Thirteen iron donation boxes of the historic Pagla Mosque in Kishoreganj were opened on Saturday morning, yielding thirty-five sacks of cash. The counting process began at 7 a.m. with the participation of more than four hundred people, including members of the mosque management committee, teachers and students from the mosque’s madrasa and orphanage, students from the nearby Jamia Emdadia Madrasa, and officials and employees of Rupali Bank.

The donation boxes, usually opened every three months, were opened this time after three months and twenty-seven days. Two new boxes were also added before this opening. The previous opening, held on August 30 of the same year, had revealed a record collection of 120.9 million taka along with a large amount of foreign currency and gold ornaments.

The opening was conducted in the presence of Kishoreganj Deputy Commissioner and Pagla Mosque Management Committee President Mohammad Aslam Molla, Superintendent of Police S.M. Farhad Hossain, and Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) Mizabe Rahmat.

The 35-kilometer Chandpur-Shariatpur four-lane road project has remained stalled for five years due to financial shortages, land acquisition complications, and administrative paralysis. Approved in the 2019–2020 fiscal year with a budget of Tk 860 crore, the project aimed to expand the road from Shariatpur’s Monohar Bazar to Vedarganj’s Ibrahimpur. Only six kilometers of work have been completed, leaving 29 kilometers unfinished and causing severe suffering for residents across 21 southern and southwestern districts.

According to the Roads and Highways Department (RHD), Tk 431.68 crore was allocated for acquiring 95.85 hectares of land, but Tk 430.29 crore was spent acquiring only 49 hectares. The remaining 46.85 hectares require an additional Tk 300 crore, which was not included in the original budget. Many landowners have received only acquisition notices without compensation, leaving them unable to sell or repair their properties.

Officials said the project’s tenure has been extended three times, with the current term ending on December 31, 2025. The RHD has requested another extension and a revision of the Development Project Proposal (DPP) to secure additional funds and restart the tendering process.

Two separate fires broke out within one night at Rohingya camps in Ukhiya, Cox’s Bazar, destroying a hospital and at least five houses. The first incident occurred early Friday at the D Block of Madhurchhara Camp No. 4, where a hospital was completely burned down along with valuable medical equipment. Firefighters and local residents brought the blaze under control after about two and a half hours. The previous night, another fire at Kutupalong registered camp’s B Block destroyed five houses. No casualties were reported in either incident.

The destroyed hospital, known as Obat Health Post, was established in 2017 by Obat Helpers USA for newly displaced Rohingya refugees. It was being operated by Obat Helpers Bangladesh with support from Human International USA and the camp administration. Officials said the cause of the fire remains under investigation. Local residents expressed deep concern as the facility had been a key source of free healthcare for both Rohingya and nearby communities.

Authorities have pledged to rehabilitate the damaged health center quickly and prepare a list of affected individuals for necessary assistance.

Farmers in the Padma char areas of Veramara upazila in Kushtia are facing financial losses despite achieving a bumper onion harvest this season. The losses have been attributed to the government’s decision to import onions from India, which has caused local market prices to fall sharply. Farmers have urged the government to suspend onion imports for two months to help them recover their costs.

According to local sources, 255 hectares of land in Veramara upazila were cultivated with murikata onions this season, with farmers expecting yields of 70 to 80 maunds per bigha. Although favorable weather supported strong production, rising costs of fertilizer, pesticides, and labor have increased overall expenses. Farmers who took loans from NGOs now fear they will be unable to repay them due to the price drop. Some reported potential losses of up to five lakh taka.

Upazila agriculture officer Mahamuda Sultana confirmed that government incentives and technical support helped achieve the cultivation target and good yields. However, she noted that the high yield and ongoing imports have contributed to lower market prices.

The Ministry of Public Administration has taken custody of 30 luxury Pajero vehicles worth about Tk 400 crore that were imported under duty-free privileges in the names of several fugitive former ministers and MPs of the Awami League. The vehicles, which had been stuck for one and a half years in the car shed of Chattogram Port, were transported to Dhaka on Friday morning with approval from the National Board of Revenue (NBR). Earlier, the cars had been put up for auction but failed to attract expected bids.

According to customs sources, the vehicles were imported after the 2024 dummy election by at least 40 former MPs and ministers using duty-free facilities. Most of the cars remained unclaimed amid the quota reform movement, leading to their seizure by customs. Attempts to auction them failed due to alleged manipulation by a syndicate offering unrealistically low bids. The government then decided to allocate the cars for official use through the transport pool after resolving legal complications.

Officials said the decision prevents national assets from being wasted, while future claimants may still retrieve the vehicles by paying full duties. Business representatives welcomed the move but suggested reforming the auction process to ensure fair competition and revenue collection.

