Lieutenant Colonel A K M Zakaria Kadir, commander of the 28 Battalion Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) in Sunamganj, stated that the force will play an active role in ensuring a peaceful election environment, maintaining law and order, and safeguarding citizens’ voting rights. He made the remarks during a press briefing with local journalists at the battalion’s conference room on Wednesday morning.

He explained that motivational and awareness programs are being conducted to increase public confidence and voter participation. The BGB will operate as a mobile striking force in coordination with the Bangladesh Army and other law enforcement agencies. Given Sunamganj’s haor-surrounded and remote geography, the commander noted that election duties there are particularly challenging. To address this, BGB units will patrol both road and river routes and coordinate with local administration for necessary transport support.

According to the commander, three battalions under Sylhet will deploy 55 BGB platoons across 23 upazilas in 10 parliamentary constituencies of Sylhet and Sunamganj. BGB will independently manage election duties in six border upazilas and jointly operate with other forces in the remaining areas.

BNP National Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed has said that by the grace of Almighty Allah, the party will achieve a landslide victory in the upcoming national election scheduled for February 12. He made the remarks on Wednesday morning during an election campaign and separate street meetings at Saharbil Union’s BMS High School field in Chakaria, Cox’s Bazar. Ahmed stated that through massive public support and national unity, the BNP aims to form a government owned by the people.

He emphasized that citizens will regain ownership of the state through this election and urged voters to freely choose their preferred candidates to strengthen democracy. Ahmed pledged that under a BNP-led government, no one would face enforced disappearance and that those who fought for democracy would be honored. He also cautioned against a rival political group allegedly misleading voters with religious claims.

Local BNP leaders, including district office secretary Yusuf Badri and several upazila leaders, were present and spoke at the campaign events.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has stated that Tehran has not requested any form of dialogue with the United States. In a report published by state media on Wednesday, Araghchi clarified that he had no recent contact with U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and dismissed as baseless claims that Iran had initiated talks with Washington.

Araghchi added that Iran continues to maintain communication with several intermediary countries, through which consultations and discussions are ongoing at various levels. Analysts noted that while tensions between Iran and the United States remain high, Tehran’s statement suggests that diplomatic channels through mediators have not been completely severed.

Earlier, U.S. President Donald Trump claimed that Iran had shown interest in negotiations amid Washington’s increased military presence in the Middle East, including the deployment of aircraft carrier groups. He said Tehran had reached out multiple times to seek an understanding with the United States.

Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus has said that government officials should not serve in the same job for more than five years, as prolonged tenure leads to a fixed mindset and loss of creativity. He made the remarks on Wednesday afternoon at the inauguration of the 'Digital Device and Innovation Expo 2026' held at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Center. During the event, he also launched the website and logo of the 'Bangladesh Innovation Challenge'.

Dr. Yunus emphasized that every institution should restart every ten years to adapt to changing goals and avoid stagnation in outdated ideas. He advised people to focus on entrepreneurship rather than seeking jobs, describing the concept of guaranteed employment for all as a form of servitude. He called for government support to encourage entrepreneurship.

He further stated that just as the July Movement opened new possibilities in national politics, the Digital Device and Innovation Expo would open new opportunities in the information technology sector. The event was also attended by Fayez Ahmad Taiyeb, special assistant to the Chief Adviser on Posts, Telecommunications, and Information Technology.

U.S. President Donald Trump warned that 'very bad things' could happen if the Republican Party loses the upcoming midterm elections. Speaking Tuesday at a campaign rally in Clive, Iowa, he launched a surprise campaign tour amid voter concerns over the economy and security. Trump, 79, said Republicans must win both the Senate and the House of Representatives despite his declining approval ratings.

During the rally, Trump told supporters that a Republican defeat would undo previous achievements and threaten tax cuts and economic benefits. He avoided commenting on tensions in neighboring Minnesota, where two people were killed in an anti-immigration operation. The White House said Trump would continue campaigning across several states before the midterms.

Recent polls by The New York Times and Siena College showed Trump’s approval rating falling to 40 percent as inflation and living costs rise. Government data also indicated that U.S. consumer confidence in January dropped to its lowest level since 2014, reflecting growing public dissatisfaction with the economy.

More than a year and a half after the July uprising in Bangladesh, over 1,000 looted firearms and more than 200,000 rounds of ammunition remain missing, raising serious concerns about security ahead of the upcoming parliamentary election. Despite repeated joint operations by the army and police and government-announced rewards of up to 500,000 taka for information, law enforcement has failed to recover all the stolen weapons.

