Popular Islamic scholar Dr. Mizanur Rahman Azhari has issued a public warning after discovering that a group is using artificial intelligence to clone his voice and misuse his photos and videos for fraudulent activities on social media. In a verified Facebook post on January 19, he said these fake contents and advertisements are deceiving people and damaging his personal reputation. He urged the public not to be misled by such materials and confirmed that legal action will be taken against those responsible.

Azhari explained that the fraudulent campaigns include false product promotions and misleading medical advertisements, particularly for unscientific herbal products. He noted that Hasanah Foundation’s official phone number has been receiving frequent calls about these fake products, disrupting its official work. He clarified that neither he nor his foundation has any connection to these promotions.

He stated that a list of the fraudulent media pages has already been prepared and will soon be submitted to the police cybercrime unit. Azhari warned that if the fake content is not removed immediately, strict legal measures will follow.

Emerging women leaders in Bangladesh are facing escalating cyber harassment and AI-driven defamation as the national election approaches. Reports from multiple political parties indicate that female candidates are being targeted through online abuse, fake videos, and manipulated content aimed at silencing their voices. Leaders from the National Change Party (NCP), BNP, and other groups described organized campaigns of cyberbullying, sexual harassment, and threats, often involving AI-generated obscene materials. Victims claim that despite filing complaints, law enforcement responses remain inadequate.

According to data cited in the report, over 60,000 women sought help from the Police Cyber Support for Women by September 2024, with many cases involving doxing, hacking, and blackmail. UN Women’s 2025 report found that 66 percent of Bangladeshi women received abusive or threatening messages online. Academics and rights advocates warn that the misuse of AI and social media is eroding women’s participation in politics, as female candidacy rates have dropped from 4.86 percent in 2024 to 3.7 percent in 2026.

Experts and activists urge stronger enforcement of cybercrime laws, institutional reforms within political parties, and collaboration with digital platforms to curb AI-based harassment and protect women’s political engagement.

Sharmin S. Murshid, advisor to the Ministry of Social Welfare and the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs, emphasized the urgent need for an AI policy for these ministries. She made the remarks on Sunday at the opening ceremony of the Responsible AI Summit 2026, held at the Military Institute of Science and Technology (MIST) in Mirpur, Dhaka. Murshid noted that these ministries serve Bangladesh’s most marginalized and vulnerable communities, making a tailored AI policy essential.

She highlighted that while global technology is advancing rapidly, AI systems often fail to understand Bangladesh’s language and lifestyle, creating barriers to adoption. Murshid urged students to research and develop AI technologies aligned with local culture and language to help the nation progress technologically. She also stated that MIST would remain active in promoting responsible AI through education and research.

The summit featured keynote speaker Dr. Upol Ehsan from Northeastern University and Harvard University, who underscored the importance of developing locally made AI solutions suited to Bangladesh’s needs. Two panel discussions explored academia’s role in fostering responsible AI practices.

Popular family game show 'Family Feud Bangladesh' is set to return to television with its second season starting January 19. The show will air every Monday at 9:30 p.m. on NTV, with reruns on Wednesdays at 1 p.m. Viewers will also be able to watch it anytime for free on the Bongo app and website. The new season will again be hosted by Tahsan Khan and directed by Wahidul Islam Shuvro.

According to the producers, the second season aims to build on the success of the first, which recorded over one billion total views across platforms and awarded more than three million taka in prizes. The upcoming season promises more excitement, larger prizes, and a wider scope of participation. Tahsan Khan expressed enthusiasm about the show’s return, noting that survey questions were collected from all 64 districts of Bangladesh, making the content more engaging and representative.

The producers expect the expanded format and fresh survey-based questions to enhance the show’s appeal and strengthen its position as a leading source of family entertainment in Bangladesh.

National Film Award-winning actress Dolly Zahur is returning to the big screen after a 13-year hiatus. Having stepped away from films in 2011 while continuing to act in television dramas, she is now working on two new projects. Shooting has been completed in Dhaka and Gazipur for Yamin Ilan’s family drama ‘Jhamela’, produced under the Diya Productions banner. The director stated that the story is entirely original and not adapted from any foreign film. Initially hesitant, Zahur agreed to join after hearing the story.

The director expressed hope that audiences would connect with the film’s storyline. The cast includes Shyamal Mawla, Tanjika Amin, Rashed Mamun Apu, Kazi Nowshaba Ahmed, Abu Huraira Tanvir, Saberi Alam, and several others. The final phase of shooting began on Thursday, with plans to release the film during an upcoming Eid. Zahur also appears in Redoan Rony’s ‘Dom’, playing Afran Nisho’s mother in a survival story inspired by true events, featuring Chanchal Chowdhury and Pooja Cherry. Filming took place partly in Pabna and Kazakhstan, with a release planned for Eid-ul-Fitr.

