Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) has removed a total of 148 tons of waste from the 300 Feet area in the capital, where a reception was held for BNP’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman’s homecoming. The cleanup operation began on Friday morning following instructions from DNCC Administrator Mohammad Ejaz, who had directed officials the previous night to ensure swift waste removal.

A special cleaning drive was conducted with the participation of 350 DNCC sanitation workers. Using 20 trucks, the collected waste was transported in 148 trips to the Aminbazar landfill for safe disposal. By noon, the entire venue was cleared and made accessible for public movement. Some local BNP leaders and activists voluntarily joined DNCC workers in the cleanup effort from 10 a.m.

Administrator Mohammad Ejaz thanked all participants, emphasizing that collective involvement of citizens and political activists after large gatherings can make the city cleaner and more livable, while easing the delivery of civic services.

BNP’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman visited the grave of his father and party founder Ziaur Rahman at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar on Friday afternoon, a day after returning to Bangladesh from a 17-year exile. He arrived at the site around 4:40 p.m., offered prayers, and stood silently for some time in an emotional moment. Senior BNP leaders, including Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and members of the party’s standing committee, accompanied him.

Earlier on Thursday, Tarique Rahman returned to the country after years abroad. Upon arrival, he attended a reception organized by the party at Purbachal’s 300 Feet area, visited his ailing mother at Evercare Hospital, and then went to his residence. From noon on Friday, thousands of BNP leaders and activists gathered around Chandrima Udyan and the mausoleum area with banners and festoons to witness his visit. A large number of police, BGB, Ansar, and plainclothes security personnel were deployed to maintain order and ensure his safety.

Following the grave visit, Tarique Rahman was scheduled to pay tribute to the martyrs of the Liberation War at the National Memorial in Savar.

The Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) has accused the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) of failing in political compromise and responsibility, leading to a complex and uncertain democratic transition in Bangladesh. The allegation was made on Friday, December 26, at a press conference organized by JSD at the Jatiya Press Club’s Zahur Hossain Chowdhury Hall, where the party’s general secretary, Shahid Uddin Mahmud Swapan, presented a written statement.

In his remarks, Swapan said that BNP had not shown the expected respect and commitment to the politics of compromise and declared political responsibility in the current political context. He urged all to avoid provocation and rumors, stand for humanity, and choose unity over division. He emphasized that building a broader national unity is the only effective and sustainable way to overcome the ongoing crisis.

JSD senior vice-president Tania Rob, presiding over the event, reiterated the party’s stance against injustice and its commitment to lead the state based on the spirit of the Liberation War. She said that despite divisions and doubts, the youth would eventually find their direction, and JSD would stand beside them.

Tarique Rahman, acting chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), visited the grave of his father and party founder, Ziaur Rahman, at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar on Friday, December 26, 2025. The visit took place a day after his return to Bangladesh following 17 years of exile. He arrived at the site at around 4:40 p.m. and offered prayers in an emotional atmosphere.

On Thursday, Rahman returned to the country and attended a reception organized by the party at the 300 Feet area in Purbachal, Dhaka. Later, he visited his ailing mother at Evercare Hospital before returning to his residence. From noon on Friday, thousands of BNP leaders and activists gathered at Chandrima Udyan and the mausoleum area, carrying banners and festoons to welcome him. To maintain order and ensure security, large contingents of police, Border Guard Bangladesh, Ansar, and plainclothes law enforcement officers were deployed.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, standing committee members, and senior central leaders accompanied Rahman during the visit. He was also scheduled to pay tribute to the martyrs of the Liberation War at the National Memorial in Savar afterward.

Election Commissioner Abdur Rahmanel Machud stated that there is no legal obstacle preventing BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman from becoming a registered voter in Bangladesh. He explained that the Election Commission (EC) has the authority to register any eligible person as a voter at any time. Machud made these remarks on Friday while speaking to a national media outlet.

Tarique Rahman returned to the country on Thursday after 17 years abroad. Earlier, on December 22, BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed said after a meeting with Chief Election Commissioner A. M. M. Nasir Uddin that Tarique Rahman would register as a voter on Saturday, December 27. However, Commissioner Machud could not confirm whether Rahman would appear at the Election Commission office on that date.

