A dramatic escape by murder suspect Nahid Hasan Liton from Pirgacha police custody in Rangpur has caused widespread commotion across the upazila. Liton, the organizational secretary of Rangpur District Jubo League and son of Pirgacha Upazila Awami League vice-president Abdul Hannan, was arrested Tuesday evening during a special police operation at his home in connection with the Shahid Abu Sayed murder case. Witnesses claimed he was handcuffed after arrest, but fled during a scuffle between police and several women, allegedly leaving the scene unclothed and still wearing handcuffs.

Local sources said a youth leader assured police of recovering the handcuffs. A couple who witnessed the incident reported that one woman bit a police officer’s hand, allowing Liton to escape. Pirgacha Police Officer-in-Charge AKM Khandaker Mohibbul Islam confirmed the escape but denied that Liton was handcuffed at the time, calling such claims baseless.

The incident has raised local concerns about possible police negligence and the broader implications for law and order in the area.

The Bangladesh government has approved a 70-day holiday schedule for all government Alia madrasas and private Ebtedayee, Dakhil, Alim, Fazil, and Kamil madrasas for the 2026 academic year. The decision was announced on January 20, 2026, through a circular signed by Deputy Secretary Md. Rahat Manna of the Technical and Madrasa Education Division. The holidays include religious and national observances such as Ramadan, Shaheed Dibas, International Mother Language Day, Shab-e-Qadr, Eid-ul-Fitr, and Independence Day, covering nearly one month of closure. Fridays and Saturdays are excluded from the holiday count.

The circular details specific dates for holidays throughout the year, including Shab-e-Miraj on January 17, Shab-e-Barat on February 4–5, and a long break from February 15 to March 26. Additional holidays include Eid-ul-Azha and summer vacation from May 24 to June 11, Durga Puja from October 20 to 22, and winter vacation from December 13 to 24. Three reserve days are allotted for institution heads. Haor region madrasas may adjust up to ten extra days during the Boro harvest season.

The academic calendar also sets examination dates, with half-yearly exams from June 25 to July 15, Dakhil selection exams from October 11 to November 10, and annual and Alim selection exams from November 19 to December 10.

The Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) has decided to postpone the upcoming rounds of the Bangladesh Football League and the Federation Cup following requests from participating clubs. The tenth round of the league was originally scheduled to begin on February 6, 2026, but clubs, including Mohammedan SC, expressed reluctance to play close to the national election period and formally requested a schedule change. Other clubs also supported the postponement verbally.

According to the report, the clubs have proposed resuming the second phase of the league on February 20, 2026, if conditions permit after the election. Teams have agreed to complete the season within the previously planned timeframe. The national football team is scheduled to play on March 31 and will travel to Singapore for the Asian Cup qualifiers, so league matches are expected to continue until at least six days before the national team camp begins.

Despite the suspension, clubs are using the break to strengthen their squads. Fortis FC has already added foreign players, and both Bashundhara Kings and Fortis FC currently share the top position with 18 points each after the first phase ended on January 4.

BNP Standing Committee member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury said one of Bangladesh’s major problems is policy distortion caused by excessive laws and regulations conflicting with free-market principles. Speaking on Tuesday at a seminar titled ‘Post Election 2026 Horizon; Economy, Politics and Capital Market’ organized by BRAC EPL Stock Brokerage in Banani, Dhaka, he argued that the economy has reached a low equilibrium over the past one and a half years and requires major reforms, liberalization, and market-oriented policies to recover.

He emphasized that Bangladesh’s economy and capital market are overly regulated by controlling agencies, calling for deregulation, transparency, and accountability. Khasru said his party would pursue liberalization if in power, allowing markets to operate freely. He also highlighted issues such as reckless bank lending, capital flight, and lack of accountability as key causes of financial instability.

Khasru further noted that transparency in the capital market is essential, urging the removal of “garbage accounts” and accurate disclosure of non-performing loans, which he said could reach 40 percent if properly reported. He stressed that investor confidence depends on presenting a clear and credible financial picture.

In Ukhiya upazila of Cox’s Bazar, allegations have surfaced that a group is continuing the construction of a multi-storey building despite a court injunction. The dispute centers on land in East Taipalong under Rajapalong Union, where Shahina Akter, wife of expatriate Mohammad Sharif, claims her purchased property has been forcibly occupied by several influential locals. Residents fear that the escalating tension could lead to violent clashes if authorities fail to act promptly.

According to the report, Shahina Akter filed a case on December 20, after which the Cox’s Bazar District Court imposed Section 144 on December 24, prohibiting all construction on the disputed land. Police sub-inspector Suman Dey visited the site and instructed both parties to comply with the order, but construction allegedly continued. Shahina Akter accused the police of bias and expressed concern for her family’s safety.

