Bangladesh’s Election Commission (EC) announced that 557,695 expatriate citizens have registered to vote through postal ballots in the upcoming national election and referendum. The data, published on the EC’s website as of Sunday noon, shows that 523,086 men and 34,607 women have completed registration via the ‘Postal Vote BD’ app. Registrants come from a wide range of countries including South Korea, Japan, South Africa, China, the United States, and Saudi Arabia.

According to the EC, voters assigned to election duties, government employees stationed outside their constituencies, and those in legal custody can register for postal voting until December 25. The initiative is part of the Out of Country Voting System and Implementation (OCV-SDI) project, led by Salim Ahmad Khan. The EC has urged expatriates to provide accurate addresses during registration to ensure ballot delivery.

This marks a significant step toward expanding electoral participation among Bangladeshis abroad, reflecting the government’s broader goal of integrating overseas citizens into the democratic process. The registration deadline and subsequent voting logistics will test the EC’s capacity to manage remote participation efficiently.

A case has been filed at Dhanmondi Police Station following a violent attack, arson, and looting at the Chhayanaut cultural center in Dhaka. The incident occurred on the night of December 20, when unidentified assailants vandalized and set fire to parts of the building. Chhayanaut’s chief manager, Dulal Ghosh, lodged the case against 300 to 350 unidentified individuals, police confirmed on Sunday.

According to Chhayanaut officials, the attackers destroyed CCTV cameras, furniture, and musical instruments including tablas, harmoniums, and violins. The total extent of the damage has not yet been determined. The attack took place following the death of Inquilab Mancha spokesperson Shahid Sharif Osman Hadi, after which several media offices and Chhayanaut were targeted.

Interim government cultural affairs adviser Mostofa Sarwar Farooki visited the site and reviewed CCTV footage, promising that those responsible would be brought to justice. Authorities are continuing investigations to identify the perpetrators and assess the full scale of losses.

The Bangladesh Election Commission (EC) has identified three categories of potential risks ahead of the upcoming national elections, while the armed forces have requested judicial authority under the Mobile Court Act and permission to enter polling centers on election day. The proposal was raised during a recent meeting between the EC and law enforcement agencies chaired by Chief Election Commissioner Nasir Uddin. The commission has yet to make a decision on the army’s request.

Election Commissioner Brigadier General (Retd.) Abul Fazl Mohammad Sanaullah outlined the risks as heightened public excitement after a long gap between elections, possible acts of sabotage by certain groups, and the influence of black money, counterfeit currency, and cross-border networks. These factors, he warned, could threaten the integrity and order of the polls if not effectively managed.

The EC is expected to deliberate further on the army’s proposal and risk mitigation strategies in the coming weeks as preparations intensify for the national vote.

A new international study led by researchers at Leiden University in the Netherlands has found that increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide is diminishing the nutritional quality of major food crops. While higher CO₂ levels may boost crop yields, the research shows a decline in essential nutrients such as zinc, iron, and protein, alongside a rise in toxic elements like lead. The findings suggest that foods are becoming more calorie-dense but less nutritious.

The decade-long study examined 43 crops, including rice, wheat, potatoes, and tomatoes, analyzing 32 key nutrients. On average, nutrient levels were found to drop by 3.2%, with zinc in chickpeas projected to fall by as much as 37.5%. Lead researcher Sterre Ter Haar described the results as “alarming,” noting that the changes could have serious health implications.

Experts warn that this nutrient decline may worsen global malnutrition, even as food production increases. The study highlights the need for urgent climate action and agricultural adaptation to preserve food quality as atmospheric CO₂ levels have already reached 425.2 parts per million.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan stated that Israel’s repeated ceasefire violations are making it extremely difficult to advance the Gaza peace plan. His remarks followed a high-level meeting in Miami involving representatives from the United States, Turkey, Egypt, and Qatar, who discussed the fragile situation in Gaza and the next phase of the ceasefire process.

Fidan explained that the first stage of the ceasefire, based on agreements reached at the Sharm el-Sheikh Peace Conference, had been completed after the release of the last hostages. However, he warned that Israel’s continued breaches of the truce threaten to derail progress toward the second phase. The discussions also addressed obstacles encountered during the initial phase.

Reiterating Turkey’s position, Fidan emphasized that Gaza must be governed by Palestinians, remain territorially unified, and that all reconstruction efforts should prioritize the welfare of its residents. He added that significant investments are being planned for Gaza’s rebuilding, signaling Ankara’s intent to play a constructive role in the post-conflict recovery process.

