At an Iftar event organized by the Panchagarh District Association, NCPI North Zone Chief Organizer Sarjis Alam predicted that within the next decade, a prime minister would emerge from Panchagarh. He outlined plans to promote the district’s development and emphasized unity in executing these plans. He also urged citizens to report any complaints against government officials, assuring that necessary actions would be taken within a week.

Jamaat-e-Islami Amir Shafiqur Rahman called for self-criticism among politicians and journalists. He stressed that no one is above mistakes and called for the media to highlight both the positive and negative aspects of political leaders. Rahman stated that transparency and mutual understanding between politicians and the media are key for societal progress. He criticized the political class for failing to put the nation above party interests and claimed that political slogans should reflect real action.

Dr. Muhammad Yunus, Chief Advisor, has pledged to work with the United Nations to facilitate the repatriation of Rohingya refugees to their homes by next year so that they can celebrate Eid there. He emphasized that the international community should show solidarity with the Rohingya and their Bangladeshi hosts by providing real support through actionable steps. He expressed concern that due to funding cuts, only 40% of the aid allocated for 2025 would be available, potentially creating a humanitarian crisis.

Shairul Kabir Khan, a member of the BNP media cell, announced that the party is scheduled to meet United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Saturday. The meeting will take place at 1:00 PM at the InterContinental Hotel in the capital. BNP Secretary-General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and other party representatives will participate in the meeting.

In a Facebook post, Tarique Rahman urged the interim government to take immediate steps to ensure the safety of every mother, sister, and daughter in the country. He expressed deep sorrow, shame, and grief over the tragic death of an 8-year-old girl after being raped in Bangladesh. Rahman emphasized that children and women should never face violence, harassment, or oppression. He pledged to work for justice for the victims and mentioned that the BNP has formed two cells – one for medical assistance and the other for legal support.

Following the efforts of Shamsul Huda of Dhaka, the body of Indian national Bijli Kumar Roy, who passed away in jail, was returned to his family. Roy had served a one-year sentence for illegal entry in 2021. Due to a mistake in his address, he couldn’t be sent back to India until now. After falling ill, he was admitted to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital, where he passed away on January 15. His elder brother, Badri Roy, received the body in the presence of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and Border Security Force (BSF). Huda has helped return 43 out of 52 such cases to their families.

The Higher Education Commission of Punjab, Pakistan, has imposed a ban on Indian dance and songs along with immoral and unethical activities in all public and private colleges. The Commission clarified that it is the responsibility of college administrations to ensure the moral and disciplined education of students. A circular stated that any violation of the ban would lead to strict action against the offenders.

The Principal of Shreepur Liberation War Veteran Rahmat Ali Government College, Md. Nurunnabi Akand, has gone missing with important college documents and a massive sum of 50 crore taka. Several murder cases have been filed against him at the Shreepur police station after the fall of the League government. Previously, in 2009, he ousted the former principal after harassment. During his tenure, he operated an extensive hiring racket, recruiting 87 people, including family members, through unethical demands. From 2007 to 2023, he embezzled 200 crore taka. In 2023, he was involved in corruption worth nearly 2 crore taka through fraudulent vouchers. Between 2016 and 2022, he misappropriated 44 crore 55 lakh 50 thousand taka from the college fund. He is now absconding without providing an account of the 50 crore taka.

Following a high-level meeting in Beijing, diplomats from Iran, China, and Russia issued a joint statement calling for the removal of what they termed ‘illegal sanctions’ imposed on Iran. They reaffirmed Iran’s right to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes and emphasized the need for diplomatic dialogue based on mutual respect. The meeting, chaired by China’s Deputy Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu, included Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi and Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov. The trio urged against actions that could escalate tensions or disrupt diplomatic efforts.

The Islamabad High Court had ordered that former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan be presented either via video call by 2 PM or in person by 3 PM on Friday. However, prison authorities failed to comply, citing security risks. Islamabad’s Advocate General stated that security concerns made it impossible to bring Khan physically or connect him via video call. The court has now ordered Adiala Jail’s superintendent and the advocate general to submit affidavits explaining the failure to comply with its directive.

The U.S. government has imposed sanctions on ten oil tankers accused of illegally facilitating Iran’s global oil exports as part of its maximum-pressure strategy against Tehran. One of these tankers had been brought to Bangladesh for dismantling, but the new sanctions could halt the process. The vessel, a massive oil carrier, remains anchored in Bangladesh. The U.S. alleges that these ships play a key role in Iran’s oil supply network.

Police in Madaripur’s Shibchar have arrested Apel Mahmud (42), the owner of Shibchar United Hospital, on charges of raping a nurse. According to reports, Mahmud had repeatedly harassed the victim with inappropriate proposals. After she rejected his advances, Mahmud allegedly abducted her on December 20 last year, took her to Cox’s Bazar, and detained her in a hotel for three days, where she was raped. On December 25, he forced her to sign a non-judicial stamp paper falsely certifying a marriage before releasing her. Police arrested Mahmud on Thursday following an investigation.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres and Nobel Laureate Dr. Muhammad Yunus joined thousands of Rohingya refugees for an iftar gathering in Cox’s Bazar. Upon their arrival at the refugee camp, they were welcomed by Disaster Management and Relief Ministry Advisor Faruq-e-Azam. Guterres engaged in discussions with Rohingya students and community leaders regarding their living conditions and future prospects.

Protests erupted in Kishoreganj against BNP advisor Advocate Fazlur Rahman over his controversial remarks about Islamic scholars. Demonstrators, under the banner of ‘Tawhidi Public,’ declared Rahman an ‘unwelcome’ figure in the district and his parliamentary constituency. Protesters emphasized that their movement is not against BNP but against Rahman himself. Religious leader Maulana Mazhar Shah stated that Rahman’s remarks insulted scholars and questioned his use of “Rahman” in his name, accusing him of being anti-Islamic.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has formed two specialized cells to address issues related to women and children. Ruhul Kabir Rizvi announced that these units, composed of legal experts and medical professionals, have been established in all 84 organizational districts. The two units are: the ‘Legal Assistance Cell for Oppressed Women and Children’ and the ‘Health Support Cell for Oppressed Women and Children.’ The central coordinators of these initiatives are Barrister Kaiser Kamal and Rafiqul Islam.