Ferry services on the Paturia-Daulatdia and Aricha-Kazirhat water routes were suspended due to dense fog, leaving more than 300 vehicles stranded at terminals. To prevent accidents, ferry operations on the Aricha-Kazirhat route were suspended. At the time, two ferries — Bir Shrestha Hamidur Rahman and Chitra — were stranded mid-river carrying passengers and vehicles, while two other ferries remained at Kazirhat ghat. Meanwhile, ferry services on the Paturia-Daulatdia route were suspended around 12:30am as fog density increased further. The official said ferry services would resume once visibility improves and fog conditions ease.

Ahead of the arrival of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman, law enforcement agencies have imposed strict security measures at the National Memorial in Savar, Dhaka. Journalists were allowed inside the National Memorial until 9am, but after 9:30am, no one has been permitted entry. At present, they are positioned near the main gate of the National Memorial. Anwar Hossain Khan Anu, officer-in-charge of the National Memorial and Assistant Sub-Engineer of Savar Public Works Department, said public and visitor access has been closed since morning. The memorial will be reopened for visitors after Tarique Rahman departs.

Bangladesh Nationalist Party's (BNP's) Dhaka North City unit has took massive initiatives to operate cleanup drives at "July 36 Expressway" (popularly known as the 300-feet road), used for its Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman's public address, in the Purbachal area of the capital. The multi-faceted cleanup initiative combines workers from the Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC), BNP activists, and 300 hired cleaning staff, who are diligently removing accumulated garbage and debris. Aminul Haque, convener of the Dhaka North BNP, is leading the cleanliness programme. Meanwhile, cleaning staff from the DNCC are also working actively to clean the garbage from the road. Furthermore, the BNP has decided to plant new trees to replace those damaged along the roadside due to the massive gathering of people for the public meeting.

A mild cold wave is sweeping through the districts of Jessore, Chuadanga, Gopalganj, Rajshahi, Pabna, Sirajganj, and Nilphamari, and it may continue on Saturday, the Bangladesh Meteorological Department has indicated. This information was included in the 24-hour weather forecast issued from 9am on Friday. The forecast noted that the mild cold wave is currently affecting the seven districts mentioned above and may persist in some areas. From midnight to morning, moderate to dense fog is likely over river basins in some areas, while light to moderate fog may occur elsewhere across the country. Dense fog may temporarily disrupt air travel, inland water transport, and road communication.

Two separate fire incidents within a night have struck Rohingya refugee camps in Ukhiya upazila of Cox’s Bazar, destroying a key health centre and several residential shelters. Early Friday morning, a fire broke out at a health centre in Block D of Camp 4, Madhurchhara, Rajapalong Union. No casualties have been reported, but the health centre was destroyed, including medical equipment and essential infrastructure. Mahmudul Hasan Siddiqui Rashed, health coordinator for Obat Helpers Bangladesh, said the centre was destroyed and the exact cause of the fire is still unknown. Separately, on Thursday night around 10pm, another fire in Block B of Kutupalong Registered Rohingya Camp destroyed at least five residential shelters.

PUTRAJAYA, Malaysia, Dec 26, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - Former Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak was found guilty Friday of abusing his power in the 1MDB graft scandal, which saw billions plundered from the now-defunct sovereign wealth fund. "The prosecution, I find, has thus proven its case against the accused beyond a reasonable doubt in respect of the first charge," Judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah said, adding, "I therefore convict the accused of the first charge."

Ukraine's Zelensky says to meet Trump in 'near future'KYIV, Ukraine, Dec 26, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Friday that he would soon meet US leader Donald Trump, as part of efforts to end the Russian invasion. "We have agreed on a meeting at the highest level -- with President Trump in the near future. The latest plan would freeze the frontline and remove a requirement for Kyiv to legally renounce its bid to join NATO, Zelensky said in a briefing Wednesday. Moscow has said it was "formulating its position" and declined to comment on the specifics of the latest plan. On Thursday Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said progress to end the war was "slow but regular."

Photo: BNP Media CellDHAKA, Dec 26, 2025 (BSS)- Bangladesh Nationalist Party's (BNP's) Dhaka North City unit has took massive initiatives to operate cleanup drives at "July 36 Expressway" (popularly known as the 300-feet road), used for its Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman's public address, in the Purbachal area of the capital. The multi-faceted cleanup initiative combines workers from the Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC), BNP activists, and 300 hired cleaning staff, who are diligently removing accumulated garbage and debris. Aminul Haque, convener of the Dhaka North BNP, is leading the cleanliness programme. Meanwhile, cleaning staff from the DNCC are also working actively to clean the garbage from the road. Furthermore, the BNP has decided to plant new trees to replace those damaged along the roadside due to the massive gathering of people for the public meeting.

