Bangladesh Bank has initiated liquidation proceedings for nine non-bank financial institutions (NBFIs) due to severe irregularities and high default rates. Hearings have begun to assess the justification for liquidation. According to central bank sources, if the institutions are closed, the government will refund individual depositors, while institutional and interbank dues will be settled through asset sales. The nine NBFIs include FAS Finance, Bangladesh Industrial Finance Company, Premier Leasing, Fareast Finance, GSP Finance, Prime Finance, Aviva Finance, Peoples Leasing, and International Leasing.

These institutions have default rates between 75 and 98 percent, accounting for 52 percent of total NBFI defaults by the end of 2024. Allegations of large-scale financial misconduct, including embezzlement by former executives, have contributed to their collapse. The total deposits across the nine institutions amount to Tk 15,370 crore, of which Tk 3,493 crore are individual deposits to be repaid by the government.

Governor Ahsan H. Mansur stated that individual depositors will receive their principal amounts before Ramadan in February 2026, without interest. The government has verbally approved around Tk 5,000 crore for repayments, and asset valuation will determine any potential returns for shareholders.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) has decided to move all chemical warehouses from the cargo house of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport to a safer distance outside the terminal area. The decision follows a devastating fire last year that caused losses worth Tk 900 crore. To implement the relocation, a coordination meeting involving all relevant agencies has been called for January 24.

According to the source, multiple investigation reports submitted after the fire recommended relocating the chemical storage facilities to ensure safety. A CAAB-formed committee reviewed these reports and presented its findings, which were discussed in a meeting chaired by the CAAB chairman on December 4. The committee was instructed to identify two alternative sites for the warehouses and finalize proposals for their development.

Officials said storing hazardous cargo near passenger terminals violates international safety standards and poses risks to flight operations and human lives. The upcoming meeting will evaluate proposed sites based on safety, transport access, and compliance with global standards, aiming to strengthen overall airport safety and prevent future incidents.

The United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health has warned that the world has entered an era of 'global water bankruptcy,' as freshwater reserves are being depleted faster than they can be replenished. The report highlights severe water crises already unfolding in cities such as Tehran and Kabul, as well as in many African and Asian countries where natural disasters have damaged sources of safe drinking water.

According to the report, 75 percent of the global population lives in countries where water is unsafe or severely insecure, and around two billion people reside in regions where groundwater levels have dropped so low that land subsidence is occurring. Researcher Professor Kaveh Madani noted that many human-made water supply systems have already reached post-crisis collapse, with several key systems effectively bankrupt. Climate change, melting glaciers, and extreme weather events are accelerating the problem by reducing water storage and intensifying droughts and floods.

The report warns that billions of people will be affected as the crisis deepens, though it remains unclear when the global water system might fully collapse.

A truck driver named Mukul Mia, accused in four drug cases, reportedly died in Rangpur after being arrested by police late Thursday night. His family alleged that he was tortured to death while in custody. According to his daughter, police officers led by Sub-Inspector Monirul Islam detained him from his home in the city’s Chikli Bhata area around 11:20 p.m., and within 20 minutes, the family was informed by Rangpur Medical College Hospital that he had died. Following the incident, relatives and local residents blocked the road at the city’s Medical Mor area until about 2 a.m., demanding justice for those involved.

Family members claimed that Mukul was healthy at the time of arrest but was later found at the hospital with sand covering his body, which they said indicated torture. Police, however, stated that Mukul became ill after his arrest and was taken to the hospital, where doctors declared him dead. The incident has sparked local outrage and calls for accountability against the officers allegedly responsible.

An article by Jony Siddiq, published on January 23, 2026, in Amar Desh, warns against hoarding and creating artificial shortages, describing such acts as severe sins in Islam. The piece highlights that Bangladesh is currently facing an acute gas crisis and abnormal price hikes, leaving ordinary citizens struggling. It accuses dishonest business syndicates of deliberately inflating prices of cylinder and industrial gas by fabricating scarcity, worsening public hardship and industrial production.

The article cites multiple hadiths condemning hoarding, emphasizing that those who stockpile essential goods to manipulate markets are cursed and will face divine punishment. It references Islamic scholars such as Imam Nawawi and Abu Lais, who classify hoarding as prohibited when it causes artificial scarcity or public suffering. The author urges the business community to conduct trade honestly, supply goods at fair prices, and seek divine satisfaction rather than short-term profit.

The piece concludes with a moral appeal for ethical business practices, warning that ill-gotten gains may harm both worldly and spiritual well-being.

