Bangladesh’s fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman has been dropped from the Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) following a directive from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). The decision reportedly stems from political instability between India and Bangladesh and pressure from several hardline Hindu nationalist groups in India. The move has sparked anger among former Indian cricketers and politicians.

Former World Cup-winning cricketer Madan Lal expressed deep concern over growing political interference in sports, saying players are the ones most affected. He noted that BCCI’s decisions are rarely challenged, even by franchise owners. Former cricketer Mohammad Kaif described the issue as sensitive and urged the media to remain patient while the board handles the matter. Congress MP Shashi Tharoor criticized linking cricket with political or religious issues, arguing that excluding players like Mustafizur could harm regional cooperation and India’s sporting image.

The controversy highlights increasing overlap between politics and cricket in the region, with calls for greater tolerance and separation of sports from political disputes.

Kolkata Knight Riders have announced the exclusion of Bangladeshi bowler Mustafizur Rahman from their Indian Premier League (IPL) squad. Following the decision, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Sangeet Som thanked the Indian government and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). Social media users identifying with Hindu nationalist ideology expressed joy over the move, posting celebratory and derogatory comments about Bangladeshi players and artists.

In an interview with NDTV, Sangeet Som criticized actor Shah Rukh Khan for previously including Mustafizur in the team, calling the decision wrong and claiming it hurt the religious sentiments of millions of Hindus. Som also accused Bangladesh of attacks on Hindus and labeled Shah Rukh Khan a traitor. Som, a former legislator from Uttar Pradesh’s Sardhana constituency, has faced serious allegations related to the 2013 Muzaffarnagar riots.

Reports indicate that speculation about Mustafizur’s removal had circulated for days, with some extremist activists threatening to damage pitches if he played. The announcement has now confirmed those concerns.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has written a letter expressing support for Umar Khalid, a former Jawaharlal Nehru University student and human rights activist currently imprisoned in India. The handwritten letter was delivered to Khalid’s parents and became public on Thursday, though it had been written several days earlier. In the letter, Mamdani reflected on Khalid’s difficult experiences and praised his resilience, noting his meeting with Khalid’s parents.

Umar Khalid has been held in Delhi’s Tihar Jail for nearly six years under anti-terrorism charges related to alleged conspiracy in the 2020 communal violence in Delhi. Although the Delhi High Court released him from one case, he remains detained in another, with multiple bail requests denied.

Separately, eight members of the U.S. Congress sent a joint letter to India’s ambassador to the United States, Vinay Kwatra, expressing concern about Khalid’s situation. These lawmakers also met with Khalid’s parents in December 2025.

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have officially released Bangladeshi cricketer Mustafizur Rahman following a directive from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). The franchise confirmed the decision in a statement, saying it acted in accordance with BCCI’s instructions and procedures before the next phase of the Indian Premier League (IPL). BCCI has also allowed KKR to select a replacement player under IPL regulations.

BCCI secretary Debajit Saikia told India’s news agency ANI from Guwahati on January 3 that the board instructed KKR to remove Mustafizur from their squad due to political pressure and controversy surrounding his participation in the IPL. Saikia explained that although the board initially adopted a “wait and watch” approach, it ultimately made a difficult decision to resolve the issue.

The controversy intensified after a BJP leader from Uttar Pradesh labeled KKR co-owner and Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan a “traitor” for signing Mustafizur. Several self-proclaimed spiritual figures in India also criticized Khan over the matter.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has instructed Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to release Bangladesh cricketer Mustafizur Rahman from their Indian Premier League (IPL) squad. The directive was confirmed on January 3, 2026, in Guwahati by BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia, who cited political pressure and controversy surrounding Mustafizur’s participation in the tournament.

According to Saikia, the BCCI initially adopted a ‘wait and watch’ approach but ultimately decided to remove the player due to escalating political tensions between India and Bangladesh. He added that KKR would be allowed to select a replacement player with BCCI’s approval. The issue gained attention after some Indian political figures and self-proclaimed spiritual leaders criticized KKR’s decision to sign Mustafizur, with one BJP leader labeling team co-owner Shah Rukh Khan a ‘traitor’.

The decision marks a rare instance of political disputes directly influencing IPL team composition, raising questions about the tournament’s insulation from external pressures.

