A controversy has erupted in Feni-3 constituency over the validity of BNP Vice Chairman and ‘Sheaf of Paddy’ candidate Abdul Awal Mintoo’s nomination due to questions surrounding his dual citizenship. Despite not submitting any official proof of renouncing his U.S. citizenship, the district returning officer declared his nomination valid during the scrutiny session on Sunday, prompting applause from BNP supporters and silent astonishment among others. The schedule for the scrutiny had been delayed twice, fueling speculation about possible cancellation. During the verification, Feni district Jamaat Secretary Mohammad Abdur Rahim raised the issue of Mintoo’s dual citizenship. Returning Officer Monira Haque responded that Mintoo had declared in his affidavit that he applied to the U.S. Embassy to renounce his citizenship and submitted related email correspondence and forms. She said the decision was made after consulting the public prosecutor, acknowledging that appeals could be filed. The incident has sparked widespread debate on social media and raised questions about the neutrality of the Election Commission. Legal experts cited constitutional provisions disqualifying foreign citizens from parliamentary eligibility and called for stricter verification of citizenship renunciation documents to ensure electoral transparency.

Industries Secretary Md. Obaidur Rahman has officially joined as the new Chairperson of the Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) Foundation. He took charge at the foundation’s office on Monday following his appointment through a government notification issued by the Ministry of Industries on January 1, 2026. The notification stated that Rahman will hold the position until a new chairperson is appointed, in addition to his existing duties as Industries Secretary. Obaidur Rahman holds both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in management from the University of Dhaka. A member of the 15th batch of the Bangladesh Civil Service (Administration), he has served in various ministries and departments, including the Ministry of Public Administration, as well as in field administration. His appointment marks him as the ninth chairperson of the SME Foundation. The SME Foundation plays a key role in supporting small and medium enterprises across Bangladesh, and Rahman’s dual role is expected to ensure continuity in the organization’s leadership until a permanent appointment is made.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) of Bangladesh will verify the affidavits submitted by candidates in the upcoming 13th national parliamentary election, ACC Chairman Abdul Momen announced on Monday. Speaking at a meeting with the newly elected committee of Reporters Against Corruption (RAC), he said that any discrepancies found in candidates’ asset declarations would lead to legal action. The Election Commission has been instructed to immediately inform the ACC if inconsistencies are detected. Momen emphasized that there would be no compromise on corruption, asserting that the ACC would maintain its firm stance even if new laws allowed for leniency. He noted that the ACC’s investigations are bound by legal time limits, making it unlikely that all inquiries could be completed before the election. However, he encouraged anyone with specific evidence to submit it for prompt legal action. He also urged RAC members to assist by examining candidates’ information and forwarding any verified suspicions to the ACC, assuring that all actions would follow the commission’s legal framework.

BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman is scheduled to visit Habiganj on January 22. The announcement was confirmed by BNP Organizing Secretary GK Gaus during a prayer gathering organized by the party at Habiganj Municipality Field on Monday afternoon, held for the spiritual well-being of Khaleda Zia. According to Gaus, Tarique Rahman will first visit a shrine in Sylhet and then travel by road to Dhaka, stopping in Habiganj to address what he described as a historic public rally. He urged party leaders and activists to intensify publicity efforts in neighborhoods to ensure a massive turnout. Gaus also called on BNP members to work in unity to make the upcoming rally a success, emphasizing the importance of collective effort in organizing the event.

Taherima Jannat Survi, known for her role in the July uprising, was released from Gazipur Central Jail on Monday, January 5, 2026, at 6:40 p.m. Her lawyer and Gazipur Lawyers Association General Secretary, Mostafizur Rahman Kamal, confirmed the release. Earlier in the day, the defense filed a revision petition against a two-day remand order. The district judge later canceled the remand, considering her age and other factors, and granted her four weeks of interim bail under her lawyer’s custody. The 17-year-old Survi had been accused in what supporters described as a false and harassing case, sparking widespread public reaction across the country. Various organizations involved in the July uprising demanded her release and called for legal action against the complainant, Naimur Rahman Durjoy, and the investigating officer, alleging fraud using the name of the Home Adviser. Legal adviser Professor Dr. Asif Nazrul stated that Survi had been treated unjustly and expressed confidence that she would receive fair justice.

