The world is getting hit by another wave of Covid-19 and this time it’s the Omicron variant. Nearly 1 million people tested positive for Covid-19 in the USA on 3rd of January, which by far is the highest since the start of the pandemic. Our next door neighbour India is also suffering badly. Curfew has been placed in West Bengal, and restrictions imposed in almost all the states. In the past week in Bangladesh, the infection rate has doubled.

Actress and model Safa Kabir is a popular face on television. She used to be an anchor and RJ as well.

An extremely special chapter has unfolded today in Bangladesh Cricket history as the Tigers toppled the number one ranked Test side to break New Zealand's 17-match unbeaten record on home soil.

The DU administration has initiated a 15-year master plan to bring changes to the infrastructure of the university. When executed, the current look of the hundred-year-old campus will be drastically altered by this plan. The reason behind this plan is to accommodate the growing number of students, teachers, and officials to the now aesthetically pleasing, green campus.

Bangladeshi militant group Ansar Al Islam is working on major plans like using the Rohingyas in militancy; attacking atheists, people of different religions and from foreign missions, even taking control of the Indian subcontinent! Although no attack is imminent, the militant group is planning to recruit and train new members in Indo-Bangladesh border areas, according to the counter terrorism unit of the police.

Like every year, a gathering of Baul singers was arranged in Manikganj.

Road safety has become an elusive dream. According to the Road Safety Foundation, 418 were killed and 497 injured in 383 road accidents in December alone. In November, 423 people died in 379 such incidents.

“Boli,” a seven-part series starring Chanchal Chowdhury released recently on an online platform. It marks the debut of advertisement maker Shankha Dasgupta as a director on the small screen.

In November 2018, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina declared the Sundarbans free of robbers. However, within four years, there has been an increase in robbery cases in the forest. The robbers are taking away fishermen's income. The robbers have set up new hideouts in the coastal area of ​​Barguna as the law enforcers are active in the Sundarbans, said the fishermen of the region.

National politics is picking up at snail's pace. On the one hand, the Awami League and the opposition candidates of the ruling party have become prominent around the Union Parishad elections. On the other hand, BNP, BSD, and CPB have boycotted the president's dialogue on the formation of the Election Commission. What is the message being sent out about the upcoming national elections?

Dr. Tasnim Jara is a familiar face on social media. She became a social media influencer by presenting medical information and guidelines that are easy to understand.

Free textbooks were distributed at primary schools countrywide on the first day of the year.

Experts say that precautions should be taken to curb the spread of the new Covid-19 variant Omicron. The Health Ministry is claiming that they’re much better equipped now to deal with Covid-19. But is the government ready to handle the possible increasing number of hospitalisations again as in last two years? How far has the country come to tackle the coronavirus?

A fire broke out in MV Abhiyan-10 launch on Sugandha river in Jhalakathi on December 24. After hearing about the fire, around 3pm, ignoring the cold and thick fog of winter, 6-7 fishermen took their boats and tried their best to rescue the burn victims.

Carrying a heritage of 148 years, Kolkata’s trams are still going strong. In today’s modern life, the trams connect us to the past and uphold tradition. With the passing of ages, the horse-driven trams now run on electricity.

Daily Star Books brings out book reviews, recommendations and essays every thursday.

‘Raat Jaga Phool’, a Bangla film directed by Mir Sabbir, was released on December 31st. Mir Sabbir, who also acted in the film, debuted his directing career with it. The government-funded film also features actor Jannatul Ferdous Oishee.

2021 -- Bangladesh marks its half-century as an eventful year full of crisis, struggle, and achievements. On the one hand, the biggest challenges of recent times -- the two terrible waves of Covid-19, Rohingya crisis, communal violence, accidents, deaths. On the other hand, Bangladesh as a nation this year has started a new journey, towards a new era.

Bangladeshi film “Mridha Bonam Mridha” was released on December 24. Starring Tariq Anam Khan, Siam Ahmed, Nova Fairuz, and Sanjida Preeti, the plot of the film revolves around a family and their psychological crisis.

BNP has officially stated that it will not join the dialogue with the president over the formation of the next Election Commission. Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) and Bangladesher Samajtantrik Dal (BSD) have also declined to join the ongoing dialogue. Why exactly has the BNP decided to abstain from the dialogue? How credible would this dialogue be without one of the major political parties in the country?