Local agricultural entrepreneur Ranjit Chandra Das, 38, from Alipura union said he invested around Taka 4 lakh in cultivating apple plum, mango, watermelon and other crops. "The demand for apple plum and kashmiri plum is very high. Hasan, 39, said commercial plum cultivation is increasing steadily in the area due to suitable soil conditions. Balsundari and apple plum varieties fetch comparatively higher prices, while sour varieties sell at Taka 45 to 90 per kg depending on quality and season. "Along with plum, mango, watermelon and winter vegetables are contributing to overall income," he said.

Former Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia. File photoDHAKA, Jan 04, 2026 (BSS) - BNP Chairperson and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia was remembered with deep respect at a reception accorded to Chief Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury at the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court today. Begum Khaleda Zia passed away on December 30, 2025, at 6:00 am while undergoing treatment at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka. Speaking at the programme, Additional Attorney General Mohammad Arshadur Rouf, currently discharging the duties of the Attorney General, paid tribute to Begum Khaleda Zia, saying, "I express my deepest respect to the late Begum Khaleda Zia, the three-time former Prime Minister and national leader, who recently passed away. Judges of both divisions of the Supreme Court, senior lawyers, journalists and officials of the Supreme Court were present at the reception.

Md Ruhul Amin Mallik, Director of Public Relations at the EC Secretariat, told BSS that once scrutiny ends today, the Commission will announce the number of nomination papers accepted and rejected nationwide. Besides, verification of nomination papers of competing candidates will continue until January 4. 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 January 10 and January 18, 2026.

DHAKA, Jan 4, 2026 (BSS)--The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has announcedtheir squad for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 today, leaving out middleorder batters Jaker Ali Anik and Mahidul Islam Ankon. There was no surprise in the sqaud as the selectors kept faith on the playerswho have been regular in T20 squad over the last two years. Liton Das will lead the side in the showpiece event while Saif Hassan will behis deputy. Tanzid Hasan Tamim and Saif Hassan will open the innings while Parvez HossainEmon is considered as middle order batter along with Towhid Hridoy. Bangladesh squad: Liton Das (captain), Mohammad Saif Hassan (vice-captain),Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Parvez Hossain Emon, Towhid Hridoy, Shamim Patwari, NurulHasan Sohan, Mahedi Hasan, Rishad Hossain Rahman, Nasum Ahmed, MustafizurRahman, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Taskin Ahmed, Saifuddin, Shoriful Islam.

AUCKLAND, Jan 4, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Seven-time major singles champion Venus Williams said Sunday she's still driven to play good tennis - and "it gives you great legs" - as she prepares for an Australian Open tilt at age 45. "I definitely don't wake up and come halfway across the world -- or more than halfway -- to not be feeling the fire. A five-time Wimbledon champion, Williams was an Australian Open singles finalist in 2003 and 2017 and won the doubles title four times alongside sister Serena. Williams' last tournament was the US Open in August, not long after returning from a 16-month break. She will play warmup events in Auckland next week and Hobart ahead of the January 18-February 1 Australian Open and hoped she can shake rust out of her system.

Chief Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury has reconstituted 66 benches of the High Court Division of the Supreme Court. Judicial proceedings in these benches will commence from Sunday. The list of the 66 benches was published on the Supreme Court’s website on Saturday. Meanwhile, following the end of the court vacation, regular judicial activities in both the Appellate Division and the High Court Division of the Supreme Court will resume from Sunday, in the new year. At the start of the day, at 10:30am, the Supreme Court Bar Association will accord a reception to the Chief Justice at Courtroom No 1 of the Appellate Division.

Trump says US to 'run' Venezuela after toppling Maduro in military attackFile PhotoPALM BEACH, United States, Jan 3, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - President Donald Trump said Saturday that the United States will "run" Venezuela and tap its huge oil reserves after snatching leftist leader Nicolas Maduro out of the country during a bombing raid on Caracas. Trump's announcement came hours after a lightning attack in which special forces grabbed Maduro and his wife, while airstrikes pounded multiple sites, stunning the capital city. In another surprise, Trump indicated that US troops could be deployed in Venezuela. Although the operation is being framed as a law-enforcement action, Trump made clear that regime change and Venezuela's oil riches are the major goals. Maduro, 63, and his wife "gave up" without a struggle and there was "no loss of US life," he said.

