Chittagong University has established the country’s first free legal aid cell to provide students with complimentary legal advice and assistance. The initiative, launched on Tuesday evening at the vice chancellor’s conference room, was organized by the Chittagong University Central Students’ Union (ChakSU). The inauguration ceremony was attended by the university’s Vice-Chancellor (Administration) Professor Dr. Md. Kamal Uddin as chief guest, along with Registrar (Acting) Professor Dr. Mohammad Saiful Islam, ChakSU leaders, and several lawyers from the Supreme Court and Chittagong Judge Court.

The legal aid cell includes senior lawyers such as Barrister Belayet Hossain, Deputy Attorney General Barrister Osman Chowdhury, and Assistant Attorney General Advocate Tarikul Islam, among others. A total of 20 lawyers from the Supreme Court and Chittagong Judge Court will be associated with the cell. Professor Kamal Uddin stated that the initiative will set a national example by ensuring free legal services for students and empowering them to stand against injustice and discrimination. ChakSU leaders emphasized that the project fulfills a key election pledge and reflects their commitment to sustainable student welfare.

The initiative is expected to make legal support more accessible to students and inspire similar programs at other universities.

Nasiruddin Patwari, chief coordinator of the National Citizens Party (NCP) and candidate for Dhaka-8 under the Jamaat-led 10-party alliance, has accused the Election Commission (EC) of failing to issue a show-cause notice to BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman despite what he described as a direct violation of the electoral code of conduct. Speaking to reporters on Wednesday after receiving his election symbol at the Dhaka Divisional Commissioner’s office, Patwari alleged that Rahman recently visited the Korail slum and promised to build flats for residents, which he said breached election laws.

Patwari claimed the EC was applying double standards, saying other candidates such as Nahid Islam had been show-caused for lesser actions while Rahman faced no consequences. He further alleged that the administration and BNP were working together, undermining the fairness of the Dhaka-8 election. Patwari also criticized the media for not covering such irregularities, claiming that many outlets were under political influence.

He warned that the EC’s inaction and perceived bias could lead to a repeat of past controversial commissions, raising concerns about the credibility of the upcoming election.

Former BNP joint secretary general Aslam Chowdhury has issued a written statement denying any involvement of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) in the killing of a Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) member in Sitakunda’s jungle area. He stated that reports and propaganda linking BNP to the incident are completely false, fabricated, baseless, and part of a deliberate political scheme.

In his statement, Chowdhury expressed deep sorrow over the killing, describing it as a brutal and heartbreaking act of violence. He extended condolences to the family of the slain RAB member and urged authorities to identify the perpetrators quickly and bring them to justice with exemplary punishment.

The statement comes amid media reports and discussions attempting to connect the opposition party to the incident, which Chowdhury dismissed as politically motivated misinformation.

The Zoology Department of Dhaka University is facing controversy over the recruitment of three lecturers in Parasitology, Fisheries, and Wildlife branches. According to administrative sources, candidate recommendations have been finalized following oral exams held on November 27, 2025, and the final approval awaits the university syndicate’s next meeting. Allegations have surfaced that several candidates were favored due to political connections and influence rather than merit.

Reports claim that Jannatun Nahar Jhinuk, recommended for Parasitology, is linked to former BUET Chhatra League leader Aminul Haque Palash, who allegedly used his influence from abroad to support her appointment. Professor Aminul Islam Bhuiyan, a member of the recruitment board, denied the allegations, asserting that Jhinuk was academically superior. In the Wildlife branch, candidate Ashiqur Rahman Sami, reportedly an aide to an interim government adviser, was recommended despite lower academic results. In Fisheries, Anika Tabassum, ranked fifth, was also nominated, prompting complaints from other candidates.

University officials stated that the recruitment process followed academic merit and that final approval depends on the syndicate’s decision.

Bangladesh’s Election Commission has finalized 1,967 candidates to contest in 300 parliamentary constituencies after 305 individuals withdrew their nominations on Tuesday, the last day for withdrawal. The final list includes 290 candidates from the BNP, 216 from Jamaat-e-Islami, 30 from the National Citizens Party (NCP), 259 from Islami Andolan Bangladesh, 196 from Jatiya Party, and 92 from Gano Adhikar Parishad. More than 300 independent candidates will also compete, including over 50 described as BNP rebels and former minister Abdul Latif Siddique, who is running independently.

According to the Election Commission, returning officers will allocate election symbols to candidates on Wednesday. Registered political parties will receive their official symbols, while independent candidates will choose from a list of approved symbols. If multiple candidates select the same symbol, allocation will be decided by lottery.

