Bangladesh Bank’s foreign exchange reserves have reached their highest level in three years, standing at 33 billion dollars, according to data released on Tuesday. The central bank has been purchasing dollars from local banks as remittance inflows rise and foreign loans arrive, pushing reserves up to 33.18 billion dollars. Under the IMF’s BPM6 accounting method, reserves are recorded at 28.51 billion dollars.

Bangladesh Bank bought 890 million dollars from seven banks through auction at a rate of 122.30 taka per dollar. In the first six months of the current fiscal year, total purchases reached 3.13 billion dollars, with more than 1 billion dollars bought in December alone. Governor Ahsan H. Mansur stated that reserves are expected to reach 34–35 billion dollars by the end of December, emphasizing that the increase is being achieved through domestic dollar purchases rather than external borrowing.

Remittance inflows have also strengthened, with 3.04 billion dollars arriving in the first 29 days of December. For the 2024–25 fiscal year, total remittances reached 30.33 billion dollars, up from 23.91 billion dollars in the previous year.

Three prominent Islamic scholars carried the coffin of BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia after her funeral prayers in Dhaka. The scholars were As-Sunnah Foundation Chairman Shaykh Ahmadullah, Islamic speaker Maulana Mizanur Rahman Azhari, and Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish Amir Maulana Mamunul Haque. The event took place on Wednesday at Manik Mia Avenue, where they joined Khaleda Zia’s relatives in carrying her coffin following the funeral prayers.

A delegation from Jamaat-e-Islami, led by its Amir Dr. Shafiqur Rahman, also attended the funeral. The delegation included senior party leaders such as Naib-e-Amir Maulana ANM Shamsul Islam, Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar, Assistant Secretary General Maulana ATM Ma’sum, and several other central and city-level leaders. The presence of these figures reflected participation from various Islamic and political groups at the ceremony.

The gathering at Manik Mia Avenue drew people from different parts of the country, marking a significant moment of farewell for the BNP leader.

The President of Bangladesh has issued the 'Smoking and Tobacco Products Use (Control) (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025', expanding the scope of public smoking restrictions and increasing penalties. The ordinance, released Tuesday night by the Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Law Ministry, raises the maximum fine for public smoking from 300 taka to 2,000 taka. It also broadens the definition of public places to include educational institutions, restaurants, hotels, shopping malls, transport terminals, parks, and fairs.

The amendment eliminates designated smoking zones, meaning no public place may now have a separate area for smoking. Smoking and tobacco use are also banned in building balconies, entrances, and surrounding open spaces. Additionally, the ordinance introduces mandatory standard packaging for tobacco products and increases the size of pictorial health warnings on cigarette packs from 50 percent to 75 percent of the surface area.

According to the government, these stricter measures aim to reduce tobacco use and protect public health nationwide.

From January to December 2025, at least 34 Bangladeshi nationals were killed by India’s Border Security Force (BSF) in various frontier areas, according to the annual human rights report released Wednesday by Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK). The report stated that 24 of the victims were shot dead, while 10 others died after physical assault. During the same period, 38 people were injured by gunfire or physical attacks, and 14 were abducted, four of whom were later returned to Bangladesh.

ASK’s report also highlighted a sharp rise in mob violence across the country during the year. It noted that people were beaten or killed based on suspicion or rumors without evidence, investigation, or legal process. The organization observed that law enforcement agencies often remained inactive and showed reluctance to bring perpetrators to justice. In some cases, mobs carried out killings and assaults in the presence of security forces, which ASK described as a serious threat to the rule of law and a cause of unprecedented disorder in society.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has imposed restrictions across the city during the state mourning period declared following the death of former Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia. The mourning will be observed from Wednesday, December 31, to Friday, January 2. The DMP issued a public notice on Tuesday outlining several prohibitions to maintain decorum during this time.

According to the notice signed by DMP Commissioner Sheikh Md. Sajjat Ali, all forms of fireworks, firecrackers, sky lanterns, and gas balloons are banned within the Dhaka metropolitan area. Public cultural events, DJ parties, rallies, and processions are also prohibited. Additionally, residents have been instructed to refrain from loud horn use or any activities that may cause public disturbance.

The DMP urged full cooperation from city residents to ensure compliance with these directives throughout the mourning period.

President of Bangladesh has issued the 'Smoking and Tobacco Products Use (Control) (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025', expanding penalties and restrictions on public smoking. The ordinance, announced by the Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Ministry of Law on Tuesday night, increases the maximum fine for smoking in public from 300 taka to 2,000 taka.

