Brahmanbaria’s Sarail upazila has completed extensive preparations to welcome BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman, who is scheduled to address a public rally at Kuttapara playground on Thursday, January 22, 2026. This will be his first rally in the district since becoming party chief, and local BNP leaders expect a large turnout. The event follows his visit to Sylhet, where he will begin the party’s campaign for the 13th national election. District and upazila BNP units have built a large stage, installed modern sound systems, lighting, and CCTV cameras, and decorated the area with banners and festoons. Senior BNP leaders, including district president Khaled Hossain Mahbub and alliance candidate Maulana Junayed Al Habib, have repeatedly inspected the venue. Law enforcement officials, led by the district police superintendent, are overseeing security arrangements. Local leaders anticipate that between five and six lakh people may attend the rally. BNP representatives described the event as a historic moment for Brahmanbaria politics and expect it to influence the upcoming national election.

U.S. President Donald Trump has warned that if Iran ever kills him, he has already ordered the country to be wiped off the map. He made the statement on Tuesday, January 20, during a public address, responding to threats from Tehran. Earlier, Iran had warned that if its Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei were assassinated, Trump himself would be killed, not just have his hand severed. Iranian military official General Abdolfazl Shekarchi said any aggressive move against Iran’s leaders would lead to severe retaliation, describing it as a real warning rather than a slogan. He added that Iran would ignite fires across the world, leaving no safe place for its enemies. In response, Trump said he had prepared extremely strict orders, asserting that if anything happened to him, the U.S. military would erase Iran from the world map. The exchange follows years of tension since the 2020 U.S. strike in Baghdad that killed Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani, after which Iran repeatedly threatened revenge against Trump.

US President Donald Trump described the United Nations as a 'useless' organization during a press briefing at the White House on Tuesday. He said a newly proposed 'Peace Board', created to end the war in Gaza and oversee the region’s reconstruction, could serve as an alternative to the UN. When asked if the board would replace the UN, Trump replied that it might, adding that the UN is not very effective. Trump announced that the 'Peace Board' would be composed of world leaders and that he would serve as its chairman indefinitely, even beyond his presidential term. The board will grant permanent membership to countries contributing one billion dollars. The United Arab Emirates and Bahrain have already confirmed their participation. Trump is also inviting leaders of major powers, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, to join. The initiative aims to manage Gaza’s governance and rebuilding efforts following the conflict, positioning the board as a new global platform for peace oversight.

BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman is set to visit Sylhet tonight, marking his first trip there in two decades. He will depart for Sylhet by air around 8:15 p.m. on Wednesday and begin his election campaign on Thursday morning. At 11:30 a.m., he is scheduled to address a public rally at the historic Government Alia Madrasa field in Sylhet city. Later in the day, he will attend a series of election rallies in Moulvibazar, Habiganj, Brahmanbaria, Kishoreganj, Narsingdi, and Narayanganj before returning to Dhaka at 10 p.m. Before joining the rallies, Tarique Rahman will visit the shrines of Hazrat Shahjalal (R.) and Hazrat Shah Paran (R.) in Sylhet. The BNP is beginning its formal campaign for the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election from Sylhet, following its long-standing tradition. The city has taken on a festive atmosphere ahead of his arrival, with streets decorated with banners, festoons, and arches. The visit signifies the official start of BNP’s nationwide election campaign, with Sylhet serving as the symbolic launch point for the party’s political activities.

A Japanese court has sentenced Tetsuya Yamagami to life imprisonment for the 2022 assassination of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Judge Shinichi Tanaka delivered the verdict on Wednesday, concluding a case that shocked Japan and the world. Yamagami admitted to shooting Abe in broad daylight during a campaign event in the southern city of Nara. Prosecutors had sought a life sentence, calling the killing an unprecedented event in Japan’s postwar history that had a negative impact on society, while the defense requested a maximum of 20 years. According to the case details, Yamagami’s mother was a follower of the Unification Church and had donated nearly all her assets, leaving the family in financial distress. Yamagami reportedly became angry after learning of Abe’s alleged ties to the controversial church. On July 8, 2022, he used a homemade gun made from pipes and duct tape to shoot Abe twice while the former leader was giving a speech. Abe was taken to a hospital but died shortly afterward. The court’s ruling brings closure to one of Japan’s most shocking acts of violence in recent decades.

