A Dhaka court has set February 2 for the verdict in a corruption case against former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, her niece Tulip Siddiq, Azmina Siddiq, and 15 others. The case involves allegations of abuse of power and irregularities in the allocation of a 10-katha plot under the Purbachal New Town Project by the Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (RAJUK). The date was fixed on January 13 by Judge Rabiul Alam of the Dhaka Special Judge Court-4. The court also scheduled January 18 for arguments in another case involving Hasina, Radwan Mujib Bobby Siddiq, and Tulip Siddiq.

According to the Anti-Corruption Commission’s (ACC) public prosecutor Mohammad Zahirul Islam, the court has heard testimonies from 32 witnesses, and the prosecution believes the evidence proves the charges. The case was initially filed on January 13 of the previous year by ACC Assistant Director Afnan Jannat Keya against Azmina Siddiq, naming 16 accused including Hasina and Tulip. Following investigation, a charge sheet against 18 individuals was submitted on March 10.

The accused include several officials from the Ministry of Housing and Public Works and RAJUK, as well as former state minister Sharif Ahmed and former Prime Minister’s Principal Secretary Mohammad Salah Uddin.

The July Oikya alliance’s ‘March to Election Commission’ program faced police obstruction in Dhaka on Tuesday afternoon. The group began marching toward the Election Commission around 1 p.m. to demand the cancellation of candidacies of National Party, 14-party, and NDF alliance nominees for the 13th parliamentary election. Police stopped the procession in front of the Islamic Foundation. Demonstrators carried placards and chanted slogans calling for the cancellation of the National Party’s participation. A delegation from July Oikya later entered the Election Commission office to submit a memorandum, while other members remained outside.

According to the organizers, the march and memorandum submission were part of a broader campaign inspired by the spirit of the 2024 mass uprising. They announced plans to continue similar programs on January 14 in divisional cities, marching toward regional Election Commission offices to submit memoranda.

Law enforcement agencies, including Ansar, police, RAB, and Coast Guard, were deployed in front of the Election Commission in Agargaon to maintain order. Officials said they were prepared to handle any untoward situation.

The Chief Adviser’s Press Wing has released its second photocard urging citizens to vote 'Yes' in the upcoming referendum aimed at building a 'Dream Bangladesh'. The photocard, shared on social media on Tuesday, carries the message encouraging people to support the initiative. According to the Press Wing, a total of eight photocards will be published between January 11 and 18 as part of the referendum campaign.

The campaign seeks to raise public awareness about the referendum and encourage active citizen participation. The first photocard of the 'Referendum 2026' campaign was released on Sunday. Alongside the photocard series, the government has launched extensive nationwide programs to promote understanding of the referendum.

As part of these efforts, field-level government officials, religious leaders, and representatives of non-governmental organizations are being trained to foster positive perceptions about the referendum at the grassroots level.

The Election Commission continued its fourth day of hearings on appeals against returning officers’ decisions for the upcoming parliamentary election. The session began at 10 a.m. on Tuesday at the commission’s auditorium in Agargaon, Dhaka. By noon, 12 appeals had been resolved, with six granted, five rejected, and one candidate absent. Chief Election Commissioner A M M Nasir Uddin presided over the proceedings, joined by other commissioners.

Among the rejected appeals, independent candidates from Joypurhat-1, Narail-1, Pirojpur-2, Satkhira-1, and Jamalpur-5 constituencies lost their nominations due to irregularities such as mismatched voter lists, incomplete voter quotas, loan default, and missing or false signatures. The Gonodhikar Parishad candidate from Cumilla-3 remained absent from the hearing. Over the previous three days, 150 candidates had their nominations reinstated, while one was canceled.

The parliamentary election and a national referendum are scheduled to be held together on February 12, according to the commission’s schedule.

Students of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) staged an overnight protest following a directive from the Bangladesh Election Commission prohibiting any elections before the national polls. The protest intensified across the campus on Monday night, with student groups including Chhatra Dal and Chhatra Shibir organizing demonstrations at various locations. During the agitation, a vice president candidate from Bijoy 24 Hall suffered a cardiac arrest and was taken to Mount Adora Hospital.

In the early hours of Tuesday, SUST students and the university’s election commission held discussions with the administration. After lengthy talks, all parties agreed that by 5 p.m. today, the university administration must consult the Bangladesh Election Commission and announce a clear “yes” or “no” decision on whether the SUST Central Students’ Union (ShakSU) election will proceed on January 20.

The vice-chancellor, currently in Dhaka, informed through the deputy vice-chancellor that he would meet the chief adviser between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. and could visit the Election Commission afterward. Students set a firm deadline for the administration to deliver a decision within the stipulated time.

