The National Pay Commission, led by former finance secretary Zakir Ahmed Khan, has finalized recommendations for a new salary structure for Bangladesh’s government employees. The proposal suggests increasing basic pay by 100 to 147 percent, raising the minimum salary in the 20th grade from Tk 8,250 to Tk 20,000 and the maximum in the 1st grade from Tk 78,000 to Tk 160,000. The report is scheduled to be formally submitted to Chief Adviser Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus at 5 p.m. on Wednesday.

According to the proposal, the new structure would take effect partially from January 1 and fully from July 1. Finance Adviser Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed stated that after submission, several committees will review the report, a process expected to take three to four months. The recommendations also include major revisions to housing and transport allowances, with the Boishakhi allowance proposed to rise from 20 to 50 percent and transport benefits extended up to the 10th grade.

For pensioners, the commission proposed significant increases, including a 100 percent rise for those receiving less than Tk 20,000 per month and smaller increments for higher pension brackets.

Popular Bangladeshi film actor and 'Nirapad Sarak Chai' founder Ilias Kanchan is undergoing cancer treatment in London. According to Liton Ershad, vice chairman of the organization, Kanchan is currently in his second round of chemotherapy, which will continue until May. Afterward, he is expected to receive a vaccine in Germany. If his condition improves, he may return to Bangladesh.

Several of his co-artists have expressed their hopes for his recovery. Actor Misha Sawdagor said they are eagerly waiting for Kanchan to return healthy, praising his kind nature and contributions to Bangladeshi cinema. Actress Champa prayed for his quick recovery and return to his family. Shabnaz described him as a pride of the film industry and a lifelong advocate for road safety. Actress Popy recalled his guidance and kindness, wishing for his battle with illness to end soon.

Ilias Kanchan debuted in the 1977 film 'Boshundhora' and has received multiple National Film Awards and the Ekushey Padak for his social contributions.

Veteran Bangladeshi actor and dancer Ilias Javed, a popular figure from the golden era of cinema, passed away at the age of 82 on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, at 11 a.m. in a hospital in Uttara, Dhaka. The news was confirmed by Soni Rahman, an executive member of the Artists’ Association. His body will be taken to the Bangladesh Film Development Corporation (BFDC) for a final tribute, where his funeral prayer will be held after Asr. He will then be buried beside the mosque in Uttara Sector 12.

Javed had been battling cancer for a long time and also suffered from heart problems, having survived two previous heart attacks. His death has cast a shadow of grief over the film and cultural community. Born in 1944 in Peshawar, British India, he began his career as a dance director before becoming a leading actor in over 200 films. He debuted as a hero in the Urdu film “Nayi Zindegi” in 1964 and gained fame with “Payel” in 1966. He was best known for his role in the film “Nishan.”

In his personal life, Javed married actress Dolly Chowdhury in 1984.

A Japanese court has sentenced Tetsuya Yamagami to life imprisonment for the 2022 assassination of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Judge Shinichi Tanaka delivered the verdict on Wednesday, concluding a case that shocked Japan and the world. Yamagami admitted to shooting Abe in broad daylight during a campaign event in the southern city of Nara. Prosecutors had sought a life sentence, calling the killing an unprecedented event in Japan’s postwar history that had a negative impact on society, while the defense requested a maximum of 20 years.

According to the case details, Yamagami’s mother was a follower of the Unification Church and had donated nearly all her assets, leaving the family in financial distress. Yamagami reportedly became angry after learning of Abe’s alleged ties to the controversial church. On July 8, 2022, he used a homemade gun made from pipes and duct tape to shoot Abe twice while the former leader was giving a speech. Abe was taken to a hospital but died shortly afterward.

The court’s ruling brings closure to one of Japan’s most shocking acts of violence in recent decades.

A bus conductor named Md. Ilias Hossain, aged 25, was killed after being crushed between two buses in Dhaka’s Gulistan area on Tuesday night. The incident occurred around 7 p.m. near Khaddar Market traffic signal when Ilias, who worked for Victoria Paribahan, stepped off his bus while it was stopped. As the signal turned green, an Azmiri Paribahan bus moved forward alongside, trapping him between the two vehicles and causing severe injuries.

He was rescued and taken to the emergency department of Dhaka Medical College Hospital, where he died at 12:20 a.m. while undergoing treatment. Inspector Md. Faruk of the hospital police outpost confirmed the incident, stating that the body was kept at the hospital morgue for autopsy and the concerned police station had been informed.

Ilias Hossain was from Charbishwas village in Galachipa upazila of Patuakhali district and lived in the Gazipura area. He is survived by his wife Hafiza Khatun and a daughter.

