File PhotoRANGPUR, Dec 26, 2025 (BSS) - Christmas, the biggest religious festival of the Christian community, was celebrated with due religious somberness peacefully marking the birthday of Jesus Christ in all 46 churches of Rangpur division on Thursday. The authorities of Rangpur Regional Baptists Church Sangha chalked out various daylong colourful programmes to celebrate the festivity on its premises in the city. They visited the Church and greeted the Christian community people on the occasion of Christmas. Pastoral Super of Rangpur Regional Baptists Church Reverend Shokhoriyo Boiragai delivered a welcome speech greeting the Christian religious leaders and community people. “The Chrisman community celebrated Christmas with huge enthusiasm and festivities in all 46 churches of eight districts in Rangpur division,” he said.

Blankets distributed among the poor in NarailPhoto: BSSNarail, Dec 26, 2025 (BSS) - Blankets were distributed among poor and helpless families here today. The voluntary organization Anjuman Mofidul Islam organized the blanket distribution programme for 100 distressed individuals. Abdur Rashid Munnu, President of Anjuman Mofidul Islam Narail, attended the programme as the chief guest and handed over blankets to the needy men and women. Prominent social worker Golam Qyum Miah presided over the function. Also present were Anjuman Mofidul Islam Narail Secretary M. Moslem Uddin Nannu, Treasurer Md Anwar Hossain, Md Ahsan Habib, KM Akhtaruzzaman Dablu, Narail Press Club Vice-President Sultan Mahmood, Md Amzad Hossain, Md Alauddin, and others.

File PhotoDHAKA, Dec 26, 2025 (BSS) – A mild cold wave is sweeping across the northern region of the country, disrupting normal life as temperatures continue to drop nationwide. The poor and vulnerable communities in the northern districts have been hardest hit by the cold wave, which has been accompanied by dense fog over the past few days. According to a bulletin from the Bangladesh Meteorological Department, a mild cold wave is affecting the districts of Jashore, Chuadanga, Gopalganj, Rajshahi, Pabna, Sirajganj, and Nilphamari, and it may persist in some areas. Officer-in-Charge of the Chuadanga Meteorological Office, Jaminur Rahman, said the lowest temperature in Chuadanga today was 9.6°C, compared to 9°C yesterday. He added that residents in the char areas are struggling amid the severe cold, as sufficient winter clothing has yet to reach them despite government and private assistance.

Photo: BSSKHULNA, Dec 26, 2025 (BSS) - Farmers across the Khulna agricultural region are nearing completion of Boro seedbeds, while planting of Boro saplings has begun with great enthusiasm as the season reaches its peak. Md Rafiqul Islam, Additional Director of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) for the Khulna region, said that as of December 21, 89 percent of the Boro seedbed preparation had been completed. The DAE has set a record target of producing 1,81,54,217 tonnes of paddy from 2,64,719 hectares of land in the Khulna agricultural region this season. Farmers Moinul Islam, Abdus Salam, and Sabbir Hossain of Paikgachha upazila said they expect to complete Boro cultivation by January. Agriculturist Foyez Mina of Khulna DAE said, “Boro paddy production may exceed projections if favourable weather prevails in the coming months.”

Now the two brothers play games in it all the day long. So she has to be busy playing games on her mobile phone even in the presence of her parents. Since she is a working woman, her children have chosen to play games on their mobile phones for entertainment. In this way, almost everyone is busy playing digital games with smartphones, iPhones, and tabs. He said that digital games have a mental, physical and social impact on children.

Thalassemia major is a condition in which the body cannot produce enough haemoglobin to meet its needs, making patients dependent on regular blood transfusions from donors. “The patient has to depend on blood transfusions every three to four weeks throughout life. Experts said thalassemia is a blood disorder caused by the weakening and destruction of red blood cells. “Such a child is diagnosed with thalassemia major,” they explained, adding that these children require blood transfusions at regular intervals throughout their lives. Organisations such as the Bangladesh Thalassemia Foundation (BTF) and the newly launched Bangladesh Thalassemia Patients and Parents’ Welfare Association (BTPWA) are actively working to improve patients’ quality of life and raise awareness to prevent new cases.

Nov 20, 1965 – Born in Bogra to Ziaur Rahman and Begum Khaleda Zia. 1991 – Campaigns nationwide with Khaleda Zia; BNP wins election, Khaleda becomes PM. Feb 8, 2018 – Convicted in Zia Orphanage Trust case; Khaleda Zia jailed. Jan 15, 2025 – Supreme Court acquits Tarique and Khaleda in Orphanage Trust case. Dec 25, 2025 – Returns to Bangladesh after 17 years in exile.