The High Court has removed from its cause list a writ petition that challenged the legality of holding the national parliamentary election and a referendum on the same day. The order was issued on Tuesday by a bench led by Justice Rajik Al Jalil. Advocate Yunus Ali Akand represented the petitioner, while Additional Attorney General Anik R Haque appeared for the state.

Earlier, on January 7, another High Court bench had expressed its inability to hear the same petition. The writ, filed on January 5 by Supreme Court lawyer Yunus Ali Akand, sought suspension of the December 11 notification that announced schedules for both the national election and the referendum on the same day. It also requested the formation of a caretaker government and the issuance of a new election schedule.

The Chief Election Commissioner and other relevant officials were made respondents in the petition. The High Court’s latest order effectively removes the case from active judicial consideration for now.

Shamsuzzaman Dabul, general secretary of Jibannagar municipal BNP in Chuadanga, died in army custody shortly after midnight on Monday. His body was kept at Jibannagar Upazila Health Complex and later sent to Chuadanga Sadar Hospital morgue for autopsy. According to BNP activists, he was taken into custody from his pharmacy near the health complex around 10 p.m., and news of his death emerged about three hours later.

Following the incident, BNP leaders and activists gathered at the health complex and blocked roads until 11 a.m. Tuesday in protest. Dabul’s brother, a local forest officer, alleged that he was killed and demanded justice. A JCD leader claimed that army personnel had previously beaten four brothers on Saturday night. The army did not comment on camera but claimed to have recovered weapons from Dabul. District BNP president and Chuadanga-2 candidate Mahmud Hasan Khan Babu visited the site and said the party would pursue legal action.

BNP leaders stated they were preparing to file a case over the death. The local police confirmed the death but did not provide further details.

U.S. President Donald Trump is scheduled to meet Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado on Thursday, according to a U.S. administration official cited by AFP. The meeting comes as pressure mounts on Venezuela’s interim government to accelerate the release of political prisoners. Under President Nicolás Maduro’s rule, the Venezuelan government has freed 116 detainees, though human rights groups report that only about 50 of an estimated 800 to 1,200 prisoners have actually been released.

The U.S. administration has expressed support for Machado, and Trump’s meeting is seen as a signal of Washington’s continued involvement in Venezuela’s political crisis. Trump has also warned interim President Delcy Rodríguez that failure to comply with U.S. directives ensuring access to Venezuelan oil could bring consequences.

Observers view the upcoming meeting as significant for the future of Washington–Caracas relations and the broader Venezuelan political situation.

Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus stated that the upcoming national parliamentary election will decide which direction Bangladesh will take. He made the remarks on Tuesday morning at Hotel Le Méridien in Dhaka during the South Asian Regional Conference titled “Current State and Future Directions of Higher Education–2026,” a three-day event.

Dr. Yunus emphasized that young people are engaging in politics and expressed hope that many of them will win in the election. He criticized the education system for focusing mainly on job preparation, saying education should instead awaken creativity and independent thinking. He urged that students be developed not only as job seekers but also as job creators, highlighting the importance of entrepreneurship, imagination, and courage to innovate.

He further noted that South Asia is a region full of potential, but political instability, social divisions, and misguided policies often prevent that potential from being realized. Education, he said, could empower the region’s youth to lead transformative change. The conference, organized under the Higher Education Acceleration and Transformation (HEAT) project funded by the Bangladesh government and the World Bank, included 30 international representatives from several countries.

U.S. President Donald Trump announced a 25 percent tariff on goods from countries maintaining trade relations with Iran. The declaration was made on January 12 through a post on Truth Social, where Trump said the decision would take immediate effect. Analysts view the move as part of Washington’s strategy to increase pressure on Tehran as anti-government protests in Iran entered their third week.

Trump did not clarify what constitutes 'doing business with Iran,' though China, Iraq, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, and India are identified as major trading partners of the country. The White House has yet to specify which nations or products will be most affected. The announcement follows Trump’s earlier warning of possible military intervention if violence against Iranian protesters continues. White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt confirmed that airstrike options remain under consideration.

The protests, driven by Iran’s deepening economic crisis, have resulted in hundreds of deaths, according to human rights monitors. Internet restrictions have made it difficult to verify information from inside Iran, while Trump claimed Iranian officials have reached out for talks but warned that the U.S. may act before any meeting occurs.

