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.

Two auto rice mill workers were killed when the Mohanganj Express train hit them at Challisha on the Netrakona–Mymensingh railway line on Saturday evening around 6:30 pm. The victims were identified as Russell Islam, 25, from Sherpur’s Jhenaigati upazila, and Akash Roy, 24, from Chirirbandar in Dinajpur. Both had been working for about a year at the “Tamal Tanmoy” Auto Rice Mill owned by Jiban Kumar Saha in Challisha.

According to eyewitnesses and family sources, Russell and Akash, along with several coworkers, were walking along the railway track near their mill when the Dhaka-bound Mohanganj Express struck them. They were taken to Netrakona Modern Sadar Hospital, where duty doctor Dr. Shraddhananda Nath declared them dead upon arrival, noting injuries to their heads and bodies.

Shyamganj GRP Police Sub-Inspector Nurul Islam confirmed receiving information about the deaths and said the incident would be investigated and necessary legal steps taken.

Police in Faridganj upazila of Chandpur district have arrested Md. Suman, 39, identified as the ringleader of an inter-district motorcycle theft gang. The arrest took place after investigators traced him using information technology to the Ghoramara Ashrayan Project area in Chandpur Sadar upazila. During the operation, police recovered four previously stolen motorcycles from his possession. Suman is the son of the late Ali Hossain from Charpagla Farazi Bari in Raipur upazila of Lakshmipur district.

According to police sources, the investigation began after a complaint was filed over the theft of a 110cc motorcycle belonging to Tuton Ghosh. Following the complaint, police used technological tools and district-level cooperation to locate and detain the suspect. Officer-in-Charge Md. Helal Uddin of Faridganj Police Station confirmed that Suman was sent to the Chandpur court on Saturday, January 10, 2026.

The arrest marks a significant step in curbing inter-district motorcycle theft in the region, as police continue efforts to identify other members of the network.

A youth was killed in a gunfight between two rival groups at a Rohingya camp in Teknaf upazila of Cox’s Bazar late Friday night. The incident occurred at Block I of the registered Rohingya Camp No. 26 in Nayapara under Hnila Union. According to Mohammad Kawsar Sikder, Additional Deputy Inspector General and commander of the 16 Armed Police Battalion, the deceased was identified as Nur Kamal, 25, son of Abul Kalam of the same camp.

Police stated that Nur Kamal was a known criminal who had formed his own armed group and was involved in various illegal activities in and around the camp. Sikder said the clash erupted due to a long-standing rivalry between Nur Kamal’s group and the Khalek group over establishing dominance in the camp. During the confrontation, Nur Kamal sustained gunshot and sharp weapon injuries.

Locals took him to a camp clinic where doctors declared him dead. Police said the attackers fled before law enforcement arrived. A drive is underway to identify and arrest those involved, and the body has been sent to Cox’s Bazar Sadar Hospital morgue for autopsy.

A man named Jamal Uddin, aged 38, was shot dead on Saturday night in Fatikchhari upazila of Chattogram. The incident occurred around 7:30 p.m. on a deserted road in the Lelang Union area. Locals discovered his bullet-riddled body and informed the police, who later recovered it. Police reported that the victim had multiple gunshot wounds on his head and body.

According to Additional Superintendent of Police (Hathazari Circle) Kazi Tarek Aziz, the initial assessment suggests it was a murder. However, the motive and those responsible remain unknown. Law enforcement officials are collecting CCTV footage from nearby areas and speaking with local residents to gather information. The body has been sent to Chattogram Medical College Hospital morgue for autopsy.

As of the latest report, no arrests have been made in connection with the killing, and the investigation is ongoing.

Bangladesh has made significant progress toward strengthening mutually beneficial trade relations with the United States. According to a press release from the Chief Adviser’s Press Wing on Saturday, during his visit to Washington, National Security Adviser Dr. Khalilur Rahman requested U.S. Trade Representative Ambassador Jamison Greer to raise the issue of reducing the existing 20 percent reciprocal tariff on Bangladesh with U.S. President Donald Trump. The USTR agreed to bring the matter forward, which could enhance Bangladesh’s competitive position in South Asia if implemented.

