Tarique Rahman, acting chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), has returned to Bangladesh after 17 years, landing at Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on Thursday at 11:40am. Earlier, the plane carrying Tarique Rahman landed at Sylhet Osmani International Airport at 9:56am. At the airport, Tarique Rahman was welcomed by BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, and Standing Committee members Salauddin Ahmed, Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, Mirza Abbas, among others. The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner BG-202 departed London’s Heathrow Airport at 6:15pm local time on Wednesday. He is accompanied by his wife, Dr Zobaida Rahman, and daughter, Barrister Zaima Rahman.

Mir Arshadul Haque, joint member secretary of the National Citizens Party (NCP) Central Committee, has left the party, stating that he won't be able to achieve the promises of the July mass uprising. At the same time, he has expressed his support for BNP's Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman, stating that Tareque "at least has a vision for Bangladesh, sector by sector". During his student days, Mir Arshadul Haque was involved in campus journalism as well as various movements and protests. On Thursday morning, the day Tarique Rahman returned from London after 17 years, Mir Arshadul announced his resignation from the NCP in a Facebook post. I am making this announcement today on a special day—the day when Bangladesh Nationalist Party-BNP's Acting Chairman Mr Tarique Rahman returns home after a long 17-year exile.

A case has been filed in connection with the death of a man in a crude bomb explosion in the Moghbazar area of the capital. Ali Akbar Majumdar, father of the victim, filed the case with Hatirjheel Police Station against some unidentified people early Thursday, said Golam Mortuza, officer-in-charge of the police station. Siam Majumdar, 30, a construction worker, was killed when a crude bomb thrown by miscreants from the Moghbazar–Mouchak flyover exploded near the Moghbazar Muktijoddha Sangsad gate in the capital on Wednesday evening. Md Mohiuddin, inspector (operations) of Hatirjheel Police Station, said the crude bomb was hurled from the flyover on the road and hit Siam on his head, killing him on the spot.

BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman left the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport and headed directly to 300 Feet to address a rally. After completing airport formalities, he departed by a special bus on the road at 12:35pm on Thursday. Also on the same bus were BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and other Standing Committee members. Tarique Rahman, as returned to Bangladesh after 17 years, landing at Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on Thursday at 11:40am. The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner BG-202 departed London’s Heathrow Airport at 6:15pm local time on Wednesday.

A Jubo League leader, wanted under the Anti-Terrorism Act, was arrested by Immigration Police at the Benapole Land Port in Sharsha Upazila, Jessore, while attempting to flee to India. The arrestee, Russell Pathan, is the son of Abdur Razzak Pathan from Sankipara village in Mymensingh Sadar Upazila. According to Immigration Police sources, Russell Pathan submitted his passport at the Benapole Land Port immigration desk around 10am on Thursday to cross into India. During interrogation, it was revealed that he is the joint-convener of the Mymensingh City Jubo League. Following his detention, he was handed over to the Benapole Port Police Station.

Photo : BNPDHAKA, Dec 25, 2025 (BSS) - Thousands of leaders and activists of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) lined both sides of the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport Road from early morning today to welcome the party's Acting Chairman, Tarique Rahman. Leaders and activists from different districts and thanas gathered with party flags, banners, placards and flowers to greet Tarique Rahman upon his arrival. Supporters chanted slogans like "Welcome to Tarique Rahman's return" and "Tarique Rahman is the soul of Bangladesh," expressing enthusiasm and solidarity with the BNP leader. Extensive security measures have been put in place along the Airport Road and surrounding areas to maintain law and order. A large number of party leaders, activists and supporters have already gathered at the designated venue, where a festive atmosphere is prevailing ahead of the reception.

The EC has already begun dispatching postal ballots to expatriate voters worldwide. Among expatriate voters, Saudi Arabia tops the list with 154,692 registered voters. Within the country, 186,305 voters have registered under the ‘In Country Postal Vote’ category. District-wise registration figures show Cumilla leading with 66,592 registered voters, followed by Dhaka (58,585), Chittagong (57,458), Noakhali (38,118), Sylhet (28,067) and Chandpur (26,356). Other notable constituencies include Chittagong-15 with 9,410 voters, Cumilla-10 with 8,935 and Noakhali-1 with over 8,800 registered postal voters.

