BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has accused the government of failing to recover illegal weapons ahead of the upcoming national parliamentary election. Speaking in Thakurgaon on Monday morning, he said the law and order situation has not improved yet, though the BNP hopes it will soon. He reiterated that the party had earlier proposed a 31-point reform plan aimed at building a modern and well-governed state.

Fakhrul stated that all major achievements of the country were made under BNP’s leadership and that the party has always worked for public welfare. He added that if BNP comes to power, it will continue to work tirelessly to meet people’s expectations. Regarding national cricketer Mustafizur Rahman, he said insulting a cricketer means insulting Bangladesh, and the BNP agrees with the government’s decision on the matter.

He also commented that the current electoral environment is satisfactory but will become clearer after January 22. Fakhrul further pledged that a future BNP government would secure Bangladesh’s fair share of water from rivers including the Teesta from India.

The International Crimes Tribunal-1 is set to deliver its order today on whether formal charges will be framed against former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s adviser Salman F Rahman and former law minister Anisul Huq. The case concerns alleged crimes against humanity committed during the July uprising. The three-member judicial panel, chaired by Justice Golam Mortuza Majumdar with Justices Shafiul Alam Mahmud and Mohitul Haque Enam Chowdhury, will issue the order following hearings from both prosecution and defense sides.

According to the prosecution, five charges were presented against the two accused, including allegations of incitement, conspiracy, and aiding security forces and armed cadres in multiple killings and injuries across Rangpur and Dhaka between July and August 2024. The charges also include joint criminal enterprise and superior command responsibility. The defense had earlier filed a petition seeking discharge on January 6, 2026.

The tribunal’s decision will determine whether the case proceeds to trial, marking a significant step in the ongoing investigation into alleged atrocities linked to the July uprising.

Two unexploded hand grenades were recovered on Sunday, January 11, from the yard of a house under construction in Bara Gariyala village of Jhenaidah Sadar upazila. Construction workers discovered the grenades while digging soil and immediately informed the local police camp. A joint security team later arrived at the scene and safely recovered the grenades, which are now kept at Jhenaidah Sadar Police Station.

House owner Babu Mia said the workers found two round metallic objects while digging and reported them to the police. Officer-in-Charge Md. Samsul Arefin of Jhenaidah Sadar Police Station stated that the grenades are believed to have remained buried since the 1971 Liberation War. He added that the grenades will be neutralized later by the bomb disposal unit of the joint forces.

Authorities have secured the area and are preparing for the safe disposal of the explosives to prevent any potential danger to local residents.

Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen paid a courtesy call on Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman on Monday morning at the party chief’s office in Bashundhara, Dhaka. The meeting began at 9 a.m. and was attended by Deputy Chief of Mission Dr. Liu Yuyin, Political Director Zhang Jing, Ru Qi (Raki), and Ms. Nafisa (Liang Shuin). From Jamaat, Assistant Secretary General Advocate Ehsanul Mahbub Zubair, academic Dr. Zubair Ahmed, development team lead Dewan Alamgir, and foreign affairs adviser Professor Dr. Mahmudul Hasan were present.

According to Jamaat’s central publicity department, the meeting was held in a cordial and friendly atmosphere. The Chinese ambassador and the Jamaat leader discussed various issues of mutual interest between China and Bangladesh. They emphasized the historical friendship between the two nations, noting its importance in promoting public welfare, development cooperation, trade, and cultural exchange. Both sides expressed optimism that bilateral relations would continue to strengthen in the future.

At least eight people were injured in a violent clash between residents of Palgaon and Naljuri villages in Mohanganj upazila of Netrokona on Sunday morning. The conflict erupted over a dispute regarding tractor plowing of farmland. Several houses were reportedly attacked and vandalized during the incident. Police arrived at the scene and brought the situation under control, according to Mohanganj Police Station Officer-in-Charge Hafizul Islam Harun.

Local sources said the dispute began three to four days earlier when farmers from the two villages argued over the use of a tractor for cultivation. Attempts at local arbitration failed to resolve the tension. On Sunday morning, more than a hundred villagers from both sides engaged in a confrontation using local weapons, leaving eight people injured. The injured were taken to the upazila health complex for treatment.

Police confirmed that the situation is now under control and normal. No formal complaint has yet been filed, but authorities stated that an investigation and necessary action will follow if a complaint is received.

Jamaat-e-Islami activist Jamal Uddin was shot dead in Fatikchhari, Chattogram, on Saturday evening in what investigators believe was a planned targeted killing. According to police, three assailants arrived on a motorcycle and fired multiple shots from close range, hitting Jamal in the head and neck. Thirteen bullet wounds were found, and he died instantly at the scene in Shahnogor Dighirpar area of Lelang Union.

