A verbal altercation occurred between Sayedur Rahman Bhuiya, chairman of Lengura Union Parishad and general secretary of Kalmakanda upazila BNP, and Masudur Rahman, the upazila nirbahi officer (UNO) and executive magistrate of Kalmakanda in Netrokona. The incident took place on Saturday afternoon during a mobile court operation at Lengura Bazar, where legal action was taken against two individuals accused of constructing illegal structures. A video of the exchange later spread on social media.

According to local sources, the dispute began when Bhuiya arrived at the scene and questioned the UNO’s actions, asserting his authority as the elected representative of the area. Bhuiya later alleged that the administration had not informed him about the operation and accused the UNO of misusing administrative power against political opponents. In response, UNO Masudur Rahman stated that the law does not require permission from a union chairman to conduct a mobile court.

Earlier the same day, a separate incident was reported involving independent candidate Rumin Farhana, whose campaign was halted following allegations of misconduct with an executive magistrate.

Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman met with the interim government’s Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus at the state guesthouse Jamuna on Sunday evening. The meeting began at 6:17 p.m., with a four-member delegation from Jamaat-e-Islami accompanying Dr. Rahman. The discussion focused on various contemporary political matters, according to the report.

Earlier, on Thursday evening, BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman had paid a courtesy call on Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus at the same venue. Tarique Rahman was accompanied by his wife Dr. Zubaida Rahman and their daughter Barrister Zaima Rahman. The report noted that both meetings took place at Jamuna and were centered on political issues.

These consecutive meetings between the Chief Adviser and leaders of major political parties indicate ongoing consultations within the interim government framework, though the report did not specify any outcomes or decisions from the discussions.

Bangladesh’s Ministry of Education has decided to conduct a nationwide campaign across all universities, colleges, schools, and madrasas to encourage students to vote 'Yes' in the upcoming referendum. The decision was made at a meeting held on Sunday afternoon at the University Grants Commission (UGC) with participation from the Secondary and Higher Education Division, Technical and Madrasa Education Division, National University, and UGC officials.

As part of the campaign, leaflets and booklets titled 'Yes for Change' will be distributed among students. Documentaries, video clips, and songs about the referendum will be released on mobile and university social media platforms. Banners, festoons, and stickers will also be displayed at educational institutions. Dr. Ali Riaz, Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser, said the referendum reflects the aspiration to dismantle a fascist state structure and establish a truly democratic system.

He emphasized that a 'Yes' verdict in the referendum is essential for building a humane and democratic state. Senior officials including UGC Chairman SMA Faez and secretaries from relevant education divisions attended the meeting.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has alleged that a political party is transferring voters from different parts of the country to constituencies in Dhaka to secure victories for its candidates. On Sunday evening, a BNP delegation led by Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir met with Election Commission officials to present their complaints and requested detailed information on how many voters were transferred, from where, and for what reasons.

Following the meeting, Mirza Fakhrul told reporters that the alleged voter transfers were part of an unethical strategy to manipulate election outcomes. The BNP also raised other concerns, including claims that Jamaat election workers were collecting personal information such as mobile payment numbers and national ID copies, which the party described as a violation of privacy and a criminal offense. Additionally, BNP accused some returning officers, police officials, and Election Commission staff of working in favor of one party and demanded their withdrawal.

The BNP urged the Election Commission to take immediate action on these issues and ensure a level playing field for all political parties ahead of the elections.

The National Citizen Party (NCP), a key partner in the Jamaat-e-Islami-led electoral alliance, has announced candidates for 27 out of 30 constituencies allocated to it under the alliance agreement. The remaining three candidates will be finalized soon, according to the party. The announcement was made on Sunday through the NCP’s verified Facebook page, which published posters featuring the names and photos of the candidates and urged voters to support the party’s ‘Shapla Koli’ symbol.

Among the confirmed candidates are NCP convener Nahid Islam for Dhaka-11, member secretary Akhtar Hossain for Rangpur-4, and senior joint coordinator Abdul Hannan Masud for Noakhali-6. The list also includes candidates across multiple districts such as Comilla, Panchagarh, Dinajpur, and Chittagong. In total, 47 NCP members submitted nomination papers, though the party will contest 30 seats as part of the alliance.

Party sources said that after Islami Andolan withdrew from the electoral understanding, NCP began discussions with Jamaat-e-Islami to expand its seat share within the alliance.

