The National Citizen Party (NCP), a youth-led political force that emerged from the July uprising, is in the final phase of negotiations with the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) over seat-sharing for the upcoming 13th parliamentary election. Sources indicate that the discussions, which also involve Jamaat-e-Islami, could conclude once BNP’s acting chairperson Tarique Rahman returns to the country this week. A decision is expected soon, potentially shaping the opposition’s electoral alignment.

Both BNP and Jamaat are courting the NCP to strengthen their electoral base, while the NCP seeks to ensure parliamentary representation for young revolutionaries. Party leaders say they are weighing their options carefully to maximize seats and maintain ideological integrity. If talks with BNP succeed, discussions with Jamaat may end; otherwise, an NCP–Jamaat understanding could follow.

Political observers note that the NCP’s decision will influence alliance dynamics within the broader Democratic Reform Coalition. The party has already announced candidates in over 125 constituencies, with further nominations expected soon, signaling its readiness to contest either independently or within a coalition.

A Dhaka court has ordered the freezing of eight bank accounts belonging to Faisal Karim Masud, the prime suspect in the murder of Inqilab Manch spokesperson Shahid Sharif Osman Hadi, and his associates. The order was issued by Vacation Judge Mohammad Abdullah Al Mamun of the Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge’s Court following a petition from the case’s investigating officer.

According to the Detective Branch, Hadi was shot on December 12 in the capital’s Paltan area and later died on December 18 while undergoing treatment in Singapore. Following his death, the case was reclassified as a murder under Section 302 of the Penal Code. The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) reported over Tk 127 crore in suspicious transactions linked to Faisal and related individuals, prompting a separate money laundering probe. The court has also imposed a travel ban on Faisal.

Authorities are now examining the financial trail to determine possible links between the murder and alleged illicit fund movements. Further legal proceedings and forensic financial analyses are expected in the coming weeks.

The Bangladesh government is preparing to transfer the entire Registration Department from the Ministry of Law to the Ministry of Land, with the proposal expected to be discussed in Wednesday’s cabinet meeting. News of the move has triggered strong discontent among officials and legal experts, as the issue remains pending before the High Court since a 2008 public interest writ petition halted similar efforts.

The Land Ministry argues that combining land registration with Assistant Commissioner (Land) offices would streamline public service delivery. However, the Law Ministry insists that land registration is a judicial function governed by complex legal frameworks, including the State Acquisition Act and Non-Agricultural Tenancy Act. Critics warn that placing the function under administrative officers without legal training could increase public hardship and bureaucratic confusion.

Observers note that the Land Ministry already struggles with service delivery and corruption allegations. Bringing the Registration Department under its control, they argue, could worsen inefficiency. The cabinet’s decision, if pursued despite the pending court case, may invite further legal challenges and institutional friction.

Advocate Maulana Sheikh Abdul Wadud, Jamaat-e-Islami’s candidate for Bagerhat-3 (Mongla-Rampal), stated that his party has always stood by the Hindu community and will continue to do so. Speaking at a courtyard meeting with local Hindu residents in Mithakhali Union, he emphasized that Jamaat’s politics is rooted in protecting the rights, dignity, and security of all citizens regardless of religion or ethnicity.

Wadud described Bangladesh as a nation built by people of all faiths—Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists, and Christians—and reiterated Jamaat’s commitment to a just and discrimination-free society. He argued that honest and capable leadership is essential to end political revenge and ensure public safety. Local Jamaat leaders, including Professor Kohinur Sardar, echoed his call for interfaith harmony and mutual respect.

The meeting, chaired by community leader Manoranjan Halder, also highlighted social and civic challenges faced by the Hindu community. Participants urged cooperation among all groups to maintain peaceful coexistence in the region.

Mujibur Rahman Manju, chairman of the Amar Bangladesh (AB) Party and candidate for the Feni-2 constituency, collected his nomination papers from the district returning officer and deputy commissioner on Wednesday, December 24, 2025. The event marks his formal entry into the race for the 13th National Parliamentary Election, representing the party’s Eagle symbol.

Manju was accompanied by senior AB Party leaders, including Barrister Zobaer Ahmed Bhuiyan and several regional organizers. Speaking to the media, he said he sought the judgment of Feni’s people on the need for new political arrangements beyond what he described as 54 years of flawed politics. He emphasized that the electorate would decide whether the call for new politics has real support.

Manju further stated that Feni’s development required no grand promises but rather an end to violence, extortion, and political hostility. He called for neutrality in administration and political unity to make Feni one of Bangladesh’s most peaceful and advanced districts.

