The returning officer and Dhaka District Commissioner Md Rezaul Karim has cancelled the nomination of Jamaat-e-Islami’s candidate Colonel (Retd.) Abdul Haque for the Dhaka-2 constituency. The decision was announced on Saturday morning during the scrutiny of nomination papers for the 13th National Parliamentary Election at the Dhaka District Commissioner’s office. According to a Bangladesh Bank Credit Information Bureau (CIB) report, Abdul Haque was identified as a loan defaulter.

The district commissioner stated that Abdul Haque had taken a loan in the name of an organization called National Development Organization while serving as one of its directors. Based on this information, his nomination was declared invalid. In the same constituency, the nominations of BNP candidate Aman Ullah Aman and Islami Andolan Bangladesh candidate Zahirul Islam were declared valid.

The cancellation narrows the field of candidates for Dhaka-2 ahead of the upcoming national election, leaving the BNP and Islami Andolan contenders cleared to continue their campaigns.

The nomination paper of Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman for the Dhaka-15 constituency has been declared valid for the 13th National Parliamentary Election. The decision was announced on Saturday by the regional election officer in Dhaka.

Earlier, on December 25, a delegation led by Jamaat’s Assistant Secretary General Ehsanul Mahbub Zubair collected the nomination paper from the returning officer’s office in Agargaon on behalf of the party chief. From the same constituency, BNP’s local organizer and former Jubo Dal general secretary Shafiqul Islam Khan Milton also collected a nomination form.

Alongside the main candidates from Jamaat and BNP, six other political parties and one independent candidate submitted nomination papers. They include representatives from the Communist Party of Bangladesh, Gano Forum, Jatiya Party, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal, Janatar Dal, Bangladesh Supreme Party, and independent candidate Md. Tanjil Islam.

The verification process for nomination papers in the Bagerhat-1 constituency has been completed, with a total of eleven candidates submitting their papers. Among them, three nominations have been canceled. The canceled candidates include Mojibur Rahman Shamim of Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis for loan default, independent candidate Mushfiqur Rahman due to voter mismatch, and Golam Sarwar of the Jatiya Party for being a loan defaulter.

According to the district correspondent, the scrutiny of nomination papers for the remaining three constituencies in Bagerhat district is still ongoing. The report did not mention any objections or appeals following the cancellations.

The completion of verification in Bagerhat-1 marks a key step in the electoral process for the constituency, while the ongoing scrutiny in other constituencies indicates that the overall nomination review process in the district is still in progress.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has appointed former secretary A B M Abdus Sattar as the private secretary to its acting chairman Tareq Rahman and former Dhaka Reporters Unity general secretary A A M Saleh (Saleh Shibli) as press secretary. The announcement was made on Saturday afternoon through a press release signed by BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi.

According to the release, Abdus Sattar, who previously served as private secretary to former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia, will now assist Tareq Rahman in his official duties. Saleh Shibli, who has earlier worked as Tareq Rahman’s press secretary and held other key responsibilities within the party, recently returned to Bangladesh from the United Kingdom on December 25.

The appointments mark a continuation of experienced leadership within the BNP’s central operations, as both appointees have long-standing ties with the party’s top leadership.

Police in Shahrashti upazila of Chandpur recovered two pistols stolen from Dhaka’s Khilkhet police station, along with ammunition and police equipment, during a raid on Friday night. Acting on a secret tip-off, law enforcement searched the home of Alomgir Hossain in Paschim Uplata village around 8:15 p.m. and seized the weapons. The recovered items included a Taras pistol, a China-made pistol, four magazines, 30 rounds of bullets, police uniforms, belts, glasses, a body camera, and a gas mask. Alomgir’s wife, Lovely Begum, 38, and son, Foysal Hossain, 21, were detained.

According to police, Lovely Begum admitted during questioning that the seized weapons were among those looted from a police station on August 5, 2024. Additional Superintendent of Police (Crime and Ops) Md Lutfor Rahman said the operation was led by Assistant Superintendent Md A. Hai and Officer-in-Charge Mir Mahbubur Rahman after receiving intelligence about the stolen arms linked to the anti-discrimination movement.

Police said a case is being prepared in connection with the recovery and arrests.

Two men were killed late Friday night in Barishal city when a speeding truck ran over their motorcycle on the Barishal-Jhalakathi inter-district highway near Rupatali Ukilbari. The victims were identified as Jewel, 28, of Rupatali, and Russell, 25, of Ruiyar Pol. Kotwali Model Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mamun-ul Islam confirmed the incident.

