Dr. Tasnim Jara has resigned from the National Citizen Party (NCP) and announced her candidacy as an independent contender for the Dhaka-9 constituency in the upcoming national parliamentary election. She made the announcement on Saturday, December 27, 2025, through a statement on her verified Facebook account.

Around the same time, three other senior NCP leaders—Senior Joint Convener Samanta Sharmin, Joint Member Secretary Nusrat Tabassum, and Joint Member Secretary Dr. Mahmuda Mitu—also made posts on Facebook. Samanta Sharmin wrote that they would not give up their struggle, Nusrat Tabassum emphasized that politics should not outweigh principles, and Dr. Mahmuda Mitu expressed distrust toward certain Western-aligned groups while praising those who openly state their positions.

The posts come amid internal tensions within the NCP, as several members have recently expressed dissent over the party’s political direction and alliances.

China has appointed its first female captain for the domestically produced C919 passenger aircraft, according to the South China Morning Post. The historic appointment went to Yu Yue, a former Boeing 737 pilot with China Southern Airlines. Since joining the airline in 2015, Yu has maintained a zero-error record. Earlier this year, she joined the C919 program and completed extensive training at the Civil Aviation Flight University of China and COMAC’s Shanghai training center, which included simulator sessions for emergency scenarios.

The C919, developed by the state-owned Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC), is a narrow-body jet designed for short- and medium-haul routes and is seen as China’s alternative to the Boeing 737 and Airbus A320. The aircraft began commercial service on domestic routes in May 2023. Major state-owned carriers—China Southern, Air China, and China Eastern—are incorporating the C919 into their fleets and retraining pilots accordingly.

Yu highlighted the challenges faced by women pilots in balancing professional duties with family responsibilities. In 2024, China had 941 female pilots, less than two percent of the total, though participation has been gradually increasing.

Adilur Rahman Khan, adviser to the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives, said that any attempt to disrupt the upcoming election will be firmly resisted. He made the remarks on Saturday at Matherbazar in Madaripur Sadar upazila after paying respects at the grave of July Movement martyr Naimur Rahman. He stated that patriotic citizens will work together to ensure a fair, free, and impartial election.

According to Adilur Rahman, the interim government is working to ensure the safety of July Movement participants and all citizens ahead of the election, while fascist forces are trying to obstruct the process. Earlier, he visited Ghatmajhi area to meet the family of July martyr Mamun Sardar and paid tribute at the July Memorial near Shakuni Lake in the morning.

Senior district officials, including Deputy Commissioner Jahangir Alam and Additional Deputy Commissioner Al Noman, were present during the visit, reflecting administrative engagement in the adviser’s activities.

RAB-6 has arrested D.K. Shamim, also known as Dhakaiya Shamim, in connection with the shooting of NCP leader Motaleb Sikdar in Khulna city. The arrest took place on Friday night during a special operation in the Basupara area. Another suspect, Mahadin, was also detained in the same operation. At a press briefing on Saturday, RAB-6 Deputy Commander Major Md. Nazmul Islam confirmed that Shamim was directly involved in the shooting incident and had seven previous cases under narcotics, robbery, and special powers laws. Mahadin was reportedly present at the scene during the attack.

Both detainees have been handed over to Sonadanga Model Police Station. RAB stated that operations are continuing to apprehend the remaining suspects in the case. The attack occurred on December 22 at Mukta House in the Al Aqsa Mosque Lane of 109 Majid Sarani, where unidentified assailants attempted to kill Motaleb Sikdar by gunfire. Following the incident, Sikdar’s wife filed a case naming a woman named Nimmi and eight unidentified individuals as accused.

RAB’s ongoing investigation aims to identify and capture the other suspects involved in the attempted murder.

A United States missile strike on Islamic State (IS) targets in Nigeria’s Sokoto State on Christmas Day has drawn mixed reactions both within the country and internationally. The missile reportedly landed just meters from the only health center in Jabo village, causing panic among residents. Supporters of former US President Donald Trump and right-wing groups in the United States celebrated the attack as a “Christmas gift,” while Nigerian observers raised concerns over national security, sovereignty, and civilian safety.

