A milad and prayer congregation seeking eternal peace of the departed soul of Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia was held at Gulshan's Azad Mosque after the Asr prayer. Photo: CollectedDHAKA, Jan 2, 2026 (BSS) - BNP today organized a milad and prayer congregation seeking eternal peace of the departed soul of party chairperson and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia. This milad and prayer congregation was held at Gulshan's Azad Mosque after the Asr prayer. Begum Khaleda Zia passed away on Tuesday (December 30) at 6:00 AM while undergoing treatment at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka. On December 31 last year (Wednesday), the former Prime Minister was buried with full state honors next to the grave of her husband, Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman.

DHAKA, Jan 02, 2026 (BSS) - In a significant move to streamline maritime trade and enhance transparency, the National Board of Revenue (NBR) has issued the 'Shipping Agent Licensing Rules, 2025'. Prior to this development, there were no independent regulations for this sector; shipping agent licenses were previously governed under the "Customs Agent Licensing Rules, 2020". The NBR stated that the creation of these specialized rules is intended to modernize and simplify shipping agent operations. Authorities are no longer required to obtain prior approval from the NBR to determine the number of licenses issued per customs station. Previously, a shipping agent license was restricted only to the specific sea or river port under the issuing customs station.

Photo: BSSKhulna, Jan 2, 2026 (BSS) - Mongla Port, the country's second-largest seaport, handled a record 17,387 TEUs of containers by 28 container vessels during the first six months of the current fiscal year (FY 2025-26). Md Makruzzaman, Deputy Secretary of the Mongla Port Authority (MPA), said that from July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025, the port handled 10,324,611 tonnes of imported cargo and 87,800 tonnes of exported cargo. Makruzzaman added that Mongla Port recorded a significant increase in vessel arrivals as a result of several initiatives taken by the port authority to attract ships. In the 2024-25 fiscal year, the Mongla Port Authority earned a record Taka 343.33 crore in revenue by handling 10.41 million tonnes of cargo. In line with government instructions, the port authority has been holding regular meetings with shipping agents, C&F agents, stevedores and other stakeholders to ensure smooth port operations.

BNP chairperson and former prime minister Begum Khaleda Zia. Photo : CollectedDHAKA, Jan 2, 2026 (BSS) - Special prayers will be held in all mosques across the country today after Jummah prayers for former Prime Minister and Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia. The letter said prayers seeking eternal peace of Begum Khaleda Zia's departed soul will be offered nationwide after today's Jummah prayers. Following her demise, the government has declared three days of state mourning. The IF has instructed its divisional and district offices to ensure proper observance of the mourning programme and to take necessary measures for organizing the special prayers in line with the directive.

DHAKA, Jan 2, 2026 (BSS)- Defending champions Mohammedan Sporting Club Limited split point with Brothers Union Club when their match ended in a tame goalless draw in the lone last round of the first phase of Bangladesh Football League (BFL) held at Birshreshtha Flight Lieutenant Matiur Rahman Stadium in Munshiganj today (Friday). In the proceeding, both the teams got several scoring chances but failed to break the deadlock lack of proper finishing. With the day's outcome, the black and white Motijheel outfit Brothers Union Club temporarily finished the first leg making their place at the sixth position in the league table with ten points while the all-orange Gopibagh outfit Brothers Union Club closely following Mohammedan with nine points from the same number of matches. In the remaining ninth or last round matches to be held tomorrow (Saturday), table topper Bashundhara Kings face Fakirerpool Young Men's Club at Shaheed Miraj-Tapan Stadium in Manikganj, Bangladesh Police Football Club meet old Dhaka outfit Rahmatganj Muslim and Friends Society at Shaheed Barkat Stadium in Gazipur, Abahani Limited, Dhaka play against Arambagh Krira Sangha at Shaheed Dhirendranath Datta Stadium in Cumilla and Fortis Football Club face PWD Sports Club at Bashundhara Kings Arena in the capital.

In post on his Facebook account, Taiyeb stated that the authorities have received over three billion data sets from mobile operators, including historical records. "Due to the way migration data is currently displayed, some NIDs show a higher number of active SIMs or handsets than actually in use," he explained. Taiyeb also noted that the NEIR system is not new; it was first attempted in 2021. Previously, one individual could use up to 20 SIMs per NID, later it was reduced to 15, and currently limited to 10. Regarding data security, Taiyeb confirmed that measures have been taken, including secure JWT digital tokens and rate-limiting.

But a source close to the Saudi government told AFP on Thursday that Saudi Arabia's security needs would only be met if the STC "move out of Hadramawt and Mahra". Another source close to the Saudi military told AFP the Riyadh-led coalition was closely following events on the ground and making its own assessment. "Their deployment along the Saudi border nullifies any argument used by those lying in wait to incite Saudi Arabia," STC spokesman Anwar Al Tamimi told AFP. "If a complete withdrawal and handover of Hadramawt and Mahra takes place, it could be a prelude to de-escalation," he told AFP. Following the strikes on Tuesday, the UAE's defence ministry said it would withdraw its last remaining troops in Yemen after Saudi Arabia imposed a 24-hour deadline for their removal.

