The board of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), led by its president Mahmud Hasan Khan, visited the grave of former Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia at the Zia Udyan in Dhaka on Friday morning. The delegation laid floral wreaths and offered prayers seeking forgiveness for the late leader’s soul.

Senior Vice President Inamul Haque Khan, Vice Presidents Vidhya Amrit Khan and Md. Shihab Uddoja Chowdhury, and several directors including Shah Raeed Chowdhury, Faisal Samad, Nafis-ud-Doula, Mozumdar Arifur Rahman, Kazi Mizanur Rahman, Dr. Rashid Ahmed Hossaini, and Sakif Ahmed Salam accompanied the president. After the prayer, the BGMEA leaders stood in silence to honor her memory.

Speaking to the media, Mahmud Hasan Khan described Khaleda Zia as an uncompromising leader for democracy and acknowledged her contribution to the development of Bangladesh’s garment sector. He expressed condolences to her bereaved family and prayed for her eternal peace.

Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) has announced a special bus service to assist candidates appearing for the 2025–26 academic year undergraduate admission test under the agriculture cluster. The service will operate on January 3, with buses running before and after the exam along designated routes. The announcement was made on January 2 through a notice signed by Professor Dr. Mohammad Golzarul Aziz, Director of Transport at BAU.

According to the notice, three bus trips will run from Digharkanda Bypass and Kewatkhali Bypass to the university campus at 11 a.m., 12 p.m., and 1 p.m. After the exam, buses will depart from the university helipad at 3:30 p.m. to return candidates to their destinations. The initiative aims to reduce travel difficulties and ensure timely arrival at exam centers.

Additionally, BAU has reintroduced the “BAU Exam Hall Finder” for the third time and set up a central help desk to provide seating information and other assistance. The ICT Cell will operate a help desk to support candidates facing admit card or technical issues.

A Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) member was found dead from a rifle shot at the Gongerhat border outpost in Phulbari upazila of Kurigram early Thursday night. The deceased was identified as Nasim Uddin, 24, son of Abul Mondol from Khajura village in Jhenaidah. He was serving as a sepoy under Lalmonirhat BGB Battalion 15. According to police and BGB sources, Nasim was preparing for a border patrol when a gunshot was heard near the soldiers’ barracks around 12:45 a.m. Fellow members found him lying in a pool of blood and took him to Phulbari Health Complex, where doctors declared him dead.

Police and BGB officials believe Nasim may have taken his own life with his service rifle, as the bullet wound was found in the middle of his chest. However, the exact reason behind the suspected suicide remains unknown. Phulbari Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mahmud Hasan confirmed that an unnatural death case has been filed and the body sent for autopsy.

Attempts to reach the commanding officer of BGB Battalion 35 for an official statement were unsuccessful, leaving the force without a formal comment on the incident.

A special prayer and munajat were held on Friday after Juma prayers seeking forgiveness for former Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia. The event took place beside her grave at Zia Udyan in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka, led by BNP Standing Committee member Mirza Abbas. Leaders and activists from across the country joined the gathering, along with general worshippers, many of whom were seen in tears as they prayed.

The prayer session began immediately after Juma prayers, with participants visiting the grave in sequence to offer prayers for Khaleda Zia’s soul. Among the attendees was Md. Sajib Chowdhury from Turag, who said he had attended her funeral and came again on the first Friday to pray for her forgiveness. He described Khaleda Zia’s patience and determination during her political struggles, imprisonment, and illness as inspiring.

The gathering reflected the continued emotional connection of BNP supporters with their late leader, as people from different areas came together to honor her memory.

The Sylhet Press Club held its 2026–2027 biennial election on Thursday at the Subidbazar Club building in Sylhet city in a festive atmosphere. Out of 92 registered voters, 91 exercised their voting rights. Muktabis-un-Nur, editor of the Daily Jalalabad, was elected president, while Mohammad Sirajul Islam, chief reporter of the Daily Sylheter Dak, was elected general secretary. The election commission announced the results in the evening after the voting concluded.

Other elected office bearers include M A Hannan of the Daily Sylhet Bani as senior vice president, Md. Foysal Alam of the Daily Shubho Protidin as vice president, Khaled Ahmad (Mehedi) of Desh Television as joint secretary, Sheikh Ashraful Alam Nasir of The Daily Star as sports secretary, and Muhibur Rahman of the Daily Nawroj as library and publication secretary. Members elected include Amzad Hossain of Bangladesh Betar, Anas Habib Collins of the Daily Sylheter Dak, and Abdul Awal Shipar of Mohona Television.

The election was completed smoothly with strong participation from club members, reflecting an active and engaged journalist community in Sylhet.

Flight operations at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka were disrupted on Friday due to dense fog, prompting authorities to divert several flights to ensure passenger safety. According to airport sources, nine flights were redirected to alternative airports as visibility dropped sharply in the morning.

