Leaders and activists of the central Anti-Discrimination Student Movement staged a sit-in at Shahbagh on Saturday night demanding the immediate release of Mahadi Hasan, the Habiganj district member secretary and a self-proclaimed July fighter. The protest began around 10 p.m., following an announcement made on the organization’s Facebook page at 9 p.m. Earlier that evening, police detained Mahadi from a lawyer’s residence in Habiganj town. According to the district convener Arif Talukdar, the reason for Mahadi’s detention was not clear, though police said it was for questioning.

The organization issued a one-hour ultimatum for Mahadi’s unconditional release, warning of nationwide action if the demand was not met. After the deadline passed without response, the group announced the Shahbagh sit-in at 10:15 p.m., calling on students and the public to join. The arrest followed a viral video showing Mahadi confronting a police officer in Shaistaganj over the detention of a student leader involved in the movement.

The group stated that if Mahadi was not released promptly, it would escalate its protest programs across the country.

Mahdi Hasan, member secretary of the Habiganj district branch of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, was detained by the Detective Branch (DB) police on Saturday evening from a lawyer’s residence in the district town. The branch’s convener, Arif Talukdar, said he was not yet clear about the reason for the detention, though police informed them it was for interrogation. Attempts to contact the Habiganj DB police for further details were unsuccessful.

According to reports, Mahdi may have been detained in connection with an incident on January 2, when he allegedly threatened police after admitting to burning the Baniachang police station and assaulting a sub-inspector while trying to secure the release of an accused person. Earlier on Saturday afternoon, the movement’s central office secretary, Shahadat Hossain, issued a show-cause notice to Mahdi, instructing him to respond within 24 hours and barring him from participating in organizational activities until further notice.

The report also mentioned that a former Chhatra League leader, Enamul Hasan Noyon, had been detained earlier, prompting protests from movement activists who demanded his release.

The United States launched a military attack on Venezuela, with President Donald Trump claiming the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife. Shortly after the assault began, Democratic Senator Ruben Gallego of Arizona denounced the action on social media platform X, calling it an illegal and unjustified war. Gallego, a former US Navy serviceman who served in Iraq from 2002 to 2006, described it as the second unjust war of his life.

Republican Senator Mike Lee of Utah also questioned the legality of the operation, writing on X that he was eager to understand how the move could be constitutionally justified without a formal declaration of war or congressional authorization for the use of military force. In recent months, several Democratic and Republican lawmakers have voiced opposition to the Trump administration’s military actions in Latin America.

The bipartisan criticism highlights growing unease in Congress over unilateral military interventions in the region, suggesting potential challenges ahead for the administration’s foreign policy approach.

Foreign Affairs Adviser Md. Touhid Hossain stated that there is no external pressure on Bangladesh regarding the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election. He made the remarks on Saturday, January 3, in Munshiganj after a meeting with heads of government offices. Hossain emphasized that Bangladesh maintains good relations with all foreign partners, and the election process is being organized independently within the country.

He added that the government will conduct the election and hand over responsibilities to the newly elected administration by February 12. The adviser noted that how other countries choose to maintain relations with Bangladesh is their own matter. On a separate issue, he said efforts are underway to bring back those involved in the Osman Hadi murder case, though their exact location in India remains unknown.

Hossain clarified that there is no urgency in the judicial process and that once the suspects’ whereabouts are confirmed, the Indian government would be requested to assist in their capture.

The Election Commission (EC) has clarified the specific procedure for filing appeals against returning officers’ decisions on the acceptance or rejection of nomination papers for the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election. According to a directive from the EC Secretariat’s legal wing, any candidate whose nomination is rejected, or any candidate objecting to another’s acceptance, must submit an appeal following the prescribed rules. The directive emphasizes strict adherence to clause 19 of Circular-2 previously issued by the commission.

For candidates’ convenience, the EC stated that appeals must be submitted at designated booths assigned for each region, using the official format provided by the commission. The entire appeal process must be completed within the timeframe set in the announced election schedule. Returning, assistant returning, and regional officers have been instructed to promptly inform candidates about these procedures.

As in previous elections, special booths and hearing courts will be set up at the EC Secretariat, where the Chief Election Commissioner and other commissioners will conduct hearings to resolve appeals swiftly.

Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar visited the Bangladesh High Commission in Islamabad on Saturday, January 3, 2026, to pay tribute to former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Khaleda Zia following her death. During the visit, he signed the condolence book placed at the mission in her memory, according to a statement from Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Earlier, on Wednesday, Pakistan’s National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq traveled to Dhaka after news of Khaleda Zia’s death. He attended her funeral and met with Tarique Rahman, the acting chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), to express condolences on behalf of Pakistan.

The visits by senior Pakistani officials reflect Islamabad’s gesture of sympathy toward Bangladesh’s political leadership following the passing of Khaleda Zia, a significant figure in the country’s political history.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump has announced that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has been detained, though he did not disclose how or where Maduro was taken. The Venezuelan government has not yet confirmed the development. Trump stated that further details will be shared during a press conference scheduled for 11 a.m. EST at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida.

The United States has long accused Maduro of leading an international drug trafficking organization, allegations that he has consistently denied. Washington had previously offered a $50 million reward for assistance leading to Maduro’s capture. The report did not specify who carried out the detention or under what circumstances it occurred.

Further information is expected to be released at the upcoming press briefing, as both U.S. and Venezuelan authorities have yet to provide official confirmation or additional context regarding Maduro’s current location or condition.

Two candidates’ nomination papers for the Moulvibazar-4 (Sreemangal–Kamalganj) parliamentary constituency were canceled following scrutiny at the Moulvibazar District Commissioner’s office on Saturday afternoon. The canceled candidates are independent aspirant Muid Ashiq Chishti and BNP nomination seeker Jalal Uddin Ahmed Zipu.

According to the scrutiny findings, Muid Ashiq Chishti’s nomination was rejected due to discrepancies in the required one percent voter signatures, while Jalal Uddin Ahmed Zipu’s nomination was canceled for lacking the party’s official authorization letter. The decision was announced after the verification process concluded at the district office.

Following the review, seven candidates were declared valid, including BNP’s Mujibur Rahman Chowdhury, independent candidate Md. Mohsin Mia Madhu, Jamaat’s Abdur Rob, NCP’s Pritam Das, Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish’s Nure Alam Hamidi, BSD’s Abul Hasan, and Jatiya Party (GM Quader)’s nominee Hossain.

U.S. President Donald Trump claimed on Saturday that American forces had captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, following a large-scale military operation in Venezuela. Trump made the statement on his social media platform Truth Social, saying the United States had successfully carried out a major strike against Venezuela and removed its leader and his spouse from the country. He added that the operation was conducted with the cooperation of U.S. law enforcement agencies and announced a press conference at Mar-a-Lago at 11 a.m. local time.

According to CBS News, U.S. officials said the elite Delta Force unit was responsible for detaining Maduro and Flores. The report also stated that the U.S. military began its assault late Friday night, with explosions heard across Caracas. Following the attacks, Venezuela declared a state of emergency, according to BBC sources.

Further details about the operation and the current status of Maduro and his wife are expected to be released later, as Trump indicated in his post.

The nomination of BNP’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman for the Dhaka-17 constituency has been declared valid. The announcement was made by Abdus Salam, chief coordinator of the BNP election management committee, on Saturday, January 3, at the returning officer’s office located in the divisional commissioner’s office in Segunbagicha. Salam stated that the BNP aims to restore democracy in Bangladesh and that the Zia family has historically stepped forward during national crises.

He added that the people’s right to vote had been suppressed for 17 years under autocratic rule, which has now ended. According to him, the upcoming election will allow Bangladesh to stand as a democratic nation through the people’s mandate, and the next government under Tarique Rahman’s leadership will address the country’s challenges.

Earlier the same day, Tarique Rahman’s nomination for the Bogura-6 (Sadar) constituency was also declared valid following scrutiny at the district commissioner’s office. In that constituency, the Jamaat-e-Islami candidate’s nomination was also accepted, while three other candidates, including one from BSD, were disqualified.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has withdrawn the expulsion order of VP Sarkar Zahidul Haque Mithun, former general secretary of the party’s Brahmanpara upazila unit in Comilla. The decision was confirmed through a letter signed by BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Advocate Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on January 1. Mithun had previously been expelled from all party positions and primary membership for alleged violations of party discipline and activities contrary to party principles. Following his appeal, the party reinstated his primary membership effective from January 1.

