Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus has extended New Year 2026 greetings to Bangladeshis at home and abroad, as well as to people around the world. In a message issued on Wednesday ahead of the English New Year, he wished happiness, peace, and prosperity for all, calling for strengthened bonds of harmony, friendship, and brotherhood in the coming year.

Yunus described the New Year as a time for new dreams, hopes, and possibilities, urging everyone to move forward with renewed inspiration and dedication to building a better future. Expressing optimism for a democratic Bangladesh, he called on citizens to unite in overcoming challenges and to work toward a just, equitable, and discrimination-free nation.

Referring to the post-July uprising context, Yunus said the coming year holds special significance for the nation. He noted that the journey toward democratic transition would reach fulfillment through a national election and a referendum on the July Charter Implementation Order, expressing hope that these steps would further strengthen Bangladesh’s democratic advancement.

Pakistan’s National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq met Bangladesh’s interim government Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus in Dhaka on Wednesday. The meeting took place at the state guesthouse Jamuna, according to information released by the Chief Adviser’s press wing.

Earlier, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq arrived in Dhaka to pay respects to former Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, who passed away early Tuesday. On the same day, Nepal’s Foreign Minister Bhol Nanda Sharma also met with Chief Adviser Yunus, as confirmed by the press wing.

Following Khaleda Zia’s death, Bangladesh declared three days of national mourning starting Wednesday, with a public holiday announced for the day of her funeral. She was buried with state honors after a large public funeral attended by many mourners.

Bobby Hajjaj, former chairman of the National Democratic Movement (NDM) and recently joined member of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), has submitted his election affidavit as the BNP-nominated candidate for Dhaka-13 constituency. According to the affidavit, he owns no land, house, or apartment. He declared cash holdings of Tk 15,693,872, 35 bhori of gold in his name, and 120 bhori of gold belonging to his wife. His wife also has Tk 1,450,845 in bank deposits and Tk 1.2 million in savings certificates.

The affidavit lists Hajjaj’s annual income as Tk 2,755,529 from his profession, Tk 89,895 from shares, and Tk 690,369 from a joint business. He has Tk 465,579 deposited in banks and no loans from any financial institution. Hajjaj holds an MBA degree, has no pending cases, and works as a teacher at a private university. He is also a director at Detco Private Company, managing director of Gnyani IT Limited, and managing partner of Veritas Academy.

The affidavit further identifies his mother as Taniz Fatema Chowdhury, with the family home located in Gulshan, Dhaka.

A severe cold wave accompanied by dense fog has paralyzed daily life across Lalmonirhat and other northern districts of Bangladesh. The cold intensified over the past week, forcing residents to stay indoors while rural communities light fires to keep warm. Farmers and agricultural workers are struggling to work in the fields where maize, mustard, wheat, potato, and Aman seedbeds remain exposed to the cold. The biting weather has also sharply reduced outdoor activity and income for day laborers and rickshaw pullers.

Health officials report a significant rise in cold-related illnesses. Lalmonirhat’s 250-bed hospital and upazila health complexes are seeing more children and elderly patients suffering from pneumonia, asthma, respiratory problems, and diarrhea. Civil Surgeon Abdul Hakim urged families to take special care of vulnerable groups. The Department of Agricultural Extension is advising farmers to minimize crop damage, while the district administration has distributed blankets among the poor and requested additional supplies from the ministry.

Authorities continue monitoring the situation as cold-related illnesses and disruptions persist across the region.

Gono Odhikar Parishad president and former DUCSU vice president Nurul Haque Nur has disclosed his income and assets in an affidavit submitted to the Election Commission ahead of Bangladesh’s 13th national parliamentary election. According to the affidavit, Nur, a businessman by profession, declared total assets valued at Tk 8,982,841, while his wife, teacher Maria Akter, holds assets worth Tk 1,266,818. Nur’s annual income amounts to Tk 2,040,048, including Tk 1,585,426 from business and Tk 454,622 from other sources. He possesses over Tk 2.8 million in cash and has mentioned bank deposits, shares, and inherited property.

The affidavit further states that Nur owns 82 decimals of agricultural land, while his wife owns three acres. He has liabilities amounting to Tk 388,160 but no bank loans. Six cases are currently pending against him, though he has been acquitted in eight previous ones. Both he and his wife regularly file income tax returns.

Nur is contesting from the Patuakhali-3 (Galachipa–Dashmina) constituency under the ‘Truck’ symbol. The BNP did not field a candidate there due to an alliance understanding. The Election Commission’s schedule sets voting for February 12, 2026.

