The Indian Border Security Force (BSF) has reportedly begun constructing a road and barbed-wire fence within 150 yards of the international boundary at the Khalishakotal border in Fulbari upazila of Kurigram, Bangladesh. The Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) objected to the activity, citing a breach of international law, and lodged a formal protest. A flag meeting between 12 members of both forces was held near international boundary pillar 934 on Thursday afternoon to address the issue.

According to reports, the disputed one-kilometer road runs from sub-pillar 1 to sub-pillar 11 of pillar 934, connecting areas in India’s Cooch Behar district. The road lies between 50 and 70 yards from the zero line, placing it well within the 150-yard restriction zone. The BGB has previously raised objections to similar construction attempts, which the BSF had halted. However, this time the BSF continued work despite BGB’s protest, leading to heightened tension along the border.

BGB commander Subedar Abu Taher confirmed the flag meeting and stated that some construction materials were being removed from the site by the BSF following the discussions.

The Election Commission (EC) of Bangladesh has issued comprehensive instructions to returning officers to ensure that the upcoming national parliamentary election is held freely, fairly, and peacefully. The circular, signed by EC Deputy Secretary Mohammad Monir Hossain on January 8, outlines procedures for appointing election and polling agents, their duties, submission of expenditure reports, and measures to prevent terrorism and fake voting.

According to the directive, candidates must appoint qualified voters from their constituencies as election agents and notify returning officers in writing. Each polling station may have one polling agent, who must present appointment papers before voting begins. The EC emphasized that agents play a vital role from the start of voting through counting, and all candidates—whether elected, defeated, or unopposed—must submit detailed expenditure returns within 30 days of gazette publication. Failure to comply or exceeding spending limits will be treated as a punishable offense.

The EC also urged candidates and agents to cooperate in preventing violence, intimidation, and fake voting, warning that any illegal campaigning or disorder within 400 yards of polling centers will face strict action. Voting is scheduled for February 12, following the official campaign period ending on February 10.

The Election Commission (EC) of Bangladesh reported that a total of 469 appeals have been filed against the returning officers’ decisions on nomination papers for the upcoming national parliamentary election. On the fourth day alone, 174 appeals were submitted to the EC. The information was officially released by the commission on Thursday, January 8, 2026.

According to the election schedule, the EC will continue accepting appeals until January 9. The disposal of these appeals is set to take place between January 10 and 18. Candidates will have until January 20 to withdraw their candidacies. The final list of approved candidates and the allocation of election symbols will be announced on January 21, followed by the start of the official campaign period on January 22.

Election campaigning will continue until 7:30 a.m. on February 10, and voting is scheduled for February 12, marking the culmination of the national election process.

Leaders of Khelafat Majlis have warned that the upcoming national election will be questioned if the administration does not maintain neutrality. Speaking at the party’s monthly central executive meeting held Wednesday evening at its central office in Paltan, Dhaka, they urged authorities to strengthen monitoring to ensure compliance with the electoral code of conduct.

The leaders expressed deep concern over the killing of political leader Shahid Osman Hadi, alleging that the killers remain at large and the government has failed to arrest the main perpetrators. They criticized law enforcement agencies for inaction and lack of intelligence surveillance, claiming that such negligence has emboldened criminals. According to them, as the election day approaches, administrative bias toward a particular party is becoming more visible, undermining a fair electoral environment.

The meeting demanded immediate intensified patrols, weapon recovery, and special drives by law enforcement to ensure a level playing field. The leaders also called for eliminating terrorism and extortion to create a festive and peaceful election atmosphere.

The Advisory Council of Bangladesh, chaired by Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus, approved in principle four draft ordinances during a meeting held Thursday at the Chief Adviser’s Office in Tejgaon, Dhaka. The approved drafts include the Personal Data Protection (Amendment) Ordinance 2026, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (Amendment) Ordinance 2026, Supreme Court Secretariat (Amendment) Ordinance 2026, and Bangladesh Forest Industries Development Corporation Ordinance 2026. The council also gave provisional approval to the Environment Ministry’s ‘Third Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC-3)’ plan.

Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam said the data protection amendment relaxes data localization rules, requiring domestic storage only for critical information infrastructure, and replaces imprisonment with fines for corporate violations. The Shilpakala Academy amendment expands its divisions to nine and ensures representation of marginalized groups on its board. The new forest industry ordinance modernizes the 1959 framework to promote sustainable resource use and product diversification. The NDC-3 plan targets a reduction of 84.97 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions by 2035.