A major fire broke out on the passenger ship MV Atlantic bound for Saint Martin from Cox’s Bazar early Saturday morning. The incident occurred at 6:20 a.m. at the North Nuniachhara BIWTA jetty, just before passengers were to board. Fire Service, Coast Guard, district administration, BIWTA, and Department of Environment officials brought the blaze under control around 9:30 a.m.

According to officials, the MV Atlantic and another vessel, LCT Kajol, were scheduled to carry 194 passengers to Saint Martin Island. After the fire, more than a hundred passengers were transferred to other ships—Keari Cruise & Dine, Keari Sindbad, and Bay Cruise. Nasir Uddin, an official of Atlantic Bay Cruise, said the fire started suddenly in the engine room while the ship was moving from anchorage to the jetty, though the cause remains unknown.

Authorities announced that passengers unable to travel on Saturday would be sent to Saint Martin on Sunday to avoid disorder. Senior district officials, including the Additional District Magistrate, visited the site following the incident.

Barrister Rafique Ahmed’s article, published on December 27, 2025, examines Bangladesh’s intelligence agencies and argues that they have become symbols of chronic institutional failure. He cites repeated intelligence breakdowns from the assassinations of national leaders to recent killings, describing them as evidence of deep structural and accountability crises. The author questions whether these failures are historical accidents or symptoms of an ongoing institutional epidemic.

The article identifies several core problems: excessive focus on data collection over analysis, political misuse of intelligence for partisan surveillance, lack of inter-agency coordination, and weak counter-intelligence against foreign espionage. It also highlights impunity for intelligence-linked killings and inadequate professional training in cyber and psychological operations. Ahmed calls for depoliticization, transparency, and a supervisory board including government, opposition, civil society, and experts to ensure accountability.

He concludes that minor reforms will not suffice and urges a fundamental transformation of Bangladesh’s intelligence structure—technological modernization, ethical training, and a renewed mission centered solely on national security.

A mild cold wave is sweeping across several districts of Bangladesh, including Jessore, Chuadanga, Gopalganj, Rajshahi, Pabna, Sirajganj, and Nilphamari, and is expected to continue until Saturday. The Bangladesh Meteorological Department reported that temperatures have fallen significantly over the past five days, with Dhaka recording around 13 degrees Celsius on Friday. In at least two districts, temperatures dropped below 10 degrees Celsius, marking the lowest of the season.

According to the weather office, the cold conditions are being influenced by a subcontinental high-pressure zone. The forecast for the next 120 hours warns of moderate to dense fog in parts of the country, which may temporarily disrupt air, river, and road transport. The lowest temperature was recorded at about 9 degrees Celsius in Tetulia, Panchagarh, while similar conditions were observed in Jessore.

The cold has severely affected daily life, particularly in northern Bangladesh, where low-income and floating populations are suffering the most. The intensity of cold and fog is expected to increase further in the coming days.

An informal eight-party alliance led by Jamaat-e-Islami is making strong efforts to maintain unity ahead of the upcoming election through seat-sharing arrangements. Despite complications over finalizing single candidates in various constituencies, leaders expect the issues to be resolved soon. Discussions are also underway to include additional parties such as the NCPC in the coalition. Multiple meetings were held on Friday, with further talks scheduled for Saturday, and final decisions are expected within a few days.

The alliance, which evolved from an issue-based movement platform, includes Jamaat-e-Islami, Islami Andolan Bangladesh, Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish, Khelafat Majlish, Khelafat Andolan, Nezame Islam Party, Jatiya Ganatantrik Party (JAGPA), and Bangladesh Development Party (BDP). A liaison committee began selecting single candidates for each seat on December 9, and the process is now in its final stage. However, disputes over the number of seats allocated to each party have delayed the final agreement.

Leaders, including Maulana Mamunul Haque and Dr. Hamidur Rahman Azad, expressed optimism that the alliance will remain intact and that discussions with new parties are progressing. They expect the seat-sharing deal to be finalized within two to four days.

BNP’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman returned to Bangladesh last Thursday after 17 years in exile, drawing massive crowds and widespread attention. Political analysts described his homecoming as a positive development for both the BNP and the country, noting that his speech at the reception inspired hope and a sense of renewal. Rahman called for national unity and urged the youth to dream of building a new Bangladesh, referencing the vision of Martin Luther King Jr. He also paid tribute at the National Martyrs’ Memorial and at the grave of his father, late President Ziaur Rahman, and is expected to contest the next parliamentary election from Bogura-6.

Analysts including Professor M Shahiduzzaman, Dr Dilara Chowdhury, Dr Mahbub Ullah, and others viewed his return as filling a leadership void and sparking optimism among citizens. They praised his non-confrontational tone and emphasis on unity, while acknowledging that his plans face significant challenges. Some noted that his political proposals, including earlier 27- and 31-point agendas, could be strengthened further to meet national aspirations.

Observers expect Rahman’s leadership to shape BNP’s future direction and influence Bangladesh’s political landscape ahead of the next election.

