U.S. President Donald Trump said that tariffs imposed by his administration were targeted only at countries with which the United States has trade deficits. Speaking at the annual World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Trump described the decision as fair and claimed that most people understand the reasoning behind it. He acknowledged that some have been negatively affected but maintained that the overall policy was justified.

Trump also stated that in some cases, tariff rates had been reduced. He cited Switzerland as an example, noting that an initial 30 percent tariff was later lowered because he did not want to cause harm to people. During his remarks, Trump further asserted that the United States is sustaining the entire world.

The comments, reported by the BBC, reflect Trump’s continued defense of his trade policies on the global stage, emphasizing fairness and national interest as key motivations behind the tariff measures.

Five police officers have been withdrawn and transferred to Hatiya upazila after two Awami League leaders, both under trial, hosted a family feast inside the Chief Judicial Magistrate Court lockup in Noakhali. The incident occurred on January 19, when the detainees’ families gathered in the women’s lockup area during a court appearance. The event, locally known as a ‘beyakhana,’ was arranged with the cooperation of on-duty police personnel.

Additional Superintendent of Police (Administration and Finance) Abu Tayeb Md Arif Hossain confirmed the withdrawal on Wednesday night, citing the need for an impartial investigation. The withdrawn officers include two assistant town sub-inspectors and three constables. Following the order of Superintendent of Police T.M. Mosharraf Hossain, a three-member inquiry committee was formed to submit its report by January 26.

The two detained leaders—Azam Pasha Chowdhury Rumel of Companiganj Upazila Jubo League and Advocate Saif Uddin Ahmed of Hatiya Awami League—are accused in multiple murder and explosives cases. The incident has drawn widespread attention across the country.

A mobile court of the Department of Environment conducted an operation in Jhenaidah’s Shailkupa upazila on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, demolishing the chimneys of four illegal brick kilns and imposing fines totaling Tk 2 million. The operation was led by Executive Magistrate Momtaz Begum from the Khulna Divisional Office of the Department of Environment. Two of the brick kilns were located in Kumiradah area and two in Dudhsar area.

According to the Department of Environment, the drive was carried out under the overall direction of the Khulna Divisional Director and organized by the Jhenaidah District Office. Each kiln was fined Tk 500,000 for operating without authorization, and written undertakings were taken from the owners pledging not to resume operations. The chimneys were demolished using excavators.

Officials from the Jhenaidah office, including Assistant Director Md. Muntasir Rahman, along with police and Ansar Battalion members, were present during the operation.

Authorities in Rupganj, Narayanganj sealed a flat owned by former National Telecommunication Monitoring Center (NTMC) Director General Major General (Retd.) Ziaul Ahsan and his wife Nusrat Jahan. The operation was conducted on Wednesday afternoon by Narayanganj District RDC and Executive Magistrate Shahriar Parvez. The sealed property is located in the Jalsiri Project’s Sector 12, Road 506, Plot 14, in an eight-story building named Joyita. Other flats in the building were not sealed as tenants were present.

According to the report, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) filed a case against Ziaul Ahsan and his wife on January 23 of the previous year. The case alleges abuse of power, illegal wealth accumulation, and suspicious transactions worth about Tk 120 crore under Nusrat Jahan’s name. It also claims that Ahsan amassed Tk 22.28 crore in illegal assets, deposited USD 55,000 beyond permitted limits, and conducted irregular transactions through eight active bank accounts.

The allegations state that Ahsan misused his authority while serving as NTMC chief, violating anti-corruption, penal, and money laundering laws.

Food and Land Adviser Ali Imam Majumder said rice prices are expected to decrease within the next few days. He made the remark on Wednesday afternoon while speaking to journalists at the Kushtia Collectorate premises before attending a meeting on referendum campaigning and voter motivation. Majumder stated that the government has initiated the process to import about 600,000 tons of rice, while private importers have received approval to bring in another 200,000 tons. He said the impact of these imports would benefit consumers, and the government currently holds a record stock of 2.1 million tons of rice.

Addressing the recent price rise in Kushtia markets, Majumder said discussions with mill owners revealed that prices had increased by about two taka but would likely drop within a few days. He added that from the next day, Open Market Sale (OMS) operations would run daily in every upazila, and import permissions through letters of credit from neighboring countries had been granted. Majumder also emphasized that the government aims to maintain stability and prevent unrest similar to that of 2024 through reforms and coordination with political parties and experts.

He further instructed local administrations to ensure a fear-free environment for voters and to take action against anyone attempting to disrupt the election process.

