Israel has released 10 Palestinians detained in Gaza under a ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement with Hamas, according to Anadolu Agency on Sunday. The released individuals were taken by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah for medical examinations and necessary treatment.

Human rights organizations from both Palestine and Israel reported that more than 9,300 Palestinians remain imprisoned in Israel, including women and children. The report cited allegations of torture, starvation, and medical neglect among detainees, leading to several deaths. Rights groups also stated that mistreatment of Palestinian prisoners has intensified during Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza.

Since the conflict began in October 2023, over 70,900 people have been killed—mostly women and children—and about 171,200 injured, while large parts of Gaza have been reduced to rubble.

The United States has allocated $2 billion to support United Nations humanitarian operations, with Bangladesh among 17 countries set to benefit. The funding will be distributed through an 'umbrella fund' targeting specific agencies and priority sectors. The US administration described the move as part of a new financial approach under the Trump administration, which seeks to reduce foreign aid while maintaining the country’s position as the world’s largest humanitarian donor.

Although the $2 billion allocation is lower than previous levels, the administration called it a generous contribution. However, the new funding model has raised concerns among humanitarian organizations due to significant program cuts. Afghanistan and the Palestinian territories are excluded from the list, with aid for Palestine expected to come through Trump’s incomplete Gaza peace plan.

According to UN data, the current amount represents only a small fraction of recent humanitarian assistance levels, as the US once provided up to $17 billion annually. Critics worldwide warn that reduced Western aid could increase hunger, displacement, and disease risks for millions and weaken international influence.

Mahfuz Alam, a former information adviser to the interim government and a leading figure in the July uprising, has announced plans to pursue a new political solution. He made the declaration on Monday, December 29, through a Facebook post, emphasizing a fresh start driven by vision, honesty, and commitment to Bangladesh and its youth. Alam reiterated that there would be no compromise in this new journey.

Earlier, he had confirmed through his verified Facebook page that he would not join the National Citizens Party (NCP). He had also previously stated that he would not participate in the upcoming national parliamentary election. His latest statement signals a shift toward forming or supporting a new political direction rather than aligning with existing parties.

The announcement highlights Alam’s intent to channel the spirit of the July movement into a renewed political effort, though details of the initiative or its structure have not yet been disclosed.

More than 3,090 migrants died in 2025 while attempting to reach Spain from various countries, according to Spain’s migrant rights organization Caminando Fronteras. The group reported that the number of deaths, though still high, marked a significant decrease compared to 2024 as fewer people attempted the perilous crossings. Most fatalities occurred along the Atlantic migration route from Africa to Spain’s Canary Islands, one of the world’s most dangerous sea passages.

The report noted that while arrivals to the Canary Islands have fallen, a new, longer, and more dangerous route from Guinea has emerged. Among the dead were 437 children and 192 women. Caminando Fronteras also observed a rise in migrant boats departing Algeria toward Ibiza and Formentera in the Mediterranean, a route increasingly used by migrants from Somalia, Sudan, and South Sudan in 2025. Deaths on this route doubled from the previous year to 1,037.

Spain’s Interior Ministry stated that by December 15, 2025, a total of 35,935 migrants had reached Spain, about 40 percent fewer than during the same period in 2024, with roughly half arriving via the Atlantic route to the Canary Islands.

A Dhaka court has granted a five-day remand for Ahsan Ullah, accused of sheltering the main suspect in the Keraniganj madrasa explosion case filed under the Anti-Terrorism Act. The order was issued on Monday, December 29, 2025, by Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Tajul Islam Sohag after police sought a ten-day remand. The investigation officer, Sub-Inspector Md. Zahurul Islam of South Keraniganj Police Station, argued that Ahsan Ullah had given refuge to fugitive Sheikh Al Amin, the madrasa director and main accused, after the blast.

According to the case details, the explosion occurred on December 26 at a madrasa building in Hasnabad Housing area, damaging walls and the roof. Following the incident, law enforcement agencies including the CID Crime Scene Unit, Anti-Terrorism Unit, RAB, and Fire Service conducted a two-day recovery operation. They seized around 400 liters of liquid chemicals, bomb-making materials, and several explosive devices from Al Amin’s rented residence.

Six other suspects arrested earlier were also placed on remand for varying periods as the investigation continues to identify additional individuals linked to the banned militant organization.

