Four passengers were killed and at least fifteen others injured when two passenger launches collided in dense fog on the Meghna River near Chandpur’s Haimchar area early Thursday, December 25. The accident occurred around 2 a.m. near Banglabazar in Nilkomol Union, involving the Bhola-to-Dhaka bound MV Zakir Samrat-3 and the Dhaka-to-Barishal bound MV Adventure-9. Witnesses said heavy fog blanketed the river, causing the Adventure-9 to lose direction and crash into the Zakir Samrat-3, which was severely damaged and left partially submerged. Another vessel, MV Karnaphuli-9, rescued many passengers and continued toward Dhaka.

Chandpur River Police Assistant Superintendent Imtiaz Ahmed confirmed four fatalities, all passengers of the Zakir Samrat-3. Police later seized the Adventure-9 when it reached Jhalakathi via Barishal. The Chandpur River Police Officer-in-Charge said both launches left the scene before authorities arrived. BIWTA officials suggested dense fog was the likely cause of the collision.

A government naval adviser was expected to inspect the damaged launch at Sadarghat following the incident, as authorities began investigating the cause and safety lapses.

Bangladesh’s women’s volleyball team won the bronze medal at the CAVA Cup held in the Maldives, defeating Afghanistan 3–0 in straight sets. The victory secured third place for Bangladesh, marking the best achievement in the country’s women’s volleyball history. Four teams participated in this year’s tournament, where Bangladesh lost to the Maldives in the semifinals before claiming the bronze in the third-place match. The team was coached by experienced trainer Shafiqul Islam Russell.

Bangladeshi women have been playing volleyball since 1973 and have represented the country internationally for 52 years. However, this is the first time they have finished third in an international competition. Officials of the Bangladesh Volleyball Federation expressed great satisfaction with the result. Executive member Sohel Rana described the success as commendable and a sign of progress for women’s volleyball in the country, expressing hope for even better performances in the future.

National Board of Revenue (NBR) Chairman Abdur Rahman Khan has called for realizing the vision shown by the 'July warriors', saying they pointed out the right path for the nation. He stated that the country had been on the wrong track and must correct its course to build a prosperous Bangladesh. Khan made these remarks on Friday, December 26, at the centenary celebration of Dalta Rahmania High School in Ramganj, Lakshmipur, where he attended as the chief guest.

During his speech, the NBR chairman emphasized the need for social respect toward deserving individuals, noting that society often honors the wrong people while neglecting those who merit recognition. He also encouraged students to pursue education sincerely, saying that opportunities are open both at home and abroad for those who learn properly.

The event was presided over by education enthusiast and social worker Khorhshed Alam Bhuiyan and conducted by former student Abu Hannan Lavlu. Several notable figures, including Dhaka University Pro-Vice Chancellor Dr. Mamun Ahmed and industrialist Kamal Hossain, addressed the program virtually.

Bangladesh and Thailand have signed a bilateral memorandum of understanding to facilitate the recruitment of Bangladeshi workers in Thailand. The agreement was signed on Friday, December 26, at the office of Thailand’s Labour Minister Trinuch Thienthong. During the signing ceremony, Minister Thienthong expressed optimism that the recruitment process could begin soon under the new arrangement, noting Thailand’s need to address its existing labor shortages through foreign worker recruitment.

Bangladesh’s Ambassador to Thailand, Faiyaz Murshid Kazi, assured that workers would be sent through a safe, orderly, and regular process. He also invited Thai authorities to visit Bangladesh to gain firsthand understanding of the country’s labor migration systems and procedures. Minister Thienthong instructed her senior colleagues to advance discussions on implementing the memorandum and emphasized the importance of swift action to meet labor market demands.

Ambassador Kazi briefed the Thai minister on ongoing discussions with Thai business communities and reiterated Bangladesh’s commitment to following best practices similar to other major labor markets in the Asia-Pacific region.

The Palestinian Ministry of Agriculture reported that Israeli military operations and attacks by illegal settlers destroyed more than 8,000 olive trees across the West Bank within a week, resulting in an estimated loss of about $7 million. The most severe damage occurred in the northern and central regions, including the uprooting of 5,000 trees in Silat al-Harithiya (Jenin) and 3,000 in Turmus Ayya (Ramallah). Additional destruction was recorded in Tulkarem, Qalqilya, Salfit, Bethlehem, and East Jerusalem.

