Tipu Chowdhury, a 50-year-old resident of Mirsharai in Chattogram, was shot dead by assailants in South Africa. The incident occurred on Friday, January 23, 2026, around 3 p.m. local time at his business establishment in the KwaMthlanga area of Pretoria. According to family sources, he had been living in South Africa for about 35 years. His body is currently kept at a local police station, and arrangements are underway to bring it back to Bangladesh. Tipu’s cousin Litu Chowdhury said that the attackers opened fire suddenly while Tipu was at his business premises, killing him instantly before fleeing the scene. He also mentioned that about 20 years ago, Tipu’s brother Abu Sayem was similarly shot dead by assailants in South Africa. Another expatriate, Md. Ashraf Uddin, expressed deep sorrow over the incident, recalling personal memories with Tipu. The report did not mention any arrests or official statements from South African authorities regarding the attack.

Thousands of people demonstrated in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Friday against the Trump administration’s strict immigration policies. Despite freezing temperatures dropping 29 degrees Celsius below zero, organizers said around 50,000 protesters took to the streets, demanding an end to harsh immigration measures. The demonstrators marched and gathered at the Target Center, calling for policy changes. According to organizers and participants, several businesses across Minnesota closed for the day as workers joined the protest. The large-scale demonstration reflected growing opposition to the administration’s immigration enforcement actions. The protest took place just one day after U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance visited Minneapolis to express support for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers, who he said were conducting an important operation to detain immigration law violators. The timing of the protest, following the vice president’s visit, underscored the deep divisions over immigration enforcement in the United States and the public pushback against federal actions.

Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman declared that his party fears no intimidation and will not tolerate external interference in national affairs. He made the remarks on Saturday morning at a ten-party electoral rally held at Polabari Government Pilot High School field in Gaibandha. During the event, he emphasized the party’s commitment to implementing the Teesta mega project if given the opportunity, saying that restoring the rivers of northern Bangladesh would revive the lives of local residents. Rahman pledged to fight corruption and extortion, promising employment instead of allowances and improved healthcare services. He said Jamaat wants to turn citizens into productive assets and ensure the safety of mothers. Despite facing oppression, he stated that the party remains steadfast in its dedication to the country. At the end of his speech, Rahman handed over election symbols to candidates in all five parliamentary constituencies of Gaibandha, all of whom are Jamaat nominees under the ten-party alliance. He described the five candidates as a trust left with the people, urging voters to return that trust as a gift to the party.

At a public rally in Rangpur Town Hall on Friday evening, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami’s central committee Nayeb-e-Ameer ATM Azharul Islam called on voters to support candidates of the 10-party alliance in the upcoming 13th national parliamentary election scheduled for February 12. He described the alliance’s candidates as patriotic and defenders of Islam, asserting that their victory was essential for the nation’s advancement. Azharul Islam criticized the ruling Awami League government, alleging unjust imprisonment and mistreatment during his 14 years in jail. He emphasized the need for a free, fair, and neutral election, expressing concern that the Election Commission had yet to ensure a level playing field. He warned that the alliance would not accept any unfair election or manipulation of voting centers. He also urged voters to support the “yes” side in an upcoming referendum related to the implementation of the July Charter and claimed that Jamaat leaders have maintained a record free of corruption, focusing instead on public welfare and national unity.

A faction of the Alfadanga upazila unit of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has declared its support for independent candidate Arifur Rahman Dolon in the Faridpur-1 constituency, which covers Alfadanga, Boalmari, and Madhukhali. The announcement was made on Friday night at the faction’s office on Hospital Road in Alfadanga, where Dolon was present. Members of both the upazila and municipal BNP branches pledged to work for Dolon’s campaign under the boat symbol. During the meeting, Dolon provided election-related guidance to his supporters. Among those present were upazila BNP vice president Khoshbur Rahman Khokon, municipal BNP vice president Rezaul Karim Reza, and several other local leaders. Khokon told Amader Desh that the group decided to support Dolon because the BNP’s official candidate had not maintained communication with them and had disregarded their efforts to cooperate. BNP’s nominated candidate for Faridpur-1, central Krishak Dal vice president Khandaker Nasirul Islam, responded that these individuals have long opposed the party while using its titles and that he has requested the party high command to take organizational action against them.

