party chairman Mojibur Rahman Monju, the party is now part of Jamaat’s eight-party electoral understanding, with discussions continuing on several constituencies. Jamaat has not fielded candidates in Feni-2, Barishal-3, and Patuakhali-1 constituencies. On Sunday, the NCP and LDP also announced their inclusion in the Jamaat-led coalition.

With AB Party’s entry, the Jamaat-led alliance will expand to a total of eleven political parties participating in the upcoming election.

Egypt has rejected several large financial proposals that were conditioned on accepting the forced displacement of Palestinians, Foreign Minister Badr Abdel Aty said in an interview with MBC Egypt’s program Al-Hekaya. He stated that accepting such offers would mean endorsing the 'law of the jungle.' Abdel Aty revealed that Egypt received three separate proposals, each offering significant economic incentives, including debt cancellation and financial rewards.

The minister emphasized that Cairo firmly rejected all offers and that Egypt’s position remains clear and unchangeable. He added that Israeli negotiators fully understand Egypt’s stance. Abdel Aty noted that Egypt and Israel, having maintained diplomatic relations for over 45 years, are aware of each other’s positions and limitations.

He further accused Israel of failing to meet its international legal obligations as an occupying power to open border crossings and allow humanitarian aid. Abdel Aty concluded that Egypt will remain steadfast in upholding international law, warning that abandoning it would lead to a world governed by the law of the jungle.

Dr. Tasnim Jara has completed the first stage of the election process by submitting her nomination to contest as an independent candidate for the Dhaka-9 constituency in the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election. She collected the required voter signatures and submitted them to the Dhaka Divisional Commissioner and Returning Officer in Segunbagicha.

According to the Election Commission’s rules, an independent candidate must gather signatures from at least one percent of registered voters in their constituency. For Dhaka-9, this meant a minimum of 4,693 signatures. Jara began collecting signatures last Sunday, setting up booths in Khilgaon and Basabo areas. Her team reportedly exceeded the required number by Monday afternoon.

Jara decided to run independently after leaving her party following the formation of an alliance between Jamaat and the NCP. Her submission marks a key procedural milestone ahead of the national polls.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman has submitted his nomination papers to contest the 13th National Parliamentary Election from Dhaka-15 constituency. According to his election affidavit, he holds Tk 6,076,497 in cash, 10 bhori of gold worth Tk 100,000, and a duplex house on 11.77 decimals of land valued at Tk 2.7 million. His total declared assets amount to approximately Tk 10,273,640.

The affidavit further states that Dr. Rahman, a physician by profession, has no loans from any bank or financial institution. He owns 2 acres and 17 decimals of agricultural land valued at Tk 1,771,000 and earns Tk 300,000 annually from agriculture. His other assets include shares worth Tk 2,716,880 in both listed and unlisted companies, electrical goods worth Tk 200,000, a vehicle valued at Tk 450,000, and furniture worth Tk 240,000.

The nomination papers were submitted on Monday, December 29, at the Election Training Institute in Agargaon by Jamaat’s Assistant Secretary General Abdul Halim on behalf of Dr. Rahman.

Mahfuz Alam, a former information adviser to the interim government and a leading figure in the July uprising, has announced plans to pursue a new political solution. He made the declaration on Monday, December 29, through a Facebook post, emphasizing a fresh start driven by vision, honesty, and commitment to Bangladesh and its youth. Alam reiterated that there would be no compromise in this new journey.

Earlier, he had confirmed through his verified Facebook page that he would not join the National Citizens Party (NCP). He had also previously stated that he would not participate in the upcoming national parliamentary election. His latest statement signals a shift toward forming or supporting a new political direction rather than aligning with existing parties.

The announcement highlights Alam’s intent to channel the spirit of the July movement into a renewed political effort, though details of the initiative or its structure have not yet been disclosed.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan attended a ceremony in Hatay province on December 27 to hand over the 455,000th new home built for survivors of the 2023 earthquakes that devastated southern Turkey. The February 6 quakes, measuring 7.8 and 7.5 in magnitude, killed more than 53,000 people and displaced millions across southern Turkey and northern Syria. Erdogan said over 55,000 housing units were delivered in Hatay and about 22,000 in Kahramanmaraş, slightly exceeding his earlier pledge of 453,000 units.

