In Kurigram-3 (Ulipur) constituency, the nomination paper of Jamaat-e-Islami candidate Barrister Mahbubul Alam Salehi was canceled on Sunday by District Returning Officer and Deputy Commissioner Annapurna Debnath. The decision followed earlier suspension of his nomination over dual citizenship allegations. Salehi appeared at the returning officer’s office within the given deadline with required documents, but officials reportedly declared the nomination invalid without reviewing them, prompting protests from his supporters.

Witnesses said the cancellation announcement was made hastily, ignoring requests to verify the submitted papers. Around 200 to 250 Jamaat activists demonstrated outside the district administration office following the decision. Salehi told reporters that he was denied a fair opportunity to present his documents and alleged that the move might be politically motivated. Local lawyer Khaja Moin Uddin and Kurigram Press Club’s general secretary Mahfuzur Rahman also criticized the process.

Assistant Commissioner Abu Bakkar Siddique, acting officer of the district returning office, stated that inconsistencies in the submitted nomination led to its rejection, adding that the candidate could appeal within the legally prescribed timeframe.

Mahdi Amin has been appointed as the spokesperson for the Bangladesh Nationalist Party’s (BNP) central election management committee. The announcement was made on Sunday in Dhaka’s Gulshan area following a committee meeting chaired by Nazrul Islam Khan, who stated that Amin will now conduct regular briefings on behalf of the committee. Mahdi Amin also serves as an adviser to the party’s acting chairman, Tarique Rahman.

Earlier, the first meeting of the committee on managing the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election was held at the BNP’s election office on Gulshan 90 Road. The committee, formed last Thursday night, consists of 41 members. Nazrul Islam Khan, a member of the BNP Standing Committee, was appointed chairman, while Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi was named member secretary. Md. Ismail Jabirullah was assigned as the chief coordinator.

The formation of the committee marks a key organizational step for the BNP as it prepares for the upcoming parliamentary election, with Mahdi Amin now responsible for communicating the committee’s activities to the public.

The Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority (DTCA) has introduced a new mobile application to make the use of Metro Rail’s Rapid Pass and MRT Pass cards more convenient. According to an announcement issued on Saturday, users can now recharge their cards directly through the Rapid Pass app. Initially, some features may face temporary issues as the app is newly launched, but DTCA’s technical team is working continuously to improve performance and ensure a smoother user experience.

Registered users of the rapidpass.com.bd website can log in to the app using their existing user ID and password. After logging in, they can recharge amounts ranging from 100 to 5,000 taka using bank cards, as well as mobile financial services such as bKash and Nagad. The app is available for download on Android devices by searching “Rapid Pass” in the app store or through the provided Google Play link.

DTCA stated that the initiative aims to enhance passenger convenience and streamline the metro card recharge process through digital means.

The International Crimes Tribunal-1 has rejected a defense request to have foreign experts examine a phone conversation between former law minister Anisul Huq and former prime minister’s adviser on industry and investment Salman F Rahman. The call record was presented by the prosecution in a case alleging that the two incited violence and imposed a curfew to kill students and civilians during the July uprising. The three-member panel, led by Justice Md Golam Murtuza Majumdar, issued the order on Sunday and scheduled the next hearing on the defendants’ discharge petition for Tuesday.

During the hearing, defense lawyers argued that foreign specialists should verify the authenticity of the call recordings to ensure fairness. The tribunal chairman ruled that the law does not permit such examination and dismissed the request. The court also discussed a pending application to appoint foreign lawyers, instructing the defense to first obtain approval from the Bar Council.

Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam opposed further delays, accusing the defense of prolonging proceedings. The tribunal granted the defense two final days to prepare, setting January 6 for the next hearing.

Members of Bangladesh’s Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances have concluded that most abductions were politically motivated. The commission submitted its final report to Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on Sunday at the state guesthouse Jamuna. The report stated that 1,913 complaints were received, of which 1,569 met the definition of enforced disappearance, including 287 categorized as “missing and dead.” The commission found evidence linking former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, her defense adviser Tariq Ahmed Siddiq, and former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan to several high-profile disappearance cases.

Commission member Nabila Idris said the total number of victims could range between 4,000 and 6,000, as many cases remain unreported. The report noted that 75 percent of those who returned alive were Jamaat-e-Islami activists, while 68 percent of those still missing were affiliated with the BNP. The commission also identified the Baleshwar River in Barishal as a major site for killings and body disposals.

