Ambassador Tracey Ann Jacobson, the Chargé d’Affaires of the US to Bangladesh today paid a farewell call on the Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus at the State Guest House Jamuna in Dhaka. “We are fully prepared,” Professor Yunus said, adding that any attempts to disrupt peace ahead of the elections would be dealt with firmly. The Chief Adviser thanked the United States for continued support for the Rohingyas. The Chief Adviser thanked the US Chargé d’Affaires for her “critical work” during her year-long tenure and for being a “friend to Bangladesh" and extended an invitation to her to visit in future. National Security Adviser Dr Khalilur Rahman and SDG Coordinator and Senior Secretary Lamiya Morshed were also present during the meeting.

Photo : BSSRAJBARI, Dec 29, 2025 (BSS) – The ‘Voter Gari’, a mobile campaign initiative aimed at creating mass awareness ahead of the upcoming referendum and national elections, has arrived in Rajbari district. As part of a special campaign to raise awareness and disseminate important information ahead of the ‘Referendum ’26’ and the 13th National Parliament Election, the ‘Voter Gari’ was stationed at Freedom Fighter Shahid Khushi Railway Ground on Sunday. During the campaign, videos related to the referendum and the parliamentary elections were screened alongside documentaries on the July Uprising. Messages from the Chief Advisor regarding the national elections and the referendum were also broadcast through the Voter Gari. Among others present at the event were Additional Deputy Commissioner (Education and ICT) Shankar Chandra Vaidya, Additional District Magistrate Uchiha May, Rajbari Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer Nirupama Roy, and District Information Officer Rekha Islam.

Photo : CollectedDHAKA, Dec 29, 2025 (BSS)- The Trophy of first CAS International Squash 2026has been formally unveiled at Bangladesh Olympic Association Bhaban today(Monday). This competition, one of the largest in the subcontinent, will begin fromFriday (Jan 2) at the Army Squash Complex in Dhaka Cantonment and BashundharaSports City. For the first time, world-ranked players from India, Pakistan, Malaysia Egyptand Japan will be competing in this prestigious international squash meetwhich will be held under the direct patronage of the Army Chief. Bangladesh Olympic Association (BOA) vice-president Major Imroz Ahmed (retd)was present as the chief guest in the trophy unavailing ceremony, presided bythe Bangladesh Squash Racket Federation (BSRF) general secretary BrigadierGeneral GM Quamrul Islam. Participating 10 countries are host Bangladesh, Belgium, Bahrain, Egypt,Hongkong, India, Japan, Kuwait, Malaysia and Pakistan.

This lack of technological transparency is part of what the Colorado legislature has been grappling with since 2024 as part of its effort to regulate so-called high-risk AI systems. But I think tech companies have gotten used to a world in which nobody asked that question,” Burke said. But during the special session, she says large tech companies didn’t want to compromise about any proposed liability. Robinson also is concerned about what the law would mean for deployers, who often use AI systems with little to no understanding of how they work. Boucher believes that for smaller AI companies, the bill would need to offer financial incentives for compliance, such as tax breaks or other legal incentives.

Photo : BSSRANGAMATI, Dec 29, 2025 (BSS) - The para-military Border Guard Bangladesh(BGB) has provided humanitarian aid to the families affected by the fire inthe remote Chhota Harina area under Barkal upazila here this morning. Harina Zone BGB Commander Lieutenant colonel Imrul Kayes Mehedi donated theconstruction materials to fire victim Samar Kanti Chakma for thereconstruction of his burnt homestead, said a BGB release here today. Earlier on December 26, a fire broke out at the homestead of Samar KantiChakma under the remote Jirakhamar BGB camp in the upazila. Following the fire, the house of Samar Kanti Chakma was entirely destroyed. However, the BGB camp in Jirakhamar came to assist the victims of the fire aspart of its role in disaster management and humanitarian aid.

Commerce Secretary Mahbubur Rahman disclosed the information today at a press conference held at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Exhibition Center. Photo : PIDDHAKA, Dec 29, 2025 (BSS) - The month-long 30th Dhaka International Trade Fair (DITF)-2026 will begin on January 1 at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Exhibition Center in Purbachal. Commerce Secretary Mahbubur Rahman disclosed the information today at a press conference held at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Exhibition Center regarding the organization of DITF-2026. With the participation of 11 foreign stalls and pavilions, the event will be recognized as an international trade fair. Additionally, a 500-seat cafeteria inside the exhibition center will serve quality food at fixed prices in a pleasant environment.

Home Affairs Adviser Lieutenant General (retd) Md. File PhotoDHAKA, Dec 29, 2025 (BSS) - Home Affairs Adviser Lieutenant General (retd) Md. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury today asked members of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) to demonstrate maximum professionalism and competence in resolving border issues with neighboring countries to ensure cent percent protection of national interests. Later, he awarded 72 BGB members with various medals for their outstanding services and attended a reception arranged for freedom fighters of BGB and their families. Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Home Nasimul Ghani and Director General of BGB Major General Mohammad Ashrafuzzaman Siddiqui were present.