India has expressed deep respect over the death of former Bangladesh Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia. On Wednesday, December 31, Indian External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar handed over an official condolence message from the Government of India to BNP’s Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman at the National Parliament complex in Dhaka. The message described Khaleda Zia as a symbol of courage and struggle, honoring her steadfast commitment to Bangladesh’s independence and sovereignty.

Earlier in the day, Jaishankar arrived in Dhaka at 11:55 a.m. on a special Indian Air Force flight and was received at the Bashar Air Base by Foreign Ministry Secretary M. Forhad Hossain and Indian High Commissioner Pranab Verma. Following his meeting with Tarique Rahman, Jaishankar wrote on his verified Facebook page that Khaleda Zia’s ideals and values would continue to guide the partnership between the two nations. He also delivered a personal letter from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Tarique Rahman and conveyed condolences on behalf of the Indian government and people.

BNP later confirmed through its verified Facebook page that India had paid tribute to Khaleda Zia, describing her as the “Mother of Democracy” and a “symbol of courage and struggle.”

A video message allegedly from Faisal Karim Masud, the main accused in the murder of Inquilab Mancha spokesperson Shahid Sharif Osman Hadi, has recently circulated on social media. Many users claimed the video was created using artificial intelligence, but digital investigative outlet The Descent verified that it was not AI-generated. The outlet confirmed that Faisal’s facial features and expressions matched his real appearance, and background noise analysis across four AI detection tools supported the conclusion.

The Descent noted that while the video showed some visual inconsistencies, such as Faisal’s beard disappearing in certain frames, these were attributed to active video filters rather than AI generation. In the video, Faisal claimed to be in Dubai, but the outlet stated that his location could not be verified from the footage alone. He also denied being on the motorcycle used in Hadi’s killing, a claim contradicted by prior investigations confirming his and associate Alamgir Sheikh’s involvement.

Faisal further alleged that Hadi had taken money for ministry-related lobbying, but The Descent reported that no such accusations had previously surfaced against Hadi.

Tabligh Jamaat Bangladesh (Shura-e-Nizam) has decided not to hold any gathering at the Tongi Ijtema ground following a government directive. The Ministry of Home Affairs requested that no Khurujer Jor or other assemblies take place at the Turag River site before the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election. Media coordinator Habibullah Raihan announced that participants preparing for the January 2–4 Khurujer Jor have been instructed to begin their journeys from their respective districts instead of gathering in Tongi. The group has also started dismantling the structures built for the event under police observation.

Raihan explained that the decision aligns with the group’s respect for administrative instructions. He referenced past violent incidents involving the Sad faction, including attacks in 2018 and 2024 that left many injured and several dead, which he said discredited Tabligh’s work. According to him, those responsible have lost the moral right to organize events at the Ijtema ground.

The Home Ministry stated that the restriction aims to ensure a peaceful and uninterrupted election process. It confirmed that the World Ijtema will be held in Tongi after the national election concludes.

The Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) governing council has confirmed that no matches of this year’s tournament will be held in Chattogram. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has revised the schedule, moving the Chattogram phase to Sylhet. The announcement was made by BPL governing council member secretary Ifthekhar Rahman Mithu at a press conference at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium.

Originally, the Chattogram phase was scheduled to begin on January 5 after the Sylhet leg ended on January 2. However, considering production logistics and the national team’s preparation needs, all matches planned for Chattogram have been shifted to Sylhet. The Sylhet phase will now run until January 12, followed by the Dhaka phase. The BPL must conclude by January 23 as the Bangladesh national team departs for the T20 World Cup on January 25.

The decision also follows a two-day suspension of matches after the death of former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia, which disrupted the original schedule. The BCB took this step to recover from the scheduling setback and ensure timely completion of the tournament.

The President of Bangladesh has issued the Smoking and Tobacco Products Usage (Control) (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025, introducing a maximum fine of Tk 5,000 for selling cigarettes or tobacco products near educational institutions, hospitals, clinics, sports venues, and children's parks. The ordinance was promulgated on Tuesday, December 30, 2025, through the Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Ministry of Law.

According to the ordinance, no person may sell or allow the sale of tobacco or tobacco products within 100 meters of the boundaries of these designated areas. The government or local authorities may extend this restricted perimeter through general or special orders as needed. The ordinance amends the original Smoking and Tobacco Products Usage (Control) Act of 2005.

Violators of the new rule will face a fine of up to Tk 5,000, and repeated offenses will result in double penalties. The measure aims to strengthen tobacco control around sensitive public spaces.

