4 cops injured in attack during anti-narcotics drive in Gazipur
Four policemen were injured in an attack by a group of drug peddlers during an anti-narcotics drive in Sreepur upazila of Gazipur district on Thursday. Two of the injured were identified as sub-inspectors- Arup Kumar Biswas and Mohammad Masud Rana. After news of the arrests spread, local drug peddlers and their associates equipped with locally-made weapons attacked the police team and hurled brick chips and stones, leaving four policemen injured. The injured were taken to a local hospital. SI Arup Kumar also filed a case with Sreepur Police Station against 24 identified people and 80-90 unidentified people.
Source:Dhaka Tribune
January 01, 2026 16:49 UTC
Nation’s farewell continues as Khaleda Zia’s grave opens to public
Begum Khaleda Zia was laid to rest with full state honours on Tuesday afternoon beside the grave of her husband, president Ziaur Rahman. Sultan Mahmud, a Jubo Dal activist from Kurigram, said: “As long as Bangladesh exists, Begum Khaleda Zia will never be forgotten. I thank Allah for that.”Saiful Alam, a BNP activist from Badda, recalled how often Khaleda Zia herself visited the grave of BNP founder Ziaur Rahman. I came to visit our leader’s grave. Begum Khaleda Zia passed away early Tuesday while undergoing treatment at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka.
Source:Dhaka Tribune
January 01, 2026 16:49 UTC
Jamaat Ameer meets Tarique Rahman
Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman met BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman on Thursday evening and expressed condolences over the death of his mother and former prime minister Khaleda Zia. The Jamaat chief came to the BNP Chairperson’s Gulshan office around 7pm, a day after Khaleda Zia’s burial. Later, he met Tarique Rahman at his chamber in the presence of BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and Standing Committee members Nazrul Islam Khan, Salahuddin Ahmed and AZM Zahid Hossain. During the meeting, the Jamaat chief held a brief discussion with Tarique Rahman and conveyed his sympathy to the bereaved family. On Wednesday, Jamaat Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman, along with other senior party leaders, also attended the namaz-e-janaza of the late BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia.
Source:Dhaka Tribune
January 01, 2026 16:49 UTC
ATM Azhar: There’s still an opportunity to discuss seat-sharing within our alliance
Jamaat’s Nayeb-e-Amir and Rangpur-2 candidate ATM Azharul Islam said Thursday that there is still an opportunity to discuss seat-sharing among the 10-party alliance participating in the upcoming election. “Among the 10 parties, we can still discuss all matters, including seat-sharing. Hopefully, everything will be settled before the nomination papers are withdrawn,” he told reporters while taking part in the nomination paper verification process at the Rangpur deputy commissioner’s office. He added that nomination papers have been submitted according to decisions made up to Monday, and discussions will continue until the withdrawal deadline. Addressing the government and the Election Commission, Azhar said: “The law-and-order situation has still not been brought under control.
Source:Dhaka Tribune
January 01, 2026 16:49 UTC
Siam’s warning: ‘Hold your seat tight’
On the very first morning of the new year, Siam Ahmed didn’t offer wishes, he issued a warning. “Hold your seat tight in the cinema hall,” the star told fans, viewers and critics alike, hinting that 2026 will be anything but calm. What greater achievement can there be for an actor?”Last year, Siam’s characters did not just appear — they stayed. Posters were made, memes flooded timelines, video mashups and background scores emerged around characters that had barely lived on screen. He believes an actor’s duty is to constantly challenge himself, to arrive on screen with unfamiliar shades and unfamiliar stories.
Source:Dhaka Tribune
January 01, 2026 16:49 UTC
Press secretary: Record voter turnout expected in upcoming election
Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam on Thursday said the interim government expects a record voter turnout in the upcoming election, with full security and a free, fair, and inclusive process. “There has been no clash, no violence, and the number of candidates is also sufficient. On average, more than eight candidates are participating per constituency, and over 50 political parties have nominated candidates for the election,” he said. He said a strong turnout is anticipated, noting that about 700,000 overseas Bangladeshis will vote by postal ballot for the first time. “When the foreign minister of Nepal spoke with the principal adviser yesterday, he inquired about how we are implementing it.
Source:Dhaka Tribune
January 01, 2026 16:49 UTC
Bone-chilling cold wave grips Moulvibazar, tea workers suffer most
Moulvibazar district, surrounded by haors, hills and tea gardens, is currently experiencing a severe cold wave, with tea workers and low-income labourers bearing the brunt of the harsh winter. Earlier, temperatures stood at 12.5 degrees Celsius on Wednesday (December 31) and 14.6 degrees Celsius on both Tuesday and Monday. Despite the biting cold, tea workers and daily wage labourers are forced to leave for work early in the morning, often without adequate warm clothing. Rural residents are also enduring extreme hardship as the cold wave continues. Anisur Rahman, officer-in-charge of the Srimangal Meteorological Observatory, said a mild cold wave is currently sweeping the region.
Source:Dhaka Tribune
January 01, 2026 16:49 UTC
Lawyer beaten to death for hitting motorcycle in Bashundhara Residential Area
A lawyer was beaten to death after his private car hit a motorcycle in the Bashundhara Residential Area of the capital on Wednesday night. The victim, Naeem Kibria 35, was a lawyer at the Pabna District Judge’s Court. According to Vatara Police Station Sub-Inspector Ariful Islam, the incident occurred around 10:00 p.m. when Naeem, who was driving a private car, collided with a motorcycle. Naeem was rescued by his cousin, Rafiqul Islam, and taken to Kurmitola General Hospital around 11:00 p.m., where doctors declared him dead. Rafiqul Islam said Naeem came to his house in Purbachal 10 days ago and went out on Wednesday night using a friend’s private car.
