Election Commissioner Brigadier General (Retd.) Abul Fazl Mohammad stated that no indirect or covert instructions for malpractice have been or will be given in the election process. Speaking on Sunday, January 4, 2026, at a meeting in Ukhiya Upazila Parishad auditorium, Cox’s Bazar, he urged election officials to remain neutral, fearless, and law-abiding in performing their duties. He emphasized that the commission’s directives are based on transparency, impartiality, and firmness.

He described the upcoming election as an opportunity to restore the image of political institutions, the Election Commission, administration, and police. Warning officials to stay alert against individuals posing as friends with malicious intent, he cited the killing of Osman Hadi as a cautionary example. He also noted that political parties are largely following the code of conduct better than in previous elections, with no major incidents except the one in Dhaka.

The commissioner instructed strict measures to prevent Rohingyas from leaving camps during the election and announced that joint forces will soon launch operations to recover illegal weapons and curb terrorism. He also called on political parties to promote awareness about the referendum among voters.

A Dhaka court has barred police officer Md. Zakaria Rahman from leaving Bangladesh following a request by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). The order was signed on Sunday by Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Sabbir Foyez after hearing the ACC’s petition. The ACC’s assistant director and investigating officer Al-Amin sought the travel ban, citing evidence of suspicious financial transactions between Zakaria and retired Public Service Commission (PSC) driver Syed Abed Ali.

Abed Ali was arrested on July 8, 2024, and remains in custody. On January 5, the ACC filed a case against him under multiple anti-corruption and money laundering laws, alleging over Tk 5 crore in illegal assets and about Tk 45 crore in irregular transactions. Investigators claim Zakaria, a 30th BCS police cadre officer currently posted at Police Headquarters, is linked to a question-leak syndicate and may attempt to flee abroad.

The court imposed the travel restriction to ensure an unhindered investigation until the inquiry is complete, according to the ACC’s submission.

Chief Prosecutor of the International Crimes Tribunal Mohammad Tazul Islam has declared that justice will be served in the enforced disappearance and murder cases involving retired Major General Ziaul Ahsan. Speaking on Sunday after a hearing on the formal charge formation, he said that despite any conspiracies or delays, the prosecution and the state remain determined to ensure justice.

During the hearing at Tribunal-1, Tazul Islam presented three specific charges against Ahsan, accusing him of orchestrating abductions and killings of over a hundred people. The allegations include the 2011 killing of three detainees taken from the RAB headquarters, mass executions in Barguna’s Patharghata area under code names “Gestapo” and “Golf,” and staged “gunfights” in Sundarbans operations that allegedly killed at least 50 people.

Following the prosecution’s submission, the defense requested additional time to respond. The tribunal granted the request and set January 8 as the next hearing date.

The Dhaka Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education has announced a new date for the 2026 Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) and equivalent examination form submission. According to a notice signed by Exam Controller Professor Haydar Uddin Kamal on Sunday, January 4, the new date for starting the form fill-up process has been set for March 11.

The notice stated that all heads of institutions under the Dhaka Board must complete the selection tests for HSC candidates and publish the results by March 10. The board also mentioned that a detailed schedule and full circular regarding the form fill-up process will be published later on the board’s official website.

The announcement aims to ensure that all institutions under the Dhaka Board complete necessary preparatory steps before the form submission begins, maintaining a structured timeline for the 2026 HSC examination process.

Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman has been dropped from the Kolkata Knight Riders squad despite being signed earlier, following a directive reportedly influenced by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). The decision was justified on security grounds amid heightened political tensions between India and Bangladesh. The move has sparked debate on both sides of the border, linking it to the exile of former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who fled to India after resigning during anti-government protests last year.

Former Pakistan cricketer Rashid Latif expressed surprise at what he called India’s double standards, noting that while Hasina remains in India, Mustafizur has been denied participation in the Indian Premier League (IPL). The controversy follows protests by Hindu nationalist groups in India over alleged attacks on minorities in Bangladesh, which led to calls for excluding Bangladeshi players from the IPL. Mustafizur, who was sold for 92 million rupees, was subsequently dropped, and KKR owner Shah Rukh Khan was labeled “traitor” by critics.

In response, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has informed the International Cricket Council (ICC) that it will not send its team to the upcoming World Cup in India, citing security concerns and requesting a venue change.

Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) has launched a pilot program for its newly developed three-wheeled, low-speed, battery-powered eco-friendly electric rickshaw in Dhaka. The program was inaugurated on Sunday morning through separate events in Aftabnagar under Dhaka North City Corporation and Jigatola under Dhaka South City Corporation. The pilot allows controlled trial operations on designated roads in Aftabnagar, Dhanmondi, and Motijheel areas.

Government advisers and city administrators attended the inauguration, emphasizing scientific testing of design, braking systems, and battery safety. The initiative aims to regulate unapproved battery-fitted rickshaws and establish an orderly urban transport system. The new model features improved braking, speed control, and a 38-volt lithium battery capable of running 70–80 kilometers per charge. Geo-fencing technology will restrict movement outside designated zones, and only trained, licensed drivers will be allowed to operate the vehicles.

Officials said the pilot’s findings will guide future expansion across Dhaka and gradual conversion of existing pedal rickshaws into safer, modern electric versions.

Information and Broadcasting Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan said the government will decide on whether to suspend the broadcast of the Indian Premier League (IPL) in Bangladesh after reviewing the legal basis and procedural aspects. She made the remarks on Sunday, January 4, during a meeting with members of the Bangladesh Secretariat Reporters Forum (BSRF) at the Secretariat in Dhaka.

The discussion arose after Bangladesh’s cricketer Mustafizur Rahman was excluded from the IPL. Following this, the law adviser proposed halting the IPL broadcast in Bangladesh. Addressing the issue, Rizwana Hasan commented that it would have been better if the game could remain within the realm of sports, but unfortunately, politics had been brought into it.

The government’s decision will depend on the outcome of the legal and procedural review, and no final decision has yet been announced.

Law and Sports Adviser Dr. Asif Nazrul has strongly condemned the Indian Cricket Board’s decision to exclude Bangladeshi cricketer Mustafizur Rahman from the Indian Premier League (IPL). In a Facebook post published on Saturday night, he called the move unjustified and urged the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) to formally seek an explanation from the International Cricket Council (ICC). Nazrul questioned the safety of Bangladesh’s participation in the upcoming T20 World Cup in India if a single Bangladeshi player was barred from playing there.

He further instructed the BCB to request that Bangladesh’s World Cup matches be relocated from India to Sri Lanka. In the same post, Nazrul criticized India’s decision in strong terms and appealed to the Information and Broadcasting Adviser to suspend IPL broadcasts in Bangladesh. He stated that Bangladesh would not tolerate any insult to its cricket or players.

The post reflects growing discontent over Mustafizur’s exclusion and calls for a firm national response through diplomatic and broadcasting measures.

The nomination verification process for the Feni-1 constituency, covering Fulgazi, Parshuram, and Chhagalnaiya, was completed under the supervision of District Returning Officer and Deputy Commissioner Monira Haque on Sunday, December 4. Among ten parliamentary candidates, the nomination of recently deceased BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia was suspended. Three other candidates were disqualified for failing to meet documentation and procedural requirements.

According to the district returning officer, Mohammad Nazmul Alam of Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis was disqualified for not submitting an income tax copy, Md. Firoz Uddin Chowdhury of Bangladesh Congress for not paying land development tax, and independent candidate Nizam Uddin Bhuiyan for lacking one percent of required signatures. Six other candidates were declared valid, including Rafiqul Alam Majnu of BNP (Dhaka South), S.M. Kamal Uddin of Jamaat-e-Islami, Kazi Golam Kibria of Islami Andolon Bangladesh, Mahbub Morshed Majumdar of Bangladesh Muslim League, Anwar Ullah Bhuiya of Bangladesh Khelafat Andolon, and Motair Hossain Chowdhury of Jatiya Party.

The verification concluded with one nomination suspended, three canceled, and six declared valid for the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election.

The National Poetry Council announced that the “National Poetry Festival 2026” will be held on February 1 and 2 in Dhaka under the theme “Poetry will resist anti-cultural arrogance.” The announcement came at a press conference on January 4, 2026, at the National Press Club’s Zahur Hossain Milonayatan, attended by poets Mohon Raihan, Rezauddin Stalin, Manab Surat, Matin Bairagi, Hasan Hafiz, Anamika Haque Lili, and other council leaders. The festival will be inaugurated by Mir Mostafizur Rahman, father of martyred freedom fighter Mir Mahfuzur Rahman Mugdho, with Mustafa Sarwar Farooki, adviser to the Ministry of Cultural Affairs, as chief guest.