Photo: BSSCHANDPUR, Dec 26, 2025 (BSS) – At least four people were killed in a collision between two passenger launches—Zakir Samrat-3 and Adventure-9—amid dense fog on the Meghna River in the Harina area of Chandpur Sadar. The identities of the deceased could not be confirmed immediately, as both launches left for their respective destinations shortly after the incident. Chandpur BIWTA Deputy Director Babu Lal Vaidya said the two launches collided due to poor visibility caused by dense fog in the Meghna River. In a separate incident, passenger launch Imam Hasan-5 met with an accident due to dense fog while returning to Chandpur. On Thursday night, the launch collided head-on with a sand-carrying bulkhead anchored in the Mohanpur area of the Meghna River in Matlab Uttar upazila.

DHAKA, Dec 26, 2025 (BSS) - Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) has predicted that weather would remain dry with partly cloudy sky over the country in next 24 hours commencing 9 am today. Moderate to thick fog may occur at places over the country during mid night to morning and it may continue till noon at places. Air navigation, inland river transport and road communication may disrupt temporarily due to thick fog, a Met office bulletin said. Due to foggy condition, cold feelings may continue at many places over the country, the bulletin said. The highest temperature on Thursday was recorded 29 degree Celsius at Teknaf in Cox’s Bazar and today’s minimum temperature is 9 degree Celsius in Jashore.

Two passenger launches collided on the Meghna River in the Harina area of Chandpur, leaving at least four people dead and several others injured. The collision involved the Dhaka-bound Zakir Samrat-3 and Adventure-9 launches. The matter was confirmed by Chandpur unit River Police SP Mushfiqur Rahman on Friday. The accident occurred between 1am and 2am on Friday, said Babulaal Baidya, deputy director (marine safety) of the Chandpur unit of the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA). Chandpur River Port Traffic Inspector Abdul Mannan said the collision took place late at night due to dense fog on the Meghna River.

GAIBANDHA, Dec 26, 2025 (BSS) - Vast tracts of mustard fields across Gaibandha district have turned bright yellow as the crop has reached full bloom, raising hopes among farmers for a bumper production this season. Sources said mustard cultivation has gained growing popularity among local farmers in recent years due to satisfactory yields and fair market prices of the Rabi crop. Farmers are now busy taking care of the mustard fields following the guidance of field-level sub-assistant agriculture officers to ensure optimal production. Field-level agriculture officials said farmers have shown increasing interest in mustard cultivation in recent years after experiencing repeated bumper harvests and better prices. He added that anyone visiting the mustard fields at this time would be delighted by the eye-catching yellow scenery, which has also enhanced the natural beauty of the area.

JAHANGIRNAGAR UNIVERSITY, Dec 26, 2025 (BSS) - Jahangirnagar University (JU) has published the admission test results of the 'D' Unit under the Faculty of Biological Sciences for the first-year undergraduate (honours) programme of the 2025-26 academic session, recording an overall pass rate of 39.10 percent. According to the Dean's Office of the Faculty of Biological Sciences, a total of 22,671 candidates passed the 'D' Unit admission test, including 8,237 male and 14,434 female students. "A total of 33,491 female candidates appeared in the test and 14,434 of them passed, registering a pass rate of 43.10 percent," he said. The university's admission office said the 'D' Unit has a total of 310 seats, equally allocated between male and female candidates, with 155 seats each. A total of 70,221 students appeared in the 'D' Unit admission test.

The crisis of safe water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) is not merely an engineering challenge but a profound humanitarian and political crisis. We often view safe water or sanitation as a “social service” or “aid.” However, global research suggests otherwise. When a family gains access to safe water, they save a significant portion of their monthly income previously spent on treating waterborne diseases. If a bank or insurance company transforms a specific union into a ‘100% safe water village,’ it reduces the government’s burden by billions. Safe water and hygiene must be a citizen’s primary right, not a colonial-style favour.

Given the shared history and heritage between Bangladesh and India, neither country should allow tensions to escalate further. India is Bangladesh’s largest trade partner in South Asia and the second-largest in Asia, while Bangladesh is India’s biggest trade partner in South Asia and a significant export destination. Geographically, Bangladesh and India share one of the longest land borders between any two countries in the world. Major powers outside South Asia are already showing interest in the escalating tensions. Leaders who matter most must remain calm and engaged, regardless of the disruptions caused by fringe protest groups near diplomatic missions in Dhaka or Delhi.

Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, recorded the season’s lowest temperature on Friday, according to the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD). The Dhaka Meteorological Office reported a temperature of 13.5°C on Friday morning — the lowest recorded so far this season, said Shahnaj Sultana, a meteorologist. Earlier, the temperature was 14°C on Thursday. Meanwhile, the lowest temperature in the country was recorded at 10.2°C in Rajshahi over the 24 hours until 6 pm on Thursday, while the highest temperature was 29°C in Teknaf.