Barrister Zaima Rahman, daughter of BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman, stated that she has come forward with the intention to listen, learn, and work together in Bangladesh’s social and political landscape. She made the remarks on Sunday at the Krishibid Institute in Dhaka’s Khamarbari, during a discussion organized by Dhaka Forum titled ‘Women in Nation Building: Policy, Potential, and the Future of Bangladesh’. BNP Standing Committee member Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury attended the event as the chief guest.

In her speech, Zaima Rahman said that although participants at the event hold different ideals, experiences, and perspectives, they are united by their concern for the country and its people. She described this diversity and dialogue as the true beauty of democracy. She added that this was her first policy-level address in Bangladesh and that she did not claim to have all the answers but believed in contributing sincerely to society and the nation.

Zaima Rahman also highlighted that Bangladesh cannot progress far by leaving half of its population, women, behind in the development process.

US President Donald Trump plans to charge countries one billion dollars each to become permanent members of his proposed 'Board of Peace', according to a Bloomberg report. The draft charter states that Trump would serve as the board’s first chairman and hold veto power over membership decisions. Countries paying the full amount within the first year would secure permanent membership, while others would have three-year terms.

The draft charter argues that existing international structures have failed to maintain peace and calls for a more flexible and effective global peace organization. The language has raised concern that Trump may be attempting to create an alternative to the United Nations. The board is described as an international body aimed at ensuring stability, lawful governance, and sustainable peace in conflict-prone regions.

Trump has already invited several world leaders to join the board, including those from Egypt, Turkey, Argentina, and Canada. Egypt’s foreign minister said the proposal is under consideration, while a senior aide to Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney expressed interest in accepting the invitation.

Jamaat-e-Islami announced that it will soon finalize candidates for 47 parliamentary seats left vacant after Islami Andolan Bangladesh, led by the Pir of Charmonai, withdrew from the 11-party electoral alliance. The announcement was made by Jamaat’s Assistant Secretary General Ehsanul Mahbub Zubair at a press conference held at the party’s central office in Moghbazar on Sunday.

Ehsanul Mahbub stated that the 10 remaining parties in the alliance will finalize their candidates within a day or two and are also considering a joint election manifesto. Islami Andolan had earlier declared on January 16 that it would contest 268 constituencies independently, prompting the alliance to reorganize its candidate list.

He further said that the 10-party coalition’s election campaign will begin in Dhaka on January 22 and conclude by February 10. Commenting on a student organization’s sit-in near the Election Commission, he expressed hope that such activities would not disrupt the electoral process and that the commission would remain neutral during the national election.

Several candidates in Bangladesh’s 13th National Parliamentary Election have been disqualified for failing to properly renounce their foreign citizenship. The Election Commission received multiple appeals after returning officers issued inconsistent rulings on dual citizenship cases. Some candidates were accused of concealing their dual nationality in affidavits, while others claimed their nominations were unfairly rejected despite submitting required documents.

According to Bangladesh’s Constitution and Representation of the People Order, dual citizens may vote but cannot contest national elections unless they formally renounce foreign citizenship. Legal experts explained that only a final renunciation certificate from the foreign government is acceptable proof. The issue has affected candidates from parties including Jamaat-e-Islami, BNP, and NCP, with several appeals pending before the Election Commission.

Analysts noted that dual citizens remain eligible for local government elections, such as mayoral or council positions, creating debate over differing eligibility standards. The Election Commission is expected to announce its decision on the appeals soon, as the controversy raises broader questions about consistency in electoral law enforcement.

Islami Andolan Bangladesh, led by the Pir of Charmonai, has confirmed that it will not return to the Jamaat-e-Islami-led 11-party electoral alliance. The party had earlier announced on January 16 that it would contest 268 constituencies independently. The clarification came from the party’s organizational secretary, Ifthekhar Mahmud Tarek, who stated that there is no possibility of rejoining the alliance and that the party will proceed with its own electoral symbol.

Following Islami Andolan’s withdrawal, Jamaat’s Secretary General Ahsan Mahbub Zubair said that high-level discussions were ongoing to bring the party back into the alliance. Asif Mahmud, chairman of the election management committee of another alliance member, the NCP, also expressed hope that Islami Andolan would rejoin. However, Tarek made it clear that the decision to contest alone was final and based on internal review and consensus.

The announcement ends speculation about Islami Andolan’s possible return to the alliance and sets the stage for its independent participation in the upcoming election.

