Chief Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury has reconstituted 66 benches of the High Court Division of the Supreme Court. Judicial proceedings in these benches will commence from Sunday. The list of the 66 benches was published on the Supreme Court’s website on Saturday. Meanwhile, following the end of the court vacation, regular judicial activities in both the Appellate Division and the High Court Division of the Supreme Court will resume from Sunday, in the new year. At the start of the day, at 10:30am, the Supreme Court Bar Association will accord a reception to the Chief Justice at Courtroom No 1 of the Appellate Division.

Trump says US to 'run' Venezuela after toppling Maduro in military attackFile PhotoPALM BEACH, United States, Jan 3, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - President Donald Trump said Saturday that the United States will "run" Venezuela and tap its huge oil reserves after snatching leftist leader Nicolas Maduro out of the country during a bombing raid on Caracas. Trump's announcement came hours after a lightning attack in which special forces grabbed Maduro and his wife, while airstrikes pounded multiple sites, stunning the capital city. In another surprise, Trump indicated that US troops could be deployed in Venezuela. Although the operation is being framed as a law-enforcement action, Trump made clear that regime change and Venezuela's oil riches are the major goals. Maduro, 63, and his wife "gave up" without a struggle and there was "no loss of US life," he said.

DHAKA, Jan 04, 2026 (BSS) - The operation of the Supreme Court resumed today after the end of government holidays, weekly holidays and court vacation. The Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) is scheduled to accord a reception to newly appointed Chief Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury. The reception ceremony will be held at Courtroom No. 1 of the Appellate Division at 10:30 am. Earlier, Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury took oath as the country's 26th Chief Justice on December 28, 2025.

DHAKA, Jan 4, 2026 (BSS) - A mild cold wave is sweeping over several districts while night temperatures may fall slightly and moderate to thick fog is likely to affect parts of the country, causing persistent cold conditions. The bulletin said that the mild cold wave is sweeping over the districts of Pabna, Sirajganj, Cumilla, Jashore, Kushtia, Moulvibazar and the Sylhet division and it may continue. It added that night temperature may fall slightly and day temperature mayrise to some extent over the country. Moderate to thick fog may occur during midnight to morning and may continue till noon at places, it said, adding that due to foggy conditions, cold feelings may persist across the country. The bulletin also cautioned that air navigation, inland river transport and road communication may be temporarily disrupted due to thick fog.

Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman’s exclusion from the Kolkata Knight Riders’ (KKR) IPL 2026 squad, reportedly following instructions from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), has triggered widespread criticism, with several voices condemning what they describe as the politicisation of sport. Mustafizur, popularly known as Fizz, was bought by KKR for INR 9.2 crore at the IPL auction late last year. However, the franchise later confirmed his release, citing directives from the BCCI, without providing any specific reason. His exclusion has also sparked strong reactions on social media in Bangladesh, although the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) is yet to issue an official statement on the matter. Following the Mustafizur incident, concerns have emerged regarding the security and overall treatment of the Bangladesh team during the tournament.

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"First of all I have to say thank you to Joan Garcia because he played unbelievably. Espanyol fans gave Garcia a particularly hostile reception, after he became their first player to leave for Barca in more than 30 years in the summer. Amid the ire, Garcia made two vital first half interventions that sent the teams in level at the interval. - Subs settle game -There were few clear chances in a tense first half and the best openings fell to Espanyol. Kounde cleared off the line and Garcia tipped Fernandez's near-post drive away as Espanyol continued to harry Flick's side.

Students blocked the Farmgate intersection in the capital on Monday demanding justice for the killing of higher secondary student Sakibul Hasan Rana who was allegedly murdered during a clash between two groups of Chhatra Dal at the Tejgaon College hostel. The blockade began around 10am when Tejgaon College students occupied the road in the Farmgate area causing a complete halt to vehicular movement in and around the key intersection and triggering severe traffic congestion that left commuters stranded. The protesting students said they would not withdraw from the streets until justice is ensured for Sakib’s killing. They also demanded that the law adviser and the home adviser visit the spot and hold talks with the students. The protesters warned that their sit-in and blockade at the Farmgate road would continue until their demands are met and the advisers arrive at the scene.

