Ferry operations on the Daulatdia–Paturia route, a key waterway connecting Rajbari’s Daulatdia and Manikganj’s Paturia, resumed on Friday morning after being suspended for nine and a half hours due to dense fog. According to the report, services were restored around 9:30 a.m. on December 26, 2025, once visibility improved on the Padma River. The Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) temporarily halted all ferry and vessel movement from midnight on Saturday when thick fog severely reduced visibility across the river basin. BIWTC’s Daulatdia office assistant general manager (commerce) Mohammad Salauddin stated that operations were restarted after the fog cleared and navigation conditions became normal. The prolonged suspension caused significant traffic congestion at both ferry terminals, leaving trucks, buses, and private cars stranded. With the resumption of ferry movement, the backlog began to ease, bringing relief to drivers, assistants, and passengers waiting at the terminals.

Pakistan’s security forces conducted separate operations in Balochistan’s Kalat district and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Dera Ismail Khan district, killing ten militants described as India-backed extremists. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said the actions followed intelligence reports about the presence of such groups. During the Dera Ismail Khan operation, two militants, including their leader Dilwar, were killed. Dilwar was on Pakistan’s most-wanted list for involvement in multiple terrorist acts, with a government bounty of four million rupees for his capture. ISPR stated that weapons and ammunition were recovered from the dead militants, who were allegedly involved in attacks against security forces and civilians. In a separate operation in Kalat, eight militants linked to the group Fitna al Hindustan were killed after an intense exchange of fire. The ISPR claimed these militants acted as Indian proxies in Pakistan. Arms, ammunition, and explosives were seized from the site. The operations highlight Pakistan’s ongoing counterterrorism efforts in regions affected by militant activity, according to the ISPR statement.

Leaders from several Bangladeshi political and Islamist parties have welcomed the return of BNP’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman and his family to Bangladesh after 17 years abroad. Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman, Islami Andolan Bangladesh Ameer Mufti Syed Muhammad Rezaul Karim, Khelafat Majlish Ameer Maulana Abdul Basit Azad, and National Citizen Party (NCP) convener Nahid Islam publicly expressed their greetings through social media and media statements. They described his return as a positive development for national politics following years of political unrest. Dr. Shafiqur Rahman said Jamaat would closely observe Tarique Rahman’s role and plans for political unity. The Islami Andolan chief, known as the Charmonai Pir, said Rahman’s return could restore leadership within the BNP and help end a culture of political vengeance. Khelafat Majlish leaders called the event a victory for anti-fascist struggles, while Nahid Islam and NCP leader Sarjis Alam linked it to the democratic movement that followed the July uprising. According to these leaders, Tarique Rahman’s return may strengthen multiparty democracy and promote a healthier political culture in Bangladesh.

Imran Ahmed, a British national and head of the U.S.-based Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH), has filed a lawsuit against President Donald Trump’s administration in a New York district court. Ahmed described the U.S. visa ban imposed on him as unconstitutional and an attempt to expel him from the country. The State Department recently announced that five European figures involved in technology regulation, including Ahmed, would be denied visas, accusing them of pressuring U.S. social media platforms to censor views they dislike. The European Union and several member states have strongly condemned the decision, pledging to defend Europe’s regulatory autonomy. Ahmed, a U.S. green card holder and permanent resident, named Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy Sarah Rogers, Attorney General Pam Bondi, and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem as defendants. A district judge has temporarily barred his arrest or detention, with a follow-up hearing scheduled for next Monday. The State Department has maintained its position, stating that the Supreme Court and Congress have repeatedly affirmed that the U.S. has no obligation to allow foreign nationals to enter or reside in the country.

US President Donald Trump announced that the United States carried out an airstrike in northwestern Nigeria against ISIL fighters. In a post on his social media platform Truth Social on Thursday evening, Trump said the strike was conducted under his direction as commander in chief and described it as a powerful and lethal attack against ISIS terrorists. He claimed the militants had targeted innocent Christians and warned earlier of severe consequences if such killings continued. US Africa Command, which oversees American military operations in Africa, confirmed the strike, stating it was conducted at the request of Nigerian authorities and resulted in the deaths of multiple ISIL militants. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth thanked the Nigerian government for its cooperation and hinted at further actions without providing details. The command said the strike took place in “Soboto State,” believed to refer to Sokoto State. The attack followed Trump’s earlier directive to the Pentagon to plan possible military action over alleged persecution of Christians in Nigeria, claims the Nigerian government denied, saying armed groups target both Muslims and Christians. Nigeria’s foreign ministry said the operation reflected structured security cooperation with international partners.

