BNP’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman visited the party’s chairperson’s political office in Gulshan, Dhaka, on Sunday afternoon. According to the party’s media cell, a room has been prepared for him on the second floor of the office, where he will conduct political activities.

Party sources said Rahman plans to contest the upcoming national election from two constituencies—Dhaka-17 and Bogura-6. On the same day, he collected nomination papers for the Dhaka-17 seat from the Divisional Commissioner’s Office in Segunbagicha, Dhaka.

The visit marks Rahman’s active engagement in the party’s election preparations, with arrangements being made at the Gulshan office to facilitate his political operations.

Ahsan Habib Lincoln, secretary general of the Jatiya Party (Kazi Zafar) faction, has resigned from his post. He confirmed his resignation on Sunday morning and announced through his Facebook profile on Saturday night that he will contest the upcoming national parliamentary election as an independent candidate from Kushtia-2 (Mirpur-Veramara). Lincoln stated that he would collect his nomination papers on Monday, December 29.

In his Facebook post, Lincoln expressed frustration over not receiving a nomination and said his long political dedication had not been properly valued. He claimed to have been betrayed by both the BNP and his own party. He wrote that he was leaving the party to seek judgment from the people of his constituency and criticized the BNP’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman for failing to uphold promises made during the 12-party alliance meeting.

Lincoln’s resignation and independent candidacy mark a significant shift within the Jatiya Party (Kazi Zafar) faction ahead of the national election, reflecting internal dissatisfaction and strained alliances.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has expressed concern over the rising Muslim population in the state, predicting that by the time the next census report is released in 2027, the proportion of Muslims of Bangladeshi origin could reach around 40 percent. He noted that in the 2011 census, Muslims made up 34 percent of Assam’s population, of which 3 percent were classified as indigenous Assamese Muslims and the remaining 31 percent were of Bangladeshi descent. Sarma also pointed out that no census was conducted in 2021.

His remarks have reignited political and social debates in Assam over migration, identity, and citizenship, particularly in the context of longstanding disputes about alleged illegal immigration from Bangladesh. Discussions about demographic shifts and their social and political implications have been ongoing in the state for years.

The Chief Minister’s forecast has drawn mixed reactions in political circles. Some have welcomed his emphasis on demographic issues, while others warned that such comments could inflame communal tensions.

The United Kingdom has imposed visa restrictions on the Democratic Republic of Congo, citing the country's refusal to take back illegal migrants and criminal offenders. The British Home Office announced the decision in a statement issued on Saturday night, noting that the move follows Congo’s failure to meet cooperation requirements. Under the new restrictions, fast-track visa services for Congolese citizens will be suspended, and VIPs and politicians from Congo will no longer receive priority services.

The Home Office said the measure marks the first major change under Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood’s recently launched immigration reform program, which aims to make refugee status temporary and accelerate the deportation of undocumented migrants. The statement also mentioned that Angola and Namibia have agreed to strengthen efforts to repatriate their citizens, though none of the three countries immediately commented on the issue.

Mahmood warned that if Congo does not improve cooperation, the UK could impose a complete visa ban. She thanked Angola and Namibia for their collaboration and urged Congo to act responsibly by repatriating its nationals.

Hasan Al Mamun has been appointed as the new General Secretary of Gana Odhikar Parishad. He confirmed the appointment himself on Sunday, according to a report by Amar Desh published on December 28, 2025. The position became vacant after former General Secretary Rashid Khan recently joined the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).

Rashid Khan’s move to the BNP reportedly stemmed from the belief that contesting the national election under the party’s ‘paddy sheaf’ symbol would increase his chances of winning. His departure created speculation within Gana Odhikar Parishad about who would succeed him. Hasan Al Mamun, who previously served as the party’s Senior Joint General Secretary, has now taken over the role.

Before joining Gana Odhikar Parishad’s leadership, Hasan Al Mamun was known for his role as a convener of the 2018 quota reform movement. His appointment marks a leadership transition within the party following Rashid Khan’s defection.

Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury was sworn in as the 26th Chief Justice of Bangladesh on Sunday morning at Bangabhaban. President Md. Shahabuddin administered the oath at 10:30 a.m., with Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus and outgoing Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed present. The ceremony was broadcast live on Bangladesh Television and Bangladesh Betar. His appointment, made on December 24, took effect following the oath.