Relatives of Bangladeshi army member Mohammad Jahangir Alam are waiting in Pakundia, Kishoreganj, for his body to arrive following his death in a terrorist drone attack in Sudan’s Abyei region. The body was expected to reach his home village, Tarakandi, on Sunday morning, but poor weather delayed the helicopter carrying it. Jahangir Alam was among six Bangladeshi peacekeepers killed in the December 13 attack on a UN peacekeeping base.

According to army officials, the bodies of all six soldiers reached Bangladesh on Saturday. Jahangir Alam, son of Mohammad Hazrat Ali, joined the Bangladesh Army in October 2014 as a mess waiter and was stationed at Rangpur Cantonment before being deployed to Sudan on November 7 this year. His funeral prayer is scheduled to be held at his home after the noon prayer.

The attack has drawn deep sorrow across Bangladesh, with the government reaffirming its commitment to global peacekeeping missions while calling for stronger international protection for peacekeepers in conflict zones.

Bangladesh’s Ministry of Home Affairs has announced an emergency press conference to brief the media on the country’s overall law and order situation and the progress of the ongoing Operation Devil Hunt Phase-2. The briefing is scheduled for Sunday at 5:30 p.m. at the Secretariat, where Home Affairs Adviser Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Md. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury will address journalists and respond to questions.

According to ministry spokesperson Faisal Hasan, the joint forces launched Operation Devil Hunt Phase-2 on December 13 to curb rising criminal activities across the country. Over the past week, 5,949 individuals have been arrested, and several firearms have been seized during the operation. The ministry is expected to present detailed updates on these developments and outline the next steps in maintaining internal security.

The press conference comes amid heightened public attention on law enforcement activities and government efforts to stabilize security conditions nationwide. Analysts suggest the ministry’s transparency could help build public confidence ahead of upcoming political and social events.

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) A.M.M. Nasir Uddin held a high-level meeting with the chiefs of the Bangladesh Army, Navy, and Air Force on Sunday to assess the overall law and order situation ahead of the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election and national referendum. The meeting took place at the Election Commission Secretariat in Agargaon, Dhaka, around noon, followed by a formal session at 2:30 p.m. to discuss security coordination.

Officials said the discussion focused on ensuring a peaceful electoral environment and the possible deployment of armed forces to assist civil administration during the election period. The Election Commission is expected to finalize its security plan soon, with emphasis on maintaining neutrality and public confidence. Military representatives reaffirmed their readiness to support the commission’s directives.

The meeting signals heightened coordination between the Election Commission and the defense forces as Bangladesh prepares for a politically sensitive election. Further inter-agency meetings are anticipated in the coming weeks to refine operational strategies and ensure nationwide stability during the electoral process.

Police in Dhaka recovered the bodies of two siblings, aged 10 and 1, from an apartment in the Wireless area of Hatirjheel on Sunday morning. The children, Afrida and Ilham Chowdhury, were found dead after reportedly falling ill following a family meal. Their bodies were sent to Dhaka Medical College Hospital for autopsy, with police confirming no visible injury marks.

Family members said the illness began after the family consumed leftover food from Afrida’s birthday celebration held on December 16. Afrida fell sick first and died early Saturday at a local hospital, while her younger brother Ilham died later that day during treatment at another facility. Police are investigating possible food contamination or poisoning as the cause of death.

Authorities await post-mortem results to determine the exact cause. The tragic deaths have raised renewed concerns over food safety and storage practices in urban households, with police urging families to exercise caution when consuming stored or reheated food.

Real Madrid returned to winning form in La Liga with a 2–0 victory over Sevilla, led by goals from Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappé. The French forward’s late penalty not only sealed the win but also allowed him to equal Cristiano Ronaldo’s club record of 59 goals in a calendar year. The result brought Madrid to 42 points from 18 matches, just one point behind league leaders Barcelona, who have played one game fewer.

Mbappé’s goal-scoring consistency continues to define Real’s season, with 18 goals in 18 league matches making him La Liga’s top scorer. His celebration mirrored Ronaldo’s signature gesture, symbolizing both respect and rivalry with the Portuguese legend. Sevilla, meanwhile, remain in ninth place with 20 points from 17 matches.

The win strengthens Madrid’s title challenge as the season approaches its midpoint. With Mbappé and Bellingham in top form, Carlo Ancelotti’s side appears poised to maintain pressure on Barcelona in the coming fixtures.

