Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman visited the family of the late Kushtia district Ameer, Professor Abul Hashem, on Monday morning before attending an election rally. During the visit, he inquired about the family’s well-being, prayed for the departed leader’s soul, and wished patience for the bereaved relatives. He was accompanied by central executive member and Jessore-Kushtia regional director Mobarak Hossain, regional team member Professor Khondaker A.K.M. Ali Mohsin, acting district Ameer Abdul Gafur, and upazila Ameer Khondaker Rezaul Karim.

Professor Abul Hashem passed away on January 19 after suffering a heart attack while addressing a protest rally organized by Jamaat-e-Islami in Kushtia. He was 58 years old at the time of his death. The following day, two funeral prayers were held before his burial at Mirpur WAPDA graveyard. He is survived by his wife, a son, a daughter, and several relatives.

The visit by Dr. Rahman highlighted the party’s expression of solidarity and support for the family of the deceased district leader.

In Feni-3 constituency, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Vice Chairman and candidate Abdul Awal Mintoo met Jamaat-e-Islami candidate Dr. Fakhruddin Manik during election campaigning on Monday, January 26. The two rival candidates embraced each other at Kazirpol area of Purbochandrapur Union in Daganbhuiyan upazila, drawing attention from supporters and voters present at the scene.

During the meeting, Mintoo asked for prayers from Manik, who responded by addressing him as an elder brother and expressing mutual respect. Manik later said their long-standing cordial relationship would continue beyond the election, noting that they were contesting from different parties due to procedural reasons. The friendly gesture between the two candidates impressed onlookers, and a video of the moment quickly went viral on social media.

Mintoo was accompanied by local BNP leaders including his brother Akbar Hossain and businessman Rafiqul Islam, while Manik was joined by Jamaat’s Dhaka South Shura member Mesbah Uddin Said and other party activists.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman said his party intends to provide work opportunities to all capable citizens rather than unemployment allowances. Speaking at an eleven-party election rally at Shahid Abrar Fahad Stadium in Kushtia around 11:45 a.m. on Monday, he addressed extortionists directly, saying they too would be given work and urged them to abandon such activities. He emphasized that the party does not want to create a 'sea of unemployed' through allowances.

Dr. Rahman highlighted that around 60 rice mills operate in Kushtia, from which private levies of about 5,000 taka per truck are collected, causing distress to truck owners and traders. He called on those involved in extortion and illegal occupation to return to honest livelihoods, assuring that Jamaat seeks to build a Bangladesh where every man and woman can earn with dignity.

The rally, attended by 60,000 to 70,000 people, also featured speeches from leaders of allied parties including Khelafat Majlish, JAGPA, and Islami Chhatra Shibir, as part of the eleven-party electoral alliance.

The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) conducted a special operation titled 'Operation Devil Hunt Phase-2' across ten police stations in the capital, arresting 20 individuals. The operation took place on Monday, according to DMP’s Media and Public Relations Deputy Commissioner Muhammad Talebur Rahman, who confirmed the arrests. The initiative aimed to enhance public safety in Dhaka through coordinated law enforcement actions.

According to DMP sources, the arrests were made in Sutrapur, Mohammadpur, Khilgaon, Hazaribagh, Adabor, Kalabagan, Jatrabari, Dakshinkhan, Shahbagh, and Banani police station areas. Each station carried out searches in crime-prone and sensitive zones within its jurisdiction. The detainees have been sent to court following legal procedures.

The DMP stated that such operations will continue as part of ongoing efforts to ensure public security and maintain law and order in the capital.

Faiz Ahmad Tayeb, Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser on Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology, has called for building the foundation of a digital economy from the upazila level. He made the remarks on Monday at the inauguration of 100 upazila service and ICT training centers under the Establishing Digital Connectivity (EDC) project, held at the ICT Division’s conference room.

Tayeb emphasized that to build a truly digital Bangladesh, ICT services and skills must expand beyond the capital to upazilas and grassroots levels. He said 100 centers are already operational, and work on another 179 will be completed within six months. The centers will provide ICT skill development for students and freelancers, cybersecurity training for government officials, and ICT support for educational institutions. Office space, training facilities, and co-working areas have been ensured for local ICT officers.

ICT Division Secretary Shish Haydar Chowdhury described the establishment of upazila ICT service and training centers as a major milestone for the division, noting that 303 of the targeted 400 centers are now active, including the 100 launched today.