According to an earlier presidential order issued on December 20 under Article 95(1) of the Constitution, Justice Chowdhury was appointed from the Appellate Division. He began his legal career in 1985 at the Judge Court and joined the High Court Division in 1987. He became an additional judge of the High Court Division on August 27, 2003, and was confirmed two years later. On August 12, 2024, he was appointed as a judge of the Appellate Division.

Justice Chowdhury holds LLB (Hons) and LLM degrees from the University of Dhaka and a master’s degree in international law from the United Kingdom.

Somalia has demanded that Israel withdraw its recognition of Somaliland, the self-declared republic that broke away from Somalia in 1991 following a civil war. Somaliland has operated independently with its own currency, flag, and parliament, though it remains unrecognized by any United Nations member state and faces territorial disputes in its eastern regions. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the recognition as part of the spirit of the Abraham Accords and announced plans to advocate for Somaliland’s cause during an upcoming meeting with United States President Donald Trump. Somaliland’s leader Cirro has accepted Netanyahu’s invitation to visit Israel.

The United States has recently voiced frustration with Somalia’s government, criticizing its failure to improve national security despite substantial international aid. At a UN Security Council meeting, Washington signaled it may end funding for a costly peacekeeping mission. Somalia’s relations with Israel have long been strained, rooted in Israel’s historical military and intelligence support for Ethiopia, Somalia’s regional rival. The 1977 Ogaden War, in which Somalia was defeated, deepened this animosity and contributed to decades of instability.

The diplomatic developments highlight shifting alliances in the Horn of Africa and could further complicate Somalia’s internal and regional politics.

Several extremist Hindu organizations staged a violent protest on Saturday near the Bangladesh Assistant High Commission in Guwahati, India. According to a diplomatic source cited by the report, hundreds of protesters under the banners of Hindu Yuva Chhatra Parishad, Rashtriya Hindu Front, and Hindu Ekta Manch attempted to enter the mission premises while carrying saffron flags and chanting anti-Bangladesh slogans. Police intervened before they could reach the mission, after which the protesters blocked a nearby road and held a rally. During the rally, effigies of Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus were burned, and a memorandum was later submitted to the mission.

The demonstration followed a series of violent incidents targeting Bangladeshi missions across India, including an attack on the Bangladesh High Commission in Delhi on November 20. The report alleged that the attack occurred with the encouragement of the Modi government and included threats against High Commissioner Riaz Hamidullah. In response, Bangladesh summoned the Indian High Commissioner in Dhaka and demanded stronger security for its missions.

Subsequent unrest spread to Mumbai, Kolkata, and Agartala, with extremists setting fire to the Bangladesh visa center in Siliguri. Bangladesh has since suspended visa issuance for Indian nationals, heightening diplomatic tension between Dhaka and New Delhi.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has demanded the immediate and unconditional release of A.K.M. Shahidul Islam, who was arrested on charges of making derogatory remarks about the party’s acting chairman, Tarique Rahman. The demand was made through a press statement issued on Saturday night by BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Advocate Ruhul Kabir Rizvi.

According to the statement, Tarique Rahman visited the graves of Inqilab Mancha spokesperson Shaheed Osman Hadi and national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam on Saturday. During that time, police arrested Shahidul Islam under Section 54 of the Code of Criminal Procedure and later produced him before a court, which ordered his imprisonment.

The BNP stated that freedom of expression is a fundamental human and civic right in a democratic country and argued that Shahidul Islam’s arrest and imprisonment solely for expressing his opinion were unjustified. The party urged the authorities to release him immediately and uphold citizens’ democratic rights.

In Patuakhali-3 constituency, covering Galachipa and Dashmina, BNP grassroots leaders have declared Hasan Mamun as an independent candidate opposing the alliance nominee Nurul Haque Nur, president of Gono Odhikar Parishad and former DUCSU vice president. The decision followed BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir’s December 24 announcement endorsing Nur as the joint candidate of the BNP-led alliance. Local BNP leaders, angered by the nomination, collected nomination papers for Mamun, with Galachipa BNP president Md. Siddiqur Rahman leading the effort.

At an extended meeting in Dashmina, BNP activists rejected the alliance’s choice, pledging unified support for Mamun in the upcoming 13th national election. Mamun, a former president and general secretary of the Dhaka University Chhatra Dal and a BNP national executive member, said he would contest based on grassroots demand, noting that BNP had not won the seat in 46 years. Both BNP and Gono Odhikar Parishad have collected nomination papers for their respective candidates.