Chief Adviser Yunus praised the commission’s work, calling it historic and urging that the findings be made accessible to the public. He directed further mapping of extrajudicial killing sites and recommended institutional reforms to prevent future abuses.

Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) Chairman Jalal Ahmed stated that consumers cannot be guaranteed to purchase liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) at government-fixed prices. He made the remarks on Sunday during a press conference announcing new LPG prices. Ahmed said a meeting was being held at the Secretariat to discuss complaints of distributors charging higher prices, with members of the LPG Association in attendance. BERC will also hold discussions with the association on the issue.

The chairman explained that the commission sets prices based on importers’ total costs, but cannot ensure that consumers will always get LPG at that exact rate. The LPG Association claims it supplies gas at the fixed price. BERC has also spoken with the Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection to conduct drives against overpricing, and action will be taken if any company is found guilty of charging extra.

Ahmed added that shipping shortages from the Middle East and difficulties in opening letters of credit (LCs) are affecting imports. He urged companies to increase imports from Singapore and said the government’s higher authorities would intervene if LC complications persist.

Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) Director General AKM Shahidur Rahman stated that there are several legal ways to bring back the main suspects in the murder of Inquilab Mancha spokesperson Sharif Osman Hadi, even if they have fled to India. Speaking at a press conference at the RAB Media Center in Dhaka’s Karwan Bazar on Sunday, he said RAB will continue its efforts with full force until the two accused, Faisal Karim Masud and Alamgir Sheikh, are arrested.

The RAB chief explained that the shooting occurred on December 12, and between December 12 and 16, eight suspects were arrested and two pistols used in the killing were recovered. However, the two main accused remain at large. He added that RAB is using both technological and manual sources to locate them and that once their location is confirmed, legal procedures will be followed to bring them back to Bangladesh.

Rahman reaffirmed that RAB remains uncompromising in bringing all perpetrators of this high-profile murder to justice and that no one involved will be spared.

Election Commissioner Brigadier General (Retd.) Abul Fazl Mohammad stated that no indirect or covert instructions for malpractice have been or will be given in the election process. Speaking on Sunday, January 4, 2026, at a meeting in Ukhiya Upazila Parishad auditorium, Cox’s Bazar, he urged election officials to remain neutral, fearless, and law-abiding in performing their duties. He emphasized that the commission’s directives are based on transparency, impartiality, and firmness.

He described the upcoming election as an opportunity to restore the image of political institutions, the Election Commission, administration, and police. Warning officials to stay alert against individuals posing as friends with malicious intent, he cited the killing of Osman Hadi as a cautionary example. He also noted that political parties are largely following the code of conduct better than in previous elections, with no major incidents except the one in Dhaka.

The commissioner instructed strict measures to prevent Rohingyas from leaving camps during the election and announced that joint forces will soon launch operations to recover illegal weapons and curb terrorism. He also called on political parties to promote awareness about the referendum among voters.

A Dhaka court has barred police officer Md. Zakaria Rahman from leaving Bangladesh following a request by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). The order was signed on Sunday by Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Sabbir Foyez after hearing the ACC’s petition. The ACC’s assistant director and investigating officer Al-Amin sought the travel ban, citing evidence of suspicious financial transactions between Zakaria and retired Public Service Commission (PSC) driver Syed Abed Ali.

Abed Ali was arrested on July 8, 2024, and remains in custody. On January 5, the ACC filed a case against him under multiple anti-corruption and money laundering laws, alleging over Tk 5 crore in illegal assets and about Tk 45 crore in irregular transactions. Investigators claim Zakaria, a 30th BCS police cadre officer currently posted at Police Headquarters, is linked to a question-leak syndicate and may attempt to flee abroad.

The court imposed the travel restriction to ensure an unhindered investigation until the inquiry is complete, according to the ACC’s submission.

Chief Prosecutor of the International Crimes Tribunal Mohammad Tazul Islam has declared that justice will be served in the enforced disappearance and murder cases involving retired Major General Ziaul Ahsan. Speaking on Sunday after a hearing on the formal charge formation, he said that despite any conspiracies or delays, the prosecution and the state remain determined to ensure justice.

During the hearing at Tribunal-1, Tazul Islam presented three specific charges against Ahsan, accusing him of orchestrating abductions and killings of over a hundred people. The allegations include the 2011 killing of three detainees taken from the RAB headquarters, mass executions in Barguna’s Patharghata area under code names “Gestapo” and “Golf,” and staged “gunfights” in Sundarbans operations that allegedly killed at least 50 people.

