A thick blanket of fog has spread across Bangladesh, causing delayed sunlight and an increased feeling of cold, according to the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD). The agency said the condition is expected to persist for the next two to three days, with fog stretching from Delhi to Cumilla. Although temperatures have not dropped significantly, the combination of limited sunlight and cold winds from the north has made conditions feel colder. Meteorologist A.K.M. Nazmul Haque explained that the fog is part of a regional weather pattern influenced by a subcontinental high-pressure ridge extending over West Bengal and adjoining areas. The BMD forecast indicates that Rangpur, Rajshahi, and Khulna divisions may experience moderate to dense fog from midnight to morning, while other regions may see lighter fog. On Saturday, the lowest temperature was recorded at 13°C in Srimangal, and 19.2°C in Dhaka. The department expects dry weather nationwide with partly cloudy skies until Sunday morning. Daytime temperatures may drop slightly in the northern divisions, though no cold wave has been declared yet.

A commemorative discussion on Hazrat Fatima (RA), daughter of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), was held in Dhaka on Saturday night at the Kabi Nazrul Islam Institute auditorium. The event was jointly organized by the Bangladesh office of Al-Mustafa International University and the Bangladesh Imamia Ulama Society. Iranian Ambassador to Bangladesh Dr. Jalil Rahmani Jahanabadi attended as chief guest, alongside cultural and academic representatives from Iran and Dhaka University. Speakers reflected on Hazrat Fatima’s exemplary character, describing her as a symbol of piety, wisdom, and devotion. They emphasized her balanced role as both a family figure and a contributor to society, portraying her as a timeless model for women worldwide. Islamic scholar Dr. Anwarul Kabir presented the keynote paper, stressing that her life demonstrates how faith and moral integrity can empower women to make meaningful social contributions. Participants noted that Hazrat Fatima’s teachings remain relevant for modern women seeking harmony between family duties and public engagement, offering guidance for ethical and spiritual empowerment in contemporary society.

For the first time in two years, students have returned to in-person classes at Gaza’s Islamic University, reopening amid widespread destruction and displacement caused by Israeli military operations. The partial resumption of teaching marks a fragile step toward normalcy on a campus that has been largely reduced to rubble, with only four classrooms currently functional. According to Al Jazeera, around 500 displaced families are now sheltering within the university grounds, where lecture halls have become makeshift living spaces. UNESCO reports that more than 95% of Gaza’s higher education institutions have been damaged or destroyed since the 2023 conflict began. Human rights groups and UN experts have described the systematic devastation of Gaza’s education sector as “scholasticide.” Despite dire conditions, faculty members continue teaching with minimal resources, covering open walls with plastic sheets and borrowing generators for electricity. Observers warn that the destruction of schools and universities threatens the social and intellectual foundation of Palestinian society, with over 750,000 students deprived of education for two consecutive academic years.

At least eight people were killed and 27 injured after a Russian missile strike hit the southern Ukrainian port city of Odesa late Friday, according to Ukraine’s emergency services. The attack targeted port infrastructure, igniting fires in nearby vehicles and damaging facilities. Odesa regional governor Oleh Kiper said ballistic missiles were used in the strike, which caused extensive destruction in the port area. In a parallel development, Ukraine claimed responsibility for drone attacks on a Lukoil-operated oil rig and a Russian patrol vessel named ‘Okhotnik’ in the Caspian Sea. The Ukrainian General Staff described the operation as part of an ongoing campaign against Russian energy infrastructure, marking the first official acknowledgment of such strikes in the region. Damage was also reported to a radar system in Crimea’s Krasnosilske area, occupied by Russia since 2014. Kyiv maintains that Russian oil facilities are legitimate military targets, arguing that energy revenues directly fund Moscow’s war effort. The escalation underscores the widening geographic scope of the conflict and the growing use of long-range strikes by both sides.

The National Sports Council (NSC) of Bangladesh has sparked widespread criticism after reinstating 95-year-old Khorshed Alam to the ad-hoc committee of the Bangladesh Rowing Federation. Alam, who previously served as general secretary for 46 years, had been removed earlier under a government reform directive barring long-serving officials from new committees. His sudden reappointment on December 7, without consultation with federation members, has raised questions about transparency and motives behind the decision. Federation officials formally protested the move on December 11, citing Alam’s alleged involvement in financial irregularities and prolonged mismanagement that hindered the sport’s development. Former NSC executive director Kazi Nazrul Islam stated that he acted on higher directives, while others within the sports community suspect political influence and possible financial dealings behind the inclusion. Alam, however, denied all allegations, claiming his long service and prior NSC recognition justified his return. The controversy underscores persistent governance issues in Bangladesh’s sports federations, where entrenched leadership and lack of accountability continue to impede progress in traditional sports like rowing and boat racing.

