The Election Commission (EC) of Bangladesh has completed sending postal ballots to expatriate voters for the 13th National Parliament election and referendum. On Sunday, the EC issued a warning that any political campaigning or writing on envelopes containing postal ballots will be treated as a punishable offense. Salim Ahmad Khan, team leader of the OCV-SDI project for expatriate voter registration, confirmed the notice. The EC also advised voters to collect their ballots personally and avoid taking assistance from others to maintain ballot secrecy.

According to the EC, postal ballots were dispatched to expatriate voters between December 20 and January 8. Many have already received their ballots, and after the symbol allocation on January 21, expatriates will cast their votes and return the ballots to the returning officer. Within Bangladesh, 761,141 voters registered under the “in-country postal vote” category, and their ballots will be sent after symbol allocation. The EC expects the domestic postal voting process to take about seven days.

In total, 1,533,683 voters registered through the “Postal Vote BD” app for the 13th national election and referendum.

Hasnat Abdullah, chief organizer of the National Citizens Party (NCP) for the southern region and candidate for Cumilla-4 (Debidwar), said the upcoming election will send loan defaulters out of parliament. Speaking on Sunday, January 11, at a rally and public outreach event in Syedpur Bazar of Bara Shalghar Union, Debidwar, he described the election as one aimed at ending corruption, extortion, and financial malpractice. He urged voters to support the 'Yes' vote, which he said would strengthen democracy and protect citizens’ fundamental rights.

Hasnat called on young people and women to actively participate in the campaign, emphasizing a peaceful and respectful approach to politics. He stated that his party would not use intimidation or coercion, instead seeking public support through honesty and love. During the event, he shared that local residents had been offering financial and moral support, viewing him as a sincere candidate.

The rally saw participation from a large number of NCP and Jamaat-e-Islami leaders and activists from the upazila and union levels.

Commerce Adviser Sheikh Bashir Uddin announced that a meeting will be held on January 19 to review commodity prices ahead of Ramadan. He made the statement after a meeting at the Secretariat, noting that all relevant stakeholders will participate in the review to assess the overall market situation.

He also confirmed that the Ministry of Commerce has prepared a draft of the new Import Policy Order (IPO) for 2025–2028, introducing major changes from the existing 2021–2024 policy. The adviser said the revisions aim to liberalize and simplify trade procedures. Final approval will be sought through the Cabinet before details are disclosed.

Responding to questions about current tensions between Bangladesh and India, Sheikh Bashir Uddin stated that no impact on bilateral trade has been observed so far.

The International Crimes Tribunal-2 in Bangladesh has, for the first time, granted bail to an accused in the July Revolution murder case. The accused, Humayun Kabir Patowary, a local-level Awami League leader from Lakshmipur, received the order on Sunday. The three-member tribunal, chaired by Justice Nazrul Islam Chowdhury and including retired judges Manjurul Basit and Nur Mohammad Shahriar Kabir, issued the decision.

The tribunal granted bail on health grounds, as Patowary suffers from liver cirrhosis, a disease that had previously claimed the lives of his two brothers. The court imposed four conditions: he must inform investigators of his residence, refrain from media or social media engagement, notify authorities of any address change, and avoid contact or intimidation of witnesses. Violation of any condition will lead to immediate arrest and permanent denial of bail.

This marks the first instance of bail being granted in connection with the July Revolution murder case, signaling a rare judicial decision within the tribunal’s proceedings.

The ‘Ami Probashi’ app has introduced a new visa verification service for Bangladeshi migrant workers traveling to Oman, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia. According to a press release issued on Sunday, January 11, 2026, the platform’s operator announced that migrants can now verify their visas before departure by calling the helpline number 16768. The service aims to make the verification process simple and accessible through both the app and the hotline.

The initiative is designed to protect migrant workers from visa-related fraud and ensure safe and transparent migration. After calling the helpline and providing visa details, the ‘Ami Probashi’ team will verify the information. Once verification is complete, an SMS will be sent to the user confirming whether the visa is valid or invalid. If the visa information is not found in the system, users will be advised to contact the relevant embassy.

The service is already operational, offering Bangladeshi workers a reliable way to confirm visa authenticity before traveling to the three Gulf countries.

The interim government of Bangladesh has decided not to announce a new pay scale for public servants before the upcoming national election, citing financial constraints and the approaching polls. Instead, the Pay Commission has been instructed to continue its work and prepare a framework for the next administration. The final meeting of the commission, chaired by former finance secretary Zakir Ahmed Khan, is expected on January 21, after which recommendations will be submitted to the chief and finance advisers.

