This is also why the Anti-discrimination Student Movement wanted to take the initiative to announce the “July Declaration” and declare the 1972 Constitution and Awami League politics as “irrelevant”. Meanwhile, reform proposals were submitted by the majority of the political parties including the BNP and the Jamaat-e-Islami. The analysis of the dynamics of politics and the context of discussions among people suggest that the new year could be challenging for political parties in many ways. Sarjis Alam, chief organiser of the National Citizens Committee, recently said multiple political parties will emerge in Bangladesh within the next two months. HM Ishaq, an Awami League supporter believes that this is actually increasing people's “sympathy” for the Awami League.

The BNP leader advises party members to avoid being misled by rumoursPrepare for election without getting confused, Tarique tells peopleBNP’s Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman has urged people to prepare mentally for elections and avoid confusion. The BNP leader pointed out that those who fear the people's court or have ulterior motives are the ones causing confusion about the election process. He also urged party leaders and activists not to be misled by rumours. “Do not engage in activities that could provide others the opportunity to spread false information, said Tarique. Tarique also urged the Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal leaders and activists to stay cautious and vigilant.

Government appoints four more prosecutors to International Crimes TribunalThe interim government has appointed four additional prosecutors to the International Crimes Tribunal amid ongoing trials, including the cases involving the deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina. The Ministry of Law, Justice, and Parliamentary Affairs issued a notification on Wednesday, appointing Md Abdus Sobhan Tarafdar, Md Shahidul Islam Sarder, Faruk Ahammed, and Md Hasanul Banna. Among them, Sobhan will enjoy the position and benefits of additional attorney general, Shahidul and Faruk of deputy attorneys general. These appointments have been made under Section 7(1) of the International Crimes (Tribunal) Act, 1973, and will remain in place until further orders. Earlier, 11 legal counsels were appointed in three separate phases, with Md Tajul Islam appointed as chief prosecutor alongside five others on Sept 5, 2024.

REUTERS/Kim Soo-hyeonDemonstrators opposing the court's approval of an arrest warrant for impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol protest outside his official residence in Seoul, South Korea, Dec 31, 2024. REUTERS/Kim Soo-hyeonSenior aides to South Korea's impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol offered to resign en masse on Wednesday, a day after his office expressed regret over acting President Choi Sang-mok's approval of two new judges to a court set to decide Yoon's fate. The official said the senior secretaries have been assisting Choi since he took over as acting president. The aides' latest offer came a day after Choi's surprise approval to fill two vacancies on the Constitutional Court handling the impeachment trial against Yoon. Finance Minister Choi assumed the role of acting president on Friday after the impeachment of Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, who had been acting president since Dec 14 when Yoon was suspended from power.

In 2025, government primary schools will have 76 days of holidays in addition to the weekend on Friday and Saturday.The Ministry of Primary and Mass Education approved the list of 76 holidays for government primary schools in 2025. "The Directorate of Primary Education proposed a list of 76 holidays. The third term evaluation has been scheduled from Dec 1 to Dec 10.Three days of holidays have been reserved at the discretion of the headmaster in 2025. Approval from the Upazila or Thana primary education officer will be required for those holidays. National days must be observed with proper honours at the schools.In 2025, the primary schools will remain closed for 28 days for Shibratri, Ramadan, Doljatra, Independence Day and National Day, Arrival Day of Harichad Thakur, Shab-e-Qadar, Jumatul Bida, and Eid-ul-Fitr in addition from Feb 26 to Apr 6.

Drafting of July proclamation yet to begin: RizwanaThe interim government has yet to begin drafting the July proclamation despite a 15-day deadline set by the Anti-discrimination Student Movement and the National Citizens’ Committee. The drafting process will begin soon,” she said. When asked about consensus among all parties, Rizwana expressed optimism, saying: “Most parties broadly agree on the necessity of a proclamation. “Since everyone will have the opportunity to participate in the drafting process, there should be no reason for disagreement.”The advisor claimed that the Muhammad Yunus-led government prioritises both reforms and elections in its agenda. “For us, both issues hold equal importance.”Regarding BNP’s demand for elections, Rizwana said: “During discussions with BNP, they never said reforms are unnecessary.

