More than fifty female workers of Pran Bangla Millers Company Limited in Ishwardi, Pabna, fell ill after eating food served at the factory canteen late Thursday night. The incident occurred around 3:30 a.m. on Friday at the factory located in Baraichara area of Salimpur Union. The affected workers were admitted to Ishwardi Upazila Health Complex with symptoms including abdominal pain, headache, and diarrhea.

Factory sources said several workers began feeling unwell shortly after eating dinner at 9 p.m. Pran Company’s admin officer Shafiul Islam confirmed that the workers were hospitalized immediately after they fell sick and are currently under treatment. Dr. Umme Kulsum of Ishwardi Upazila Health Complex stated that the illness might have resulted from food poisoning. Sixteen workers remain hospitalized, while others have returned home after receiving primary treatment.

Following the incident, anxiety spread among the workers, though hospital authorities reported that most of the affected individuals are now out of danger.

Rashed Pradhan, vice president and spokesperson of the National Democratic Party (JAGPA), has described Sheikh Mujibur Rahman as the founder of extrajudicial crossfire in Bangladesh. He made the remark on Friday at 11 a.m. after placing a floral wreath and offering prayers at the grave of Siraj Sikder in Mohammadpur Central Cemetery, marking the 51st anniversary of Sikder’s death.

Pradhan said that Siraj Sikder, one of the organizers of the Liberation War, realized after independence that Bangladesh had become a subservient state to India. He alleged that Sikder was brutally killed the day after his arrest to suppress his anti-Indian revolutionary movement. According to Pradhan, this marked the beginning of extrajudicial crossfire in the country.

He further stated that patriots like Siraj Sikder, Abrar Fahad, and Osman Hadi were martyred for protesting Indian dominance, while figures such as Major Jalil, Allama Delwar Hossain Sayeedi, and Shafiul Alam Pradhan faced persecution. Warning pro-India elements, Pradhan said that those who bow to India would face the same fate as Sheikh Mujib and Sheikh Hasina. Several JAGPA leaders were present at the event.

BNP National Standing Committee member and former minister Salahuddin Ahmed visited the home of journalist Ansar Hossain in Cox’s Bazar on Friday, January 2, 2026. Hossain, a staff reporter and office head of the daily Amar Desh in Cox’s Bazar, recently lost his wife and son within two months. Salahuddin arrived at Cox’s Bazar Airport around 1 p.m., performed Friday prayers at Uttor Nuniarchar Jame Mosque, and then visited the graves of Hossain’s wife Rokhsana Nur and their 13-year-old son Abdullah Ritaz Hossain. He offered prayers for the deceased and expressed sympathy to the grieving family.

During his visit to Hossain’s residence, Salahuddin met with family members, including the journalist’s elder son Abdullah Nur Hossain Rudra, and conveyed his condolences. He remarked that losing both wife and child in such a short time is an indescribable loss and prayed for the family’s strength and patience.

According to the report, Rokhsana Nur passed away on October 14, and their son Abdullah Ritaz died on December 27, reportedly from illness brought on by grief. The tragedy has drawn condolences from journalists and various political and social organizations.

U.S. President Donald Trump warned that the United States would intervene if Iran used force to suppress peaceful demonstrations. In a social media post on Friday, he stated that Washington would act to protect protesters if they were shot or killed. The statement was reported by Reuters.

The warning came as Iran entered its sixth consecutive day of protests over rising living costs. Clashes between demonstrators and security forces have left six people dead, while authorities arrested 30 protesters on charges of creating disorder and damaging public property. Iran’s semi-official Fars news agency reported that in Azna city of Lorestan province, about 300 kilometers southwest of Tehran, three people were killed and 17 injured. In Lordegan city, around 470 kilometers south of Tehran, two others were killed during the protests.

The continuing unrest and Trump’s remarks signal growing international attention to Iran’s domestic turmoil, though no immediate U.S. action was reported.

Cumilla district police have transferred Debidwar Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Golam Sarwar in the public interest following a report published in the daily Amar Desh. The report, titled 'Student arrested claiming to be a Swechchhasebak League leader,' drew attention ahead of the upcoming national parliamentary election. According to an order signed by Cumilla Superintendent of Police Anisuzzaman on Thursday, Sarwar has been attached to the district police lines, while Mohammad Moniruzzaman, officer-in-charge of Kotbari outpost in Cumilla Sadar, has been appointed as the new OC of Debidwar. The order takes immediate effect.

