The High Court of Bangladesh has ruled that a Muslim man no longer needs his wife's consent to enter into a second marriage. The decision came in response to a petition concerning the Muslim Family Law, with the court clarifying that approval from the Arbitration Council, not the first wife, is the determining factor for a lawful second marriage.

Previously, it was widely practiced that a husband required his first wife's permission before remarrying. The court stated that no such direct obligation exists in the Muslim Family Law. The 24-page verdict explained that the authority to approve a second marriage lies with the Arbitration Council, making spousal consent non-mandatory. Historically, under Section 494 of the Penal Code of 1860, marrying again without spousal consent carried a seven-year prison term, later revised in 1961 to require council approval instead.

Petitioners have announced plans to appeal, arguing that the ruling could weaken regulations on polygamy. Sociologists warned that misuse of multiple marriages could increase inequality and family instability, urging final resolution by the Supreme Court.

A joint force operation in Munshiganj’s Tongibari upazila on the evening of January 10, 2026, led to the arrest of ten individuals with local weapons, drugs, and cash. The raid took place near Baligaon Bridge under Tongibari Police Station, conducted by a team from the Munshiganj Sadar Army Camp under the 99 Composite Brigade, based on intelligence information and with police cooperation. Authorities seized approximately 250 grams of cannabis, two yaba tablets, over 200 unidentified drugs, and Tk 494,505 in cash from the scene.

The detainees were identified as residents of Tongibari and nearby areas and described by law enforcement as known drug dealers. Following the operation, the arrested individuals and the recovered items were handed over to Tongibari Police Station for legal proceedings.

The army stated that it remains firm in maintaining law and order in Munshiganj and will continue anti-drug and anti-crime drives regularly to prevent violence and sabotage ahead of the upcoming national election.

Police in Mirzaganj, Patuakhali have arrested Mostafa Mridha, 53, a known drug dealer accused in the sensational Siyam murder case. He was detained on Saturday night from the Subidkhali area. According to police, Mostafa, son of Ketab Ali Mridha from Uttar Subidkhali village, faces six ongoing drug cases in court. Officer-in-Charge Md. Abdus Salam confirmed that Mostafa was sent to Patuakhali jail through the court on Wednesday.

The murder case stems from the death of 18-year-old Siyam, who had visited his aunt’s house in Mirzaganj on December 23. That afternoon, Siyam and his cousin Abdullah Al Mahmud went to the Subidkhali Government College area, where they argued with a local youth named Raiyan. Raiyan and his associates allegedly beat Siyam at a nearby sand field and later took him to the Upazila Health Complex, where doctors declared him dead.

Siyam was the son of Abdul Baset Talukder from Ghopkhali village under Itbaria Union in Patuakhali Sadar Police Station.

Intense fighting erupted along the Teknaf border in Cox’s Bazar as clashes between Myanmar’s Arakan Army (AA) and Rohingya rebels continued for four consecutive days. The exchange of gunfire, which lasted until 6 a.m. Sunday, shook the border area. The Arakan Army reportedly carried out several drone strikes targeting Rohingya rebels, forcing them to retreat. Pursuing them, AA fighters crossed into Bangladeshi territory and opened random fire, injuring a nine-year-old girl named Huzayfa Sultana Afnan, who was later hospitalized in critical condition.

According to the latest reports, 53 members of Myanmar’s rebel group were detained by Bangladeshi law enforcement while attempting to flee across the border, with three to four of them suffering gunshot wounds. Security personnel have been deployed at the scene, and the situation is currently calm. Local residents lifted a road blockade following army intervention.

Authorities have not reported further casualties, and the condition of the injured child remains under medical observation.

A microbus driver named Mahbub Alam was stabbed to death early Sunday in the Kolabagan area of Hathazari municipality, Chattogram. The incident occurred around 4 a.m. when three to four assailants engaged in an altercation with him and then attacked him with a knife. Locals rushed to rescue Mahbub, but he died on the way to Chattogram Medical College Hospital. Police from Hathazari Model Station visited the scene, prepared an inquest report, and sent the body to the hospital morgue.

Following the news of the killing, members of the microbus drivers’ association and local residents blocked the Chattogram-Rangamati highway at Kolatal for about 20 minutes. They demanded the immediate arrest and exemplary punishment of those responsible. Police later arrived at the spot and restored normal traffic movement.

Hathazari Model Police Station Officer-in-Charge Zahidur Rahman confirmed the incident and said police were working to bring the perpetrators to justice.

