Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development has announced major labor market reforms requiring at least 60 percent Saudi nationals in 18 marketing and sales-related professions. The directive, reported by Gulf News, aims to expand local participation and reduce unemployment. Companies with three or more employees must comply within three months, and Saudi workers in these roles will receive a minimum monthly salary of 5,500 riyals.

The affected professions include marketing and advertising managers, public relations officers, graphic designers, photographers, sales managers, retail and wholesale representatives, and IT and telecommunications sales specialists. Firms failing to meet the localization target after the grace period will face fines and administrative penalties.

The initiative aligns with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s Vision 2030, which seeks to diversify the economy beyond oil and create more jobs for young Saudis. However, the policy is expected to significantly impact expatriate workers, particularly from Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan, who have long dominated Saudi Arabia’s private marketing and sales sectors.

Toyota Bangladesh Limited (TBL), a fully owned investment of Toyota Tsusho Asia Pacific and Toyota Tsusho Japan, recently held a meeting with the Chairman of the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA), Ashik Chowdhury, to discuss the future of the automotive industry in Bangladesh. The meeting focused on long-term growth, a sustainable automotive future, and improving the overall business environment in the country.

During the discussion, TBL emphasized its commitment to contributing to Bangladesh’s evolving industrial landscape through innovation, efficiency, and responsible business practices. BIDA welcomed Toyota Bangladesh’s participation and reaffirmed its growing support for sustainable investments that strengthen industrial capacity and promote environmentally responsible growth.

The meeting highlighted mutual interest in advancing Bangladesh’s automotive sector through collaboration between the public and private sectors, aiming to foster a more sustainable and competitive industry.

The Pay Commission led by Zakir Ahmed Khan will submit its report on new salary and allowance recommendations for government employees to Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus at the state guesthouse Jamuna on Wednesday at 5 p.m. Economic Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed confirmed the submission to the media. According to the report, the commission has proposed partial implementation of the new pay structure from January 1, 2026, with full implementation from July 1, 2026, marking the start of the 2026–27 fiscal year.

Sources indicate that the current minimum salary of Tk 8,250 may more than double, while the maximum salary could rise from Tk 78,000 to over Tk 120,000. The commission has recommended setting the ratio between the highest and lowest salaries at 1:8. The revised 2025–26 budget has already increased operating expenses by Tk 22,000 crore to accommodate partial implementation. Full implementation of the proposed structure is expected to require an additional Tk 70,000–80,000 crore.

The commission, formed on July 27 last year with 21 members, was tasked with submitting its report within six months and has suggested higher increases for lower-grade employees.

The National Implementation Committee on Administrative Reorganization approved the final structure and responsibilities of the newly formed Revenue Policy and Revenue Management Departments, officially dissolving the National Board of Revenue (NBR). The approval was granted on Tuesday during the committee’s meeting, confirming the administrative framework for the two new departments.

According to the decision, the specific duties of the Revenue Policy and Revenue Management Departments have been defined. The meeting also outlined the types of officials to be appointed to these departments and the process for staff deployment. The session was attended by six government advisers, including those from the Finance and Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs ministries, along with the Cabinet Secretary, Principal Secretary, and 14 secretaries or senior secretaries.

In total, the committee approved 11 proposals related to administrative reorganization, marking a significant step in restructuring Bangladesh’s revenue administration system.

The National Pay Commission of Bangladesh is preparing to recommend a significant rise in allowances for government employees under the ninth pay scale. The proposal includes increasing the Pahela Baishakh festival allowance from the current 20 percent of basic salary to 50 percent. The commission is expected to submit its final report to the Chief Adviser on Wednesday, with all preparatory work reportedly in the final stage. Eid bonuses will remain unchanged under existing rules.

In addition, the commission plans to recommend raising the medical allowance from 3,500 taka to a maximum of 5,000 taka per month. Two age-based categories are proposed: 4,000 taka for employees aged 40 or below, and 5,000 taka for those above 40. Retired government employees would continue to receive a monthly medical allowance of 5,000 taka.

The Finance Ministry has allocated 1,06,684 crore taka for salaries and allowances in the 2025–26 budget, about 22,000 crore more than before. The ministry indicated that either the revised salary or allowance structure may be implemented from January, with further decisions left to the next government.

The Mobile Business Community Bangladesh has demanded the unconditional release of 56 imprisoned mobile phone traders and the withdrawal of what they called false cases against innocent businesspeople. The demand was made during a human chain protest held on Tuesday afternoon in front of the National Press Club in Dhaka, where the organization’s general secretary, Abu Sayeed Piyas, spoke about the issue.

