Thousands of BNP leaders and activists have taken positions along the road outside Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal Airport to welcome BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman. The area is buzzing with chants, with particularly strong participation from BNP activists from Uttara. Meanwhile, the flight carrying Tarique Rahman has landed at Sylhet Osmani International Airport. A new bulletproof car for Tarique Rahman has arrived at Shahjalal, and the other vehicles in his convoy are also ready. Earlier, the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner BG-202 carrying Tarique Rahman departed London’s Heathrow Airport for Dhaka at 6:15pm local time on Wednesday.

National Citizen Party (NCP) Convener Nahid Islam has said that BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman’s return to the country after 17 years reflects a positive outcome of Bangladesh’s democratic struggle. In the post, Nahid wrote that Tarique Rahman and his family were subjected to state repression due to political differences of opinion, which forced him into prolonged exile. He said the current circumstances—created through a mass uprising and the sacrifices of thousands of martyrs—have made it possible for Tarique Rahman and his family to return home. Welcoming Tarique Rahman’s return, the NCP convener said he believes it will further strengthen the practice of multiparty democracy in Bangladesh. He also expressed hope that Tarique Rahman’s participation will be meaningful in shaping the country’s democratic future.

The Advisory Council has given final approval to proposed amendments to the Bangladesh Telecommunications Ordinance, clearly stating that internet or telecommunications services can never be shut down. A new “Accountability Committee” has also been formed, chaired by the head of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Posts and Telecommunications. Only specific agencies named in the law will be allowed to conduct such interception, and strictly within their respective jurisdictions. Interception activities will require approval from a quasi-judicial council and will operate under role-based access control through the CIS. Following consultations with the ministries of home affairs, finance, and planning, it was placed before the council for final approval at Wednesday’s meeting.

BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman is set to visit his mother, BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia, at Evercare Hospital in the capital's Bashundhara Residential Area. In preparation, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) personnel have been deployed to strengthen security in and around the hospital premises. BGB Public Relations Officer Shariful Islam stated: "BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman will visit his mother, Khaleda Zia, at Evercare Hospital. After 17 years in exile, the Biman Bangladesh Airlines Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner (Flight BG-202) carrying Tarique Rahman landed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 11:40am on Thursday. He is scheduled to visit Evercare Hospital following the conclusion of the rally.

BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman’s wife, Zubaida Rahman and daughter Zaima Rahman have reached their Gulshan residence in the capital from Shahjalal International Airport. Zubaida and Zaima reached Gulshan No 196 residence around 1pm on Thursday, said an official of BNP Chairperson’s Security Force (CSF). Police and CSF members took them to the house as part of safety protocol. After finishing the airport formalities, Zubaida and Zaima went straight to their Gulshan residence, while Tarique made his way to the 300 Feet reception site. Earlier, Tarique returned home along with his family in the morning, ending 17 years of life in exile.

The Election Commission (EC) has issued guidelines for voters in jails or legal custody to cast their votes in the upcoming National Parliament Elections and Referendums. According to Rule 10A of the Election Conduct Rules 2008 (Amendment 2025), voters detained in jail or legal custody can exercise their right to vote through the "In-Country Postal Voting" (ICPV) system. This directive, signed by EC Deputy Secretary Mohammad Monir Hossain, was sent to the Inspector General of Prisons on Wednesday. Key Features of the ICPV ProcessThe list of detained voters will be approved by the relevant authorities. It is noted that no postal charges are applicable for sending these envelopes, as the Government of Bangladesh will settle the expenses.

Tarique Rahman, acting chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), has returned to Bangladesh after 17 years, landing at Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on Thursday at 11:40am. Earlier, the plane carrying Tarique Rahman landed at Sylhet Osmani International Airport at 9:56am. At the airport, Tarique Rahman was welcomed by BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, and Standing Committee members Salauddin Ahmed, Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, Mirza Abbas, among others. The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner BG-202 departed London’s Heathrow Airport at 6:15pm local time on Wednesday. He is accompanied by his wife, Dr Zobaida Rahman, and daughter, Barrister Zaima Rahman.

Mir Arshadul Haque, joint member secretary of the National Citizens Party (NCP) Central Committee, has left the party, stating that he won't be able to achieve the promises of the July mass uprising. At the same time, he has expressed his support for BNP's Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman, stating that Tareque "at least has a vision for Bangladesh, sector by sector". During his student days, Mir Arshadul Haque was involved in campus journalism as well as various movements and protests. On Thursday morning, the day Tarique Rahman returned from London after 17 years, Mir Arshadul announced his resignation from the NCP in a Facebook post. I am making this announcement today on a special day—the day when Bangladesh Nationalist Party-BNP's Acting Chairman Mr Tarique Rahman returns home after a long 17-year exile.

