Police in Gobindaganj, Gaibandha, arrested two suspected drug dealers in separate operations, seizing a large quantity of cannabis and yaba tablets. On Saturday morning, acting on a tip-off, officers stopped a passenger bus named ‘Sifat Special’ near the Dutch-Bangla Bank at Charmatha intersection on the Dhaka-Rangpur highway. They detained passenger Robiul Islam Palash, 34, from Pabna Sadar, and recovered 2.5 kilograms of cannabis wrapped in white polythene hidden on his body.

In another operation on Friday evening, a team from the Department of Narcotics Control raided a grocery shop on Upazila Road in Gobindaganj town and arrested shopkeeper Bichitra Barman, 42, with 102 yaba tablets. He is from Kochmordan Baroipara village in Gumaniganj Union. Gobindaganj Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mozammel Haque confirmed both arrests and stated that two separate cases have been filed.

The arrested individuals were sent to Gaibandha District Jail through the court following the legal procedures, according to police authorities.

A young man named Md Faruk, 28, from Purbo Bara Veyola Union in Chakaria, Cox’s Bazar, has allegedly defrauded several Bangladeshi expatriates in Saudi Arabia of large sums of money and fled back to Bangladesh. Victims claim Faruk took millions of taka through false investment promises, including a petrol pump venture in Abha province. When they visited his home in Chakaria, they could not find him and were instead verbally abused by his sisters. Victims believe Faruk is hiding between his family homes in Cox’s Bazar and Dhaka.

One victim, expatriate worker Mohammad Abu Saleh from Lohagara, Chattogram, alleged that Faruk took 45,000 Saudi riyals—about 1.45 million taka—promising monthly profits that never materialized. Another victim, Shahajul Islam from Kushtia, said Faruk embezzled six lakh taka from a welfare lottery fund and also took 250,000 taka from a mobile banking agent. Saleh said he is preparing to take legal action.

The acting chairman of Purbo Bara Veyola Union Parishad confirmed knowing Faruk but said he could not verify whether the fraud allegations were true.

A man named Md. Shakil, aged 40, was killed and another person injured in a head-on collision between a jeep and a motorcycle in Fatikchhari upazila of Chattogram on Saturday morning. The accident occurred on the Khiram–Nanupur road at a place called Lambatila. The deceased, Shakil, was the son of Abdul Kader from Khiram Union’s Muktijoddha Abdul Baten Bari. The injured motorcyclist was identified as 39-year-old Alauddin Talukder.

According to local and police sources, Shakil and Alauddin were traveling by motorcycle from Chattogram city to Shakil’s village home in Moggkata of Khiram Union when the collision took place. Locals rescued the victims and took them to Fatikchhari Upazila Health Complex, where doctors declared Shakil dead. Alauddin received primary treatment before being referred to Chattogram Medical College Hospital for advanced care.

Fatikchhari Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md. Selim said police had reached the scene after receiving the report and that necessary legal steps would be taken once the team returned.

A fatal road accident occurred on Saturday morning, January 17, 2026, when an Ena Paribahan bus and a pickup van collided head-on on the Sunamganj–Sylhet regional highway near Buraigaon village in Chhatak upazila. The pickup driver, identified as Rakib from Jashore district, died on the spot, while at least eight others sustained injuries. Following the collision, the bus veered off the road into a small canal, and the pickup was completely mangled.

Eyewitnesses reported that the Ena Paribahan bus was traveling from Dhaka toward Sunamganj when it crashed into the oncoming pickup van. Among the injured were passengers from the bus, including its driver. Two of the seriously injured victims were transferred to Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital for treatment.

Local residents immediately began rescue efforts to free trapped passengers before a fire service unit arrived to assist. Police from Joykolos Highway Station confirmed the incident and stated that the pickup was severely damaged in the crash.

A Muslim laborer from West Bengal was allegedly beaten to death in Jharkhand, India, on Thursday morning over suspicions of being a Bangladeshi infiltrator. The victim, identified as 36-year-old Alauddin from Sujapur village under Beldanga police station in Murshidabad district, had been working as a hawker in Jharkhand for about five years. Following the incident, angry residents in Murshidabad blocked railway lines and highways on Friday, burning tires in protest, according to ETV Bharat.

Alauddin’s family claimed he had been living in fear for several days, repeatedly harassed and assaulted by locals who accused him of being Bangladeshi despite showing his Indian Aadhaar identity card. He reportedly told his family by phone on Wednesday that he feared for his life. The family alleged that photographs they received showed Alauddin sitting with a noose around his neck, suggesting he was murdered and later hanged to conceal evidence.