With symbol distribution set for today, the official campaign period begins tomorrow, marking the start of the final phase of election preparations across the country.

Police recovered the decomposed body of BNP activist Golakajul, also known as Kajol, from the Padma River in Alatuli Union of Chapainawabganj district on Tuesday, 19 days after he went missing. The body was found opposite Godagari police station in Rajshahi. Kajol, aged 36, was a resident of Bagdanga Chakpara village in Charbagdanga Union. His family alleged that on January 2, an Awami League activist named Hasem took him from his home, after which he never returned.

Kajol’s wife, Lima Begum, filed an abduction case on January 8 against eight people, including Omar Ali, president of the local Awami League unit, and Nurul Islam, president of the district Weavers League. Police said the body was sent for autopsy to the modern district hospital morgue. Kajol’s brother, Shawkat Ali, identified the body and claimed that Kajol had earlier argued with local traders over business matters.

Investigators said the cause of death would be determined after receiving the post-mortem report, while the abduction case remains under investigation.

India has decided to recall the family members of its diplomats stationed in Bangladesh, citing security reasons. The country has also designated Bangladesh as a ‘non-family posting’ for its diplomatic staff. Despite this move, India’s High Commission in Dhaka and its Assistant High Commissions in Chattogram, Khulna, Rajshahi, and Sylhet will remain open and continue normal operations, according to a report by the Hindustan Times.

The report, quoting unnamed sources, stated that the decision had been under consideration for some time due to the overall security situation. As part of the process, officials working in the mentioned missions have been advised to send their families back to India. However, no specific timeline has been set for when the families will return, and details about the number of Indian diplomats currently serving in Bangladesh were not disclosed.

The move comes just weeks before Bangladesh’s national election, scheduled for February 12, 2026, suggesting heightened caution by India regarding the security environment in the neighboring country.

A senior BNP leader, Fazlul Haque Chumku, aged 52, died in a motorcycle accident on Tuesday night in Patiya upazila of Chattogram. The incident occurred around 9:30 p.m. on the Chattogram–Cox’s Bazar highway near the Badamtal area. Chumku, a resident of Habilasdweep Union and son of the late Abul Hashem, lost control of his motorcycle while trying to save a homeless woman standing in the middle of the road. His friend Mustafa Morshed, who was riding with him, sustained minor injuries.

According to local and eyewitness accounts, Chumku appeared unhurt immediately after the crash and returned home around 8 p.m. Later, he suddenly felt unwell and began vomiting. Family members prepared to take him to the hospital, but he died around 9 p.m. before reaching there. Former Habilasdweep Union Parishad chairman Shafiqul Islam confirmed the sequence of events and described Chumku as a dedicated BNP activist despite holding no current party position.

The accident has drawn local attention due to the circumstances of Chumku’s death while attempting to prevent harm to another person.

Bangladesh’s domestic textile industry, with investments worth about $25 billion, is facing severe pressure due to a surge in low-priced yarn and fabric imports from India. The Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA) reported that since 2022, yarn imports from India have risen sharply—from $429 million in 2022 to $2.28 billion in 2024—now accounting for 95 percent of total yarn imports. Despite a government ban on land-route imports in August 2024, Indian exporters have continued shipments by sea at dumping prices, supported by export subsidies of 3.88 percent per kilogram.

BTMA and local mill owners warn that aggressive Indian pricing has forced many domestic mills to shut down, with over 30 closures in three years. The Ministry of Commerce has proposed ending bonded warehouse facilities for certain yarns to protect local spinners, while garment exporters’ associations BGMEA and BKMEA oppose the move, citing higher production costs and reduced export competitiveness. Industry leaders are urging policy support, lower bank interest rates, and stronger oversight at land ports to prevent further losses.

The ongoing dispute underscores tensions between protecting domestic textile producers and maintaining competitiveness in Bangladesh’s export-oriented garment sector.

A Dhaka court has ordered the appointment of a receiver to oversee and protect immovable properties seized in a corruption case against former Air Force chief Air Chief Marshal Sheikh Abdul Hannan and his wife Tahmida Begum. The directive came from the Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge and Metropolitan Sessions Judge Court after hearing an application from the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). The ACC disclosed the court’s decision in a press release issued on Tuesday.

According to court sources, the ACC filed the application due to the absence of a caretaker, which posed a risk of the properties being misappropriated. The ACC investigation alleges that Sheikh Abdul Hannan and his wife abused power, accepted bribes, and acquired wealth beyond known income sources. The inquiry and investigation into these allegations are still ongoing.

