The Bangladesh government is awaiting an assessment report from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) experts before proceeding with the Bangladesh Telecommunications Company Limited (BTCL) 5G network expansion project. Officials said technical testing is nearing completion, with about 50 percent of the work already done. The project, launched in 2022, aims to build a strong backbone network to meet national bandwidth demand through 2030. The initiative has faced repeated disruptions due to misinformation, administrative weaknesses, and allegations of irregularities and corruption. Disputes have arisen over tender processes, equipment clearance at ports, and letters from the chief adviser’s special assistant. The Anti-Corruption Commission’s inquiry into the readiness phase and complaints about limited time for financial proposal submissions have further complicated progress. Despite these issues, the project continues to move forward. Once completed, the project will establish high-capacity optical fiber networks across Bangladesh, significantly enhancing digital infrastructure and enabling BTCL to supply about 30 percent of the country’s total internet bandwidth. The government expects the network to improve broadband access and strengthen competition with private operators.

Former US President Donald Trump repeatedly praised Pakistan’s army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, calling him his “favorite field marshal” and a “great warrior.” Speaking at Mar-a-Lago in December 2025, Trump claimed credit for preventing a potential nuclear war between India and Pakistan and said Munir and Pakistan’s prime minister credited him with saving millions of lives. Trump’s remarks followed his mediation claims in the May 2025 India-Pakistan conflict, which ended after four days of fighting through US-backed diplomacy. Analysts cited in the report said Munir played a key role in revitalizing Pakistan’s diplomacy and improving relations with Washington, which had deteriorated in previous years. The brief India-Pakistan conflict and subsequent ceasefire were seen as turning points that elevated Munir’s international stature. Former defense minister Khurram Dastgir Khan and ex-foreign secretary Salman Bashir both described the episode as decisive for Pakistan’s geopolitical resurgence. Munir’s growing influence has coincided with Pakistan’s broader outreach to Middle Eastern and Central Asian countries, as well as renewed engagement with the United States on security and economic issues.

A moderate earthquake measuring 5.4 on the Richter scale struck Assam in northern India early Monday morning, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS). The quake occurred near the surface, with its epicenter located about three kilometers outside Dhing village, close to the Bhutan border. Tremors were felt at 4:17 a.m. local time (10:47 p.m. GMT on Sunday). The USGS reported that although strong shaking was experienced in the area, the region’s relatively low population density is expected to limit the extent of damage. No immediate reports of casualties or major destruction have been received so far. The Himalayan region is known for frequent seismic activity, with several major earthquakes recorded in India’s history. Notably, the 1950 Assam–Tibet earthquake killed around 4,800 people, and the 1897 “Great Assam Earthquake” remains one of the most powerful in the country’s history, causing hundreds of deaths in remote mountain areas.

Three suspects have been arrested by RAB in connection with the killing of rural physician Khokon Das, who was set on fire in Shariatpur. The arrests were announced on Sunday evening, January 4, at a press conference held at the RAB-8 camp in Madaripur by Commander Shahadat Hossain. The suspects—Sohag Khan, Rabbi Molla, and Palash Sardar—were detained from Bajitpur in Kishoreganj early Saturday night. According to RAB, Khokon Das, a medicine seller and mobile banking agent from Tiloi area of Damudya upazila, was attacked with a knife while returning home on Wednesday night. When he recognized the attackers, they poured petrol on his body and face and set him on fire. He was admitted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital and died on Saturday morning while under treatment. His father, Paresh Chandra Das, filed a case against the three accused on Thursday night. RAB stated that the detainees confessed to the killing during preliminary interrogation, and the knife used in the murder was recovered.

Thirty-six unprotected level crossings between Chilahati and Saidpur in Nilphamari have become deadly zones, with 14 people killed in train accidents across the district in 2025, according to Saidpur Railway Police records. Despite repeated fatalities, authorities have only installed warning signs instead of ensuring proper safety measures. The railway police confirmed that 13 unnatural death cases were filed in connection with these incidents. Railway department data show that of the 36 approved level crossings in the Chilahati–Saidpur section, only 13 are guarded by gatekeepers. Local residents, including Abdul Gafur from Darwani Bazar, said thousands of pedestrians and vehicles cross these unprotected points daily, risking their lives. They demanded immediate safety measures to prevent further loss of life and property. Statistics from previous years indicate a continuing pattern of fatal accidents, including four deaths in 2021 and another four in 2022 at unprotected crossings. In 2023, 24 people were killed in similar incidents, underscoring the urgent need for improved railway safety in Nilphamari.

