BNP National Standing Committee member and Cox’s Bazar-1 (Chakaria-Pekua) constituency candidate Salahuddin Ahmed said the upcoming national election will strengthen Bangladesh’s democratic process. Speaking at an election rally on Tuesday evening at North Kakara Government Primary School field in Chakaria, he urged voters to freely exercise their voting rights in the February 12 national election and support the BNP’s ‘sheaf of paddy’ symbol.

Ahmed claimed that under the previous Awami League government, citizens lacked freedom of speech and could not vote safely. He said that after the ouster of Sheikh Hasina through a student and public uprising, people regained their rights. He called on all citizens, regardless of political affiliation, to vote for the BNP to uphold democracy and national independence.

Addressing Hindu community members, Ahmed assured that BNP would ensure their safety and religious freedom during the election. The rally was chaired by Kakara Union BNP president M. Mohiuddin and attended by several local BNP and allied leaders.

Bangladesh’s Health Reform Commission has submitted a 322-page report to the government led by Professor Yunus following the July Revolution. The report, based on input from 12 commission members and over 400 participants—mostly doctors—marks the largest health reform document in the country’s history. It includes 32 key short- and medium-term recommendations, prioritizing primary healthcare and proposing that more than half of the national health budget be allocated to this sector.

However, the report has been criticized for lacking historical context and failing to address core systemic weaknesses. It omits references to major past initiatives such as the 1982 National Drug Policy and offers no clear roadmap for solving long-standing problems like bureaucratic inefficiency, unregulated private clinics, and weak preventive health measures. Despite mentioning health insurance, e-prescriptions, and AI use, the report provides no concrete implementation strategy.

The analysis concludes that without specific guidance on accountability, decentralization, and disease prevention, the proposed reforms are unlikely to bring meaningful improvement to Bangladesh’s fragile healthcare system.

Two people, including a madrasa student, were killed and at least three others seriously injured when a speeding truck lost control and rammed into a stationary CNG-run autorickshaw in Mirsarai, Chattogram. The accident occurred around 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday near the Zahedia Madrasa area of Baratakia Bazar along the Dhaka–Chattogram Highway. Witnesses said the autorickshaw was stopped for passengers when the truck, heading toward Chattogram, struck it from behind, crushing the vehicle and killing two people on the spot. The truck then plunged into a roadside pond.

One of the deceased was identified as Khadija Mashmum, a tenth-grade student of Baratakia Zahedia Dakhil Madrasa, while the other victim was an unidentified pedestrian. The injured were taken to Chattogram Medical College Hospital for treatment. Police and fire service teams quickly reached the scene to conduct rescue operations and restore traffic flow.

According to police, the crash caused temporary congestion on the Chattogram-bound lane, which was later cleared after rescue efforts.

Biman Bangladesh Airlines is set to resume direct flights between Dhaka and Karachi on Thursday, marking the restoration of air connectivity between Bangladesh and Pakistan after 14 years. The inaugural 162-seat flight will depart from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 8 p.m. and is fully booked. Managing Director and CEO Dr. Shafiqul Rahman confirmed that the flight will take about three hours to reach Karachi.

According to airline officials, Biman had suspended operations on the Dhaka-Karachi route in 2012. The plan to reopen the route emerged after the formation of an interim government in 2024. Following official approval from the Bangladeshi government, Pakistan’s Civil Aviation Authority granted Biman permission to operate flights until March 30, 2026, subject to review.

Under the new authorization, Biman must strictly follow designated routes and operational protocols. Karachi airport has allocated a separate slot for the airline, and detailed flight information must be shared before each departure. Officials from both sides expect the route to strengthen bilateral connectivity and cooperation.

A major portion of Mamar Ghat, an important river transport hub under Mongla municipality in Bagerhat, has collapsed into the Pashur River due to severe erosion. The incident has left around 10,000 daily commuters facing acute travel disruptions, while fear and uncertainty spread across the area. Residents along the riverbank are relocating homes and belongings to safer places as the erosion continues.

According to local accounts, the erosion has been ongoing for three years but intensified recently due to heavy upstream runoff that raised river levels and increased current pressure. Illegal sand extraction along the riverbank has worsened the situation, destabilizing the river’s natural flow and embankments. Locals allege that unregulated sand lifting over the past decade has triggered the current crisis, severely affecting transport to the nearby Export Processing Zone (EPZ).

Mongla municipal administrator and Upazila Executive Officer Sharmin Akter Sumi said sand-filled geobags are being placed to curb the erosion. Residents, however, question why preventive measures and enforcement against illegal sand mining were not taken earlier.

