Tarique Rahman, Bangladesh Nationalist Party’s (BNP) acting chairman and the elder son of former prime minister Khaleda Zia, returned to Bangladesh on Thursday, after 17 years in exile. His arrival in Dhaka marks a significant political moment following the ousting of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina during last year’s July Uprising.

খালি পায়ে দেশের মাটিতে pic.x.com/Mq71nTxkrS

— Tarique Rahman Official (@tariquebd78) December 25, 2025

According to media reports, Rahman arrived in Dhaka from London aboard a Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight. He is accompanied by his wife Zubaida Rahman and daughter Zaima Rahman. The aircraft made a brief stop in Sylhet before landing at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.

pic.x.com/9poOZ8pyTW

— Tarique Rahman Official (@tariquebd78) December 25, 2025

Receives massive welcome

Thousands of BNP leaders, activists, and supporters from across the country gathered near the airport to welcome the party’s acting chief.
Elaborate arrangements have been made by BNP party for his homecoming. Senior party leaders received Rahman at the airport.

As per planned schedule, Rahman will attend a brief reception organised by the BNP on the 300 Feet Road, also known as the 36 July Expressway. BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed, convenor of the “Tarique Homecoming Committee,” said the programme would include a short address by the Acting Chairman.

#WATCH | Dhaka | BNP (Bangladesh Nationalist Party) supporters gather at the reception venue in Purbachal, as the party’s acting chairman, Tarique Rahman, has landed in Bangladesh after being in exile in London for 17 years. pic.x.com/nfC8ifF0Ct

— ANI (@ANI) December 25, 2025

After the reception, Rahman is expected to visit Evercare Hospital and later proceed to his residence on Gulshan Avenue in Dhaka.
Several airport restrictions imposed

In order to handle the massive turnout, a 24-hour ban was imposed on visitors by the airport authorities at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. According to a statement cited by media, the restriction will stay effective from 6:00PM on 24 December to 6:00PM on 25 December.

For the mentioned period, entry to the airport will be limited strictly to passengers holding valid tickets and passports. All other visitors and accompanying persons were barred from the premises.

Interim government ensures security

Bangladesh’s interim government also took measures to ensure Rahman’s security. Shafiqul Alam, Press Secretary to the Chief Adviser of the interim government, said authorities welcomed Rahman’s return and were finalising security preparations in coordination with the BNP.

Speaking at a press conference yesterday, Alam said the government was making “every effort” to address all kinds of security concerns.

Voter registration and election preparations

On Saturday, Rahman is also scheduled to register as a voter. Salahuddin Ahmed said election offices shall remain open on 27 December to allow him to complete the required formalities. Also, he will obtain his national identity card.

For the parliamentary elections scheduled for 12 February, nomination forms for BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and Tarique Rahman have already been collected, as per BNP Bogura district unit president Rezaul Karim Badsha.

Former lawmaker Helaluzzaman Talukder Lalu collected the form on behalf of Khaleda Zia from the Bogura-7 constituency, while Badsha collected Tarique Rahman’s nomination paper from the Bogura-6 constituency.

Hollywood is in shock as Nick Reiner, son of legendary director Rob Reiner and Michele Reiner, is currently behind bars at Los Angeles’ infamous Twin Towers Correctional Facility.

The 38-year-old was arrested and charged with two counts of first-degree murder following the tragic deaths of his parents who were found stabbed in their Brentwood home earlier this month.

Also Read: Inside the Reiner family horror: How son Nick became suspect in deaths of parents Rob and Michele Singer Reiner

A Hollywood tragedy

Rob Reiner, 78, and Michele Reiner, 70, were discovered dead on December 14, with authorities confirming they died within minutes from multiple stab wounds. Sources initially identified Nick as a person of interest, and he was taken into custody the same evening.

The incident has left fans and Hollywood insiders reeling as Reiners were popular for their warm presence in the industry and philanthropic work.

Twin Towers: Not just another jail

Nick is now at the Twin Towers Correctional Facility. This is a place notorious for housing both the famous and the infamous. The jail has seen its share of high-profile inmates over the years.

Socialite Paris Hilton served time there in 2007, Jackass star Steve-O had a stint, and even Hollywood heavyweight Robert Downey Jr. passed through its gates.

In 2021, authorities had transferred disgraced producer Harvey Weinstein there from New York. Other names include convicted murderer Robert Durst and rapper The Game.

Life behind bars

Despite the celebrity history, Twin Towers is far from glamorous. Reports of unsanitary and unsafe conditions have plagued the facility for years.

Attorney Adam Michael Sacks, who has visited numerous clients there, told Page Six, “You don’t want to be there, it’s disgusting. Every client begged for bail.”

Inspection reports and court filings reveal grim conditions. Cells with feces on walls, urine-stained floors, and general neglect of inmates’ basic needs.

