According to data from international air quality monitoring firm IQAir, released on Tuesday morning, Delhi recorded an air quality index (AQI) score of 299, placing it at the top of the world’s most polluted cities list. Dhaka ranked fifth with a score of 220, while Kolkata stood seventh. Both Delhi and Dhaka’s air quality levels were categorized as 'very unhealthy'. The data was collected around 8:30 a.m., when dry winter weather typically worsens air pollution in the region.

The IQAir ranking also placed Dakar, Senegal, second with a score of 243; Cairo, Egypt, third with 229; Hanoi, Vietnam, fourth with 221; and Krasnoyarsk, Russia, sixth with 201. The report noted that AQI scores between 201 and 300 are considered 'very unhealthy', prompting health advisories for children, the elderly, and those with illnesses to stay indoors and for others to limit outdoor activities.

The report highlighted that during the dry winter season, Dhaka often experiences persistently high pollution levels, contributing to its position among the world’s most polluted cities.

Several videos circulating on Facebook falsely claim that Sheikh Hasina appeared in person at a press conference in New Delhi. Verification by The Dissent found that the videos are misleading, old, and taken from unrelated events. One video showing a motorcade was traced to Rajasthan, India, featuring vehicles labeled with the name of a local student leader, Nirmal Choudhury, and posted online in January 2025.

Another video combined footage of Sheikh Hasina speaking at the 2023 anniversary of the August 21 grenade attack in Bangladesh with separate footage of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the 2024 “Lakhpati Didi Sammelan” in Maharashtra. The logo of a supposed outlet, “News Go 24,” appearing in the clip could not be verified. A third viral video claiming to show Hasina arriving at the Delhi Press Club was actually from her October 2023 visit to London, where she attended a reception organized by expatriate Awami League members.

The Dissent’s analysis confirms that none of the videos are connected to any press conference in New Delhi.

A female staff member at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, was attacked and robbed inside a hospital lift on Sunday, January 15. The victim, identified as Varsha Soni, a ward attendant in the gynecology department, was alone in the lift when a masked man entered, asked for directions, and then suddenly tried to snatch her gold chain and mangalsutra. The assailant fled through the stairs after taking the mangalsutra, while the pearl necklace fell inside the lift. No security guard was present at the time.

The incident, captured on CCTV, has caused widespread concern across the city, raising questions about safety and law enforcement in sensitive public institutions. A written complaint was filed at Bagsewania Police Station, but a formal case has not yet been registered. Preliminary investigation suggests that security was relaxed on Sunday, allowing the attacker to escape through the IPD gate.

Authorities note that under India’s new criminal code, chain snatching now carries lighter penalties, which police say has led to a sharp rise in such crimes in Bhopal over the past year.

A Barishal court has ordered the imprisonment of former BRTA assistant director Md. Shahe Alam in a corruption case. On Monday, January 26, 2026, he appeared before the Barishal District and Sessions Judge Court seeking bail, but Judge Sheikh Faruk Hossain rejected his plea and directed that he be sent to jail. During his transfer from court to prison, Alam’s relatives obstructed journalists, and he allegedly kicked a photojournalist in front of police.

According to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), Alam is accused of approving nearly 2,500 illegal vehicle registrations across Barishal, Jhalakathi, and Pirojpur during his tenure. The ACC filed a case last year alleging that he misappropriated around 200 million taka over eight years while serving in BRTA offices in Barishal, Jhalakathi, Pirojpur, and Chattogram. Investigations also found that he issued 255 irregular vehicle registrations in 2022 despite an internal probe.

The court’s decision marks a significant step in the ongoing corruption investigation, with further legal proceedings expected under ACC supervision.

A handmade explosive device, locally known as a cocktail, detonated in front of the main gate of Gopalganj University of Science and Technology on Monday night, January 26, around 9:45 p.m. Witnesses said four unidentified assailants arrived on two motorcycles and threw the device before fleeing toward the city. The loud explosion caused widespread panic among students and staff on campus.

University Proctor Dr. Arifuzzaman Rajib stated that the explosion might have been intended to create fear among students. Following the incident, senior university officials and police visited the site. According to a police press release, both police and army personnel quickly reached the scene, confirming that there were no injuries or property damage.

Authorities are reviewing CCTV footage from the area to identify those responsible. Law enforcement agencies said legal procedures are underway to locate and apprehend the perpetrators.

U.S. President Donald Trump has announced an increase in tariffs on imports from South Korea, raising the rate from 15 percent to 25 percent. He stated that South Korea failed to properly implement the terms of a bilateral trade agreement, prompting this decision. The announcement was made Monday through a post on Trump’s social media platform, Truth Social, where he said the measure targets cars, wood, pharmaceuticals, and other goods.