A joint operation by the Bangladesh Army and Tungipara police in Gopalganj led to the arrest of one person with 36 kilograms and 600 grams of cannabis. The operation took place on Tuesday evening between 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. near Nilfa Bazar highway under the initiative of the Tungipara Army Camp. The detained individual, identified as Md. Kawsar, 28, from Pirojpur’s Shankar Pasha Union, was apprehended during a search of a passenger bus named Welcome Express.

According to an army press release, the checkpoint was set up based on secret intelligence. The army official stated that a large quantity of cannabis was recovered and reaffirmed the army’s zero-tolerance policy toward narcotics. A police officer from Tungipara confirmed that a case under the Narcotics Control Act is being processed against the detainee.

Authorities said the suspect was handed over to Tungipara police after initial questioning. The joint forces, including the army, police, and district administration, plan to continue regular checkpoints and patrols to maintain security and curb drug trafficking in Gopalganj.

Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan, spokesperson and head of the election management committee of the National Citizens Party (NCP), is scheduled to attend a rally at the Sarail Shaheed Minar in Brahmanbaria today at 4 p.m. The event is part of the NCP and its 11-party alliance’s ongoing nationwide campaign in support of the ‘Yes’ vote, aimed at mobilizing public opinion ahead of upcoming political processes focused on state reform.

Party sources said the rally will feature central and local leaders of the alliance. Asif Mahmud is expected to emphasize the need for reforming the current state structure, restoring democratic rights, and highlighting the importance of public opinion. NCP candidate Maulana Ashraf Mahadi will also speak, asserting that genuine public freedom requires state reform and direct citizen participation in governance.

According to party leaders, the ‘Yes’ campaign has gained strong response across Sarail, Ashuganj, and Bijoynagar areas of Brahmanbaria-2. They expressed optimism that the rally will raise public awareness and positively influence voter sentiment.

A joint army team arrested a notorious criminal, Sajjad Hossain, and his wife, Jannat Akter, in Ashakpur Union of Shahjahanpur upazila, Bogura, around 9 p.m. on January 27, 2026. Acting on intelligence information, the operation was led by Captain Sadif and Lieutenant Fahad. The couple was detained with a foreign-made firearm, and several sharp local weapons were also recovered from their residence.

During interrogation, Sajjad admitted to possessing a 9mm pistol made in Germany. When the army team went to recover the weapon, Jannat attempted to dispose of it by throwing it into a nearby drain. Later, under the direction of Lieutenant Colonel Tanvir, the search team recovered the pistol and seized additional weapons from the house. The arrested couple and the recovered arms were handed over to the police for legal proceedings.

According to the army, such operations will continue to maintain law and order during the election period in the region.

Major General Mohammad Ashrafuzzaman Siddiqui, Director General of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), inaugurated two new Border Observation Posts (BOPs) in Cox’s Bazar’s Teknaf and Saint Martin on Tuesday. The Saint Martin BOP and the newly built Sea Beach BOP in Teknaf’s Lengurbil were opened at separate times. Both facilities are equipped with modern amenities aimed at improving the safety, efficiency, morale, and operational capacity of BGB personnel.

According to a statement from Lieutenant Colonel Md Hanifur Rahman, commander of BGB-2 in Teknaf, the Saint Martin BOP includes modern soldier accommodations and is expected to enhance the island’s overall security management. The island, located about 16 kilometers south of Teknaf, was previously under Bangladesh Rifles until 1997, then handed to the Coast Guard, and BGB was redeployed there in April 2019.

The inauguration marks the full operational launch of the Saint Martin BOP, while the new Sea Beach BOP is expected to strengthen border security and support stationed personnel in the Teknaf area.

BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman declared that the people will not allow any form of vote rigging in the upcoming February 12 election. He made the statement on Tuesday night at an election rally in Bhawal Rajbari field, Gazipur, while returning from Mymensingh to Dhaka. Rahman called on voters to reach polling centers early, perform morning prayers there, and remain alert to prevent any pre-poll manipulation. He emphasized that citizens must protect their voting rights, which he said had been violated over the past 15 to 16 years.

Highlighting Gazipur’s role in the 2024 movement, Rahman praised the city’s contribution to the struggle for democracy and independence. He recalled his childhood memories in Gazipur and urged residents to support the BNP’s “sheaf of paddy” symbol. During the rally, he introduced BNP candidates for Gazipur’s five constituencies and sought votes for them.