Police in Sylhet’s Zakiganj upazila have arrested a 28-year-old man, Dulal Ahmed, for possession of a large quantity of yaba tablets. Acting on a tip-off, law enforcement officers conducted a raid on Saturday evening, December 20, in the West Madarkhal area of Khalachhara Union, where they detained Dulal from his residence. During the search, police discovered two plastic jars containing 21,000 yaba pills concealed inside a rice drum in his home. Authorities have filed a case under the Narcotics Control Act at Zakiganj Police Station. The suspect is scheduled to be presented before the court on Sunday, December 21. Police officials stated that the operation was part of an ongoing anti-narcotics drive in the Sylhet region, which has seen a rise in yaba trafficking cases in recent months. The arrest underscores law enforcement’s continued efforts to curb the spread of synthetic drugs across border areas.

Law enforcement agencies in Bangladesh have arrested ten individuals in connection with the fatal beating of 27-year-old Dipu Chandra Das, a Hindu youth from Valuka in Mymensingh district. The arrests were confirmed in a statement released Saturday night by the Chief Adviser’s Press Wing, following coordinated operations by the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and local police. According to the statement, RAB detained seven suspects, while police apprehended three others from different locations. The suspects range in age from 19 to 46. Officials said the arrests followed a series of raids conducted after the killing sparked public outrage and demands for swift justice. No motive has yet been officially disclosed. Authorities have stated that investigations are ongoing and that further arrests may follow. Human rights groups and community leaders have urged transparency in the inquiry and called for measures to prevent communal tensions in the area.

Police in Faridpur’s Saltha upazila have arrested Shawon Kazi, a local leader of the banned Chhatra League, in connection with the 2018 case involving the vandalism of BNP central organizing secretary Shama Obaid Islam’s car. Kazi, aged 30, was detained from Phulbaria area on Saturday afternoon following a tip-off. He had been wanted under the Speedy Trial Act and was sent to the Faridpur court after his arrest. According to police inspector Maruf Hasan Russell, Kazi had been absconding for a long time in case CR 112/24. The case stems from a violent attack on a BNP rally held in December 2018 at Saltha College field, organized in support of Obaid ahead of the national election. Following the fall of the Awami League government in August, a fresh case was filed naming 82 Awami League leaders and 200–300 unidentified individuals. The arrest marks a renewed push in politically sensitive cases reopened after the change in government, potentially signaling further legal actions against those accused of past election-related violence.

Detective Branch (DB) police have arrested Zahid Hossain Milon, widely known as ‘Tak Milon,’ a former councilor and influential Awami Youth League figure from Jessore. The arrest took place on Friday night in Dhaka’s Rampura area, and Milon was brought to Jessore the following day. Law enforcement officials describe him as one of the district’s top criminal suspects, with at least 14 cases filed against him under murder, explosives, and other criminal laws. DB Officer-in-Charge Mohammad Ali confirmed the arrest, noting that Milon had long faced allegations of abuse of power during the Awami League government. Police records link him to the 2018 murder of a local Youth League activist and a 2019 bomb attack on MP Kazi Nabil Ahmed’s residence. He was also accused of running illegal gambling operations in Jessore. Authorities say Milon had previously been detained in 2020 and 2024 but continued his activities after release. His latest arrest is expected to revive several pending investigations and may expose broader political-criminal networks in the region.

Former BNP lawmaker and freedom fighter Major (Retd.) Akhtaruzzaman Ranjan publicly announced his allegiance to Jamaat-e-Islami during a gathering in Kishoreganj’s Katiadi upazila on Saturday evening. Speaking at a ‘clarification meeting’ at Gachihata College field, Ranjan said Jamaat had given him shelter at a difficult time in his life and that he would remain forever grateful. He stated that he would no longer contest elections but hoped Jamaat would assign him a meaningful role if it came to power. Ranjan, who previously represented Kishoreganj-2 constituency as a BNP MP, criticized his former party for neglecting him over the past three years. He claimed BNP members had distanced themselves, even excluding him from social events. Addressing the audience, he outlined three appeals to Jamaat: building a corruption-free Bangladesh, ensuring peace through truth, and establishing social justice and human dignity. He also demanded justice for the killing of Inqilab Mancha spokesperson Sharif Osman Hadi. Local Jamaat leaders, including candidate Maulana Shafiqul Islam Morol, attended the event, which drew thousands of supporters and ended with special prayers for Hadi’s soul.