At least 648 people have been killed in Iran as security forces intensified crackdowns on anti-government protests that have continued for 16 days. The Norway-based human rights group Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO) reported the updated toll on January 12, noting that nine of the victims were under 18. Thousands more have been injured, while internet shutdowns have made it difficult to verify the true scale of casualties. Videos from Tehran hospitals and morgues reportedly show large numbers of bodies, underscoring the severity of the situation.

The protests began on December 28 in Tehran’s markets over economic hardship, inflation, and currency collapse, but quickly evolved into a political movement. Exiled crown prince Reza Pahlavi’s call for intensified demonstrations further fueled the unrest. The United Kingdom and France have strongly condemned the violent suppression, urging Iran to respect citizens’ fundamental rights. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi rejected Western criticism, accusing the UK of interference and warning of possible withdrawal of diplomats from London if Iranian missions are not protected.

International human rights groups have warned that unless the Iranian government shows restraint, violence and casualties could escalate further.

The 11-party electoral alliance led by Jamaat-e-Islami is close to finalizing its seat-sharing arrangement ahead of the upcoming national election. After weeks of uncertainty and internal negotiations, the liaison committee met on Monday night to settle which party will field candidates in specific constituencies. Although most issues have been resolved, discussions with Islami Andolan and several Khelafat-based parties remain incomplete. A final round of talks is scheduled for Tuesday, with an official announcement expected on Wednesday.

According to Jamaat Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman, the seat-sharing process will take shape by Tuesday, and the final declaration will follow within a day. The alliance includes Jamaat-e-Islami, Islami Andolan, National Citizen Party (NCP), Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish, Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), Khelafat Majlish, Amar Bangladesh (AB) Party, Khelafat Andolan, Nezame Islam Party, Jatiya Ganatantrik Party (JAGPA), and Bangladesh Development Party (BDP). Negotiations have allocated over 190 seats to Jamaat, around 40 to Islami Andolan, and smaller numbers to other partners.

If consensus is not reached with some parties, the final declaration may proceed without them, according to alliance sources.

The Palestinian group Hamas is preparing to hold internal elections to restructure its leadership following the deaths of top leaders during the Gaza war. A Hamas official said preparations are underway, with voting expected to take place within the first months of 2026 once conditions stabilize. The information was reported by Turkey-based media outlet Daily Sabah.

According to the report, the reorganization process includes forming a new 50-member Shura Council, a religiously influenced advisory body. Hamas’s three branches—Gaza Strip, occupied West Bank, and the diaspora—elect their members every four years. In previous elections, members gathered in mosques and other venues to vote for the Shura Council, which is responsible for choosing the political bureau and overall leader.

Sources indicate that two main contenders are leading for the position of political bureau chief: Gaza’s Khalil al-Hayya, supported by the Gaza branch and the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, and exiled leader Khaled Meshaal. Hamas views the leadership renewal as vital for strengthening Gaza’s resilience and maintaining organizational stability.

Somalia has announced the cancellation of all agreements with the United Arab Emirates, a decision made by the Somali government on Monday amid ongoing tensions in the Red Sea region. The move will require the UAE to withdraw its troops from military bases in Somalia and halt participation in major infrastructure projects.

According to documents obtained by the UK-based outlet Middle East Eye, the cancellation covers all contracts involving government bodies, affiliated agencies, and regional administrations. The decision applies to agreements related to the ports of Berbera, Bosaso, and Kismayo. The Somali cabinet also annulled bilateral security and defense cooperation agreements with the UAE.

The government stated that the decision followed reports and strong evidence of actions undermining Somalia’s sovereignty, national unity, and political independence. The announcement marks a significant shift in Somalia’s foreign relations and could affect regional dynamics in the Horn of Africa.

On Monday, the Election Commission (EC) of Bangladesh reinstated the candidacy of 41 parliamentary aspirants following the review of their appeals. According to an official press release signed by EC’s Public Relations Director Md. Ruhul Min Mallik, a total of 71 appeals were resolved that day, with 41 approved, 24 rejected, and four kept pending. This brings the total number of reinstated candidates to 150 over the past three days. The appeal of Md. Hamidul Islam of the National People’s Party for Mymensingh-4, unresolved earlier, was also approved.

The EC stated that the approved appeals included candidates from multiple parties such as the Jatiya Party, Islami Andolan Bangladesh, Gano Forum, Bangladesh Khilafat Majlis, Amar Bangladesh Party, and several independents. In total, 2,568 nomination papers had been submitted for the 13th National Parliamentary Election, of which 723 were initially rejected by returning officers. The EC received 645 appeals against those decisions.

According to the election schedule, appeal hearings will conclude by January 18, candidate withdrawals by January 20, and symbols will be allocated on January 21. The national election is scheduled for February 12.