A fire broke out on the second floor of a six-storey residential building in Sector 11 of Uttara, Dhaka, on Friday morning. Initially, three deaths were reported, but the toll later rose to six, including two women, one man, and a child. The identities of the remaining victims have not yet been confirmed. Thirteen people were rescued from the site and taken to Kuwait Maitree Hospital, according to the Fire Service. The Fire Service’s central media cell reported receiving the fire alert at 7:50 a.m. Firefighters from Uttara Fire Station reached the scene at 7:58 a.m., brought the blaze under control by 8:25 a.m., and fully extinguished it by 10:00 a.m. Two units from the Uttara station took part in the operation. Authorities have not yet disclosed the cause of the fire or details about the victims’ identities. Further investigation is expected to determine the source and circumstances of the incident.

A civic memorial meeting in remembrance of former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia is being held today, Friday, January 16, at 2:30 p.m. at the South Plaza of the National Parliament Building. The event, organized by civil society, will be attended by BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman. Organizers emphasized that the gathering is not a political program but a national-level humanitarian tribute to Khaleda Zia. All attendees have been asked to bring their invitation cards. The memorial is being presided over by former Chief Justice Syed J.R. Mudassir Hossain, with noted economist Professor Dr. Mahbub Ullah serving as chief organizer. At a press conference held Thursday at the Krishibid Institute in Dhaka, organizers detailed the arrangements and reiterated that no political speeches will be made. Distinguished citizens from various professions, including teachers, doctors, engineers, journalists, and representatives of ethnic and religious communities, will speak. Organizers have requested participants to maintain solemnity by avoiding selfies, applause, or standing during the event. Guests are asked to wear black and white attire, and entry will be strictly controlled through invitation cards and designated gates.

Indian Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi stated that the Indian Army is preparing for future warfare, emphasizing the use of modern technology and indigenous military equipment. Speaking to reporters in Jaipur on Thursday after the Army Day parade, he said self-reliance is no longer just a goal but a strategic necessity. Dwivedi explained that the army now possesses well-trained soldiers, modern equipment, and diverse operational capabilities, with technology being used to further enhance troop effectiveness. He noted a clear shift in the army’s strategic thinking in recent years. Referring to 'Operation Sindhur,' he said it demonstrated the army’s ability to strike swiftly, in a coordinated and precise manner, reflecting a mature and confident force capable of protecting national interests responsibly. The army chief added that new structures have been created to meet future needs, including the formation of units such as the Bhairav Battalion and the Shaktiman Regiment. These developments reflect efforts to build a faster, more flexible, and mission-oriented army ready to face emerging challenges.

Local authorities in Madhya Pradesh’s Betul district demolished a school building on Tuesday, accusing its builder of operating an unapproved madrasa. The demolition took place in Dhaba village under Bhainsdehi subdivision. Officials said the structure was built without authorization, while heavy police were deployed during the operation. The incident has sparked tension in the area. Resident Abdon Naim, who spent 2 million rupees constructing the school, said the building was incomplete and classes had not yet started. He had applied for approval from the state’s School Education Department on December 30 and later received a no-objection certificate from the village panchayat after local protests. Despite this, a team led by Sub-Divisional Magistrate Ajit Maravi proceeded with the demolition. Reports noted that Madhya Pradesh has 83,000 government schools, many lacking basic facilities, yet they continue to operate. The demolition of a school labeled as a madrasa has been viewed as an example of ongoing Islamophobia in the country.

A special army operation in Lohagara, Chattogram, led to the arrest of top criminal Rifat, aged 35, on Thursday afternoon. The operation took place in the Telibila area of Charamba Union’s Ward No. 5, where Rifat, son of Siddiq Saudagar, was detained with a cache of weapons and other items. The joint forces recovered two LG guns, seven cartridges, two liters of local liquor, four machetes, six knives, a drone, eight mobile phones, three memory cards, a mobile battery, a rocket parachute flare signal, a pen drive, and a motorcycle. According to local residents, Rifat had long been involved in extortion, intimidation, and various criminal activities in the area. Captain Walid Bin Maudud of the Lohagara Army Camp stated that the arrest was made based on intelligence information, and the detainee was handed over to Lohagara Police Station along with the seized items. Officer-in-Charge Abdul Jalil confirmed that a case has been filed against Rifat. Residents expressed relief following the arrest, saying it brought a sense of safety back to the community.

