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DHAKA, Dec 20, 2025 (BSS) - Rajshahi Warriors' head coach Hannan Sarkar has confirmed that the team will depart Dhaka for Sylhet on December 23 to kick off their campaign in the 12th edition of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL). The tournament's Sylhet phase will begin on December 26, and Rajshahi is eager to get their season underway. Rajshahi's six foreign players are also set to join the team from day one of the BPL. The Rajshahi Warriors' foreign contingent includes Sahibzada Farhan, Mohammad Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Sandeep Lamichhane, Binura Fernando, and Jahandad Khan. As the opening match of BPL 12 approaches, Rajshahi Warriors are confident in their preparations and remain committed to delivering an exciting season of cricket despite the challenges.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): You might be moving past some financial wishful thinking or seeing through something deceptive. GEMINI (May 21-June 20): An assumption or misunderstanding in a relationship could clear soon, bringing you back to a more wholesome place. CANCER (June 21-July 22): You could now be able to see something that was previously opaque that can really help you in your daily rounds. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Soon you could be moving from being more creatively oriented to being more task-oriented for a while. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): A truth could come out in the workplace or otherwise in your daily dealings.

Photo: BSSDHAKA, Dec 20, 2025 (BSS)- The Election Commission (EC) has revised the schedule for filing and disposing of appeals against returning officers’ decisions on nomination papers in the 13th Jatiya Sangsad election. According to the revised notification, the time for filing appeals has been shortened by two days and will now run from January 5 to 9, instead of the earlier January 5–11. As per the election schedule, nomination papers must be submitted by December 29, while scrutiny will be conducted from December 30 to January 4. As per the election schedule, the 13th Jatiya Sangsad election and referendum will be held on February 12, with voting scheduled from 7:30 am to 4:30 pm using transparent ballot boxes. Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin announced the election schedule on December 11, and the Election Commission issued the revised notification on December 18.

The TIB, local chapter of Berlin-based Transparency International — a global anti-corruption organisation, called the attacks as “organised” and “unprecedented”. After the news of Hadi’s death while undergoing treatment in Singapore spread, groups of people took to the streets in protest. “Free media, dissent, and freedom of speech have become direct victims of this,” the statement said. “…rather, they are glaring examples of the deliberate suppression of freedom of thought, dissent, and freedom of speech. In a Bangladesh that aspires to be an independent democracy, such destructive attacks are not only unacceptable but also stand as evidence of the state’s embarrassing failure to fulfill its fundamental responsibilities,” the TIB statement said.

Three Afghan migrants die of cold while trying to cross into IranAfghanistan, Dec 20, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - Three Afghans died from exposure in freezing temperatures in the western province of Herat while trying to illegally enter Iran, a local army official said on Saturday. "Three people who wanted to illegally cross the Iran-Afghanistan border have died because of the cold weather," the Afghan army official told AFP on condition of anonymity. He added that a shepherd was also found dead in the mountainous area of Kohsan from the cold. The migrants were part of a group that attempted to cross into Iran on Wednesday and was stopped by Afghan border forces. "Searches took place on Wednesday night, but the bodies were only found on Thursday," the army official said.

The namaz-e-janaza of Inqilab Manch spokesperson Sharif Osman Hadi was held on Saturday afternoon at the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban, with thousands of people in attendance. The funeral, led by Hadi’s elder brother Abu Bakar Siddique, began at around 2:30pm. Following the funeral, Hadi’s body was scheduled to be taken to Dhaka University, where he will be buried beside the grave of national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam, said Dhaka University Proctor Saifuddin Ahmed. Jaber also said that the attackers involved in Hadi’s killing had yet to be arrested, even a week after the incident. Osman Hadi died at Singapore General Hospital at around 9:30pm on Thursday while undergoing treatment.

Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus on Saturday paid tribute to Inqilab Manch spokesperson Sharif Osman Hadi, saying he would never be forgotten and would continue to inspire the nation. You will remain with us for generations,” Dr Yunus said while speaking at Hadi’s funeral at the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban on Saturday afternoon. Dr Yunus highlighted Hadi’s values, including his love for humanity, conduct, engagement with people, and political ideals, saying these would remain a guiding force for the nation. Referring to Hadi’s oft-quoted slogan, he said it would continue to resonate across Bangladesh. Let us adopt that process together,” Dr Yunus added.

