Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) formally begins its campaign for the 13th parliamentary election today, Thursday, January 22, 2026. Party chairman Tareq Rahman is leading the launch from Sylhet, where he will address a mass rally at 11 a.m. at the historic Sylhet Government Alia Madrasa ground. Before the rally, he will meet young people at the Grand Sylhet Hotel and Resort. Tareq Rahman arrived in Sylhet on Wednesday night with his wife Dr. Zubaida Rahman and senior BNP leaders, marking his first visit to his in-laws’ home in 21 years.

The city of Sylhet has been decorated with banners, festoons, and a large stage for the event, while law enforcement has implemented a six-tier security plan. During his stay, Rahman visited the shrines of Hazrat Shahjalal (R) and Hazrat Shah Paran (R), as well as the grave of Liberation War commander M.A.G. Osmani. BNP sources said the campaign will emphasize positive politics and counter misinformation. Following the Sylhet rally, Rahman will attend several election meetings across Moulvibazar, Habiganj, Brahmanbaria, Kishoreganj, Narsingdi, and Narayanganj before returning to Dhaka tonight.

Mahmudur Rahman Manna, president of Nagorik Oikya, has announced his candidacy from both Bogura-2 and Dhaka-18 constituencies in the upcoming parliamentary election. Although BNP had earlier pledged to leave Bogura-2 for Manna as part of an electoral understanding, the party ultimately nominated its own candidate there. The deadline for withdrawal of nominations has passed, yet no final decision has been made on whether BNP will vacate any seat for Manna, leaving the alliance’s seat-sharing deal unresolved.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir had declared on December 24 that Bogura-2 would be left for Manna, but the returning officer initially rejected his nomination, which was later reinstated by the Election Commission. BNP has nominated Mir Shah Alam for Bogura-2 and SM Jahangir Hossain for Dhaka-18, while Manna’s nominations for both seats remain valid. BNP’s election committee chairman Nazrul Islam Khan said discussions are ongoing to settle the issue.

Nagorik Oikya leaders stated that no recent formal talks have been held with BNP. They expressed frustration that despite earlier assurances, BNP fielded its own candidate in Bogura-2, creating confusion within the opposition alliance.

Ahead of the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election, joint patrol operations by the Bangladesh Navy and police have been strengthened in Charfassion upazila of Bhola to maintain law and order. On Wednesday, the forces conducted daylong and evening patrols across Dakshin Aicha Thana Bazar, Notun Bazar, and Baburhat Bazar areas. During the patrols, officers interacted with traders, residents, and pedestrians, urging public cooperation to preserve a peaceful electoral environment.

Law enforcement officials warned that any attempt to incite violence, intimidation, or unrest related to the election would face strict legal action. The patrol teams also carried out searches of suspicious individuals and vehicles at key market points and advised locals to immediately report any unusual activities to nearby police stations.

Lieutenant Commander Rafayet Bin Ferdous stated that the joint patrols would continue regularly in major markets, crowded zones, and vulnerable areas of Charfassion until the election concludes, emphasizing that any attempt to spread rumors or provoke disorder would be firmly suppressed.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has added nine new members, including four women, to its National Election Steering Committee. The decision was made on Wednesday night at a meeting held at the party’s central office in Moghbazar, Dhaka. The new members are former secretary Dr. Khondaker Kh M Kabirul Islam, Dr. Khalilur Rahman Madani, Oli Ullah Noman, Shahidul Islam, Dr. Anwarul Azim, Nurunnisa Siddika, Saeeda Rumman, Dr. Habiba Chowdhury Sweet, and Ayesha Siddika Parveen.

The meeting was chaired by Assistant Secretary General and Committee President ATM Masum, with Member Secretary and Assistant Secretary General Maulana Abdul Halim conducting the session. Other committee members were also present. Discussions covered the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election and a planned referendum, as well as the activities of various committees and subcommittees. The meeting finalized the election campaign schedule starting from January 22.

According to a press release from Jamaat’s central publicity department, the decisions and new appointments were part of preparations for the upcoming national polls.

BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman has called for policy-driven politics instead of mutual mudslinging among political parties. Speaking at a meeting with the newly elected executive committee of the Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) at his Gulshan office on Wednesday, he emphasized constructive debate on development policies and solutions as the path forward for the country.

Rahman presented BNP’s vision for building a modern Bangladesh, highlighting plans to make Dhaka a livable city by addressing traffic congestion and urban challenges with input from local and foreign experts. He mentioned initiatives such as family and agriculture cards, satellite cities connected to Dhaka by train, and restoring the Buriganga River. He also pledged improvements in agriculture, education, and health, and reaffirmed BNP’s commitment to food self-sufficiency and a humane state.