A landslide in Indonesia’s West Bandung region of West Java province has killed seven people and left 82 others missing, according to Abdul Muhari, spokesperson for the country’s disaster management agency. The incident occurred in a village in the region following reports of heavy rainfall across Java. Search and rescue operations are being intensified to locate the missing individuals. The Indonesian Meteorological Department had earlier issued a one-week weather warning for West Java, forecasting heavy rain and adverse conditions starting from Friday. Local officials confirmed that the landslide was triggered by persistent rainfall in the area. Last month, severe landslides and floods in North Sumatra, West Sumatra, and Aceh provinces claimed more than 1,170 lives, highlighting the ongoing vulnerability of Indonesia’s regions to extreme weather events.

Delegations from Ukraine, Russia, and the United States met in the United Arab Emirates to discuss ways to end the ongoing war. The meeting, held on Friday in Abu Dhabi, marked the first direct and public discussion between Moscow and Kyiv. The talks focused mainly on Russia’s demand for control over parts of Ukrainian territory. The U.S. delegation included three representatives, among them Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, son-in-law of President Donald Trump. The specific agenda of the meeting was not officially disclosed. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed he was in contact with his country’s representatives during the talks. Earlier, he expressed optimism that the meeting could be a step toward ending the conflict. Speaking in Davos, Zelensky said the core issue remained territorial division, emphasizing that both Ukraine and Russia must be ready for compromise. Russia has demanded that Ukraine cede about 25 percent of the Donetsk region still under Kyiv’s control, while Ukraine proposed creating an economic zone in Donbas and sought security guarantees in exchange for conditional troop withdrawal.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Israel is looking for an opportunity to attack Iran, warning that such an action could further destabilize the region. He made the remarks in a television interview on Friday, emphasizing that he hopes Israel will choose a different path. Fidan clarified that his observation applies specifically to Israel, not necessarily to the United States. Fidan added that during his recent visit to Iran, he directly conveyed these concerns to Iranian officials, describing his approach as that of a true friend who speaks hard truths. His comments followed a phone call on Thursday between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, during which Erdoğan reaffirmed Turkey’s opposition to any foreign intervention in Iran and its commitment to the neighbor’s peace and stability. On Friday, a senior Iranian official told Reuters that Tehran would consider any attack by its enemies as a declaration of total war against Iran.

Mufti Maulana Fazlul Karim, the Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami candidate for the Bhola-2 (Daulatkhan-Borhanuddin) constituency, has withdrawn from the upcoming parliamentary election. His withdrawal prompted mixed reactions among local Jamaat leaders and activists on social media. On January 22, the first day of campaigning, the local Jamaat election office in Daulatkhan remained closed, fueling speculation that the candidate had not received approval from the central 10-party Islamic alliance to contest. Daulatkhan Upazila Jamaat secretary Maulana Ashraf Uddin Faruk confirmed that the alliance had nominated Mokhfar Uddin Chowdhury of the LDP, who will contest under the umbrella symbol. He added that Jamaat would continue its organizational activities but had not been contacted by the alliance candidate for cooperation. Borhanuddin Upazila Jamaat chief Maulana Maksudur Rahman stated on Facebook that the decision to withdraw was made in line with the alliance’s central policy and for broader organizational unity. The statement emphasized that the move was not due to weakness or fear but to uphold discipline, unity, and collective interest within the Islamic alliance.

More than three months after a ceasefire in Gaza, Israeli forces have continued attacks and restrictions on humanitarian aid, according to a United Nations briefing on Thursday. UN Secretary-General’s spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said that about 230,000 women and girls, including 15,000 pregnant women, are being denied essential reproductive health services due to Israeli military actions and blockade. The UN Population Fund reported that the destruction of hospitals, clinics, and health centers, along with displacement and flooding, has severely limited access to medical and psychological support. The situation in Gaza remains dire, with civilians suffering from cold and lack of shelter. A six-month-old child reportedly died in Khan Younis due to extreme cold, bringing the winter death toll to 11. Despite the ceasefire, Israeli shelling continued across Gaza, including in Gaza City, Rafah, and Khan Younis. The Palestinian Health Ministry said 477 people have been killed and 1,301 injured in the three months since the ceasefire, with total casualties from the conflict reaching over 71,000 dead and 171,000 injured. Israeli operations have also intensified in the occupied West Bank, where several Palestinians were recently arrested in Nablus and Bethlehem.

