Summary: An explosion at an arms factory in Maharashtra, India, killed at least eight people and injured several others. The incident occurred in the Bhandara district on January 24. The explosion caused a roof collapse, trapping workers beneath the debris. Rescue teams reached the site quickly, recovering eight bodies and rescuing others in critical condition. The factory had at least 14 workers inside, and the cause of the explosion remains under investigation.

Hasnat Abdullah, convenor of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, highlighted a growing political division in the country, emphasizing the need for unity to protect national interests. Speaking at a discussion in Comilla’s Debidwar, he criticized exiled leaders living luxuriously abroad while abandoning their supporters. He condemned the persecution of opposition leaders, religious figures, and activists, urging the public to support people-centric leaders over power-hungry ones. Abdullah dismissed rumors about his alleged escape, calling them baseless and ironic, as those spreading them are themselves in hiding abroad.

A powerful group in Pabna’s West Jamua village destroyed 60 houses in a government shelter project, claiming the land as their own. Residents allege they were forcibly evicted at gunpoint after the fall of the Awami League government. The group looted materials from the homes and placed a signboard citing a court case. Now, displaced families are living in dire conditions on nearby embankments. Local authorities have yet to act, despite repeated appeals from the victims for rehabilitation and justice.

Malaysia has made history by recognizing cryptocurrency as eligible for zakat, the obligatory Islamic charity. The Federal Territories Islamic Religious Council announced the decision to align zakat practices with the digital era. Cryptocurrency, a rapidly growing sector in Malaysia, involves 54.2% of the country’s investors, mostly aged 18–34, holding assets worth 16 billion ringgit. Officials see this as a potential new zakat source, particularly for young Muslims. The move reflects Malaysia’s effort to adapt Islamic finance to modern economic trends.

A bomb threat was sent via WhatsApp to the duty officer at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport from a Malaysian number on January 22. The message led to immediate security measures being implemented. However, flight operations remained unaffected. Earlier, another threat about explosives onboard a Bangladesh Airlines flight from Italy was reported as a warning. National Security Advisor dismissed the threats as false information, and authorities are working to identify those responsible for spreading it. No incidents occurred at the airport.

The UN Human Rights Commission will publish its fact-finding report on the July-August 2024 mass uprising in Bangladesh, led by the student movement against inequality, in February. The report, nearing completion, will be shared with Bangladesh before its release. Chief Advisor Dr. Muhammad Yunus thanked the UN for investigating the crimes during the student-led rebellion and emphasized that reports from six independent commissions will also be released. Yunus also urged the UN to support resolving the Rohingya crisis with a proposed safe zone in Myanmar’s Rakhine region.

Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus has appealed to world leaders for assistance in recovering billions stolen from Bangladesh. During the World Economic Forum in Davos, he met with leaders from Germany, Belgium, Thailand, Switzerland, and Congo, discussing economic cooperation, climate action, and the Rohingya crisis. Dr. Yunus highlighted corruption under the former government and outlined the interim government’s reform efforts. He urged international support to investigate past financial crimes and emphasized Bangladesh’s youth potential, clean energy initiatives, and plans to strengthen regional partnerships like BIMSTEC.

Shortly after taking office, U.S. President Donald Trump issued executive orders targeting undocumented immigrants, sparking nationwide crackdowns. In Brooklyn, New York, ICE officers in plain clothes arrested four Bangladeshis during a raid. Witnesses reported being asked for identification, with one individual arrested after invoking the Fifth Amendment. Trump has signed over 100 immigration-related orders, including revoking birthright citizenship and halting legalization programs. The measures, coupled with heightened border security, have created widespread fear among undocumented immigrants, prompting legal challenges from 24 states and cities.

Education Advisor Dr. Wahiduddin Mahmud highlighted the fragile state of Bangladesh’s education system, citing decades of decline starting in 1972 due to poor policy decisions, including converting prestigious colleges into university colleges and unchecked nationalization. Speaking to the Education Reporters Association, he emphasized that systemic issues take time to develop and cannot be quickly resolved. Poor primary education cascades into secondary and higher education, perpetuating a cycle of underqualified graduates. He also criticized the current state of National University graduates, many of whom remain unemployed.

Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Tazul Islam has warned that promoting hate speech or inflammatory remarks by former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, accused of genocide and crimes against humanity, is prohibited by the International Crimes Tribunal. Addressing journalists, he accused Hasina of attempting to undermine the tribunal’s proceedings and influence investigations through provocative statements from abroad. The tribunal has banned the dissemination of such remarks in media and social platforms and directed the BTRC to remove existing content to ensure justice and protect witnesses.

India has agreed to take back 18,000 of its illegal immigrants from the United States, responding to pressure from President Trump’s administration. This move is part of broader cooperation on immigration issues and aims to avoid trade conflicts while strengthening ties with the U.S. The Indian government will begin deportation procedures after identifying the individuals. In exchange, India expects the Trump administration to protect legal immigration channels, such as student visas and the H-1B program, for Indian citizens.

Sargis Alam, key figure in the anti-discrimination student movement and National Citizens Committee, has stepped down from his role as General Secretary of the July Shaheed Smriti Foundation. In his resignation post, he announced structural changes within the foundation, including the creation of an Executive Committee and the appointment of a CEO. He served for about two months and 10 days, during which he oversaw financial assistance to 628 martyr families and 2,000 injured individuals. Sargis emphasized that stepping down was an act of addressing his limitations responsibly.

The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has revoked the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) licenses of seven telecom companies, including Telebarta, Ranks Telecom, and Bangla Phone, for failing to renew their licenses after expiration. Announced on January 20, the cancellation renders any operations under these licenses illegal, as per the Bangladesh Telecommunication Act-2001. The companies have been instructed to return their original license certificates and settle any outstanding dues within 30 days to avoid further legal consequences.

US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order to withdraw the US from the World Health Organization (WHO), citing its handling of Covid-19, failure to reform, and perceived political bias. The move, announced on his first day back in office, revives a decision he initiated during his previous term but was reversed by President Biden. The US, which contributed nearly 20% of WHO’s $6.8 billion annual budget in 2023, risks destabilizing the agency’s funding. Trump hinted at a possible return, saying, “We’ll see what happens.”

The interim government has abolished the tax on marriage registration, as announced by Legal Adviser Asif Nazrul during a press briefing at the Ministry of Law on Tuesday, January 21. He called the tax unreasonable and confirmed its removal. Additionally, the term “virgin” on marriage forms has been replaced with “unmarried” to make it more respectful for women. Asif Nazrul emphasized the government’s commitment to addressing such issues and hinted at further reforms to improve the legal framework surrounding personal and societal matters.