He further stated that under a BNP government, the media would enjoy full freedom and journalists’ safety would be ensured. Rahman praised DRU’s neutrality and consistent elections, and accepted an invitation to attend its upcoming family gathering on January 30.

Police in Indian-administered Kashmir have begun distributing a four-page form titled “profiling of mosques,” requesting extensive details about mosques and their staff. The form seeks information on sect affiliation, funding sources, land ownership, and personal data such as mobile numbers, bank accounts, and relatives abroad. Similar forms have been sent to religious schools, prompting fears among residents that the exercise represents increased surveillance and state control over Muslim institutions.

The Mutahida Majlis-e-Ulema, Kashmir’s largest Islamic religious body, condemned the move as an intrusion into sacred spaces and a violation of religious freedom. Former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and the National Conference party also criticized the profiling as discriminatory and fear-inducing. Police actions come amid heightened central control following the 2019 revocation of Article 370, which stripped the region of its autonomy. The BJP defended the initiative, citing the need for transparency and security, arguing that mosques had previously been used for political mobilization.

Analysts and local clerics warned that the profiling could erode trust and deepen community tensions, with some fearing further restrictions on religious practices in the region.

The United Kingdom has initiated formal discussions and a public consultation process to consider a complete ban on social media use for individuals under sixteen. The move, announced by Technology Minister Liz Kendall in the House of Commons, aims to safeguard children’s mental health and online safety. The consultation will run for three months, gathering opinions from parents, youth, and civil society representatives.

As part of the initiative, several measures are under consideration. These include making British schools ‘phone-free’ by default, empowering the education inspection body Ofsted to monitor compliance with phone-use policies, and requiring technology companies to remove addictive features or algorithms from their platforms. The proposal has gained attention following advocacy by Esther Gher, mother of teenager Briana Gher, who recently died by suicide.

The report notes that Australia became the first country to implement a similar ban in December 2025, providing a precedent for the UK’s current deliberations.

Fresh allegations have surfaced that some officials of the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications are using their influence over affiliated agencies to secure foreign trips funded by those agencies. Questions have arisen within the administration and policymaking circles about the legality of such trips, as they are conducted without ministry budget allocations. The issue has drawn sharp criticism following recent visits to Azerbaijan and Germany by ministry officials whose expenses were covered by the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC).

Documents show that two ministry officials received about USD 3,816 each for the Azerbaijan trip, funded from BTRC’s 2025–26 foreign expenditure account. Another controversy emerged when an administrative joint secretary joined a technical inspection trip to Germany, raising doubts about his role in a specialized engineering task. Insiders claim that ministry pressure determines who gets nominated for foreign travel, leaving agencies dependent and constrained.

Officials from the ministry and BTRC defended the trips, citing knowledge sharing and contractual obligations. However, critics argue that such practices violate government circulars restricting foreign travel before the upcoming national election, highlighting a widening gap between official directives and actual conduct.

U.S. President Donald Trump reiterated his interest in Greenland during a speech at the World Economic Forum, calling for “immediate discussions” over control of the world’s largest island. He emphasized that he does not intend to use force, saying he neither wants nor needs to do so. Trump also remarked that Europe is “not going in the right direction” and expressed his wish to see it improve.

Trump stated that he holds “immense respect” for the people of Greenland and Denmark but described Greenland as vast, sparsely populated, and underdeveloped. He claimed the United States has been attempting to purchase Greenland for nearly two centuries and argued that Denmark has “no trace” there. According to him, only the United States can ensure the island’s security and development.

Referring indirectly to NATO, Trump said that while the U.S. could be unstoppable if it chose to use excessive force, it would not take that path. He concluded that what America seeks is simply “a place called Greenland.”

Jamaat-e-Islami’s central Nayeb-e-Ameer Dr. Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher has described the upcoming national election as highly challenging. Speaking on Wednesday afternoon at a views-exchange meeting in Chauddagram, Comilla, with former chairmen, commissioners, and members of thirteen unions, he said that Bangladesh achieved freedom from what he termed Indian subjugation through a revolution on August 5, fifty-four years after independence.

Dr. Taher stated that although Bangladesh had territorial sovereignty, successive governments had accepted subordination to India. He claimed that the youth of the country had shed blood to free Bangladesh from Indian dominance, calling it the nation’s “second independence” and the beginning of a new Bangladesh. He also said that during his tenure in power from 2001 to 2006, he did not engage in corruption, but was arrested on false charges and later certified as corruption-free by the authorities.

The remarks were made in the context of Jamaat’s ongoing political activities ahead of the next national election, which Dr. Taher characterized as a critical national challenge.