Police said the attack was executed with precision, suggesting the killers were professionals. Jamal, son of Muhammad Yusuf of Lelang village, ran a garment business in the city and was known locally as a businessman. However, police confirmed his name had appeared in three unresolved murder cases from 2001. Fatikchhari Jamaat’s Naib-e-Ameer Ismail Gani described the killing as politically motivated and demanded an impartial investigation.

Local representatives said the attackers were highly organized and escaped quickly. The incident has caused widespread fear in the area, with residents avoiding going out after dark. Police stated they are close to identifying the perpetrators and expect arrests soon.

A young man was killed in a train accident on Sunday morning in Netrakona Sadar, marking the third fatality on the Dhaka-Mohanganj railway line within 14 hours. The incident occurred around 8:30 a.m. near Raju’s Bazar area of Paur town. The victim, Yasin Ahmed Sayem, 20, son of Ruhul Amin from Dhanpur village in Barhatta upazila, fell from the door of the moving Haor Express train bound for Dhaka. He died on the spot, and police later sent his body to Netrakona Sadar Hospital morgue for autopsy.

Earlier, on Saturday evening, two laborers were killed when a train hit them near Challisha Bazar on the same route. The deceased were identified as Akash Roy, 24, from Dinajpur’s Churiyapara village, and Rasel Mia, 25, from Sherpur district. According to police, the two men were standing beside the railway track when the Mohanganj Express train from Dhaka struck them. Locals took the injured to Netrakona Modern Sadar Hospital, where doctors declared them dead.

Police said legal procedures are underway regarding the fatalities.

Battery-powered rickshaws have become a major source of public concern in Dhaka, operating across main roads, alleys, and flyovers despite a High Court order banning them. Following an appeal, the Appellate Division allowed their temporary operation, leading to increased reckless driving. According to private estimates, about 1.2 million rickshaws operate in the capital, a large portion of them battery-powered and mostly brought from nearby districts. Road Safety Foundation reported 1,856 accidents involving such rickshaws between January and November 2025, causing 1,259 deaths and over 4,000 injuries.

Experts and city officials cited unskilled drivers, including minors and laborers from other professions, as a key cause of frequent accidents. The vehicles are also being used by muggers, prompting police to increase checkpoints. Dhaka Metropolitan Police said 400–450 rickshaws are being impounded daily, with batteries seized and wires cut to enforce road discipline.

Urban planners and city authorities have proposed structural redesigns, driver training, and a registration policy. Both city corporations plan to train 200,000 drivers and introduce color-coded regional permits to bring e-rickshaw operations under legal regulation.

Bangladesh’s Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has nearly completed its investigation into former Special Branch (SB) chief Monirul Islam, who fled to India after the July 2024 uprising. The probe found evidence that Monirul embezzled about Tk 1,035 crore from two Islamic NGOs—Kuwait Society for Relief (KSR) and Sharjah Charity International—by taking control of them in 2021 under the pretext of investigating terror financing. The ACC said he laundered the funds through accounts held by his wife, former additional secretary Sayla Farzana, his brother-in-law Rezaul Alam Shahin, and his sister-in-law.

According to the ACC, the Middle East–based NGOs had received large foreign donations for Rohingya relief and rehabilitation. Monirul allegedly diverted these funds to accounts linked to his relatives and their firms, including S.S. Enterprise and Tanvir Dairy Farm. Investigators also found 35 apartments registered under his wife and brother-in-law’s names, along with multiple fixed deposits and savings accounts showing irregular transactions.

The ACC has collected relevant bank documents and is preparing to file charges under money laundering and corruption laws. Officials said legal action will follow once the final report is completed.

A report published on January 12, 2026, by Amar Desh examines how several major Bangladeshi newspapers allegedly conducted systematic propaganda against the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and its leaders following the 2007–08 military-backed government and the 2009 rise of Sheikh Hasina’s administration. The report claims that outlets such as Prothom Alo, The Daily Star, Bangladesh Pratidin, and Janakantha portrayed BNP leaders Khaleda Zia and Tarique Rahman as corrupt, violent, or anti-state figures, often prioritizing political narratives over factual accuracy.

Researcher Taiyib Ahmed from Colorado State University attributes this trend to political parallelism and the economic dependencies of media houses, which he says cause reporting to favor certain political sides and compromise journalistic objectivity. The report cites examples of headlines, editorials, and cartoons that linked BNP to terrorism, corruption, and conspiracy, while recent years have seen some outlets reverse tone and present the same figures as democratic symbols.

Analysts quoted in the report argue that these shifts reflect a structural crisis in Bangladesh’s media, where editorial stances change with political power but ethical consistency remains absent.

Bangladesh women’s football captain Sabina Khatun has expressed optimism as her team prepares to compete in the inaugural SAFF Women’s Futsal Championship in Thailand. Despite limited preparation, Sabina said she is determined to achieve success and make the country proud. The tournament will begin on Tuesday with the Maldives-India match, while Bangladesh will start their campaign against India on Thursday.

