At a press conference held at the National Press Club on Monday, Professor Dr. Mohammad Shariful Alam, member secretary of the Retired BCS Officers Forum, questioned the neutrality of several returning officers involved in candidate selection for the upcoming 13th parliamentary election. Representing the forum, the former secretary presented an eight-point demand to the Election Commission, emphasizing the need for impartial conduct by officials to ensure a fair and credible election scheduled for February 12.

The forum’s demands included immediate removal of any election officials whose neutrality has been questioned, strict enforcement of electoral laws, installation of CCTV cameras at all polling centers, and issuance of clear guidelines to ensure impartiality. They also called for prompt investigation and suspension of any accused officials, establishment of complaint boxes at key administrative offices, and post-election transfers of district and police officials through a lottery system. Additionally, the forum urged the government to declare that advisers and contract-based top officials would not be part of the next administration.

Dr. Alam stated that after three failed and fraudulent elections, the upcoming vote is crucial for democratic progress and political stability in the country.

Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir’s Dhaka University branch has completed its leadership selection for the 2026 session. In a direct vote by branch members, Muha. Mohiuddin Khan was elected as president. Ashiqur Rahman was nominated as secretary, and Mu. Sajjad Hossain Khan as organizational secretary. The election and nominations were finalized during a members’ assembly held Monday morning at Shaheed Mahbubur Rahman Auditorium.

The event was conducted by Central HRM Secretary Saidul Islam, with Central President Nurul Islam attending as chief guest and Central Publication Secretary Sadiq Kayem as special guest. Voting took place using ballot papers signed by the central president. After counting, Nurul Islam announced Mohiuddin Khan as the president-elect and administered his oath.

Following consultations with members, the newly elected president nominated Ashiqur Rahman and Mu. Sajjad Hossain Khan to their respective posts. The assembly concluded with prayers and supplications.

Arifur Rahman Dolon, a central vice president of Krishak League and member of the banned Awami League’s Faridpur district unit, has submitted nomination papers as an independent candidate for the Faridpur-1 constituency, covering Madhukhali, Boalmari, and Alfadanga. Dolon, previously a dummy candidate in the 2024 parliamentary election after being denied the party’s boat symbol, filed his papers through his wife ahead of the upcoming thirteenth national polls.

Local residents said Dolon, who faces multiple cases including murder, money laundering, and corruption, continues political activities openly despite no record of bail in some cases. He is listed as the 14th accused in a case filed over the July uprising killings, while other accused leaders remain fugitives. Dolon, a relative of former minister Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, was earlier jailed in a 2,000-crore taka money laundering case but later released on bail.

Protesters under the banner of the anti-discrimination movement recently demanded Dolon’s arrest, accusing authorities of rehabilitating banned Awami League figures by allowing them to contest elections.

Around 2,000 supporters of Venezuela’s ousted president Nicolás Maduro demonstrated in Caracas on Sunday, calling for his release from a New York prison where he and his wife are being held by U.S. forces. The protesters, waving Venezuela’s red, blue, and yellow national flags, were joined by pro-Maduro paramilitary members and motorcyclists. One placard read “Free our president,” while another declared “Venezuela is not anyone’s colony,” referencing U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent statement that Washington would “administer” Venezuela for an unspecified interim period.

Maduro is scheduled to appear in a New York court on Monday to face U.S. charges of “narco-terrorism” linked to alleged cocaine trafficking. Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López said a large part of Maduro’s security team had been “cold-bloodedly killed,” along with military personnel and civilians, though he did not specify numbers. A group of doctors told AFP that about 70 people were killed and 90 injured during the unrest.

The protests underscore deep divisions in Venezuela following Maduro’s ouster and detention, as his supporters continue to challenge U.S. actions and interim control claims.

Members of the central executive committee of Jamaat-e-Islami convened a meeting on Monday morning to review the country’s current situation and make organizational decisions. The meeting began at 10 a.m. at the party’s central office in Moghbazar, Dhaka, under the chairmanship of party Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman.

Senior leaders including Nayeb-e-Ameer Professor Mujibur Rahman, Dr. Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher, ATM Azharul Islam, and Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar were present at the session. The gathering focused on assessing ongoing national developments and determining the party’s next steps in response to the prevailing circumstances.

No further details about the specific agenda or outcomes of the meeting were disclosed in the report.

