A severe communal clash erupted in Unakoti district of India’s northeastern state of Tripura, reportedly triggered by a dispute over a donation demand for a local festival. The incident occurred in Kumarghat area under Fatikroy police station, where refusal to pay the donation allegedly led one community to set fire to several establishments, including a timber shop, and vandalize a place of worship. At least five to six people were injured, and several houses and shops were burned. Authorities imposed an internet shutdown and took strict measures to restore order.

Security forces, including the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and Tripura State Rifles (TSR), were deployed across Kumarghat subdivision and nearby areas. Mobile internet services were suspended for 48 hours, and police used mild baton charges and drone surveillance to maintain control. Eight people were detained in connection with the violence, and special monitoring continues under Section 163 to prevent further unrest.

Officials said the situation is now calm and fully under control. The administration remains vigilant ahead of the upcoming Bhairab Mela to ensure communal peace and prevent renewed tensions.

A joint force operation in Munshiganj’s Tongibari upazila on the evening of January 10, 2026, led to the arrest of ten individuals with local weapons, drugs, and cash. The raid took place near Baligaon Bridge under Tongibari Police Station, conducted by a team from the Munshiganj Sadar Army Camp under the 99 Composite Brigade, based on intelligence information and with police cooperation. Authorities seized approximately 250 grams of cannabis, two yaba tablets, over 200 unidentified drugs, and Tk 494,505 in cash from the scene.

The detainees were identified as residents of Tongibari and nearby areas and described by law enforcement as known drug dealers. Following the operation, the arrested individuals and the recovered items were handed over to Tongibari Police Station for legal proceedings.

The army stated that it remains firm in maintaining law and order in Munshiganj and will continue anti-drug and anti-crime drives regularly to prevent violence and sabotage ahead of the upcoming national election.

Police in Mirzaganj, Patuakhali have arrested Mostafa Mridha, 53, a known drug dealer accused in the sensational Siyam murder case. He was detained on Saturday night from the Subidkhali area. According to police, Mostafa, son of Ketab Ali Mridha from Uttar Subidkhali village, faces six ongoing drug cases in court. Officer-in-Charge Md. Abdus Salam confirmed that Mostafa was sent to Patuakhali jail through the court on Wednesday.

The murder case stems from the death of 18-year-old Siyam, who had visited his aunt’s house in Mirzaganj on December 23. That afternoon, Siyam and his cousin Abdullah Al Mahmud went to the Subidkhali Government College area, where they argued with a local youth named Raiyan. Raiyan and his associates allegedly beat Siyam at a nearby sand field and later took him to the Upazila Health Complex, where doctors declared him dead.

Siyam was the son of Abdul Baset Talukder from Ghopkhali village under Itbaria Union in Patuakhali Sadar Police Station.

A microbus driver named Mahbub Alam was stabbed to death early Sunday in the Kolabagan area of Hathazari municipality, Chattogram. The incident occurred around 4 a.m. when three to four assailants engaged in an altercation with him and then attacked him with a knife. Locals rushed to rescue Mahbub, but he died on the way to Chattogram Medical College Hospital. Police from Hathazari Model Station visited the scene, prepared an inquest report, and sent the body to the hospital morgue.

Following the news of the killing, members of the microbus drivers’ association and local residents blocked the Chattogram-Rangamati highway at Kolatal for about 20 minutes. They demanded the immediate arrest and exemplary punishment of those responsible. Police later arrived at the spot and restored normal traffic movement.

Hathazari Model Police Station Officer-in-Charge Zahidur Rahman confirmed the incident and said police were working to bring the perpetrators to justice.

A devastating fire broke out early Sunday morning, January 11, 2026, at Kaich Maldha village in Tongibari upazila of Munshiganj, destroying six residential houses and causing an estimated loss of about 3 million taka. The fire started around 5:15 a.m. and was first noticed by Maulana Abul Kalam, the imam of Kaich Maldha Jame Mosque, who alerted residents through the mosque’s loudspeaker. Locals rushed to the scene and tried to extinguish the flames before notifying the Tongibari Fire Service.

A unit from Tongibari Fire Service responded but later sought assistance from Sirajdikhan Fire Service due to the intensity of the blaze. After about two and a half hours of joint efforts, the fire was brought under control around 7:45 a.m. The houses of six families—Ali Hossain, Jamal Hawlader, Shah Alam Hawlader, Shahan Shah Hawlader, Kaiyum Hawlader, and Aman Hossain—were completely burned down. No casualties were reported.

Police visited the site, but the cause of the fire remains unknown. Fire officials said the exact cause and final damage assessment will be determined after investigation.

