Once covered with dense Shal, Ghazari and Karai forests, Bhawal Garh encompassed parts of present-day Gazipur Sadar, Sreepur, Kaliakoir and Kapasia upazilas. Senior journalist Rezaul Bari Babul of Gazipur told BSS that administrative activities of Bhawal Garh revolved around the Rajbari area, where the district administration is now located. One of the most sensational episodes associated with Bhawal Garh is the Bhawal Sanyasi case. Despite its growing popularity as a tourist destination, many historical structures in Bhawal Garh face deterioration due to inadequate conservation. Local residents and heritage activists have called on the government to declare Bhawal Garh a national heritage site and undertake systematic preservation efforts.

RENNES, France, Jan 9, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Around 380,000 households in France were without power on Friday morning as Storm Goretti swept through northern Europe with fierce winds. The vast majority of the affected households were in the northern Normandy region, the Enedis power provider said in a statement, with residents also affected in Brittany, Picardy and the Ile-de-France regions. Forecasters in France and Britain issued weather warnings ahead of Storm Goretti, urging people to stay inside their homes. Overnight, a wind gust of 213 kilometres per hour (132 miles) was registered in France's northwestern Manche region, authorities said.

Photo: BSSBy Md Mamun IslamRANGPUR, Jan 9, 2026 (BSS) - Hundreds of rural women who have achieved self-reliance through hard work are contributing to accelerating socio-economic progress and keeping the rural economy vibrant on the path to achieving sustainable rural development. They said rural women have already overcome extreme poverty as the earning women have now become economically independent through various income generating activities (IGAs). They have achieved success through sewing handloom garments, small-scale enterprises and business, animal husbandry, rearing poultry birds, homestead gardening, farming fruits, spices, fish and agri-activities. He said, "These successful rural women have been playing an important role in socio-economic development and empowerment of women in society." He further suggested strengthening local government bodies by empowering women union members to accelerate the development and empowerment of rural women to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir spoke to reporters at his residence in Kalibari area of ​​Thakurgaon municipality this morning. Photo: BSSTHAKURGAON, Jan 9, 2026 (BSS) - BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir today described BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman's upcoming visit to Thakurgaon as a personal goodwill visit. Mirza Fakhrul made the remarks at his residence in the Kalibari area of the district this morning. Mirza Fakhrul said, "During the previous government, Chhatra Dal leaders and activists were not given the opportunity to carry out organisational activities in universities. The BNP Secretary General said, "BNP has worked in the past to develop neglected regions.

Photo: BSSBy Md Aynal HaqueRAJSHAHI, Jan 9, 2026 (BSS) – Arable land in the region—particularly in the Barind tract—is gradually shrinking due to various factors, posing a serious threat to food security. According to sources close to the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), around 90,000 hectares of triple-cropping land have been lost across the Rajshahi, Chapainawabganj, Naogaon and Natore districts over the past 17 years. Referring to official data, Prof Das said Rajshahi district alone lost 16,159 hectares of arable land between 2015 and 2024. Dr Azizur Rahman, Additional Director of the DAE, said integrated efforts by the administration and all concerned departments have become crucial to stop pond excavation on arable land. Deputy Commissioner and District Magistrate Afia Akhtar said pond excavation requires approval based on reports from an upazila-level committee comprising agriculture and fisheries officials.

Grace under pressure could be your moniker today, you should have strong energy with capacity for gentle mindfulness. Partnership and teamwork can be real deal or can be cloaks for non-contributors if someone doesn’t see their pattern. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Some progress could finally be seen in a financial matter that may have dragged on. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Keep building it, you’ll become strong, eventually the right ones will come. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Today could be a day when you feel that there is so much within you that would be nearly impossible to express.

The Election Commission (EC) has decided to suspend voting in the Pabna-1 and Pabna-2 constituencies due to boundary complications. Confirming the matter to the media on Friday, senior secretary of the Election Commission Secretariat Akhtar Ahmed said the decision was taken following a court directive. Akhtar Ahmed said that the court had instructed the commission not to carry out any electoral activities in the Pabna-1 and Pabna-2 constituencies. Consequently, all voting activities in these two seats have been suspended for the time being.

There can be no denying that tensions are high between Bangladesh and India currently - a predicament that favours neither nation. During such a time, the recent battalion commander-level meeting between Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and India’s Border Security Force (BSF) truly stands out as a welcome reminder of diplomacy’s quiet power. As such, that both sides chose dialogue instead deserves recognition. Bangladesh has long advocated for humane border practices, and a meeting of this sort is a necessary reminder of its importance. We can only hope that such exchanges become the norm, and help to build a more stable and dignified relationship between the two countries.

