Bangladeshi and Pakistani communities in Britain, particularly in London, are facing the highest levels of unemployment in the country, as new figures show a decade-high number of children growing up in households where no adult is in work. In London, around 39.5% of working-age Bangladeshi and Pakistani residents are unemployed, the highest rate among all ethnic groups in the capital. Analysts say Bangladeshi and Pakistani households remain particularly vulnerable due to structural inequalities, sectoral job concentration and long-term economic pressures. In the final quarter of 2025, the capital’s unemployment rate rose to 6.8%, well above the national average. Muzibur Rahman, a councillor at Newham Council in London, told Dhaka Tribune that addressing unemployment among Bangladeshi and Pakistani communities must be a priority for the government.

Russia lashes out at Zelensky ahead of new Trump talks on Ukraine planKYIV, Ukraine, Dec 27, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - Volodymyr Zelensky is due to meet President Donald Trump in Florida this weekend, but Russia accused the Ukrainian president and his EU backers Friday of seeking to "torpedo" a US-brokered plan to stop the fighting. Ahead of the talks, AFP journalists reported several powerful explosions in Kyiv on Saturday, and authorities warned of a possible missile attack. Zelensky meanwhile said he held telephone talks on Friday with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Germany's Chancellor Friedrich Merz and a host of other European leaders. Russia signalled its opposition to the plan ahead of the Florida talks. It has also proposed joint US-Ukrainian-Russian control of Zaporizhzhia, Europe's largest nuclear plant, which Russia seized during the invasion.

Photo: ISPRCHATTOGRAM, Dec 27, 2025 (BSS) - The Bangladesh Navy has arrested 11smugglers including an engine-powered boat with huge cement and diesel beingsmuggled to Myanmar from the Kutubdia outer anchorage area in the Bay ofBengal. Acting on a tip-off, the Navy members seized the boat last Friday andrecovered 1000 liters of diesel and 650 bags of Bangladeshi diamond cement(Shah Cement) from their possession, said a release of Inter Services PublicRelations (ISPR) this evening. Those seized items were smuggled to Myanmar illegally by evading customduties through sea routes by the engine-powered boats, it said. Based on secret information in Saint Martin and the adjacent areas, theBangladesh Navy Ship Shahid Mohibullah earlier kept watch on a suspiciousfishing boat identified as 'FB Ankita Anbesha' about 42 miles away from theKutubdia lighthouse. Later, the seized goods and the arrested were handed over to Patenga ModelPolice Station for legal action, the ISPR added.

DHAKA, Dec 27, 2025 (BSS) - Fast bowler Syed Khaled Ahmed produced a fiery spell, claiming 4-23, as Sylhet Titans restricted Noakhali Express to 143 for 7 in their second match of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) T20 tournament at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium today. Sharing the new ball with Pakistan pacer Mohammad Amir, Khaled struck twice early to spark a top-order collapse, reducing Noakhali to just nine runs for three wickets inside the powerplay. Mahidul Islam Ankon then resisted with a composed innings, remaining unbeaten on 61 off 51 balls, which included one four and three sixes. Jaker Ali showed signs of regaining form, contributing a brisk 29 off 17 deliveries. Saim Ayub supported the bowling effort with figures of 2-25, while Amir picked up 1-25.

Photo: BSSBy Md Mamun IslamRANGPUR, Dec 27, 2025 (BSS) - The sweeping cold wave coupled with coolerwinds, cloud and fog deteriorated weather in the last 24 hours ending at 6 pmin the northern region where normal life remained disrupted today. The gap between the minimum and maximum temperatures sharply reduced due to asharp fall in the maximum temperatures by six to eight degrees Celsiuscausing the bone-chilling cold today. The elderly people, women and babies are the worst sufferers, especially inrural and riverine char areas, due to the sweeping bone-chilling cold in thesub-Himalayan northern region. Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Rangpur Meteorological Office Meteorologist MdMostafizar Rahman said the minimum temperatures remained mostly unchangedwith a little rise at places while maximum temperatures marked sharp falls inthe region today. The minimum temperature of 11.8 degrees Celsius was recorded at 9 am todayagainst yesterday's 11.2 degrees and maximum of 17.5 degrees againstyesterday's 22.4 degrees Celsius at Rangpur city.

Dhaka Capitals began their Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) campaign on a poignant yet victorious note, displaying remarkable mental strength to defeat Rajshahi Warriors by five wickets at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium on Friday. Asked to bat first, Rajshahi Warriors struggled to replicate the form that had seen them dominate their opening fixture against Sylhet. Although Mohammad Nawaz contributed a brief resistance with 26 runs down the order, Rajshahi never managed to regain control. In reply, Dhaka Capitals approached the chase with caution. The win marked a strong and emotionally charged start for Dhaka Capitals, reflecting both their on-field quality and collective resilience in the face of tragedy.

BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman on Saturday visited the graves of the slain army officers of the 2009 Pilkhana tragedy at the Banani Military Graveyard in the capital. He offered fateha and paid homage to the military officers who were killed during the 2009 BDR mutiny at Pilkhana in Dhaka. Earlier in the same graveyard, Tarique Rahman also offered fateha at the grave of his father-in-law, Rear Admiral Mahbub Ali Khan. He offered fateha at his brother’s grave and joined a munajat, seeking the salvation of Koko’s departed soul. This was the first time Tarique Rahman offered fateha at his brother’s grave, as he had been living in exile in London for the past 17 years.