Veteran actress and Ekushey Padak recipient Dilara Zaman, now over eighty, remains active in acting and public appearances. On January 9, 2025, she was honored with a lifetime achievement award at the 'Dhallywood Film and Music Silver Jubilee Award 2025' ceremony in Dhaka. She expressed gratitude to the event’s organizer, Alamgir Khan Alam, praising his sincerity and humility.

Despite her age, Zaman continues to work regularly in television dramas and other media. She is currently performing in the ongoing drama series 'Rupnagar,' directed by Kaysar Ahmed and airing on Deepto TV, where her performance has received strong audience response. Additionally, her central role in the YouTube-released drama 'Somprokker Golpo,' directed by Muhammad Mostafa Kamal Raz, has also been well received.

Her continued recognition and active participation in acting and cultural events highlight her enduring influence in Bangladesh’s entertainment industry.

The Dhaka University Central Students' Union (DUCSU) presented a four-month performance report on Monday at a press conference held in front of Madhur Canteen. General Secretary S M Farhad detailed that DUCSU, which assumed office on September 14, completed 225 initiatives across 33 sectors for student welfare. Two commemorative books titled “Activities of DUCSU in the First Four Months” and “Representative Conference 2025” were also launched at the event.

Vice President Sadiq Kayem stated that despite budget constraints and administrative non-cooperation, DUCSU continued its work through collaboration with alumni, donors, and resource persons. Key achievements include proposing the inclusion of DUCSU elections in the academic calendar, canceling an unauthorized resolution on lifetime membership, mosque renovations, medical center upgrades, and discussions with the Chinese ambassador on a new dormitory project. DUCSU also introduced electric shuttles, expanded transport services, and organized health, cultural, and educational programs.

The report emphasized transparency and accountability, with detailed information on all initiatives published on DUCSU’s website and in printed booklets.

Bangladesh Under-19 team were eliminated from the Super Six stage after a decisive loss to England in Bulawayo’s Queens Sports Club. Batting first, Bangladesh collapsed for 136 runs in 38.1 overs, with only Rifat Beg (31), captain Azizul Hakim (20), and wicketkeeper Mohammad Abdullah (25) reaching double figures. England chased down the target comfortably, scoring 137 for 3 in 24.1 overs, led by captain Rue’s unbeaten 59. The result confirmed Bangladesh’s exit from the tournament.

Bangladesh had entered the Super Six with only one point, while India and England started with four points each in Group 2. This left Bangladesh needing a win to keep their semifinal hopes alive, but the team failed to handle the pressure. The defeat marked Bangladesh’s third consecutive Under-19 World Cup exit before the semifinals since their 2020 championship.

Despite the elimination, Bangladesh still have one remaining match scheduled against Zimbabwe on June 31 in Harare.

BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman has called on party leaders, activists, and voters to remain at polling centers on election day to ensure proper vote counting. Speaking virtually at an election rally in Hatiya, Noakhali, on Monday, he emphasized that voters should not leave after casting their ballots but stay to monitor the process closely.

Rahman alleged that there were conspiracies to obstruct the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election and urged everyone to stay alert. He said that the people’s right to vote and freedom of speech had previously been taken away, and although those responsible had left the country, new groups were attempting to disrupt the election. He called for vigilance to protect the electoral process.

He further stressed unity among all citizens, regardless of religion, to build the nation through collective effort, describing Bangladesh as the shared home and ultimate destination for all its people.

A delegation from the Islamic Banks Consultative Forum (IBCF), led by its chairman Khaja Shahriar, met with the chairman of the National Board of Revenue (NBR) on Monday, January 26, at the NBR headquarters in Agargaon. The meeting focused on the calculation of excise duty on trade facility loans and investment services, highlighting differences between conventional and Islamic banking practices.

NBR officials, including Chairman Md. Abdur Rahman Khan, listened attentively to the delegation’s concerns and assured that necessary steps would be taken within the existing legal framework to resolve the issue. Senior NBR members such as AKM Badiul Alam, Ahsan Habib, and Md. Mashiur Rahman were present at the meeting.

