Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Chairman Mohammad Abdul Momen has claimed that Awami League President Sheikh Hasina’s candidacy in the 2008 ninth parliamentary election should have been canceled due to major inconsistencies between her declared and actual assets. Speaking on Sunday at the anniversary event of the Reporters Against Corruption (RAC), Momen said both the ACC and the Election Commission failed to properly perform their duties at that time.

He explained that verifying asset declarations in a short time is extremely difficult and urged journalists to assist the ACC by sharing any credible information about suspicious assets. Momen emphasized that individuals with undeclared wealth should not be allowed to hold state power and called for building a just and fair state to ensure justice for all.

The ACC chairman expressed optimism that the foundations for such a state would be achieved this year, though he acknowledged that corruption remains a major challenge in Bangladesh. He urged collective vigilance and honesty in leadership to ensure a corruption-free governance system.

The Election Commission (EC) of Bangladesh has completed sending postal ballots to expatriate voters for the 13th National Parliament election and referendum. On Sunday, the EC issued a warning that any political campaigning or writing on envelopes containing postal ballots will be treated as a punishable offense. Salim Ahmad Khan, team leader of the OCV-SDI project for expatriate voter registration, confirmed the notice. The EC also advised voters to collect their ballots personally and avoid taking assistance from others to maintain ballot secrecy.

According to the EC, postal ballots were dispatched to expatriate voters between December 20 and January 8. Many have already received their ballots, and after the symbol allocation on January 21, expatriates will cast their votes and return the ballots to the returning officer. Within Bangladesh, 761,141 voters registered under the “in-country postal vote” category, and their ballots will be sent after symbol allocation. The EC expects the domestic postal voting process to take about seven days.

In total, 1,533,683 voters registered through the “Postal Vote BD” app for the 13th national election and referendum.

Hasnat Abdullah, chief organizer of the National Citizens Party (NCP) for the southern region and candidate for Cumilla-4 (Debidwar), said the upcoming election will send loan defaulters out of parliament. Speaking on Sunday, January 11, at a rally and public outreach event in Syedpur Bazar of Bara Shalghar Union, Debidwar, he described the election as one aimed at ending corruption, extortion, and financial malpractice. He urged voters to support the 'Yes' vote, which he said would strengthen democracy and protect citizens’ fundamental rights.

Hasnat called on young people and women to actively participate in the campaign, emphasizing a peaceful and respectful approach to politics. He stated that his party would not use intimidation or coercion, instead seeking public support through honesty and love. During the event, he shared that local residents had been offering financial and moral support, viewing him as a sincere candidate.

The rally saw participation from a large number of NCP and Jamaat-e-Islami leaders and activists from the upazila and union levels.

More than one hundred Hindu residents of Kirttipasha Union in Jhalakathi Sadar upazila formally joined Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami on Saturday night. The joining took place during a prize distribution ceremony of a cricket tournament organized by the Bangladesh Labour Welfare Federation. The event was attended by Jhalakathi district Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Advocate Hafizur Rahman as chief guest and Sheikh Neyamul Karim, the party’s nominated candidate for Jhalakathi-2 constituency. The new members were welcomed with flowers by the guests.

The large-scale joining of Hindu community members to a political party has sparked wide discussion in the district’s political sphere. One of the new members, Sujit Gharami of Kirttipasha Union, said they were drawn by Jamaat-e-Islami’s ideological stance, discipline, and social welfare activities. District Ameer Hafizur Rahman stated that public trust in the party is growing and that people from various faiths are joining their justice-based politics. He added that the party continues to work for the safety and rights of minority communities and aims to build a better Bangladesh with people of all religions.

Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam announced that the interim government will campaign in favor of the 'Yes' vote in the upcoming referendum. He stated that legal experts have confirmed there are no legal barriers to such campaigning. The announcement came during a press conference at the Foreign Service Academy in Dhaka on Sunday, where he also said the country’s law and order situation is currently stable.

According to the press secretary, the 13th national parliamentary election and the referendum are both scheduled for February 12. The referendum will include four questions, allowing voters to choose 'Yes' or 'No' responses. Shafiqul Alam also mentioned that the European Union will send a large observer team for the election, after previously abstaining from observation due to concerns about the credibility of the last three elections. He added that the current electoral environment offers a good level playing field and that no political party is receiving extra privileges.

