US President Donald Trump yesterday offered an expansive vision of Washington’s role in Venezuela following the dramatic military operation that saw US forces storm Caracas and abduct President Nicolás Maduro. In a lengthy press conference, Trump praised the raid as a “spectacular assault” and outlined political, economic, and military steps that he said would reshape the country’s future. Oil and economic plansBeyond the battlefield, Trump made clear that Venezuela’s vast oil reserves were central to Washington’s next moves. “The oil business in Venezuela has been a bust for a long period of time,” Trump said. “We’re going to run the country until such time as we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition,” Trump said.

Photo : CollectedMOSCOW, Jan 3, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Russia on Saturday condemned the US attack on Venezuela urged it to release its leader Nicolas Maduro, who was grabbed during a military operation in and around Caracas. "We strongly urge the American leadership to reconsider its position and release the legally elected president of the sovereign country and his wife," the Russian foreign ministry said. In a series of statements, the ministry called for dialogue between Washington and Venezuela's leftist government and expressed "solidarity" with Venezuela's people. Venezuela is Russia's closest partner in South America and a major buyer of Russian military hardware. Moscow on Saturday rejected as "fake" reports that Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez was in Russia.

The US military operation that led to the abduction of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Saturday sparked alarm across the international community, with allies and foes of Washington and Caracas expressing disquiet. The Venezuelan government decried what it termed a “extremely serious military aggression” by Washington and declared a state of emergency. Countries such as Russia and Iran, which had longstanding ties with Maduro’s government, were quick to condemn the operation but their alarm was also shared by Washington’s allies including France and the EU. MexicoMexico, which Trump has also threatened with military force over drug trafficking, strongly condemned the US military action in Venezuela, saying it “seriously jeopardises regional stability.”ColombiaColombian President Gustavo Petro -- whose country neighbors Venezuela -- called the US action an “assault on the sovereignty” of Latin America which would lead to a humanitarian crisis. BrazilBrazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva slammed the US attacks as a “serious affront” to Venezuela’s sovereignty.

Chaos, irregularities, not road shortage, main cause of accidents: FouzulAdviser Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan today inaugurated a pilot project for three-wheeled, low-speed, battery-powered e-rickshaws in Aftabnagar under Dhaka South City Corporation. The ultimate goal is to establish a disciplined urban transport system by controlling uncontrolled battery-powered rickshaws and easy bikes, he added. Chief Adviser's Special Assistant Sheikh Moinuddin said, "E-rickshaws are not just vehicles; they are part of a planned urban transport system. Special Assistant for defense and national reconciliation affairs Lieutenant General (retd) Abdul Hafiz said, "Safety is the top priority in urban transport. This e-rickshaw will serve as a smart urban transport model using geo-fencing and digital control systems."

Photo : CollectedDHAKA, Jan 3, 2026 (BSS) - A shipment of liquefied natural gas (LNG) imported from the international spot market has arrived in Bangladesh to ensure normal gas supply to the country's industries and power plants. According to a summary from the Advisory Council Committee on Government Procurement, the total cost of the shipment, including VAT and taxes, is Taka 489.88 crore. Engineer KM Zahirul Islam, another Deputy General Manager of RPGCL, said this was the last LNG shipment of the year. He noted that the government imports LNG from the international spot market to maintain stable gas supply for the country's industrial and power sectors. Additional LNG from the spot market is imported to meet growing domestic demand and support industrial production.

The returning officers on Saturday declared BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman’s nominations for Dhaka-17 and Bogra-6 and Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir’s for Thakurgaon-1 valid ahead of the 13th national parliamentary election. “I thank Almighty Allah that the nomination paper of acting chairman Tarique Rahman has been declared valid,” Salam told reporters. Earlier in the day, the Returning Officer of Bogra-6 also approved Tarique's nomination. Meanwhile, the nomination of Bangladesh Nationalist Party Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir for the Thakurgaon-1 constituency has also been declared valid. After verification, the returning officer declared all three nominations valid.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Sheikh Md Sazzat Ali. Photo : CollectedDHAKA, Jan 3, 2025 (BSS) – Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Sheikh Md Sazzat Ali today said a fair national election would be possible if law and order can be maintained in next 40 days. Speaking at the Crime Reporters Association of Bangladesh’s best reporting award ceremony at Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU), he said the crime situation in Dhaka is currently under control and the upcoming February 12 election is the police’s top priority. To ensure neutrality and efficiency, extensive reshuffling of police officers has been carried out through a lottery system, selecting OCs from Dhaka-based officers to avoid operational difficulties. On candidate security, the commissioner said protection is being provided based on threat assessments by the Special Branch (SB), adding that several individuals, including election commissioners, have already been given gunmen.

RAJSHAHI, Jan 3, 2026 (BSS) - After scrutiny of nomination papers for six parliamentary constituencies in Rajshahi district, the nominations of 19 candidates have been declared valid, while those of another 19 candidates have been cancelled. In Rajshahi-3 constituency, out of seven candidates, three nominations were declared valid and four were cancelled. In Rajshahi-4 constituency, two nominations out of four were declared valid, while two were cancelled. Of them, two nominations were declared valid and six were cancelled. In Rajshahi-6 constituency, three out of four candidates had their nominations declared valid, while one was cancelled.