The IBCF delegation included senior representatives from several Islamic and commercial banks, including Islami Bank Bangladesh PLC, Shahjalal Islami Bank, Al-Arafah Islami Bank, Standard Bank, and Prime Bank. The discussion aimed to ensure fair excise duty treatment for Islamic banking operations under current regulations.

Former joint secretary of the UK BNP, Azmal Hossain Chowdhury Javed, was seriously injured in an attack on Sunday evening while returning from an election campaign in support of BNP candidate Nasir Uddin Chowdhury for the Sunamganj-2 constituency. The incident occurred on the way back to Dirai when activists from another BNP faction allegedly attacked him. Eyewitnesses said 15–20 supporters of rival nomination aspirant Tahir Raihan Chowdhury Pavel, including Mohiuddin Milad, Abu Hasan Chowdhury Saju, and Faisal, carried out the assault. Javed sustained severe eye injuries and was first treated at Dirai Upazila Health Complex before being referred to Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital for advanced care.

Local sources indicated that tension had long persisted between the Nasir and Pavel groups in Dirai. Javed, once a nomination aspirant himself, had accepted the party’s decision to nominate Nasir Uddin Chowdhury and had been actively campaigning for him following instructions from the BNP high command.

The attack underscores ongoing internal conflicts within the BNP’s local leadership in Sunamganj-2 ahead of the election.

The High Court has granted six months’ bail to Jewel Hasan Saddam, president of the banned Bagerhat Sadar Upazila Chhatra League. The order was issued on Monday by a division bench of the High Court’s criminal division after hearing his bail petition. According to the report, the decision was made primarily on humanitarian grounds.

Lawyers informed that Saddam recently lost his wife and nine-month-old child, which influenced the court’s consideration in granting bail. The report did not specify the charges against him or the details of the case but emphasized the compassionate reasoning behind the court’s decision.

The ruling provides temporary relief to Saddam for six months, though further legal proceedings are expected following the expiration of the bail period.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has strongly condemned the attack on National Citizens Party (NCP) candidate Ariful Islam Adib in Dhaka-18 constituency. The party’s Assistant Secretary General and head of its central publicity and media department, Advocate Ehsanul Mahbub Zubair, issued a statement to the media on Monday expressing protest over the incident.

According to the statement, the attack occurred on the morning of January 26 when Adib and his supporters were conducting campaign activities in Dumni Nurpara under Khilkhet Police Station. Jamaat alleged that activists of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) carried out the sudden assault, injuring several NCP workers. Zubair described the attack as an unjust and terrorist act, calling it a severe violation of democratic and political norms.

He urged authorities to identify and bring the perpetrators to justice and emphasized that ensuring a peaceful election environment is the responsibility of the administration and the Election Commission. The statement warned that the public would not tolerate any negligence in this regard.

Dhaka Metropolitan North BNP has issued a 24-hour show-cause notice to Didar Ahmed Molla, accused of attacking Ariful Islam Abid, the 11-party alliance (NCP) candidate for Dhaka-18. The incident occurred on Monday morning in Dumni Nurpara under Khilkhet Police Station during Abid’s election campaign. BNP candidate S M Jahangir Hossain disclosed the party’s action to reporters at a preparatory meeting in Uttara’s Eidgah ground, held ahead of BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman’s visit.

Hossain said he informed the party after hearing about the incident and that the accused had been formally asked to explain his actions. He stated that BNP believes in peaceful coexistence and will not engage in provocation. He added that the party is not involved in the attack and that a probe committee will be formed. If anyone is found guilty, disciplinary measures will follow. Hossain also assured that there would be no conflict over votes and that both candidates could campaign together before the public.

He further noted that BNP is a large organization and that any allegations arising within the party will be investigated and addressed accordingly.

The July Revolutionary Student Mass staged a protest march in Nilphamari on Monday, January 26, demanding the arrest of individuals they described as Awami League-linked terrorists. The demonstration began at the town’s Bara Bazar area, moved through major streets, and concluded with a brief rally at the DC intersection.

Speakers at the rally included district leaders from the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement and the National Youth Power. They alleged that those accused in a murder case and in the August 4 attack on anti-discrimination activists were moving freely despite being members of the banned Awami League and its affiliates. The student leaders warned that these individuals could create unrest ahead of the upcoming national parliamentary election and urged authorities to arrest them immediately.

The protest reflected ongoing tensions in Nilphamari over accountability for past violence and concerns about potential election-related disorder.