The Pay Commission has finalized a new date for its previously postponed full meeting on the ninth pay scale. According to the latest decision, the meeting will take place on Thursday at the Secretariat, beginning at noon. The session is expected to finalize decisions on the number of pay grades and other related matters.

Commission sources indicate that discussions are ongoing regarding whether to retain the existing 20-grade structure or reduce it to 16. Many members support keeping the current number of grades while recommending a rational increase in salaries and allowances, while others strongly favor reducing the number of grades. The commission stated that it has thoroughly analyzed opinions received from various organizations and agencies and that the report writing process is nearly complete.

The final meeting aims to reach consensus on remaining issues before setting a submission date for the recommendations. Due to the upcoming national election, the report is likely to be submitted by February, allowing the new pay scale to be implemented before the 13th National Parliament election.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s Detective Branch (DB) chief Additional Commissioner Md Shafiqul Islam stated that Faisal Karim Masud, accused in the murder of Inquilab Mancha spokesperson Shahid Sharif Osman Hadi, is currently in India. He made the remark on Tuesday during a briefing at the DMP Media Centre regarding the submission of the charge sheet in the Hadi murder case.

Two recently viral videos showed Faisal claiming he was in Dubai and denying involvement in the killing. However, law enforcement earlier reported that Faisal and his associate Alomgir Sheikh fled to India’s Meghalaya through the Haluaghat border after shooting Hadi. Questions arose over the authenticity of Faisal’s videos and his actual location. The DB chief clarified that while the video message was genuine, Faisal’s location was not Dubai but India.

According to the DB, charges have been filed against 17 individuals, with 12 already arrested. The remaining five include Faisal, Alomgir Sheikh, human trafficker Philip Snal, alleged mastermind and former Pallabi ward councillor Taizul Islam Chowdhury Bappi, and Faisal’s sister Jesmin. Investigators said Bappi planned and ordered the killing, and supplementary charges may follow if further involvement is found.

The Bangladesh Meteorological Department announced that a mild to moderate cold wave will continue over ten districts on Wednesday. The affected districts include Rajshahi, Pabna, Bogura, Dinajpur, Nilphamari, Panchagarh, Rangamati, Jashore, Chuadanga, and Kushtia. The forecast, issued Tuesday night, also noted that the country will experience dry weather with partly cloudy skies over the next 24 hours.

According to the weather bulletin, a low-pressure area has formed over the southeast Bay of Bengal and the adjoining equatorial Indian Ocean region, which may move northwestward and intensify. Its extension reaches the northern Bay of Bengal, while a subcontinental high-pressure ridge lies over West Bengal and adjoining western Bangladesh. Moderate to dense fog is expected from midnight to morning, possibly lasting until noon in some areas, potentially disrupting air, river, and road transport.

Rajshahi recorded the season’s lowest temperature at 7 degrees Celsius on Tuesday, while Dhaka’s minimum temperature was 11 degrees Celsius. Although temperatures may rise slightly, the cold sensation is likely to persist due to foggy conditions.

Bangladesh Bank has directed all scheduled banks in the country to construct women-friendly washrooms to ease difficulties faced by female employees and customers. The central bank issued a circular on Tuesday, sending it to the managing directors and chief executive officers of all banks. The directive emphasizes that many banks lack adequate, hygienic facilities for women, causing inconvenience for both staff and clients.

According to the circular, every bank must ensure women-friendly and sanitary washrooms at their head offices, regional offices, branches, and sub-branches. The central bank further instructed that existing washrooms requiring renovation or lacking sanitary supplies must be promptly upgraded. Regular monitoring has also been stressed to maintain a safe and hygienic environment for women employees and customers.

The move aims to improve workplace and service conditions for women in the banking sector, ensuring better hygiene and inclusivity across all banking facilities.

A student of Jagannath University was caught red-handed while attempting to bring outsiders into the campus through Gate No. 2 near Banglabazar after the voting for the Jagannath University Central Students’ Union (JAKSU) election had ended. The accused, Sohan, from the History Department’s 19th batch, allegedly exchanged his pass card to allow non-students to enter, defying administrative instructions. When confronted, he identified himself as a Chhatra Dal activist and reportedly misbehaved with on-duty BNCC members and journalists. However, university Chhatra Dal leaders denied any organizational link with him.

Sohan claimed he gave his card to a friend who needed to enter the campus urgently. Earlier, all students were asked to leave the campus before 4 p.m. to maintain security and order. Later in the evening, BNP and Jamaat activists were reportedly seen gathering near the same gate, with witnesses alleging they tried to enter to create unrest.

BNCC members stated that law enforcement agencies were primarily responsible for gate security, while Assistant Proctor Ferdous Hossain confirmed that some students were exchanging pass cards to re-enter the campus despite monitoring.