The EC’s clarification comes amid renewed political attention following Rahman’s return, with his potential voter registration seen as a significant step in his re-engagement with national politics.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman said the party prioritizes creating employment opportunities for youth instead of providing unemployment allowances. Speaking on Friday, December 26, 2025, at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Center in Dhaka during the central members’ conference of Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir, he stated that every young person should be given work to become skilled and self-reliant. He emphasized that Islami Chhatra Shibir has now assumed a guardian role for the nation’s student community in the post-2024 context.

Dr. Rahman highlighted the need for educational institutions to focus on moral education, character building, and modern research. He said the dark era of campus violence and insecurity is fading but not yet over. He urged Shibir members to ensure campuses remain free from weapons, drugs, and disorder, and to create a safe environment for female students.

He further called for building a corruption-free, just, and humane Bangladesh based on Quranic and prophetic principles, stressing that national unity should be founded on justice and integrity.

Nurul Islam Saddam has been elected as the new central president of Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir for the year 2026. The election took place on Friday through direct voting by the organization’s members. The announcement was made during the Central Members’ Conference 2025, which began in the morning at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Center in Dhaka.

More than six thousand members from across the country participated in the conference, marking a major organizational gathering for the student body. The event served as the platform for selecting the leadership for the upcoming term, confirming Saddam’s election as central president for 2026.

The conference highlighted the organization’s internal democratic process, with broad member participation in leadership selection for the next operational year.

Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman said the nation remains under a 'dark shadow' and vowed that the party and its student wing, Islami Chhatra Shibir, will continue their struggle until it is lifted. He made the remarks on Friday at the central members’ conference of Islami Chhatra Shibir held at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Center in Dhaka.

Dr. Rahman called for unity among all religions and political groups to build a corruption-free and just Bangladesh. He emphasized creating skilled citizens instead of relying on unemployment allowances and urged for an improved education curriculum. He said educational institutions should be free from drugs, terrorism, and fear, ensuring safety and dignity for women. He described the student-teacher relationship as one of mutual respect and responsibility.

The Jamaat chief stressed moral education, character building, and research-friendly environments in schools. He said the responsibility to restore these values now lies with Islami Chhatra Shibir, which he described as more than a student organization. Jamaat Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar alleged that false propaganda is being used to suppress the group.

The 12th edition of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) was inaugurated at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium with a colorful ceremony. The event began with a one-minute silence in memory of Shaheed Sharif Osman Hadi, followed by the national anthem and the release of balloons to officially open the tournament. The opening match will feature hosts Sylhet Titans facing Rajshahi Warriors, organized by the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) before the game.

Former Pakistani cricketer and commentator Waqar Younis hosted the ceremony, while BCB President Aminul Islam Bulbul expressed gratitude to all attendees. The stadium had been bustling with preparations the previous night for the grand opening. The BCB also scheduled an additional 45-minute segment of performances before the day’s second match, featuring musician Fuad Al Muqtadir and actress Tanjin Tisha.

The event marked the formal start of the BPL’s 12th season, highlighting both sporting and cultural festivities at the Sylhet venue.

The Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) prevented an attempt to push 14 Indian nationals into Bangladesh through the Daulatpur border in Kushtia. The incident occurred around 1 p.m. on Thursday at the Madaner Ghat border in Ramkrishnapur union, where six men, four women, and four children from the same family were reportedly being pushed in from India’s Bausmari border. BGB confirmed the matter in a statement issued on Friday morning.

According to BGB and local sources, the group, residents of Tarikunda village in Jagatsinghpur district of Odisha, India, were stopped near border pillar 157/1-S by a patrol team from Ramkrishnapur Border Outpost under the 47 BGB Battalion. Following a strong protest from BGB, a flag meeting between BGB and India’s Border Security Force (BSF) was held at the Chaidoba border at 1:40 p.m. Thursday.

After verifying their identities as Indian citizens, BSF took custody of the 14 individuals, and the meeting concluded peacefully. BGB stated it remains committed to preventing illegal crossings and border crimes, including drug trafficking, along the Kushtia frontier.

The Dhaka University branch of Inqilab Mancha staged a protest march on Friday after the Juma prayers, starting from the university’s central mosque and ending at Shahbagh intersection. The demonstrators blocked surrounding roads, causing severe traffic congestion, as they demanded justice for their slain spokesperson, Sharif Osman Hadi. As of the time of reporting, the protesters were continuing their sit-in at the site.

