Bangladesh has been elected vice-chair of the United Nations Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) for 2026. The election took place on Thursday at the UN headquarters in New York during the first meeting of the commission’s 20th session. Morocco was chosen as chair, while Bangladesh, Germany, Brazil, and Croatia were elected as vice-chairs. Bangladesh formally assumed its new role in a brief ceremony attended by the UN General Assembly president’s chief of staff, who emphasized the importance of the PBC’s role.

The Peacebuilding Commission is an intergovernmental advisory body that supports peace efforts in conflict-affected countries. It consists of 31 member states selected from the General Assembly, Security Council, Economic and Social Council, and top troop- and financial-contributing nations. Bangladesh has been a member since the commission’s establishment in 2005 and previously served as chair in 2012 and 2022, and as vice-chair in 2013 and 2023.

In a statement, Bangladesh’s delegation thanked member states for their confidence and reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the UN’s peacebuilding initiatives and future plans.

Election authorities in Osmaninagar upazila of Sylhet have initiated extensive renovation and security measures at polling centers ahead of the upcoming national election. The program includes infrastructure upgrades and the installation of modern surveillance systems to ensure fair, neutral, and secure voting. According to the upazila election office, Osmaninagar has 54 polling centers, of which 38 are located in primary schools. Renovation work has been approved for 36 of these schools, with two phases of funding totaling over 27 lakh taka.

Upazila Primary Education Officer Md. Saiful Islam Talukder stated that the renovation work is being closely monitored with transparency, including photographic documentation from site supervisors. To strengthen security, the Election Commission has allocated 20 CCTV cameras for the upazila, while the district administration is funding six cameras for each primary school-based center. High school-based centers will install cameras using their own funds, and additional cameras are being added to centers with existing systems.

District Commissioner and Returning Officer Sarwar Alam said all polling centers will be brought under CCTV coverage to ensure voter safety and transparency. Local residents believe these measures will enhance security and voter confidence.

At least 40 areas in South Keraniganj, Dhaka, have been without gas for five days, affecting around 300,000 to 400,000 residents. The disruption began after a gas pipeline was damaged during excavation work at Shubhadda Canal, halting about 50,000 Titas Gas connections. Locals have repeatedly complained to the Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution office in Jinjira but reported no progress in repairs. Frustration has grown as residents accuse officials of negligence and shifting responsibility.

According to residents and local contractors, the problem originated under the canal where the main supply line passes. The Jinjira office stated that the emergency team is responsible for repairs, while the emergency team said the exact leakage point has not yet been identified. Titas Gas officials, including the deputy general manager and emergency team manager, confirmed that inspection teams have visited the site and promised action once the fault is located.

Residents warned of protests if gas service is not restored soon, while officials urged patience as technical teams continue to locate the leak.

A mobile court in Bhola fined BNP candidate Nurul Islam Noyon Tk 5,000 for violating the election and referendum code of conduct. The incident occurred on Wednesday night around 10:30 p.m. during an inspection by the code enforcement mobile court in the Charfassion-Monpura constituency.

According to Assistant Commissioner (Land) and Executive Magistrate Emdadul Hossain, the violation took place in Sharifpara area of Charfassion bazar, where campaign materials including framed colorful banners and festoons were displayed on a pickup truck, accompanied by loudspeakers, outside the permitted campaign hours. The fine was imposed under Rule 27(a) of the Political Parties and Candidates’ Code of Conduct, 2025, for breaching Rules 7(b) and 7(g).

The enforcement action was part of ongoing monitoring to ensure compliance with electoral regulations in the Bhola-4 constituency ahead of the parliamentary election and referendum.

Ahead of Bangladesh’s February 12 parliamentary election, political parties are intensifying their campaigns both on the ground and across social media platforms. Following the political transition of August 5, 2024, this is the first inclusive national election after years of limited participation under former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Candidates are using Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube to reach millions of young voters, who make up 44 percent of the electorate. Viral theme songs, short videos, and digital content have turned social media into the main arena of political competition.

Experts note that with 98.9 percent of households using mobile phones and over 13 crore internet users nationwide, digital campaigning offers a cost-effective way to engage voters, especially youth. Parties such as Jamaat, BNP, and the National Citizen Party (NCP) are producing songs and videos that have gained millions of views. Analysts and cyber experts warn, however, that misinformation and fake content are spreading rapidly, urging responsible online behavior.

Fact-checkers report that election-related content is now reaching personal feeds through reels and short videos, prompting candidates to allocate larger budgets for digital outreach.

