UN says Myanmar junta using 'brutal violence' to force people to voteGENEVA, Dec 23, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - The UN said on Tuesday Myanmar's junta was using violence and intimidation to force people to vote in upcoming military-controlled elections, while armed opposition groups were using similar tactics to keep people away. "The military authorities in Myanmar must stop using brutal violence to compel people to vote and stop arresting people for expressing any dissenting views," United Nations rights chief Volker Turk said in a statement. "Forcing displaced people to undertake unsafe and involuntary returns is a human rights violation," Turk stressed. It also pointed to how the self-declared Yangon Army bombed administration offices in Hlegu and North Okkalapa townships in the Yangon region, injuring several election staff, and had vowed to "keep attacking election organisers". "These elections are clearly taking place in an environment of violence and repression," Turk said.

Zelensky said a four-year-old child was killed in the central Zhytomyr region, where a Russian drone struck a residential building. Workers were scrambling to repair energy infrastructure hit in the attack, he said, which forced emergency power cuts across several regions in frigid winter weather. - Four-year-old killed –Russia's army said it had launched a massive strike using long-range drones and hypersonic missiles at military and energy sites. The head of Ukraine's Zhytomyr region, Vitaliy Bunechko, said a girl born in 2021 succumbed to her wounds after her building was hit. Ukraine's prime minister Yulia Svyrydenko said energy facilities in the west of the country were most affected by the strikes.

Severe cold wave and dense fog grip Tetulia, disrupting daily life and reducing road visibility. Photo : BSSBy Abu NayemPANCHAGARH, Dec 23, 2025 (BSS) - A severe cold wave coupled with dense fog has gripped the district, disrupting daily life as the gap between minimum and maximum temperatures narrows and sunshine remains absent until late morning. Dense fog prevailed until around 9:30 am that day, while the maximum temperature reached 21.7 degrees Celsius, leaving a narrow difference of 9.7 degrees Celsius. Motorcyclist Hasibul Islam added that his hands and feet become numb while riding in the severe cold. He added that a moderate cold wave may sweep over Tetulia and other northern districts towards the end of December.

DHAKA, Dec 23, 2025 (BSS) - Bangladesh fast bowler Taskin Ahmed continued hisgood form in the International League T20 (IL T20), playing a key role in hisside Sharjah Warriors' four-wicket victory against Abu Dhabi Knight Riders atAbu Dhabi on Monday. Taskin ended with 2-41 in four overs, a performance that saw Sharjah restrictAbu Dhabi to 134-9 before they clinched the victory by reaching 135-6 in 20overs. Adil Rashid was adjudged man of the match for his 3-18 for Sharjah but Taskingave two timely breakthroughs despite being expensive. Taskin stifled Abu Dhabi at the outset of the innings, dismissing Phil Salt(4), who is known for his flying start. Losing two key batters in the first three overs, Abu Dhabi could never clawback into the contest.

Photo: CollectedKUWAIT CITY, Dec 23, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - Kuwait has signed a deal worth $4.1 billion with China to complete the construction of a major port, as the oil-rich country seeks to diversify its economy with a bigger role in global trade. The State Audit Bureau, a government oversight body responsible for monitoring public funds, on Monday said "the engineering, procurement, and construction contract to complete the Mubarak Al-Kabeer Port project will cost 1.28 billion Kuwaiti dinars ($4.164 billion)". Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Al-Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah attended the "ceremony for inking the engineering-supply-construction contract for building Mubarak Al-Kabeer Port on Boubyan island," state media reported. Chinese acting charge d'affaires Liu Xiang said the deal "constitutes participation in the 'belt and road' initiative". In 2023, Kuwait signed seven memoranda of understanding with China on projects including the Mubarak al-Kabeer Port, as well as housing, water treatment and renewable energy.

WASHINGTON, United States, Dec 23, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - The IMF announced aninitial deal over its latest program reviews for Egypt, paving the way tounlocking $2.5 billion in funding to the country as it pushes to liberalizeits economy. And in March this year, the global lender approved a new loan worth $1.3billion for Egypt. The IMF on Monday said it "reached staff level agreement on the fifth andsixth reviews under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) arrangement and thefirst review under the Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF)". "Stabilization efforts have delivered important gains and the Egyptianeconomy is showing signs of robust growth," IMF mission chief Ivanna VladkovaHollar said. If approved by the IMF executive board, some $2.5 billion of financing willbe unlocked from the $8 billion expanded loan, as well the $1.3 billion fromthe deal concluded this year.

Golpata fruit and jaggery gain attention for nutrition, livelihoods and economic potential in Khulna coast. Compared to date palm sap, golpata sap is denser, as only eight pitchers are required to produce one pitcher of jaggery, whereas date palm sap requires about sixteen pitchers. According to agricultural estimates, nearly 10,000 tonnes of golpata jaggery are produced annually in coastal areas, supporting hundreds of families. In folk medicine, golpata fruit is believed to help treat intestinal worms, dehydration, skin diseases and physical weakness. Although commercial marketing of golpata fruit remains limited, some individuals have started selling it to tourists in heritage areas of Bagerhat.

