The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Traffic Division conducted a citywide operation on Saturday, January 24, filing 1,502 cases against traffic law violators across various areas of the capital. The information was confirmed in a press release signed by Deputy Commissioner Muhammad Talebur Rahman of the DMP Media and Public Relations Department on Sunday, January 25. According to DMP traffic sources, the breakdown of cases includes 73 in Ramna, 112 in Lalbagh, 189 in Motijheel, 95 in Wari, 145 in Tejgaon, 696 in Mirpur, 89 in Uttara, and 103 in Gulshan. During the operation, 362 vehicles were dumped and 150 were towed by wreckers. The press release stated that the DMP Traffic Division will continue its operations to maintain traffic discipline across the Dhaka metropolitan area.

French Ambassador to Bangladesh Jean-Marc Serre-Charlot paid a courtesy call on Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman on Sunday evening at the party chief’s office in Bashundhara, Dhaka. The meeting was attended by Deputy Ambassador Frederic Inza and Economic Adviser Julien Dure from the French Embassy. According to Jamaat’s central publicity department, the discussion took place in a cordial and friendly atmosphere. Both sides exchanged views on Bangladesh’s upcoming national parliamentary election and matters of mutual interest between Bangladesh and France. They expressed optimism that the friendly relations and mutual cooperation between the two countries would be further strengthened in the future. Dr. Rahman was accompanied by Assistant Secretary General and head of the central publicity and media department Advocate Ehsanul Mahbub Zubair, educationist Dr. Zubair Ahmed, and foreign affairs adviser Professor Dr. Mahmudul Hasan.

A senior Cuban diplomat has accused the United States of committing 'international piracy' by blocking Venezuelan oil shipments in the Caribbean Sea. Carlos de Céspedes, Cuba’s ambassador to Colombia, told Al Jazeera on Saturday that Washington is preventing fuel from reaching Cuba by detaining Venezuelan tankers. He claimed that after the U.S. military attack and the abduction of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, the U.S. effectively imposed a maritime blockade against Cuba. De Céspedes said Cuba has not faced such intense U.S. threats in the 67 years since its revolution, recalling decades of sanctions and military pressure. Following Maduro’s abduction earlier this month, oil flow from Venezuela to Cuba has nearly stopped, despite Venezuela being Cuba’s main supplier for decades. U.S. President Donald Trump stated that Venezuelan oil shipments to Cuba are now 'zero' and warned that this situation will continue. According to Politico, the Trump administration is considering a full energy blockade on Cuba, which could trigger a humanitarian crisis. De Céspedes insisted that U.S. pressure will not subdue Cuba, saying the country will not bow to imperial threats even without a drop of oil.

The Student Rights Council has submitted a memorandum to the Election Commission (EC) demanding the cancellation of the registration of the Jatiya Party (JaPa) and other parties that supported the previous Awami League government. The group also called for these parties to be declared ineligible for the upcoming national election. The memorandum was handed over on Sunday at the EC office in Agargaon, Dhaka, where the organization’s leaders warned that allowing JaPa to contest would bring severe harm to the country. General Secretary Sanaullah accused the Jatiya Party of legitimizing the Awami League through its participation in the 2014, 2018, and 2024 elections, which he described as flawed. He criticized both the government and the EC for failing to act on earlier demands to ban JaPa. The group also announced plans to meet the Chief Adviser to protest the issue. Council President Nazmul Hasan alleged that the EC was showing leniency toward JaPa and criticized recent commission decisions. He warned that the organization would launch tougher programs if JaPa’s registration was not revoked.

The non-governmental organization Bangladesh Law and Rights Aid has filed a writ petition with the High Court seeking an order to stop the collection of any fees in the name of re-admission for students promoted to the next grade within the same educational institution. The petition, submitted on January 25, 2026, alleges that the practice of charging such fees constitutes a long-standing and silent form of exploitation in the country’s education system. According to the organization’s executive director, Ali Asgar Imon, many schools are charging large sums by labeling regular promotions as new admissions, turning education into a commercial product and placing parents under financial strain. He cited a November directive from the Ministry of Education that explicitly prohibits re-admission fees, allowing only an annual session charge. However, the directive is reportedly being ignored by thousands of institutions nationwide. The petition requests the court to declare re-admission fees illegal, order their immediate cessation, refund fees already collected for the 2026 academic year, and ensure full enforcement of the ministry’s directive signed by Education Secretary Rehana Parvin.

