Photo: CollectedYANGON, Myanmar, Dec 28, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - Polls closed in the first round of Myanmar's junta-run elections on Sunday, an AFP journalist saw, ending the opening phase of a month-long vote democracy watchdogs describe as a ploy to rebrand military rule. An AFP journalist saw a polling station put out a final call for voters over loudspeakers before closing at 4:00 pm (1030 GMT) in downtown Yangon, near the site of huge pro-democracy protests in 2021 after the military seized power in a coup.

Photo : BSSBARISHAL, Dec 28, 2025 (BSS) - Public life in Barishal district has been severely disrupted as a bitter cold spell accompanied by icy winds continues to grip the region, causing immense hardship for low-income and working-class people. According to the district meteorological office, the lowest temperature recorded on Sunday was 13.4 degrees Celsius, while Saturday saw the season’s lowest temperature at 12.4 degrees Celsius. Similarly, Liton, a rickshaw puller from Sadar road, said strong winds and extreme cold have made driving exhausting, while passengers are scarce. Pranab Kumar Roy, an observer at the district meteorological office, said that the lowest temperature of the season was recorded at 12.4 degrees Celsius, with the day’s highest temperature reaching 25.5 degrees Celsius. Meteorological officials forecasted that cold conditions may persist over the next few days, urging residents, especially vulnerable groups, to take necessary precautions.

Joint Convener of NationalCitizen Party, Tajnuva Jabeen. Photo :CollectedDHAKA, Dec 28, 2025 (BSS) - Tajnuva Jabeen, Joint Convener of NationalCitizen Party (NCP) , today resigned and announced that she will not contest the upcoming national parliamentary election. She alleged that although nominations were initially invited nationwide,later seat-sharing decisions restricted candidates from contesting independently, leaving many without the opportunity to run in the election. Tajnuva said she has resigned from all party posts and will not take part in the general election. Despite stepping away from the party, she said she would continue to work fordemocratic change and political reform in the country.

Aston Villa remain just three points behind the leaders ahead of their trip to Arsenal on Tuesday after substitute Ollie Watkins struck twice in a 2-1 win at Chelsea. City's 2-1 win in the lunchtime kick-off at the City Ground took them top for a couple of hours. Arteta's men had some fortune for the vital second goal when Georginio Rutter turned Declan Rice's corner into his own net. "A really, really, really important three points." Liverpool are now unbeaten in seven games but were still far from convincing against a Wolves side without a league win all season.

BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman is set to visit the party chairperson’s office in the capital’s Gulshan area on Sunday, marking his first visit to the office since his return to the country. BNP media cell member Sayrul Kabir Khan said Tarique Rahman is scheduled to come to the Gulshan office in the afternoon. Party sources said Tarique will work from the BNP Chairperson’s Gulshan office, where a new office room has been prepared for him on the second floor. Both the Nayapaltan central office and the Gulshan chairperson’s office have been freshly painted, cleaned and decorated ahead of his return. Tarique Rahman returned to Bangladesh on Thursday after spending nearly 17 years in exile abroad.

Ferry services between Chandpur and Shariatpur resumed on Sunday morning after nearly nine and a half hours of suspension due to dense fog. Faisal Alam Chowdhury, manager of Harina ferry terminal, said operations were halted from 11pm Saturday until 8:30am Sunday to prevent accidents and ensure passenger safety, leaving over a hundred vehicles, including trucks and pickups, stranded on both sides of the ferry terminals. The ferry operations returned to normal around 9am after the dense fog removed from the Meghna River. Meanwhile, several passenger launches operating on Dhaka-Chandpur route, including MV Rof Rof, Jhom Jhom, Bogdadia, and Meghna Rani, arrived at Chandpur ghat with delays of five to six hours, ferry owners and supervisors said.

BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman will contest the 13th parliamentary election billed for February 12 next year from two constituencies--Bogra-6 and Dhaka-17. “Our party’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman will contest the election from two seats. Salahuddin said BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia will contest the election from three constituencies--Bogra-7, Feni-1 and Dinajpur-3, while Tarique Rahman will contest from Bogra-6 and Dhaka-17. When asked about campaign activities suggesting that Bangladesh Jatiya Party (BJP) Chairman Barrister Andaleeve Rahman Partho, a BNP ally, will contest from the Dhaka-17 seat, Salahuddin said Partho is not contesting the polls from Dhaka-17. “He will contest the election from his home constituency, Bhola-1, using his party’s own election symbol,” the BNP leader said.

BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman on Sunday collected his nomination paper to contest the upcoming national election from the Dhaka-17 constituency. On behalf of Tarique, BNP Chairperson’s Private Secretary ABM Abdur Sattar collected the nomination form from the office of Dhaka Divisional Commissioner Sharf Uddin Ahmed Choudhury at around 11:10am, said BNP media cell member Shayrul Kabir Khan. Earlier on Saturday night, BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed told UNB that Tarique Rahman will contest the 13th parliamentary election, scheduled for February 12 next year, from two constituencies—Bogra-6 and Dhaka-17. “Our party’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman will contest the election from two seats. “He will contest the election from his home constituency, Bhola-1, using his party’s own election symbol,” the BNP leader said.

Tajnuva Jabeen, joint convener of the National Citizen Party (NCP), resigned from the party on Sunday, expressing strong objections to the manner in which its electoral alliance was formed. Tajnuva had initially received the NCP’s primary nomination for the Dhaka-17 constituency and had been actively campaigning there for several days. Besides, 30 members of the party have sent a letter to NCP convener Nahid Islam, stating their unwillingness to join any alliance with Jamaat. A central leader of the NCP, speaking on condition of anonymity, told UNB that more resignations are likely in the coming days. In particular, women leaders holding senior positions are not interested in aligning with Jamaat,” the NCP leader said.

Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury on Sunday took oath as the 26th Chief Justice of Bangladesh. Earlier, on December 23, President Shahabuddin appointed him as the new chief justice. On Saturday, Chief Justice Dr Syed Refaat Ahmed retired from his post. Born on May 18, 1961, Justice Zubayer is the son of the late AFM Abdur Rahman Chowdhury, who also served as a judge of the Supreme Court. President Shahabuddin appointed him as a justice of the Appellate Division on August 12, 2024, and he took oath the following day, on August 13.

BNP on Saturday demanded the immediate and unconditional release of teacher AKM Shahidul Islam, who was arrested over allegations of making derogatory remarks about BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman. “So, the BNP thinks that the arrest and imprisonment of AKM Shahidul Islam for expressing his own views was not right. We urge the authorities to respect the democratic rights of the people by immediately releasing AKM Shahidul Islam unconditionally,” the party said. AKM Shahidul Islam was detained by police from the Shahbagh area of the capital on Saturday over allegations of making derogatory comments about Tarique Rahman during his visit to Sharif Osman Hadi’s grave. Police said Shahidul Islam is serving as the vice-principal of Gabtoli Technical Training Centre in Dhaka.

Faisal Karim Masud, the main accused in the murder of Inqilab Mancha spokesperson Sharif Osman Hadi, has fled to India, Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Additional Commissioner Nazrul Islam said on Sunday. According to Nazrul Islam, Faisal and his associates first went to Aminbazar immediately after the murder. From there, they travelled to Kalampur in Manikganj and later crossed the border through Haluaghat in Mymensingh in a private car. “A total of 11 people have been arrested so far, and we are convinced by the information and evidence obtained from those arrested,” the additional commissioner said. He also said the murder was premeditated and politically motivated.

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has extended the deadline for filing income tax returns for the 2025-26 financial year by another month at the last minute. Earlier, the deadline for filing returns was extended once for the current financial year. Although according to the general rules, it is mandatory to file income tax returns by November 30 every year, in reality, the NBR extends the deadline multiple times almost every year. In the current FY26, with some exceptions, all taxpayers will have to file their income tax returns (e-returns) online. NBR officials hope that the extension of time will make more taxpayers interested in voluntarily filing returns and will have a positive impact on expanding the tax net.

National Citizen Party (NCP) Member Secretary Akhtar Hossain has explained the party’s position on its electoral understanding or possible alliance with Jamaat-e-Islami. His statement was posted on the NCP’s verified Facebook page on Saturday night. Akhtar Hossain said that during discussions at the consensus commission, there were differences of opinion between the BNP and other parties, while the NCP, Jamaat-e-Islami and several others agreed on key reform proposals. “In considering any electoral alliance or understanding, my foremost priority is the question of reform, the politics of rebuilding the country, and the commitment to establishing a new state structure for Bangladesh,” he said. On Saturday, 30 central committee leaders wrote to NCP Convener Nahid Islam, voicing objections to the understanding with Jamaat.

The Inqilab Mancha has announced a seven-hour blockade program from 11am to 6pm in divisional cities across the country from Sunday, demanding justice for the murder of Sharif Osman Hadi. Inqilab Mancha Member Secretary Abdullah Al Jaber announced the blockade around 11:20pm on Saturday. Shortly before that, around 11pm, the DMP commissioner and the adviser disclosed the timeline for submitting the chargesheet. Rejecting their statements, Inqilab Mancha demanded that the chargesheet be submitted within three working days and the trial completed within 26 working days. Referring to the Asiya murder case, she said trials could be completed within a short time frame, adding that efforts would be made to conclude the Hadi murder trial as quickly as possible.