The killing has reignited debate in India over alleged infiltration and ethnic hostility, highlighting ongoing tensions surrounding identity and citizenship in border regions.

An 18-year-old woman named Sumaiya Akter was killed in a shootout between Rohingya bandit groups in the hills of Teknaf, Cox’s Bazar, on Friday evening, January 16, 2026. The incident occurred after Maghrib prayers in Noakhali Para, Ward 9 of Baharchhara Union. According to local sources, Sumaiya, daughter of Abu Bakkar Siddique, was struck by a stray bullet while sitting with her family in their yard. She was taken to Teknaf Upazila Health Complex but died on the way.

Baharchhara Union Parishad member Md. Ilias confirmed the death. Teknaf Police Station Officer-in-Charge Saiful Islam stated that police received reports of the fatal shooting during a clash between bandit groups and have dispatched a team to the site. He added that an operation is underway against the armed groups active in the area.

Authorities have not yet disclosed further details about the groups involved or any arrests made following the incident.

A joint operation by the Bangladesh Coast Guard and the Upazila Fisheries Department in Matlab North, Chandpur, recovered 850 kilograms (21 maunds 10 kilograms) of illegally transported jatka fish from a passenger vehicle on Friday, January 16, 2026. The operation took place between 5 a.m. and 10 a.m. as part of the government’s enforcement of the jatka fishing ban. The seized fish were immediately distributed among local orphanages and underprivileged residents.

Senior Upazila Fisheries Officer Bijoy Kumar Das, Mohanpur Outpost Contingent Commander M. Sanoar Haque, and Fisheries Field Assistant Mosharraf Hossain were present during the raid. Das stated that despite a complete ban on catching and transporting jatka, some groups continue illegal activities, posing a serious threat to the national hilsa fish population. He emphasized that protecting jatka ensures the future of hilsa production.

Authorities have intensified surveillance on both river and road routes to prevent jatka smuggling, according to the fisheries department.

Police in Rajbari have arrested businessman and former district Jubo Dal president Abul Hashem Sujon and his driver Kamal Hossain Sardar for allegedly killing a petrol pump worker by running him over with a vehicle. The incident occurred around 4:30 a.m. on Friday at Karim Filling Station in Goaland Mor, Rajbari Sadar upazila. The victim, Ripon Saha, aged 28, was the son of Pabitra Saha from Char Khankhanapur village.

According to police and eyewitnesses, a black Pajero jeep arrived at the station, took about five thousand taka worth of octane, and attempted to flee without paying. When Ripon Saha tried to stop the vehicle by standing in front of it, he was fatally struck. Police later recovered the body, collected CCTV footage, and confirmed the incident. Based on intelligence, officers arrested Sujon and his driver from Sujon’s home in Ramkantapur area and seized the vehicle.

Rajbari Sadar Police Station’s officer-in-charge Khondokar Ziaur Rahman said preparations are underway to file a murder case, and legal proceedings are ongoing.

The Bangladesh Meteorological Department reported on Friday, January 16, 2026, that although temperatures in the capital Dhaka slightly decreased compared to the previous day, there is no possibility of severe cold in the country. The lowest temperature was recorded in Tetulia at 8.5 degrees Celsius, up from 7.5 degrees the previous day. The department noted that cold wave conditions were limited to only three northern districts—Dinajpur, Panchagarh, and Chuadanga.

According to meteorologist Kazi Zebun Nesa, the overall temperature across Bangladesh fell slightly, but the cold wave area has shrunk compared to previous days. The feeling of cold has increased somewhat due to the temperature drop, yet there are no signs of an intense cold spell. The department expects similar conditions to persist on Saturday, with daytime temperatures in the northern region possibly falling further, while Dhaka’s temperature is likely to remain stable.

The weather office also confirmed that the cold wave area is not expected to expand in the coming days, suggesting a stable winter pattern without severe cold conditions.

Police in Keraniganj, Dhaka, have arrested two sisters, Mim Akter and Nusrat, for the murder of Rokeya Rahman, 32, and her 14-year-old daughter, Jobaida Rahman Fatema. The killings occurred on December 25 but came to light three weeks later when neighbors reported a foul smell from Mim’s apartment. Officers recovered the mother’s body from under a bed and the daughter’s from a bathroom ceiling. The victims were sent to Sir Salimullah Medical College Hospital morgue.

