A Dhaka court has again postponed the submission date for the further investigation report in the murder case of Inqilab Moncho spokesperson Shahid Sharif Osman Bin Hadi. On Thursday, January 29, 2026, Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Awlad Hossain Muhammad Jonaid set February 3 as the new date after the investigating officer, CID Assistant Superintendent of Police Abdul Kadir Bhuiyan, failed to submit the report.

According to court sources, Hadi was shot by assailants on a motorcycle in the Box Culvert area of Paltan on December 12, 2025, while traveling to Suhrawardy Udyan after Friday prayers and election campaigning in Motijheel. He was first treated at Dhaka Medical College Hospital, then transferred to Evercare Hospital, and later sent to Singapore for advanced treatment, where he died on December 18. The case was subsequently reclassified as a murder case.

Earlier, on January 6, detectives filed charges against 17 people, including former ward councilor Taizul Islam Chowdhury Bappi and Faisal Karim Masud. Following dissatisfaction with that report, the court ordered the CID to conduct further investigation on January 15.

The Ministry of Housing and Public Works has rejected a recent report published by the daily Prothom Alo claiming that the government would build 9,030-square-foot flats with swimming pools for ministers. In a press release issued on Thursday and signed by Public Relations Officer Md. Alamgir Hossain, the ministry described the report as completely baseless, misleading, and false.

According to the ministry, while the Public Works Department had once proposed such a project, it was never considered or approved by the ministry. The statement emphasized that publishing such distorted information creates confusion among the public and harms the image of the government. The ministry urged media outlets to refrain from publishing inaccurate or misleading reports in the future.

The clarification aims to counter misinformation and reaffirm that no official decision or approval exists for the construction of large ministerial flats as described in the disputed report.

The Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA) has temporarily suspended its previously announced plan to shut down all textile mills across the country from February 1. The decision followed clear government assurances and positive progress in ongoing discussions. BTMA stated that the move was made considering national interests, the upcoming election, and the need to maintain industrial stability.

A key meeting was held on January 27 at the Ministry of Commerce, chaired by Commerce Adviser Sheikh Bashir Uddin, to address the ongoing crisis in the ready-made garment and textile sectors. The meeting reviewed the challenges facing the spinning sector, with the adviser acknowledging their legitimacy and promising swift, fair, and practical solutions. Senior officials from the National Board of Revenue, the Ministry of Finance, and industry associations including BGMEA and BKMEA attended the session.

BTMA expressed hope that resolving the spinning sector’s crisis would enhance export competitiveness, safeguard employment, and strengthen overall economic stability. The association said future programs would be announced after reviewing the situation.

The High Court has dismissed a writ petition seeking to postpone the 50th Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) preliminary examination during the period of the 13th National Parliamentary Election. The order was issued on Thursday, January 29, 2026, removing all legal barriers to holding the exam as scheduled on Friday, January 30, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. across eight regional centers including Dhaka, Rajshahi, Chattogram, Khulna, Barishal, Sylhet, Rangpur, and Mymensingh.

According to the Bangladesh Public Service Commission (PSC), the 50th BCS circular was published on November 26, 2025, with applications accepted from December 4 to December 31. A total of 290,951 applications were submitted, significantly fewer than in previous years. The examination will recruit 2,150 candidates for both cadre and non-cadre positions, including 650 in the health cadre, 200 in administration, and 117 in police.

The PSC has also revised the preliminary exam structure, reducing marks in Bangla, English, and Bangladesh affairs while increasing marks in international affairs, mathematical reasoning, and ethics. The commission plans to complete the written and viva stages promptly after the preliminary test.

The government has promoted 40 officers from the BCS (Police) cadre to the rank of Additional Superintendent of Police. The Ministry of Home Affairs issued an official notification on Thursday through its Police-1 branch confirming the promotions. According to the notice, the new rank falls under the 6th grade of the 2015 national pay scale, with a salary range of Tk 35,500 to Tk 67,010.

The notification stated that the promoted officers must submit their joining letters to the Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs through the appropriate authority. It also mentioned that the order was issued in the public interest and would take immediate effect.

The list of the promoted officers was made available along with the announcement, marking a significant administrative update within the police service structure.

