Chief Prosecutor Advocate Tazul Islam of the International Crimes Tribunal disclosed that evidence has been found proving that RAB fired from a helicopter during the anti-discrimination student protests in July-August last year. This revelation comes amid ongoing investigations, with an arrest warrant issued for former RAB DG Harun-Ur-Rashid in a murder case. Additionally, former police officials have been presented before the tribunal for their involvement in related incidents, including the burning of six bodies during the protests.

A violent clash between two Awami League factions over local dominance in Bashgari Union, Raipura, Narsingdi, left two people dead and at least 10 injured on Sunday morning. The dispute between former union chairman Ashraful Haque Sarkar and current chairman Ratul Hasan escalated into a confrontation involving spears and firearms. One victim, Alamgir Hossain, died after being taken to the hospital. Police are investigating, but the identity of one deceased and other injured persons remains unknown.

KM Shafiullah, Bir Uttam, the first Chief of Army Staff of Bangladesh and a prominent sector commander in the Liberation War, has passed away at 90. He died on January 26 while undergoing treatment in a private hospital in Dhaka. Born in 1934, he played a crucial role in the 1971 war, leading Sector 3 and later commanding the S Force. After independence, he served as army chief (1972–1975) and as an ambassador in several countries. He had been suffering from multiple health issues.

The Press Wing of the Chief Advisor dismissed the interview of fugitive Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, published in The Indian Express, as misleading and filled with lies. Kamal, accused of genocide, falsely claimed the burning of 460 police stations and looting of 5,829 weapons, which contradicts police records. The Press Wing highlighted his baseless statements, including allegations of media control and calls for Indian intervention in Bangladesh’s judiciary, labeling them as threats to national sovereignty. It reaffirmed the interim government’s commitment to press freedom since August 2024.

In 2024, Bangladesh received the bodies of 4,813 migrant workers, marking a record number compared to 4,552 in 2023. Since 1993, a total of 56,769 bodies have been repatriated. Most deaths occur among young workers, often due to unsafe workplaces, poor living conditions, overwork, and inadequate nutrition. Between 2016 and 2022, 67.4% of repatriated bodies came from Gulf countries, primarily Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Oman. Over 16 million Bangladeshis have worked abroad since 1976, with 76.3% in Gulf nations.

Summary: An explosion at an arms factory in Maharashtra, India, killed at least eight people and injured several others. The incident occurred in the Bhandara district on January 24. The explosion caused a roof collapse, trapping workers beneath the debris. Rescue teams reached the site quickly, recovering eight bodies and rescuing others in critical condition. The factory had at least 14 workers inside, and the cause of the explosion remains under investigation.

A powerful group in Pabna’s West Jamua village destroyed 60 houses in a government shelter project, claiming the land as their own. Residents allege they were forcibly evicted at gunpoint after the fall of the Awami League government. The group looted materials from the homes and placed a signboard citing a court case. Now, displaced families are living in dire conditions on nearby embankments. Local authorities have yet to act, despite repeated appeals from the victims for rehabilitation and justice.

A bomb threat was sent via WhatsApp to the duty officer at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport from a Malaysian number on January 22. The message led to immediate security measures being implemented. However, flight operations remained unaffected. Earlier, another threat about explosives onboard a Bangladesh Airlines flight from Italy was reported as a warning. National Security Advisor dismissed the threats as false information, and authorities are working to identify those responsible for spreading it. No incidents occurred at the airport.

Shortly after taking office, U.S. President Donald Trump issued executive orders targeting undocumented immigrants, sparking nationwide crackdowns. In Brooklyn, New York, ICE officers in plain clothes arrested four Bangladeshis during a raid. Witnesses reported being asked for identification, with one individual arrested after invoking the Fifth Amendment. Trump has signed over 100 immigration-related orders, including revoking birthright citizenship and halting legalization programs. The measures, coupled with heightened border security, have created widespread fear among undocumented immigrants, prompting legal challenges from 24 states and cities.

Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Tazul Islam has warned that promoting hate speech or inflammatory remarks by former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, accused of genocide and crimes against humanity, is prohibited by the International Crimes Tribunal. Addressing journalists, he accused Hasina of attempting to undermine the tribunal’s proceedings and influence investigations through provocative statements from abroad. The tribunal has banned the dissemination of such remarks in media and social platforms and directed the BTRC to remove existing content to ensure justice and protect witnesses.

Sargis Alam, key figure in the anti-discrimination student movement and National Citizens Committee, has stepped down from his role as General Secretary of the July Shaheed Smriti Foundation. In his resignation post, he announced structural changes within the foundation, including the creation of an Executive Committee and the appointment of a CEO. He served for about two months and 10 days, during which he oversaw financial assistance to 628 martyr families and 2,000 injured individuals. Sargis emphasized that stepping down was an act of addressing his limitations responsibly.

The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has revoked the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) licenses of seven telecom companies, including Telebarta, Ranks Telecom, and Bangla Phone, for failing to renew their licenses after expiration. Announced on January 20, the cancellation renders any operations under these licenses illegal, as per the Bangladesh Telecommunication Act-2001. The companies have been instructed to return their original license certificates and settle any outstanding dues within 30 days to avoid further legal consequences.

The interim government has abolished the tax on marriage registration, as announced by Legal Adviser Asif Nazrul during a press briefing at the Ministry of Law on Tuesday, January 21. He called the tax unreasonable and confirmed its removal. Additionally, the term “virgin” on marriage forms has been replaced with “unmarried” to make it more respectful for women. Asif Nazrul emphasized the government’s commitment to addressing such issues and hinted at further reforms to improve the legal framework surrounding personal and societal matters.

Dr. Asif Nazrul, Legal, Justice, and Parliamentary Affairs Advisor, announced that over 2,500 ghost and politically motivated harassment cases across 25 districts will be withdrawn by February. These cases involve millions of accused individuals and include charges under laws like the Explosives Act and Arms Act. Additionally, all cases under the Cyber Security Act will be withdrawn, with efforts to start within seven days. The government also plans reforms to the Cyber Security Law and changes in the judge appointment process to ensure impartiality.

In the 2009 BDR mutiny case, over 200 accused were granted bail in the explosives case by a Dhaka court. These individuals were acquitted in the murder case or faced no appeals against them. The mutiny at Pilkhana led to 74 deaths, including 57 army officers, and resulted in separate murder and explosives cases. Delays in the explosives trial have hindered the release of 468 individuals. A reinvestigation commission has been formed to revisit the case, with a 90-day deadline.