Speakers at the event said that decisions taken under the name of implementing NEIR have pushed around 20,000 small and medium mobile phone traders and about 2.5 million people dependent on the sector into uncertainty. They alleged that many traders were arrested in harassment cases for participating in peaceful protests. The leaders also noted that over 30 days of continuous demonstrations and shop closures have caused severe economic losses, leaving employees unpaid and traders unable to cover rent or loan installments.

Considering the national situation and the upcoming election, the organization announced a temporary suspension of its shutdown program, with all mobile showrooms set to reopen nationwide on January 22. However, they vowed to continue boycotting products from a specific syndicate accused of trying to monopolize the market under the NEIR initiative.

Farmers in Nilphamari district are reporting a bumper yield of early varieties of mustard during the 2025–2026 fiscal year. Harvesting is in full swing as growers take advantage of favorable weather, improved seeds, and government incentives. The Department of Agricultural Extension set a target of 9,023 hectares for mustard cultivation, but actual cultivation exceeded 11,000 hectares. Many farmers, previously affected by potato losses, have turned to mustard due to lower costs and higher profits.

Local farmers, including women entrepreneurs, said they achieved strong yields from early mustard varieties such as BARI-09, 14, 15, 18, and Tori-07. They noted that mustard requires less irrigation and labor, and its byproducts serve household fuel and cooking oil needs. The district’s deputy director of agriculture confirmed that quality seeds were distributed under government incentive programs, helping farmers achieve high productivity.

The success of early mustard cultivation has encouraged more farmers to adopt the crop, potentially expanding its acreage further in coming seasons if favorable conditions continue.

Bangladesh has introduced its first modern irrigation system, the Center Pivot Irrigation System, at the North Bengal Sugar Mill’s sugarcane farm in Bhabanipur, Baraigram, Natore. The project, implemented with technical assistance from Austria and financial support from the Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation’s (BADC) Panasi Project, was officially handed over to the farm authorities after a successful trial run on Thursday morning. The system uses sprinklers attached to pipes to distribute water from above like rainfall.

The pilot project, costing Tk 3.98 crore across two sites in Natore and Pabna, was implemented by Sherpa Power Engineering with Austrian company Bayer’s cooperation. Two foreign experts, from China and Vietnam, supervised technical training. The system can irrigate 125 acres simultaneously, using less water and time than traditional methods. Officials said it will reduce water waste and improve year-round irrigation efficiency.

BADC engineers and local agricultural officers expect the technology to bring a major shift in farming efficiency, enabling uniform irrigation even on uneven land and converting fallow plots into productive farmland.

Severe wildfires have continued for a third consecutive day in southern Chile, fueled by high temperatures and strong winds. Officials reported at least 20 deaths and widespread destruction across several towns. The fires began Saturday in the Ñuble and Biobío regions, about 500 kilometers south of Santiago, and quickly spread over an area comparable to the size of Detroit in the United States, destroying or severely damaging around 1,000 homes.

President Gabriel Boric said Monday that while some areas were under control, conditions remained “very active and dangerous” in others, with new fires emerging in nearby Araucanía. Both Ñuble and Biobío have been declared disaster zones, and the military has been deployed to assist. More than 3,500 firefighters were working to contain the blazes as temperatures dropped to around 25 degrees Celsius but the situation remained critical.

Experts cited climate change as a key factor behind the increasing frequency of extreme wildfires in central and southern Chile during the dry summer months. Past fire seasons in 2016–17, 2022–23, and February 2024 also caused severe destruction and loss of life.

Across Bangladesh, fertile topsoil from agricultural land is being sold and used in brick kilns, severely reducing arable land and threatening crop production. Despite repeated government crackdowns, the illegal trade continues in districts including Chandpur, Moulvibazar, Cumilla, and Lakshmipur. Officials report that much of the soil is taken from farmlands and riverbanks, leaving deep pits that later turn into water bodies.

In Faridganj of Chandpur, around 30 brick kilns, mostly illegal, are reportedly using topsoil from croplands. In Kamalganj of Moulvibazar, soil traders operate day and night despite administrative raids and fines. Similar illegal excavation continues along the Gomti River in Cumilla and in Raipur, Lakshmipur, where fertile land is being stripped to feed brick kilns. Local officials confirm ongoing mobile court operations, fines, and vehicle seizures.

Authorities have pledged continued enforcement and investigations, but the persistence of the trade indicates enforcement challenges. The ongoing loss of topsoil poses serious risks to agricultural diversity, economic stability, and food security in affected regions.