Over the past decade, at least 296 Bangladeshis have lost their lives in border areas, with the situation showing little sign of improvement. During this period, 213 Bangladeshis were killed by gunfire from India’s Border Security Force (BSF), while more than 300 others were injured along the border. In 2025, 38 Bangladeshis were injured and 14 were abducted during border incidents, of whom four were later returned. In 2024, 30 Bangladeshis were killed at the border—25 by gunfire, four due to physical torture, and one after being chased by BSF personnel. In 2016, 31 Bangladeshis were killed, including 23 by gunfire and seven due to torture.

The diplomatic fallout from the Indian Premier League's exclusion of Mustafizur Rahman has escalated significantly, with Bangladesh’s Sports Adviser Asif Nazrul calling for the country’s T20 World Cup matches to be moved out of India. The directive includes a specific request to relocate Bangladesh's World Cup fixtures to co-host nation Sri Lanka due to safety concerns. “I have told the board to inform (the ICC) that where a single contracted Bangladeshi cricketer cannot play in India, the entire Bangladesh cricket team cannot feel safe going there to play the World Cup,” Nazrul stated. “We will not accept insults to Bangladesh cricket, cricketers, and the nation under any circumstances,” Nazrul declared. BJP leader Sangeet Som had praised the move as a “victory for Hindus,” citing alleged violence against minorities in Bangladesh.

Khaleda Zia, who passed away on December 30, remains trapped in that shadow. Invoking Robert Frost’s familiar refrain, Khaleda Zia took the road less traveled -- then declined to market the trip. By the end of Khaleda Zia’s second term in 2006, the agricultural share had receded to 20% as industry climbed to 27%. Khaleda Zia governed within a hostile landscape, navigating the lingering shadow of military power, donor pressure, and relentless political polarization. Zia avoided the sterile idiom of technocracy, and her leadership nevertheless laid the essential foundations of Bangladesh’s industrial transition.

A court on Sunday granted bail to Mahdi Hasan, Habiganj district general secretary of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, on a bond of Tk200 following controversy over remarks he made about the police while inside a police station. He was produced before the court of Habiganj Judicial Magistrate Abdul Mannan at 7:20am after being taken from Habiganj Sadar Model Police Station. Mahdi Hasan is the member secretary of the Habiganj district unit of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement. He is a first-year undergraduate student at Habiganj Brindaban Government College and hails from the Bhadoi area of Habiganj Sadar upazila. In a video, Mahdi Hasan is heard making threatening remarks against the administration, which sparked widespread discussion and criticism.

CARACAS, Jan 3, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Venezuelan opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Corina Machado said Saturday the "hour of freedom" had arrived for her country after the United States seized strongman Nicolas Maduro. "Venezuelans, the HOUR OF FREEDOM has arrived!" "We are going to restore order," she stated, adding Gonzalez Urrutia must now be "recognized as Commander in Chief of the National Armed Forces by all officers and soldiers." Machado was barred from running in the 2024 election by institutions loyal to Maduro, and was replaced on the ticket by Gonzalez Urrutia, a little-known diplomat. She was awarded the Nobel prize for "her struggle to achieve a just and peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy."

Of the registered voters, 11,22,287 are men and 184,806 are women. District-wise, Cumilla topped the list with 99,915 registered voters, followed by Dhaka with 93,465 and Chattogram with 83,759. Meanwhile, for the 13th Jatiya Sangsad Election and the referendum, postal ballots have been sent to 581,689 expatriate voters across 75 countries worldwide over the last 14 days. Among them, the highest numbers of 187,443 ballots were sent to expatriate voters in Saudi Arabia. For registration, expatriate voters must use a mobile number of the respective country.

Australia, NZ back international law after US raid on VenezuelaSYDNEY, Jan 4, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Australia and New Zealand said Sunday they supported international law and a democratic future in Venezuela after US forces captured President Nicolas Maduro. "We continue to support international law and a peaceful, democratic transition in Venezuela that reflects the will of the Venezuelan people." Australia had long-standing concerns about Venezuela's respect for democratic principles, human rights and fundamental freedoms, Albanese said. "New Zealand is concerned by and actively monitoring developments in Venezuela and expects all parties to act in accordance with international law," Foreign Minister Winston Peters said. "New Zealand stands with the Venezuelan people in their pursuit of a fair, democratic and prosperous future," he said in a statement.