A Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) officer was killed and three others injured during an anti-crime operation in Sitakunda’s Salimpur area of Chattogram on Monday afternoon. The attack occurred when a 16-member RAB-7 team raided an office after receiving information that a suspect was hiding there. Armed assailants surrounded the team, seized the weapon of Naib Subedar Abdul Metaleb, shot him in the leg, and beat him severely. He died before reaching the hospital.

The same area had been the site of a major army operation on August 30, 2025, when a local arms factory was discovered and four suspects were detained. Locals say the region has long been plagued by conflicts over hill occupation, extortion, and illegal construction, with repeated attacks on law enforcement.

RAB-7 officials said the situation was not suitable for controlled fire during the ambush. Additional forces have now taken control of the area, and operations are underway to identify those involved.

Bangladesh has introduced its first modern irrigation system, the Center Pivot Irrigation System, at the North Bengal Sugar Mill’s sugarcane farm in Bhabanipur, Baraigram, Natore. The project, implemented with technical assistance from Austria and financial support from the Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation’s (BADC) Panasi Project, was officially handed over to the farm authorities after a successful trial run on Thursday morning. The system uses sprinklers attached to pipes to distribute water from above like rainfall.

The pilot project, costing Tk 3.98 crore across two sites in Natore and Pabna, was implemented by Sherpa Power Engineering with Austrian company Bayer’s cooperation. Two foreign experts, from China and Vietnam, supervised technical training. The system can irrigate 125 acres simultaneously, using less water and time than traditional methods. Officials said it will reduce water waste and improve year-round irrigation efficiency.

BADC engineers and local agricultural officers expect the technology to bring a major shift in farming efficiency, enabling uniform irrigation even on uneven land and converting fallow plots into productive farmland.

The High Court on Monday suspended the Shahjalal University of Science and Technology Central Students’ Union (SUSTCSU or ShakSU) election for four weeks, triggering widespread protests on campus. Following the sudden announcement, students staged demonstrations, blocked highways, and locked the vice-chancellor’s office for nearly 12 hours before releasing him and other officials early Tuesday. The suspension came after three independent candidates filed a writ petition challenging the Election Commission’s approval of the polls.

Earlier, nationalist teachers announced they would not participate in election duties, citing internal disputes. The university’s appeal to the Supreme Court’s chamber judge was not heard due to procedural issues. Meanwhile, the Islamist student group Islami Chhatra Shibir called for nationwide protests demanding immediate implementation of the ShakSU election, announcing a four-day program of rallies and human chains.

University authorities stated they would comply with the court order, while students vowed to continue pressing for their electoral rights. The next hearing date has yet to be set.

Across Bangladesh, fertile topsoil from agricultural land is being sold and used in brick kilns, severely reducing arable land and threatening crop production. Despite repeated government crackdowns, the illegal trade continues in districts including Chandpur, Moulvibazar, Cumilla, and Lakshmipur. Officials report that much of the soil is taken from farmlands and riverbanks, leaving deep pits that later turn into water bodies.

In Faridganj of Chandpur, around 30 brick kilns, mostly illegal, are reportedly using topsoil from croplands. In Kamalganj of Moulvibazar, soil traders operate day and night despite administrative raids and fines. Similar illegal excavation continues along the Gomti River in Cumilla and in Raipur, Lakshmipur, where fertile land is being stripped to feed brick kilns. Local officials confirm ongoing mobile court operations, fines, and vehicle seizures.

Authorities have pledged continued enforcement and investigations, but the persistence of the trade indicates enforcement challenges. The ongoing loss of topsoil poses serious risks to agricultural diversity, economic stability, and food security in affected regions.

Today marks the final day for candidates to withdraw from Bangladesh’s 13th national parliamentary election, according to the election schedule. By the end of the day, the list of final or contesting candidates will be confirmed. Rebel independent candidates from any party must also withdraw by today if they wish to do so. After this deadline, there will be no further opportunity to resolve any alliance-related complications.

Election Commission officials stated that returning officers will allocate election symbols among candidates tomorrow, Wednesday. If a political party has more than one candidate in a constituency, the party must finalize one name and inform the returning officer. Independent candidates may also withdraw their candidacy if they choose.

As per the schedule, the final candidate list and symbol allocation will occur on January 21, campaign activities will begin on January 22, and continue until the morning of February 10. Voting is scheduled for Thursday, February 12, from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Earlier, about 2,500 nomination papers were submitted, 723 were rejected, and 1,842 candidates were declared valid across 300 constituencies, with 645 appeals filed afterward.

The Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) has expelled Junayed Hasan for life after he contested the Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) Central Students’ Union (ShakSU) election as a rebel candidate. The decision was announced following his participation in the election outside the party’s official nomination process.

Junayed Hasan had been serving as the joint general secretary of the SUST unit of JCD before his expulsion. According to the report, the expulsion was a disciplinary action taken by the central leadership of JCD for violating party directives during the ShakSU election.

The report did not mention any official response from Junayed Hasan or further details about the election outcome or other candidates involved.

A severe cold spell continues in Nawabganj upazila of Dinajpur on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, with the lowest temperature recorded at 10.3 degrees Celsius at 6 a.m. The humidity level stood at 93 percent, intensifying the cold sensation across the district. Dense fog and chilly winds since dawn have brought daily life to a near standstill, particularly affecting laborers, farmers, day workers, and students. Road traffic has also slowed due to poor visibility caused by the fog.

According to Tofazzal Hossain, an official from the Dinajpur Meteorological Department, the cold conditions in the northern region have not yet subsided. The combination of low temperature and high humidity has made the cold more biting and prolonged the foggy conditions.

The persistent cold weather continues to disrupt normal activities in Nawabganj, with residents struggling to cope as the chill lingers across northern Bangladesh.

The Bangladesh Army conducted a special operation early Monday in Udaypur area of Jhenaidah Sadar upazila, recovering looted tear gas and sound grenades. The raid was carried out by a patrol team of the East Bengal Regiment, which also detained Rubel Hossain, a local resident facing multiple criminal cases. The seized items included a multi-impact sound grenade, a cocktail, and a random-move tear gas grenade.

According to army sources, the recovered equipment matches those used by the Bangladesh Police and is believed to be part of the gear stolen or lost during the July protests of the previous year. Local residents said Rubel Hossain had been active in violent activities during that period and had previously been in law enforcement custody.

The army stated that the operation followed intelligence reports about attempts by criminal groups to create unrest in the area ahead of the national election. The recovered weapons have been handed over to Jhenaidah Sadar Police Station, whose officer-in-charge confirmed receipt of the evidence.

The International Crimes Tribunal-1 is set to deliver its verdict today, Tuesday, in the case concerning the killing of six people, including Shahriar Khan Anas, during the July Revolution in Dhaka’s Chan Kharpul area. The three-member judicial panel, led by Chairman Golam Mortuza Majumdar with members Justice Shafiul Alam Mahmud and retired judge Mohitul Haque Enam Chowdhury, will announce the ruling. The date was fixed on December 24 after closing arguments from both prosecution and defense. The verdict comes about eight months after formal charges were framed.

This is the second judgment related to crimes against humanity committed during the 2024 July Revolution. The first verdict, delivered on November 17 last year, sentenced former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal to death. In the current case, eight former police officers stand accused of conspiracy, incitement, assistance, and direct involvement in the killings. Four of them are in custody, while the rest remain fugitives.

Prosecutor Gazi Tamim stated that the prosecution presented testimony from 26 witnesses and extensive documentary, audio, video, and forensic evidence, asserting that the charges were proven beyond doubt and seeking maximum punishment and compensation for victims’ families.

Jamaat-e-Islami has intensified preparations for the upcoming parliamentary election, aiming for a major victory through an electoral alliance with ten parties. The party has finalized key policy papers on governance strategies and challenges, which were approved by its central executive council. These policies will be presented at a daylong 'Policy Summit' on Tuesday at the InterContinental Hotel in Dhaka, attended by political leaders, diplomats, academics, professionals, and policy experts.

Party leaders said Jamaat seeks to establish a model of efficiency in governance if it comes to power, with plans to form a national government including coalition partners. Assistant Secretary General Ehsanul Mahbub Zubair stated that the finalized policies will be shared with experts for feedback. The party has also informed foreign diplomats about its plans and claims to have received positive responses. Jamaat leaders alleged that some groups are spreading misinformation about its international support and capacity to govern.

According to the report, Jamaat has prepared expert teams comprising professionals from home and abroad to ensure skilled governance. The party’s slogan for this election emphasizes building a just, corruption-free, and citizen-centered Bangladesh.

With only 22 days left before Bangladesh’s 13th parliamentary election, the country’s administration is showing signs of paralysis as ministries and departments await the transition to a new government. Routine work continues in some offices, but many ministries remain inactive. The interim government, in power for a year and a half since the July Revolution, has failed to implement meaningful administrative reforms, leaving bureaucracy and red tape intact.

