Bibi Rajinder Kaur said the Muslims of Jakhwali village had to go for namaz to the next village. ‘I thought of giving them five marlas of land so that they have a place to pray,’ Kaur said.

JAKHWALI (FATEHGARH SAHIB): In the season of giving, a 75-year-old Sikh woman has donated land for the construction of a mosque in a village in Punjab’s Fatehgarh Sahib district, with Sikh and Hindu families also pitching in with money. The heart-warming gesture comes from Jakhwali, a predominantly Sikh village (400-500 families) with sizable Hindu (150 families) and Muslim (100 families) populations. Located 55km from Chandigarh, the village has a gurdwara and a Shiva temple, but until now, no mosque.“Our Muslim friends here didn’t have a mosque and had to go for namaz to the next village. I thought of giving them five marlas of land (around 1,360 sqft) so that they have a place to pray,” Bibi Rajinder Kaur told TOI, adding with a smile, “We feel very happy that they will be happy.”Her grandson Satnam Singh said Sikh, Muslim and Hindu families in the village live “like brothers” and have done so for generations. “Whenever there is a religious event, everyone contributes and participates,” Singh added.The absence of a mosque had long been felt, but with no solution emerging at the panchayat level, Bibi Rajinder Kaur volunteered her land. “After discussions within the family, we felt we had a field in an area where there is already a temple, gurdwara and another shrine. We asked the Muslim community if the place suited them, and they said it was perfect,” Satnam said. As the land was in his grandmother’s name, it was registered in the name of the mosque committee.“They participate in our events like sabha langar and do sewa. We believe every religion should be respected,” he said. Satnam’s brother Monu Singh, a village panch, said since government land cannot be allotted for religious construction, the family decided to donate its own land. “The entire village, irrespective of religion, is contributing to the mosque’s construction,” he said.Former sarpanch and local BJP leader Ajaib Singh recalled that Muslims and Sikhs had contributed when the temple was built, just as all communities had supported the construction of the gurdwara. “This is how we live. We will contribute till the last brick is laid,” he said.Gursewak Kumar from the Brahmin community said the village’s unity was a matter of pride. Masjid committee president Kala Khan thanked the villagers for their support. “People of all communities live here in harmony. We expect to complete construction by February,” he said, adding that around Rs 3.5 lakh has already been collected.Punjab Shahi Imam Maulana Usman Ludhianvi, who laid the foundation stone, said Punjab has long been known for such examples of communal harmony.

MUMBAI: Marking a long-awaited milestone for the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), the Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) formally entered India’s commercial aviation map on Thursday with the arrival and departure of its first scheduled passenger flights.The inaugural arrival was IndiGo flight 6E460 from Bengaluru, which touched down at 8am and was welcomed with a ceremonial water cannon salute. Over half an hour later, NMIA saw its first departure – an IndiGo flight to Hyderabad – taking off at 8.40 am. Day 1 saw 48 flights connecting nine domestic destinations and serving over 4,000 passengers, with peak traffic between 5 pm and 7 pm.NMIA’s take-off marks a major expansion of air connectivity for Mumbai region, constrained for decades by existing airport operating out of a single runway and handling 950 flights every 24 hours.The ‘Navi’ or ‘newness’ factor was underscored even by aviation professionals. “For us, the new airport is called Navi,” said an airline pilot. It is the official call sign to be used by pilots and air traffic controllers in radio communication. “When the first flight was handed over to the Navi Mumbai tower, we radioed to the pilots, ‘Welcome to Navi’,” an aviation official said.There were teething troubles for flyers. Several passengers said road signages were unclear or missing at junctions, causing motorists to reach the cargo terminal before finding the passenger terminal. Approach roads were also under repair, with JCBs deployed for road-widening work.Despite Navi Mumbai Municipal Transport launching bus services on five routes, most flyers opted for app cabs as auto and taxi stands were not fully operational. Passengers travelling from areas such as Matunga and Dadar noted the distance to the new airport-around 35 km. “Signages are not clearly visible on Atal Setu when you enter Navi Mumbai,” said Matunga resident Dinesh Gandhi.Curious visitors also turned up to see the airport, but private security restricted entry to ticketed passengers.Day 1 operations began with four carriers: IndiGo, Akasa Air, Air India Express and Star Air. Developed and operated by Adani Airports Holdings Limited, NMIA is among India’s largest greenfield airport projects. Chairman Gautam Adani welcomed passengers from the inaugural flight and interacted with staff and frontline workers. “It’s a proud day for Mumbai and for India,” he said.Cultural performances featuring Maharashtrian lezim, dhol and tutari added local flavour. India Post released a commemorative First Flight Carried Special Cover flown on an IndiGo service to Goa.Demand to name the airport after D B Patil resurfaced, with former MP Sanjeev Naik saying it reflected the sentiment of Navi Mumbaikars.