Earlier, Golam Sarwar had joined Debidwar Police Station on December 8 of the previous year after a divisional reshuffle of all OCs in Chattogram Division through a lottery signed by Additional DIG Ahsan Habib. The transfer follows public criticism after student Nazmul Hasan, who participated in an anti-discrimination movement, was arrested on December 13 from his father’s grocery shop and later sent to jail in a sabotage case. Local movement representatives and residents condemned the incident.

The transfer decision appears linked to maintaining administrative neutrality before the national election, as indicated in the official order.

In the verification process for the 13th National Parliamentary Election, three out of ten nomination papers submitted for the Chattogram-1 (Mirsarai) constituency were canceled. The review took place on Friday at the office of the District Commissioner and Returning Officer. Seven candidates, including nominees from BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami, Islami Andolan Bangladesh, Insoniyat Biplob Bangladesh, Jatiya Party, Muslim League, and JASAD (ASM Abdur Rob), were declared valid.

According to the report, the nomination of Shahidul Islam Chowdhury, former convener of the upazila BNP, was canceled due to the absence of party endorsement. Independent candidate Advocate Ashraf Siddiqui’s nomination was rejected after his voter signature information was found false. The nomination of Ershad Ullah, submitted on behalf of the Jatiya Party, was also canceled due to missing documents.

Mirsarai Upazila Nirbahi Officer and Assistant Returning Officer Somaiya Akter stated that three nominations were canceled for lack of required documents, and the affected candidates may appeal within four working days.

The board of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), led by its president Mahmud Hasan Khan, visited the grave of former Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia at the Zia Udyan in Dhaka on Friday morning. The delegation laid floral wreaths and offered prayers seeking forgiveness for the late leader’s soul.

Senior Vice President Inamul Haque Khan, Vice Presidents Vidhya Amrit Khan and Md. Shihab Uddoja Chowdhury, and several directors including Shah Raeed Chowdhury, Faisal Samad, Nafis-ud-Doula, Mozumdar Arifur Rahman, Kazi Mizanur Rahman, Dr. Rashid Ahmed Hossaini, and Sakif Ahmed Salam accompanied the president. After the prayer, the BGMEA leaders stood in silence to honor her memory.

Speaking to the media, Mahmud Hasan Khan described Khaleda Zia as an uncompromising leader for democracy and acknowledged her contribution to the development of Bangladesh’s garment sector. He expressed condolences to her bereaved family and prayed for her eternal peace.

Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) has announced a special bus service to assist candidates appearing for the 2025–26 academic year undergraduate admission test under the agriculture cluster. The service will operate on January 3, with buses running before and after the exam along designated routes. The announcement was made on January 2 through a notice signed by Professor Dr. Mohammad Golzarul Aziz, Director of Transport at BAU.

According to the notice, three bus trips will run from Digharkanda Bypass and Kewatkhali Bypass to the university campus at 11 a.m., 12 p.m., and 1 p.m. After the exam, buses will depart from the university helipad at 3:30 p.m. to return candidates to their destinations. The initiative aims to reduce travel difficulties and ensure timely arrival at exam centers.

Additionally, BAU has reintroduced the “BAU Exam Hall Finder” for the third time and set up a central help desk to provide seating information and other assistance. The ICT Cell will operate a help desk to support candidates facing admit card or technical issues.

A Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) member was found dead from a rifle shot at the Gongerhat border outpost in Phulbari upazila of Kurigram early Thursday night. The deceased was identified as Nasim Uddin, 24, son of Abul Mondol from Khajura village in Jhenaidah. He was serving as a sepoy under Lalmonirhat BGB Battalion 15. According to police and BGB sources, Nasim was preparing for a border patrol when a gunshot was heard near the soldiers’ barracks around 12:45 a.m. Fellow members found him lying in a pool of blood and took him to Phulbari Health Complex, where doctors declared him dead.

Police and BGB officials believe Nasim may have taken his own life with his service rifle, as the bullet wound was found in the middle of his chest. However, the exact reason behind the suspected suicide remains unknown. Phulbari Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mahmud Hasan confirmed that an unnatural death case has been filed and the body sent for autopsy.

Attempts to reach the commanding officer of BGB Battalion 35 for an official statement were unsuccessful, leaving the force without a formal comment on the incident.

At least nine people have died and around 200 others have been hospitalized in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, after consuming contaminated water, according to authorities. The incident occurred in the Bhagirathpura area, where residents had reported foul-smelling water for several days. Officials fear the death toll could rise as more people fall ill.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav announced financial assistance of two lakh rupees for each bereaved family and said that action is being taken against those responsible for negligence. A leak was discovered in a local water pipeline near a toilet construction site, which is suspected to have allowed contaminated water to enter the supply system.

