The Election Commission (EC) has declared the nomination of former Awami League minister Abdul Latif Siddiqui valid for contesting the Tangail-4 constituency as an independent candidate. The decision came on Sunday afternoon following an appeal hearing at the commission.

The appeal against Siddiqui’s nomination was filed by Md. Liaqat Ali, the Jatiya Party candidate for the same seat. Liaqat Ali’s lawyer argued that Siddiqui should be disqualified from the national election for being a leader of a banned political party. In response, Election Commissioner Rahmanel Ma’sud stated that while the party was banned, no individual had been personally prohibited from contesting. After hearing all sides, the commission decided to uphold Siddiqui’s nomination.

Abdul Latif Siddiqui previously served as the Minister of Textiles and Jute in the Awami League government from 2009 to 2014.

BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman has pledged to establish a separate division under the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs for the July movement fighters if his party comes to power. He made the announcement on Sunday afternoon at a discussion meeting held at the Krishibid Institution Bangladesh (KIB) auditorium in Dhaka’s Khamarbari area. The event was attended by families of those killed and injured during the July movement.

During the meeting, Tarique Rahman said that the July fighters of 2024 played a role in defending the country’s sovereignty similar to that of the freedom fighters of 1971. He also promised that a future BNP government would identify and resolve the problems faced by the families of those killed and injured in the July movement. Senior BNP leaders including Nazrul Islam Khan and Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, as well as his wife Dr. Zubaida Rahman, were present at the event.

The announcement signals BNP’s intention to formally recognize the July movement participants through institutional measures if it assumes office.

BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman held a meeting with families of those killed and injured in the July movement. The discussion took place on Sunday at the Krishibid Institution Bangladesh (KIB) auditorium in Dhaka’s Khamarbari area. Senior BNP leaders, including Standing Committee member Nazrul Islam Khan and Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, attended the event. Tarique Rahman’s wife, Dr. Zubaida Rahman, was also present.

During the meeting, relatives of the victims expressed their grief and called for justice for those killed during the movement. The mother of Shaheed Anas voiced hope that if Tarique Rahman’s party came to power, the killings would be investigated and justice ensured. Another mother, Fatematuz Johara, shared emotional memories of her deceased sons and thanked the BNP for their support during her family’s hardship. She expressed confidence that a future BNP government would prioritize justice for the victims.

The event reflected the families’ continuing demand for accountability and their expectation that the BNP leadership would address unresolved cases if it returns to power.

Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman, along with a five-member delegation, is scheduled to meet the Chief Adviser of the interim government, Dr. Muhammad Yunus, on Sunday evening at Jamuna. The meeting is expected to take place at the state guest house, according to the report.

Earlier, on Thursday evening, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Chairman Tarique Rahman paid a courtesy call on Dr. Muhammad Yunus at the same venue. Tarique Rahman was accompanied by his wife, Dr. Zubaida Rahman, and their daughter, Barrister Zaima Rahman. The meeting took place around 7:30 p.m. at the state guest house Jamuna.

The upcoming meeting between the Jamaat delegation and the Chief Adviser follows a series of courtesy meetings by political leaders with Dr. Yunus since the formation of the interim government.

The Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) staged a siege of the Election Commission building in Agargaon, Dhaka, on Sunday, January 18, 2026. The protest was organized to denounce three alleged irregularities by the commission, which the group claims undermine electoral neutrality. JCD President Rakib accused the current Election Commission of acting under the influence of a particular political faction and favoring a specific student organization in recent university elections.

According to the JCD, the commission’s decisions on postal ballots were biased and questionable, raising doubts about the fairness of the electoral process. The group also alleged that the commission made hasty and short-sighted decisions under political pressure, compromising its independence and professionalism. Additionally, JCD criticized a controversial directive concerning the Shahjalal University of Science and Technology student council election, calling it a threat to democratic practices on campus.

The protest highlighted growing tensions over the commission’s impartiality, though no official response from the Election Commission was mentioned in the report.

BNP-nominated candidate for Dhaka-6 constituency and convener of the Bangladesh Nationalist Freedom Fighters Generation, Engineer Ishraq Hossain, has clarified his party’s stance on the upcoming national referendum. The referendum will be held on February 12, the same day as the 13th National Parliamentary Election. In a Facebook post on Sunday, Ishraq stated that the BNP supports the 'Yes' vote, describing the matter as settled and leaving no room for confusion.

