Bangladesh is experiencing an unusually prolonged and intense cold wave, with dense fog covering much of the country and temperatures dropping sharply. The Bangladesh Meteorological Department reported that the cold conditions are expected to worsen from January 5, with mild to moderate cold waves likely in northwestern districts. On Friday, nine flights were diverted from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport due to poor visibility caused by fog, though operations later resumed as conditions improved. Meteorologists said the persistent fog and lack of sunlight have intensified the cold, with Dhaka recording a minimum temperature of 13.3°C and Jessore 8°C. Northern regions such as Rangpur and Rajair are facing severe cold, halting work and increasing hardship for low-income workers. Health authorities confirmed at least 32 deaths in Rangpur Division from cold-related illnesses over the past week, mostly among children, women, and the elderly. Experts attributed repeated flight diversions to the absence of a Category-2 Instrument Landing System at Dhaka airport. The cold wave has severely affected daily life, particularly for the homeless and day laborers lacking warm clothing, while fog continues to disrupt road and air transport nationwide.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has decided to appoint Kyrylo Budanov, head of the military intelligence agency, as the new chief of the presidential office. The move follows the resignation of Zelensky’s previous top aide in November after a corruption scandal. According to AFP from Kyiv, Zelensky announced on social media that he met Budanov and offered him the position, with the formal appointment process now underway, confirmed by presidential adviser Dmytro Litvin. Budanov, 39, is a well-known and influential figure in Ukraine, credited with leading several daring operations against Moscow since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022. His nomination comes at a critical stage of the nearly four-year-long war. Zelensky recently stated that a U.S.-mediated peace proposal is about 90 percent ready and emphasized the need to strengthen Ukraine’s defense and security capabilities while advancing diplomatic talks. If confirmed, Budanov will replace Andriy Yermak, who resigned after his home was raided as part of a corruption investigation. Yermak, once a close ally of Zelensky, had faced criticism in Kyiv for allegedly consolidating excessive power and controlling access to the president.

The final Test of the Ashes series between Australia and England will be broadcast live early tomorrow morning at 5:30 a.m. on Star Sports, according to the schedule published by Amar Desh on January 3, 2026. This marks the concluding match of the long-standing cricket rivalry between the two nations in the current series. In addition to the Ashes, the day’s sports broadcast lineup includes several other cricket and football events. The Big Bash League match between Sydney Thunder and Hobart Hurricanes will air at 2:15 p.m. on Star Sports Select HD 1, while SA T20 fixtures will feature Joburg Super Kings against Sunrisers Eastern Cape at 5 p.m. and Pretoria Capitals versus Durban’s Super Giants at 9:30 p.m. Football fans can watch Bangladesh Premier League matches, English Premier League’s Bournemouth vs Arsenal, La Liga’s Espanyol vs Barcelona, Serie A’s Juventus vs Lecce, and Africa Cup of Nations fixtures. The schedule highlights a packed day for sports viewers, with multiple international and domestic competitions broadcast across various channels.

Negotiations between Jamaat-e-Islami and Charmonai Pir’s Islami Andolan Bangladesh have reached a decisive stage over seat sharing for the upcoming 13th parliamentary election. Tensions arose after the formal announcement of a 10-party electoral understanding, as Islami Andolan expressed dissatisfaction with the number of constituencies offered and warned of withdrawing from the alliance if demands were unmet. Grassroots-level mistrust and social media disputes further complicated the situation, prompting top leaders from both sides to reopen talks and seek a resolution. Jamaat leaders, including Assistant Secretary General Ehsanul Mahbub Zubair, emphasized that discussions were ongoing and that the alliance could expand to 11 parties after nomination scrutiny. Islami Andolan leaders acknowledged earlier frustrations but said dialogue had eased tensions. The 11-party bloc, including LDP and NCP, has collectively fielded over 700 candidates for 300 seats, with overlapping nominations in several constituencies causing unease among partners. Both Jamaat and Islami Andolan now stress maintaining unity and finalizing seat allocations after the nomination review process, expected to conclude in early January.

Rangpur Riders secured a six-wicket victory over Sylhet Titans in Sylhet, driven by a quickfire innings from Mahmudullah Riyad. After falling short in the previous match against Rajshahi Warriors, Mahmudullah redeemed himself with a decisive 34 runs off 16 balls. Kyle Mayers contributed 31 runs from 29 deliveries, helping Rangpur chase down the target of 145 in 18.5 overs. Sylhet’s Ethan Brooks and Khaled Ahmed took one wicket each. Batting first after losing the toss, Sylhet Titans posted 144 for eight in their allotted 20 overs. Afif Hossain top-scored with 46, while Ethan Brooks added 31 from 30 balls. Rangpur’s bowlers, Mustafizur Rahman and Fahim Ashraf, each claimed three wickets to restrict Sylhet’s total. Despite the challenging chase, Mahmudullah’s composed batting ensured Rangpur’s win. Mahmudullah Riyad was named player of the match for his match-winning performance, marking a strong comeback after his previous game’s missed opportunity.

