At least 400 Muslim families in Bengaluru, Karnataka, were reportedly rendered homeless after the state government demolished around 200 houses without prior notice. The demolition took place in Fakir Colony and Wasim Layout of Kogilu village at around 4 a.m. on December 22, carried out by Bengaluru Solid Waste Management Limited. The incident occurred during the winter season, leaving hundreds of families without shelter.

The affected residents claimed they had lived in the area for about 25 years and possessed valid Aadhaar and voter ID cards. They alleged that police forcibly evicted them without warning, leaving many unable to retrieve essential documents and belongings. The event has sparked a political dispute between Karnataka’s ruling Congress and Kerala’s Left Front, with opposition parties accusing Congress of adopting the Bharatiya Janata Party’s controversial “bulldozer rule.”

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan condemned the action, calling it an example of anti-minority politics under the Congress government. Reports also noted a broader rise in minority persecution across India, including violence against Bengali-speaking Muslims and attacks on Christians during Christmas celebrations.

Bangladesh has expressed deep concern over recent killings and violence targeting minorities in India and called on New Delhi to ensure impartial investigations and bring perpetrators to justice. Foreign Ministry spokesperson S M Mahbubul Alam made the statement on Sunday, December 28, citing incidents of brutal murders, mob attacks, arbitrary detentions, and disruptions of religious events involving Muslims and Christians in several Indian states, including Odisha, Bihar, and Kerala.

Alam said Bangladesh is particularly alarmed by reports of widespread violence against Christians during Christmas celebrations across India, describing such acts as hate crimes and targeted violence. Dhaka also rejected recent remarks by India’s Ministry of External Affairs regarding communal violence and minority conditions in Bangladesh, stating that Delhi’s comments misrepresented the country’s longstanding tradition of communal harmony.

In an official statement, Bangladesh’s Foreign Ministry asserted that isolated criminal incidents were being deliberately portrayed as institutional persecution of Hindus to spread anti-Bangladesh sentiment in India. It warned that selective and biased narratives were being used to incite hostility against Bangladesh and its diplomatic missions.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami announced on Sunday that the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and the National Citizens Party (NCP) have joined its political alliance. The announcement was made by Jamaat Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman at a press conference held at 5 p.m. He stated that discussions with the NCP had been finalized earlier, but no representatives from the party could attend the event. The NCP is expected to hold its own press conference after internal discussions.

Before the inclusion of the two new parties, the alliance consisted of eight members: Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, Islami Andolan Bangladesh, Bangladesh Khelafat Andolan, Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish, Khelafat Majlish, Nezame Islam Party, Jatiya Ganatantrik Party, and Bangladesh Development Party. The addition of LDP and NCP expands the coalition under Jamaat’s leadership.

The NCP’s absence from the joint press conference suggests that the party may still be finalizing its internal stance before publicly confirming its participation in the alliance.

OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman has predicted that the next major step toward superhuman artificial intelligence will come when AI systems achieve what he called “infinite, perfect memory.” Speaking on the Big Technology Podcast, Altman said the company is working toward this goal by 2026, envisioning AI that can remember every detail of a user’s life. He contrasted this with human assistants, who cannot recall every word, document, or interaction, describing current AI memory as still “very crude” and “very early.”

Altman’s remarks follow reports that he declared a “code red” at OpenAI after Google launched its Gemini 3 model in November, which the company described as marking a “new era of intelligence.” Despite acknowledging Gemini 3’s strong benchmark performance, Altman said OpenAI’s response was standard practice when facing competition. He noted that Gemini 3 had not yet had the impact initially feared but did expose weaknesses OpenAI is now addressing.

Altman outlined OpenAI’s strategy to stay ahead in the AI race: build the best models, create strong products around them, and ensure sufficient infrastructure for large-scale deployment.

A 24-year-old student from Tripura, Angel Chakma, was killed in Dehradun, Uttarakhand, after being attacked by a group of youths who allegedly hurled racial slurs and accused him of being Chinese. The incident occurred on December 9 when Angel and his younger brother went shopping. After protesting the insults, Angel was stabbed in the neck and spine, leaving him critically injured. He remained on life support for 14 days before dying. His father is a Border Security Force (BSF) soldier. The case has sparked outrage across India, particularly in the northeastern states.

