MANIKGANJ, Dec 20, 2025 (BSS) - Aman paddy harvesting has been completed with bumper production in all seven upazilas of the district during the current season, officials of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) said. Of the total output, around 50,283 metric tonnes were harvested from 13,200 hectares under transplanted Aman cultivation, while another 17,575 metric tonnes were produced from 18,561 hectares under broadcast Aman cultivation. Farmers expressed happiness over the outcome, saying Aman paddy has become a profitable additional crop. Abdul Matin, 50, a farmer from Jagir village under Manikganj Sadar upazila, said farmers cultivate Aman after harvesting the main Boro crop. Deputy Director of the Department of Agricultural Extension Shahjahan Siraj said Aman cultivation is expanding every year as more farmers are showing interest in growing Aman paddy as an additional crop after Boro harvest.

File photoDHAKA, Dec 20, 2025 (BSS) - The National Cyber Security Agency (NCSA) has urged citizens to directly report any social media posts inciting terrorism or violence, starting tomorrow. Chief Adviser's Special Assistant on Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb wrote in a Facebook post that "The National Cyber Security Agency will begin accepting reports directly on WhatsApp or mail from tomorrow." According to the agency, after initial verification, the reported content will be forwarded to the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) for submission to the respective social media platforms. Taiyeb also noted that the government does not have the authority to remove any social media post directly; rather, it can report posts related to violence to the concerned platforms by presenting logical grounds. The NCSA further called upon people to refrain from using social media as a tool to incite violence and urged all to remain vigilant about ensuring the safety of the country as well as the lives and property of its citizens.

LA PAZ, Dec 20, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - Bolivians protesting a doubling in fuel prices caused by an end to two decades of state subsidies brought traffic to a standstill Friday in cities nationwide. The country's new center-right president Rodrigo Paz on Wednesday announced an end to the subsidies used by leftist governments to freeze fuel prices for 20 years. The fuel price increases, which took effect on Thursday, caused fares for buses -- the main mode of transport in the Andean country -- to double. They were joined in La Paz by traders, who said the fuel hikes were making their goods too expensive for customers. Previous attempts to eliminate the country's cherished fuel subsidies have however encountered stiff resistance.

An employee at Spinnaker Contract Manufacturing is credited by Tilton-Northfield Fire & EMS for extinguishing an electrical fire just after midnight on Thursday. (Courtesy photo)

Photo: BSSRAJSHAHI, Dec 20, 2025 (BSS)- Nine nomination forms have, so far, been liftedfor contesting in the upcoming parliamentary election in six constituenciesin the district. Today (Saturday), nomination form for Shafiqul Haque Milon, nominated by theBangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), was collected for contesting theRajshahi-3 constituency in the upcoming 13th Parliamentary Election. BNP leaders and workers collected forms from the office of District ReturningOfficer this noon. Local BNP leaders Advocate Ali Ashraf Masum, Mokbul Hossain, Abdur Razzaque,Rafiqul Islam and Advocate Rakibul Islam, among others, were present on theoccasion. Earlier on December 15 last, the nomination form for Mijanur Rahman Minu,nominated by the BNP, was collected for contesting the Rajshahi-2constituency in the upcoming 13th Parliamentary Polls.

What we found was, well, I’ll tell you over the next couple of weeks if we found anything. After six weeks in Southern California, we decided we were more cut out for the mountains and headed up to Sonora in Tuolumne County. Literally a quarter of the county was unemployed, many from the lumber business which was in the process of petering out. Feeling that all’s fair in love and staving off malnutrition, I took the card off the board and pocketed it. The WATCH program was a private non-profit entity run by Tuolumne County Association for the Handicapped (TCAH).

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, Dec 20, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - Bologna reached the Italian Super Cup final on Friday after beating Inter Milan 3-2 on penalties following a 1-1 draw in Riyadh. Ciro Immobile scored the winning penalty for Bologna in front of a sparse crowd in Saudi Arabia, setting up a final showdown with Serie A champions Napoli on Monday. Riccardo Orsolini levelled the scores for Italian Cup holders Bologna with his penalty 10 minutes before half-time, cancelling out Marcus Thuram's early volleyed opener for Inter. Traditionally featuring the Serie A and Italian Cup champions, since 2023 the Italian Super Cup has also included the runners-up from league and cup. The four-team tournament is contracted to be held in Saudi Arabia until 2029.