The 30th Dhaka International Trade Fair, organized by the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) and the Ministry of Commerce, has largely turned into an entertainment venue rather than achieving its founding goal of promoting Bangladeshi products in global markets. Despite being labeled an international event, the fair now focuses more on local sales and leisure activities, with visitors describing it as resembling a street market. The fair, which began in 1995 to connect local entrepreneurs with foreign buyers, currently hosts 324 stalls but only 11 foreign pavilions, and the presence of international buyers is minimal.

Export-related stakeholders say the fair has failed to generate meaningful export orders, as most stalls sell locally produced or rejected goods instead of export-quality products. Business leaders and associations, including BGMEA and EAB, argue that specialized expos such as the Global Sourcing Expo are more effective for export promotion. EPB officials acknowledge challenges in attracting foreign participants due to visa, customs, and accommodation issues but maintain that the fair still serves as a branding and networking platform.

Experts suggest shortening the fair’s duration and introducing sector-based pavilions and business-to-business zones to restore its international relevance.

In the run-up to Bangladesh’s upcoming parliamentary election, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Jamaat-e-Islami have escalated their political rhetoric, centering their campaigns on contrasting historical narratives. BNP, led by Chairperson Tarique Rahman, has made the 1971 Liberation War the core of its election message, using it to criticize Jamaat’s wartime role. Rahman, recently returned from exile, has highlighted the Liberation War in multiple rallies across the country, portraying it as a moral foundation for the nation and warning against those who opposed independence. BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has echoed this stance, accusing Jamaat of trying to regain political influence despite its past opposition to independence.

In contrast, Jamaat-e-Islami has focused its campaign on the July Uprising that led to the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government, presenting it as a movement for democracy and justice. Party leaders, including Amir Dr. Shafiqur Rahman, have pledged to continue the struggle for a corruption-free and equitable Bangladesh. Jamaat leaders have also criticized BNP for politically exploiting the Liberation War issue, calling such accusations baseless and politically motivated.

The competing narratives underscore a deep ideological divide, with BNP emphasizing historical legitimacy through the Liberation War and Jamaat seeking to redefine its identity through the July Uprising.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has filed two separate cases against former Bhola Upazila Parishad chairman Mirajul Islam and his wife Shamima Akter for allegedly amassing wealth worth hundreds of crores of taka beyond known income sources and committing money laundering. The cases were lodged on Thursday by ACC Assistant Director Mohammad Monirul Islam at the Pirojpur Integrated District Anti-Corruption Office, with Deputy Director Aminul Islam assigned as the investigating officer.

According to the case statement, Mirajul Islam allegedly acquired immovable and movable assets worth over Tk 116 crore through his companies Ifti ITCL (Pvt.) Ltd, Ifti Enterprise, and South Bangla Trade International, while his legitimate income sources accounted for only Tk 17.71 crore. His wife Shamima Akter is accused of possessing Tk 24.45 crore in illegal assets through her firm Shimu Enterprise and transferring Tk 122.39 crore via bank accounts, violating money laundering laws.

The ACC noted that the couple’s firms obtained government contracts from the LGED but did not execute the projects, allegedly misappropriating around Tk 1,000 crore. Eight additional cases have already been filed over related offenses.

The funeral of Maulana Rezaul Karim, 42, secretary of Jamaat-e-Islami’s Sreebardi upazila unit, who was killed in a BNP-Jamaat clash in Sherpur, was completed on Thursday night. His second funeral prayer took place at 9 p.m. at Gopalakhila School field, led by Jamaat’s central Nayeb-e-Ameer Maulana A N M Shamsul Islam. Following the prayer, he was buried in his family graveyard, and prayers were offered for his soul.

At Rezaul’s home, his elderly father Maulana Abdul Aziz was seen silently gazing at his son’s grave, while women inside the house were heard crying. Relatives and neighbors gathered to offer condolences. District Jamaat Ameer Hafizur Rahman condemned the killing, stating that a general diary had been filed with the police and preparations were underway to lodge a case. He added that further programs would be decided after consultation with central leaders.

The incident follows recent political tensions in Sherpur, with Jamaat leaders calling for justice and organizational response to the killing.

The human rights organization Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) has expressed deep concern over ongoing violence, inflammatory remarks, and allegations of irregularities surrounding the upcoming national parliamentary election in Bangladesh. In a statement issued on Thursday, ASK said these incidents are undermining the electoral environment and creating fear and insecurity among citizens, which contradicts the principles of a free, fair, and neutral election.

According to ASK’s statement, media reports indicate that political activists from different parties have been victims of violence in several parts of the country. A local Jamaat leader was killed and a BNP leader seriously injured in a clash in Jhenaigati upazila of Sherpur, while around 30 supporters from both sides were hurt. The organization also noted allegations of forced removal of women’s veils during campaigning, attempts to influence voters with money, intimidation, and the use of indecent language.

