KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 22, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - Former Malaysian leader Najib Razak lost a bid Monday to have his jail term changed to house arrest, a setback ahead of a separate verdict this week tied to the country's 1MDB scandal. But on Monday, Judge Alice Loke Yee Ching Loke disagreed, saying the royal addendum was not a valid order. Therefore "the court cannot issue an ...order to direct a house arrest", Loke told the Kuala Lumpur High Court. "There is no legal provision for house arrest in Malaysia," the judge added. On Friday, Najib faces yet another verdict in a separate trial linked to the financial scandal that led to his defeat in the 2018 elections.

A Dhaka court has imposed a travel ban on Faisal Karim Masud, the prime accused in the case filed over the killing of Inqilab Mancha spokesperson Sharif Osman Hadi. He said the court approved the investigation officer’s request to bar the accused Faisal from leaving the country, and the order has been sent to the relevant authorities. The application was filed to ensure that the accused does not flee if he remains within the country. According to the case statement, Sharif Osman Hadi had been serving as spokesperson of the political and cultural platform Inqilab Mancha, formed in the post-uprising period. Following the incident, Inqilab Mancha Member Secretary Abdullah Al Jaber filed an attempted murder case at Paltan police station on December 14.

Gold price hits record high of $4,383.76 on US rate cut betsHONG KONG, Dec 22, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - Gold prices shot to a record high on Monday as investors grow increasingly optimistic the US Federal Reserve will continue to cut interest rates through next year. The precious metal hit a peak of $4,383.76 in early trade as a string of data last week pointing to further weakness in the US labour market and easing inflation gave the central bank room to ease monetary policy further. Monday's gain pushed the commodity past its previous high of $4,381.52 touched in October.

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General Daily Insight for December 22, 2025 A fresh breeze moves through our plans. Your 10th House of Goals brightens as the Moon moves in, nudging you to follow a plan instead of chasing every random request. Big questions sparkle as the thoughtful Moon moves into your 9th House of Exploration, inviting you to ask, listen, and share without rushing. Cancer June 21 – July 22 Sensitivity, innate or practiced, is presently a valuable resource. Libra September 23 – October 22 Roll down your sleeves, because it’s time to wear your heart on them!

DHAKA, Dec 21, 2025 (BSS) - The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) is set toorganise a small-scale opening ceremony for the inauguration of theBangladesh Premier League (BPL) in Sylhet on December 26. Due to the opening ceremony, changes have been made to the match schedule onthe opening day. According to the previous schedule, the match between Sylhet Titans andRajshahi Warriors was set to begin at 2 PM. The tournament will kick off in Sylhet, where matches will be played fromDecember 26 to January 2. The BCB has announced the ticket prices for the Sylhet leg today, with pricesranging from Taka 200 to Taka 2,000 depending on the gallery.

Photo: Biman Bangladesh AirlinesDHAKA, Dec 21, 2025 (BSS) - Biman Bangladesh Airlines today expanded the use of body-worn cameras in baggage handling at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport to enhance transparency, protect passengers’ property and ensure accountability across all incoming international flights. To address these concerns, Biman Bangladesh Airlines has begun monitoring the loading and unloading of baggage for every arriving international flight at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport through body-worn cameras. The formal inauguration of the expanded service was held on Sunday under the leadership of Badrul Hasan Liton, Director (Customer Service) and Joint Secretary of Biman. Speaking on the occasion, the director said that the initiative would ensure transparency and accountability at every stage of baggage handling, boost passenger confidence and further enhance staff professionalism. Biman Bangladesh Airlines said it would continue to use digital technology to raise passenger service and security standards to new heights in the future.

BNP Chairperson and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia. File PhotoFENI, Dec 21, 2025 (BSS)- Nomination form has been collected for BNP Chairperson and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia for the Feni-1 (Fulgazi, Parshuram and Chhagalnaiya) constituency for the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election. Abu Taleb, a member of the party's national executive committee, collected the nomination form on behalf of Begum Khaleda Zia from the district returning officer's office this afternoon. After collecting the nomination form, BNP leader Abu Taleb said that Begum Khaleda Zia has been elected with large majorities in all the constituencies she has contested so far. “As she is ill, I have collected the nomination form on behalf of Begum Zia as per decision of the central leaders.