DHAKA, Jan 04, 2026 (BSS) - The operation of the Supreme Court resumed today after the end of government holidays, weekly holidays and court vacation. The Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) is scheduled to accord a reception to newly appointed Chief Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury. The reception ceremony will be held at Courtroom No. 1 of the Appellate Division at 10:30 am. Earlier, Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury took oath as the country's 26th Chief Justice on December 28, 2025.

DHAKA, Jan 4, 2026 (BSS) - A mild cold wave is sweeping over several districts while night temperatures may fall slightly and moderate to thick fog is likely to affect parts of the country, causing persistent cold conditions. The bulletin said that the mild cold wave is sweeping over the districts of Pabna, Sirajganj, Cumilla, Jashore, Kushtia, Moulvibazar and the Sylhet division and it may continue. It added that night temperature may fall slightly and day temperature mayrise to some extent over the country. Moderate to thick fog may occur during midnight to morning and may continue till noon at places, it said, adding that due to foggy conditions, cold feelings may persist across the country. The bulletin also cautioned that air navigation, inland river transport and road communication may be temporarily disrupted due to thick fog.

Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman’s exclusion from the Kolkata Knight Riders’ (KKR) IPL 2026 squad, reportedly following instructions from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), has triggered widespread criticism, with several voices condemning what they describe as the politicisation of sport. Mustafizur, popularly known as Fizz, was bought by KKR for INR 9.2 crore at the IPL auction late last year. However, the franchise later confirmed his release, citing directives from the BCCI, without providing any specific reason. His exclusion has also sparked strong reactions on social media in Bangladesh, although the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) is yet to issue an official statement on the matter. Following the Mustafizur incident, concerns have emerged regarding the security and overall treatment of the Bangladesh team during the tournament.

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"First of all I have to say thank you to Joan Garcia because he played unbelievably. Espanyol fans gave Garcia a particularly hostile reception, after he became their first player to leave for Barca in more than 30 years in the summer. Amid the ire, Garcia made two vital first half interventions that sent the teams in level at the interval. - Subs settle game -There were few clear chances in a tense first half and the best openings fell to Espanyol. Kounde cleared off the line and Garcia tipped Fernandez's near-post drive away as Espanyol continued to harry Flick's side.

Students blocked the Farmgate intersection in the capital on Monday demanding justice for the killing of higher secondary student Sakibul Hasan Rana who was allegedly murdered during a clash between two groups of Chhatra Dal at the Tejgaon College hostel. The blockade began around 10am when Tejgaon College students occupied the road in the Farmgate area causing a complete halt to vehicular movement in and around the key intersection and triggering severe traffic congestion that left commuters stranded. The protesting students said they would not withdraw from the streets until justice is ensured for Sakib’s killing. They also demanded that the law adviser and the home adviser visit the spot and hold talks with the students. The protesters warned that their sit-in and blockade at the Farmgate road would continue until their demands are met and the advisers arrive at the scene.

Over the past decade, at least 296 Bangladeshis have lost their lives in border areas, with the situation showing little sign of improvement. During this period, 213 Bangladeshis were killed by gunfire from India’s Border Security Force (BSF), while more than 300 others were injured along the border. In 2025, 38 Bangladeshis were injured and 14 were abducted during border incidents, of whom four were later returned. In 2024, 30 Bangladeshis were killed at the border—25 by gunfire, four due to physical torture, and one after being chased by BSF personnel. In 2016, 31 Bangladeshis were killed, including 23 by gunfire and seven due to torture.

The diplomatic fallout from the Indian Premier League's exclusion of Mustafizur Rahman has escalated significantly, with Bangladesh’s Sports Adviser Asif Nazrul calling for the country’s T20 World Cup matches to be moved out of India. The directive includes a specific request to relocate Bangladesh's World Cup fixtures to co-host nation Sri Lanka due to safety concerns. “I have told the board to inform (the ICC) that where a single contracted Bangladeshi cricketer cannot play in India, the entire Bangladesh cricket team cannot feel safe going there to play the World Cup,” Nazrul stated. “We will not accept insults to Bangladesh cricket, cricketers, and the nation under any circumstances,” Nazrul declared. BJP leader Sangeet Som had praised the move as a “victory for Hindus,” citing alleged violence against minorities in Bangladesh.