Bangladesh is experiencing severe cold across the country despite the absence of an official cold wave, according to the Meteorological Department on December 29, 2025. Persistent dense fog has blocked sunlight for days, causing daytime temperatures to fall unusually low. Northern regions have faced this condition for a week, while the capital has endured it for four days. Meteorologists said the situation may continue for another three to four days, with a possible cold wave around January 3.

The lowest temperature on Monday was recorded at 10°C in Nikli, Kishoreganj, while Naogaon’s Badalgachhi saw 11.7°C. Dhaka recorded a minimum of 13.8°C and a maximum of 15.5°C. The department described the situation as severe and disaster-like, noting that the difference between maximum and minimum temperatures has narrowed, intensifying the cold feeling. Dense fog and chilly winds have disrupted daily life, transport, and business activities.

Hospitals are seeing rising numbers of patients with cold-related illnesses such as fever, cough, and respiratory problems. Street vendors in Dhaka reported increased sales of winter clothing, while day laborers continue to struggle in the biting cold.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan attended a ceremony in Hatay province on December 27 to hand over the 455,000th new home built for survivors of the 2023 earthquakes that devastated southern Turkey. The February 6 quakes, measuring 7.8 and 7.5 in magnitude, killed more than 53,000 people and displaced millions across southern Turkey and northern Syria. Erdogan said over 55,000 housing units were delivered in Hatay and about 22,000 in Kahramanmaraş, slightly exceeding his earlier pledge of 453,000 units.

During the event, Erdogan criticized opposition parties, calling them “earthquake tourists” who sought political advantage from the disaster. He emphasized that his administration had rebuilt infrastructure in affected provinces including Adıyaman and Gaziantep. The president also linked Turkey’s internal stability to the broader Middle Eastern situation, warning against “merchants of blood and chaos” seeking to destabilize the region.

Erdogan reiterated that Turkey’s progress depends on a strong ruling party and national unity, highlighting solidarity with neighboring peoples in Syria, Palestine, and Iraq. The 2023 earthquakes were the deadliest in two decades, destroying over 35,000 buildings and severely damaging 200,000 more.

Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh leaders Allama Muhibullah Babunagari and Allama Sajedur Rahman have alleged that an anti-national fascist group is again attempting to play the 'militant card' following several recent incidents, including an explosion at an unregistered madrasa in Keraniganj, a bomb attack targeting Mufti Jasimuddin Rahmani, mysterious arson at several Hindu homes, and the recovery of 24 electric detonators near the Sunamganj border. They made the remarks in a statement to the media on Monday, December 29, 2025.

The Hefazat leaders claimed that such acts are intended to create fear, disrupt the upcoming national election, and divert public attention from the demand for justice in the killing of Shaheed Osman Hadi. They accused domestic collaborators of using militancy narratives for political gain and called on the government led by Yunus to take stricter measures to maintain law and order.

Hefazat instructed its members nationwide to hand over anyone found involved in militant or sabotage activities to law enforcement while ensuring that no innocent person is falsely implicated. The organization reiterated that it does not want to see a repeat of what it called 'militant dramas' in the country.

The Bangladesh Railway authorities have called on citizens to refrain from damaging trains, engines, coaches, wagons, and other railway assets. The appeal was made on Monday through a press release issued by Rezaul Karim Siddiqui, Public Relations Officer of the Ministry of Railways. The statement highlighted recent incidents of stone-throwing at trains, unjustified rail line blockades, and deliberate damage to railway tracks, which have caused financial losses and disrupted train operations.

According to the release, the railway is a state-owned national asset, and any harm to it represents a loss to the nation and its people. The ministry emphasized that preventing such damage is a moral duty of all citizens. It also reaffirmed Bangladesh Railway’s commitment to providing quality passenger services and called for public cooperation to ensure safe and efficient operations.

The statement further warned that any attempt to damage state property, including rail infrastructure, is a punishable offense. Those engaging in illegal acts under political, social, or other programs will face strict legal action under existing laws.

Former interim government adviser Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan has formally joined the National Citizens Party (NCP). The announcement was made on Monday evening at a press conference held at the party’s temporary central office in Banglamotor, Dhaka, by NCP convener Nahid Islam. He stated that although the NCP has entered its electoral phase, Asif Mahmud will not contest in the upcoming election. Instead, he will work to ensure the success of NCP-nominated candidates and has been appointed as the head of the party’s election management committee.

