The World Bank has issued a warning to the public in Bangladesh about fraudulent activities using its name and logo. According to a press release issued on Thursday, scammers are falsely claiming to offer loans from the World Bank in exchange for fees. The organization clarified that it does not provide loans directly to individuals and never requests personal financial information.

The statement explained that fraudsters have created fake Facebook pages, false identities, and other schemes to deceive people and collect money through mobile banking. The World Bank urged anyone encountering such fraudulent activities to immediately contact local authorities. It also emphasized that it has no involvement with any such projects or loan offers made in its name.

The warning aims to raise public awareness and prevent further financial losses caused by these scams, which have recently surfaced in Bangladesh.

The Election Commission (EC) of Bangladesh reported that a total of 469 appeals have been filed against the returning officers’ decisions on nomination papers for the upcoming national parliamentary election. On the fourth day alone, 174 appeals were submitted to the EC. The information was officially released by the commission on Thursday, January 8, 2026.

According to the election schedule, the EC will continue accepting appeals until January 9. The disposal of these appeals is set to take place between January 10 and 18. Candidates will have until January 20 to withdraw their candidacies. The final list of approved candidates and the allocation of election symbols will be announced on January 21, followed by the start of the official campaign period on January 22.

Election campaigning will continue until 7:30 a.m. on February 10, and voting is scheduled for February 12, marking the culmination of the national election process.

Leaders of Khelafat Majlis have warned that the upcoming national election will be questioned if the administration does not maintain neutrality. Speaking at the party’s monthly central executive meeting held Wednesday evening at its central office in Paltan, Dhaka, they urged authorities to strengthen monitoring to ensure compliance with the electoral code of conduct.

The leaders expressed deep concern over the killing of political leader Shahid Osman Hadi, alleging that the killers remain at large and the government has failed to arrest the main perpetrators. They criticized law enforcement agencies for inaction and lack of intelligence surveillance, claiming that such negligence has emboldened criminals. According to them, as the election day approaches, administrative bias toward a particular party is becoming more visible, undermining a fair electoral environment.

The meeting demanded immediate intensified patrols, weapon recovery, and special drives by law enforcement to ensure a level playing field. The leaders also called for eliminating terrorism and extortion to create a festive and peaceful election atmosphere.

Bangladesh’s foreign exchange reserves have declined following payment to the Asian Clearing Union (ACU). On Thursday, the central bank paid $1.53 billion from reserves to settle ACU bills for November and December, reducing the total reserves to $32.43 billion. Under the International Monetary Fund’s BPM-6 calculation method, reserves now stand at $27.84 billion. The information was confirmed by Arif Hossain Khan, executive director and spokesperson of Bangladesh Bank.

According to Bangladesh Bank data, total reserves were $33.78 billion on January 7, while the BPM-6 adjusted figure was $29.18 billion. The ACU is a regional settlement system among nine Asian central banks, including Bangladesh, India, Iran, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Bhutan, and the Maldives. Through this mechanism, import and export payments among member countries are settled every two months.

The latest payment marks a continued decline in reserves, reflecting the country’s periodic obligations under the ACU settlement system.

The Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education (DSHE) has instructed all heads of educational institutions to take necessary measures according to the revised schedule for celebrating National Education Week 2026. The directive was issued through a letter signed by Assistant Director Md. Khalid Hossain on Thursday, referencing a memorandum from the Ministry of Education. The letter includes the updated national-level activity schedule and requests compliance with the outlined timeline.

Earlier, the ministry’s memorandum stated that all institutions must follow the National Education Week celebration guidelines and send daily activity reports via email between January 4 and 20. The reports should include information on the best students, class teachers, institution heads, institutions, upazilas, and education officers at various administrative levels.

The DSHE’s directive aims to ensure uniform implementation of the celebration across the country in line with ministry instructions, emphasizing timely reporting and adherence to the official schedule.

The Advisory Council of Bangladesh, chaired by Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus, approved in principle four draft ordinances during a meeting held Thursday at the Chief Adviser’s Office in Tejgaon, Dhaka. The approved drafts include the Personal Data Protection (Amendment) Ordinance 2026, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (Amendment) Ordinance 2026, Supreme Court Secretariat (Amendment) Ordinance 2026, and Bangladesh Forest Industries Development Corporation Ordinance 2026. The council also gave provisional approval to the Environment Ministry’s ‘Third Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC-3)’ plan.

Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam said the data protection amendment relaxes data localization rules, requiring domestic storage only for critical information infrastructure, and replaces imprisonment with fines for corporate violations. The Shilpakala Academy amendment expands its divisions to nine and ensures representation of marginalized groups on its board. The new forest industry ordinance modernizes the 1959 framework to promote sustainable resource use and product diversification. The NDC-3 plan targets a reduction of 84.97 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions by 2035.

Officials expect the revised data protection rules to encourage foreign investment and cloud-based services while strengthening environmental and cultural governance frameworks.

A severe shortage of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) has hit Chattogram city over the past two weeks, leaving households and businesses struggling to find 12-kg cylinders. Despite the government-fixed price of Tk 1,253, consumers report being unable to purchase cylinders even at Tk 2,000. Visits to Bahaddarhat, Chawk Bazar, and New Market areas revealed that both retail and wholesale outlets are facing acute supply shortages, forcing many families to seek alternative fuels such as kerosene.

Traders attribute the crisis to a roughly 40 percent drop in LPG imports in December, reportedly caused by U.S. sanctions that disrupted shipping and by major importers temporarily halting operations. The LPG Operators Association of Bangladesh (LOAB) said companies like Bengal, Bashundhara, and United suspended imports, while banking complications prevented others from opening letters of credit. Some unscrupulous sellers are allegedly exploiting the situation by charging Tk 500–800 above the official price.

LOAB President Amirul Haque expressed optimism that government approval for new imports will normalize supply within 10–15 days. However, the Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) accused importers and distributors of creating artificial shortages for profit, urging immediate government intervention.

The European Union will send a 200-member delegation to observe Bangladesh’s upcoming national election, according to Dr. Ivars Ijabs, Member of the European Parliament and chief observer of the EU Election Observation Mission. He made the announcement on Thursday after meeting the Chief Election Commissioner at the Election Commission headquarters in Agargaon, Dhaka. Long-term observers have been working in Bangladesh since late December, and short-term observers will join them on February 12.

Dr. Ijabs noted that holding the parliamentary election alongside a national referendum poses a challenge for the Election Commission but expressed confidence in its ability to manage both processes effectively. He emphasized that the EU mission aims to assist and will observe the election process with complete neutrality, describing Bangladesh as an important partner of the European Union.

He further remarked that, in the context of the 2024 mass uprising, this election will be a historic one, and the parliament formed under the interim government will shape the country’s future.

Bangladesh and Germany have signed a grant agreement worth €21.77 million to support five projects proposed by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ). The signing took place between Shahriar Kader Siddiky, Secretary of the Economic Relations Division (ERD) on behalf of Bangladesh, and Heinrich-Jürgen Schilling, Country Director of GIZ Dhaka Office, representing Germany, according to an ERD press release issued on Thursday.

The projects include Policy Advisory for Promoting Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (PAP 2), Strengthening Urban Integration Capacities of Internally Displaced Persons and Supporting Host Communities (INTEGRATE), Professional Education in Industrial and Environmental Safety (PRECISE), Green Room Air-Conditioning (GRSCE), and Digital Skills to Succeed in Asia (DS2S). These initiatives will be implemented by relevant ministries between 2023 and 2029, focusing on energy transition, climate resilience, vocational education, and digital skills development.

Germany has been a long-term development partner of Bangladesh since 1972, with total financial and technical commitments of about €4 billion. Currently, GIZ is supporting 18 ongoing projects in Bangladesh with a total grant assistance of €100.72 million.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has reorganized its National Election Steering Committee in preparation for the upcoming 13th parliamentary election scheduled for 2026. According to a press release issued by the party’s central publicity and media department on Thursday, Assistant Secretary General Maulana A.T.M. Ma’sum has been appointed as convener, while Assistant Secretary General Maulana Abdul Halim will serve as member secretary.

The newly formed committee includes a wide range of members, among them lawyers, academics, retired bureaucrats, and former military officers. Notable members include Advocate Ehsanul Mahbub Jubayer, Advocate Moyazzem Hossain Helal, Professor Dr. Nazrul Islam, Brigadier General (Retd.) Golam Mostafa, and several others. The announcement was made through the party’s official communication channel.

