At the end of the district commissioners’ conference, Advisor Syeda Rizwana Hasan announced that the preliminary report for the Tista Master Plan is expected to be submitted between October and December. The responsible organization, Power China, will present the final master plan to the government by December 2026. She mentioned that currently, there is no master plan in place and questioned how the implementation will proceed. The Advisor explained, “A Chinese group had submitted a plan that was neither feasible nor sustainable. After discussions with them, it was decided to rework the plan.” This comes after the collapse of hopes for a Tista agreement between Bangladesh and former leaders Manmohan Singh and Narendra Modi.

The Bangladesh government has introduced a new passport system, abolishing the police verification process. Under the updated rules, passports will be issued based on online-verified National ID (NID) data for adults and online-verified birth registration details for minors and expatriates. For passport reissuance, if there are changes to essential information, the data from the National ID will be used. This change, announced by Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, aims to simplify the process and ensure quicker passport delivery without delays caused by police verification.

A study found that 98.7% of Bangladeshi garment workers are not enrolled in the Universal Pension Scheme (UPS) due to financial constraints and lack of awareness. Many workers struggle with the high contribution requirements and digital application process. Fear of job loss, layoffs, and workplace hazards also deter participation. The study recommends lowering contributions, allowing job mobility, and offering financial support. It also suggests increasing awareness and ensuring employer participation to improve social security for workers.

The Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) is set to undergo a name change and restructuring, according to Home Affairs Adviser Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury. Speaking after a law and order meeting at the Secretariat, he stated that discussions are ongoing, and the new name may be finalized in the next meeting. Established in 2004 to combat crime and militancy, RAB has faced allegations of human rights violations, leading to U.S. sanctions. A recent report found RAB linked to 172 out of 400 analyzed enforced disappearance cases.

Sports Adviser Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan has questioned the prolonged delay in renovating the country’s national stadium, stating that two or three new stadiums could have been built in the time it has taken.

Speaking at an event on Monday, he stressed the need for an investigation into potential irregularities in the renovation project. He also revealed that an appeal for additional time had been rejected, insisting that the project be completed within the original timeline.

Bhuiyan expressed hope that the work would be finished by March and raised concerns about the feasibility of the overall renovation initiative.

Police in Tongibari, Munshiganj, arrested a woman named Latifa Begum (42) with 97 bottles of Indian Phensedyl on Monday night.

According to Officer-in-Charge Mohibul Islam, law enforcement raided the Abdullahpur Paikpara area at around 3 AM, acting on a tip-off. The bottles were recovered from a wardrobe in Latifa’s house.

She will be presented in court under narcotics charges.

Expressing sympathy for protesting assistant teachers, Primary and Mass Education Adviser Professor Bidhan Ranjan Roy stated that the government’s teacher recruitment process adhered to all legal procedures.

During a briefing on Tuesday, he acknowledged the teachers’ dissatisfaction with the court ruling and confirmed that an appeal had been filed. He explained that the ministry followed the recommendations of the Law and Public Administration ministries before announcing the results.

Due to the ongoing legal proceedings, the administration currently has no further actions to take.

After three days in captivity, 25 abducted workers were rescued in Lama, Bandarban, by law enforcement agencies. They were found in the Baishari Jhir area near the Naikhongchhari border.

According to security forces, the kidnappers fled the scene, leaving the hostages behind during the rescue operation. Local sources reported that armed militants raided six rubber plantations on February 15 and abducted the workers, demanding a ransom of 100,000 BDT per person.

Sources suggest the hostages were released after the ransom was paid.

A new political party emerging from recent mass uprisings is set to launch later this month. However, internal leadership conflicts have already begun, even before its official formation.

In response to inquiries from BBC Bangla, National Citizen Committee leaders acknowledged that while there is consensus on Nahid Islam as the party’s convener, disagreements persist over three key leadership positions. The issue has divided the party into four factions.

Former Dhaka University student leader Rafe Salman Rifat claims that past affiliations with Shibir are being used to sideline him from higher positions. In reaction, his supporters have taken to social media, highlighting the role of Shibir and its former members in the recent uprisings. Party leaders have stated that sincere discussions are ongoing and that a resolution will be reached soon.

In an interview with The Hindu on Monday, Foreign Affairs Adviser Tauhid Hossain stated that Bangladesh-India relations should not be limited to specific governments. Earlier, he met Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar in Oman. When asked about the meeting, he mentioned that after 15 years of a stable relationship, tensions have arisen due to recent changes. However, he believes such tensions should subside within six months.

Hossain also emphasized that minorities in Bangladesh are not facing persecution and that everyone enjoys equal rights. He confirmed that Bangladesh has sent a letter regarding Sheikh Hasina’s return and recommended maintaining restrictions until a response is received. Additionally, he stressed the need to take a strict stance against border killings and called for a review of the Adani agreement.

A tribunal has ordered the completion of the investigation into war crimes allegations against Sheikh Hasina by April 20. The case pertains to crimes against humanity allegedly committed during the July-August massacres.

The three-member tribunal, led by Chairman Justice Golam Mortuza Mojumdar, issued the directive following a petition by Chief Prosecutor Mizanul Islam. Previously, on December 17, the court had instructed investigators to complete the probe within two months against Sheikh Hasina, Obaidul Quader, and 44 others.

Sheikh Hasina and her associates are currently facing trial on charges of orchestrating mass killings, with allegations that at least 1,500 people were murdered.

The Supreme Court is set to hear the appeal challenging the High Court’s ruling that declared Jamaat-e-Islami’s political registration illegal. The case is on Tuesday’s cause list before Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed’s bench. Earlier, a second hearing on the matter took place on January 14, with the next hearing scheduled for January 21. However, it was postponed due to a judge’s illness. Today’s proceedings will determine the fate of the Islamist party’s electoral registration.

With no resolution in sight regarding water-sharing with India, Bangladesh has initiated the Teesta Mega Project, aiming to improve the livelihoods of over 20 million people across five districts. While the project is essential for Bangladesh’s water security, it has triggered geopolitical tensions between China and India. Initially, China expressed keen interest in funding and executing the project. However, the Hasina administration later shifted the project toward India, straining relations with China. Recently, China has renewed its interest in the initiative. If implemented, the project will deepen the Teesta River by 10 meters, ensuring year-round navigation, land reclamation, flood protection, agricultural restoration, and the establishment of river ports. The transformation is expected to significantly uplift the socio-economic conditions of the region.

A recent report by the United Nations Human Rights Office states that prolonged one-party rule has led to the politicization of state institutions, prioritizing political loyalty over professionalism in recruitment and promotions. The report highlights that police officers were appointed and promoted not based on merit, integrity, or competence but on party allegiance. In some cases, even family backgrounds linked to the ruling Awami League were scrutinized before recruitment. The UN report further claims that appointments to the rank of Deputy Inspector General (DIG) and above required direct approval from Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Residents of Ramgati, Laxmipur, have accused the police of failing to arrest a suspect in an attempted murder case. Despite the suspect, Mehraj, openly roaming in the area, the police claim he is in hiding. The victim, Zillur Rahman, was severely injured in an attack led by Mehraj and later filed an attempted murder case. Although Mehraj has not obtained bail, the police have not arrested him.