Dhaka Capitals’ assistant coach Mahbub Ali passed away after collapsing on the field just minutes before the start of their Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) match against Rajshahi Warriors in Sylhet on Saturday. The incident occurred during the warm-up session at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium, around 20 minutes before the scheduled start. Players from both teams and coaching staff were present on the field when Mahbub Ali suddenly fell to the ground, prompting immediate concern and a brief commotion. In a short statement, Dhaka Capitals said Mahbub Ali felt unwell during training and collapsed on the field.He was given CPR at the venue before being taken to hospital. Dhaka Capitals won the toss and chose to field against Rajshahi Warriors, with the team regaining focus shortly before play began.

At least 25 people were injured when unruly crowds attacked the venue during a concert by renowned musician James at Faridpur Zila School on Friday night, forcing the cancellation of the show marking the institution’s 185th anniversary. The attackers were later forced to retreat after facing resistance from students of Faridpur Zila School. He said between 15 and 20 students of Faridpur Zila School were injured by brickbats during the incident. The festivities were scheduled to conclude Friday night with a raffle draw, cultural programs, and the concert by James’s band. Established in 1840 during British rule, Faridpur Zila School is among the few government-initiated schools of that era and has played a significant role in the region’s education, culture, and social movements over its 185-year history.

The four-day 4th Prime Bank New Year Cup Golf Tournament 2025 has commenced with great enthusiasm. Although the tournament began on December 24, its formal inauguration took place on Friday, December 26, at the Army Golf Club. The inauguration ceremony was graced by Lieutenant General Khan Firoz Ahmed, president of the Army Golf Club, who officially inaugurated the tournament. Also present at the ceremony were Hassan O Rashid, CEO of Prime Bank; Brigadier General Syed Ahmed Ali, (retd), chief executive officer of Army Golf Club; Brigadier General Akhtar Shahid, chairman of the tournament committee; Colonel Muhammad Shariful Islam, golf captain; Lieutenant Colonel Sayful Islam, member secretary; Lieutenant Colonel Md. Golam Monzoor Siddique (retd), director (operations & sports); Lieutenant Colonel AKM Saiful Bahar (retd), director (admin & management), along with members of the executive committee of the club and other guests.

Registrations through the postal voting system for the 13th national parliamentary election and referendum have exceeded 800,000, the Election Commission (EC) has said. Within Bangladesh, 244,661 voters registered under the in-country postal voting category. District-wise, Comilla led with 71,143 registrations, followed by Dhaka (63,595), Chittagong (61,703), Noakhali (40,741), Sylhet (30,089), and Chandpur (28,315). By constituency, Feni-3 recorded the highest number of registered postal voters at 11,793, followed by Chittagong-15 (9,811), Cumilla-10 (9,466), and Noakhali-1 (9,365). The deadline for nomination paper collection and submission for the February 12 national election is December 29.

The Indian Border Security Force (BSF) has pushed 14 Indian people, including women, men and children, into Bangladesh through the Darshana border in Chuadanga. Later on Friday evening, 14 Indian women, men, and children were pushed through the Darshana border. Earlier, on the evening of Friday, they were pushed into Bangladesh through a point on the Darshana border. The people who came through are: Sheikh Jabbar, son of Harun Aur Rashid, Hakim Sheikh, Sheikh Ukil, Sheikh Bunty, son of Sheikh Abdur Jabbar, from Satkura Dhanipur area of Jagsingh district, Odisha state, India. Sheikh Raja, Sheikh Jabbar's wife Alkuni Bibi, Sheikh Ukil's wife Sagerah Bibi, daughter Shakila, Sheikh Raja's wife Mehrun Bibi, daughter Nasrin, sons Rohit, Tawhid, Sheikh Hakim's wife Shamsheri Bibi and Sheikh Hossain's wife Gulshan Bibi.

An individual collected an independent nomination form in Asif Mahmud’s name from the Comilla-3 (Muradnagar) constituency on Wednesday. “On Wednesday, a person named Ramjanul Karim collected an independent nomination form on behalf of former adviser Asif Mahmud. So far, 104 people have collected nomination forms across the district’s 11 constituencies,” he said. However, no decision has been taken on whether Asif Mahmud will collect nomination papers from Muradnagar. A day earlier, Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan and Mahfuj Alam resigned from their posts, fueling speculation over their political future.

The government is working to extend a 20 percent electricity subsidy to the fisheries sector, similar to the incentive currently enjoyed by agriculture, Fisheries and Livestock Adviser Farida Akhter said on Saturday. “The fisheries sector does not yet receive subsidised electricity like agriculture. However, work has been underway for the past year, and through coordination among the relevant ministries, we expect to ensure around a 20 percent electricity subsidy very soon,” she said. Highlighting prospects for shrimp exports, Farida Akhter said Bangladesh’s shrimp is globally recognised for its taste and quality. Speaking on the broader fisheries sector, the adviser said Bangladesh has yet to fully reap benefits from the sector due to systemic gaps.

Tasnim Jara, first senior joint member secretary of the National Citizen Party (NCP) and a native of Khilgaon, has announced her resignation from the party and will contest the upcoming parliamentary election as an independent candidate from Dhaka-9. “Therefore, in this election, I will participate as an independent candidate from Dhaka-9,” she said. Jara also highlighted the challenges of contesting as an independent candidate. “A party candidate has the party’s local office, a well-organized cadre, and opportunities to discuss security or other concerns with the government and administration. Tasnim Jara concluded the statement by reaffirming her commitment to serve the people of her constituency.