Zahur said she had not intended to return to films but was drawn by the stories and creative process of these two projects, which also feature many of her regular television co-actors.

A robot traffic police unit has started operating on the busy streets of Wuhu city in China’s Anhui province. Beginning last Saturday, the smart robot joined human traffic officers to help manage road control and maintain order at key intersections, according to CCTV. The robot, dressed in a police uniform with a traffic police logo and identification number, was seen directing vehicles from a small mobile platform that allows it to move to designated positions and rotate to oversee traffic in all directions.

The robot has been trained in four main areas: raising public awareness about traffic laws, coordinating vehicle movement at intersections, detecting and warning irregular behavior, and automatically collecting evidence of traffic violations. It is connected to the city’s traffic light and management systems, enabling it to assist human officers with repetitive tasks during peak hours.

Authorities expect the robot’s integration to improve traffic efficiency and reduce workload for human officers in high-traffic zones.

Star Cineplex is set to launch three new multiplex cinemas across Bangladesh during the upcoming Eid season. Two of these, located in Narayanganj’s Jalkuri area and Bogura’s Police Plaza, are being developed by Star Cineplex. The Narayanganj branch at Simanto Tower is planned for inauguration on Eid-ul-Fitr, featuring three halls, while the Bogura branch with two halls is also expected to open later this year. The company’s senior marketing manager, Mesbah Uddin Ahmed, confirmed the plans and noted that the projects had been delayed but are nearing completion.

In addition, the Padma Cineplex in Jazira, Shariatpur, near the Padma Bridge South Police Station, is almost complete. Its owner, film producer Mohammad Iqbal, said about 90 percent of the construction work has been finished, with an opening targeted for Eid-ul-Azha. Star Cineplex previously announced plans to expand to 100 screens nationwide and aims to extend operations beyond major cities to district and sub-district levels.

These developments come amid widespread closures of traditional cinema halls, offering renewed optimism for Bangladesh’s film exhibition industry.

Researchers have identified a large and organized digital propaganda network operating behind Iran’s ongoing protests. The joint investigation by the University of Toronto’s Citizen Lab and Israeli media outlets The Marker and Haaretz revealed that the operation allegedly uses artificial intelligence technology and is indirectly funded by the Israeli government. The campaign’s stated goal is to promote monarchist sentiment among Iranians and destabilize the current regime.

According to the findings, the network has been spreading provocative content aimed at reinstating exiled crown prince Reza Pahlavi. It was most active during the attack on Tehran’s Evin Prison, when thousands of fake social media accounts circulated explosion reports and AI-generated deepfake videos before Iranian media coverage. The network also encouraged acts like bank robberies and prison breaks. Citizen Lab noted that the timing of these campaigns coincided with Israeli military operations.

Researchers warned that such unethical digital operations by democratic states could further threaten long-term stability in the Middle East, even as they appear to strengthen Iran’s ruling government domestically.

Mufti Mushahid Munawar, a lyricist, preacher, and Islamic scholar, has released six Islamic nasheeds dedicated to martyr Osman Hadi, a frontline fighter of the July Revolution and anti-imperialist movement. The songs, including 'Dilme Hadi', 'Ay Hadi Fire Ay', and 'Janau Interim', have gained wide popularity on YouTube and social media. Munawar confirmed that four more nasheeds on Osman Hadi are in progress. The compositions reflect themes of sacrifice, justice, and remembrance through restrained yet firm language.

'Dilme Hadi', voiced by Saynan Sayem, seeks to evoke the martyr’s memory with emotional restraint, while 'Ay Hadi Fire Ay', composed by Abu Ubaida and sung by Kazi Mashkure Elahi, expresses the pain of absence and longing. 'Janau Interim' stands out for its protest tone, calling for swift justice in Osman Hadi’s murder case and spreading rapidly among young audiences. Listeners have described the works as courageous and timely.

Munawar stated that his nasheeds are part of a broader cultural mission to preserve martyr memories beyond commemorative days. Cultural observers regard these works as significant additions to contemporary Islamic music and as cultural documents reflecting faith, social awareness, and historical responsibility.

A conversation between a user and ChatGPT has gone viral on social media, drawing widespread attention in early 2026. The user asked the AI chatbot what it would do if it could become human for a day. ChatGPT’s reply surprised many, as it expressed a desire to experience simple human sensations such as feeling the wind, warmth of sunlight, and even the act of crying. It also spoke about wanting to make mistakes, feel love, and understand kindness, ending with a reflection on living through the harsh truths of human life.

The exchange has reignited global curiosity and debate about artificial intelligence. While some fear AI could disrupt job markets, others believe it will serve as a supportive tool for humans. ChatGPT’s deeply human-like response has prompted many to question whether AI is merely a technological system or a step toward understanding human emotion.