ASK emphasized that ensuring a violence-free environment for voters is a constitutional duty of the state and urged all political parties, candidates, and law enforcement agencies to take impartial and effective measures to prevent further unrest.

A man identified as Nurul Amin Munna, described by police as a top criminal in Cox’s Bazar, was killed by his maternal uncle on Thursday evening, January 29, in the Rumaliarchhara Bacha Mia’s Ghona area. According to family sources, the incident occurred after Munna demanded a share of his mother’s property. He was attacked with sharp weapons by his uncle Hamid Ullah and his sons, and later declared dead at Cox’s Bazar Sadar Hospital.

Munna’s girlfriend Kajol told reporters outside the hospital morgue that they were scheduled to marry on Friday, January 30, and that she was also injured while trying to save him. Police confirmed that Munna’s body was kept at the hospital morgue and said they were investigating those involved in the killing.

Law enforcement sources stated that Munna, from the Samiti Bazar area of Rumaliarchhara, was a known top criminal with multiple cases filed against him and had previously been detained several times with local weapons.

BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman addressed an election rally in Bogura on Thursday afternoon, calling on supporters to pray so that they can take pride in his leadership. Speaking at the historic Altafunnesa field, he urged the people of Bogura to stand by him mentally and morally, promising to lead Bangladesh toward a stronger and better future if given their support.

Rahman emphasized the importance of unity, echoing the message of late President Ziaur Rahman that national development requires collective effort. He said that if his party forms the next government, decisions on employment and business will be based on merit, not regional favoritism. He also recalled his previous work from 2001 to 2006 to make Bogura a model district and pledged to expand that model nationwide if given the opportunity.

Highlighting the upcoming election scheduled for the 12th, Rahman described it as crucial for determining the country’s direction and reaffirmed the need to restore democratic governance through collective effort.

Bangladesh’s Aspire to Innovate (a2i) program under the ICT Division and two Gambian ministries—the Ministry of Public Service, Administrative Reforms, Policy Coordination and Delivery, and the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy—signed a tripartite memorandum of understanding (MoU) in Dhaka to expand cooperation in information technology and e-governance. The signing took place on Thursday at a hotel in Dhaka, with Fayez Ahmad Tayyeb, Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser on Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology, attending as chief guest.

The agreement builds on the partnership initiated last year when Gambia adopted Bangladesh’s MyGov platform. Fayez Ahmad Tayyeb said the initiative would serve as an effective example of collaboration among Global South countries and praised both nations for developing citizen-friendly service solutions. ICT Secretary Shish Haydar Chowdhury emphasized prioritizing citizen experience, noting that digital systems gain importance only when they simplify access to services and ensure fairness.

The MoU is expected to strengthen digital governance collaboration between Bangladesh and Gambia, advancing shared goals of efficient, citizen-centric public service delivery.

An attack took place on the election campaign vehicle of Jamaat-e-Islami–backed candidate and lawyer Shishir Monir in Sunamganj-2 (Dirai-Shalla) constituency. The incident occurred on Thursday evening, January 29, in the Kadirpur area of Dirai upazila. According to reports, a group of youths on motorcycles attacked the campaign vehicle while it was conducting election activities, causing extensive damage. Two people inside the vehicle were injured, though their identities were not immediately known.

Additional Superintendent of Police (Crime and Operations) Rakibul Hasan Russell stated that authorities are investigating the incident. The attack targeted the campaign caravan of the candidate representing the 11-party alliance in the constituency.

Police have yet to release further details about the attackers or the motive behind the assault, and the investigation is ongoing.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami is set to hold an election rally on February 2 at 3 p.m. in Sitakunda upazila of Chattogram. The event, to be held at Sitakunda Government High School (Debarpara) field, will feature Jamaat Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman as the chief guest. The rally is part of the campaign for Anwar Siddique Chowdhury, Jamaat’s nominated candidate for the Chattogram-4 constituency. Organizers expect more than 100,000 participants and report widespread enthusiasm across Sitakunda.

On January 29, central, district, and local Jamaat leaders, led by central assistant secretary general Maulana Mohammad Shahjahan, inspected the venue to review stage setup, security, discipline, and volunteer arrangements. Shahjahan told local journalists that the Election Commission and government had failed to ensure a level playing field for all parties. He also cited a recent killing of a local Jamaat secretary as evidence of ongoing insecurity.

Organizers said the rally aims not only to promote the party’s candidate but also to send a significant political message across Sitakunda and northern Chattogram.