Dhaka’s residents are enduring worsening living conditions due to severe waste mismanagement across the city. Streets and alleys are covered with piles of garbage and plastic waste, while sidewalks have become unusable because of open urinals and foul odors. According to the two city corporations, Dhaka’s 129 wards generate between 6,800 and 7,500 tons of waste daily, but 55 percent remains uncollected. Despite spending about Tk 3,323 crore over seven years, more than 250 uncontrolled dumping sites persist, posing serious threats to public health and the environment.

Field visits revealed that waste workers operate without protective gear, exposing them to diseases. The waste management process—collection, transfer, transport, and disposal—shows weaknesses at every stage, with little recycling or treatment capacity. A study in Scientific Reports found that Dhaka produces 6,465 tons of waste daily, most of which ends up in nearly full landfills at Aminbazar and Matuail. Experts warn that uncontrolled dumping contaminates soil and groundwater and releases methane, worsening climate impacts.

City officials acknowledged manpower and equipment shortages and emphasized public awareness and participation as essential for sustainable cleanliness.

The government has taken all necessary measures to ensure a level playing field for the upcoming 13th National Parliament Election, according to Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam. Speaking on Friday afternoon after visiting the Shibbari Temple in Mymensingh and exchanging greetings with members of the Hindu community, he said there has been no visible incident suggesting the absence of a fair environment. He added that all political parties, large and small, currently enjoy equal opportunities in the electoral process.

Shafiqul Alam emphasized that Bangladesh is a country of communal harmony where people of all religions and communities live together peacefully. He condemned recent attacks on shrines under various pretexts, calling them highly reprehensible. Earlier in the day, he visited the shrine of Hazrat Shah Sufi Syed Kalu Shah (R.) at Bura Pir’s shrine and ghat area on Jubilee Road in Mymensingh.

The press secretary reiterated that the government remains committed to maintaining a fair electoral environment and social harmony across the country.

The Election Commission (EC) of Bangladesh has completed sending postal ballots to 767,028 expatriate voters across 121 countries for the upcoming 13th National Parliament election and referendum. According to EC sources, the process began on December 20 and concluded within three weeks. The Bangladesh Postal Department finalized the dispatch on Thursday using several international airlines, including Biman Bangladesh, Emirates, Malaysian, Singapore, and Saudia Airlines.

The large-scale ‘Out of Country Voting’ (OCV) operation was carried out through joint efforts of the EC, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology, Postal Department, Civil Aviation, and the participating airlines. The OCV-SDI project team leader stated that over 3,000 expatriate voters provided incorrect addresses, preventing ballot delivery to them. Within Bangladesh, 761,141 voters have registered for the ‘In-Country Postal Vote’ category, and ballot distribution to them will begin on January 21 after symbol allocation.

The EC reported that Saudi Arabia received the highest number of ballots, followed by Malaysia, Qatar, and Oman. In total, 1,533,683 voters registered through the ‘Postal Vote BD’ app, including both expatriate and domestic voters.

Interim government adviser on power, energy and mineral resources Muhammad Faozul Kabir Khan has said that the upcoming national parliamentary election will determine Bangladesh’s fate for the next 50 years. He made the remarks on Friday morning at Sena Maidan in Dinajpur during a campaign event for election vehicles. He emphasized that the February 12 election will not be a conventional one but a decisive moment for the nation’s long-term future.

Khan explained that a referendum will be held alongside the election, allowing citizens to vote on proposed reforms. He urged voters who support reforms, parliamentary democracy, and a balanced distribution of power to vote “yes,” while those opposed could vote “no.” He stressed that no one would be forced to vote. The adviser said that 1,400 people had sacrificed their lives and around 30,000 had been injured for these reforms, which the interim government aims to implement.

Referring to a past July uprising, Khan said people were previously denied fair voting opportunities. He assured that the upcoming election would be different, open to all candidates regardless of party, religion, or background.

Families of those killed and injured in the 2021 anti-Modi protests in Brahmanbaria continue to seek justice, four years after security forces opened fire on demonstrators. Seventeen worshippers were killed and more than 500 others were injured when police and ruling party activists allegedly attacked protesters opposing Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Bangladesh. Despite numerous cases filed, no one directly linked to the killings has been brought to trial.

Following the incident, police filed 54 cases accusing over 10,000 religious individuals and clerics, leading to widespread dismissals and arrests of imams and madrasa teachers. Victims’ families claim they faced harassment instead of justice. After the July Revolution and the formation of an interim government, investigations began but progress remains slow.

