Greek coast guards rescued 131 migrants from a fishing boat near the island of Crete on Saturday, according to the report. The rescued individuals were taken to Gavdos, though their nationalities were not disclosed. This brings the total number of migrants rescued in the region over the past five days to 840. Earlier in December, a boat sank off the coast of Crete, killing 17 people, most of whom were Sudanese or Egyptian, while 15 others remained missing and only two survived. The United Nations refugee agency reported that since the beginning of the year, more than 16,770 people have reached Crete while attempting to enter Europe. In July, Greece’s conservative government suspended asylum application processing for three months, particularly affecting migrants arriving from Libya.

A mobile court in Baliakandi upazila of Rajbari district fined three individuals Tk 200,000 on December 27 for illegally cutting and selling soil to brick kilns. The operation took place in the Amtala area of Baliakandi Sadar Union, led by Upazila Assistant Commissioner (Land) Ehsanul Haque Shipon. The fined individuals were identified as Touhid Biswas, son of Moslem Biswas; Hasan Molla, son of Shukur Molla; and Rashed Sheikh, son of Sadek Sheikh. Police personnel from Baliakandi Police Station were present during the operation. According to the Upazila Assistant Commissioner, the offenders violated Section 7(a) of the Balumahal and Soil Management Act 2010 and were penalized under Section 15(1) of the same law. He stated that similar drives would continue against anyone involved in illegal soil or sand extraction within the upazila. The enforcement action underscores the local administration’s ongoing efforts to curb unauthorized soil extraction and protect land resources in the Rajbari region.

Dr. Tasnim Jara has announced her resignation from the National Citizen Party (NCP) and her decision to contest the upcoming national parliamentary election as an independent candidate from Dhaka-9. The announcement was made on Saturday, December 27, through a verified Facebook statement, where she confirmed her candidacy and outlined her motivations for running independently. In her statement, Jara said that as a native of Khilgaon, her lifelong dream has been to serve the people of her area. Although she had planned to serve the country as a member of parliament, she decided not to represent any political party or alliance in the current context. She emphasized her commitment to building a new political culture and appealed to residents of Khilgaon, Sabujbagh, and Mugda for their support, noting that she would not have a party office or organized campaign team. According to election regulations, an independent candidate in Dhaka-9 must collect signatures from 4,693 voters. Jara said the signature collection would begin the next day and invited local residents to participate actively. She also offered to refund donations previously made to her campaign when she was considered a party candidate.

Dr. Tasnim Jara, senior joint member secretary of the Nationalist Citizen Party (NCP), announced her decision to contest the upcoming election as an independent candidate from Dhaka-9. She made the announcement on Saturday through a verified Facebook post, stating that although she had initially planned to run under a political party’s platform, she decided not to represent any specific party or alliance due to practical circumstances. In her post, Jara reaffirmed her commitment to serving the people of Khilgaon, Sabujbagh, and Mugda, where she was born and raised. She emphasized her determination to uphold her promise of building a new political culture despite the change in her candidacy status. Addressing supporters who had contributed to her earlier fundraising campaign, Jara expressed respect for those wishing to have their donations refunded. She instructed donors who contributed via mobile payment service bKash to fill out a provided online form for verification and refund. Those who donated through bank transfers will be informed soon about the refund process.

Tasnim Jara, senior joint member secretary of the National Citizen Party (NCP), has resigned from her position. The resignation was confirmed by an NCP source on Saturday evening. According to senior joint convener Ariful Islam Adib, Jara submitted her resignation letter in a party WhatsApp group and immediately posted about it on Facebook without waiting for the party’s decision. Following her resignation, Tasnim Jara announced through her verified Facebook account that she intends to contest the upcoming election independently from the Dhaka-9 constituency. She stated that due to the current circumstances, she will not participate as a candidate of any specific party or alliance. Jara reaffirmed her commitment to building a new political culture and serving the people with honesty and dedication. In her post, Jara acknowledged the challenges of running without party support, such as lacking local offices or organized workers, but expressed confidence that public trust and affection would be her main strength in the campaign.