At least 30 people were killed in a terrorist attack on a village in Niger State, Nigeria, according to police reports. Armed assailants emerged from a nearby forest near Kasuwan-Daji village on Saturday, setting fire to the local market and looting shops. Witnesses said the attackers arrived on motorcycles, gathered villagers, and opened fire indiscriminately. Local sources also reported that several people were abducted during the assault. Officials from the Niger State Emergency Management Agency confirmed the incident, stating that villagers were captured and killed. The agency’s representative, Abdullahi Rofia, said residents were terrified and hiding, fearing further attacks. Police spokesperson Wasiu Abiodun said emergency teams had been dispatched to assist the injured and that security forces were working to rescue the abducted individuals. The Nigerian government has designated such armed groups as terrorists and banned ransom payments, though reports suggest the rule is often ignored. The attack highlights the continuing wave of violence and kidnappings in Nigeria’s western and central regions.

The Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) has issued the final gazette of the Public Offer of Securities Rules, 2025, allowing issuing companies to use up to 30 percent of funds raised through initial public offerings (IPOs) to repay bank loans. The decision, published on December 30, 2025, includes two conditions: the loan must be project or BMRE-related, and it cannot be a defaulted or rescheduled loan. The previous draft of the regulation did not permit loan repayment from IPO proceeds, which had raised concerns among market participants about reduced corporate interest in stock market listings. Based on stakeholder feedback, BSEC reinstated the repayment option, similar to the one-third allowance under the 2015 rules. The new regulation also increases the quota for general investors and reintroduces the lottery system for IPO share allocation. Additionally, the rules extend the IPO application submission period to 120 days and require stock exchange recommendations for IPO approvals. The number of qualified institutional investors for determining indicative prices in the book-building method has been reduced from 75 to 40.

U.S. President Donald Trump has again insisted that Greenland should become part of the United States, reaffirming his stance despite Denmark’s call to stop making “threats” over the issue. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One en route to Washington, Trump said Greenland was essential for U.S. national security and that Denmark could not fulfill that role. His comments came as U.S. military intervention in Venezuela heightened European concerns about Washington’s global ambitions. The controversy deepened after Katie Miller, wife of a senior Trump adviser, posted an image of Greenland’s flag recolored with the U.S. flag’s design and captioned “Soon,” sparking anger in Denmark and the European Union. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen called the idea of taking control of Greenland “completely unreasonable” and urged Washington to stop threatening its historic ally. Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen described Miller’s post as “disrespectful,” emphasizing that his country was not for sale and that its future would not be decided on social media. Denmark’s ambassador to the U.S., Jesper Møller Sørensen, reminded that Denmark is a NATO member working closely with Washington on Arctic security, urging continued cooperation as allies.

Ferry and all other vessel operations on the Daulatdia–Paturia river route resumed on Monday morning after being suspended for nearly seven hours due to dense fog. Authorities restored normal navigation around 7:15 a.m. on January 5, 2026, once visibility improved. The suspension had begun at 12:30 a.m. the previous night when thick fog over the Padma River made navigation lights unclear and created safety risks. According to the terminal authorities, the fog intensified after Sunday evening, severely reducing visibility and prompting the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) to halt all ferry and vessel movement for safety. During the suspension, long queues of passenger buses, trucks, and private cars formed at both Daulatdia and Paturia terminals, leaving travelers stranded in the cold night. With ferry operations now restored, vehicles are gradually crossing the river, easing congestion and bringing relief to passengers and drivers who had faced significant hardship overnight.

Real Madrid secured a commanding 5-1 victory over Real Betis at Santiago Bernabéu on the night of January 4, 2026, reducing the points gap with Barcelona from seven to four. Joan Garcia scored a hat-trick, while Raúl Asensio and Fran Garcia added one goal each. Playing without star forward Kylian Mbappé, Real took the lead in the 20th minute through Garcia’s header from a Rodrygo free-kick. The first half ended 1-0, and Real dominated the second half with four more goals. Garcia doubled the lead early in the second half before Asensio made it 3-0 in the 56th minute. Betis pulled one back through Hernández at the 60-minute mark, but Garcia completed his hat-trick in the 82nd minute with help from Franco Mastantuano. Francisco Garcia sealed the win with a stoppage-time goal. After this result, Barcelona lead the table with 49 points from 19 matches, while Real Madrid sit second with 45 points from the same number of games.