Recently, a genocide case was filed in the International Crimes Tribunal naming several former officials and political leaders, including a former MP. Prosecutors confirmed that investigations into the Brahmanbaria massacre are underway and one accused has been formally arrested in connection with the case.

The Election Commission (EC) of Bangladesh has decided to suspend voting activities in Pabna-1 and Pabna-2 constituencies due to boundary complications. The decision was confirmed on Friday morning by EC Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed, who stated that the court instructed the commission not to proceed with any voting activities in these two constituencies. As a result, all electoral processes there have been temporarily halted.

According to the announced schedule, Bangladesh’s 13th National Parliamentary Election is set for February 12, 2026. On the same day, a referendum on the implementation of the July Charter will also take place. This marks the first time in the country’s history that a national election and a referendum will be held simultaneously. The national election ballots will be white, while the referendum ballots will be pink.

The nomination appeal process is ongoing until January 11, with appeal resolutions scheduled between January 12 and 18. Candidates may withdraw by January 20, and the final candidate list and symbol allocation will be published on January 21. Campaigning will run from January 22 until the morning of February 10.

A report submitted on 4 January 2026 by the Commission on Enforced Disappearances to the Chief Adviser revealed that an internal Bangladesh Army board investigating the alleged disappearance of BNP leader Ilias Ali was mysteriously dissolved without reaching any conclusion. The board, led by Lieutenant General S M Kamrul Hasan and formed in early September 2024, had interviewed around 60 officers and soldiers and recorded testimonies through audio, video, and written statements. However, the commission found no trace of the board’s final report or collected evidence.

According to the commission, the board ceased operations under “superior orders,” and all related materials later became unavailable. The commission noted that only the Army Chief could have issued such an order. Witnesses told investigators they had described incidents of enforced disappearance and torture, including one soldier who claimed direct involvement in the operation during which Ilias Ali was abducted.

The commission concluded that the unexplained termination of the inquiry and disappearance of evidence demonstrated institutional resistance to accountability and undermined confidence in internal military investigations.

An article by Zakaria Al Hossain, published on January 9, 2026, in *Amar Desh*, explores the life and ideals of Shaheed Sharif Osman Hadi, portraying him as a symbol of moral courage and Islamic cultural consciousness in Bangladesh. The piece describes Hadi as a man who viewed his life as a moral duty to uphold truth, justice, and faith, rather than a personal pursuit. His martyrdom is presented as a living interpretation of Islamic values rooted in justice, sacrifice, and human dignity.

The author argues that Islamic culture cannot be confined to rituals, music, or literature alone but represents a complete moral and social system guided by divine principles. Hadi’s life is cited as an example of resistance against injustice and moral decay, embodying the ethical backbone of Islamic culture. The article also warns against modern cultural and mental colonialism that threatens to marginalize Islamic ethics and identity.

It concludes by urging Bangladesh, as a Muslim-majority nation, to transform Islamic values into a living cultural force and to honor Hadi’s legacy by embedding moral courage and justice into national life.

Bangladesh’s interim government has expressed concern over the lack of political engagement surrounding the upcoming referendum on state reforms, scheduled for February 12 alongside the 13th parliamentary election. While parties have begun election campaigns, officials note that most remain inactive or unclear about their stance on the referendum, which seeks public approval for constitutional changes under the July National Charter. The government views this silence as a worrying sign for the country’s democratic direction.

The referendum will ask voters to approve or reject four key reform areas, including a new caretaker government system, a bicameral parliament, term limits for the prime minister, and expanded judicial independence. Senior advisers and analysts have urged political parties to unite and campaign for a “yes” vote, warning that failure could undermine the goals of the July uprising that ended authoritarian rule. Some parties, including the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami, have pledged eventual support for the “yes” campaign, though most remain focused on election preparations.

Government officials have called on the Election Commission and religious institutions to intensify public awareness efforts, aiming for high voter turnout and broad endorsement of the reform agenda.

Returning officers have canceled the nomination papers of several candidates from the BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami, and other political parties due to various irregularities and legal complications. The decisions came after a four-day verification process of the 469 nomination applications submitted to the Election Commission as of Thursday.

Among the BNP candidates, S. Ayub from Jessore was disqualified for loan default, Mohammad Fahim from Sherpur-2 for dual Australian citizenship, and Dr. Mahbubur Rahman Liton from Mymensingh-7 for concealing case information in his affidavit. Independent candidate Syed A.K. Ekramuzzaman appealed against BNP’s M.A. Hannan in Brahmanbaria-1. Jamaat’s Abdul Haque from Dhaka-2 was disqualified for loan default, while Yusuf Sohel from Comilla-3 and A.K.M. Fazlul Haque from Chittagong-9 lost eligibility over incomplete affidavits and dual citizenship issues.

