Trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan has fallen by 40 percent due to ongoing tensions and border clashes, according to Afghanistan’s Ministry of Industry and Commerce. The closure of key border crossings has disrupted the movement of goods, severely affecting bilateral trade. Official Afghan data show that total trade between the two countries declined from 2.461 billion dollars in 2024 to 1.766 billion dollars in 2025, a decrease of 695 million dollars.

During the same period, Afghanistan’s exports to Pakistan dropped from 817 million dollars to 505 million dollars, while imports fell from 1.644 billion dollars to 1.261 billion dollars. Economic analysts have emphasized that Afghanistan should not rely on a single trade partner or transit route. They suggest developing alternative corridors through Iran, Central Asia, and air routes to reduce dependence on Pakistan and achieve long-term economic stability.

Major trade crossings such as Torkham and Spin Boldak have remained completely closed for about three months, halting cargo transport and causing financial losses for traders on both sides.

The Habiganj Battalion (55 BGB) seized Indian goods worth Tk 15.5 million during an operation in Jagdishpur, Madhabpur upazila of Habiganj, along the Dhaka-Sylhet highway. The operation took place on Sunday evening following a tip-off, according to a BGB press release issued at night. The seized items included various cosmetics, sarees, and cumin seeds hidden inside a truck loaded with old paper cartons.

The BGB patrol team conducted the raid around 5 p.m. at the Jagdishpur Muktijoddha Chattar area, uncovering the smuggled goods concealed in an unusual manner. The seized products are currently being processed for handover to the customs authorities for further action.

The operation highlights ongoing efforts by border security forces to curb illegal cross-border trade and smuggling activities along key transport routes in the region.

Two unexploded hand grenades were recovered on Sunday, January 11, from the yard of a house under construction in Bara Gariyala village of Jhenaidah Sadar upazila. Construction workers discovered the grenades while digging soil and immediately informed the local police camp. A joint security team later arrived at the scene and safely recovered the grenades, which are now kept at Jhenaidah Sadar Police Station.

House owner Babu Mia said the workers found two round metallic objects while digging and reported them to the police. Officer-in-Charge Md. Samsul Arefin of Jhenaidah Sadar Police Station stated that the grenades are believed to have remained buried since the 1971 Liberation War. He added that the grenades will be neutralized later by the bomb disposal unit of the joint forces.

Authorities have secured the area and are preparing for the safe disposal of the explosives to prevent any potential danger to local residents.

At least eight people were injured in a violent clash between residents of Palgaon and Naljuri villages in Mohanganj upazila of Netrokona on Sunday morning. The conflict erupted over a dispute regarding tractor plowing of farmland. Several houses were reportedly attacked and vandalized during the incident. Police arrived at the scene and brought the situation under control, according to Mohanganj Police Station Officer-in-Charge Hafizul Islam Harun.

Local sources said the dispute began three to four days earlier when farmers from the two villages argued over the use of a tractor for cultivation. Attempts at local arbitration failed to resolve the tension. On Sunday morning, more than a hundred villagers from both sides engaged in a confrontation using local weapons, leaving eight people injured. The injured were taken to the upazila health complex for treatment.

Police confirmed that the situation is now under control and normal. No formal complaint has yet been filed, but authorities stated that an investigation and necessary action will follow if a complaint is received.

Jamaat-e-Islami activist Jamal Uddin was shot dead in Fatikchhari, Chattogram, on Saturday evening in what investigators believe was a planned targeted killing. According to police, three assailants arrived on a motorcycle and fired multiple shots from close range, hitting Jamal in the head and neck. Thirteen bullet wounds were found, and he died instantly at the scene in Shahnogor Dighirpar area of Lelang Union.

Police said the attack was executed with precision, suggesting the killers were professionals. Jamal, son of Muhammad Yusuf of Lelang village, ran a garment business in the city and was known locally as a businessman. However, police confirmed his name had appeared in three unresolved murder cases from 2001. Fatikchhari Jamaat’s Naib-e-Ameer Ismail Gani described the killing as politically motivated and demanded an impartial investigation.

Local representatives said the attackers were highly organized and escaped quickly. The incident has caused widespread fear in the area, with residents avoiding going out after dark. Police stated they are close to identifying the perpetrators and expect arrests soon.

A young man was killed in a train accident on Sunday morning in Netrakona Sadar, marking the third fatality on the Dhaka-Mohanganj railway line within 14 hours. The incident occurred around 8:30 a.m. near Raju’s Bazar area of Paur town. The victim, Yasin Ahmed Sayem, 20, son of Ruhul Amin from Dhanpur village in Barhatta upazila, fell from the door of the moving Haor Express train bound for Dhaka. He died on the spot, and police later sent his body to Netrakona Sadar Hospital morgue for autopsy.