Speaking at a press conference on Sunday, Sabina acknowledged that futsal is new for her team but emphasized their belief in performing well. She described representing Bangladesh as a matter of pride and reaffirmed the team’s strong commitment to the competition. Iranian coach Saeed Khodarahmi, who leads the Bangladesh women’s team, said his goal is to guide them toward future futsal World Cup qualification.

Khodarahmi thanked the AFC, AFF, and SAFF for organizing the event, noting that this is the first SAFF futsal tournament for women in South Asia. He added that all teams are on a similar level since futsal is new to everyone, and Bangladesh had only one month to select players, most of whom are footballers.

A recent article highlights strong criticism of inflammatory remarks by Indian political leaders following the killing of Hindu youth Dipu Chandra Das in Mymensingh’s Bhaluka. The author states that while Bangladeshi law enforcement has arrested several suspects and continues operations, comments from India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) figures have crossed diplomatic and political boundaries. West Bengal opposition leader Suvendu Adhikari’s reference to Israel’s Gaza assault as a model to ‘teach Bangladesh a lesson’ is described as an expression of extremist nationalism and a violation of international norms.

The piece notes that Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma also used militaristic language about Bangladesh, suggesting a shift from diplomacy to force in regional relations. It argues that such rhetoric undermines India’s secular and democratic character and fuels intolerance against minorities. The article warns that India’s silence over these statements, alongside rising communal violence and discriminatory policies, signals a deeper crisis within its governance.

The commentary concludes that aggressive political language threatens South Asian stability and urges both nations to uphold dialogue, mutual respect, and international law to prevent further regional polarization.

The Bangladesh Air Force is in talks with Pakistan to acquire JF-17 Thunder fighter jets as part of its Forces Goal 2030 modernization program. In January 2026, Bangladesh Air Chief Marshal Hasan Mahmud Khan met Pakistan Air Chief Marshal Zahid Mahmood in Islamabad to discuss the potential purchase. Pakistan’s Inter Services Public Relations confirmed Bangladesh’s interest in buying up to 48 JF-17 aircraft, which could include defense cooperation, training, and maintenance agreements.

The JF-17, jointly developed by China’s Chengdu Aircraft Corporation and Pakistan Aeronautical Complex, is a multirole fighter capable of air combat, ground attack, reconnaissance, and electronic warfare. The aircraft’s affordability and operational efficiency make it attractive for Bangladesh, which currently operates 44 aging fighters, including MiG-29s and F-7s. The JF-17 Block-3 variant features advanced radar, electronic warfare systems, and compatibility with Bangladesh’s existing Chinese defense systems.

India has expressed concern over the potential deal, citing its possible impact on regional strategic balance and India-Bangladesh relations. The acquisition is viewed as a move that could strengthen Bangladesh’s defense ties with Pakistan and China while enhancing its air defense capabilities.

An opinion piece by Md. Helal Mia, published on January 12, 2026, in the newspaper Amar Desh, alleges that India has supported Bangladesh’s recently ousted fascist government and provided refuge to its members after the 2024 student-led uprising. The writer claims that India’s foreign policy, guided by the Nehru Doctrine, seeks regional dominance rather than equitable relations with neighboring states. He describes India as a threat to South Asian sovereignty and accuses it of harboring expansionist ambitions.

The article further asserts that India’s ruling party, the BJP, suppresses minorities through militant groups and that India’s actions toward Bangladesh reflect a pattern of interference. The author criticizes India for allegedly sheltering thousands of Bangladeshi political figures without visas, mishandling border incidents, and failing to protect foreign diplomatic missions. He also accuses India of religious bias and hypocrisy regarding minority rights.

The writer concludes that Bangladesh must strengthen its independence by resisting Indian influence and forming alliances with other South Asian powers to counter what he calls Indian hegemony.

The Election Commission of Bangladesh reinstated the candidacy of 109 parliamentary aspirants after two days of appeal hearings related to the 13th National Parliamentary Election. On Sunday, 58 candidates regained eligibility following daylong hearings at the commission’s Agargaon office in Dhaka. The restored candidates include nominees from Jamaat-e-Islami, Nagorik Oikya, Jatiya Party, and several independent contenders. The hearings were conducted by the full commission led by Chief Election Commissioner A.M.M. Nasir Uddin.

According to the commission, Sunday’s session reviewed 70 appeals, approving 58, rejecting seven, and keeping six unresolved pending submission of required documents by January 16. Earlier, returning officers had canceled 723 nominations on January 4, prompting 645 appeals. The appeal process is scheduled to continue until January 18. Among the reinstated are notable figures such as Mahmudur Rahman Manna of Nagorik Oikya and several independent candidates from key constituencies.

The decisions mark a significant phase in the pre-election process, as multiple political parties and independents regain eligibility to contest the upcoming parliamentary polls.