The government is working to extend a 20 percent electricity subsidy to the fisheries sector, similar to the incentive currently enjoyed by agriculture, Fisheries and Livestock Adviser Farida Akhter said on Saturday. “The fisheries sector does not yet receive subsidised electricity like agriculture. However, work has been underway for the past year, and through coordination among the relevant ministries, we expect to ensure around a 20 percent electricity subsidy very soon,” she said. Highlighting prospects for shrimp exports, Farida Akhter said Bangladesh’s shrimp is globally recognised for its taste and quality. Speaking on the broader fisheries sector, the adviser said Bangladesh has yet to fully reap benefits from the sector due to systemic gaps.

Tasnim Jara, first senior joint member secretary of the National Citizen Party (NCP) and a native of Khilgaon, has announced her resignation from the party and will contest the upcoming parliamentary election as an independent candidate from Dhaka-9. “Therefore, in this election, I will participate as an independent candidate from Dhaka-9,” she said. Jara also highlighted the challenges of contesting as an independent candidate. “A party candidate has the party’s local office, a well-organized cadre, and opportunities to discuss security or other concerns with the government and administration. Tasnim Jara concluded the statement by reaffirming her commitment to serve the people of her constituency.

Tarique Rahman completes voter registration and NID formalities at Election Commission. Photo : BSSDHAKA, Dec 27, 2025 (BSS) - Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman has completed all formalities for voter registration and obtaining his National Identity Card (NID). He arrived at the Election Commission's Election Training Institute (ETI) in Agargaon at around 1:00 pm today to complete the voter registration process. Election Commissioner Abdur Rahmanel Masud told BSS that there is no legal impediment to Tarique Rahman's voter registration. According to him, "Under Section 15 of the Voter List Act, the Election Commission can register any person as a voter at any time.

You have permission to edit this article.

FARIDPUR, Dec 27, 2025 (BSS) - Three people, including a sibling, were killed and two others injured in a head-on collision between a truck and an ambulance at Bhanga in Faridpur this morning. The deceased were identified as Nishan, 23, son of Rahmatullah of Rajganj village under Monirampur upazila in Jashore; Mizanur Rahman, 40, son of Babar Ali of Chaltibari village under Keshabpur upazila in Jashore and his sister Beauty Begum, 30. The accident occurred around 7:30 am at the Munsarabad area on the Bhanga-Khulna highway. Sub-Inspector Sohel Khan of Bhanga Highway Police said the Khulna-bound truck collided head-on with a Dhaka-bound ambulance, killing three people on the spot and seriously injuring two others. Highway police, local police and a Fire Service team rushed to the scene, rescued the injured and sent them to Bhanga Upazila Health Complex.

Netanyahu to meet Trump in US Monday: Israeli officialIsraeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Photo: CollectedJERUSALEM, Dec 27, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahuwill depart for the United States on Sunday and meet with President DonaldTrump in Florida a day later, an Israeli official told AFP. His trip comes as the Trump administration and regional mediators push toproceed to the second stage of the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in theGaza Strip. Trump told reporters in mid-December that Netanyahu would probably visit himin Florida during the Christmas holidays. It reported that senior Trump officials have grown "increasingly frustratedas Netanyahu has taken steps to undermine the fragile ceasefire and stall thepeace process".

Chief Justice Dr Syed Refaat Ahmed. File photoDHAKA, Dec 27, 2025 (BSS) - The country's 25th Chief Justice Dr Syed Refaat Ahmed will retire today upon attaining the age of 67, as mandated by the Constitution. Dr Syed Refaat Ahmed took oath as the Chief Justice on August 11, 2024, following the July Mass Uprising. Syed Refaat became a lawyer in the Dhaka District Court in 1984 and in the High Court Division in 1986. Soon after assuming office as Chief Justice, Dr Ahmed announced a roadmap for the country's judiciary.

DHAKA, Dec 27, 2025 (BSS) - Holders Mohammedan Sporting Club shared point with old Dhaka outfit Rahmatganj Muslim and Friends Society when their match ended in a 1-1 goal draw in the Bangladesh Football League held at Shaheed Dhirendranath Datta Stadium in Cumilla today (Saturday). In the proceeding, Nepalese defender Abhishek Limbu opened an account scoring the first goal for Rahmatganj in the 23rd minute while after the resumption Ghanaian forward Samuel Boateng neutralized the margin for Mohammedan in the 62nd minute of the match. Despite the draw, the old Dhaka outfit Rahmatganj moved up in third position in the league table with 14 points from eight matches while the black and white Motijheel outfit Mohammedan also improved their position to sixth with nine points playing the same number of matches. Mohammedan will play their last match of the first round league against Brothers Union Club on January 2 while Rahmatganj will play against Bangladesh Police Football Club on the following day (January 3).