US President Donald Trump has announced the formation of a 'Gaza Peace Board' through his social media platform Truth Social. The board is described as a key component of the second phase of Trump’s 20-point plan aimed at ending what he called Israel’s genocide in the besieged Palestinian territory. Trump said the board’s members will be announced soon and expressed pride in its creation, calling it the most prestigious board. The announcement follows the creation of a 15-member technocratic committee to oversee Gaza’s post-conflict governance. This committee will operate under the supervision of the Peace Board, which Trump is expected to chair. The broader plan also includes deploying an international stabilization force to secure Gaza and train vetted Palestinian police units. According to the report, the first phase of the US-backed Gaza peace plan was implemented on October 10, leading to a prisoner exchange between Israel and Hamas and a temporary halt to mass killings. However, despite the ceasefire, Israel allegedly violated the agreement and killed hundreds of Palestinians. Over two years of war, Israeli forces have reportedly killed more than 71,000 Palestinians, most of them women and children.

A senior United Nations official warned on Thursday that U.S. President Donald Trump’s military threats are further destabilizing Iran’s already tense situation. The statement came as large anti-government protests erupted across Iran last week, though the demonstrations have slowed due to internet restrictions and harsh crackdowns. The United States has cautioned that executing detained protesters could trigger military risks. UN Assistant Secretary-General Martha Pobee told the Security Council that public remarks suggesting possible military action against Iran were deeply concerning and risked worsening the volatile environment. Iran’s representative, Gholamhossein Darzi, accused the United States of exploiting peaceful protests for geopolitical purposes. Iranian-American journalist Masih Alinejad, invited by the U.S. to speak, said millions of Iranians were united against the religious regime and demanded an end to the diversion of national funds to militant groups. A U.S. judge in October sentenced two men to 25 years in prison for plotting to kill Alinejad, allegedly under Iranian direction. U.S. Ambassador Mike Waltz reaffirmed Washington’s support for Iranian protesters, warning that Tehran’s repression threatens international peace and security.

The Shibir-backed 'Durbar SUSTian Oikko' panel has announced a 28-point manifesto ahead of the Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) Central Students’ Union (ShakSU) election. The manifesto was presented on January 15 at a press conference in front of the university’s central library by vice-president candidate Delwar Hasan Shishir and general secretary candidate Mujahidul Islam. The panel said the manifesto was designed based on students’ needs and expectations as the election is being held after 28 years. The manifesto includes commitments to establish a July Corner and ensure justice for those involved in the July uprising, integrate ShakSU into the academic calendar, guarantee full residential facilities, and improve services for non-residential students. It also promises affordable nutritious food, safe transport, interfaith harmony, enhanced research, skill development, scholarships, and smart technological solutions. Other pledges include transparent administration, a corruption-free campus, women’s safety, a cyber cell for online protection, modernization of the medical center, and a green campus. The ShakSU election is scheduled for January 20, and the university is reportedly in a festive mood ahead of the vote.

Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado met with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House on Thursday, January 15, 2026. During the meeting, Machado presented Trump with her Nobel Peace Prize medal, which she had received in 2025. Following the meeting, Trump publicly praised Machado, calling her an extraordinary woman who had endured much. The meeting and exchange were reported by ABC News. Trump described receiving the Nobel medal from Machado as a wonderful symbol of mutual respect. On social media, he wrote that María had given him her Nobel Peace Prize in recognition of his work. Machado confirmed to reporters after the meeting that she personally handed the medal to Trump but did not provide further details about the gesture or its purpose. The exchange highlighted a moment of symbolic diplomacy between the two figures, though neither side elaborated on any political implications or future cooperation.

At least ten Palestinians were killed on Thursday in Israeli attacks across the Gaza Strip as the second phase of former U.S. President Donald Trump’s peace plan proceeded. According to the Wafa news agency, Israeli forces bombed two houses in Deir al-Balah city in the evening, killing six people, including a 16-year-old boy. The Israeli military claimed that one of the dead, Muhammad al-Hawli, was a commander in Hamas’s armed wing, the Qassam Brigades. Al Jazeera’s Ibrahim al-Khalili confirmed that a senior Qassam Brigades member was among the dead. Additional casualties were reported in separate incidents: one person was shot dead near the Al-Alm intersection west of Rafah, another was killed in an Israeli strike on a police post near the Al-Nablusi junction in southwest Gaza City, and two more died in an airstrike on the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza. Hamas condemned the attack on al-Hawli’s home as a “heinous crime,” calling it evidence of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s disregard for the October ceasefire, though it did not confirm the commander’s death.

