Aston Villa remain just three points behind the leaders ahead of their trip to Arsenal on Tuesday after substitute Ollie Watkins struck twice in a 2-1 win at Chelsea. City's 2-1 win in the lunchtime kick-off at the City Ground took them top for a couple of hours. Arteta's men had some fortune for the vital second goal when Georginio Rutter turned Declan Rice's corner into his own net. "A really, really, really important three points." Liverpool are now unbeaten in seven games but were still far from convincing against a Wolves side without a league win all season.

BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman is set to visit the party chairperson’s office in the capital’s Gulshan area on Sunday, marking his first visit to the office since his return to the country. BNP media cell member Sayrul Kabir Khan said Tarique Rahman is scheduled to come to the Gulshan office in the afternoon. Party sources said Tarique will work from the BNP Chairperson’s Gulshan office, where a new office room has been prepared for him on the second floor. Both the Nayapaltan central office and the Gulshan chairperson’s office have been freshly painted, cleaned and decorated ahead of his return. Tarique Rahman returned to Bangladesh on Thursday after spending nearly 17 years in exile abroad.

Ferry services between Chandpur and Shariatpur resumed on Sunday morning after nearly nine and a half hours of suspension due to dense fog. Faisal Alam Chowdhury, manager of Harina ferry terminal, said operations were halted from 11pm Saturday until 8:30am Sunday to prevent accidents and ensure passenger safety, leaving over a hundred vehicles, including trucks and pickups, stranded on both sides of the ferry terminals. The ferry operations returned to normal around 9am after the dense fog removed from the Meghna River. Meanwhile, several passenger launches operating on Dhaka-Chandpur route, including MV Rof Rof, Jhom Jhom, Bogdadia, and Meghna Rani, arrived at Chandpur ghat with delays of five to six hours, ferry owners and supervisors said.

BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman will contest the 13th parliamentary election billed for February 12 next year from two constituencies--Bogra-6 and Dhaka-17. “Our party’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman will contest the election from two seats. Salahuddin said BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia will contest the election from three constituencies--Bogra-7, Feni-1 and Dinajpur-3, while Tarique Rahman will contest from Bogra-6 and Dhaka-17. When asked about campaign activities suggesting that Bangladesh Jatiya Party (BJP) Chairman Barrister Andaleeve Rahman Partho, a BNP ally, will contest from the Dhaka-17 seat, Salahuddin said Partho is not contesting the polls from Dhaka-17. “He will contest the election from his home constituency, Bhola-1, using his party’s own election symbol,” the BNP leader said.

BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman on Sunday collected his nomination paper to contest the upcoming national election from the Dhaka-17 constituency. On behalf of Tarique, BNP Chairperson’s Private Secretary ABM Abdur Sattar collected the nomination form from the office of Dhaka Divisional Commissioner Sharf Uddin Ahmed Choudhury at around 11:10am, said BNP media cell member Shayrul Kabir Khan. Earlier on Saturday night, BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed told UNB that Tarique Rahman will contest the 13th parliamentary election, scheduled for February 12 next year, from two constituencies—Bogra-6 and Dhaka-17. “Our party’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman will contest the election from two seats. “He will contest the election from his home constituency, Bhola-1, using his party’s own election symbol,” the BNP leader said.

Tajnuva Jabeen, joint convener of the National Citizen Party (NCP), resigned from the party on Sunday, expressing strong objections to the manner in which its electoral alliance was formed. Tajnuva had initially received the NCP’s primary nomination for the Dhaka-17 constituency and had been actively campaigning there for several days. Besides, 30 members of the party have sent a letter to NCP convener Nahid Islam, stating their unwillingness to join any alliance with Jamaat. A central leader of the NCP, speaking on condition of anonymity, told UNB that more resignations are likely in the coming days. In particular, women leaders holding senior positions are not interested in aligning with Jamaat,” the NCP leader said.

Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury on Sunday took oath as the 26th Chief Justice of Bangladesh. Earlier, on December 23, President Shahabuddin appointed him as the new chief justice. On Saturday, Chief Justice Dr Syed Refaat Ahmed retired from his post. Born on May 18, 1961, Justice Zubayer is the son of the late AFM Abdur Rahman Chowdhury, who also served as a judge of the Supreme Court. President Shahabuddin appointed him as a justice of the Appellate Division on August 12, 2024, and he took oath the following day, on August 13.

BNP on Saturday demanded the immediate and unconditional release of teacher AKM Shahidul Islam, who was arrested over allegations of making derogatory remarks about BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman. “So, the BNP thinks that the arrest and imprisonment of AKM Shahidul Islam for expressing his own views was not right. We urge the authorities to respect the democratic rights of the people by immediately releasing AKM Shahidul Islam unconditionally,” the party said. AKM Shahidul Islam was detained by police from the Shahbagh area of the capital on Saturday over allegations of making derogatory comments about Tarique Rahman during his visit to Sharif Osman Hadi’s grave. Police said Shahidul Islam is serving as the vice-principal of Gabtoli Technical Training Centre in Dhaka.