Two people were killed and at least twelve others injured when a passenger bus lost control and overturned after hitting a road divider in the Meherabari area of Valuka upazila, Mymensingh, on Thursday evening. The Mymensingh-bound bus crashed around 7 p.m., killing passenger Shahjahan Siraj, 40, on the spot. The bus helper, Md. Anik Mia, 28, died later at the hospital from his injuries.

Rescuers took the injured to Valuka Upazila Health Complex, and two critically injured passengers were later transferred to Mymensingh Medical College Hospital for advanced treatment. The deceased were identified as Shahjahan Siraj of Birunia village in Valuka and Md. Anik Mia of Jagannathdia village in Ghior upazila, Manikganj.

Eyewitnesses said the bus was speeding when it lost control and hit the divider, causing panic among passengers. The officer-in-charge of Bharadoba Highway Police Station, ABM Mehedi Masud, confirmed the incident, stating that the bodies were recovered and would be handed over to families after legal formalities. The bus has been seized and kept under police custody.

A video showing a child being physically and mentally abused inside the office of Sharmin Academy, a school in Dhaka’s Naya Paltan area, went viral on social media, triggering widespread outrage and criticism. Following the public reaction, a case was filed at Paltan Police Station under the Child Rights Act. The school has since suspended its operations. The incident reportedly occurred on January 18, and the video surfaced online several days later.

According to police, the woman seen assaulting the child has been identified as the school’s founder and principal, Sharmin Jahan, while the man present in the room is the school manager, Pabitra Kumar. Both have been named as accused in the case and are currently absconding. Police have launched an operation to arrest them and informed relevant authorities to ensure the child’s safety and mental well-being.

The viral video has reignited public debate on child safety in educational institutions. Social media users have demanded stricter oversight, greater accountability in school management, and exemplary punishment to prevent similar incidents in the future.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has filed a case against 43 individuals, including Liaquat Ali Khan, chairman of Rupayan Housing Estate Limited, and several officials of Rajuk, over allegations of occupying government and privately owned land. The announcement was made on Thursday afternoon at the ACC headquarters in Segunbagicha, Dhaka, by Akhtar Hossain, the commission’s Director General (Prevention).

According to the ACC, Liaquat Ali Khan made an agreement in 2013 with a landowner for about 2.5 acres but later claimed ownership without completing payment or registration, leading to a court case that remains under a stay order. Despite the pending case, Rajuk officials allegedly approved land use, project, and construction permissions for Rupayan without verifying ownership documents or court restrictions. The ACC stated that Rupayan obtained approvals for projects covering 41.548 acres, though valid documents were submitted for only 16.32 acres.

The ACC’s preliminary investigation confirmed the allegations, prompting the case. Other accused include Rupayan’s estate officer Sajjad Hussain and several Rajuk planners and designers. The case involves illegal inclusion of government and Bhawal Estate land in Rupayan’s projects.

Saudi Arabia has sold a record $20 billion worth of bonds since the start of this year, marking the highest in the kingdom’s history and surpassing China in global debt issuance. According to Bloomberg data, the Saudi government directly raised $11.5 billion, while state-controlled firms such as Saudi Electricity, Saudi Telecom, Saudi National Bank, and Riyad Bank borrowed an additional $8.8 billion. These companies, though government-owned, are listed on the Tadawul stock exchange.

Analysts view the surge in borrowing as a reflection of the country’s Vision 2030 plan, which aims to diversify the oil-dependent economy. The trend indicates that debt pressure is now extending beyond the government to state-owned enterprises. Saudi Arabia became the largest international debt issuer among emerging markets in 2024, a pattern expected to continue through 2026.

Financial Times reported that Saudi banks are increasingly turning to foreign loans. Despite lower oil prices, the kingdom remains relatively stable due to low production costs and substantial foreign currency reserves.

Police detained two young men carrying weapons at an election rally of Jamaat-e-Islami’s nominated candidate Haji Enayet Ullah in Dhaka-7 constituency. The incident occurred on Thursday afternoon in the capital’s Chawkbazar area during the rally organized in support of the candidate. According to local Jamaat leader Md. Anisur Rahman, the event was arranged by a business association at Moulvibazar Tower.

During the gathering, reports emerged that three youths were attempting to enter a nearby building with locally made weapons. Party activists, with the help of security guards, managed to capture two of them and informed the police. Officers from Chawkbazar Police Station then arrived at the scene and took the detained individuals, along with the weapons, into custody.