The withdrawal of the expulsion order has sparked enthusiasm and excitement among grassroots BNP leaders and activists in Brahmanpara upazila. Mithun, reflecting on his long political career, stated that he has been involved with the BNP and the Zia family since 1989, serving in various leadership roles including upazila Chhatra Dal convener, upazila Jubo Dal president, and upazila BNP general secretary.

The reinstatement marks a significant reconciliation within the local BNP structure, signaling renewed unity among its grassroots members in the region.

Awami League leader Syed A K Ekramuzzaman, also known as Sukhan, has been declared a valid independent candidate for the Brahmanbaria-1 (Nasirnagar) constituency in the 13th National Parliamentary Election. The decision was announced on Friday, January 2, by District Commissioner and Returning Officer Sharmin Akter Jahan after verifying his nomination papers. Ekramuzzaman was not present during the scrutiny, and police sources confirmed he is currently absconding in multiple criminal cases.

Local sources and the Election Office stated that Ekramuzzaman was once an adviser to the BNP chairperson but was expelled from the party for contesting independently in the 2024 general election. After winning that election, he joined the Awami League in February 2024. His affidavit lists seven ongoing cases, most linked to the July 2024 mass uprising. The decision to validate his nomination has sparked mixed reactions locally and criticism on social media.

BNP candidate Abdul Hannan has demanded the cancellation of Ekramuzzaman’s nomination, calling him a fugitive. The Returning Officer said the documents were legally sound but noted that complaints have been forwarded to the Election Commission, where appeals can be filed under election rules.

The returning officer and Dhaka District Commissioner Md Rezaul Karim has cancelled the nomination of Jamaat-e-Islami’s candidate Colonel (Retd.) Abdul Haque for the Dhaka-2 constituency. The decision was announced on Saturday morning during the scrutiny of nomination papers for the 13th National Parliamentary Election at the Dhaka District Commissioner’s office. According to a Bangladesh Bank Credit Information Bureau (CIB) report, Abdul Haque was identified as a loan defaulter.

The district commissioner stated that Abdul Haque had taken a loan in the name of an organization called National Development Organization while serving as one of its directors. Based on this information, his nomination was declared invalid. In the same constituency, the nominations of BNP candidate Aman Ullah Aman and Islami Andolan Bangladesh candidate Zahirul Islam were declared valid.

The cancellation narrows the field of candidates for Dhaka-2 ahead of the upcoming national election, leaving the BNP and Islami Andolan contenders cleared to continue their campaigns.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has written a letter expressing support for Umar Khalid, a former Jawaharlal Nehru University student and human rights activist currently imprisoned in India. The handwritten letter was delivered to Khalid’s parents and became public on Thursday, though it had been written several days earlier. In the letter, Mamdani reflected on Khalid’s difficult experiences and praised his resilience, noting his meeting with Khalid’s parents.

Umar Khalid has been held in Delhi’s Tihar Jail for nearly six years under anti-terrorism charges related to alleged conspiracy in the 2020 communal violence in Delhi. Although the Delhi High Court released him from one case, he remains detained in another, with multiple bail requests denied.

Separately, eight members of the U.S. Congress sent a joint letter to India’s ambassador to the United States, Vinay Kwatra, expressing concern about Khalid’s situation. These lawmakers also met with Khalid’s parents in December 2025.

The nomination paper of Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman for the Dhaka-15 constituency has been declared valid for the 13th National Parliamentary Election. The decision was announced on Saturday by the regional election officer in Dhaka.

Earlier, on December 25, a delegation led by Jamaat’s Assistant Secretary General Ehsanul Mahbub Zubair collected the nomination paper from the returning officer’s office in Agargaon on behalf of the party chief. From the same constituency, BNP’s local organizer and former Jubo Dal general secretary Shafiqul Islam Khan Milton also collected a nomination form.

Alongside the main candidates from Jamaat and BNP, six other political parties and one independent candidate submitted nomination papers. They include representatives from the Communist Party of Bangladesh, Gano Forum, Jatiya Party, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal, Janatar Dal, Bangladesh Supreme Party, and independent candidate Md. Tanjil Islam.