Law enforcement agencies took up alert positions at Jagannath University on Wednesday as results of the university’s central student union election were being announced. Police officers were seen seated in rows with chairs in front of the university’s second gate, maintaining a visible presence to ensure order on campus.

According to the report, members of the police, Ansar, BNCC, and Rover Scouts were deployed across different parts of the campus to maintain security and control the movement of students and outsiders. The university administration implemented these measures to prevent any untoward incidents related to the election results.

The report also mentioned that candidates from the student organization Shibir were leading in several centers, with their vice president candidate reportedly ahead by 351 votes in 26 centers. Students gathered to watch the election results displayed on an LED screen at the campus.

Chinese Ambassador Yao Wen has expressed hope that Tarique Rahman will become Bangladesh’s next elected prime minister and lead the nation. The information was shared by BNP Joint Secretary General Humayun Kabir after a meeting between the ambassador and Tarique Rahman at the BNP chairperson’s political office in Gulshan on Wednesday. BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, adviser Mahadi Amin, and press secretary Saleh Shibli were also present.

This was the first meeting between the Chinese ambassador and the BNP’s acting chairman. According to Humayun Kabir, the discussion took place in a cordial atmosphere, emphasizing China’s long-standing role as an important development partner of Bangladesh. Tarique Rahman discussed BNP’s future development plans and how the party intends to implement its vision for national progress, while both sides talked about potential areas of cooperation.

During the meeting, the Chinese ambassador also conveyed condolences over the death of Begum Khaleda Zia, delivering official messages of sympathy from China’s president and prime minister.

BNP’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman will begin his campaign for the upcoming parliamentary election from Sylhet on January 22, following visits to the shrines of Hazrat Shahjalal (R.) and Shah Paran (R.). Party sources said he will travel to Sylhet the day after election symbols are allocated, marking his first visit to the city in 19 years. According to BNP’s tradition, Rahman will start the campaign with prayers at the shrines and a public rally.

BNP’s assistant organizing secretary Miftah Siddiqi confirmed preparations are underway for the event, including selecting a venue for the rally. Sylhet district BNP president Abdul Kaiyum Chowdhury said Rahman will address the rally as chief guest after the shrine visits. Earlier, on January 4, BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir stated that Rahman would begin formal campaigning in Sylhet after assuming full chairmanship of the party.

Before the campaign launch, Rahman will start a nationwide tour on January 11, visiting four districts until January 14. Due to election conduct rules, he will not engage in campaign activities during that tour but will attend prayers and meet families of political martyrs.

Hasnat Abdullah, chief organizer of the National Citizens Party (NCP) for the southern region and Jamaat-led alliance candidate for Cumilla-4, alleged that a political faction has aligned with what he termed an 'Indian mafia group' over the referendum issue. He made the remarks on Wednesday, January 7, during an election march at Fatehabad South Government Primary School field in Debidwar, Cumilla.

During his address, Hasnat questioned voters about their desire for elections under an independent commission and a corruption-free Bangladesh. He claimed that since 2009, leaders and activists of the BNP-Jamaat alliance have faced abductions, killings, and torture, while some political parties have acted under Indian influence. He also criticized sections of the media and corporate groups for allegedly supporting those he accused of betraying national interests.

Hasnat further stated that Bangladesh now faces two opposing sides—one of subservience and one of freedom—and urged police and administration officials to learn from past elections. The event included local Jamaat and NCP leaders and was chaired by Wali Ullah Sarkar of Fatehabad village.

A broom procession and protest rally were held in Muradnagar, Cumilla, on Wednesday in response to controversial remarks made by former adviser Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan about BNP candidate and former five-time MP Kazi Shah Mofazzal Hossain Kaykobad. The demonstration began at the BNP office in Muradnagar and ended at Allah Chattar after marching through the main roads. The event was organized under the banner of the people of Muradnagar and attended by local BNP leaders and activists.

Speakers at the rally accused Asif Mahmud of spreading false and conspiratorial statements against Kaykobad to hide his own alleged corruption. They described Kaykobad as a tested and popular leader and claimed that a planned smear campaign was being conducted to undermine him. The speakers warned that any further conspiracy or falsehood against Kaykobad would lead to strict programs, including blocking the Dhaka–Chattogram highway.

The protesters also alleged that certain Facebook pages and online platforms were deliberately spreading rumors about Kaykobad and urged the administration to investigate and take immediate action.