Yalda falls on the winter solstice and is characterised by family gatherings and the eating of nuts, sweets and fruits. We reminisce about the good old days and eat nuts and fruits that are in season," said Mary Goudarzi, 37. "Unfortunately, because of recent events such as the war and the dollar price that's rising sharply, people's purchasing power has fallen a lot," said Goudarzi, an interior designer. 'Trying to cope'Some shopping centres in Tehran put up decorations for Yalda, including artificial trees adorned with hanging pomegranates or displaying huge plates of fruits linked to the festivities. Yalda historically marks the victory of Good over Evil, and is also marked in Persian-speaking areas of some regional countries such as Afghanistan and Tajikistan.

DHAKA, Dec 21, 2025 (BSS) – Bangladesh team won a total of 11 medals, including one gold, six bronzes, and four technical awards at the 27th International Robot Olympiad held from December 17 to 20 at the Mantra Southport Sharks Convention Centre in Gold Coast, Australia. Abu Sayed congratulated the Bangladesh team on their success. Overall sponsorship for the participation of the Bangladesh team in this international competition was provided by the ICT Division and the Department of ICT. Over the past 8 years, the Bangladesh team has won a total of 94 medals at the International Robot Olympiad, including 15 gold medals. This time, a 10-member team from Bangladesh took part in this international robotics festival.

File PhotoDHAKA, Dec 21, 2025 (BSS) - Bangladesh Bank (BB) today purchased US$60 million from four commercial banks through multiple auction methods as part of its ongoing strategy to curb the depreciation of the US dollar against the taka and revitalise the remittance and export sectors. According to central bank data, it bought dollars today at the rate of Tk 122.30. Accordingly, total purchases stood at $805 million in December 2025 and $2,931.50 million in FY 2025–26 to date.

BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman on Sunday called upon all political parties that believe in democracy, including the BNP, to remain united in the interest of safeguarding the country’s democratic future. Tarique Rahman was virtually addressing a programme organised in Bogura to inaugurate a digital memorial in remembrance of the martyrs of the July movement at Shaheed Titu Auditorium in the city, with Bogura district BNP President Rezaul Karim Badsha in the chair. Tarique Rahman said that after 1975, Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman rescued the country from the brink of destruction, while BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia later led the country out of autocratic rule and towards development. “Once again, the soldiers of these two leaders have been given the opportunity to rebuild the country from the brink of destruction,” he said. Referring to Inqilab Mancha Spokesperson Sharif Osman Hadi, Tarique Rahman said the July martyr stood firmly in favour of democracy and believed in electoral politics.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has expressed solidarity with the 24-hour ultimatum issued by Inqilab Mancha, demanding the immediate arrest of those responsible for the killing of Sharif Osman Hadi. Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Mia Golam Parwar, urged the government to clarify its position and swiftly apprehend and prosecute Hadi’s killers. He made the remarks while addressing a prayer gathering at Al-Falah Hall in Mogbazar on Sunday, organised by Jamaat-e-Islami to commemorate the martyrdom of Inqilab Moncho spokesperson and July Movement activist Sharif Osman Hadi. Parwar described Hadi as a courageous revolutionary who sacrificed his life with dignity. Hadi’s elder brother, Omar bin Hadi, also addressed the gathering, calling on citizens to continue his brother’s unfinished revolutionary mission and uphold the struggle for justice and equality.

Two close aide of prime suspects in Hadi shooting on 5-day remand againFile PhotoDHAKA, Dec 21, 2025 (BSS) - A court here today further put two youths - Sibion Dew, 32, and Sanjay Chisim, 22, who allegedly aided Hadi’s murderers to flee to India through illegal routes- were put on fresh five-day remand for more quizzing in connection with the Sharif Osman Hadi shooting case. Earlier on December 18, Dhaka Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Jashita Islam granted them a three-day remand in a case filed over the attempted murder of Sharif Osman Hadi, convener of Inqilab Mancha. The two remanded accused have directly assisted the alleged prime suspects, Faisal Karim Masud Rahul Dawood, 37, and his accomplice, in fleeing to India illegally, according to evidence and technical assistance, the IO mentioned. According to the case statement, on December 12 at around 2:20 pm, Osman Hadi came under attack while returning from Motijheel Mosque after offering Jumma prayers and concluding an election campaign. Assailants riding a motorbike allegedly opened fire at him on Box Culvert Road under Paltan Police Station and fled the scene.

Police have received permission to take Sibyoun Diu and Sanjay Chisim back into custody for another five days of questioning in connection to the shooting of Inqilab Moncho Convenor Sharif Osman bin Hadi. Dhaka Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Md Sefatullah passed the order after hearing the application from the investigating officer on Sunday. The suspects were produced in court during the hearing following their initial three-day grilling. Inspector Faysal Ahmed of the Detective Branch's Motijheel zonal team, the investigating officer, requested a fresh seven days to interrogate them.