A Dhaka court on Wednesday issued arrest warrants against Transcom Group CEO Simeen Rahman, her mother Shahnaz Rahman, and director Shamsuzzaman Patwary in a case alleging misappropriation of 14,160 company shares through forged signatures and fake stamps. The warrants were issued by Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Md. Sefatullah after accepting a charge sheet filed by the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI). Later that afternoon, the three accused surrendered before Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Jewel Rana’s court, which granted them bail.

The charge sheet, submitted on January 11 by PBI Inspector Syed Sazedur Rahman, accuses six individuals in total. It alleges that a June 13, 2020 board meeting approving share transfers never actually took place, and that forged signatures of family members were used to transfer shares to Simeen Rahman. Investigators found irregularities in documents submitted to the Registrar of Joint Stock Companies and Firms (RJSC), including absence of required physical presence during share transfer and delayed payment of fees.

The court set February 2 for submission of a progress report on the case.

Bangladesh Bank Governor Ahsan H. Mansur stated that the country’s current 61 banks far exceed its actual needs, suggesting that 10 to 15 banks would be sufficient. He made the remarks on Wednesday at Jagannath University during a discussion titled “Banking Sector: Current Challenges and Future Prospects.” Mansur emphasized that reducing the number of banks would make it easier to ensure good governance. He added that the government plans to merge state-owned banks, keeping only two in operation.

The governor warned that personal or individual-centric decisions should not influence the banking sector, noting that a lack of proper governance has pushed the sector toward crisis. He stressed the need for comprehensive reforms across all areas of banking. Jagannath University Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Rezaul Karim, speaking as a special guest, said the governor’s leadership is crucial in reviving a nearly collapsed sector. He expressed optimism that ongoing initiatives would help restore stability and sustain positive progress.

The event was attended by faculty members, students, and economists including Professor Dr. Mahbub Ullah and Dr. Mohammad Helal Uddin.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has filed a case against 21 individuals, including 12 former members of the Public Service Commission (PSC) and a former secretary, for allegedly appointing six candidates to cadre positions under a fake freedom fighter quota. The appointments were made six months after the publication of the 29th BCS results, despite the candidates not applying under that quota. The accused include officials currently serving as deputy secretaries, a police superintendent, and others in key government roles.

According to the ACC, the irregularities stem from the 29th BCS examination held in 2008. After a 16-year investigation, the commission found serious discrepancies in the recruitment process. The accused have been charged under sections 420, 467, 468, 471, and 109 of the Penal Code, as well as section 5(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1947.

The ACC’s findings indicate that the six appointed officials are currently holding important positions, and the case highlights long-standing procedural flaws in the recruitment system.

A Dhaka court has issued arrest warrants against five officials of Unilever Bangladesh Limited, including Managing Director Naharul Islam Molla, in connection with a fraud case. The order was given on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, by Metropolitan Magistrate Mehedi Hasan. The other accused are Cluster Head Syed Zikrul Bin Zamir, Senior Territory Manager (Wari) M. Soyaib Kamal, Area Manager, and Consumer Care (Finance) Director Jinnia Haque.

According to the plaintiff’s lawyer, Zahidul Islam Hiron, the case was filed on August 7 of the previous year by Unilever’s distributor, Masud & Brothers, alleging fraud and breach of trust. The court had earlier directed the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to investigate the matter. On January 5, the investigating officer, Tarikul Islam, submitted the investigation report to the court.

The court’s decision follows the completion of the CID investigation, and further legal proceedings are expected to continue based on the submitted report.

The Bangladesh government will provide an additional Tk 10 million to the family of Shaheed Sharif Osman Hadi, spokesperson of Inquilab Mancha, for their livelihood. Economic adviser Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed announced that the amount will come from the Chief Adviser’s Fund. Earlier, the Ministry of Finance approved another Tk 10 million for the purchase of a flat or house for the family. The announcement was made on Wednesday after a meeting of the government’s advisory committee on public procurement at the Secretariat.

According to the Finance Division, the Housing and Public Works Ministry had applied for a grant to buy a flat for Hadi’s family. The proposal was approved on the condition that the identities of Hadi’s wife and children are verified. The allocation covers the purchase and furnishing of a 1,215-square-foot apartment in the government’s Doel Tower at Lalmatia, Dhaka. The ministry will use part of its existing Tk 60 million residential building budget for the current fiscal year.

The allocation requires compliance with all financial regulations, inclusion in the revised 2025–26 budget, and return of any unspent funds to the treasury by June 30.

The government of Bangladesh has approved the purchase of 27.15 million liters of refined soybean oil from the international market at a cost of Tk 357.62 crore, with each liter priced at Tk 131.49. The decision was made on Wednesday at a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase, chaired by Economic Adviser Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed. The procurement will be conducted under the Direct Purchase Method (DPM) to ensure adequate supply and market stability ahead of the holy month of Ramadan.

