The nomination paper of BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia has been submitted for the Feni-1 constituency. The submission took place on Monday, when her election coordinator, Rafiqul Alam Majnu, who also serves as the convener of Dhaka South BNP, handed over the documents to the district returning officer and Deputy Commissioner Monira Haque, accompanied by party leaders.

As Khaleda Zia is currently undergoing treatment at Evercare Hospital, Rafiqul Alam Majnu also filed a nomination as an alternative candidate. He stated that although he submitted the nomination following the party’s decision, he would continue to work on behalf of Begum Khaleda Zia.

The submission marks BNP’s formal step in the electoral process for Feni-1, with the party maintaining its leadership’s involvement despite Khaleda Zia’s medical condition.

Barrister Mir Ahmad Bin Kashem Arman, the Jamaat-e-Islami candidate for the Dhaka-14 constituency, submitted his nomination papers on Monday at the office of the Returning Officer located in the Dhaka Divisional Commissioner’s premises. The submission marks his formal entry into the upcoming parliamentary race for the seat.

During the submission, Barrister Arman stated that he was freed because people had united during the July movement, setting aside divisions. He described the current campaign as a struggle against corruption, black money, and muscle power, expressing confidence that his side would prevail in this fight.

The nomination submission comes amid broader political activities across Dhaka constituencies, with several parties finalizing their candidates for the upcoming election.

The 30th Dhaka International Trade Fair will begin on January 1 at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Exhibition Center in Purbachal. Chief Adviser Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus is scheduled to inaugurate the event. The announcement was made by Commerce Secretary Mahbubur Rahman during a press conference held at the exhibition center on Monday afternoon.

According to the Commerce Secretary, this year’s fair has introduced online allocation for various categories of stalls and pavilions. Visitors will be able to purchase tickets both on-site and online, with entry facilitated through QR code scanning. The press conference was attended by Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) Vice Chairman Hasan Arif, Additional Secretary (Export) of the Ministry of Commerce Abdur Rahim Khan, and EPB Director General Baby Rani Karmakar.

The fair marks a continuation of Bangladesh’s annual trade promotion efforts, with the new digital ticketing and stall allocation systems aimed at improving accessibility and management for participants and visitors.

Mia Golam Parwar, Secretary General of Jamaat-e-Islami and the party’s candidate for Khulna-5 constituency, submitted his nomination papers to District Commissioner and Returning Officer A S M Jamshed Khondkar on Monday. Other Jamaat candidates also filed nominations in Khulna-1, Khulna-2, and Khulna-6 constituencies.

After submitting his papers, Parwar said the nation seeks change and that those who previously held power cannot bring it. He emphasized that a new coalition, now expanded to ten parties, could deliver the desired transformation. He called for immediate measures to address the deteriorating law and order situation and urged citizens to remain united to ensure a free and fair election, warning against any attempt to manipulate votes.

Parwar also defended the nomination of Hindu candidate Krishna Nandi in Khulna-1, stating that Jamaat’s politics is based on justice and good governance, not religion. He invited people of all faiths who share these values to join the party and urged a “yes” vote in the referendum on implementing the July Charter.

The Bogura district unit of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) is renovating a long-unused office room at its Nawabbari Road headquarters for acting chairman Tarique Rahman. The room, which had remained unused for 17 years, is being prepared as Rahman is expected to contest from the Bogura Sadar constituency. Renovation work includes new flooring, tiles, fly board, and ceiling decoration. On Monday morning, five to six workers were seen working on the walls and ceiling, while doors were being cleaned for repainting.

Interior engineer Saikat, who is overseeing the project, said the room will feature two book shelves, a large table, and more than ten chairs. District BNP media cell official Rashedul Islam Rashed confirmed that the work is progressing quickly under the supervision of district president Rezaul Karim Badsha. Several local leaders, including MR Islam Swadhin and Sheikh Taha Uddin Nine, visited the site Sunday night.

The BNP district office houses various party wings, and the building regularly draws hundreds of activists, according to the report.

The chief coordinator of the BNP’s election management committee for Dhaka-17, Abdus Salam, submitted nomination papers on behalf of the party’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman for the 13th National Parliamentary Election. The submission took place around noon on Monday. Dr. Farhad Halim Donar was the proposer, and Advocate Alamgir Hossain was the supporter. Dhaka Metropolitan North BNP convener Aminul Islam and others were present during the submission.