Barrister Asaduzzaman Fuad, Secretary General of the Amar Bangladesh Party (AB Party), has called for unity among all political forces regardless of party affiliation to protect the country’s national interest and sovereignty. He made the remarks on Monday after a meeting with BNP’s Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman at the BNP Chairperson’s political office in Dhaka. Fuad emphasized that while political disagreements are natural, all parties must stand together on matters of national importance. According to Fuad, the meeting discussed state sovereignty, national interest, future political structures, and key policy issues. The AB Party delegation included Chairman Mojibur Rahman Monju, Joint Secretary General Barrister Zobayer Ahmed Bhuiyan, and Barrister Nasrin Sultana Mili. The discussion also highlighted the need for a Westminster-style democratic system in Bangladesh and addressed issues such as urban livability, unemployment reduction, environmental protection, and reforms in education and health sectors. Fuad added that Tarique Rahman expressed interest in continuing policy-based discussions in the future. He reiterated that there would be no compromise on national interest and sovereignty, urging all political actors to remain united on these core issues.

The Press Wing of Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser clarified on January 5, 2026, that reports circulating in Bangladeshi and Indian media about the cancellation of several 2026 public holidays were false. The misinformation claimed that holidays for Saraswati Puja, February 21, May Day, Buddha Purnima, Ashura, Janmashtami, Madhu Purnima, and Mahalaya had been canceled. The clarification was issued through an official post on the Press Wing’s Facebook page. According to the Press Wing, these holidays coincided with regular weekly holidays—Fridays and Saturdays—and were therefore not listed separately in the government’s holiday notification. The official circular, signed by Sabina Yasmin, Deputy Secretary of the Secondary and Higher Education Division, showed that these dates carried a “zero” holiday count. A fact-check team confirmed that this practice was consistent with the previous two years, where holidays falling on weekends were not counted as additional days off. The Press Wing emphasized that no holidays were canceled and that the confusion arose solely from the overlap with weekly holidays.

Bangladesh Bank Governor Ahsan H. Mansur announced that the government will initiate legal proceedings within a week to declare nine non-bank financial institutions (NBFIs) defunct. The move aims to restore discipline in the country’s financial sector. Independent auditors will assess the true financial condition of these institutions. The announcement was made at a press conference held at the central bank’s headquarters. According to the governor, if the plan proceeds as expected, individual depositors of these institutions will receive their principal funds before Ramadan. Institutional investors, however, will be settled gradually depending on the availability of government funds. The nine institutions are FAS Finance, Bangladesh Industrial Finance Company, Premier Leasing, Fareast Finance, GSP Finance, Prime Finance, Aviva Finance, Peoples Leasing, and International Leasing. These nine NBFIs account for 52 percent of total defaulted loans in the financial sector, amounting to Tk 25,089 crore at the end of last year. Eight of them have an average negative net asset value of Tk 95 per share, indicating that without government intervention, repayment of liabilities is nearly impossible.

Indian Congress leader Shashi Tharoor has sharply criticized his country’s authorities for the exclusion of Bangladeshi pacer Mustafizur Rahman from the Indian Premier League (IPL), a move that has heightened tensions between India and Bangladesh. In a post on X, Tharoor said the embarrassing situation was self-inflicted, calling the decision to drop Mustafizur unnecessary and unreasonable. Speaking to the Indian Express, Tharoor argued that Bangladesh should not be equated with Pakistan, noting that Bangladesh does not send terrorists across the border and that India’s diplomatic relationship with Bangladesh is fundamentally different. His remarks came after Kolkata Knight Riders removed Mustafizur from their squad following directives from the Indian cricket board. Mustafizur had been bought by Kolkata Knight Riders for 92 million rupees in the 2026 IPL auction, the highest fee ever for a Bangladeshi player. The controversy arose after some Indian political groups and religious organizations questioned his participation, citing allegations of persecution of religious minorities in Bangladesh.

Religious Adviser Dr. A F M Khalid Hossain stated that a referendum would block the path to creating fascist rulers in Bangladesh. Speaking on Monday morning at a workshop on referendum awareness at the Islamic Foundation auditorium in Agargaon, Dhaka, he said that once in power, leaders in Bangladesh have historically sought to extend their rule through various tactics. He argued that the referendum would change this pattern and enable both government and opposition parties to work together in forming the caretaker government, Election Commission, and Public Service Commission. Dr. Hossain added that the Islamic Foundation has an extensive nationwide network, and strengthening it would bring significant benefits to the country. He also assured that initiatives would be taken to upgrade the Islamic Foundation into a directorate. The event was chaired by Director General A. Salam Khan and attended by senior officials and scholars. Special guest Professor Ali Riaz said that if the “yes” side wins the referendum, no new fascist leader like Hasina would emerge, and the vote would determine Bangladesh’s direction for the next 50 years.

