Bangladesh Bank has instructed all banks to ensure that remittances sent by expatriate Bangladeshis are deposited into recipients’ accounts on the same day or the next working day. The directive, issued through a circular on Thursday, gives banks until March to fully implement the system. Authorized dealer banks must notify customers electronically as soon as remittance messages are received. Remittances received during banking hours must be credited the same day, while those received afterward must be credited the next working day.

According to the circular, the move aims to reduce delays and improve efficiency in cross-border payment processing. The central bank emphasized the use of secure electronic communication to inform customers promptly. The instruction is part of ongoing efforts to streamline remittance management and enhance the reliability of financial transactions for expatriate workers and their families.

The directive is expected to strengthen confidence in formal remittance channels and support faster fund availability for recipients across Bangladesh.

Gold prices in the international market declined on Thursday, with spot gold falling 0.4 percent to 4,435.62 dollars per ounce, according to a Reuters report. U.S. gold futures for February delivery also dropped by the same margin to 4,444.40 dollars per ounce. The current price marks a decrease of about 110 dollars from the record high of 4,549.71 dollars per ounce reached on December 29.

The report attributes the decline to a stronger U.S. dollar and increased profit-taking by investors, which have limited the upward momentum of gold prices. Alongside gold, silver prices also fell sharply, with spot silver dropping 2.6 percent to 76.08 dollars per ounce, down from its all-time high of 83.62 dollars per ounce recorded on December 29.

HSBC projected that silver prices in 2026 could range between 58 and 88 dollars per ounce, driven by investment demand and high gold prices, though the bank also warned of potential sharp declines later in the year.

A Dhaka court has ordered two-day remand for eight suspects arrested in connection with the attack, arson, and looting at the Prothom Alo office in Karwan Bazar. The order was issued on Thursday by Metropolitan Magistrate Md Hasan Shahadat, confirmed by state prosecutor Shamsuddoha Suman. The accused are Md Naim Islam, Md Saidur Rahman, Abul Kashem, Md Pranto Sikder, Md Raju Ahmed, Md Sagor Islam, Md Jahangir, and Md Hasan.

According to the case filed at Tejgaon Police Station, the incident occurred on December 18 when 20 to 30 unidentified attackers armed with sticks and flammable materials attempted to storm the newspaper’s office. Police said the attackers gathered illegally, chanted provocative slogans, and later vandalized, looted, and set fire to the building, causing an estimated loss of Tk 320 million. Investigators recovered Tk 50,000 in cash and items allegedly bought with looted money from one suspect.

The investigating officer stated that remand was necessary to identify other suspects, recover stolen goods, and trace those who aided the attack. Defense lawyers sought bail, which the court denied after hearing both sides.

A massive fire broke out at a jhoot (garment waste) warehouse in the Dewaliyabari area of Konabari, Gazipur Metropolitan, on Thursday afternoon, January 8, 2026. The blaze started around 4:15 p.m. at the warehouse owned by Arif Mollah and quickly spread to several nearby warehouses. Six units of the Fire Service are currently working to bring the fire under control.

According to local and fire service sources, smoke was first noticed by residents before the flames spread rapidly across adjacent warehouses. Two units from the Konabari Fire Service initially responded, followed by four additional units from the Sarabo and DBL fire stations as the fire intensified. Warehouse Inspector Saiful Islam from the Konabari Modern Fire Station confirmed that six units are engaged in firefighting, with two more on the way.

Firefighters continue efforts to contain the blaze, which has affected multiple warehouses in the industrial area. No information on casualties or damage has been reported so far.

Former Army Chief Iqbal Karim Bhuiyan will testify against retired Major General Ziaul Ahsan in an enforced disappearance case. Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam informed the two-member judicial panel of International Crimes Tribunal-1, chaired by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Majumdar, about this on Thursday afternoon. The tribunal has set January 14 for its order on whether to frame formal charges against Ahsan for crimes against humanity involving the abduction and killing of over a hundred people.

During Thursday’s hearing, Ahsan’s lawyers, Monsurul Haque and Naznin Nahar, sought his discharge, arguing that the prosecution failed to prove his involvement. The prosecution countered that it had established a prima facie case and requested the tribunal to begin the trial. The tribunal reserved its decision for January 14.

Earlier, on December 4, the prosecution detailed specific allegations, including multiple killings allegedly conducted under code names such as “Gestapo” and “Golf,” and operations in the Sundarbans that reportedly resulted in at least 50 deaths.

