A controversy has erupted in Feni-3 constituency over the validity of BNP Vice Chairman and ‘Sheaf of Paddy’ candidate Abdul Awal Mintoo’s nomination due to questions surrounding his dual citizenship. Despite not submitting any official proof of renouncing his U.S. citizenship, the district returning officer declared his nomination valid during the scrutiny session on Sunday, prompting applause from BNP supporters and silent astonishment among others. The schedule for the scrutiny had been delayed twice, fueling speculation about possible cancellation.

During the verification, Feni district Jamaat Secretary Mohammad Abdur Rahim raised the issue of Mintoo’s dual citizenship. Returning Officer Monira Haque responded that Mintoo had declared in his affidavit that he applied to the U.S. Embassy to renounce his citizenship and submitted related email correspondence and forms. She said the decision was made after consulting the public prosecutor, acknowledging that appeals could be filed.

The incident has sparked widespread debate on social media and raised questions about the neutrality of the Election Commission. Legal experts cited constitutional provisions disqualifying foreign citizens from parliamentary eligibility and called for stricter verification of citizenship renunciation documents to ensure electoral transparency.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) of Bangladesh will verify the affidavits submitted by candidates in the upcoming 13th national parliamentary election, ACC Chairman Abdul Momen announced on Monday. Speaking at a meeting with the newly elected committee of Reporters Against Corruption (RAC), he said that any discrepancies found in candidates’ asset declarations would lead to legal action. The Election Commission has been instructed to immediately inform the ACC if inconsistencies are detected.

Momen emphasized that there would be no compromise on corruption, asserting that the ACC would maintain its firm stance even if new laws allowed for leniency. He noted that the ACC’s investigations are bound by legal time limits, making it unlikely that all inquiries could be completed before the election. However, he encouraged anyone with specific evidence to submit it for prompt legal action.

He also urged RAC members to assist by examining candidates’ information and forwarding any verified suspicions to the ACC, assuring that all actions would follow the commission’s legal framework.

BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman is scheduled to visit Habiganj on January 22. The announcement was confirmed by BNP Organizing Secretary GK Gaus during a prayer gathering organized by the party at Habiganj Municipality Field on Monday afternoon, held for the spiritual well-being of Khaleda Zia.

According to Gaus, Tarique Rahman will first visit a shrine in Sylhet and then travel by road to Dhaka, stopping in Habiganj to address what he described as a historic public rally. He urged party leaders and activists to intensify publicity efforts in neighborhoods to ensure a massive turnout.

Gaus also called on BNP members to work in unity to make the upcoming rally a success, emphasizing the importance of collective effort in organizing the event.

Taherima Jannat Survi, known for her role in the July uprising, was released from Gazipur Central Jail on Monday, January 5, 2026, at 6:40 p.m. Her lawyer and Gazipur Lawyers Association General Secretary, Mostafizur Rahman Kamal, confirmed the release. Earlier in the day, the defense filed a revision petition against a two-day remand order. The district judge later canceled the remand, considering her age and other factors, and granted her four weeks of interim bail under her lawyer’s custody.

The 17-year-old Survi had been accused in what supporters described as a false and harassing case, sparking widespread public reaction across the country. Various organizations involved in the July uprising demanded her release and called for legal action against the complainant, Naimur Rahman Durjoy, and the investigating officer, alleging fraud using the name of the Home Adviser.

Legal adviser Professor Dr. Asif Nazrul stated that Survi had been treated unjustly and expressed confidence that she would receive fair justice.

Barrister Asaduzzaman Fuad, Secretary General of the Amar Bangladesh Party (AB Party), has called for unity among all political forces regardless of party affiliation to protect the country’s national interest and sovereignty. He made the remarks on Monday after a meeting with BNP’s Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman at the BNP Chairperson’s political office in Dhaka. Fuad emphasized that while political disagreements are natural, all parties must stand together on matters of national importance.

According to Fuad, the meeting discussed state sovereignty, national interest, future political structures, and key policy issues. The AB Party delegation included Chairman Mojibur Rahman Monju, Joint Secretary General Barrister Zobayer Ahmed Bhuiyan, and Barrister Nasrin Sultana Mili. The discussion also highlighted the need for a Westminster-style democratic system in Bangladesh and addressed issues such as urban livability, unemployment reduction, environmental protection, and reforms in education and health sectors.

Fuad added that Tarique Rahman expressed interest in continuing policy-based discussions in the future. He reiterated that there would be no compromise on national interest and sovereignty, urging all political actors to remain united on these core issues.