The Election Commission (EC) of Bangladesh has announced that no political party, contesting candidate, or any individual on their behalf may conduct election campaigning before the allocation of electoral symbols for the upcoming 13th National Parliament election. The directive was issued on Monday through a press release signed by Md Ruhul Amin Mallik, Director of Public Relations and Information Officer at the EC Secretariat. According to the announcement, the allocation of election symbols will take place on January 21. The EC has urged all candidates and related parties to conduct their campaigns in accordance with the electoral code of conduct after that date. Campaigning must end 48 hours before the start of voting, which is scheduled for February 12. The EC’s statement reiterates its call for adherence to election rules to ensure fair and orderly campaigning once the official symbol distribution is completed.

The Non-Government Teachers’ Registration and Certification Authority (NTRCA) has published its seventh mass recruitment circular for teachers in private educational institutions across Bangladesh. The circular, released on Monday, January 5, 2026, lists a total of 67,208 vacancies. Among them, 29,571 positions are in schools and colleges, 36,804 in madrasas, and 833 in technical institutions. The online application process will begin on January 10 and continue until midnight on January 17. Details, including vacancy lists, application forms, and conditions, are available on the NTRCA website and the Teletalk Bangladesh Limited portal. According to the circular, applicants must be no older than 35 years as of June 4, 2025, and their teacher registration certificate must remain valid for three years from the date of result publication. Following the Ministry of Education’s directive issued on January 1, currently employed index-holding teachers are not eligible to apply for equivalent positions. The circular aims to fill long-standing vacancies in private institutions and streamline the recruitment process through a centralized online system.

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife were taken to a Manhattan federal court on Monday after being transferred from the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn. According to the report, they were brought before U.S. District Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein around noon local time, where the detailed charges against Maduro were to be read. The couple arrived under tight security after being flown in by helicopter, and witnesses observed Maduro walking with a limp. The development follows a late-night operation on Friday in Venezuela, during which U.S. special forces reportedly arrested Maduro. Both he and his wife face charges in the United States related to cocaine importation and illegal possession of weapons. They have been held at the Brooklyn detention facility since their capture. The court appearance marks the beginning of formal legal proceedings against the Venezuelan leader in the United States, with further hearings expected as the case progresses.

U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday issued a renewed tariff warning to India, saying Washington could raise duties on New Delhi if it does not reduce purchases of Russian oil. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday, Trump tied the warning to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict and remarked that keeping him pleased was important. He described Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a good man who understood his dissatisfaction. According to the Times of India, Trump reiterated that India’s continued trade with Russia could prompt the United States to impose higher tariffs soon. Last year, Washington had already raised import duties on Indian goods by 50 percent as a penalty for large-scale Russian oil purchases, though Indian exports to the U.S. still increased in November. Reuters sources reported that India has asked refineries to disclose weekly oil purchase data from Russia and the U.S. as part of trade deal efforts, potentially reducing Russian crude imports below one million barrels per day. The report also noted that Senator Lindsey Graham is leading co-sponsors of a sanctions bill that would mandate tariffs up to 500 percent on countries continuing to buy Russian oil or uranium.

The interim government of Bangladesh has proposed a major expansion of merit and general scholarships across secondary to higher education levels. The Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education (DSHE) recently sent a proposal to the Ministry of Education to increase all SSC, HSC, and undergraduate scholarships by 20 percent and to double the monthly and one-time payments for recipients. If approved, the total number of scholarship holders would rise from 41,000 to 49,151 nationwide. According to DSHE officials, the plan aims to maintain parity with the recently enhanced junior scholarships and to address rising living and educational costs since the 2015–16 fiscal year. The proposal includes detailed revisions: SSC scholarships would increase to 30,600 recipients, HSC to 12,600, and undergraduate (honours and pass) to nearly 6,000 combined. Monthly stipends and annual grants would be doubled across all categories. The Ministry of Education is currently reviewing the proposal before forwarding it to the Finance Division for approval. DSHE expects implementation within the current fiscal year once funding is cleared.