An exhibition showcasing aesthetic pearl and oyster shell ornaments along with eye-catching showpieces was held in Gopalganj on Thursday. The exhibition featured products crafted by 30 young entrepreneurs and highlighted the growing potential of pearl-based handicrafts. The exhibition took place at the training centre of the district fisheries officer’s office on Circuit House Road in Gopalganj town. Handmade pearl and oyster shell ornaments and showpieces produced by 30 young male and female entrepreneurs from 10 districts under Dhaka, Barisal, and Khulna divisions were displayed at the exhibition. Under this initiative, 200 pearl oyster farming demonstrations have been conducted across 52 upazilas in 10 districts of three divisions, with activities still ongoing in several areas.

The 51st death anniversary of Maoist leader Comrade Siraj Sikder was observed yesterday. The day’s programmes began by placing wreaths at Siraj Sikder’s grave at Mohammadpur, led by Smriti Sangsad President Hasan Fakri. Activists later held a rally and paid tributes to Siraj Sikder. At 3:30 pm, a discussion meeting was held at Bangladesh Shishu Kallyan Parishad auditorium with Hasan Fakri in the chair. Speakers described Siraj Sikder and other Maoist revolutionaries as the country’s finest sons.

Dense fog is creating major disruptions at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, affecting the safe landing and takeoff of aircraft during the winter season. Airport officials say the inability to keep the full runway lighting system operational has resulted in the loss of the airport’s international-standard ILS (Instrument Landing System) Category-2 facility, which has been downgraded to Category-1. Category-2 is crucial for maintaining safe and normal operations during dense fog,” said an aviation source. Without Category-2, many flights cannot land in Dhaka on schedule, and diversions to Chittagong, Kolkata, or other nearby airports have become necessary. Currently, the runway lighting system is below 95% functionality, preventing authorities from maintaining Category-2 operations.

A wave of mourning has swept across social media following the death of BNP Chairperson and three-time former prime minister Begum Khaleda Zia. In the caption, he wrote: “I express my deep sorrow at the death of former prime minister Begum Khaleda Zia. I pray for the forgiveness of the soul of Begum Khaleda Zia.”Many stars are viewing Begum Khaleda Zia’s death as the end of an era. In 2003, Putul secured first place in patriotic songs at Notun Kuri, when then prime minister Khaleda Zia handed the trophy to her. History will remember you.”Actress Sadia Jahan Prova wrote: “Begum Khaleda Zia was a symbol of strength, patience, and leadership in Bangladesh.

The severe weather disrupted normal life across central, northern, southern and western parts of the country, NDMA spokesman Mohammad Yousaf Hammad said. He said assessment teams have been dispatched to the hardest-hit areas, with damage evaluations still underway to identify further humanitarian needs. Afghanistan, like Pakistan and India, is particularly prone to extreme weather, especially sudden flooding following seasonal rains. The United Nations and aid agencies have warned that Afghanistan will remain among the world’s most severe humanitarian crises in 2026. This week, the UN launched a $1.7 billion appeal to support nearly 18 million people in urgent need of assistance.

KHULNA, Jan 2, 2026 (BSS) - One van passenger was killed and five others were injured after an ambulance carrying a body collided with two passenger vans in Dumuria upazila, Khulna, on Friday afternoon." The deceased was identified as Kalipada Mondal, 25, son of late Jurar Mondalof Gutudia village in the upazila. The accident occurred on the Khulna-Satkhira Highway in front of the GutudiaPalli Bidyut sub-station. The injured were taken to Dumuria Upazila Health Complex and KMCH fortreatment. Confirming the incident, Officer-in-Charge of Khornia Highway Police StationNuruzzaman Chanu said the ambulance driver fled the scene after the crash.

Photo : BGMEA Facebook pageBGMEA board pays tributes to former PM Khaleda ZiaDHAKA, Jan 02, 2026 (BSS) - The Board of Directors of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), led by President Mahmud Hasan Khan, today paid tributes to former Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia by placing wreath at her grave. The delegation visited the grave located at Zia Udyan in the capital and placed the wreath to honour her memory of the deceased leader, said a press release. To further show their respect, the BGMEA leadership stood in solemn silence for a period after the prayers. The delegation included Senior Vice President Inamul Huq Khan, Vice Presidents Vidiya Amrit Khan and Md. Speaking to the media after the visit, Mahmud Hasan Khan described Begum Khaleda Zia as an 'uncompromising leader of democracy'.