DHAKA, Dec 23, 2025 (BSS) - The Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) has forecast that most parts of the country will remain generally dry with intervals of partly cloudy skies, while foggy conditions may continue and day and night temperatures are expected to fall slightly during the next 24 hours beginning at 9:00 am today. According to A BMD bulletin, Moderate to thick fog may occur at places over the country during midnight to morning. Night and day temperature may fall slightly over the country, it added. On Monday, Teknaf recorded the highest temperature at 31.2 degrees Celsius, while Rajarhat registered the lowest at 12.0 degrees Celsius today. In Dhaka, sunset will be at 5:17 pm today and sunrise at 6:38 am tomorrow.

During the panel discussion, Mohammad Zakir Hasan, Executive Director (ICT) of Bangladesh Bank, revealed that the central bank has already initiated the formulation of an integrated AI policy. Mohammad Ali, Managing Director of Pubali Bank PLC, delivered the keynote paper, outlining a clear roadmap for an effective AI strategy tailored for the financial sector. Rezaul Karim, Joint Director (ICT) of BBTA, presented on the practical adoption of AI within financial institutions. Presiding over the seminar, Md. Hanif Mia, Executive Director of BBTA, described AI as a powerful tool that can make the financial sector more inclusive, efficient, and stable if governed by proper oversight.

"We strongly demand that those involved in this incident be brought to justice," he said. "Referring to the situation after the Aug 5 uprising, Rosario said incidents targeting minority communities had increased. "We have placed a report before the nation on behalf of the Oikyo Parishad, but we have yet to see any effective trial," he said. "Every incident that occurred after the mass uprising must be brought under judicial process. "He said the human chain was aimed at pressing for special measures to ensure justice in the Dipu Chandra Das case.

All online VAT related activities to be conducted thru eVAT system: NBRDHAKA, Dec 23, 2025 (BSS) - The National Board of Revenue (NBR) today announced that all online value-added tax (VAT)-related activities will now be conducted through the eVAT System, following the renaming of the existing iVAS platform. To ensure greater clarity for taxpayers, businesses and stakeholders, the iVAS System has been formally rebranded as the eVAT System, while all its functions and services will remain unchanged. The NBR said the eVAT System will serve as the single digital platform for conducting a wide range of VAT-related activities. These include online VAT registration, electronic submission of VAT returns, and all A-Challan and e-payment-based transactions. The eVAT System also facilitates real-time VAT collection through PKI software-based applications, strengthening transparency and efficiency in revenue mobilisation.

JAKARTA, Dec 23, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - Indonesia has finalised details of a tariff deal with the United States, a senior minister said, with the leaders of both countries' expected to sign it next month. Washington in July slashed the tariff faced by Southeast Asia's largest economy from 32 percent to 19 percent, but discussions over the details of the deal have been ongoing since then. Indonesia's chief economic minister Airlangga Hartarto said after a meeting with United States Trade Representative (USTR) Jamieson Greer in Washington that both countries had reached an agreement over the details of the deal. Under the framework deal announced in July, Indonesia has also committed to spending billions to increase energy, agriculture, and aircraft imports from the United States. Data from the USTR shows Washington's goods trade deficit with Indonesia was $17.9 billion in 2024, up 5.4 percent from the year before.

A quieter BPL opening as focus shifts to cricketBreaking from its usual fanfare, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) will launch the 2025 edition of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) with a small-scale opening ceremony in Sylhet on December 26, according to a report by bssnews.net. To make room for the cultural program, the BCB has modified the match timings for the opening day. Tournament to travel across three citiesThe 2025 BPL season will be contested by six franchises, with matches spread across Sylhet, Chattogram, and Dhaka. Sylhet will host the opening leg from December 26 to January 2. Ticket prices revealed for Sylhet legIn preparation for the Sylhet fixtures, the BCB has announced the ticket pricing structure, offering a range to suit different fans.

Photo: BSSJAHANGIRNAGAR UNIVERSITY, Dec 23, 2025 (BSS) - Jahangirnagar University (JU) today published the results of the 'B', 'C' and 'E' Unit admission tests for the first-year honours programme under 2025-26 academic session. Detailed information regarding the admission process and results is available on the JU admission website at ju-admission.org. The admission tests were held in 11 shifts over two days. On the first day, the 'C' Unit examinations were conducted in six shifts, while on the second day, the 'B' and 'E' Unit tests were held in five shifts. A total of 20,583 candidates applied for 326 seats in the 'B' Unit under the Faculty of Social Sciences.

According to the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), the target for winter tomato cultivation in Rajshahi district has been fixed at 3,500 hectares of land. Of the nine upazilas, Godagari alone accounts for tomato cultivation on 2,250 hectares. Over the last two weeks, he sold tomatoes worth Tk 30,000 at rates of Tk 70-75 per kilogram. More than one lakh families are directly benefiting from tomato cultivation and trading, while a large number of employment opportunities are generated every year. Retired Chief Scientific Officer of the Fruit Research Station, Dr Alim Uddin, said the soil and climatic conditions of Rajshahi, Natore, Naogaon and Chapainawabganj districts are highly suitable for tomato cultivation.