Legal battles over jail conditions

The problems at Twin Towers have even caught the attention of California’s top law enforcement. In September, Attorney General Rob Bonta filed a lawsuit against the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and Correctional Health Services. He accused them of maintaining “inhumane” conditions.

The lawsuit details rust, mold, rat infestations, and even black worms in shower stalls. The Sheriff’s Department, however, claims to have spent $309 million on improvements, including infrastructure repairs and additional staff.

Also Read: Rob Reiner discussed difficulties of supporting son Nick through addiction, Michael Douglas reveals

Brendon McCullum’s coaching methods have come under increasing scrutiny following England’s latest Ashes setback in Australia, with the much-hyped ‘Bazball’ approach failing to deliver in the conditions it was designed to conquer. England’s hopes of regaining the Ashes faded within 11 days as Australia surged to a 3-0 lead in the five-match series.

The visitors had a chance to chase a record 435-run target in Adelaide but fell 82 runs short, once again extending their long wait for an Ashes series win in Australia. The heavy defeat has increased debate on England’s leadership group, with McCullum and captain Ben Stokes facing mounting pressure.

Former England spinner Monty Panesar has gone a step further, calling for a major shake-up in English cricket by backing former India head coach Ravi Shastri as McCullum’s replacement.

Speaking to journalist Ravi Bisht on his YouTube channel ‘Sports With Ravishh’ on December 23, Panesar highlighted Shastri’s proven pedigree in Australian conditions, pointing to India’s historic back-to-back Test series victories in Australia in 2018-19 and 2020-21 under his tenure.

“You have to think, who exactly knows how to beat Australia? How do you exploit their weaknesses mentally, physically and tactically? I think Ravi Shastri should become England’s next head coach,” Panesar said.

While England showed flashes of brilliance during the series, their failure to translate aggressive intent into sustained success has cast doubt on the effectiveness of the ‘Bazball’ philosophy in Australian conditions. England have not won a Test series Down Under since their famous 2010–11 triumph.

Shastri had also weighed in on England’s Ashes prospects before the series began, offering tactical advice on how the Ben Stokes-led side could compete more effectively in Australia. Speaking on SENQ Breakfast, the former India coach said:

“But in the long term, I think England will challenge. In the last two or three series here, they’ve been blown away. This time, if their fast bowlers are fully fit for the first three Test matches, they can make inroads,” Shastri had said.

England, who last won the Ashes in 2015 and have not secured a Test victory in Australia since 2011, have made two changes to their XI for the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne.

With criticism of McCullum’s methods growing and Shastri’s Australia expertise once again in focus, the former India coach has emerged as a central figure in discussions around England’s future direction.

As Pakistani forces continue to escalate the enforced disappearance of civilians across Balochistan, journalist Munizae Jahangir described the incidents as violations of the country’s Constitution and international human rights norms.

In a video shared by human rights organisation Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) on the social media platform X, Jahangir said, “When someone becomes a victim of enforced disappearance, it not only places their family under immense distress but also creates resentment and mistrust among the people of Balochistan towards the state.”

Asserting that enforced disappearance is a major issue and a serious crime in Pakistan, she said the recent cases targeting women in Balochistan have become alarming.

She highlighted that a 27-year-old pregnant woman and a 17-year-old girl have reportedly become victims of enforced disappearance and that their families do not know their whereabouts.

Moreover, she emphasised that Pakistan has a judicial system, a constitution, and a police force, and if someone is suspected of wrongdoing, the authorities must act through “legal means”.

“Acts of enforced disappearance are condemnable, as they are not only violations of Pakistan’s Constitution but also violations of international human rights,” she stressed.

Earlier on Wednesday, human rights body Baloch Voice for Justice (BVJ) expressed grave concern over reports of enforced disappearances of women in Balochistan.

“Women who are disappeared face heightened risks, including torture, sexual violence, and denial of due process. Their families are left without information about their fate or whereabouts, deprived of justice, and denied the right to the truth. Such practices violate fundamental rights, including the rights to liberty, security, fair trial, and protection from torture and discrimination,” the BVJ stated.

The rights body called on the Pakistani authorities to immediately “disclose the fate and whereabouts of all disappeared women, ensure their safe release or lawful presentation before an independent court, and guarantee access to legal counsel and medical care”.

It demanded that all allegations of enforced disappearance must be promptly, independently, and impartially investigated, and those responsible be held accountable in fair trials.

An all-party meeting was held at the conference hall of the Asansol Sub-Divisional Magistrate’s (Sadar) office ahead of the second phase of hearings under the SIR (Special Intensive Revision) process.

The meeting took place in the presence of Sub-Divisional Magistrate, (Asansol Sadar) Biswajit Bhattacharya, and representatives of Election Commission of India-recognised all political parties from the Asansol North, Asansol South, and Kulti Assembly constituencies were present.

