MAIDUGURI, Nigeria, Jan 4, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - At least 26 people drowned and 14 others are missing after a boat carrying farmers and fishermen capsized in northeastern Nigeria, the emergency services said Sunday. The incident happened late Saturday, when a rudimentary passenger boat going from Jigawa State to Yobe State capsized, Mohammed Goje, executive director of the State Emergency Management Agency in Yobe state, told AFP. "So far, emergency volunteers and rescue teams have recovered 26 bodies," he said. His agency said in a statement that 14 others were missing.

Bashir Uddin today spoke at a meeting with leaders of the Bangladesh Jute Spinners Association at his office in the Ministry of Commerce at Bangladesh Secretariat. The Adviser made the remarks while speaking at a meeting with leaders of the Bangladesh Jute Spinners Association at his office in the Ministry of Commerce at Bangladesh Secretariat today. They alleged that such practices are creating disorder in the jute market and warned that unless illegal hoarding is stopped genuine jute farmers and all stakeholders involved in the jute business would suffer, ultimately harming the country’s economy. In response, the adviser said the government would adopt a ‘zero-tolerance’ policy against illegal jute hoarding. Textile and Jute Ministry Secretary Bilkis Jahan Rimi, Bangladesh Jute Spinners Association President Tapas Pramanik, Vice Chairman Faruk Hossain, Board Directors Mohammad Shahjahan, and Helal Ahmed, among others were present at the meeting.

DHAKA, Jan 4, 2026 (BSS) - Competition in public procurement has increased after the enactment of the new Public Procurement Rules, 2025 (PPR, 2025). Highlighting the procurement sector reforms, he termed the Public Procurement (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025 and the Public Procurement Rules, 2025 as landmark developments in strengthening the country’s public procurement framework. At the end of the meeting, the Planning Adviser inaugurated the redesigned public procurement mobile application, titled “Public Procurement Mirror (SorkariKroyDorpon)”. Inaugurating the app, the Planning Adviser said that the initiative reflects the interim government’s firm commitment to ensuring transparency, accountability, and efficiency in public procurement. The mobile application has been rebranded and comprehensively redesigned in line with the amended Public Procurement Act, 2006 and the newly enacted Public Procurement Rules, 2025 (PPR, 2025).

Information and Broadcasting Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan spoke today during an exchange of views with the Bangladesh Secretariat Reporters Forum (BSRF) at the Secretariat Media Center. Photo: PIDDHAKA, Jan 4, 2025 (BSS) - Information and Broadcasting Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan has said no contesting political party has so far lodged any complain about the environment of coming national election. Rizwana Hasan, however, acknowledged that a section of people is trying to keep people away from the elections by creating fear. “So far, the election environment is acceptable and political parties are participating in the election process with enthusiasm, and we’re doing the job that is supposed to be done,” she said. Highlighting the issue of the referendum, Rizwana Hasan said it needs to be publicized and focused more effectively.

Photo : PIDDHAKA, Jan 4, 2025 (BSS) - Land Adviser Ali Imam Majumdar today said in view of the increase in salt production costs, labour costs and transportation costs in recent years, the lease price of the salt fields will not be increased. "Human labour is essential in every step of salt production, from land preparation to salt collection and storage. There is enough space to create more salt fields in Banshkhali and Cox's Bazar in Chattogram, the land adviser said. In the fiscal 2024-2025, the sector-wise demand for salt was: edible salt 8.85 lakh metric tonnes, industrial sector 8.92 lakh metric tonnes, fisheries sector 0.39 lakh metric tonnes and livestock sector 3.50 lakh metric tonnes. Total refined salt demand is 21.67 lakh metric tonnes, while unrefined salt demand is 26.10 lakh metric tonnes.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has officially decided that the Bangladesh national cricket team will not travel to India to participate in the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup next month, a move that marks a significant escalation in cricketing and diplomatic tensions between the two neighbouring countries. “Bangladesh will not go to India to play the World Cup. The Bangladesh Cricket Board took this decision today,” Nazrul wrote in a post on social media. Beyond participation in the World Cup, the fallout has also extended to broadcast-related issues. With the T20 World Cup fast approaching, Bangladesh’s refusal to travel to India places the ICC under mounting pressure to address the situation, raising uncertainty over tournament logistics and regional cricketing ties.

Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain and Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar held a telephone conversation on Sunday and discussed issues of mutual interest. They reviewed Bangladesh-Pakistan relations and reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing cooperation across various sectors, officials said. They also exchanged views on recent developments in Asia and the Middle East and agreed to remain in close contact amid the evolving situation.