Source:Dhaka Tribune
January 01, 2026 16:49 UTC
Two-month crab harvesting ban begins in Sundarbans Satkhira Range
A two-month ban on crab harvesting in the rivers and canals of the Sundarbans’ Satkhira Range came into force on Thursday as the crab breeding season begins. Following the ban, crab fishermen have started returning from deep forest areas to their localities. Burigoalini Forest Station Officer (SO) Md Ziaur Rahman said the government imposed the seasonal ban to ensure uninterrupted crab breeding in the Sundarbans’ river systems. As a result, he said, he lacks sufficient savings to support his family during the ban period and will have to rely on loans from moneylenders. Md Fazlul Haque, Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF) of the Sundarbans Satkhira Range, said crabs are a major source of foreign currency earnings.
Source:Dhaka Tribune
January 01, 2026 16:48 UTC
BKSP clinch women’s hockey title in dominant fashion
BKSP, representing Zone 5, clinched the title of the BRAC Bank Aparajeyo Alo Women’s Hockey Tournament after thrashing Zone 2 (Dhaka and Mymensingh) by 8–0 in the final at the Maulana Bhashani Hockey Stadium in the capital on Thursday. Nini Sen Rakhain and Tonni Khatun added one goal each as BKSP dominated proceedings from start to finish. Arpita emerged as the top scorer of the final round, netting an impressive 22 goals in five matches. “I never expected that I would score so many goals,” said Arpita after the final. BKSP joined the four zonal champions in the final round, which started in late December.
Source:Dhaka Tribune
January 01, 2026 16:48 UTC
CA Yunus: Bangladesh fully prepared to hold free, fair, peaceful election
Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus has said Bangladesh is fully prepared to hold free, fair, and peaceful elections on February 12. “We will learn from your experiences,” Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath said. “We witnessed a true Saarc spirit at the funeral yesterday. The Saarc spirit is still alive,” he said during his meeting with Maldives Minister Ali Haider Ahmed. We shared our grief and sorrow together,” he told Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath.
Source:Dhaka Tribune
January 01, 2026 16:48 UTC
Tourist influx peaks in Rangamati in winter season
Rangamati Photo: BSSBy Mansur AhmedRANGAMATI, Jan 1, 2026 (BSS) - Rangamati, often described as the hilly daughter of natural beauty, is witnessing a record surge in tourists during the ongoing winter season, with hotels, resorts and cottages operating at full capacity. While Rangamati usually sees increased tourist movement from Thursday to Saturday, this winter season has brought a steady flow of visitors throughout the week. Transport operators have also benefited from the increased tourist movement. Jamir Uddin, a tourist from Chattogram, said the natural beauty of Rangamati left a lasting impression on him. Tourist Police Rangamati Zone In-charge Tariqul Alam Jewel said law enforcement agencies are on alert to ensure the safety and smooth movement of visitors during the busy season.
Source:Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha
January 01, 2026 16:15 UTC
Over 12 lakh voters registered for postal voting
DHAKA, Jan 1, 2026 (BSS) –Over 12 lakh voters have so far registered to cast their ballots through the postal voting system in the 13th Jatiya Sangsad election and referendum. Besides expatriate Bangladeshis, election officials and employees, as well as government servants staying outside their constituencies, are registering under the postal voting system. Within the country, 5,21,981 voters registered under the ‘in-country postal voting’ category. Seat-wise, Feni-3 ranked first with 14,526 registered voters, followed by Chattogram-15 with 11,964 and Noakhali-1 with 11,916. For registration, expatriate voters must use a mobile number of the respective country.
Source:Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha
January 01, 2026 15:56 UTC
Void left by Khaleda Zia’s death will never be filled: Salahuddin
BNP Standing Committee Member Salahuddin Ahmed-File PhotoDHAKA, Jan 1, 2026 (BSS)- BNP Standing Committee Member Salahuddin Ahmed today said that the void and sorrow created by the death of the party's chairperson and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia will never be filled. Salahuddin Ahmed said, “Begum Khaleda Zia is no longer with us today, but she remains in the hearts of the people. We are anxious as to whether we can genuinely fulfill those expectations.”Following Khaleda Zia’s death, he highlighted the legal aspect of her nomination in the upcoming election. Salahuddin Ahmed stated, “Since she is no longer physically present, her legal entity ceases to exist. Salahuddin Ahmed stressed the need to keep the party united, concluding, “We must unite everyone within our limited means and lead the nation forward.
Source:Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha
January 01, 2026 15:55 UTC
Weather continues to improve with bright sunshine in north
Photo:BSSRANGPUR, Jan 1, 2026 (BSS) - The weather continued to improve bringing reliefto common people for the second consecutive day today following further risein maximum temperatures despite a little fall in minimum temperatures in thenorthern region. Later, the smile of the bright sun in a clear sky free from fog and cloudsmade the weather even sweeter and more enjoyable today. Earlier, the weather deteriorated causing a chilling cold following reductionof the gap between maximum and minimum temperatures to the minimum in recentdays when minimum temperatures mostly ranged between 9 and 12 degreesCelsius. "The maximum temperatures marked further rises by one to two degrees Celsiusand ranged between 22.3 and 24.1 degrees Celsius at 3 pm today, increasingthe gap between the two temperatures by 12 degrees Celsius today," he said. Following improvement of the weather situation, common people and farm- andday- laborers conducted normal activities everywhere, including remote charareas today.
Source:Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha
January 01, 2026 15:18 UTC