A duty officer at Chawkbazar Police Station stated that the identities of the detainees and their motives for carrying weapons are being verified. The investigation is ongoing, and further details will be disclosed after completion. Legal action will be taken based on the findings.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s Detective Branch (DB-Lalbagh Division) arrested an alleged arms dealer named Md. Azgar Ali, also known as Bhola, aged 55, from the Shyampur area of the capital on Thursday, January 22, 2026. The arrest took place during a special operation in the West Dholai Par area, where police recovered two illegal foreign pistols, four magazines, and 21 rounds of ammunition from his possession.

According to DB-Lalbagh sources, the operation began around 1 p.m. after receiving a tip-off that an armed individual was entering Dhaka through the Dhaka-Mawa Highway on a passenger bus. Acting on the information, the police team took position near Dholai Par roundabout, stopped the bus upon arrival, and conducted a search. The suspect was found carrying the illegal weapons and ammunition.

Police sources confirmed that Azgar Ali has previous cases filed against him under the Arms Act at Khilgaon Police Station and under the Narcotics Control Act at Savar Police Station.

Islami Bank Bangladesh PLC held a meeting of its Board of Directors on Thursday, January 22, 2026, at the Islami Bank Tower in Dhaka. The meeting was chaired by the bank’s Chairman, Professor Dr. M. Zubaidur Rahman.

According to the report, the session was attended by Executive Committee Chairman Mohammad Khurshid Wahab, Audit Committee Chairman Md. Abdus Salam, FCA, FCS, Risk Management Committee Chairman Professor Dr. M. Masud Rahman, Independent Director Md. Abdul Jalil, Managing Director Md. Omar Faruk Khan, and Company Secretary Md. Habibur Rahman. The article did not specify the agenda or outcomes of the meeting.

The report focused on the participation of key board members, highlighting the bank’s continued governance activities through regular board sessions held at its headquarters.

The Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA) has announced that all spinning mills across the country will be closed indefinitely from February 1, 2026, if the Ministry of Commerce’s recommendations are not implemented promptly. The announcement was made by BTMA President Shawkat Aziz Russell during an emergency press conference at the association’s Karwan Bazar office in Dhaka. The organization claimed that the textile industry is facing a severe crisis due to the government’s inaction and lack of effective measures.

Russell stated that the sector, which contributes 13 percent to the national GDP, has reached a state of emergency. He warned that if the recommendations are ignored, mill owners will be unable to repay bank loans, potentially triggering a financial crisis and labor unrest. BTMA reported that most mills are operating at only 60 percent capacity, with around 50 large factories already closed.

The Ministry of Commerce has recommended withdrawing bond facilities on yarn imports of 10 to 30 counts to protect local producers. BTMA has demanded a 10 percent incentive on yarn, the imposition of safeguard duties, and urgent policy support to save the textile, RMG, and accessories sectors.

The Bangladesh Meteorological Office reported that the intensity of cold has decreased across the country in the latter half of January 2026. Although the first 14 days of the month saw continuous cold waves, no such conditions have been present in recent days. Meteorologist Afroza Sultana stated on Thursday, January 22, that reduced fog, weaker northwesterly winds, and increased humidity have caused temperatures to rise, making the cold less perceptible.

She explained that with less fog, sunlight is reaching the ground more directly, raising daytime temperatures. The flow of cold and dry air from the northwest has been very weak, preventing the formation of new cold waves. While Dhaka and other regions have experienced milder weather, northern areas still feel colder in the early mornings. Currently, mild cold waves persist in Panchagarh and Kurigram districts.

According to the forecast, widespread cold waves are unlikely for the rest of the month, though isolated mild cold spells may occur in a few places. A brief mild cold wave could return in early February.

Bangladesh and Japan have signed the Bangladesh-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement, under which Bangladeshi ready-made garments will receive duty-free access to the Japanese market. The announcement was made by Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam at a press conference held on Thursday, January 22, at the Foreign Service Academy in Dhaka. He described the agreement as a landmark step for Bangladesh’s trade relations.

According to the press secretary, the agreement will allow 7,379 Bangladeshi products to enter Japan duty-free, while Japan will gain immediate tariff-free access for 1,039 of its products in Bangladesh. He emphasized that this is the first time Bangladesh, as a least developed country, has signed such an agreement with the world’s fourth-largest economy. The deal is expected to open new opportunities for Bangladesh’s trade with other countries as well.

The press secretary highlighted that the biggest benefit for Bangladesh will be the duty-free entry of its largest export sector, the ready-made garment industry, into the Japanese market.