The two countries also discussed a new and innovative mechanism to support Bangladesh’s export priorities. Under the proposed preferential arrangement, Bangladesh could export an equivalent amount of apparel and textile products to the U.S. duty-free, based on the square meter volume of cotton and synthetic fibers imported from the U.S. Observers believe this creative and mutually beneficial system would strengthen bilateral ties, benefiting Bangladeshi producers and workers while deepening supply chain links with U.S. raw material suppliers.

Analysts view this development as a reflection of growing trust and positive momentum in U.S.-Bangladesh economic relations, potentially marking a promising new chapter for Bangladesh in global trade.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar has called for legal action against individuals or groups allegedly creating an artificial crisis in the liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) market despite sufficient reserves. In a statement issued to the media on Saturday, he said a vested quarter is deliberately causing public suffering by manipulating supply, which he described as inhumane and against public interest.

Porwar warned that such actions are destabilizing the market, raising prices, and harming the national economy, particularly affecting lower- and middle-income groups. He urged the government to restore order in the LPG market, identify those involved in hoarding and unethical business practices, and take strict legal measures against them.

He further emphasized that the government must act responsibly to protect citizens’ rights by strengthening market monitoring and ensuring exemplary punishment for offenders, warning that failure to do so could lead to recurring crises. Porwar also called on the public to remain vigilant and united against any anti-public activities.

A Dhaka court has directed Abdullah Al Jabir, the plaintiff in the murder case of Inqilab Moncho spokesperson Shahid Sharif Osman Hadi, to appear on January 12 if he has any objection to the chargesheet submitted by the investigating officer. The order was issued by Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Jashita Islam, according to information from the court’s prosecution office.

The investigation officer, DB Police Inspector Faisal Ahmed, filed the chargesheet on January 6 against 17 accused, including prime suspect Faisal Karim Masud alias Dawood. Among the accused, 11 are currently in jail, including Masud’s parents, wife, sister-in-law, and several associates. Six others, including Masud himself, remain absconding.

The investigating officer has also applied for arrest warrants against the absconding suspects. The court’s next proceedings will depend on the plaintiff’s appearance and any objections raised regarding the chargesheet.

Bangladesh Bank Governor Ahsan H. Mansur announced that at least two large and strong Islamic banks are expected to emerge in the country in the future. Speaking on Saturday at the second day of the International Islamic Finance and Banking Conference at the University of Dhaka, he said these banks would ensure healthy competition and better returns for depositors. The conference was jointly organized by the Central Shariah Board for Islamic Banks of Bangladesh and the university’s finance department.

Mansur noted that although a significant portion of the banking sector operates under Shariah principles, investment opportunities for Islamic banks remain limited, creating liquidity management challenges. He emphasized the need to develop a Shariah-compliant bond or sukuk market to ease liquidity pressure and strengthen the sector. Currently, about one-fourth of the country’s total banking assets are under Islamic management, but the corresponding investment avenues have not developed proportionately.

The governor added that the government’s initiative to establish a sukuk market would reduce financing costs and help Islamic banks manage liquidity more effectively, leading to greater stability in the overall financial system.

Bangladesh’s Economic Adviser Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed stated that it is not possible to reduce bank interest rates at this time. He made the remarks on Saturday, January 10, at an event organized by Banking Almanac at the CIRDAP auditorium in Dhaka, where he attended as the chief guest. Ahmed emphasized that given the current realities, lowering loan interest rates is not feasible.

He noted that the banking sector has become relatively stable but cautioned that reducing interest rates remains difficult. The adviser also mentioned that controlling inflation cannot be achieved by the government alone without the cooperation of the business community and the broader society. He expressed hope that he would not fail in his role as economic adviser and that moving Bangladesh forward remains a major challenge.

The comments highlight the government’s cautious stance on monetary policy adjustments amid ongoing efforts to stabilize the financial sector and manage inflationary pressures.

A passenger bus crashed into the wall of a mosque in Simantabazar area of Kazipur upazila, Sirajganj, on Saturday before noon while overtaking a stationary truck. The bus, operated by Priyo Enterprise, hit a van carrying sanitary goods before breaking through the wall of the Uttar Jame Mosque. Van driver Farid sustained serious injuries to his shoulder, arm, and head, and was taken to Sirajganj Sadar Hospital. The mosque’s wall, windows, floor, and roof were also damaged in the incident.

