Afzal Hossain said the cultivation target covers all 13 upazilas of the district, with a production goal of 3.75 metric tons per hectare. If the target is achieved, total wheat production in the district is expected to reach around 25,650 metric tons. Afzal Hossain said that the weather conditions this season are favorable for wheat cultivation. Farmers began cultivating early wheat varieties such as BARI-25, BARI-26 and BARI-27 from November 15, and the crops have already sprouted. In recent years, wheat cultivation has expanded beyond highlands to include medium lands and river-side char areas.

Syed Ehsanul Huda today joined the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) along with his leaders and activists. Photo : BSSDHAKA, Dec 22, 2025 (BSS) – Chairman of Bangladesh Jatiyo Dal Syed Ehsanul Huda today joined the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) along with his leaders and activists after dissolving his party. Huda formally joined the party by presenting a bouquet to BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir. Syed Ehsanul Huda will contest the upcoming 13th parliamentary election from the Kishoreganj-5 constituency under the BNP’s electoral symbol, Dhaner Shis (Sheaf of Paddy). Upon joining, Syed Ehsanul Huda said, “BNP is a party that believes in nationalist ideology.

DHAKA, Dec 22, 2025 (BSS) – President of the Japanese Commerce and Industry Association In Dhaka(JCIAD) Manabu Sugawara today welcomed the finalization of draft of the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between Bangladesh and Japan. “I welcome the broad agreement reached between the Government of Japan and the Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh on an EPA during today's telephone consultation,” he said through a press release. “I am delighted that, following a total of seven round negotiations, the two governments have now reached this broad agreement,” he added. JCIAD established in 1972 has walked alongside Bangladesh since its independence, contributing to the strengthening of economic ties and friendly relations between the two countries. JCIAD intends to promote the utilization of the EPA through information dissemination and other means as soon as its details are clarified, and to continue playing a part in strengthening economic relations between the two countries.

Photo : BSSGAIBANDHA, DEC 22, 2025 (BSS)- SKS Foundation has intensified warm cloth distribution activities as the cold wave has been sweeping over the district for last two days, creating untold sufferings and sorrows of the poor and distressed people here. The poor people who are living on the Brahmaputra river basins are the worst sufferers. Realizing the sufferings and sorrows of the cold-affected poor, SKS Foundation, a Gaibandha-based non-government development organisation working across the country, stood beside them with packages of warm clothes to mitigate their sufferings caused by the ongoing cold wave. Jalal Uddin formally inaugurated the package distribution activities in the morning on behalf of the organisation as the chief guest. Zihadur Rahaman, Prosenjit Roy, Project Coordinator of the Muslim Aid-UK Bangladesh Field Office Rezaul Karim and other officials of the SKS Foundation were present on the occasion.

Shaheed Sharif Osman Hadi. Photo : CollectedDHAKA, Dec 22, 2025 (BSS)- A court here today ordered the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of police to preserve the DNA sample profiling of Sharif Osman Hadi, an independent candidate in the upcoming national election and convener of the Inqilab Manch. IO Faisal Ahmed told the court for the sake of proper investigation of the case and ensuring justice in future it is necessary to preserve DNA profile of the collected samples from Hadi and preserve it at the CID DNA Profiling Laboratory. Sharif Osman Hadi, 33, was shot by miscreants on December 12 last in the city. Assistant Professor Dr. Nashat Jabin of the Department of Forensic Medicine at Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College and Hospital conducted the autopsy and collected DNA samples of Hadi.

DHAKA, Dec 22, 2025 (BSS) - A total of 17 people have been arrested so far out of 31 individuals initially identified as responsible for the attacks on the offices of Prothom Alo, The Daily Star, and two cultural organizations. The attacks on the offices of Prothom Alo and The Daily Star took place on the night of December 18. Rakib Hossain, a resident of Sherpur district, was identified in video footage as an active participant in vandalism and arson at the offices of Prothom Alo and The Daily Star. Md Sohel Rana, arrested from the Karwan Bazar railway line area, has 13 previous cases filed against him in different Dhaka police stations, including narcotics-related charges. Md Shafiqul Islam, also arrested from the same area, has two prior cases related to arson and cocktail explosions.

Russian Ambassador to Bangladesh Alexander Khozin spoke at a press conference titled "Political outcomes of 2025" held at the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Dhaka. The envoy said the revised repayment schedule was agreed upon in July thisyear following amendments to the Intergovernmental Credit Agreement (IGCA). Briefing on the progress of the Rooppur NPP, Ambassador Khozin said work iscurrently focused on commissioning Unit-1 of the plant, which is at the finalstage of readiness. Regarding allegations of mismanagement of Rooppur project funds during theprevious government, the Ambassador said Russia does not comment onBangladesh's domestic political processes. On broader bilateral relations, Ambassador Khozin said Bangladesh remainsRussia's second-largest trade partner in South Asia.