Faisal Karim Masud, the main accused in the murder of Inqilab Mancha spokesperson Sharif Osman Hadi, has fled to India, Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Additional Commissioner Nazrul Islam said on Sunday. According to Nazrul Islam, Faisal and his associates first went to Aminbazar immediately after the murder. From there, they travelled to Kalampur in Manikganj and later crossed the border through Haluaghat in Mymensingh in a private car. “A total of 11 people have been arrested so far, and we are convinced by the information and evidence obtained from those arrested,” the additional commissioner said. He also said the murder was premeditated and politically motivated.

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has extended the deadline for filing income tax returns for the 2025-26 financial year by another month at the last minute. Earlier, the deadline for filing returns was extended once for the current financial year. Although according to the general rules, it is mandatory to file income tax returns by November 30 every year, in reality, the NBR extends the deadline multiple times almost every year. In the current FY26, with some exceptions, all taxpayers will have to file their income tax returns (e-returns) online. NBR officials hope that the extension of time will make more taxpayers interested in voluntarily filing returns and will have a positive impact on expanding the tax net.

National Citizen Party (NCP) Member Secretary Akhtar Hossain has explained the party’s position on its electoral understanding or possible alliance with Jamaat-e-Islami. His statement was posted on the NCP’s verified Facebook page on Saturday night. Akhtar Hossain said that during discussions at the consensus commission, there were differences of opinion between the BNP and other parties, while the NCP, Jamaat-e-Islami and several others agreed on key reform proposals. “In considering any electoral alliance or understanding, my foremost priority is the question of reform, the politics of rebuilding the country, and the commitment to establishing a new state structure for Bangladesh,” he said. On Saturday, 30 central committee leaders wrote to NCP Convener Nahid Islam, voicing objections to the understanding with Jamaat.

The Inqilab Mancha has announced a seven-hour blockade program from 11am to 6pm in divisional cities across the country from Sunday, demanding justice for the murder of Sharif Osman Hadi. Inqilab Mancha Member Secretary Abdullah Al Jaber announced the blockade around 11:20pm on Saturday. Shortly before that, around 11pm, the DMP commissioner and the adviser disclosed the timeline for submitting the chargesheet. Rejecting their statements, Inqilab Mancha demanded that the chargesheet be submitted within three working days and the trial completed within 26 working days. Referring to the Asiya murder case, she said trials could be completed within a short time frame, adding that efforts would be made to conclude the Hadi murder trial as quickly as possible.

Dhaka, the overcrowded capital city of Bangladesh, has ranked third on the list of cities with the worst air quality with an AQI score of 216 at 09:40am on Sunday morning. On Sunday Dhaka’s air was classified as "very unhealthy" referring to an alarming healthy threat, according to the AQI index. The AQI, an index for reporting daily air quality, informs people how clean or polluted the air of a certain city is and what associated health effects might be a concern for them. Dhaka has long been grappling with air pollution issues. Its air quality usually turns unhealthy in winter and improves during the monsoon.

KARACHI, Dec 28, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - Fit-again allrounder Shadab Khan returned to Pakistan's squad for next month's three-match Twenty20 international series in Sri Lanka, selectors said Sunday. Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said the squad had new players as some seniors were allowed to play in the Big Bash League in Australia. "Shadab is included in the squad after he regained full fitness for the three-match T20I series against Sri Lanka in Dambulla on 7, 9 and 11 January," said a PCB release. Uncapped wicketkeeper-batsman Khawaja Nafay is also included in the squad after his impressive show with Pakistan's second string team in the last two years. Squad: Salman Agha (captain), Abdul Samad, Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Khawaja Nafay, Mohammad Nawaz, Salman Mirza, Mohammad Wasim, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Shadab Khan, Usman Khan, Usman Tariq

Degree is not just for job, but a commitment to nation and nature: RizwanaEnvironment, Forest and Climate Change and Information and Broadcasting Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan urges Sonargaon University graduates to embrace responsibility, environmental protection, and national service at second convocation. "Rather, the new generation must enter professional life with a strong sense of responsibility toward family, society, the nation, and nature," she said. She made the remarks while delivering the convocation address at the Second Convocation 2025 of Sonargaon University, at the International Convention City Bashundhara in the capital. Among others present were Sonargaon University Trustee Board Chairman and Founder Engineer Abdul Aziz; General Secretary and Founder Engineer Md. Later, prizes were also distributed through a lottery among participants of the tree plantation programme at Sonargaon University.