Former joint secretary of the UK BNP, Azmal Hossain Chowdhury Javed, was seriously injured in an attack on Sunday evening while returning from an election campaign in support of BNP candidate Nasir Uddin Chowdhury for the Sunamganj-2 constituency. The incident occurred on the way back to Dirai when activists from another BNP faction allegedly attacked him. Eyewitnesses said 15–20 supporters of rival nomination aspirant Tahir Raihan Chowdhury Pavel, including Mohiuddin Milad, Abu Hasan Chowdhury Saju, and Faisal, carried out the assault. Javed sustained severe eye injuries and was first treated at Dirai Upazila Health Complex before being referred to Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital for advanced care.

Local sources indicated that tension had long persisted between the Nasir and Pavel groups in Dirai. Javed, once a nomination aspirant himself, had accepted the party’s decision to nominate Nasir Uddin Chowdhury and had been actively campaigning for him following instructions from the BNP high command.

The attack underscores ongoing internal conflicts within the BNP’s local leadership in Sunamganj-2 ahead of the election.

The High Court has granted six months’ bail to Jewel Hasan Saddam, president of the banned Bagerhat Sadar Upazila Chhatra League. The order was issued on Monday by a division bench of the High Court’s criminal division after hearing his bail petition. According to the report, the decision was made primarily on humanitarian grounds.

Lawyers informed that Saddam recently lost his wife and nine-month-old child, which influenced the court’s consideration in granting bail. The report did not specify the charges against him or the details of the case but emphasized the compassionate reasoning behind the court’s decision.

The ruling provides temporary relief to Saddam for six months, though further legal proceedings are expected following the expiration of the bail period.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has strongly condemned the attack on National Citizens Party (NCP) candidate Ariful Islam Adib in Dhaka-18 constituency. The party’s Assistant Secretary General and head of its central publicity and media department, Advocate Ehsanul Mahbub Zubair, issued a statement to the media on Monday expressing protest over the incident.

According to the statement, the attack occurred on the morning of January 26 when Adib and his supporters were conducting campaign activities in Dumni Nurpara under Khilkhet Police Station. Jamaat alleged that activists of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) carried out the sudden assault, injuring several NCP workers. Zubair described the attack as an unjust and terrorist act, calling it a severe violation of democratic and political norms.

He urged authorities to identify and bring the perpetrators to justice and emphasized that ensuring a peaceful election environment is the responsibility of the administration and the Election Commission. The statement warned that the public would not tolerate any negligence in this regard.

Dhaka Metropolitan North BNP has issued a 24-hour show-cause notice to Didar Ahmed Molla, accused of attacking Ariful Islam Abid, the 11-party alliance (NCP) candidate for Dhaka-18. The incident occurred on Monday morning in Dumni Nurpara under Khilkhet Police Station during Abid’s election campaign. BNP candidate S M Jahangir Hossain disclosed the party’s action to reporters at a preparatory meeting in Uttara’s Eidgah ground, held ahead of BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman’s visit.

Hossain said he informed the party after hearing about the incident and that the accused had been formally asked to explain his actions. He stated that BNP believes in peaceful coexistence and will not engage in provocation. He added that the party is not involved in the attack and that a probe committee will be formed. If anyone is found guilty, disciplinary measures will follow. Hossain also assured that there would be no conflict over votes and that both candidates could campaign together before the public.

He further noted that BNP is a large organization and that any allegations arising within the party will be investigated and addressed accordingly.

Iran’s Chief Justice Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejei has declared that those who instigated the country’s recent violent protests will face punishment without leniency. Speaking on January 26, 2026, he said that the judiciary will bring the instigators to justice as soon as possible, responding to public demands for accountability. According to Geo News, Ejei emphasized that those involved in inciting riots, terrorism, and violence during the anti-government demonstrations would be prosecuted swiftly.

He added that investigations have already begun to identify individuals who provoked unrest, engaged in armed attacks, killings, arson, and destruction. The chief justice stated that the judicial process would proceed without any flexibility toward those responsible for such acts. The protests began on December 28 in response to rising living costs and unbearable inflation across Iran.

Ejei also noted that the Iranian government has managed to calm tensions following the unrest, indicating a partial restoration of stability after weeks of demonstrations.