As of the report’s filing, Mamun and his supporters were in Dhaka seeking a meeting with BNP’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman.

Widespread irregularities and corruption have been reported in a Tk 500 crore project aimed at preventing erosion, rebuilding embankments, and protecting slopes along the coastal areas of Banshkhali in Chattogram. The project, divided into six packages, includes major works in Chhanua, Khan Khanabad, and Sadhanpur. Reports indicate that local syndicates, allegedly operating under political influence, have divided project work among themselves, while contractors have been accused of using substandard materials such as low-quality sand, dirty stones, and saline water in concrete block construction.

Field visits revealed that blocks were being made with local Betagi sand instead of the specified Sylheti sand, and that vibration machines were not used during block production. Locals claimed that the blocks often broke during installation due to poor quality. Officials from the Water Development Board (Paubo) stated that saline water use had been stopped and deep tube wells were now supplying fresh water for construction. The project, approved by ECNEC on 28 May 2024, is scheduled for completion by June 2027.

Political infighting and alleged mismanagement have slowed progress in several areas, raising concerns that the embankment’s durability and the safety of coastal residents could be at risk.

Myanmar has begun voting in a general election despite ongoing civil conflict and widespread doubts about its legitimacy. This is the first national election since the military seized power in 2021 by ousting the elected government. The junta claims the vote will help revive the country’s politics and economy, which have suffered years of instability.

Critics, including the United Nations, several Western governments, and human rights groups, argue the process is neither free nor credible because anti-junta parties are excluded. The military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) is participating, while the National League for Democracy (NLD), led by imprisoned Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, has been dissolved by the junta.

The election will take place in three phases, with the first round now underway and subsequent rounds scheduled for January 11 and 25. Voting is planned in 265 of 330 townships, though the junta lacks full control in many areas. No date has been announced for vote counting or results, and analysts warn the election may only serve to extend military rule.

Election activities have intensified across Madaripur ahead of the upcoming national polls, with candidates from various parties reaching out to voters. The district, long dominated by the Awami League, is witnessing renewed competition as opposition groups seek to capitalize on public discontent. However, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) is struggling with internal divisions in two of the district’s three constituencies, where disputes and rebel candidacies have disrupted its campaign momentum.

In contrast, the eight-party Islamist alliance, including Jamaat-e-Islami and Islami Andolon Bangladesh, appears more organized and confident. Their candidates have completed preparations to campaign jointly. In Madaripur-1 and Madaripur-2, BNP’s nomination disputes have led to protests and independent bids, while the Islamist bloc’s nominees are actively campaigning. Only in Madaripur-3 has the BNP managed to maintain unity, with its official candidate running unopposed within the party.

The developments mark a shift in a region historically controlled by the Awami League, as opposition parties intensify efforts to attract voters through meetings and local outreach programs.

Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury will be sworn in today as the 26th Chief Justice of Bangladesh. According to Supreme Court Public Relations Officer Md. Shafiqul Islam, the oath-taking ceremony will take place at 10 a.m. at Bangabhaban, where President Md. Shahabuddin will administer the oath. The appointment was made under Article 95(1) of the Constitution through a presidential order issued on December 20, signed by Law Secretary Liaqat Ali Molla. The appointment takes effect from the date of the oath.

Justice Chowdhury began his legal career in 1985 at the Judge Court and became an advocate of the High Court Division in 1987. He was appointed as an additional judge of the High Court Division on August 27, 2003, and became a permanent judge two years later. On August 12, 2024, he was elevated to the Appellate Division.

He holds an LLB (Honours) and LLM from the University of Dhaka and later earned an LLM in International Law from the United Kingdom.

A total of 170 central leaders of the Nationalist Citizens Party (NCP) have sent a letter to the party’s convener, Nahid Islam, expressing support for forming an alliance with Jamaat. The letter, issued on Saturday, emphasized that the decision was made considering political realities ahead of the upcoming election and called for a unified and pragmatic approach under Nahid’s leadership.

The move followed internal tension after a separate letter from 30 leaders opposing the alliance was made public, despite an understanding that it would remain confidential. This disclosure led to disagreement within the party, prompting pro-alliance leaders to begin collecting counter-signatures. According to several sources, the number of signatories supporting the alliance could exceed 170.

In their letter, the supporting leaders expressed confidence in Nahid Islam’s leadership and political foresight, stating that his decisions would strengthen the NCP organizationally and reinforce public trust in the party.