The ministry said agricultural infrastructure also suffered extensive damage, with 13 wells and farmhouses destroyed, irrigation systems harmed, water pumps stolen, 82 beehives ruined, and livestock poisoned. It described the attacks as part of a “systematic policy” aimed at seizing Palestinian land and displacing residents.

According to the report, violence in the West Bank typically intensifies during planting and harvest seasons. Since October 2023, Israeli forces and settlers have killed at least 1,100 Palestinians, injured around 11,000, and detained 21,000. In July 2024, the International Court of Justice declared Israel’s occupation of the West Bank and East Jerusalem illegal and called for the evacuation of all settlements.

Former sports adviser Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan has said that his official Facebook page, which had around three million followers, was removed by Facebook authorities following mass reports. He claimed the removal occurred after posts about Sharif Osman Hadi, spokesperson of Inqilab Moncho, were reported. Asif shared the information in a Facebook post on Friday, stating that all posts and videos related to Hadi were targeted with strikes and coordinated reports.

According to Asif, links were circulated in various Telegram groups to organize the reporting campaign, and three videos about Hadi received strikes. The incident comes as Asif prepares to contest the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election as an independent candidate from Dhaka-10. He had earlier resigned as a student adviser of the interim government, along with Mahfuz Alam, a day before the election schedule was announced.

The removal of the page has drawn attention due to its timing before the election and the large follower base involved, though Facebook’s official reasoning for the removal has not been detailed in the report.

Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman announced that the party will work to build a humane and discrimination-free Bangladesh through unity among all classes of people. He made the remarks on Friday morning at the central members’ conference of Islami Chhatra Shibir held at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Center, where more than 6,000 members from across the country participated. The event will also elect the organization’s new central president for the 2026 session.

In his speech, Dr. Rahman emphasized employment creation over unemployment allowances for youth and called for an education system free from corruption, fear, and violence. He said Jamaat aims to establish institutions where there is no place for drugs or terrorism and where women can move safely and with dignity. He described Islami Chhatra Shibir as a guardian of the student community, tasked with restoring moral education, modern knowledge, and research in educational institutions.

Dr. Rahman urged students to prepare themselves for nation-building, stressing that every young person should become a craftsman of the country’s development.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz declared that Israel will never withdraw from Gaza and announced plans to establish a wide security perimeter around the enclave as well as authorize settlements in its northern region. Katz made the remarks on Thursday during a public event, according to Anadolu Agency. Earlier in the week, he had made similar comments regarding settlement construction in northern Gaza.

The report states that Israel, with U.S. support, launched a major war in Gaza in October 2023, resulting in over 71,000 Palestinian deaths and injuries, most of them women and children. A ceasefire proposed by former U.S. President Donald Trump took effect on October 10, but Israel has allegedly violated it daily, causing 411 additional Palestinian deaths.

Katz further said that Israel would eventually establish the Nahal outpost in northern Gaza and exercise what he described as “de facto sovereignty” similar to its control in the occupied West Bank. The Palestinian Authority accused Israel of intensifying annexation efforts in the West Bank through demolitions, forced displacement, and settlement expansion, warning that such actions undermine the UN-backed two-state solution.

Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) recovered 24 electric detonators from the Charagaon border area in Sunamganj’s Tahirpur upazila on Friday morning, acting on a tip-off. The explosives were found wrapped in polythene at Maizhati, near the border, around 8 a.m. According to BGB officials, the recovered items are capable of being used to make high-powered improvised explosive devices (IEDs).

Lieutenant Colonel AKM Zakaria Kadir, commander of the 28 BGB Battalion in Sunamganj, stated that the operation was based on secret intelligence. He said the detonators were likely smuggled into Bangladesh with the intention of destabilizing the country’s current situation and carrying out acts of sabotage.

Authorities suspect the explosives were imported illegally through border smuggling networks. The recovery highlights ongoing security challenges along the Sunamganj frontier and the vigilance of border forces in preventing potential threats.

A recently published Global Workforce Study has projected that the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia will require more than 1.5 million new workers by 2030, despite rapid advancements in artificial intelligence. The study found that while AI is transforming business processes, the demand for human labor remains strong, driven by robust economic growth, large-scale development projects, and the expansion of public and private services.

In Saudi Arabia, labor demand is primarily fueled by the Vision 2030 economic reform program, which includes major investments in construction, infrastructure, tourism, manufacturing, logistics, and new economic zones. The report estimates that without productivity gains from AI, Saudi Arabia may need around 650,000 additional workers. The UAE’s labor force is expected to grow by 12.1% by 2030, one of the fastest rates among surveyed countries, compared to 11.6% in Saudi Arabia.

