NCP convener Nahid Islam has alleged that deliberate misinformation is being spread about his declared income and assets in his election affidavit. In a verified Facebook post on Wednesday, he said the campaign aims to cast doubt on a transparent politician rather than uncover the truth. He clarified that the reported annual income of 1.6 million taka represents his total earnings for the 2024–2025 fiscal year, including seven months of state-paid service as an interim government adviser and subsequent consultancy work at a private firm.

Nahid stated that his total assets amount to 3.2 million taka, accumulated over 27 years from savings, gifts, and legitimate income sources. He denied owning any land, flat, or car and said his two bank accounts are fully declared. He also rejected claims about his profession, explaining that his current role as a consultant at a tech firm is lawful and transparent. All income and asset details, he added, are verifiable through tax returns and legal declarations.

He argued that the misinformation campaign reflects discomfort with his limited wealth and transparent record, contrasting it with the lack of accountability faced by wealthier politicians.

Dr. Ali Riaz, Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser, stated that the upcoming referendum aims to ensure Bangladesh does not revert to a fascist system. He made the remarks on Wednesday during an online meeting via Zoom with 17,000 officials and field workers from the agriculture sector, providing guidance on referendum awareness. Riaz emphasized that this referendum offers a rare opportunity, possibly not to return for another five or ten years, to determine the country’s future direction.

As the chief coordinator of the referendum awareness campaign, Riaz highlighted the sacrifices made during the 2024 uprising and the past 16 years of struggle, urging officials to explain the referendum in simple terms and present it as a yes-no vote. Special Assistant Monir Haidar, attending as a guest, called for spontaneous participation to secure a democratic future and prevent the reemergence of authoritarian rule.

The Agriculture Ministry announced plans to raise public awareness through banners, leaflets, mobile vans, regional radio broadcasts, and a 24/7 hotline. The meeting was chaired by Agriculture Secretary Dr. Mohammad Emdad Ullah Mian, with ministry officials and field workers joining virtually.

A major shipment of 57,855 tons of yellow corn from the United States arrived in Bangladesh after an eight-year gap. The unloading began on Wednesday at the Confidence Cement Jetty in Chattogram Port. The vessel, MV Beltokyo, departed from Vancouver Port in Washington State and entered Bangladeshi waters on December 31. The U.S. Embassy in Dhaka confirmed the arrival in a press release. The corn, produced in North Dakota, South Dakota, and Minnesota, was jointly imported by Nahar Agro Group, Paragon Group, and Nourish Poultry and Hatchery Limited.

According to importers, the shipment took about 46 days to reach Bangladesh, with an import cost of USD 246 per ton and an estimated landed cost of BDT 34 per kilogram—lower than recent Brazilian imports priced between USD 251 and 260 per ton. Nahar Agro’s chairman Rakibur Rahman noted that only 30 percent of national corn demand is met locally, with imports filling the rest. The U.S. Embassy described the shipment as a milestone in agricultural and food sector cooperation between the two nations.

Officials believe that regular U.S. supply could enhance competition in the feed industry and stabilize animal protein production in Bangladesh.

A senior European Union official said discussions on the Comprehensive Partnership Agreement (PCA) between the EU and Bangladesh are approaching their final stage. The statement came during a meeting between Dr. Muhammad Yunus, Chief Adviser of Bangladesh’s interim government, and Paola Pampaloni, Acting Managing Director for Asia-Pacific at the European External Action Service, held at the state guesthouse Jamuna. The meeting covered bilateral relations, the upcoming national election and referendum, migration control, and trade and investment expansion.

Pampaloni noted that after two decades under a general partnership framework, formal talks on the PCA began in November 2024. She praised Dr. Yunus for his reform efforts and said the EU values these initiatives as Bangladesh’s largest political and trade partner. The EU announced it will send a high-level election observation mission for the February 12 national election, with its chief arriving this week for meetings with political leaders and authorities.

Dr. Yunus described the election and referendum as vital for Bangladesh’s democratic transition and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to a free, fair, and peaceful vote.

Law enforcement agencies took up alert positions at Jagannath University on Wednesday as results of the university’s central student union election were being announced. Police officers were seen seated in rows with chairs in front of the university’s second gate, maintaining a visible presence to ensure order on campus.

According to the report, members of the police, Ansar, BNCC, and Rover Scouts were deployed across different parts of the campus to maintain security and control the movement of students and outsiders. The university administration implemented these measures to prevent any untoward incidents related to the election results.

The report also mentioned that candidates from the student organization Shibir were leading in several centers, with their vice president candidate reportedly ahead by 351 votes in 26 centers. Students gathered to watch the election results displayed on an LED screen at the campus.