The accused, Shah Newaz Begum alias Paki, claimed the land is ancestral property and that they continued work based on advice from police and lawyers. The investigating officer confirmed that a report has been submitted to the court, with a hearing scheduled for January 21. Locals have urged immediate enforcement of the court order to prevent potential violence.

An investigation has uncovered a long-running question leak operation involving the political science department’s final exams at the seven government colleges affiliated with Dhaka University. According to the report, a group led by Dhaka College office assistant and former student Ilias Hossain allegedly sold exam questions from honors to master’s level three to four days before exams in exchange for money. Sources claim most students were involved, paying between 1,500 and 2,500 taka per set, while each college session contributed around 150,000 taka. Evidence reportedly includes matching leaked and official exam papers.

Unnamed students said they were sworn to secrecy before receiving the questions and that leaked questions consistently appeared in exams. They expressed frustration that the leaks undermined merit and fairness. Ilias Hossain denied all allegations, calling them false and claiming question similarities resulted from recurring syllabus patterns.

Dhaka College’s political science department head said he was unaware of the issue but promised dismissal if proven true. Dhaka University’s exam controller stated no official complaint had reached him but assured that any verified report would lead to an investigation and disciplinary action.

Two men were killed in a violent clash stemming from a land dispute in Jashore on Tuesday afternoon. The incident occurred in front of Salua College in Chowgacha upazila. Police confirmed the deaths, identifying the victims as Rafiqul Islam, 45, and Abdul Alim Palash, 35, both residents of Jagahati village under Churamankati union in Jashore Sadar. According to police, Rafiqul was attacked with a sharp weapon by Palash, leaving him critically injured.

Local sources said the two men had been in conflict over land ownership for the past two years. Following the attack, an enraged crowd surrounded Palash and beat him severely. Police from Kotwali station arrived at the scene and took both injured men to Jashore General Hospital, where doctors declared Palash dead upon arrival.

Police later reported that Rafiqul died on the way to Dhaka while being transferred for advanced treatment. Authorities confirmed that both deaths were linked to the same land dispute incident.

A Dhaka court has denied permission for Moazzem Hossain, former assistant personal secretary (APS) to interim government adviser Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan, to travel to Thailand for medical treatment. The order was issued on Tuesday by Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge (Senior Special Judge) Md Sabbir Foyez, confirmed by the court’s bench assistant Riaz Hossain. Moazzem had sought permission to travel abroad citing spinal cord injuries and a scheduled medical appointment in Thailand on February 15.

In his petition, Moazzem claimed he was falsely implicated in a case to harass him and asserted that he was not involved in any unlawful or anti-state activities. His lawyer, Md Raihan, told the court that Moazzem suffered a spinal injury causing fluid leakage and required specialized treatment abroad. Despite these arguments, the court rejected the application after hearing.

The same court had earlier, on May 24 of the previous year, blocked Moazzem’s national identity card and imposed a travel ban against him in connection with a corruption allegation.

Bangladesh has reiterated its stance that it will not play the upcoming T20 World Cup in India, preferring Sri Lanka as the venue instead. Youth and Sports Adviser Asif Nazrul told reporters at the Secretariat on January 20, 2026, that Bangladesh will not accept any unreasonable conditions from the International Cricket Council (ICC) or be pressured into playing in India. He emphasized that if the ICC yields to the Indian board and imposes unfair terms, Bangladesh will reject them.

Nazrul cited past instances where the ICC changed venues, such as when India refused to play in Pakistan. He argued that Bangladesh’s request for a venue change is based on legitimate reasons and that coercion to play in India would be unacceptable. Earlier, AFP reported that if Bangladesh skips the tournament, Scotland could replace them based on rankings, though Nazrul said he had not received any official notice of this.

BBC reported that ICC has not discussed the matter with Scotland, and Scottish officials have declined to engage out of respect for Bangladesh. Cricinfo and Indian media claimed ICC set a Wednesday deadline for Bangladesh’s final decision, which the Bangladesh Cricket Board denied.

Khelafat Majlis has withdrawn more than fifty of its seventy-two approved candidates on the final day of withdrawal for Bangladesh’s 13th national parliamentary election. The withdrawals were made Tuesday under central directives as part of seat-sharing arrangements within the ten-party alliance. Party candidates submitted their withdrawal letters to district returning offices, accompanied by alliance partners and local leaders.

According to the party’s joint secretary general Abdul Jalil, twenty candidates remain in the race. Of these, eleven are single candidates under the alliance agreement, while nine others are contesting in open seats alongside other allied nominees. A party press release stated that Khelafat Majlis had initially nominated candidates in 258 constituencies before reducing the number to 74 after seat adjustments with partners. The latest withdrawals were described as a move to preserve unity among Islamist and nationalist forces.