It remains unclear whether the new tariff has taken immediate effect, as no confirmation was available. CNN reportedly contacted the White House for comment but received no response. South Korea is one of the largest exporters to the United States, with exports worth about 132 billion dollars in 2024, including cars, auto parts, semiconductors, and electronics. Analysts fear the new tariffs could raise prices of these products in the U.S. market.

Trump’s authority to impose broad tariffs on multiple countries is currently under legal scrutiny in the U.S. Supreme Court. A ruling against the administration could limit his ability to unilaterally alter import tariffs in the future.

An autorickshaw driver was found murdered in Ramu upazila of Cox’s Bazar on Monday night, January 26, 2026. Locals discovered the body of Md. Babul, aged 40, in the Dakshinpara area of South Mithachhari Union around 8 p.m. Police confirmed that the victim’s throat had been slit and that his autorickshaw was missing from the scene.

Babul, a resident of Swapnotori Adarsha village in Rashidnagar Union, was the son of the late Abdus Salam. He is survived by his wife and three children. Locals reported that a mobile phone was found near the body, and they believe he was killed by assailants attempting to steal his vehicle. His younger brother said he had spoken to Babul earlier in the evening before learning of his death.

Ramu Police Station’s investigation officer, Md. Farid, stated that a police team visited the site after receiving information from locals. He said initial evidence suggests the murder was linked to the autorickshaw snatching, and an investigation is underway.

Law enforcement authorities have arrested another suspect in connection with the killing of a Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) officer in Sitakunda, Chattogram. The detainee, identified as Mamun, 38, was apprehended on Monday from the Bayezid area of Chattogram city. The victim, RAB-7 officer Abdul Motaleb, was attacked by armed assailants on January 19 while participating in an operation at Jungle Salimpur. He later died while undergoing treatment.

According to the investigating officer, Sub-Inspector Idris, a total of seven suspects have been arrested so far, including Jahir alias Zahid, Kala Bachchu, Sagar, Yunus, Arif, Mamun, and Mizan. Police sources said the case filed over the killing named 29 individuals and listed an additional 150 to 200 unidentified suspects. Multiple teams are continuing operations to identify and arrest others involved.

Sitakunda Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mohinul Islam stated that he has visited the crime scene several times and observed that many residents have left the area, possibly due to fear of arrest or for livelihood reasons.

A powerful snowstorm has caused widespread disruption across the United States, leaving at least 30 people dead and millions without electricity. The storm has led to the cancellation of thousands of flights and prompted weather-related emergency declarations in at least 25 states, according to the Associated Press. The extreme cold and heavy snowfall have affected areas from New York and Massachusetts in the northeast to Texas and North Carolina in the south.

Snowfall reached up to 18 inches in some regions, with temperatures dropping to minus 18 degrees Celsius. The storm directly impacted about 118 million people, while more than 150 million were advised to remain cautious. New York reported the highest number of fatalities, with five deaths. Governor Kathy Hochul deployed the National Guard in New York City, and Mayor Zohran Mamdani urged residents to assist those in need. Deaths were also reported in Tennessee, Louisiana, Texas, Massachusetts, and Kansas.

The U.S. National Weather Service said the storm’s main system was moving toward the Atlantic Ocean but warned that new Arctic air could bring more snow and rain to the northeast in the coming days.

Saudi Arabia is significantly reducing the scope and size of its ambitious Neom megaproject following a year-long internal review. According to a Financial Times report cited on Sunday, the project’s cost has been cut and its design reworked. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is now pursuing a smaller development plan due to delays, rising expenses, and technical challenges. The Neom project, launched in 2017 as part of the kingdom’s economic transformation plan, spans the Red Sea coast and includes the futuristic city concept known as “The Line,” which is now being redesigned and downsized.

Sources told the Financial Times that “The Line” may be converted into a conventional project using existing infrastructure, while Neom could evolve into a data center hub as Saudi Arabia seeks a stronger role in the global artificial intelligence sector. The review comes amid lower oil prices and a government cost-cutting drive, as the country prepares for major events such as Riyadh Expo 2030 and the 2034 FIFA World Cup.