According to commission sources, the new pay structure—known as the ninth pay scale—is in its final stage. Three salary ratio proposals of 1:8, 1:10, and 1:12 were considered, with 1:8 being finalized. Minimum salary proposals range from Tk 16,000 to Tk 21,000. The 23-member National Pay Commission 2025 was formed on July 27 to adjust government salaries in line with inflation and economic conditions. The commission’s term ends in mid-February, coinciding with the February 12 national election.

Officials indicated that the interim government will finalize recommendations but leave implementation to the next elected administration. Until then, public employees will continue receiving dearness allowances as per existing rules.

Bangladesh Telecommunications Company Limited (BTCL) has announced up to threefold increases in internet speeds across all existing packages while keeping monthly prices unchanged. The Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology disclosed the decision in a statement on Sunday, noting that the move aims to ensure improved digital services for customers. BTCL said the initiative will provide more reliable, faster, and higher-quality internet access, supporting the country’s ongoing digital transformation.

According to the new structure, the 5 Mbps ‘Sulav-5’ package priced at 399 taka has been upgraded to a 20 Mbps ‘Sashroyi-20’ package. Similarly, the 12 Mbps ‘Sulav-12’ package at 500 taka now offers 25 Mbps, and the 15 Mbps ‘Campus-15’ package at the same price has been raised to 50 Mbps. Higher-tier packages have also seen significant boosts, with speeds reaching up to 170 Mbps for 1,700 taka.

BTCL stated that the enhanced speeds will play an important role in supporting online education, office work, video streaming, gaming, and other digital services across the country.

More than one hundred Hindu residents of Kirttipasha Union in Jhalakathi Sadar upazila formally joined Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami on Saturday night. The joining took place during a prize distribution ceremony of a cricket tournament organized by the Bangladesh Labour Welfare Federation. The event was attended by Jhalakathi district Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Advocate Hafizur Rahman as chief guest and Sheikh Neyamul Karim, the party’s nominated candidate for Jhalakathi-2 constituency. The new members were welcomed with flowers by the guests.

The large-scale joining of Hindu community members to a political party has sparked wide discussion in the district’s political sphere. One of the new members, Sujit Gharami of Kirttipasha Union, said they were drawn by Jamaat-e-Islami’s ideological stance, discipline, and social welfare activities. District Ameer Hafizur Rahman stated that public trust in the party is growing and that people from various faiths are joining their justice-based politics. He added that the party continues to work for the safety and rights of minority communities and aims to build a better Bangladesh with people of all religions.

Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam announced that the interim government will campaign in favor of the 'Yes' vote in the upcoming referendum. He stated that legal experts have confirmed there are no legal barriers to such campaigning. The announcement came during a press conference at the Foreign Service Academy in Dhaka on Sunday, where he also said the country’s law and order situation is currently stable.

According to the press secretary, the 13th national parliamentary election and the referendum are both scheduled for February 12. The referendum will include four questions, allowing voters to choose 'Yes' or 'No' responses. Shafiqul Alam also mentioned that the European Union will send a large observer team for the election, after previously abstaining from observation due to concerns about the credibility of the last three elections. He added that the current electoral environment offers a good level playing field and that no political party is receiving extra privileges.

Alam warned that social media could pose the biggest challenge during the election, as misinformation might be spread by members of the former government. However, he assured that law enforcement agencies are fully prepared to handle any situation.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has reinstated eight leaders who were previously expelled for violating party discipline and acting against its policies and ideals. The decision was announced on Sunday through a press release signed by the party’s Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi. The reinstated members include former leaders from Sunamganj, Sylhet, and Mymensingh districts, as well as from Fulbaria municipality.

According to the press release, the individuals had earlier been removed from all party positions, including primary membership, for disciplinary breaches. Following their appeals, the party decided to withdraw the expulsion orders and restore their primary memberships. The statement also mentioned that Rina Talukdar, former joint general secretary of the Sunamganj district women’s wing, had her release order revoked and was reinstated as a primary member.

The announcement reflects an internal reconciliation effort within the BNP, signaling a move to strengthen organizational unity by bringing back previously disciplined members through formal party procedures.