A child named Huzaifa Sultana Afnan was killed early Sunday, January 10, 2026, after being struck by gunfire that crossed into Bangladesh from Myanmar during heavy fighting between two rebel groups. The incident occurred in the Hwaikyang Techchibridge area of Teknaf upazila, Cox’s Bazar. The child died on the way to the hospital. Following the incident, angry locals blocked the Teknaf–Cox’s Bazar highway and vandalized vehicles in protest.

According to local sources, intense gunfire had been ongoing for three days in Myanmar’s Totardwip area near the border. Earlier, a Bangladeshi fisherman was also injured by stray bullets. Hwaikyang police outpost in-charge Khokon Kanti Nath confirmed that the child was killed by bullets fired amid the ongoing conflict across the border. Security forces including the army, RAB, navy, and police were deployed to restore order.

Leaders from various political parties, including the district BNP president and Jamaat-e-Islami’s district amir, visited the scene. Authorities reported that 37 members of Myanmar’s rebel groups had been taken into custody by the Border Guard Bangladesh and police.

Police in Sherpur upazila of Bogura recovered the body of a rice trader named Hamidul Mondal, aged 38, early Sunday morning. Locals discovered the body around 6:30 a.m. in a paddy field at Jamalpur village under Bhabanipur Union and informed the police. The deceased was identified as the son of Montaz Mondal from the same village. Witnesses reported blood marks on his nose and parts of his body, but the cause of death remains uncertain.

According to local sources, Hamidul had left home on Saturday afternoon for a financial transaction and did not return that night. His blood-stained body was found the next morning in the field, creating tension in the area. Sherpur Police Station Officer-in-Charge Ibrahim Ali stated that the body was sent to the hospital for autopsy to determine the exact cause of death. The incident is currently under investigation.

Authorities expect the post-mortem report to clarify the circumstances surrounding Hamidul Mondal’s death.

A lake built at Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) in memory of Rudra Sen, the first student killed in the July Movement, is facing controversy after reports that part of it will be filled to construct a garage. The lake, built at a cost of Tk 7.5 crore, was inaugurated six months ago but still lacks any memorial plaque honoring Rudra Sen. Experts warn that filling parts of the lake could harm its natural beauty and ecological balance.

Visitors and students have expressed disappointment that the site does not visibly commemorate Rudra Sen. Activists from the university’s anti-discrimination student movement said they had repeatedly demanded a memorial monument and plaque, but the administration failed to act despite assurances. Acting Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Md. Sajedul Karim stated that plans and architectural designs to honor Rudra Sen have been submitted and will be implemented soon.

Environmental specialists caution that the proposed garage could pollute the lake through wastewater and vehicle residues, potentially damaging the ecosystem.

A powerful earthquake measuring 6.8 on the Richter scale struck off the coast of Davao Occidental in the southern Philippines late Saturday night, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs). The quake occurred at 10:58 p.m. local time, with its epicenter located about 315 kilometers southeast of Balut Island in Sarangani municipality, at a depth of 10 kilometers beneath the surface. Authorities confirmed that despite the strength of the tremor, there was no tsunami threat to the Philippine archipelago.

Tremors were felt across several southern provinces, including Malungon and Kiamba in Sarangani, Tupi and Koronadal in South Cotabato, and Palimbang in Sultan Kudarat. Disaster officials are monitoring the affected areas for potential aftershocks and minor damage.

The Philippines lies along the Pacific Ring of Fire, a region known for frequent seismic and volcanic activity due to the movement of tectonic plates.

Bangladesh’s banking sector has come under renewed pressure as government borrowing surged sharply midway through the 2025–26 fiscal year. According to the latest Bangladesh Bank report, between July and January 4 the government borrowed a net Tk 59,756 crore from banks, representing 57.45 percent of its annual target of Tk 104,000 crore. This borrowing is about 619 percent higher than the same period last fiscal year, when the government had borrowed Tk 8,312 crore.

Sector insiders noted that at the start of the fiscal year, the government had reduced development spending and benefited from strong revenue growth and foreign loans, keeping borrowing low. However, rising development expenditures, investments in Islami Bank, election-related costs, and increased subsidy and interest payments have driven borrowing upward again. To meet financing needs, the government also held two additional auctions in December, raising about Tk 10,000 crore through treasury bills and bonds.

The report shows total government debt from banks reached Tk 610,661 crore by January 4, up from Tk 550,904 crore at the end of the previous fiscal year, raising concerns about liquidity and private sector credit flow.