Of the diverted flights, four were sent to Chattogram’s Shah Amanat International Airport, four to Kolkata Airport in India, and one to Bangkok Airport in Thailand. The decision was taken as part of standard safety measures during adverse weather conditions.

Authorities later confirmed that flight operations gradually returned to normal as weather conditions improved. With visibility restored, all flights resumed regular takeoff and landing schedules at the Dhaka airport.

The Pay Commission has indicated that it aims to submit its final recommendations for the ninth pay scale to the government by mid-January 2026. According to commission sources, a tentative obligation exists to complete the submission within that period, though the exact date will be confirmed after the next full commission meeting. The report could be submitted earlier if all preparations are completed on time.

Discussions within the commission remain ongoing regarding the number of salary grades and the minimum and maximum pay levels. Members are divided on whether to retain the existing 20-grade structure or reduce it to 16 or 14 grades to address pay disparities. At least two more full meetings are expected before a consensus is reached and the final report is prepared.

The commission is currently analyzing hundreds of proposals and opinions received from various organizations and departments. Officials said that the drafting process is underway, but additional time is needed to ensure the recommendations are realistic and sustainable.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has released the full schedule for Bangladesh’s 2026 home cricket series. According to the announced calendar, Bangladesh will host Pakistan, New Zealand, Australia, India, and the West Indies across all three formats—Tests, One-Day Internationals, and Twenty20s—making it one of the busiest years for the national team.

Pakistan will visit in March for a three-match ODI series on March 12, 14, and 16, followed by a return in May for a two-match Test series that forms part of the ICC World Test Championship. Between April and May, Bangladesh will face New Zealand in three ODIs and three T20Is. In June, Australia will play three ODIs and three T20Is, while India will tour in August–September for three ODIs and three T20Is. The year will conclude with a two-match Test series against the West Indies in October–November, preceded by a three-day warm-up match.

Additionally, Sri Lanka ‘A’ will tour Bangladesh in May for two four-day matches and three one-day games against Bangladesh ‘A’. The packed schedule has generated renewed excitement among local cricket fans.

The nomination paper of Mahmudur Rahman Manna, president of Nagorik Oikya and former DUCSU vice president, has been canceled for the Bogura-2 (Shibganj) constituency. The district returning officer and Bogura Deputy Commissioner Md. Taufiqul Islam announced the decision on Friday at 4 p.m. during the scrutiny of nomination papers for the 13th National Parliamentary Election. The cancellation was based on inconsistencies in the affidavit information and discrepancies in the date of signature on the notary public documents. The returning officer advised that appeals could be filed against the decision.

Earlier, the nomination of Jatiya Party’s former MP Shariful Islam Jinnah was also canceled due to a pending case related to the July Movement attack. Other valid candidates for the constituency include Mir Shahe Alam (BNP), Maulana Abul Azad Md. Shahadatuzzaman (Jamaat-e-Islami), and Md. Jamal Uddin (Islami Andolan). A total of seven candidates had submitted nomination forms for Bogura-2, but the nominations of Ganadhikar Parishad’s Selim Sarkar and independent candidate Rezaul Karim Talukder were also rejected.

A hearing-impaired farmer named Akimuddin Kazi was killed after being struck by a Dhaka-bound train in Bhanga upazila of Faridpur district on Friday morning. The incident occurred around 7:30 a.m. near the Brahmankanda railway bridge in Manikdah Union. The death was confirmed by local Union Parishad member Mohammad Alamgir Hossain. Railway station manager Zillur Rahman said the body was handed over to the family as no complaint was filed.

According to local sources, Akimuddin left his home early in the morning without informing anyone and was crossing the railway bridge when the moving train hit him. Family members, with help from locals, recovered the body before railway police arrived. Akimuddin, son of the late Hossain Kazi, was the father of three sons and one daughter. His death has cast a shadow of grief over the area.

Police confirmed that no further legal action was taken as the family did not lodge any complaint regarding the incident.

The admission test for the science faculty’s A unit of Chittagong University’s 2025–26 academic session was held on Friday from 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Various student organizations, including Chittagong University Central Students’ Union (ChakSU), Chhatra Dal, and Chhatra Shibir, provided assistance to examinees and their guardians. This year, 233,327 students are competing for 4,165 seats across four units and three sub-units, meaning 56 candidates per seat.

ChakSU set up six information centers, six guardian pavilions, and two medical booths across the campus to guide and support visitors. It also formed three patrol teams to prevent irregularities such as overcharging at food stalls and in transport, and published a hotline number for complaints. Chhatra Dal and Chhatra Shibir each deployed around 200 volunteers to distribute water, pens, and snacks, and to offer basic medical help. Leaders from these groups said their goal was to ensure a smooth and supportive environment for all candidates.

According to ChakSU leaders, the presence of an active student union this year contributed to a better experience for examinees compared to previous years.

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.