The Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) campus turned tense after the Bangladesh Election Commission issued a directive prohibiting any elections before February 12. Following the order, uncertainty arose over the Shahjalal University Central Students’ Union (SUSTEC) election, leaving the university’s election commission unable to make a clear decision. The situation escalated on Monday evening when news of the directive sparked protest marches across the campus.

Election commissioners held lengthy discussions with students at the SUSTEC office but failed to reach a conclusion. They advised students to wait for the university administration’s response. Both students and commissioners are now waiting at the SUSTEC office for the arrival of Acting Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Md. Sajedul Karim, whose decision is expected to determine the next steps.

The delay has created uncertainty about the timing of the student council election and heightened tensions among students awaiting administrative guidance.

Iran has accused the United States of attempting to create a pretext for military intervention in the country. The allegation was made on Tuesday through a post by Iran’s mission to the United Nations on social media platform X. Tehran claimed that U.S. President Donald Trump was responsible for inciting protesters and that Washington’s actions were aimed at destabilizing Iran’s internal situation.

According to the post, the United States seeks to change Iran’s governing system through sanctions, threats, and deliberate efforts to create unrest and disorder. The statement came as Washington continued to warn of tough measures against Tehran over alleged repression of ongoing demonstrations. Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations, Amir Saeid Iravani, also sent a letter to the UN Security Council accusing Trump of encouraging political instability, inciting violence, and threatening Iran’s sovereignty and national security.

In the same letter, Iravani asserted that the United States and Israel bear direct and undeniable legal responsibility for civilian deaths, particularly among young people. The letter was also sent to UN Secretary-General António Guterres.

The Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) is facing unrest over the upcoming central students’ union (ShakSU) and hall council elections. In response to the ongoing tension, Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. A. M. Sarwaruddin Chowdhury met with the Election Commission in Dhaka on January 13, where Chief Election Commissioner M. M. Nasir Uddin and the full commission discussed the situation. The commission set three written conditions for candidates: no untoward incidents during the election, no deterioration of law and order, and no influence on the national election. The university administration stated that the ShakSU election would proceed on January 20 only if these conditions were accepted.

Students have rejected the Election Commission’s conditions and continued their protest in front of the administrative building. They demanded that the university announce the January 20 election date unconditionally and immediately. The students said they would withdraw their movement only after such an announcement.

The standoff has left the future of the ShakSU election uncertain, as both the administration and students remain firm on their respective positions.

U.S. President Donald Trump has called on Iranian protesters to continue their demonstrations and take control of state institutions. In a post on his social media platform Truth Social on Tuesday, Trump described the protesters as patriots and urged them to preserve the names of those responsible for killings and abuses, saying they must pay a heavy price. He also announced the cancellation of all meetings with Iranian officials until the killing of protesters stops, adding that help is on the way.

A few hours after the post, reporters in Washington asked Trump what he meant by 'help is on the way.' He declined to elaborate, saying they would have to find out. Later the same day, in an interview with CBS News, Trump said the United States had not yet received verified information on casualties in Iran. He explained that the lack of confirmed data was the main reason Washington had not made any final decision regarding a possible operation in Iran.

Trump told CBS that while the number of casualties appeared significant, the U.S. still lacked confirmed figures.

Journalist Tasneem Khalil raised a key question on whether Bangladesh’s interim government can campaign for a ‘Yes’ vote in the upcoming referendum following the 2024 uprising. The article by Dr. M L Raihan argues that this issue is deeply tied to democracy, legitimacy, and the post-uprising transition process. The August 5, 2024 uprising ended a 16-year authoritarian rule and led to the formation of reform commissions under Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus. A National Consensus Commission led by Dr. Ali Riaz built broad political agreement to present reform proposals for public approval through a referendum.

The author maintains that the government’s advocacy for the reforms is constitutionally and morally justified, as it reflects a collective mandate rather than partisan interest. Historical precedents from Bangladesh in 1978 and 1991–92 are cited to show that governments have previously campaigned for their referendum positions. International examples from South Africa, Chile, Tunisia, and Nepal are also mentioned to support active governmental roles during democratic transitions.

The article concludes that promoting a ‘Yes’ vote is not coercive but a responsible effort to uphold the uprising’s mandate and guide the nation toward a reformed democratic structure.

