Two people were killed when two passenger launches, Zakir Samrat-3 and Adventure-9, collided on the Meghna River near Harina in Chandpur Sadar early Thursday night. The accident occurred around 2 a.m. amid dense fog that reduced visibility on the river.

According to Chandpur BIWTA Deputy Director (Traffic) Babu Lal Baidya, the collision happened due to heavy fog in the area. Several others were reported injured, though the exact number of casualties was not confirmed. Authorities said the identities of the deceased could not be determined because the destinations of the two vessels were not identified.

Officials are continuing efforts to gather more details about the victims and the circumstances of the collision as investigations proceed.

BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman is scheduled to visit the grave of late President Ziaur Rahman at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar in Dhaka after Friday prayers on December 26, 2025. Following the visit, he will pay tribute to the martyrs of the Liberation War at the National Memorial in Savar. This marks his first public appearance after returning to Bangladesh on Thursday, ending a 17-year absence.

Preparations at the National Memorial have been completed ahead of his visit. According to Anwar Hossain Khan Anu, a sub-assistant engineer of the Savar Public Works Department, the department has finished cleaning and maintenance work at the site in anticipation of Rahman’s arrival. The area has taken on a festive atmosphere as BNP leaders and activists from various regions have begun gathering along the highway leading to the memorial to welcome their leader.

Local reports indicate that the visit will be a symbolic start to Rahman’s renewed political activities following his return to the country.

Dhaka North BNP has initiated a waste removal campaign following the massive public gathering held to celebrate BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman’s historic return to the country. The cleanup began on Friday morning under the leadership of Aminul Haque, the convener of Dhaka North BNP. According to party sources, waste accumulated along the 36 July Expressway (300 Feet Highway), Airport Road, and adjacent areas is being cleared.

The cleanup operation is being carried out under the supervision of Dhaka North BNP, with active participation from volunteers and party members. Leaders stated that the initiative aims to ease public inconvenience and ensure normal movement for city residents. They emphasized that the activity reflects the party’s commitment to maintaining environmental cleanliness and public order.

BNP leaders further noted that the waste removal effort is part of their ongoing practice of conducting peaceful and disciplined programs while upholding environmental responsibility.

The Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir has begun its Central Members’ Conference 2025 at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Center, with participation from over six thousand members from across the country. The event, which started on Friday morning, will elect the organization’s new central president for the 2026 term through direct and secret voting by delegates. Current president Zahidul Islam has decided to step down as his student tenure has ended.

According to party sources, the race for the top post is led by current Secretary General Nurul Islam Saddam, followed by central office secretary and former Dhaka University unit president Sibgatullah, central publicity secretary Azizur Rahman Azad, and central publication secretary and DUCSU vice president Sadik Kayem. Historically, the secretary general has usually succeeded as president, making Saddam the frontrunner.

Leaders view this year’s conference as a major challenge, given the approaching national election. They emphasize the need for capable and strategic leadership to attract young voters and to strengthen the organization’s position in the evolving landscape of student politics following recent anti-discrimination movements.

Chuadanga district is experiencing an intensifying cold wave, with temperatures falling below 10 degrees Celsius. On Friday morning, the Chuadanga First-Class Weather Observatory recorded 9.7°C at 6 a.m. and 9.6°C at 9 a.m., with humidity at 95 percent. The temperature dropped nearly 2 degrees in just one day compared to Thursday’s 11.4°C. The cold, driven by northern winds, has severely affected daily life across the border district.

Local residents reported worsening hardship as the cold persists. Pedestrians and rickshaw pullers said people are avoiding going out in the mornings, leaving day laborers without work and transport workers without passengers. Children and the elderly are most at risk from the cold, while many rural residents are resorting to lighting fires due to a lack of warm clothing.

Weather observers forecast further temperature decline, and local residents have urged authorities to provide urgent assistance and distribute winter clothing to those in need.

A case has been filed at Bogura Sadar Police Station accusing 273 individuals, including former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, over an alleged attack on an anti-discrimination student rally. The case, numbered 66, was recorded on December 24, 2025, following a court filing on December 23. The plaintiff, Mohammad Alif, son of Nur Hossain Mondal from Brindaban Paschim Para, lodged the complaint on Wednesday night. Among the accused, 173 are named while 100 remain unidentified.