Ahead of Bangladesh’s 13th national parliamentary election, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) is facing a major internal challenge as more than fifty rebel candidates continue to contest despite being expelled. According to the Election Commission’s schedule, Tuesday was the last day to withdraw nominations, but these expelled leaders did not withdraw. Party insiders fear the situation could significantly affect BNP’s unity and vote distribution across several constituencies. Many long-time BNP leaders reportedly became frustrated after being denied party nominations. Some have chosen to run as independents, while others openly opposed party decisions. Most of these rebel candidates are locally popular figures, raising concerns about vote splits in key districts. The party expelled several leaders, including Saiful Alam (Dhaka-12), Rumin Farhana (Brahmanbaria-2), Hasan Mamun (Patuakhali-3), Saiful Islam Firoz (Jhenaidah-4), and others, for violating party discipline. BNP had earlier left several constituencies for allied parties under a joint movement strategy, but expelled leaders refused to step aside. Observers believe this internal discord could complicate BNP’s electoral prospects in multiple regions.

Jamaat-e-Islami central executive council member Mobarak Hossain stated that the party seeks a peaceful election and will not tolerate any attempts at disorder. He made the remarks on Wednesday morning at a post-protest rally held on 60 Feet Road in the Barak Molla area of Mirpur, Dhaka. The rally followed a protest march organized in response to alleged attacks on Jamaat-Shibir activists and harassment of female party workers in the Jamaat Amir’s electoral area. Hossain emphasized that the people of the country want to see Jamaat in power and that the party is fully prepared to face both the upcoming election and any acts of violence. He described Pirerbag as a stronghold of Jamaat-Shibir and warned that no terrorism would be tolerated there, promising a counter-response to any future attacks. According to the report, Jamaat Amir Dr. Shafiqur Rahman is scheduled to visit Ibn Sina Hospital in Kallyanpur to see party activists injured in the Mirpur attack.

Pakistan has extended its airspace ban on all Indian-registered aircraft for another month, the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) announced. The restriction, which applies to both civilian and military aircraft, will now remain in effect until February 24. According to the PCAA, the ban covers all aircraft owned, operated, or leased by Indian airlines, as well as Indian military planes. The measure was originally imposed amid heightened tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbors. Although a ceasefire was later brokered through U.S. mediation, Islamabad has not lifted the airspace restriction. The PCAA had previously extended the ban until January 23, maintaining it despite ongoing diplomatic contacts between the two countries. The continued closure of Pakistani airspace has caused significant financial and operational strain on Indian airlines. Flights to the Middle East, Europe, and the United States are being forced to take longer routes, increasing fuel consumption and extending travel times by nearly three hours.

U.S. President Donald Trump has reiterated his firm position on bringing Greenland under American control, declaring on social media that the territory is extremely important and that there is no room for retreat. During a White House press conference, when asked how far he was willing to go in acquiring Greenland, Trump replied that the world would know in due time. His remarks have sparked renewed international concern, according to BBC reports. At the World Economic Forum in Davos, French President Emmanuel Macron warned that the world is gradually moving toward a ruleless order, while Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney stated that the old global system is not returning. Trump is expected to arrive in Davos on Wednesday for several key meetings on the Greenland issue, assuring that everything will ultimately work out in America’s favor. Greenland’s Minister for Industry and Natural Resources, Naja Nathanielsen, said that the people of Greenland were shocked by Trump’s comments and emphasized their desire to determine their own future. Analysts believe Trump’s tough stance is creating new diplomatic tension between the United States and its allies.

About 200 Islamic State (IS) detainees escaped from a prison in Syria’s eastern Hasakah province on Monday amid confusion during a control handover between the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the Syrian government. The incident occurred at the Al-Shaddadi prison, and both U.S. officials and regional sources confirmed the escape. The escape followed a unification agreement signed on Sunday under which the SDF agreed to withdraw from two Arab-majority provinces it had long controlled. As part of the deal, responsibility for prisons holding IS detainees was to be transferred from the SDF to the Syrian government. Damascus accused the SDF of deliberately delaying the handover, while Syrian leader Ahmed al-Shara voiced dissatisfaction with Kurdish autonomy and hinted at dissolving the SDF leadership. According to U.S. officials, Washington had been working with the SDF to relocate the most dangerous foreign IS prisoners to more secure facilities before the ceasefire. Following the escape, Syrian forces imposed a curfew in Al-Shaddadi and launched a large-scale operation to capture the fugitives.