Residents across Dhaka are facing acute gas shortages, with stoves remaining off for most of the day. Despite paying regular bills, households are struggling to cook even one meal daily, forcing many to buy costly LPG cylinders. The crisis has disrupted daily life, with families waiting late into the night for minimal gas pressure. In several neighborhoods including Jatrabari, Mirpur, Mohammadpur, Rampura, and Old Dhaka, gas supply is either extremely low or absent for long hours.

The shortage stems from reduced gas production and increased system loss. According to Titas Gas, 1,796 million cubic meters of gas were wasted in the 2024–25 fiscal year, causing losses of about Tk 4,107 crore. Petrobangla data show domestic production fell to 2,647 million cubic feet per day in early January 2026, down from 2,720 million the previous year. Only 10 percent of total supply reaches residential users, while industries and power plants receive priority.

Titas Managing Director Shahnewaz Parvez said daily production has dropped by 250 million cubic feet compared to last year. He noted that without discovering new gas fields or repairing old wells, the crisis will persist.

A severe cold wave continues across northern and northwestern Bangladesh, with temperatures dropping to the season’s lowest levels. On Tuesday, Rajshahi recorded a minimum temperature of 7 degrees Celsius, according to the Bangladesh Meteorological Department. The agency reported that mild to moderate cold waves are sweeping over Rajshahi, Pabna, Bogura, Dinajpur, Nilphamari, Panchagarh, Jashore, Chuadanga, and Kushtia, where the chill is being felt most intensely.

Meteorologist Hafizur Rahman said that the mild cold spell persists in several areas and is likely to continue throughout the week. However, the intensity may gradually decrease after January 10. The five-day forecast indicates partly cloudy skies and dry weather nationwide, with moderate to dense fog expected from midnight to morning, sometimes lasting until noon.

The forecast also warns that dense fog on Tuesday and Wednesday could temporarily disrupt air, river, and road transport. Night and day temperatures may rise slightly today, remain nearly unchanged midweek, and fall again on Friday before stabilizing on Saturday.

The Finance Division of Bangladesh’s Ministry of Finance has issued a new directive increasing the maximum price limits for purchasing government vehicles. The circular, signed by Deputy Secretary Mohammad Shawkat Ullah and released on Tuesday, allows various government departments to buy vehicles within the revised ceilings. The adjustment covers cars, jeeps, pickups, microbuses, motorcycles, ambulances, minibuses, and trucks, reflecting current market prices.

Officials explained that the new limits mainly apply to replacing vehicles older than ten years, as earlier prices were insufficient due to rising market costs. The directive applies to government, statutory, autonomous, semi-autonomous, and state-owned organizations, with registration and taxes included in the set prices. Key revisions include raising the ceiling for AC minibuses to Tk 8 million, large non-AC buses to Tk 5.82 million, and private cars to Tk 5.6 million. The single-cabin pickup limit rose to Tk 5.2 million, while motorcycle limits increased to Tk 193,000.

The Finance Division had previously suspended new vehicle purchases for the 2025–26 fiscal year, except for replacements of vehicles over ten years old. The new directive updates those restrictions in line with current market realities.

Bangladesh Bank has continued buying US dollars from local banks as supply remains strong. On Tuesday, it purchased $223.5 million from 14 banks, bringing total purchases in the first six months of the fiscal year to $3.54 billion. As a result, the central bank’s foreign exchange reserves rose to $33.18 billion, according to Executive Director and Spokesperson Arif Hossain Khan.

Bankers said the increase in remittances through formal channels has boosted dollar supply, easing the earlier market crisis. Since supply now exceeds demand, the central bank is buying dollars to prevent a sharp fall in the exchange rate, which could hurt remittance inflows and exports. The move has had a positive impact on reserves.

The report notes that after the fall of the previous Awami League government, the new administration took strict measures to curb money laundering, leading to higher export earnings and remittances. Bangladesh Bank’s current intervention aims to maintain market stability and protect key economic sectors.

Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Information and Broadcasting, and Water Resources Advisor Syeda Rizwana Hasan has emphasized finalizing a long-term sustainable management masterplan for the protection of Saint Martin’s Island. Speaking as chief guest at a high-level strategic consultation workshop titled “Strategic Consultation Workshop on Saint Martin’s Island Masterplan,” she said conservation must take priority over tourism to safeguard the island’s unique ecosystem.

The workshop was organized by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and the Department of Environment with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The advisor stated that the masterplan should clearly outline actions and prohibitions to restore biodiversity and that tourism must be strictly regulated to prevent harmful dominance by outsiders. She also highlighted the importance of involving local communities in the plan’s implementation and creating alternative livelihoods such as fishing, dried fish trade, handicrafts, and controlled tourism.