The remaining Khelafat Majlis candidates will contest under the ten-party alliance symbol, the wall clock, in the upcoming election.

Business operators in Bangladesh have decided to import over 28,000 tons of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) to ensure normal supply during Ramadan. The decision was made during an emergency meeting held on Tuesday at the Rail Bhaban in Dhaka between the LPG Operators Association of Bangladesh (LOAB) and the Prime Minister’s Adviser on Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, Faozul Kabir Khan. During the meeting, business representatives assured that the current LPG shortage would be resolved before Ramadan.

The energy adviser instructed operators to prevent any LPG shortage before the upcoming national election and to maintain stable supply during Ramadan. He emphasized that the import commitments made for January and February must be fulfilled, assuring full government cooperation to achieve this goal. Operators explained that adverse international conditions had disrupted imports but denied charging higher prices.

According to the operators, twelve companies aim to import 167,600 tons of LPG in January and plan to increase the volume to 184,100 tons in February. They expressed confidence that meeting these targets would significantly ease the current supply crisis.

The International Crimes Tribunal-2, led by Justice Nazrul Islam Chowdhury, has concluded final arguments in the case concerning the burning of six bodies in Ashulia during the July uprising. The tribunal has now kept the verdict pending. Defense arguments were presented over the past two days, following prosecution arguments on January 14 and 15. A total of 24 witnesses testified in the case.

Sixteen individuals were charged, including eight currently in custody such as former Dhaka Additional Superintendent of Police Abdullahil Kafi and several former police officers from Savar and Ashulia. The remaining eight, including former Member of Parliament Muhammad Saiful Islam, remain absconding. According to the prosecution, the incident occurred on August 5, 2024, when five people were shot dead and one critically injured in front of Ashulia Police Station. The injured man and the bodies were later placed in a police vehicle that was set on fire, killing all six.

The tribunal had earlier framed charges on August 21, 2025, and began witness hearings after the prosecution’s opening statement on September 14, 2025. The verdict will be delivered after judicial deliberation.

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) A M M Nasir Uddin said that if Bangladesh’s postal ballot project succeeds, it will brighten the country’s image worldwide. He made the remarks on Tuesday, January 20, at the Election Building auditorium after briefing political parties on the voting process through the postal ballot app.

The CEC explained that the initiative is unprecedented and involves significant risks and challenges. He noted that expatriates from 122 countries have registered to vote by postal ballot, each with different postal systems and regulations, making coordination a major challenge. Nasir Uddin thanked the media for their cooperation and urged continued support to ensure the project’s success. He acknowledged that misunderstandings may occur but emphasized that transparency and communication can resolve confusion.

He added that the Election Commission has introduced systems for voting from prisons and for people working away from their constituencies, which had never been attempted before. The CEC expressed optimism that with collective effort, the postal ballot project could become a milestone for Bangladesh and earn international recognition.

The Director General of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), AKM Shahidur Rahman, announced that a large-scale joint forces operation will soon be launched to destroy the militant hideout in Jungle Salimpur, Sitakunda, Chattogram. He said preparations are underway to involve the army, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), Armed Police Battalion (APBn), police, and the district administration. The operation aims to arrest armed militants, recover government land, and ensure justice for slain RAB member Abdul Motaleb.

Rahman made the announcement on Tuesday during a media briefing at the RAB office in Patenga after Motaleb’s funeral. The RAB chief said Motaleb was killed in a sudden attack by militants on Monday afternoon. He pledged to continue surveillance in Jungle Salimpur until justice is served and to correct any operational mistakes. A RAB investigation committee has been formed, and the armed suspects have been identified.

Police officials said a case is being processed, but no arrests have been made yet. The area remains under the control of a top local criminal, according to police sources.

Dr. Mahamuda Mitu, the central joint member secretary of the National Citizen Party (NCP), has decided not to contest the election from the Jhalakathi-1 constituency. On Tuesday, she formally withdrew her nomination papers and announced her support for Jamaat alliance candidate Faizul Haque. The announcement was made through a Facebook post on Tuesday evening, where she confirmed her decision to step aside in line with her party’s directive.

In her post, Dr. Mitu expressed gratitude for the party’s decision and urged her supporters in the Kathalia-Rajapur area to stand by Faizul Haque. She also stated that she would actively participate in the election campaign for the Jamaat alliance in Jhalakathi-1. Calling on voters to support the alliance’s symbol, she reaffirmed her commitment to remain engaged throughout the campaign period.

The withdrawal and endorsement mark a shift in local electoral dynamics, as Dr. Mitu’s participation in Jamaat’s campaign could influence voter alignment in the constituency.