According to the army chief, 3,619 firearms and 456,418 rounds of ammunition were looted during the unrest, with only about 62% of the weapons and 52% of the ammunition recovered so far. Analysts warn that many of the missing weapons have ended up in the hands of criminals and could be used for extortion, robbery, or even political violence during the election period.

Security experts and former police officials say the police force remains weakened since the uprising, and public trust in law enforcement is low. The interim government has deployed around 900,000 security personnel for election duty, but analysts caution that any lapse could undermine voter turnout and election credibility.

The two-day Bangladesh–United States 9th Land Forces Talks (LFT) 2026 concluded successfully on January 27 at the Army Sports Control Board conference room in Dhaka Cantonment. According to an Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) release, the meeting followed up on the 9th LFT held in the United States from September 8 to 10, 2025. Representatives from both armies participated to strengthen mutual cooperation and discuss key areas of partnership.

The Bangladesh delegation, led by Lieutenant Colonel Mohammad Badrul Haque from the Army Training Directorate, included 22 members, while the four-member U.S. team was headed by Major Michael Jacob Oster from the U.S. Army Pacific Command’s Security Cooperation Division. Brigadier General Md Humayun Kabir, Director of the Army Training Directorate, attended the opening and closing sessions. Discussions focused on military cooperation, capacity building, and strategic collaboration, emphasizing training exchanges, advanced technology use, and equipment capability enhancement.

Both sides agreed to organize joint exercises and adopt innovative training methods to strengthen strategic ties. They also committed to contributing to regional security and improving joint preparedness for natural and human-made disasters, highlighting the importance of technological readiness to address global challenges.

Bahrain’s most senior Shia cleric, Sheikh Isa Qassim, has declared that millions of Iranians are prepared to sacrifice their lives for Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Speaking to Press TV, Qassim described Khamenei as a unique global leader distinguished by his deep religious scholarship, spiritual stature, and political leadership.

Qassim stated that both men and women in Iran regard Khamenei’s directives as religious orders and that Muslims around the world also support him. He credited Khamenei’s leadership with promoting Iran’s stability, peace, and human fraternity. The cleric further noted that the mass demonstrations across Iran on January 13 against riots showed clear public support for Khamenei and opposition to what he called foreign-backed sabotage.

Qassim also dismissed former U.S. President Donald Trump’s calls for reform in Iran, saying no one would believe such claims.

Major General Mohammad Ashrafulzaman Siddiqui, Director General of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), formally inaugurated two new border outposts in Cox’s Bazar on Tuesday. The outposts, Saint Martin BOP and the newly established Sea Beach BOP under Teknaf Battalion (2 BGB), were confirmed by Lieutenant Colonel Md Hanifur Rahman, commander of the 2nd Battalion, on Wednesday.

According to BGB, the Saint Martin BOP includes modern facilities and infrastructure designed to enhance the safety, efficiency, morale, and operational capacity of stationed personnel. The new Sea Beach BOP at Lengurbil in Teknaf features modern architecture and comprehensive amenities, aimed at strengthening border security and improving the working environment for BGB members.

BGB sources stated that the establishment of these outposts will make the overall security management of Saint Martin Island more dynamic and effective. The inauguration marks the full operational start of the Saint Martin BOP, following the redeployment of BGB to the island in April 2019 after earlier security responsibilities had been transferred to the Bangladesh Coast Guard.

BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman is scheduled to return to his ancestral home in Bogura on January 29, 2026, after 19 years. His visit will include participation in election programs across three northern districts—Rajshahi, Naogaon, and Bogura. A large public rally is planned at Bogura’s Altafunnesa playground, where preparations are nearly complete with banners, festoons, and sound systems installed. The event was initially set for January 28 but was rescheduled due to flight ticket complications.

Local BNP leaders, including district president Rezaul Karim Badsha, expect hundreds of thousands to attend the rally. After the Bogura event, Rahman will stay overnight and continue campaign activities in Bogura-6 constituency the next day, visiting his ancestral village Bagbari in Gabtali. Party leaders and supporters across northern Bangladesh have expressed enthusiasm, with many preparing to welcome him.

According to BNP sources, Rahman last visited Bogura on December 24, 2006. His return has sparked a festive atmosphere among local residents and party activists eager to see their leader again.

