In Gabtali of Bogura, members of the Gabtali Business Unity Council closed their shops for three hours on Wednesday, December 31, to pray for the soul of former Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia. Following the closure, they gathered at the Pilot High School field to participate in a special absentee funeral prayer (gayebana janaza) held in her honor. The event was attended by the council’s president Fazlul Bari Khokon, vice presidents Badsha Mia and Abdul Khalek Munnu, general secretary Arifur Rahman Zakir, joint general secretary Nurullah Akand, cashier Shahinur Alom, and publicity secretary Zahidul Islam. Local residents also joined the traders in expressing solidarity and took part in the prayer gathering. The collective participation reflected local respect for Khaleda Zia’s political legacy and leadership, as traders and residents united in remembrance of the former prime minister.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami chief Dr. Shafiqur Rahman has confirmed that he met an Indian diplomat earlier this year, adding that the diplomat had asked him to keep the meeting confidential. The disclosure was reported by Reuters on December 31, 2025. The report stated that India has been expanding its outreach to political parties in Bangladesh that could form the next government after the upcoming national elections. According to the report, while diplomats from other countries met Rahman publicly, the Indian official requested secrecy regarding their meeting. Dr. Rahman said that all parties should maintain openness and that improving relations between the two countries is essential. Reuters contacted India’s Ministry of External Affairs, which did not directly confirm the meeting, though a government source acknowledged that India is engaging with various Bangladeshi political groups. When asked about Pakistan, Rahman said Jamaat seeks balanced relations with all nations. He also commented that no government would feel entirely comfortable with current President Md. Shahabuddin, who was elected unopposed in 2023 with Awami League support.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has accused Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of causing the death of its chairperson and former prime minister Begum Khaleda Zia by keeping her imprisoned in what it called a false case and denying her medical treatment. The allegation was made during Zia’s funeral, which the report described as drawing millions of people at Manik Mia Avenue and the South Plaza of the National Parliament in Dhaka. BNP Standing Committee member Nazrul Islam Khan read out Zia’s life story before the crowd and blamed Hasina for her suffering and death. According to the BNP statement, Khaleda Zia had been imprisoned since February 8, 2018, and her health deteriorated due to lack of medical care. The party claimed that Hasina acted out of personal vengeance and that Zia’s death was the result of prolonged neglect. Nazrul Islam Khan also recounted Zia’s political career, her leadership against autocracy, and the hardships faced by her family under Hasina’s government. The BNP called on the public to pray for Khaleda Zia’s soul and asserted that Hasina would never be absolved of responsibility for the opposition leader’s death.

BNP’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman has declared that he owns no house or car, with total assets valued at Tk 1.96 crore. The information was disclosed in his affidavit submitted with nomination papers for the 13th National Parliamentary Election. He is contesting from Bogura-6 (Sadar) and Dhaka-17 (Gulshan-Banani-Baridhara-Cantonment) constituencies. His profession is listed as politics, and his highest educational qualification is higher secondary. He stated that he is a citizen only of Bangladesh. According to the affidavit, Rahman has Tk 31.58 lakh in cash and his wife holds Tk 66.54 lakh. He has no foreign currency or bank deposits but owns company shares worth Tk 50 lakh and fixed deposits of Tk 90.24 lakh. He possesses gold and ornaments valued at Tk 2,950 and furniture worth Tk 1.79 lakh. He owns 1.4 percent non-agricultural land valued at Tk 3.45 lakh, while his wife owns 111.25 percent land and a jointly owned two-storey building. The affidavit also notes that Rahman has been acquitted or exempted from all 77 cases filed against him and has no loans from any bank or financial institution.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami chief Dr. Shafiqur Rahman has said the party is interested in joining a national government after the upcoming elections. In an interview with Reuters at his office in Dhaka, he stated that the party seeks a stable country for at least five years and believes that if political parties unite, they can govern together. He added that the leader of the party winning the most seats should become prime minister, and if Jamaat wins the most, the party will decide whether he will take that role. Rahman emphasized that an anti-corruption agenda should be a shared goal for any national government. He also expressed concern over Sheikh Hasina’s stay in India after losing power, saying Bangladesh-India relations have reached their lowest point in decades. He confirmed meeting an Indian diplomat earlier this year, noting that the official requested the meeting remain confidential. India’s foreign ministry did not comment, though a government source said it maintains contact with various political parties. Rahman further stated that Jamaat seeks balanced relations with all countries, including Pakistan, without leaning toward any single nation.

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.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres delivered a strong message to global leaders ahead of 2026, calling for unity and a shift away from divisive politics and warfare. In a New Year video address, he urged leaders to focus on protecting people and the planet amid growing global instability, conflict, and uncertainty. According to UN sources cited by AFP, Guterres said the world stands at a critical crossroads marked by division, violence, climate disasters, and widespread violations of international law. Referring to ongoing wars, including in Ukraine, he emphasized that reducing human suffering and taking effective action against climate change should be the top priorities for 2026. Guterres criticized excessive military spending, noting that global defense expenditure rose by about 10 percent this year to 2.7 trillion dollars—13 times higher than global development spending and equal to Africa’s total GDP. He warned that the current scale of warfare has not been seen since World War II and argued that investing in poverty reduction would make the world safer. The year 2026 will mark his final year as UN Secretary-General.

As 2025 draws to a close, countries worldwide are preparing to welcome the new year with celebrations despite a backdrop of turmoil. The year was defined by Donald Trump’s tariff policies, a fragile ceasefire in Gaza, failed peace efforts in Ukraine, and the intensifying effects of climate change. Sydney, known as the “New Year capital,” observed a minute of silence before midnight to honor victims of a recent shooting, while millions gathered globally for festivities from New York to Rio de Janeiro. The year 2025 was among the hottest on record, with wildfires in Europe, severe droughts in Africa, and deadly rains in Southeast Asia. Global events included the return of K-pop group BTS, the election of a new Pope, and the death of primatologist Jane Goodall. Trump’s tariffs unsettled markets, and economists warned of continued instability into 2026. Looking ahead, NASA plans to send humans around the Moon in 2026 under the Artemis-2 mission, while investors show caution toward artificial intelligence. The world enters 2026 seeking peace, stability, and renewed hope after a year of heat, conflict, and uncertainty.

Yemen has declared a state of emergency after a separatist group backed by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) took control of large parts of the country. The announcement was made on Tuesday by the head of Yemen’s Presidential Council, who also declared the cancellation of the country’s security and defense agreement with the UAE. According to an official statement, the joint defense pact with the UAE has been formally revoked. The information was confirmed by AFP from Riyadh. In a separate decree, a 90-day state of emergency was imposed, with the first 72 hours including a blockade of air, land, and sea routes as part of emergency measures. The decisions mark a significant shift in Yemen’s security and diplomatic stance following the territorial advances of UAE-backed separatists, signaling heightened internal instability and strained regional relations.