Mahmudur Rahman, editor of the newspaper Amar Desh, filed a case at the Dhaka Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM) Court on Sunday, December 28, 2025. The case accuses two individuals, Rashedul Haque Mallik alias Maruf Mallik and A.K.M. Wahiduzzaman Apollo, of spreading false and fabricated allegations on Facebook that linked Amar Desh to recent attacks and arson at the offices of Prothom Alo and The Daily Star. The case was filed under sections 500, 505, and 10 of the Penal Code. Magistrate Jewel Rana of Court No. 10 stated that an order would be issued subject to government approval under section 505.

According to the complaint, the accused allegedly posted false claims on December 19 intended to incite public hatred against Amar Desh. Mahmudur Rahman requested the court to issue arrest warrants and seek exemplary punishment for the accused. Barrister Tanvir Al Amin represented Amar Desh during the hearing.

The background of the case involves violent incidents on December 18, when unruly groups attacked and set fire to the offices of Prothom Alo’s associate publication Prothoma and The Daily Star following reports of Shahid Osman Hadi’s death in Singapore. Police have already arrested 18 people in connection with those attacks.

The Pangaon Inland Container Terminal (ICT) in Keraniganj, Dhaka, is set to resume full operations in early January after years of losses and inactivity. The Chittagong Port Authority confirmed that Swiss company Medlog will take over management for 22 years, beginning in the first week of January. The terminal, built in 2013 on 64 acres at a cost of Tk 154 crore, can handle up to 200,000 containers annually. Officials expect the new arrangement to make the terminal profitable and strengthen Bangladesh’s trade and transport network.

Business leaders and port users have expressed both optimism and concern. They argue that profitability will depend on reducing customs delays, shipping costs, and vessel charges. Medlog Bangladesh Private Limited plans to invest about Tk 490 crore to modernize the terminal, add new cranes, and automate transport systems. The company will also introduce specialized vessels and barges for efficient cargo movement.

Experts believe the revived terminal could become a major logistics hub for Dhaka and surrounding industrial areas, easing pressure on road transport and boosting inland waterway trade efficiency.

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.

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.

Investigators are still trying to determine the motive behind the killing of Sharif Osman Hadi, spokesman of Inquilab Mancha and a leader of the July Revolution movement. Two suspects, Faisal Karim and Alamgir, who allegedly took part in the killing mission, remain at large and are believed to have fled to India, according to law enforcement sources. The case, initially filed as an attempted murder after Hadi was shot on December 12, was later converted to a murder case following his death. Fourteen people have been arrested so far, but investigators say no clear clue has yet emerged.

Officials involved in the investigation said they are examining who might have benefited from Hadi’s death and who financed or supported the network behind the killing. Preliminary findings suggest Hadi’s prominent role in the July movement, his strong stance against domination, and his leadership of Inquilab Mancha may have made him a target. Law enforcement agencies have recovered three firearms, including the weapon used in the murder, from a lake in Narsingdi, and continue to analyze Hadi’s digital content for further leads.

A bumper early potato harvest has been reported along the banks of the Gomti River in Comilla, where farmers are expressing concern over low market prices despite strong yields. The report, published on December 28, 2025, describes lush green fields and high-quality produce, yet growers fear they will not recover rising production costs. Farmers cite increased prices of seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides as major challenges and are calling for government support and market regulation.

According to the Department of Agricultural Extension, potatoes were cultivated on 8,310 hectares in Comilla this season, about 800 hectares less than last year. The highest cultivation occurred in Daudkandi, followed by Debidwar and Burichang upazilas. Farmers are currently selling potatoes at 18 taka per kilogram to wholesalers, who resell them in markets for 25–30 taka after transport costs. Officials note that although cultivation has declined slightly, existing stocks mean there is no shortage risk in the district.

Local agricultural officers said that while yields are good, it is too early to predict price trends until new potatoes reach broader markets.

The newly built third terminal of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka has no mobile network coverage due to a design flaw, delaying its inauguration. The Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) discovered the issue after construction was nearly complete and has begun urgent work to install network infrastructure inside the terminal. The correction process, including opening parts of the aesthetic ceiling to lay cables, is expected to take six to seven months.

According to CAAB sources, the original design did not include an in-building mobile network solution, forcing a redesign and additional costs estimated in the millions. An emergency board meeting decided to sign a five-year agreement with state-owned Teletalk to implement the network, as other operators only offered space rental without revenue sharing. The contract will be reviewed every two years, with rent increasing by 2.5 percent annually upon renewal.

CAAB officials acknowledged that the absence of mobile coverage is a major operational flaw in an otherwise world-class facility. They expect the new agreement with Teletalk to resolve the issue and enable the terminal’s opening once the network installation is complete.

Law enforcement and intelligence agencies have reported increased illegal arms infiltration through the Rajshahi border region as Bangladesh approaches its next parliamentary election. According to multiple sources, fugitive political leaders and militants based in Kolkata are directing a powerful smuggling syndicate operating across the Padma River and Rajshahi-Chapainawabganj frontier. The network reportedly involves former influential Awami League figures who fled to India but continue to manage operations through local associates.

Authorities said most firearms enter through the Shibganj border in Chapainawabganj, prompting heightened vigilance by RAB-5 and Border Guard Bangladesh. Recent seizures include foreign pistols, magazines, ammunition, and explosives, with several arrests made in Rajshahi and Naogaon. Intelligence reports indicate that many weapons, though marked as foreign-made, originate from Bihar’s Munger and are trafficked using fruit and vegetable consignments.

Political and security analysts warn that the stockpiling of illegal arms under political protection poses a serious threat to the upcoming election environment. They urge coordinated action by the executive branch and Home Ministry to dismantle the networks and prevent further destabilization.

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.

Syeda Rizwana Hasan, adviser to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change under the interim government, has assured that the trial of those responsible for killing Shaheed Sharif Osman Hadi will be completed during the interim government’s tenure. She made the statement late Saturday night at the Inquilab Mancha sit-in program at Shahbagh in Dhaka.

Hasan said the government is in regular contact with Hadi’s family and is working tirelessly to identify and prosecute everyone involved in the murder. She noted that the charge sheet will be submitted after January 7, 2025, and the trial will proceed swiftly. She also mentioned that if any accused have fled abroad, they will be tried in absentia, and diplomatic efforts are underway to bring them back, with India expressing cooperation.

She added that the government aims to prepare a flawless and strong charge sheet, drawing on past experience of completing trials within a few working days. Police are scheduled to hold a press conference on Sunday morning to share further details about the investigation.

The National Citizen Party (NCP) is facing internal division as its alliance or seat-sharing arrangement with Jamaat-e-Islami and seven like-minded parties nears finalization. According to party sources, around 90 percent of the executive council and 80 percent of the central committee members supported the move, and a formal announcement could come on Sunday. However, 30 central leaders submitted a letter to convener Nahid Islam expressing principled objections, citing concerns over the party’s ideals and the historical role of Jamaat. Senior joint member secretary Dr. Tasnim Zara resigned from the party on Saturday to run as an independent candidate in Dhaka-9.

The dissenting leaders argued that joining Jamaat would weaken NCP’s moral position and contradict the spirit of the July uprising. Some signatories later claimed their names were added without consent. NCP leaders said the decision followed failed seat-sharing talks with the BNP and was driven by the need to ensure representation of July revolution supporters in the next parliament. Jamaat’s leadership also indicated that a final announcement on seat-sharing among eight parties could come today.

The alliance decision comes just before Monday’s nomination submission deadline, making finalization urgent for both parties.