The reorganization signals Jamaat-e-Islami’s preparation for active participation in the 2026 national election, focusing on coordination and campaign management through its newly structured committee.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has alleged that the killing of former Jubo Dal leader Azizur Rahman Mosabbir was intended to put the current interim government in a difficult position. In a statement issued on Thursday afternoon, he said that the murder reflected a broader attempt by miscreants to destabilize the country and exploit the situation through violence and anarchy.

According to the statement, Mosabbir, former general secretary of Dhaka North Jubo Dal, was shot dead on Wednesday night. Fakhrul condemned the killing as brutal and inhuman, expressing deep concern and grief. He claimed that such incidents were being repeated to embarrass the interim administration and called for strict action against those responsible.

Fakhrul urged people from all walks of life, regardless of political affiliation, to unite in defense of democracy and citizens’ safety. He warned that otherwise, opportunistic groups could endanger the nation’s existence. He demanded the immediate arrest and exemplary punishment of the perpetrators.

The European Union Election Observation Mission has expressed confidence that Bangladesh’s Election Commission (EC) will be able to manage the challenges surrounding the upcoming 13th national parliamentary election. The mission’s chief, Dr. Ivars Ijabs, made the remarks on Thursday, January 8, after a courtesy meeting with Chief Election Commissioner A M M Nasir Uddin at the Election Commission building in Agargaon, Dhaka.

Dr. Ijabs said the EU has just begun its observation mission with a skilled team that will monitor the entire electoral process and later publish a final report based on detailed analysis. He emphasized that the EU views Bangladesh as a vibrant democracy and attaches great importance to observing the full electoral process. The mission will conduct nationwide observation, focusing on procedural aspects such as accurate voter registration, fair polling arrangements, and the overall credibility of the election.

During discussions, the EC outlined its election roadmap and acknowledged several challenges, including the technical and administrative complexity of holding the national election and a referendum on the same day. The EU delegation expressed confidence that the EC is capable of handling these challenges effectively.

Bangladesh Bank has purchased 206 million US dollars through multiple auctions from 15 commercial banks as part of its ongoing strategy to prevent the depreciation of the taka against the US dollar and to support the recovery of remittance and export sectors. The central bank confirmed that the purchase took place on Thursday, January 8, 2026, at an exchange rate of 122.30 taka per dollar.

According to official data, Bangladesh Bank has bought a total of 617 million US dollars in January 2026 alone. Since the beginning of the 2025–26 fiscal year, the cumulative purchase has reached 3,752.50 million US dollars. The move is part of the central bank’s broader effort to manage foreign exchange reserves and stabilize the domestic currency amid ongoing economic adjustments.

The continued dollar purchases indicate Bangladesh Bank’s active intervention in the currency market to maintain exchange rate stability and support key economic sectors linked to foreign currency inflows.

The Non-Government Teachers’ Registration and Certification Authority (NTRCA) has issued its 2026 recruitment circular, announced on January 4, 2026, and published on its official website on January 5, 2026. The authority will appoint a total of 67,208 qualified and experienced male and female candidates to one permanent job category for teacher positions. Online applications will open on January 10, 2026, and close at 11:59 p.m. on January 17, 2026.

Applicants must fill out the online form by providing educational certificates, national ID information, a color photograph, and a signature image. The maximum age limit for general candidates is 35 years as of June 4, 2025, and the application fee is set at 1,000 taka. The positions are categorized as permanent government jobs under the NTRCA.

The recruitment process aims to fill a large number of teaching positions across non-government educational institutions, with the online application period providing a short window for interested candidates to complete their submissions.

Bangladesh’s Foreign Affairs Adviser Touhid Hossain announced that visa sections at Bangladeshi missions in India affected by recent attacks have been temporarily closed for security reasons. He made the statement on Thursday, January 8, during a media briefing at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The clarification came amid discussions about whether tourist visas for Indian citizens had been suspended or restricted ahead of Bangladesh’s national election.

Hossain explained that there was no official decision to suspend or stop issuing tourist visas for Indians. Instead, the closure applies only to missions where security problems have arisen. The adviser also mentioned that Bangladesh has come under the United States’ visa bond program because Bangladeshis rank high among recipients of U.S. social security benefits. He further commented that previous governments bear responsibility for illegal migration issues abroad.

The decision follows a series of violent incidents, including attacks by Hindu extremist groups on Bangladesh visa centers in New Delhi and Siliguri in December, and other assaults on Bangladeshi diplomatic missions across India after August 2024. These events have already led Indian authorities to limit visa services for Bangladeshis, disrupting cross-border travel.