The National Poetry Council (NPC) announced poetry festival schedule at a press conference at the Zahur Hossain Auditorium of the National Press Club today. Photo: BSSDHAKA, Dec 4, 2026 (BSS) - The 38th National Poetry Festival will be held on February 1 and 2 at the Central Shaheed Minar in the capital. The National Poetry Council (NPC) came up with the schedule at a press conference at the Zahur Hossain Auditorium of the National Press Club today. Addressing the press conference, the NPC leaders called for the use of poetry as a powerful means to resist anti-cultural provocations. He said the council was formed during the mass movement against military autocracy in the 1980s and that the first National Poetry Festival was held on February 1-2, 1987, under the slogan "Poetry for Liberation from Chains."

Tasnim Jara, an independent candidate in the Dhaka-9 constituency, has said she will return crowdfunding money to anyone who requests a refund, while expressing confidence that she will succeed in appealing the cancellation of her nomination. Tasnim Jara submitted her nomination papers as an independent candidate for the Dhaka-9 seat in the 13th national parliamentary election. Speaking about crowdfunding, she said that when she announced her decision to contest as an independent candidate, she had made it clear that anyone seeking a refund of their donation would receive it. According to the affidavit submitted to the Election Commission, Tasnim Jara collected a total of Tk46.93 lakh through crowdfunding. She later submitted her nomination papers as an independent candidate from the Dhaka-9 constituency.

General Daily Insight for January 04, 2026 Warm confidence colors our choices and conversations. Taurus April 20 – May 20 This morning favors comfort and steady progress. Gemini May 21 – June 20 Delivering your message is possible, but it may need a little editing first. Luna is leaping into your chatty 3rd house, inviting you to share ideas with humor and rewrite notes before hitting send. Your 7th House of Partnership draws focus as the instinctive Moon enters, inviting honest exchanges and useful commitments.

Seven-time major singles champion Venus Williams said Sunday she's driven to play good tennis - and "it gives you great legs" - as she prepares for an Australian Open tilt at age 45. A five-time Wimbledon champion, Williams was an Australian Open singles finalist in 2003 and 2017 and won the doubles title four times alongside sister Serena. Williams' last tournament was the US Open in August, not long after returning from a 16-month break. She will play warmup events in Auckland next week and Hobart ahead of the January 18-February 1 Australian Open and hoped she can shake rust out of her system. "The good news is that, you know, tennis matches are long and you have a chance to figure things out."

Australia pulled a 138-year first Sunday by failing to pick a spinner for a Sydney Cricket Ground Test, with skipper Steve Smith saying he had been backed into a corner. It is becoming a trend in Australia with the home side overlooking veteran Nathan Lyon for the pink-ball second Test in Brisbane before his injury replacement Murphy's non-selection in Melbourne and Sydney. In Sydney, England also failed to play their top spinner Shoaib Bashir for a fifth straight game, meaning he will return home having not bowled a ball in a Test in Australia. "With a lot of the wickets we're playing on now, I think spin ... is the easiest thing to face," he said. "I love seeing spinners play a part in the game, but right now, why would you?"

Ferry services on the Shariatpur-Chandpur Harinaghat river route have been suspended since 11:30pm on Saturday due to dense fog, disrupting transport on both sides of the river. Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) Narsinghpur ferry terminal Assistant Manager Md Iqbal Hossain said ferry operations were suspended at around 11:30pm on Saturday as thick fog engulfed the river basin, gradually reducing visibility. At one stage, he said, navigation marker lights along the waterway became unclear, prompting authorities to suspend all ferry and vessel movement to prevent accidents midstream. As a result, passenger buses, goods-laden trucks and other vehicles were stranded at ferry terminals in both Shariatpur and Chandpur. “Ferry services will resume once the fog density decreases and visibility improves,” he added.

The Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s Detective Branch (DB) has arrested one person in connection with the murder of HSC student Sakibul Hasan Rana, who was killed during a clash between two Chhatra Dal factions at the Tejgaon College hostel. Tejgaon Division Deputy Commissioner (DC) Mohammad Rakib Khan said two DB teams are simultaneously conducting operations outside the capital to arrest others involved in the incident. No one will be spared,” DC Rakib Khan said, adding that all those responsible, regardless of position, would be brought to justice. Students have blocked the Farmgate intersection in the capital demanding justice for Sakibul Hasan Rana’s killing. Sakibul Hasan Rana, 18, a second-year higher secondary science student of the 2024–25 academic session, was injured during a clash between two Chhatra Dal groups at the Tejgaon College hostel on the night of December 6.

A protest by mobile phone traders against the implementation of the National Equipment Identity Register (NEIR) escalated into clashes with police in Dhaka’s Karwan Bazar on Sunday, as law enforcers used water cannons, baton charges and sound grenades to clear a key intersection and restore traffic movement. The blockade began in the morning when mobile phone traders gathered at the Karwan Bazar intersection, halting vehicular movement and causing widespread disruption in the area. The traders were protesting the rollout of the NEIR system, which they claim would adversely affect their businesses. “The government has already responded to the demands of mobile phone traders by significantly reducing duties on legally imported handsets and providing an opportunity to regularise devices brought in through tax evasion,” he said. “I have no personal relationship with any mobile phone manufacturer.