Australia is facing severe wildfires amid an intense heatwave, with authorities warning of potentially catastrophic conditions across eastern and southeastern regions. On Thursday, firefighters battled multiple blazes as temperatures were forecast to exceed 40 degrees Celsius. Residents in Victoria and New South Wales, including major cities such as Sydney and Melbourne, were urged to remain on high alert, according to AFP.

Victoria’s Country Fire Authority chief Jason Heffernan said fire danger levels could reach “catastrophic” in some areas, warning that any ignition could spread rapidly and become uncontrollable. Emergency Management Commissioner Tim Wiebusch noted that hot, dry winds would intensify the fires, while Acting Premier Ben Carroll instructed officials to prepare early evacuations. Meteorologist Sarah Scully reported that extreme heat and dry thunderstorms could trigger new fires.

Authorities fear the situation could become the most dangerous since the 2019–2020 “Black Summer” fires, which devastated vast areas of forest and property. Researchers have linked the increasing frequency of extreme weather to a 1.5°C rise in Australia’s average temperature since 1910.

Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) traders in Bangladesh have withdrawn their strike following a meeting with Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) Chairman Jalal Ahmed. The announcement came after discussions held at the BERC office on Thursday, leading to the immediate resumption of LPG sales across the country.

According to Gas Traders Cooperative Association President Selim Khan, the strike was linked to demands that consumer rights raids on LPG shops be halted. Traders also urged authorities to fix the retail price of a 12-kilogram LPG cylinder at 1,500 taka. The strike had been declared on Wednesday night in response to nationwide raids and fines, with traders threatening to suspend LPG supply from all company plants until their demands were met.

In the broader context, the government has initiated steps to revise VAT and tax structures on imported and locally produced LPG amid rising shortages and price instability. Efforts are also underway to ease bank loan and letter of credit procedures for LPG imports.

In early December, Turkey’s state-run company Turkish Petroleum (TPAO) signed five agreements with Pakistan to explore oil and gas in the country’s maritime zones of the Indian Ocean. The deals, valued at over 300 million US dollars, cover three offshore blocks in Pakistan’s international waters and two onshore coastal blocks. While the agreements drew limited global media attention, they mark a significant step for both nations in expanding energy and strategic cooperation.

The partnership reflects Turkey’s effort to diversify its energy exploration map and Pakistan’s attempt to revive its long-neglected deep-sea mineral exploration. TPAO plans to deploy seismic fleets in Pakistan’s waters and open a permanent office in Islamabad, forming a consortium with state-owned Pakistani energy firms. The move comes ahead of Pakistan’s 2025 offshore bidding round, one of its most important exploration initiatives in two decades.

Beyond energy, the cooperation extends to defense, mining, and drone manufacturing, signaling a broader strategic alignment. The collaboration positions both countries to strengthen economic and security ties while expanding Turkey’s geopolitical presence in the Indian Ocean.

A housewife named Shiuli Begum, aged 42, died after suffering severe burns in a gas cylinder explosion at her home in Chandpur. She passed away late Wednesday night while undergoing treatment at the Dhaka Burn Institute. The incident occurred around 8 p.m. on Sunday at her residence in the Chowdhuripara area of Chandpur town. Her husband, Enayet Ullah Bepari, an assistant tax collector at Chandpur Municipality, and their daughter Pinky were also injured while trying to rescue her.

Following the explosion, Shiuli was first admitted to Chandpur Sadar Hospital and later transferred to Dhaka for advanced treatment. Despite medical efforts, she succumbed to her injuries. She is survived by her husband, one son, and two daughters. Her funeral prayer was held on Thursday afternoon at the Maishadi Baitul Amin Jame Mosque premises, after which she was buried in the family graveyard.

The report did not mention the cause of the explosion or any official investigation into the incident.

The Bangladesh government has reduced value-added tax (VAT) on both imported and locally produced liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). A notification issued on Thursday announced that VAT on LPG imports has been lowered from 15 percent to 10 percent, while domestic production will now be subject to a 7.5 percent VAT rate.

At the same time, the LP Gas Business Cooperative Association has declared a nationwide halt to LPG cylinder sales starting today. The association announced in a notice on Wednesday that all LPG marketing, supply, and plant operations across Bangladesh would remain suspended until their demands are met. The group had earlier held a press conference at the National Press Club, calling for price adjustments by the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission and an end to administrative fines and harassment of distributors.

