Sharmin S Murshid, adviser to the Ministry of Social Welfare and the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs, stated that there is no precedent anywhere in the world for holding a national election and a referendum simultaneously. Speaking on Monday at a views exchange meeting at the Jessore Deputy Commissioner’s conference room ‘Amitrakshar’, she said implementing such a process would be extremely difficult and would require cooperation from all. The meeting was chaired by Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Ashek Hasan. Murshid emphasized that the interim government’s responsibility is to rebuild a collapsed state and restore law and order, describing the task as highly challenging. She highlighted that around 64 percent of participants in the 2024 movement were women, proving their repeated role in defending the nation. She urged respect for women and called for public opinion in favor of the referendum to build a better country. She added that corruption and violence against women still exist and that restoring democracy is essential for change. According to her, the referendum is a key democratic tool to ensure justice and establish a permanent state structure for the people.

Law and Youth Adviser Dr. Asif Nazrul has called on citizens to vote 'Yes' in the upcoming national referendum to eliminate injustice, oppression, corruption, and inequality in Bangladesh. Speaking on Monday afternoon at a discussion meeting held at the Bogura District Council auditorium, organized by the district administration, he said that a 'Yes' vote is necessary to prevent any individual or group from gaining absolute power or becoming fascist. Nazrul stated that after consultations with all political parties, a July Charter had been finalized, and the referendum would now gauge public opinion. He criticized previous governments for depriving citizens of their voting rights over the past 15 years, alleging that the Awami League government had manipulated elections through night voting and dummy candidates. He emphasized that this time, a fair environment for voting has been created and that the referendum carries significant importance. The event was attended by Bogura Deputy Commissioner Md. Toufiqul Rahman, Superintendent of Police Md. Shahadat Hossain, and officials from various government departments in the district.

The Baisomobiruddho Chhatra Andolon has issued a 24-hour ultimatum to the National Election Commission demanding the cancellation of nominations for candidates holding dual citizenship and those identified as loan defaulters. The warning was announced on Monday afternoon at an emergency press conference held in front of Madhur Canteen at Dhaka University by the group’s chief coordinator, Hasib Al Islam. The organization threatened to launch nationwide protests if the demand is not met within the stipulated time. At the event, Hasib Al Islam argued that validating such nominations violates the Representation of the People Order and contradicts the spirit of the July uprising. He questioned the Election Commission’s neutrality and criticized the role of bureaucrats, alleging political bias within the administration. He also stated that a list of officials allegedly involved in past abuses is being prepared for future accountability. Spokesperson Cynthia Jahin Ayesha accused the Election Commission of betraying the ideals of the 2024 uprising by legitimizing dual citizens and defaulters. She claimed that several candidates with unresolved financial cases and questionable citizenship documents were approved without proper investigation.

A defamation case has been filed in Khulna against Islamic preacher Mufti Amir Hamza for allegedly making derogatory remarks about Arafat Rahman Koko, the younger son of former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia. The case was lodged on Monday at the Khulna Chief Metropolitan Magistrate’s Court by Md. Zahirul Islam Bappi, president of the Khulna city unit of Koko Smriti Sangsad. The presiding judge, Md. Asaduzz Zaman, accepted the case and scheduled the next hearing for May 24. Advocate Babul Hawlader, representing the plaintiff, confirmed the filing. According to the case statement, the alleged defamatory comments were made during a religious sermon by Mufti Amir Hamza, which was later circulated through a Facebook account. The complaint claims that the remarks caused defamation and harm to Koko’s family, members of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), and others associated with him. The court’s decision to accept the case sets the stage for further legal proceedings, with the next hearing expected to determine subsequent actions.

The government of Bangladesh plans to fully implement the proposed new pay scale for public servants from July 1, 2026, marking the beginning of the 2026–27 fiscal year. According to the Ministry of Finance and the Pay Commission, the new structure has been partially effective since January 1, 2026. The Pay Commission is scheduled to submit its report on January 21 to Economic Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed, after which it will be presented to the advisory council for review. As part of preparations for partial implementation, the Ministry of Finance has allocated an additional 22,000 crore taka in the revised 2025–26 budget for operating expenses. The commission estimates that full implementation will require an additional 70,000 to 80,000 crore taka. The proposed structure recommends higher increases for lower-grade employees, with the minimum salary—currently 8,250 taka—suggested to more than double, and the maximum salary—currently 78,000 taka—to rise above 120,000 taka. The commission also proposes maintaining a 1:8 ratio between the highest and lowest pay grades. The 21-member Pay Commission, formed on July 27 of the previous year under former finance secretary Zakir Ahmed Khan, was tasked with submitting its recommendations within six months.

