Tarique Rahman has officially taken charge as the chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). The decision was made on Friday night at the BNP chairperson’s political office in Gulshan, following a meeting of the party’s National Standing Committee. Rahman, who had been serving as acting chairman, assumed the role in accordance with the party’s constitution.

The chairmanship became vacant after the death of BNP chairperson and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia. In response, the BNP’s National Standing Committee convened to address the vacancy. During the meeting, members unanimously decided to appoint Tarique Rahman as the new chairman, formalizing his leadership position within the party.

The appointment marks a continuation of leadership within the party’s existing framework, as Rahman transitions from acting to full chairman under the BNP’s constitutional process.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has begun an emergency meeting of its Standing Committee on Friday night, chaired by acting chairman Tarique Rahman. The meeting started around 9:30 p.m., according to reports. Earlier, committee member Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku confirmed to the media that the meeting had been called but did not disclose its agenda.

The meeting comes days after BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir told journalists in Sylhet on January 4 that Tarique Rahman would be formally elected as party chairman within a few days. Although the BNP constitutionally recognizes Rahman as the automatic successor to the chairmanship following Khaleda Zia’s imprisonment in February 2018, the party has yet to make an official announcement or use the chairman title publicly. This uncertainty has also affected campaign materials, as it remains unclear whose image should appear on banners and posters.

The emergency session is expected to address internal organizational matters, but no official details of the discussion have been released.

The Election Commission (EC) of Bangladesh has issued a circular to ensure the confidentiality of ballot papers and the security of election materials ahead of the 13th National Parliamentary Election and referendum. The directive, signed by Mohammad Monir Hossain, Deputy Secretary of the EC Secretariat’s Election Management-2 branch, was released on Thursday. It outlines procedures for verifying election materials, distributing them to polling centers, and maintaining strict confidentiality of official and brass seals.

According to the circular, ballot papers supplied from the BG Press, Government Printing Press, or Security Printing Press must be checked against Form-5 to verify candidate names and symbols before being securely stored until distribution to presiding officers. The EC also instructed that official and brass seals, which carry security code numbers, be recorded and preserved confidentially at every stage. Assistant returning officers must document seal codes and impressions in distribution registers, while presiding officers must store seal details in designated envelopes within secure bags.

The circular emphasizes that all election materials, including indelible ink, stamp pads, and seals, must be handled with utmost care to maintain transparency and prevent any breach of ballot secrecy.

Former army chief Iqbal Karim Bhuiyan has given a statement to the International Crimes Tribunal’s investigation agency regarding enforced disappearances and killings during the Awami League’s fifteen-year rule. His testimony implicates dismissed former army officer Major General Ziaul Ahsan in the abduction and extrajudicial killing of hundreds of people. Chief Prosecutor Tazul Islam confirmed that Iqbal Karim will testify before Tribunal-1 in the crimes against humanity case against Ziaul. The court has set January 14 for an order following the formal hearing on charge framing.

In his statement, Iqbal Karim described Ziaul’s conduct as increasingly unruly after assuming the post of Additional Director General of the Rapid Action Battalion, alleging that extrajudicial killings rose sharply under his watch. He also recounted internal military tensions involving security adviser General Tariq Ahmed Siddiq and other officers, as well as political influence over military appointments and operations during Sheikh Hasina’s tenure.

The tribunal, led by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mojumdar with two other members, is currently conducting proceedings in the case against Ziaul Ahsan for crimes against humanity linked to disappearances and killings over the past fifteen years.

Australian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Susan Ryle paid a courtesy call on Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) acting chairman Tarique Rahman on January 9, 2026. According to BNP media cell member Shayrul Kabir Khan, the meeting took place around 7 p.m. at the BNP chairperson’s office in Gulshan, Dhaka.

The report described the meeting as a courtesy visit, without disclosing further details about the discussion or agenda. The BNP media cell confirmed the timing and location of the meeting but did not provide additional context or statements from either side.

No further information was given about the topics discussed or any outcomes from the meeting.

A total of 610 appeals have been submitted to the Election Commission (EC) challenging the returning officers’ decisions on nomination acceptance and rejection for the 13th National Parliament election. Of these, 600 appeals contest the rejection of nomination papers, while 10 challenge accepted nominations. On the final day of submission, 141 appeals were filed by 6:45 p.m. Many candidates were seen waiting at EC booths to submit their applications.