Press Institute of Bangladesh (PIB) Director General Faruk Wasif has alleged that Sheikh Hasina came to power not for the welfare of the nation or its people, but to fulfill family vengeance and take revenge on the citizens. He made the remarks on Wednesday morning while inaugurating a two-day training workshop on election-time journalism for media workers in Cox’s Bazar, held at the District Council auditorium.

Emphasizing responsible, objective, and public-interest journalism during elections, Wasif criticized what he called 'broker journalism' for repeatedly undermining national achievements. He warned that new attempts to create misleading narratives could question democracy and the electoral process. He also highlighted Cox’s Bazar’s historical importance and the sacrifices made during the 1971 Liberation War and the recent July uprising, stressing the media’s vital role in protecting these gains.

Wasif further alleged that fascist elements have infiltrated the achievements of the July uprising and that manipulative journalism has previously enabled state repression. He criticized the media’s past role, claiming that Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s politics became limited after BAKSAL and that Sheikh Hasina’s retaliatory politics pushed the country toward a one-party state using the media as a tool.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has expelled Sadiqur Rahman Shubho, joint general secretary of Melandah upazila BNP in Jamalpur, for violating party discipline and engaging in anti-organizational activities. The expulsion was announced on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, through a notice signed by BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Advocate Ruhul Kabir Rizvi.

According to the notice, Sadiqur Rahman was expelled from all party positions and his primary membership for contesting the Jamalpur-3 (Melandah-Madarganj) constituency as an independent candidate under the “cup and saucer” symbol. He had sought the BNP nomination for the seat, but the party chose central committee assistant secretary Mostafizur Rahman Babul instead. Two other aspirants accepted the decision, but Sadiqur proceeded independently.

The BNP directive also instructed party leaders and activists not to maintain any organizational contact with Sadiqur Rahman following his expulsion.

Barrister Arman, son of executed war crimes convict Mir Quasem Ali, testified before International Crimes Tribunal-1 on Wednesday as the first witness in a case concerning enforced disappearance and torture at the Rapid Action Battalion’s Taskforce for Interrogation (TFI) cell. He alleged that on August 9, 2016, armed men abducted him from his home and held him in secret detention for eight years. During his confinement, he was blindfolded, handcuffed, and subjected to severe physical and psychological abuse. Arman said his weight was measured upon arrival, and he was told later that he had narrowly escaped execution.

His testimony implicated former prime minister Hasina and 12 current and former army officers among 17 accused in the case. Arman described the TFI cell conditions, identifying it as part of the RAB-1 compound under the RAB Intelligence Wing. He recounted being kept in a damp cell, hearing other detainees’ screams, and suffering from illness and suspected poisoning. He said he was eventually released near Uttara’s Diabari area after years of captivity.

The tribunal, chaired by Golam Mortuza Mojumdar, recorded his statement as part of ongoing proceedings into alleged abductions and torture under the previous government.

National Citizen Party (NCP) member secretary Akhtar Hossain said on Wednesday in Rangpur that the Jatiya Party has exposed its fascist nature through its 'No' vote campaign. Speaking to reporters after receiving his election symbol for the Rangpur-4 constituency, he claimed that the public would not support the 'No' campaign but would instead reject the Jatiya Party itself. He described the party as authoritarian and accused it of opposing reforms to the existing state structure.

Hossain expressed concern over the country's deteriorating law and order situation, citing recent incidents involving the death of a Rapid Action Battalion member and casualties in Mirpur. He urged the government and the Election Commission to ensure the safety of candidates and voters during the campaign period. Referring to past elections, he alleged that ordinary citizens had faced repression and manipulation, and called for decisive government action to prevent illegal arms and violence.

Highlighting the importance of the upcoming referendum, Hossain said the NCP and its allies were campaigning for a 'Yes' vote to implement reforms outlined in the July Charter. He urged citizens to support participatory governance and reject authoritarianism.

Rifaat al-Assad, the exiled uncle of former Syrian ruler Bashar al-Assad, has died in the United Arab Emirates at the age of 88, according to media reports citing Reuters. He was the brother of the late Syrian president Hafez al-Assad. Rifaat became infamous for leading forces that crushed an Islamist uprising in the central Syrian city of Hama in 1982, an operation that involved airstrikes and shelling and reportedly killed around 37,000 people. The brutality of that campaign earned him the nickname “Butcher of Hama.”

Following the Hama crackdown, Rifaat attempted a failed coup against his brother Hafez, which forced him into exile. He spent many years in France, where he faced charges of embezzling Syrian state funds. In 2020, a French court sentenced him to four years in prison and ordered the confiscation of his assets. After the verdict was upheld in 2022, Rifaat returned to Syria.

In December 2024, after Bashar al-Assad was deposed, Rifaat fled Syria again, traveling through Lebanon to Dubai, where he later died.