BNP Chairperson’s adviser and Chattogram-4 constituency candidate Lion Aslam Chowdhury has declared total assets worth about Tk 456.95 crore, combining movable and immovable properties. According to his nomination affidavit, his total liabilities stand at Tk 1,700 crore, the highest among candidates in Chattogram. Of this, Tk 354.41 crore is owed to five banks and other institutions, Tk 1,059 crore as guarantor, and Tk 285 crore as director of various companies. His liabilities are 24.25 times higher than his assets, though he stated that most of the debts arose from his roles as guarantor and director.

The affidavit also shows that Aslam Chowdhury holds Tk 11 crore in cash and faces 132 legal cases, including political and financial ones. His main source of income is business, generating Tk 48.37 lakh annually. His wife Jamila Nazneen Maula and daughter Meherin Anhar Uzma also reported significant assets and incomes. The document details his shares, bonds, firearms, and other possessions, with immovable assets valued at Tk 43.78 crore and movable assets at Tk 26.16 crore.

The disclosures highlight the financial scale and legal challenges surrounding the BNP candidate ahead of the upcoming election.

Israel has decided to revoke the licenses of 37 organizations providing humanitarian assistance in Palestine, citing their failure to meet new registration requirements. According to Israeli authorities, the groups did not submit complete personal data of their staff as required under the updated regulations. The suspension, affecting well-known international NGOs such as ActionAid, the International Rescue Committee, and the Norwegian Refugee Council, will take effect on January 1, with operations to cease within 60 days.

The move has drawn sharp criticism from ten countries, including the United Kingdom, France, Canada, and Japan, which described the new rules as excessively strict and unacceptable. In a joint statement, their foreign ministers warned that forced closures of international NGOs would severely disrupt access to essential services such as healthcare in Gaza, where humanitarian conditions remain catastrophic. They urged Israel to allow NGOs to continue sustainable operations.

The UN-supported Humanitarian Country Team previously warned that Israel’s new registration policy poses fundamental risks to NGO activities in Gaza and the West Bank, calling the system arbitrary and politically driven, with conditions that could undermine humanitarian principles.

India has overtaken Japan to become the world’s fourth-largest economy, according to the country’s annual economic review released on December 31, 2025. The review stated that India’s gross domestic product has reached approximately 4.18 trillion dollars and is projected to grow to 7.3 trillion dollars by 2030. Based on current trends, India could surpass Germany within the next three years to become the world’s third-largest economy, trailing only the United States and China.

The report highlighted that India’s real GDP grew by 8.2 percent in the second quarter of the 2025–26 fiscal year, up from 7.8 percent in the previous quarter. It also noted that merchandise exports rose to 38.13 billion dollars in November, compared to 36.43 billion dollars in January. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) had earlier projected that India would overtake Japan next year, a milestone now confirmed by the review.

The findings underscore India’s accelerating economic expansion and its strengthening position among the world’s major economies.

In Gabtali of Bogura, members of the Gabtali Business Unity Council closed their shops for three hours on Wednesday, December 31, to pray for the soul of former Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia. Following the closure, they gathered at the Pilot High School field to participate in a special absentee funeral prayer (gayebana janaza) held in her honor.

The event was attended by the council’s president Fazlul Bari Khokon, vice presidents Badsha Mia and Abdul Khalek Munnu, general secretary Arifur Rahman Zakir, joint general secretary Nurullah Akand, cashier Shahinur Alom, and publicity secretary Zahidul Islam. Local residents also joined the traders in expressing solidarity and took part in the prayer gathering.

The collective participation reflected local respect for Khaleda Zia’s political legacy and leadership, as traders and residents united in remembrance of the former prime minister.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami chief Dr. Shafiqur Rahman has confirmed that he met an Indian diplomat earlier this year, adding that the diplomat had asked him to keep the meeting confidential. The disclosure was reported by Reuters on December 31, 2025. The report stated that India has been expanding its outreach to political parties in Bangladesh that could form the next government after the upcoming national elections.

According to the report, while diplomats from other countries met Rahman publicly, the Indian official requested secrecy regarding their meeting. Dr. Rahman said that all parties should maintain openness and that improving relations between the two countries is essential. Reuters contacted India’s Ministry of External Affairs, which did not directly confirm the meeting, though a government source acknowledged that India is engaging with various Bangladeshi political groups.

When asked about Pakistan, Rahman said Jamaat seeks balanced relations with all nations. He also commented that no government would feel entirely comfortable with current President Md. Shahabuddin, who was elected unopposed in 2023 with Awami League support.