Police recovered the decomposed body of BNP activist Golakajul, also known as Kajol, from the Padma River in Alatuli Union of Chapainawabganj district on Tuesday, 19 days after he went missing. The body was found opposite Godagari police station in Rajshahi. Kajol, aged 36, was a resident of Bagdanga Chakpara village in Charbagdanga Union. His family alleged that on January 2, an Awami League activist named Hasem took him from his home, after which he never returned.

Kajol’s wife, Lima Begum, filed an abduction case on January 8 against eight people, including Omar Ali, president of the local Awami League unit, and Nurul Islam, president of the district Weavers League. Police said the body was sent for autopsy to the modern district hospital morgue. Kajol’s brother, Shawkat Ali, identified the body and claimed that Kajol had earlier argued with local traders over business matters.

Investigators said the cause of death would be determined after receiving the post-mortem report, while the abduction case remains under investigation.

At least 20 people have died in four days of devastating wildfires across southern Chile, leaving entire communities in ruins and thick smoke blanketing the air. The fires have burned an area comparable to the size of Detroit in the United States, mainly in the Biobío and Ñuble regions, affecting about 7,200 people. Residents are appealing for urgent assistance as firefighters remain on alert amid forecasts of rising temperatures.

Local accounts describe widespread frustration over limited government support, with many survivors relying on volunteers and neighbors for help. Chile’s Deputy Interior Minister Víctor Ramos said the government has intensified relief efforts and will provide financial aid ranging from 350 to 1,500 US dollars per affected family. Around 4,000 firefighters are battling 21 active fires across Biobío, Ñuble, and Araucanía regions, where hundreds of homes have been destroyed.

Authorities suspect some fires were deliberately set, with one person arrested in Penco for attempted arson. Researchers link the increasing frequency of such wildfires to prolonged heat and dryness associated with climate change, making this year’s fires the worst since February 2024.

Venezuela’s interim president Delcy Rodríguez announced that the country has received 300 million U.S. dollars from oil sales. Speaking on Tuesday, she said the payment represents the first installment under a 50-million-barrel oil supply agreement announced by U.S. President Donald Trump with Caracas. The deal came into effect earlier this month following the detention of President Nicolás Maduro.

According to Reuters, the Venezuelan government informed four domestic banks that the 300 million dollars, held in an account in Qatar, would be distributed among them. The funds will allow banks to sell dollars to local companies facing foreign currency shortages so they can pay for raw materials and essential imports. Rodríguez said the money, part of an initial 500 million dollar tranche, will be managed by the national and central banks to stabilize the currency market and protect workers’ income and purchasing power.

On the same day, lawmaker Jorge Rodríguez stated that a proposal to reform the country’s main oil law could be discussed this week. The reform aims to attract foreign investment and build on existing partnership models introduced under Maduro’s administration.

Bangladesh’s domestic textile industry, with investments worth about $25 billion, is facing severe pressure due to a surge in low-priced yarn and fabric imports from India. The Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA) reported that since 2022, yarn imports from India have risen sharply—from $429 million in 2022 to $2.28 billion in 2024—now accounting for 95 percent of total yarn imports. Despite a government ban on land-route imports in August 2024, Indian exporters have continued shipments by sea at dumping prices, supported by export subsidies of 3.88 percent per kilogram.

BTMA and local mill owners warn that aggressive Indian pricing has forced many domestic mills to shut down, with over 30 closures in three years. The Ministry of Commerce has proposed ending bonded warehouse facilities for certain yarns to protect local spinners, while garment exporters’ associations BGMEA and BKMEA oppose the move, citing higher production costs and reduced export competitiveness. Industry leaders are urging policy support, lower bank interest rates, and stronger oversight at land ports to prevent further losses.

The ongoing dispute underscores tensions between protecting domestic textile producers and maintaining competitiveness in Bangladesh’s export-oriented garment sector.

A Dhaka court has ordered the appointment of a receiver to oversee and protect immovable properties seized in a corruption case against former Air Force chief Air Chief Marshal Sheikh Abdul Hannan and his wife Tahmida Begum. The directive came from the Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge and Metropolitan Sessions Judge Court after hearing an application from the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). The ACC disclosed the court’s decision in a press release issued on Tuesday.

According to court sources, the ACC filed the application due to the absence of a caretaker, which posed a risk of the properties being misappropriated. The ACC investigation alleges that Sheikh Abdul Hannan and his wife abused power, accepted bribes, and acquired wealth beyond known income sources. The inquiry and investigation into these allegations are still ongoing.