Earlier, on Saturday evening, two laborers were killed when a train hit them near Challisha Bazar on the same route. The deceased were identified as Akash Roy, 24, from Dinajpur’s Churiyapara village, and Rasel Mia, 25, from Sherpur district. According to police, the two men were standing beside the railway track when the Mohanganj Express train from Dhaka struck them. Locals took the injured to Netrakona Modern Sadar Hospital, where doctors declared them dead.

Police said legal procedures are underway regarding the fatalities.

Eight suspected militants were killed on Sunday in multiple counterterrorism operations conducted jointly by police and the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) across Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. The operations took place in the tribal districts of Bannu, Khyber, and Zahir Garhi, according to a report by Geo News. Authorities said the suspects were involved in attacks on security forces, and a large cache of weapons and equipment was recovered from the sites.

According to the Central Police Office, two militants were killed in Bannu during an operation by local police and the CTD. These individuals had earlier attacked police posts in Sheikh Lindak and Fatah Khel. In Khyber, three militants were killed while allegedly preparing to attack police, and three rifles were seized. Another three militants were killed in Zahir Garhi near Peshawar, while their accomplices managed to escape.

The coordinated operations reflect ongoing efforts by Pakistani security forces to curb militant activity in the region, which has seen repeated attacks on law enforcement in recent months.

Battery-powered rickshaws have become a major source of public concern in Dhaka, operating across main roads, alleys, and flyovers despite a High Court order banning them. Following an appeal, the Appellate Division allowed their temporary operation, leading to increased reckless driving. According to private estimates, about 1.2 million rickshaws operate in the capital, a large portion of them battery-powered and mostly brought from nearby districts. Road Safety Foundation reported 1,856 accidents involving such rickshaws between January and November 2025, causing 1,259 deaths and over 4,000 injuries.

Experts and city officials cited unskilled drivers, including minors and laborers from other professions, as a key cause of frequent accidents. The vehicles are also being used by muggers, prompting police to increase checkpoints. Dhaka Metropolitan Police said 400–450 rickshaws are being impounded daily, with batteries seized and wires cut to enforce road discipline.

Urban planners and city authorities have proposed structural redesigns, driver training, and a registration policy. Both city corporations plan to train 200,000 drivers and introduce color-coded regional permits to bring e-rickshaw operations under legal regulation.

Bangladesh’s Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has nearly completed its investigation into former Special Branch (SB) chief Monirul Islam, who fled to India after the July 2024 uprising. The probe found evidence that Monirul embezzled about Tk 1,035 crore from two Islamic NGOs—Kuwait Society for Relief (KSR) and Sharjah Charity International—by taking control of them in 2021 under the pretext of investigating terror financing. The ACC said he laundered the funds through accounts held by his wife, former additional secretary Sayla Farzana, his brother-in-law Rezaul Alam Shahin, and his sister-in-law.

According to the ACC, the Middle East–based NGOs had received large foreign donations for Rohingya relief and rehabilitation. Monirul allegedly diverted these funds to accounts linked to his relatives and their firms, including S.S. Enterprise and Tanvir Dairy Farm. Investigators also found 35 apartments registered under his wife and brother-in-law’s names, along with multiple fixed deposits and savings accounts showing irregular transactions.

The ACC has collected relevant bank documents and is preparing to file charges under money laundering and corruption laws. Officials said legal action will follow once the final report is completed.

Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr. Ahsan H. Mansur has advised that banks may use their corporate social responsibility (CSR) funds to support public awareness activities related to the upcoming national referendum. The suggestion came during a meeting with managing directors and chief executives of all banks held at Bangladesh Bank on Sunday. The referendum, scheduled for February 12, aims to implement the July National Charter, and the interim government is conducting awareness campaigns to encourage a ‘yes’ vote.

During the meeting, the governor emphasized that raising public awareness about the referendum is a collective responsibility and that banks should contribute to informing citizens about the potential impacts if the charter is not implemented. He also urged caution in fund management during the election period, noting that the central bank has injected about Tk 46,000 crore into the market after purchasing over USD 3.75 billion this fiscal year.

Separately, the Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) has intensified monitoring of cash transactions to prevent the use of illicit funds ahead of the election, requiring weekly reporting of transactions exceeding Tk 1 million until further notice.