Yemen’s Prime Minister Salem bin Breik has resigned, and Shaya Mohsen Jindani has been appointed as his successor. Jindani previously served as the country’s foreign minister. According to Yemen’s official news agency Saba, bin Breik submitted his resignation to the Saudi-backed Presidential Leadership Council on Thursday, which promptly accepted it. Within hours, the council announced Jindani’s appointment as the new prime minister. The political backdrop in Yemen remains complex. Since 2014, Iran-backed Houthi rebels have controlled the capital Sana’a, forcing then-President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi to seek refuge in Saudi Arabia. In response, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemeni government forces formed a coalition to restore Hadi’s government and counter the Houthis. The coalition has been conducting military operations against the Houthis since 2015. Nearly eleven years into the conflict, northern Yemen remains under Houthi control, while the Saudi-backed Presidential Council governs the southern region.

The National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB) has not been able to deliver all secondary-level textbooks to students by its earlier deadline of January 15, 2026. Officials said that dense fog and severe cold slowed down printing, preventing completion on time. As of Thursday, about five percent of books were still pending, but NCTB expects 98 percent of students to receive their books by Sunday, when classes begin, and 99 percent by next Tuesday. NCTB’s textbook member Professor Dr. Riad Chowdhury explained that the board relies on 105 printing presses and does not print books itself. The initial January 15 target was based on information from those presses, but adverse weather reduced printing speed. Education adviser C.R. Abrar had earlier announced that all books would reach students by mid-January, but nearly ten million books remain undelivered. Officials noted that in the past fifteen years, full textbook delivery at the start of the year has never been achieved. They said that if all books reach schools by January 20, it would mark a new milestone for NCTB.

Dhaka’s sidewalks and major roads have been largely occupied by hawkers, extortion syndicates, and politically backed illegal shops, leaving little space for pedestrians and vehicles. The situation spans key areas including Motijheel, Gulistan, New Market, and Khilkhet, where footpaths and even half of main roads are filled with makeshift stalls. The resulting congestion has severely disrupted traffic and increased accident risks. Dhaka North and South City Corporations and the police remain at odds over responsibility for clearing the encroachments. Investigations reveal that hawkers have increased across the city, with extortion networks collecting daily payments from vendors under political protection. Complaints have been filed alleging that organized groups linked to political figures control illegal businesses and collect large sums from shop owners. Attempts to remove encroachments have faced violent resistance, including attacks on city officials during eviction drives. Urban planners and city officials acknowledge that sporadic eviction efforts have failed to bring lasting results. They emphasize the need for coordinated action between city corporations and police to restore pedestrian access and control illegal occupation of public spaces.

In a commentary published on January 16, 2026, writer and PIB Director General Faruk Wasif argued for the adoption of a concept he calls 'Bangladeshpantha'—a philosophy rooted in the shared cultural, social, and historical traits of the Bangladeshi people. He described Bangladesh as a society of deep communal intersections where religion, language, and ethnicity blend into a collective identity. Wasif highlighted that this unity, built over centuries through agricultural and social cooperation, has made Bangladesh less affected by caste or racial divisions compared to its neighbors. He traced this inclusive spirit to the Sultani era, folk traditions, and the Liberation War, emphasizing that Bangladesh’s identity is shaped by compassion, cooperation, and a balance between faith and humanism. According to Wasif, 'Bangladeshpantha' represents a positive, non-antagonistic nationalism that avoids anti-foreign or sectarian politics. Instead, it seeks harmony between culture and politics, portraying Bangladesh as a cooperative society rather than a fragmented multicultural one. Wasif concluded that this collective ethos—embodied in shared customs, festivals, and social practices—should guide the nation’s political and cultural direction in the future.

Independent candidate and expelled BNP international affairs secretary Rumin Farhana has alleged that plans are being made to cast votes the night before and seal polling centers in several areas of Sarail upazila under the Brahmanbaria-2 constituency. She made the allegation on Thursday afternoon during a courtyard meeting at Alinagar Government Primary School field in Sarail’s 7th ward, urging her supporters to guard the polling centers. During the meeting, Farhana pledged to establish municipalities in Sarail and Ashuganj if elected, ensure quality healthcare at the upazila health complex, and improve roads, schools, mosques, and madrasas. She also vowed to remain uncompromising in demanding that Brahmanbaria’s gas be used locally. Addressing voters emotionally, she said she had left her ailing mother in Dhaka and placed her trust in the people of the constituency. Rumin Farhana is contesting as an independent candidate in Brahmanbaria-2, where the BNP-led alliance has nominated Maulana Junaid Al Habib of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Bangladesh. Farhana was expelled from the BNP on December 30.