According to police, the two victims worked as helpers at the ACI Animal Health store. After finishing work around midnight, they were heading to the Rupatali bus terminal for a meal when a goods-laden truck (registration number Kushtia-T 11-2545) coming from the opposite direction hit them. Russell died on the spot, while Jewel succumbed to his injuries before reaching the hospital.

The report did not mention whether the truck driver was detained or if any legal action had been initiated following the accident.

Nomination papers for the Nilphamari-4 (Kishoreganj-Saidpur) constituency were scrutinized on Friday afternoon ahead of Bangladesh’s upcoming 13th national parliamentary election. Out of 12 submitted nominations, eight were declared valid, while four independent candidates’ nominations were canceled due to inconsistencies in information and inaccuracies in the required one percent voter signatures. The verification was conducted at the conference room of the district administration and returning officer’s office, confirmed by Returning Officer and Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Nayiruzzaman.

The eight valid candidates represent various political parties, including Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, Bangladesh Nationalist Party, Islami Andolan Bangladesh, Jatiya Party, Bangladesh Socialist Party (Marxist), and Liberal Democratic Party. The four disqualified independent candidates are Jobaydor Rahman (Hira), Md. Riad Arfan Sarkar, S.M. Mamunur Rashid, and Md. Shahriar Ferdous. According to the returning officer, these candidates may appeal for validation of their nominations until January 9.

The decision finalizes the initial list of eligible contenders for Nilphamari-4, pending any appeals by the disqualified independents.

NCP Member Secretary Akhtar Hossain has objected to the validation of a Jatiya Party candidate’s nomination during the scrutiny process at the Rangpur DC office on January 2, 2026. He demanded that the Jatiya Party be declared ineligible for the upcoming national election, alleging that the party helped institutionalize fascism and supported authoritarian rule in Bangladesh. Akhtar claimed that despite his objections, the returning officer declared the nomination valid under legal technicalities.

Akhtar argued that the Jatiya Party’s actions over the past 16 years contributed to sustaining authoritarianism and that those who legitimized fascism should not be allowed to contest elections. He stated that the NCP would pursue legal action if necessary and criticized the authorities for not informing them earlier about the opportunity to submit written objections. He also mentioned that seat-sharing discussions between the NCP and Jamaat-e-Islami within their eight-party alliance were still ongoing.

In response, Mahbubur Rahman, the Jatiya Party candidate for Rangpur-4, said that relevant authorities had already given their considered opinion and that law enforcement agencies would investigate any allegations.

The government hospital in Harinakundu upazila of Jhenaidah has nearly collapsed due to acute shortages of doctors, medicines, and essential staff. The 250-bed facility, which serves several hundred thousand people from Harinakundu and neighboring Alamdanga, has been without adequate medicine supplies for a long time. Patients, mostly poor and vulnerable, are forced to buy costly medicines from outside pharmacies. Out of 30 sanctioned doctor posts, only eight are currently filled, with one doctor on deputation elsewhere. The shortage has worsened amid a surge in cold-related illnesses such as pneumonia, asthma, and diarrhea, particularly affecting children and the elderly.

The hospital has no specialist doctors, and its operation theater has been shut down due to the absence of an anesthesiologist. As a result, private clinics are reportedly exploiting patients by charging high fees for surgeries. Several key staff positions, including pharmacist and statistician, remain vacant, and only two cleaners are maintaining the facility. Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer Alomgir Hossain said the problems have been reported to higher authorities and expressed hope that new doctor appointments might ease the crisis. Local residents have urged the government to take immediate action.

The ongoing crisis has left thousands of impoverished residents without access to essential healthcare, heightening their suffering during the winter season.

In the verification process for the 13th National Parliamentary Election, Islamic preacher Kamrul Islam Saeed Ansari’s nomination for the Madaripur-2 constituency was canceled. Another independent candidate, Md. Reyazul Islam, was also disqualified. The decision was made on Friday afternoon by Madaripur Deputy Commissioner and Returning Officer Jahangir Alam after reviewing the required documents of all ten candidates.

According to the returning officer, Ansari’s nomination was canceled because a mismatch was found between the national identity card and the name of one supporter listed in the one percent voter endorsement required for independent candidates. However, Ansari retains the right to appeal the decision. During the verification session, officials from the district administration, police, National Board of Revenue, rural electricity authority, and banks were present.

Ansari stated that the supporter in question had been willing to appear in person, yet his nomination was still rejected. He announced his intention to appeal, expressing hope for justice in the next stage.

