A newly released 223-page report by the commission on enforced disappearances has revealed that during the administration of ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh’s judiciary was often used to legitimize state repression. The report, published on Tuesday, found that the legal system was manipulated to portray victims as criminals, normalize illegal detentions, and record coerced confessions as legal truths. It concluded that the judiciary was diverted from protecting citizens’ rights and instead served political objectives.

The commission identified a systematic pattern of forced confessions, procedural manipulation, and strategic case filing that allowed enforced disappearances to persist under legal cover. Testimonies from victims described being coerced into memorizing scripts, threatened with violence, and denied access to legal counsel. Magistrates often failed to verify whether confessions were voluntary, and in some cases, recorded statements under duress or in the presence of law enforcement officers.

The commission emphasized that the judiciary must act as the guardian of constitutional rights, stressing that no law enforcement agency is above the law and that even the most serious offenders are entitled to justice.

Bir Muktijoddha Rafiqul Baset, former president of Gazipur Metropolitan Freedom Fighter unit and vice-president of BNP’s central Freedom Fighter unit, has left the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) to join Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami. He formally joined the party on Wednesday evening at the Jamaat office of Ward 57 under Tongi East Police Station in Gazipur. Baset announced his decision through a Facebook post, stating that he had voluntarily resigned from all responsibilities within BNP and its affiliated organizations.

In his post, Baset explained that after long self-reflection and contemplation, he decided to lead his life according to Islamic ideals. He joined Jamaat through Gazipur Metropolitan Nayeb-e-Ameer and Jamaat’s nominated candidate for Gazipur-2 constituency, Hossain Ali, and Metropolitan Assistant Secretary Afzal Hossain. He expressed his belief that the Islamic way of life ensures justice in personal, social, and state affairs, and sought forgiveness for past mistakes.

After joining, Baset said that Jamaat-e-Islami follows the path of Allah and His Messenger and that he had long desired to join the party. He added that he had been involved with BNP politics since the era of Ziaur Rahman.

Two leaders of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) in Tongi, Gazipur, formally joined Jamaat-e-Islami on Wednesday evening. The joining ceremony took place at the 57th Ward Jamaat office in Tongi Bazar. The new members are Rafiqul Baset, central vice-president of the Bangladesh Nationalist Freedom Fighters’ Party and president of its Gazipur metropolitan unit, and Sohrab Uddin, a former member of the Greater Tongi Thana BNP. Jamaat leaders including Muhammad Hossain Ali, Gazipur metropolitan Nayeb Amir and MP candidate for Gazipur-2, attended the event along with other local leaders.

After joining, Rafiqul Baset said he decided to join Jamaat-e-Islami after long self-reflection and a desire to live by Islamic ideals. He expressed his belief that Jamaat works under divine guidance and prayed to remain steadfast in his new political path. Sohrab Uddin stated that they would openly inform BNP leaders and share the news on social media.

The event marks a notable shift of local BNP figures toward Jamaat-e-Islami in Gazipur’s Tongi area.

Nearly 10,000 doctors in Bangladesh’s health cadre, including supernumerary positions, are undergoing promotion, with more than 5,500 already elevated to ranks such as junior consultant, assistant professor, associate professor, and professor. A significant portion of those promoted are reportedly aligned with the Awami League and its affiliate organization, Swadhinata Chikitsak Parishad (Swachip). Allegations have surfaced that a syndicate involving the Chief Adviser’s Office and the Ministry of Public Administration facilitated these promotions, sometimes in exchange for money. Some doctors accused of legitimizing violence during the so-called ‘peace rally’ at the Shaheed Minar have also been promoted.

Officials from the Health Ministry acknowledged that promotions were granted under an old executive order from the autocratic era, bypassing mandatory senior scale examinations. This has caused discontent among qualified but overlooked candidates. The Health Secretary stated that actions are taken only when specific complaints or intelligence reports are received, as no comprehensive list of Awami-affiliated doctors exists.

Investigations are ongoing into about 1,500 Swachip members whose promotions were withheld, while allegations persist that political groups including BNP, Jamaat, and NCP also influenced the process.

A new report by the Washington-based Center for the Study of Organized Hate (CSOH) and its India Hate Lab (IHL) project shows a sharp rise in hate speech incidents targeting religious minorities in India. In 2025, over 1,318 hate speech cases were recorded across 21 states, marking a 13 percent increase from 2024 and a 97 percent rise since 2023. Nearly 98 percent of these incidents targeted Muslims, while 133 involved Christians. Most cases occurred in states governed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), accounting for 88 percent of all recorded hate speech.

The report found that extremist Hindu groups such as the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), Bajrang Dal, and Akhil Bharatiya Hindu Parishad were linked to hundreds of incidents. Many speeches invoked conspiracy theories like “love jihad,” “land jihad,” and “population jihad,” often calling for violence, boycotts, or destruction of mosques and churches. Attacks on Christians also surged around Christmas, including assaults on churches in Raipur and other cities.

