The Election Commission (EC) has decided to remove deceased voters from the electoral roll throughout the year. According to the office order, a 10-member committee has been formed to ensure year-round removal of deceased voters from the voter list. At present, deceased voters are removed from the electoral roll only during door-to-door voter list updates. Following the formation of this committee, names of deceased individuals can now be removed from the voter list at any time of the year. Most recently, approximately 2.1 million deceased voters were removed during the door-to-door voter list update process.

Eight flights scheduled to land at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka were diverted to alternative destinations on Sunday due to dense fog. The Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) confirmed the matter on Sunday morning. CAAB Public Relations Department official Kawsar Mahmud said poor visibility caused by dense fog disrupted safe landing operations, prompting authorities to divert several inbound flights as a precautionary measure. Of the diverted flights, six were rerouted to Sylhet Osmani International Airport, one to Kolkata airport in India, and another to Hanoi airport in Vietnam, he added.

Venezuelan Vice President Rodriguez on Saturday reaffirmed that Nicolás Maduro remains “the only president” of Venezuela, denouncing the recent US military operation targeting the country’s leadership. Speaking live on state-run television, Rodriguez emphasized that Venezuela will never be a colony of any foreign power. In the early hours of Saturday, the United States launched a large-scale military operation in Caracas, capturing Maduro and his wife. US President Donald Trump later claimed that Rodriguez had been sworn in as president and noted that Secretary of State Marco Rubio “just had a conversation” with her. Trump said she is ready to take actions the US deems necessary to “make Venezuela great again.”The international community has expressed shock over the US raid, condemning the use of force against a sovereign nation and its sitting president.

As Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro arrived in New York on Saturday, video footage emerged showing him walking in handcuffs. In the clip, Maduro is seen being escorted by security officers while saying “good night” and “happy new year” as he is led away. President Donald Trump also shared a photo on Saturday showing Maduro in custody aboard a US naval vessel. In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump wrote, “Nicolas Maduro on board the USS Iwo Jima,” alongside an image that appeared to show the Venezuelan leader hours after being detained by US forces. In the photo, Maduro appears to be wearing a blindfold, handcuffs, noise-canceling earmuffs, and a grey Nike-branded sweatpants and jacket set.

Lawyers in Dhaka on Sunday formed a human chain protesting the killing of Pabna Judge Court trainee lawyer Naeem Kibria, who was beaten to death after his private car was hit by a motorcycle in the capital’s Bashundhara Residential Area. Addressing the program, Advocate Anwarul Islam strongly condemned the killing and demanded a visible and speedy trial. Drawing the attention of the legal affairs adviser, he said: “Several days have passed since the murder of lawyer Naeem Kibria, but not a single person has been arrested yet. Advocate Parveen said: “Naeem Kibria was our brother. Police sources said that around 10pm on Wednesday, Naeem was driving through the Bashundhara area when his car collided with a motorcycle.

Food Adviser Ali Imam Majumder today spoke at a press conference at his ministry office in the Secretariat.Photo: PIDDHAKA, Jan 4, 2026 (BSS) - Food Adviser Ali Imam Majumder today said the country is currently holding its highest-ever food stock, with accumulated reserves standing at more than 20.27 lakh metric tonnes. Breaking down the stock, Majumder said it includes about 16,96,787 metric tonnes of rice, 2,33,224 metric tonnes of wheat and 97,409 metric tonnes of paddy. He noted that the country's highest food stock in previous years stood at 18.81 lakh metric tonnes in 2022, followed by 18.02 lakh metric tonnes in 2023, 7.26 lakh metric tonnes in 2021, 15.52 lakh metric tonnes in 2024 and 11.44 lakh metric tonnes in 2025. Referring to surplus stock and procurement, the food adviser said procurement targets were fixed at a Food Monitoring Committee meeting. The food adviser also informed journalists that the government-run public food distribution system is fully active and dynamic, and that all related programmes are being implemented effectively.