Officials stated that all decisions were made in accordance with election laws and regulations. The final list of valid candidates will be published after the disposal of appeals.

The Bangladesh government has initiated steps to dissolve the University Grants Commission (UGC) and establish a new Higher Education Commission under a draft ordinance titled the Bangladesh Higher Education Commission Ordinance, 2025. The Ministry of Education has sought stakeholder feedback within 30 working days from December 10, 2025, before finalizing the proposal. The draft outlines that the new commission will be a statutory body with expanded authority, legal personality, and the ability to operate independently from ministerial bureaucracy.

According to the draft, the commission will consist of a chairman, eight commissioners, and ten part-time members, with the chairman holding a rank equivalent to a cabinet minister. The initiative, developed by a nine-member UGC team led by Professor Mohammad Tanzimuddin Khan, aims to free higher education from bureaucratic constraints and enhance institutional autonomy. Educationists have expressed mixed reactions, praising the government’s intent but warning that excessive centralization could threaten university autonomy and academic freedom.

Stakeholders have urged that the final version be shaped through broad consultation and implemented transparently to strengthen higher education governance rather than deepen bureaucratic control.

The Gonodhikar Parishad (GOP) has temporarily relieved its office secretary, Shakil Uzzaman, of his duties following allegations that he released a press statement in the party’s name without approval from the party president and general secretary. The announcement was made on Thursday through a press release signed by the party’s acting general secretary, Hasan Al Mamun.

According to the statement, Uzzaman’s unauthorized press release allegedly caused public confusion and violated organizational discipline. The party leadership cited these actions as grounds for his temporary suspension. The notice also directed Uzzaman to submit a written explanation within five days explaining why he should not be permanently expelled from the party.

The decision highlights the party’s emphasis on maintaining internal discipline and centralized communication, as unauthorized statements have been deemed disruptive to organizational order.

Mujibur Rahman Manju, chairman of the Amar Bangladesh (AB) Party and candidate for the Feni-2 parliamentary seat, expressed doubts about whether the upcoming national election will be fair. Speaking as the chief guest at an event at the Feni Press Club on Thursday afternoon, he said there remains public skepticism about the election’s integrity because the administration is not functioning properly and lacks discipline. He urged the government to ensure that the local administration remains neutral and that the election in Feni is conducted fairly.

Manju stated that the struggle for power is a normal part of democracy but called for an end to divisive and defamatory politics. He emphasized the need for intellectual and policy-based debate, urging political actors to abandon old political practices. He also commented that both the BNP and Jamaat have long suffered under oppressive conditions and are now engaged in mutual blame, which he described as unfortunate.

The event was presided over by senior journalist Mir Hossain Miru and attended by local BNP and Jamaat leaders as special guests.

Two people were killed and at least twelve others injured when a passenger bus overturned on the Dhaka–Chattogram highway in Chandina upazila of Cumilla on Thursday night. The accident occurred around 10:45 p.m. in the Doranipara area on the Chattogram-bound lane. The bus involved was identified as a Star Line Paribahan vehicle bearing registration number Dhaka Metro-B 14-6273.

According to eyewitnesses and police, the Chattogram-bound bus lost control and overturned on the roadside, killing two passengers on the spot. The injured were rescued and taken to nearby hospitals for treatment. The identities of the deceased were not immediately known.

Eliotganj Highway Police Station Officer-in-Charge Ruhul Amin confirmed the incident, stating that the cause of the accident is under investigation and necessary legal measures will be taken.

Bangladesh’s Rastrer Sangskar Andolon has sent a legal notice to the Election Commission (EC), accusing it of contempt of court. The notice, issued Thursday and signed by party president Hasnat Kaiyum and general secretary Syed Hasibuddin Hossain, alleges that the EC ignored a High Court order issued about four months ago directing the commission to grant registration to the party.

According to the statement, the EC’s delay and misinterpretation of the court’s ruling are preventing the party from participating in upcoming elections. The party said it had proposed seeking an opinion from the Attorney General’s Office to resolve disputes over the ruling’s interpretation, but that proposal was not accepted. The statement also criticized the EC for failing to implement reform proposals and for allegedly acting against electoral reform efforts.

The party said it will consider filing a case if the EC does not comply and is preparing to file a writ to expedite electoral reforms. It also indicated readiness to join with pro-reform citizens in a broader movement if necessary.