Alam warned that social media could pose the biggest challenge during the election, as misinformation might be spread by members of the former government. However, he assured that law enforcement agencies are fully prepared to handle any situation.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has reinstated eight leaders who were previously expelled for violating party discipline and acting against its policies and ideals. The decision was announced on Sunday through a press release signed by the party’s Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi. The reinstated members include former leaders from Sunamganj, Sylhet, and Mymensingh districts, as well as from Fulbaria municipality.

According to the press release, the individuals had earlier been removed from all party positions, including primary membership, for disciplinary breaches. Following their appeals, the party decided to withdraw the expulsion orders and restore their primary memberships. The statement also mentioned that Rina Talukdar, former joint general secretary of the Sunamganj district women’s wing, had her release order revoked and was reinstated as a primary member.

The announcement reflects an internal reconciliation effort within the BNP, signaling a move to strengthen organizational unity by bringing back previously disciplined members through formal party procedures.

The Election Commission has declared the nomination of Mahmudur Rahman Manna, president of Nagorik Oikya, valid for the Bogura-2 (Shibganj) constituency in the national parliamentary election. Following the decision, Manna expressed gratitude and said the alleged conspiracy behind the earlier cancellation of his nomination had failed. He emphasized that the purpose of nomination scrutiny is not to exclude candidates but to allow correction of errors as permitted by law.

Manna claimed that attempts were made to disqualify him through unfair tactics and described the move as a negative sign for democracy. He said the district administration referred the matter to the Election Commission, which resolved it. Addressing allegations of defaulted bank loans, he stated that a false notice had been fabricated by an Islami Bank official, who was later disciplined. Manna also criticized political strategies aimed at defeating opponents through conspiracy rather than fair competition.

He welcomed the Commission’s stance on inclusive politics but expressed concern over the administration’s and police’s inaction. Regarding BNP’s support, he noted that their nominated candidate had not yet withdrawn but expected that to happen soon.

Chief Prosecutor of the International Crimes Tribunal, Tazul Islam, stated that the defense team for Sajeeb Wazed Joy and Zunaid Ahmed Palak is attempting to delay the trial proceedings. He remarked that the defense hopes the upcoming election will halt the trial. The comment came during a hearing before a three-member panel led by Justice Md. Golam Mortuza Majumdar, where the defense requested more time for the discharge hearing.

The prosecution presented formal charges against Joy, son of the deposed Prime Minister Hasina, and former state minister Palak, related to alleged atrocities during the July uprising when internet services were shut down. Prosecutors submitted three charges and sought to begin the trial. Defense lawyer Liton Ahmed argued that they faced restrictions during a prison visit and that some seized video evidence could not be opened. The tribunal allowed four additional days for the defense to review the charges.

The tribunal scheduled the next hearing for Thursday, continuing the process toward formal trial commencement.

Iran’s state media reported on Sunday that more than 100 members of the country’s security forces have been killed during nationwide protests over a worsening economic crisis. State television said 30 officers were killed in Isfahan province and six in Kermanshah, while the Tasnim news agency put the total death toll among security personnel at 109. A Red Crescent staff member was also killed in Gorgan, and a mosque was set on fire in Mashhad. The Ministry of Interior said the unrest was beginning to subside, though the attorney general warned that those involved could face the death penalty.

The protests, which began in late December, have become the largest in Iran since the 2022–23 demonstrations following Mahsa Amini’s death. President Masoud Pezeshkian accused the United States and Israel of inciting “riots,” while parliamentary speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf warned that any US attack would trigger retaliatory strikes on Israel and American bases. US President Donald Trump said Washington was “ready to help” protesters and threatened to hit Iran “very hard.”

Authorities have imposed a nationwide internet blackout lasting more than 60 hours, and human rights groups report at least 51 protesters, including nine children, killed by security forces.

The National Citizens Party (NCP) has announced a constituency-based campaign strategy to ensure victory for the 'Yes' side in the upcoming referendum on proposed reforms linked to the 13th National Parliamentary Election. The plan was detailed in a message issued on Sunday by Mahabub Alam, the party’s joint chief coordinator and head of its election media subcommittee.

According to the announcement, NCP candidates will lead the campaign in constituencies where the party has its own nominees, directly engaging with supporters and voters to promote the 'Yes' vote. In the 270 constituencies where the NCP has no candidates, the party will appoint 'ambassadors' or representatives to conduct outreach. These representatives will connect with local communities to explain the party’s stance, the significance of the referendum, and the importance of supporting the 'Yes' option.

The NCP stated that this approach aims to create a unified and nationwide campaign, ensuring that its message reaches voters in all constituencies and builds public support for the 'Yes' vote across the country.