In Comilla, long considered a stronghold of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), the upcoming 13th parliamentary election is showing signs of major political shifts. Out of 11 constituencies, BNP faces internal divisions with three rebel candidates and two disqualified nominees, raising the possibility of losing at least six seats. The Jamaat-e-Islami and National Citizen Party (NCP)-led 10-party alliance appears to be gaining ground in several constituencies, particularly where BNP’s vote base is split or weakened. Election Commission data show 81 candidates have received symbols across Comilla’s 11 constituencies, including 76 party nominees and five independents. Political observers note that after August 2024, national politics took a new turn reflected in recent student elections, influencing local dynamics. Historically, BNP dominated Comilla, winning 11 of 12 seats in 2001, but the current scenario suggests a competitive field. Analysts indicate that Jamaat-NCP candidates are now in stronger positions in constituencies such as Comilla-2, 4, 9, 10, and 11, while BNP retains relative strength in others where internal disputes are absent.

An analysis published on January 24, 2026, describes increasing harassment and marginalization of Muslim citizens in India, the world’s most populous country. The report argues that Muslims are often told they must remain politically silent to prove loyalty to the state, with their rights and visibility expected to be limited. It notes that since India’s independence in 1947, Muslims have actively participated in democratic and constitutional processes, but their space for legitimate political expression is now shrinking. The article traces the roots of this ‘exceptionalism’ to the post-partition period, when staying Muslims were viewed as morally distinct from those who left. Historian Mushirul Hasan and theorists Mahmood Mamdani and Hilal Ahmed are cited to show how Muslims have been framed as either loyal and apolitical or suspect when politically active. Media portrayals reinforce this divide, labeling Muslims differently depending on whether they protest or remain silent. The report concludes that such framing has become institutionalized, with legal and policy reforms presented as neutral while dissenting Muslim voices are dismissed as emotional or regressive.

A final report by the commission on enforced disappearances has revealed detailed witness accounts of a secret Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) operation known as 'Golf Operation'. The report describes how detainees, blindfolded and bound, were taken to secluded locations and shot at close range, often by then Lieutenant Colonel Ziaul Ahsan, later promoted to Major General. Witnesses said Ahsan personally executed victims and instructed others to learn the method, calling hesitant members 'cowards'. The victims appeared young, weak, and had signs of prolonged detention and torture. According to the testimonies, bodies were disposed of to erase evidence—sometimes left on railway tracks to simulate accidents, or thrown into rivers from bridges or boats, often weighted with cement bags. The report states that these killings were treated within RAB as acts of 'duty' or 'skill'. Many participants reportedly suffered severe psychological trauma afterward. The International Crimes Tribunal has begun proceedings against dismissed Major General Ziaul Ahsan for crimes against humanity involving over a hundred enforced disappearances and killings. The testimonies depict systematic and brutal methods of execution and disposal, suggesting an organized pattern of extrajudicial killings within the force.

The Trump administration has announced an indefinite suspension of immigrant visa processing for 75 countries, including Thailand, citing high rates of welfare claims by migrants. The decision has upended the plans of many Thais, such as 27-year-old Khaochat Mankong, who had been preparing to move to California with her American husband. The freeze affects EB-class employment visas and K-class spousal and dependent visas, leaving families and workers uncertain about their futures. Thailand’s government has voiced disappointment at being grouped with poorer, conflict-affected nations like Afghanistan and Haiti. Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow met with US Charge D’Affairs Elizabeth J Konick to seek clarification, questioning the logic of the inclusion given Thailand’s long-standing alliance and economic contributions to the United States. The move comes amid already strained relations between Washington and Bangkok, worsened by US tariffs and stalled trade talks. While some Thais support the policy as a measure to curb welfare misuse, others view it as unfair and damaging to bilateral ties. Analysts suggest the suspension reflects a broader effort by the Trump administration to sharply restrict legal immigration.

United States President Donald Trump has faced sharp criticism from British politicians after claiming that NATO forces stayed away from the front lines during the war in Afghanistan. In an interview with Fox News, Trump said the US had “never needed” NATO and suggested that allied forces were “a little off the front lines.” He also questioned whether NATO members would come to Washington’s aid if requested. The comments triggered a backlash across the UK political spectrum, with critics citing the heavy losses suffered by NATO allies during the 20-year conflict. The United Kingdom lost 457 service personnel, while Canada, France, and Denmark also recorded significant casualties. Junior British minister Stephen Kinnock called Trump’s remarks “deeply disappointing,” emphasizing that European forces had paid a heavy price supporting US-led missions in Afghanistan and Iraq. He also reminded that NATO allies rallied behind the US after the September 11 attacks when Article 5 was invoked. Other UK politicians, including Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey, criticized Trump’s comments by pointing to his history of avoiding military service during the Vietnam War, calling his questioning of NATO sacrifices unacceptable.