MUMBAI: Marking a long-awaited milestone for the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), the Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) formally entered India’s commercial aviation map on Thursday with the arrival and departure of its first scheduled passenger flights.The inaugural arrival was IndiGo flight 6E460 from Bengaluru, which touched down at 8am and was welcomed with a ceremonial water cannon salute. Over half an hour later, NMIA saw its first departure – an IndiGo flight to Hyderabad – taking off at 8.40 am. Day 1 saw 48 flights connecting nine domestic destinations and serving over 4,000 passengers, with peak traffic between 5 pm and 7 pm.NMIA’s take-off marks a major expansion of air connectivity for Mumbai region, constrained for decades by existing airport operating out of a single runway and handling 950 flights every 24 hours.The ‘Navi’ or ‘newness’ factor was underscored even by aviation professionals. “For us, the new airport is called Navi,” said an airline pilot. It is the official call sign to be used by pilots and air traffic controllers in radio communication. “When the first flight was handed over to the Navi Mumbai tower, we radioed to the pilots, ‘Welcome to Navi’,” an aviation official said.There were teething troubles for flyers. Several passengers said road signages were unclear or missing at junctions, causing motorists to reach the cargo terminal before finding the passenger terminal. Approach roads were also under repair, with JCBs deployed for road-widening work.Despite Navi Mumbai Municipal Transport launching bus services on five routes, most flyers opted for app cabs as auto and taxi stands were not fully operational. Passengers travelling from areas such as Matunga and Dadar noted the distance to the new airport-around 35 km. “Signages are not clearly visible on Atal Setu when you enter Navi Mumbai,” said Matunga resident Dinesh Gandhi.Curious visitors also turned up to see the airport, but private security restricted entry to ticketed passengers.Day 1 operations began with four carriers: IndiGo, Akasa Air, Air India Express and Star Air. Developed and operated by Adani Airports Holdings Limited, NMIA is among India’s largest greenfield airport projects. Chairman Gautam Adani welcomed passengers from the inaugural flight and interacted with staff and frontline workers. “It’s a proud day for Mumbai and for India,” he said.Cultural performances featuring Maharashtrian lezim, dhol and tutari added local flavour. India Post released a commemorative First Flight Carried Special Cover flown on an IndiGo service to Goa.Demand to name the airport after D B Patil resurfaced, with former MP Sanjeev Naik saying it reflected the sentiment of Navi Mumbaikars.

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Bangladesh Nationalist Party’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman landed at the Sylhet airport in Dhaka on Thursday, ending more than 17 years of self-exile in the UK. His return ends a prolonged period abroad that began in 2008, when he left Bangladesh for medical treatment amid heightened legal and political pressures at home.Rahman, the elder son of former prime minister and BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia, is widely seen as the party’s principal face of the polls ahead of parliamentary elections slated for February 12, particularly as Zia remains unwell.

Since the ouster of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh has witnessed recurring spells of violence. The recent killing of youth leader and key figure in Hasina’s ouster, Osman Hadi, has reignited tensions, with Hadi’s brother alleging that the murder was aimed at “sabotaging polls”.Rahman’s homecoming has been facilitated by the interim government. Earlier this month, foreign advisor Md Touhid Hossain said the government could issue a “one-time” travel pass within a day if Rahman wished to return. Chief advisor Muhammad Yunus also discussed Rahman’s return at a recent meeting, according to officials.