A devastating fire broke out early Sunday morning, January 11, 2026, at Kaich Maldha village in Tongibari upazila of Munshiganj, destroying six residential houses and causing an estimated loss of about 3 million taka. The fire started around 5:15 a.m. and was first noticed by Maulana Abul Kalam, the imam of Kaich Maldha Jame Mosque, who alerted residents through the mosque’s loudspeaker. Locals rushed to the scene and tried to extinguish the flames before notifying the Tongibari Fire Service.

A unit from Tongibari Fire Service responded but later sought assistance from Sirajdikhan Fire Service due to the intensity of the blaze. After about two and a half hours of joint efforts, the fire was brought under control around 7:45 a.m. The houses of six families—Ali Hossain, Jamal Hawlader, Shah Alam Hawlader, Shahan Shah Hawlader, Kaiyum Hawlader, and Aman Hossain—were completely burned down. No casualties were reported.

Police visited the site, but the cause of the fire remains unknown. Fire officials said the exact cause and final damage assessment will be determined after investigation.

A child named Huzaifa Sultana Afnan was killed early Sunday, January 10, 2026, after being struck by gunfire that crossed into Bangladesh from Myanmar during heavy fighting between two rebel groups. The incident occurred in the Hwaikyang Techchibridge area of Teknaf upazila, Cox’s Bazar. The child died on the way to the hospital. Following the incident, angry locals blocked the Teknaf–Cox’s Bazar highway and vandalized vehicles in protest.

According to local sources, intense gunfire had been ongoing for three days in Myanmar’s Totardwip area near the border. Earlier, a Bangladeshi fisherman was also injured by stray bullets. Hwaikyang police outpost in-charge Khokon Kanti Nath confirmed that the child was killed by bullets fired amid the ongoing conflict across the border. Security forces including the army, RAB, navy, and police were deployed to restore order.

Leaders from various political parties, including the district BNP president and Jamaat-e-Islami’s district amir, visited the scene. Authorities reported that 37 members of Myanmar’s rebel groups had been taken into custody by the Border Guard Bangladesh and police.

Police in Sherpur upazila of Bogura recovered the body of a rice trader named Hamidul Mondal, aged 38, early Sunday morning. Locals discovered the body around 6:30 a.m. in a paddy field at Jamalpur village under Bhabanipur Union and informed the police. The deceased was identified as the son of Montaz Mondal from the same village. Witnesses reported blood marks on his nose and parts of his body, but the cause of death remains uncertain.

According to local sources, Hamidul had left home on Saturday afternoon for a financial transaction and did not return that night. His blood-stained body was found the next morning in the field, creating tension in the area. Sherpur Police Station Officer-in-Charge Ibrahim Ali stated that the body was sent to the hospital for autopsy to determine the exact cause of death. The incident is currently under investigation.

Authorities expect the post-mortem report to clarify the circumstances surrounding Hamidul Mondal’s death.

A lake built at Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) in memory of Rudra Sen, the first student killed in the July Movement, is facing controversy after reports that part of it will be filled to construct a garage. The lake, built at a cost of Tk 7.5 crore, was inaugurated six months ago but still lacks any memorial plaque honoring Rudra Sen. Experts warn that filling parts of the lake could harm its natural beauty and ecological balance.

Visitors and students have expressed disappointment that the site does not visibly commemorate Rudra Sen. Activists from the university’s anti-discrimination student movement said they had repeatedly demanded a memorial monument and plaque, but the administration failed to act despite assurances. Acting Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Md. Sajedul Karim stated that plans and architectural designs to honor Rudra Sen have been submitted and will be implemented soon.

Environmental specialists caution that the proposed garage could pollute the lake through wastewater and vehicle residues, potentially damaging the ecosystem.

Bangladesh’s banking sector has come under renewed pressure as government borrowing surged sharply midway through the 2025–26 fiscal year. According to the latest Bangladesh Bank report, between July and January 4 the government borrowed a net Tk 59,756 crore from banks, representing 57.45 percent of its annual target of Tk 104,000 crore. This borrowing is about 619 percent higher than the same period last fiscal year, when the government had borrowed Tk 8,312 crore.

Sector insiders noted that at the start of the fiscal year, the government had reduced development spending and benefited from strong revenue growth and foreign loans, keeping borrowing low. However, rising development expenditures, investments in Islami Bank, election-related costs, and increased subsidy and interest payments have driven borrowing upward again. To meet financing needs, the government also held two additional auctions in December, raising about Tk 10,000 crore through treasury bills and bonds.

The report shows total government debt from banks reached Tk 610,661 crore by January 4, up from Tk 550,904 crore at the end of the previous fiscal year, raising concerns about liquidity and private sector credit flow.