The amendment revises the 2005 law to strengthen public health protections. It broadens the definition of public places to include educational institutions, restaurants, hotels, shopping malls, transport terminals, parks, and fairs, in addition to government offices and hospitals. Smoking and tobacco use are now fully prohibited in building balconies, entrances, and surrounding open spaces. The ordinance also abolishes designated smoking zones, meaning no public place may now have a separate smoking area.

New packaging rules require standard packaging for all tobacco products and expand pictorial health warnings on cigarette packs from 50 percent to 75 percent of the surface area. The government stated that these measures aim to reduce tobacco use and protect public health.

The government’s Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase has approved several major procurement proposals, including the purchase of 70,000 metric tons of fertilizer, 50,000 metric tons of non-basmati parboiled rice, and 10,000 metric tons of phosphoric acid. The approvals were given at the committee’s 52nd meeting of the year, held virtually on Tuesday and chaired by Economic Adviser Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed. The Food Ministry will buy the rice through international open tender at a cost of about Tk 220.05 crore for the 2025–26 fiscal year to strengthen national food reserves.

The Industry Ministry received approval for multiple proposals to ensure uninterrupted fertilizer supply for the agriculture sector. These include importing 10,000 metric tons of phosphoric acid for Triple Super Phosphate Complex Ltd, 30,000 metric tons of bagged granular urea from Bangladesh’s KAFCO, and 40,000 metric tons of bulk granular urea from Saudi Arabia’s SABIC Agri-Nutrients Company. The total estimated cost of these imports is several hundred crore taka.

In infrastructure, the committee recommended approval of a major project under the Ministry of Shipping to build an inland container and bulk terminal at Khanpur, Narayanganj, under BIWTA, costing about Tk 184.91 crore. Officials said these procurements will support food security, fertilizer supply, and inland transport development.

Hamas’s Al-Qassam Brigades on Tuesday officially announced the martyrdom of its former spokesperson Abu Ubaida and four senior commanders—Muhammad Sinwar, Mohammad Shabana, Raed Sa’d, and Abu Omar Al-Suri—who were killed in an Israeli attack. In response, Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir expressed deep sorrow and strong condemnation of the incident, describing it as a brutal act by Israeli occupying forces.

In a statement sent to the media, Shibir’s central president Nurul Islam Saddam and secretary general Sibgatullah said Abu Ubaida had made the highest sacrifice for the rights of the Palestinian people and the sanctity of Al-Aqsa Mosque. They described his courage and leadership as a source of inspiration for Muslim youth. The statement also recalled that many top Hamas leaders, including Ismail Haniyeh and Yahya Sinwar, had previously sacrificed their lives in the struggle against Israeli occupation.

The Shibir leaders called the attacks on civilians in Palestine a clear violation of international human rights and reaffirmed their solidarity with the Palestinian people, urging an immediate end to Israeli violence.

Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Adviser Dr. Asif Nazrul and National Security Special Assistant Dr. M. Khalilur Rahman met with foreign dignitaries who arrived in Dhaka to attend the funeral of former Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia. The meeting took place on Wednesday at the National Parliament complex.

Among those present were Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, Pakistan’s National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, Nepal’s Foreign Minister Bala Nand Sharma, and Bhutan’s Foreign Minister D. N. Dhungel. The visiting officials came to pay their final respects to Khaleda Zia, who passed away early Tuesday morning.

During the meeting, the advisers expressed gratitude to the foreign guests for their presence and solidarity with the people of Bangladesh during this period of national mourning. Both domestic and international dignitaries gathered at the Parliament area and Manik Mia Avenue to attend the funeral ceremony.

A total of 94,000 applications have been submitted for the 2025–26 undergraduate admission tests at Comilla University (CoU), according to the university’s admission committee. The application process closes tonight at 11:59 p.m. The committee’s convener, Professor Dr. Md. Tofayel Ahmed, confirmed the information on Wednesday, December 31, 2025.

The university has 890 seats across three units—Science, Humanities, and Business Studies—excluding quotas, with an additional 107 seats reserved under various quotas. The Science unit (‘A’) received 44,827 applications for 300 seats, Humanities (‘B’) received 36,700 for 390 seats, and Business Studies (‘C’) received 12,473 for 200 seats. Admission tests will be held on January 30 for the ‘A’ unit, and on January 31 for the ‘B’ and ‘C’ units.