DHAKA, Jan 2, 2026 (BSS) - As part of the promotion of the upcoming 13th Parliamentary Election and the referendum, the government today released another teaser highlighting Shaheed Shahriar Khan Anas’s mother’s aspiration of building a new Bangladesh through the elections. The Chief Adviser’s Press Wing released the 1:15 minute teaser tonight, noting that the history of the July Uprising is written in blood of Shaheed Shahriar Khan Anas. “Today, the voice of his mother has echoed with profound pain, deep pride, and unwavering resolve- the sacrifice of the martyrs must not go in vain and that the country must move forward on the path of justice, democracy, and human dignity,” it said. “Now, it is our moral responsibility to build the Bangladesh of the martyrs' dreams through the upcoming referendum and the parliamentary elections,” the press wing added.

Yunus says he will return to his previous professional role after February electionDhaka, Jan 2 (UNI) Bangladesh Interim Government Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus has said he intends to return to his previous professional role after the general election in February. Prior to his taking over as Chief Advisor, Yunus had promoted the "Three Zero" concept at universities, institutions, and seminars worldwide. Yunus founded the Grameen Bank in 1983, which provides small loans without collateral to the poor, primarily women. In June 2024, Yunus was indicted for allegedly embezzling 252.2 million taka (approx. However, following his appointment as Chief Advisor on August 8, 2024, Yunus was acquitted of several high-profile graft and labour charges in 2024 and early 2025.

File PhotoDHAKA, Jan 2, 2026 (BSS)- Bangladesh Coast Guard today detained 16 fishermenalong with an illegal trawling boat, nets and a large quantity of marine fishin Cox's Bazar's Inani area. Coast Guard media officer Lieutenant Commander Siam-ul-Haq said, that actingon secret information, Coast Guard ship Kamruzzaman conducted a specialoperation on Thursday (January 1) about 10 nautical miles off Inani beach inthe deep sea. They also recovered four trawling nets worth around Taka 25 lakh and 1,750-kg of marine fish, and arrested 16 fishermen found on the boat, he said. Legal procedures are underway for the seized boat, nets, fish, and thedetained fishermen." The Coast Guard official added that such operations will continue in futureto protect the country's fisheries resources.

Symbol ‘scale’ must be victorious in next election to ensure development: Golam ParwarBangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General and ex-MP Mia Golam Parwar today spoke at a Hindu community members’ gathering at Line Bill Pabla Puja Mandir, Khulna. Photo : BSSKHULNA, Jan 2, 2026 (BSS) – Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General and ex-MP Mia Golam Parwar today termed his party’s election symbol ‘scale’ as justice and fairness and said the scale must be made victorious in the upcoming national election to ensure overall development of the country. He made the remarks a chief guest while addressing a Hindu community members’ gathering at Line Bill Pabla Puja Mandir this evening. Khulna district Jamaat secretary Munshi Mizanur Rahman, assistant secretary Professor Mia Golam Quddus and district working committee member Advocate Abu Yusuf Mollah were special guests. Earlier in the afternoon, Parwar also addressed another Hindu community members’ gathering as the chief guest at Khamarbari in Ward No.

The nomination of Abdullah Al Kafi, general secretary of the Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB), has been declared invalid after scrutiny. Kafi had collected and submitted his nomination papers as the CPB’s candidate for the Cumilla-5 (Burichang-Brahmanpara) constituency. Cumilla Returning Officer and Deputy Commissioner Md Reza Hasan said the nomination was declared invalid on Friday after scrutiny. “I will approach the Election Commission again tomorrow seeking a resolution, even though the error is on their part,” he said. “As the authorised signatory listed by the Election Commission was not reflected in the nomination papers, the nomination has been deemed invalid during scrutiny,” he said.

The United Stated has introduced a one per cent tax on money migrants send home to their families in other countries, including Bangladesh. The tax applies to remittances sent via cash, money order, or any other “cashier’s check”. No tax, however, is applied when using debit and credit cards, bank accounts, Google Pay, Apple Pay, or Vigo Money or Western Union’s prepaid Visa cards. The tax applies to everyone, though initially it was said that US citizens be exempt from the remittance tax. Licensed businesses will suffer, as the tax will somehow discourage sending money through legal channels, he said.

LONDON, Jan 2, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Last year was Britain's hottest and sunniest on record, the national weather service confirmed on Friday, calling it a "clear demonstration" of the impacts of climate change. "2025 now joins 2022 and 2023 in the top three warmest years since 1884," the Met Office said in a statement, noting the UK's mean temperature through last year was 10.09 degrees Celsius. "This is an increasingly clear demonstration of the impacts of climate change on UK temperatures," it added.

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