The announcement comes amid widespread public curiosity about the BNP’s position regarding the referendum. Alongside the interim government, several political parties are campaigning to secure victory for the 'Yes' vote. Ishraq emphasized that the people’s decision will be final, underscoring the party’s alignment with the referendum’s affirmative side.

The clarification from Ishraq Hossain provides a definitive answer to speculation surrounding the BNP’s approach to the February 12 referendum, signaling the party’s active participation in the ongoing campaign.

U.S. President Donald Trump has called for an end to the rule of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, saying it is time for new leadership in the country. Trump made the remarks on Saturday after Khamenei accused him of being responsible for deaths during recent protests in Iran. The comments came in response to a post by Khamenei on social media platform X, where the Iranian leader labeled Trump a criminal and alleged that he incited unrest in Iran.

Trump said Iran’s rulers depend on repression and violence to maintain control, claiming that Khamenei’s leadership has led to the country’s destruction and unprecedented levels of brutality. He added that a national leader should focus on governing properly rather than killing people, emphasizing that leadership should be based on respect, not fear and death.

Trump further described Khamenei as an unhealthy person who should stop the killings and manage the country responsibly. He asserted that poor leadership has made Iran one of the most unlivable nations in the world.

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Chairperson Tarique Rahman has been listed among the world’s top Facebook content creators, according to the social media analytics website Social Blade. A statement from the BNP Media Cell on Sunday, January 18, 2026, confirmed that Rahman secured the 63rd position in Social Blade’s top 100 Facebook content creators list, ranking above former U.S. President Donald Trump based on content volume and discussion levels.

Social Blade data shows that Rahman’s verified Facebook page has 5,576,776 total likes and 1,648,972 engagements. His page holds the 42nd position in Social Blade’s overall ranking with an A++ grade. Over the past 14 days, the page gained around 48,000 new likes, averaging more than 39,000 daily. Based on these metrics, Social Blade identifies Rahman’s page as one of the most active and influential political Facebook pages globally.

According to Social Blade’s definition, individuals about whom the most content is created and shared are considered “content creators,” placing Rahman among the world’s notable political figures.

The Election Commission (EC) is set to announce its decision today, Sunday, on whether candidates holding dual citizenship will be allowed to contest in the upcoming national elections. The appeal hearings began at 10 a.m., marking the final day for reviewing appeals from candidates whose nominations were previously rejected during the verification process by returning officers.

According to EC sources, most of the pending applications concern dual citizenship issues, and no decision has yet been made on these cases. On Saturday, the eighth day of hearings, the commission resolved 112 appeals, approving 45 and rejecting 37. Among the approved cases, 43 were appeals against nomination cancellations, while two were against accepted nominations. The revised election schedule set the appeal resolution period from January 10 to 18, with January 20 as the final date for candidate withdrawal.

The EC’s decision on dual citizenship candidates is expected to clarify eligibility rules ahead of the national parliamentary election process.

Ahead of Bangladesh’s 13th parliamentary election, a total of 107 candidates submitted nomination papers for 11 constituencies in Comilla. After scrutiny, the district returning officer canceled 31 nominations, and three were later reinstated on appeal, leaving 79 candidates in the race as of Saturday. Analysis of their affidavits shows that at least 20 candidates are millionaires, with BNP nominees dominating the list.

All 11 BNP candidates in Comilla are millionaires, collectively declaring assets worth about Tk 432 crore. The wealthiest among them is Zakaria Taher Suman, BNP’s candidate for Comilla-8 and president of the party’s southern district unit, with assets totaling Tk 231 crore. Jamaat-e-Islami has six millionaire candidates whose combined assets amount to Tk 16.86 crore. Several BNP rebel and NCP candidates also appear on the millionaire list.

Affidavits further reveal that many candidates’ spouses hold significant wealth. Zakaria Taher Suman’s wife owns assets worth Tk 128 crore, while spouses of other BNP and Jamaat candidates also report holdings ranging from several lakh to multiple crore taka.

A new study by the Biomedical Research Foundation has revealed that 80 percent of those killed during the May 6, 2013, government crackdown on protesters at Dhaka’s Shapla Square were ordinary citizens, not madrasa students. The report, titled “Shapla Square Massacre (2013): A Case of State-Sponsored Human Rights Violations in Bangladesh,” was published on January 6, 2026. It found that the average age of the victims was 29 and that about 85 percent of deaths were caused by gunfire.

