BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has called for the intervention of the army chief following the death of Shamsuzzaman Dablue, general secretary of Jibannagar municipal BNP in Chuadanga, after his detention. In a statement issued on Tuesday, Fakhrul alleged that members of the security forces detained Dablue under the pretext of recovering weapons and subjected him to severe torture, leading to his death. He expressed deep sorrow and condemned the incident as inhumane and brutal.

Fakhrul stated that such acts by members of the security forces are harmful to the country and constitute a grave violation of existing laws. He emphasized that under the current interim government, people expect justice through the judicial system, not extrajudicial killings. He urged the army chief to ensure a fair investigation and justice for the incident.

In his statement, Fakhrul also conveyed condolences to Dablue’s bereaved family and prayed for the departed soul.

Sylhet Deputy Commissioner Md. Sarwar Alam has emphasized the need to strengthen the capacity of village courts to reduce case backlogs. Speaking on Monday at a discussion titled “The Role of Media in Raising Public Awareness about Village Courts,” organized under the Village Court Activation (Phase 3) Project at the Sylhet DC office conference room, he said that electing socially accepted and competent representatives would enhance public trust in local justice.

He noted that when qualified individuals handle justice, disputes are less likely to escalate into formal cases. The DC called for collective efforts to deliver village court services to people’s doorsteps, saying that activating these courts at the local level would ease pressure on higher courts. Addressing media professionals, he urged them to highlight both the successes and limitations of village courts through traditional and social media.

The meeting was chaired by Suborna Sarkar, Deputy Director of the Local Government Department in Sylhet, and attended by officials, journalists, and project representatives.

BNP National Standing Committee member and former minister Salahuddin Ahmed stated that no future democratic government in Bangladesh should deviate from its course. Speaking as the chief guest at a meeting of the Jatiyatabadi Mohila Dal in Chiringa, Chakaria, Cox’s Bazar on Tuesday, January 13, he emphasized the need to build a parliament where representatives speak for the people and where there is no place for terrorism.

He said the next parliament should focus on lawmaking to advance Bangladesh, replacing praise and ceremonial performances with genuine debate and opposition. Ahmed described the upcoming national election as a decisive one that will determine the country’s direction and ensure the realization of citizens’ democratic rights. He added that the election would be the most significant in the nation’s history, strengthening democratic institutions and establishing them as protectors of democracy.

Local BNP leaders, including Enamul Haque, M Mobarak Ali, Mizanur Rahman Chowdhury Khokon Mia, Ali Ahmed, and Shariful Alam, were also present at the event.

Minnesota state authorities have filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration over what they describe as harsh immigration enforcement measures. The case was filed on Monday following the death of a female protester who was shot by a federal agent in Minneapolis last week, according to AFP.

State Attorney General Keith Ellison alleged that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security had unusually increased the presence of immigration officers in the Democrat-led state, creating safety risks for residents. At a press conference, Ellison said thousands of poorly trained, armed, and aggressive federal agents had been deployed in local communities, making the state less secure.

Ellison further claimed that Minnesota was being targeted because of its political differences, diversity, and democratic stance, calling the move a clear violation of the U.S. Constitution and federal law. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey also accused Republican President Donald Trump of deliberately targeting the state as part of his immigration crackdown program.

The Anti-Discrimination Student Movement has submitted a complaint to the International Crimes Tribunal against 25 prominent businessmen, including Salman F Rahman, for allegedly supporting the Hasina government during the July Revolution. The complaint was filed on Tuesday by the organization’s president, Rifat Rashid, to the tribunal’s Chief Prosecutor. Prosecutor Gazi MH Tamim confirmed receipt of the complaint, which also includes allegations against 200 unidentified individuals, and said it will soon be forwarded to the tribunal’s investigation agency.

According to the complaint, on July 22, 2024, during an internet shutdown, Salman F Rahman led a meeting at Dhaka’s Osmani Memorial Auditorium where several business leaders pledged to assist Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in suppressing the movement. The document cites speeches by Ahmed Akbar Sobhan, Mahbub Alam, SM Mannan Kachi, and Nazrul Islam Majumder expressing loyalty to Hasina and calling for unity against opposition forces. The complaint claims these statements reveal a conspiracy to uphold what it describes as an illegitimate government.

The student group requested a thorough investigation and appropriate action against the accused following due process.

