The Election Commission (EC) of Bangladesh has instructed all returning and election officials not to engage in any campaign related to the ongoing referendum, warning them against supporting either the ‘yes’ or ‘no’ side. The EC said the directive aims to preserve neutrality and credibility in the electoral process and may be formally communicated to the government. Commissioner Anwarul Islam Sarkar confirmed that all officers involved in election duties must refrain from referendum campaigning to avoid questions about impartiality.

The EC has also decided to amend sections of the electoral code of conduct midway through the election schedule, a move that has sparked debate about its timing and consistency. The revisions include lifting the restriction on using only three microphones at political rallies and allowing candidates to distribute voter slips containing their names, party affiliations, and symbols. Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed confirmed these changes, citing practical needs.

Civil society leader Dr. Badiul Alam Majumdar criticized the mid-election amendments, saying they could cause confusion at the grassroots level and undermine confidence in the EC’s decision-making process.

Bangladesh’s interim government led by Dr. Muhammad Yunus has strongly protested what it calls India’s attempt to destabilize the country ahead of the February 12 general election and an upcoming referendum linked to the July Charter. According to diplomatic sources cited by the newspaper, Indian policymakers and intelligence agencies have launched a campaign to make the election controversial and prevent approval of the referendum. The report claims that Delhi’s efforts include bringing former prime minister Sheikh Hasina back into the political spotlight.

On January 23, an audio message from Hasina was played at a Delhi event titled “Safe Democracy in Bangladesh,” where she allegedly urged her supporters to boycott and resist the election. Dhaka’s foreign ministry said the speech incited violence and aimed to overthrow the government, calling India’s role a serious threat to Bangladesh’s democratic transition and bilateral relations. Analysts quoted in the report said India is anxious about the election outcome, given the absence of the Awami League and the uncertain position of other parties.

The controversy has heightened diplomatic tension, with Bangladesh warning that such actions could harm future bilateral cooperation and vowing to prevent any violence or conspiracy surrounding the polls.

Train movement on the Dhaka–Sylhet and Dhaka–Chattogram routes resumed around 10:30 a.m. Tuesday after a derailed coach of the Dhaka Mail train was recovered at Bhairab Bazar Railway Junction in Kishoreganj. The derailment occurred at about 3:30 a.m. near the station’s outer signal area when the Chattogram-bound Dhaka Mail was crossing from line 1 to line 2, causing two wheels of one coach to go off the track and blocking the line completely.

Railway authorities dispatched a relief train from Akhaura at 7:00 a.m., which began recovery operations at the site. After roughly three and a half hours of work, the derailed coach was removed, allowing train services to restart. The incident had halted all train traffic on the route for several hours.

During the disruption, multiple trains including the Cox’s Bazar Express, Egarsindur Express, Parabat Express, Chattogram Mail, and Turna Nishitha Express were stranded at Bhairab and nearby stations, leaving thousands of passengers delayed and inconvenienced.

The Ministry of Cultural Affairs of Bangladesh has decided to reduce stall rent for the Amar Ekushey Book Fair 2026 by 25 percent following requests from participating publishers. Cultural Affairs Adviser Mostofa Sarwar Farooki issued the directive, and the decision was announced in a ministry press release on Monday. The fair is scheduled to begin on February 20, 2026.

According to the statement, the decision came after a productive meeting between the cultural affairs adviser, the ministry’s secretary, and the director general of Bangla Academy. The Bangla Academy will implement the rent reduction promptly. The ministry expressed optimism that this initiative will help the fair continue as a gathering place for writers, readers, and publishers, while also encouraging book publishing and reading.

Professor Md. Azam, director general of Bangla Academy and convener of the fair’s implementation committee, said that the Bangladesh Publishers and Booksellers Association had requested to postpone the fair, but the timing could not be changed due to possible rain and other issues. Therefore, the rent reduction was approved to support publishers and sellers.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has strongly condemned a terrorist attack on professional journalists from Dhaka that occurred in front of Dream Holiday Park in Narsingdi. The party’s Assistant Secretary General and head of its central publicity and media division, Advocate Ehsanul Mahbub Zubair, issued a statement on Monday night expressing the condemnation. According to the statement, on the evening of January 26, members of the Crime Reporters Association of Bangladesh (CRAB) were preparing to return from a family picnic when local assailants demanded extortion money. After the journalists protested, an altercation ensued, leading the attackers to assault them with local weapons, injuring ten people including journalists Mohsin Kabir, Mohammad Shahed, S M Foyez, and CRAB staff Lal.