At the official swearing-in ceremony of New York’s new mayor, Zohra Mamdani, congressional representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez called on New Yorkers to celebrate the event as their own victory. Speaking at City Hall, she praised residents for choosing courageous and historic leadership during uncertain times, emphasizing that they opted for collective prosperity over fear and inequality. Ocasio-Cortez, a Democratic representative from New York’s 14th Congressional District, had endorsed Mamdani in June 2025 and actively mobilized voters in the months leading up to the election. She previously told a rally of 13,000 people in Queens that Mamdani’s victory would send a clear message rejecting authoritarianism. During the inauguration, she congratulated citizens for electing a mayor committed to building a hopeful future for working people. Echoing Mamdani’s campaign promises, Ocasio-Cortez praised plans for universal childcare, affordable housing, and accessible public transport. She described the city’s choice as a rejection of division and extreme inequality, expressing confidence that New York’s example could inspire broader change.

Jamaat-e-Islami nominated candidate Advocate Maulana Sheikh Abdul Wadud has said that if voters in Mongla cast their ballots for the balance symbol, local people will be able to live safely and free from land and enclosure occupation. He made the remarks on Friday, January 2, during campaign visits across various areas of Mongla upazila. Wadud is contesting the Bagerhat-3 (Mongla-Rampal) constituency on behalf of Jamaat-e-Islami. In his address as chief guest, Wadud stated that Bangladesh belongs to people of all religions—Hindu, Muslim, Buddhist, and Christian—who together built the nation. He emphasized that Jamaat-e-Islami has long worked to establish a just and discrimination-free society and has consistently advocated for the security, religious freedom, and dignity of minority communities. He added that honest, skilled, and principled leadership is essential to end political vengeance, land grabbing, and irregularities, ensuring safety for all citizens. Mongla upazila Jamaat’s Naib-e-Amir and former vice chairman Professor Kohinur Sardar also spoke, highlighting the party’s justice-based politics and welfare programs. Thousands of local leaders and supporters attended the campaign event.

A young man named Abdullah, aged 20, died following a motorcycle accident on the Dhaka–Bogura highway in Sirajganj’s Raiganj upazila. The incident occurred on Thursday in the Panchlia area when Abdullah lost control of his motorcycle and collided with a road divider. He was returning home to Langolmora Uttarpara village under Salanga police station after traveling from Sirajganj town. According to police and family sources, Abdullah sustained severe head injuries in the crash. Locals rescued him and took him to Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College Hospital, where he died on Friday morning while undergoing treatment. Hatikumrul Highway Police Station Officer-in-Charge Ismail Hossain said that excessive speed was initially believed to be the cause of the accident. Police stated that legal procedures related to the incident are currently underway.

Police in Kishoreganj upazila of Nilphamari district have arrested Jubo League leader Tarapada Roy in connection with an anti-terrorism case. The arrest took place on Thursday night at the Putimari Shoshan Bazar area based on a confidential tip-off. Police confirmed that the 40-year-old leader was sent to the district jail on Friday following his detention. According to police sources, Tarapada Roy, who had been in hiding for a long time, is the joint convener of the Putimari Union Jubo League and the son of Jitendra Roy of Sadhupara village in the same union. Kishoreganj Police Station Officer-in-Charge Lutfor Rahman confirmed the arrest and subsequent transfer to jail. The report did not provide further details about the specific allegations or the progress of the case beyond the arrest and detention process.

The UK Met Office has confirmed that 2025 was the warmest and one of the sunniest years in the country's recorded history. According to the agency, the record reflects the clear impact of human-induced climate change. Based on data dating back to 1884, 2025 now ranks among the top three warmest years alongside 2022 and 2023, with an average annual temperature of 10.09 degrees Celsius. It was only the second time the UK’s annual average temperature exceeded 10 degrees Celsius, the first being in 2022. The Met Office noted that four of the five warmest years since 1884 have occurred within the past five years, and all ten warmest years have been recorded in the last two decades. In addition to temperature, 2025 also set a new record for sunshine, with 1,648.5 hours of sunlight—the highest since records began in 1910 and 61.4 hours more than the previous record set in 2003. Mark McCarthy, head of the Met Office’s climate attribution division, said the findings align with expectations from human-driven climate change and that global warming continues to influence the UK’s climate.