Far-right activist Laura Loomer praised the strike on social media, calling it a justified act against Islamic terrorists. Florida Republican congressman Randy Fine described the attack as a “remarkable Christmas gift,” and other Republican lawmakers, including Senator Ted Budd of North Carolina, commended Trump for authorizing the strike, citing IS’s responsibility for the deaths of thousands of Christians and religious minorities in Nigeria.

Nigeria’s government has long faced violence from Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP). Officials have reiterated that while they welcome international cooperation in counterterrorism, such actions must respect the country’s sovereignty and legal framework.

The Inter-Services Public Relations Directorate (ISPR) has issued a special advisory urging all fishing boats, trawlers, and other vessels to avoid the sea area between Cox’s Bazar and Hatiya on December 29 and 30, 2025. The notice, released on December 27, stated that the Bangladesh Navy will conduct missile firing exercises in that maritime zone during those two days.

According to the ISPR statement, the advisory aims to ensure the safety of lives and property while the naval exercise is underway. All types of marine vessels, including fishing boats and trawlers, have been specifically requested not to remain or move within the designated area during the exercise period.

The ISPR emphasized that the temporary restriction is precautionary and limited to the missile firing schedule, after which normal navigation is expected to resume.

Somalia has strongly condemned Israel’s decision to formally recognize Somaliland, calling it an act of state aggression and demanding its immediate withdrawal. The reaction came a day after Israel announced its recognition of the breakaway region. Somali Deputy Foreign Minister Ali Omar told Al Jazeera that the move constitutes direct interference in Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. He said the government would use all diplomatic means to counter what it described as Israeli intervention in its internal affairs.

The announcement has sparked widespread criticism across African and Arab nations, many of which expressed concern that Israel’s move could be linked to plans for the forced displacement of Palestinians. Somalia’s government reiterated that such actions are unacceptable to its people and urged Israel to comply with international law and reverse its divisive decision.

Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in 1991 after a civil war but has not been recognized by any UN member state. Despite having its own currency, flag, and parliament, its sovereignty remains internationally unacknowledged.

A total of 184 central committee members of the National Citizens Party (NCP) have supported a seat-sharing agreement with the eight-party alliance that includes Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami. However, 30 members of the 214-member committee have opposed the arrangement. The figures indicate that 86 percent of the NCP’s central leadership favor the deal, while 14 percent remain against it. The information was confirmed on Saturday by several central leaders of the party.

The development highlights internal divisions within the NCP over joining the alliance led by Jamaat-e-Islami. While the majority of the leadership supports the move, a notable minority has expressed reservations about aligning with the Islamist party and its coalition partners. The report did not specify the reasons behind the dissent or identify the opposing members.

The confirmation of the seat-sharing stance suggests that the NCP is moving closer to formalizing its participation in the eight-party bloc, though internal opposition could influence future negotiations or party unity.

The Bangladesh Jewellers Association (BAJUS) has announced a record increase in gold prices across the country, raising rates by up to Tk 1,575 per bhori. The new prices, effective from Sunday, December 28, set the cost of 22-carat gold at Tk 227,856 per bhori, marking the highest level in Bangladesh’s history. The announcement was made through a BAJUS press release on Saturday, December 27.

According to the association, the adjustment reflects a rise in the price of pure gold in the local market, aligned with global market trends. The main reason cited for the increase is the surge in international gold prices, which have exceeded USD 4,500 per ounce. Alongside gold, silver prices have also been raised, with 22-carat silver now priced at Tk 6,065 per bhori.

The new pricing structure indicates a broader response to global market pressures, suggesting continued volatility in precious metal prices as Bangladesh aligns its domestic rates with international movements.

Former interim government adviser Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan has collected nomination papers for the Cumilla-3 (Muradnagar) constituency as an independent candidate. The papers were collected on his behalf by Ramzanul Karim, a worker of the National Citizen Party (NCP), from the office of the Cumilla District Commissioner and Returning Officer on December 24. The matter became public on the night of December 26, and was confirmed to the media the following day by administrative officer Md. Saheb Ali.

According to the nomination register, Asif Mahmud’s current address is listed in Dhaka South City Corporation’s New Market area, while his permanent address is in Akbpur, Muradnagar. NCP’s Muradnagar coordinator Minhajul Haque stated that Asif had sent his national ID to the party and that they were hopeful he would contest from Muradnagar. He added that multiple nomination papers were collected due to possible alliance decisions, and final choices would depend on the evolving situation.