In the statement, Zubair described the attack as a heinous and barbaric act aimed at silencing journalists and undermining press freedom. He demanded the immediate identification and arrest of those involved and called for exemplary punishment. He also urged authorities to ensure proper medical treatment and security for the injured journalists.

Dr. Fawzul Kabir Khan, adviser overseeing the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources along with two other key ministries, has submitted his income and asset statement for the 2024–25 fiscal year to the Cabinet Secretary’s office. The submission was made on Monday, January 26, as disclosed in a post on his personal Facebook account, where he also mentioned including his wife’s income and asset details.

According to the 2024 policy for disclosure of income and assets by advisers and equivalent officials of the interim government, Dr. Khan filed the statement in compliance with the rules. He noted that a similar report for the 2023–24 fiscal year had already been submitted. The adviser explained that the current declaration covers income and assets up to June 30, 2025, and has also been filed with the National Board of Revenue along with his tax return.

Dr. Khan stated that, in the interest of accountability, he intends to submit another updated statement to the Cabinet Division after the completion of the 2025–26 fiscal year.

The Election Commission (EC) has introduced a major change in the process of issuing journalist and observer cards for the upcoming 13th parliamentary election and referendum. For the first time, journalists and observers must apply online through the EC’s designated website, pr.ecs.gov.bd, to obtain observer cards and vehicle stickers. Applicants must register by providing their national ID number, email, mobile number, and password, followed by OTP verification.

After registration, applicants can log in to submit their applications, providing personal details, media organization information, and necessary documents, including proof of registration and the latest publication copy. Journalists must also upload an approved list from their media organization, indicating their position on the list. If a vehicle sticker is required, relevant vehicle documents must be submitted. The final step involves uploading an office ID, issue and expiry dates, photo, signature, and national ID card.

Upon verification, the EC will issue a QR code-enabled card in PDF format, granting journalists legal authorization to collect election news.

A five-member delegation led by US Ambassador to Bangladesh Brent T. Christensen visited Chattogram Port on Monday, January 26, and met with the port authority’s chairman, Rear Admiral S M Moniruzzaman. During the courtesy meeting, the chairman briefed the delegation on the port’s major achievements under the interim government following the July 2024 mass uprising.

He highlighted reforms implemented to overcome irregularities, labor unrest, pressure group influence, fire incidents, and digitalization barriers. These efforts led to record handling performance, reduced turnaround and dwell times, expanded port limits, higher profits, and progress in major projects such as the Bay Terminal and Matarbari Port. The chairman also welcomed US interest in establishing a cold chain industry for reefer container storage and noted the positive role of labor unions in ensuring smooth operations.

Ambassador Christensen expressed satisfaction with the port’s progress and future plans, assuring full US cooperation to make it more efficient and world-class. He also emphasized enhancing port-related foreign investment, workforce training, and requested support in handling US exports through Chattogram Port.

National Citizen Party (NCP) spokesperson Asif Mahmud has alleged that attempts are being made to buy votes by offering various cards instead of cash. He made the remarks on Monday, January 26, during an election march at Ramganj Pilot Girls High School field in Lakshmipur, where he attended as a special guest.

Mahmud said that while other countries are providing all citizen services through a single smart card, a certain political party in Bangladesh is trying to manipulate voters by promising multiple separate cards. He accused that such tactics aim to keep the country behind under the guise of allowances and benefits. He also stated that Bangladeshi voters are now more aware through social media and will not fall for such manipulation.

The NCP election steering committee chairman further said that their eleven-party alliance does not support unemployment allowances but wants to create employment opportunities to build human resources and move Bangladesh toward prosperity.

Four students from Stamford University Bangladesh were allegedly robbed at knifepoint inside Dhaka’s Suhrawardy Udyan on the night of January 25. The victims said they were forced to sit by a group of youths who demanded their university identity, assaulted them, and took a total of Tk 30,000 in cash and mobile money. One student was stabbed, sustaining injuries to his face, while others were beaten with tree branches. CCTV footage later showed Dhaka University student and Chhatra Dal leader Arif Faisal collecting Tk 15,000 from a mobile money agent linked to the stolen funds.

Arif Faisal, a student of the Communication Disorder department and a coordinator for the Chhatra Dal’s election committee in Dinajpur-3 constituency, admitted receiving the money when questioned by Amader Desh but claimed he was unaware of the full incident at the time. He said the matter was later “resolved” with the victims. University authorities stated they had not yet received a formal complaint, and the Chhatra Dal president said anyone involved in robbery should be handed over to police.