A permanent fish sanctuary has been established in the Chithlia canal area of Parshuram, Feni, under a government initiative aimed at conserving aquatic biodiversity and promoting the breeding of native fish species. The sanctuary, located on both sides of the Shreebhanga Bridge along the Feni-Parshuram road, covers 1.4 hectares and was developed at a cost of about 40,000 taka for the 2025–26 fiscal year. Measures include bamboo fencing, red flags marking restricted zones, and tree branches placed underwater to create a safe habitat for mother fish during breeding seasons.

According to the Upazila Fisheries Department, the initiative seeks to protect endangered native fish species, ensure safe breeding environments, and restore ecological balance disrupted by overfishing, pesticide use, and natural disasters. A 12-member beneficiary group from nearby villages is maintaining the sanctuary. Local fishermen expressed optimism that proper management will help revive native fish populations.

The fisheries office also plans to establish another sanctuary on the northern side of the Bailey Bridge over the Muhuri River, pending government funding approval.

BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said the party will move forward following the ideals, commitments, and path shown by Begum Khaleda Zia. He made the remarks on Saturday, January 3, at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar’s Zia Udyan in Dhaka after the Jatiyatabadi Mohila Dal paid tribute at Khaleda Zia’s grave. Rizvi stated that Tarique Rahman would lead the country along the path shown by Ziaur Rahman and Khaleda Zia.

Rizvi described Begum Khaleda Zia as an unparalleled political figure who inspired the nation to fight against autocratic and fascist misrule for democracy. He said she demonstrated how to stand by the people even in times of crisis and never abandoned them. Rizvi alleged that Khaleda Zia was intentionally given wrong treatment in prison and that her death involved conspiracy and manipulation by malevolent forces.

He added that Khaleda Zia deeply loved the Jatiyatabadi Mohila Dal and built its current leadership. According to Rizvi, BNP and its affiliated organizations will continue to uphold her ideals, ethics, and commitments to preserve the nation’s democracy, independence, and sovereignty.

The Sheikh Hasina Weavers Village project, launched on November 1, 2018, across 120 acres in Shibchar of Madaripur and Zajira of Shariatpur, has reportedly collapsed amid allegations of large-scale corruption and mismanagement. Construction, which included land acquisition, soil filling, and boundary wall development, has been halted for about one and a half years following a change in government. The site, once intended for weaving factories, housing, and training centers, now lies abandoned and partially occupied by watermelon cultivation.

Local residents said the project stopped after August 5, 2024, leaving the area deserted. Farmers who had given up their farmland for the project expressed frustration over the uncertainty of its future, though they acknowledged receiving compensation. The project is now being renamed Haji Shariatullah Weavers Village, according to local officials, but no new work has started yet.

Officials stated they are still gathering details about the project’s current status, while locals urged the government to resume construction to bring promised development and employment to the region.

The district returning officer has declared the nomination of BNP’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman valid for the Bogura-6 constituency in the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election. The announcement was made on Saturday morning, confirming his candidacy under the party’s electoral symbol, the paddy sheaf.

According to the report, Tarique Rahman signed his nomination papers on December 28 as the BNP candidate for Bogura-6. Party leaders collected the nomination form from District Commissioner and Returning Officer Taufiqur Rahman on his behalf. The following day, on December 29 at around 2:30 p.m., Bogura District BNP President Rezaul Karim submitted the completed nomination papers to the returning officer on behalf of Tarique Rahman.

The validation of Tarique Rahman’s nomination formally secures his position as the BNP candidate for the Bogura-6 seat in the forthcoming national election.

Kazi Reha Kabir Sigma has emerged as the only independent female candidate among six constituencies in Kishoreganj for the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election. She is contesting from Kishoreganj-4, which includes Austagram, Itna, and Mithamain upazilas. Sigma, originally from the remote haor area of Austagram, described herself in her affidavit as a researcher, entrepreneur, and long-time social worker. She declared an annual income of Tk 544,167 and total assets worth Tk 28.74 million, while her husband Sadequl Kabir reported assets of Tk 44.45 million.

According to her affidavit submitted to the returning officer, Sigma holds a postgraduate degree, runs a business, and has no criminal cases. She stated she is not a dual citizen and is over 48 years old, residing in Gulshan, Dhaka. Her declared assets include two apartments in Gulshan valued at Tk 15.5 million, gold jewelry, a jeep, and bank deposits. The Kishoreganj-4 constituency has nine candidates, including nominees from BNP, Jamaat, and other parties.

The district returning officer and deputy commissioner Mohammad Aslam Molla confirmed that nomination papers for Kishoreganj-4 were submitted by nine candidates and were scheduled for scrutiny on January 3.