Tax inspector Ruma Parvin has been compulsorily retired following allegations of forging a government order and submitting a fake passport to travel to Australia. The decision was made under a presidential directive and signed by NBR member (Tax Administration and Human Resource Management) GM Abul Kalam Kaykobad. The order, issued on January 7 and published on the NBR website on Sunday, stated that the misconduct was proven under the Government Servants (Discipline and Appeal) Rules.

According to the official notice, Parvin forged the signature and reference number of NBR Second Secretary Jasim Uddin to issue a fake government order (GO) and applied for a visa at the Australian High Commission in New Delhi. When the High Commission sought verification on April 18, 2023, the NBR confirmed the document was fake. A departmental case was filed, and after investigation and hearings, the allegations were found to be true.

The report also noted that Parvin falsely claimed her passport was lost, though it was submitted to the Australian High Commission. The Public Service Commission concurred with the decision to retire her compulsorily after her explanations were deemed unsatisfactory.

Dhaka Metropolitan Detective Police (DB) announced progress in solving the murder of former Swechchhasebak Dal leader Md. Azizur Rahman Mosabbir, who was shot dead on January 7 in Tejaturi Bazar, Dhaka. Four suspects—Jinnat, Md. Billal Hossain, Abdul Kadir, and Md. Riaz—have been arrested from several districts. DB officials said Jinnat was one of the shooters, Billal coordinated the attack, Kadir helped the accused hide, and Riaz conducted reconnaissance before the incident.

According to DB, Mosabbir and his associate Sufian Bepari Masud were shot near Hotel Super Star, leaving Mosabbir dead and Masud critically injured. The case, filed by Mosabbir’s wife, was transferred to DB for investigation. Police teams used CCTV footage, eyewitness accounts, and technical analysis to identify the suspects. A motorcycle without a number plate and cash were recovered, though the firearm remains missing.

Investigators suspect a business-related dispute behind the killing but are also examining possible political motives and financial links. The DB said efforts continue to arrest a fugitive shooter, recover the weapon, and finalize the charge sheet after evidence analysis.

The Bangladesh government will raise Tk 10,000 crore from Samiliti Islami Bank by issuing a Sukuk bond named 'Bangladesh Government Special Sukuk-1'. According to a Bangladesh Bank press release issued on Sunday, the bond will have a maximum tenure of 10 years, and the bank will receive an annual profit rate of 9.75 percent. The government is scheduled to receive the funds from the bank on January 14.

The Shariah Advisory Committee of Bangladesh Bank, chaired by Deputy Governor Dr. Md. Kabir Ahmed, held meetings on January 7 and 8 to finalize the issuance under the Ijara (lease) method. The Sukuk will be issued through private placement directly in favor of Samiliti Islami Bank. The underlying assets for this Sukuk include seven housing projects built by the Public Works Department for government employees and specific train services operated by Bangladesh Railway.

The issuance aims to mobilize funds for government projects while adhering to Islamic financial principles, as outlined by the central bank’s advisory committee.

Senior Assistant Press Secretary to the Chief Adviser, Fayez Ahmed, stated that the killing of businessman Moni Chakraborty in Narsingdi was primarily the result of family conflict and business rivalry, not a communal attack as circulated online. He made the remarks during a briefing at the Foreign Service Academy in Dhaka, citing initial assessments by police and the victim’s family that found no communal connection.

Ahmed said false claims had spread on social media portraying the incident as a communal assault because the victim was from the Sanatan religious community. He warned that such misinformation could harm social harmony and create confusion. He noted that similar attempts to disrupt communal unity through fabricated narratives had been observed in recent incidents.

He also mentioned that several prominent citizens had expressed concern over the killing and urged them to verify facts and, if necessary, visit the site before drawing conclusions. Ahmed called on everyone to act responsibly and cautiously to prevent misinformation from damaging communal coexistence.

Mobile Business Community Bangladesh, a group representing grey market mobile traders, has called on the government to make import taxes on mobile phones more reasonable. The appeal was made on Sunday at a press conference held at the Dhaka Reporters Unity in Segunbagicha, where the group also accused a nine-member syndicate, including Smart Technologies Limited’s managing director Md. Zahirul Islam, of manipulating the system related to mobile registration and import.

At the event, representatives including Golam Mahfuz Jony from Jamuna Future Park said traders want to contribute to national revenue if fair tax policies are introduced. They argued that current measures unfairly label them as illegal traders and harm consumers who rely on affordable used phones. The group also demanded the release of detained traders and warned of unrest if further arrests occur.

Speakers further alleged irregularities in implementing the National Equipment Identity Register (NEIR), claiming it poses national security risks because data may be stored abroad. They urged the government to ensure any implementation is handled domestically, even suggesting military oversight if necessary.