The banned Awami League is reportedly lobbying to reinstate former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s daughter, Saima Wazed Putul, as Regional Director of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) South-East Asia Regional Office (SEARO). According to the report, the party has hired lobbying firms based in India and the United States to advocate for her return after she was placed on indefinite leave amid controversy and corruption allegations. WHO has sought the Bangladeshi government’s opinion on the matter, and the ministries of law, foreign affairs, and the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) have confirmed responding with relevant documents.

Officials stated that Bangladesh’s reply to WHO included court verdicts and reports from national and international agencies detailing corruption charges against Putul. The ACC’s statement alleged misuse of state resources and irregularities in her appointment, while the law ministry described her reinstatement as potentially damaging to both Bangladesh and WHO’s reputation. Legal adviser Dr. Asif Nazrul emphasized that appointing a convicted individual would undermine WHO’s credibility.

An inter-ministerial meeting involving the health, law, and foreign ministries and the ACC finalized Bangladesh’s official response, reaffirming its stance against reinstating Putul in the WHO post.

European Union (EU) Ambassador to Bangladesh, Charles Whiteley, announced three positive developments for the country in a video message on Tuesday. The first is the finalization of the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) between Bangladesh and the EU, which will cover trade, investment, governance, human rights, energy, and climate change. Bangladesh becomes the first South Asian nation to reach such a comprehensive agreement with the EU.

The second announcement concerns the EU Election Observation Mission, which has already begun its work ahead of Bangladesh’s upcoming national elections. A 56-member long-term team is in place, and an additional 90 observers will arrive closer to election day. The mission will monitor voting across all 64 districts and present its findings after the election.

The third development involves an agreement between the EU, Canada, and Switzerland to increase funding for strengthening Bangladesh’s civil society. The initiative aims to enhance accountability and support reform efforts regardless of future political leadership.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir posted an emotional message on Facebook on Tuesday night, January 13, 2026, calling for justice over the killings of Shahid Sharif Osman Bin Hadi, Azizur Rahman Mushabbir, and S M Shahriar Alam Samya. Hadi was the spokesperson of Inqilab Moncho, Mushabbir was the former general secretary of Dhaka North Swechchhasebak Dal, and Samya was a student of the Institute of Education and Research at Dhaka University.

In his verified Facebook post, Mirza Fakhrul described an encounter at Dhaka Airport where a young man asked him for justice for Hadi if his party came to power. Fakhrul responded affirmatively and expressed deep sorrow over the killings of young activists who supported democracy and election campaigns. He emphasized that justice must be ensured for Hadi, Mushabbir, Samya, and others who were killed.

The post reflects the BNP leader’s emotional appeal for accountability and justice in these politically sensitive murder cases.

The government has appointed an armed bodyguard and deployed uniformed police at the residence of Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman to ensure his personal security. A directive issued on Tuesday instructed the Police Headquarters to take necessary measures following an order from the Ministry of Home Affairs. The official notice stated that Dr. Rahman faces a high level of security risk, prompting the decision to assign a gunman and armed police for his protection.

Earlier, on December 17, Jamaat’s office secretary A.F.M. Abdus Sattar submitted an application to the ministry requesting round-the-clock security for Dr. Rahman and his residence. After verification, the government approved the deployment. According to Dr. Rahman’s personal assistant Nazrul Islam, a police squad vehicle and a gunman had already been assigned about two weeks earlier. The new directive appears to revise and formalize those arrangements.

The decision reflects the government’s assessment of heightened security threats surrounding the Jamaat chief and aims to strengthen protective measures at both his residence and during his movements.

A winter clothing distribution program was held at Jagannath University on Tuesday night, January 13, organized by Md. Mostafizur Rahman Rumi, joint convener of the university’s Chhatra Dal. The event was arranged to pray for the forgiveness of the soul of former three-time Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia. Winter clothes were distributed among cold-affected and underprivileged people from the campus and surrounding areas. Rumi himself inaugurated the program.

During the event, Rumi stated that the nation would forever remember Begum Khaleda Zia’s contribution to restoring democracy in the country. He added that praying for her soul and standing beside the cold-affected people was a moral duty. He also pledged to continue her unfinished struggle for democracy and sovereignty. Leaders and activists from different levels of the Jagannath University Chhatra Dal, along with general students, attended the program.

The initiative reflected a combination of social welfare and political remembrance, highlighting the student organization’s continued engagement in community support activities.