HELSINKI, Jan 2, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - A vessel seized in Finland suspected of damaging a telecommunications cable between Helsinki and Tallinn was transporting Russian steel targeted by European Union sanctions, Finnish Customs said on Thursday. "Preliminary information indicated that the cargo consisted of steel products originating in Russia, which are subject to extensive sanctions imposed on Russia," Finnish Customs said in a statement. "According to the assessment of experts at Finnish Customs, the structural steel in question falls under the EU's sectoral sanctions," it said. "Import of such sanctioned goods into the EU is prohibited under EU sanctions regulations." Finnish Customs said it was still investigating "the applicability of EU sanctions legislation to this case."

Photo: BSSTHAKURGAON, Jan 2, 2026 (BSS) - A total of 350 farmers in Thakurgaon have received free Binadhan-24 rice seeds along with training to boost cultivation and production of the high-yielding variety. The seed distribution and training programme was inaugurated at 10:30am on Friday by Thakurgaon District Agricultural Extension Deputy Director Majedul Islam. Speaking at the programme, Mahmudal Hasan said a total of 2.5 tonnes of Binadhan-24 seeds have been distributed among 350 farmers, including 100 small and marginal farmers who also received hands-on training on the day. He said Binadhan-24 is a short and upright rice variety, measuring about 95 to 97 centimeters in height, which makes it resistant to lodging. He added that Binadhan-24 is a high-yielding rice variety approved for cultivation across the country during the Boro season and is suitable for wider adoption by farmers.

Condolence book opened at Bangladesh Embassy in Tokyo for Khaleda ZiaPhoto: The Embassy of Bangladesh in TokyoDHAKA, Jan 2, 2026 (BSS) - The Embassy of Bangladesh in Tokyo today opened a condolence book to pay tribute to former Prime Minister and Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia following her demise. Representatives of various foreign diplomatic missions based in Japan visited the embassy and signed the condolence book, expressing their sympathy and condolences over the passing of the veteran political leader, said an official handout. The condolence book will remain open for signing until January 6. In honour of Begum Khaleda Zia, an uncompromising leader of the movement for the restoration of democracy, the interim government declared a three-day state mourning from December 31 to January 2. As part of the state mourning programme, the national flag was flown at half-mast at the Bangladesh Embassy in Tokyo throughout the mourning period.

WASHINGTON, United States, Jan 2, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Chinese war games around Taiwan "unnecessarily" spiked tensions in the region, the US State Department said Thursday, calling on Beijing to "cease its military pressure." "China's military activities and rhetoric toward Taiwan and others in the region increase tensions unnecessarily. China claims that democratic Taiwan is part of its territory and has threatened to use force to annex it. I certainly have seen it," Trump told reporters when asked about the exercises. The United States has been committed for decades to ensuring Taiwan's self-defense, while staying ambiguous on whether the US military itself would intervene in an invasion.

DHAKA, Jan 02, 2026 (BSS) - In a landmark move to strengthen trade justice and accelerate the country's economic development, the government has issued the Commercial Court Ordinance, 2026. Scope of commercial disputes: The ordinance defines a wide range of commercial disputes, including routine business transactions of traders, bankers, merchants, and financial institutions. Establishment and functioning of commercial courts: In line with the ordinance, Commercial Courts will be established across the country. Commercial Courts will have the authority to hear and dispose of all commercial suits and applications within their territorial jurisdiction. However, where other laws limit or exclude civil court jurisdiction, Commercial Courts will not adjudicate such matters.

Nation observing last day of three-day state mourning over death of Begum Khaleda ZiaBNP chairperson and former prime minister Begum Khaleda Zia. Photo : CollectedDHAKA, Jan 2, 2026 (BSS) – The nation is observing the last day of the three-day state mourning following the death of three-time former Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia. Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus, in a televised address to the nation on Tuesday, declared the three-day state mourning starting from Wednesday as well as one-day general holiday on Wednesday. Condolence books remain open at Bangladesh missions abroad at the death of the former Prime Minister. The country’s first female Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia, who is widely regarded as an uncompromising leader for democracy in Bangladesh, played a crucial role in the country's transition to parliamentary democracy and introducing the caretaker government system.

CARACAS, Jan 2, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Venezuela Thursday announced the release of 88 people jailed for protesting President Nicolas Maduro's claim to have won July 2024 elections. Twenty-eight people were killed in the unrest and around 2,400 people, including dozens of minors, were arrested as the authorities cracked down. This is the second such gesture in a week by the embattled Maduro administration, which is in US President Donald Trump's crosshairs. Colombian President Gustavo Petro claimed that the strikes targeted a suspected cocaine-making factory in the port city of Maracaibo. Venezuela accuses the United States of trying to oust the leftist Maduro in order to get its hands on the country's oil wealth.

DHAKA, Jan 2, 2026 (BSS) - Bangladesh's foreign exchange reserves have stood at US$ 33.18 billion. But, as per the International Monetary Fund (IMF) methodology under the Balance of Payments and International Investment Position Manual (BPM6), Bangladesh's foreign exchange reserves stood at $28.51 billion, according to the latest data of the Bangladesh Bank (BB) released today.