A three-member committee has been formed to investigate the incident and determine accountability. Residents had previously complained to authorities about the water quality but alleged that no action was taken.

A special prayer and munajat were held on Friday after Juma prayers seeking forgiveness for former Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia. The event took place beside her grave at Zia Udyan in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka, led by BNP Standing Committee member Mirza Abbas. Leaders and activists from across the country joined the gathering, along with general worshippers, many of whom were seen in tears as they prayed.

The prayer session began immediately after Juma prayers, with participants visiting the grave in sequence to offer prayers for Khaleda Zia’s soul. Among the attendees was Md. Sajib Chowdhury from Turag, who said he had attended her funeral and came again on the first Friday to pray for her forgiveness. He described Khaleda Zia’s patience and determination during her political struggles, imprisonment, and illness as inspiring.

The gathering reflected the continued emotional connection of BNP supporters with their late leader, as people from different areas came together to honor her memory.

The Sylhet Press Club held its 2026–2027 biennial election on Thursday at the Subidbazar Club building in Sylhet city in a festive atmosphere. Out of 92 registered voters, 91 exercised their voting rights. Muktabis-un-Nur, editor of the Daily Jalalabad, was elected president, while Mohammad Sirajul Islam, chief reporter of the Daily Sylheter Dak, was elected general secretary. The election commission announced the results in the evening after the voting concluded.

Other elected office bearers include M A Hannan of the Daily Sylhet Bani as senior vice president, Md. Foysal Alam of the Daily Shubho Protidin as vice president, Khaled Ahmad (Mehedi) of Desh Television as joint secretary, Sheikh Ashraful Alam Nasir of The Daily Star as sports secretary, and Muhibur Rahman of the Daily Nawroj as library and publication secretary. Members elected include Amzad Hossain of Bangladesh Betar, Anas Habib Collins of the Daily Sylheter Dak, and Abdul Awal Shipar of Mohona Television.

The election was completed smoothly with strong participation from club members, reflecting an active and engaged journalist community in Sylhet.

Flight operations at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka were disrupted on Friday due to dense fog, prompting authorities to divert several flights to ensure passenger safety. According to airport sources, nine flights were redirected to alternative airports as visibility dropped sharply in the morning.

Of the diverted flights, four were sent to Chattogram’s Shah Amanat International Airport, four to Kolkata Airport in India, and one to Bangkok Airport in Thailand. The decision was taken as part of standard safety measures during adverse weather conditions.

Authorities later confirmed that flight operations gradually returned to normal as weather conditions improved. With visibility restored, all flights resumed regular takeoff and landing schedules at the Dhaka airport.

The Pay Commission has indicated that it aims to submit its final recommendations for the ninth pay scale to the government by mid-January 2026. According to commission sources, a tentative obligation exists to complete the submission within that period, though the exact date will be confirmed after the next full commission meeting. The report could be submitted earlier if all preparations are completed on time.

Discussions within the commission remain ongoing regarding the number of salary grades and the minimum and maximum pay levels. Members are divided on whether to retain the existing 20-grade structure or reduce it to 16 or 14 grades to address pay disparities. At least two more full meetings are expected before a consensus is reached and the final report is prepared.

The commission is currently analyzing hundreds of proposals and opinions received from various organizations and departments. Officials said that the drafting process is underway, but additional time is needed to ensure the recommendations are realistic and sustainable.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has released the full schedule for Bangladesh’s 2026 home cricket series. According to the announced calendar, Bangladesh will host Pakistan, New Zealand, Australia, India, and the West Indies across all three formats—Tests, One-Day Internationals, and Twenty20s—making it one of the busiest years for the national team.

Pakistan will visit in March for a three-match ODI series on March 12, 14, and 16, followed by a return in May for a two-match Test series that forms part of the ICC World Test Championship. Between April and May, Bangladesh will face New Zealand in three ODIs and three T20Is. In June, Australia will play three ODIs and three T20Is, while India will tour in August–September for three ODIs and three T20Is. The year will conclude with a two-match Test series against the West Indies in October–November, preceded by a three-day warm-up match.

Additionally, Sri Lanka ‘A’ will tour Bangladesh in May for two four-day matches and three one-day games against Bangladesh ‘A’. The packed schedule has generated renewed excitement among local cricket fans.