The interim government of Bangladesh has decided to establish the country’s first Free Trade Zone and Defense Industrial Zone, according to Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) Executive Chairman Chowdhury Ashiq Bin Harun. The announcement was made on Monday at a press briefing at the Foreign Service Academy in Dhaka. The Free Trade Zone will be set up on 600 acres of land in Anwara, Chattogram, while the Defense Industrial Zone will occupy 850 acres in Mirsarai.

The decision was approved at the fourth meeting of the governing board of the Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA), chaired by Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus. Harun stated that the Mirsarai site was previously designated for an Indian Economic Zone under a government-to-government framework, which has now been dropped. He added that countries maintaining good relations with Bangladesh have shown interest in the new project, and details will be disclosed once agreements progress further.

The Defense Industrial Zone will be located within the National Special Economic Zone (NSEZ) in Mirsarai, marking a significant policy shift in Bangladesh’s industrial development strategy.

Saudi Arabia has informed Bangladesh that pilgrims whose accommodation is not arranged by their agencies within the set deadline will not be allowed to perform Hajj. The directive was conveyed through a letter sent to 30 lead agencies, prompting Bangladesh’s Ministry of Religious Affairs to instruct them to finalize all housing arrangements in Makkah and Madinah by January 28.

According to the ministry, Bangladeshi pilgrims will travel through both government and private channels, with 73,935 private pilgrims managed by the 30 lead agencies. The Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has repeatedly urged completion of housing contracts, expressing dissatisfaction with the slow progress.

During a virtual meeting on January 23, the Saudi ministry’s director general described the current pace of accommodation arrangements for Bangladeshi pilgrims as disappointing and reiterated that any pilgrim without confirmed housing by the deadline will be barred from performing Hajj.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Shafiqur Rahman announced that the party aims to ensure dignified employment for every capable man and woman in the country. Speaking as the chief guest at an election rally in Kushtia on Monday at noon, he said the initiative would particularly empower the youth to contribute to national development through their energy and skills.

Rahman emphasized that Jamaat does not want unemployment to persist in the country and seeks to eliminate it through productive work opportunities. He also called for reforms in the education system to build a skilled and humane nation, making education more employment-oriented. He added that the party envisions a Bangladesh where citizens can proudly identify themselves as Bangladeshis.

The Jamaat chief further stated that the party would establish justice equally for all, ensuring the same legal standards for the president, workers, and even the poor. The rally was presided over by Kushtia district Jamaat’s acting Ameer Abdul Gafur and attended by several central and regional leaders from Jamaat and allied organizations.

The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) has issued ten urgent directives to all public and private hospitals across Bangladesh ahead of the national parliamentary election scheduled for February 12, 2026. The order, signed by Dr. Abu Hossain Md. Moinul Ahsan, Director (Hospitals and Clinics), requires hospitals to maintain 24-hour control rooms during the election period and to remain on special alert and preparedness from February 10 to 15.

According to the directives, medical teams must be formed at every administrative level—six in each city corporation, four at the divisional level, three at the district level, two at the upazila level, and one at the union level. Hospitals have been instructed to ensure continuous ambulance readiness, deploy additional emergency staff if needed, and keep key facilities such as emergency, laboratory, dialysis, CT scan, and MRI centers open. Heads of institutions must remain present at their workplaces or assign a qualified substitute with full contact details reported to the DGHS.

Private hospitals and clinics have also been directed to keep emergency departments operational with doctors on duty and to provide initial treatment and counseling before referring any patient.

Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus has directed Bangladesh’s armed forces to remain on maximum alert to ensure a free, fair, and credible 13th National Parliamentary Election and referendum scheduled for February 12. He issued the directive on Monday during a meeting with senior military officials at the Army Headquarters, according to a statement from the Chief Adviser’s Press Wing. Yunus emphasized that the armed forces’ professionalism, neutrality, and responsibility are crucial to maintaining public confidence and ensuring a peaceful and festive electoral atmosphere.

He described the upcoming vote as a decisive moment for Bangladesh’s democratic future, particularly for young and long-disfranchised voters. Yunus urged the military leadership to ensure all field-level decisions are lawful, restrained, and responsible, warning that even minor deviations could undermine public trust. He also paid tribute to the martyrs of the Liberation War and the July–August student uprising, acknowledging the armed forces’ role in maintaining stability.

Yunus further noted that the interim government has prioritized strengthening the armed forces’ capacity, including establishing domestic arms production and signing defense cooperation memoranda with several countries.