At a campaign rally in Debidwar, Cumilla, National Citizen Party (NCP) spokesperson Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan announced that the Eleven-Party Alliance would arrest those responsible for Hadi’s killing and declare Cumilla a division within one month if it comes to power. Speaking as the chief guest at the NCP’s election march on Wednesday, he urged voters to demand justice for Hadi’s murder from all candidates seeking their votes.

Asif Mahmud, also chairman of the NCP election committee, said the February 12 election would determine Bangladesh’s future. He accused previous governments of repression, enforced disappearances, and killings, and alleged that another party had recently begun similar abuses. He called on voters to support the alliance to free the country from oppression. Other NCP leaders, including Monira Sharmin and Toriqul Islam, criticized rival parties for corruption, violence against women, and misleading promises about development projects.

Speakers from allied groups such as Jamaat-e-Islami and Jatiya Juboshokti expressed support for the alliance’s candidate Hasnat Abdullah, urging voters to ensure his victory in the upcoming national election.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney stated that there is currently “nothing normal” about Canada’s relationship with the United States. He made the remark in Parliament on Tuesday while responding to a question about managing ties with U.S. President Donald Trump. Carney recently said in a speech at Davos that the rules-based international order built under Washington’s leadership over decades is now undergoing a “fracture.”

His Davos remarks received bipartisan praise in Canada. Opposition Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre described the speech as “well-planned and eloquently delivered,” while Bloc Québécois leader Yves-François Blanchet called it “reassuring and promising.” However, Blanchet later criticized Carney in the new parliamentary session, saying that speeches do not create jobs or protect employment.

Carney said he spoke with President Trump for about 30 minutes on Monday, discussing trade, Arctic security, and the situations in Ukraine and Venezuela. He clarified that he did not retract any part of his Davos speech during the call, adding in French that “the world has changed, Washington has changed, and almost nothing is normal in the United States.”

BNP candidate Shariful Alam for the Kishoreganj-6 (Bhairab-Kuliarchar) constituency has pledged to introduce government-managed salaries and allowances for imams and muezzins. He made the announcement on Wednesday morning during a campaign visit and courtyard meeting in Sadeqpur village of Bhairab upazila. Alam also reiterated his support for Tarique Rahman’s proposed farmer and family card initiatives and urged voters to cast their ballots early on election day.

The courtyard meeting was organized by the Sadeqpur Union BNP and attended by several local leaders, including Bhairab upazila BNP president Md Rafiqul Islam, vice-president and freedom fighter Tofazzal Haque, general secretary Ariful Islam, and organizational secretary VP Saiful Haque. The event formed part of Alam’s broader campaign outreach in the constituency.

The pledge highlights the BNP candidate’s focus on religious and community welfare issues as part of his electoral commitments in the Kishoreganj-6 constituency.

Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman has called for ensuring coexistence in the interest of electoral discipline, warning that attempts are being made to create disorder through attacks. He said the country should be guided toward order through elections. He made these remarks on Wednesday morning during a public outreach event at Uttara Kafrul High School in Mirpur.

Dr. Rahman emphasized that the party aims to assert two key aspects of education—moral and professional—both of which he said are severely lacking in the country. He noted that many young people complete their studies but quickly become frustrated because they lack linguistic and professional skills, leaving them unable to fit well into the global workforce.

He added that covering both aspects of education for the nation’s 180 million children would enable citizens to contribute substantially both at home and abroad, fostering pride in national identity.

The Cumilla city unit of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has undertaken extensive preparations for a large public rally to be addressed by the party’s Amir, Dr. Shafiqur Rahman. The event is scheduled for the evening of January 30 at the Town Hall field in Cumilla city. The announcement was made during a press briefing held on Wednesday morning at the Golden Spoon Auditorium, where local party leaders confirmed the arrangements.

According to the briefing, the rally will be organized by the Cumilla city Jamaat as part of an electoral campaign. Kazi Din Mohammad, the city Jamaat Amir and the 11-party alliance candidate for Cumilla-6 constituency, stated that Dr. Rahman will deliver a speech to the nation as the chief guest. Leaders from both district and central levels of the 11-party alliance are also expected to speak at the event.

Organizers said the rally will feature 150 microphones and a full sound system across the Town Hall field, with a stage set up on the second-floor roof of the Bir Chandra Nagar auditorium.