July Oikya submitted a memorandum to the Election Commission Secretariat on Tuesday afternoon demanding the cancellation of nominations of candidates from the Jatiya Party, the 14-Party Alliance, and the NDF coalition. The memorandum was handed to Additional Secretary M Ali Newaz at 1:30 p.m. by leaders of the organization, who also called for the recovery of illegal weapons and the disqualification of those they accused of involvement in past violence.

In the memorandum, July Oikya alleged that the Awami League-led 14-Party government carried out mass killings during the 2024 uprising, claiming over 1,400 lives. The group argued that individuals and parties linked to those events, including the Jatiya Party led by G.M. Quader, should not be allowed to contest the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election. They further alleged that remnants of authoritarian elements remain within the administration, undermining prospects for a fair election.

The memorandum also expressed concern that the state might attempt “election engineering” to favor a particular party. July Oikya urged the Election Commission to take steps to restore public trust and ensure a neutral electoral environment.

A Dhaka court has set February 2 for the verdict in a corruption case against former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, her niece Tulip Siddiq, Azmina Siddiq, and 15 others. The case involves allegations of abuse of power and irregularities in the allocation of a 10-katha plot under the Purbachal New Town Project by the Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (RAJUK). The date was fixed on January 13 by Judge Rabiul Alam of the Dhaka Special Judge Court-4. The court also scheduled January 18 for arguments in another case involving Hasina, Radwan Mujib Bobby Siddiq, and Tulip Siddiq.

According to the Anti-Corruption Commission’s (ACC) public prosecutor Mohammad Zahirul Islam, the court has heard testimonies from 32 witnesses, and the prosecution believes the evidence proves the charges. The case was initially filed on January 13 of the previous year by ACC Assistant Director Afnan Jannat Keya against Azmina Siddiq, naming 16 accused including Hasina and Tulip. Following investigation, a charge sheet against 18 individuals was submitted on March 10.

The accused include several officials from the Ministry of Housing and Public Works and RAJUK, as well as former state minister Sharif Ahmed and former Prime Minister’s Principal Secretary Mohammad Salah Uddin.

The July Oikya alliance’s ‘March to Election Commission’ program faced police obstruction in Dhaka on Tuesday afternoon. The group began marching toward the Election Commission around 1 p.m. to demand the cancellation of candidacies of National Party, 14-party, and NDF alliance nominees for the 13th parliamentary election. Police stopped the procession in front of the Islamic Foundation. Demonstrators carried placards and chanted slogans calling for the cancellation of the National Party’s participation. A delegation from July Oikya later entered the Election Commission office to submit a memorandum, while other members remained outside.

According to the organizers, the march and memorandum submission were part of a broader campaign inspired by the spirit of the 2024 mass uprising. They announced plans to continue similar programs on January 14 in divisional cities, marching toward regional Election Commission offices to submit memoranda.

Law enforcement agencies, including Ansar, police, RAB, and Coast Guard, were deployed in front of the Election Commission in Agargaon to maintain order. Officials said they were prepared to handle any untoward situation.

The Chief Adviser’s Press Wing has released its second photocard urging citizens to vote 'Yes' in the upcoming referendum aimed at building a 'Dream Bangladesh'. The photocard, shared on social media on Tuesday, carries the message encouraging people to support the initiative. According to the Press Wing, a total of eight photocards will be published between January 11 and 18 as part of the referendum campaign.

The campaign seeks to raise public awareness about the referendum and encourage active citizen participation. The first photocard of the 'Referendum 2026' campaign was released on Sunday. Alongside the photocard series, the government has launched extensive nationwide programs to promote understanding of the referendum.

As part of these efforts, field-level government officials, religious leaders, and representatives of non-governmental organizations are being trained to foster positive perceptions about the referendum at the grassroots level.

The Election Commission continued its fourth day of hearings on appeals against returning officers’ decisions for the upcoming parliamentary election. The session began at 10 a.m. on Tuesday at the commission’s auditorium in Agargaon, Dhaka. By noon, 12 appeals had been resolved, with six granted, five rejected, and one candidate absent. Chief Election Commissioner A M M Nasir Uddin presided over the proceedings, joined by other commissioners.

Among the rejected appeals, independent candidates from Joypurhat-1, Narail-1, Pirojpur-2, Satkhira-1, and Jamalpur-5 constituencies lost their nominations due to irregularities such as mismatched voter lists, incomplete voter quotas, loan default, and missing or false signatures. The Gonodhikar Parishad candidate from Cumilla-3 remained absent from the hearing. Over the previous three days, 150 candidates had their nominations reinstated, while one was canceled.

