Police in Chattogram uncovered a gruesome murder after two severed human hands were found in a black plastic bag near Shahidnagar, Bayezid Bostami area, early on January 21. Officers from Bayezid Bostami Police Station arrived at the scene and sent the hands to Chattogram Medical College Hospital. Fingerprint analysis through the national ID database identified the victim as Md. Anis, 38, from Rauzan’s Chikdair union, who had been missing since January 20. Following the identification, investigators traced the case to Sufia Akter, 39, who had a long-standing relationship and recent disputes with Anis. She was arrested from Pathanpara in the early hours of January 22. During interrogation, Sufia confessed to killing Anis at her home on January 20 and dismembering the body with the help of accomplices. The body parts were packed in black plastic bags and dumped across different locations. Police later recovered the remaining body parts based on Sufia’s information. Officials confirmed the killing was premeditated and solved swiftly using technology and field operations.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s Detective Branch (DB) has stated that former Volunteer Party leader Md. Azizur Rahman Musabbir was murdered in a planned attack linked to control over extortion in the capital’s Karwan Bazar area. At a press briefing on January 24, DB Additional Commissioner Md. Shafiqul Islam said the killing was carried out by hired shooters under the direction of underworld figure Binash Dada, also known as Dilip, who is currently abroad. Two shooters, Jinnat and Rahim, were directly involved, with Rahim recently arrested in Narsingdi’s Madhabdi area. Weapons used in the killing were recovered, and Rahim faces a separate arms case. DB reported that CCTV footage and other technical evidence confirmed the shooters’ involvement. Musabbir, a former general secretary of the BNP-affiliated Volunteer Party’s Dhaka North unit, was shot dead on January 7 in Tejgaon. His wife filed a murder case naming unidentified suspects. With Rahim’s arrest, five suspects have now been detained, and Jinnat has given a confessional statement under Section 164. DB said operations to recover illegal firearms and curb extortion are being intensified ahead of the upcoming national election.

Kishoreganj Deputy Commissioner Md Aslam Molla has called on imams to advocate for a 'Yes' vote and include supportive messages in mosque sermons. He made the appeal on Saturday at the Imam Conference held at the Kishoreganj Sadar Upazila Model Mosque and Cultural Center. The DC said the referendum, scheduled alongside the 13th National Parliamentary Election on February 12, aims to validate the July Charter following the success of the July movement. Aslam Molla explained that the Election Commission and the state have proposed reforms to transition the country toward a democratic system, reflecting the aspirations of ordinary citizens. He noted that political parties have reached consensus on 30 issues outlined in the July Charter. The event, chaired by Abu Bakar Siddique, Deputy Director of the Islamic Foundation in Kishoreganj, was attended by Press Club President Nasim Khan, Additional Deputy Commissioner Mizabe Rahmat, and around 700 imams from across the district. The DC emphasized that a 'Yes' vote would help restore the state’s democratic order, linking the referendum to the broader reform process initiated after the July movement.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has officially replaced Bangladesh with Scotland in the upcoming T20 World Cup, scheduled to begin on February 7 in India and Sri Lanka. According to a Cricbuzz report, the decision followed Bangladesh’s refusal to play in India due to security concerns. Despite repeated pressure and an ultimatum from the ICC, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), led by Aminul Islam Bulbul, maintained its stance and did not respond within the deadline, prompting the ICC to include Scotland instead. Bangladesh had earlier requested that all its matches be held in co-host Sri Lanka, but the ICC did not approve the proposal. England and West Indies, who were in the same group, also declined to travel to Sri Lanka, and a proposed group swap with Ireland failed after Ireland rejected the ICC’s offer. Reports suggest the Indian cricket board influenced Ireland’s decision with financial incentives and bilateral series promises. Pakistan’s cricket board supported Bangladesh’s position and urged the ICC to relocate matches to Sri Lanka or Pakistan, but the appeal was ignored. Scotland will now join Group C and play matches in Kolkata and Mumbai against West Indies, Italy, England, and Nepal.