DHAKA, Dec 27, 2025 (BSS)- Bangladesh Railway (BR) has fined a total of 6,080 passengers traveling without tickets on Friday. The passengers travelling on 154 trains were fined over Taka 13.75 lakh, a Facebook post of BR said. The guilty persons were penalized Taka 1.72 lakh in addition to Taka 3.64 lakh ticket fares. In the western zone, 90 TTs conducted inspection in 83 trains and identified 3,800 passengers traveling without tickets. Inspectors realized Taka 6.15 lakh ticket fares and fined them Taka 2.22 lakh.

HONG KONG, Dec 27, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - Scores of residents flocked to a cramped shop in Hong Kong's old district to bid farewell to the city's "king of umbrellas", who is retiring after spending decades repairing umbrellas at his family business. Established in 1842 during the Qing Dynasty, the Sun Rise Company was founded by the Yau family in the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou. After enduring wartime turmoil, the shop relocated to Hong Kong, eventually finding its place amid the bustling meat and vegetable vendors in Sham Shui Po district. Those who brought umbrellas for repair included couples hoping to mend their relationships and married couples who had used umbrellas as tokens of affection. Yau said fewer than five repairmen like him remain in Hong Kong practising this "barely profitable" umbrella trade.

DHAKA, Dec 27, 2025 (BSS)—Title aspirants Rangpur Riders have arrived in Sylhet today to kick off their journey in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) T20 tournament. The other five teams had already played their matches with some teams even playing two matches in the first two days of the tournament. Rangpur will begin their journey on Monday by taking on Chattogram Royals at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium. However, they will go through a hectic schedule in Sylhet after their opening match as they have matches in all remaining three days later. Despite forming strong squads over the years, Rangpur couldn’t lift the BPL title since 2017.

Photo: CollectedRIYADH, Saudi Arabia, Dec 27, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - Saudi Arabia warned Saturday it would back Yemen's government in any military confrontation with separatist forces and urged them to withdraw "peacefully" from recently-seized provinces. Experts say their successes have embarrassed regional heavyweight Saudi Arabia, the main backer of the internationally-recognised Yemeni government. "It is one bad thing to humiliate Saudi Arabia. And it is another much worse thing to humiliate Saudi Arabia publicly. Separatist advances have added pressure on ties between Saudi Arabia and the UAE, which support rival groups within Yemen's government.

ATHENS, Dec 27, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - The Greek coast guard Saturday rescued 131would be migrants off Crete, bringing the number of people brought out of thesea in the area over the past five days to 840, a police spokesperson said. The migrants rescued Saturday morning were aboard a fishing boat some 14nautical miles south of Gavdos, a small island south of Crete. Many people attempting to reach Crete from Libya drown during the riskycrossing. In early December, 17 people -- mostly Sudanese or Egyptian -- were founddead after their boat sank off the coast of Crete, and 15 others werereported missing. According to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, more than 16,770 peopletrying to get to Europe have arrived in Crete since the beginning of theyear, more than on any other Greek island.

DHAKA, Dec 27, 2025 (BSS)—Sylhet captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz sent Noakhali to bat first after winning the toss in their second game of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) T20 tournament today at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium. Both teams are looking for their first victory in the tournament after losing the opening match. Sylhet tasted an eight-wicket victory thrashing Rajshahi Warriors while Noakhali conceded a 65-run defeat to Chattogram Royals. Line Ups:Noakhali Express: Maaz Sadaqat, Habibur Rahman Sohan, Shykat Ali (captain), Haidar Ali, Mahidul Islam Ankon, Jaker Ali Anik, Sabbir Hossain, Zahir Khan, Rejaur Rahman Raja, Hasan Mahmud, Mehedi Hasan RanaSylhet Titans: Mehidy Hasan Miraz (captain), Afif Hossain, Saim Ayub, Ehtan Brooks, Parvez Hossain Emon, Nasum Ahmed, Mohammad Amir, Rony Talukdar, Syed Khaled Ahmed, Zakir Hasan, Salman Irshad

He was employed at Joynal’s grocery shop, where the fire is believed to have originated. According to the Fire Service, the blaze broke out around 10:00 am, reportedly due to an electrical short circuit at Joynal’s grocery shop. The shops damaged in the incident include Imam Hossain’s Pharmacy, Nazrul’s Fish Food Shop, Zahir’s Workshop, Rubel’s Bicycle Garage, and Shah Alam’s Hardware Shop. Sabbir Hossain’s body was recovered from the site and handed over to police for necessary legal proceedings. An investigation is underway to assess the extent of the damage and confirm the cause of the fire.