The Election Commission has declared the nomination of Mahmudur Rahman Manna, president of Nagorik Oikya, valid for the Bogura-2 (Shibganj) constituency in the national parliamentary election. Following the decision, Manna expressed gratitude and said the alleged conspiracy behind the earlier cancellation of his nomination had failed. He emphasized that the purpose of nomination scrutiny is not to exclude candidates but to allow correction of errors as permitted by law.

Manna claimed that attempts were made to disqualify him through unfair tactics and described the move as a negative sign for democracy. He said the district administration referred the matter to the Election Commission, which resolved it. Addressing allegations of defaulted bank loans, he stated that a false notice had been fabricated by an Islami Bank official, who was later disciplined. Manna also criticized political strategies aimed at defeating opponents through conspiracy rather than fair competition.

He welcomed the Commission’s stance on inclusive politics but expressed concern over the administration’s and police’s inaction. Regarding BNP’s support, he noted that their nominated candidate had not yet withdrawn but expected that to happen soon.

Karnaphuli Paper Mills (KPM) has supplied 914 tons of paper to the Election Commission (EC) through the Bangladesh Stationery Office (BSO) ahead of the scheduled deadline. The paper, valued at over Tk 110 million, will be used for printing ballots and other materials for the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election. KPM Managing Director Mohammad Shahid Ullah confirmed the delivery on Sunday, January 11, 2026, noting that the supply was completed before the January 15 deadline.

According to KPM, the paper order included brown, green, and pink sheets specifically requested for election use. The mill, located in Kaptai, Rangamati, had set a production target of 3,500 tons for the 2025–2026 fiscal year. In addition to the EC, KPM will supply another 1,200 tons of paper to 11 other institutions, including Dhaka University, education boards, and the National University, through the BSO.

KPM, a state-owned enterprise under the Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation (BCIC), is one of South Asia’s largest paper mills and has produced 19,030 tons of paper as of January 11, 2026.

Police in Kishoreganj upazila of Nilphamari arrested six individuals on Saturday night for alleged involvement in visa fraud and online gambling. The arrests were made during separate raids in different areas, and the detainees were sent to the district jail on Sunday under the Cyber Security Act. The arrested persons include residents of Nitai Union and Kishoreganj Sadar Union, identified by police as Abu Alam, Lal Mia, Bulbul Mia, Goffar Mia, Manjurul, and Selim.

According to Sub-Inspector Kazi Ripon, four suspects were detained from Bajedumuria Dakupura village based on secret information, and evidence of online casino activity was found on their mobile phones. In a separate operation the same night, two others were arrested from Kacharipara village, where one was found with evidence of visa fraud and another with online gambling traces. Officer-in-Charge (Investigation) Abdul Kuddus confirmed the arrests and legal action.

The suspects were placed in district jail on Sunday following the filing of cases under the Cyber Security Act, as confirmed by Kishoreganj police officials.

Chief Prosecutor of the International Crimes Tribunal, Tazul Islam, stated that the defense team for Sajeeb Wazed Joy and Zunaid Ahmed Palak is attempting to delay the trial proceedings. He remarked that the defense hopes the upcoming election will halt the trial. The comment came during a hearing before a three-member panel led by Justice Md. Golam Mortuza Majumdar, where the defense requested more time for the discharge hearing.

The prosecution presented formal charges against Joy, son of the deposed Prime Minister Hasina, and former state minister Palak, related to alleged atrocities during the July uprising when internet services were shut down. Prosecutors submitted three charges and sought to begin the trial. Defense lawyer Liton Ahmed argued that they faced restrictions during a prison visit and that some seized video evidence could not be opened. The tribunal allowed four additional days for the defense to review the charges.

The tribunal scheduled the next hearing for Thursday, continuing the process toward formal trial commencement.

Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) seized a large consignment of illegal Indian cigarettes from the border area of Kulaura upazila in Moulvibazar on Saturday night. The operation took place near the Alinagar border outpost, where 2,550 packets of Indian cigarettes were recovered without an identified owner. The seized goods have an estimated market value of Tk 510,000.

According to the BGB’s Srimangal Battalion (46 BGB), its border outposts in Kulaura, Kamalganj, and Srimangal upazilas conduct round-the-clock patrols and regular anti-smuggling drives along the district’s border areas. The battalion oversees about 115 kilometers of border, focusing on preventing illegal drugs and other contraband from entering the country.

BGB officials stated that such operations will continue to ensure border security and curb smuggling activities. The seized cigarettes are being prepared for handover to the relevant authorities following legal procedures.