Multiple Islamic scholars remain imprisoned for years due to disputed charge sheets in the murder case of former finance minister Shah A.M.S. Kibria. According to the report, three separate charge sheets were filed in the lower court, each differing from the others. The third, submitted in 2015 by CID officer Meherunnesa Parul, added several prominent scholars allegedly to show links with opposition and militancy. Among them, two died mysteriously in custody, while others, including Mufti Abdul Hai and Mufti Shafiqur Rahman, remain detained.

The investigation officer later admitted under oath that political pressure influenced the inclusion of certain accused and that she was rewarded by the then government for filing the false charge sheet. Kibria’s son, Reza Kibria, accused Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her associates of manipulating the case for political motives. Legal experts and academics have called for an independent committee to review politically sensitive cases involving innocent scholars.

Experts argue that repeated charge sheet changes and prolonged detentions indicate a justice system driven by political suspicion rather than evidence, urging immediate re-investigation and fair resolution.

Bangladesh’s Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has filed several cases against former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal’s son, Shafi Modassir Khan Jyoti, for allegedly amassing vast illegal wealth and manipulating government tenders. Following the July Revolution, the ACC began investigating senior figures of the former Awami League government, identifying Jyoti as a key suspect. He was arrested in Ashulia on 14 September 2024 while reportedly planning to flee the country. ACC investigations found that Jyoti and his father possessed undeclared assets worth nearly Tk 20 crore and conducted suspicious transactions exceeding Tk 84 crore through various bank accounts.

The ACC’s probe revealed that Jyoti controlled a network led by his associate Selim, who managed tender manipulation and bribery across law enforcement and public procurement sectors. The syndicate allegedly extorted money from businesses, including restaurants in Dhaka’s Dhanmondi and Karwan Bazar areas. ACC has also submitted a charge sheet accusing Kamal, his wife, and children of acquiring Tk 22 crore in illegal assets and laundering Tk 87 crore. Further cases allege Tk 60 crore in unaccounted wealth and over Tk 416 crore in suspicious transactions linked to the family.

ACC officials confirmed that investigations into Jyoti and his associates’ corruption activities remain ongoing.

Each of Dhaka Metro Rail’s 16 stations from Uttara to Motijheel has a first aid room for passengers needing immediate medical attention during accidents or sudden illness. Despite being operational for three years and serving around seven thousand people so far, most passengers remain unaware of these facilities due to poor publicity and lack of visible signage. Field visits across several stations revealed that passengers only learn about the service by asking staff or security personnel.

Officials and station controllers acknowledged that the absence of trained medical staff is a major limitation. There are no designated doctors, nurses, or pharmacists, and regular station employees provide only basic assistance before referring serious cases to hospitals. The Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) has not prioritized promotion, citing the absence of major emergencies. However, the company has initiated training for staff to perform CPR in critical situations.

Public health experts have suggested appointing at least one health assistant per station to ensure proper care and encourage awareness among passengers.

In Dhaka’s Shahbagh area, protesters have continued a late-night blockade demanding justice for Sharif Osman Hadi, spokesperson of Inquilab Moncho, who was shot on December 12 and later died in Singapore. Despite freezing winter temperatures, men, women, children, and the elderly gathered under makeshift tents, chanting slogans for justice. The demonstrators vowed not to leave until the trial for Hadi’s killing begins.

Inquilab Moncho announced that the blockade would continue day and night until judicial proceedings start. Member Secretary Abdullah Al Jaber stated that no assurance would end the protest unless a trial begins within 30 working days. The group reiterated three demands: formation of a special tribunal to complete the trial within 30 days, an impartial investigation by an internationally recognized agency, and resignation of the home adviser and others responsible for the incident.

The protest followed a rally after Friday prayers from Dhaka University’s central mosque to Shahbagh, joined by students, political activists, and citizens. Emotional participants said they sought justice, not politics, and would remain until accountability is ensured.

Police in Ramu upazila of Cox’s Bazar arrested six Rohingya men on Friday, December 26, during a special operation that uncovered two live rounds of G-4 rifle ammunition. The arrests took place at a temporary police checkpoint set up in the Pine Garden area of Khuniapalong Union’s Ward No. 1 along the Ramu–Maricha road. Officers stopped a passenger CNG auto-rickshaw around 2:40 p.m. and found the bullets in the right pocket of one passenger, identified as Md. Alam, 35.

According to police, the detainees admitted during initial questioning that they were traveling from Ukhiya to Naikhyangchhari via Ramu with the recovered ammunition. Preliminary investigation suggested that the group was involved in illegal arms trading and other criminal activities. All six detainees are Rohingya refugees—five from Ukhiya’s Kutupalong camp and one from Teknaf’s Thaingkhali camp.

Ramu Police Station Officer-in-Charge Manjurul Islam Bhuiyan said a case is being prepared against the suspects, and further investigation is underway to identify their associates and others linked to the network.