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.

The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has imposed a ban on all types of meetings, rallies, and public gatherings in several important areas of the capital to preserve public order. The restriction was announced through a public notice signed by DMP Commissioner Sheikh Md. Sajjat Ali on Thursday afternoon. According to the notice, the ban will take effect from January 10, 2026, and remain in force until further instructions under Section 29 of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police Ordinance (Ordinance No. III/76).

The restricted areas include the Chief Justice’s official residence, Judges’ Complex, main gate of the Bangladesh Supreme Court, Mazar Gate, Jame Mosque Gate, entrances to International Crimes Tribunals 1 and 2, and the front area of the Judicial Administration Training Institute. The DMP stated that no rallies, human chains, sit-ins, or processions will be allowed in these zones.

The police urged all concerned not to block roads or disrupt traffic under the pretext of protests or demands. The DMP said the decision aims to maintain law and order and ensure smooth public movement in the capital.

The interim government of Bangladesh has added 135 new medicines to the country's list of essential drugs, bringing the total number to 295. The government has also decided to set fixed prices for the sale of these essential medicines. The decision was made during a meeting of the advisory council held on Thursday.

At a press conference later in the day at the Foreign Service Academy, the chief adviser’s special assistant on health affairs, Md. Sayedur Rahman, announced the decision. He stated that sellers must sell the essential medicines at the government-fixed prices to ensure public access to treatment and medicines. However, he mentioned that sellers would be given some time to comply with the new pricing regulations.

The move aims to make essential medicines more affordable and accessible to the public, aligning with the government’s broader health policy objectives.

A Dhaka court has scheduled January 13 for the hearing of arguments in a corruption case involving former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, her niece Tulip Siddiq, Azmina Siddiq, and 15 others. The case concerns alleged irregularities in the allocation of a 10-katha plot under the Purbachal New Town Project. The date was fixed by Judge Robiul Alam of Dhaka Special Judge Court-4 after a hearing on Thursday. Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) prosecutor Zahirul Islam confirmed the development, noting that the only detained accused, Mohammad Khurshid Alam, presented a defense witness, while other accused remain absconding.

The case was filed on January 13 of the previous year by ACC Assistant Director Afnan Jannat Keya against Azmina Siddiq, later including Sheikh Hasina, Tulip Siddiq, and others. Following investigation, a charge sheet against 18 individuals was submitted on March 10. All 31 prosecution witnesses have testified before the court. The accused include several officials from the Ministry of Housing and Public Works and Rajuk, as well as a former state minister.

The upcoming hearing is expected to advance the trial process, with the court set to hear final arguments from both prosecution and defense.

Bangladesh will not play its matches in India during the upcoming T20 World Cup, Foreign Affairs Adviser Touhid Hossain announced on Thursday, January 8, 2026. Speaking at a press briefing at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he said the team will participate in the tournament but only at a neutral venue outside India.

Hossain explained that India failed to ensure the security of Bangladeshi cricketers, raising doubts about the safety of an entire team or traveling fans. As a result, Bangladesh decided to play its matches at a neutral location. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) had earlier informed the International Cricket Council (ICC) of its decision not to send the team to India following the exclusion of Mustafizur Rahman from the Indian Premier League (IPL).

Alongside the decision to avoid India, the BCB also requested that the World Cup venue be shifted to Sri Lanka, according to the adviser’s briefing.

Leaders of the Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) have accused a business syndicate of turning public suffering into profit amid a prolonged gas supply crisis. Speaking at a protest rally on Thursday in front of the Titas Gas office in Karwan Bazar, Dhaka, CPB leaders demanded immediate resolution of gas shortages and an end to what they described as chaos in the gas cylinder market. CPB President Sajjad Zahir Chandan said gas supply disruptions across Dhaka and other regions have severely disrupted daily life, while the interim government has failed to address the issue.

Former CPB General Secretary Ruhin Hossain Prince alleged that the syndicate deliberately restricts gas supply to profit from importing and selling gas at higher prices. He also called for increased domestic production of LPG cylinders. Following the rally, a CPB delegation submitted a memorandum to the Titas Gas Managing Director, outlining seven demands including uninterrupted 24-hour gas supply, cancellation of monthly bills during supply outages, and breaking the syndicate to reduce cylinder prices.

The protest was chaired by CPB Dhaka North President Hasan Hafizur Rahman Sohel and attended by several central and student leaders.