Two associates of the prime accused in the murder of Inqilab Manch spokesman Shahid Sharif Osman Hadi have confessed their involvement before a Dhaka court. On Thursday, January 1, Metropolitan Magistrate Jamshed Alam recorded the confessional statements of Sanjay Chisim and Md. Faisal after they were produced in court. The investigating officer, DB Police Inspector Faisal Ahmed, had applied to record their statements, after which the court sent both to jail.

Earlier, the Rapid Action Battalion recovered the weapon used in the attempted murder from Tarua Beel in Narsingdi district and arrested Faisal, who is a friend of the main accused Faisal Karim Masud’s brother-in-law. The case was initially filed as an attempted murder case on December 14 by Abdullah Al Jaber, member secretary of Inqilab Manch, and later upgraded under Section 302. So far, ten people have been arrested in connection with the case.

Among the arrested, six others have already confessed, while the main accused Faisal Karim Masud has been barred by the court from leaving the country.

Mohammad Mamunul Haque has submitted his nomination papers to contest the national parliamentary election from Dhaka-13 constituency (electoral area no. 186). According to the affidavit filed with the Election Commission on December 28, 2025, his current profession is teaching. He reported an annual income of 1,315,334 taka, of which 656,890 taka comes from teaching and consultancy, and the rest from business. His 2025–26 tax return shows an annual income of 876,890 taka, for which he paid 59,034 taka in taxes. He declared cash holdings of 8,302,837 taka, bonds worth 100,000 taka, furniture valued at 200,000 taka, and non-agricultural land and other assets totaling 8,188,558 taka.

The affidavit states that three criminal cases are currently pending against him. One case under the Explosives Act of 1908 is being tried in the Senior Metropolitan Special Tribunal-5, Dhaka; another case in the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court is stayed by the High Court; and a third case under the Anti-Terrorism Act 2009 is under investigation in the Chief Judicial Magistrate Court, Chattogram. He also mentioned that out of 38 previous cases filed at Paltan Police Station, 32 were withdrawn, he was acquitted in five, and discharged in one.

The affidavit lists his date of birth as September 3, 1973, age 53, with a master’s degree. His father is Maulana Azizul Haque, mother Chhara Begum, and wife Amina Taiyeba. He has four sons, all students. His current address is in Mohammadpur, Dhaka, and his permanent address is in Azimpur, Dhaka.

National Citizen Party (NCP) member secretary Akhtar Hossain has declared total assets worth Tk 2.7 million in his affidavit submitted for the 13th National Parliamentary Election. The affidavit shows that he owns no house or car, and his annual income from agriculture, business, and employment amounts to Tk 505,000. He is contesting from the Rangpur-4 (Kaunia-Pirgacha) constituency.

According to the affidavit, Akhtar Hossain identified himself as an apprentice lawyer and his wife, Sanjida Akter, as a homemaker. He holds Tk 1.3 million in cash, while his wife has Tk 400,000. The couple also has Tk 299,426 deposited in banks. Additionally, Akhtar owns jewelry worth Tk 700,000, and his wife owns jewelry valued at Tk 1 million. His immovable assets include 18 percent of agricultural land valued at Tk 23,000.

The affidavit provides a detailed breakdown of both movable and immovable assets, reflecting transparency in the candidate’s financial disclosure ahead of the upcoming election.

The government of Bangladesh has reduced the prices of all types of fuel by Tk 2 per liter. The Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources announced the decision in a press release issued on Wednesday, December 31. The new prices will take effect from Thursday, January 1. According to the announcement, the retail price of diesel has been reduced from Tk 104 to Tk 102 per liter, octane from Tk 124 to Tk 122, petrol from Tk 120 to Tk 118, and kerosene from Tk 116 to Tk 114.

The ministry stated that fuel prices are adjusted monthly through an automated system to align with fluctuations in global oil markets. The revised pricing formula aims to ensure the supply of fuel at comparatively affordable rates for consumers in January.

The adjustment reflects the government’s ongoing policy of synchronizing domestic fuel prices with international market trends, maintaining stability in the energy sector and consumer costs.

Students of the 104th batch of Dhaka University observed a day-long fasting, prayer, and remembrance program on Thursday, January 1, under the initiative titled 'Monajate Insaf'. The event, held at the TSC area of the campus, honored the memory of Shaheed Osman Hadi and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia. Participants fasted throughout the day, held a collective Quran recitation after the noon prayer, and performed Salatul Hajat in the afternoon. Later, they visited Osman Hadi’s grave, offered prayers for his and Begum Zia’s souls, and concluded with a communal iftar before Maghrib.

