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.

The charges stem from violent protests that broke out in May 2023 after the arrest of former Prime Minister Imran Khan in a graft case. Khan was also indicted in 2024 on charges of inciting violence against military and government targets, allegations he has denied. The court order allows the seven to file appeals within seven days and directs police to arrest and jail them if they return to Pakistan. Human rights groups and journalists’ unions say media freedom is shrinking in Pakistan amid growing restrictions. The Sharif government says it supports free speech but insists journalists and online commentators must follow ethical standards.

Mustafizur Rahman became the fastest pacer to reach the milestone of 400 wickets in official T20 cricket during a Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) game against Sylhet Titans on Friday at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium. Starting the match with 399 wickets, he achieved the feat after taking the wicket of Sylhet captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz. Mustafizur played 315 matches to reach 400 T20 wickets to be the fastest amongst the pacers in the world, surpassing Pakistan's Wahab Riaz who needed 335 matches to reach the feat earlier. Mustafizur is now overall the second fastest to reach 400 wickets in T20s as he went past South Africa leg-spinner Imran Tahir, who had taken 320 matches to get there. Afghanistan spin king Rashid Khan remains the fastest bowler overall to reach the landmark, having done so in just 289 matches.

The airstrikes in Venezuela on January 3 have renewed speculation that the United States is seeking to remove President Nicolas Maduro by force. But Wiles’ interview has shifted the view, or at least diminished speculation on the administration’s intentions. It seems Maduro, who has controlled Venezuela as president since 2013, is squarely at the center of Trump’s campaign. And Hare doesn’t see a bigger play to intervene in Latin America from the Trump administration beyond the Maduro regime. The Trump administration, notably through Rubio, has been supportive of Venezuela’s opposition, led by newly minted Nobel Peace Prize recipient Maria Corina Machado.

The Election Commission (EC) has begun extensive campaigning across the country using banners and leaflets as the 13th Jatiya Sangsad Election and Referendum is scheduled to hold on February 12. Ahead of the referendum, around 80.42 lakh leaflets and 57,000 banners are being prepared for nationwide distribution, according to the EC. The leaflets will be distributed throughout the country, while large banners measuring 10 feet by 4 feet will be displayed in public places and 3 feet by 5 feet banners will be placed in front of polling centers, EC Secretariat's Director (Public Relations) and information officer Md. He said the printing of leaflets is underway at BG Press, and distribution will begin from January 5. Finally, the leaflets and banners provide options for voters to cast their response as "Yes" or "No."

The nominations of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman and five others for Dhaka-15 seat were declared valid during the scrutiny of nomination papers for the national election. Four other valid contestants for Dhaka-15 are Shamsul Haque (nominated by Jatiya Party), AKM Shafiqul Islam (Gonoforum), Ashfakur Rahman (Bangladesh Jasod) and Khan Shoeb Aman Ullah (Janatar Dal). He said the nomination papers of six candidates for Dhaka-13 constituency, including BNP’s Bobby Hajjaj and Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish’s Mamunul Haque declared valid, while that of five others declared invalid. The scrutiny of nomination papers started on December 30 and is set to be concluded on Sunday (January 04). Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) fielded the highest number of aspirants, submitting 331 nomination papers, including multiple candidates in several constituencies.