Reports from Assam’s Nagaon district describe repeated forced deportations of Bengali-origin Muslims to Bangladesh. A 31-year-old resident, Hasan Ali, told media outlet The Scroll that his father, 58-year-old farmer Taher Ali, was pushed across the border three times in eight months after being declared a ‘foreigner’ by Assam’s Foreigners Tribunal. The tribunal, which has stripped thousands of residents of citizenship, often issued unilateral rulings without hearing the accused. Since May last year, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in Assam has allegedly bypassed legal deportation procedures, using the 1950 law to expel declared foreigners at gunpoint during the night. Bangladesh has refused to accept these individuals, leaving many trapped in a cycle of pushback and return. At least seven residents were reportedly forced across the border in December, only to be denied entry and later detained by Bangladeshi authorities. Legal experts and observers told The Scroll that Assam’s policy violates both constitutional and international norms. An Oxford researcher described the situation as the creation of statelessness, with people being treated like ‘tennis balls’ between two nations. The Indian Border Security Force and Home Ministry did not respond to inquiries about the legality or nationality verification process behind these expulsions.

Police in Cumilla’s Burichang upazila arrested three suspects accused of killing a pregnant woman, Fahima Akter Akhi, following a dispute over diaper disposal. The arrests took place near the Kasba border area as the suspects allegedly prepared to flee to India. Burichang police, acting on a tip-off, conducted a joint operation with the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and detained the accused just before they could cross the border. The arrested individuals were identified as Md. Saidur Rahman, 24, Shafiul Jannat alias Siam, 19, and Shahariar Nazim Joy, 19. Saidur and Siam are residents of Jagatpur (Nagarbari) in Burichang, while Joy is from Bashmangal village under Cumilla Kotwali police station. According to the Burichang police officer-in-charge, the detainees are the first, second, and fourth named accused in the murder case. The incident occurred on January 11 in Jagatpur village, where a trivial dispute over waste disposal escalated into violence. Fahima Akter Akhi was fatally attacked with a sharp weapon, and three others were seriously injured. Police said multiple sections of the penal code have been invoked, and further legal action is underway.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has warned Israel that it could be referred to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) if it does not reverse actions taken against the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA). In a letter sent on January 8 to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Guterres demanded that Israel repeal laws restricting UNRWA’s operations, return seized assets, and restore access to essential services. Israel’s parliament passed a law in October 2024 banning UNRWA from operating in the country and prohibiting officials from engaging with the agency. The law was later amended to cut electricity and water supplies to UNRWA centers. Israeli authorities also seized the agency’s East Jerusalem office, an area the UN considers occupied territory, though Israel claims the entire city as its own. Israel’s ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, rejected Guterres’s letter, saying Israel would not be intimidated and accusing UNRWA of links to terrorism. UN officials and the Security Council have described UNRWA as vital to humanitarian operations in Gaza. The ICJ previously stated that Israel has obligations to ensure Gaza’s civilians’ basic needs, though its opinions are not legally binding.

The United States has officially designated the Muslim Brotherhood branches in Egypt, Lebanon, and Jordan as terrorist organizations. On Tuesday, the U.S. Treasury Department identified the Jordanian and Egyptian branches as 'Specially Designated Global Terrorists,' while the State Department blacklisted the Lebanese branch as a 'Foreign Terrorist Organization' (FTO). The move follows an executive order issued by President Donald Trump in November to blacklist these groups. According to the Trump administration, the decision was taken due to the Brotherhood’s alleged support for the Palestinian group Hamas and involvement in activities opposing Israeli interests in the Middle East. The Treasury Department stated that although the Brotherhood presents itself as a legitimate social organization, it directly assists terrorist groups like Hamas. The State Department added that the designation would cut off the Brotherhood’s financial sources and bar its members from entering the United States. Senator Marco Rubio described the action as the first step in a long-term effort to counter the Brotherhood’s violent and destabilizing activities worldwide. The decision effectively freezes the organizations’ financial transactions and imposes a permanent entry ban on their members.

