Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) has distributed around BDT 2 million in financial incentives to 21 churches across the capital ahead of Christmas. The initiative, funded from the administrator’s discretionary fund, aims to support religious events, social welfare activities, and community preparations for the holiday.

DNCC Administrator Mohammad Ejaz extended greetings to all residents, emphasizing the city’s commitment to ensuring a safe and festive environment for people of all faiths. He stated that DNCC seeks to foster a multicultural, humane city where citizens of every religion and culture can live without fear or discrimination. The administrator reaffirmed that the corporation values civic harmony, tolerance, and mutual respect, pledging continued practical support for major religious festivals.

Similar financial assistance was previously provided by DNCC during Eid and Durga Puja, reflecting an ongoing policy of promoting interfaith cooperation and social inclusion within Dhaka’s diverse urban community.

Bangladesh has indefinitely suspended visa services for Indian citizens following a series of violent attacks and threats against its diplomatic missions in India. The decision, confirmed by multiple sources at the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi, comes after repeated security breaches, including vandalism and arson at mission offices in Delhi, Siliguri, and Guwahati. Dhaka cited inadequate protection for its diplomats and accused Indian authorities of failing to ensure safety despite repeated requests.

The violence, reportedly led by Hindu nationalist groups such as the Vishva Hindu Parishad and Hindu Jagaran Manch, has intensified amid political mobilization in several Indian states. Demonstrators, some linked to opposition leader Suvendu Adhikari, attempted to storm the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission in Kolkata and burned effigies of interim government adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus. Bangladesh’s Foreign Affairs Adviser Touhid Hossain rejected India’s explanation of the incidents, calling them unacceptable breaches of diplomatic norms.

Analysts warn that the escalating hostility could push Dhaka to further reduce its diplomatic presence in India if security conditions do not improve, marking one of the most strained phases in bilateral relations in recent years.

BNP candidate for Nilphamari-4 constituency and Syedpur district BNP president, Principal Abdul Gafur Sarkar, announced that if the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) returns to power, it will ensure Bangladesh’s rightful share of Teesta River water from India. Speaking at a press briefing at Kishoreganj Press Club on Monday, he warned that if India delays, the issue could be taken to an international court.

Sarkar emphasized that his constituency is heavily dependent on agriculture and that fair access to Teesta water would transform local farming. He also outlined broader BNP plans, including introducing agricultural, family, and health cards, and creating employment opportunities for youth. The meeting was chaired by Abu Hasan Sheikh, president of the local press club, and attended by several BNP and community leaders.

The Teesta water-sharing issue has long been a sensitive bilateral matter between Bangladesh and India. Sarkar’s remarks reflect renewed political focus on water diplomacy ahead of upcoming national elections.

A Dhaka court has imposed a travel ban on Dr. Md. Jalal Uddin, the BNP-nominated candidate for Chandpur-2 constituency, along with four others, in connection with allegations of amassing illegal wealth and laundering money abroad. The order was issued on Sunday, December 21, following an application by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) investigation officer. Senior Special Judge Mohammad Abdullah Al Mamun approved the request after reviewing the case documents and hearing the public prosecutor.

According to ACC Director General Md. Akhter Hossain, Dr. Jalal is the principal suspect in the case, which involves attempts to legalize illicit income through bank transfers and overseas remittances. The ACC argued that the accused might attempt to flee the country, potentially obstructing the ongoing investigation and evidence collection. The court accepted this reasoning and granted the travel restriction.

The decision comes amid heightened scrutiny of election candidates’ financial transparency ahead of Bangladesh’s 13th national polls. The ACC’s investigation continues under the Money Laundering Prevention Act, with further legal action expected if sufficient evidence is found.

National Democratic Party (JAGPA) Vice President and spokesperson Rashed Pradhan inaugurated a 'Pillar of Hatred' in Dhaka’s Paltan area on Monday, displaying photographs of those allegedly responsible for the killing of Inquilab Mancha spokesperson Sharif Osman Hadi. The symbolic structure was unveiled ten days after Hadi was shot dead, with Pradhan condemning the interim government for failing to arrest the perpetrators.

During the event, Pradhan accused the authorities of negligence, saying that the planners, financiers, and executors of the murder remained at large. He expressed deep resentment on behalf of the people of Bangladesh and demanded that Box Culvert Road be renamed 'Shaheed Osman Hadi Road.' He also urged the government to permit the construction of a permanent memorial, pledging that it would be funded by citizens.