After submitting the nomination, Abdus Salam told reporters that Tarique Rahman had been kept outside the country for 17 years and had faced oppression. He sought prayers for Rahman and expressed confidence that Rahman would win the seat by a large margin and work to resolve the current national crisis as head of government.

According to the election schedule, scrutiny of nomination papers will take place from December 30 to January 4, 2026. Appeals against returning officers’ decisions can be filed between January 5 and 9, with disposal from January 10 to 18. The final date for withdrawal of candidacy is January 20.

Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) Chairman Chowdhury Ashiq Bin Harun stated that the return of BNP’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman to the country serves as a confidence booster for investors. He made the comment in a post on his verified Facebook page on Sunday night, noting that the development signals progress toward a free and fair election, which he said is vital for an investment-friendly environment.

In the same post, Harun highlighted the recent completion of negotiations on the Bangladesh-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), describing it as a major step for the country’s economic future. The agreement will provide duty-free access for 7,379 Bangladeshi products to Japan and 1,039 Japanese products to Bangladesh. It is expected to attract Japanese investment in sectors such as ICT, logistics, electronics, renewable energy, and agro-processing, while also enhancing employment and skills among Bangladeshi youth.

Harun added that the government is forming a specialized negotiation team to handle future trade agreements with countries like the United States, South Korea, and Turkey, aiming to strengthen Bangladesh’s trade capacity after LDC graduation.

The 8 Armed Police Battalion (APBn) conducted extensive operations across 11 Rohingya camps in Ukhiya, Cox’s Bazar, over the past six months to maintain law and order. During nearly 200 special raids, 108 individuals were arrested in connection with 52 cases involving weapons, drugs, and other crimes. Authorities recovered a large cache of arms, ammunition, and narcotics, including submachine guns, pistols, one-shooter guns, and 175,068 yaba tablets, along with cash and other contraband.

According to APBn sources, the operations were carried out in camps under several police zones, including Panbazar, Moynarghona, and Hakimpara. Local representatives praised the continuous drives, noting improved security and reduced criminal activity in and around the camps. They emphasized the importance of sustaining such efforts to ensure community safety.

APBn commander Riaz Uddin Ahmed stated that the battalion is operating under a zero-tolerance policy against terrorism, illegal arms, and drug trafficking. He pledged to continue coordinated operations with local authorities to prevent criminal networks from re-emerging in the camps.

Mufti Habibur Rahman, a central executive member of Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis and a prominent Islamic scholar from Muktagacha in Mymensingh, passed away on Sunday night at his home after falling ill. He was 57 years old and is survived by his wife and three sons. His funeral prayer is scheduled for Monday after the Zuhr prayer at his residence in Garai Kutir, Muktagacha, followed by burial in the family graveyard.

Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis Secretary General Maulana Jalaluddin Ahmad expressed deep sorrow over the death, describing Mufti Habibur Rahman as a dedicated scholar, principled organizer, and steadfast worker of the Islamic movement. In a statement to the media, he praised Rahman’s contributions to religious preaching, organizational duties, and his exemplary personal character marked by humility and piety.

The party leader said Rahman’s death is not only a loss to his family and organization but also to the broader religious community. He prayed for the departed soul’s forgiveness and requested the nation to join in prayers for him.

The Chamber Court of the Appellate Division has ordered the removal of Nagorik Oikya President Mahmudur Rahman Manna’s name from the list of loan defaulters. The directive was issued on Monday at around 11 a.m. following a hearing. According to lawyers, this decision clears the way for Manna to contest the national election from Bogura.

Earlier, Islami Bank Bangladesh Limited’s Bogura Barogola branch had issued a call-back notice on December 10 to recover Tk 38 crore 4 lakh 76 thousand in defaulted loans. The notice was sent to Afaku Cold Storage Limited, a company led by Manna. The company’s ownership structure includes 50 percent held by Manna, 25 percent by Managing Director ABM Nazmul Kadir Shajahan Chowdhury, and 25 percent by his wife Ismat Ara Laiju. The notice required repayment by December 18, warning of legal action for noncompliance.