The Election Commission (EC) of Bangladesh has resumed the National Identity Card (NID) correction service after a two-month suspension. The service became operational again on Sunday, January 25, 2026, in the afternoon. According to NID Director General A.S.M. Humayun Kabir, the correction activities had been halted to facilitate postal vote registration and the finalization of election candidates. Kabir explained that the voter list has now been completed, allowing the EC to return to normal operations. He added that extensive work had been ongoing on the Out of Country Voting (OCV) and In-Country Postal Voting (IPCV) systems during the suspension period. With these registration processes now finished, the commission has reinstated regular NID services. The temporary suspension of NID correction services was also linked to the finalization of candidates for the upcoming elections, which required administrative focus and system resources.

BNP-nominated candidate for Dhaka-6 constituency, Engineer Ishraque Hossain, declared that he would not spare anti-liberation forces, accusing them of exploiting political opportunities in the past. He made the remarks on Sunday while addressing a discussion and prayer meeting organized by the Dhaka Lawyers Association for the late former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia. Ishraque also responded to comments from the Jamaat-e-Islami candidate for Dhaka-17, who had claimed they would dominate others, saying that if Jamaat wanted confrontation, BNP would not back down. Addressing Jamaat directly, Ishraque alleged that the party had targeted Tarique Rahman through propaganda and spread rumors linking him and Ishraque to the killing of a Jubo Dal leader in Mitford. He expressed disappointment after the mass uprising, saying BNP had expected coexistence but was forced to recall Jamaat’s 1971 role due to their actions. Ishraque further claimed Jamaat had been politically inactive since 2018 and reiterated his continued opposition to pro-India Awami League forces. Dhaka Lawyers Association President Khorhshed Mia Alam accused Jamaat-e-Islami of exploiting religion and said their betrayal had caused a major Islamic party to leave their alliance.

Two student organizations at Begum Rokeya University in Rangpur held separate press conferences on Sunday over allegations of irregularities involving university officials. The Islami Chhatra Shibir accused Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Shawkat Ali of administrative misconduct and failure to organize student union elections despite a ban on student politics. They also questioned the appointment of officials under investigation by the Anti-Corruption Commission and alleged that the university’s resources were used in national admission tests without receiving development funds. Shibir representatives said they would submit a memorandum to the University Grants Commission. In a counter move, the Bangladesh Jatiotabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) defended the vice-chancellor and accused Registrar Professor Dr. Harun-or-Rashid of irregularities and non-cooperation in legal cases filed by the university. Vice-Chancellor Shawkat Ali denied the allegations, stating that recruitment decisions are made by the UGC, not the university, and that he supports student elections. Registrar Harun-or-Rashid also rejected the claims, saying his office only provides student lists and that investigation commissions handle case matters. The dispute highlights ongoing tensions among student groups and university authorities over governance and accountability issues at the institution.

BNP-nominated parliamentary candidate Mirza Abbas has pledged to make Dhaka-8 constituency free from drugs, terrorism, and extortion if he wins the upcoming election. Speaking during a campaign event on Sunday, January 25, in Malibagh and Shahjahanpur, he said the area had been severely affected by these problems over the past 17 years. Abbas promised to liberate his constituency from such destructive forces. He alleged that statements from some political groups and government quarters hinted at conspiracies, suggesting irregularities in the electoral process. Abbas questioned the legitimacy of claims by an independent candidate who said the BNP would not be allowed any seats in Dhaka, asserting that only Allah and the people have the authority to decide election outcomes. He also expressed concern about the election environment, saying some parties’ behavior indicated something was wrong. Abbas further recalled the public support he received in 1991, 1996, and 2001, expressing confidence that voters would again elect him based on his and his party’s record. He emphasized his desire for a fair and acceptable election.

Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta has dismissed Fatemeh Ardeshir-Larijani, daughter of senior Iranian official Ali Larijani. The student-run newspaper Emory Wheel reported on Saturday that Dean Sandra Wong confirmed the decision in an email to faculty on January 24, stating that the physician, known as the daughter of a high-ranking Iranian government figure, is no longer employed by the university. The report said the decision followed protests by Iranian-American demonstrators outside Emory’s Winship Cancer Institute opposing her appointment, amid ongoing unrest in Iran. Before her departure, Ardeshir-Larijani served as an assistant professor in the Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology. Her faculty and healthcare web pages have since been removed. Andrea Clement, associate director of public relations at the Winship Cancer Institute, described the matter as personnel-related and emphasized that Emory remains committed to patient care, research, and education in compliance with state and federal laws. Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, was sanctioned by the United States on January 15 for his alleged role in suppressing peaceful protests in Iran.