Chinese Ambassador Yao Wen has expressed hope that Tarique Rahman will become Bangladesh’s next elected prime minister and lead the nation. The information was shared by BNP Joint Secretary General Humayun Kabir after a meeting between the ambassador and Tarique Rahman at the BNP chairperson’s political office in Gulshan on Wednesday. BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, adviser Mahadi Amin, and press secretary Saleh Shibli were also present.

This was the first meeting between the Chinese ambassador and the BNP’s acting chairman. According to Humayun Kabir, the discussion took place in a cordial atmosphere, emphasizing China’s long-standing role as an important development partner of Bangladesh. Tarique Rahman discussed BNP’s future development plans and how the party intends to implement its vision for national progress, while both sides talked about potential areas of cooperation.

During the meeting, the Chinese ambassador also conveyed condolences over the death of Begum Khaleda Zia, delivering official messages of sympathy from China’s president and prime minister.

BNP’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman will begin his campaign for the upcoming parliamentary election from Sylhet on January 22, following visits to the shrines of Hazrat Shahjalal (R.) and Shah Paran (R.). Party sources said he will travel to Sylhet the day after election symbols are allocated, marking his first visit to the city in 19 years. According to BNP’s tradition, Rahman will start the campaign with prayers at the shrines and a public rally.

BNP’s assistant organizing secretary Miftah Siddiqi confirmed preparations are underway for the event, including selecting a venue for the rally. Sylhet district BNP president Abdul Kaiyum Chowdhury said Rahman will address the rally as chief guest after the shrine visits. Earlier, on January 4, BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir stated that Rahman would begin formal campaigning in Sylhet after assuming full chairmanship of the party.

Before the campaign launch, Rahman will start a nationwide tour on January 11, visiting four districts until January 14. Due to election conduct rules, he will not engage in campaign activities during that tour but will attend prayers and meet families of political martyrs.

Hasnat Abdullah, chief organizer of the National Citizens Party (NCP) for the southern region and Jamaat-led alliance candidate for Cumilla-4, alleged that a political faction has aligned with what he termed an 'Indian mafia group' over the referendum issue. He made the remarks on Wednesday, January 7, during an election march at Fatehabad South Government Primary School field in Debidwar, Cumilla.

During his address, Hasnat questioned voters about their desire for elections under an independent commission and a corruption-free Bangladesh. He claimed that since 2009, leaders and activists of the BNP-Jamaat alliance have faced abductions, killings, and torture, while some political parties have acted under Indian influence. He also criticized sections of the media and corporate groups for allegedly supporting those he accused of betraying national interests.

Hasnat further stated that Bangladesh now faces two opposing sides—one of subservience and one of freedom—and urged police and administration officials to learn from past elections. The event included local Jamaat and NCP leaders and was chaired by Wali Ullah Sarkar of Fatehabad village.

Mobile phone prices in Bangladesh have increased despite a recent reduction in import tariffs. According to the report, government-registered mobile traders raised prices following the launch of the National Equipment Identity Register (NEIR). Allegations suggest that a mafia syndicate influenced the price hikes. Since January 1, prices have risen by Tk 500 to Tk 5,000 per handset depending on the model.

Consumers claim that official brands took advantage of the closure of grey market handset shops amid the NEIR controversy. Brands such as Redmi, Vivo, Infinix, Realme, OnePlus, and Samsung Galaxy have raised prices across various models. For example, the Vivo Y21D (8/128) model increased from Tk 21,000 to Tk 23,000, while the Infinix Smart 10 (4/64) rose by Tk 1,000 to Tk 12,000.

Mobile traders argue that rising memory component costs contributed to the price increases. Zakaria Shahid, president of the Mobile Phone Industry Owners Association of Bangladesh (MIOB), described the tariff reduction as deceptive, suggesting that the benefits were not passed on to consumers.

A broom procession and protest rally were held in Muradnagar, Cumilla, on Wednesday in response to controversial remarks made by former adviser Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan about BNP candidate and former five-time MP Kazi Shah Mofazzal Hossain Kaykobad. The demonstration began at the BNP office in Muradnagar and ended at Allah Chattar after marching through the main roads. The event was organized under the banner of the people of Muradnagar and attended by local BNP leaders and activists.

Speakers at the rally accused Asif Mahmud of spreading false and conspiratorial statements against Kaykobad to hide his own alleged corruption. They described Kaykobad as a tested and popular leader and claimed that a planned smear campaign was being conducted to undermine him. The speakers warned that any further conspiracy or falsehood against Kaykobad would lead to strict programs, including blocking the Dhaka–Chattogram highway.

The protesters also alleged that certain Facebook pages and online platforms were deliberately spreading rumors about Kaykobad and urged the administration to investigate and take immediate action.