The Press Wing of Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser clarified on January 5, 2026, that reports circulating in Bangladeshi and Indian media about the cancellation of several 2026 public holidays were false. The misinformation claimed that holidays for Saraswati Puja, February 21, May Day, Buddha Purnima, Ashura, Janmashtami, Madhu Purnima, and Mahalaya had been canceled. The clarification was issued through an official post on the Press Wing’s Facebook page.

According to the Press Wing, these holidays coincided with regular weekly holidays—Fridays and Saturdays—and were therefore not listed separately in the government’s holiday notification. The official circular, signed by Sabina Yasmin, Deputy Secretary of the Secondary and Higher Education Division, showed that these dates carried a “zero” holiday count. A fact-check team confirmed that this practice was consistent with the previous two years, where holidays falling on weekends were not counted as additional days off.

The Press Wing emphasized that no holidays were canceled and that the confusion arose solely from the overlap with weekly holidays.

Religious Adviser Dr. A F M Khalid Hossain stated that a referendum would block the path to creating fascist rulers in Bangladesh. Speaking on Monday morning at a workshop on referendum awareness at the Islamic Foundation auditorium in Agargaon, Dhaka, he said that once in power, leaders in Bangladesh have historically sought to extend their rule through various tactics. He argued that the referendum would change this pattern and enable both government and opposition parties to work together in forming the caretaker government, Election Commission, and Public Service Commission.

Dr. Hossain added that the Islamic Foundation has an extensive nationwide network, and strengthening it would bring significant benefits to the country. He also assured that initiatives would be taken to upgrade the Islamic Foundation into a directorate. The event was chaired by Director General A. Salam Khan and attended by senior officials and scholars.

Special guest Professor Ali Riaz said that if the “yes” side wins the referendum, no new fascist leader like Hasina would emerge, and the vote would determine Bangladesh’s direction for the next 50 years.

The Election Commission (EC) of Bangladesh has announced that no political party, contesting candidate, or any individual on their behalf may conduct election campaigning before the allocation of electoral symbols for the upcoming 13th National Parliament election. The directive was issued on Monday through a press release signed by Md Ruhul Amin Mallik, Director of Public Relations and Information Officer at the EC Secretariat.

According to the announcement, the allocation of election symbols will take place on January 21. The EC has urged all candidates and related parties to conduct their campaigns in accordance with the electoral code of conduct after that date. Campaigning must end 48 hours before the start of voting, which is scheduled for February 12.

The EC’s statement reiterates its call for adherence to election rules to ensure fair and orderly campaigning once the official symbol distribution is completed.

U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday issued a renewed tariff warning to India, saying Washington could raise duties on New Delhi if it does not reduce purchases of Russian oil. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday, Trump tied the warning to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict and remarked that keeping him pleased was important. He described Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a good man who understood his dissatisfaction.

According to the Times of India, Trump reiterated that India’s continued trade with Russia could prompt the United States to impose higher tariffs soon. Last year, Washington had already raised import duties on Indian goods by 50 percent as a penalty for large-scale Russian oil purchases, though Indian exports to the U.S. still increased in November. Reuters sources reported that India has asked refineries to disclose weekly oil purchase data from Russia and the U.S. as part of trade deal efforts, potentially reducing Russian crude imports below one million barrels per day.

The report also noted that Senator Lindsey Graham is leading co-sponsors of a sanctions bill that would mandate tariffs up to 500 percent on countries continuing to buy Russian oil or uranium.

Jamaat-e-Islami’s central executive council has stated that a free, fair, and neutral electoral environment has not yet been established in Bangladesh. The party alleged that some government officials within the administration are working in favor of a particular political party. During a meeting held on Monday at the party’s central office in Moghbazar, Dhaka, presided over by Jamaat Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman, the council demanded that the Election Commission and the government take strict measures to ensure full administrative neutrality and improve law and order ahead of the upcoming referendum and 13th national parliamentary election.

According to a press release from Jamaat’s central publicity department, the meeting discussed the current political situation and expressed concern over reports of political activists being killed in broad daylight in various parts of the country. The council emphasized that the newly achieved Bangladesh, gained through years of struggle, must not be held hostage by any group or conspiracy.

The council called on election officials and law enforcement agencies to maintain complete impartiality and avoid leaning toward any political party while performing their duties.

