Photo : BSSKHULNA, Jan 4, 2026 (BSS) - A discussion meeting and doa mahfil were held at the Khulna Press Club (KPC) this morning seeking eternal peace of the departed soul of former Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia. At the outset of the programme, participants observed a one-minute silence standing in honour of Begum Khaleda Zia. Prayers were also offered seeking the well-being of Tarique Rahman, son of late President Ziaur Rahman and Begum Khaleda Zia. The discussion meeting and doa mahfil were held at the Humayun Kabir Balu Auditorium of the Khulna Press Club with Club Convener Enamul Haque in the chair. Speakers at the discussion said Begum Khaleda Zia is universally recognised as an unparalleled symbol of uncompromising leadership in Bangladesh’s political history.

The scrutiny of nomination papers by Returning Officers for the 13th Jatiya Sangsad Election will be completed on Sunday, while the Election Commission (EC) has also released the prescribed format for filing appeals against the acceptance or rejection of nomination papers. Md Ruhul Amin Mallik, Director of Public Relations at the EC Secretariat, told BSS that once scrutiny ends on Sunday, the Commission will announce the number of nomination papers accepted and rejected nationwide. The appeal must be submitted at the designated booth of the relevant regional appeal acceptance centre of the Election Commission. A sample of this form can be obtained from the central appeal submission booth of the Election Commission. The Election Commission will dispose of appeals submitted against the acceptance or rejection of nomination papers between Saturday and January 18, 2026.

Nomination papers of 723 candidates have been rejected on different grounds, Election Commission (EC) sources said. According to a notification of the EC issued today, candidates collected a total of 3,406 nomination papers in 300 parliamentary seats. Following scrutiny, the EC declared 1,842 nomination papers valid and rejected 723. Chattogram region: Of 194 nomination papers, 138 were valid and 56 were rejected. Meanwhile, appeals against the Returning Officers’ decisions regarding acceptance or rejection of nomination papers can be filed with the Election Commission starting tomorrow (Monday)

The sweeping bone-chilling cold wave coupled with cooler winds amid foggy and cloudy sky and no sunlight throughout the day, literally paralysed the normal life of people. Officer-in-Charge of Rangpur Meteorological office meteorologist Md Mostafizar Rahman told BSS that maximum temperatures increased sharply by 5 to 7.5 degrees Celsius and minimum temperatures rose by one degree Celsius in the region today. The deteriorating weather situation may continue in the next 24 hours across the region, he mentioned. Today, the minimum temperatures were between 11 and 12.1 degrees Celsius and the maximum temperatures were between 14.2 and 17.2 degrees Celsius, which reduced the gap between these two temperatures to the minimum. As a result, bone-chilling cold is being felt and the poor, distressed and displaced people are facing extreme hardship.

The Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances today submitted its final report to Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus at the State Guest House Jamuna in this afternoon. Industries Adviser Adilur Rahman Khan and Principal Secretary to the Chief Adviser Siraz Uddin Mia were also present. After verification, 1,569 complaints were identified as enforced disappearances under the Commission’s definition. Of these, 287 cases fell into the category of “missing and dead.”Commission member Nabila Idris said the actual number of enforced disappearances could be significantly higher. He also directed that locations of extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances be mapped, in addition to the ‘Aynaghar’ (Mirror House).

Photo : CollectedDHAKA, Jan 04, 2026 (BSS)- As there is no crisis of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) in the country, the energy ministry today asked local administration to take action against those responsible for artificial crisis. Another meeting was held in the ministry between the leaders of the LPG Owners Association and LPG operators with energy secretary in the chair. LPG association leaders and importers in the meeting said that retailers created the crisis taking advantage of the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission’s re-fixing LPG price this month, it said. Local retailers have created an artificial crisis in the market,” the release said. In the meeting also decided that the LPG Operators Association will issue a statement today regarding the artificial crisis.

The National Equipment Identification Register (NEIR) system will remain suspended for the next three months, according to Masud Alam, deputy commissioner (DC) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s Ramna Division. However, the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has yet to officially confirm any decision regarding the postponement of the NEIR system. Representatives of mobile phone traders, who observed a nationwide shutdown of mobile phone shops on Sunday, also said they were unaware of any such development. Earlier in the day, at least 20 mobile phone traders were injured and 12 reportedly detained as police cleared protesters from several key intersections in the capital. Law enforcement used baton charges, water cannons, tear shells and sound grenades as traders staged sit-ins demanding the withdrawal and postponement of the NEIR system.

Revolutionary Workers Party General Secretary Saiful Haque on Sunday said BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman on Sunday expressed concern over mob violence and the growing insecurity of people’s lives and property. “He is worried about mob violence and the insecurity of people’s lives and property. “Another topic we discussed was the ongoing mob violence and the insecurity of people’s lives and property. Haque added Tarique Rahman also inquired about preparations in Dhaka-12 and assured cooperation, encouraging unity among BNP leaders and activists to support the alliance candidate. He said Tarique Rahman has assured that he will personally visit Dhaka-12 during formal campaigning and later other constituencies, reaching out to voters across the country.