Narsingdi, Dec 26, 2025 (BSS) - Detective Branch (DB) of police arrested the General Secretary of the Narsingdi district unit of the Bangladesh Krishak League, an affiliate of the Awami League whose activities have been banned, on murder charges. Acting on a tip-off, DB personnel conducted a raid in the Sadar Upazila intersection area of the district town on Thursday and arrested him. He is accused in a murder case filed with Madhabdi Police Station in connection with the anti-discrimination movement.

File PhotoRANGPUR, Dec 26, 2025 (BSS) - Christmas, the biggest religious festival of the Christian community, was celebrated with due religious somberness peacefully marking the birthday of Jesus Christ in all 46 churches of Rangpur division on Thursday. The authorities of Rangpur Regional Baptists Church Sangha chalked out various daylong colourful programmes to celebrate the festivity on its premises in the city. They visited the Church and greeted the Christian community people on the occasion of Christmas. Pastoral Super of Rangpur Regional Baptists Church Reverend Shokhoriyo Boiragai delivered a welcome speech greeting the Christian religious leaders and community people. “The Chrisman community celebrated Christmas with huge enthusiasm and festivities in all 46 churches of eight districts in Rangpur division,” he said.

Blankets distributed among the poor in NarailPhoto: BSSNarail, Dec 26, 2025 (BSS) - Blankets were distributed among poor and helpless families here today. The voluntary organization Anjuman Mofidul Islam organized the blanket distribution programme for 100 distressed individuals. Abdur Rashid Munnu, President of Anjuman Mofidul Islam Narail, attended the programme as the chief guest and handed over blankets to the needy men and women. Prominent social worker Golam Qyum Miah presided over the function. Also present were Anjuman Mofidul Islam Narail Secretary M. Moslem Uddin Nannu, Treasurer Md Anwar Hossain, Md Ahsan Habib, KM Akhtaruzzaman Dablu, Narail Press Club Vice-President Sultan Mahmood, Md Amzad Hossain, Md Alauddin, and others.

File PhotoDHAKA, Dec 26, 2025 (BSS) – A mild cold wave is sweeping across the northern region of the country, disrupting normal life as temperatures continue to drop nationwide. The poor and vulnerable communities in the northern districts have been hardest hit by the cold wave, which has been accompanied by dense fog over the past few days. According to a bulletin from the Bangladesh Meteorological Department, a mild cold wave is affecting the districts of Jashore, Chuadanga, Gopalganj, Rajshahi, Pabna, Sirajganj, and Nilphamari, and it may persist in some areas. Officer-in-Charge of the Chuadanga Meteorological Office, Jaminur Rahman, said the lowest temperature in Chuadanga today was 9.6°C, compared to 9°C yesterday. He added that residents in the char areas are struggling amid the severe cold, as sufficient winter clothing has yet to reach them despite government and private assistance.

Photo: BSSKHULNA, Dec 26, 2025 (BSS) - Farmers across the Khulna agricultural region are nearing completion of Boro seedbeds, while planting of Boro saplings has begun with great enthusiasm as the season reaches its peak. Md Rafiqul Islam, Additional Director of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) for the Khulna region, said that as of December 21, 89 percent of the Boro seedbed preparation had been completed. The DAE has set a record target of producing 1,81,54,217 tonnes of paddy from 2,64,719 hectares of land in the Khulna agricultural region this season. Farmers Moinul Islam, Abdus Salam, and Sabbir Hossain of Paikgachha upazila said they expect to complete Boro cultivation by January. Agriculturist Foyez Mina of Khulna DAE said, “Boro paddy production may exceed projections if favourable weather prevails in the coming months.”

Now the two brothers play games in it all the day long. So she has to be busy playing games on her mobile phone even in the presence of her parents. Since she is a working woman, her children have chosen to play games on their mobile phones for entertainment. In this way, almost everyone is busy playing digital games with smartphones, iPhones, and tabs. He said that digital games have a mental, physical and social impact on children.

Thalassemia major is a condition in which the body cannot produce enough haemoglobin to meet its needs, making patients dependent on regular blood transfusions from donors. “The patient has to depend on blood transfusions every three to four weeks throughout life. Experts said thalassemia is a blood disorder caused by the weakening and destruction of red blood cells. “Such a child is diagnosed with thalassemia major,” they explained, adding that these children require blood transfusions at regular intervals throughout their lives. Organisations such as the Bangladesh Thalassemia Foundation (BTF) and the newly launched Bangladesh Thalassemia Patients and Parents’ Welfare Association (BTPWA) are actively working to improve patients’ quality of life and raise awareness to prevent new cases.