Faisal has since gone missing from his dormitory, and attempts to contact him by phone have failed.

A group of armed assailants attacked a picnic bus carrying members of the Bangladesh Crime Reporters Association (CRAB) in front of Dream Holiday Park in Madhabdi, Narsingdi, on Monday, January 26. The attackers demanded extortion money and, after being refused, launched a sudden assault, injuring about ten journalists, six of them seriously. The incident occurred as the journalists and their families were returning to Dhaka after celebrating CRAB’s annual Family Day. Police later detained two suspects involved in the attack.

According to the injured CRAB members, around 300 journalists and their families had traveled from Dhaka’s Segunbagicha to the park earlier that morning. When they boarded their buses to return, local miscreants blocked several vehicles and demanded money. The attackers, reportedly intoxicated and armed with rods, threatened to set the buses on fire and used abusive language. The sudden violence created panic among women and children on board.

Police intervention prevented further escalation, but the incident left several journalists injured and raised concerns about safety during public gatherings.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has denied accreditation to all Bangladeshi journalists seeking to cover the upcoming T20 World Cup, which will be held in India and Sri Lanka. The decision was communicated via email on Monday. The ICC stated that since Bangladesh is not participating in the tournament, Bangladeshi sports journalists will not be granted permission to cover the event. Earlier, the Bangladesh government had refused to allow its national cricket team to travel to India due to security concerns, effectively ruling the team out of the competition.

The ICC’s refusal follows Bangladesh’s official withdrawal from the World Cup, which was announced after the government cited safety risks for players. The rejection of journalist accreditations has been described as surprising and disappointing, with some viewing it as a reflection of the growing influence of Indian interests within world cricket. The development has sparked criticism that the ICC’s decision further isolates Bangladeshi representation in the tournament.

The incident underscores ongoing tensions surrounding security and participation in international cricket events hosted in India.

A prayer and memorial meeting demanding justice for the murder of Dhaka University’s former political science student, Shaheed Sharif Osman Bin Hadi, was held on Monday, January 26, 2026, at the Professor Muzaffar Ahmad Chowdhury Auditorium. The event was organized by the Department of Political Science and attended by Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Niaz Ahmad Khan as the chief guest.

Other speakers included Pro-Vice Chancellor (Administration) Professor Dr. Saima Haque Bidisha, Treasurer Professor Dr. M. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences Professor Dr. Tayebur Rahman, and several faculty members and student leaders. The session was presided over by Professor Md. Shariful Islam, convener of the organizing committee.

Vice-Chancellor Khan described Osman Hadi as a principled individual who stood for justice and the oppressed, calling his killing an attack on ideals. He urged all to play an active role in ensuring swift justice for Hadi’s murder.

The Bangladesh Jewellers Association (BAJUS) has raised gold prices again within 24 hours, setting a new record in the country’s market. In a notice issued late Monday, January 26, 2026, BAJUS announced that the price of 22-carat gold has been increased by Tk 5,249 per bhori, bringing it to Tk 262,440. The new rate will take effect from Tuesday, January 27. The association said the adjustment was made considering the rise in the price of pure gold in the local market.

According to the revised rates, 21-carat gold will cost Tk 250,484 per bhori, 18-carat gold Tk 214,734, and traditional gold Tk 176,593. The previous adjustment was made on January 25, when the price of 22-carat gold was set at Tk 257,191 per bhori after a Tk 1,574 increase. Silver prices have also reached a record high, with 22-carat silver now priced at Tk 7,757 per bhori after a Tk 525 rise.

BAJUS noted that international gold prices have also surged, surpassing USD 5,000 per ounce, following a more than 60 percent increase in 2025.

National Citizen Party (NCP) convener Nahid Islam declared that no one would be allowed to seize polling centers after late-night prayers, accusing a rival party of planning to mark ballots early. He made the remarks on Monday night, January 26, at a campaign event for the 11-party alliance candidate Mahabub Alam in Ramganj Pilot Girls High School field, Lakshmipur. Nahid Islam said the alliance would unite on February 12 to resist all conspiracies and protect polling centers, warning of strong resistance against any obstruction.

During the same event, he criticized the Awami League for what he called false promises made in the 2001 election, describing the “farmer card” and “family card” as deceptive packages. He emphasized that Bangladesh’s real challenges lie in reviving the economy, ensuring accountability for loan defaulters and looters, and attracting investment.

Other speakers, including NCP spokesperson Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan, alleged that corruption had undermined the ruling party’s legitimacy and vowed that the people would resist such practices.