The ministry’s secretary noted that several short- and long-term initiatives have already been undertaken during the interim government period, and a draft masterplan has been prepared. Participants were informed that despite its ecological importance, the island faces severe degradation from unregulated tourism, coral and shell collection, unsustainable fishing, and climate risks.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s Detective Branch has identified Pallabi Thana Jubo League president and former North City councillor Tajul Islam Chowdhury Bappi as the person who ordered the killing of Shahid Osman Hadi. Additional Commissioner (DB) Md Shafiqul Islam disclosed the information at a press conference held at the DMP Media Centre on Minto Road on Tuesday afternoon. Police have submitted a charge sheet against 17 individuals, including Faisal Karim Masud, in the murder case. Five suspects, including shooter Faisal, Alamgir Sheikh, and Bappi, remain absconding.

According to police, Hadi, convener of Inquilab Monch, was targeted for taking an anti-Awami League stance and engaging in banned political activities. Shafiqul Islam stated that despite Faisal’s video message denying involvement, evidence confirms his participation in the crime.

Hadi was shot in the head on December 12 on Box-Calvert Road in Purana Paltan while riding a rickshaw. He was treated in Dhaka and later flown to Singapore, where he died on December 18. The case, initially filed as an attempted murder, was later converted into a murder case.

A charge sheet has been filed against 17 individuals, including Faisal Karim Masud, in connection with the murder of Inqilab Moncho spokesperson Shahid Sharif Osman Bin Hadi. The announcement was made on Tuesday afternoon at the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Media Center on Minto Road by Additional Commissioner (DB) Md. Shafiqul Islam, who stated that the charges were filed after the investigation confirmed the allegations against the accused.

According to the case details, Hadi was shot on December 12 in the Bijoynagar Box Culvert Road area under Paltan Police Station. He was first taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital and later transferred to Evercare Hospital. As his condition worsened, he was moved to Singapore for treatment on December 15 and died on December 18 at Singapore General Hospital. Following the attack, Inqilab Moncho’s member secretary Abdullah Al Jaber filed a case at Paltan Police Station on December 14.

On December 20, Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Siddiq Azad ordered the inclusion of Section 302 (murder) of the Penal Code in the case, leading to the formal charge sheet submission.

Bangladesh’s economic adviser Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed stated that the current tensions between India and Bangladesh will not impact the country’s economy. Speaking to reporters at the Secretariat on Tuesday after a meeting of the government’s procurement advisory committee, he said trade and purchase activities with India remain normal and there is no economic problem arising from the situation.

He described the recent incident involving cricketer Mustafizur Rahman as unfortunate, noting that Bangladesh was not responsible for initiating the issue. According to him, the sudden decision to stop the player’s participation was unexpected and regrettable, and such actions are not beneficial for either country. He emphasized that the political strain between the two nations will not affect economic or commercial relations.

Dr. Ahmed added that emotional factors may have influenced the situation and expressed hope that both sides would act with consideration to avoid harming bilateral relations. He reaffirmed that Bangladesh’s response to the incident was appropriate and that reactions naturally follow actions.

The committee responsible for the marine fisheries and ecosystem survey conducted by research vessel RV Dr. Fridtjof Nansen submitted its report to Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser at a meeting held Tuesday morning at the state guesthouse Jamuna. The survey, carried out from August 21 to September 21 of the previous year, involved 25 scientists from eight countries, including 13 from Bangladesh. Professor Sayedur Rahman presented the findings, revealing the discovery of 65 new aquatic species and alarming signs of imbalance due to overfishing, such as excessive jellyfish growth and plastic found at depths of 2,000 meters.

The report indicated a decline in large fish compared to 2018 and warned that aggressive sonar-based targeted fishing by 70 of 270–280 deep-sea trawlers threatens fish stocks and coastal livelihoods. The Fisheries Adviser cautioned that such practices could deplete the Bay of Bengal and said the government would decide on sonar fishing. The Chief Adviser emphasized the need for research and policy support to utilize marine resources effectively and highlighted cooperation with Japan, Indonesia, and the Maldives for joint research.

It was also disclosed that the UK’s Royal Navy vessel HMS Enterprise is being transferred to the Bangladesh Navy to strengthen oceanographic research and data collection capabilities.

Industries Secretary Md. Obaidur Rahman has officially joined as the new Chairperson of the Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) Foundation. He took charge at the foundation’s office on Monday following his appointment through a government notification issued by the Ministry of Industries on January 1, 2026. The notification stated that Rahman will hold the position until a new chairperson is appointed, in addition to his existing duties as Industries Secretary.

Obaidur Rahman holds both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in management from the University of Dhaka. A member of the 15th batch of the Bangladesh Civil Service (Administration), he has served in various ministries and departments, including the Ministry of Public Administration, as well as in field administration. His appointment marks him as the ninth chairperson of the SME Foundation.

The SME Foundation plays a key role in supporting small and medium enterprises across Bangladesh, and Rahman’s dual role is expected to ensure continuity in the organization’s leadership until a permanent appointment is made.