Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus, chairing the National Cyber Security Council meeting at the state guesthouse Jamuna on Sunday, directed the National Cyber Security Agency to ensure comprehensive cyber protection ahead of the upcoming national election and referendum. He emphasized enhancing technological capacity and taking strict measures against all forms of cybercrime. Yunus also instructed that all citizen service sectors be given priority and that institutions regularly update their software and hardware while improving staff skills.

During the meeting, Yunus proposed introducing a rating system to evaluate institutional cyber readiness and directed the agency to play an active role alongside the judiciary in addressing financial cybercrimes. Special Assistant Fayez Ahmad Tayyeb reported that 35 institutions have been listed as critical information infrastructure, recommending more additions. He also stressed coordination between the National Cyber Security Agency and BTRC to counter misinformation and cyber offenses related to the election.

Bangladesh Bank Governor Ahsan H. Mansur shared that steps have been taken to strengthen banking sector cybersecurity and praised the initiative to form sectoral CERTs. The council, formed on 26 August 2025 under the Cyber Security Ordinance 2025, is led by the Chief Adviser and includes 25 members.

Home Adviser Lieutenant General (Retd.) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury announced that the trial of the murder of frontline July fighter Shaheed Sharif Osman Hadi has made significant progress. He stated that the charge sheet in the case will be submitted by January 7. The announcement came during an emergency press conference at the Ministry of Home Affairs on Sunday afternoon.

The home adviser emphasized that the trial will be completed during the tenure of the current interim government. He said the authorities are giving the highest priority to ensuring justice for those involved in the killing and reaffirmed the interim government’s commitment to a fair judicial process. So far, eleven individuals have been arrested in connection with the case.

The statement reflects the government’s intent to expedite the judicial process and ensure accountability in a case that has drawn national attention.

National Citizen Party (NCP) member secretary Akhtar Hossain has been granted bail after surrendering before two separate courts in Dhaka on Sunday, December 28, 2025. The cases, filed at Shahbagh Police Station, accuse him of attempted murder, unlawful assembly, and obstructing government work. Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrates Awlad Hossain Mohammad Junaid and Joshita Islam issued the bail orders. His lawyer, Md Mujahidul Islam, confirmed the development, stating that Hossain applied for bail in two 2021 cases.

According to the report, the courts granted bail on bonds totaling 1,500 taka. Before the hearing, Hossain said that six cases had been filed against him during the previous Awami League government, of which he had been acquitted in four. He surrendered in the remaining two cases to obtain bail.

Case records indicate that the charges stemmed from protests in 2021 against Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Bangladesh. Hossain was previously detained near the Central Shaheed Minar while distributing iftar items to the poor during Ramadan that year.

BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman has been officially added to the national voter list, according to confirmation from the Election Commission. The registration process was completed as part of his preparation to participate in upcoming elections. On Saturday afternoon, around 1 p.m., he arrived at the Election Commission building to finalize the voter registration formalities.

Before being added to the voter list, Tarique Rahman’s national identity card (NID) was prepared, as confirmed by S M Humayun Kabir, Director General of the National Identity Registration Wing. Rahman completed his online voter registration form to become a voter in Ward 19 of Dhaka North City Corporation, located in the Gulshan area under the Dhaka-17 constituency.

The completion of Tarique Rahman’s voter registration marks a formal step toward his electoral participation, aligning with his role as the acting chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).

Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) president and decorated freedom fighter Oli Ahmed Bir Bikram, a long-time ally of the BNP, has joined the Jamaat-e-Islami–led eight-party alliance to contest the upcoming election. The announcement was made on Sunday afternoon at the National Press Club, where several other parties also joined the coalition. The alliance, led by Jamaat, remains intact as new partners are added.

According to the report, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) is joining the alliance with at least 30 constituencies, while Islami Andolan Bangladesh, led by the Pir of Charmonai, is expected to receive a similar number of seats after previously threatening to leave if not allotted 120. Oli Ahmed’s LDP may receive six constituencies, and the AB Party is expected to get three to four. Jamaat is also revising its candidate list to accommodate new allies and prominent figures.

Jamaat has finalized retired Colonel Mohammad Abdul Haque for Dhaka-2 and is preparing to nominate Ahmad Abdul Kader of Khelafat Majlish for Habiganj-4, replacing journalist Oliullah Noman. A Jamaat source indicated that several surprises may be announced at the evening press conference.