A commentary by political analyst Saiful Khan argues that India bears responsibility for the deterioration of its relationship with Bangladesh. The article, published on January 11, 2026, asserts that many Bangladeshis believe India has long sheltered convicted criminals, fugitives, and politically controversial figures from Bangladesh, eroding bilateral trust. It further claims that India’s approach to Bangladesh relies on power dynamics rather than equality, citing issues such as border killings, water-sharing disputes, and cultural dominance.

The author traces the mistrust to historical experiences since Bangladesh’s independence, noting that cooperation initially gave way to suspicion over security and political matters. The piece highlights allegations of India’s reluctance to extradite fugitives, unilateral control of transboundary rivers, and the influence of Indian media on Bangladeshi culture. These factors, the article contends, have deepened public resentment and created a perception of inequality.

Khan concludes that India must choose between maintaining dominance or rebuilding ties based on justice, transparency, and mutual respect. Failure to do so, he warns, could push Bangladesh toward alternative strategic alliances and further regional instability.

A joint force operation in Araihazar, Narayanganj, led to the arrest of four individuals and the recovery of illegal firearms, ammunition, drugs, and cash. The raid took place around 2:45 a.m. on Saturday night in the Dhondi Bhiti Kamaldi area of Haizadi Union. Acting on a tip-off, the joint team searched the house of a man named Naim, where they found two illegal pistols, two magazines, three rounds of ammunition, 1.69 million taka, 105 yaba tablets, and several local weapons including knives and machetes.

Police identified the arrested individuals as Naim (38), Rubel Bhuiyan (33), Suman (30), and Runa Akter (34), all residents of the same locality. The operation was conducted based on confidential intelligence, and the seized items were taken into custody for further investigation.

Authorities have not yet disclosed further details about the suspects’ backgrounds or the next legal steps following the arrests.

A report submitted on January 4 by the Commission on Enforced Disappearances to the Chief Adviser revealed that senior officials of Bangladesh’s security agencies, including RAB, CTTC, and DGFI, were aware of multiple enforced disappearances. The report cited testimonies from high-ranking officers confirming that former DGFI Director General Lt. Gen. Mohammad Akbar Hossain had informed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina about the disappearance of Hummam Quader Chowdhury. It also stated that army leadership knew about the disappearance of Barrister Mir Ahmad Bin Quasem, known as Arman.

The commission’s findings indicated that DGFI and CTIB officials authorized or continued unauthorized detentions, including that of Brigadier Azmir. Statements from former RAB Director General Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun and other officers confirmed that senior leadership knew detainees were held in custody. Testimonies from soldiers and police officers described regular inspections of detention centers by senior officials, contradicting later claims of ignorance.

The report concluded that the proximity of detention cells to commanding officers’ offices and direct CCTV access made it implausible that senior officials were unaware of these operations, suggesting long-term institutional knowledge and oversight.

At least fifty areas in Dhaka have open manholes, posing serious risks to pedestrians and vehicles. The uncovered manholes, often missing due to theft, have caused frequent accidents and injuries. City officials acknowledge that around ten percent of the capital’s 75,000 manholes remain uncovered at any time. The stolen covers, valued at about four crore taka annually in Dhaka South City Corporation alone, are reportedly sold to scrap dealers for small sums.

Responsibility for installing and maintaining manholes lies with Dhaka WASA and the two city corporations. Officials admit that ensuring security for the heavy metal covers is difficult and that police involvement is needed. Despite over fifty related cases filed in various police stations, arrests remain rare. Residents complain that stolen covers are often replaced only to be stolen again, leaving roads hazardous.

To address the problem, Dhaka South City Corporation has begun installing fiber-made manhole covers in wards 66 and 67. These new covers, tested and approved by BUET, are cheaper, strong enough to withstand heavy loads, and have no resale value, which authorities hope will reduce theft and improve public safety.

An investigative report published on January 11, 2026, reveals that Bangladesh Police’s official monthly magazine ‘The Detective’ became a platform for praising the ruling Mujib family during a 15-year authoritarian period. The publication, originally meant for professional research on law enforcement, shifted its focus to glorifying Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Sheikh Hasina, Sheikh Russel, and other family members. Senior and mid-level officers reportedly used overly reverential writings in the magazine to secure promotions and key appointments, turning it into an informal route for career advancement.

Critics cited in the report argue that this culture of political flattery undermined the force’s professionalism, neutrality, and constitutional obligations. By 2015, professional content such as crime analysis and forensic studies had largely disappeared, replaced by poems and essays extolling the Mujib family. Officers who refrained from participating allegedly faced invisible barriers to promotion, while contributors often rose quickly through the ranks.

Following the fall of the Awami League government in August 2024, many of the officers who benefited from this loyalty-based system reportedly faced demotion or legal action, exposing the long-term risks of politically motivated careerism within the police.