The incident has sparked renewed criticism of law enforcement’s slow progress in politically sensitive murder investigations, with opposition groups calling for greater accountability and transparency from the interim administration.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has strongly condemned comments made by Nurul Kabir, editor of the New Age newspaper, during a recent television talk show. In a statement issued Monday, Jamaat’s Assistant Secretary General and head of its publicity division, Advocate Ehsanul Mahbub Zubair, said the remarks were hurtful and based on misinformation. He rejected Kabir’s allegations that Jamaat or its affiliates were involved in violent acts or sought to delay elections for political gain.

Zubair emphasized that Jamaat’s leadership supports holding free and fair elections in February and dismissed claims that the party links religious beliefs with voting behavior. He described Kabir’s comments as undemocratic and divisive, urging responsible journalism and constructive criticism instead. The statement also refuted Kabir’s claim that Jamaat’s political evolution involved hypocrisy, calling such language inappropriate for a senior journalist.

The exchange highlights ongoing tensions between political parties and sections of the media ahead of Bangladesh’s upcoming elections, where issues of faith, democracy, and political legitimacy remain highly sensitive.

BNP’s Dhaka-6 candidate and convener of the Nationalist Generation of Liberation War, Engineer Ishraq Hossain, has strongly criticized what he described as deliberate attempts to distort and demean Bangladesh’s 1971 Liberation War. Speaking at a wreath-laying ceremony at the mausoleum of former President Ziaur Rahman in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, he said false and misleading narratives were being spread to obscure one party’s role in the war, calling such propaganda deeply condemnable.

Hossain urged unity among pro-democracy and nationalist groups, warning that internal divisions were enabling violence against patriots and allowing perpetrators to escape justice. He also accused the government of failing to implement necessary administrative and electoral reforms, alleging that it operates with the support of Prime Minister Hasina’s allies. Senior BNP leaders including Ruhul Kabir Rizvi attended the event.

He further requested prayers for BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s recovery and announced a major gathering on December 25, inviting party members nationwide to join without obstruction.

Bangladesh’s interim government, led by Dr. Muhammad Yunus, is set to announce a significant reshuffle in its advisory council on Tuesday, December 23, according to reliable sources. The move follows mounting criticism over the handling of the killing of Sharif Osman bin Hadi, a spokesperson of the Inquilab Mancha and a key figure in the July uprising. Several advisers have faced public pressure and allegations of inaction or misconduct.

Information Adviser Mahfuz Alam and Sports Adviser Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan recently resigned to contest upcoming elections, while Law Adviser Asif Nazrul and Home Adviser Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Jahangir Alam have come under fire for their roles in recent controversies. The failure to arrest the main suspect in Hadi’s killing and the early bail of an accused in a separate arms case have intensified demands for accountability.

The reshuffle marks another test for the 16-month-old interim administration that took power after the fall of a 15-year authoritarian regime. Analysts say the changes may aim to restore public trust and stabilize governance ahead of the planned national elections.

A Dhaka court has directed the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to preserve the DNA sample of Sharif Osman Hadi, convener of the Inquilab Mancha, as part of an ongoing investigation into his death. The order was issued on Monday by Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Awlad Hossain Mohammad Junayed following a petition from Detective Branch Inspector Faisal Ahmed.

According to the petition, Hadi was injured by gunfire from unidentified assailants in Dhaka’s Bijoynagar area on December 12. He was treated at Dhaka Medical College and Evercare Hospital before being transferred to Singapore General Hospital, where he died on December 18. His body was returned to Bangladesh on December 19, and a post-mortem examination was conducted the next day by Dr. Nashat Zabin of Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College.

The court emphasized that preserving the DNA sample at the CID’s profiling laboratory is essential for ensuring a fair and thorough investigation. The Chief DNA Analyst of the Bangladesh Police Forensic Department has been assigned to oversee the profiling and storage process.

The central committee of the Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (BNP’s student wing) has suspended Mehedi Hasan Bandhan, literature and publication secretary of Noakhali Science and Technology University (NSTU) Chhatra Dal, for three months. The decision, announced in a press release signed by office secretary Md Jahangir Alam, cited organizational misconduct after Bandhan joined a protest rally demanding justice for the killing of Inquilab Mancha spokesperson Sharif Osman Hadi.

The suspension followed a campus-wide demonstration on December 18, where students from various backgrounds protested Hadi’s shooting. While central Chhatra Dal leaders organized a separate rally, Bandhan’s participation in the earlier joint protest was deemed a breach of party discipline. NSTU Chhatra Dal president Zahid Hasan stated that the organization respects Hadi’s legacy but must uphold internal rules.