Independent candidate Dr. Tasnim Jara has announced her election manifesto for Dhaka-9 ahead of Bangladesh’s 13th National Parliamentary Election. She published the manifesto on Facebook on Saturday, outlining her priorities under the slogan of equality in services and accountability in governance. Jara, a doctor by profession, pledged to end what she described as years of neglect toward the constituency and to ensure fair access to utilities, healthcare, education, and safety for residents. Her manifesto includes six major sections: improving gas supply, roads, and drainage; strengthening healthcare through better hospital management and community clinics; enhancing public safety by combating drug syndicates and improving street lighting; reforming education with modern labs and AI learning; promoting economic inclusion through startup funds and daycare centers; and ensuring parliamentary accountability through a local office and digital complaint dashboard. Jara emphasized that she is not a career politician but a local resident seeking to bring transparent, service-oriented politics to Dhaka-9. She urged voters to support her independent campaign symbolized by the football mark, promising to represent their voices and fight for equal rights and services in the constituency.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Friday that U.S. President Donald Trump’s comments about NATO troops in Afghanistan were offensive. Speaking to reporters in London, Starmer described Trump’s remarks downplaying NATO forces’ role as alarming and said the U.S. president should apologize. He added that if he had made such a mistake, he would have apologized himself. Starmer reaffirmed the deep relationship between the United Kingdom and the United States, emphasizing its importance for security and defense. Earlier on Friday, the British government had stated that Trump’s claim—that NATO troops avoided Afghanistan’s frontlines—was incorrect. Trump had said on Thursday that NATO soldiers stayed somewhat behind the frontlines during the war in Afghanistan. Following the September 11, 2001 attacks, the United Kingdom joined the United States and other allies in Afghanistan under NATO’s collective defense clause. The conflict resulted in the deaths of 457 British soldiers.

Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman declared a zero-tolerance stance against corruption during a district election rally at Altafunnesa field in Bogura on Saturday afternoon. He pledged that if given the opportunity to govern, his party would eliminate corruption at all levels and build a clean administration. Rahman also vowed that no extortion or misuse of public money would be tolerated across Bangladesh’s 56,000 square miles. Presided over by district Jamaat chief Abdul Haque, the event featured Rahman’s announcement of seven Jamaat candidates for Bogura constituencies, each symbolically handed the party’s scale emblem. He further promised to upgrade Bogura into a city corporation and establish a public university if Jamaat came to power. The rally drew a large crowd of party activists and local residents. Central leaders including Maulana Rafiqul Islam Khan and Maulana Abdul Halim, along with JAGPA president Rashed Pradhan and local alliance representatives, also addressed the gathering. Before and after the Bogura event, Rahman attended several other rallies in Mokamtala, Sherpur, Sirajganj, Ullapara, and Pabna.

Belgium has imposed a ban on aircraft carrying weapons and military equipment to Israel from using its airspace. The restriction took effect on Thursday, according to Anadolu Agency. Local newspaper Le Soir reported that the decision was initiated by Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot. Under the new rule, all information related to flights transporting military goods to Israel must be submitted in advance to Belgian authorities. The report stated that the main objective of the ban is to prevent the transport of Israeli arms and military goods. Inspection operations will be carried out by the Customs Authority and the Federal Public Service Mobility and Transport (SPF Transport). In Belgium, regional governments control arms export licenses, but the federal government oversees transport and transit activities. Therefore, this federal measure is expected to effectively limit the use of regional export licenses. The decision comes amid the ongoing war in Gaza, which began in October 2023. The conflict has reportedly resulted in over 71,000 Palestinian deaths and extensive destruction of civilian infrastructure, with Israel continuing restrictions on essential supplies despite a ceasefire.

BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman announced that his party would work to make primary school teachers more qualified and skilled to ensure proper education for children if they come to power. He made the remarks on Saturday, January 24, at a ‘Meet and Greet with Tarique Rahman’ event held at Justice Shahabuddin Park in Gulshan, where his daughter, Barrister Zaima Rahman, was also present. During the event, Rahman answered questions from participants. Responding to a question about education, Rahman emphasized the importance of teaching social values in schools and said that the BNP aims to strengthen primary education. He explained that teacher training would include academic, social, and religious value-based components to help children learn moral principles. Addressing cyberbullying, he added that teaching children right from wrong from an early age would help them develop a clear sense of justice. The event highlighted the BNP leader’s focus on education reform and moral development as part of his broader vision for improving the country’s primary education system.

Nine people were killed and eight others injured in an explosion at a cocaine laboratory on Colombia’s Pacific coast, police said on Friday. The incident occurred in the country’s southwestern Nariño department, an area known for cocaine production and home to the indigenous Awa community. Several armed groups are active in the region. Authorities reported that the victims worked for the National Coordinator Bolivarian Army, a dissident faction of the former rebel group FARC. Preliminary investigations indicated that a gas cylinder exploded during drug production, triggering the blast. The rebel group also confirmed in a statement that improper handling of the cylinder caused the fire that engulfed the lab within seconds. The group had rejected FARC’s 2016 peace agreement but is currently engaged in talks with President Gustavo Petro’s leftist government. The explosion site has long been part of a major cocaine trafficking route to the United States, where local smugglers operate with support from Mexican cartels.

BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman engaged in a discussion with young people at Justice Shahabuddin Park in Gulshan, Dhaka, on Saturday afternoon. The meeting began around 2:30 p.m., where Rahman responded to various questions from the youth and shared his vision for building a new Bangladesh. His daughter, Barrister Zaima Rahman, also attended the event and took part in answering questions from participants. The gathering focused on direct interaction between the BNP leadership and young citizens, emphasizing dialogue and exchange of ideas. The event was organized in an open setting at the park, allowing attendees to express their views and seek responses from the party leadership. Both Tarique Rahman and Zaima Rahman were seen engaging actively with the audience. The session highlighted the BNP’s effort to connect with younger generations and encourage their participation in discussions about the country’s future direction.

Several leading international airlines have suspended flights across the Middle East following U.S. President Donald Trump’s statement that a powerful American naval armada is heading toward Iran. The move comes amid growing fears of a possible military confrontation between the United States and Iran. Airlines including KLM, Lufthansa, and Air France have temporarily halted services to key destinations in the region. According to NDTV, the cancellations have severely disrupted air connectivity to major hubs such as Israel, Dubai, and Riyadh. Air France announced that its Dubai-bound flights on July 23 and 24 would not operate due to the current situation. KLM Royal Dutch Airlines has indefinitely suspended flights to Dubai, Riyadh, Dammam, and Tel Aviv, rerouting aircraft to avoid the airspace of Iran, Iraq, Israel, and several Gulf countries. United Airways and Air Canada have also stopped flights to Israel amid concerns of a potential U.S. strike on Iran. The White House stated that Tehran’s decision to suspend executions of protesters has not altered Washington’s military planning, further intensifying regional tensions.

Nine Indian officials working at the Rampal Thermal Power Plant in Bagerhat, operated by Bangladesh-India Friendship Power Company Limited (BIFPCL), left Bangladesh without official permission. The incident occurred on Saturday, January 24, 2026, when the officials were found missing during breakfast. Later, it was confirmed that they had crossed into India through the Bhomra land port. The plant authorities immediately informed the Power Development Board and relevant ministries, expressing deep concern over the unauthorized departure. According to plant sources, the officials left citing security concerns, though the area is under four layers of security involving the army, police, and Ansar. The project director, Ramanath Pujari, confirmed their departure and the stated reason. However, officials noted that none of the individuals had previously reported any security issues or complaints. The sudden and unexplained exit has been described as mysterious by plant authorities. The plant’s Deputy General Manager (Public Relations), Anwarul Azim, said the matter is being investigated seriously to determine the reasons behind their departure.

More than 8,000 flights scheduled for the weekend were cancelled as a major winter storm swept across the United States, bringing heavy snow and dangerous ice from east Texas to North Carolina. According to FlightAware, at least 3,400 flights were delayed or cancelled on Saturday and over 5,000 were called off for Sunday. Roughly 140 million people from New Mexico to New England were under winter storm warnings, with forecasters warning that ice damage could rival that of a hurricane. Snow began falling in Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas on Friday as the storm combined with Arctic cold to engulf much of the country. Meteorologist Jacob Asherman described it as the season’s most intense storm, with wind chills dropping below minus 45 degrees Celsius in the Dakotas and Minnesota. The worst conditions were expected in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee, where ice could reach an inch thick. Governors in more than a dozen states declared emergencies or urged residents to stay home. President Donald Trump said federal agencies were coordinating with local officials, while New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani mobilized the city’s sanitation department for large-scale snow removal.

Two people were killed and at least 30 others injured in a head-on collision between a passenger bus and a brick-laden truck on the Faridpur-Barishal highway at Nawpara area of Bhanga upazila on Saturday, January 24, 2026, around 11 a.m. The deceased were identified as truck driver Rashed Sheikh, 28, and his helper Nabin Sheikh, 22, both from Kamalapur Dhlar Mor under Faridpur Sadar Kotwali police station. Police and fire service personnel conducted a one-hour rescue operation, recovering the bodies and sending the injured to Bhanga Upazila Health Complex. According to Bhanga Highway Police Sub-Inspector Mamun, the accident occurred when the Faridpur-bound bus and the Bhanga-bound truck collided head-on. The crash caused a several-kilometer traffic jam on both sides of the highway, which was later cleared after the damaged vehicles were removed. Bhanga Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mohammad Abdul Alim said legal procedures were underway to hand over the bodies to the victims’ families. A surviving truck helper named Rahman said they were driving the truck themselves as the main driver was delayed, and the accident occurred on their way to unload bricks in Bhanga.