But what happens when the field itself becomes contested territory -- when players cannot cross the boundary line because the boundary has become a border they dare not cross? Why did Bangladesh take this sweeping step -- one that risked severe sporting sanctions and potential forfeiture of World Cup points? Perhaps most significantly, the concerns extend to ordinary Bangladeshi cricket supporters who would want to travel to India to watch their team compete in a World Cup. If Bangladesh withdraws entirely, both countries and international cricket as a whole suffer damage that will take years to repair. Whether the world of international cricket can accommodate those concerns while maintaining its structures and principles remains very much an open question.

File PhotoDHAKA, Jan 9, 2026 (BSS) – The overall weather situation indicates dry conditions across the country with a temporary partly cloudy sky during the next 24 hours commencing from 9:00 am today, while cold wave and dense fog are likely to continue affecting daily life in several regions. According to forecast of the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD, a mild to moderate cold wave is currently sweeping over Rangpur and Rajshahi divisions along with the districts of Narsingdi, Jashore, Chuadanga and Kushtia, and the prevailing conditions suggest it may persist further. Temperature trends show little change at night, while a slight rise in day temperature is expected across the country, indicating a continuation of cold nights followed by comparatively milder daytime conditions. The highest temperature recorded yesterday was 28.1 degrees Celsius at Bandarban, highlighting regional variation, while the lowest temperature today dropped sharply to 6.8 degrees Celsius at Tetulia, underscoring the intensity of cold conditions in the northern part of the country. Today’s sunset in Dhaka will be at 5:28 pm and tomorrow’s sunrise is expected at 6:43 am, pointing to longer cold night hours as winter conditions continue to dominate the weather pattern.

Three-time former Prime Minister of Bangladesh and BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia. File photoDHAKA, Jan 8, 2026 (BSS) - A street in the US state of Michigan has been named after late Begum Khaleda Zia, three-time former Prime Minister of Bangladesh and Chairperson of the BNP. The Carpenter Street, located in the heart of Hamtramck City, will now be known by the name of Begum Khaleda Zia. The proposal to rename the section of Carpenter Street between Joseph Campau Avenue and Conant Street after Begum Khaleda Zia was recently approved by the City Council. With the addition of a street named after Khaleda Zia in Michigan, an inseparable chapter of Bangladesh's political history has now taken permanent form on American soil.

Dhaka University's highest policy-making forum, the Syndicate, has moved forward with a decision to rename the Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Hall and the Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Hall to the Shaheed Osman Hadi Hall and the Captain Sitara Parvin Hall, respectively. O Thursday at 9:40pm, Dhaka University Proctor Saifuddin Ahmed confirmed this information to the Dhaka Tribune. He said: "The Senate will make the final decision; the Syndicate has sent this (name change proposal) to the Senate. Additionally, the Syndicate also framed charges against four teachers from the Blue Panel for their dismissal during the same meeting. The accused teachers are— Professor Zinat Huda, Professor AKM Jamal Uddin, Professor Sadeka Halim, and Professor Mashiur Rahman.

× Expand Jon Anderson Hunter Nichols Hunter Nichols, assistant principal at Gwin Elementary School in Hoover. I interviewed, got the job and then moved straight into the assistant principal role three years ago. Some of my best aha moments are on my run, thinking about school — what needs to take place next. If it comes from legislators or anything like that, obviously we have to take it and run with it. I just wish sometimes we could get back to the root of teaching students without all the demands, which is tough.

Photo: BSSPANCHAGARH, Jan 9, 2026 (BSS) - The minimum temperature in Panchagarh fell to 6.8 degree Celsius this morning, marking the district's lowest of the season so far. At 9 am, the Tetulia Weather Observation Centre recorded the 6.8 degree Celsius reading, which the Meteorological Office confirmed as the season's lowest here. Officials noted that temperatures between 6.1 degree Celsius and 8 degree Celsius indicate a moderate cold wave, which is currently affecting the area. The day before, the minimum temperature was 9.2 degree Celsius, while the maximum reached 18.5 degree Celsius. Senior observer Jitendranath Roy of the Tetulia Weather Observation Centre said on Friday, humidity stood at 100 percent, with wind speeds of 10-12 kilometers per hour.

BEIJING, Jan 9, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Chinese consumer prices rose in December, official data showed Friday, extending a period of growth following months of deflationary pressure in the world's second-largest economy. The consumer price index, a key measure of inflation, rose 0.8 percent year-on-year, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said. Consumer demand rose last month as the new year approached, NBS statistician Dong Lijuan said in a statement. "Policies aimed at expanding domestic demand and promoting consumption continued to show results," Dong added. The producer price index -- which measures the cost of goods at the factory gate -- dropped 1.9 percent on-year in December, the NBS said.