Election Commission (EC) Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed stated that a level playing field exists in the ongoing election process, allowing candidates to campaign freely. Speaking to reporters on Monday at the EC headquarters in Dhaka, he advised that complaints about code of conduct violations should be filed directly with the Electoral Inquiry and Adjudication Committees or returning officers for quicker action, rather than through the central EC office.

Ahmed also briefed journalists about a recent meeting between the EC and foreign diplomats, where 41 ambassadors and mission heads were informed about the upcoming February 12 parliamentary election and referendum. The diplomats were particularly interested in security arrangements and command structures. The EC detailed the deployment of police, army, navy, air force, RAB, and Ansar personnel, noting that 25,000 to 30,000 police body-worn cameras will be used at polling centers.

He added that vote counting is expected to take three to four hours per center, though counting for expatriate ballots may take longer due to separate ballot formats and centralized scanning procedures.

The Election Commission of Bangladesh announced that nearly 56,000 domestic and foreign observers will monitor the upcoming national parliamentary election and referendum. According to the commission’s approval, the observers will be present at polling centers on election day to oversee field-level activities. Md. Asadul Haque, Assistant Director of the EC’s Public Relations Department, stated that 55,454 observers from 81 domestic organizations and around 500 international observers will participate. Voting will take place continuously from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on February 12, when voters will cast their ballots for both the parliamentary election and the referendum.

The commission said both local and international observers will closely monitor the voting environment, law and order situation, and voter participation. EC officials noted that the presence of observers will help ensure transparency and credibility in the election process. Observers will prepare reports on conditions inside and outside polling centers and submit them to the commission afterward.

According to the Election Commission, the inclusion of foreign representatives is expected to enhance international confidence in Bangladesh’s electoral process.

Sub-Inspector Nazmul of Madhabpur Police Station in Hobiganj has been accused of detaining innocent people without warrants, subjecting them to abuse, and extorting money. A written complaint was filed on January 20 to the Hobiganj Superintendent of Police and on January 25 to the Sylhet Range DIG by Mosharaf Mia of Alekpur village, alleging that his brother Kamrul Hasan was unlawfully detained for 14 hours on January 17. Nazmul allegedly seized Kamrul’s belongings, threatened to implicate him in serious cases, and demanded money for his release.

The complaint states that Mosharaf paid Tk 50,000 but Nazmul demanded an additional Tk 30,000, later sending Kamrul to court as a suspect in an old case when the demand was not met. Nazmul denied taking money, saying Kamrul was sent to court properly. Investigations revealed similar incidents involving other locals, including journalist Farash Uddin and Abu Al Murshed Rubel, who were allegedly detained without warrants.

Hobiganj Superintendent of Police Mosammat Yasmin Khatun confirmed that an investigation into Nazmul’s alleged misconduct and extortion is ongoing and a decision will be made soon.

The government of Bangladesh has issued a new policy outlining the conditions, duration, and authority for granting parole to prisoners. The policy, released by the Security Services Division’s Prison-2 branch of the Ministry of Home Affairs, was announced on Monday by Assistant Inspector General (Development) Md. Jannat-ul Forhad through a press release. It specifies that prisoners, including VIPs and other categories, may be granted temporary parole in cases such as the death of close relatives or under special government or court orders.

According to the policy, parole duration cannot exceed 12 hours, though the government retains the right to extend or reduce it in special cases. Prisoners released on parole must remain under constant police supervision. The district magistrate will serve as the approving authority for parole within their jurisdiction, taking into account factors such as distance, security, and accessibility. The policy also cancels previous parole regulations issued in 2007 and 2010.

Authorities have been instructed to implement the new policy accordingly, ensuring compliance with the updated procedures for temporary prisoner release.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has alleged that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina fled to Delhi after causing devastation to the country. He made the remarks on Monday afternoon while conducting election campaigning in his Thakurgaon-1 constituency. Fakhrul accused the ruling government of abandoning not only its own party members but also the entire democratic process.

According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Fakhrul urged members of the Hindu community to remain courageous and assured them of BNP’s support in any difficulties. He encouraged them to vote freely for any candidate of their choice and promised that his party would stand by them if anyone tried to obstruct their voting rights. He also called on people to stay alert against attempts to create division among communities.

Fakhrul further appealed to voters to reject those who had supported Pakistan in 1971 and to vote for the BNP’s “sheaf of paddy” symbol in support of democracy and the nation.