After the meeting, Trinamul Congress representative and Asansol Municipal Corporation Member Mayor-in-Council (MMIC) Gurudas Chatterjee said that the district administration had informed them that hearings would be conducted at five locations in each Assembly constituency.

The TMC demanded that the hearings be held at least at 10 locations in each constituency. On this issue, he said that if hearings are conducted at only five places, it would become difficult for poor people living in remote areas to reach the hearing centres.

Amid massive unrest in neighbouring Bangladesh following the assassination of Osman Hadi, around 35 Bangladeshi students studying at Visva-Bharati University (VBU) in Santiniketan are unable to return home due to a visa crisis.

The visa process has come to a halt with several visa centres in Bangladesh having been shut down.

Incidents of violence and vandalism are reportedly occurring frequently and indiscriminately. The interim government headed by Mohamed Yunus has been criticised for failing to ensure the safety of minorities.

The closure of visa centres on both sides of the India-Bangladesh border has created serious difficulties for Bangladeshi students pursuing higher education in India. Students studying at Visva-Bharati University have been particularly affected, as they are unable to return home due to visa complications.

University authorities have, however, assured the students that they may continue staying in the hostels, which will remain open for them, should they choose to stay on campus.

At present, about 35 Bangladeshi students are enrolled at Visva-Bharati University. Their semester examinations are scheduled for the third week of January, and many had planned to return home before then. However, obtaining visas has emerged as a major obstacle.

With unrest prevailing in their home country, the students are anxious to be with their families. Their inability to return home has left them in a state of deep distress.

Several students, requesting anonymity, said: “If we could return home at such a time and meet our families, it would have eased our minds at least a little. Right now, we are extremely worried.”

The Visva-Bharati authorities maintain that despite the visa-related issues, the students will not face any difficulties on campus. They will be allowed to stay in hostels or elsewhere on campus and continue with their academic and personal work.

For now, the students who crossed the border to pursue their studies in Santiniketan, have little option but to remain confined to their hostel rooms, grappling with anxiety for their loved ones and anguish over the situation in their country.

It may be recalled that in 1999, Visva-Bharati University conferred its highest honour, Desikottam, on Sheikh Hasina. On 25 May, 2018, Sheikh Hasina, then Prime Minister of Bangladesh, jointly inaugurated the Bangladesh Bhavan at Santiniketan along with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Meanwhile, residents and ashramites of Santiniketan have condemned the vandalism of Chhayanaut, a prominent institution devoted to Bengali culture in Bangladesh.

Tension flared at Thakurnagar’s Matua Bari today following controversial remarks by Union minister of state for shipping and BJP MP Shantanu Thakur, triggering protests by a section of the Matua community amid growing anxiety over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

Thakurbari turned tense on Wednesday following a controversial remark by Union minister of state Shantanu Thakur and a protest march by supporters of Mamata Bala Thakur, leading to clashes between the two groups. The situation at Thakurbari escalated rapidly as supporters from both sides engaged in scuffles, creating an atmosphere of unrest in the Matua religious centre. The confrontation was triggered by Shantanu Thakur’s recent statement, which has sparked sharp divisions within the Matua community. Supporters of All India Matua Mahasangha (AIMM) president and Trinamul Congress MP Mamata Thakur called for a gathering at Matua Bari to protest what they described as “deeply offensive” comments made by Mr Thakur.

Demonstrators assembled outside the Matua shrine, raising slogans against the Union minister, leading to brief scuffles and heightened tension in the area. Police were deployed in large numbers to prevent the situation from spiralling out of control.

The protest was sparked by Shantanu Thakur’s statement in which he reportedly said that there would be “no problem” if one lakh members of the Matua community were temporarily excluded from voting, while removing the names of “50 lakh Rohingya, Bangladeshi and Pakistani Muslims” during the SIR exercise. The comment has come at a sensitive time, as many within the Matua community fear exclusion from the draft electoral rolls amid the ongoing revision process. Notably, Shantanu Thakur was not present at his residence during the protest. The remarks have drawn sharp criticism from the Trinamul Congress, which accused the BJP of attempting to create confusion among Matuas ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections. Mamata Thakur alleged that the BJP was deliberately misleading the community in the name of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) while simultaneously paving the way for disenfranchisement through the SIR process. “The BJP has already planned to divide Matua votes by creating fear. By invoking Rohingyas and Muslims, Shantanu Thakur is pushing Matuas towards uncertainty and detention camps,” she claimed. The BJP, which has consistently projected the CAA as a tool to grant citizenship rights to Matuas and other refugee communities, has organised multiple CAA awareness camps across the state. However, Shantanu Thakur’s comments have seemingly contradicted the party’s long-standing narrative, intensifying unease within the community.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday reiterated his commitment to the Matua and Namasudra communities in a post on X, asserting that the CAA had ensured their dignified residence in India and promising further measures once a BJP government is formed in West Bengal. With the Assembly elections barely a year away, fears over voter eligibility and political representation are now weighing heavily on many Matua families, turning citizenship and electoral rights into a central concern ahead of the polls.