Under the court order, two flats in Nikunja-2, a large apartment in Mirpur DOHS, a 320-square-yard plot in the Mirpur Military Officers’ Housing Project, and two plots in Rupganj, Narayanganj, will now be under the receiver’s control to ensure proper management and protection of state interests.

Bangladesh Meteorological Department has reported that temperatures across the country are currently 4 to 5 degrees Celsius higher than normal, even during the coldest month of the year. On Tuesday, Teknaf recorded the highest temperature at 31.4°C, while Dhaka reached 28°C. Officials described the situation as abnormal and warned that temperatures may rise further in the coming days.

Meteorologist Kazi Zebun Nesa attributed the unusual warmth to air pollution and global climate change. Dr. Omar Faruk explained that a recent deep depression over the Bay of Bengal contributed to the sudden temperature increase across Bangladesh and neighboring countries. He noted that there is no sign of a cold wave or imminent temperature drop.

Senior meteorologist S.M. Kamrul Hasan said the global average temperature has been rising for the past three years, affecting Bangladesh as well. He added that the minimal difference between day and night temperatures recorded on December 29 was the lowest in 73 years, underscoring the abnormal weather pattern.

A man named Shamim Osman has been arrested for allegedly impersonating the Home Affairs adviser and sending misleading instructions to the Rajshahi Deputy Commissioner (DC) through WhatsApp. The Cyber Police Center of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) conducted the operation on Monday in Savar, Dhaka. According to a CID press release, the suspect posed as retired Lieutenant General Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, the Home Affairs adviser, and demanded one lakh taka through mobile banking after instructing that no Awami League activists be arrested in Rajshahi.

Authorities became suspicious and immediately informed the CID, which used technology to identify and apprehend the suspect. CID stated that Shamim Osman had previously committed similar frauds by impersonating senior government officials. He was also wanted under an arrest warrant issued by Bagha Police Station in Rajshahi and has been handed over to that station.

Investigators are now examining whether others were involved and if the arrested man used other officials’ identities for similar fraudulent activities.

A Dhaka court has ordered the appointment of a caretaker to manage and supervise the seized immovable properties of Mohammad Saiful Alam, chairman of S Alam Group. The order was issued on Monday by the Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge and Metropolitan Sessions Judge Court following a petition from the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). The ACC confirmed the directive in a statement released on Tuesday.

According to the ACC, the properties under supervision include land and buildings in Chattogram’s Rahmatganj, Asadganj, Nasirabad, and Khulshi areas, as well as commercial and residential assets such as the S Alam House, S Alam Center, S Alam Playground, and several luxury apartments and parking spaces. The ACC’s Deputy Director and joint investigation team leader, Tahasin Munabil Haque, submitted the petition, citing concerns that the accused were attempting to transfer or misuse the seized assets despite existing court orders.

The ACC stated that investigations are ongoing against Saiful Alam and his family for allegedly embezzling large sums of money through loans taken under various names and transferring the funds abroad. Earlier, a total of 463.87 decimals of land and multi-storey buildings in key areas of Chattogram had been ordered seized in connection with the case.

A Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) officer was beaten to death and three others were seriously injured during an operation in the remote jungle area of Chhalimpur in Sitakunda, Chattogram. The incident occurred when RAB members raided the area based on intelligence that a top local criminal, Yasin, and his associates were present near a BNP office. The attackers captured four RAB members, assaulted them, and transported them to Alinagar, where they were beaten repeatedly. One officer, Abdul Motaleb, later died in hospital, while three others remain injured.

BNP leaders denied having any office or activities in Chhalimpur and rejected any involvement in the killing. Local residents said the building previously served as an Awami League office before being taken over by expelled BNP youth leader Rokon Uddin, and later by Yasin’s group. The area has long been a haven for armed groups, with multiple deadly clashes over territorial control.

Authorities announced plans for a large-scale joint operation involving RAB, police, army, and other agencies to dismantle criminal strongholds, recover government land, and bring those responsible for the officer’s killing to justice.

Starting January 25, the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) will impose fines and possible jail terms for honking in and around Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. According to a public notice signed by DMP Commissioner Sheikh Md. Sajjat Ali, violators may face a maximum fine of 10,000 taka or up to three months in jail. The enforcement will cover the airport area and a 1.5-kilometer stretch from Scholastica School to Hotel Le Méridien.

The DMP has declared the airport zone, along with Gulshan, Banani, Baridhara, and Niketan, as silent areas where honking is a punishable offense. The initiative aims to reduce noise pollution in these designated zones. The police announcement specifies that the rule will be strictly implemented from January 25.

To ensure compliance, special mobile courts will be operated jointly by the Department of Environment, BRTA, Civil Aviation Authority, Dhaka North City Corporation, and DMP magistrates, as stated in the police notice.