Photo : BSSRAJSHAHI, Dec 22, 2025 (BSS) - Speakers at a meeting here today stressed the need for an active and responsible role of the media to ensure the legitimate rights of senior citizens (SCs) and persons with disabilities (PWDs). The remarks were made at a media campaign titled "Situation of Senior Citizens and Persons with Disabilities: Their Challenges in the Communities", held at a city restaurant. The meeting was organised by the Rajshahi Regional Office of Caritas Bangladesh with support from the Promotion of Comprehensive Social Inclusion of Vulnerable Groups, especially Senior Citizens and Persons with Disabilities (SDDB) project. Social Service Officer Dr Hamidul Islam and Editor of the Daily Sonar Desh Akbraul Hassan Millat also spoke on the occasion. The speakers unanimously called for integrated efforts of all concerned government and non-government organisations to ensure the welfare of senior citizens and people with disabilities.

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus has said that law and order must be maintained at any cost ahead of the upcoming national election. He made the comments at a meeting reviewing the overall law and order situation of the country at the State Guest House Jamuna on Sunday. The chief adviser directed the authorities to ensure the swift arrest of those involved in the killing of Osman Hadi and in other illegal activities. Those arrested are Md Kashem Faruqi, Md Saidur Rahman, Rakib Hossain, Md Naim, Md Sohel Rana and Md Shafikul Islam. Home Affairs Adviser Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, National Security Adviser Dr Khalilur Rahman and senior officials of various security and law enforcement agencies were present at the meeting.

The Inqilab Mancha organization has demanded that the murder of Sharif Osman Hadi be investigated with the involvement of detective agencies like the FBI and Scotland Yard and through the formation of a “fast-track judicial tribunal” and has also warned of an anti-government movement. Abdullah Al Jaber, member secretary of Inqilab Mancha, made this demand at an emergency press conference held on Monday, at 12 noon in front of the National Museum in Shahbag. “Form a judicial tribunal as quickly as possible and, in doing so, involve detective agencies like the FBI and Scotland Yard,” Jaber said. “We’ve called for a protest march at 3pm on behalf of Inqilab Mancha. Jaber further said: "You cannot rush into elections and leave without revealing who killed Osman Hadi.

National Citizen Party (NCP) Khulna division chief and central organiser of Shramik Shakti, Motaleb Sikder, was shot in public in the city’s Sonadanga area around 11:45am on Monday. He was taken to Khulna Medical College Hospital in critical condition, according to hospital sources. Sonadanga Model police station Officer-in-charge (OC) (Investigation) Animesh Mandal said Sikder was shot by miscreants and rescued by locals, who rushed him to the hospital. Police were later deployed to the scene. Further details will be shared following investigation, the OC added.

Law Adviser Asif Nazrul on Monday said the Osman Hadi murder case will be tried under the Speedy Trial Tribunal to ensure quick justice. In a Facebook post in the afternoon, Asif Nazrul said the trial will be held under the Speedy Trial Tribunal Act, 2002. Under Section 10 of the law, he said, the trial must be completed within a maximum of 90 days after the submission of the police report. The announcement came amid growing demand for prompt justice in the killing of Hadi. For advanced treatment he was airlifted to Singapore, where he succumbed to his injuries on the night of December 18.

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin on Monday said he is confident that the overall law-and-order situation will further improve as the election approaches. “As the polling day approaches, you will see, InshaAllah, the law and order situation will improve further. When asked if he still believes the election will turn into a "festival one" given the current environment, the CEC said: “Absolutely, absolutely and absolutely. Talking about the IT-supported hybrid postal voting system, he said the EC has made arrangements for the expatriate Bangladeshis who are interested in voting in the election. The CEC said the postal voting activities are being carried out with strict security measures.

Photo : BSSDHAKA, Dec 22, 2025 (BSS) – Home Adviser Lieutenant General (Retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury has asked law enforcement agencies to intensify the nationwide Operation Devil Hunt Phase-2 to contain fascist terrorist activities ahead of the forthcoming 13th parliamentary elections scheduled for February 12. “Strengthen Operation Devil Hunt Phase-2 to contain the activities of fascist terrorist elements,” he said. The decision to launch “Operation Devil Hunt Phase-2” was taken on December 13, 2025, with the aim of stopping the activities of fascist terrorists, he said. The directives include accelerating arrests under Operation Devil Hunt Phase-2, expanding intelligence surveillance, and keeping specialised forces on standby to protect key point installations (KPIs). Officials said the intensified measures would continue as part of ongoing efforts to maintain law and order and ensure national security.

Mahbub Ahmed Siddique. Photo : ICABDHAKA, Dec 22, 2025 (BSS) - For the First time from Bangladesh, Mahbub Ahmed Siddique, Chief Operating Officer of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Bangladesh (ICAB), has been selected by the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) as a member of Professional Accountancy Organization Development & Advisory Group (PAODAG) for the 2026-2028 term. Mahbub has been selected following a rigorous selection process competing globally by IFAC Nominating Committee. He is also ICAB nominated director at SAFA Foundation and Marketing Director at Chartered Accountants Worldwide. Besides his regular role in ICAB, currently Mahbub Siddique is serving as Assistant Executive Secretary of the South Asian Federation of Accountants (SAFA) for the year 2025 which is nominated by the ICAB.