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Acting Chairman, Tarique Rahman, waves to supporters at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka after returning from London, ending more than 17 years of self-imposed exile, Thursday, Dec. 25, 2025. AP/PTITarique Rahman, acting chairman of the Bangladesh National Party and ex-Prime Minister Khaleda Zia’s son, will fight the upcoming General Elections of Bangladesh from two constituencies, reported Bangladeshi daily Dhaka Tribune. Rahman, who returned to Bangladesh on December 25 after a 17-year exile, applied for voting rights in Bangladesh on Saturday, December 27. On Sunday, he signed his nomination papers to contest the 13th national parliamentary election from the Dhaka-17 and Bogra-6 constituencies on the BNP’s electoral symbol — the Sheaf of Paddy.

Photo : BSSPANCHAGARH, Dec 29, 2025 (BSS) - The district police distributed winter clothes among cold-affected helpless, distressed and uprooted people to help them cope with the biting cold. The distribution programme was held on Sunday night on the platform of Panchagarh Railway Station, initiated by the district police as part of their humanitarian activities. Superintendent of Police (SP) Rabiul Islam handed over blankets to more than 300 cold-stricken people during the event. Speaking at the programme, SP Rabiul Islam said standing beside the helpless and underprivileged people of society is part of the regular duties of the police. "As part of this responsibility, we have come forward to ease the suffering of cold-affected people in the cold-prone district of Panchagarh.

GOPALGANJ, Dec 29, 2025 (BSS) - A police constable was killed when a bus hit his motorbike in Bhangapole area under Muksudpur upazila of the district on Monday morning. The deceased was Rabiul Islam, 35, son of Hiru Mia of Nohata village in Muksudpur upazila. He was serving as a constable at Narail Sadar Police Station. Local people rushed him to Muksudpur Upazila Health Complex where the on-duty doctor declared him dead. Rabiul was returning to his village home on a motorcycle in the morning after completing his night duty at Narail Sadar Police Station.

The nomination papers of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman were submitted to the returning officer concerned on Monday to contest the national election from the Dhaka-15 constituency. Besides, BNP nominated Bobby Hajjaj and Shafiqul Islam Khan submitted their respective nomination papers to contest the polls from Dhaka-13 and 15 constituencies, respectively. Jamaat assistant secretary general Ahsanul Mahboob Zubair and Abdul Halim and central executive committee member Mobarak Hossain were the delegation members. In the two constituencies, a total of 29 nomination papers were collected, but only three papers were submitted till Sunday. According to the election schedule, the deadline for the submission of nomination paper is December 29, while the scrutiny of nomination papers is on December 30-January 4, and the last date for the withdrawal of candidature is January 20.

Albanese said last week that a New South Wales-led royal commission -- where the shooting occurred -- would suffice and promised full support. But the families of those killed at Bondi Beach said the federal government's response is "not nearly enough". Our loved ones were celebrating Chanukah at Bondi Beach, a festival of light and joy, in an iconic public space that should have been safe," the letter said. The families said the rise of antisemitism was a "national crisis", adding the "threat was not going away". But with a well-led Commonwealth Royal Commission and strong action, you may be able to save many more."

Photo : BSSKISHOREGANJ, Dec 29, 2025 (BSS) - Nikli upazila of the district recorded the lowest temperature in the country for the second consecutive day today. The temperature dropped to 10 degrees Celsius in the haor-dominated upazila on Monday morning, according to the Meteorological Department. Earlier, on Sunday morning, the temperature in Nikli was recorded at 9.8 degrees Celsius. Data published on the Meteorological Department's website at 11:30 am confirmed that Nikli experienced the lowest temperature nationwide on Monday. Farmers are also facing difficulties, particularly as the Boro rice cultivation season continues in the haor regions of the district.

South Korea's ex-first lady accused of taking over $200,000 in bribesSEOUL, Dec 29, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - South Korea's former first lady was alleged by prosecutors Monday to have accepted lavish bribes totalling over $200,000, including fine art, jewellery and a handbag, as well as meddling in state affairs. In an announcement concluding their investigation, prosecutor Min Joong-ki said South Korea's institutions were "severely undermined by abuses of power" by Kim. Kim allegedly "illegally intervened in state affairs behind the scenes, beyond the public's view," said prosecutor Kim Hyung-geun. They alleged that bribes from businesses and politicians received by Kim totalled up to 377.25 million won ($263,000). Investigators alleged Kim had received two Chanel bags and a Graff necklace from the leader of the Unification Church.

MOSCOW, Dec 29, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - A theatre that became one of the bombed out symbols of a Russian siege of the city of Mariupol in eastern Ukraine in 2022 has reopened after a huge redevelopment, Russian authorities have announced. Russia has since sought to turn Mariupol into a new symbol of prosperity in the parts of Ukraine it controls. Amnesty International said at least 12 people were killed in the bombing of the theatre in 2022. "Mariupol Drama Theatre has reopened its doors to spectators" after a three year redevelopment, said Denis Puchilin, the pro-Russian leader in the Donetsk region that includes the city. The former Russian imperial capital of Saint Petersburg was a major contributor to the restoration, sending workers and architects to Mariupol, according to Saint Petersburg governor Alexander Beglov.