The European Union (EU) has deployed an election observation mission to Bangladesh at the invitation of the government ahead of the country’s 13th parliamentary election scheduled for February 12. According to an official press release from the Office of the Chief Adviser, the mission includes political analyst Marcel Negi and election analyst Vasil Vaschenka, who met with Dr. Ali Riaz, special assistant to the Chief Adviser, on Tuesday afternoon.

The mission, comprising around 200 observers and an 11-member analytical team, arrived in Dhaka on December 29. On January 17, 56 observers will be deployed across the country to monitor electoral processes and report to the core team. Additionally, 90 short-term observers will join to oversee voting, counting, and result tabulation, along with several others from EU diplomatic and partner communities.

Following EU’s standard methodology, the mission will provide a data-driven, comprehensive, and impartial assessment of the entire electoral process. A preliminary report will be released on February 14 via the mission’s website and social media, followed by a final report with recommendations for future electoral improvements.

BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman held a meeting with leaders of rickshaw, van, and auto drivers on Tuesday night at his political office in Gulshan, Dhaka. The event was confirmed by the party’s media cell member Shayrul Kabir Khan. Photos and videos of the meeting were later shared on Tarique Rahman’s verified Facebook page and the party’s official page, showing him greeting the participants and receiving gifts from them.

During the discussion, the rickshaw and van driver leaders shared their professional challenges, livelihood crises, and experiences regarding the current political situation. Tarique Rahman listened attentively and called for unity in the democratic movement. He emphasized that restoring democracy in the country requires the participation and solidarity of people from all professions.

The meeting was part of Tarique Rahman’s ongoing series of exchanges with different professional groups following his return to the country, aimed at strengthening engagement across social sectors.

Jamaat-e-Islami and its 11-party electoral alliance are set to announce their final seat-sharing agreement today, Wednesday, at 4 p.m. in a joint press conference at the Diploma Engineers Auditorium in Dhaka. Reliable sources within Jamaat confirmed the plan, though journalists had not received formal invitations as of midnight Tuesday. The announcement will be attended by Jamaat Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman and other top leaders of the allied parties.

According to the report, the parties held daylong meetings on Tuesday to finalize seat allocations. The Islamic Movement of Bangladesh expressed dissatisfaction after receiving 45 seats instead of its expected 70, leaving uncertainty about its participation. Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis still had some unresolved matters expected to be settled before noon today. Earlier, Jamaat finalized 30 seats with the National Citizens Party, over 15 with Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis, 10 with Khelafat Majlis, 7 with the Liberal Democratic Party, 3 with AB Party, and 2 with Bangladesh Development Party.

The alliance, initially a 10-party coalition announced on December 28 last year, expanded to 11 parties. The final announcement today will confirm the seat distribution and participating members.

The Election Commission (EC) will train 142 officials and employees on managing postal voting for the upcoming referendum and the 13th parliamentary election. The training will be held on Saturday, according to a letter signed by Riaz Uddin, Assistant Director of the Electoral Training Institute. Participants will include additional deputy commissioners, additional district magistrates, senior assistant commissioners, executive magistrates, district information officers, and other officials of similar rank.

The training will cover every stage of postal vote management, including verifying envelopes received through the postal service, scanning QR codes with designated software for data storage, automatically preparing Form-12, and securely transferring materials to presiding officers. EC officials said the initiative aims to ensure transparency, accuracy, and timeliness in handling postal votes.

Registered postal voters have already received their ballot papers and will cast their votes between January 21 and 25. The counting of postal ballots will take place on election day, February 12.

Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) has strongly objected to the Border Security Force (BSF) of India constructing a new road near the Balairhat border in Kurigram, alleging a violation of international law. Following BGB’s intervention, the construction work was halted, and a battalion commander-level flag meeting was held at the Balairhat Border Outpost under Lalmonirhat Battalion (15 BGB) to assess the situation.

During the meeting, BGB stated that BSF began road construction within 150 yards of border pillar 934 without prior notice, breaching the rule that requires both countries to coordinate any construction within 150 yards of the zero line. BGB demanded adherence to the regulation and proposed forming a joint survey team to inspect the site. BSF commander K.K. Rao responded that no new road was being built but that existing roads were being repaired, assuring that BGB would be informed before any future expansion or new construction.

The meeting also discussed paving the Nageshwari connecting road near Shimulbari BOP, which BSF viewed positively, subject to formal proposals and ethical consideration.