The parliamentary election and a national referendum are scheduled to be held together on February 12, according to the commission’s schedule.

Students of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) staged an overnight protest following a directive from the Bangladesh Election Commission prohibiting any elections before the national polls. The protest intensified across the campus on Monday night, with student groups including Chhatra Dal and Chhatra Shibir organizing demonstrations at various locations. During the agitation, a vice president candidate from Bijoy 24 Hall suffered a cardiac arrest and was taken to Mount Adora Hospital.

In the early hours of Tuesday, SUST students and the university’s election commission held discussions with the administration. After lengthy talks, all parties agreed that by 5 p.m. today, the university administration must consult the Bangladesh Election Commission and announce a clear “yes” or “no” decision on whether the SUST Central Students’ Union (ShakSU) election will proceed on January 20.

The vice-chancellor, currently in Dhaka, informed through the deputy vice-chancellor that he would meet the chief adviser between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. and could visit the Election Commission afterward. Students set a firm deadline for the administration to deliver a decision within the stipulated time.

The High Court has removed from its cause list a writ petition that challenged the legality of holding the national parliamentary election and a referendum on the same day. The order was issued on Tuesday by a bench led by Justice Rajik Al Jalil. Advocate Yunus Ali Akand represented the petitioner, while Additional Attorney General Anik R Haque appeared for the state.

Earlier, on January 7, another High Court bench had expressed its inability to hear the same petition. The writ, filed on January 5 by Supreme Court lawyer Yunus Ali Akand, sought suspension of the December 11 notification that announced schedules for both the national election and the referendum on the same day. It also requested the formation of a caretaker government and the issuance of a new election schedule.

The Chief Election Commissioner and other relevant officials were made respondents in the petition. The High Court’s latest order effectively removes the case from active judicial consideration for now.

Shamsuzzaman Dabul, general secretary of Jibannagar municipal BNP in Chuadanga, died in army custody shortly after midnight on Monday. His body was kept at Jibannagar Upazila Health Complex and later sent to Chuadanga Sadar Hospital morgue for autopsy. According to BNP activists, he was taken into custody from his pharmacy near the health complex around 10 p.m., and news of his death emerged about three hours later.

Following the incident, BNP leaders and activists gathered at the health complex and blocked roads until 11 a.m. Tuesday in protest. Dabul’s brother, a local forest officer, alleged that he was killed and demanded justice. A JCD leader claimed that army personnel had previously beaten four brothers on Saturday night. The army did not comment on camera but claimed to have recovered weapons from Dabul. District BNP president and Chuadanga-2 candidate Mahmud Hasan Khan Babu visited the site and said the party would pursue legal action.

BNP leaders stated they were preparing to file a case over the death. The local police confirmed the death but did not provide further details.

U.S. President Donald Trump is scheduled to meet Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado on Thursday, according to a U.S. administration official cited by AFP. The meeting comes as pressure mounts on Venezuela’s interim government to accelerate the release of political prisoners. Under President Nicolás Maduro’s rule, the Venezuelan government has freed 116 detainees, though human rights groups report that only about 50 of an estimated 800 to 1,200 prisoners have actually been released.

The U.S. administration has expressed support for Machado, and Trump’s meeting is seen as a signal of Washington’s continued involvement in Venezuela’s political crisis. Trump has also warned interim President Delcy Rodríguez that failure to comply with U.S. directives ensuring access to Venezuelan oil could bring consequences.

Observers view the upcoming meeting as significant for the future of Washington–Caracas relations and the broader Venezuelan political situation.

Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus stated that the upcoming national parliamentary election will decide which direction Bangladesh will take. He made the remarks on Tuesday morning at Hotel Le Méridien in Dhaka during the South Asian Regional Conference titled “Current State and Future Directions of Higher Education–2026,” a three-day event.

Dr. Yunus emphasized that young people are engaging in politics and expressed hope that many of them will win in the election. He criticized the education system for focusing mainly on job preparation, saying education should instead awaken creativity and independent thinking. He urged that students be developed not only as job seekers but also as job creators, highlighting the importance of entrepreneurship, imagination, and courage to innovate.

He further noted that South Asia is a region full of potential, but political instability, social divisions, and misguided policies often prevent that potential from being realized. Education, he said, could empower the region’s youth to lead transformative change. The conference, organized under the Higher Education Acceleration and Transformation (HEAT) project funded by the Bangladesh government and the World Bank, included 30 international representatives from several countries.