Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has rejected recent comments by the spokesperson of India’s Ministry of External Affairs regarding communal violence and the condition of minority communities in Bangladesh. In a statement issued on Sunday, December 28, the ministry said the remarks from New Delhi do not reflect the actual situation and misrepresent Bangladesh’s long-standing tradition of communal harmony.

The statement asserted that the Bangladesh government firmly rejects any misleading, exaggerated, or politically motivated narratives. It alleged that isolated criminal incidents were being deliberately portrayed as institutional persecution of the Hindu community, which was being misused to spread anti-Bangladesh sentiment in parts of India. The ministry also noted attempts to incite the Indian public against Bangladesh, its diplomatic missions, and other institutions through selective and biased interpretations.

Referring to a specific example cited by the Indian spokesperson, Bangladesh clarified that the individual mentioned was a listed criminal who died during an extortion attempt involving a Muslim associate, and the suspect was later arrested. The ministry urged Indian quarters to refrain from spreading misleading narratives, warning that such actions undermine neighborly relations and mutual trust.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has alleged that certain groups are conspiring behind the scenes to destabilize Bangladesh. Speaking on Sunday afternoon at a meeting with Islamic scholars organized by the Manab Kalyan Parishad in Thakurgaon, he said the country is passing through a critical period marked by confusion and unrest. He urged everyone to remain vigilant so that the nation does not fall into darkness again.

Fakhrul emphasized that the upcoming 13th national parliamentary election is highly significant and warned that attempts are being made to disrupt it. He stated that such efforts must be prevented. Addressing misconceptions about his party, he said that as Muslims comprising 90 percent of the population, they are committed to protecting the country’s religious and cultural values and will not support any law outside the Quran and Sunnah.

Calling this his last election, Fakhrul sought support from the audience and requested prayers for BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia, who is ill after being released from prison following six years of incarceration.

Bangladesh recorded its lowest temperature of the season in Nikli upazila of Kishoreganj on Sunday morning. According to the first-class weather observatory in Nikli, the temperature was measured at 9.8 degrees Celsius at 9 a.m., marking the lowest in the country. The cold wave has significantly disrupted daily life in the haor region.

Local residents described the cold as unusually severe. Pedestrian Md. Imam Hossain, 65, said he had never experienced such intense cold before and that movement had become difficult. Freedom fighter Idris Ali, 72, noted that public life in Nikli had nearly come to a standstill, with the poor, children, and elderly suffering the most from the biting cold.

Senior observer Akhtaruzzaman Faruk reported that temperatures in Kishoreganj had been dropping for several days due to dense fog and cold winds. He added that the temperature might continue to fall in the coming days as the cold wave persists.

Housing and Public Works Ministry adviser Adilur Rahman Khan has said that the upcoming 13th national election will be held in a festive atmosphere with spontaneous participation from people across Bangladesh. He made the remarks on Sunday, December 28, after inspecting a residential building project for municipal sanitation workers in Madaripur.

Adilur stated that citizens had not been able to vote freely for the past 15 years, but this time they would exercise their voting rights. He added that the parliamentary election would take place alongside a public referendum on the July Charter, allowing people to express their opinions. According to him, all patriotic citizens would support and participate in the election, though some groups might attempt sabotage or conspiracy.

He emphasized that the people of Bangladesh would remain united to resist any such attempts. Senior local officials, including the Madaripur deputy commissioner and other administrative officers, were present during his visit.

Mahmudur Rahman, editor of the newspaper Amar Desh, filed a defamation case in Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Md. Jewel Rana’s court on Sunday against two individuals for allegedly spreading false information on Facebook. The case accuses Prothom Alo columnist A.F.M. Rashedul Haque (Mallik Maruf) and BNP Information and Technology Secretary A.K.M. Wahiduzzaman Apollo of posting and sharing claims that Amar Desh was involved in an attack, vandalism, and arson at the Prothom Alo office.

Rahman stated that the Facebook posts severely damaged his and his newspaper’s reputation, creating hostility and resentment among the public. He alleged that those spreading such misinformation were acting as agents of Indian expansionism and conspiring to shut down Amar Desh because of its stance against Indian dominance and the former government. The court recorded Rahman’s statement and kept the case pending for an order, accepting charges under sections 500 and 109, while awaiting government approval for section 505.