Several subprojects, including the Trojena ski resort and the Oxagon industrial zone, are being scaled back or redesigned to align with Saudi Arabia’s current economic realities.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has strongly condemned a terrorist attack on professional journalists from Dhaka that occurred in front of Dream Holiday Park in Narsingdi. The party’s Assistant Secretary General and head of its central publicity and media division, Advocate Ehsanul Mahbub Zubair, issued a statement on Monday night expressing the condemnation. According to the statement, on the evening of January 26, members of the Crime Reporters Association of Bangladesh (CRAB) were preparing to return from a family picnic when local assailants demanded extortion money. After the journalists protested, an altercation ensued, leading the attackers to assault them with local weapons, injuring ten people including journalists Mohsin Kabir, Mohammad Shahed, S M Foyez, and CRAB staff Lal.

In the statement, Zubair described the attack as a heinous and barbaric act aimed at silencing journalists and undermining press freedom. He demanded the immediate identification and arrest of those involved and called for exemplary punishment. He also urged authorities to ensure proper medical treatment and security for the injured journalists.

A five-member delegation led by US Ambassador to Bangladesh Brent T. Christensen visited Chattogram Port on Monday, January 26, and met with the port authority’s chairman, Rear Admiral S M Moniruzzaman. During the courtesy meeting, the chairman briefed the delegation on the port’s major achievements under the interim government following the July 2024 mass uprising.

He highlighted reforms implemented to overcome irregularities, labor unrest, pressure group influence, fire incidents, and digitalization barriers. These efforts led to record handling performance, reduced turnaround and dwell times, expanded port limits, higher profits, and progress in major projects such as the Bay Terminal and Matarbari Port. The chairman also welcomed US interest in establishing a cold chain industry for reefer container storage and noted the positive role of labor unions in ensuring smooth operations.

Ambassador Christensen expressed satisfaction with the port’s progress and future plans, assuring full US cooperation to make it more efficient and world-class. He also emphasized enhancing port-related foreign investment, workforce training, and requested support in handling US exports through Chattogram Port.

Four students from Stamford University Bangladesh were allegedly robbed at knifepoint inside Dhaka’s Suhrawardy Udyan on the night of January 25. The victims said they were forced to sit by a group of youths who demanded their university identity, assaulted them, and took a total of Tk 30,000 in cash and mobile money. One student was stabbed, sustaining injuries to his face, while others were beaten with tree branches. CCTV footage later showed Dhaka University student and Chhatra Dal leader Arif Faisal collecting Tk 15,000 from a mobile money agent linked to the stolen funds.

Arif Faisal, a student of the Communication Disorder department and a coordinator for the Chhatra Dal’s election committee in Dinajpur-3 constituency, admitted receiving the money when questioned by Amader Desh but claimed he was unaware of the full incident at the time. He said the matter was later “resolved” with the victims. University authorities stated they had not yet received a formal complaint, and the Chhatra Dal president said anyone involved in robbery should be handed over to police.

Faisal has since gone missing from his dormitory, and attempts to contact him by phone have failed.

A group of armed assailants attacked a picnic bus carrying members of the Bangladesh Crime Reporters Association (CRAB) in front of Dream Holiday Park in Madhabdi, Narsingdi, on Monday, January 26. The attackers demanded extortion money and, after being refused, launched a sudden assault, injuring about ten journalists, six of them seriously. The incident occurred as the journalists and their families were returning to Dhaka after celebrating CRAB’s annual Family Day. Police later detained two suspects involved in the attack.

According to the injured CRAB members, around 300 journalists and their families had traveled from Dhaka’s Segunbagicha to the park earlier that morning. When they boarded their buses to return, local miscreants blocked several vehicles and demanded money. The attackers, reportedly intoxicated and armed with rods, threatened to set the buses on fire and used abusive language. The sudden violence created panic among women and children on board.

Police intervention prevented further escalation, but the incident left several journalists injured and raised concerns about safety during public gatherings.

The Bangladesh Jewellers Association (BAJUS) has raised gold prices again within 24 hours, setting a new record in the country’s market. In a notice issued late Monday, January 26, 2026, BAJUS announced that the price of 22-carat gold has been increased by Tk 5,249 per bhori, bringing it to Tk 262,440. The new rate will take effect from Tuesday, January 27. The association said the adjustment was made considering the rise in the price of pure gold in the local market.

According to the revised rates, 21-carat gold will cost Tk 250,484 per bhori, 18-carat gold Tk 214,734, and traditional gold Tk 176,593. The previous adjustment was made on January 25, when the price of 22-carat gold was set at Tk 257,191 per bhori after a Tk 1,574 increase. Silver prices have also reached a record high, with 22-carat silver now priced at Tk 7,757 per bhori after a Tk 525 rise.

BAJUS noted that international gold prices have also surged, surpassing USD 5,000 per ounce, following a more than 60 percent increase in 2025.