A video from Uttar Pradesh’s Kaushambi police station has gone viral showing Station House Officer Ajay Sharma pressing a smartphone against a resident’s back and claiming to determine whether the person is Indian or Bangladeshi. The incident, which took place in a slum area, has triggered widespread criticism after being shared on social media. The video shows police accusing a family of being Bangladeshi despite their insistence and presentation of documents proving they are from Bihar’s Araria district.

The controversy comes amid repeated warnings from India’s Home Minister Amit Shah and Prime Minister Narendra Modi about identifying illegal Bangladeshi immigrants. Following the uproar, Ghaziabad police ordered a high-level investigation into the authenticity of the video and the conduct of the officers involved. The inquiry has been assigned to the Assistant Commissioner of Police of Indirapuram Circle.

Police sources said such operations are usually conducted to maintain public safety in sensitive areas, but the unusual method and alleged harassment have drawn sharp public scrutiny.

Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, speaking at an event in Chennai, explained New Delhi’s approach toward neighboring countries by citing examples of Pakistan and Sri Lanka. He stated that India formulates its policies based on the behavior and relationship patterns of its neighbors, clearly differentiating between “good” and “bad” neighbors. According to him, India supports countries that maintain cooperative relations, offering assistance through vaccine diplomacy, economic aid, and emergency support.

Jaishankar’s remarks came just days after attending former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia’s funeral. He emphasized that India reserves the right to defend itself against nations that consistently support terrorism or pose security threats. He added that India’s neighborhood policy is guided by common sense and national interest rather than emotion. Referring to India’s firm stance toward Pakistan and its aid to Sri Lanka during its economic crisis, he suggested that a neighbor’s conduct determines India’s policy approach.

Although he did not directly mention Bangladesh, his comments indicated that India views mutual trust, cooperation, and security as the foundation of regional relations.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced that nearly 2,000 people have been pushed back to Bangladesh over the past few months using provisions of a 1950 law. Speaking at a press conference on recent cabinet decisions, he said that anyone declared a foreigner by the state’s Foreigners Tribunal would be expelled within a week to prevent them from appealing to higher courts. Sarma added that 18 individuals were sent back on December 31 and described the push-back policy as a new administrative approach to curb illegal immigration.

Lawyers and human rights activists have strongly questioned the legality of invoking the 1950 law, arguing that it was enacted in a specific post-partition context and is now unconstitutional. Senior advocates from the Gauhati High Court said the law violates constitutional rights to equality and due process, as it allows deportation without notice, hearing, or appeal. They also warned that bypassing judicial review undermines the entire legal system.

Rights groups have demanded transparency, asking for the list of deported individuals and assurances that no Indian citizens were mistakenly expelled.

At least nine people have died and around 200 others have been hospitalized in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, after consuming contaminated water, according to authorities. The incident occurred in the Bhagirathpura area, where residents had reported foul-smelling water for several days. Officials fear the death toll could rise as more people fall ill.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav announced financial assistance of two lakh rupees for each bereaved family and said that action is being taken against those responsible for negligence. A leak was discovered in a local water pipeline near a toilet construction site, which is suspected to have allowed contaminated water to enter the supply system.

A three-member committee has been formed to investigate the incident and determine accountability. Residents had previously complained to authorities about the water quality but alleged that no action was taken.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has announced that his government will adopt a tougher stance against what he termed 'illegal Bangladeshi' immigrants. Speaking ahead of the upcoming state assembly elections, he declared that anyone identified as a foreigner in Assam would be expelled without following any diplomatic procedures. Sarma said the era of a 'soft policy' on deportation had ended, and his administration would act immediately once a foreigner is declared.

According to the report, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is making the issue of so-called 'immigrants' or 'infiltrators' a central theme of its election campaign in Assam. Sarma stated that the state government’s approach aligns with recent remarks by India’s Home Minister Amit Shah. Previously, deportation required a lengthy diplomatic process involving the Ministry of External Affairs and verification with Bangladesh.

Sarma said that under the new policy, Assam will no longer wait for formal responses from Bangladesh before expelling those declared foreigners, signaling a significant shift in the state’s handling of immigration cases.

Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh visited the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi on Thursday, January 1, to express condolences over the death of former Bangladeshi Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia. During his visit, he signed the condolence book and met with officials at the mission. In a post on X, Singh said he conveyed deep sorrow over Zia’s passing and extended sympathy to her family and the people of Bangladesh.

