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A year of revolt, redemption and history
The year 2025 proved to be a landmark in the world of sports. Cricket and football delivered moments of high drama and historic significance throughout the year. Teams long starved of silverware finally celebrated championship glory, while fans were treated to outstanding individual performances alongside memorable team achievements. This Sports Year in Review revisits the defining sporting moments of 2025.
Khaleda Zia’s demise: A new political reality for BNP and Bangladesh
The death of BNP Chairperson and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia marks the end of a long, influential and contentious chapter in Bangladesh’s political history. Her demise on the morning of December 30 has created a profound void—not only within the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) but across nearly five decades of the country’s political landscape.
Uncompromising leader Khaleda Zia's legacy will live on in a million hearts
General Ershad seized power on March 24, 1982, suspending the Constitution and imposing martial law. Ever since he seized power, protests began on the streets against him. At the forefront of that movement, the two main political parties of that time, the Awami League and the BNP, along with their political alliance, were simultaneously carrying out protests. In 1986, Ershad organized a farce of national elections. The Awami League led by Sheikh Hasina fell into the trap of that farce and 28 political parties, including Jamaat-e-Islami, participated in the elections. But BNP boycotted the elections and remained steadfast in the street protests. “No compromise with injustice, no elections under a dictator” was the declaration made by BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia. Since then, she has been an ‘uncompromising national leader’ to the people of the country.
Political journey of legendary leader Khaleda Zia
Bangladesh's first female Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia breathed her last at 6 am on Tuesday (December 30). Her passport states her birth year as 1946.
Khaleda Zia: From homemaker to country's first female prime minister
BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia is a unique and legendary name in the country’s politics. When BNP founder and then President Ziaur Rahman was brutally assassinated in May 1981, Khaleda Zia was just a homemaker. She had no public interest in politics, and was rarely seen at political events. But over time, that reclusive housewife became the country's three-time Prime Minister. She has covered this long and difficult path by facing various conspiracies and ups and downs at home and abroad. Amid the grief of losing her husband, she had to take charge of the party and face numerous obstacles. From there, her struggle on the road began. She united the entire nation by leading the anti-dictatorship movement for eight consecutive years. Due to her strong character and uncompromising attitude, she gained the reputation of an 'uncompromising leader'.
Tarique Rahman’s house in Bogura undergoing renovation
Ending a long period of exile, BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman is returning to the country, marking the beginning of a new chapter in national politics. He is set to contest the 13th parliamentary election from the Bogura-6 constituency, Sadar, triggering a festive mood among BNP leaders and activists in Bogura.
'When media outlets set ablaze, freedom of speech turns to ashes'
Sharif Osman Hadi, spokesperson of the Inqilab Manchsuccumbed to his bullet injuries around 9:45 pm on Thursday while undergoing treatment in Singapore. Within moments of hearing this news, an angry crowd gathered at Shahbagh intersection in the capital. A section of them then moved towards Karwan Bazar. Upon arrival, they first vandalized and looted the office of Daily Prothom Alo and then that of the Daily Star on Kazi Nazrul Islam Avenue. Later, both outlets were set on fire. During this time, the protesters attacked New Age Editor Nurul Kabir. When the attack began, journalists and staff of Prothom Alo quickly left premise to save their lives while journalists of the Daily Star took shelter on the roof. For the first time since their establishment, the publication of Prothom Alo and the Daily Star was suspended for a day, excluding the newspaper holiday. This incident tarnished the country's image all over the world. Freedom of the media has been called into question. According to prominent figures, the incident of setting fire to the offices of the country's two leading newspapers amounts to strangling the freedom of speech of the people of the country. In fact, they say that when the media is burned, freedom of speech is reduced to ashes.
Niazi with his head down in shame and humiliation: AK Khandker
As a short winter day, on that Thursday the sun dipped below the horizon and the sky turns darker too early. On the afternoon of December 16, 1971, the Pakistani commander of the eastern region, AK Niazi, and Chief of Staff of the Indian Army's Eastern Command Major General JFR Jacob were sitting in an emergency meeting at the Dhaka Cantonment. The meeting decided that the Pakistani army would surrender in the open field, among the people. Brave freedom fighter and the then Deputy Chief of Staff of the Liberation Forces, Abdul Karim Khandker, witnessed that historic moment as a representative of Bangladesh.
A colourless Victory Day in Bogura, memories of celebration being faded
For many residents of Bogura, this year’s Victory Day felt unusually muted. Abdus Salam, a local businessman, recalled the festive atmosphere of past celebrations while listening to patriotic songs on his phone. “Victory Day is no longer what it used to be,” he said. “The few arrangements we see today feel purely formal. Earlier, streets were filled with music and decorations, and the city was alive with celebration. Now everything seems dull.”
Village life during 1971
[In 2002, Liberation War researcher Afsan Chowdhury started a history project called ‘Bangladesh 1971’. As part of this work, a four-volume book called ‘Bangladesh 1971’ was published in 2007. In 2013, another project called ‘Gramer Ekattor’ started. Based on the information from that project, he published a book titled ‘Gramer Ekattor’ in 2019. Inspired by the author’s ‘Gramer Ekattor’, Views Bangladesh brings its Victory Day event ‘How was the village life during the 1971 war?’]