The expenditure on agriculture and allied sectors has increased by 9.16 times since 2011, according to information provided by the state government.

Bangla Shasya Bima Yojana has safeguarded 1.13 crore farmers against crop losses. Claims worth Rs 3,938 crore at zero cost got settled till 2025. The state government pays the insurance premium giving relief to the farmers. The income of the farmers has doubled from 2022.

Bengal is India’s leading rice producer contributing 12.8 per cent of national output. The state is the second largest vegetable producer in the country which is 29.19 million tonnes till 2023. The Agriculture department held a series of meetings with the farmers to encourage them to grow vegetables along with rice. This has worked fine with the state’s vegetable production, which has gone up quickly.

The state government ranks third in the country in horticulture output (33.19 million MT 2021) and second in tea production (373.48 million kg 2024).

Bengal ranks first in the country in cold storage capacity at 5.95 million MT, which is 43 per cent above the national average. Every year, nearly 55 lakh metric tonnes of paddy are directly procured from 16 lakh small and marginal farmers. The agriculture department takes the initiative to collect paddy directly from the farmers bypassing the middlemen and this has increased the collection over the years.

Under the Sufal Bangle scheme, 640 outlets and 9 bulk hubs serve 3.5 lakh consumers daily across the state and connect over 80,000 farmers. In the state budget for 2025-26, Rs 200 crore has been allocated to expand the scheme with 350 new outlets and 200 procurement centres at haats and regulated markets.

The state government is offering short-term new agriculture loans (Kisan credit card) up to Rs 1 lakh at 0 per cent interest for one to five years.

The state government has given emphasis to reduce agriculture imports and encourage exports. A warehousing grid along national highways is to come up to provide logistics linkages for agriculture produce.

The annual Serampore Heritage Utsav, a festival tomtomming the intriguing cultural mix of the town’s rich Danish, British, and Vaishnavite history, was inaugurated last Monday and has already proved a draw with its heritage walks, river cruise, old temples, and even a palace.

Serampore was under Danish control from 1755 to 1845, known during this period as Frederiknagore, before being handed over to the British. Prior to that, in 1750, the then Seoraphuli Raja, Ram Chandra Roy, constructed a Ram temple at Shrirampur (the present name of Serampore).To meet the expenses and upkeep of the temple, he donated three villages – Shripur, Mohanpur and Gopinathpur – in the name of Lord ShriRam. The name Shrirampur is derived from the Ram temple.

The festival is jointly organised by the West Bengal State Tourism Department, in collaboration with the Serampore Municipality. It was inaugurated by Serampore MP Kalyan Banerjee and the minister of state for tourism Indranil Sen. Serampore Johnnagar Baptist Mission Presbyter-in-charge Rev. Father Anup Mondal, Father Sudipto Mahapatra, district president Arindom Guin, Serampore municipality chairman Giridhari Shaw, town president Santosh Singh, and all the councillors were present.

The municipality has organised a river cruise with live music and food on board. It is supporting 22 self-help groups, who have set up stalls selling handicrafts and food items at the venue, which is an area surrounding the St. Olav’s Church, which was built in 1806.

The festival includes Heritage Walks, or guided tours to explore Serampore’s historical landmarks, such as the Danish Governor’s House, St Olav’s Church, and the Serampore Rajbari, a historic palace that contains colonial-era architecture. A Danish Cemetery, which is under ASI supervision, has the graves of Danish colonial-era officers, traders and their families.

Also on the walk routes is the Henry Martyn Pagoda, a scenic pagoda located off the Hooghly River, offering stunning views. Serampore College, Catholic Church, the Johnnagar Baptist Mission Church, Radhaballav Temple, Madan Mohan temple, Mahesh Sri Jagannath temple and Dol Mandir are on the route as well. After all the walking, there’s the Denmark Traven for cooling off.

The scenic cruise along the Hooghly with live music and food, offering stunning views of the town’s heritage structures, traditional dance presentations and music performances that highlight Serampore’s cultural diversity are a big draw. A handicrafts exhibition, where local artisans showcase their handicrafts and traditional art forms, also features.

And for the hungry tourist, there’s a Food Festival within the festival. A culinary journey through Serampore’s local cuisine, with food stalls offering a range of traditional dishes are at hand.

The festival aims to promote tourism in Serampore and create awareness about its rich history. It will continue till 2nd January.

Kolkata Police has rolled out an extensive, high-intensity security and traffic management plan for the Christmas and New Year festivities with Park Street, a major hub for celebrations in the city, under unprecedented surveillance amid expectations of massive crowds.