A day earlier, Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar had traveled to Dhaka to attend Zia’s funeral and pay respects. During that visit, he met Tarique Rahman and handed him a condolence message from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The gestures from both Indian ministers followed recent tensions surrounding the Bangladesh High Commission in Delhi.

In late December, protests organized by Hindu nationalist groups took place outside the mission, with some demonstrators shouting threatening slogans. Analysts view Singh’s visit as a significant diplomatic signal aimed at easing strains and maintaining normal bilateral relations between India and Bangladesh.

India has overtaken Japan to become the world’s fourth-largest economy, according to the country’s annual economic review released on December 31, 2025. The review stated that India’s gross domestic product has reached approximately 4.18 trillion dollars and is projected to grow to 7.3 trillion dollars by 2030. Based on current trends, India could surpass Germany within the next three years to become the world’s third-largest economy, trailing only the United States and China.

The report highlighted that India’s real GDP grew by 8.2 percent in the second quarter of the 2025–26 fiscal year, up from 7.8 percent in the previous quarter. It also noted that merchandise exports rose to 38.13 billion dollars in November, compared to 36.43 billion dollars in January. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) had earlier projected that India would overtake Japan next year, a milestone now confirmed by the review.

The findings underscore India’s accelerating economic expansion and its strengthening position among the world’s major economies.

Analysts suggest that India’s expanding role as one of Israel’s key defense partners signals a deep moral and geopolitical shift in New Delhi’s foreign policy. Once known for its non-aligned stance and vocal support for Palestinian self-determination, India is now seen as moving toward transactional alliances with powers criticized for violating international law. The shift has become more visible amid the ongoing Gaza conflict, as India quietly fills part of the supply gap left by European countries constrained by legal and political pressures on arms exports to Israel.

Under the “Make in India” initiative, joint production, technology transfer, and domestic manufacturing of Israeli weapon components have tied India more closely to Israel’s military-industrial network. Experts describe the partnership as pragmatic and mutually beneficial: Israel provides advanced military technology, while India offers production capacity, markets, and diplomatic backing. Critics, however, argue that this pragmatism comes at the cost of moral clarity and silence on international law.

Observers also note that India’s abstentions at the UN on Gaza-related votes and cautious diplomatic language reflect risk management rather than neutrality, potentially weakening its traditional Global South leadership role.

West Bengal Police have denied social media claims that their Special Task Force arrested five people accused of aiding the killers of Inquilab Manch spokesperson Shahid Sharif Osman Hadi. In a post on their official X handle on Monday, the police stated that such reports were entirely baseless. The post did not mention Osman Hadi or Bangladesh by name but clarified that no arrests of foreign nationals had been made in connection with any recent incident.

The denial follows widespread social media posts alleging that five Bangladeshi nationals were detained by the Special Task Force. Earlier, Dhaka Metropolitan Police had claimed that Osman Hadi’s killers fled to India and that Meghalaya Police had arrested two people for assisting them. However, both Meghalaya Police and India’s Border Security Force (BSF) rejected those claims, saying there was no evidence of any such arrests or cross-border movement.

Dhaka police later said their statements were based on information from arrested suspects and sources near the border, but Indian authorities have maintained that the reports lack factual basis.

India has granted final approval for the Dulhasti Stage-2 hydropower project on the Chenab River, located in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir, according to The News. The project, costing about 327.7 billion Indian rupees, will be implemented by the state-owned NHPC Limited and aims to generate up to 260 megawatts of electricity. Construction is expected to begin early next year.

Analysts link the approval to India’s earlier decision to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) following the Pahalgam incident, which heightened border tensions and led to reciprocal military actions between India and Pakistan. Despite India’s move, Pakistan reaffirmed its commitment to the IWT and pledged to continue participating in the neutral expert process. In August, the Permanent Court of Arbitration ruled that western rivers must flow freely for Pakistan’s unrestricted use.

Experts warn that the project could harm Pakistan strategically and environmentally, as the Chenab flows into its territory. Environmental authorities have cautioned that altering water flow may disrupt the Marusudar River’s natural structure and ecosystem over a 25-kilometer stretch downstream of the Pakal Dul project.