At Jahangirnagar University, students detained a man in Nawab Faizunnesa Hall around 1 AM on January 18. Ashraful Alam Parvez, who entered disguised with a scarf and bindi, was taken to Arpa Khandaker Chandni’s room after attending the winter festival. Nearby students identified him, leading to his detention and eventual handover to Ashulia Police. Arpa claimed she helped him due to his lack of accommodation. Authorities plan disciplinary action against Arpa and have formed a probe committee.

The Public Administration Reform Commission’s proposal to divide Bangladesh into four provinces—Dhaka, Chattogram, Rajshahi, and Khulna—has sparked significant criticism. Experts argue that Bangladesh’s small geographical size, shared language, and cultural unity make such divisions unnecessary and counterproductive. They caution that creating provinces could lead to administrative inefficiencies, governance overlaps, and new conflicts instead of solving existing issues. Local governance experts suggest that strengthening local governments and empowering existing administrative divisions would be a more effective and less disruptive approach. By focusing on decentralization within the current structure, the government can bring services closer to the people without the risks and complexities associated with establishing provincial frameworks.

The Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) has requested the bank account details of 14 journalists, including Zulhas Alam of AP and Farid Hossain of UNB, along with their business account information. The BFIU has directed banks to provide these details within seven working days. This follows previous actions taken against journalists in recent months amid a broader investigation into corruption and misdeeds linked to the Awami League government.

The interim government is forming the “July Mass Uprising Directorate” to provide financial aid and rehabilitation for families of those killed and injured during the July-August 2024 protests. Eligible individuals will receive allowances and job opportunities based on defined criteria. The directorate’s policy draft includes categorization of injuries for aid distribution and committee formation for implementation. Pending approvals from relevant ministries, activities will commence soon. Additionally, the initiative faces mixed reactions over overlooked organizational upgrades.

After 7.5 years, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and her elder son, Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman, emotionally reunited in London. Khaleda Zia, in need of advanced medical care, arrived at Heathrow Airport on Wednesday morning via a special air ambulance. She was welcomed by Tarique, daughter-in-law Zubaida Rahman, and BNP leaders. Khaleda, suffering from severe health issues, will undergo treatment at London Clinic and later Johns Hopkins Hospital in the USA. Her health has deteriorated since her 2018 imprisonment. Her return home may include performing Umrah in Saudi Arabia.

Adviser Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan has taken responsibility for the family of Felani Khatun, killed by BSF gunfire at the Fulbari border in Kurigram. He will support her siblings' education and employment. Felani was shot dead in 2011 by BSF member Amiya Ghosh, who was later acquitted in trials. Despite appeals, the case has not seen further progress since a postponed hearing in 2018.

Starting January 8, expatriate Bangladeshis will receive SMS notifications for e-passport delivery, a service previously available only within the country. This initiative aims to minimize inconvenience by notifying applicants when their passports are ready. Efforts are underway to clear a backlog of 197,000 Machine Readable Passports (MRPs), with 182,745 passports already dispatched to embassies within three weeks. To combat fraud and harassment, authorized agents will be appointed to assist applicants, reducing reliance on brokers. Additionally, steps are being taken to streamline passport services and improve the application process at various offices nationwide.