The incident highlights ongoing tensions within student political groups over participation in broader civic movements. Observers say the decision underscores the BNP student wing’s efforts to maintain centralized control amid growing campus activism.

At least ten people were injured on Monday evening in a violent clash between activists of the district unit of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (BNP’s student wing) and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) in Shariatpur town. The confrontation occurred at the Chowrangi intersection following an argument over a motorcycle passing through an NCP protest march demanding justice for a local killing. Witnesses reported chase-and-counter-chase incidents and the explosion of crude bombs during the altercation.

Police and hospital sources confirmed that the injured, including several local leaders from both groups, were treated at Shariatpur Sadar Hospital, while one was transferred to Dhaka for advanced care. Leaders from both sides blamed each other for initiating the violence. District police stated that the situation was brought under control shortly after their intervention and that the area is now calm.

Authorities have increased patrols in the town to prevent further unrest, while local political observers warned that recurring street confrontations between rival political groups could escalate ahead of upcoming national political activities.

National Citizens Party (NCP) convener Nahid Islam has claimed that the recent wave of violent incidents across Bangladesh was not spontaneous but part of a deliberate political conspiracy. Speaking at a joint protest meeting titled “Bangladesh Affected by Mob Violence” at the Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel in Dhaka, he said the attacks on media houses, including Prothom Alo and The Daily Star, were premeditated and aimed at destabilizing the political environment.

Islam alleged that the attackers exploited the slogans, names of martyrs, and language of the July uprising to justify their actions and generate social support for violence. He emphasized that thousands were involved, proving it was not an isolated event. According to him, the post-revolution law and order weakness allowed organized crimes to flourish, steering national politics and the upcoming elections toward a specific agenda.

The NCP leader expressed disappointment that the aspirations of the July movement to build a new Bangladesh have been derailed, urging accountability from those who initially led the movement.

Bangladesh Railway has announced that it will operate 20 special trains on ten routes on December 25 to facilitate travel for Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) leaders, activists, and supporters arriving in Dhaka to welcome the party’s acting chairman, Tareque Rahman, upon his return to the country. The decision was confirmed in a statement issued by the Ministry of Railways on December 22.

According to the ministry, the move follows formal requests from BNP’s central and regional offices for additional transportation arrangements. Alongside the special trains, several regular services will receive extra coaches to accommodate increased passenger demand. The initiative is expected to generate approximately 3.6 million taka in revenue. However, three regular trains—Rajbari Commuter, Dhalarchar Express, and Rohanpur Commuter—will suspend operations for one day to support the special schedule.

The ministry expressed regret for any temporary inconvenience to passengers on affected routes. The special trains will operate on major routes including Cox’s Bazar, Khulna, Rajshahi, Jessore, and Panchagarh, ensuring nationwide connectivity for the event.

Late on December 18, coordinated attacks targeted the headquarters of two major Bangladeshi newspapers, Prothom Alo and The Daily Star. The assailants vandalized, looted, and set fire to both buildings, causing extensive damage. Several journalists at The Daily Star were trapped inside before being rescued by law enforcement. Police have arrested 17 suspects and launched operations to apprehend others believed to be involved.

Following the incident, The Daily Star editor Mahfuz Anam described it as the first instance since Bangladesh’s independence that a media office had been set on fire. However, historical records show earlier attacks on news organizations, including the 2013 arson at the Naya Diganta office in Dhaka and the 2019 vandalism at the Sangram newspaper office. These precedents highlight a troubling pattern of violence against the press.

The recent assaults have reignited concerns about press freedom and journalist safety in Bangladesh. Media watchdogs and civil society groups have urged authorities to ensure accountability and prevent further intimidation of journalists.

A Dhaka court has ordered 15 individuals to be sent to jail in connection with the violent attack, arson, and looting at the office of national daily Prothom Alo in Karwan Bazar. Metropolitan Magistrate Md. Jewel Rana issued the order after a hearing on Monday evening, rejecting bail petitions for 12 of the accused. Police said the arrests were made following multiple raids based on intelligence and witness accounts.

According to the case statement, on December 18, a mob of 400–500 people gathered outside the newspaper’s office after being incited through social media posts. The attackers vandalized gates, broke glass panels, looted valuables including cash and electronics, and set parts of the building on fire, causing an estimated loss of BDT 320 million. Police recovered BDT 50,000 in stolen cash and goods from one suspect.

The investigation remains ongoing as authorities verify the suspects’ identities and addresses. The court emphasized that continued detention is necessary to ensure an impartial and thorough investigation into the large-scale attack on one of Bangladesh’s leading media institutions.