Photo : BSSKHULNA, Jan 04, 2025 (BSS)- A meeting was held on Sunday afternoon between the European Union (EU) advance team and the Khulna Metropolitan Police (KMP) Commissioner at the KMP to discuss security preparations for the upcoming national parliamentary election. A KMP press release said KMP Commissioner Mohammad Zahidul Hasan briefed the EU representatives on the overall election-time security arrangements. He highlighted the multi-layered security measures, coordinated planning, and various aspects of field-level preparedness undertaken by the KMP. The commissioner also reiterated KMP’s firm commitment to ensuring the safety and security of both domestic and international election observers throughout the election period. Senior officials of the KMP were present.

RAJSHAHI, Jan 4, 2026 (BSS) - Thirty-eight candidates have submitted their nomination papers for six constituencies in the district for the upcoming parliamentary election and the nominations of 19 of those have been declared valid. According to the affidavits, 92 percent of the valid candidates are educated. The valid candidates are BNP's Abu Sayed Chand, SSC, two others, Nazmul Haque, and Islami Andolan Bangladesh's Abdus Salam Suruj. As per the election schedule, the candidates, whose nominations were cancelled in scrutiny, can submit appeals against the returning officer's decision. Till January 20, the candidates can withdraw their nomination papers and election symbols will be allocated on January 21.

The government has promoted three additional secretaries to the rank of secretary. The Ministry of Public Administration issued three separate notifications on Sunday confirming the promotions. Md Saidur Rahman Khan, director general of the Department of Social Services, was promoted to secretary and assigned to the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief. Mohammed Mizanur Rahman, director general of the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS), was appointed secretary of the Ministry of Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs. Additional Secretary Mohammad Altaf-ul-Alam of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting was promoted to secretary and posted to the Bangladesh Civil Service Administration Academy.

Chief Adviser’s Special Assistant for the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb handed over the cheque to Labour and Employment Adviser Brig Gen (retd) Dr M Sakhawat Hussain. Photo : PIDDHAKA, Jan 4, 2026 (BSS) - Bangladesh Submarine Cables PLC has handed over a cheque worth Taka 1,25,40,394 from its annual dividend to Labour Welfare Foundation under the Ministry of Labour and Employment. Sakhawat Hussain said such initiatives by institutions for the overall welfare of workers are highly commendable. Labour and Employment Ministry Secretary Dr. Md. Sanwar Jahan Bhuiyan, Posts and Telecommunications Division Secretary Abdun Naser Khan, and Bangladesh Submarine Cables PLC General Manager Targhibul Islam were present at the event.

Jatiya Party Secretary General Mujibul Haque Chunnu and 13 others have been declared ineligible to run for parliament in three constituencies of Kishoreganj. The Election Commission cancelled Chunnu’s nomination for the Kishoreganj-3 constituency. Abu Bakar Siddiqui’s nomination for the constituency was declared valid. Returning Officer Mohammad Aslam Molla said Abu Bakar’s Jatiya Party nomination document was found valid, but Chunnu provided the party’s nomination with signatures not recognisable to the EC. The EC earlier cancelled 10 nominations out of the total 29 submitted for Kishoreganj-4, 5, and 6 seats.

Photo : BSSKHULNA, Jan 4, 2025 (BSS) – A tigress trapped in a deer-hunting snare laid by poachers in the Sundarbans was rescued by the Forest Department this afternoon and taken to Khulna for treatment. The tigress was first tranquilised and then safely freed from the trap, Depon Chandra Das, Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF) of the Chandpai Range under the East Sundarbans Division, said. Forest officials said that on Saturday at noon, officers and staff of the Chandpai Range of the East Sundarbans spotted the tigress caught in a snare in the Sorkar Khal area while on patrol. Officer-in-Charge of the Karamjal Wildlife Breeding Centre of the East Sundarbans, Howlader Azad Kabir, said the tigress was initially sedated using special measures. If it fully recovers, it will be released back into the Sundarbans, Azad Kabir added.

DHAKA, Jan 4, 2025 (BSS0 - The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has frozen 123 bank accounts belonging to former Member of Parliament Sheikh Salahuddin Jewel and his associates over allegations of money laundering. According to the CID’s Financial Crime Unit, the frozen accounts value at a total of TK 48,47,23,570.38. Sheikh Salahuddin Jewel, a former MP and Vice Chairman of Madhumoti Bank PLC, is the prime accused in the case. Acting on the application, the court on Sunday, 4 January 2026, ordered the freezing of the bank accounts, savings certificates and BO accounts. The CID stated that investigation activities against Sheikh Salahuddin Jewel and his associated persons are ongoing.