Christians in Bangladesh celebrated Christmas on Thursday with prayers, decorations, and joyful gatherings across Dhaka. Churches including Tejgaon’s Holy Rosary Church and Mohammadpur’s St. Christina Church were illuminated with lights, Christmas trees, and nativity scenes. Thousands attended morning prayers, while families dressed in new clothes joined the celebrations. The festive atmosphere extended beyond churches to hotels hosting special meals and cultural programs. Father Jayanta S. Gomez of Holy Rosary Church said the community prayed for peace and stability in Bangladesh, emphasizing Jesus’ message of justice and equality. Parishioners described how they celebrated at home by cutting cakes, preparing traditional foods, decorating Christmas trees, and exchanging gifts. Father Kajol Purification of St. Christina Church noted that prayers were offered for peace among all faiths. The celebrations reflected both religious devotion and social harmony, with participants expressing joy and hope for peace in the country.

Bangladesh’s financial regulatory bodies have agreed to implement three major initiatives aimed at improving coordination and efficiency across the sector. The decisions were made at a meeting titled “Strengthening the Financial Reporting Council and Ensuring Structural and Coordinated Cooperation,” held at the FRC office in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar under the chairmanship of Dr. Anisuzzaman Chowdhury, Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser. Representatives from the Ministry of Finance, Bangladesh Bank, FRC, BSEC, IDRA, RJSC, MRA, and NBR attended the meeting. The three initiatives include single-point enlistment of auditors and audit firms under the Financial Reporting Council (FRC), creation of a common report submission portal for all regulators, and establishment of a real-time common data-sharing platform. The FRC will lead the implementation of these projects, with deadlines set between January 15 and January 31, 2026. The FRC chairman stated that these measures will enhance transparency, reduce information concealment, and strengthen financial discipline. According to the meeting’s proceedings, the initiatives are expected to reduce procedural delays, improve inter-agency data exchange, and curb manipulation in loan management and stock valuation.

Nvidia has agreed to purchase assets from Groq, a designer of high-performance artificial intelligence accelerator chips, for $20 billion in cash, according to Alex Davis, CEO of Disruptive, which led Groq’s latest financing round. The deal, Nvidia’s largest to date, excludes Groq’s cloud business, which will continue operating independently. Groq’s founder and CEO Jonathan Ross, president Sunny Madra, and other senior leaders will join Nvidia to help scale the licensed technology, while finance chief Simon Edwards will become Groq’s new CEO. In a blog post, Groq confirmed a non-exclusive licensing agreement with Nvidia for its inference technology but did not disclose financial details. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang told employees that the company plans to integrate Groq’s low-latency processors into its AI factory architecture to expand support for inference and real-time workloads. Nvidia’s CFO Colette Kress declined to comment on the transaction. The acquisition underscores Nvidia’s aggressive expansion in AI hardware and talent, following similar licensing and hiring deals with startups such as Enfabrica. Nvidia’s growing cash reserves have fueled major investments across the AI ecosystem, including partnerships with OpenAI, Intel, and CoreWeave. Groq, Inc. was founded in 2016 by former Google engineers to develop specialized AI inference chips called Language Processing Units (LPUs). The company grew rapidly through major funding rounds, key acquisitions, and global infrastructure expansion, including launching its GroqCloud platform.

Russia has asserted that its forces seized more than 5,100 square kilometres of Ukrainian territory in 2025, with President Vladimir Putin citing the capture of Siversk in Donetsk and Vovchansk in Kharkiv. He also claimed partial control of several other front-line towns. However, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) disputed these claims, saying satellite and open-source data show far smaller Russian advances. ISW estimated Russia controls less than 5,000 square kilometres and only 196 settlements, contradicting Moscow’s higher figures. The claims came as the United States and Ukraine concluded three days of peace talks in Florida. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said cooperation with Washington was strong but confirmed that no agreement had been reached on territorial issues. Russia continues to demand full control of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhia, Kherson, and Crimea, while Ukraine refuses. The US has agreed to NATO-level security guarantees for Ukraine, and the European Union has pledged future membership and a €90 billion loan package. The ongoing conflict also saw intensified drone and missile exchanges, with Ukraine striking Russian military and energy targets and Russia launching over a thousand drones at Ukraine during the same week.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has organized nationwide prayers today, Friday, after Jumma prayers in mosques across the country for the recovery of party chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia and to mark the return of acting chairman Tarique Rahman to Bangladesh. The announcement was made in a press release sent to the media on Thursday night, December 25. According to the statement, the prayers will be held in all mosques, including those in Dhaka, under the initiative of the BNP. The event is dedicated to the recovery of Khaleda Zia, who is currently receiving treatment at Evercare Hospital in the capital, and to celebrate Tarique Rahman’s homecoming with his family after 17 years abroad. The BNP has called on leaders, activists, and the general public to participate in the prayers. The party’s directive emphasizes unity among its members and supporters during this occasion, reflecting both concern for Khaleda Zia’s health and enthusiasm over Tarique Rahman’s return.