Nicolas Maduro Guerra, son of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, has called on citizens to take to the streets against what he described as US aggression. In an audio message shared on social media, he vowed that the anti-imperialist socialist movement founded by former leader Hugo Chávez would endure. Addressing former US President Donald Trump, Guerra said Venezuelans would soon be seen marching with their national flag raised in defense of their dignity.

The call came after a US operation late Saturday reportedly captured President Maduro and took him to New York, where he and his wife, Cilia Flores, are being held in prison. Maduro is expected to appear in court on Monday. Speculation has emerged that someone from his inner circle assisted the US, a claim Guerra echoed by saying history would reveal the traitors. On Sunday, some Maduro supporters were seen protesting in Caracas, waving flags and carrying posters of the ousted leader.

US authorities have also accused Maduro Guerra of drug trafficking, though he has not been detained.

Anti-government protests in Iran have entered their second week, with at least 12 people, including security personnel, reported dead since the unrest began on December 28 in Tehran following a shopkeepers’ strike. Human rights groups and local media said fresh deadly clashes erupted between protesters and security forces across Tehran, Shiraz, and western provinces. Demonstrators reportedly chanted slogans against the country’s religious leadership.

The protests are described as the largest since the 2022–2023 movement sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini in police custody. Although the current unrest remains concentrated in Kurdish and Lur-populated western regions, it poses a new challenge to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has ruled since 1989. The situation is further complicated by recent conflict with Israel that damaged nuclear facilities and killed key security officials. In response to economic pressure, the government announced a monthly cash allowance of about seven dollars per citizen for four months.

U.S. President Donald Trump warned that if more protesters are killed, the United States would respond “very harshly.” Human rights groups reported multiple deaths and injuries in western Iran, while Iranian media confirmed casualties among both protesters and security forces.

US President Donald Trump has issued a stern warning to Venezuela’s new interim president, Delcy Rodríguez, saying she would face severe consequences if she fails to cooperate with the United States. In an interview with The Atlantic published on Sunday, Trump stated that Rodríguez’s fate could be worse than that of Nicolás Maduro if she does not act correctly. He argued in favor of regime change in Venezuela, claiming that nothing could be worse than Maduro’s government.

Meanwhile, detained Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro is scheduled to appear before a New York court on Monday to face charges of drug trafficking and weapons offenses, which he has denied. The United States reportedly carried out an airstrike in Caracas on Saturday, capturing Maduro and his wife, though Secretary of State Marco Rubio insisted the US is not at war with Venezuela.

Trump also issued a public warning to Colombian President Gustavo Petro following Maduro’s arrest and expressed concern about Cuba’s political and economic situation, hinting at possible military action against Colombia during a conversation with reporters aboard Air Force One.

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) A M M Nasir Uddin stated that the environment is favorable and, with everyone’s cooperation, a free and fair election can be held. He made the remarks on Monday, January 5, while visiting the appeal booths at the Election Commission building in Agargaon, Dhaka.

According to the Election Commission, appeals against the acceptance or rejection of nomination papers by returning officers for the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election can be filed from January 5 to January 9 at 5 p.m. Aggrieved candidates, banks, financial institutions, government service providers, or authorized representatives may submit appeals in writing during this period.

To facilitate the process, a central appeal center has been set up at the Election Commission building in Agargaon, with ten region-based booths established for receiving appeals.

Former US President Donald Trump repeatedly praised Pakistan’s army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, calling him his “favorite field marshal” and a “great warrior.” Speaking at Mar-a-Lago in December 2025, Trump claimed credit for preventing a potential nuclear war between India and Pakistan and said Munir and Pakistan’s prime minister credited him with saving millions of lives. Trump’s remarks followed his mediation claims in the May 2025 India-Pakistan conflict, which ended after four days of fighting through US-backed diplomacy.

Analysts cited in the report said Munir played a key role in revitalizing Pakistan’s diplomacy and improving relations with Washington, which had deteriorated in previous years. The brief India-Pakistan conflict and subsequent ceasefire were seen as turning points that elevated Munir’s international stature. Former defense minister Khurram Dastgir Khan and ex-foreign secretary Salman Bashir both described the episode as decisive for Pakistan’s geopolitical resurgence.

Munir’s growing influence has coincided with Pakistan’s broader outreach to Middle Eastern and Central Asian countries, as well as renewed engagement with the United States on security and economic issues.