U.S. President Donald Trump issued a stern warning to Colombian President Gustavo Petro following the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. Speaking late Sunday night aboard Air Force One, Trump suggested that Colombia could face possible U.S. military action. He described Petro as a “sick man” leading a country allegedly involved in cocaine production and trafficking to the United States, adding that such activities would not continue for long. Trump also commented on Cuba’s deteriorating political and economic situation, saying the country might collapse without direct U.S. intervention. He claimed that Cuba’s economy, heavily dependent on Venezuelan oil, was now in deep crisis and that the nation was “ready to fall.” According to Trump, many Cuban Americans in the United States would welcome this outcome. The remarks, reported by the Financial Post, reflect Trump’s increasingly aggressive tone toward leftist governments in Latin America following Maduro’s detention.

Venezuelan interim president Delcy Rodríguez has called for a “balanced and respectful” relationship with the United States. Her statement came on Sunday, a day after U.S. forces carried out an attack in Caracas and detained leftist leader Nicolás Maduro. Rodríguez, who previously served as Maduro’s vice president, made the remarks through a message posted on Telegram. In her message, Rodríguez emphasized that advancing toward a relationship based on mutual respect and balance between the two nations should be treated as a priority. She also invited the U.S. government to work together on a cooperative agenda focused on joint development. The appeal marks Rodríguez’s first public statement following Maduro’s detention, signaling an attempt to reset diplomatic engagement between Caracas and Washington after a period of confrontation.

At least 26 people have died and 14 remain missing after a passenger boat carrying farmers and fishermen capsized in northeastern Nigeria. The accident occurred late Saturday night as the vessel was traveling from Jigawa State to Yobe State, according to the country’s emergency services. Mohammed Goje, executive director of the Yobe State Emergency Management Agency, said rescue teams and volunteers have recovered 26 bodies so far and rescued 13 passengers alive. Search operations for the missing continue. Boat accidents are common on Nigeria’s busy waterways, often caused by overloading, poor maintenance, and disregard for safety regulations. Each year, such incidents claim numerous lives across the country’s river transport routes. Authorities have not yet provided further details on the cause of the latest accident or the total number of passengers on board.

The Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances in Bangladesh has submitted its final report to Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus, revealing that between 2009 and 2024, an estimated 4,000 to 6,000 people were victims of enforced disappearance. Of 1,913 verified complaints, 1,569 were classified as probable cases, with 287 confirmed deaths. The report identifies the practice as systematic, politically motivated, and institutionally coordinated, rather than isolated incidents. It directly implicates former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and senior security officials in several high-profile cases. The commission found that 96.7 percent of victims with known political affiliations were linked to opposition parties, mainly BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami. Law enforcement agencies, including the Rapid Action Battalion, police, and intelligence branches, were named as responsible in most cases. The report documents mass killings and body disposals in rivers such as Baleshwar and Buriganga. Dr. Yunus described the report as a historic documentation of brutality and urged institutional reforms and accountability. The commission recommended legal and structural reforms to prevent recurrence and ensure justice for victims’ families, emphasizing that enforced disappearances had become a tool of governance during the Awami League era.

Barrister Asaduzzaman Fuad, general secretary of the Amar Bangladesh (AB) Party and candidate for the Barishal-3 (Babuganj-Muladi) constituency, has received official validation of his nomination for the national parliamentary election. On Sunday evening, he posted a video on his Facebook account urging local residents and the general public to provide financial assistance and prayers to support his campaign, travel, and outreach activities. In the video, Fuad explained that conducting campaign activities in the remote and marginal areas of Barishal-3 is costly and challenging, making public contributions necessary. He also called for collective efforts to build a “new Bangladesh” based on the July Charter following the 2024 mass uprising. His post included mobile payment and bank account details for those willing to contribute. The appeal has drawn mixed reactions. Some social media users and locals viewed Fuad’s request as a sign of honesty and simplicity, while others analyzed it as a reflection of political and financial realities. According to his affidavit, Fuad’s annual income is slightly above seven lakh taka, indicating limited personal resources.