The Bangladesh Navy detained 11 individuals along with a motorized boat, 1,000 liters of diesel, and 650 sacks of cement allegedly being smuggled to Myanmar. The operation took place on Friday in the Kutubdia outer anchorage area of the Bay of Bengal during a routine patrol aimed at ensuring maritime security and sovereignty. According to the report, the Navy acted on secret intelligence about a smuggling ring using sea routes to evade customs duties and transport cement to Myanmar. The naval ship Shahid Mohibullah identified a suspicious fishing boat about 42 miles from the Kutubdia lighthouse. When signaled to stop, the boat attempted to flee but was intercepted and seized. The detained individuals reportedly admitted they were transporting the goods to Myanmar for higher profits. The seized materials and detainees were later handed over to the Patenga Model Police Station for legal action. The Navy stated that its patrols and operations against smuggling, terrorism, and other maritime crimes will continue in coastal and sea areas.

BNP candidate Nazmul Mostafa Amin for Chattogram-15 (Satkania-Lohagara) has said that a fair election cannot be ensured unless looted and illegal weapons from the local police station are recovered. He warned that armed groups could intimidate voters and prevent them from casting their ballots. Amin made the remarks on Saturday morning during a meeting with local journalists at the Grand Mashabi Restaurant in Lohagara. He stated that his party had information about preparations by certain groups to control polling centers. Through the media, he urged the administration to recover the weapons in the interest of the country and the nation. The meeting was attended by Chattogram South District BNP’s joint convener Asahab Uddin Chowdhury, members S.M. Salim Uddin Chowdhury, Salah Uddin Chowdhury Sohel, Fazlul Kabir Fazlu, and other BNP leaders and activists. Amin’s comments highlight the party’s concern about election security and the need for administrative action to ensure a peaceful voting environment in the constituency.

Bangladeshi expatriates in France have declared that they will continue their movement until justice is ensured for the murder of Shahid Sharif Osman Hadi, a frontline fighter of the July uprising and convener of Inquilab Mancha. The announcement came on Friday evening at a discussion and prayer event held at a restaurant near Paris, organized by the Shahid Osman Hadi Support Forum. Participants also warned that they might call for a global remittance shutdown if justice is delayed. The event was presided over by senior journalist Abdul Mannan Azad and conducted by Mohammad Kamaruzzaman, with several community leaders, journalists, and activists in attendance. Speakers highlighted Osman Hadi’s revolutionary life and his vision for a justice-based society. They criticized political and cultural decline in Bangladesh and urged the establishment of cultural centers in his memory. Participants pledged to continue united resistance until the real perpetrators are brought to justice and Hadi’s ideals of an equitable, fascism-free Bangladesh are realized.

The Sylhet district administration honored 103 expatriate Bangladeshis for their contributions to remittances and professional success. The ceremony took place on Saturday afternoon at the Kabi Nazrul Auditorium in Rikabibazar, Sylhet city. The recognition was divided into six categories: successful professionals, businesspersons, community leaders, women entrepreneurs, achievers in sports, and importers of Bangladeshi products abroad. Abdul Nasher Khan, Secretary of the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications, presented the awards as the chief guest. The event was attended by senior officials including the Divisional Commissioner Khan Md. Reza Un Nabi, Sylhet Metropolitan Police Commissioner Abdul Quddus Chowdhury, Deputy Commissioner Md. Sarwar Alam, Superintendent of Police Kazi Akhtarul Alam, and Additional Deputy Commissioner (Education and ICT) Masud Rana. The program began with a rally in honor of the remittance contributors, joined by expatriates, government officials, and people from various professions. According to the district administration, 582 applications were submitted over the past 20 days, and after verification, 103 individuals were selected for the honor.

As of Saturday afternoon, a total of 800,872 voters have registered through the ‘Postal Vote BD’ app to cast postal ballots in Bangladesh’s 13th national election and referendum. According to the Election Commission’s website, the registrants include 728,617 men and 72,253 women. The app allows expatriate Bangladeshis, election officials, and government employees stationed outside their home areas to register remotely. Among expatriate voters, the highest number of registrations came from Saudi Arabia with 162,993, followed by Qatar with 59,582, Oman with 46,143, Malaysia with 43,829, the United Arab Emirates with 30,874, and the United States with 26,073. Within Bangladesh, 244,661 voters have registered under the ‘in-country postal vote’ category. Comilla leads district-wise with 71,143 registrants, followed by Dhaka, Chattogram, Noakhali, Sylhet, and Chandpur. The Election Commission has extended the registration deadline to December 31. The app, launched on November 18, enables expatriates from 148 countries to register, requiring them to use their local mobile numbers for verification.

BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman visited the graves of army officers killed in the 2009 Pilkhana tragedy. The visit took place on Saturday at the Banani Military Cemetery in Dhaka, where he paid respects to the fallen soldiers. He was accompanied by his chief security officer, Brigadier General (Retd.) Dr. A.K.M. Shamsul Islam. The Pilkhana tragedy occurred between 25 and 26 February 2009, when 57 army officers, including then BDR Director General Major General Shakil Ahmed, were killed. The incident remains one of the most tragic events in Bangladesh’s military history. Before visiting the martyrs’ graves, Tarique Rahman also visited the graves of his late younger brother Arafat Rahman Koko and his father-in-law Mahbub Ali Khan at the same cemetery. The visit highlighted Tarique Rahman’s continued engagement in commemorative activities related to national tragedies and family remembrance.

The Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) has cancelled the route permits of three launches operating in the Barishal region following two separate fatal river accidents. The affected vessels are Sundarban-16 on the Barishal–Dhaka route, Adventure-9 on the same route, and Zakir Samrat-3 on the Bhola–Dhaka route. The decision came after a head-on collision between Adventure-9 and Zakir Samrat-3 on the Meghna River in Chandpur’s Haimchar area early Thursday, which left four passengers dead. A separate incident occurred the same night in Narayanganj’s Fatullah, where Sundarban-16 collided with a sand-laden bulkhead on the Buriganga River, causing the bulkhead to sink and killing two workers. BIWTA’s Barishal traffic inspector Md. Julfikar confirmed the cancellation and said a committee has been formed to investigate the accidents. Police have seized the Sundarban-16 launch and detained its staff following the Buriganga collision. Preparations are also underway to file legal cases related to the incidents. The cancellations reflect BIWTA’s immediate response to the recent fatalities and aim to ensure accountability and safety in inland water transport operations.

Maulana Muhammad Mamunul Haque, the Amir of Bangladesh Khilafat Majlis, will contest as a candidate for the Dhaka-13 constituency in the upcoming 13th national parliamentary election. His personal assistant, Maulana Zakir Hossain, confirmed that Mamunul Haque will submit his nomination papers at noon on Sunday at the Dhaka District Election Commission office in Agargaon. Party leaders are expected to accompany him during the submission. The report notes that Bangladesh Khilafat Majlis is part of an ongoing eight-party electoral alliance process that includes Jamaat-e-Islami. The nomination submission marks the formal beginning of Mamunul Haque’s participation in the election under this alliance framework. The development indicates continued coordination among smaller Islamist political groups ahead of the national polls, with Dhaka-13 emerging as one of the constituencies to watch in the alliance’s strategy.

Cumilla District Detective Branch (DB) police arrested seven members of an inter-district robbery gang, including its ringleader, while they were preparing for a robbery at Iliotganj Bazar in Daudkandi upazila. The operation took place at 1:05 a.m. on Friday night following a tip-off. Police seized an unregistered blue-yellow pickup truck, locally made weapons, and other equipment used for robbery. Several other suspects managed to flee the scene. Based on interrogation, police later recovered a locally made firearm and two rounds of cartridges from the house of the gang leader, Md. Saddam Hossain. Officer-in-Charge M. Abdul Halim of Daudkandi Model Police Station said two separate cases were filed under Penal Code sections 399/402 and the Arms Act. The arrested individuals are accused in multiple robbery cases across Cumilla, Feni, Chattogram, Noakhali, Mymensingh, Gazipur, Chandpur, and Lakshmipur districts. Police stated that operations are ongoing to capture the remaining fugitives involved in the gang’s criminal activities.

At a roundtable discussion titled 'Upcoming National Election and the Future of Bangladesh' held on December 27, 2025, at the National Press Club in Dhaka, Amar Desh editor Mahmudur Rahman stated that India does not want a credible election in Bangladesh. He argued that a free and fair election would go against India’s interests, as it would make it harder for India to exert influence and carry out what he described as harmful activities in Bangladesh. Rahman also criticized the interim government, questioning its ability to hold a fair election within the remaining six weeks before the polls. He urged civil society to demand written commitments from political parties to ensure fair voting practices and prevent electoral manipulation. Rahman further claimed that India had fully supported the Awami League government and would not extend similar backing to any future administration. Other speakers, including political scientist Dr. Dilara Chowdhury, emphasized the need for patriotism, the removal of illegal arms, and a level playing field for all parties. The event was organized by the Election Working Alliance and the Fair Election Advisory Committee and chaired by Dr. Md. Shariful Alam.