The Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) and Executive Magistrate of Sarail, Abu Bakar Sarkar, has filed a petition with the Senior Civil Judge Court seeking legal action against Barrister Rumin Farhana, an independent candidate for the Brahmanbaria-2 constituency. The petition, submitted on January 18, 2026, alleges that a public meeting was organized in support of Rumin Farhana in violation of the electoral code of conduct.

According to the petition, the event organizer, Jewel Mia, was fined 40,000 taka by an Executive Magistrate from the District Commissioner’s office. The complaint also accuses Rumin Farhana of threatening an on-duty Executive Magistrate and obstructing judicial proceedings, which were described as clear breaches of election regulations. The UNO requested the court to take necessary legal measures in response.

The UNO further stated that earlier, on January 11, 2026, Rumin Farhana’s supporter Ashiqur Rahman had been fined 5,000 taka for a similar violation of the electoral code.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami’s Nayeb-e-Ameer Dr. Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher has alleged that the country’s administration is gradually leaning toward a specific political party. Speaking to journalists on Sunday night, January 18, 2026, after a meeting with Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus at the state guesthouse Jamuna, he warned that if this trend continues, public confidence in a free and fair election will erode. He also said the Election Commission would not be able to avoid responsibility if the principle of equality in the electoral field is violated.

Dr. Taher claimed that administrative officials across the country are showing visible bias toward the BNP, particularly among SPs and DCs who are also serving as returning officers. He said Jamaat has prepared a list of such officials but has not yet filed a written complaint. He further alleged that the government’s recent provision of extra security and protocol for a top leader of one party breaches electoral neutrality.

Taher stated that Jamaat has drawn the Chief Adviser’s attention to these issues and requested his intervention if the Election Commission fails to act effectively.

Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen paid a courtesy call on National Security Adviser Dr. Khilur Rahman on Sunday at the Chief Adviser’s Office in Dhaka. According to the press wing, the meeting took place in a cordial atmosphere and covered discussions on the integrated management and restoration of the Teesta River and the proposed Bangladesh-China Friendship Hospital.

Both sides exchanged views on issues of mutual interest and reaffirmed the long-standing friendship and development cooperation between Bangladesh and China. The Chinese ambassador stated that he would visit the Teesta project area and reiterated China’s commitment to completing the ongoing technical assessment quickly. He also conveyed his government’s continued support for Bangladesh’s democratic transition and extended best wishes for the upcoming national election.

The two parties expressed satisfaction with the positive progress in bilateral relations and reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation for mutual benefit.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has questioned the transparency of several activities of the Election Commission (EC), alleging that the commission has shown bias in many cases. He warned that such behavior could hinder a fair election but expressed optimism that a credible election is still possible under the current commission if existing flaws are quickly resolved. Fakhrul made these remarks after meeting the Chief Election Commissioner on Sunday, January 18, at 4:45 p.m.

He claimed that the postal ballots sent to voters were faulty and designed to favor a particular party, demanding immediate supply of correct symbol-marked ballot papers. Fakhrul also criticized the collection of voters’ NID, mobile, and bKash numbers, expressing doubts about the purpose behind it. He alleged that campaign rules were being violated through one-sided promotion and that voter transfers in parts of Dhaka were being done deliberately.

Calling on the EC to act, Fakhrul urged investigations against biased officials and demanded equal opportunities for all parties. He reiterated that a fair election is possible if the commission identifies and corrects its shortcomings and proves its neutrality.

The Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives has temporarily suspended Md. Saidur Rahman Bhuiyan, chairman of Lengura Union Parishad in Netrokona’s Kalmakanda upazila. The order, issued on Sunday, stated that Bhuiyan obstructed the activities of an executive magistrate and committed contempt of court during official proceedings, which constituted misuse of power and misconduct under local government law.

According to the report, the incident occurred when Bhuiyan became involved in an argument with Kalmakanda Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Masudur Rahman. The dispute arose at Lengura Bazar after the UNO detained Bhuiyan’s brother, Md. Parvez, during the construction of a market on government land. A video of the altercation later circulated on social media.

The suspension order emphasized that Bhuiyan’s actions were inconsistent with the responsibilities of an elected representative and violated administrative discipline.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said that a US military attack on Greenland would make Russian President Vladimir Putin the happiest man in the world and signal the death knell for NATO. He made the remarks in an interview published Sunday in the Spanish newspaper La Vanguardia, according to Reuters. Sánchez argued that any US military action against Denmark’s vast Arctic island would damage NATO and legitimize Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The comments came after former US President Donald Trump shifted his stance on Greenland, pledging to raise tariffs on European allies until the United States is allowed to purchase the island. In a Truth Social post, Trump announced that starting February 1, a 10 percent import tariff would apply to goods from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Finland, and Great Britain, rising to 25 percent on June 1 if no purchase deal is reached. Danish and Greenlandic leaders have reiterated that the island is not for sale and that they do not wish to become part of the United States.

Sánchez’s warning underscores growing tensions between Washington and European allies over Greenland and NATO’s unity amid global geopolitical strains.

Daksu Vice President Sadiq Kayem has alleged that a student organization is attempting to stop the Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) Central Student Union (ShakSU) election, scheduled for January 20. In a Facebook post on January 18, he warned that the student community would not accept any effort to halt the election through force. He urged the Election Commission and university administration not to yield to any threats or pressure and to ensure a fair and impartial election on time.

The post further stated that the alleged attempt was being made to serve the agenda of the organization’s parent body. Kayem emphasized that any move to curtail students’ democratic rights after the July Revolution would be resisted. Meanwhile, an independent candidate, Mominur Rashid Shubho, has filed a petition with the High Court seeking to postpone both the ShakSU and hall union elections.

The Election Commission has extended the campaign period for participating candidates by 12 hours, while the ShakSU election remains set for January 20.

The Ministry of Education has finalized a decision to divide the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education (DSHE) into two separate directorates. The decision was made on Sunday during an inter-ministerial meeting held at the ministry’s conference room. According to the plan, secondary-level education will fall under a new Directorate of Secondary Education, while college-level education will be managed by a Directorate of Higher Education or Directorate of Higher Education and Research. An eight-member committee has been formed to develop a strong institutional organogram for the new structure.

An official present at the meeting, who requested anonymity, said that each of the two directorates will have a Director General and additional Director General positions, though the number of additional posts has not yet been determined. Another committee will finalize the full staffing structure and submit it to the Cabinet Division, which will issue a circular to implement the separation. The meeting was attended by Rehana Parveen, Secretary of the Secondary and Higher Education Division, along with officials from the Education, Finance, Cabinet, and Public Administration ministries.

Once the Cabinet Division issues the circular, the two directorates will officially begin operating separately.

Mufti Amir Hamza, the Jamaat-e-Islami candidate for the Kushtia-3 (Sadar) parliamentary seat, has claimed that he has been receiving death threats from various sources. He made the statement on Sunday through a post on his personal Facebook account, saying he has been threatened since the previous day and that he is always prepared for death.

In recent days, an old video of Amir Hamza’s speech at a religious gathering has gone viral on social media. In that video, he was seen distorting the name of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia’s younger son, Arafat Rahman Koko, and comparing it to an animal’s name. The resurfaced clip sparked political tension, and the Kushtia district unit of the BNP publicly protested his remarks.

Following the backlash, Amir Hamza posted an apology on Facebook late Friday night, expressing regret over his earlier comments.

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.