Two more people have died of dengue while 84 new patients have been hospitalised with the Aedes mosquito-borne disease across Bangladesh over the past 24 hours.The number of patients hospitalised with the disease this year has risen to 101,214. The total number of deaths from the illness now stands at 575.The Directorate General of Health Services, or DGHS, said as many as 30 new patients were hospitalised in the Dhaka metropolitan area until Tuesday morning.In addition, 14 were hospitalised in the Dhaka Division, 21 in the Chattogram Division, three in the Khulna Division, two in the Rajshahi Division and 13 in the Barishal Division.As many as 599 patients are currently undergoing treatment for dengue in hospitals across the country. Of them, 238 are hospitalised in the capital and 361 are outside Dhaka.The DGHS has been keeping records of dengue hospitalisations and fatalities since 2000.Since then, a record 321,179 dengue hospitalisations were logged in 2023. That year also saw the most deaths with 1,705. —bdnews24.com

The candidates who were removed from the final gazette of the 43rd Bangladesh Civil Service, or BCS, recruitment have gathered at the main entrance of the Secretariat. The candidates have been waiting at the entrance of the Secretariat since Wednesday morning. The Public Service Commission, or PSC, recommended the appointment of 2,163 candidates in various cadres from the 43rd BCS on Dec 26, 2023. After returning from there, the candidate told bdnews24.com: “The senior secretary of the public administration ministry is unavailable today. When asked about the excluded candidates, he told bdnews24.com: “Senior officials can talk about this matter.”Mokhlesur Rahman, senior secretary of the ministry, did not respond to bdnews24.com’s phone calls seeking his comment on the matter.

The Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission, or BSEC, has appointed independent directors to three companies associated with the Beximco Group, one of the largest conglomerates in the country. A total of 25 independent directors have been selected for posts at Beximco Limited, Beximco Pharmaceuticals, and Shinepukur Ceramics. Beximco Pharma is listed on Bangladesh’s stock market as well as the London Stock Exchange. Salman F Rahman, the private industry and investment advisor to ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina, is the vice chairman of Beximco Group. Many of the directors of Beximco Group are in hiding.

“I sincerely apologise to our students and their parents as we could not provide all textbooks to them at once. Nothing to worry about if the media criticises us for that.”The government drew flak for going back to the 2012 curriculum, the advisor said. “If I didn’t study advanced math, I could not study maths at higher secondary, teach math to the undergrads at Cambridge University. O Level students study the same thing.”Some people criticised the government for “going backwards”, he said. Another 40 million books were ready to be dispatched, he added.

The university authorities have decided to appeal to the top court against the High Court decision that scrapped the expulsion of students charged over the death of Bakar, the statement read. Two factions of the Chhatra League clashed at AF Rahman Hall of Dhaka University on Feb 1, 2010 during a power struggle. In this context, the High Court Division ruled in favour of the plaintiffs by declaring the expulsion order illegal in 2012. "Recently, the Dhaka University authorities decided to appeal to a higher court against the decision. The university authorities believe an appeal to the top court will pave the way for justice in the murder of student Abu Bakar Siddique," the statement added.

The former food minister was arrested from Dhaka’s Uttara on Nov 18Former food minister Qamrul Islam remanded again in two extortion casesA Dhaka court has placed former food minister and Awami League Presidium Member Qamrul Islam on a four-day remand in two extortion cases filed at the Kamrangirchar Police Station. Public Prosecutor Omar Faruq Faruqi said sub-inspectors Zahid Hasan and Palash Chandra Das, investigating officers in the two cases filed with Kamrangirchar police, sought a 10-day remand each in the two extortion cases. Later, the court rejected his bail plea and remanded him for four days in the two cases. Among the two extortion cases, a man named Sagir Ahmed Sujan filed a lawsuit with the court accusing Qamrul and 13 others on Sept 4. On Sept 7, a cable network businessman named Ali Ahmed initiated another case against 11 people, including Qamrul.

Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus speaks at the inauguration of the "29th Dhaka International Trade Fair (DITF)-2025" at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Exhibition Center at Dhaka's Purbachal on Wednesday, Jan 1, 2025.

At least nine lanterns landed on the metro rail tracks on Tuesday night as people celebrated New Year's Eve. “Assuming some lanterns (would land on the rail tracks), we were prepared to address it. Earlier on Monday, DMTCL cautioned the public not to release lanterns near the metro rail area. As in previous years, the government has reiterated its directives to avoid releasing lanterns and using fireworks during New Year’s Eve. On the 31st night last year, lanterns released across Dhaka caused disruptions when tangled with metro rail cables.

He said on X that Israel operates in accordance with international law, would never target innocent civilians, and accused Hamas of using Gaza hospitals for what he called "terror activity". The Israeli military has accused Hamas of using hospitals as command centres for military operations and said that people Israel has detained at the facilities were suspected militants. Israel has in the past few days conducted operations against hospitals in Gaza that drew criticism from the head of the World Health Organization (WHO) among others. Hamas killed 1,200 people and abducted 251 to Gaza in its attack on southern Israel on Oct 7, 2023, according to Israeli tallies. More than 45,500 Palestinians have been killed in Israel's subsequent campaign against Hamas in Gaza, Palestinian health officials say.