At a discussion marking Felani Killing Day, United Peoples Bangladesh (UP Bangladesh) chief organizer Naeem Ahmad said that seeking justice for the killing of Bangladeshi teenager Felani Khatun in Indian courts is meaningless. The event was held at the organization’s central office, where speakers reflected on the 15 years since Felani was shot by India’s Border Security Force (BSF) along the Bangladesh–India border, yet her family has not received justice.

Ahmad recalled that the BSF shot Felani while she was crossing the border with her father to get married, and later attempts were made to label her family as cattle smugglers. He detailed that India’s General Security Forces Court acquitted BSF trooper Amiya Ghosh twice, in 2013 and 2015, and that a petition filed in India’s Supreme Court by rights group MASUM has seen no progress. Ahmad argued that relying solely on Indian courts is futile and urged the Bangladesh government to pursue coordinated diplomatic and legal action.

He called for implementing international law, enforcing the 2018 border agreement, and, if necessary, approaching international courts and the UN Human Rights Commission to ensure justice and prevent future border killings.

A senior European Union (EU) official said discussions on the Comprehensive Partnership Agreement (CPA) between Bangladesh and the EU are close to being finalized. Paula Pampaloni, Acting Managing Director for Asia-Pacific at the European External Action Service, made the remarks during a meeting with Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus in Dhaka. The meeting at the state guesthouse Jamuna covered ongoing CPA negotiations, the upcoming national election and referendum, illegal migration prevention, and trade and investment expansion.

Pampaloni noted that after 20 years under a general partnership framework, talks on the CPA began in November 2024. She praised Yunus for his “remarkable and extensive” reform efforts since assuming office, emphasizing that the EU values these reforms as Bangladesh’s largest political and trade partner. She added that the EU has closely observed and appreciated the interim government’s reform ambitions and expects the CPA to deepen bilateral ties and create major trade and investment opportunities.

The EU will send a high-level election observation mission for Bangladesh’s February 12 national election. Pampaloni said a successful democratic transition could elevate Bangladesh-EU relations to new heights, marking a new chapter between Dhaka and the EU.

Zahidur Rahman, a student of Electronics and Communication Engineering at Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (KUET), has issued a 24-hour ultimatum to the university authorities with three demands. Speaking at a press conference at Khulna Press Club on Wednesday, he warned that if his demands are not met, he will begin a sit-in protest in front of the university’s administrative building and pursue legal action through the High Court. Zahidur, who was allegedly tortured by Chhatra League activists in 2022, seeks justice and institutional accountability.

According to local sources, Zahidur was assaulted for a Facebook post about former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on September 11, 2022, and later jailed for 52 days under what he described as a fabricated case. After returning to KUET following the 2024 student uprising, he requested justice, prompting the administration to form an inquiry committee. Based on its report, disciplinary action was taken against 13 students, including expulsion of 10.

Zahidur’s demands include public release of the investigation report, dismissal and criminal prosecution of implicated officials, and compensation with assurance of an uninterrupted academic career.

Bangladesh Police’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has collected DNA samples from the remains of 114 unidentified victims buried at Rayerbazar, Dhaka, following the July mass uprising. The report was formally handed over on Wednesday, January 7, 2026, at the state guesthouse Jamuna to Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus. The initiative was conducted under the supervision of the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs, with support from the Home and Health Ministries. Between December 7 and 27, 2025, nine families provided DNA samples, leading to the identification of eight martyrs, all confirmed to have died from bullet wounds.

To ensure transparency and international standards, CID engaged forensic expert Dr. Morris Tidball Binz for technical guidance. CID urged families of those missing during the July–August uprising to contact its hotline for further identification efforts. During the handover, Chief Adviser Yunus thanked all involved, describing the initiative as a moral and humanitarian step toward truth and justice for families of the disappeared.

CID officials noted that on-site DNA testing enhanced police capabilities, while the Chief Adviser emphasized that the effort symbolizes the nation’s commitment to uncovering truth and restoring dignity to the victims.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami’s Nayeb-e-Ameer Dr. Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher has warned the Election Commission that Bangladesh will suffer if the upcoming national election is arranged or manipulated. Speaking to reporters after a meeting with Chief Election Commissioner A.M.M. Nasir Uddin at the Election Commission office in Agargaon on Wednesday, January 7, he said his party had proposed installing CCTV cameras at polling centers to ensure a fair election.