Around 2,500 police personnel will be deployed across the city, with nearly 1,500 assigned exclusively to Park Street and another 1,000 covering the surrounding areas. The iconic stretch will effectively turn into a tightly-regulated pedestrian arena from Wednesday afternoon, when Christmas celebrations peak. Senior officers will lead the deployment. Between eight and 10 Deputy Commissioners of Police and over 25 Assistant Commissioners will supervise operations on Park Street.

The ground force will include 27 inspectors and nearly 250 sub-inspectors, supported by personnel from Park Street and Shakespeare Sarani police stations, along with plain-clothes officers from the detective department and the special branch. Surveillance will be technology-driven. Drones will monitor crowd movement from above, while over 50 high-definition CCTV cameras have been installed or augmented. Five of the city’s 15 newly-installed watchtowers will be positioned on Park Street, with four dedicated towers overseeing the stretch. Two key watchtowers at the Park Street-JL Nehru Road and Park Street-Rafi Ahmed Kidwai Road crossings will double up as temporary control rooms. Lal Bazar will function as the central command hub, coordinating live intelligence feeds, drone visuals and field reports. Quick Reaction Teams, Heavy Radio Flying Squads, and mobile patrols will be stationed for rapid response. Forty police assistance booths will be operational in high-footfall zones.

Women’s safety has been given special emphasis. Winners teams and Shakti Teams (specially trained all-woman force of Kolkata police, who patrol the city on motorcycles) will patrol Park Street and adjoining areas, both in uniform and plain clothes, particularly during late evening hours. For the first time, police are considering restricting vehicular movement on Park Street on Christmas Eve itself, instead of the traditional Christmas Day shutdown.

A final call will be taken depending on crowd density. Recent accidents near Allen Park and JL Nehru Road have prompted police to prioritise pedestrian safety. “If the crowd swells, we need to take a quick decision and shut Park Street to vehicles,” a senior officer said. Traffic planning has been tightened citywide after congestion was reported across Kolkata even before the festivities began.

With school holidays underway, large crowds at Alipore Zoo, Eco Park, Science City and Nicco Park have already slowed traffic. Police will deploy additional forces at these locations, with Alipore Zoo seeing policing from 9 a.m. on Wednesday till 2 a.m. the following day. Special checks against drunk driving and reckless behaviour will be conducted at 96 checkpoints. Metro crowd control is also part of the plan, with selective entry and exit restrictions at Park Street and Maidan stations to prevent overcrowding. Additional deployments are planned in other Christmas carnival zones such as Lake Town, Patuli and Elgin Road, and around café hubs in Kasba, Ballygunge and Sarat Bose Road.

Senior officers will join field operations as evening crowds build up, as Kolkata braces for one of its most closely guarded festive seasons in recent years.

Kolkata witnessed fresh unrest on Wednesday over protests against the killing of a Bangladeshi youth, with tensions flaring across multiple locations in the city and its outskirts, including the Howrah Bridge and near the Petrapole border in North 24-Parganas.

Several Hindu organisations staged demonstrations near the Petrapole border in Bongaon, prompting the administration to deploy a huge contingent of police and paramilitary forces to prevent any untoward incident. The situation remained tense but under control, officials said. In Kolkata, the BJP’s pre-announced programme to blockade the iconic Howrah Bridge led to chaos and traffic disruption in the central part of the city. Anticipating trouble, police had already fortified the area with barricades and personnel.

BJP leaders and workers began marching towards the bridge on Wednesday morning but were stopped by police before they could access it. Denied permission to proceed, protesters entered into heated arguments with the police and sat down on the road, raising slogans. Attempts by the demonstrators to break through police barricades led to scuffles, creating a near battlefield-like situation. The police tried to disperse the crowd, resulting in a brief clash.

Traffic on Howrah Bridge and surrounding arterial roads was severely affected for several hours, causing inconvenience to commuters. The protests stem from the alleged lynching of Dipu Das in Mymensingh district of Bangladesh. Reports of the incident triggered outrage in parts of West Bengal and other states, leading to a series of demonstrations over the past two days.

On Tuesday, areas around Beck Bagan in central Kolkata turned volatile following a call by several Sangh Parivar-affiliated organisations, including the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, ABVP and Hindu Jagran Manch, to march towards the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission. Police stopped the protesters before they could reach the mission, leading to clashes and a heavy security lockdown in the area. Protesters claimed they wanted to submit a memorandum to the Deputy High Commission condemning the killing. As police tried to prevent the march, tensions escalated rapidly. Although the BJP was not formally part of the Beck Bagan protest initially, senior party leaders reached the spot as the situation worsened. Later, the party announced its plan to blockade Howrah Bridge on Wednesday. Leader of Opposition in Bengal Assembly Suvendu Adhikari yesterday indicated that the agitation would intensify in the coming days.

Warning of stronger protests, he said the movement would continue if their voices were not heard. Police officials said adequate measures had been taken across sensitive zones in the city to maintain law and order. Security has been tightened at diplomatic locations, major bridges and border areas as the situation continues to be closely monitored.