Who is Tarique Rahman?

Tarique Rahman, 58, is the elder son of former prime minister Khaleda Zia and acting chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party. He has lived in self-exile in London since 2008 after leaving Bangladesh amid multiple criminal convictions, including money laundering and charges linked to an alleged plot to assassinate then prime minister Sheikh Hasina.

Over the past year, Bangladesh’s higher courts have acquitted him in all major cases, including the 2004 grenade attack and the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case, clearing legal hurdles to his political return. Widely regarded as the BNP’s de facto leader, Rahman has now announced plans to return and contest the February 2026 general elections.

Why it matters?

His decision to return comes at a time of intense political transition in Bangladesh. A nationwide uprising last year led to the resignation and exile of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who had been in power for 15 years. In the aftermath, a Yunus-led interim government took charge. Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus was sworn in as Chief Adviser, a position equivalent to head of government in the interim setup, with a mandate to oversee reforms and ensure a fair electoral process ahead of upcoming 2026 polls. Rahman’s homecoming carries both symbolic and practical significance. It ends years of leadership from abroad and strengthens the BNP’s position as the main rival to parties contesting the February polls. Supporters see him as a potential prime ministerial candidate and a unifying force for opposition politics after years of exile and legal disputes.BNP leaders said Rahman will complete formalities to become a registered voter on December 27, a step that would allow him to play a direct role in electoral politics.Rahman earlier told BBC Bangla, “For some reasonable reasons my return has not happened… but the time has come, and I will return soon… I am running in the election [as well].”

Will Rahman be the next PM?

Bangladesh’s political order has been reshaped following the violent 2024 uprising that led to Sheikh Hasina’s ouster and the disbanding of her Awami League by the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus. With the Awami League barred from elections, traditional alliances have fractured, including the long-standing BNP–Jamaat partnership, the BNP is betting big on Rahman. The emergence of the student-led National Citizen Party, born out of the July protests and now registered with the Election Commission, has added further uncertainty to an already fluid electoral landscape.As Khaleda Zia, 80, is battling health issues, the BNP sees Tarique Rahman as its most viable leader going into the first election in nearly two decades without the Awami League. His decision to contest signals an effort to consolidate party unity, reclaim the Zia family’s political legacy, and project the BNP as the principal governing alternative.Political observers view the BNP as a frontrunner, and Rahman is being tipped as a possible prime ministerial candidate if the party secures a majority.

Khaleda Zia’s tenure

Bangladesh over the last three decades has alternated power between two rivals, now-ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina and Rahman’s mother, former prime minister Khaleda Zia.Zia was the first female prime minister of Bangladesh and served from 1991 to 1995, and again from 2001 to 2006. Her tenure remains fresh in public memory, particularly among political factions that ousted Hasina on allegations of corruption. Her regime also saw allegations of atrocities and discrimination against minorities. In 2018, Zia was sentenced to five years in prison on graft charges.

Rahman’s schedule

According to BNP standing committee member Salahuddin Ahmed, senior party leaders will receive Rahman at the airport before he proceeds to a reception venue on the July Expressway, also known as the 300 Feet Road, where he is expected to address the nation.He will then visit Khaleda Zia at the hospital and return to his residence in Gulshan-2, Ahmed said. Details of Rahman’s first three days back were outlined by Ahmed at a press conference on Wednesday, as reported by Prothom Alo.On Friday, December 26, Rahman is slated to visit the grave of BNP founder and former president Ziaur Rahman at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, followed by a visit to the National Martyrs’ Monument in Savar.On Saturday, December 27, he is expected to complete national identity card procedures to become a voter, visit the grave of martyred Osman Hadi at Dhaka University, and meet those injured in the July mass uprising at the National Orthopaedic Hospital in Shyamoli, Prothom Alo reported.