The Bangladesh High Commission in Mauritius opened a condolence book in Port Louis today to pay tribute to former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia. Photo: High CommissionDHAKA, Dec 31, 2025 (BSS) - Bangladesh High Commission in Mauritius opened a condolence book in Port Louis today as global leaders and diplomats paid tribute to former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia. President of the Republic of Mauritius Dharambeer Gokhool and Vice-President Jean Yvan Robert Hungley were among the dignitaries who paid tribute by signing the condolence book. Bangladesh High Commissioner to Mauritius Zokey Ahad said the condolence messages would be preserved in the official records of the High Commission. Officials of the Bangladesh High Commission and members of the Bangladeshi community in Mauritius were also present, reflecting the deep sense of respect and shared mourning for Begum Khaleda Zia across nations.

Jatiya Party has postponed its 40th founding anniversary discussion meeting in observance of the three-day state mourning declared following the passing of former prime minister and BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia. The decision was conveyed Wednesday by MA Razzak Khan, office secretary of a faction of the party. “The meeting scheduled for January 1 has been postponed by the decision of Jatiya Party Chairman Barrister Anisul Islam Mahmud and Secretary General ABM Ruhul Amin Howlader,” the message said. Earlier on Wednesday, leaders of the Jatiya Party visited the BNP Chairperson’s office in Gulshan to pay tribute to Khaleda Zia by signing the condolence book. In a statement, the party said: “Begum Khaleda Zia was an uncompromising leader of Bangladesh’s democratic politics.

A man died after falling ill in the crowd while attending the namaz-e-janaza of former prime minister and BNP chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia on Wednesday. The incident occurred around noon on Manik Mia Avenue in the capital during the funeral procession. The deceased was identified as Madiur Rahman, a resident of Bhola district. Eyewitnesses said that even before the janaza began, hundreds of thousands had gathered on Manik Mia Avenue and around the National Parliament area. Due to the massive crowd, there was little space in the area even before the funeral began.

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Chuadanga shivers as temperature drops to season’s lowest. Photo: BSSCHUADANGA, Dec 31, 2025 (BSS) - Chuadanga experienced the lowest temperature of the season on Wednesday as the mercury dropped sharply to 8 degrees Celsius, disrupting normal life across the district. According to the Chuadanga Meteorological Observatory, the temperature fell by nearly five degrees Celsius within a day. On Tuesday, the district recorded 12.5 degrees Celsius, while temperatures of 12.6 degrees Celsius were noted on December 28 and 29. Jaminur Rahman, officer-in-charge of the Chuadanga Meteorological Observatory, confirmed that Wednesday’s 8 degrees Celsius is the lowest temperature recorded in the district this winter season.

SINGAPORE, Dec 31, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - Singapore's economy beat forecasts to grow 4.8 percent in 2025, the prime minister said Wednesday, but he warned that sustaining that rate of expansion would be "difficult" due to unpredictable global trade. The wealthy Southeast Asian nation is heavily reliant on international trade and is vulnerable to any global slowdown induced by the tariffs. He said the global economy turned out to be more resilient than anticipated and US tariffs were imposed at lower levels than feared. "We will face more obstacles to growth and inflationary pressures may intensify... as a small and open economy, Singapore cannot fully shield ourselves from these headwinds." Singapore has long depended on the open global trading system to power its growth for decades, but Trump's tariff policies has upended that foundation.

The Foreign Minister of Nepal,Bala Nanda Sharma, meets family members of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia ahead of her funeral programme in Dhaka on Wednesday.Photo: CA's Press wingDHAKA, Dec 31, 2025 (BSS) – Nepal’s Foreign Minister Bala Nanda Sharma met family members of former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia ahead of her funeral programme here this afternoon, according to the Chief Adviser’s Press Wing. Earlier, he arrived here last night to attend the state funeral of three-time former Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia on behalf of his government.

DHAKA, Dec 31, 2025 (BSS) – Over 30 lakh taxpayers have so far submitted e-returns in the current tax year. More than 30 lakh taxpayers have filed e-returns in the current tax year till today (December 31), said a press release of National Board of Revenue (NBR). So far, about 45 lakh taxpayers have registered in the e-return system while more than 30 lakh taxpayers have filed e-returns for the tax year 2025-26. Those for whom e-return filing has not been made mandatory are also filing e-returns online. The NBR is optimistic that more than 40 lakh taxpayers will file e-returns this year within the extended period.