The two-day event will feature seminars, poetry readings, recitations, music, and dance performances with participation from poets, writers, journalists, cultural activists, intellectuals, and political figures from home and abroad. Registration for local and foreign poets opened on January 4, with a fee of 200 taka, and the festival office has been set up at Dhaka University’s TSC swimming pool area.

Speakers at the press conference emphasized the role of poetry in defending democracy, resisting cultural aggression, and promoting artistic expression for the nation.

A violent clash broke out between police and mobile phone traders in Dhaka’s Karwan Bazar area on Sunday afternoon, leaving four people injured. The confrontation began around 2:15 p.m. when police attempted to disperse demonstrators who had blocked the road. Witnesses said traders threw bricks at police, triggering panic in the area and forcing nearby shops to close while traffic came to a halt.

The traders were protesting the introduction of the National Equipment Identity Registrar (NEIR) system and demanding the release of detained colleagues. When police moved to clear the road, both sides engaged in chase and counter-chase. Police used batons, tear gas, water cannons, and sound grenades to disperse the crowd, while protesters continued throwing bricks in retaliation.

Authorities said efforts were underway to bring the situation under control. Members of the Rapid Action Battalion and the army were also deployed alongside police to maintain order in the area.

The Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) has arrested three main suspects in connection with the murder of pharmacy owner and mobile financial agent Khokon Das, aged 50, in Shariatpur. Acting on information from RAB-8 and the Intelligence Wing in Dhaka, a RAB-14 team from Kishoreganj Camp, led by ASP Shahjahan, detained the named accused—Sohag, Rabbi, and Palash—from Bajitpur area around 1 a.m. on Saturday night.

According to Shariatpur Superintendent of Police Rownak Jahan, the victim had identified the attackers before his death. On the night of December 31, 2025, Khokon Das was returning home after closing his pharmacy at Keherbhanga Bazar when several assailants attacked him with sharp weapons near Tiloi area, robbing him of cash. When he recognized some attackers, they poured petrol on him and set him on fire. Locals rescued him and took him to Shariatpur Sadar Hospital, from where he was transferred to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, where he later died.

Police said the arrested suspects were locally known as miscreants and drug users.

A Royal Bengal Tiger was found trapped in a deer-hunting snare set by poachers in the Sundarbans near Shorki Canal in Mongla upazila of Bagerhat. The Forest Department began a rescue operation on Sunday morning with the help of specialists to free the tiger. Officials said the animal was discovered about half a kilometer inside the forest from the canal bank, and the area has been cordoned off to prevent public access.

Dipon Chandra Das, Assistant Conservator of Forests of the Chandpai Range under the Sundarbans East Forest Division, confirmed that a veterinary surgeon from Dhaka was brought in to assist in the rescue. The team may use a tranquilizer gun if necessary. If the tiger is found injured or unwell, it will be caged and sent to a rescue center in Khulna or Dhaka for treatment.

Local residents gathered near the site after hearing about the trapped tiger, but the Forest Department has restricted entry to ensure safety and smooth rescue operations.

A man named Sohel Rana, aged 35, was shot dead by unidentified assailants in Bagha upazila of Rajshahi early Sunday. The attack occurred around 1 a.m. in Polashi Fatepur Karali Naushara area under Chakrajapur Union. Sohel Rana, son of Kalu Mondal, died on the spot after being hit by bullets. His wife and daughter were also injured and admitted to the local health complex.

According to Sohel’s brother, the family was asleep when the attackers struck the tin walls of the house, creating loud noises that woke neighbors. The assailants warned that anyone approaching would be shot, then entered the house and fired several rounds after cutting through the tin. Police Inspector (Investigation) Supravat Mondal of Bagha Police Station said the killing was linked to a previous murder case. The body was recovered and sent to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital for autopsy, and a case will be filed.

Police have begun an investigation into the incident, citing previous enmity as a possible motive.

Eight flights scheduled to land at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka were diverted on Sunday due to dense fog. The Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh confirmed the diversions, citing safety concerns for takeoff and landing operations. The affected flights were rerouted to alternative airports to ensure passenger and aircraft safety.

According to the Civil Aviation Authority’s public relations officer, Kawsar Mahmud, six of the diverted flights were sent to Sylhet Osmani International Airport, one to Kolkata Airport, and another to Hanoi Airport in Vietnam. The diversions were implemented as visibility at Dhaka airport dropped significantly, making normal operations unsafe.

The situation highlights the continuing challenges posed by seasonal fog in Bangladesh’s air transport sector, which often disrupts flight schedules during winter mornings.