The study highlights that opportunities for foreign workers will continue, especially for those with technical, digital, and service-sector skills. AI will automate repetitive tasks but not replace human expertise in supervision, customer interaction, and problem-solving.

Barrister Toufiqueur Rahman, a central committee member of the suspended Awami Jubo League, has collected nomination papers to contest as an independent candidate in the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election from Narsingdi-5 (Raipura) constituency. The nomination papers were collected on his behalf by his personal assistant Sanaullah from Assistant Returning Officer and Raipura Upazila Nirbahi Officer Md Masud Rana at the Raipura Upazila Parishad office on December 24.

According to the assistant returning officer, the nomination papers were issued following due procedure. Toufiqueur Rahman is the grandson of Shaheed Abdur Rab Serniabat and the nephew of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s sister Amena Begum, a family background that has kept him in public discussion both locally and nationally.

The collection of nomination papers by a leader from the banned Jubo League has sparked varied reactions among local political activists and residents, with some viewing it as a significant and curious signal ahead of the upcoming election.

Bangladesh Rastrer Sangskar Andolon has announced it will not join any alliance led by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) or Jamaat-e-Islami ahead of the upcoming 13th National Parliament Election. Party president Hasnat Kayum made the declaration on Friday during a press conference at the party’s office, stating that his organization would continue its political activities independently.

Within the broader Ganatantrik Sangskar Jote, the National Citizen Party (NCP) is currently engaged in seat-sharing discussions with both BNP and Jamaat. However, another partner in the alliance, AB Party, has yet to clarify its position on the matter. Hasnat Kayum emphasized that his party is not only refusing to form an alliance with BNP or Jamaat but is also unwilling to hold any discussions about such cooperation.

The announcement underscores divisions within the reformist coalition as parties prepare for the national election, with some exploring alliances while others maintain independent political strategies.

A recent Pentagon report has shown that China has rapidly become a major global arms supplier, with Pakistan emerging as its closest partner in aerial warfare. According to the report, China has already delivered 20 J-10C multirole fighter jets to Pakistan, and two additional orders will raise the total to 36. Pakistan is also jointly producing the JF-17 Thunder aircraft with China, which is already in service with the air forces of Azerbaijan, Myanmar, and Nigeria, while Iraq has expressed interest in the model.

Beyond aircraft, China has supplied Pakistan with advanced attack-capable unmanned aerial vehicles, including the Caihong and Wing Loong series. In the naval sector, Pakistan received four frigates from China in 2017 and 2018, and it is expected to remain a key partner in China’s future naval exports.

The Pentagon report attributes the growing popularity of Chinese weapons to competitive pricing, flexible financing, and the absence of political conditions. It describes Pakistan’s relationship with China as a comprehensive partnership involving joint development, production, and long-term strategic cooperation.

The Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) 42 Dinajpur Battalion conducted a special anti-smuggling operation late on December 25 and recovered a large quantity of banned Indian Tapentadol tablets from the Pirganj border area in Thakurgaon district. According to a BGB press release, the tablets were found abandoned about 500 yards inside Bangladesh near border pillar 340/3-S in Guchhagram area. The seized consignment contained 198 pieces of the narcotic tablets, valued at 59,400 taka. Legal proceedings regarding the recovered drugs and the absconding individuals are underway.

Lieutenant Colonel Abdullah Al Moin Hasan, commanding officer of the 42 Dinajpur Battalion, stated that legal action is in process concerning the seized narcotics. He added that intelligence efforts are ongoing to identify and apprehend the drug traffickers who fled the scene.

The BGB emphasized that the operation was based on specific intelligence information and forms part of its ongoing campaign to curb cross-border drug smuggling in northern Bangladesh.

Dhaka North unit of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has initiated a cleanup operation following the massive public gathering held to celebrate the historic homecoming of the party’s acting chairman, Tarique Rahman. According to the party, the waste removal work began this morning across the 36 July Expressway (300-foot highway), Airport Road, and adjacent areas.

The cleanup is being conducted under the supervision of Dhaka North BNP, with participation from volunteers and party activists. Party leaders stated that the initiative aims to ease public inconvenience and ensure normal movement for city residents.

BNP leaders added that the party has always maintained a responsible role in preserving environmental and urban cleanliness alongside its peaceful and disciplined programs, and this effort continues that tradition.