According to the organization’s earlier Facebook post on Thursday night, the protest was part of a nationwide call for prayers and demonstrations seeking justice for Hadi’s killing. Hadi, who was a potential independent candidate for the Dhaka-8 constituency, was shot in the head on December 12 at Purana Paltan’s Box Culvert Road, a day after the announcement of the 13th national election and referendum schedule. Investigators reportedly identified a banned Chhatra League leader as the shooter, who is believed to have fled to India.

Hadi was initially treated at Dhaka Medical College Hospital and later transferred to a private hospital before being flown to Singapore for advanced treatment, where he died on December 18.

Four passengers were killed and at least fifteen others injured when two passenger launches collided in dense fog on the Meghna River near Chandpur’s Haimchar area early Thursday, December 25. The accident occurred around 2 a.m. near Banglabazar in Nilkomol Union, involving the Bhola-to-Dhaka bound MV Zakir Samrat-3 and the Dhaka-to-Barishal bound MV Adventure-9. Witnesses said heavy fog blanketed the river, causing the Adventure-9 to lose direction and crash into the Zakir Samrat-3, which was severely damaged and left partially submerged. Another vessel, MV Karnaphuli-9, rescued many passengers and continued toward Dhaka.

Chandpur River Police Assistant Superintendent Imtiaz Ahmed confirmed four fatalities, all passengers of the Zakir Samrat-3. Police later seized the Adventure-9 when it reached Jhalakathi via Barishal. The Chandpur River Police Officer-in-Charge said both launches left the scene before authorities arrived. BIWTA officials suggested dense fog was the likely cause of the collision.

A government naval adviser was expected to inspect the damaged launch at Sadarghat following the incident, as authorities began investigating the cause and safety lapses.

Bangladesh’s women’s volleyball team won the bronze medal at the CAVA Cup held in the Maldives, defeating Afghanistan 3–0 in straight sets. The victory secured third place for Bangladesh, marking the best achievement in the country’s women’s volleyball history. Four teams participated in this year’s tournament, where Bangladesh lost to the Maldives in the semifinals before claiming the bronze in the third-place match. The team was coached by experienced trainer Shafiqul Islam Russell.

Bangladeshi women have been playing volleyball since 1973 and have represented the country internationally for 52 years. However, this is the first time they have finished third in an international competition. Officials of the Bangladesh Volleyball Federation expressed great satisfaction with the result. Executive member Sohel Rana described the success as commendable and a sign of progress for women’s volleyball in the country, expressing hope for even better performances in the future.

National Board of Revenue (NBR) Chairman Abdur Rahman Khan has called for realizing the vision shown by the 'July warriors', saying they pointed out the right path for the nation. He stated that the country had been on the wrong track and must correct its course to build a prosperous Bangladesh. Khan made these remarks on Friday, December 26, at the centenary celebration of Dalta Rahmania High School in Ramganj, Lakshmipur, where he attended as the chief guest.

During his speech, the NBR chairman emphasized the need for social respect toward deserving individuals, noting that society often honors the wrong people while neglecting those who merit recognition. He also encouraged students to pursue education sincerely, saying that opportunities are open both at home and abroad for those who learn properly.

The event was presided over by education enthusiast and social worker Khorhshed Alam Bhuiyan and conducted by former student Abu Hannan Lavlu. Several notable figures, including Dhaka University Pro-Vice Chancellor Dr. Mamun Ahmed and industrialist Kamal Hossain, addressed the program virtually.

Supreme Court senior lawyer Mohammad Shishir Monir has collected nomination papers to contest the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election from the Sunamganj-2 (Dirai-Shalla) constituency as a candidate of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami. He collected the nomination papers on Friday, December 26, from the office of the Dirai Upazila Nirbahi Officer and Assistant Returning Officer.

During the submission, he was accompanied by senior teacher Pulin Bihari Das, freedom fighter Pandab Chandra Das, Jamaat’s Dirai Upazila Ameer Abdul Kaddus, Ashish Chakraborty, farmer Sudhanshu Biswas, Rabeya Monir, Sushma Pal, and physically challenged Samraj Mia, along with leaders of the eight-party alliance. After collecting the papers, Shishir Monir told journalists that he wanted a free, fair, and festive election in Dirai-Shalla.

He emphasized that all participants should follow the electoral code of conduct until the end of the campaign and urged the administration to ensure a level playing field so that no voter or candidate feels intimidated during the election process.