According to meeting sources, the Ministry of Commerce proposed the urgent import to meet increased demand during Ramadan. After evaluation by the tender committee, the purchase was finalized from Canada-based NSRIC Green Supplies Inc. Officials stated that the oil will be sold in the open market at a price lower than the government-fixed rate but not below the purchase cost, meaning no subsidy will be required. Consumers will access the product through the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB).

The meeting also approved the import of 30,000 metric tons of bagged granular urea fertilizer from Karnaphuli Fertilizer Company Limited (KAFCO) for the 2025–26 fiscal year at a cost of Tk 149.17 crore.

Bangladeshi singer Balam is set to release his fifth solo album titled 'Maula' after a gap of more than a decade. The album, containing six songs, will be released on the upcoming Eid-ul-Fitr. Balam has composed and arranged all the tracks himself, while the lyricists’ names remain undisclosed. He mentioned that all songs will be released in audio format, with one track accompanied by a music video.

Discussing the project, Balam said he has resumed music seriously after years of releasing only singles, which he found insufficient to meet fans’ expectations. He emphasized that a full album allows for greater musical variety and helps attract listeners of different tastes and ages. The album aims to connect with both long-time fans and younger audiences, including Generation Z.

The title track 'Maula' is a Sufi-inspired song created during the COVID period, reflecting on global unrest. Balam believes its message remains relevant today. His previous albums include 'Balam' (2007), 'Balam 2' (2008), 'Balam 3' (2010), and 'Bhubon' (2013).

Private airline Novoair has announced an increase in flight frequency on the Dhaka–Chattogram route to meet growing passenger demand and improve travel convenience. Starting January 26, 2026, the airline will introduce an additional flight on this route, operating every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Currently, Novoair operates one daily flight between Dhaka and Chattogram, departing Dhaka at 1:15 p.m. and returning from Chattogram at 2:40 p.m.

According to Novoair Managing Director Mofizur Rahman, Chattogram is a key commercial and tourism hub in Bangladesh, and the decision to expand service reflects increasing passenger needs and the company’s commitment to better connectivity. The new flight will depart Dhaka at 4:15 p.m. and return from Chattogram at 5:40 p.m. on the specified days.

In addition to the Chattogram route, Novoair currently operates regular flights to Cox’s Bazar, Sylhet, and Saidpur, maintaining its focus on domestic air connectivity within Bangladesh.

The full meeting of the Ninth National Pay Commission concluded on Wednesday, finalizing recommendations for a new pay structure for government employees and pensioners. According to meeting sources, the commission has proposed increasing government employees’ salaries by 100 to 147 percent, setting the lowest salary at 20,000 taka for the 20th grade and the highest at 160,000 taka for the first grade.

The proposed pay scale also includes significant pension increases. Pensioners currently receiving less than 20,000 taka per month would see their pensions doubled, while those receiving between 20,000 and 40,000 taka would get a 75 percent increase. Pensioners earning more than 40,000 taka would receive a 55 percent rise. Additionally, the commission suggested raising medical allowances for elderly pensioners, recommending 10,000 taka for those over 75 years old and 5,000 taka for those under 55.

Officials said the recommendations were finalized after extensive discussions and reviews. The report will be submitted to the government for verification and approval before the new pay and pension structures are implemented.

Veteran Bangladeshi film actor and choreographer Ilias Javed passed away on Wednesday morning, January 21, 2026, at a hospital in Uttara, Dhaka. He was 82. Born in Pakistan, Javed spent most of his life in Bangladesh, where he became a celebrated figure in the golden era of Bengali cinema. His real name was Raja Mohammad Ilias, and before becoming a leading actor, he was one of the country’s most acclaimed dance directors.

Javed began his artistic journey in Mumbai, training under legendary dance masters Sadhu Maharaj and Shambhu Maharaj, and learning alongside Bollywood choreographer Saroj Khan. He debuted as a hero in the Urdu film “Nayi Zindegi” in 1964, but his breakthrough came with the 1970 film “Payel,” directed by Mustafiz, where he starred with Razzak and Shabana. He went on to act in over a hundred films, including “Nishan,” “Malka Banu,” and “Kajal Rekha,” pairing with leading actresses such as Shabana, Bobita, and Kabori.

Beyond acting, Javed revolutionized dance in Bengali cinema, mentoring top actors and actresses. His wife Dolly Javed described him as a superstar in both acting and choreography, remembered with respect by peers and fans alike.