Students from seven affiliated colleges staged road blockades at three major points in Dhaka on Wednesday, demanding the government issue the final ordinance to establish the proposed Dhaka Central University. The demonstrations began around 11:30 a.m. at Science Lab, Technical, and Tantibazar intersections, halting traffic and causing significant disruption for commuters.

According to the report, the draft of the Dhaka Central University Act 2025 was published on the Ministry of Education’s website on September 24. Following debates and consultations with stakeholders, the ministry updated the draft. During sit-in programs on December 7 and 8, ministry officials reportedly assured students that necessary procedures would be completed by December and the ordinance would be issued in early January.

The students resumed protests after the promised issuance did not occur within the expected timeframe, pressing for immediate government action to finalize the ordinance.

The Islamist alliance led by Jamaat-e-Islami is facing internal rifts ahead of the February 12 parliamentary election due to unresolved seat-sharing disputes. The main contention arises from the demands of Syed Muhammad Rezaul Karim, the Pir of Charmonai, whose Islami Andolon Bangladesh insists on more constituencies, claiming a strong nationwide voter base. Jamaat had agreed to leave 40 seats and even proposed keeping some open, but Charmonai rejected the offer, leading to repeated but fruitless negotiations.

Similarly, Maulana Mamunul Haque’s Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis is demanding more seats than initially agreed, creating further tension within the 11-party coalition. Attempts to finalize seat distribution and issue a joint declaration on Tuesday failed, leaving the alliance uncertain. Jamaat has refrained from nominating candidates in over a dozen constituencies contested by Charmonai and Mamunul’s parties, giving them leverage in negotiations.

The alliance, originally an eight-party Islamist bloc, expanded to 11 parties after the inclusion of NCP, LDP, and AB Party. This expansion reduced the influence of smaller Islamist groups, intensifying competition over seat allocation and raising the risk of a formal split.

Eighteen leaders and activists of the Ganadhikar Parishad have joined Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami in Kaharol upazila of Dinajpur. The formal joining took place on Tuesday night at the Jamaat office in Joynand Bazar of Dabore Union. The event was attended by Jamaat’s nominated candidate for the Dinajpur-1 (Birganj–Kaharol) constituency, Matiur Rahman, as chief guest, and Kaharol upazila Jamaat Ameer Maulana Torikul Islam. Several district and upazila-level leaders from Dinajpur and Birganj were also present.

Selim Reza, vice-president of the Ganadhikar Parishad’s Dinajpur district branch, said the party had deviated from people’s aspirations by aligning with the “sheaf of paddy” symbol, which he described as disappointing and embarrassing. The new Jamaat members include Selim Reza, Murshed Ali, Joydeb Roy, Mamunur Rashid, Sohel Rana, Monirul Islam, Faruk Hossain, and several others from the union branch. They filled out associate membership forms and were welcomed with flowers and garlands by local Jamaat leaders.

The joining marks a shift in local political alignments within Kaharol, reflecting dissatisfaction among some Ganadhikar Parishad members with their party’s recent direction.

A new report by the Washington-based Center for the Study of Organized Hate’s India Hate Lab (IHL) shows that hate speech incidents targeting Muslims and Christians in India rose sharply in 2025. The study documented 1,318 cases across 21 states, marking a 13 percent increase from 2024 and a 97 percent rise compared with 2023. Nearly 98 percent of the hate speech targeted Muslims, while 133 incidents involved Christians. Most cases occurred in states governed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

According to the report, 88 percent of all hate speech incidents—about 1,164 cases—took place in BJP-ruled or allied regions, up 25 percent from 2024. Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Delhi accounted for 65 percent of all incidents. In contrast, opposition-ruled states saw a 34 percent decline. The report linked 289 incidents to the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal, and 138 to the Akhil Bharatiya Hindu Parishad.

The IHL classified hate speech based on UN definitions, noting that nearly half of the incidents invoked conspiracy theories such as “love jihad,” “land jihad,” and “population jihad.” Several speeches called for violence, weapon use, boycotts, or destruction of religious sites.

The Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) held the training completion parade of its 104th recruit batch on Wednesday morning at the Bir Uttam Mujibur Rahman Parade Ground of the Border Guard Training Center and College (BGTC&C) in Baitul Izzat, Satkania, Chattogram. A total of 3,023 new members, including 2,950 men and 73 women, took an oath to protect the sovereignty and integrity of the country, marking the largest batch in BGB’s history. The event was attended by Home Affairs Adviser Lieutenant General (Retd.) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury as chief guest, who administered the oath and inspected the parade.

Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs Nasimul Gani, BGB Director General Major General Mohammad Ashrafuzzaman Siddiqui, and other senior military and civilian officials were also present. BGB announced that Al Imran, bearing chest number 155, was named best recruit overall, while Shafikul Islam and Lubna Khatun topped in physical excellence, and Shafiqul Rahman Tamim and Nahida Akter were recognized as best firers.

According to BGB, the BGTC&C has been training recruits for 44 years and has successfully completed 72 batches since independence. Despite a capacity of 700 to 1,000 trainees, infrastructure expansion under interim government directives enabled training of this record batch, setting a post-independence milestone.

Jamaat-e-Islami and its allies are set to announce their final 11-party electoral seat-sharing agreement today, Wednesday, at 4 p.m. in the Diploma Engineers Auditorium in Dhaka. Reliable Jamaat sources confirmed the plan, though formal invitations had not been issued as of midnight Tuesday. The announcement follows a series of meetings held throughout Tuesday among leaders of Jamaat, Islami Andolon, Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish, and other allied parties to finalize seat allocations.

According to the report, Islami Andolon had sought more than 70 seats but was allocated 45, leading to dissatisfaction within the party. Its leadership had not yet confirmed participation in the alliance as of Wednesday morning. Other allocations include 30 seats for the National Citizens Party, over 15 for Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish, 10 for Khelafat Majlish, 7 for the Liberal Democratic Party, 3 for AB Party, and 2 for Bangladesh Development Party. Jamaat is expected to retain more than 180 seats.

The coalition evolved from a 10-party alliance announced on December 28 of the previous year, later expanding to 11 parties. The final announcement is expected to include Jamaat Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman and other top leaders.

Iran has accused the United States and Israel of being responsible for the killing of innocent civilians during the ongoing protests across the country. The allegation came from a senior Iranian official in response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s warning about intervening in the demonstrations. According to TRT World, Trump had urged Iranians on social media to seize government institutions, prompting former parliament speaker and current secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, Ali Larijani, to name Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu as the main killers of the Iranian people.

Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations, Amir Saeid Iravani, sent a letter to the UN Security Council accusing Trump of inciting political instability, encouraging violence, and threatening Iran’s sovereignty and national security. He wrote that the U.S. and Israeli governments bear direct and undeniable legal responsibility for the deaths of innocent civilians, especially among the youth. The letter was also sent to UN Secretary-General António Guterres.

Iranian authorities stated that the situation has come under control following nationwide demonstrations that began on Thursday over rising living costs.

U.S. President Donald Trump announced the cancellation of all scheduled meetings with Iranian officials, citing Iran’s ongoing crackdown on protesters. In a social media post on January 13, he urged Iranian demonstrators to take control of state institutions and said that “help is coming,” though he did not clarify what form that assistance would take. Trump has also indicated in recent days that he is considering ordering military action against Iran.

The decision follows escalating U.S. measures against Tehran. On Monday, Trump declared that any country doing business with Iran would face a 25 percent tariff when trading with the United States. The following day, the U.S. State Department advised American citizens to leave Iran immediately due to rising tensions. When asked by reporters to explain his “help is coming” remark, Trump declined to elaborate.

Protests in Iran began in December after a sharp currency decline and soaring inflation, evolving into a broader anti-government movement. Official figures report more than 2,000 deaths in the ensuing violence.

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.