Traditional insurance relies on past losses, but climate risks are forward-looking—which calls for parametric or weather-based insurance,”“To truly protect our citizens, we must take joint action to build a sustainable climate risk insurance system—this includes legal reform, robust databases, technology, and strong regulatory backing,” he added. Climate insurance can help absorb shocks and prevent poor households from falling into debt after disasters,”“Women are among the most at risk from the impacts of climate change. Norul Amin, Programme Policy Officer at WFP Bangladesh, stressed the importance of fast, reliable instruments. As climate threats intensify, the speakers said integration of CRI into national policy and public consciousness is no longer optional, rather it is essential. Oxfam, WFP, and the ERF urge all stakeholders to invest in CRI literacy and policy reform, making Bangladesh a regional leader in people-centred climate finance.

File PhotoDHAKA, Dec 22, 2025 (BSS) - Home Adviser Lieutenant General (Retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury has said they have taken required security measures for peaceful and festive celebrations of the Christmas Day and the 31st night. "The Christmas Day is the largest religious festival of the Christian community. Necessary security measures have already been taken for peaceful and festive celebrations of the Christmas Day with due religious fervor," he said. Jahangir said they have banned exploding crackers marking both the Christmas Day and 31st night, adding that none will be allowed to hold any programme by blocking the roads. The Home Adviser said the posh areas including Gulshan and Banani have been bought under stringent security measures to avert any untoward incident, he said.

CEC A M M Nasir Uddin spoke to journalists after inspecting postal ballot operations at the Tejgaon Mail Processing Centre in the capital this afternoon. Photo: BSSDHAKA, Dec 22, 2025 (BSS)- Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) A M M Nasir Uddin has said Bangladesh’s newly introduced ‘hybrid postal voting’ is expected to become a model for countries around the world. “We are hopeful that this hybrid model (online registration combine manual counting of postal ballots) will emerge as a global example,” the CEC said. Expressing optimism about further development of the system, Nasir Uddin said it would continue to improve with time. Public confidence in the Election Commission already exists and will grow stronger in the future,” he added.

A video of a staged protest is being shared online with a false communal claim that it shows Bangladeshi Islamists chopping off hair of students who do not wear traditional clothes or keep a beard. The video is being shared against the backdrop of recent unrest in the country triggered by the shooting of Bangladesh student leader Sharif Osman Hadi, and lynching of a Hindu man in Mymensingh, Bangladesh. The report stated that the incident was a symbolic protest by cultural activists in Bangladesh. Several news outlets from Bangladesh, including Prothom Alo and Kaler Kantho, also published video reports about the incident featuring bytes from Ashraf. BBC News Bangla also published a video report about the incident at that time.

Photo : CollectedDHAKA, Dec 22, 2025 (BSS) - Health officials today said they recorded 165 fresh cases of dengue onslaughts in the past 24 hours. “We recorded 165 fresh cases of dengue onslaughts in 24 hours ending at 8 am today,” a spokesman of Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) said. “Out of the 165 fresh cases, eight were hospitalised in Barishal division, 27 in Chattogram division, 24 in Dhaka division excluding capital, 33 in Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) and 43 in Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) areas, 10 in Khulna division, 13 in Mymensingh division, four in Rajshahi division, two in Rangpur division and one in Sylhet division, a Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) statement said. Since the start of the dengue onslaughts Bangladesh this year witnessed so far 412 deaths while the disease inflicted 101,956. The dengue last year claimed 575 lives and inflicted 1,01,214 people in the country.

Bashir Uddin spoke at a press conference on Bangladesh–Japan EPA negotiations held at the Commerce Ministry conference room at Bangladesh Secretariat this afternoon. Bashir Uddin today said that the draft of the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between Bangladesh and Japan has been finalised and is scheduled to be signed next month. “This will be Bangladesh’s first-ever economic partnership agreement with any country,” he said, adding that the deal would significantly boost bilateral trade, investment and economic cooperation between the two countries. Under the agreement, Bangladesh has agreed to open 97 sub-sectors for Japan, while Japan will open 120 sub-sectors for Bangladesh across four modes of service delivery. “Previously, when we sought more Japanese investment, the absence of a structured economic agreement often became a barrier.

“If we knew Faisal’s exact location, he would have been arrested by this time,” he said reiterating the government’s vow to ensure justice in the murder of Shaheed Osman Hadi. “No one involved in this murder will be given any kind of exemption,” he added. So far, 10 people involved in the murder have been arrested by the police, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), he said. Those arrested include Shaheda Parveen Samia, wife of the alleged mastermind Faisal Karim Masud, along with his mother and father, brother-in-law Wahid Ahmed Shipu, and motorcycle owner Abdul Hannan. Jahangir said the mastermind of the incident, Faisal Karim Masud, has been identified and will be brought to justice soon.