Manna had previously filed a writ petition in the High Court seeking removal of his name from the defaulter list, but the petition was dismissed last Wednesday before the Chamber Court’s latest directive.

The US-based organization Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) has announced a reward of 5.5 million taka for information leading to the identification and arrest of those responsible for the killing of Shahid Sharif Osman Hadi, spokesperson of Inquilab Manch. The announcement was made on Monday in a statement following reports from Dhaka Metropolitan Police that the suspects had fled Bangladesh and taken refuge in India.

According to the SFJ statement, the killers escaped to India after the incident. SFJ General Counsel Gurpatwant Singh Pannun alleged that the Indian government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi was involved in the murder, describing it as part of cross-border terrorism extending from Bangladesh to the United States. He also claimed similarities between Hadi’s killing and the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada.

SFJ said the reward aims to gather credible public information to help law enforcement locate, arrest, and extradite the suspects. The organization further alleged that India’s intelligence agency RAW was involved and called for international accountability for the killing.

The final day for submitting nomination papers for Bangladesh’s 13th parliamentary election and national referendum is Monday, December 29, 2025. The Election Commission’s central coordination committee reported that by Sunday, 2,780 nomination papers had been collected nationwide, though only about fifty had been submitted. The election and referendum are scheduled to take place on February 12, 2026, with voting from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

According to the Election Commission, scrutiny of submitted nominations will occur from December 30 to January 4, appeals against returning officers’ decisions can be filed between January 5 and 9, and appeal resolutions will be completed by January 18. The deadline for candidate withdrawal is January 20, symbol allocation will take place on January 21, and voting will be conducted using transparent ballot boxes. Dhaka region recorded the highest number of nomination collections at 501, followed by Comilla with 405 and Mymensingh with 339.

The Commission noted that most candidates traditionally submit on the final day. Restrictions remain in place limiting attendance during submission to five persons and prohibiting rallies or showdowns to ensure compliance with the electoral code of conduct.

Home Affairs Adviser Md. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury has called on the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) to take necessary preparations to ensure a peaceful election. He made the remarks on Monday morning while addressing an event marking BGB Day. The adviser emphasized the need for strategic measures to resolve border issues and urged vigilance to prevent terrorists from escaping through border areas.

According to the adviser, maintaining security along the borders is crucial for national stability, particularly during the election period. His comments came as part of broader discussions on law enforcement readiness and coordination among security agencies ahead of the polls.

The call for BGB’s preparedness highlights the government’s focus on preventing cross-border threats and ensuring a secure environment for the upcoming election process.

Advocate Monjila Sultana Jhuma, a leader of the National Citizens Party (NCP), has announced that she will not participate in the upcoming 13th national parliamentary election. She made the announcement on Sunday night through a post on her Facebook page, confirming that she had informed the party’s Khagrachhari district convener, Nahid Islam, of her decision earlier that day.

According to Jhuma, the NCP had initially nominated her to contest from Khagrachhari-298 constituency with the party’s ‘Shapla Koli’ symbol, and the nomination form had already been collected on her behalf on December 24. The final date for submission was the following day, but she decided to withdraw from the race. Her announcement follows recent resignations from the NCP by senior joint member secretary Dr. Tasnim Zara, who declared her candidacy as an independent from Dhaka-9, and joint convener Tajnuva Jabin.

Jhuma concluded her post expressing faith that young people will eventually enter parliament, reflecting optimism about future political participation.

Azad Khan Bhasani, grandson of Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhasani and chief coordinator of the farmers’ wing of the National Citizens Party (NCP), has resigned from the party. His resignation came on Sunday night through a Facebook post, following reports that the NCP had formed an alliance with Jamaat. Several other party leaders also resigned after the news of the alliance emerged.

In his post, Azad explained that he had joined the NCP with hopes of building a new Bangladesh inspired by the ideals of the July uprising and the unfinished struggle of the Liberation War. He said he was motivated by his grandfather’s vision of people-oriented, anti-imperialist, and anti-discrimination politics. However, he expressed disappointment over what he described as a lack of commitment and depth within the party to fulfill those historical responsibilities.

Azad stated that his decision to leave was driven by his desire to remain true to the ideals of the Liberation War and Maulana Bhasani’s political philosophy. He wished the young members of the NCP success in their future political journey.