The air chiefs of Bangladesh and Pakistan have held talks in Islamabad regarding a potential deal for the sale of JF-17 Thunder fighter jets to Bangladesh, according to a statement from Pakistan’s military. The discussions also focused on strengthening bilateral defense ties, with Pakistan expressing interest in expanding arms supply and cooperation. A spokesperson for the Pakistan Air Force told the BBC that no agreement has yet been reached, though Bangladesh has shown interest in purchasing the aircraft.

The JF-17 Thunder is a 4.5-generation multirole fighter jointly developed by Pakistan and China. It is equipped with advanced radar and long-range missiles and has been exported to countries such as Myanmar, Azerbaijan, and Nigeria. During the visit, Bangladesh’s Air Chief Marshal Hasan Mahmud Khan led a high-level delegation that met Pakistan’s Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu at the Pakistan Air Force headquarters.

The meeting emphasized training, capability enhancement, and aerospace cooperation. Bangladesh expressed interest in aircraft maintenance, radar system upgrades, and continued training support. Both sides described the visit as a reflection of their historical ties and a step toward deeper strategic partnership.

The Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (BAPA) and Bangladesh Environmental Network (BEN) will jointly hold their two-day environmental conference starting January 9 at the KIB Convention Center in Dhaka’s Farmgate. This will be BAPA’s 26th conference, running daily from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The event’s theme is “Environmental Reforms and Actions,” as announced at a press briefing held at the Dhaka Reporters Unity.

At the briefing, Professor Nazrul Islam, a founding member of BAPA-BEN, said that no environmental reform commission was formed during the interim government, creating a policy gap that the conference aims to address. He emphasized the need for political parties to prioritize environmental issues in their manifestos and called for internal reforms within environmental agencies to ensure effective policy implementation.

Professor Md. Khalekuzzaman, global coordinator of BEN and a geologist at the Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania, said the conference will also discuss how to restore Bangladesh’s rivers, canals, and wetlands to their natural flow, drawing lessons from environmental management practices in developed countries.

A senior European Union (EU) official said discussions on the Comprehensive Partnership Agreement (CPA) between Bangladesh and the EU are close to being finalized. Paula Pampaloni, Acting Managing Director for Asia-Pacific at the European External Action Service, made the remarks during a meeting with Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus in Dhaka. The meeting at the state guesthouse Jamuna covered ongoing CPA negotiations, the upcoming national election and referendum, illegal migration prevention, and trade and investment expansion.

Pampaloni noted that after 20 years under a general partnership framework, talks on the CPA began in November 2024. She praised Yunus for his “remarkable and extensive” reform efforts since assuming office, emphasizing that the EU values these reforms as Bangladesh’s largest political and trade partner. She added that the EU has closely observed and appreciated the interim government’s reform ambitions and expects the CPA to deepen bilateral ties and create major trade and investment opportunities.

The EU will send a high-level election observation mission for Bangladesh’s February 12 national election. Pampaloni said a successful democratic transition could elevate Bangladesh-EU relations to new heights, marking a new chapter between Dhaka and the EU.

Zahidur Rahman, a student of Electronics and Communication Engineering at Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (KUET), has issued a 24-hour ultimatum to the university authorities with three demands. Speaking at a press conference at Khulna Press Club on Wednesday, he warned that if his demands are not met, he will begin a sit-in protest in front of the university’s administrative building and pursue legal action through the High Court. Zahidur, who was allegedly tortured by Chhatra League activists in 2022, seeks justice and institutional accountability.

According to local sources, Zahidur was assaulted for a Facebook post about former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on September 11, 2022, and later jailed for 52 days under what he described as a fabricated case. After returning to KUET following the 2024 student uprising, he requested justice, prompting the administration to form an inquiry committee. Based on its report, disciplinary action was taken against 13 students, including expulsion of 10.

Zahidur’s demands include public release of the investigation report, dismissal and criminal prosecution of implicated officials, and compensation with assurance of an uninterrupted academic career.

Bangladesh Police’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has collected DNA samples from the remains of 114 unidentified victims buried at Rayerbazar, Dhaka, following the July mass uprising. The report was formally handed over on Wednesday, January 7, 2026, at the state guesthouse Jamuna to Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus. The initiative was conducted under the supervision of the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs, with support from the Home and Health Ministries. Between December 7 and 27, 2025, nine families provided DNA samples, leading to the identification of eight martyrs, all confirmed to have died from bullet wounds.

To ensure transparency and international standards, CID engaged forensic expert Dr. Morris Tidball Binz for technical guidance. CID urged families of those missing during the July–August uprising to contact its hotline for further identification efforts. During the handover, Chief Adviser Yunus thanked all involved, describing the initiative as a moral and humanitarian step toward truth and justice for families of the disappeared.

CID officials noted that on-site DNA testing enhanced police capabilities, while the Chief Adviser emphasized that the effort symbolizes the nation’s commitment to uncovering truth and restoring dignity to the victims.