National Citizens Party (NCP) convener Nahid Islam has described Bangladesh’s political history as one defined by broken promises and unfulfilled commitments. Speaking at an election dialogue organized by The Daily Star at the China Friendship Conference Center in Dhaka, he said that the country’s political movements once aimed for systemic reform, but those aspirations were never fully realized. Despite this, the NCP plans to support the ‘yes’ vote in the upcoming national referendum.

Islam emphasized that without transparency and accountability, corruption cannot be eradicated. He proposed a new initiative called “Hisab Dao” (Give Account), under which the government would regularly disclose its activities and expenditures to the public. He also urged political parties to honor their pledges, including the creation of a post-election consensus commission.

Addressing the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami, Islam criticized them for competing with the ruling Awami League for votes rather than presenting unified reform agendas. His remarks reflect growing frustration among smaller parties over the credibility of Bangladesh’s political process ahead of the next election.

Haji Obaidul Haque, a suspended leader of the Awami League and former finance secretary of the party’s Feni district unit, has collected a nomination form to contest the 13th National Parliamentary Election from the Feni-2 constituency under the banner of Amjanatar Dal. He obtained the form on Tuesday from the district returning officer’s office.

Speaking to reporters, Haque explained that since Awami League’s political activities are currently suspended, he could not contest under the party’s name and therefore chose Amjanatar Dal as an alternative platform. He clarified that although he remains a member of the Awami League, he is temporarily representing Amjanatar Dal in the election. Ashish Dutta, convener of the party’s Feni district branch, confirmed Haque’s candidacy.

According to the district election office, a total of 30 candidates have collected nomination forms across Feni’s three constituencies so far. The development highlights shifting political alignments ahead of the upcoming national polls, with several local leaders seeking alternative affiliations amid party restrictions.

A video showing a local student leader in Feni, Bangladesh, allegedly blackmailing a young man and woman at gunpoint has gone viral on social media, prompting police investigation and public condemnation. The accused, Anwar Hossain Choton, a former assistant secretary of the Bogadana Union unit of the Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD), is seen brandishing a foreign-made pistol while threatening the pair. Following the video’s circulation, Choton reportedly went into hiding, and the victims remain untraced.

Local residents claim Choton and his associates had long been extorting money from young people by trapping them in compromising situations and filming them under duress. Party officials confirmed that Choton currently holds no official position, limiting their ability to take disciplinary action. Feni district JCD leaders urged law enforcement to act swiftly, while police said they are working to identify the victims and locate the suspect.

Authorities believe internal disputes among Choton’s associates may have led to the video’s release. The incident has reignited debate over political impunity and the misuse of party affiliation for criminal activities in local communities.

Leaders and activists of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) in Cumilla are preparing to travel to Dhaka to welcome the party’s acting chairperson, Tarique Rahman, who is set to return to the country after 17 years. Local BNP units across Cumilla district and city have held multiple preparatory meetings, with processions and gatherings taking place in anticipation of the event scheduled for December 25.

Cumilla South BNP President Zakaria Taher Suman said that party members have been instructed to reach Dhaka and join what he described as a ‘sea of people’. North district convener Md. Akhtaruzzaman noted that enthusiasm is at its peak, with activists ready to greet their leader near the 300 Feet area in Dhaka. City BNP General Secretary Yusuf Molla Tipu expressed emotional excitement, calling the return a historic moment for the party.

According to BNP’s divisional organizing secretary Mostak Mia, over 100,000 activists from 17 upazilas are expected to join the reception. The event is seen as a major political mobilization ahead of future national political developments.

The Bangladesh government has approved the purchase of 37.5 million liters of edible oil from international sources and 10 million liters locally to prevent an artificial shortage during the upcoming Ramadan. Additionally, 10,000 tons of lentils will be procured. The total cost for the oil purchase is estimated at Tk 642.45 crore, while lentil procurement will cost Tk 72.20 crore. The Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) will distribute these products nationwide.

The approval came during a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase chaired by Economic Adviser Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed. The imports include 20 million liters of soybean oil from Nigeria’s Vidok Farms and Exports Ltd, 12.5 million liters from the U.S.-based Stewart Klobanu Gerhard, and 5 million liters from Malaysia’s C Millennium Trade Sdn Bhd. Locally, one crore liters of rice bran oil will be sourced through open tender from three domestic firms.