Representatives of civil society in Bangladesh have warned that a fair election will be impossible without visible improvement in the law and order situation. Speaking at a roundtable titled “Fair Election and Democratic Transition: Citizens’ Thoughts” held at the Chattogram Parishad auditorium on Sunday, they said the failure to recover illegal weapons, the rise of mob violence, and corruption within the administration have worsened the situation, exposing government shortcomings.

The event was organized by Sujan (Citizens for Good Governance) Chattogram as part of a democratic strengthening initiative. Speakers noted that the public expectations from the July movement were frustrated, and administrative anarchy has endangered citizens’ safety. They cautioned that holding elections under such conditions would be highly risky and expressed concern about the upcoming referendum.

Speakers added that the government had formed six commissions and received nearly a thousand proposals, of which 166 were presented and consensus reached on 84. Forty-eight of these proposals require constitutional amendments to be decided through a public referendum. They emphasized building consensus on elections, reforms, and the referendum to ensure democratic progress.

Myanmar’s junta leader Min Aung Hlaing has described the country’s ongoing election as free and fair. Speaking to reporters in the capital Naypyidaw on Sunday after casting his vote, he said transparency and neutrality in the election process had been ensured. The remarks were reported by AFP.

Min Aung Hlaing, who seized power five years ago through a military coup, claimed that the military’s role in organizing the election did not undermine its credibility or image. He emphasized that the process was being conducted properly under military supervision.

The report noted that this election marks the first phase of Myanmar’s general election, taking place under the junta’s rule since the coup.

At least 400 Muslim families in Bengaluru, Karnataka, were reportedly rendered homeless after the state government demolished around 200 houses without prior notice. The demolition took place in Fakir Colony and Wasim Layout of Kogilu village at around 4 a.m. on December 22, carried out by Bengaluru Solid Waste Management Limited. The incident occurred during the winter season, leaving hundreds of families without shelter.

The affected residents claimed they had lived in the area for about 25 years and possessed valid Aadhaar and voter ID cards. They alleged that police forcibly evicted them without warning, leaving many unable to retrieve essential documents and belongings. The event has sparked a political dispute between Karnataka’s ruling Congress and Kerala’s Left Front, with opposition parties accusing Congress of adopting the Bharatiya Janata Party’s controversial “bulldozer rule.”

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan condemned the action, calling it an example of anti-minority politics under the Congress government. Reports also noted a broader rise in minority persecution across India, including violence against Bengali-speaking Muslims and attacks on Christians during Christmas celebrations.

Bangladesh has expressed deep concern over recent killings and violence targeting minorities in India and called on New Delhi to ensure impartial investigations and bring perpetrators to justice. Foreign Ministry spokesperson S M Mahbubul Alam made the statement on Sunday, December 28, citing incidents of brutal murders, mob attacks, arbitrary detentions, and disruptions of religious events involving Muslims and Christians in several Indian states, including Odisha, Bihar, and Kerala.

Alam said Bangladesh is particularly alarmed by reports of widespread violence against Christians during Christmas celebrations across India, describing such acts as hate crimes and targeted violence. Dhaka also rejected recent remarks by India’s Ministry of External Affairs regarding communal violence and minority conditions in Bangladesh, stating that Delhi’s comments misrepresented the country’s longstanding tradition of communal harmony.

In an official statement, Bangladesh’s Foreign Ministry asserted that isolated criminal incidents were being deliberately portrayed as institutional persecution of Hindus to spread anti-Bangladesh sentiment in India. It warned that selective and biased narratives were being used to incite hostility against Bangladesh and its diplomatic missions.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami announced on Sunday that the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and the National Citizens Party (NCP) have joined its political alliance. The announcement was made by Jamaat Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman at a press conference held at 5 p.m. He stated that discussions with the NCP had been finalized earlier, but no representatives from the party could attend the event. The NCP is expected to hold its own press conference after internal discussions.

Before the inclusion of the two new parties, the alliance consisted of eight members: Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, Islami Andolan Bangladesh, Bangladesh Khelafat Andolan, Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish, Khelafat Majlish, Nezame Islam Party, Jatiya Ganatantrik Party, and Bangladesh Development Party. The addition of LDP and NCP expands the coalition under Jamaat’s leadership.