At least 14 people have been confirmed dead and more than 50 remain missing after a massive fire broke out at Gul Plaza Shopping Mall on M.A. Jinnah Road in Karachi, Pakistan. The blaze began late Saturday night and took firefighters nearly 36 hours to bring under control, allowing rescue teams to enter the building and recover victims. Police Deputy Inspector General Syed Asad Raza said eight more bodies were recovered on Sunday evening, raising the death toll from six to 14. Authorities are using mobile phone data and contacting families to locate between 54 and 59 missing individuals. Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori, who visited the site on Monday, described the situation as a national tragedy, noting that more than 70 people were still unaccounted for. Officials have warned that the building remains structurally unsafe and could collapse at any time. Rescue operations resumed later on Monday as flames continued in one section of the mall. The incident recalls Karachi’s 2012 garment factory fire that killed 260 people, underscoring ongoing safety concerns in the city’s commercial complexes.

At least ten people were injured in a clash between two factions of the BNP in Bishnudia village of Shailkupa upazila, Jhenaidah, on Monday morning. The confrontation reportedly stemmed from a dispute over local dominance. The injured were treated at Shailkupa Upazila Health Complex, with one person reported to be in critical condition. Police and locals said the conflict involved supporters of Zahid Chowdhury, joint general secretary of the district Jubo Dal, and Abul Bashar Sadat, member secretary of the upazila Jubo Dal. The dispute had been ongoing over social influence in the area. Two days earlier, an argument had erupted between the groups over the boundary of mosque land in the same village. According to Shailkupa Police Station Officer-in-Charge Humayun Kabir Molla, police arrived at the scene and brought the situation under control. Five of the injured were later referred to hospitals in Faridpur, Kushtia, and Jhenaidah for advanced treatment. Additional police have been deployed to prevent further unrest.

A Dhaka court has sentenced Evaly Managing Director Mohammad Rassel and Chairperson Shamima Nasrin to 15 months in prison in a fraud case. The verdict was delivered on Monday by Metropolitan Magistrate Mahbub Alam in the absence of the accused. Each was also fined 500 taka, with an additional three months’ imprisonment in case of non-payment. Arrest warrants were issued as the defendants were not present during the verdict. According to the case, the accused lured customers through flashy advertisements on Evaly’s Facebook page. Plaintiff Md. Bazlur Rahman paid 61,142 taka in advance on June 4, 2021, via debit card to purchase a Honda Livo 110cc motorbike, which was never delivered within the promised time. Rahman filed the case on September 24, 2024, and the court framed charges on August 25, 2025, before starting the trial. The ruling marks a continuation of legal actions against Evaly’s leadership over allegations of fraudulent business practices in Bangladesh’s e-commerce sector.

Police in Savar have arrested a homeless man named Samrat, accused of killing six people over the past seven months. He was detained by the Detective Branch on Sunday, January 18, from the Savar municipal area. On Monday, police sent him to court seeking a 10-day remand for interrogation. Authorities said Samrat used to stay inside the Savar municipal community center at night, where five of the murders occurred, while another took place near the Savar Bazar bus stand. Dhaka district Additional Superintendent of Police Arafatul Islam confirmed the arrest and remand request at a press briefing at Savar Model Police Station. He stated that the identities of five of the six victims remain unknown. Police seized a matchbox, scarf, and mobile phone from the suspect during the arrest. CCTV footage reportedly helped identify and capture him. Investigators are now probing whether anyone else was involved in the killings. The motive behind the murders is expected to be revealed after interrogation if the court approves the remand.

