The National Pay Commission of Bangladesh is preparing to recommend a significant rise in allowances for government employees under the ninth pay scale. The proposal includes increasing the Pahela Baishakh festival allowance from the current 20 percent of basic salary to 50 percent. The commission is expected to submit its final report to the Chief Adviser on Wednesday, with all preparatory work reportedly in the final stage. Eid bonuses will remain unchanged under existing rules.

In addition, the commission plans to recommend raising the medical allowance from 3,500 taka to a maximum of 5,000 taka per month. Two age-based categories are proposed: 4,000 taka for employees aged 40 or below, and 5,000 taka for those above 40. Retired government employees would continue to receive a monthly medical allowance of 5,000 taka.

The Finance Ministry has allocated 1,06,684 crore taka for salaries and allowances in the 2025–26 budget, about 22,000 crore more than before. The ministry indicated that either the revised salary or allowance structure may be implemented from January, with further decisions left to the next government.

The Mobile Business Community Bangladesh has demanded the unconditional release of 56 imprisoned mobile phone traders and the withdrawal of what they called false cases against innocent businesspeople. The demand was made during a human chain protest held on Tuesday afternoon in front of the National Press Club in Dhaka, where the organization’s general secretary, Abu Sayeed Piyas, spoke about the issue.

Speakers at the event said that decisions taken under the name of implementing NEIR have pushed around 20,000 small and medium mobile phone traders and about 2.5 million people dependent on the sector into uncertainty. They alleged that many traders were arrested in harassment cases for participating in peaceful protests. The leaders also noted that over 30 days of continuous demonstrations and shop closures have caused severe economic losses, leaving employees unpaid and traders unable to cover rent or loan installments.

Considering the national situation and the upcoming election, the organization announced a temporary suspension of its shutdown program, with all mobile showrooms set to reopen nationwide on January 22. However, they vowed to continue boycotting products from a specific syndicate accused of trying to monopolize the market under the NEIR initiative.

Farmers in Nilphamari district are reporting a bumper yield of early varieties of mustard during the 2025–2026 fiscal year. Harvesting is in full swing as growers take advantage of favorable weather, improved seeds, and government incentives. The Department of Agricultural Extension set a target of 9,023 hectares for mustard cultivation, but actual cultivation exceeded 11,000 hectares. Many farmers, previously affected by potato losses, have turned to mustard due to lower costs and higher profits.

Local farmers, including women entrepreneurs, said they achieved strong yields from early mustard varieties such as BARI-09, 14, 15, 18, and Tori-07. They noted that mustard requires less irrigation and labor, and its byproducts serve household fuel and cooking oil needs. The district’s deputy director of agriculture confirmed that quality seeds were distributed under government incentive programs, helping farmers achieve high productivity.

The success of early mustard cultivation has encouraged more farmers to adopt the crop, potentially expanding its acreage further in coming seasons if favorable conditions continue.

Bangladesh has introduced its first modern irrigation system, the Center Pivot Irrigation System, at the North Bengal Sugar Mill’s sugarcane farm in Bhabanipur, Baraigram, Natore. The project, implemented with technical assistance from Austria and financial support from the Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation’s (BADC) Panasi Project, was officially handed over to the farm authorities after a successful trial run on Thursday morning. The system uses sprinklers attached to pipes to distribute water from above like rainfall.

The pilot project, costing Tk 3.98 crore across two sites in Natore and Pabna, was implemented by Sherpa Power Engineering with Austrian company Bayer’s cooperation. Two foreign experts, from China and Vietnam, supervised technical training. The system can irrigate 125 acres simultaneously, using less water and time than traditional methods. Officials said it will reduce water waste and improve year-round irrigation efficiency.

BADC engineers and local agricultural officers expect the technology to bring a major shift in farming efficiency, enabling uniform irrigation even on uneven land and converting fallow plots into productive farmland.

Severe wildfires have continued for a third consecutive day in southern Chile, fueled by high temperatures and strong winds. Officials reported at least 20 deaths and widespread destruction across several towns. The fires began Saturday in the Ñuble and Biobío regions, about 500 kilometers south of Santiago, and quickly spread over an area comparable to the size of Detroit in the United States, destroying or severely damaging around 1,000 homes.

President Gabriel Boric said Monday that while some areas were under control, conditions remained “very active and dangerous” in others, with new fires emerging in nearby Araucanía. Both Ñuble and Biobío have been declared disaster zones, and the military has been deployed to assist. More than 3,500 firefighters were working to contain the blazes as temperatures dropped to around 25 degrees Celsius but the situation remained critical.