The NCP’s absence from the joint press conference suggests that the party may still be finalizing its internal stance before publicly confirming its participation in the alliance.

BNP Standing Committee member Nazrul Islam Khan said the newly formed alliance between the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and Jamaat-e-Islami does not align with NCP’s declared ideology. He described the alliance as a political decision of the respective parties. Khan made the remarks on Sunday afternoon after meeting Chief Election Commissioner A.M.M. Nasiruddin at the Election Commission office in Agargaon, Dhaka.

During the meeting, BNP raised several election-related issues, including concerns over a directive requiring candidates to submit details of their children's assets during nomination filing. Khan said this requirement, though not explicitly mentioned in the Representation of the People Order (RPO), is creating complications. The party also expressed concern about the potential misuse of artificial intelligence (AI) on social media during the upcoming national election.

BNP warned that AI could be used to spread false information, images, and videos, and urged the Election Commission to take strong preventive measures. Khan emphasized that the Commission’s effective role is crucial to ensure a free, fair, and credible election, and the party expects clear initiatives from the Commission in this regard.

The Government of Bangladesh has cancelled the certificates of 71 individuals identified as fake freedom fighters. The Ministry of Liberation War Affairs issued a gazette on December 24, 2025, formalizing the cancellation. The decision was made under the authority of the National Freedom Fighters Council Act, 2022, and the Rules of Business, 1996, following the 101st meeting of the National Freedom Fighters Council (JAMUKA).

According to JAMUKA sources, these individuals had obtained certificates despite not being actual freedom fighters. The verification process confirmed the falsity of their claims. The cancelled certificates include those from civilian, Indian list, Lal Muktibarta, Ansar, army, and martyred police categories.

The verification and scrutiny of freedom fighter certificates remain ongoing, as authorities continue efforts to ensure the authenticity of recognized participants in the Liberation War.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir stated that the party has always stood by the Quran and Sunnah and continues to do so. He made the remarks on Sunday afternoon during a meeting with Islamic scholars in Thakurgaon. Fakhrul emphasized that no law outside the Quran and Sunnah would be allowed, rejecting claims that the BNP does not adhere to Islamic principles.

He said the country is going through a critical period, with some groups allegedly working behind the scenes to destabilize the nation and disrupt the upcoming election. Fakhrul urged everyone to remain alert and united, warning that disunity would harm the country. He also accused the Awami League of passing laws to perpetuate its power and deprive people of their rights, while religious scholars were once labeled extremists and harassed.

Fakhrul concluded that the difficult period had passed and called for collective efforts to rebuild the nation anew.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and seven other like-minded political parties have called an urgent press conference. The event is scheduled for Sunday at 4:30 p.m. at the Abdus Salam Hall on the third floor of the National Press Club in Dhaka. Jamaat-e-Islami’s Assistant Secretary General Hamidur Rahman Azad informed the media about the conference, though the specific agenda has not been disclosed.

According to available information, the press conference may include announcements regarding a possible alliance with the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and other political groups. Reports also suggest that seat-sharing arrangements could be discussed or declared during the event. However, no official confirmation has been provided about these potential announcements.

The meeting comes amid ongoing political discussions among several parties exploring coalition options. The outcome of the press conference may indicate new alignments or strategies ahead of future political developments.

A total of 114 leaders of the National Citizens Party (NCP) have signed in favor of joining an eight-party alliance that includes Jamaat-e-Islami, according to a report published on December 28, 2025. The signatures were submitted to NCP convener Nahid Islam, and party sources indicated the number could rise to 120. Meanwhile, 30 members have signed against the move, while others remain undecided. No senior NCP official has publicly commented on the matter.

A letter accompanying the signatures stated that the signatories, described as central-level NCP leaders, support strategic political decisions aimed at rebuilding democratic institutions and establishing a responsible state system ahead of the upcoming national election. They expressed full confidence in the convener and member secretary to make appropriate decisions regarding any electoral alliance or understanding.

The letter emphasized that a timely and unified decision under the leadership of Nahid Islam would strengthen the party organizationally and enhance public trust, reflecting a push within NCP for a broader political alignment before the election.