Photo : BSSRAJSHAHI, Dec 20, 2025 (BSS)- Experts at a workshop here today unequivocally called for taking immediate measures to protect the migratory birds and their habitats from pollution. Discussions highlighted the crucial role migratory birds play in natural balance, such as insect and seed dispersal, nutrient cycling, and pollination. There is a strong call for creating safe havens and gardens with adequate security to ensure the survival and breeding of migratory birds. He underlined the need for creating gardens with adequate protection and security for migratory birds to ensure their safe living and breeding. The Birds which migrate from one place to another during a certain time of the year are known as migratory birds.

DHAKA, Dec 20: Bangladesh is set to hold the funeral of prominent youth leader Sharif Osman Hadi on Saturday amid tight security following unrest in the country triggered by his death. Dhaka Metropolitan Police has said traffic will be suspended from Khejur Bagan Crossing to Manik Mia Avenue as a large turnout was expected, bdnews24.com news portal reported. People from different parts of the country gathered at Shahbagh on Friday in a mourning procession, while attendees began arriving at Manik Mia Avenue from Saturday morning. As part of the state mourning, national flags were flown at half-mast at government offices, including the Secretariat in the capital, state-run BSS news agency reported. Former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia-led Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has alleged that unrest is part of a broader conspiracy to destabilise Bangladesh.

Protesters demanding justice for the killing of Sharif Osman bin Hadi have left Shahbagh intersection after staging a demonstration calling for justice in the killing of the Inqilab Moncho leader. Following Hadi’s burial on the Dhaka University campus on Saturday, activists of the platform and other organisations streamed in at Shahbagh, shouting slogans calling for accountability. As the crowd gradually thinned, vehicular movement through Shahbagh resumed, with traffic returning to surrounding roads around 5:45pm. To facilitate the transfer of the body to the campus, traffic at Shahbagh had been suspended from 2:30pm. After the funeral and burial, the gathering at Shahbagh swelled again, with protesters raising slogans, such as “Delhi or Dhaka -- Dhaka, Dhaka” and “In Hadi’s memory, we do not fear death.”

Imran Khan. Photo: CollectedISLAMABAD, Pakistan, Dec 20, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - A Pakistani court sentenced former prime minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi to 17 years on Saturday for corruption involving gifts the jailed leader received while in office. The ruling is the latest legal setback for Khan, who has faced a multitude of cases since his government was removed from power in 2022. Both Khan and Bibi were handed a 10-year prison sentence on criminal breach of trust, and seven years on corruption charges in a case alleging the underpricing of state gifts. The case is separate from an earlier case, linked to luxury watches also presented by Prince Mohammed, in which Khan was sentenced to 14 years and Bibi seven.

DHAKA, Dec 20, 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 and nearly unchanged temperatures are expected during the next 24 hours beginning at 9:00 am today. According to the BMD bulletin, moderate to thick fog may occur at places over Rangpur, Rajshahi and Khulna divisions, while light to moderate fog is likely elsewhere across the country from midnight to morning. Night temperature may remain nearly unchanged nationwide. Day temperature may fall slightly in Rangpur, Rajshahi and Khulna divisions, but is expected to remain almost steady in other regions. On Friday, Teknaf recorded the highest temperature at 31.5 degrees Celsius, while Sreemangal registered the lowest at 13.0 degrees Celsius today.

Education Adviser Prof. Dr. Chowdhury Rafiqul Abrar. -File PhotoDHAKA, Dec 20, 2025 (BSS)- Education Adviser Prof. Dr. Chowdhury Rafiqul Abrar today said a vested quarter is carrying out evil efforts to tarnish the spirit of the July Uprising . In a statement, he said that because of the evil efforts of that quarter, there is also a risk that the conspiracies of anti-Bangladesh fascist forces may succeed. The educational activities of ‘Nalanda’, which is run in that building under the management of Chhayanaut, have also been affected by this attack, he mentioned. The education adviser strongly condemned this incident.