The July Revolutionary Student Mass staged a protest march in Nilphamari on Monday, January 26, demanding the arrest of individuals they described as Awami League-linked terrorists. The demonstration began at the town’s Bara Bazar area, moved through major streets, and concluded with a brief rally at the DC intersection.

Speakers at the rally included district leaders from the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement and the National Youth Power. They alleged that those accused in a murder case and in the August 4 attack on anti-discrimination activists were moving freely despite being members of the banned Awami League and its affiliates. The student leaders warned that these individuals could create unrest ahead of the upcoming national parliamentary election and urged authorities to arrest them immediately.

The protest reflected ongoing tensions in Nilphamari over accountability for past violence and concerns about potential election-related disorder.

A Dhaka court has granted a four-day remand for Salman F Rahman, former trade adviser to ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, in a case filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) over the embezzlement and laundering of Tk 136.98 crore from Janata Bank. The order was issued on Monday by Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Sabbir Foyez, following a five-day remand request from the investigating officer. Court bench assistant Riaz Hossain confirmed the decision.

According to the case documents, Rahman allegedly abused his power to create fake loans and accommodation bills under the name of a company called Skynet Apparels, transferring large sums abroad. The ACC claimed that his son and nephew’s Dubai-based company was linked to the fraudulent transactions. Rahman is currently in jail in connection with another case.

The ACC’s public prosecutor, Tarikul Islam, said the remand was sought to interrogate Rahman about financial fraud and the creation of fake institutions to secure loans. The case was filed on November 3 last year by ACC Assistant Director Md Mahbub Morshed against Rahman and 21 others.

The prosecution has expressed dissatisfaction with the verdict in the Chankharpul six-murder case, where the court found the accused guilty but imposed what it described as limited sentences. Chief Prosecutor of the International Crimes Tribunal, Tazul Islam, announced on Monday afternoon that the state will appeal the ruling, arguing that the punishment does not align with the gravity of the proven crimes.

Following the verdict, Tazul Islam stated that one of the convicts, constable Sujon, had shown enthusiasm during the shooting but was given a limited sentence because he acted under superior orders. The court also ordered the confiscation of the properties of those sentenced to death. The chief prosecutor emphasized that the judgment sends a message that government officials are not obliged to follow illegal orders and will not be exempt from accountability if they do.

The prosecution’s decision to appeal indicates ongoing legal proceedings and potential review of the sentencing by a higher court.

At least 18 people were killed and 24 remain missing after a ferry carrying more than 350 passengers sank early Monday off the southern coast of the Philippines. The vessel, named MV Trisha Kerstin-3, sent a distress signal at 1:50 a.m. local time, about four hours after departing from Zamboanga City on Mindanao Island. The three-deck ferry went down roughly five kilometers east of Baluk-Baluk Island in Basilan province. The Philippine Coast Guard reported rescuing at least 317 people, while search and rescue operations continue.

Videos released by the Basilan governor showed survivors being carried on stretchers and wrapped in blankets, while bodies were removed in body bags. Coast Guard spokesperson Noemi Cayabyab said the sea was extremely rough at the time of the accident. Local rescue officials reported manpower shortages as they treated the injured, with at least 18 people hospitalized. The Coast Guard has ordered a maritime investigation but said rescue efforts remain the top priority.

The ferry was owned by Aleson Shipping Lines, which also operated a vessel that caught fire on the same route in 2023, killing 31 people. The company said it is coordinating with authorities and expressed concern for all aboard.

U.S. President Donald Trump invited India to join his newly launched ‘Peace Board’, but New Delhi has yet to formally participate. The board was inaugurated during the 56th World Economic Forum in Davos, where Trump, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and 20 other world leaders signed the founding charter. India’s absence drew attention, with analysts suggesting that concerns over internationalizing the Kashmir issue are driving its hesitation.

According to reports from The Dawn and BBC Hindi, Indian policymakers fear that joining the board could increase global scrutiny over Indian-administered Kashmir. Trump said the board’s initial goal is to secure a lasting ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza and oversee an interim administration. However, some Indian commentators worry that Trump aims to position the board as an alternative to the United Nations, potentially bringing disputed regions like Kashmir under its purview.

Former Indian diplomats noted that while the UN Security Council approved the board’s mandate until December 2027, Trump’s broader peace plan has no fixed duration and could expand beyond Gaza, complicating India’s decision-making.

Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir’s Jahangirnagar University (JU) branch announced its new committee for the 2026 session. Philosophy Department student Mostafizur Rahman from the 47th batch was elected president, while English Department student and JAKSU General Secretary Mazharul Islam from the 48th batch was nominated as secretary. The announcement was made Monday through the organization’s official Facebook page.

According to the statement, the JU branch held a general assembly of members where voting took place using ballot papers signed by the central president, Nurul Islam. After counting the votes, Nurul Islam declared Mostafizur Rahman as the elected president and administered his oath. Based on members’ consultation, the newly elected president nominated Mazharul Islam as branch secretary. The event was conducted by central arts and culture secretary Hafez Abu Musa, with the central president attending as chief guest.

The new leadership marks the start of the 2026 session for the JU branch, following the completion of its internal election and nomination process.

Students of Jagannath University’s 20th batch (academic year 2024–25) staged a 26-hour sit-in at the administrative building demanding inclusion in the first installment of a special scholarship. During the protest, Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Md. Rezaul Karim and Treasurer Professor Dr. Sabina Sharmin were confined inside the building. They were released after 26 hours when the students ended their blockade on Monday, January 26, following assurances from the Teachers’ Association President, Professor Dr. Rois Uddin.

The protesting students said they were assured that the issue of including the 20th batch in the first installment of the special scholarship would be discussed at the university syndicate meeting scheduled for Tuesday. The demonstration began on Sunday morning, January 25, when students locked the main gate of the administrative building after a protest march demanding housing allowances.

The university’s proctorial body decided to suspend all activities during the blockade, terming the confinement unjustified and expressing regret for the temporary inconvenience caused to students.

Election campaigning has intensified in the Habiganj-1 (Nabiganj-Bahubal) constituency ahead of the upcoming parliamentary polls. The main contest is between BNP-nominated candidate Dr. Reza Kibria and expelled BNP leader turned independent candidate and former MP Sheikh Sujat Mia. Reports indicate that Sheikh Sujat is currently ahead in campaign activities, using social media posts to highlight his 40-year contribution to BNP politics and to appeal emotionally to local voters.

Dr. Reza Kibria’s wife, Simi Kibria, has emerged as a key figure in his campaign, actively visiting villages with party workers to seek support. Many BNP activists, however, are reportedly absent from the field, citing dissatisfaction with party leadership. Sheikh Sujat has stated that despite being abandoned by his party, he relies on grassroots supporters and believes he will win by a large margin.

Simi Kibria expressed optimism about her husband’s chances, noting strong cooperation from party workers and pledging that his election would bring development to the Nabiganj-Bahubal area.

Finance Secretary Khairuzzaman Majumdar announced that the government is considering lifting the existing limit on the purchase of savings certificates. He made the statement on Monday in Dhaka during a seminar titled 'Bond Market Development in Bangladesh: Challenges and Recommendations'. Majumdar said the government may take new decisions regarding the buying and selling of savings certificates, including the possible removal of the purchase ceiling.

At the same event, Governor Dr. Ahsan H. Mansur emphasized the need for major reforms to develop the bond market. He stated that simplifying bond transactions could expand the domestic bond market by six trillion and reduce large commercial institutions’ dependence on banks. Mansur added that attracting foreign investment or integrating into the bond market would be necessary to meet financial needs, urging both the private sector and the government to take proactive roles.

He further noted that the future of the bond market depends on controlling inflation and stabilizing interest rates, suggesting that a unified interest rate structure would make the market more sustainable.

The National Citizen Party (NCP) has condemned and protested a violent attack on Ariful Islam Adib, the 11-party alliance candidate and senior joint convener for Dhaka-18 constituency. The incident occurred on Monday morning in Dumni Nurpara under Khilkhet police station, when Adib was visiting an orphanage and conducting campaign activities. According to the NCP, a group of attackers led by local BNP leader Didar Molla carried out the assault, leaving at least two alliance workers seriously injured.

In a press release issued immediately after the attack, the NCP alleged that BNP candidate S M Jahangir Hossain’s supporters have repeatedly obstructed the alliance’s campaign activities in various areas, including assaults, vandalism, and threats against workers. The party expressed concern that such violence undermines democratic competition and threatens fair elections. It also claimed that recent internal conflicts and criminal activities linked to BNP have worsened law and order.

The NCP demanded the swift arrest and exemplary punishment of those involved and urged law enforcement agencies to ensure the safety of all candidates in the electoral areas.