Earlier, on December 10, Asif Mahmud resigned from his advisory post in the interim government and announced his candidacy for Dhaka-10, where he has already begun campaigning.

Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury will be sworn in as the 26th Chief Justice of Bangladesh on Sunday. The oath-taking ceremony is scheduled for 10 a.m. at Bangabhaban, where President Md. Shahabuddin will administer the oath. The information was confirmed on Saturday by Md. Shafiqul Islam, Public Relations Officer of the Supreme Court’s Appellate Division.

President Md. Shahabuddin appointed Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury as the 26th Chief Justice on December 23. Justice Chowdhury earned his LLB and LLM degrees from the University of Dhaka and later obtained an LLM in International Law from the United Kingdom. He began his legal career in the district court in 1985 and joined the High Court Division as an advocate in 1987. He was appointed an additional judge of the High Court Division on August 27, 2003, and became a permanent judge two years later. He took oath as a judge of the Appellate Division on August 13, 2024.

According to the report, Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury is expected to retire on May 17, 2028.

A 22-year-old Indian-origin student, Manoj Sai Lella, was arrested by Frisco police in Texas on December 22. He is a senior student at the University of Texas at Dallas. According to authorities, police responded to his home after family members reported a mental health-related incident and alleged threats. Officials stated that Lella had attempted to set fire to his home a few days earlier.

NDTV reported that Lella faces charges of arson with intent to damage a residence or place of worship, classified as a first-degree felony. He was also charged with making 'terroristic' threats against family or household members, a Class A misdemeanor. However, police clarified that no evidence indicated any threat toward a place of worship.

Court documents show that bail was set at 100,000 US dollars for the arson charge and 3,500 US dollars for the threat charge.

The Directorate of Primary Education has opened the online portal for downloading admit cards for the government primary school assistant teacher recruitment written examination. The process began on Saturday, December 27, 2025, at 10 a.m. Applicants can access their admit cards through the website http://admit.dpe.gov.bd/applicant/login using either their user ID and password or their SSC roll, board, and year. The written examination is scheduled to take place on Friday, January 2, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. in each candidate’s respective district.

According to the official notice, candidates will receive an SMS from the number 01552-146056 with instructions for downloading their admit cards. Participants must bring a color printout of the downloaded admit card along with their original national identity card (NID or smart card) to the examination center. The admit card will also contain instructions for filling out the OMR sheet and other exam-related details.

The Directorate emphasized that only candidates with valid printed admit cards and identification will be allowed to sit for the examination.

A graffiti unveiling ceremony was held in Chatmohar, Pabna, on Friday, December 26, to commemorate revolutionary martyr Sharif Osman Al Hadi, spokesperson of Inquilab Mancha. The event took place near the Shaheed Minar in the Chatmohar Upazila premises, where murals of Hadi, Saeed, Abrar, and Mir Mugdho were painted by local students.

According to organizer Md. Hasanuzzaman Sabuj, the initiative, arranged under the banner of Amolin, aimed to inspire the public with Hadi’s spirit of sacrifice for the country and his courage to stand against Indian dominance. The artwork was created by students including Shishir, Faisal, Swapan, Masud Rana, Sabuj, and Gopal from various educational institutions.

The organizers expressed hope that the graffiti would serve as a lasting reminder of Hadi’s ideals and motivate younger generations to uphold national dignity and resistance against external influence.

Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) detained former Shibir upazila president Md. Atik Hasan, aged 25, along with a motorcycle and local weapons at Auliar Hat near the India border in Sreerampur Union of Patgram upazila, Lalmonirhat. The arrest took place on Saturday during an anti-smuggling operation conducted by the 61 BGB Teesta Battalion. The seized items and the detainee are in the process of being handed over to Patgram Police Station.

According to Patgram Police Station Officer-in-Charge Nazmul Haque, BGB filed a smuggling case and transferred the suspect with the seized weapons and motorcycle to the police. Patgram upazila Shibir president Khorhshed Alam confirmed that Atik Hasan had been expelled from the organization in 2022 for lack of dedication to party activities.

The BGB continues its anti-smuggling operations along the Lalmonirhat border, and legal procedures regarding the current arrest are underway.