The first accused is former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, followed by former Bogura-6 MP and Awami League leader Ragebul Ahsan (Ripu) as the second accused. Former Bogura-5 MP Mojibur Rahman Majnu, Habibur Rahman Habib, and several leaders and activists from Awami League, Jubo League, Swechchhasebak League, and Chhatra League are also listed.

According to the case statement, Alif was seriously injured by gunfire allegedly from the accused during the rally at Kathaltala area on August 4, 2024. After recovering from his injuries, he proceeded to file the case.

Rakib, joint convener of the Raipur Government College unit of the student organization Chhatra Dal, died after being electrocuted in Lakshmipur’s Raipur upazila on Thursday evening. The accident occurred around 5 p.m. in Ward No. 2 of Charbanshi Union when he came into contact with electricity while preparing hot water at his home poultry farm. Family members and locals rushed him to the emergency department of Raipur Upazila Health Complex, where duty doctor Sohel Rana declared him dead.

His sudden death has cast a pall of grief over the area. Family members are mourning his loss, and members of Raipur Government College Chhatra Dal and local political circles have expressed deep sorrow and condolences. Leaders described Rakib as an active and dedicated organizer whose death is an irreparable loss to the organization.

The incident has drawn widespread sympathy in the community, highlighting the risks of household electrical accidents in rural areas.

Ferry operations on the Daulatdia–Paturia route, a key waterway connecting Rajbari’s Daulatdia and Manikganj’s Paturia, resumed on Friday morning after being suspended for nine and a half hours due to dense fog. According to the report, services were restored around 9:30 a.m. on December 26, 2025, once visibility improved on the Padma River.

The Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) temporarily halted all ferry and vessel movement from midnight on Saturday when thick fog severely reduced visibility across the river basin. BIWTC’s Daulatdia office assistant general manager (commerce) Mohammad Salauddin stated that operations were restarted after the fog cleared and navigation conditions became normal.

The prolonged suspension caused significant traffic congestion at both ferry terminals, leaving trucks, buses, and private cars stranded. With the resumption of ferry movement, the backlog began to ease, bringing relief to drivers, assistants, and passengers waiting at the terminals.

Leaders from several Bangladeshi political and Islamist parties have welcomed the return of BNP’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman and his family to Bangladesh after 17 years abroad. Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman, Islami Andolan Bangladesh Ameer Mufti Syed Muhammad Rezaul Karim, Khelafat Majlish Ameer Maulana Abdul Basit Azad, and National Citizen Party (NCP) convener Nahid Islam publicly expressed their greetings through social media and media statements. They described his return as a positive development for national politics following years of political unrest.

Dr. Shafiqur Rahman said Jamaat would closely observe Tarique Rahman’s role and plans for political unity. The Islami Andolan chief, known as the Charmonai Pir, said Rahman’s return could restore leadership within the BNP and help end a culture of political vengeance. Khelafat Majlish leaders called the event a victory for anti-fascist struggles, while Nahid Islam and NCP leader Sarjis Alam linked it to the democratic movement that followed the July uprising.

According to these leaders, Tarique Rahman’s return may strengthen multiparty democracy and promote a healthier political culture in Bangladesh.

Christians in Bangladesh celebrated Christmas on Thursday with prayers, decorations, and joyful gatherings across Dhaka. Churches including Tejgaon’s Holy Rosary Church and Mohammadpur’s St. Christina Church were illuminated with lights, Christmas trees, and nativity scenes. Thousands attended morning prayers, while families dressed in new clothes joined the celebrations. The festive atmosphere extended beyond churches to hotels hosting special meals and cultural programs.

Father Jayanta S. Gomez of Holy Rosary Church said the community prayed for peace and stability in Bangladesh, emphasizing Jesus’ message of justice and equality. Parishioners described how they celebrated at home by cutting cakes, preparing traditional foods, decorating Christmas trees, and exchanging gifts. Father Kajol Purification of St. Christina Church noted that prayers were offered for peace among all faiths.

The celebrations reflected both religious devotion and social harmony, with participants expressing joy and hope for peace in the country.