Officials expect the revised data protection rules to encourage foreign investment and cloud-based services while strengthening environmental and cultural governance frameworks.

The European Union will send a 200-member delegation to observe Bangladesh’s upcoming national election, according to Dr. Ivars Ijabs, Member of the European Parliament and chief observer of the EU Election Observation Mission. He made the announcement on Thursday after meeting the Chief Election Commissioner at the Election Commission headquarters in Agargaon, Dhaka. Long-term observers have been working in Bangladesh since late December, and short-term observers will join them on February 12.

Dr. Ijabs noted that holding the parliamentary election alongside a national referendum poses a challenge for the Election Commission but expressed confidence in its ability to manage both processes effectively. He emphasized that the EU mission aims to assist and will observe the election process with complete neutrality, describing Bangladesh as an important partner of the European Union.

He further remarked that, in the context of the 2024 mass uprising, this election will be a historic one, and the parliament formed under the interim government will shape the country’s future.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has reorganized its National Election Steering Committee in preparation for the upcoming 13th parliamentary election scheduled for 2026. According to a press release issued by the party’s central publicity and media department on Thursday, Assistant Secretary General Maulana A.T.M. Ma’sum has been appointed as convener, while Assistant Secretary General Maulana Abdul Halim will serve as member secretary.

The newly formed committee includes a wide range of members, among them lawyers, academics, retired bureaucrats, and former military officers. Notable members include Advocate Ehsanul Mahbub Jubayer, Advocate Moyazzem Hossain Helal, Professor Dr. Nazrul Islam, Brigadier General (Retd.) Golam Mostafa, and several others. The announcement was made through the party’s official communication channel.

The reorganization signals Jamaat-e-Islami’s preparation for active participation in the 2026 national election, focusing on coordination and campaign management through its newly structured committee.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has alleged that the killing of former Jubo Dal leader Azizur Rahman Mosabbir was intended to put the current interim government in a difficult position. In a statement issued on Thursday afternoon, he said that the murder reflected a broader attempt by miscreants to destabilize the country and exploit the situation through violence and anarchy.

According to the statement, Mosabbir, former general secretary of Dhaka North Jubo Dal, was shot dead on Wednesday night. Fakhrul condemned the killing as brutal and inhuman, expressing deep concern and grief. He claimed that such incidents were being repeated to embarrass the interim administration and called for strict action against those responsible.

Fakhrul urged people from all walks of life, regardless of political affiliation, to unite in defense of democracy and citizens’ safety. He warned that otherwise, opportunistic groups could endanger the nation’s existence. He demanded the immediate arrest and exemplary punishment of the perpetrators.

The European Union Election Observation Mission has expressed confidence that Bangladesh’s Election Commission (EC) will be able to manage the challenges surrounding the upcoming 13th national parliamentary election. The mission’s chief, Dr. Ivars Ijabs, made the remarks on Thursday, January 8, after a courtesy meeting with Chief Election Commissioner A M M Nasir Uddin at the Election Commission building in Agargaon, Dhaka.

Dr. Ijabs said the EU has just begun its observation mission with a skilled team that will monitor the entire electoral process and later publish a final report based on detailed analysis. He emphasized that the EU views Bangladesh as a vibrant democracy and attaches great importance to observing the full electoral process. The mission will conduct nationwide observation, focusing on procedural aspects such as accurate voter registration, fair polling arrangements, and the overall credibility of the election.

During discussions, the EC outlined its election roadmap and acknowledged several challenges, including the technical and administrative complexity of holding the national election and a referendum on the same day. The EU delegation expressed confidence that the EC is capable of handling these challenges effectively.

Bangladesh’s Foreign Affairs Adviser Touhid Hossain announced that visa sections at Bangladeshi missions in India affected by recent attacks have been temporarily closed for security reasons. He made the statement on Thursday, January 8, during a media briefing at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The clarification came amid discussions about whether tourist visas for Indian citizens had been suspended or restricted ahead of Bangladesh’s national election.

Hossain explained that there was no official decision to suspend or stop issuing tourist visas for Indians. Instead, the closure applies only to missions where security problems have arisen. The adviser also mentioned that Bangladesh has come under the United States’ visa bond program because Bangladeshis rank high among recipients of U.S. social security benefits. He further commented that previous governments bear responsibility for illegal migration issues abroad.