The interim government’s Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) has approved an additional Tk 25,592 crore for the Ruppur Nuclear Power Plant project, raising its total cost from Tk 113,092 crore to Tk 138,685 crore. The decision was made at ECNEC’s final meeting before the upcoming national election, chaired by Chief Adviser and ECNEC Chairperson Dr. Muhammad Yunus at the NEC Conference Room in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka. Planning Adviser Dr. Wahiduddin Mahmud said the entire cost increase will be financed through project loans. According to the Planning Ministry, the revised Development Project Proposal (DPP) recommends a 22.63 percent cost increase and extends the project deadline from 2024 to June 2028. The government’s direct funding share has been reduced by Tk 166 crore to Tk 21,886 crore, while project loans have risen to Tk 116,799 crore. Implemented with Russian cooperation, the plant aims to generate 2,400 megawatts of electricity from two units with a 60-year lifespan, extendable by 20 years. The ECNEC meeting also approved 25 projects worth Tk 45,191 crore, including a 1,000-bed Bangladesh-China Friendship General Hospital and several infrastructure, transport, and environmental initiatives.

BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman has called on voters to elect the party’s symbol, the paddy sheaf, on the 12th to curb corruption. Speaking at an election rally on Sunday evening at Feni Government Pilot High School field, he said that if the BNP forms the government, it will resume the initiatives left by Khaleda Zia and the programs of Shaheed Ziaur Rahman to bring positive change to people’s lives. Tarique Rahman emphasized that criticizing political opponents would not benefit the public. Instead, he said, real progress would come from planned development such as canal excavation, improved healthcare, youth employment, and maintaining law and order. He noted that after August 5, people have been seeking change that would gradually reduce their problems, and the BNP must work toward that goal. The rally reflected BNP’s campaign focus on anti-corruption and development, highlighting promises to revive previous leadership programs and address citizens’ needs through practical measures.

The Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education (DSHE) has issued an urgent directive to ensure that the January 2026 salaries of MPO-listed teachers and employees are disbursed through the Electronic Fund Transfer (EFT) system. The directive, released on Sunday, January 25, outlines the procedures for submitting salary bills online through the EMIS system’s MPO–EFT module. According to the directive, the EFT-based payment process for MPO funds began on January 1, 2025, with direct transfers to individual bank accounts continuing through July 2025. From August 2025, institution heads have been required to submit bills online using their designated IDs and passwords. Each teacher or employee’s payable amount must be calculated separately and submitted accordingly. The directive further states that any necessary deductions due to death, resignation, suspension, or unauthorized absence must be properly indicated during bill submission. The information submitted by institution heads will be considered final for EFT processing, and any errors leading to overpayment or complications will be the responsibility of the respective head.

Popular Bangladeshi singer Dilruba Khan, known for her hit song 'Pagol Mon', has released a new musical project featuring a traditional Puthi and Kiccha centered on former Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia and her son Tarique Rahman. The artist announced the initiative on her Facebook page on January 25, 2026, explaining that the two pieces will be released on her YouTube channel 'Dilruba Khan Official' on January 25 and 26. Dilruba Khan said her goal was not only to highlight two political figures but also to revive the fading folk art forms of rural Bangladesh. She described the project as an effort to bring back the melodic storytelling traditions that once enriched village life but are now disappearing amid modernization. Through rhythm and narrative, she sought to portray aspects of Khaleda Zia and Tarique Rahman’s lives and struggles. The singer, who began her career performing songs by Abdul Alim, has long been recognized for her contributions to Bangladeshi folk music and film songs. This latest work continues her commitment to preserving the country’s cultural heritage.

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Interior has announced the deportation of more than 14,000 foreign nationals following a week-long nationwide campaign targeting violations of residency, labor, and border laws. The operation, conducted from January 15 to 21, led to the detention of approximately 18,200 individuals across the country. Among them, 11,400 were accused of violating residency laws, around 4,000 of breaching border regulations, and nearly 2,800 of breaking labor laws. Authorities also detained 1,762 people attempting to enter Saudi Arabia illegally, about half of whom were Yemeni and more than half Ethiopian nationals. Another 46 individuals were caught trying to leave the country illegally, while 11 others were arrested for allegedly transporting, sheltering, or employing undocumented migrants. Legal proceedings are ongoing against more than 25,000 people, and many have been referred to their diplomatic missions to obtain travel documents. The Interior Ministry warned that those aiding illegal entry, transport, or employment could face severe penalties, including long prison terms, heavy fines, confiscation of vehicles or property, and public disclosure of offenses.