India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Pakistan National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq exchanged greetings in Dhaka while visiting the capital to pay their final respects to Khaleda Zia. The exchange took place ahead of Khaleda’s Janaza, the Chief Advisor’s Office said on its Facebook page. Jaishankar and Ayaz Sadiq met at the Parliament Complex in the capital, where they were seen greeting each other cordially. Both leaders were in Dhaka separately to attend the funeral rites of the former prime minister. Pakistan’s Geo News reported that when the two leaders encountered each other at the venue, they shook hands and exchanged pleasantries.

Photo: BSSRANGAMATI, Dec 31, 2025 (BSS) - Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) today organized a free medical camp and distributed medicines to underprivileged patients in Barkal upazila of the district. The camp was arranged by BGB-12 Chhota Harina Zone from Wednesday morning to 2:00 pm at Tripuraghat village, a remote border area of Barkal upazila. Around 100 patients from the hill community received medical services. Asifur Rahman, Medical Officer of Chhota Harina Zone, provided medical treatment and distributed necessary medicines free of cost. Local dignitaries and beneficiaries attended the event and appreciated the humanitarian initiative taken by the BGB.

New Year’s Eve revelers toasted the end of 2025 on Wednesday, waving goodbye to 12 months packed with Trump tariffs, a Gaza truce and vain hopes for peace in Ukraine. Parties will pause for a minute of silence at 1pm (1200 GMT) as the famed Sydney Harbour Bridge is bathed in white light to symbolize peace. Hundreds of thousands of spectators are expected to line Sydney’s foreshore as nine tonnes of fireworks explode on the stroke of midnight. Donald Trump returned to the White House in January, launching a tariff blitz that sent global markets into meltdown. World leaders including China’s Xi Jinping and Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin began exchanging New Year greetings.

As Delhi believes Khaleda Zia’s vision and legacy will continue to guide the partnership between Bangladesh and India, Jaishankar will represent the government and people of India at the funeral of Khaleda Zia. Her last official visit to India was in March 2006 as the then Prime Minister of Bangladesh. She paid a state visit to India from March 20-22 March at the invitation of the then Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh. During the visit, she held comprehensive discussions with then Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh on the entire gamut of bilateral relations. “May her soul rest in peace," Prime Minister Modi said in the message.

The janaza of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia was held at the South Plaza of the National Parliament complex, with a thousands of people attending the National Parliament from all across the country. The namaz-e-janaza was led at 2:30pm on Wednesday by Mufti Abdul Malek, khatib of the Baitul Mokarram National Mosque. Many were unable to reach the venue in time and missed the janaza due to the immense crowd. As per the earlier decision, Khaleda Zia will be laid to rest with state honours beside her husband, BNP founder and late president Ziaur Rahman, at around 3:30pm. Family members of Khaleda Zia, key state dignitaries, senior government officials, foreign guests, ambassadors and BNP-nominated political figures will be present at the burial.

When midnight strikes on Wednesday, Bulgaria will give up the lev currency, which has been in use since the late 19th century. "It will make travelling and living abroad easier, boost the transparency and competitiveness of markets, and facilitate trade." According to the National Statistical Institute, food prices rose by five percent year-on-year in November, more than double the eurozone average. On Tuesday, people queued outside the Bulgarian National Bank and several currency exchange offices in the capital Sofia to obtain euros. He stressed that introducing the euro will have "a positive long-term effect on the Bulgarian economy and on the environment in which the country is developing".

BERLIN, Dec 31, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - Efforts to break a deadlock in 2025 over plans for a new European fighter jet have been unsuccessful, a German government spokesman told AFP on Wednesday. The Future Combat Aircraft System (FCAS) programme was launched in 2017 to replace France's Rafale jet and the Eurofighter planes used by Germany and Spain. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz had previously pledged a decision on FCAS by the end of the year. The future of the FCAS project has looked increasingly uncertain over the tensions between Dassault Aviation and Airbus. Mayer-Lay argued that France should build its own fighter jet, while Germany and Spain seek new partners for a separate aircraft.