Nahid Islam, convener of the National Citizens Party (NCP) and candidate for Dhaka-11, has pledged to realize the aspirations of expatriate voters who supported the cause of good governance and national sovereignty. He made this commitment in a video message posted on his verified Facebook page on Monday.

In the video caption, Nahid expressed hope that the ballot papers of expatriate voters would reach the Election Commission before the 13th National Parliamentary Election scheduled for January 12. He also extended gratitude to expatriates for their active participation in both the national election and the referendum, acknowledging their contribution to the democratic process.

The statement underscores the NCP candidate’s emphasis on engaging overseas Bangladeshis in national governance and ensuring their votes are properly counted ahead of the election.

Two houses belonging to Jubo Dal leaders were attacked and set on fire in Sarishabari upazila of Jamalpur early Monday. The incident occurred around 3 a.m. on Sunday night, January 25, in Doyail village of Doyail Union, when unidentified miscreants threw kerosene-filled bottles at the homes of Md. Liton Mia, a member of the union Jubo Dal, and Md. Wasim Munshi, president of the 9th Ward Jubo Dal. The attackers also vandalized the fence of Liton’s house before fleeing. Police from Sarishabari station visited the scene shortly after receiving the report.

According to Officer-in-Charge Md. Bacchu Mia of Sarishabari Police Station, initial investigation suggests that the attack may have stemmed from previous enmity. He added that preparations are underway to file a formal complaint, and legal procedures are in progress.

Police are continuing their inquiry into the incident, but no arrests or further details were reported at the time of publication.

Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) reported seizing smuggled goods, weapons, ammunition, and narcotics worth Tk 1,908.28 crore across the country in 2025. The force also arrested 7,492 individuals from India and Myanmar for illegal border crossings, according to a press release issued on Monday by BGB’s Public Relations Officer Md Shariful Islam.

The seized items included 60 kilograms of gold, 168 kilograms of silver, and large quantities of textiles such as saris, three-piece sets, and ready-made garments. Essential goods like sugar, onions, and cumin were also recovered, along with fireworks, cosmetics, and 1,708 vehicles. BGB confiscated 64 pistols, 10 rifles, 3 revolvers, 19 hand grenades, 79 hand bombs, and over 73,000 lead bullets. Under the government’s zero-tolerance policy on drugs, the force seized more than 14.7 million yaba tablets, crystal meth, phensedyl, heroin, cocaine, and illegal liquor.

BGB detained 2,334 people for involvement in smuggling and drug trafficking and stated that its strict operations to secure borders and prevent smuggling will continue nationwide.

A Dhaka court has granted a four-day remand for Syed Sohanur Rahman Siam, son of former PSC chairman’s driver Syed Abed Ali, in connection with a question leak case. The order was issued on Monday by Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Md Sabbir Faiz. Siam, who was already in jail, was produced before the court for the remand hearing. Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) prosecutor Tarikul Islam argued in favor of the remand, while the defense sought its cancellation. After hearing both sides, the court approved the remand.

Earlier, on Thursday, ACC Assistant Director Al Amin had shown Siam arrested and sought a seven-day remand, with the hearing scheduled for January 26. On January 5, the ACC filed three cases against Abed Ali, his wife Shahreen Akter Shilpi, and their son Siam. The cases allege suspicious transactions totaling over Tk 41 crore across 12 bank accounts and the acquisition of unexplained wealth by all three family members.

The ACC also accused Siam, a Chhatra League leader, of possessing Tk 3.3 crore in unexplained assets.

In Chattogram-8 constituency, a ten-party alliance has officially nominated Zobairul Hasan Arif of the National Citizen Party (NCP) as its candidate. However, during a campaign event in Boalkhali’s Phultala on Monday, discontent surfaced among locals, particularly from Ruby Akter, mother of July uprising martyr Omar Bin Nurul Absar. She questioned the nomination of a non-local candidate, saying that local voters prefer someone from their own area.

Ruby Akter emphasized that local votes make up the majority in the constituency and expressed concern that the alliance’s decision could harm local representation. She argued that while the alliance’s vote share might be around 20 percent, local votes account for 80 percent, and the nominated candidate is unfamiliar to residents. NCP spokesperson Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan and candidate Arif tried to reassure her, but she suggested keeping the seat open for both NCP and Jamaat’s candidate Dr. Abu Naser.

The incident highlights growing unease within the alliance as local loyalties and personal networks appear to challenge the coalition’s formal decision.