Patients with prediabetes reduced their heart risk by up to 58% when they successfully lowered their blood sugar, researchers reported in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology. Essentially, reversing prediabetes by lowering blood sugar matters more to your heart than any healthy habits you adopt, researchers said. In the U.S., more than 1 in 3 adults has prediabetes, researchers said in background notes. Likewise, the risk of heart attack, stroke and other heart-related emergencies fell by 42% in people who reversed their prediabetes. SOURCES: King’s College London, news release, Dec. 12, 2025; The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology, Dec. 12, 2025What This Means For YouReversing prediabetes appears to be key in protecting future heart health.

KHULNA, Dec 22, 2025 (BSS) - Khulna Returning Officer (RO) ASMJamshed Khondker issued a public notice today marking the upcoming 13thNational Parliament elections. The last date for submission of nomination papers by candidates intending tocontest the parliamentary elections from respective constituencies isDecember 29, 2025 to the Returning Officer (RO) or Assistant ReturningOfficer (ARO). Scrutiny of nomination papers by the Returning Officer will be held fromDecember 30, 2025 to January 4, 2026. Dates for filing appeals against the decisions of the RO regarding scrutinyof nomination papers are from January 5 to January 9. The information was disclosed in a public notice signed by ASM JamshedKhondker, deputy commissioner (DC) and also the RO for the constituency no-99(Khulna-1), constituency no-100 (Khulna-2), constituency no-102 (Khulna-4),constituency no-103 (Khulna-5) and constituency no-104 (Khulna-6).

Professor Dr Kamrul Mazumder and Engineer Saif Siddiqui (Ananta). Photo collage : BSSMYMENSINGH, Dec 22, 2025 (BSS) – The Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) Alumni Association, Michigan, USA, has formally begun its journey with the formation of a new committee by alumni residing in the US state of Michigan. The committee was unanimously announced at an alumni reunion held at a restaurant in Michigan on Saturday. Professor Dr Kamrul Mazumder of the University of Michigan was nominated as president, while Engineer Saif Siddiqui (Ananta), manager at Stellantis, was nominated as general secretary.

A Cargill worker demonstrates to tour visitors how a terminal monitors work efficiency on a beef processing line, Tuesday, December 2, 2025, in Fort Morgan Colorado. It’s operating on limited lines in two of Cargill’s eight beef processing plants in the United States and Canada. Turning a cow into beefThe cows arriving at a Cargill meat processing plant in Fort Morgan take a small army to process. Cargill workers process beef cuts on a beef processing line, Tuesday, December 2, 2025, in Fort Morgan Colorado. A Cargill worker stands among beef carcasses in a Cargill storage room Tuesday, December 2, 2025, in Fort Morgan Colorado.

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus today chaired a high-level meeting on the country’s overall economic progress and budget expenditure, held at the State Guest House Jamuna in the city. Photo: CA's Press WingDHAKA, Dec 22, 2025 (BSS) – A high-level meeting on the country’s overall economic progress and budget expenditure was held at the State Guest House Jamuna in the city today. However, in recent months of the current fiscal year, this gap has narrowed significantly. Consequently, it is anticipated that the government’s food grain procurement target will be achieved in the current fiscal year. During July–October of the current fiscal year, the deficit stood at US$ (-) 749 million.

Photo: BSSDHAKA, Dec 22, 2025 (BSS) – Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) Chairman Jalal Ahmed today expressed optimism that expanded exploration efforts would yield positive results in discovering gas in the country. “We need more exploration work to discover natural gas. I hope these efforts will bring positive yield,” he said while inaugurating a workshop titled ‘Gas Well Exploration and Drill Stem Test’ at the BERC conference room here. The chairman said investment in gas exploration over the last 30 to 40 years had not been satisfactory, adding that more extensive exploration was needed, including well drilling and seismic surveys, to locate gas reserves. BERC Member Mizanur Rahman presented the keynote paper at the workshop, highlighting seismic survey dimensions and technical aspects of gas well exploration.

Photo : BSSRAJSHAHI, Dec 22, 2025 (BSS)- Final match of the five-day inter-collegefootball tournament was held amid high tension at Liberation War MemorialStadium here this afternoon. Top-ranking college teams from all eight districts of the divisionparticipated in the tournament, which was held on a knockout basis at twovenues-- Rajshahi Freedom Fighters Memorial Stadium and the GovernmentPhysical Education College playground. In the tournament, organised by the Ministry of Youth and Sports, BeelchalanShaheed Shamsuzzoha Government College in Natore clinched the championshipdefeating Singra Damdama Pilot High School and College in the final match 2-0goals. Additional Commissioner of Rajshahi Division Habibur Rahman accompanied byAdditional Deputy Commissioner Sabur Ali, District Sports Officer JahangirHossain handed over trophies among the champion and runner-up teamsrespectively before a large number of football fans.

Photo: CA's Press WingDHAKA, Dec 22, 2025 (BSS) – Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus today urged the voters to cast their ballots for candidates of their choice to elect honest and capable candidates in the upcoming parliamentary elections slated for February 12, 2026. Addressing the nation Prof Yunus said, “Voting rights are not anyone’s kindness- it is our constitutional rights. The Chief Adviser made a special appeal to the youth, women voters, and first-time voters, urging them to come forward, ask questions, learn, understand, and cast their votes. Prof Yunus also noted that voters will cast another vote in this election—on the July Charter. If you support this charter, you must cast ‘Yes’ vote in the referendum,” he said.