At the prayer gathering, Fatima Tasnim Juma, convener of the Dhaka University branch of Inquilab Monch, delivered a speech emphasizing Osman Hadi’s anti-hegemonic cultural struggle. She said Hadi believed in collective participation across organizations to advance such movements. Juma urged students to uphold national identity through art, literature, and culture, and to intellectually resist any misrepresentation of Bangladesh’s heritage.

She further stressed that cultural expression should reflect the voice and identity of Bangladesh, encouraging creative responses rather than censorship when confronting cultural distortions.

President of Bangladesh has appointed Additional Attorney General Mohammad Arshadur Rouf as the acting Attorney General. The appointment was announced through a gazette signed by Law Ministry Secretary Liakat Ali Molla on Thursday, January 1, 2026. The order stated that Rouf will assume additional responsibility for the post of Attorney General with immediate effect.

The position became vacant after Attorney General Md. Asaduzzaman submitted his resignation to the President on December 27, citing personal reasons. His resignation was processed through the Law Ministry. According to the report, Asaduzzaman stepped down to contest in the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election as a BNP candidate from Jhenaidah-1 constituency.

Previously, following the fall of the Hasina government on August 5, 2024, then-Attorney General A. M. Amin Uddin resigned on August 7, and Asaduzzaman was appointed as the 17th Attorney General on August 8. Rouf will now temporarily hold this key constitutional position until further appointment.

Bangladesh has reduced taxes on mobile phones, according to Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam. He announced that the customs duty on imported mobile phones has been cut from 25 percent to 10 percent, while the tax on locally produced phones has been lowered from 10 percent to 5 percent. The announcement was made on Thursday afternoon at a briefing held at the Foreign Service Academy auditorium in Dhaka.

The press secretary said the government expects this move to expand the country’s mobile phone industry. He noted that many used phones are imported, refurbished, and sold domestically, which harms consumers and causes tax losses for the government. The new tax structure is expected to increase demand for locally produced phones and reduce their prices.

During the same briefing, officials also discussed textbook distribution for the new academic year, stating that 83 percent of books have already been delivered to students and the rest will be distributed by January 15 after correcting errors in 123 titles.

The Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) administration has confirmed that the central student union (ShakSU) election will be held on January 20, following the previously announced roadmap. The confirmation comes after Jagannath University postponed its own student union election due to the death of former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia. Despite the national election approaching, SUST officials stated that preparations for the ShakSU vote are continuing as planned, with nominated candidates already campaigning.

Professor Dr. Md. Nazrul Islam, spokesperson for the ShakSU Election Commission, said there is no reason to doubt the timely organization of the election. He emphasized that the commission is working even during university closure periods to ensure the process remains on schedule. According to him, the upcoming national election will not affect the university’s internal electoral process.

The university administration reiterated that all activities are proceeding according to the announced roadmap, aiming to hold the election without disruption on the scheduled date.

Businessman Jasim Uddin Ahmed, once known as a close associate of former IGP Benazir Ahmed during the Awami League era, has been nominated by the BNP to contest from Chattogram-14 constituency. His election affidavit shows Tk 15.01 crore in cash and his wife’s legal savings of Tk 14.57 lakh. The declaration lacks clear explanations about the source, banking records, or income consistency behind such large cash holdings, sparking debate over whether old political influences still persist.

BNP insiders said Jasim was nominated at the last moment by the party’s central leadership without consulting the South District BNP, prompting internal criticism. Local sources claim he had close ties with former ministers and ex-IGPs Benazir Ahmed and Shahidul Haque. Photos of his meetings with them have circulated on social media. Jasim was previously elected as an independent chairman in the 2024 upazila polls, which BNP boycotted, and was once jailed in a 2024 attempted murder case.

South District BNP convener Idris Mia said the party likely chose Jasim for his financial capacity to challenge rival candidates, adding that local leaders would now support the central decision.

A Dhaka court has ordered the seizure of a multi-storey building and land in Gulshan owned by Afroza Begum, wife of Bashundhara Group Chairman Ahmed Akbar Sobhan, following corruption allegations. The Metropolitan Senior Special Judge’s Court, presided over by Acting Judge Md. Alamgir, issued the order on Thursday, January 1, in response to a petition from the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). The order also includes the confiscation of 3.377 acres of land in the Vatara area of Dhaka.