Police have arrested five suspects, including two minors, while the main accused, Yagya Awasthi, remains at large and is believed to have fled to Nepal. Authorities have announced a reward for information leading to his capture. The suspects face charges of murder and criminal conspiracy.

Student organizations across northeastern India have demanded a national law against hate crimes. Tipra Motha Party leader Pradyot Bikram Manikya Debbarma condemned the attack, calling it a blow to national unity and dignity.

BNP Standing Committee member Nazrul Islam Khan said the newly formed alliance between the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and Jamaat-e-Islami does not align with NCP’s declared ideology. He described the alliance as a political decision of the respective parties. Khan made the remarks on Sunday afternoon after meeting Chief Election Commissioner A.M.M. Nasiruddin at the Election Commission office in Agargaon, Dhaka.

During the meeting, BNP raised several election-related issues, including concerns over a directive requiring candidates to submit details of their children's assets during nomination filing. Khan said this requirement, though not explicitly mentioned in the Representation of the People Order (RPO), is creating complications. The party also expressed concern about the potential misuse of artificial intelligence (AI) on social media during the upcoming national election.

BNP warned that AI could be used to spread false information, images, and videos, and urged the Election Commission to take strong preventive measures. Khan emphasized that the Commission’s effective role is crucial to ensure a free, fair, and credible election, and the party expects clear initiatives from the Commission in this regard.

The Government of Bangladesh has cancelled the certificates of 71 individuals identified as fake freedom fighters. The Ministry of Liberation War Affairs issued a gazette on December 24, 2025, formalizing the cancellation. The decision was made under the authority of the National Freedom Fighters Council Act, 2022, and the Rules of Business, 1996, following the 101st meeting of the National Freedom Fighters Council (JAMUKA).

According to JAMUKA sources, these individuals had obtained certificates despite not being actual freedom fighters. The verification process confirmed the falsity of their claims. The cancelled certificates include those from civilian, Indian list, Lal Muktibarta, Ansar, army, and martyred police categories.

The verification and scrutiny of freedom fighter certificates remain ongoing, as authorities continue efforts to ensure the authenticity of recognized participants in the Liberation War.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir stated that the party has always stood by the Quran and Sunnah and continues to do so. He made the remarks on Sunday afternoon during a meeting with Islamic scholars in Thakurgaon. Fakhrul emphasized that no law outside the Quran and Sunnah would be allowed, rejecting claims that the BNP does not adhere to Islamic principles.

He said the country is going through a critical period, with some groups allegedly working behind the scenes to destabilize the nation and disrupt the upcoming election. Fakhrul urged everyone to remain alert and united, warning that disunity would harm the country. He also accused the Awami League of passing laws to perpetuate its power and deprive people of their rights, while religious scholars were once labeled extremists and harassed.

Fakhrul concluded that the difficult period had passed and called for collective efforts to rebuild the nation anew.

Pakistan has condemned Israel’s decision to recognize Somaliland as an independent state, calling the move “provocative and illegal.” The statement was issued by Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Saturday, following Israel’s announcement on Thursday that it had become the first country to formally recognize Somaliland’s independence. The ministry said such actions undermine Somalia’s sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity.

Islamabad’s statement rejected Israel’s efforts to recognize Somaliland and described the move as a clear violation of international law. It warned that such actions threaten not only the peace and stability of Somalia but also that of the wider region. Pakistan reaffirmed its full support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Somalia.

The ministry also called on the international community to reject any such steps and to prevent Israel from undermining ongoing efforts to maintain peace and stability in the region.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and seven other like-minded political parties have called an urgent press conference. The event is scheduled for Sunday at 4:30 p.m. at the Abdus Salam Hall on the third floor of the National Press Club in Dhaka. Jamaat-e-Islami’s Assistant Secretary General Hamidur Rahman Azad informed the media about the conference, though the specific agenda has not been disclosed.

According to available information, the press conference may include announcements regarding a possible alliance with the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and other political groups. Reports also suggest that seat-sharing arrangements could be discussed or declared during the event. However, no official confirmation has been provided about these potential announcements.

The meeting comes amid ongoing political discussions among several parties exploring coalition options. The outcome of the press conference may indicate new alignments or strategies ahead of future political developments.