Following the prosecution’s submission, the defense requested additional time to respond. The tribunal granted the request and set January 8 as the next hearing date.

The Dhaka Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education has announced a new date for the 2026 Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) and equivalent examination form submission. According to a notice signed by Exam Controller Professor Haydar Uddin Kamal on Sunday, January 4, the new date for starting the form fill-up process has been set for March 11.

The notice stated that all heads of institutions under the Dhaka Board must complete the selection tests for HSC candidates and publish the results by March 10. The board also mentioned that a detailed schedule and full circular regarding the form fill-up process will be published later on the board’s official website.

The announcement aims to ensure that all institutions under the Dhaka Board complete necessary preparatory steps before the form submission begins, maintaining a structured timeline for the 2026 HSC examination process.

Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman has been dropped from the Kolkata Knight Riders squad despite being signed earlier, following a directive reportedly influenced by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). The decision was justified on security grounds amid heightened political tensions between India and Bangladesh. The move has sparked debate on both sides of the border, linking it to the exile of former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who fled to India after resigning during anti-government protests last year.

Former Pakistan cricketer Rashid Latif expressed surprise at what he called India’s double standards, noting that while Hasina remains in India, Mustafizur has been denied participation in the Indian Premier League (IPL). The controversy follows protests by Hindu nationalist groups in India over alleged attacks on minorities in Bangladesh, which led to calls for excluding Bangladeshi players from the IPL. Mustafizur, who was sold for 92 million rupees, was subsequently dropped, and KKR owner Shah Rukh Khan was labeled “traitor” by critics.

In response, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has informed the International Cricket Council (ICC) that it will not send its team to the upcoming World Cup in India, citing security concerns and requesting a venue change.

Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) has launched a pilot program for its newly developed three-wheeled, low-speed, battery-powered eco-friendly electric rickshaw in Dhaka. The program was inaugurated on Sunday morning through separate events in Aftabnagar under Dhaka North City Corporation and Jigatola under Dhaka South City Corporation. The pilot allows controlled trial operations on designated roads in Aftabnagar, Dhanmondi, and Motijheel areas.

Government advisers and city administrators attended the inauguration, emphasizing scientific testing of design, braking systems, and battery safety. The initiative aims to regulate unapproved battery-fitted rickshaws and establish an orderly urban transport system. The new model features improved braking, speed control, and a 38-volt lithium battery capable of running 70–80 kilometers per charge. Geo-fencing technology will restrict movement outside designated zones, and only trained, licensed drivers will be allowed to operate the vehicles.

Officials said the pilot’s findings will guide future expansion across Dhaka and gradual conversion of existing pedal rickshaws into safer, modern electric versions.

Information and Broadcasting Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan said the government will decide on whether to suspend the broadcast of the Indian Premier League (IPL) in Bangladesh after reviewing the legal basis and procedural aspects. She made the remarks on Sunday, January 4, during a meeting with members of the Bangladesh Secretariat Reporters Forum (BSRF) at the Secretariat in Dhaka.

The discussion arose after Bangladesh’s cricketer Mustafizur Rahman was excluded from the IPL. Following this, the law adviser proposed halting the IPL broadcast in Bangladesh. Addressing the issue, Rizwana Hasan commented that it would have been better if the game could remain within the realm of sports, but unfortunately, politics had been brought into it.

The government’s decision will depend on the outcome of the legal and procedural review, and no final decision has yet been announced.

Law and Sports Adviser Dr. Asif Nazrul has strongly condemned the Indian Cricket Board’s decision to exclude Bangladeshi cricketer Mustafizur Rahman from the Indian Premier League (IPL). In a Facebook post published on Saturday night, he called the move unjustified and urged the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) to formally seek an explanation from the International Cricket Council (ICC). Nazrul questioned the safety of Bangladesh’s participation in the upcoming T20 World Cup in India if a single Bangladeshi player was barred from playing there.

He further instructed the BCB to request that Bangladesh’s World Cup matches be relocated from India to Sri Lanka. In the same post, Nazrul criticized India’s decision in strong terms and appealed to the Information and Broadcasting Adviser to suspend IPL broadcasts in Bangladesh. He stated that Bangladesh would not tolerate any insult to its cricket or players.

The post reflects growing discontent over Mustafizur’s exclusion and calls for a firm national response through diplomatic and broadcasting measures.