DHAKA, Jan 3, 2026 (BSS)— Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has clarified the circumstances that led to the decision to move matches of the Chattogram phase of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) T20 to Sylhet and Dhaka. The BPL T20 2026 must be completed by January 24 due to the Bangladesh national team’s planned departure for participating in the ICC T20 World Cup 2026. In reaching the final decision, the BCB consulted closely with key stakeholders, including broadcasters and logistics partners. “The Board fully acknowledges and understands the disappointment felt by the local organisers and cricket supporters in Chattogram. The BCB however assured that the organisers and the cricket-loving public of Chattogram city remains a priority venue for all future international and domestic cricket events, including forthcoming editions of the BPL.

DHAKA, Jan 3, 2026 (BSS) - The Election Commission (EC) has urged voters to strictly protect the secrecy of postal ballots, cautioning that sharing any information, images, or videos of their vote or ballot on social media constitutes a punishable offence under the law. In a message issued today, the EC stated, "Protecting the secrecy of postal votes is both your right and responsibility." Reiterating that disclosure of ballot-related information on social platforms is a punishable act, the EC warned voters: "Refrain from making any such posts or shares, otherwise your NID card may be blocked and other legal actions may be taken." Salim Ahmad Khan, Team Leader of the Out-of-Country Voting System and Implementation (OCV-SDI) project for expatriate voter registration, also conveyed this directive. Over the past 14 days until Friday, postal ballots have been dispatched to 552,479 expatriate voters residing in various countries worldwide to facilitate their participation.

Cropland is losing its fertility as the topsoil of triple-crop agricultural land in Fulbari union under Sariakandi upazila of Bogra is being sold to brick kilns. For the past several days, the topsoil of triple-crop farmland at Majhbari village in Fulbari union under Sariakandi upazila has been cut and sold to brick kilns. Then fertile soil is being loaded onto trucks and transported to various brick kilns. Farmers complain that they tried to prevent the cutting of soil from agricultural land, but people from the brick kilns are forcibly taking it away. Moreover, soil fertility is declining day by day as the topsoil of farmland is being sold to brick kilns.

Under the ordinance, its provisions will prevail over any other law in matters relating to the registration, control and operation of travel agencies. The amendment introduces stricter disclosure requirements, including detailed affidavits where agencies are registered in the names of family members, and mandates bank guarantees of TK 10 lakh for offline travel agencies and TK one crore for online travel agencies. Travel agencies will be required to submit annual financial statements and comprehensive activity reports to the government, with registration certificates to be renewed every three years upon satisfactory review. In the public interest, the government has been empowered to temporarily suspend a travel agency’s registration certificate without prior hearing if deemed necessary. The ordinance further allows for the imposition of travel bans on concerned persons of travel agencies, in coordination with the Ministry of Home Affairs, to prevent sudden departure from the country in cases involving fraud, corruption or urgent related matters.

Police have arrested Mahdi Hasan, district member secretary of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, over allegations of issuing threats and engaging in a heated altercation with police personnel at Shaistaganj Police Station in Habiganj. Police sources said Mahdi Hasan is currently being held at Habiganj Sadar Police Station. Earlier on Saturday afternoon, the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement served Mahdi Hasan with a show-cause notice. In the video, Mahdi Hasan, district member secretary of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement in Habiganj, is seen arguing with officer-in-charge Abul Kalam. Student movement leaders later presented photographs and videos claiming that Nayan had supported the student movement, during which the exchange seen in the video took place.

The observations came at a discussion titled "Mosquito Menace and Public Sufferings," organized by the Dhaka Utility Reporters Association (DURA) at the Sagar-Runi Auditorium of Dhaka Reporters Unity. Former DURA general secretary Shahjahan Molla presided over the event, while DURA general secretary Zahirul Islam conducted the session. Speaking as the chief guest, Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Chief Health Officer Dr. Nishat Parveen said efforts by the city corporation alone are insufficient to reduce dengue and mosquito nuisance. Jahangirnagar University zoology professor and entomologist Dr. Kabirul Bashar said mosquito problems in Dhaka have become structural and scientific rather than seasonal. Dhaka Reporters Unity General Secretary Mainul Hasan Sohel also urged both authorities and citizens to play active roles in controlling all forms of mosquito menace in the capital.

According to CAB, sugar prices had been relatively stable a week ago, but wholesale prices have surged sharply, with retail rates rising by Tk 10 per kilogram. Edible oil prices have also climbed in recent weeks. · Take exemplary legal action against syndicates and hoarders in sugar and edible oil markets. · Ensure alignment between international prices, import costs, and domestic retail prices of edible oil. CAB cautioned that failure to implement immediate, strict, and coordinated measures could exacerbate volatility in sugar, LPG cylinders, and other essential markets.