According to police, Mim Akter had taken a loan of 150,000 taka from an NGO, with Rokeya Rahman acting as guarantor. When Mim failed to repay, the NGO pressured Rokeya, leading to disputes between the two women. On December 25, Fatema went to Mim’s home for private lessons and was killed along with her mother, who was lured there afterward. The suspects allegedly lived with the bodies for 21 days before discovery.

Investigators said Mim and her sister confessed to committing the murders due to prior enmity. Police also detained Mim’s husband for questioning as part of the ongoing investigation.

The Sylhet Power Development Board announced that electricity supply will be suspended for eight hours on Saturday, January 17, 2026, across multiple areas of Sylhet city. The outage will last from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. to allow transformer repairs and transmission line improvements. The affected zones include Sheikhghat, Shubhechha Residential Area, Surjer Hashi Clinic, Jitu Mia Point, Talotola VIP Road, Park View Hospital, Hilltown Residential Hotel, Teli Haor, Kazirbazar, Court Point, Surma Market, Mirzajangal, Topkhana, Kotwali Thana, the Circuit House area, the offices of the Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent of Police, and several other nearby locations.

Executive Engineer Mohammad Arafat of the Sales and Distribution Division-1 confirmed the planned interruption through an official notice issued on Friday, January 16. He expressed regret for the temporary inconvenience and assured residents that power would be restored earlier if the maintenance work is completed ahead of schedule.

The maintenance aims to enhance the reliability of Sylhet’s electricity infrastructure and minimize future disruptions once the upgrades are completed.

A joint force led by the army conducted an operation in the Lavrapara area of Bhulta Union, Rupganj upazila of Narayanganj on Friday morning. During the operation, authorities seized 135 kilograms of cannabis, 10,000 yaba tablets, 290 bottles of Phensedyl, and 1,331 bottles of a similar intoxicant. Three young men—Tanjid Hasan (28), Rifat Mia (18), and Ridul Mia (23)—were arrested from the area.

Major Sharif of the Rupganj Army Camp stated that the operation was carried out based on confidential information. According to the army, the three detainees already faced multiple cases with Rupganj Police Station. After their arrest, they were handed over to the local police.

Officer-in-Charge Md. Sabjel Hossain of Rupganj Police Station confirmed that a case under the Narcotics Control Act has been filed, and the arrested individuals have been sent to the Narayanganj court.

A drug dealer abandoned his motorcycle and fled after spotting an army checkpoint in Tanore upazila of Rajshahi on Friday, January 16. The incident occurred around 3:30 p.m. near the Talanda Union Parishad in Debipur Mor. Security forces later recovered 115 bottles of Phensedyl from the unregistered blue Apache RTR motorcycle and handed both the drugs and the vehicle over to the local police station.

According to police, the seized narcotics have an estimated market value of about two lakh taka. The operation was part of a joint force drive in the area, and preparations are underway to file a case under the Narcotics Control Act at Tanore Police Station.

Authorities have not yet identified the suspect who fled the scene, and further investigation is ongoing to trace the individual involved in the drug trafficking attempt.

Interim government finance adviser Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed has called on government officials and employees to remain patient regarding the announcement and implementation of the new pay scale. Speaking to journalists on Friday evening at Gurudaspur Upazila Mini Stadium in Natore, he said that necessary steps would be taken promptly once the committee’s report on the pay scale is received. He confirmed that a committee has already been formed and that the government will act based on its recommendations.

Addressing another issue, Dr. Ahmed said that the upcoming referendum would reflect the will of the people. He noted that administrative officials are working to ensure a ‘yes’ vote and that the media also has a responsibility to raise public awareness about the referendum. He added that he has been visiting various districts to highlight its importance.

Several senior officials, including the cabinet secretary, finance secretary, and other top administrative and departmental representatives, were present during the visit.

A rare Himalayan vulture was rescued by residents of Debiganj in Panchagarh on Thursday, January 15. The bird was found in the Bhaualganj Baniyapur Pradhan Para area of Chilahat Union after it became injured while attempting to hunt a goat in a local agricultural field. The vulture reportedly collided with a tree and got entangled in a net used for farming. Local farmer Akkel Ali and his son Tarek discovered the injured bird and rescued it.

After the incident became known, residents informed the Debiganj Upazila Forest Department. Officials from the department arrived at the scene, took custody of the vulture, and brought it to the Debiganj Upazila Range Officer’s office for treatment. The bird is currently receiving medical care, and authorities said it will be released back into the wild once it recovers.

The rescue highlights local awareness and cooperation in protecting rare wildlife species in the region.