The Commission of Inquiry on enforced disappearances in Bangladesh has recommended the dissolution of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and extensive institutional and legal reforms to end enforced disappearances and human rights violations. The recommendations, announced Monday at the commission’s Gulshan Avenue office by Chair Justice Moinul Islam Chowdhury, also call for the withdrawal of the military from internal law enforcement, repeal or major amendment of the 2009 Anti-Terrorism Act, abandonment of militarized counterterrorism policies, and repeal of Section 13 of the Armed Police Battalion Act, 2009. The commission further urged mandatory human rights training, victim-centered justice, compensation, rehabilitation, and conversion of secret detention sites known as “Aynaghar” into museums.

Formed on 15 September 2024 under the Commission of Inquiry Act, 1956, the body investigated enforced disappearances between 1 January 2009 and 5 August 2024. It reviewed government records, coordinated with agencies including DGFI, RAB, NSI, and police units, and inspected secret detention centers. Out of 9,191 complaints, 5,568 were actively considered, with 251 people still missing and 36 confirmed dead. The commission found RAB involved in about 25 percent of cases and police in 23 percent, describing the pattern as a state-supported institutional practice.

The commission submitted interim reports naming responsible individuals and institutions and proposed new laws, including the Enforced Disappearance Prevention and Redress Act, 2025, to ensure accountability and prevent recurrence.

Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) has decided to form a nine-member steering committee to ensure free public access, proper management, and maintenance of parks, playgrounds, and public spaces under its jurisdiction. The decision was made at DNCC’s 13th corporation meeting held on Monday at the Gulshan Nagar Bhaban. The committee will monitor whether the 106 parks, playgrounds, and public spaces across 52 wards are being properly maintained and managed.

DNCC Administrator Mohammad Ejaz stated that the city’s parks and playgrounds are managed under different ownerships, which often leads to mismanagement and encroachment. The new committee will bring together all relevant authorities, including RAJUK, the Public Works Department, the National Housing Authority, Dhaka Metropolitan Police, and the district administration, along with civil society representatives. The committee will submit monthly reports, oversee safety and maintenance, and prevent any club or commercial entity from occupying public spaces.

Additionally, local citizen committees will be formed in each of DNCC’s ten regions to manage and maintain parks and playgrounds. The steering committee will coordinate with these local bodies and discuss with school and college authorities to allow community use of their fields in the evenings.

Maulana Mamunul Haque, Amir of Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis and Joint Secretary General of Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh, has expressed concern about the level playing field for the upcoming 13th national parliamentary election. Speaking at a discussion with the media on Sunday night at the Dawatul Quran Madrasa in Bhuiygar, Fatullah, Narayanganj, he said that many officials from the previous authoritarian era remain in the administration and often take opposing positions toward Islamic parties.

Haque emphasized that ensuring equal opportunities for all political parties is the government’s responsibility to guarantee a fair and transparent election. Regarding electoral alliances, he clarified that no formal coalition has been formed, only seat-sharing arrangements among several Islamic-oriented parties. He added that the final seat distribution would be announced soon and that no internal conflicts had yet arisen.

Addressing local-level announcements about candidate withdrawals, Haque stated that such declarations are personal opinions and not final. He also commented on a statement by 101 scholars, saying that many senior scholars named in it were unaware of the statement and later clarified their positions through various messages.

The government has launched a hotline for citizens and institutions to report rumors, misinformation, and disinformation. The announcement was made on Monday, January 5, through a post on the Chief Adviser’s official Facebook page. The hotline number 01308332592 and the email address notify@ncsa.gov.bd will receive complaints related to false or misleading information at national, personal, and institutional levels.

According to the post, the initiative aims to strengthen the government’s capacity to counter the spread of misinformation across social media and other platforms. In addition, a Central Cyber Crime Prevention Committee has been formed in connection with the upcoming national parliamentary election.

Authorities expect that the hotline and the new committee will enable more effective measures to address the growing challenge of false information during the election period and beyond.

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) A M M Nasir Uddin stated that the environment for the 13th National Parliamentary Election remains satisfactory so far. He made the remark on Monday while inspecting appeal booths at the Election Commission building in Agargaon, Dhaka. The CEC expressed optimism that with cooperation from all sides, the upcoming election could be held freely and fairly.

According to the Election Commission, appeals against returning officers’ decisions on nomination papers began on January 5. Hearings on these appeals will take place from January 10 to 18 at the commission’s auditorium in Agargaon. The country has been divided into ten regions, each with a separate booth for receiving appeals. Applicants must submit one set of original documents and six photocopy sets in memorandum form.

Hearing results will be displayed immediately on monitors and sent via email as PDF copies. Hard copies of rulings will be available on specific dates: January 12, 15, and 18, depending on the hearing schedule. The commission noted that the timetable may change depending on circumstances and the number of appeals.