Experts cited in the report warned that religious hate speech has become intertwined with BJP’s political strategies, fueling communal tensions and violence against minorities.

Exiled Iranian figure Reza Pahlavi, son of the country’s last deposed Shah, presented his vision for a future Iran following the fall of the Islamic Republic. In a message posted Wednesday on social media platform X, he said a new Iran would end its nuclear military program, recognize Israel, and seek normalized relations with the United States.

Addressing “friends” around the world, Pahlavi stated that Iran’s current global image is defined by terrorism, extremism, and poverty. He argued that a free Iran would contribute to regional stability and act as a responsible global partner. On security and foreign policy, he pledged to halt support for terrorist groups and cooperate internationally against terrorism, organized crime, drug trafficking, and extremist Islamism.

Pahlavi also emphasized economic openness, describing Iran as one of the world’s largest untapped markets. He said the country would aim to become a reliable global energy supplier and adopt international standards of transparency and good governance. He called for international support for the Iranian people, envisioning a free Iran as a force for peace and prosperity.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in his first public remarks since the start of nationwide protests, attempted to distinguish between what he called the bazaar’s “legitimate” grievances and the broader anti-state uprising. He praised the country’s merchants as among the Islamic Republic’s most loyal supporters and insisted that foreign enemies could not use the bazaar to challenge the state. However, demonstrations have continued in Tehran’s markets, where authorities used tear gas to disperse crowds chanting anti-government slogans, including calls for Khamenei’s removal.

The unrest reflects a deeper erosion of the bazaar’s traditional alliance with Iran’s ruling establishment. Once a pillar of the 1979 revolution, the merchant class has seen its influence decline over two decades of economic favoritism toward the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and religious foundations, compounded by sanctions and inflation. The IRGC’s growing dominance in trade, banking, and infrastructure has marginalized traditional business networks that once anchored the regime’s stability.

Analysts note that while the state could theoretically ease sanctions and curb IRGC-linked conglomerates to regain bazaar support, escalating tensions with the West and entrenched power structures make such reforms increasingly unlikely.

Relations between Bangladesh and India have sharply worsened ahead of upcoming elections in both countries. The crisis began after Sheikh Hasina, who ruled Bangladesh for 15 years with close ties to New Delhi, was ousted in 2024 following mass protests led by students and young people. After fleeing to India, the new interim government in Dhaka demanded her return for trial, but India refused, sparking anger among Bangladeshis. The dispute escalated into a diplomatic standoff, with both sides suspending visa services and trading accusations over minority safety and political interference.

The tension has extended into sports, as Indian right-wing groups protested against Bangladeshi players, leading to one being dropped from the Indian Premier League. In response, Bangladesh announced it would not participate in the upcoming Cricket World Cup in India and requested that its matches be relocated. Analysts say both nations’ domestic politics are driving the hostility, with India seeking regional dominance and Bangladesh’s interim leader, Dr. Muhammad Yunus, balancing public sentiment and diplomatic pragmatism.

With elections approaching in February, anti-India sentiment is shaping Bangladesh’s political landscape, while India explores new ties with the opposition BNP. Observers warn that mutual mistrust and rising nationalism may keep relations strained in the near term.

The Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) has announced a month-long, 15-point nationwide campaign to ensure a ‘Yes’ victory in the upcoming referendum. The program, unveiled on Wednesday at a press conference in front of the DUCSU building, is being conducted under the slogan “Vote Yes, Secure Bangladesh.” DUCSU Vice President Sadiq Kayem announced the initiatives aimed at increasing public participation and awareness.

According to the announcement, the campaign includes direct public outreach, online activities, debates, seminars on state reform, meetings with civil society and journalists, discussions with online activists, cultural events, and visits to educational institutions across the country to unite students. In his written statement, Kayem said the referendum represents a continuation of the July uprising’s spirit of reform and equality, describing participation and a ‘Yes’ vote as a duty to honor the sacrifices of July’s martyrs.

DUCSU also called on all anti-fascist political parties, student and professional organizations, and the general public to unite in creating a nationwide wave of support for the ‘Yes’ vote.

The International Crimes Tribunal-1, led by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mojumdar, has permitted the display of seized evidence from the July–August 2024 crimes against humanity cases at the July Uprising Memorial Museum gallery for one month. The order was issued following a prosecution request, according to a report by BSS. The museum, located at Ganabhaban and officially designated by the current government as the July Uprising Memorial Museum, is scheduled to open on January 20.

