The 15th Chapai Festival 2026 will be held in Dhaka on Saturday, January 3, organized by the Chapainawabganj District Association. The daylong event will take place at the Institution of Engineers auditorium in Ramna, aiming to strengthen cultural roots and fraternity among residents from Chapainawabganj living in the capital. The festival will be presided over by Engineer Nurul Islam, Chief Engineer of RAJUK and president of the association, with the chairman of the Land Reform Board attending as a special guest.

According to organizers, the festival’s main attractions include traditional Gambhira performances featuring humorous and contemporary songs, as well as regional food stalls offering Chapai’s famous Kalai Ruti and Mashkalai Dal. Distinguished personalities and meritorious students from the district will also be honored during the event.

General Secretary Advocate Delwar Hossain stated that the festival aims to highlight Chapainawabganj’s history, culture, and potential at the national level while fostering social harmony and unity among expatriate residents of the district.

Eleven candidates, including Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami nominee Mohammad Yusuf Hakim Sohel, had their nominations canceled in Comilla-1, Comilla-2, and Comilla-3 constituencies. The decision came on Friday afternoon following a scrutiny session at the Comilla Deputy Commissioner's office, where the district returning officer declared their nomination papers invalid.

The returning officer, Md. Reza Hasan, confirmed the cancellations after the verification process. Meanwhile, the scrutiny committee validated the nominations of several candidates, including BNP nominees Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Khandaker Maruf Hossain, and others from Comilla-1, Comilla-2, and Comilla-3. Jamaat candidate Yusuf Sohel stated that his nomination was rejected due to a minor error and that he plans to appeal after resolving the issue.

Election-related sources explained that nominations can be canceled for errors, inconsistencies, or missing documents. According to Election Commission rules, disqualified candidates may appeal within the stipulated timeframe. The verification of nomination papers for the remaining five of Comilla’s eleven constituencies is scheduled for Saturday.

Renowned Bangladeshi rhymester Sukumar Barua passed away at 6:55 a.m. on Friday at JK Memorial Hospital in Gahira, Raozan upazila of Chattogram. He was 88 years old. His daughter Anjana Barua told the media that he had been hospitalized for a week at a medical center in Chattogram and was later moved to JK Memorial Hospital, where he died while under treatment due to fluid accumulation in his lungs.

Born on January 5, 1938, in Madhyam Binajuri village of Raozan, Barua began his career in the 1960s as a fourth-class employee at the University of Dhaka. He started writing in 1963 while living in a rented house on Topkhana Road and retired in 1999 as a storekeeper from the same university. Over nearly six decades, he became known by titles such as “Chhararaj” and “Chharashilpi” for his humorous and satirical rhymes that often carried moral lessons, patriotic spirit, and political messages.

Barua received the Ekushey Padak in 2017 for his contributions to language and literature, along with several other honors including the Bangla Academy Literary Award and the Bangladesh Shishu Academy Literary Award.

In the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election, candidates from the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami have submitted nomination papers for the Cox’s Bazar-4 constituency, which includes Ukhiya and Teknaf. Analysis of their affidavits shows a major disparity in wealth and income between BNP’s Shahjahan Chowdhury and Jamaat’s Principal Nur Ahmad Anwari. Shahjahan, the district BNP president and former MP, declared assets worth about Tk 10.9 crore, roughly 21 times higher than Anwari’s Tk 51.5 lakh.

According to Shahjahan’s affidavit, his annual income is around Tk 12 lakh, with most earnings from house rent, agriculture, and fisheries. His immovable assets include 15 acres of agricultural land, 0.52 acres of non-agricultural land, 20.66 acres of leased government land, a house, and 2.5 flats. He also owns a shotgun, a revolver, a Proton Jeep, and 10 tolas of gold, with no liabilities. In contrast, Anwari’s assets include a house, 0.6 acres of land, Tk 15.24 lakh in bank deposits, and 10 tolas of gold.

The nomination papers for Cox’s Bazar-4 will be scrutinized at the district returning officer’s office at noon on Saturday, where five candidates are competing in total.

A fruit trader named Ershad Khan, aged 35, was killed in a road accident in Naria upazila of Shariatpur on Friday morning. The incident occurred around 7 a.m. in front of the Naria Livestock Office on the Naria–Shariatpur road when a truck ran over him. Police later conducted an operation and detained both the truck and its driver.

According to the report, Ershad Khan, son of Mesher Kha from South Naria village under Naria municipality, was heading to Naria market by motorcycle as part of his daily routine. While overtaking a cement-laden truck, his motorcycle collided head-on with an oncoming trolley. He lost control, fell onto the road, and was crushed under the truck’s rear wheel, dying instantly at the scene.

