The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has raised objections over the postal ballots sent by the Election Commission for expatriate Bangladeshi voters. On Tuesday, a BNP delegation led by Standing Committee member Nazrul Islam Khan met with the Chief Election Commissioner to express concerns that the ballots intentionally placed certain political parties’ names and symbols on the first line while positioning BNP’s name and symbol in the middle, making it less visible when folded.

Nazrul Islam Khan stated that the delegation discussed the issue with the commission, which appeared unaware of the matter. He said the commission claimed the order was based on alphabetical arrangement, but BNP believes it was done deliberately. The party requested changes and corrections to the postal ballots. Khan also drew attention to a viral video allegedly showing individuals in Bahrain handling multiple postal ballots, urging legal action against those involved.

According to the report, more than 1.5 million voters, including expatriates, have registered through the “Postal Vote BD” app to cast their votes via postal ballots.

India’s central government has decided to reopen several abandoned World War II-era airbases in West Bengal, Assam, and Tripura, according to a Times of India report. The initiative aims to enhance regional connectivity in states bordering Bangladesh. The airbases to be renovated include Ambari and Panga in Jalpaiguri, Balurghat in South Dinajpur, Jhaljhalia in Malda, and Dhubri in Assam. Additionally, Rupsi in Assam and Cooch Behar are already operational. The Airports Authority of India has handed over responsibility for West Bengal’s airfields to the state government.

Analysts believe the move is primarily intended to bolster security around the Siliguri Corridor, known as the “Chicken’s Neck,” which connects India’s northeastern states with the mainland. The development comes amid reports that India-Bangladesh relations have reached a historic low. Bangladesh has recently begun reconstructing its Lalmonirhat airbase near the corridor but insists it will be used solely for national purposes.

Indian defense sources indicated that despite operational challenges, efforts are underway to make the airstrips functional, ensuring runways remain ready for use at all times.

Leaders of the Dhaka University Central Students' Union (DUCSU) held a meeting on January 13, 2026, with the Chief Election Commissioner and the Election Secretary to ensure that the Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) student council election, known as ShakSU, takes place as scheduled. The meeting aimed to maintain the democratic process across all campuses in Bangladesh and to prevent any delay in the student elections.

During the discussion, the DUCSU representatives emphasized the importance of preserving the democratic trend that began after the July Revolution through regular campus elections. They warned that any attempt to halt student council elections three weeks before the national polls would not be accepted by the student community. The Chief Election Commissioner assured that the election would be held on time and pledged full cooperation.

University authorities, including the SUST Vice-Chancellor, also promised support for a free, fair, and peaceful election. The participants called on all candidates and stakeholders to uphold democratic practices and contribute to a safe and democratic campus environment.

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has announced that it will support a 'Yes' vote if a referendum is held on upcoming elections and constitutional reforms. The statement came from Nazrul Islam Khan, a member of the BNP Standing Committee and chairman of the party’s Election Steering Committee, following a meeting with Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) A M M Nasir Uddin at the Election Commission building in Agargaon, Dhaka, on Tuesday afternoon.

Khan said BNP has always advocated for qualitative reforms in the state and was the first to call for such changes. He added that the party has proposed increasing the number of women’s seats in the National Parliament. The meeting, which began at 4 p.m., was attended by a four-member BNP delegation led by Khan, including Ismail Jobiullah, Mohammad Zakaria, and Ruhul Quddus Kajol. The CEC, other election commissioners, and the Election Commission secretary were also present.

The BNP’s stance signals its readiness to engage positively in discussions on constitutional reform and electoral processes if a referendum is organized.

The Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education (DSHE) has issued a directive prohibiting the use of any educational institution for meetings, gatherings, or election campaigns related to the upcoming national parliamentary election and referendum. The order, released on Tuesday by the DSHE’s General Administration Branch, instructs all educational institutions to strictly comply with this rule.

According to the directive, the instruction follows a memorandum from the offices of the Dhaka Divisional Commissioner and the Returning Officer. It notes that some candidates or their representatives have been organizing voter gatherings under the guise of seminars or youth assemblies, often using school or college premises without proper authorization. The DSHE emphasized that such actions violate the electoral code of conduct.

To ensure compliance, the order has been circulated to all government and private colleges, secondary schools, teachers’ training colleges, and education officials at the upazila and district levels, directing them not to permit any political activities without the Returning Officer’s approval.