Under the court order, two flats in Nikunja-2, a large apartment in Mirpur DOHS, a 320-square-yard plot in the Mirpur Military Officers’ Housing Project, and two plots in Rupganj, Narayanganj, will now be under the receiver’s control to ensure proper management and protection of state interests.

Bangladesh Meteorological Department has reported that temperatures across the country are currently 4 to 5 degrees Celsius higher than normal, even during the coldest month of the year. On Tuesday, Teknaf recorded the highest temperature at 31.4°C, while Dhaka reached 28°C. Officials described the situation as abnormal and warned that temperatures may rise further in the coming days.

Meteorologist Kazi Zebun Nesa attributed the unusual warmth to air pollution and global climate change. Dr. Omar Faruk explained that a recent deep depression over the Bay of Bengal contributed to the sudden temperature increase across Bangladesh and neighboring countries. He noted that there is no sign of a cold wave or imminent temperature drop.

Senior meteorologist S.M. Kamrul Hasan said the global average temperature has been rising for the past three years, affecting Bangladesh as well. He added that the minimal difference between day and night temperatures recorded on December 29 was the lowest in 73 years, underscoring the abnormal weather pattern.

A man named Shamim Osman has been arrested for allegedly impersonating the Home Affairs adviser and sending misleading instructions to the Rajshahi Deputy Commissioner (DC) through WhatsApp. The Cyber Police Center of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) conducted the operation on Monday in Savar, Dhaka. According to a CID press release, the suspect posed as retired Lieutenant General Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, the Home Affairs adviser, and demanded one lakh taka through mobile banking after instructing that no Awami League activists be arrested in Rajshahi.

Authorities became suspicious and immediately informed the CID, which used technology to identify and apprehend the suspect. CID stated that Shamim Osman had previously committed similar frauds by impersonating senior government officials. He was also wanted under an arrest warrant issued by Bagha Police Station in Rajshahi and has been handed over to that station.

Investigators are now examining whether others were involved and if the arrested man used other officials’ identities for similar fraudulent activities.

Ahead of Bangladesh’s 13th parliamentary election, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) faces a major internal challenge as more than fifty rebel candidates continue to contest in various constituencies across the country. Despite the Election Commission’s Tuesday deadline for nomination withdrawal, these candidates did not withdraw, raising concerns about potential impacts on party unity and vote distribution.

According to party sources, many long-time BNP activists were angered after being denied nominations. Some have chosen to run as independents, while others have openly opposed party decisions. The BNP’s election management committee acknowledged that not all aspirants could be nominated due to political and strategic considerations. Although efforts were made to persuade rebels to withdraw, many refused. The party has already expelled several leaders for violating organizational discipline.

Reports from multiple districts show rebel candidates in constituencies such as Barishal-1, Jhalkathi-1, Naogaon-1 and 6, Bagerhat, Cumilla, Tangail, and Narayanganj, among others. Party insiders fear that the popularity of these local leaders could split BNP’s vote base in key areas.

Abul Kalam Azad, a former member of Jamaat-e-Islami sentenced to death for crimes against humanity during Bangladesh’s Liberation War, appeared before the International Crimes Tribunal on Wednesday morning to surrender. He had been a fugitive since the tribunal handed down the death sentence on January 21, 2013, under the leadership of then-chairman Justice Obaidul Hassan.

According to a government order issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs (Prisons-2 branch) on October 22 of the previous year, Azad’s sentence was suspended for one year on the condition that he surrender to the court and file an appeal. The order temporarily halted the execution of his punishment to allow for legal proceedings.

The tribunal’s acceptance of his surrender marks a significant development in a long-running war crimes case that had remained unresolved due to his fugitive status.

A Dhaka court has ordered the appointment of a caretaker to manage and supervise the seized immovable properties of Mohammad Saiful Alam, chairman of S Alam Group. The order was issued on Monday by the Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge and Metropolitan Sessions Judge Court following a petition from the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). The ACC confirmed the directive in a statement released on Tuesday.

According to the ACC, the properties under supervision include land and buildings in Chattogram’s Rahmatganj, Asadganj, Nasirabad, and Khulshi areas, as well as commercial and residential assets such as the S Alam House, S Alam Center, S Alam Playground, and several luxury apartments and parking spaces. The ACC’s Deputy Director and joint investigation team leader, Tahasin Munabil Haque, submitted the petition, citing concerns that the accused were attempting to transfer or misuse the seized assets despite existing court orders.

The ACC stated that investigations are ongoing against Saiful Alam and his family for allegedly embezzling large sums of money through loans taken under various names and transferring the funds abroad. Earlier, a total of 463.87 decimals of land and multi-storey buildings in key areas of Chattogram had been ordered seized in connection with the case.