A total of 114 leaders of the National Citizens Party (NCP) have signed in favor of joining an eight-party alliance that includes Jamaat-e-Islami, according to a report published on December 28, 2025. The signatures were submitted to NCP convener Nahid Islam, and party sources indicated the number could rise to 120. Meanwhile, 30 members have signed against the move, while others remain undecided. No senior NCP official has publicly commented on the matter.

A letter accompanying the signatures stated that the signatories, described as central-level NCP leaders, support strategic political decisions aimed at rebuilding democratic institutions and establishing a responsible state system ahead of the upcoming national election. They expressed full confidence in the convener and member secretary to make appropriate decisions regarding any electoral alliance or understanding.

The letter emphasized that a timely and unified decision under the leadership of Nahid Islam would strengthen the party organizationally and enhance public trust, reflecting a push within NCP for a broader political alignment before the election.

BNP’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman visited the party’s chairperson’s political office in Gulshan, Dhaka, on Sunday afternoon. According to the party’s media cell, a room has been prepared for him on the second floor of the office, where he will conduct political activities.

Party sources said Rahman plans to contest the upcoming national election from two constituencies—Dhaka-17 and Bogura-6. On the same day, he collected nomination papers for the Dhaka-17 seat from the Divisional Commissioner’s Office in Segunbagicha, Dhaka.

The visit marks Rahman’s active engagement in the party’s election preparations, with arrangements being made at the Gulshan office to facilitate his political operations.

Hamas has called on Israel to allow an impartial international investigation into the October 7, 2023 attacks in southern Israel. The Palestinian group released a 42-page document rejecting accusations of killing or committing atrocities against Israeli civilians. The document provides detailed accounts of the events of that day, Hamas’s perspective on Israel’s actions in Gaza, and its view of the ongoing conflict.

According to the document, Hamas claims Western media and pro-Israel lobby groups spread misleading narratives about the attack, including false reports of child killings and sexual violence. It states that such claims were used to justify what Hamas describes as a genocidal campaign in Gaza. The group says it had offered to release civilian hostages shortly after the attack, but Israel initially refused. During a brief truce in November 2023, about 100 hostages were exchanged for Palestinian prisoners.

Hamas attributes the October 7 assault to decades of Israeli occupation, Gaza’s blockade, repeated violations of the Oslo Accords, and international inaction. The document concludes that Hamas is an inseparable part of the Palestinian national structure.

Ahsan Habib Lincoln, secretary general of the Jatiya Party (Kazi Zafar) faction, has resigned from his post. He confirmed his resignation on Sunday morning and announced through his Facebook profile on Saturday night that he will contest the upcoming national parliamentary election as an independent candidate from Kushtia-2 (Mirpur-Veramara). Lincoln stated that he would collect his nomination papers on Monday, December 29.

In his Facebook post, Lincoln expressed frustration over not receiving a nomination and said his long political dedication had not been properly valued. He claimed to have been betrayed by both the BNP and his own party. He wrote that he was leaving the party to seek judgment from the people of his constituency and criticized the BNP’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman for failing to uphold promises made during the 12-party alliance meeting.

Lincoln’s resignation and independent candidacy mark a significant shift within the Jatiya Party (Kazi Zafar) faction ahead of the national election, reflecting internal dissatisfaction and strained alliances.

Two associates of Faisal, the prime suspect in the murder of Inkilab Mancha spokesperson Shahid Sharif Osman Bin Hadi, have been arrested in India, according to Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Additional Commissioner (Crime and Operations) S N Md Nazrul Islam. He disclosed the information at a press briefing on Sunday at the DMP Media Centre, where he discussed progress in the investigation.

Nazrul Islam said Faisal fled to Meghalaya, India, where local police detained his two aides. So far, eleven people, including Faisal’s parents, wife, brother-in-law, and girlfriend, have been arrested in connection with the case. Investigators recovered two foreign pistols, 52 rounds of ammunition, a motorcycle with a fake number plate, and cheques worth Tk 218 crore linked to 53 accounts. The official described the killing as premeditated and confirmed that six suspects have given confessional statements.

The DMP expects to submit the charge sheet within 7–10 days, by January 7. Hadi was attacked on December 12 in Dhaka’s Paltan area and later died on December 18 while under treatment in Singapore.