The viral incident underscores the growing presence of AI across medicine, science, education, and creative fields, reinforcing its role as a defining technology of the future.

Poet Zia Haque’s revolutionary poem and song series centered on Inquilab Mancha spokesperson Sharif Osman Hadi has gone viral across social media platforms. Within days, the works collectively reached hundreds of millions of views, making Haque the top global search on Reels four days ago. The song ‘Hadir Zindabad,’ sung by artist Abu Ubaida, surpassed 11 million views on Facebook and over three million on YouTube, while other related pieces such as ‘Hadi Tui Fire Ay’ and ‘Guli-Tuli Hadider Chultao Chhere Na’ also broke records with millions of views.

The works have been widely shared and recited by audiences, parents, teachers, and students, with excerpts appearing as wall writings. Scholars and writers, including Aman Abdullah and Iqbal Khondokar, praised the creations for their emotional depth and cultural resonance. Many public figures, including politicians, journalists, and intellectuals, have shared the song online. Zia Haque expressed surprise and gratitude for the overwhelming response, calling it an inspiration to continue writing.

Artist Abu Ubaida announced that all YouTube earnings from the next month will be donated to Hadi’s family, while numerous performers have recited the poems, expanding their reach and popularity.

A robot developed in China has set a new world record in badminton by successfully returning the shuttlecock 1,452 times in a row. The match took place in Shaoxing city of Zhejiang province, where the robot competed against several human players. The achievement marks the highest number of consecutive counter-hits ever recorded by a mobile robot without interruption.

The robot was created by Zhejiang Shenzhen Kaidong Technology Company. Organizers explained that the athletic robot was built using advanced vision systems and motion control technology. The event highlighted China’s growing capabilities and potential in the field of robotics.

According to the organizers, the record demonstrates the progress of Chinese engineering in developing robots capable of performing complex athletic tasks with precision and endurance.

OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman has predicted that the next major step toward superhuman artificial intelligence will come when AI systems achieve what he called “infinite, perfect memory.” Speaking on the Big Technology Podcast, Altman said the company is working toward this goal by 2026, envisioning AI that can remember every detail of a user’s life. He contrasted this with human assistants, who cannot recall every word, document, or interaction, describing current AI memory as still “very crude” and “very early.”

Altman’s remarks follow reports that he declared a “code red” at OpenAI after Google launched its Gemini 3 model in November, which the company described as marking a “new era of intelligence.” Despite acknowledging Gemini 3’s strong benchmark performance, Altman said OpenAI’s response was standard practice when facing competition. He noted that Gemini 3 had not yet had the impact initially feared but did expose weaknesses OpenAI is now addressing.

Altman outlined OpenAI’s strategy to stay ahead in the AI race: build the best models, create strong products around them, and ensure sufficient infrastructure for large-scale deployment.

Bangladesh’s Interim Government Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam has warned that fake images and deepfakes have become a major challenge for journalism amid the rapid rise of artificial intelligence. Speaking on December 27 at the closing session of a two-day workshop titled ‘AI-Powered Journalism: Opportunity, Risk and Digital Security’ at the Dhaka Reporters Unity, he emphasized that while AI can greatly enhance journalists’ productivity, its misuse can distort information and mislead the public.

Alam said journalism’s golden standards of accuracy and verified sourcing must remain unchanged regardless of AI use. He noted that AI tools can increase a journalist’s productivity from 30 to 80 percent and open new opportunities in specialized reporting. However, he cautioned that manipulated content and deepfakes are being used to influence public opinion and threaten democratic stability. He urged journalists to develop AI literacy to detect misinformation and protect democratic values.

Other speakers, including DRU President Abu Saleh Akon and General Secretary Mainul Hasan Sohel, stressed that understanding AI’s mechanisms and limits is now essential for responsible journalism and announced continued training programs for reporters.

A recently published Global Workforce Study has projected that the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia will require more than 1.5 million new workers by 2030, despite rapid advancements in artificial intelligence. The study found that while AI is transforming business processes, the demand for human labor remains strong, driven by robust economic growth, large-scale development projects, and the expansion of public and private services.

In Saudi Arabia, labor demand is primarily fueled by the Vision 2030 economic reform program, which includes major investments in construction, infrastructure, tourism, manufacturing, logistics, and new economic zones. The report estimates that without productivity gains from AI, Saudi Arabia may need around 650,000 additional workers. The UAE’s labor force is expected to grow by 12.1% by 2030, one of the fastest rates among surveyed countries, compared to 11.6% in Saudi Arabia.

The study highlights that opportunities for foreign workers will continue, especially for those with technical, digital, and service-sector skills. AI will automate repetitive tasks but not replace human expertise in supervision, customer interaction, and problem-solving.