Police in Noakhali’s Hatiya upazila have arrested a young man accused of issuing death threats to Abdul Hannan Masud, senior joint chief coordinator of the National Citizen Party (NCP). The suspect, Israt Raihan Omi, son of former Char Ishwar Union Parishad chairman Abdul Halim Azad, was detained late Saturday night from Nandaroad area. Authorities confirmed that Omi faces three prior cases filed with Hatiya Police Station.

According to police, Omi sent a highly provocative message through Facebook Messenger to an NCP activist, threatening violence against party leaders if his father was arrested. The message reportedly contained explicit threats against Hannan Masud and others. Officer-in-Charge Saiful Alam stated that legal proceedings are underway and warned that anyone attempting to incite unrest, online or offline, will be brought under the law.

The arrest underscores growing concerns over the misuse of social media for political intimidation. Law enforcement officials have pledged increased monitoring of digital communications to prevent similar incidents in the future.

At least nine people were killed and ten others injured in a mass shooting near Johannesburg, South Africa, early Saturday morning. Police said around a dozen unidentified gunmen arrived in two vehicles and opened fire inside a bar in Bekkersdal township shortly before 1 a.m. local time. The attackers continued shooting as they fled the scene, prompting an extensive police operation to track them down.

National and provincial crime units, along with detectives and intelligence officers, have been deployed to investigate. Authorities are interviewing witnesses, though the motive behind the attack remains unclear. The injured victims were transported to nearby hospitals for treatment.

This incident follows a similar bar shooting earlier in December near Pretoria that left at least 12 people dead, highlighting growing concerns over violent crime and gun-related attacks in South Africa. Police have urged the public to assist with information as investigations continue.

Two cabin crew members were removed from Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight BG-202, which is scheduled to carry BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman from London to Dhaka on December 25. The decision was reportedly made late at night following intelligence reports citing possible political affiliations and potential security risks to the VIP passenger.

The removed crew members, Junior Purser Md. Saugatul Alam Saugat and Flight Stewardess Jinia Islam Jinia, were replaced by Flight Purser Mostafa and Flight Stewardess Ayat, according to the airline’s flight service department. Intelligence sources indicated that the move was precautionary, aiming to ensure the safety of all passengers, including Rahman and senior BNP leaders accompanying him.

This is not the first such incident. In May, two other crew members were similarly removed from a flight carrying BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, also based on intelligence alerts. The latest replacement underscores heightened scrutiny and security measures surrounding high-profile political figures’ travel ahead of Rahman’s anticipated return to Bangladesh.

A joint press conference is scheduled in Dhaka today to present the progress of the investigation into the killing of Sharif Osman Hadi, convener of the Inqilab Manch. Officials from the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), and police are expected to detail findings, arrests, and evidence gathered so far. The case, initially filed as an attempted murder, has now been reclassified as a murder case following a court directive.

Hadi, an independent candidate for Dhaka-8 constituency and a key figure in the July uprising, was shot in the head on December 12 while campaigning. He died six days later in a Singapore hospital. Authorities have arrested 11 people, including relatives and associates of the main suspect Faisal Karim Masud, a banned student leader. RAB’s media director Wing Commander M Z M Intekhab Chowdhury said the briefing would present a comprehensive update on the investigation.

The killing has drawn wide public attention ahead of the upcoming national elections, with investigators under pressure to ensure transparency and swift justice.

Blue Origin, the space company founded by billionaire Jeff Bezos, is set to make history by sending the first wheelchair-using woman into space. Mikela Benthaus, a spacecraft and mechatronics engineer, will join five other crew members aboard the New Shepard rocket for the upcoming NS-37 suborbital mission. The flight will cross the Kármán line, 62 miles above Earth, marking the internationally recognized boundary of space.

Benthaus, who became paralyzed after a 2018 motorcycle accident, has since been an advocate for inclusive space exploration. Joining her on the mission will be engineer Hans Koenigsmann, entrepreneur Neil Milc, investor Joey Hyde, Adonis Porolis, and space enthusiast Jason Stansell. The crew will experience several minutes of microgravity before returning to Earth during the 10–12 minute flight.

This will be Blue Origin’s 16th human spaceflight and its latest step toward expanding accessibility in commercial space travel. The company has previously flown 86 people past the Kármán line, with 80 of them being first-time space travelers.