Officials stated that the oil will be sold through TCB at prices lower than the government-fixed retail rate but higher than the procurement cost, ensuring no subsidy burden. The move aims to stabilize market prices and ensure adequate supply during the fasting month.

Bangladesh’s Economic Adviser Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed stated that while economic ties with India remain stable, the government is actively working to normalize political relations. He made the remarks following a meeting of the Advisory Committee on Government Procurement at the Secretariat on Tuesday.

Dr. Ahmed clarified that political relations between Dhaka and New Delhi have not deteriorated significantly, but the government is taking steps to prevent any abnormality. He emphasized that the Chief Adviser himself is engaged in efforts to improve bilateral understanding and maintain a cooperative atmosphere.

The adviser reiterated that Bangladesh seeks cordial relations with all neighboring countries and does not wish for any tension in the region. His comments come amid ongoing discussions about regional cooperation and the importance of maintaining balanced diplomacy with India, Bangladesh’s largest trading partner and strategic neighbor.

Helal Uddin Munshi, a long-time Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) leader and member of the Bauphal upazila convening committee, has joined Jamaat-e-Islami ahead of the 13th national parliamentary election. The switch was announced at a local rally in Bauphal’s Suryamani Union, where Munshi formally joined hands with Jamaat candidate Dr. Shafiqul Islam Masud. Following the announcement, the BNP expelled Munshi through an official statement signed by Bauphal BNP’s member secretary, Apel Mahmud Firoz.

Munshi, who had been active in BNP politics for 25 years, said he now intends to dedicate his life to serving Islam under Jamaat’s banner. Local political observers believe his defection could strengthen Jamaat’s “balance scale” symbol in the Patuakhali-2 constituency, where BNP’s internal divisions have deepened. Jamaat leaders welcomed Munshi’s move, calling for unity to consolidate support ahead of the polls.

The development underscores shifting alliances in southern Bangladesh as parties recalibrate strategies before the upcoming election, potentially altering voter alignments in key constituencies.

Inquilab Mancha has announced a nationwide wall-writing and graffiti campaign on December 24 and 25 to promote the struggle and ideals of Shaheed Sharif Osman Hadi. The announcement came after a 'Martyr’s Oath' event held at Shahbagh in Dhaka, where the group’s member secretary, Abdullah Al Jaber, urged supporters to share photos and videos of the campaign on social media.

Jaber reiterated that the movement for justice over Osman Hadi’s killing would continue until accountability is ensured. He warned that those responsible would face no leniency and hinted at further programs on December 26 if their three-point demands remain unmet. Jaber also expressed hope that BNP’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman would return to Bangladesh and join the movement.

Osman Hadi’s brother issued a stern warning to the government, saying that failure to deliver justice could force officials to flee the country. The group’s latest call reflects growing frustration among supporters and signals potential escalation of political activism in the coming days.

Biman Bangladesh Airlines has advised all passengers traveling through Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on December 25 to allow extra time for their journey due to expected severe traffic congestion around the airport area. The national carrier issued a statement on Tuesday warning that heavy public gatherings are anticipated near the airport, Gulshan link road, and the Purbachal Expressway (300 feet), which could lead to significant delays.

The advisory follows reports from multiple media outlets predicting large crowds in these areas on the day, possibly linked to public events and holiday travel. Biman requested both domestic and international passengers to plan their trips well in advance and arrive at the airport earlier than usual to avoid inconvenience. The airline expressed hope that passengers’ cooperation would ensure smooth and stress-free travel experiences.

Authorities have not announced any special traffic management plan yet, but travelers are being urged to monitor updates and plan accordingly to prevent missed flights or disruptions.

Saiful Haque, General Secretary of the Revolutionary Workers Party of Bangladesh, has alleged that political mafias and terrorists have effectively taken the government hostage. Speaking at a central committee meeting in Segunbagicha, Dhaka, he urged the authorities to take immediate and strict action against these groups, regardless of political affiliation. Haque warned that the country is being deliberately pushed toward fear and anarchy, replacing the rule of law with authoritarianism.

He cited the brutal killing of garment worker Dipu Chandra Das in Mymensingh as an example of growing lawlessness, calling it an unprecedented atrocity. Haque expressed concern that the failure to arrest and prosecute perpetrators has emboldened criminals nationwide. He also condemned recent attacks on media outlets such as Prothom Alo and The Daily Star, accusing state inaction of indirectly aiding violent groups.

The party demanded exemplary punishment for those involved in recent killings, arson, and looting, warning that continued impunity could deepen insecurity and social unrest across Bangladesh.