The simultaneous tax reduction and supply suspension create uncertainty in the LPG market, as the government’s fiscal relief coincides with a business-led shutdown that could disrupt household and industrial gas availability.

A BNP leader and first-class contractor in Cox’s Bazar, Mohammad Shahjahan, has alleged that he was falsely implicated in an abduction and ransom case due to a long-standing family and property dispute. The case was filed on November 25, 2025, under human trafficking charges by Kamrunnesa Rumi, wife of businessman Selim Reza, at the Cox’s Bazar Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal. Police have begun investigating the case and initially suspect it may have been fabricated.

Shahjahan, an adviser to the BNP’s Chowfaldandi Union unit, claims that Selim Reza, who lost a contract bid for a wind power project road, orchestrated the case out of personal enmity. He also alleges that Reza influenced another case under the Anti-Terrorism Act, where Shahjahan was listed as the 30th accused. Local officials, including the acting union chairman, and the investigating officer have said the abduction claim appears staged, though the investigation continues.

The complainant, Kamrunnesa Rumi, maintains that the abduction allegation is genuine and says she filed the case after receiving threats. Police are awaiting mobile call data to verify the claims.

Malaysia’s Immigration Department detained 77 undocumented migrants, including 26 Bangladeshis, during a special operation in Negeri Sembilan. The raid took place on Tuesday, January 6, across 13 locations in Seremban and Nilai, following public complaints and a week of intelligence gathering. A total of 395 foreigners were screened between 9 a.m. and 1 a.m., and those detained were aged between 19 and 47. The operation proceeded peacefully without any untoward incidents.

According to Negeri Sembilan Immigration Director Kenneth Tan Ai Kiang, the detainees include nationals from Indonesia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Thailand, Myanmar, and India. The largest group, 55 individuals, was arrested at a soap manufacturing factory in Nilai. The detainees are accused of lacking valid passes or travel documents, overstaying, and violating immigration laws.

They have been sent to the Lenggeng Immigration Depot for investigation and further legal action. Tan also warned that strict measures will be taken against employers or individuals found to be hiring or sheltering undocumented migrants.

A young man named Ratul Islam Robi, aged 21, was killed and four others were injured in a three-motorcycle collision in Siddhirganj, Narayanganj. The accident occurred on Wednesday night at the Jalkuri Dashpipe area. The deceased was the son of Md. Faruk from Mizimiji Paglabari. The injured were identified as Nibir, Habib, and Bijoy, while the identity of another injured person remains unknown.

Eyewitnesses reported that the collision happened when three speeding motorcycles crashed head-on. One person died on the spot, and several others sustained serious injuries. Local residents immediately rescued the injured and took them to various hospitals in Narayanganj for treatment.

Siddhirganj Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mohammad Abdul Barik confirmed the death and said two of the motorcycles involved in the accident had been seized. An investigation into the incident is currently underway.

A murder case has been filed at Tejgaon Police Station over the killing of Azizur Rahman Musabbir, former general secretary of the BNP’s Dhaka North volunteer wing. The case, lodged by Musabbir’s wife on Thursday morning, names five unidentified individuals as accused. Musabbir was shot dead on Wednesday night around 8:15 p.m. in an alley behind Star Kabab at Karwan Bazar while returning home.

According to CCTV footage, two assailants were seen sitting with a sack in the alley. As Musabbir appeared, they drew a pistol from the sack and shot him from behind. He fell to the ground, tried to run, and dropped his phone, which the attackers took before fleeing. His body is scheduled to be taken to Nayapaltan, where funeral prayers will be held in front of the BNP central office after the noon prayer, as confirmed by the office’s chief administrative officer.

Police have begun investigating the incident based on the filed case, though no arrests or further details have been reported yet.

U.S. President Donald Trump announced that Venezuela will use its oil sales revenue exclusively to purchase goods produced in the United States. According to Washington sources cited by AFP, the arrangement follows the removal of Nicolás Maduro from power and is based on a new oil agreement. The profits from Venezuela’s oil exports will be directed toward buying American products.

Trump shared the information on his social media platform, Truth Social, stating that he had been informed about the new oil deal ensuring that Venezuela’s earnings would be spent solely on U.S.-made goods. He specified that the purchases would include agricultural products, machinery, medical equipment, and energy-sector machinery.

The report did not provide further details about the terms of the agreement or how it will be implemented, but it highlights a shift in Venezuela’s trade alignment following political changes in the country.