Photo : BSSKHULNA, Jan 04, 2025 (BSS)- A meeting was held on Sunday afternoon between the European Union (EU) advance team and the Khulna Metropolitan Police (KMP) Commissioner at the KMP to discuss security preparations for the upcoming national parliamentary election. A KMP press release said KMP Commissioner Mohammad Zahidul Hasan briefed the EU representatives on the overall election-time security arrangements. He highlighted the multi-layered security measures, coordinated planning, and various aspects of field-level preparedness undertaken by the KMP. The commissioner also reiterated KMP’s firm commitment to ensuring the safety and security of both domestic and international election observers throughout the election period. Senior officials of the KMP were present.

RAJSHAHI, Jan 4, 2026 (BSS) - Thirty-eight candidates have submitted their nomination papers for six constituencies in the district for the upcoming parliamentary election and the nominations of 19 of those have been declared valid. According to the affidavits, 92 percent of the valid candidates are educated. The valid candidates are BNP's Abu Sayed Chand, SSC, two others, Nazmul Haque, and Islami Andolan Bangladesh's Abdus Salam Suruj. As per the election schedule, the candidates, whose nominations were cancelled in scrutiny, can submit appeals against the returning officer's decision. Till January 20, the candidates can withdraw their nomination papers and election symbols will be allocated on January 21.

The government has promoted three additional secretaries to the rank of secretary. The Ministry of Public Administration issued three separate notifications on Sunday confirming the promotions. Md Saidur Rahman Khan, director general of the Department of Social Services, was promoted to secretary and assigned to the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief. Mohammed Mizanur Rahman, director general of the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS), was appointed secretary of the Ministry of Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs. Additional Secretary Mohammad Altaf-ul-Alam of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting was promoted to secretary and posted to the Bangladesh Civil Service Administration Academy.

Chief Adviser’s Special Assistant for the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb handed over the cheque to Labour and Employment Adviser Brig Gen (retd) Dr M Sakhawat Hussain. Photo : PIDDHAKA, Jan 4, 2026 (BSS) - Bangladesh Submarine Cables PLC has handed over a cheque worth Taka 1,25,40,394 from its annual dividend to Labour Welfare Foundation under the Ministry of Labour and Employment. Sakhawat Hussain said such initiatives by institutions for the overall welfare of workers are highly commendable. Labour and Employment Ministry Secretary Dr. Md. Sanwar Jahan Bhuiyan, Posts and Telecommunications Division Secretary Abdun Naser Khan, and Bangladesh Submarine Cables PLC General Manager Targhibul Islam were present at the event.

Jatiya Party Secretary General Mujibul Haque Chunnu and 13 others have been declared ineligible to run for parliament in three constituencies of Kishoreganj. The Election Commission cancelled Chunnu’s nomination for the Kishoreganj-3 constituency. Abu Bakar Siddiqui’s nomination for the constituency was declared valid. Returning Officer Mohammad Aslam Molla said Abu Bakar’s Jatiya Party nomination document was found valid, but Chunnu provided the party’s nomination with signatures not recognisable to the EC. The EC earlier cancelled 10 nominations out of the total 29 submitted for Kishoreganj-4, 5, and 6 seats.

Photo : BSSKHULNA, Jan 4, 2025 (BSS) – A tigress trapped in a deer-hunting snare laid by poachers in the Sundarbans was rescued by the Forest Department this afternoon and taken to Khulna for treatment. The tigress was first tranquilised and then safely freed from the trap, Depon Chandra Das, Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF) of the Chandpai Range under the East Sundarbans Division, said. Forest officials said that on Saturday at noon, officers and staff of the Chandpai Range of the East Sundarbans spotted the tigress caught in a snare in the Sorkar Khal area while on patrol. Officer-in-Charge of the Karamjal Wildlife Breeding Centre of the East Sundarbans, Howlader Azad Kabir, said the tigress was initially sedated using special measures. If it fully recovers, it will be released back into the Sundarbans, Azad Kabir added.

DHAKA, Jan 4, 2025 (BSS0 - The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has frozen 123 bank accounts belonging to former Member of Parliament Sheikh Salahuddin Jewel and his associates over allegations of money laundering. According to the CID’s Financial Crime Unit, the frozen accounts value at a total of TK 48,47,23,570.38. Sheikh Salahuddin Jewel, a former MP and Vice Chairman of Madhumoti Bank PLC, is the prime accused in the case. Acting on the application, the court on Sunday, 4 January 2026, ordered the freezing of the bank accounts, savings certificates and BO accounts. The CID stated that investigation activities against Sheikh Salahuddin Jewel and his associated persons are ongoing.