Consumers across Bangladesh are facing an acute shortage of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) as prices have soared far above official rates. Cylinders that cost Tk 1,253 only days earlier were sold on Friday for Tk 1,800 to Tk 2,500, yet many areas still reported no availability. Retailers said dealers were not supplying gas, while several Dhaka neighborhoods also reported severe pipeline gas shortages. The Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) accused the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) of failing to monitor the market, allowing manipulation to flourish. CAB’s vice president said suppliers and retailers were exploiting the situation while the government focused on elections. The LPG Distributors Association blamed most companies for halting supply, leaving only a few active and charging extra. BERC has written to the LPG Operators of Bangladesh (LOAB) demanding enforcement of the fixed December price of Tk 1,253 per 12-kg cylinder. LOAB officials cited a 40% drop in December imports due to global shipping disruptions and higher costs. BERC is expected to announce new LPG prices on January 4, after reviewing import cost data submitted by companies.

The government of Bangladesh has issued a new ordinance amending the Bangladesh Travel Agency (Registration and Control) Act, 2013 to ensure better governance in the travel agency business, prevent artificial ticket shortages, and stop harassment of migrant workers. President Md. Shahabuddin promulgated the ordinance on January 1 under Article 93(1) of the Constitution, and the Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Division has published the related gazette. The revised law introduces separate bank guarantee requirements for online and offline travel agencies—10 lakh taka for offline agencies and 1 crore taka for online ones. It strictly prohibits false bookings that create artificial ticket shortages and bans business-to-business ticket trading. Agencies must use only government-approved financial channels for transactions. The ordinance also forbids deceptive advertising or advance payments under false promises and criminalizes ticket trading from third countries or altering passenger details after confirmation. Penalties have been made stricter, including up to one year in prison or a fine of up to 10 lakh taka. Agencies must renew registration every three years and submit annual financial and operational reports. Loan defaulters are deemed ineligible for registration.

At a prayer gathering held on Friday after Juma prayers at the Patiya Model Mosque premises in Chattogram, BNP leader Enamul Haque Enam alleged that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was responsible for the death of former three-time Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia. The event was jointly organized by the Patiya Upazila and Municipality units of the BNP. Enam, speaking as the chief guest, claimed that Sheikh Hasina had pushed Khaleda Zia toward a slow death. Enam described Khaleda Zia as a guardian figure who had fought uncompromisingly for the people and democracy of Bangladesh. He said that countries around the world had expressed condolences over her death. The prayer and special supplication for Khaleda Zia were led by Maulana Irfanul Islam, the Khatib of Patiya Model Mosque. The event was attended by numerous BNP leaders and activists from the upazila, municipality, and district levels, including representatives from the youth, student, volunteer, farmers, and cultural wings of the party.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced that nearly 2,000 people have been pushed back to Bangladesh over the past few months using provisions of a 1950 law. Speaking at a press conference on recent cabinet decisions, he said that anyone declared a foreigner by the state’s Foreigners Tribunal would be expelled within a week to prevent them from appealing to higher courts. Sarma added that 18 individuals were sent back on December 31 and described the push-back policy as a new administrative approach to curb illegal immigration. Lawyers and human rights activists have strongly questioned the legality of invoking the 1950 law, arguing that it was enacted in a specific post-partition context and is now unconstitutional. Senior advocates from the Gauhati High Court said the law violates constitutional rights to equality and due process, as it allows deportation without notice, hearing, or appeal. They also warned that bypassing judicial review undermines the entire legal system. Rights groups have demanded transparency, asking for the list of deported individuals and assurances that no Indian citizens were mistakenly expelled.

Hollywood actress and former UNHCR special envoy Angelina Jolie visited Egypt’s Rafah border crossing on Friday as part of a humanitarian mission, according to a statement from her representatives. The visit came as Israel announced the suspension of several international aid organizations operating in Gaza for failing to renew registration, requiring them to submit personal data of their staff working in the enclave. Aid groups have expressed concern that providing such personal data could pose security risks. During her visit, Jolie met with humanitarian workers and inspected a warehouse filled with medical supplies that had been barred from entering Gaza. She emphasized the need to maintain a ceasefire and ensure safe, continuous delivery of aid, fuel, and medical materials without delay. Ten countries have warned that Gaza’s humanitarian situation is deteriorating further, while Israel claims the new rules aim to prevent Hamas from misusing aid. The UN and aid agencies have rejected that justification, and a U.S. review reportedly found no evidence of large-scale aid theft by Hamas. Gaza remains in crisis amid harsh winter weather, with heavy rain and cold worsening conditions.