BNP senior leader Salahuddin Ahmed on Saturday urged vigilance to prevent the killing of Inquilab Moncho spokesperson Sharif Osman Hadi from being politically exploited to create chaos. But fallen fascist forces or anyone trying to disrupt the election must not be allowed to use this incident for political gain. Salahuddin, a BNP Standing Committee member, made the remarks while talking to reporters before attending Hadi’s namaz-e-janaza. Later, on behalf of BNP, Salahuddin along with party Vice Chairman Abdul Awal Mintoo, Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, and many other leaders and activists attended the janaza of martyr Osman Hadi. He was airlifted to Singapore for advanced treatment, where he succumbed to his injuries on the night of December 18.

Sharif Osman Hadi. File PhotoDHAKA, Dec 20, 2025 (BSS) – The nation is observing a one-day state mourning today following the death of Shaheed Sharif Osman Hadi, the fearless frontline fighter of the July Uprising and spokesperson of the Inqilab Mancha. Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus declared the state mourning on Thursday night. Hadi, also an aspiring independent candidate for Dhaka-8, was shot on December 12 while he was on a battery-run auto-rickshaw in the city's Paltan area. Hadi is regarded as “an immortal soldier of the struggle against fascism and hegemony”.

According to the Upazila Livestock Office, more than 5,620 cows and buffaloes are currently being reared in Dashmina. The char environment, with its wetlands and natural grasslands, is particularly suitable for buffalo rearing. Chhakina Begum of Char Banshbaria said buffalo rearing is profitable as feed costs are low in the char areas. During these periods, livestock rearing has emerged as a vital alternative source of income. Dashmina Upazila Livestock Officer Shuvendu Sarkar said the area has "huge potential" for cow and buffalo rearing due to its natural pastures and wetlands.

DHAKA, Dec 20, 2025 (BSS) - Coast Guard has arrested eight smugglers along with a large quantity of cement while it was being illegally smuggled to Myanmar. Coast Guard Media Officer Lieutenant Commander Siam-ul-Haq disclosed the information this morning through a press release. During the operation, Coast Guard personnel searched a suspicious fishing boat and arrested eight individuals. They also seized 450 bags of cement, valued at approximately Taka 2.25 lakh, and the fishing boat used for smuggling goods. Lieutenant Commander Siam-ul-Haq said the process of further legal action against the seized boat, recovered goods and the arrested smugglers is currently underway.

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus spoke at the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban in Dhaka, prior to the Namaz-e-Janaza held for Sharif Osman Hadi. Photo credit: CA's Press WingSANGSAD BHABAN, Dec 20, 2025 (BSS) - In an emotionally charged address before the namaj-e-janaza of Sharif Osman Hadi here today, Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus said the entire nation will remember Hadi forever and work to fulfill his dream. "O dear Osman Hadi, we have not come here to bid you farewell. You are within our hearts, and as long as Bangladesh exists, you will remain in the hearts of all Bangladeshis. The Chief Adviser explained that this message would accompany every Bangladeshi from birth throughout life, reminding them that "our heads will never bowdown."

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres. Photo: UNDHAKA, Dec 20, 2025 (BSS): United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Ant¢nio Guterres has condemned the killing of Sharif Osman Hadi and urged Bangladeshi authorities to ensure accountability through a prompt, impartial and transparent investigation in line with international human rights standards. Guterres appealed to all sides to "refrain from violence, reduce tensions and exercise maximum restraint in order to preserve a peaceful electoral environment." The killing also drew concern from UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Trk, who said he was "deeply troubled" by Hadi's death after he was shot on December 12. In a statement issued in Geneva, Trk warned that "retaliation and revenge will only deepen divisions and undermine the rights of all," echoing calls for accountability for those responsible.

Shaheed Sharif Osman Hadi laid to eternal rest beside the National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam near the Dhaka University Central Mosque. He was buried around 3:50pm after his namaz-e-janaza attended by hundreds of thousands at the South Plaza of the Sangsad Bhaban. Based on the family's request, Hadi was buried beside Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam on the Dhaka University campus. Earlier, his namaz-e-janaza was held at the South Plaza of the National Parliament Building after Zuhr prayers. Sharif Osman Hadi was shot on December 12 while travelling in a battery-run auto-rickshaw in the city's Purana Paltan area.

Inqilab Mancha leader Sharif Osman Hadi was laid to rest beside the grave of National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam near the Dhaka University Central Mosque. Hadi was buried beside the mosque beside Kazi Nazrul Islam’s grave at around 3:30pm. A state mourning is being observed today over the death of Osman Hadi. Osman Hadi, also a prospective candidate for Dhaka-8, was shot in the head on December 12 while travelling in a rickshaw on Culvert Road in Puratan Paltan. Osman Hadi was shot a day after the Election Commission announced that the next national election would take place on February 12.