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BRISBANE, Australia, Jan 4, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Former Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin opened her 2026 season with a hard-fought 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 win over Romanian qualifier Elena-Gabriele Ruse in the Brisbane International on Sunday. Kenin, who won the Australian Open as a 21-year-old in 2020, recovered from a second-set lapse to outlast Ruse and set up a second-round clash against seventh seed Ekaterina Alexandrova. But I trusted the pre-season I had and I felt like I was playing good tennis," said the 27-year-old American. Australian wildcard Ajla Tomljanovic eased into the second round with a 6-1, 6-3 win over France's Elsa Jacquemot and will now play 11th seed Karolina Muchova. In the men's draw, American Francis Tiafoe was too strong for Australian wildcard Aleksandar Vukic 6-2, 6-2.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Hanging out close to home could feel good today, even though something reactive could arise. Better to put a pin into anything volatile, Universal stars aren’t supporting resolution or reprieve today. Not to make yourself small, but because smart people play the odds and today’s odds don’t make for a great outcome. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): There’s the chance for a nice exchange of ideas in your sectors of communication, but negative Universal stars could overshadow this possibility. Keep your cool, adjust expectations, and don’t let discouragement bring you down during this early period of the year.

BEIJING, Jan 4, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Irish prime minister Micheal Martin arrived in Beijing on Sunday, Chinese state media said, kicking off a five-day visit aimed at boosting trade between the two countries. His arrival, reported by state broadcaster CCTV, marks the first visit to China by an Irish taoiseach since 2012. "I will stress the importance of a strong EU-China relationship, as well as robust and effective multilateral institutions," he said. China is Ireland's largest trading partner in Asia and its fifth largest globally, according to Dublin. Key Irish exports to China include medical equipment, pharmaceuticals, computer services and agricultural products.

Local agricultural entrepreneur Ranjit Chandra Das, 38, from Alipura union said he invested around Taka 4 lakh in cultivating apple plum, mango, watermelon and other crops. "The demand for apple plum and kashmiri plum is very high. Hasan, 39, said commercial plum cultivation is increasing steadily in the area due to suitable soil conditions. Balsundari and apple plum varieties fetch comparatively higher prices, while sour varieties sell at Taka 45 to 90 per kg depending on quality and season. "Along with plum, mango, watermelon and winter vegetables are contributing to overall income," he said.

Former Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia. File photoDHAKA, Jan 04, 2026 (BSS) - BNP Chairperson and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia was remembered with deep respect at a reception accorded to Chief Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury at the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court today. Begum Khaleda Zia passed away on December 30, 2025, at 6:00 am while undergoing treatment at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka. Speaking at the programme, Additional Attorney General Mohammad Arshadur Rouf, currently discharging the duties of the Attorney General, paid tribute to Begum Khaleda Zia, saying, "I express my deepest respect to the late Begum Khaleda Zia, the three-time former Prime Minister and national leader, who recently passed away. Judges of both divisions of the Supreme Court, senior lawyers, journalists and officials of the Supreme Court were present at the reception.

Md Ruhul Amin Mallik, Director of Public Relations at the EC Secretariat, told BSS that once scrutiny ends today, the Commission will announce the number of nomination papers accepted and rejected nationwide. Besides, verification of nomination papers of competing candidates will continue until January 4. The appeal must be submitted at the designated booth of the relevant regional appeal acceptance centre of the Election Commission. A sample of this form can be obtained from the central appeal submission booth of the Election Commission. The Election Commission will dispose of appeals submitted against the acceptance or rejection of nomination papers between January 10 and January 18, 2026.

DHAKA, Jan 4, 2026 (BSS)--The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has announcedtheir squad for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 today, leaving out middleorder batters Jaker Ali Anik and Mahidul Islam Ankon. There was no surprise in the sqaud as the selectors kept faith on the playerswho have been regular in T20 squad over the last two years. Liton Das will lead the side in the showpiece event while Saif Hassan will behis deputy. Tanzid Hasan Tamim and Saif Hassan will open the innings while Parvez HossainEmon is considered as middle order batter along with Towhid Hridoy. Bangladesh squad: Liton Das (captain), Mohammad Saif Hassan (vice-captain),Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Parvez Hossain Emon, Towhid Hridoy, Shamim Patwari, NurulHasan Sohan, Mahedi Hasan, Rishad Hossain Rahman, Nasum Ahmed, MustafizurRahman, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Taskin Ahmed, Saifuddin, Shoriful Islam.

AUCKLAND, Jan 4, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Seven-time major singles champion Venus Williams said Sunday she's still driven to play good tennis - and "it gives you great legs" - as she prepares for an Australian Open tilt at age 45. "I definitely don't wake up and come halfway across the world -- or more than halfway -- to not be feeling the fire. 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.