A writ petition was filed in the High Court on Wednesday seeking postponement of the 50th Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) preliminary examination. Four candidates submitted the petition to the relevant branch of the court. However, according to information from the Public Service Commission (PSC) on Thursday, the exam will not be delayed and will take place as scheduled. The PSC’s legal officer will respond to the court regarding the writ, and preparations for the exam are continuing.

The 50th BCS has received 290,951 applications, a notable decrease compared to previous years. A total of 2,150 candidates will be recruited for both cadre and non-cadre positions, including 650 in the health cadre, 200 in administration, and 117 in the police. The preliminary exam format has been adjusted, reducing marks in Bangla, English, and Bangladesh affairs by five each, while increasing marks in international affairs, mathematical reasoning, and ethics by five each.

According to the PSC’s roadmap, written and oral tests will be completed as soon as possible after the preliminary exam.

After nearly two months of suspension, rice imports through the Sonamasjid land port in Shibganj, Chapainawabganj, have resumed. As part of trade activities with India, a total of 1,188 metric tons of non-basmati parboiled rice entered Bangladesh by Thursday afternoon. The information was confirmed by Kamal Khan, Operations Manager of Panama Sonamasjid Port Link Limited, who detailed the import schedule between January 24 and 28.

According to customs officials, the average cost per kilogram of the imported rice ranged between Tk 50 and Tk 70, depending on the type. Samir Chandra Ghosh, Deputy Director of the Sonamasjid Plant Quarantine Center, said the last rice consignment through this port arrived on December 3 of the previous year, totaling 563.7 metric tons. Import operations had remained halted since then.

The resumption marks a continuation of bilateral trade between Bangladesh and India through one of the country’s key land ports, potentially stabilizing local rice supply after the import gap.

The interim government of Bangladesh has issued the 'Microfinance Bank Ordinance, 2026' to strengthen microcredit operations, create employment, reduce poverty, and ensure ownership for small borrowers. According to the ordinance, published in a gazette by the Legislative Division of the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, microfinance borrowers will now become shareholders, holding at least 60 percent ownership in the new bank. The bank will be established with an authorized capital of Tk 500 crore and a minimum paid-up capital of Tk 200 crore, under a license from Bangladesh Bank.

The ordinance defines the Microfinance Bank as a social business institution, requiring profits to be reinvested in social and poverty alleviation sectors rather than distributed as dividends. The nine-member board will include four borrower-elected directors, three nominated directors, two independent directors, and a managing director without voting rights. The bank will provide loans for self-employment, accept deposits, and offer technical and administrative support to small entrepreneurs.

Bangladesh Bank will act as the licensing authority and may dissolve the board or remove directors if necessary. The government will announce the effective date of the ordinance through a separate notification.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir addressed a campaign rally on Thursday, January 29, 2026, at Kalitala in Salandar Union of Thakurgaon Sadar upazila. Recalling the 2001 election, he said local women had sold eggs, chickens, and vegetables to make garlands for him, a gesture he still remembers. Fakhrul said he could not speak during previous elections and often broke down in tears, but now a new opportunity has emerged that must be utilized.

He accused the former government of being oppressive, claiming he faced 117 cases and that 70 false cases in Thakurgaon had implicated 7,500 people. He alleged that nine people were shot dead in Gareya Union and that police harassment forced supporters to hide in trees and paddy fields during winter. Fakhrul urged voters to support the BNP’s “sheaf of paddy” symbol, promising to work for development, job creation, and training for women and youth if elected.

He emphasized that people should live by working, not by begging, and pledged to bring progress to Thakurgaon.

Abdul Alim Arif, General Secretary of the Jagannath University Central Students’ Union (JAKSU) and branch secretary of Islami Chhatra Shibir, has accused the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) of establishing a reign of terror across the country. In a verified Facebook post on Thursday, January 29, 2026, he alleged that BNP leaders and activists were engaging in unruly and violent behavior around the election, aiming to impose a form of neo-fascism in Bangladesh.

Citing an incident in Sherpur-3 constituency, Arif claimed that a planned attack by BNP activists killed Maulana Rezaul Karim, the Jamaat secretary of Sreebardi upazila, and injured more than fifty people. He further alleged that BNP’s extortion, tender manipulation, and attacks on opposition voices were obstructing fair election campaigning. Arif also accused BNP members of assaulting women during campaign events and spreading fear against women wearing niqab and hijab.

In his post, Arif warned that conscious students and citizens were ready to resist what he called a new wave of fascism, asserting that voters would respond through ballots on January 12.