Former bureaucrats and governance experts blame weak government initiatives and excessive reliance on the civil service for the lack of reform. They also cite unhealthy political competition to control the bureaucracy. The Muyeed Commission’s draft reform proposals, which sought to change promotion rules and restructure cadres, angered officials and deepened divisions within the administration. Meanwhile, the government’s demand for asset declarations from all civil servants created unease among officials.

Experts warn that the current stagnation poses a serious challenge for the incoming government. Unless political influence is removed from the bureaucracy, they say, the establishment of an effective welfare state will remain elusive.

Popular Islamic scholar Dr. Mizanur Rahman Azhari has issued a public warning after discovering that a group is using artificial intelligence to clone his voice and misuse his photos and videos for fraudulent activities on social media. In a verified Facebook post on January 19, he said these fake contents and advertisements are deceiving people and damaging his personal reputation. He urged the public not to be misled by such materials and confirmed that legal action will be taken against those responsible.

Azhari explained that the fraudulent campaigns include false product promotions and misleading medical advertisements, particularly for unscientific herbal products. He noted that Hasanah Foundation’s official phone number has been receiving frequent calls about these fake products, disrupting its official work. He clarified that neither he nor his foundation has any connection to these promotions.

He stated that a list of the fraudulent media pages has already been prepared and will soon be submitted to the police cybercrime unit. Azhari warned that if the fake content is not removed immediately, strict legal measures will follow.

The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) announced that strict punitive measures will be taken against anyone honking in or around Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. The decision was detailed in a press release signed by Deputy Commissioner Muhammad Talebur Rahman of the DMP’s Media and Public Relations Division on Monday, January 19, 2026.

According to the release, the Dhaka North City Corporation declared the airport area and a 1.5-kilometer stretch from Scholastica School to Hotel Le Méridien, as well as Gulshan, Banani, Baridhara, and Niketan, as silent zones since September of the previous year. Under the Road Transport Act 2018 and the Noise Pollution (Control) Regulations, honking in these silent zones is a punishable offense, carrying a maximum fine of 10,000 taka or up to three months’ imprisonment.

The newly issued Noise Pollution (Control) Regulations 2025 authorize police to impose fines for honking or causing noise pollution in silent zones. The DMP stated that it will take strict disciplinary action against violators in these designated areas.

The High Court has issued a rule asking why no legal action has been taken against private hospitals and diagnostic centers operating without mandatory fire licenses in Bangladesh. The bench of Justice Ahmed Sohel and Justice Fatema Anwar issued the order on January 18, 2026, after a preliminary hearing of a public interest writ petition. The court directed the secretaries of the Health and Family Welfare Ministry, the Home Ministry, the Director General of the Directorate General of Health Services, and the Director General of Fire Service and Civil Defence to respond within four weeks.

The writ petition, filed by lawyer Md. Kawsar Hossain, stated that under the Fire Prevention and Extinction Act, 2003, all hospitals, clinics, and diagnostic centers must have fire licenses. However, official data show that out of 18,113 private healthcare institutions nationwide, only 7,565 have licenses, leaving about 10,518 facilities operating without them. Many of these are housed in unsafe buildings lacking proper fire exits and safety measures.

The court also ordered that the petitioner’s application seeking action to ensure safe healthcare in such risky establishments be resolved within 90 days by the relevant authorities.

Police have arrested Abul Kashem, a 50-year-old BNP leader, in connection with a case alleging an attempt to occupy government land in Hatiya, an island upazila of Noakhali. The arrest was made in Dhaka earlier on Monday, January 19, and confirmed later that night by Hatiya Police Station Officer-in-Charge Saiful Alam. Kashem, also known as Kashem Dubai, is the son of Nur Ahmed from Ward 3 of Hatiya Municipality and a former organizational secretary of the local BNP unit.

According to the case statement, a group had been trying for a long time to illegally occupy government khas land near the Goltola tourism center in Burirchar Union’s Rahmat Bazar area. On January 8, land officials visited the site after receiving complaints that the accused were showing fake documents to sell land to landless people. The group allegedly demanded Tk 2 crore in extortion and threatened violence if the demand was not met.

Local administration and police later conducted an operation to control the situation, detaining two people while others fled. Police said Kashem faces charges of obstruction of government work, extortion, fraud, and attempted land grabbing.