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.

US President Donald Trump said he is seriously considering selling F-35 fighter jets to Turkey following a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida. The discussion took place during Netanyahu’s fifth visit to the United States since Trump’s second term began, centered on the second phase of a Gaza ceasefire plan. When asked whether the US would approve the sale, Trump said the matter was under serious consideration. Trump described Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan as a “very good friend” and assured that Turkey would not use the aircraft against Israel. He also said there would be no problems between the two nations. The US had previously suspended Turkey from the F-35 program in 2019 after Ankara purchased the Russian S-400 air defense system, imposing sanctions on several Turkish defense entities under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA). Trump added that he would discuss Turkey’s potential participation in a multinational Gaza mission with Netanyahu and maintained that his relationship with Erdogan remained strong.

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.

The United Arab Emirates has announced a unified schedule for Friday sermons and prayers across all seven emirates, including Dubai. Starting Friday, January 2, 2026, all mosques nationwide will hold the Jumu’ah prayer at 12:45 PM. The Islamic Affairs, Awqaf and Zakat General Authority stated that the new timing will take effect from the first Friday of the new year, urging worshippers to arrive early to avoid missing the sermon. According to the authority, the initiative aims to standardize Friday worship practices across the country, ensuring that all worshippers can listen to the full sermon and maintain discipline during prayer. The unified timing is also expected to help families, workers, and students better plan their Fridays, aligning with the government’s broader policy of social coordination. The UAE government has declared 2026 as the “Year of the Family.” Officials said the new prayer schedule supports family time, balanced living, and greater comfort on Fridays. Religious scholars confirmed that the 12:45 PM timing falls within the prescribed period for Jumu’ah prayer and meets all Shariah requirements.

Biman Bangladesh Airlines reported a net profit of Tk 785.21 crore for the 2024–2025 fiscal year, marking a 178 percent increase from the previous year. The announcement was made at the airline’s annual general meeting held on December 30, chaired by Board Chairman Sheikh Bashir Uddin. The airline’s total revenue reached Tk 11,559 crore, up 9.46 percent year-on-year, while operational profit stood at Tk 1,602 crore. According to Biman’s General Manager of Public Relations, Bosra Islam, the state-owned carrier has maintained profitability for five consecutive years and achieved net profit in nine of the past ten fiscal years. During the reporting period, Biman transported 3.383 million passengers across 30 domestic and international destinations using 21 owned and leased aircraft. It also earned Tk 925 crore from cargo operations, a 45.21 percent increase from the previous year. Biman provided ground handling services to 31,112 foreign airline flights carrying about 6.1 million passengers and recorded its highest-ever ticket sales in January 2025. The airline attributed its success to efficient financial management, digital modernization, and improved passenger services, with future plans to expand routes and strengthen cargo operations.