Aiming to enhance rail connectivity, the South Eastern Railway (SER) is constructing a new bridge to replace the old Kolaghat bridge over the Rupnarayan river in Kharagpur at a cost of Rs 481 crore.

The old Kolaghat bridge was opened in 1900 and has served as a vital link of SER, providing connectivity to Howrah and Kolkata to different parts of the country. This 804-metre long iconic steel girder bridge has served as a major railway asset for the past 125 years. However, it has completed its codal life (estimated or standard service life) and needs replacement. Given the situation, the SER decided to replace the bridge. The new bridge will replace the old Kolaghat Bridge No 57 over which the middle line and down main line currently runs and lies between Deulti and Kolaghat stations of SER.

As learnt from the official railway sources, the new structure will be constructed at a cost of Rs 481.11 crore involving the down main middle lines. This bridge, with viaduct, will be a combination of composite and open-web girder bridge. Apart from the bridge, this work will also include the development of Kolaghat station with construction of elevated platforms on a diverted alignment. This new bridge is expected to be commissioned by the end of 2027 and will be in service for at least the next 100 years.

The construction of a new bridge and the completion of the shelf life of the old bridge is having some impact on the train running and operational flexibility in this important Howrah-Kharagpur Section of SER. Presently running of freight trains and most of the mail/ express and passenger trains is prohibited on down main line over the old bridge. This results in running of all down trains, including the entire fleet of goods train, mail/ express trains, other passenger trains and suburban locals through the main line resulting in traffic congestion on down main line. Only a few passenger carrying trains are allowed to run over the down main line with a speed restriction of 30 kmph.

The use of two lines across the bridge in this three line section creates a bottleneck and leads to congestion during peak hours in the busy Howrah- Kharagpur Section.

To run all Down trains through the middle line, which has the provision of reversible signalling, involves complex train operations of diversions on stations located at both ends of the bridge. These extra movements also lead to sectional congestion and delay in train running.

Efforts are being put up presently by the authorities to ensure safe and seamless movement of trains. The construction of the new bridge will enhance the safety and lead to improved mobility in train operation and provide a comfortable journey to the passengers.

Acharya Balkrishna, the stalwart of Patanjali Ayurved, recently shared a heartfelt message on Facebook about a special ceremony at Patanjali Ayurveda Mahavidyalaya (Patanjali Bhartiya Ayurvigyan Evum Anusandhan Sansthan).

The event celebrated the beginning of academic life for new students and the Upanayan Sanskar, a traditional sacred thread ceremony.

He described the event as more than just a ritual. “Yajnopavit is not just a symbol, it is a festival of our good fortune,” he wrote.

Also Read: Patanjali takes the lead in spiritual fight against drug abuse under Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan

According to Acharya Balkrishna, as students move from the early years of life to its later stages, they will truly understand the importance of this sacred thread.

Three debts of every human being

In his post, Acharya Balkrishna explained the deeper meaning behind the Yajnopavit. He said that every person in the world carries three debts:

1. Deva Rina (Debt to the Divine)
2. Rishi Rina (Debt to Teachers and Sages)
3. Pitru Rina (Debt to Parents)

The three threads of the sacred Yajnopavit represent these three debts. Wearing the thread reminds a person to repay their duties towards God, the sages, and their parents. During the ceremony, students are encouraged to resolve to live a life that honors these debts.

Inclusivity and equality at Patanjali

Acharya Balkrishna emphasised that the right to wear the Yajnopavit is not limited to any caste, sect, gender, or belief system.

“If a person is not virtuous through their actions, being born in a particular caste does not make them worthy,” he noted.

At Patanjali, there is no distinction between men and women, or between different sects when it comes to this sacred tradition.

He added that everyone has an equal right to seek higher knowledge, purity, and wisdom, reinforcing Patanjali’s philosophy of inclusivity and moral responsibility.

In a major push to make India drug-free, the Department of Social Justice & Empowerment signed a landmark MoU with Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Dhanwantari Ashram and the University of Patanjali under the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (NMBA).

The event took place at Samrasta Hall, Dr. Ambedkar International Centre, New Delhi, with Union Minister Dr Virender Kumar and senior officials from both sides in attendance.

This partnership is a part of NMBA’s initiative to involve religious and spiritual organisations in spreading awareness about the dangers of substance abuse. Such organisations, with their wide influence in society, are expected to become key partners in making NMBA a mass movement.

Dr Virender Kumar calls for united action

Addressing the gathering, Dr Virender Kumar stressed that the fight against drug addiction requires participation from all sections of society. “This is not just a government task; it is a social responsibility. Only together can we bring back our youth to the right path,” he said.

The minister highlighted that partnerships with spiritual and faith-based organisations would strengthen NMBA’s outreach and help achieve the larger goal of a drug-sensitive India.

Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan: From local to national

Launched on 15th August 2020, NMBA initially targeted 272 most vulnerable districts. Over the years it has expanded to cover all districts of India aiming to create awareness about substance use among students in schools, colleges, universities.

The Abhiyaan focuses on sensitising communities about the harmful effects of drugs and encouraging prevention through education, discussion, positive engagement.

Massive impact across the country

Since its launch, NMBA has touched the lives of over 25.7 crore people, including 9.2 crore youth and 6.3 crore women. The campaign’s message has reached students through the participation of nearly 16 lakh educational institutions across India.

NMBA has partnered with eight major spiritual organisations, including The Art of Living, Brahma Kumaris, Sant Nirankari Mission, ISKCON, Shri Ram Chandra Mission, All World Gayatri Pariwar, Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Dhanwantari Ashram, and University of Patanjali, to conduct mass awareness programs.

Also Read: University of Patanjali Designated as a Cluster Center by Gyan Bharatam Mission, Ministry of Culture

As investigators piece together the sequence of events behind the horrific Chitradurga bus fire that killed nine people, the driver of the Sea Bird sleeper coach has said he remembers little beyond a speeding truck crashing into his vehicle.

Speaking from his hospital bed, bus driver Rafeeq recalled that he was driving at around 60–70 kmph in the early hours of Thursday when a container truck suddenly rammed into the bus.

“I tried to control the bus, but it was not possible. Even as I attempted to steer the vehicle aside, another bus was moving in the adjacent lane. I don’t know what happened after that. I don’t remember how I got out,” he said.

The accident, which occurred around 2 am on National Highway 48 near Gorlattu Cross in Chitradurga district of Karnataka, led to a massive fire after the bus’s fuel tank was hit. Eight passengers travelling in the sleeper coach were burned alive. The truck driver, identified as Kuldeep, also died in the crash.

Christmas Day tragedy in Karnataka: ‘Truck hits sleeper bus fuel tank after losing control’, 9 dead in Chitradurga

How the collision unfolded on NH-48

According to police, the container truck was travelling from the opposite direction when it jumped the divider after the driver reportedly lost control, ramming into the bus with force. Preliminary findings suggest the truck directly struck the diesel tank, causing fuel leakage and an immediate blaze that engulfed the sleeper coach.

Bus assistant Mohammad Sadiq, who survived the crash, said the bus had left Bengaluru around 9 pm with 30 passengers on board. “We left Bengaluru around 9 pm. There were 30 passengers on board. I was sleeping when the incident occurred. The truck hit the diesel tank. Due to the impact, I was thrown out of the bus. The driver was also thrown out,” he said.

Those seated or sleeping inside the sleeper compartments had little chance to escape once the fire spread, police said.

Nine killed, 21 injured; most out of danger

IGP (East) BR Ravikanthe Gowda said a total of 32 people, including the driver and assistant, were travelling in the bus from Bengaluru to Gokarna. Of the 21 injured, 11 were taken to a hospital in Hiriyur, nine to Sira, and three to Tumakuru. One patient with 15–20 per cent burn injuries has been shifted to Victoria Hospital in Bengaluru, while the rest are stated to be out of danger.

Police said some bodies were severely charred due to the intensity of the fire, complicating identification. DNA experts from Bengaluru and Scene of Crime Officers are at the site, and post-mortem examinations will be conducted before the bodies are handed over to families.

Schoolchildren escape in near-miss

In a rare stroke of luck, 42 schoolchildren travelling in another bus on an academic trip narrowly escaped the tragedy. The bus, which was heading to Dandeli, was hit by the burning sleeper coach, but its driver managed to steer it away, breaking through the highway fencing before coming to a halt on the service road.

“It is sheer luck. The bus carrying schoolchildren on a tour to Dandeli was travelling next to the bus that caught fire. It was hit by the sleeper coach bus. The vehicle swerved to the extreme left, broke through the highway fencing, and came to a halt on the service road. Fortunately, none of the schoolchildren were injured,” IGP Gowda said.

Alternative arrangements were made, and the trip has since resumed. The school bus driver, an eyewitness, also helped rescue several trapped passengers, according to police.

Investigation underway, traffic disrupted

Authorities have attributed the accident to the negligence of the truck driver and said a detailed investigation is underway. Traffic on the Bengaluru–Sira stretch of NH-48 was disrupted for several hours following the crash.

Police said more details would emerge as the probe progresses.

With tourist footfall set to rise across the Dooars belt, the Jalpaiguri district administration, spearheaded by the Jalpaiguri Zilla Parishad, has launched “Parishkar Paryatan”, a comprehensive clean tourism initiative aimed at keeping the district’s major tourist destinations clean, plastic-free and environmentally sustainable during the peak travel season.

The initiative was inaugurated on Wednesday at the Lali Guras Picnic Spot in the Matiali block of Jalpaiguri district.