The research, conducted by Mohammad Sarwar Hossain, Munaim Khan, Sadid Hossain, and S.M. Yasir Arafat, documented that around 7,500 security personnel took part in the operation, which dispersed about 50,000 protesters within 20 minutes using live bullets, tear gas, and sound grenades. The estimated death toll ranged from 93 to 327, based on data from multiple sources. The study challenges the prevailing notion that the Shapla movement was madrasa-centric.

Researchers concluded that the incident constituted a crime against humanity under international law and Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal Act. They emphasized the need for a full investigation and forensic documentation to preserve historical evidence and ensure justice.

Following the announcement of the 13th parliamentary election schedule, Thakurgaon has become one of northern Bangladesh’s most discussed constituencies due to the absence of the Awami League. Candidates from the BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami, and several smaller parties are campaigning actively, with particular focus on attracting young and minority voters.

In Thakurgaon-1, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir is the most prominent candidate, while Jamaat’s Maulana Delwar Hossain is promising a corruption-free society. The seat, once dominated by the Awami League, now features 480,609 voters, including about 119,000 minorities and 192,567 new voters, making youth and Hindu voters decisive. In Thakurgaon-2, BNP’s Dr. Abdus Salam, Jamaat’s Maulana Abdul Hakim, and Ganadhikar Parishad’s Faruk Hasan are leading an intense race. Thakurgaon-3 has turned into a three-way contest among BNP’s Zahidur Rahman, Jamaat’s Mizanur Rahman, and Jatiya Party’s Hafizuddin Ahmed.

Observers note that the absence of the Awami League has reshaped local political dynamics, with youth and minority participation expected to significantly influence the final outcome.

U.S. President Donald Trump has announced a 10 percent tariff on imports from eight European countries, citing their opposition to his position on Greenland. The affected nations are the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, the Netherlands, and Finland. The tariffs will take effect on February 1, with plans to raise the rate to 25 percent on June 1. Trump made the announcement on his social media platform Truth Social on Saturday.

In his post, Trump claimed that it is time for Denmark to “return” Greenland and argued that the current situation poses a threat to world peace. He alleged that China seeks to take over Greenland and that Denmark is incapable of responding effectively. Trump also accused the European countries of playing a “very dangerous game” in Greenland and said strong measures are needed to end the situation quickly.

During a White House meeting on Friday, Trump reiterated that any country disagreeing with his stance on Greenland could face tariffs, emphasizing the island’s strategic importance to U.S. national security.

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has secured a seventh term in office after winning the national election with about 72 percent of the vote, according to the country’s election commission. The 81-year-old leader was officially declared the winner on Saturday in Kampala, defeating his main challenger, pop star-turned-politician Bobi Wine, who received 24 percent. This victory extends Museveni’s rule into its fifth decade.

The election took place amid allegations of violence and vote rigging. Analysts said the result further consolidates Museveni’s political dominance, especially as speculation continues over his eventual successor. Bobi Wine rejected the results, alleging widespread fraud, and called on his supporters to protest. During the vote, the government shut down internet access, citing the need to curb misinformation. Wine later claimed soldiers raided his home and that he fled to avoid arrest, with sources saying he remains in hiding within the country.

Reports of post-election violence emerged across Uganda. Police said they fired in self-defense against opposition “criminals,” killing seven people, though a local lawmaker disputed this, alleging security forces killed at least ten at his residence.

Leaders and activists of Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh have become divided into at least four factions over their stance on the upcoming 13th national election. Although the organization identifies itself as non-political, many of its senior figures are contesting the election under different political alliances, while others have taken public positions for or against certain parties. Some leaders, including the Amir and Secretary General, have voiced opposition to Jamaat-e-Islami, sparking controversy within religious circles.

According to the report, Hefazat was founded in 2010 as a non-political platform of Qawmi madrasa teachers to counter anti-Islamic activities. Despite its stated neutrality, its leaders have historically maintained informal ties with various political parties. In the current election, some Hefazat-linked leaders are aligned with the BNP-led alliance, while others support the Jamaat-led bloc. Meanwhile, a large portion of Qawmi scholars remain politically inactive or silent.

The internal division has caused unease among Hefazat’s followers and the broader Qawmi community. Organizational leaders insist that any political involvement is personal, not institutional, though the practical situation appears more complex.