Widespread anti-government protests in Iran have turned violent, leaving hospitals across the country overwhelmed with casualties. Doctors from several hospitals told the BBC that they are struggling to treat the large number of wounded and dead, many suffering from gunshot wounds to the head and chest. In Rasht, one hospital reportedly received 70 bodies in a single night, forcing staff to stack corpses due to lack of space. Most victims are young, aged between 20 and 25. Internet access has been largely cut off, making it difficult to verify information.

The protests began two weeks ago as peaceful demonstrations against Iran’s economic crisis, currency devaluation, and rising prices but have since spread to all provinces and turned violent. Security forces have used live ammunition and rubber bullets, with reports of protesters losing their eyesight from shotgun fire. The Iranian government accuses the United States of inciting unrest, while Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei vowed not to back down.

The United States, European Union, and United Nations have condemned the violent crackdown and urged Iran to respect freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.

The High Court has issued a rule asking why the nominations of Jatiya Party and National Democratic Front (NDF) candidates should not be declared illegal. The order was given on Sunday afternoon by a bench led by Justice Razik Al Jalil. The Election Commission has been directed to respond to the rule within two weeks.

The rule followed a writ petition filed by Abdullah Al Mahmud, an organizer of the political alliance July Oikya, represented by Barrister A S M Shahriar Kabir. Earlier, on 7 January, the High Court had postponed until 11 January the hearing of a petition seeking to bar Jatiya Party and NDF from participating in the election.

The court’s directive now requires the Election Commission to clarify its position on the legality of these candidates’ nominations, potentially influencing the upcoming electoral process depending on the response and subsequent judicial review.

A report by Amar Desh alleges that Wikipedia, which presents itself as a free and neutral encyclopedia, has been used to distort history and promote communal hatred, particularly against Muslims, in its Bengali-language articles. According to several experienced contributors, since 2014 Hindu nationalist groups have systematically influenced Wikipedia’s content, inserting anti-Muslim narratives and exaggerated historical claims. Articles on events such as the Noakhali riots, Calcutta riots, and the Chuknagar massacre reportedly contain false or politically biased information portraying Muslims as aggressors and Hindus as victims.

The investigation claims that after Hindu nationalist groups gained political power in India in 2014, they began attempting to control Wikipedia’s editorial space. Contributors who try to correct or challenge these narratives allegedly face account suspensions or blocks, discouraging neutral editing. Some editors cited examples where historical figures like Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy were misrepresented, and verified historical data replaced with inflated or fabricated numbers.

The report further states that repeated complaints to Wikipedia administrators have gone unanswered, and that the platform’s Bengali administrators are accused of religious and political bias, violating Wikipedia’s neutrality policy.

Mass anti-government protests continued across Tehran on Saturday night despite an almost complete internet shutdown, according to AFP. The demonstrations, which began two weeks earlier over economic hardship, have evolved into calls for the overthrow of Iran’s religious leadership. Authorities have blamed the United States for inciting unrest, while human rights groups report dozens killed and warn of escalating violence. Internet monitoring group NetBlocks confirmed that connectivity in Iran has been nearly nonexistent since Thursday.

U.S. President Donald Trump stated that his country is ready to support the movement, while reports indicate he has been briefed on possible military options against Iran. Former crown prince Reza Pahlavi urged Iranians to organize and seize control of key urban centers. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei accused protesters of acting under Trump’s direction. Amnesty International and Iran Human Rights reported alarming use of lethal force, with at least 51 deaths confirmed.

The Iranian army vowed to act firmly against those disrupting order, as the EU and other world leaders called for restraint. Residents in Tehran described daily life paralyzed by the blackout, saying they are prepared to endure hardship until victory.

U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday signaled a willingness to use force regarding Greenland, disregarding Denmark’s sovereignty over the autonomous Arctic island. Speaking at the White House during a meeting with oil industry executives, Trump said he preferred to reach an agreement on Greenland “the easy way,” but warned that if that failed, the United States would proceed “the hard way.” He described control of the resource-rich island as vital to U.S. national security, citing increased Russian and Chinese military activity in the Arctic.

Trump stated that the United States would not allow Russia or China to take over Greenland, asserting that if Washington did not act, those powers would. His remarks drew surprise from Denmark and other European allies. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen cautioned that any aggression in Greenland would end “everything,” including NATO and the post–World War II security framework.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is scheduled to meet next week with Denmark’s foreign minister and Greenlandic representatives to discuss the issue.