The hearings will be conducted by Chief Election Commissioner A.M.M. Nasiruddin and his team in the basement of the Election Building in Agargaon. Proceedings will begin on Saturday and continue until January 18, with hearings held in two sessions daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The EC expects to hear about 70 appeals per day, following the order of submission.

According to EC sources, most appellants are independent or political party candidates whose nominations were rejected. Returning officers had earlier canceled 723 nominations, leaving 1,842 valid candidates for the upcoming election.

BNP candidate Manjurul Ahsan Munshi has filed a petition with the Election Commission seeking cancellation of the nomination of National Citizens Party (NCP) leader Hasnat Abdullah in the Comilla-4 (Debidwar) constituency for the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election. The petition, submitted on Friday, January 9, alleges inconsistencies in Hasnat’s affidavit, discrepancies in his asset statement, failure to submit his wife’s tax return, and lack of clear evidence regarding the source of his election expenses, which the petitioner claims constitute criminal offenses under election law.

Separately, the Chamber Court suspended a High Court order that had earlier removed Manjurul Ahsan Munshi’s name from the list of loan defaulters, effectively preventing him from contesting the election. The Chamber Court order was issued by Justice Md Rezaul Haque following an appeal by Premier Bank authorities. The High Court bench of Justice A.K.M. Rabiul Hasan had previously stayed Munshi’s inclusion in the defaulter list.

The final day for appeals against acceptance or rejection of nomination papers is today, with hearings scheduled from January 10 to 18. Both candidates could not be reached for comment.

The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court has suspended the Election Commission’s (EC) boundary-related gazette concerning Pabna-1 and Pabna-2 constituencies. The order, issued on January 5 by a bench led by Chief Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury, halts the EC’s revised notification of December 24 that had reinstated earlier boundaries. However, the court clarified that this suspension does not obstruct the upcoming elections in these constituencies.

The EC had originally published a final delimitation gazette on September 4, 2025, defining Pabna-1 as comprising the entire Santhia upazila and Pabna-2 as including Sujanagar and Bera upazilas. Following legal challenges by residents of Bera and Santhia, the High Court declared parts of the EC’s gazette unlawful on December 18, 2025, and directed the EC to restore the previous boundaries within 24 hours. The EC complied on December 24, but both the Commission and Jamaat-e-Islami candidate Barrister Mohammad Nazibur Rahman appealed the ruling.

The Appellate Division’s suspension means the September 4 gazette remains in effect, keeping Santhia as Pabna-1 and Sujanagar and Bera as Pabna-2. The EC confirmed that reports of election postponement are incorrect.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General and former MP Mia Golam Parwar said that voting is a sacred trust that must be given only to honest and capable individuals. Speaking on Friday, January 9, 2026, at several voter gatherings in Dumuria upazila under Khulna-5 constituency, he warned that entrusting votes to dishonest or corrupt people would make voters complicit in wrongdoing. He emphasized that every vote carries equal value, from a rickshaw puller to the president, and that this power should not be handed to those who misuse it for extortion or oppression.

Parwar stated that if more than half of the 300 parliamentary seats were filled by honest and God-fearing individuals, justice-based governance could be established nationwide. He said twelve political parties, including six Islamic and six patriotic groups, are jointly contesting the upcoming election. Addressing concerns from minority communities, he assured that Jamaat’s rise to power would not harm Hindu religious or cultural rights, claiming that Islamic governance would bring welfare to all citizens.

He urged voters to campaign door-to-door, encourage women’s participation, and reject parties that failed to ensure integrity over the past 54 years.

Islami Chhatra Andolan Bangladesh’s central president, Muntasir Ahmad, stated that the brutal killing of Shaheed Osman Hadi was not an isolated incident but a reflection of ongoing impunity in the state. Speaking on Friday after Juma prayers at the north gate of Baitul Mukarram National Mosque, he warned that if the killers were not brought to justice even after one month, the interim government and the state could not avoid responsibility.

Ahmad emphasized that the current state system stands on the sacrifices of July’s martyrs and fighters, and failure to ensure justice for Hadi would question the moral legitimacy of the state. He urged that if justice is denied, people would be compelled to return to the streets, and the state must bear that consequence.