Prosecutor Gazi M.H. Tamim stated that the museum authorities applied through the prosecution to exhibit the seized items, which include bullets, weapons, bloodstained clothing, and chairs used during torture. The tribunal granted permission for these materials to be displayed for one month from a specified date. The decision allows the public to view physical evidence from both resolved and ongoing tribunal cases.

The display aims to preserve and present historical evidence of the July events, marking a significant step in documenting crimes against humanity tried under the tribunal’s jurisdiction.

The non-political social organization Mulyabodh Andolon has demanded that voters be given three options—'Yes', 'Yes with objections', and 'No'—in the referendum scheduled for the day of the 13th National Parliamentary Election. The demand was announced at a press conference held on Wednesday at the Maulana Akram Khan Hall of the National Press Club. The organization’s chairman, Dr. Mohammad Sarwar Hossain, an associate professor at Independent University, Bangladesh, presented the written statement.

According to the group, the interim government’s current referendum plan forces voters to either accept or reject all provisions of the July Charter in full. Mulyabodh Andolon argued that this approach is unjust and fails to reflect public aspirations. The organization expressed concern that the charter lacks references to Islamic values and faith in Allah, while giving undue prominence to Western pluralistic and secular ideologies. It also warned that undefined terms such as 'equality' and 'social justice' could open the door to values contrary to religious beliefs.

The group further urged the government to restore faith in Allah as a constitutional principle and to ensure that no law contradicting the Qur’an and Sunnah is enacted. If these demands cannot be met, it proposed excluding certain disputed articles from the referendum or adding the 'Yes with objections' option.

Bangladesh’s interim government has decided to temporarily suspend the issuance of on-arrival visas ahead of the upcoming national election. Foreign Affairs Adviser Touhid Hossain announced the decision on Wednesday at an event in Dhaka, stating that the move aims to prevent any unwanted situations before the election period.

According to statements released by Bangladeshi embassies in countries whose citizens previously received on-arrival visas, the suspension will be in effect from January 15 to February 15. The Bangladesh High Commission in the Maldives confirmed the one-month suspension through a notice on its official Facebook page. The measure applies to all countries whose nationals were eligible for on-arrival visas.

The decision reflects the government’s precautionary approach to maintaining stability and security during the sensitive pre-election period, as reported by BBC Bangla.

Leaders of Khelafat Majlis have called for a fair and just seat-sharing arrangement within the 11-party alliance to maintain unity ahead of Bangladesh’s 13th National Parliament Election. The remarks came during an emergency session of the party’s central Majlis-e-Shura held in Shahjahanpur, Dhaka, where the current situation surrounding the alliance’s seat negotiations was reviewed. The party emphasized that unity among Islamic political forces remains one of its key priorities.

Khelafat Majlis leaders noted that despite their active participation in previous alliances of five, eight, and now eleven Islamic-minded parties, many of their important candidates and constituencies have been excluded from the latest discussions. They warned that such exclusions could harm both the party and the alliance. The party submitted 74 nomination papers nationwide, of which 72 were declared valid by the Election Commission.

The leaders also criticized the government for deteriorating law and order, alleging that the administration has failed to take effective measures. They urged the Election Commission to ensure a level playing field and enforce electoral rules strictly to guarantee a free and fair election on February 12.

BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman is scheduled to visit Cumilla on January 24 as part of his election campaign, confirmed Cumilla South District BNP General Secretary Ashiqur Rahman Mahmud Wasim. On January 14, BNP leaders, along with a CSF team, inspected the historic Town Hall ground in Cumilla to review preparations for the event, including stage setup, security arrangements, and crowd management.

Local BNP leaders expressed optimism that Rahman’s visit would energize party activists and strengthen the campaign momentum in the district. Cumilla Metropolitan BNP General Secretary Yusuf Molla Tipu noted that this would be Rahman’s first major rally in Cumilla since 2003, predicting that his presence would boost the prospects of BNP candidates in the district’s 11 constituencies. Cumilla Metropolitan BNP President Udbatul Bari Abu said extensive preparations were underway to welcome the party chief.

BNP leaders further stated that all levels of party members were working together to ensure the success of the program and expected spontaneous participation from the people of Cumilla.

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Chairperson Tarique Rahman has expressed his gratitude to popular cartoonist Uday after receiving a framed cartoon titled 'I Have a Plan for the People of My Country, for My Country'. The artwork was presented to Rahman at his political office in Gulshan on Tuesday night. The event was confirmed to the media on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, by BNP Chairperson’s political adviser Mahdi Amin.

During the handover, Uday shared that presenting a cartoon of Tarique Rahman to him had long been a dream, and he felt great joy in fulfilling it. Rahman accepted the framed artwork and thanked Uday warmly for his creative effort.

The exchange highlighted a moment of appreciation between a political leader and an artist, reflecting mutual respect and recognition of artistic expression within Bangladesh’s political and cultural landscape.