In Brahmanbaria-2 (Sarail–Ashuganj) constituency, Jamaat-e-Islami nominated candidate Maulana Mobarak Hossain has withdrawn his nomination to support the National Citizen Party (NCP)-backed candidate. He made the announcement on Tuesday, expressing loyalty to the ten-party alliance’s collective decision ahead of the upcoming national parliamentary election. Alliance leaders described Brahmanbaria-2 as one of the constituencies with high potential for political change. The alliance’s nominated candidate and NCP central joint convener, Maulana Ashraf Uddin Mahdi, said he was inspired by his grandfather Mufti Fazlul Haque Amini, who had previously been elected from this area in alliance with Begum Khaleda Zia. Mahdi stated that he aims to complete his grandfather’s unfinished work and called for politics free from violence, muscle power, and black money. According to Mahdi, residents of Sarail and Ashuganj have responded positively to Mobarak Hossain’s decision to withdraw his nomination in favor of the alliance candidate.

Jamalpur University of Science and Technology (Jabiprabi) has decided to hold a referendum to rename its only male student dormitory. The decision was made on Tuesday, January 20, during a meeting between students and the university administration, including Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Mohammad Rokonuzzaman and Pro-Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Mohammad Mosharaf Hossain. The vote will take place on Thursday, January 22, with results to be announced the same night. According to university sources, the dormitory was originally named after Mirza Azam, a former ruling party member of parliament. Following the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government on August 5, 2024, after a mass uprising in July, students demanded the removal of names associated with the former regime. Disagreement arose among students over the new name, with some proposing “Bijoy ’24” to commemorate the uprising, while others suggested naming it after the local saint Hazrat Shah Jamal (R.). Hall Provost Dr. Muhammad Farhad Ali stated that the election committee and voter list will be announced on Wednesday, and the name receiving the highest votes will be officially adopted.

Jagannath University (JNU) unit of Chhatra Dal has condemned remarks made by Ibrahim Khalil, the organizational secretary of the university’s Shibir unit, describing them as fascist and an attempt to destabilize the campus. In a press release issued on the night of January 20, signed by office secretary Mozammel Mamun Deni, the organization alleged that Khalil called for blocking rail, road, and waterways on January 22 to obstruct a rally of BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman in Sylhet. The statement said such provocative and irresponsible comments reflect undemocratic behavior and mirror the repressive political culture of the past. It accused Shibir of trying to destroy the university’s stable environment and warned that such actions threaten students’ education and coexistence. The Chhatra Dal rejected the remarks with contempt and labeled them as contrary to democratic and free-expression values. The organization demanded immediate withdrawal of the statement and an unconditional apology from Shibir. It also urged the university administration and authorities to take necessary measures to protect a healthy and democratic campus environment, warning that they would bear full responsibility for any resulting unrest.

The Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) Dhaka College unit has relieved fifteen of its leaders from their organizational posts due to negligence in duties. According to a press release issued on Tuesday, January 20, and signed by JCD spokesperson Md. Jahangir Alam, the decision was approved by the unit’s president Rakibul Islam Rakib and general secretary Nasir Uddin Nasir. Those removed include joint conveners Yamin Rahman and Hannan Mia, along with thirteen members: Bulbul Ahmed, Hasib Chowdhury, Ratikul Islam, Ariful Babu, Shawon Khondaker, Sajjid Hossain, Rashikul Islam Sahil, Manjurul Islam Sujon, Sajib Mia, Mohammad Riad Ahmed, Masud Rana Onik, Tanoy Sharif, and Ashraful Islam Ashru. The announcement emphasized that the action was taken specifically for organizational negligence. The press release did not mention any replacement appointments or further disciplinary measures, leaving the future structure of the Dhaka College JCD unit unclear.

A bus conductor named Md. Ilias Hossain, aged 25, was killed after being crushed between two buses in Dhaka’s Gulistan area on Tuesday night. The incident occurred around 7 p.m. near Khaddar Market traffic signal when Ilias, who worked for Victoria Paribahan, stepped off his bus while it was stopped. As the signal turned green, an Azmiri Paribahan bus moved forward alongside, trapping him between the two vehicles and causing severe injuries. He was rescued and taken to the emergency department of Dhaka Medical College Hospital, where he died at 12:20 a.m. while undergoing treatment. Inspector Md. Faruk of the hospital police outpost confirmed the incident, stating that the body was kept at the hospital morgue for autopsy and the concerned police station had been informed. Ilias Hossain was from Charbishwas village in Galachipa upazila of Patuakhali district and lived in the Gazipura area. He is survived by his wife Hafiza Khatun and a daughter.