Rahman also outlined development plans for Gazipur if BNP candidates win, including new industries, affordable housing for workers, family cards for women, daycare centers, flyover construction, canal excavation, and farmer cards. He concluded the day with another rally in Uttara, promising local infrastructure improvements.

Newly appointed US Ambassador to Bangladesh Brent Christensen stated that the United States does not support any particular political party but stands with the people of Bangladesh. He made the remarks on Wednesday after meeting Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) A M M Nasir Uddin at the Election Commission office in Agargaon, Dhaka. Christensen said the US is ready to work with whichever government is elected and expressed keen interest in the upcoming national election scheduled for February 12.

The ambassador emphasized that only the people of Bangladesh have the exclusive right to determine the outcome of their election. Referring to his meeting with the Chief Adviser last week, Christensen said he was assured that the election would be festive and that citizens would be able to exercise their voting rights freely. He expressed hope for a joyful and participatory election.

Christensen also appreciated the Election Commission’s preparations, describing them as commendable, and reaffirmed that Washington is committed to working with representatives who receive the people’s mandate.

Rajshahi University has published the admission test results for the 2025–26 academic year’s B unit of its undergraduate (honours) first-year program. The results were released at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, according to Professor Dr. Md. Saiful Islam, Director of the university’s ICT Center. Students can check their results on the university’s official website.

This year, a total of 30,886 candidates applied for the B unit admission test, with 25,961 appearing for the exam. Among them, 9,356 out of 16,368 candidates from the commerce group passed, representing a 57.16 percent pass rate. In the non-commerce group, 5,900 out of 9,593 candidates passed, marking a 61.50 percent success rate. The B unit has 564 available seats, including 375 for commerce, 158 for science, and 31 for humanities.

The publication of results marks the completion of a key stage in Rajshahi University’s undergraduate admission process for the 2025–26 session.

Hasnat Abdullah, the chief organizer of the NCP’s southern region, stated that Mirza Abbas used to attend court wearing a burqa about one and a half years ago. He made this remark on the night of January 27 during an NCP yard meeting held at Gunai Ghar Shaktala in Debidwar, Comilla, where he was the chief guest.

During his speech, Abdullah also criticized those who, according to him, had remained silent despite sacrifices made by activists such as Abu Bakr and July martyr Mainuddin. He said that the reasons behind their struggles and the fight against fascism are no longer being discussed.

The remarks came during a protest meeting organized in response to an attack on NCP candidate Nasir Uddin Patowary in the Dhaka-8 constituency, highlighting ongoing political tensions surrounding the election campaign.

The government of Bangladesh has approved separate proposals to buy 10 million liters of refined soybean oil and 10,000 tons of lentils to stabilize the market ahead of the upcoming holy month of Ramadan. The approvals were granted at the fourth meeting of the Advisory Council Committee held at the Cabinet Division on Tuesday, chaired by Economic Adviser Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed. After the meeting, Energy Adviser Muhammad Faozul Kabir Khan said the decision was taken to keep the prices of edible oil and lentils stable during Ramadan.

According to the approved plans, the lentils will be purchased from local company KBC Agro Products Pvt. Ltd. through open tender in 10 lots at a total cost of Tk 70.96 crore, with the price set at Tk 70.96 per kilogram. The soybean oil purchase will cost Tk 185.92 crore, with 5 million liters to be bought from Super Oil Refinery Ltd. at Tk 185.95 per liter and another 5 million liters from Shabnam Vegetable Oil Industries Ltd. at Tk 185.90 per liter.

The same meeting also approved fertilizer imports, a road sector project, and the purchase of a research vessel and speedboats for oceanographic research.

Bangladesh’s mobile phone sector is facing severe instability following the government’s implementation of the National Equipment Identity Registrar (NEIR) system. The Mobile Phone Industry Owners Association of Bangladesh (MIOB) raised branded handset prices soon after the rollout and donated Tk 46 crore to the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) to support the project. Meanwhile, grey market traders have protested the initiative, claiming it will render their unsold stock unusable. After a 20‑day closure, they reopened shops but suspended sales of officially distributed smartphones, pledging to continue demonstrations until March 15.

Industry sources said the price surge is not sudden but linked to a global rise in memory chip costs, which have increased by up to 60% since 2025. The higher component prices, coupled with growing demand for AI‑enabled smartphones requiring more RAM and processing power, have pushed production costs up by 10–15%. Retail prices in Bangladesh have risen 10–25% across categories, with brands such as Xiaomi, Vivo, Infinix, Realme, Samsung, and OnePlus all increasing prices.

The BTRC stated that it accepted MIOB’s donation due to the absence of government budget for NEIR, describing the move as being in the national interest.