Experts cited climate change as a key factor behind the increasing frequency of extreme wildfires in central and southern Chile during the dry summer months. Past fire seasons in 2016–17, 2022–23, and February 2024 also caused severe destruction and loss of life.

Across Bangladesh, fertile topsoil from agricultural land is being sold and used in brick kilns, severely reducing arable land and threatening crop production. Despite repeated government crackdowns, the illegal trade continues in districts including Chandpur, Moulvibazar, Cumilla, and Lakshmipur. Officials report that much of the soil is taken from farmlands and riverbanks, leaving deep pits that later turn into water bodies.

In Faridganj of Chandpur, around 30 brick kilns, mostly illegal, are reportedly using topsoil from croplands. In Kamalganj of Moulvibazar, soil traders operate day and night despite administrative raids and fines. Similar illegal excavation continues along the Gomti River in Cumilla and in Raipur, Lakshmipur, where fertile land is being stripped to feed brick kilns. Local officials confirm ongoing mobile court operations, fines, and vehicle seizures.

Authorities have pledged continued enforcement and investigations, but the persistence of the trade indicates enforcement challenges. The ongoing loss of topsoil poses serious risks to agricultural diversity, economic stability, and food security in affected regions.

A severe cold spell continues in Nawabganj upazila of Dinajpur on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, with the lowest temperature recorded at 10.3 degrees Celsius at 6 a.m. The humidity level stood at 93 percent, intensifying the cold sensation across the district. Dense fog and chilly winds since dawn have brought daily life to a near standstill, particularly affecting laborers, farmers, day workers, and students. Road traffic has also slowed due to poor visibility caused by the fog.

According to Tofazzal Hossain, an official from the Dinajpur Meteorological Department, the cold conditions in the northern region have not yet subsided. The combination of low temperature and high humidity has made the cold more biting and prolonged the foggy conditions.

The persistent cold weather continues to disrupt normal activities in Nawabganj, with residents struggling to cope as the chill lingers across northern Bangladesh.

The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) announced that strict punitive measures will be taken against anyone honking in or around Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. The decision was detailed in a press release signed by Deputy Commissioner Muhammad Talebur Rahman of the DMP’s Media and Public Relations Division on Monday, January 19, 2026.

According to the release, the Dhaka North City Corporation declared the airport area and a 1.5-kilometer stretch from Scholastica School to Hotel Le Méridien, as well as Gulshan, Banani, Baridhara, and Niketan, as silent zones since September of the previous year. Under the Road Transport Act 2018 and the Noise Pollution (Control) Regulations, honking in these silent zones is a punishable offense, carrying a maximum fine of 10,000 taka or up to three months’ imprisonment.

The newly issued Noise Pollution (Control) Regulations 2025 authorize police to impose fines for honking or causing noise pollution in silent zones. The DMP stated that it will take strict disciplinary action against violators in these designated areas.

Gold prices in Bangladesh have reached a new record after the Bangladesh Jewellers Association (BAJUS) announced another increase. According to a press release issued on Monday, the price of 22-carat gold per bhori (11.664 grams) has been raised by Tk 4,199, bringing the new rate to Tk 238,879. The revised prices will take effect from Tuesday, marking the highest gold price ever recorded in the country.

BAJUS stated that the decision followed a rise in the local market price of refined gold. The Standing Committee on Pricing and Price Monitoring of BAJUS made the adjustment after a meeting. Under the new pricing, 21-carat gold will cost Tk 228,031 per bhori, 18-carat gold Tk 195,430, and traditional gold Tk 160,147.

Alongside gold, silver prices have also been increased. The price of 22-carat silver per bhori has risen by Tk 291 to Tk 6,240, with corresponding increases for other purities as well.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) and the Dhaka Transport Owners Association have jointly launched an e-ticketing and counter-based system to organize and modernize the city’s public bus network. The system was officially inaugurated at a hotel in Dhaka on Monday, with full implementation expected within a week. Under the new system, all buses will pick up and drop off passengers only at designated stops, and passengers must purchase e-tickets through an app or device. Fares will remain within government-approved limits, and students will continue to receive half fares.

The initiative involves collaboration among DMP’s traffic and crime divisions, the Bangladesh Road Transport Workers Federation, and several transport unions, with technical support from UrbanMove Tech. The company will manage the e-ticketing operations across routes, installing QR codes at over 800 bus stops for app-based ticketing and deploying more than 3,500 ticket masters for passengers without smartphones.

Officials said the system aims to reduce traffic congestion, prevent unsafe competition among buses, and improve passenger safety and comfort. It follows eight months of consultations with relevant ministries, city corporations, and transport stakeholders.