Dr. Taher alleged that the returning officer had approved nomination papers of candidates from one party despite 12 or 13 of them holding dual citizenship, calling it discriminatory behavior by the administration. He also claimed that one candidate was receiving excessive protection, undermining a level playing field, and accused another party of distributing various cards in violation of the electoral code of conduct. He clarified that Jamaat had not submitted any list of SPs or DCs and denied holding any formal meeting with Tarique Rahman, describing a recent encounter as a condolence visit.

The meeting was attended by a six-member Jamaat delegation and four election commissioners along with the Election Commission secretary.

Vote counting for the Jagannath University Central Students’ Union (JAKSU) election is ongoing, with results from 26 of 39 centers officially announced by the Election Commission. According to the latest tally, Shibir-backed vice president candidate Riazul Islam is leading by 351 votes over his rival, AKM Rakib, who is supported by the Chhatra Dal panel. Shibir-backed candidates are also maintaining strong leads in the general secretary (GS) and assistant general secretary (AGS) positions.

In the results so far, Riazul Islam has received 3,364 votes, while AKM Rakib has 3,013. For the GS post, Shibir’s Arif has 3,487 votes compared to Khadijatul Kubra’s 1,379. In the AGS race, Shibir’s Masud has 3,103 votes, followed by Atikul Rahman Tanzil with 2,677. The long-awaited JAKSU election was held on Tuesday after several delays and suspensions.

Out of 16,445 registered voters, 66 percent cast their ballots. The election included 8,479 female and 8,170 male voters, with 190 candidates contesting across 39 centers and 178 booths for both central and hall unions.

Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen paid a courtesy visit to BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman on Wednesday. The meeting took place at the BNP Chairperson’s political office in Gulshan, Dhaka. The report described the encounter as a formal courtesy meeting between the ambassador and the opposition leader.

The article did not provide details about the topics discussed or any statements made during the meeting. It focused solely on the occurrence of the meeting and its location. The report was published on January 7, 2026, by the newspaper Amar Desh.

No further information was included regarding the duration of the meeting, participants, or any follow-up engagements between the Chinese embassy and the BNP leadership.

The Government of Bangladesh has issued a new amended ordinance to ensure legal protection and inheritance rights for families of persons who have been missing due to enforced disappearance. The Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs published the ordinance in the official gazette on Tuesday, and it took immediate effect. The ordinance grants tribunals the authority to declare the property of a person missing for at least five years as distributable among legal heirs if the person has not returned alive.

According to the amendment, titled the 'Enforced Disappearance Prevention and Remedy (Amendment) Ordinance, 2026,' the tribunal can issue such orders after verifying the authenticity of applications submitted by heirs. The amendment also removes the requirement for prior approval from the commission for the spouse or dependents of a disappeared person to initiate legal proceedings. The new provision modifies Section 23 of the 2025 ordinance, overriding the seven-year rule under Section 108 of the Evidence Act, 1872.

Until specific regulations are formulated, the tribunal will determine the procedure for such applications independently.

NCP candidate for Panchagarh-1, Sarjis Alam, stated at a press conference in Panchagarh on Wednesday that a discrepancy in his election affidavit was due to a typing mistake by his lawyer. He explained that his income was mistakenly listed as 2.8 million taka instead of 0.9 million, calling it an unintentional error that was later corrected through proper legal procedures. The returning officer, he said, declared his candidacy valid as the major information in the affidavit was accurate.

During the briefing, Alam accused propaganda pages linked to the Awami League of spreading misinformation and fake content about him on social media. He urged the government and the Election Commission to take legal action against such disinformation. He also alleged that BNP grassroots activists were threatening NCP supporters and their families, warning that such intimidation and misuse of power could undermine the fairness of the upcoming election.

Alam called on the media to maintain professionalism and neutrality before the election, emphasizing that transparent journalism is essential for a fair electoral process.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami’s Nayeb-e-Ameer Dr. Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher has alleged that district commissioners (DCs) and superintendents of police (SPs) are engaging in discriminatory behavior. He made the remarks on Wednesday after meeting with the Election Commission (EC), speaking to journalists about the issue.

Taher stated that field-level administration officials, particularly DCs and SPs, are not maintaining neutrality and are acting in a biased manner in various situations. He said such conduct is obstructing the creation of a fair electoral environment. During the meeting, the Jamaat delegation urged the Election Commission to ensure administrative neutrality and to create a level playing field for all political parties.

The allegations highlight Jamaat’s concerns about fairness in the electoral process and the role of local administration in maintaining impartiality during elections.