Rahman emphasized that Amar Desh had tried to calm the situation during the attacks on Prothom Alo and The Daily Star and denied any involvement in the incidents.

Large-scale illegal sand extraction has severely damaged hills and streams in Bahubal upazila of Habiganj. Over recent months, sand looters have cut through hills and channels, removing vast quantities of valuable silica sand. The report states that these groups are not ordinary traders but politically connected networks operating at night. Their activities have caused major damage to the road passing through the 10th section of Amtali Plantation in Vadeswar Union, turning parts of it into a canal and triggering hill collapses.

According to the upazila administration, no sand quarry has been officially leased in Bahubal during the current fiscal year. Yet, politically linked sand syndicates based in Mirpur continue to control the illegal extraction from Mushai Hill. The Amtali Plantation authorities have strengthened night patrols to stop the theft, while the administration has conducted multiple raids in Sundratiki stream, Mushai Hill, and deep forest areas.

Assistant Commissioner (Land) Md. Mahbubul Islam said that operations against sand smuggling and soil cutting are ongoing, with fines and jail terms being imposed. The administration plans to continue these enforcement drives.

A continuous cold wave for five days has severely disrupted daily life in Taraganj upazila of Rangpur. Freezing temperatures, dense fog, and the absence of sunlight have made normal activities nearly impossible. The harsh weather has hit low-income workers the hardest, including day laborers, rickshaw pullers, and van drivers, many of whom are unable to work due to the cold.

Thick fog from dawn until noon has reduced visibility, making road travel risky and delaying workers, students, and traders. The biting cold has forced many to stay home, while those who venture out struggle without adequate warm clothing. As a result, daily earnings have dropped, deepening financial worries for poor families.

With the cold intensifying, crowds have increased at local markets where people are seeking warm clothes. However, rising prices have prevented many from buying enough garments. Some residents are lighting fires along roadsides at night to stay warm, while health concerns are growing among children and the elderly.

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).

Adilur Rahman Khan, advisor to the Ministries of Industries, Housing and Public Works, and Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives, has directed the proper preservation of archaeological sites in Rajoir upazila of Madaripur. He made the directive on Sunday, December 28, after visiting the Khalia Rajaram Temple and speaking to journalists at noon.

Khan said that as part of reviewing ongoing activities of various ministries, several archaeological structures in Rajoir and Madaripur were inspected. He noted that Rajoir has three and Madaripur several more historical sites that urgently need preservation to protect the region’s history and heritage. He added that the district administration is active in this effort, with the deputy commissioner and the LGED secretary already issuing necessary instructions. He emphasized that with local cooperation, the preservation work could be completed smoothly.

Senior officials including LGED Secretary Maksudul Alam, Deputy Commissioner Jahangir Alam, Additional Deputy Commissioner (Education) Fatema Azrin Tonni, and Rajoir Upazila Nirbahi Officer Md. Mahfuzul Haque were present during the visit. The advisor also inspected land offices in Khalia and Kadambari unions and instructed officials to ensure the protection of government establishments.

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.

The modernization and renovation work of the Sixth Bangladesh-China Friendship Bridge, also known as the Mukterpur Bridge, officially began in Munshiganj. The project, supported technically and financially by the Chinese government, aims to ensure structural safety and enhance the bridge’s long-term durability. The inauguration ceremony was held on the banks of the Dhaleshwari River, attended by Chinese Ambassador Yao Wen as chief guest and chaired by Bridge Division Secretary and Bangladesh Bridge Authority Executive Director Mohammad Abdur Rouf.

Senior officials from the Bridge Division, Bangladesh Bridge Authority, representatives from the Chinese Embassy, and engineers involved in the project were present. The Bridge Secretary stated that the renovation is being carried out under the guidance and supervision of the Adviser to the Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges, Muhammad Faozul Kabir Khan. He emphasized that the project will improve connectivity between Dhaka, Munshiganj, and southern Bangladesh.

The secretary expressed gratitude to the Chinese government, noting that the initiative reflects the Belt and Road cooperation and symbolizes mutual trust between the two nations. He also called for the construction of a second Mukterpur Bridge to meet growing traffic demand in the region.