According to court information, ACC Deputy Director Md. Jahangir Alam filed the petition seeking the seizure, citing money laundering allegations against Sobhan and his associates. A ten-member investigation team has been formed to probe the allegations. Investigators reportedly found evidence suggesting that Sobhan and his family members own substantial illegal assets both in Bangladesh and abroad.

The court noted that Afroza Begum was attempting to transfer ownership of her immovable properties, which could undermine the ongoing investigation and potential legal proceedings. The seizure was therefore deemed necessary to ensure fair investigation and justice.

A funeral in absentia for BNP Chairperson and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia was held in Bhangura, Pabna, on Thursday, January 1. The prayer took place after Asr at the Government Haji Jamal Uddin Degree Honors College field in the municipal area. The event was organized by the upazila and municipal units of the BNP, drawing hundreds of party leaders, activists, and local residents. The prayer was led by Hafiz Maulana Ashraf Ali.

Before the prayer, brief speeches were delivered by several local BNP leaders, including former upazila president Mojibur Rahman, convenor Nur Mojahid Swapon, member secretary Sardar Zafar Iqbal Hirok, senior joint convenor Abdul Aziz, former organizing secretary Abdul Matin Raju, municipal BNP president Rafiqul Islam, and general secretary Saidul Islam Buruj.

The gathering reflected local BNP members’ participation in honoring their party leader through the religious ceremony organized at the upazila level.

The Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir Rajshahi University (RU) branch has announced its new committee for the 2025–26 session. Mujahid Faisal was elected president, and Hafiz Mehedi Hasan was appointed secretary general. The announcement was made on Thursday afternoon through an official statement on the organization’s Facebook page. The election took place during a members’ assembly at the university, where voting was conducted using ballot papers signed by the central president.

After vote counting, Secretary General Sibgatullah declared Mujahid Faisal as the new president and administered his oath. Based on members’ consultation, Faisal nominated Mehedi Hasan as the branch secretary. According to Shibir sources, Faisal previously served as secretary in the outgoing committee and is a student of the Islamic Studies Department from the 2016–17 session, currently pursuing an MPhil. Mehedi Hasan is a student of the Arabic Department from the 2018–19 session.

The newly elected leaders are expected to announce the full committee soon. The assembly was attended by the central education secretary Ibrahim Hossain, outgoing president Mostakur Rahman Zahid, and branch members.

Khan Muhammad Mursaleen, the central joint chief coordinator of the National Citizens Party (NCP), has resigned from all his party positions. He announced his resignation on Thursday, January 1, through a Facebook post, stating that he was stepping down from his responsibilities effective immediately.

In his post, Mursaleen mentioned that he had served as the central joint chief coordinator of the NCP and had also worked in the party’s media, publicity, and publication cells. Recently, he had been serving as the secretary of the party’s election-time media subcommittee for a short period. He confirmed that he was resigning from all duties and posts within the NCP from that day.

The report did not specify the reasons behind his resignation or any official response from the party leadership regarding his departure.

On January 1, 2026, students in Tongi, Gazipur, received new textbooks marking the start of the academic year. Children from pre-primary to fifth grade were given their new books at Haji Kachimuddin Public School, Tilarghati M.A. Gani High School, and Upoma Memorial School. The students expressed joy and excitement upon receiving the books.

However, due to a three-day national mourning period following the death of former Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia, the usual book festival was not held this year. Teachers from several other schools, including Tongi Safiuddin Government Academy and Al Helal Academy, said that book distribution for their students would take place on Sunday.

According to M.A. Gani High School’s head teacher, Lutfor Rahman Liton, books for grades six to nine had not yet arrived but would be distributed once received.

Chattogram City Corporation (CCC) has launched a vaccination campaign targeting 15,000 stray dogs across the city’s 41 wards to eliminate rabies. The initiative was announced during an advocacy meeting held on Thursday at the CCC office in Tigerpass, chaired by the corporation’s Chief Health Officer Dr. Md. Imam Hossain Rana and attended by Acting Chief Executive Officer and Secretary Md. Ashraful Amin.

Speakers at the meeting emphasized that regular and well-planned vaccination of stray dogs could significantly reduce the risk of rabies in the city. They urged residents to cooperate with the program in the interest of public health.

The campaign is part of CCC’s broader effort to make Chattogram a rabies-free city through sustained and systematic vaccination drives.