The accident caused temporary disruption to traffic and deep sorrow among local residents. Police quickly arrived, brought the situation under control, and recovered the body. Naria Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md. Bahar Mia confirmed the incident.

Two motorcyclists were killed and two others injured when a speeding truck hit a motorcycle from behind in Gobindaganj upazila of Gaibandha early Thursday night. The accident occurred around midnight on the Dhaka–Rangpur highway at the Fasitla flyover area under Kamardah Union. The truck crushed the motorcycle, killing two riders on the spot. The truck’s helper and another motorcyclist were seriously injured and later taken to Gobindaganj Upazila Health Complex by the local fire service team.

The deceased were identified as Jony Mia, 40, of Buzruk Boalia village in Gobindaganj municipality, and Siddiqur Rahman Siddiq, 42, of Patoa village in Nakai Union. The injured motorcyclist was Shariful Islam, 45, from Dhankhunia village of the same union. Officer-in-Charge Mozzafar Hossain of Gobindaganj Highway Police confirmed the deaths, stating that the victims’ bodies were handed over to their families and the truck involved in the crash was seized.

Police have taken the truck into custody as part of the ongoing investigation into the fatal road accident.

Hasnat Abdullah, the central chief organizer (southern region) of the National Citizen Party (NCP), said his income decreased following the July Revolution. Speaking on Friday at a prayer event in Debidwar municipal hall for the late BNP chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia, he stated that his annual income is about 1.25 million taka, with total assets worth 5 million taka. Abdullah emphasized that his income had been higher before the revolution and claimed transparency about his earnings.

During his speech, Abdullah praised Khaleda Zia as an uncompromising leader who resisted autocracy and endured imprisonment. He called on supporters to back reform and change through a “yes” vote in the upcoming referendum. He also criticized the rule of fugitive Sheikh Hasina, alleging lack of freedom to express dissent, and pledged to defend political freedom in Debidwar.

Abdullah further warned against drug-linked politicians and urged expatriates to exercise their voting rights, noting that remittances would influence future elections. The event was attended by NCP and Jamaat leaders, including Jamaat candidate Saiful Islam Shahid.

Two independent candidates in Bhola-2 (Daulatkhan-Borhanuddin) constituency had their nomination papers canceled during the scrutiny process for the 13th National Parliamentary Election. The verification took place on Thursday under the supervision of Bhola Deputy Commissioner and Returning Officer Dr. Shamim Rahman, who rejected the nominations of Mohibullah Khokon and Taslima Begum after examining the required documents.

According to the Returning Officer, nomination papers of seven other candidates were declared valid following the review. These include BNP’s Md. Hafiz Ibrahim, Jamaat-e-Islami’s Mufti Maulana Fazlul Karim, Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish’s Maulana Abdus Sobhan, Liberal Democratic Party’s Mokfar Uddin Chowdhury, Jatiya Party’s Advocate Jahangir Alam Ritu, Amjonotar candidate Mohammad Alauddin, and independent candidate Zakir Hossain.

Officials from the district administration, police, National Board of Revenue, Rural Electrification Board, and local banks were present during the verification process organized by the Bhola district administration.

A doa and milad mahfil was held in Madaripur on Thursday evening in memory of former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia. The event took place at the DC Bridge area of the town, organized by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). Participants prayed for the forgiveness of Khaleda Zia’s soul and for peace and prosperity of the nation.

Following the prayers, party leaders, activists, and local worshippers paid their respects and expressed condolences for the late national leader. The gathering was attended by BNP’s Madaripur-2 constituency candidate Jahandar Ali Mia, district BNP convener Jafar Ali Mia, member Tofazzal Hossain Santu Khan, district Swechchhasebak Dal general secretary Advocate Masud Parvez, organizational secretary Mizan Shikder, and other leaders and activists from various BNP-affiliated organizations.

The event reflected the local BNP’s continued reverence for their late leader and served as a moment of collective remembrance and unity among party members in Madaripur.

On Friday, the third day after her burial, large numbers of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) leaders, activists, and ordinary citizens continued to visit the grave of former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia at the Jatiya Zia Udyan in Dhaka. Delegations arrived from various districts including Natore, Jhalokathi, and Faridpur to offer prayers at the graves of both Khaleda Zia and late President Ziaur Rahman.

Among those present were BNP leaders such as Aman Ullah Aman, Ruhul Kuddus Talukder Dulu, and Sanjida Islam Tuli, who led groups of party members and parliamentary candidates from different constituencies. From early morning, families and supporters gathered despite cold and foggy weather, reflecting the late leader’s enduring popularity and symbolic status as a figure of independence and sovereignty.