A severe cold spell continues in Nawabganj upazila of Dinajpur on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, with the lowest temperature recorded at 10.3 degrees Celsius at 6 a.m. The humidity level stood at 93 percent, intensifying the cold sensation across the district. Dense fog and chilly winds since dawn have brought daily life to a near standstill, particularly affecting laborers, farmers, day workers, and students. Road traffic has also slowed due to poor visibility caused by the fog.

According to Tofazzal Hossain, an official from the Dinajpur Meteorological Department, the cold conditions in the northern region have not yet subsided. The combination of low temperature and high humidity has made the cold more biting and prolonged the foggy conditions.

The persistent cold weather continues to disrupt normal activities in Nawabganj, with residents struggling to cope as the chill lingers across northern Bangladesh.

The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) announced that strict punitive measures will be taken against anyone honking in or around Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. The decision was detailed in a press release signed by Deputy Commissioner Muhammad Talebur Rahman of the DMP’s Media and Public Relations Division on Monday, January 19, 2026.

According to the release, the Dhaka North City Corporation declared the airport area and a 1.5-kilometer stretch from Scholastica School to Hotel Le Méridien, as well as Gulshan, Banani, Baridhara, and Niketan, as silent zones since September of the previous year. Under the Road Transport Act 2018 and the Noise Pollution (Control) Regulations, honking in these silent zones is a punishable offense, carrying a maximum fine of 10,000 taka or up to three months’ imprisonment.

The newly issued Noise Pollution (Control) Regulations 2025 authorize police to impose fines for honking or causing noise pollution in silent zones. The DMP stated that it will take strict disciplinary action against violators in these designated areas.

Gold prices in Bangladesh have reached a new record after the Bangladesh Jewellers Association (BAJUS) announced another increase. According to a press release issued on Monday, the price of 22-carat gold per bhori (11.664 grams) has been raised by Tk 4,199, bringing the new rate to Tk 238,879. The revised prices will take effect from Tuesday, marking the highest gold price ever recorded in the country.

BAJUS stated that the decision followed a rise in the local market price of refined gold. The Standing Committee on Pricing and Price Monitoring of BAJUS made the adjustment after a meeting. Under the new pricing, 21-carat gold will cost Tk 228,031 per bhori, 18-carat gold Tk 195,430, and traditional gold Tk 160,147.

Alongside gold, silver prices have also been increased. The price of 22-carat silver per bhori has risen by Tk 291 to Tk 6,240, with corresponding increases for other purities as well.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) and the Dhaka Transport Owners Association have jointly launched an e-ticketing and counter-based system to organize and modernize the city’s public bus network. The system was officially inaugurated at a hotel in Dhaka on Monday, with full implementation expected within a week. Under the new system, all buses will pick up and drop off passengers only at designated stops, and passengers must purchase e-tickets through an app or device. Fares will remain within government-approved limits, and students will continue to receive half fares.

The initiative involves collaboration among DMP’s traffic and crime divisions, the Bangladesh Road Transport Workers Federation, and several transport unions, with technical support from UrbanMove Tech. The company will manage the e-ticketing operations across routes, installing QR codes at over 800 bus stops for app-based ticketing and deploying more than 3,500 ticket masters for passengers without smartphones.

Officials said the system aims to reduce traffic congestion, prevent unsafe competition among buses, and improve passenger safety and comfort. It follows eight months of consultations with relevant ministries, city corporations, and transport stakeholders.

The Russian Federation has donated 30,000 tons of potash fertilizer to Bangladesh through the World Food Programme. The handover ceremony took place on Monday at the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council auditorium in Dhaka. The event was attended by Agriculture and Home Affairs Adviser Lieutenant General (Retd.) Md. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury as chief guest, Russian Ambassador to Bangladesh Alexander G. Khokhin as special guest, and senior officials from the Ministry of Agriculture, WFP, and Russian fertilizer producer Uralchem.

According to a statement signed by the Agriculture Ministry’s Senior Information Officer Mohammad Zakir Hossain, Uralchem, one of Russia’s leading fertilizer producers, provided the donation. Adviser Jahangir Alam Chowdhury noted that global fertilizer supply has become a major challenge due to climate change, unstable markets, and global crises, emphasizing the importance of international cooperation. He also stated that Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation currently holds 1.035 million tons of non-urea fertilizers, the highest since its establishment in 1961.

The ministry’s statement added that during the interim government’s tenure, Bangladesh’s agriculture sector achieved notable progress, with rice, potato, onion, vegetable, and mustard production all increasing compared to the previous three years.