The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) uncovered 55,000 euros, 169,300 US dollars, 1,005 grams of gold, and FDRs worth 7 million taka from three lockers belonging to SK Sur Chowdhury, a former deputy governor of Bangladesh Bank. The operation took place on January 26, following his arrest earlier this month for failing to respond to an ACC notice. SK Sur was also linked to the PK Halder financial scandal. The seized items are now under Bangladesh Bank’s custody. Investigations are ongoing.

Interim Government Legal Adviser Asif Nazrul claimed that 80% of the police force align with Chhatra League, although they are not actively supporting the current government. Speaking at a book launch on the July uprising, he stressed unity to overcome post-revolution challenges. Nazrul urged BNP and student leaders to avoid misunderstandings, emphasizing the importance of collective efforts against those responsible for past atrocities. He highlighted the need to honor the sacrifices of July uprising martyrs to resist adversaries backed by wealth, propaganda, and international support.

A disaster was averted on Sunday near Dhirashram, Gazipur, thanks to the vigilance of railway security personnel. They detected a 20-meter section of the Dhaka-Gazipur track bent and dislodged and quickly placed a red flag to warn approaching trains. The Dhaka-Chapainawabganj-bound Bonolota Express, carrying 1,200 passengers, stopped just 40 meters from the danger zone. Their swift actions ensured all passengers were saved. Another train had crossed the damaged track earlier. After repairs, the Bonolota Express resumed its journey.

Chief Prosecutor Advocate Tazul Islam of the International Crimes Tribunal disclosed that evidence has been found proving that RAB fired from a helicopter during the anti-discrimination student protests in July-August last year. This revelation comes amid ongoing investigations, with an arrest warrant issued for former RAB DG Harun-Ur-Rashid in a murder case. Additionally, former police officials have been presented before the tribunal for their involvement in related incidents, including the burning of six bodies during the protests.

A violent clash between two Awami League factions over local dominance in Bashgari Union, Raipura, Narsingdi, left two people dead and at least 10 injured on Sunday morning. The dispute between former union chairman Ashraful Haque Sarkar and current chairman Ratul Hasan escalated into a confrontation involving spears and firearms. One victim, Alamgir Hossain, died after being taken to the hospital. Police are investigating, but the identity of one deceased and other injured persons remains unknown.

KM Shafiullah, Bir Uttam, the first Chief of Army Staff of Bangladesh and a prominent sector commander in the Liberation War, has passed away at 90. He died on January 26 while undergoing treatment in a private hospital in Dhaka. Born in 1934, he played a crucial role in the 1971 war, leading Sector 3 and later commanding the S Force. After independence, he served as army chief (1972–1975) and as an ambassador in several countries. He had been suffering from multiple health issues.

The Press Wing of the Chief Advisor dismissed the interview of fugitive Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, published in The Indian Express, as misleading and filled with lies. Kamal, accused of genocide, falsely claimed the burning of 460 police stations and looting of 5,829 weapons, which contradicts police records. The Press Wing highlighted his baseless statements, including allegations of media control and calls for Indian intervention in Bangladesh’s judiciary, labeling them as threats to national sovereignty. It reaffirmed the interim government’s commitment to press freedom since August 2024.

Argent LNG, developing a 25 MTPA LNG facility in Louisiana, signed a non-binding agreement with Bangladesh to supply up to 5 million metric tons of LNG annually. If completed, the project could supply LNG to Bangladesh’s state-owned Petrobangla. The agreement ensures reliable energy for Bangladesh’s industries, despite its price sensitivity, as seen in its return to coal during 2022’s LNG price spikes due to the Russia-Ukraine war.

Sri Lanka has revoked a $442 million power purchase agreement with Adani Green Energy for two wind power projects following US allegations of bribery against the Indian conglomerate. The decision, marked as “Urgent & Confidential,” was finalized in early January by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s cabinet. Adani denies the cancellation claims, stating it’s a tariff review process. The scandal, involving $265 million in alleged bribes, has triggered global scrutiny of Adani’s projects.

In 2024, Bangladesh received the bodies of 4,813 migrant workers, marking a record number compared to 4,552 in 2023. Since 1993, a total of 56,769 bodies have been repatriated. Most deaths occur among young workers, often due to unsafe workplaces, poor living conditions, overwork, and inadequate nutrition. Between 2016 and 2022, 67.4% of repatriated bodies came from Gulf countries, primarily Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Oman. Over 16 million Bangladeshis have worked abroad since 1976, with 76.3% in Gulf nations.

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.