Khaleda Zia, who had been under treatment at Evercare Hospital for a prolonged illness, passed away on December 30. She was buried with state honors beside her husband, former President Ziaur Rahman, following funeral prayers at Manik Mia Avenue on Wednesday.

A severe cold wave and dense fog have paralyzed daily life in Bahubal upazila of Habiganj district. The cold weather has particularly affected day laborers, children, and the elderly, while continuous low temperatures have disrupted normal activities. Farmers are struggling to cultivate land, and livestock owners are facing difficulties protecting their animals. The dense fog, lasting from evening until noon, has reduced visibility on roads, forcing vehicles to move under risky conditions. The sun has not been visible for two days, preventing many workers from going to work.

The cold has also led to a rise in cold-related illnesses such as cough, pneumonia, and respiratory problems, especially among children and the elderly. Many patients have been admitted to the upazila health complex over the past week. Poor and homeless people are suffering acutely due to a shortage of warm clothing. Although local voluntary organizations and the upazila administration have begun distributing winter clothes, the assistance remains insufficient compared to the growing need.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has decided to remove all banners and posters across the country, including Dhaka, within three days. The decision was made under the directive of the party’s acting chairman Tareq Rahman. However, banners and posters expressing condolences for the late party chairperson Khaleda Zia will remain in place for a few more days. The removal drive was formally launched in front of the BNP’s central office in Naya Paltan, led by Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi.

A meeting was held at the BNP central office with top leaders from Dhaka North and South city units, as well as from the Jubo Dal, Swechchhasebak Dal, and Chhatra Dal. Rizvi emphasized that while banners and posters are a form of political expression, they can harm the city’s beauty and aesthetics. He said the initiative aims to ensure that no one’s rights are disrupted by political displays.

Rizvi added that responsibilities have been distributed among party units and that the cleanup will continue nationwide until all banners and posters, except mourning ones, are removed within the set timeframe.

January 2, 2026 marks the 50th anniversary of the killing of revolutionary leader Siraj Sikder, founder of the Purba Bangla Sarbahara Party. According to the report, Sikder was arrested in Chittagong on January 1, 1975, brought to Dhaka, and later killed by security forces under Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s government. The incident is described as the first major custodial killing in independent Bangladesh and is widely regarded as the country’s first case of extrajudicial execution.

Contemporary media reports and accounts from Sikder’s followers claim he was tortured and shot dead near Jahangirnagar University after being taken from the Rakkhi Bahini headquarters. However, the official police press note at the time stated that Sikder was killed while allegedly trying to escape from a police van in Savar’s Talbag area. A case was filed at Savar Police Station following the incident.

Sikder, born in 1944 in present-day Shariatpur, was influenced by Marxist-Leninist-Maoist ideology and led armed movements against multiple forces, including the Mujib government, which he accused of being pro-India.

Severe cold has disrupted daily life in Chuadanga, where the temperature dropped to 9.0 degrees Celsius on Friday morning, January 2, 2026. After five days without sunshine, residents finally saw the sun, but the cold remained intense. People were seen lighting fires to keep warm, while vehicles moved with headlights on due to fog. Hospitals reported an increase in patients, especially children and the elderly.

According to the Chuadanga Weather Office, the cold wave is being caused by northern winds, dense fog, and cloudy skies. The biting cold has severely affected day laborers and homeless people, forcing many to endure extreme hardship. Streets have become deserted, and poor and low-income families are struggling to find work, leading to worsening living conditions.

Acting officer Jaminnur Rahman of the Chuadanga Weather Office said humidity was 95 percent at 9 a.m. He added that the lowest temperature in the country was recorded in Jessore at 8 degrees Celsius.

BNP’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman’s daughter Jaima Rahman, along with other family members, visited the grave of former Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia at Zia Udyan in Dhaka on Friday morning. The family paid their respects around 10:30 a.m. Jaima was accompanied by Sharmila Rahman, wife of Khaleda Zia’s late younger son Arafat Rahman Koko, and other relatives.

During the visit, the family also offered prayers at the nearby grave of former President Ziaur Rahman, which is located within the same premises. The visit came days after Khaleda Zia passed away early Tuesday while undergoing treatment at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka. She was buried with state honors beside her husband, the late President Ziaur Rahman, following a funeral prayer held on Wednesday at Manik Mia Avenue.

The family’s visit marks one of the first public appearances at the grave following the burial, reflecting continued mourning within the BNP leadership and family circle.