A joint force operation in Araihazar, Narayanganj, led to the arrest of four individuals and the recovery of illegal firearms, ammunition, drugs, and cash. The raid took place around 2:45 a.m. on Saturday night in the Dhondi Bhiti Kamaldi area of Haizadi Union. Acting on a tip-off, the joint team searched the house of a man named Naim, where they found two illegal pistols, two magazines, three rounds of ammunition, 1.69 million taka, 105 yaba tablets, and several local weapons including knives and machetes.

Police identified the arrested individuals as Naim (38), Rubel Bhuiyan (33), Suman (30), and Runa Akter (34), all residents of the same locality. The operation was conducted based on confidential intelligence, and the seized items were taken into custody for further investigation.

Authorities have not yet disclosed further details about the suspects’ backgrounds or the next legal steps following the arrests.

A report submitted on January 4 by the Commission on Enforced Disappearances to the Chief Adviser revealed that senior officials of Bangladesh’s security agencies, including RAB, CTTC, and DGFI, were aware of multiple enforced disappearances. The report cited testimonies from high-ranking officers confirming that former DGFI Director General Lt. Gen. Mohammad Akbar Hossain had informed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina about the disappearance of Hummam Quader Chowdhury. It also stated that army leadership knew about the disappearance of Barrister Mir Ahmad Bin Quasem, known as Arman.

The commission’s findings indicated that DGFI and CTIB officials authorized or continued unauthorized detentions, including that of Brigadier Azmir. Statements from former RAB Director General Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun and other officers confirmed that senior leadership knew detainees were held in custody. Testimonies from soldiers and police officers described regular inspections of detention centers by senior officials, contradicting later claims of ignorance.

The report concluded that the proximity of detention cells to commanding officers’ offices and direct CCTV access made it implausible that senior officials were unaware of these operations, suggesting long-term institutional knowledge and oversight.

At least fifty areas in Dhaka have open manholes, posing serious risks to pedestrians and vehicles. The uncovered manholes, often missing due to theft, have caused frequent accidents and injuries. City officials acknowledge that around ten percent of the capital’s 75,000 manholes remain uncovered at any time. The stolen covers, valued at about four crore taka annually in Dhaka South City Corporation alone, are reportedly sold to scrap dealers for small sums.

Responsibility for installing and maintaining manholes lies with Dhaka WASA and the two city corporations. Officials admit that ensuring security for the heavy metal covers is difficult and that police involvement is needed. Despite over fifty related cases filed in various police stations, arrests remain rare. Residents complain that stolen covers are often replaced only to be stolen again, leaving roads hazardous.

To address the problem, Dhaka South City Corporation has begun installing fiber-made manhole covers in wards 66 and 67. These new covers, tested and approved by BUET, are cheaper, strong enough to withstand heavy loads, and have no resale value, which authorities hope will reduce theft and improve public safety.

A 38-year-old man named Jamal Uddin was shot dead on a deserted road in Fatikchhari, Chattogram, on Saturday night. Police said the killing appeared to be premeditated, as the location was isolated, without CCTV or nearby houses. The incident occurred around 7:10 p.m., but police received the report at 7:41 p.m. The case took a new turn when fugitive former Chhatra League leader Nurul Azim Roni posted about the killing on Facebook at 7:40 p.m.—a minute before police were informed.

Investigators are focusing on how Roni learned of the murder so quickly. They suspect either direct contact with someone involved at the scene or access to a network that rapidly circulates information about violent incidents. Police are analyzing Roni’s digital communications, including phone and messaging records, to trace the source of his information. They are also verifying his claim that the victim had been accused of violent activities after August 5.

Local residents said Jamal Uddin had past links with Jamaat-e-Islami and Shibir, though opinions differ on whether he was recently active. Police are examining possible motives, including political rivalry, personal disputes, or business conflicts.

Unidentified assailants hurled petrol bombs at the house of Shariful Islam Inna, the Sirajganj district correspondent of the daily Amar Desh, on Saturday night. The attack occurred around 9 p.m. when three young men arrived on motorcycles and threw two petrol bombs at his residence in the Diyar Dhangra area of Sirajganj municipality. Family members were alarmed by the explosion but managed to extinguish the fire using water.

Following the incident, the Sirajganj Superintendent of Police was immediately informed. Additional Superintendent of Police (Sadar Circle) Nazran Rouf, the Officer-in-Charge of Sirajganj Sadar Police Station, and the Officer-in-Charge of the Detective Branch visited the scene to assess the situation. Preparations are underway to file a case regarding the attack.

The incident has caused fear among local residents, while law enforcement authorities have begun initial investigations to identify those responsible.