Each test will be one hour long, carrying 100 marks in multiple-choice format, with 0.25 marks deducted per wrong answer. The minimum passing score is 33. After the application period ends, seat distribution and related details will be published on the university’s admission website. Applicants may correct their information between January 1 and 5 during office hours.

Manch 24 has called on the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) to reject India’s condolence message following the death of former BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia. In a statement sent to the media on Wednesday evening, the organization alleged that India had sheltered those responsible for pushing Khaleda Zia toward death and described the Indian message as an insult to her legacy. The group said that while many countries sent condolences and attended her funeral, India’s message, delivered by Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar to Tarique Rahman, was unacceptable.

The statement emphasized that Khaleda Zia had never compromised in her struggle for democracy and justice. It recalled that in 2015, she refused to meet Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina after the death of her son, citing her uncompromising stance. Manch 24 argued that BNP should uphold that same principle by rejecting India’s “dramatic” condolence message.

The group further accused India of supporting authoritarian actions in Bangladesh and claimed that accepting its message would dishonor Khaleda Zia’s ideals and the anti-hegemony movement she represented.

Masud Saeedi, the Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami candidate for the Pirojpur-1 constituency, said that the spirit of former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia would find peace only when fascism is eradicated from the country. He made the remarks on Wednesday afternoon at a memorial and prayer meeting for Khaleda Zia, organized by Kuakata Istanbul Hotel and Resort Limited. Saeedi called for national unity to build a peaceful and prosperous Bangladesh and to uproot the remnants of fascism.

During his speech, Saeedi praised Khaleda Zia’s contributions to democracy, Islamic values, and her respect for religious scholars. He recalled her stance during the 2013 Shapla Chattar incident and her rejection of the Shahbagh movement. He also shared personal memories, noting that Khaleda Zia supported his family when his father, Allama Delwar Hossain Saeedi, was imprisoned.

Saeedi urged BNP’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman to continue Khaleda Zia’s efforts to unite all political groups for national development. He emphasized that the upcoming election’s outcome would be decided by the people and called for unity regardless of who comes to power.

Nurul Haque Nur, president of Gana Odhikar Parishad, signed the condolence book following the death of former three-time Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia. Acting General Secretary Hasan Al Mamun also signed the book. They visited the BNP Chairperson’s office in Gulshan, Dhaka, on Tuesday night to express their condolences.

The government has declared three days of national mourning from December 31 to January 2 and announced a public holiday across the country on December 31. Khaleda Zia passed away at 6 a.m. at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka, where she had been receiving treatment.

Her funeral prayer is scheduled to take place at 2 p.m. tomorrow at the South Plaza of the National Parliament building.

BNP Chairperson and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia was laid to rest beside her late husband, former President Ziaur Rahman, on Wednesday, December 31, 2025. Her funeral prayer took place at the South Plaza of the National Parliament, known as Manik Mia Avenue, where millions of people gathered to pay their last respects. The prayer was led by Sheikh Abdul Malek, Khatib of Baitul Mukarram National Mosque. Among those attending were Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus, members of the advisory council, chiefs of the three armed forces, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, senior party leaders, and foreign diplomats.

Before the prayer, Tarique Rahman addressed the crowd, asking forgiveness for any pain his mother may have caused and requested prayers for her soul. People from all walks of life braved the cold to attend the funeral, filling the surrounding streets, rooftops, and metro areas. Khaleda Zia, widely known as the “Mother of Democracy,” had been suffering from multiple health complications and passed away at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka on December 30 at dawn.

Foreign governments, including India and China, expressed condolences, noting her contributions to Bangladesh’s political and diplomatic relations.

Diplomatic representatives from 32 countries attended the funeral prayer of former Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia in Dhaka. According to the BNP’s media cell, ambassadors, high commissioners, and officials from various diplomatic missions joined the prayer held at Manik Mia Avenue. They paid their final respects to Begum Khaleda Zia and expressed condolences to her bereaved family.

The funeral prayer took place shortly after 3 p.m. on Wednesday at the South Plaza of the National Parliament. The prayer was led by the Khatib of Baitul Mukarram National Mosque. Large crowds gathered across several kilometers surrounding Manik Mia Avenue to participate in the event. Many people unable to find space joined from nearby rooftops and the metro rail station area.

The presence of diplomats from 32 nations highlighted the international attention surrounding the event, as thousands of citizens also came to pay their last respects to the former leader.