Asif Mahmud previously served as one of the key coordinators of the anti-discrimination student movement that led the mass uprising of July–August 2024. Following the fall of the then Awami League government on August 5, 2024, he took oath as an adviser in the interim government. He resigned from that position on December 10, 2025, with the resignation becoming effective on December 11, coinciding with the announcement of the election schedule.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Monday that he has asked U.S. President Donald Trump to consider providing Ukraine with a 30 to 50-year security guarantee. Zelensky stated that Trump responded he would “think about” the proposal. He confirmed that under the current agreement, Ukraine is already assured of a 15-year security guarantee from the United States.

Zelensky added that the next round of discussions will take place in Kyiv in January. He said that the head of Ukraine’s National Defense and Security Council, Rustem Umerov, is coordinating the process with partners. Following that, Ukraine will hold talks with European leaders to align the main documents and prepare communications between Trump and European leaders.

Zelensky also mentioned that Trump has discussed his 20-point peace plan with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who he said is ready for peace. He noted that lifting martial law would only be possible once security guarantees are in place, including the deployment of foreign troops.

Nasiruddin Patwari, the chief coordinator of the National Citizen Party (NCP), has submitted his nomination papers to contest the Dhaka-8 parliamentary seat. The submission took place on Monday, December 29, 2025, before the returning officer. Patwari confirmed that he will run under the NCP’s symbol, the Shapla Koli, and described his candidacy as a continuation of the vision of Shaheed Sharif Osman Bin Hadi, the late spokesperson of Inquilab Monch, who previously represented the constituency.

Patwari stated that he is standing in the seat Hadi once aspired to represent, aiming to fulfill the dreams Hadi had for the area. He acknowledged that Dhaka-8 is a challenging constituency where few are willing to contest, referring to it as Hadi’s seat and expressing readiness to face any risk in pursuing national progress. The report did not mention other candidates or party reactions.

The nomination marks NCP’s attempt to strengthen its presence in Dhaka’s political landscape through symbolic continuity with Hadi’s legacy.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Professor Mia Golam Parwar said that the people will resist any attempt at vote rigging. He made the remarks on Monday at the Khulna Deputy Commissioner’s office while speaking to journalists on the final day for submitting nomination papers. Parwar stated that Jamaat-e-Islami is participating in the election based on an eight-party understanding, which has now expanded to ten parties after two more joined the alliance.

Highlighting concerns about possible electoral manipulation and deprivation of voting rights, he urged citizens to remain united to ensure a free and fair election. He also called on voters to support the July Charter by voting “yes” in the referendum scheduled on the same day as the election. Quoting the party’s Amir, Parwar said their struggle has shifted from fighting fascism to combating corruption, aiming for a corruption-free economy and society.

He emphasized that the nation seeks change after 54 years of governance by those he described as tested and failed, expressing confidence that his party will bring that change.

West Bengal Police have denied social media claims that their Special Task Force arrested five people accused of aiding the killers of Inquilab Manch spokesperson Shahid Sharif Osman Hadi. In a post on their official X handle on Monday, the police stated that such reports were entirely baseless. The post did not mention Osman Hadi or Bangladesh by name but clarified that no arrests of foreign nationals had been made in connection with any recent incident.

The denial follows widespread social media posts alleging that five Bangladeshi nationals were detained by the Special Task Force. Earlier, Dhaka Metropolitan Police had claimed that Osman Hadi’s killers fled to India and that Meghalaya Police had arrested two people for assisting them. However, both Meghalaya Police and India’s Border Security Force (BSF) rejected those claims, saying there was no evidence of any such arrests or cross-border movement.

Dhaka police later said their statements were based on information from arrested suspects and sources near the border, but Indian authorities have maintained that the reports lack factual basis.

Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan, a recently resigned adviser and a leading figure in the July uprising, is reportedly set to join the National Citizen Party (NCP). Multiple sources on Monday, December 29, 2025, indicated that he may be appointed as the party’s spokesperson, although he has not yet publicly confirmed his position. Following his resignation, speculation has grown about his political direction, while he has also announced plans to contest independently from Dhaka-10 and nomination papers have been collected on his behalf for Cumilla-3 (Muradnagar).

In contrast, another former adviser and July uprising leader, Mahfuz Alam, has declared that he will not join the NCP. In a Facebook post titled “My Political Position,” he explained that although he had long collaborated with NCP and the Citizen Committee, he chose to maintain his independent stance. Mahfuz emphasized his commitment to cultural and political resistance against fascism and to fostering a new political-economic framework.

The developments highlight internal realignments among July uprising leaders and suggest possible shifts in Bangladesh’s emerging political landscape.