A case has been filed in connection with the death of a man in a crude bomb explosion in the Moghbazar area of the capital. Ali Akbar Majumdar, father of the victim, filed the case with Hatirjheel Police Station against some unidentified people early Thursday, said Golam Mortuza, officer-in-charge of the police station. Siam Majumdar, 30, a construction worker, was killed when a crude bomb thrown by miscreants from the Moghbazar–Mouchak flyover exploded near the Moghbazar Muktijoddha Sangsad gate in the capital on Wednesday evening. Md Mohiuddin, inspector (operations) of Hatirjheel Police Station, said the crude bomb was hurled from the flyover on the road and hit Siam on his head, killing him on the spot.

BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman left the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport and headed directly to 300 Feet to address a rally. After completing airport formalities, he departed by a special bus on the road at 12:35pm on Thursday. Also on the same bus were BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and other Standing Committee members. Tarique Rahman, as returned to Bangladesh after 17 years, landing at Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on Thursday at 11:40am. The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner BG-202 departed London’s Heathrow Airport at 6:15pm local time on Wednesday.

A Jubo League leader, wanted under the Anti-Terrorism Act, was arrested by Immigration Police at the Benapole Land Port in Sharsha Upazila, Jessore, while attempting to flee to India. The arrestee, Russell Pathan, is the son of Abdur Razzak Pathan from Sankipara village in Mymensingh Sadar Upazila. According to Immigration Police sources, Russell Pathan submitted his passport at the Benapole Land Port immigration desk around 10am on Thursday to cross into India. During interrogation, it was revealed that he is the joint-convener of the Mymensingh City Jubo League. Following his detention, he was handed over to the Benapole Port Police Station.

Photo : BNPDHAKA, Dec 25, 2025 (BSS) - Thousands of leaders and activists of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) lined both sides of the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport Road from early morning today to welcome the party's Acting Chairman, Tarique Rahman. Leaders and activists from different districts and thanas gathered with party flags, banners, placards and flowers to greet Tarique Rahman upon his arrival. Supporters chanted slogans like "Welcome to Tarique Rahman's return" and "Tarique Rahman is the soul of Bangladesh," expressing enthusiasm and solidarity with the BNP leader. Extensive security measures have been put in place along the Airport Road and surrounding areas to maintain law and order. A large number of party leaders, activists and supporters have already gathered at the designated venue, where a festive atmosphere is prevailing ahead of the reception.

The EC has already begun dispatching postal ballots to expatriate voters worldwide. Among expatriate voters, Saudi Arabia tops the list with 154,692 registered voters. Within the country, 186,305 voters have registered under the ‘In Country Postal Vote’ category. District-wise registration figures show Cumilla leading with 66,592 registered voters, followed by Dhaka (58,585), Chittagong (57,458), Noakhali (38,118), Sylhet (28,067) and Chandpur (26,356). Other notable constituencies include Chittagong-15 with 9,410 voters, Cumilla-10 with 8,935 and Noakhali-1 with over 8,800 registered postal voters.

Kamal Hossain, the driver of the battery-powered rickshaw on which Sharif Osman bin Hadi was shot, has given a statement in court as a witness. On Thursday, the investigation officer DB Police Inspector Faisal Ahmed produced Kamal in court and applied for recording his statement as a witness. According to the application, “At the time of the incident, Hadi was travelling in an auto-rickshaw driven by witness Kamal Hossain from Khalil Hotel in Motijheel towards Suhrawardy Udyan, when he was shot. Gravely wounded, Hadi was rushed to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, where he underwent surgery, and was later admitted to Evercare Hospital. After Hadi was shot, Inqilab Moncho Member Secretary Abdullah Al Jaber filed a case of attempted murder on Dec 14.

What To Know George Strait was honored at the 2025 Kennedy Center Honors, with tributes from Vince Gill, Brooks & Dunn, and Miranda Lambert celebrating his influential career. Singer-songwriter Vince Gill spoke on behalf of Strait, returning the favor after Strait spoke for him at the CMA Awards on November 19. Following Gill, country music duo Brooks & Dunn performed “Amarillo By Morning,” the song popularized by Strait in 1982. Fans took to social media to share their reactions to the tribute with one X user writing, “Watching Miranda Lambert, Brooks and Dunn, Vince Gill sing George Strait songs is so cool! “Miranda Lambert/ Vince Gill were touching,” wrote another.