Abu Sadiq Kayem, vice president of the Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU), has alleged that the suspension of the Shahbagh University Central Students’ Union (SHAKSU) election reflects what he called a re-enactment of the Awami League’s fascist tendencies. In a Facebook post on Monday afternoon, he claimed that the election was halted through political influence exerted over the Election Commission and the courts. Kayem further stated that by obstructing the democratic process on campus, a political party has revealed its future authoritarian character. He emphasized that the SHAKSU election must be held on time to ensure a politically neutral judiciary and a democratic campus environment. According to him, any deviation from this schedule would be unacceptable to the student community. The post underscores growing student concerns about political interference in university elections and calls for restoring democratic practices within academic institutions.

Law enforcement agencies in Bangladesh seized a large consignment of Indian contraband drugs worth about Tk 1 million during a joint operation in Gangachara, Rangpur, on January 19, 2026. The operation, conducted by the Lalmonirhat District Detective Branch (DB) and Gangachara Model Police Station, led to the capture of a truck carrying 885 bottles of Phensedyl and other drugs named Escap and Fairdil. The truck was intercepted after a chase that began in Lalmonirhat and ended in Gangachara. According to police sources, a smuggling network had been using border areas to illegally transport banned Indian drugs into Bangladesh. The seized truck was found to have the drugs hidden in a concealed compartment. Rangpur Additional Superintendent of Police Sharif Mohammad Farukuzzaman confirmed that a case will be filed in Lalmonirhat, and the Gangachara police will conduct the investigation. Authorities stated that the operation aligns with the government’s “zero tolerance” policy against narcotics, and similar drives will continue in border and internal regions to curb drug trafficking.

Interim government Chief Adviser Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus described the July uprising as an extraordinary achievement in the nation's history. He made the remark on Monday, January 19, during an evening address focused on the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election and the national referendum. The statement came as part of his official speech concerning the electoral process and the referendum, reflecting the interim administration’s view of the July uprising as a defining moment for the country. The address was delivered under the authority of the interim government, which is overseeing the transition toward the next parliamentary election. Further details of the speech and its implications for the election and referendum process were not immediately available, as the report indicated that more information would follow.

A report from the Chief Adviser’s Press Wing in Bangladesh stated that out of 645 recorded attacks on minority communities in 2025, police identified communal elements in only 71 cases. The data, covering incidents from January to December 2025, was compiled from verified First Information Reports, General Diaries, charge sheets, and nationwide investigation updates. According to the report, the 71 communal incidents mainly involved vandalism or desecration of religious sites and idols, along with a few other crimes. The remaining 574 incidents were assessed as non-communal, linked instead to disputes such as land conflicts, neighborhood quarrels, political rivalries, theft, sexual violence, and personal enmity. The report emphasized that while all crimes are concerning, most were criminal rather than communal in nature. It further noted that the findings highlight challenges in law and order management and underscore the importance of evidence-based discussion over fear or misinformation.

Students of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) declared vice president candidate Mominur Rashid Shuvo unwanted on campus after the High Court suspended the university’s central student union (ShakSU) election for four weeks. The announcement came on Monday following the court order, and students also blocked the Sylhet–Sunamganj highway in protest. According to the students, the ShakSU election had been a long-standing demand, but the independent VP candidate filed a petition in the High Court allegedly under the influence of a political group, depriving students of their rights. The High Court bench of Justice Fahmida Kader and Justice Asif Hasan issued the suspension order earlier that day. The university administration has since appealed to the Appellate Division’s chamber court, seeking to stay the High Court’s order. Advocate Md. Saddam Hossain confirmed that a hearing on the appeal will be held in due course.

A Dhaka court has ordered the appointment of a receiver to manage the seized properties of Mohammad Saiful Alam, chairman of S Alam Group. The order was issued on Monday, January 19, 2026, by Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Md Sabbir Foyez. According to court bench assistant Md Riaz Hossain, the decision concerns 463.87 decimals of land and structures in Chattogram that had previously been confiscated. The Anti-Corruption Commission’s Deputy Director, Tahasin Munabil Haque, had earlier filed a petition seeking the appointment of a receiver to oversee the seized assets. After a hearing, the judge granted the request. The same court had earlier, on January 11, ordered the seizure of the properties belonging to the S Alam Group chairman. The appointment of a receiver indicates that the court aims to ensure proper management and preservation of the confiscated assets while legal proceedings continue.