Kamal Hossain, the driver of the battery-powered rickshaw on which Sharif Osman bin Hadi was shot, has given a statement in court as a witness. On Thursday, the investigation officer DB Police Inspector Faisal Ahmed produced Kamal in court and applied for recording his statement as a witness. According to the application, “At the time of the incident, Hadi was travelling in an auto-rickshaw driven by witness Kamal Hossain from Khalil Hotel in Motijheel towards Suhrawardy Udyan, when he was shot. Gravely wounded, Hadi was rushed to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, where he underwent surgery, and was later admitted to Evercare Hospital. After Hadi was shot, Inqilab Moncho Member Secretary Abdullah Al Jaber filed a case of attempted murder on Dec 14.

What To Know George Strait was honored at the 2025 Kennedy Center Honors, with tributes from Vince Gill, Brooks & Dunn, and Miranda Lambert celebrating his influential career. Singer-songwriter Vince Gill spoke on behalf of Strait, returning the favor after Strait spoke for him at the CMA Awards on November 19. Following Gill, country music duo Brooks & Dunn performed “Amarillo By Morning,” the song popularized by Strait in 1982. Fans took to social media to share their reactions to the tribute with one X user writing, “Watching Miranda Lambert, Brooks and Dunn, Vince Gill sing George Strait songs is so cool! “Miranda Lambert/ Vince Gill were touching,” wrote another.

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) will provide an online income tax return service on Friday and Saturday to assist candidates contesting the upcoming 13th general election. In a statement issued on Thursday, the revenue authority said it had set up a special helpdesk to facilitate online return filing by election candidates. It will remain open from 9:00am to 5:00pm on Saturday at the same venue. Separately, Bangladesh Bank said it would keep scheduled banks across the country open on Saturday, following a request from the Election Commission. In a statement, the central bank said bank branches would remain open on 27 December to allow candidates to deposit funds through bank drafts, pay orders or treasury forms.

Earlier, there was no open discussion about reproductive health, now people from the younger generation to housewives are attaching importance on these issues. Reproductive health expert Dr Nazneen Ahmed said, currently, women in different regions of Bangladesh are becoming aware of their rights. Bangladesh is benefiting from the decline in the birth rate, which has led to a decline in reproductive health. Dr. Nazneen Akhter, who works on maternal and child health said, “Health, population and nutrition programmes have also been given a lot of emphasis. Women's health expert Prof. Rowshan Ara Begum told this reporter that Bangladesh’s declining total fertility rate (TFR) is emerging as a quiet catalyst for women’s empowerment, opening new doors to education, employment and improved health outcomes.

Photo : BSSRAJSHAHI, Dec 25, 2025 (BSS) - Christmas Day, the largest religious festival of the Christian community, was celebrated here with much enthusiasm and festive mood today. Churches hold midnight mass and special morning prayers for Jesus Christ, seeking global peace and prosperity, with large attendance from the Christian community. City churches are decorated with lights and Christmas trees, creating a festive atmosphere enjoyed by residents of all faiths. Marking the day, a special prayer was organised in the city church at 7.30am. Commissioner of Rajshahi Metropolitan Police Dr Zillur Rahman accompanied by some of his subordinate colleagues visited Cathedral Church, City Church and Bishop House Church and exchanged pleasantries with the priests.

Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi were convicted of graft in January, and theywere sentenced to 14 years and seven years in prison, respectively. "The state has an obligation to protect Mrs. Khan's health and ensureconditions of detention compatible with human dignity," Edwards said in astatement. "The authorities must ensure Mrs. Khan has the possibility to communicatewith her lawyers and receive visits from family members, and have meaningfulhuman contact throughout her detention," Edwards said. Earlier this month, Edwards said Khan was being held in conditions that couldamount to torture and other inhuman or degrading treatment. She urged the Pakistani authorities to ensure that the 73-year-old'sconditions of detention fully complied with international norms.

File PhotoDHAKA, Dec 25, 2025 (BSS) - Election Commission (EC) has issued guidelines for voters in prisons or legal custody in Bangladesh to vote in the upcoming 13th national elections and referendum. The EC guidelines state that the enrollment of voters detained in prisons or legal custody will be approved by the authorities concerned, a handout said today. After registering the interested voters, the prison or legal custody authorities will send the printed list with seal and signature to the Election Commission. Registered voters in prison or legal custody will receive a postal ballot envelope through the concerned authority. The guidelines further state that the prison or legal custody authorities will ensure a suitable environment for voting of the detainees.

The flight carrying BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman has landed at Sylhet Osmani Airport. The flight touched down at 9:59am on Thursday. Hafiz Ahmed, director of Sylhet Osmani Airport, confirmed the information to Dhaka Tribune. After landing, Tarique Rahman, on his official Facebook account, posted a photo of himself with a caption: “Back in Bangladesh skies after 6,314 days!”