U.S. President Donald Trump has again insisted that Greenland should become part of the United States, reaffirming his stance despite Denmark’s call to stop making “threats” over the issue. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One en route to Washington, Trump said Greenland was essential for U.S. national security and that Denmark could not fulfill that role. His comments came as U.S. military intervention in Venezuela heightened European concerns about Washington’s global ambitions.

The controversy deepened after Katie Miller, wife of a senior Trump adviser, posted an image of Greenland’s flag recolored with the U.S. flag’s design and captioned “Soon,” sparking anger in Denmark and the European Union. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen called the idea of taking control of Greenland “completely unreasonable” and urged Washington to stop threatening its historic ally. Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen described Miller’s post as “disrespectful,” emphasizing that his country was not for sale and that its future would not be decided on social media.

Denmark’s ambassador to the U.S., Jesper Møller Sørensen, reminded that Denmark is a NATO member working closely with Washington on Arctic security, urging continued cooperation as allies.

Venezuelan interim president Delcy Rodríguez has called for a “balanced and respectful” relationship with the United States. Her statement came on Sunday, a day after U.S. forces carried out an attack in Caracas and detained leftist leader Nicolás Maduro. Rodríguez, who previously served as Maduro’s vice president, made the remarks through a message posted on Telegram.

In her message, Rodríguez emphasized that advancing toward a relationship based on mutual respect and balance between the two nations should be treated as a priority. She also invited the U.S. government to work together on a cooperative agenda focused on joint development.

The appeal marks Rodríguez’s first public statement following Maduro’s detention, signaling an attempt to reset diplomatic engagement between Caracas and Washington after a period of confrontation.

The Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances in Bangladesh has submitted its final report to Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus, revealing that between 2009 and 2024, an estimated 4,000 to 6,000 people were victims of enforced disappearance. Of 1,913 verified complaints, 1,569 were classified as probable cases, with 287 confirmed deaths. The report identifies the practice as systematic, politically motivated, and institutionally coordinated, rather than isolated incidents. It directly implicates former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and senior security officials in several high-profile cases.

The commission found that 96.7 percent of victims with known political affiliations were linked to opposition parties, mainly BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami. Law enforcement agencies, including the Rapid Action Battalion, police, and intelligence branches, were named as responsible in most cases. The report documents mass killings and body disposals in rivers such as Baleshwar and Buriganga. Dr. Yunus described the report as a historic documentation of brutality and urged institutional reforms and accountability.

The commission recommended legal and structural reforms to prevent recurrence and ensure justice for victims’ families, emphasizing that enforced disappearances had become a tool of governance during the Awami League era.

Barrister Asaduzzaman Fuad, general secretary of the Amar Bangladesh (AB) Party and candidate for the Barishal-3 (Babuganj-Muladi) constituency, has received official validation of his nomination for the national parliamentary election. On Sunday evening, he posted a video on his Facebook account urging local residents and the general public to provide financial assistance and prayers to support his campaign, travel, and outreach activities.

In the video, Fuad explained that conducting campaign activities in the remote and marginal areas of Barishal-3 is costly and challenging, making public contributions necessary. He also called for collective efforts to build a “new Bangladesh” based on the July Charter following the 2024 mass uprising. His post included mobile payment and bank account details for those willing to contribute.

The appeal has drawn mixed reactions. Some social media users and locals viewed Fuad’s request as a sign of honesty and simplicity, while others analyzed it as a reflection of political and financial realities. According to his affidavit, Fuad’s annual income is slightly above seven lakh taka, indicating limited personal resources.

The government has decided to organize large-scale workshops in every administrative division to clarify the content of the upcoming referendum to the public. The decision was made on Sunday afternoon at a meeting chaired by Dr. Ali Riaz, Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser and Chief Coordinator of the public awareness campaign on the referendum. Secretaries, director generals, and divisional commissioners from various ministries and departments attended the meeting. The information was later confirmed through a press release issued by the Senior Assistant Secretary of the Chief Coordinator’s office, Mir Alif Reza.

According to the release, officials and representatives will use the workshops to prepare for grassroots-level campaigns, distributing leaflets and explaining the referendum details to voters. The plan also includes training religious leaders under the supervision of the Islamic Foundation so they can help disseminate information among the general public. The meeting further decided to hold awareness sessions at divisional, district, and upazila levels with participation from local officials, civil society, journalists, NGOs, and community representatives.

These initiatives aim to ensure that voters across all regions receive accurate and comprehensive information about the upcoming referendum.