114 killed in week of attacks in Sudan's Darfur: medical sourcesCollected photoPORT SUDAN, Sudan, Jan 4, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Attacks by Sudan's army and its paramilitary foes on two Darfur towns over the past week have killed 114 people, medical sources told AFP Sunday. Drone strikes attributed to the army on the town of Al-Zuruq, controlled by their rivals the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), killed 51 civilians on Saturday, a medical source at Al-Zuruq Hospital told AFP. Five days of RSF attacks on the town of Kernoi, 100 kilometres (62 miles) west, last week killed 63 civilians and wounded 17 more, another medical source at the local hospital told AFP.

The government has withdrawn its decision to cut interest rates on some national savings certificates. As a result, investors will receive the same returns as before for the first six months of this year, January through June, the Internal Resources Division Secretary Abdur Rahman Khan said on Sunday. “It appears the previous rates have been maintained in the official notification. If not, it will happen shortly,” he added.

RAB Director General (DG) and Additional IGP AKM Shahidur Rahman at a press conference. Photo : CollectedDHAKA, Jan 4, 2025 (BSS) – Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) Director General (DG) and Additional IGP AKM Shahidur Rahman today said his force is working with utmost sincerity and dedication to ensure the upcoming national elections are free, fair, impartial and festive. “The elite force is also maintaining relentless efforts to uphold overall law and order across the country. He made the remarks at a press conference held at the RAB Media Center in Karwan Bazar. In addition, the RAB chief said operations are continuing to arrest those involved in attacks on the offices of Prothom Alo and The Daily Star.

Photo : CollectedDHAKA, Jan 4, 2026 (BSS) – A seminar titled “FRC and Economic Governance in Bangladesh” was held today in the capital highlighting the role of the Financial Reporting Council (FRC) in strengthening economic governance in the country. Chairman of the FRC Dr. Md. Sazzad Hossain Bhuiyan, presented the keynote paper at the seminar held at the Finance Division of the Ministry of Finance with Finance Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed in the chair. Finance Secretary Dr Md Khairuzzaman Mozumder and officials from the Finance Division and the FRC attended the event. He directed both the Finance Division and the FRC to take expeditious steps to implement the Council’s key action plans, said a Finance Ministry press release.

File PhotoDHAKA, Jan 4, 2026 (BSS) - The Jagannath University (JnU) authorities have suspended all classes and examinations scheduled for January 6 as the JnU Central Students' Union (JnUCSU) will be held on that day. However, all university offices will remain open as usual. According to the notification, classes and examinations will remain closed on January 6 to facilitate smooth conduct of the election, while offices will function. The university authorities requested teachers, officials, employees and others not to bring private vehicles to the campus on the day. Later, the university authorities rescheduled the election for January 6.

BNP Chairperson and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia -File PhotoDHAKA, Jan 4, 2026 (BSS) – The leadership of the United Arab Emirates has expressed profound sorrow over the death of former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia, conveying condolences to Bangladesh and praying for eternal peace for the BNP chairperson. The President of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and the Vice President, Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, expressed deep sorrow and profound grief at the passing of Begum Khaleda Zia, said a press release issued by the UAE embassy here today. Both leaders conveyed their sincere condolences and heartfelt sympathy on this great loss, praying to Almighty Allah to bestow His abundant mercy and forgiveness upon her, grant her a place in His eternal Paradise, and give patience and comfort to her family, relatives, and loved ones. Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Presidential Court Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan also expressed deep sorrow and grief over the demise of Begum Khaleda Zia. In a separate condolence message addressed to President of Bangladesh Mohammed Shahabuddin, the United Arab Emirates conveyed its deepest sympathies on the passing of Begum Khaleda Zia, said the release.

The Election Commission (EC) has directed the Power Division to provide electricity to 325 polling stations nationwide ahead of the national election, as currently, they have no power. “There is no electricity connection at 325 polling stations among the 42,761 polling stations installed on the occasion of the referendum and the 13th parliamentary election. The power connection at the 325 polling stations is required,” said a letter sent by the Election Commission to the senior secretary of the Power Division on Sunday. The EC earlier released the final list of a total of 42,761 polling stations across the country for the upcoming national election and the referendum. The Election Commission on December 12 last declared the schedule to arrange the 13th national election and the referendum on the July National Charter (Constitutional Reform) Implementation Order simultaneously on February 12, 2026.

Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) on Sunday adjusted upward the price of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) saying from now on the widely used 12 kilogram LPG cylinder would be sold to consumers at Tk1,306 instead of Tk1,253. “The newly fixed price of LPG is Tk1,306, which will be effective from Sunday at 6pm and all licensees of LPG marketing companies will implement the price,” BERC chairman Jalal Ahmed told a media announcement. The BERC also re-fixed auto gas price at Tk59.80 per litre, which was Tk57.32 in December. The BERC said they readjusted the LPG price as per the Saudi Contract Price (Saudi CP) which was $520 and $525 per ton of the Propane and Butane. Considering the Propane and Butane ratio 35:65 average, Saudi CP per tonne $521.75, the BERC re-fixed the price of LPG and auto gas for January 2025.