The bus was reportedly being driven by Mannan, a helper who had taken the wheel for the trip from Kazipur to Sirajganj. He also suffered head injuries requiring several stitches. The bus owner, Arju, stated that accidents are inevitable when helpers drive vehicles. Police collected evidence from the site, and the Kazipur police investigation officer said legal action would follow if a complaint is filed.

Local witnesses confirmed that the van’s goods were heavily damaged, and the bus’s front portion was wrecked in the collision.

The contractor responsible for building the Government Technical School and College in Saghatta, Gaibandha, has abandoned the project midway, leaving the construction incomplete after seven years. The project began on February 20, 2018, under the Gaibandha District Education Engineering Department, with a budget of Tk 15.47 crore. Dhaka-based firm Messrs Dhali Construction was tasked to complete the work by June 30, 2021, but only 67 percent has been finished. Locals reported that the contractor’s workers left the site three months ago, taking equipment with them.

Despite the institution starting academic activities two years ago, students and staff continue to face difficulties due to the lack of classrooms and administrative buildings. Principal Tarikul Islam said the incomplete construction is disrupting educational activities, and repeated appeals to the ministry have not resolved the issue.

Executive Engineer Ashish Kumar Roy of the Education Engineering Department confirmed that a new tender process has begun to appoint another contractor, and work will resume once the new work order is issued.

Police have arrested Shah Jalal Ahmed Shawon, the general secretary of the banned Narsingdi district unit of Chhatra League, while he was attempting to leave the country for Dubai. The arrest took place at around 10 a.m. on Saturday at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka with the assistance of immigration police. His family confirmed the arrest.

According to police, Shawon faces six separate cases related to attacks, shootings, and killings during an anti-discrimination student movement. His brother, Imran Mahmud, stated that Shawon was traveling to Dubai for family business purposes when he was detained, and the family has demanded his unconditional release. Narsingdi Additional Superintendent of Police (Crime) Sujan Chandra Sarkar said they had received preliminary information about the arrest and were verifying details with immigration police.

Police sources added that Shawon had been in hiding since August 5, 2024. He was elected general secretary of the Narsingdi district Chhatra League on July 31, 2022, and previously held joint secretary positions in both the district and Narsingdi Government College units.

The United States has approved the 'Russian Sanctions Bill', which proposes tariffs of up to 500% on countries importing oil from Russia. Although the bill has not yet been voted on, it signals potential pressure on nations such as India and China to halt purchases of discounted Russian crude. The move comes amid an unfinished US-India trade agreement, with US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick suggesting delays were linked to a lack of direct communication between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Donald Trump.

India, a major buyer of Russian oil, has already reduced imports following earlier US tariff threats. Experts warn that if the bill passes, India could face severe export losses, with $87.4 billion in trade with the US at risk. Ajay Srivastava of the Global Trade Research Initiative said the bill’s passage is unlikely but urged India to clarify its oil policy. Former trade secretary Ajay Dua described the measure as weaponizing trade.

Analysts note the bill could primarily target India while sparing China, potentially straining India-US relations further. The US has also withdrawn from the India-led International Solar Alliance, adding to diplomatic friction.

A massive fire broke out early Friday night in three jute warehouses in Muksudpur upazila of Gopalganj, burning around 1,800 maunds of jute and causing an estimated loss of Tk 1 crore. The blaze started around 2:30 a.m. near the Muksudpur government T&T office and quickly spread to adjacent warehouses. Fire service units from Muksudpur and Kashiani, led by Station Master Mehedi Hasan, worked for hours to bring the fire under control.

According to reports, jute traders Sunil Saha, Nirmal Saha, and Ikram Mia lost approximately 1,300, 175, and 300 maunds of jute respectively. The affected traders said they had closed their warehouses as usual the previous evening and were unaware of how the fire started. Station Officer Mehedi Hasan stated that the cause of the fire remains unknown but may have originated from wooden debris behind one of the warehouses. An investigation will determine the exact cause.

Authorities have not yet confirmed the full extent of the damage or announced any compensation measures for the affected traders.