A Dhaka court has ordered the seizure of 297 houses and 30 apartments owned abroad by former land minister Saifuzzaman Chowdhury, along with the freezing of his one million dollar investment in the United States. The order was issued on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, by Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Md Sabbir Foyez. The Anti-Corruption Commission’s (ACC) public relations officer Tanjir Ahmed confirmed the details, specifying that the properties are located in the United States, Thailand, Malaysia, Dubai, Cambodia, Vietnam, India, and the Philippines.

The order followed a petition filed by ACC Deputy Director Mashiur Rahman seeking to seize the properties and freeze the funds. On the same day, the court also accepted a separate Criminal Investigation Department (CID) petition to freeze 46,463,455 shares held by Saifuzzaman and six others. The former minister, an Awami League leader and businessman, has been living in the United Kingdom since the fall of the Awami League government.

Multiple cases have been filed by the ACC and CID against Saifuzzaman on allegations of money laundering and corruption, and the court has imposed a travel ban on him.

Indian Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi stated that all communication channels between the armed forces of India and Bangladesh remain open to prevent any misunderstandings. He made the remarks on Tuesday in New Delhi during the army’s annual press conference while responding to a question about the evolving relationship between Bangladesh and Pakistan and whether it poses a threat to India.

General Dwivedi explained that it is important for India to understand what kind of government is currently in power in Bangladesh, especially if it is an interim one, and to assess whether its actions are short-term or long-term. He emphasized that all three branches of the Indian military are maintaining full communication with their Bangladeshi counterparts, including regular contact between the army chiefs and other service heads. A delegation has also visited Bangladesh for field-level discussions.

The Indian Army Chief assured that none of the current military activities by either side are directed against India and that capability development is a continuous process being pursued by all nations. He added that India is closely monitoring the situation.

Nahid Islam, convener of the National Citizens Party (NCP), stated that the mass uprising would fail if the ‘No’ vote passes in the upcoming referendum. He made the remarks on Tuesday while inaugurating a campaign caravan aimed at promoting the referendum. Islam urged citizens to vote ‘Yes’, saying that even if they do not support his party, they should still vote in favor of the referendum.

He criticized a particular group for campaigning for the ‘No’ vote, arguing that supporting ‘Yes’ was the responsibility of all political parties. According to him, a victory for the ‘No’ side would bring an authoritarian force to power. He described the referendum as a vote that could shape Bangladesh’s next 50 years and called on voters to act consciously. Islam also mentioned that question leaks in recruitment exams had occurred under the current government and warned that a failed ‘Yes’ vote would return the country to its previous system.

NCP spokesperson Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan announced that nationwide campaigning for the referendum had begun and would continue until the election. The party recently restructured its election management committee ahead of the 13th national parliamentary election.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has withdrawn the expulsion orders of five leaders who were previously removed for alleged breaches of party discipline. The announcement was made on Tuesday through a statement issued by the party’s Senior Joint Secretary General, Advocate Ruhul Kabir Rizvi. According to the statement, the decision was taken following applications from the expelled members, and their primary memberships have been reinstated effective January 13.

The five reinstated leaders are Md. Abu Taher Siddiqui from Bagharpara upazila in Jashore, Syed Md. Sohel Chairman (SM Ataul Mostafa Sohel) from Madhabpur upazila in Habiganj, Khorshed Alam from Chattogram city BNP, Syed Sajjad Morshed from Nasirnagar upazila in Brahmanbaria, and Mosha. Parul Nahar from Hakimpur upazila in Dinajpur. They had earlier been expelled for activities deemed contrary to the party’s policies and ideals.

The statement also noted that BNP has previously reinstated other leaders and activists who were expelled at different times, indicating a continuation of internal reconciliation efforts within the party.

The Election Commission (EC) of Bangladesh approved 53 candidacies on the fourth day of appeal hearings related to the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election. The hearings took place on Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the EC auditorium in Agargaon, Dhaka, with the Chief Election Commissioner, four other commissioners, and the EC secretary present. A total of 70 appeals were heard during the day, of which 53 were approved and 17 were rejected. Among the rejected appeals, two sought to cancel the candidacy of valid candidates but were dismissed.

In the first session of the day, 36 appeals were resolved, with 29 approved and 12 rejected. In the second session, 24 appeals were approved and 5 rejected. The process is part of the EC’s review of returning officers’ earlier decisions regarding candidate eligibility for the national election.

The hearings are continuing as part of the EC’s effort to finalize the list of eligible candidates ahead of the 13th National Parliamentary Election.

The Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education (DSHE) and the Directorate of Madrasa Education in Bangladesh have instructed all public and private schools, colleges, and madrasas to conduct extensive awareness campaigns about the upcoming national referendum, scheduled to take place on the same day as the thirteenth parliamentary election next month. According to the state news agency BSS, all education offices under both directorates have been directed to comply with these instructions.

Separate circulars from the two directorates specify that all educational institutions must display banners and festoons featuring the referendum logo in prominent locations and use the logo on all official communications and correspondence. The madrasa directive also calls for disseminating the message through parent meetings, students, notice boards, and social media. The move follows guidance from the Cabinet Division.

The referendum aims to seek public opinion on the fundamental reform proposals outlined in the July National Charter 2025, marking a significant step in the country’s ongoing state reform process.

The Election Commission (EC) has declared the nomination paper of Jamaat-e-Islami’s candidate Colonel (Retd.) Mohammad Abdul Haque valid for the Dhaka-2 constituency. The decision came on Tuesday, the fourth day of appeal hearings held at the EC building. Abdul Haque’s nomination had earlier been rejected on January 3 by the Dhaka district administration and returning officer Rezaul Karim during the scrutiny process.

According to the report, Abdul Haque is the president of the Retired Armed Forces Officers Welfare Association (RAOWA). The Dhaka-2 constituency has 419,215 registered voters. Three candidates submitted nomination papers for this seat: BNP’s Amanullah Aman, Jamaat’s Abdul Haque, and Islami Andolan Bangladesh’s Maulana Zahirul Islam. The EC previously validated the nominations of Amanullah Aman and one other candidate.

With the EC’s latest decision, Abdul Haque will now be able to contest the upcoming election in Dhaka-2 alongside the other approved candidates.

Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned Myanmar’s ambassador U Kyaw Soe Moe in Dhaka after shots were fired from the Myanmar side near Hwaikong Union in Teknaf, injuring a 12-year-old child. The ministry expressed deep concern over the incident and described the unprovoked firing as a violation of international law and a threat to friendly relations between the two neighboring countries.

Bangladesh urged Myanmar to take full responsibility for the incident and to ensure that such occurrences do not happen again. It also called on Myanmar to make sure that internal conflicts between Myanmar authorities and armed groups do not affect the lives and livelihoods of people in Bangladesh. The injured child is currently receiving treatment in the ICU at Chittagong Medical College Hospital.

According to the ministry’s statement, the Myanmar ambassador conveyed condolences to the injured child’s family and assured that his government would take measures to prevent a recurrence of such incidents.

The Youth Parliament of the Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) has announced a 13-point demand calling for the cancellation of the power purchase agreement with Indian company Adani and the halt of Adani’s electricity imports. The demands were presented at a press conference held on Tuesday at the Dhaka Reporters Unity, where student representatives from Dhaka University and BRAC University participated. CAB’s energy adviser M Shamsul Alam was also present at the event.

The demands include abolishing the Special Provision Act for quick power and energy supply, canceling all contracts and licenses under that law, stopping furnace oil-based power generation, and restoring the power and primary energy sectors as public service sectors. CAB also called for cost-based, non-profit energy supply, reducing fossil fuel imports by at least 5 percent in the next government term, and increasing solar power generation by 15 percent over five years. Other points include halting LNG import expansion for five years and banning new coal-based power capacity.

CAB urged political parties and candidates in the upcoming national election to include these 13 demands in their manifestos, aligning with the organization’s proposed Energy Transition Policy 2024 for a fair energy transformation.

The International Crimes Tribunal has released the full 457-page verdict against former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, and former IGP Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun in the July–August genocide and crimes against humanity case. The verdict was published on the tribunal’s official website on Tuesday, January 13, 2026. On November 17, the three-member panel led by Justice Md. Golam Murtuza Mojumdar sentenced Hasina and Kamal to death by hanging and life imprisonment, while Al-Mamun received a five-year prison term as a state witness.

The verdict detailed five charges grouped into two categories of crimes. The first charge involved incitement and provocation, citing Hasina’s July 14, 2024 press conference remarks and her conversation with the Dhaka University vice-chancellor, which allegedly led to the killing of Abu Sayeed in Rangpur. The second charge concerned direct orders to kill, based on a July 18 conversation that allegedly resulted in twelve deaths in Dhaka’s Chankharpul and Ashulia areas.

The tribunal ordered confiscation of all properties of the convicts, directing the government to distribute the assets among victims of the July movement.