United News of Bangladesh

A boatman went missing Wednesday after falling into the Padma River from a bulkhead in Charbhadrasan, Faridpur. The incident occurred around 11 a.m. near Tilar Char and Sabulla Sikder’s Dangi areas of Charbhadrasan Sadar Union. From 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., two divers from the Faridpur Fire Service conducted search operations but could not locate the missing boatman. The rescue mission was suspended for the day and will resume Thursday morning. The missing man has been identified as Arif Sheikh, 46, son of Mojibur Sheikh of Sholomari village in Alfadanga Upazila. Arif is the eldest of four siblings, married, and father of three children. According to his uncle, Abul Kasar, Arif worked as a boatman at the bulkhead. He had arrived at the CNB Ghat in Faridpur Sadar on Tuesday afternoon to unload sand and, while returning, accidentally fell into the river near Tilar Char and Sabulla Sikder’s Dangi. Charbhadrasan Fire Service leader Mortaza Fakir said the diver team conducted multiple search attempts but failed to recover Arif. CNB Ghat police officer-in-charge Nasim Ahmed confirmed the incident and said a police team also joined the search but found no trace of him as of Wednesday evening.

Chief Adviser’s Special Assistant (Home Ministry), Khoda Bakhsh Chowdhury has resigned from his post. His resignation was accepted by President Mohammed Shahabuddin, according to an official gazette issued on Wednesday. The gazette was published by Cabinet Secretary Dr Sheikh Abdur Rashid by order of the President. It said the resignation would take effect immediately.

BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman left Heathrow Airport early Thursday for Dhaka, ending nearly 17 years in exile in London and sparking widespread interest, emotion and political excitement across the country “Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight BG-102, carrying Tarique and his entourage, took off around 12:23 am (BST),” said BNP media cell member Sayrul Kabir Khan. The flight is scheduled to land at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 11:50 am on Thursday, via Sylhet Osmani International Airport. Senior BNP leaders, including members of the party’s Standing Committee, will receive him at the airport. Tarique is travelling with his wife, Zubaida Rahman, his daughter, Barrister Zaima Rahman, and other personal aides. Zaima Rahman’s pet cat, Jebu, is also travelling to Bangladesh with the family.” It will also mark the end of Zaima Rahman’s nearly 17-year exile in London. Party leaders say her return symbolises the close of a long chapter of forced separation from the country.

The Election Commission has asked for keeping the country's scheduled banks open on Saturday next to facilitate the nomination paper submission in the upcoming national election and the referendum scheduled for February 12, 2026. “It is requested, in accordance with instructions, to keep all scheduled banks across the country open on Saturday, December 27, 2025, to enable candidates to deposit the required money for their security deposits and purchase CDs of the voter list through bank draft, pay order, or treasury challan,” said a letter sent to the Governor of Bangladesh Bank by the EC on Wednesday. The letter said that the Election Commission announced the schedule for the 13th National parliamentary election on December 11, 2025. According to the schedule, the deadline for submitting nomination papers is December 29, 2025. However, banks will be closed on December 25 (Thursday, Christmas Day) due to the public holiday as well as on December 26 (Friday) and December 27 (Saturday) due to weekly holidays, which would prevent candidates from depositing the necessary fees and payments during these three days. In this circumstance, the EC asked for keeping the scheduled banks open on Saturday next EC Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed told reporters, “We have requested Bangladesh Bank to keep scheduled banks open this Saturday so that prospective candidates or their agents can complete the required payments without any inconvenience.”

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus on Wednesday said the interim government aims to build a healthy society, adding that the July Charter has been prepared to uphold the spirit of the mass uprising. “You are the mirror of society. By looking at you, we can understand whether everything is in order,” Prof Yunus said while exchanging Christmas greetings with representatives of the Christian community at the State Guest House Jamuna, that is doubling up as the CA's official residence. Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, he said that alongside the upcoming parliamentary election, a referendum will also be held. Through the referendum on the July Charter, the country will move one step forward, he said, adding that the next parliament will adopt reform measures based on the people’s verdict in the referendum. Prof Yunus called upon religious leaders to help raise public awareness about the forthcoming election and referendum. Religious Affairs Adviser Dr AFM Khalid Hossain, Archbishop of Catholic Christians in Bangladesh Bejoy N D'Cruze, President of the National Christian Fellowship of Bangladesh Bishop Philip P Adhikary, Trustee of the Christian Religious Welfare Trust Dr Benedict Alo D’Rozario, President of the National Council of Churches in Bangladesh Christopher Adhikari, and other prominent Christian leaders were present. Christian leaders highlighted Prof Yunus’s global reputation and his role in improving the country’s economic and overall situation. They expressed hope that the upcoming election would be free and fair under his leadership, according to the Chief Adviser’s press wing. Archbishop Bejoy N D’Cruze described Jesus Christ as a universal figure and said that inspired by Christ’s ideals of forgiveness and service to humanity, millions of people around the world, including in Bangladesh, are celebrating Christmas with joy and enthusiasm. Extending Christmas greetings to the Chief Adviser, he said, “After the July mass uprising, the people have kept their trust in you to rebuild Bangladesh anew. You are carrying out that responsibility with great dedication. We pray that your efforts will succeed through a beautiful and peaceful election.” Leaders of the Christian Religious Welfare Trust also thanked the interim government for granting Tk 2.5 crore to the trust on the occasion of Christmas. They said the grant is being distributed in three phases among 800 churches across the country. Later, Prof Yunus cut a cake with representatives of the Christian community to mark the Christmas celebration.