Dipu, an employee of Pioneer Knitwears (BD) Limited, had recently appeared in a recruitment examination for promotion from floor manager to supervisor. His brother Apu Robi Das told Dhaka Tribune that Dipu had disputes with several colleagues over his position. Allegations versus findingsPolice and the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) have so far found no evidence supporting claims that Dipu insulted religion. Those arrested by RAB include Md Limon Sarkar, 19, Md Tarek Hossain, 19, Md Manik Mia, 20, Ershad Ali, 39, Nizum Uddin, 20, Alamgir Hossain, 38, and Md Miraj Hossain Akon, 46. Earlier police arrests include Md Ajmal Hasan Sagir, 26, Md Shahin Mia, 19, and Md Nazmul.

JERUSALEM, Dec 22, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - Israeli bulldozers tore through a four-storey residential building in east Jerusalem on Monday, displacing scores of Palestinians in what activists said was the largest such demolition in the area this year. The Jerusalem municipality, which administers both west and east Jerusalem, has previously said demolitions are carried out to address illegal construction and to enable the development of infrastructure or green spaces. Activists, however, accuse Israeli authorities of frequently designating areas in east Jerusalem as national parks or open spaces to advance Israeli settlement interests. This year alone, around 100 east Jerusalem families have lost their homes," they added. Israel occupied east Jerusalem, including the Old City, in the 1967 Arab-Israeli war, and swiftly annexed the area.

The ongoing cold spell has led to a sharp rise in cold-related illnesses, particularly among children and the elderly. Of the admitted patients, 80 were children. Kalam Hossain, a mason from Eidgah Para in Chuadanga Municipality, said he was struggling to work in the biting cold. Chuadanga Meteorological Office Officer-in-Charge Jaminur Rahman said the cold intensity has increased over the past few days due to persistent cloud cover. He also said that the decreasing gap between maximum and minimum temperatures is making the cold feel more severe across the district.

GiHA programme launched in Noakhali at Deputy Commissioner's office to strengthen gender-inclusive disaster preparedness. Photo : BSSNOAKHALI, Dec 22, 2025 (BSS) - The Gender in Humanitarian Action (GiHA) programme was launched today in the disaster-prone coastal district of Noakhali under the Gender Sensitive Disaster Risk Reduction Project. BRAC District Coordinator Md Nuruzzaman delivered the welcome address, while Gender and Inclusion Specialist of the GiHA Project Marjina Khatun presented the project activities through a multimedia presentation. Addressing the programme, Deputy Commissioner Muhammad Shafiqul Islam said Noakhali is one of the country's most disaster-prone coastal districts, where natural disasters occur throughout the year. He added that past data show around 90 percent of disaster-related deaths involve women and children, expressing hope that the GiHA project would play a vital role in ensuring their safety during emergencies.

KURIGRAM, Dec 22, 2025 (BSS) - Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) has seized drugsand contraband goods worth around Taka 35 lakh in a series of specialoperations conducted along the Kurigram border during the last 72 hours. Lieutenant Colonel Mohammad Mahbub-ul-Haq, PSC, Commander of Kurigram BGB-22Battalion confirmed the matter on Monday afternoon. The recovered items include yaba tablets, liquor, ganja, cattle, Indiancurrency, and various other Indian contraband goods. BGB officials said the operations were carried out following directives fromthe Border Guard Bangladesh Headquarters as part of a strict "zero tolerance"policy against drug trafficking, counterfeit currency, and all forms ofsmuggling in border areas. "BGB is working relentlessly with utmost vigilance, skill, andprofessionalism to prevent drugs, smuggling, and all types of illegalinfiltration in the border areas," Lieutenant Colonel Mohammad Mahbub-ul-Haqsaid.

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Farmers prepare land for early potato cultivation after Aman harvest, eyeing profits amid high prices. Photo : BSSGAIBANDHA, Dec 22, 2025 (BSS) - Farmers in the district are passing a busy time preparing their land for cultivating early varieties of potato this season, hoping to secure better profits amid favourable market prices. Farmer Bablu Mia said he started potato cultivation right after harvesting Aman paddy instead of keeping his land fallow. Of the total, around 250 hectares will be brought under early varieties of potato cultivation, he added. "The department is providing necessary technical advice and assistance to farmers to ensure successful potato cultivation," the deputy director said.