Recognising that tourism flourishes best in a clean and well-preserved natural environment, the initiative seeks to balance tourism growth with ecological responsibility. Forests, rivers, picnic spots and forest-adjacent destinations that attract thousands of visitors each year have been brought under a structured cleanliness and waste-management framework, with emphasis on community participation and behavioural change.

Structured planning and stakeholder participation

Under Parishkar Paryatan, major tourist zones, including picnic spots, riverbanks, forest areas, resorts and homestay-intensive locations, have been identified and mapped block-wise and gram panchayat-wise. This systematic planning allows closer monitoring and focused implementation, ensuring that even seasonal and lesser-known tourist spots are covered.

The initiative is built on collective responsibility, involving block-level officials, gram panchayat representatives, police and forest departments, community-based organisations, NGOs, picnic committees, resort and homestay owners, shopkeepers, vendors and media representatives. This inclusive approach aims to transform cleanliness into a shared civic duty rather than a top-down enforcement exercise.

Cleanliness drive, enforcement and smart waste management

Intensive information, education and communication (IEC) activities are being carried out at tourist entry points, parking areas, markets, resorts and picnic zones to promote responsible behaviour, proper waste disposal and reduced plastic use. To ensure compliance, fines have been fixed for littering and the use or supply of plastic, with enforcement carried out by community development volunteers in coordination with the police.

Daily cleaning operations are being undertaken by VRPs and VCTs at tourist sites, supported by the installation of dustbins and cement pits for waste segregation at source. The administration has also rolled out smart solid waste management (SWM), including QR-coded dustbins, real-time e-kart tracking and data-driven waste collection to improve efficiency and accountability, particularly during peak tourist periods.

Eco-friendly alternatives, livelihoods and incentives

As part of the initiative, eco-friendly alternatives to single-use plastic, such as sal leaf and arecanut plates, biodegradable carry bags and products made by self-help groups—are being actively promoted, supporting both environmental goals and local livelihoods. Ragpickers and marginalised groups have been integrated into the waste-management system at the gram panchayat level, with plastic waste procured at Rs 20 per kilogram through plastic waste management units, providing dignity and income support.

To encourage sustained participation and healthy competition, the district administration has announced seasonal awards for categories, including cleanest tourist spot, best managed tourist area, highest plastic collection, best block and best gram panchayat.

Officials said Parishkar Paryatan is not merely a cleanliness drive but a long-term commitment to responsible and sustainable tourism in Jalpaiguri, ensuring that the region’s natural beauty is preserved even as tourism activity intensifies across the Dooars.

Peaky Blinders fans, brace yourselves! Tommy Shelby, the sharp-suited razor-wielding gangster from Birmingham, is back. And this time, he’s taking over the big screen. Netflix dropped a brand-new teaser for ‘Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man’ on Christmas Eve giving fans their first taste of the film that follows the legendary six-season TV run.

And let’s just say… it looks explosive.

‘Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man’ – Teaser full of mystery

The minute-long teaser trailer doesn’t waste a second. We see Cillian Murphy’s Tommy Shelby wandering through a forest, a graveyard, and a home, looking every bit the haunted mob boss we know and love.

A deep, mysterious voice asks, “Whatever happened to Tommy Shelby?” And suddenly, the screen bursts into a whirlwind of violent, bloody, suspenseful images.

 

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Phones ring. Guns fire. Photos burn. A coin spins. A massive building explodes. And in the middle of it all, Shelby says, “I’m not that man anymore.”’ But the world (and the trailer) isn’t letting him off that easy.

Another voice demands, “You gotta come back.” And just like that, Tommy’s back in action, slamming his hands on the table and setting the stage for chaos.

Fans will recognise familiar Peaky Blinders vibes: a red scarf over a headstone, a spinning pocket watch, flashes of violence, and a glimpse of Barry Keoghan, hinting at the new faces joining the saga.

Setting the stage: Birmingham 1940

The film takes place in Birmingham during World War II, a city on edge and a world at war. Shelby, forced out of the self-imposed exile he chose at the end of season six, faces his toughest challenge yet.

With family and country both hanging in the balance, he must confront not just his enemies, but his own demons.

Cillian Murphy on returning

Cillian Murphy, who gave Tommy Shelby a chillingly perfect ending in the series finale, admitted that returning to the role was hard to resist.

Speaking with Netflix’s Tudum, Murphy said, “It seems like Tommy Shelby wasn’t finished with me. It is very gratifying to be re-collaborating with Steven Knight and Tom Harper on the film version of Peaky Blinders. This is one for the fans.”

‘Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man’ – release date

Netflix has confirmed that Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man will hit theaters first for a two-week special release on March 6 before streaming globally on March 20.

That means fans will get to see Tommy Shelby’s next chapter on the big screen before cozying up for the Netflix premiere.

Also Read: Stranger Things Season 5 Volume 2: All the predictions for the epic series finale