The Election Commission (EC) of Bangladesh has instructed all printing presses across the country not to print election posters ahead of the 13th National Parliamentary Election. The directive was issued to ensure enforcement of the existing ban on poster use in election campaigns. Deputy Secretary Monir Hossain sent letters to all returning officers on Thursday, January 29, outlining the commission’s decision.

According to the EC’s circular, the ban is based on the Political Party and Candidate Code of Conduct, 2025, which explicitly prohibits the use of posters in campaign activities under Rule 7(a). The EC emphasized that no candidate or political party should violate this rule during the campaign period leading up to the February 12 election.

The commission has also asked relevant authorities to take administrative measures to prevent any printing of campaign posters, reinforcing its commitment to maintaining compliance with the election code of conduct.

Dr. Shafiqur Rahman, the chief of Jamaat-e-Islami and head of the 11-party alliance, is scheduled to visit Feni on Friday. He will attend an election rally at the Feni Government Pilot High School field, where he is expected to deliver the keynote speech at 10 a.m. The event will begin at 8 a.m., according to the announcement made by the Feni district branch of Jamaat-e-Islami during a press conference held on Thursday afternoon at a local restaurant.

The press conference was conducted by district Jamaat secretary Maulana Abdur Rahim and presided over by district Ameer Mufti Abdul Hannan. Several senior party figures were present, including central Majlis-e-Shura member and former Ameer Professor Liaquat Ali Bhuiyan, Master Shamsuddin, Feni-1 Jamaat candidate Advocate S.M. Kamal Uddin, Feni-2 alliance candidate and AB Party chairman Mojibur Rahman Monju, and Feni-3 Jamaat candidate Dr. Fakhruddin Manik. The rally is also expected to feature speeches from other leaders, including former DUCSU VP Sadiq Kayem.

The event marks part of Jamaat-e-Islami’s ongoing election campaign activities in the Feni district.

The prosecution has filed an appeal in the Supreme Court’s Appellate Division chamber court seeking the highest punishment for five convicts who received lesser sentences in the Chankharpul killings case linked to the July uprising. The International Crimes Tribunal had earlier sentenced former DMP Commissioner Habibur Rahman and two others to death, while five others, including Constable Sujon Hossain, received prison terms ranging from three to six years. The court has scheduled a hearing on the appeal for next Sunday.

Prosecutor Gazi M H Tamim confirmed the appeal on Thursday, stating that the prosecution challenged the tribunal’s observations that led to reduced sentences. He said the petition requests that the convicts with lighter sentences remain in custody until the appeal is resolved. The case is recognized as the tribunal’s second verdict concerning crimes against humanity committed in Chankharpul.

The tribunal had earlier sentenced former Assistant Commissioner Md Imrul (absconding) to six years, Inspector Arshad Hossain to four years, and Constable Sujon Hossain, Imam Hossain Iman, and Md Nasirul Islam to three years each.

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has extended the deadline for individual taxpayers to file their income tax returns for the 2025–26 fiscal year by one month. According to a special order issued on Thursday, taxpayers can now submit their returns online without any penalty until February 28. This marks the third time the NBR has extended the filing period for the current tax year.

The NBR has also made online submission of tax returns mandatory for individual taxpayers, except for five specific categories. The extension aims to provide additional time for taxpayers to complete their online filings under the new mandatory system.

The decision reflects the NBR’s ongoing efforts to facilitate compliance and streamline the digital tax filing process for individuals across the country.

BNP-nominated candidate for Dhaka-16 and convener of Dhaka Metropolitan North BNP, Aminul Haque, has called on the public to remain alert against propaganda and conspiracies surrounding the upcoming January 12 election. He made the appeal on Thursday during his eighth day of campaigning in the Mirpur 6 T-block slum area, where he interacted with local residents.

Aminul Haque stated that while some isolated incidents have occurred, attempts are being made to exaggerate them to question the election’s credibility. He claimed that only the BNP has a clear plan for youth education and employment, while accusing Jamaat of misleading people through falsehoods and deceit. He also alleged that Jamaat activists are collecting NID and bKash numbers from households, raising concerns about possible vote fraud.

Following the directives of BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman, Haque said the party seeks a free, fair, and neutral election conducted with tolerance. He expressed confidence that a fair vote on January 12 would allow the people to respond to all conspiracies through the ballot.