The decision follows a series of violent incidents, including attacks by Hindu extremist groups on Bangladesh visa centers in New Delhi and Siliguri in December, and other assaults on Bangladeshi diplomatic missions across India after August 2024. These events have already led Indian authorities to limit visa services for Bangladeshis, disrupting cross-border travel.

The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has imposed a ban on all types of meetings, rallies, and public gatherings in several important areas of the capital to preserve public order. The restriction was announced through a public notice signed by DMP Commissioner Sheikh Md. Sajjat Ali on Thursday afternoon. According to the notice, the ban will take effect from January 10, 2026, and remain in force until further instructions under Section 29 of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police Ordinance (Ordinance No. III/76).

The restricted areas include the Chief Justice’s official residence, Judges’ Complex, main gate of the Bangladesh Supreme Court, Mazar Gate, Jame Mosque Gate, entrances to International Crimes Tribunals 1 and 2, and the front area of the Judicial Administration Training Institute. The DMP stated that no rallies, human chains, sit-ins, or processions will be allowed in these zones.

The police urged all concerned not to block roads or disrupt traffic under the pretext of protests or demands. The DMP said the decision aims to maintain law and order and ensure smooth public movement in the capital.

Former Bangladesh Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia has had a street named after her in the United States. The city council of Hamtramck, located in Michigan’s northeast region, approved renaming a central portion of Carpenter Street—between Joseph Campau and Conant Streets—in her honor. The announcement was confirmed by the BNP Media Cell on Thursday, January 8, 2026.

According to the report, expatriate Bangladeshis view the decision by the city authorities as a unique recognition of Bangladesh’s history, leadership, and democratic values. They described the renaming as more than a symbolic act, calling it an international testament to the country’s political struggles. The move follows a previous instance in Chicago, where a street was named after former President Ziaur Rahman.

Bangladeshi expatriates have expressed widespread enthusiasm over the development, seeing it as evidence of their growing political influence abroad. Observers believe the naming will further strengthen social and cultural ties between Bangladesh and the United States, particularly in Hamtramck’s diverse community.

Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh has expressed deep concern over recent killings, assaults, and attacks on minorities ahead of the 13th national election. In a statement issued Thursday, Secretary General Allama Sajedur Rahman condemned the shooting death of volunteer leader Azizur Rahman Mushabbir in Tejgaon, as well as incidents of rape and violence against women, children, and Hindu minorities across the country. He alleged that a fascist group is deliberately destabilizing the nation to obstruct the election process.

The Hefazat leader claimed that these attacks are part of a plan to tarnish Bangladesh’s image abroad and embarrass the interim government. He urged the authorities to identify those behind the violence and take strict measures against them. Rahman also accused elements within the law enforcement agencies and ruling party of complicity, saying they were attempting to silence “July revolutionaries.”

He called on the administration to increase surveillance, ensure proper investigation and justice for the recent incidents, and release detained Islamic scholars and activists whom he described as innocent.

Legal adviser Asif Nazrul has stated that enacting a law granting immunity to participants of the July uprising is entirely legitimate. He said the Ministry of Law has already prepared a draft of an indemnity ordinance for the July fighters. Nazrul shared this information on Thursday, January 8, 2026, through a post on his Facebook page.

According to Nazrul, the July fighters risked their lives to free the country from fascist rule and therefore deserve immunity. He argued that such legislation is necessary to protect those who took defensive actions during the uprising. He further explained that similar indemnity laws were enacted in other countries following revolutions or popular uprisings, such as during the Arab Spring.

Nazrul added that Article 46 of the Constitution of Bangladesh provides legal grounds for indemnity laws, citing the 1973 indemnity law for freedom fighters as precedent. He said the draft ordinance will be presented for approval at the next meeting of the advisory council, emphasizing that safeguarding the July movement is a sacred duty.

U.S. President Donald Trump has called for increasing the country’s defense budget to 1.5 trillion dollars for 2027, describing the current period as “extremely troubled and dangerous.” The proposed amount would represent a more than 50 percent rise from the 901 billion dollars approved by Congress for the current year. Trump announced the plan on social media, saying it would help build a “dream military” and ensure safety against all enemies.

In a separate post, Trump warned that he would take strict action against defense contractors and shareholders if companies failed to accelerate weapons delivery and establish new production facilities. Following his announcement, shares of major U.S. defense manufacturers Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, and Raytheon rose by more than five percent.

Economists have previously cautioned that the gap between U.S. spending and revenue has reached an unsustainable level. Trump, however, asserted that Washington could “easily reach” the proposed defense budget through revenue generated from tariffs.