Bangladesh’s Education Adviser, Professor Dr. C. R. Abrar, has strongly condemned recent attacks on cultural and media institutions that occurred while the nation mourns the death of martyr Sharif Osman Hadi. In a statement issued Saturday, Abrar said extremist groups exploited the grief to incite chaos and anarchy across several locations in the country. He detailed that the long-standing cultural organization Chhayanaut’s building was attacked and set on fire, destroying musical and educational materials, and that its affiliated school, Nalanda, was also damaged. Abrar further denounced assaults on the offices of cultural group Udichi, as well as on the newspapers Prothom Alo and The Daily Star, and the reported mistreatment of veteran journalist Nurul Kabir. Calling these actions an attempt to tarnish the spirit of the July Movement, Abrar warned that such violence could advance the agenda of anti-Bangladesh fascist forces. Authorities have yet to confirm who is behind the attacks, but concerns are rising over escalating political and ideological tensions.

A former leader of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement in Barishal has filed a rape case against a young man named Suan Al Talukdar, alleging multiple assaults under the pretext of marriage. The complaint was lodged on December 18 at the Kotwali Model Police Station, though it became public on December 20. Police confirmed the filing but said the accused has not yet been arrested. According to the case statement, the complainant and Suan developed a relationship following their activism. The accused allegedly raped her several times, including at a residential hotel in Barishal, where he recorded a video and later used it to threaten her. When pressured to marry, Suan reportedly refused and physically assaulted her. Police said efforts are ongoing to locate the accused, whose phone remains switched off. Suan, previously linked to the now-banned Chhatra League, had been active in local political movements and was arrested earlier this year before being released on bail. The case has drawn attention to ongoing concerns about gender-based violence and accountability in student politics.

BNP Assistant International Affairs Secretary Barrister Rumin Farhana has voiced deep concern over possible violence and irregularities surrounding Bangladesh’s upcoming national election. Speaking at a prayer and discussion event in Brahmanbaria’s Sarail upazila on Saturday, she criticized what she described as conspiracies both inside and outside the country to derail the electoral process. Referring to the funeral of slain BNP leader Osman Hadi, she said she did not know whose name might come next, implying fears of continued political persecution. Farhana also stated she would not purchase her nomination, asserting that it should come from the will of her local voters. She accused the ruling Awami League of past electoral interference, recalling her father’s independent candidacy in 1973. Criticizing the Home Affairs Adviser’s comment about arming candidates, she said such remarks legitimized mob violence and posed a grave threat to national security. Her remarks reflect the BNP’s growing apprehension over election-time security, with concerns about uncollected illegal weapons and the potential for unrest during campaigning and vote counting.

The crescent moon marking the beginning of the Islamic month of Rajab was sighted in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, signaling the start of the seventh month in the Hijri calendar. With this sighting, the formal countdown to the holy month of Ramadan has begun for Muslims worldwide, according to Gulf News. Rajab is one of the four sacred months in Islam, traditionally observed as a time for spiritual reflection and preparation before Ramadan. Religious authorities noted that if both Rajab and Sha'ban months complete 29 or 30 days each, Ramadan is expected to begin in about 60 to 61 days. The exact start date will be confirmed by official moon-sighting committees in each country. In Bangladesh, the National Moon Sighting Committee, led by Religious Affairs Adviser A.F.M. Khalid Hossain, is scheduled to meet on Sunday to confirm local sightings. Based on current calculations, Ramadan in South Asia is likely to begin on February 19, unless the moon sighting is delayed by a day. The sighting of Rajab’s moon marks the beginning of spiritual preparations across the Muslim world, as communities gear up for the fasting month ahead.

A funeral in absentia for Shahid Sharif Osman Hadi, convener of the Inquilab Mancha, was held in Cox’s Bazar on Saturday afternoon. The event took place at the Central Shaheed Minar, organized by the Anti-Fascist All-Party Unity Platform. Local political and civic leaders gathered to pay their respects and offer prayers for the deceased activist. Speakers at the brief pre-funeral discussion included former Cox’s Bazar mayor Sarwar Kamal, Cox’s Bazar Press Club president Mahbubur Rahman, and representatives from the National Citizens Party, Jamaat-e-Islami, and Islami Chhatra Shibir. They recalled Hadi’s contributions to political activism and unity movements in Bangladesh, emphasizing his role in mobilizing youth and promoting democratic ideals. The gathering reflected ongoing political solidarity across party lines in remembrance of Hadi. Similar events have been reported in other districts, suggesting a broader network of tributes to the late activist.