He further linked the culture of impunity from Felani to Abrar to Osman Hadi, saying it has endangered national sovereignty and independence under foreign dominance. The event, an anti-hegemony march and rally, was led by Secretary General Sultan Mahmud, with several central leaders present.

The Election Commission (EC) has clarified that reports claiming the postponement of elections in Pabna-1 and Pabna-2 constituencies due to boundary complications are incorrect. In a press note issued by the Press Information Department on Friday, January 9, the EC stated that no decision had been made to postpone the elections and requested the withdrawal or suspension of such reports.

According to the source, on January 5, the Appellate Division suspended parts of the EC’s December 24 revised notification concerning the reinstatement of previous boundaries for the two constituencies. Following this, several media outlets reported that the elections had been postponed, citing Election Commissioner Abdur Rahmanel Masud. He clarified that the elections themselves were not postponed, but the electoral activities would remain suspended until further orders from the court.

The EC reiterated that the commission had not decided to postpone the elections and emphasized that only the court’s order temporarily halted related activities.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned that U.S. President Donald Trump would ultimately be ousted from power. Speaking on state television on Friday, Khamenei accused foreign-backed forces of trying to destabilize Iran and compared Trump to past dictators who fell from power. He said Iran would not retreat in the face of unrest and urged the nation’s youth to remain united and prepared to confront enemies.

The warning came as protests over rising living costs intensified across Iran, with reports of government buildings being set on fire. Internet monitoring group NetBlocks reported that Iranian authorities shut down nationwide internet access late Thursday, keeping the country offline for about 12 hours to suppress demonstrations. The U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency said at least 34 protesters and four security personnel had been killed, and around 2,200 people arrested during the unrest.

The developments highlight escalating tensions between Iran’s leadership and protesters, as well as renewed friction with the United States over accusations of foreign interference.

Bangladesh’s interim government foreign affairs adviser Md. Touhid Hossain and Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar held their second telephone conversation within three days, according to Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The ministry announced on Facebook on January 8, 2026, that the two leaders discussed bilateral matters and recent regional developments. They also praised the convening of the upcoming OIC Council of Foreign Ministers session scheduled for January 10, 2026, in Jeddah.

Earlier, on January 4, Ishaq Dar had called Touhid Hossain while attending the seventh Pakistan-China strategic dialogue in Beijing. During that conversation, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing cooperation between Bangladesh and Pakistan. They also exchanged views on recent developments in Asia and the Middle East and agreed to maintain close communication between the two countries.

The repeated contact between the two officials highlights ongoing diplomatic engagement and mutual interest in strengthening bilateral ties and regional collaboration.

Pakistan’s High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Imran Haider, met with the Bangladesh Nationalist Party’s (BNP) acting chairman, Tarique Rahman, on Friday afternoon. The meeting took place at the BNP chairperson’s office in Gulshan, Dhaka. The BNP’s verified Facebook page shared a photo of the meeting, describing it as a courtesy call between the two figures.

According to the post, the meeting was held at the BNP’s Gulshan office, where the Pakistani envoy paid a courtesy visit to Tarique Rahman. The report did not specify the topics discussed or the duration of the meeting. The event was reported by the online edition of the newspaper “Amar Desh.”

No further details were provided about the content of the discussion or any official statements from either side following the meeting.

BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman’s upcoming visit to Bogura has stirred significant excitement among local party leaders and activists. According to the schedule, he will leave Dhaka on the morning of January 11, traveling by road through Tangail and Sirajganj, and is expected to reach Bogura around 9 p.m. that night. He will stay overnight at the Naz Garden Hotel, a decision confirmed by district BNP president Rezaul Karim Badsha after earlier speculation about a stay at the newly established five-star Mom-Inn Hotel.

Hotel sources said preparations are underway to receive the BNP leader, while the district BNP is coordinating security and crowd management during his stay. On January 12 at 10:30 a.m., Tarique Rahman will attend a public prayer event at Bogura Central High School field, which was finalized after earlier consideration of Altafunnesa playground as a possible venue.

Following the event, he will travel to Rangpur to visit the grave of July War hero Shaheed Abu Sayeed, and then continue his tour through Dinajpur, Panchagarh, Thakurgaon, and Kurigram before returning to Dhaka.