Five days after the burial of Shaheed Sharif Osman Hadi, people continue to gather at his grave near the central mosque of Dhaka University. Hadi, a frontline participant in the July uprising and spokesperson of Inquilab Mancha, is being mourned by hundreds who visit daily to pray, recite the Quran, and lay flowers at the site near the National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam’s mausoleum. Visitors include students, workers, professionals, and families who have traveled from across the country to pay their respects. Many mourners expressed deep emotion and admiration for Hadi’s ideals, describing him as a symbol of honesty, patriotism, and resistance against injustice. Some called for justice for his killing, echoing Hadi’s own demand for accountability. Others said his sacrifice had inspired renewed commitment to his cause and that his ideals had spread widely among the people. The continuing crowds and tears around Hadi’s grave have turned the area into a place of collective mourning and reflection, with visitors saying his spirit and ideals remain alive and stronger than ever.

BNP’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman claimed that spies of various imperialist powers remain engaged in conspiracies against Bangladesh. He made the statement on Thursday, December 25, during a public reception organized by the party on the 300 Feet Road in Dhaka. Rahman urged supporters to remain calm and patient in the face of provocations, emphasizing the need for peace in the country. Drawing inspiration from Martin Luther King Jr.’s historic speech, Rahman said he too has a dream for Bangladesh and possesses a concrete plan to change the fate of its people, which requires collective cooperation. He stressed the importance of justice and vowed that future leadership would strive to govern the nation guided by the principles of fairness exemplified by the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). Rahman concluded by seeking prayers for the recovery of his mother, former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia, and called on the youth to take responsibility for building a strong democratic and economic foundation for the country.

Tarique Rahman, leader of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and potential next prime minister, returned to Dhaka on Thursday after 17 years in exile. Arriving with his wife and daughter at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, Rahman was greeted by thousands of supporters under heavy security. His return comes as Bangladesh prepares for elections on February 12 under an interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, following the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in a 2024 student-led uprising. Rahman’s mother, former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, remains critically ill in hospital. Rahman, 60, has led the BNP as acting chairman since 2018 while living in London. Once a powerful political figure during his mother’s rule, he faced allegations of corruption and political violence, which he and the BNP have called politically motivated. Most of his convictions were stayed or overturned after Hasina’s fall, enabling his return. Analysts say his comeback completes preparations for the upcoming polls, where the BNP is seen as the frontrunner after the Awami League was barred from contesting. A recent poll by the International Republican Institute showed the BNP leading with 30 percent support, positioning Rahman to potentially guide Bangladesh’s next government.

Bangladeshi cricketer Shakib Al Hasan, who previously contested the 12th National Parliamentary Election as an Awami League candidate, has expressed deep sorrow over the suffering of children affected by recent violence. On Thursday, December 25, he posted on his official Facebook page, mourning the deaths of several children and urging collective responsibility to ensure a better future for them. He also extended Christmas greetings at the end of his message. The post follows a period of public criticism directed at Shakib for his silence during last year’s student and public movements and other violent incidents across the country. Critics argue that his sudden humanitarian message may be an attempt to mask a perceived lack of political neutrality. The statement marks a rare public reflection from Shakib on social issues, contrasting with his earlier avoidance of political commentary.

Police detained a Jubo League leader named Russel Pathan at the Benapole International Checkpost immigration point on Thursday afternoon while he was allegedly attempting to flee to India. The arrest took place around 12:30 p.m. after immigration officials found his name on the stop list during passport verification. Pathan identified himself as the joint convener of the Mymensingh Metropolitan Jubo League. According to police, Russel Pathan is accused in two sabotage cases filed with Mymensingh Kotwali Police Station. He is the son of Abdur Razzak Pathan from Sankipara village in Mymensingh Sadar upazila. The Benapole Checkpost Immigration Officer-in-Charge, Sakhawat Hossain, confirmed that Pathan was detained due to his name appearing on the stop list. After initial questioning, police handed him over to Benapole Port Police Station, from where he was later sent to the Jashore court for further legal proceedings.