During the event, Erdogan criticized opposition parties, calling them “earthquake tourists” who sought political advantage from the disaster. He emphasized that his administration had rebuilt infrastructure in affected provinces including Adıyaman and Gaziantep. The president also linked Turkey’s internal stability to the broader Middle Eastern situation, warning against “merchants of blood and chaos” seeking to destabilize the region.

Erdogan reiterated that Turkey’s progress depends on a strong ruling party and national unity, highlighting solidarity with neighboring peoples in Syria, Palestine, and Iraq. The 2023 earthquakes were the deadliest in two decades, destroying over 35,000 buildings and severely damaging 200,000 more.

Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh leaders Allama Muhibullah Babunagari and Allama Sajedur Rahman have alleged that an anti-national fascist group is again attempting to play the 'militant card' following several recent incidents, including an explosion at an unregistered madrasa in Keraniganj, a bomb attack targeting Mufti Jasimuddin Rahmani, mysterious arson at several Hindu homes, and the recovery of 24 electric detonators near the Sunamganj border. They made the remarks in a statement to the media on Monday, December 29, 2025.

The Hefazat leaders claimed that such acts are intended to create fear, disrupt the upcoming national election, and divert public attention from the demand for justice in the killing of Shaheed Osman Hadi. They accused domestic collaborators of using militancy narratives for political gain and called on the government led by Yunus to take stricter measures to maintain law and order.

Hefazat instructed its members nationwide to hand over anyone found involved in militant or sabotage activities to law enforcement while ensuring that no innocent person is falsely implicated. The organization reiterated that it does not want to see a repeat of what it called 'militant dramas' in the country.

The Bangladesh Railway authorities have called on citizens to refrain from damaging trains, engines, coaches, wagons, and other railway assets. The appeal was made on Monday through a press release issued by Rezaul Karim Siddiqui, Public Relations Officer of the Ministry of Railways. The statement highlighted recent incidents of stone-throwing at trains, unjustified rail line blockades, and deliberate damage to railway tracks, which have caused financial losses and disrupted train operations.

According to the release, the railway is a state-owned national asset, and any harm to it represents a loss to the nation and its people. The ministry emphasized that preventing such damage is a moral duty of all citizens. It also reaffirmed Bangladesh Railway’s commitment to providing quality passenger services and called for public cooperation to ensure safe and efficient operations.

The statement further warned that any attempt to damage state property, including rail infrastructure, is a punishable offense. Those engaging in illegal acts under political, social, or other programs will face strict legal action under existing laws.

Former interim government adviser Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan has formally joined the National Citizens Party (NCP). The announcement was made on Monday evening at a press conference held at the party’s temporary central office in Banglamotor, Dhaka, by NCP convener Nahid Islam. He stated that although the NCP has entered its electoral phase, Asif Mahmud will not contest in the upcoming election. Instead, he will work to ensure the success of NCP-nominated candidates and has been appointed as the head of the party’s election management committee.

Asif Mahmud previously served as one of the key coordinators of the anti-discrimination student movement that led the mass uprising of July–August 2024. Following the fall of the then Awami League government on August 5, 2024, he took oath as an adviser in the interim government. He resigned from that position on December 10, 2025, with the resignation becoming effective on December 11, coinciding with the announcement of the election schedule.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Monday that he has asked U.S. President Donald Trump to consider providing Ukraine with a 30 to 50-year security guarantee. Zelensky stated that Trump responded he would “think about” the proposal. He confirmed that under the current agreement, Ukraine is already assured of a 15-year security guarantee from the United States.

Zelensky added that the next round of discussions will take place in Kyiv in January. He said that the head of Ukraine’s National Defense and Security Council, Rustem Umerov, is coordinating the process with partners. Following that, Ukraine will hold talks with European leaders to align the main documents and prepare communications between Trump and European leaders.

Zelensky also mentioned that Trump has discussed his 20-point peace plan with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who he said is ready for peace. He noted that lifting martial law would only be possible once security guarantees are in place, including the deployment of foreign troops.