Interim government legal adviser Asif Nazrul stated that substantial reforms have been implemented, countering claims that no progress has been made. Speaking on Sunday, January 18, 2026, at a policy dialogue titled “Judicial Independence and Rule of Law” organized by the Centre for Governance Studies (CGS) at the CIRDAP auditorium in Dhaka, he said that while expectations were high, at least four out of ten reform goals had been achieved. However, he admitted that police reform had not advanced as intended.

Nazrul emphasized that extensive consultations were held during the reform process, comparable to those during the drafting of the 1972 Constitution. He argued that judicial appointments should not depend on slogans and that the higher judiciary also requires internal reform. He added that all necessary laws for judicial independence have been enacted, but establishing the rule of law may take another five to ten years.

He concluded that the reform process is ongoing and that if future elected governments continue this trajectory, citizens will eventually benefit from the reforms.

Bangladesh’s interim government and Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus have publicly endorsed a ‘Yes’ vote in the upcoming referendum on institutional reforms. Following criticism that such support could compromise the administration’s neutrality, the Chief Adviser’s press wing issued a clarification on January 18, 2026. It stated that the endorsement aligns with the government’s reform mandate and democratic accountability, arguing that silence in a national crisis would signal a lack of leadership rather than neutrality.

The clarification explained that the interim government was formed after a mass uprising to restore stability and democratic credibility, not merely to manage daily affairs or hold elections. The reform package, developed through consultations with political parties, civil society, professionals, and youth over the past eighteen months, reflects this mission. The press wing added that international democratic practices allow government leaders to take positions on major constitutional or institutional changes.

It further emphasized that the referendum’s legitimacy depends on voters’ freedom to decide, not on leaders’ silence. The interim government has no electoral interest in the outcome, and its outreach aims to clarify reform issues and counter misinformation, ensuring informed public participation.

Islami Andolan Bangladesh has announced that it will support honest and competent candidates from anti-fascist forces in 32 constituencies where its electoral symbol, the hand fan, will not be present. The party’s joint secretary general and spokesperson, Maulana Gazi Ataur Rahman, stated in a press release on Sunday that the formal announcement of these endorsements will be made after January 20.

According to the statement, Islami Andolan Bangladesh has already decided to contest independently in 268 constituencies, a decision previously presented to the nation through a press briefing. For the remaining 32 seats, the party will extend support based on discussions with anti-fascist groups and the integrity and competence of individual candidates. Rahman added that the party is not currently focusing on this matter but will make decisions at the appropriate time.

The announcement outlines the party’s strategic approach to the upcoming election, balancing independent participation with selective alliances aimed at strengthening anti-fascist representation.

BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman has said that if Bangladesh fails to establish a safe and democratic state, the nation will continue to hold mourning gatherings instead of celebrating democratic victories. He made the remarks on Sunday at the Krishibid Institute in Dhaka during a meeting with families of those killed and injured in the July uprising. The event was chaired by BNP Standing Committee member Nazrul Islam Khan and attended by senior party leaders including Ruhul Kabir Rizvi.

Rahman described those killed and injured in the July uprising as freedom fighters, comparing their struggle to that of 1971. He announced that if the BNP forms the next government, a separate division under the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs would be created to care for the families of the July martyrs and injured fighters. He said thousands had been victims of enforced disappearance, killing, and torture during the anti-fascist movement, calling the July killings a form of genocide.

Highlighting the importance of the upcoming national election, Rahman said a fair vote is essential for building a democratic Bangladesh and pledged to fulfill promises to the victims’ families if BNP assumes power.

US President Donald Trump has appointed former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to a newly formed 'Peace Board' tasked with overseeing Gaza’s governance and reconstruction. The seven-member board, chaired by Trump, also includes US envoy Steve Witkoff, World Bank President Ajay Banga, and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner. The announcement was made as part of the second phase of a broader peace plan.

According to Middle East Eye, Blair’s inclusion has sparked significant controversy across the region, as many in the Middle East view him as a war criminal due to his role in the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq. Blair’s consultancy, the Tony Blair Institute (TBI), has also faced criticism for advising authoritarian governments in Egypt, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia, and for alleged financial links to controversial entities. TBI has denied these allegations.

The appointment comes amid worsening humanitarian conditions in Gaza, where Israeli restrictions on aid and harsh winter conditions have led to rising Palestinian casualties. The Palestinian Health Ministry reports over 71,400 deaths and 171,000 injuries since October 7, 2023.