Bangladesh’s financial regulatory bodies have agreed to implement three major initiatives aimed at improving coordination and efficiency across the sector. The decisions were made at a meeting titled “Strengthening the Financial Reporting Council and Ensuring Structural and Coordinated Cooperation,” held at the FRC office in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar under the chairmanship of Dr. Anisuzzaman Chowdhury, Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser. Representatives from the Ministry of Finance, Bangladesh Bank, FRC, BSEC, IDRA, RJSC, MRA, and NBR attended the meeting.

The three initiatives include single-point enlistment of auditors and audit firms under the Financial Reporting Council (FRC), creation of a common report submission portal for all regulators, and establishment of a real-time common data-sharing platform. The FRC will lead the implementation of these projects, with deadlines set between January 15 and January 31, 2026. The FRC chairman stated that these measures will enhance transparency, reduce information concealment, and strengthen financial discipline.

According to the meeting’s proceedings, the initiatives are expected to reduce procedural delays, improve inter-agency data exchange, and curb manipulation in loan management and stock valuation.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has organized nationwide prayers today, Friday, after Jumma prayers in mosques across the country for the recovery of party chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia and to mark the return of acting chairman Tarique Rahman to Bangladesh. The announcement was made in a press release sent to the media on Thursday night, December 25.

According to the statement, the prayers will be held in all mosques, including those in Dhaka, under the initiative of the BNP. The event is dedicated to the recovery of Khaleda Zia, who is currently receiving treatment at Evercare Hospital in the capital, and to celebrate Tarique Rahman’s homecoming with his family after 17 years abroad. The BNP has called on leaders, activists, and the general public to participate in the prayers.

The party’s directive emphasizes unity among its members and supporters during this occasion, reflecting both concern for Khaleda Zia’s health and enthusiasm over Tarique Rahman’s return.

Five days after the burial of Shaheed Sharif Osman Hadi, people continue to gather at his grave near the central mosque of Dhaka University. Hadi, a frontline participant in the July uprising and spokesperson of Inquilab Mancha, is being mourned by hundreds who visit daily to pray, recite the Quran, and lay flowers at the site near the National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam’s mausoleum. Visitors include students, workers, professionals, and families who have traveled from across the country to pay their respects.

Many mourners expressed deep emotion and admiration for Hadi’s ideals, describing him as a symbol of honesty, patriotism, and resistance against injustice. Some called for justice for his killing, echoing Hadi’s own demand for accountability. Others said his sacrifice had inspired renewed commitment to his cause and that his ideals had spread widely among the people.

The continuing crowds and tears around Hadi’s grave have turned the area into a place of collective mourning and reflection, with visitors saying his spirit and ideals remain alive and stronger than ever.

BNP’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman claimed that spies of various imperialist powers remain engaged in conspiracies against Bangladesh. He made the statement on Thursday, December 25, during a public reception organized by the party on the 300 Feet Road in Dhaka. Rahman urged supporters to remain calm and patient in the face of provocations, emphasizing the need for peace in the country.

Drawing inspiration from Martin Luther King Jr.’s historic speech, Rahman said he too has a dream for Bangladesh and possesses a concrete plan to change the fate of its people, which requires collective cooperation. He stressed the importance of justice and vowed that future leadership would strive to govern the nation guided by the principles of fairness exemplified by the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

Rahman concluded by seeking prayers for the recovery of his mother, former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia, and called on the youth to take responsibility for building a strong democratic and economic foundation for the country.

Tarique Rahman, leader of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and potential next prime minister, returned to Dhaka on Thursday after 17 years in exile. Arriving with his wife and daughter at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, Rahman was greeted by thousands of supporters under heavy security. His return comes as Bangladesh prepares for elections on February 12 under an interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, following the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in a 2024 student-led uprising. Rahman’s mother, former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, remains critically ill in hospital.

Rahman, 60, has led the BNP as acting chairman since 2018 while living in London. Once a powerful political figure during his mother’s rule, he faced allegations of corruption and political violence, which he and the BNP have called politically motivated. Most of his convictions were stayed or overturned after Hasina’s fall, enabling his return. Analysts say his comeback completes preparations for the upcoming polls, where the BNP is seen as the frontrunner after the Awami League was barred from contesting.

A recent poll by the International Republican Institute showed the BNP leading with 30 percent support, positioning Rahman to potentially guide Bangladesh’s next government.