Afzal Hossain said the cultivation target covers all 13 upazilas of the district, with a production goal of 3.75 metric tons per hectare. If the target is achieved, total wheat production in the district is expected to reach around 25,650 metric tons. Afzal Hossain said that the weather conditions this season are favorable for wheat cultivation. Farmers began cultivating early wheat varieties such as BARI-25, BARI-26 and BARI-27 from November 15, and the crops have already sprouted. In recent years, wheat cultivation has expanded beyond highlands to include medium lands and river-side char areas.

Syed Ehsanul Huda today joined the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) along with his leaders and activists. Photo : BSSDHAKA, Dec 22, 2025 (BSS) – Chairman of Bangladesh Jatiyo Dal Syed Ehsanul Huda today joined the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) along with his leaders and activists after dissolving his party. Huda formally joined the party by presenting a bouquet to BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir. Syed Ehsanul Huda will contest the upcoming 13th parliamentary election from the Kishoreganj-5 constituency under the BNP’s electoral symbol, Dhaner Shis (Sheaf of Paddy). Upon joining, Syed Ehsanul Huda said, “BNP is a party that believes in nationalist ideology.

DHAKA, Dec 22, 2025 (BSS) – President of the Japanese Commerce and Industry Association In Dhaka(JCIAD) Manabu Sugawara today welcomed the finalization of draft of the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between Bangladesh and Japan. “I welcome the broad agreement reached between the Government of Japan and the Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh on an EPA during today's telephone consultation,” he said through a press release. “I am delighted that, following a total of seven round negotiations, the two governments have now reached this broad agreement,” he added. JCIAD established in 1972 has walked alongside Bangladesh since its independence, contributing to the strengthening of economic ties and friendly relations between the two countries. JCIAD intends to promote the utilization of the EPA through information dissemination and other means as soon as its details are clarified, and to continue playing a part in strengthening economic relations between the two countries.

Photo : BSSGAIBANDHA, DEC 22, 2025 (BSS)- SKS Foundation has intensified warm cloth distribution activities as the cold wave has been sweeping over the district for last two days, creating untold sufferings and sorrows of the poor and distressed people here. The poor people who are living on the Brahmaputra river basins are the worst sufferers. Realizing the sufferings and sorrows of the cold-affected poor, SKS Foundation, a Gaibandha-based non-government development organisation working across the country, stood beside them with packages of warm clothes to mitigate their sufferings caused by the ongoing cold wave. Jalal Uddin formally inaugurated the package distribution activities in the morning on behalf of the organisation as the chief guest. Zihadur Rahaman, Prosenjit Roy, Project Coordinator of the Muslim Aid-UK Bangladesh Field Office Rezaul Karim and other officials of the SKS Foundation were present on the occasion.

Shaheed Sharif Osman Hadi. Photo : CollectedDHAKA, Dec 22, 2025 (BSS)- A court here today ordered the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of police to preserve the DNA sample profiling of Sharif Osman Hadi, an independent candidate in the upcoming national election and convener of the Inqilab Manch. IO Faisal Ahmed told the court for the sake of proper investigation of the case and ensuring justice in future it is necessary to preserve DNA profile of the collected samples from Hadi and preserve it at the CID DNA Profiling Laboratory. Sharif Osman Hadi, 33, was shot by miscreants on December 12 last in the city. Assistant Professor Dr. Nashat Jabin of the Department of Forensic Medicine at Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College and Hospital conducted the autopsy and collected DNA samples of Hadi.

DHAKA, Dec 22, 2025 (BSS) - A total of 17 people have been arrested so far out of 31 individuals initially identified as responsible for the attacks on the offices of Prothom Alo, The Daily Star, and two cultural organizations. The attacks on the offices of Prothom Alo and The Daily Star took place on the night of December 18. Rakib Hossain, a resident of Sherpur district, was identified in video footage as an active participant in vandalism and arson at the offices of Prothom Alo and The Daily Star. Md Sohel Rana, arrested from the Karwan Bazar railway line area, has 13 previous cases filed against him in different Dhaka police stations, including narcotics-related charges. Md Shafiqul Islam, also arrested from the same area, has two prior cases related to arson and cocktail explosions.

Russian Ambassador to Bangladesh Alexander Khozin spoke at a press conference titled "Political outcomes of 2025" held at the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Dhaka. The envoy said the revised repayment schedule was agreed upon in July thisyear following amendments to the Intergovernmental Credit Agreement (IGCA). Briefing on the progress of the Rooppur NPP, Ambassador Khozin said work iscurrently focused on commissioning Unit-1 of the plant, which is at the finalstage of readiness. Regarding allegations of mismanagement of Rooppur project funds during theprevious government, the Ambassador said Russia does not comment onBangladesh's domestic political processes. On broader bilateral relations, Ambassador Khozin said Bangladesh remainsRussia's second-largest trade partner in South Asia.