The Russian Federation has donated 30,000 tons of potash fertilizer to Bangladesh through the World Food Programme. The handover ceremony took place on Monday at the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council auditorium in Dhaka. The event was attended by Agriculture and Home Affairs Adviser Lieutenant General (Retd.) Md. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury as chief guest, Russian Ambassador to Bangladesh Alexander G. Khokhin as special guest, and senior officials from the Ministry of Agriculture, WFP, and Russian fertilizer producer Uralchem.

According to a statement signed by the Agriculture Ministry’s Senior Information Officer Mohammad Zakir Hossain, Uralchem, one of Russia’s leading fertilizer producers, provided the donation. Adviser Jahangir Alam Chowdhury noted that global fertilizer supply has become a major challenge due to climate change, unstable markets, and global crises, emphasizing the importance of international cooperation. He also stated that Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation currently holds 1.035 million tons of non-urea fertilizers, the highest since its establishment in 1961.

The ministry’s statement added that during the interim government’s tenure, Bangladesh’s agriculture sector achieved notable progress, with rice, potato, onion, vegetable, and mustard production all increasing compared to the previous three years.

Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (RAJUK) Chairman Engineer Md. Riazul Islam has assured that the agency’s server will be fully operational by February 1. He gave this assurance during a meeting with leaders of the Real Estate and Housing Association of Bangladesh (REHAB) in Dhaka, where discussions focused on urban development, housing sector progress, and improving citizen services.

During the meeting, REHAB leaders, including Senior Vice President Liaquat Ali Bhuiyan and Vice President Engineer Abdul Latif, urged faster approval of designs under the new Detailed Area Plan (DAP). The RAJUK chairman pledged to simplify processes for land mutation and easement deeds, reduce customer harassment, and make digital services more efficient and transparent. He explained that software updates are underway following the issuance of new regulations and the revised DAP notification.

According to the chairman, once the software update is completed, design approvals will resume before February 1, ensuring smoother service delivery and improved transparency in RAJUK’s operations.

A magnitude 6 earthquake struck Pakistan’s northwestern Kashmir region on Monday, killing one person and causing several houses to collapse, according to the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC). The quake’s epicenter was about 35 kilometers below the surface. The tremor triggered landslides that sent heavy rocks tumbling onto roads, damaging infrastructure and blocking access routes.

Regional Information Minister Ghulam Abbas said that in Gilgit-Baltistan province, multiple mud houses were destroyed or damaged. Falling rocks from surrounding mountains struck several roads, closing entry points and damaging a major highway. Government agencies quickly deployed machinery to clear debris and restore normal traffic flow.

Authorities are assessing the extent of the damage, and local alerts remain in effect in the affected areas as cleanup and recovery operations continue.

Bangladesh’s two leading garment associations, BGMEA and BKMEA, have demanded the government cancel its initiative to withdraw the bonded warehouse facility for importing 10–30 count cotton yarn. The Ministry of Commerce recently recommended ending this benefit to reduce yarn imports from India, citing misuse of the facility. At a joint press conference in Dhaka’s Sonargaon Hotel, industry leaders warned that removing the facility would raise raw material costs, reduce export competitiveness, and threaten the apparel sector’s stability.

BGMEA acting president Selim Rahman said the decision was taken unilaterally despite ongoing discussions with the Tariff Commission. He argued that imposing duties amid global market slowdown, geopolitical tensions, and domestic energy shortages would further strain the sector. The associations noted that apparel exports fell 2.63 percent in July–December of fiscal year 2025–26 compared to the previous year, with a 14.23 percent drop in December alone.

The Commerce Ministry, however, justified its proposal by citing protection of local textile mills, which are operating at 60 percent capacity and facing losses. It warned that continued bonded imports could make the knitwear sector import-dependent, increasing lead times and reducing foreign exchange reserves.

Brigadier General (Retd.) Dr. M Sakhawat Hossain, adviser in charge of the Ministry of Labour and Employment, announced that a court has ordered the sale of Nasa Group’s assets to settle the lawful outstanding wages and service benefits of its workers. He made the statement on Sunday at the ministry’s conference room in the Bangladesh Secretariat during the 15th meeting of the advisory council reviewing labor and business conditions at Beximco Industrial Park.

According to the adviser, the court-appointed administrator has already sold Nasa Group shares and paid Tk 76 crore to the workers. The group has also made down payments to eight banks under Bangladesh Bank’s directives. The remaining payments to 15 banks and the rest of the workers’ dues will be cleared through the sale of additional Nasa Group properties via open competition, as directed by the court.

Senior officials from the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Bangladesh Bank, industrial police, and other relevant ministries and institutions, along with Nasa Group representatives and commercial bank officials, attended the meeting.