Students from seven affiliated colleges staged road blockades at three major points in Dhaka on Wednesday, demanding the government issue the final ordinance to establish the proposed Dhaka Central University. The demonstrations began around 11:30 a.m. at Science Lab, Technical, and Tantibazar intersections, halting traffic and causing significant disruption for commuters. According to the report, the draft of the Dhaka Central University Act 2025 was published on the Ministry of Education’s website on September 24. Following debates and consultations with stakeholders, the ministry updated the draft. During sit-in programs on December 7 and 8, ministry officials reportedly assured students that necessary procedures would be completed by December and the ordinance would be issued in early January. The students resumed protests after the promised issuance did not occur within the expected timeframe, pressing for immediate government action to finalize the ordinance.

The Islamist alliance led by Jamaat-e-Islami is facing internal rifts ahead of the February 12 parliamentary election due to unresolved seat-sharing disputes. The main contention arises from the demands of Syed Muhammad Rezaul Karim, the Pir of Charmonai, whose Islami Andolon Bangladesh insists on more constituencies, claiming a strong nationwide voter base. Jamaat had agreed to leave 40 seats and even proposed keeping some open, but Charmonai rejected the offer, leading to repeated but fruitless negotiations. Similarly, Maulana Mamunul Haque’s Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis is demanding more seats than initially agreed, creating further tension within the 11-party coalition. Attempts to finalize seat distribution and issue a joint declaration on Tuesday failed, leaving the alliance uncertain. Jamaat has refrained from nominating candidates in over a dozen constituencies contested by Charmonai and Mamunul’s parties, giving them leverage in negotiations. The alliance, originally an eight-party Islamist bloc, expanded to 11 parties after the inclusion of NCP, LDP, and AB Party. This expansion reduced the influence of smaller Islamist groups, intensifying competition over seat allocation and raising the risk of a formal split.

Eighteen leaders and activists of the Ganadhikar Parishad have joined Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami in Kaharol upazila of Dinajpur. The formal joining took place on Tuesday night at the Jamaat office in Joynand Bazar of Dabore Union. The event was attended by Jamaat’s nominated candidate for the Dinajpur-1 (Birganj–Kaharol) constituency, Matiur Rahman, as chief guest, and Kaharol upazila Jamaat Ameer Maulana Torikul Islam. Several district and upazila-level leaders from Dinajpur and Birganj were also present. Selim Reza, vice-president of the Ganadhikar Parishad’s Dinajpur district branch, said the party had deviated from people’s aspirations by aligning with the “sheaf of paddy” symbol, which he described as disappointing and embarrassing. The new Jamaat members include Selim Reza, Murshed Ali, Joydeb Roy, Mamunur Rashid, Sohel Rana, Monirul Islam, Faruk Hossain, and several others from the union branch. They filled out associate membership forms and were welcomed with flowers and garlands by local Jamaat leaders. The joining marks a shift in local political alignments within Kaharol, reflecting dissatisfaction among some Ganadhikar Parishad members with their party’s recent direction.

U.S. President Donald Trump has warned that Washington will take 'very severe measures' if Iran begins executing protesters detained during the ongoing demonstrations. He did not specify what actions the United States might take. The statement, delivered on Tuesday, drew a sharp response from Tehran, which accused Washington of using the warning as a pretext for potential military intervention, according to AFP. Human rights organizations reported that thousands have been killed during the crackdown on protests, which analysts describe as one of the biggest challenges to Iran’s religious leadership in years. The Iranian mission to the United Nations said on social media that U.S. strategies aimed at regime change have failed before and will fail again, accusing Washington of using sanctions, threats, and unrest to justify intervention. Iranian authorities claimed they have regained control after several nights of mass protests, while rights groups alleged that security forces shot demonstrators and shut down the internet for over five days to conceal the scale of repression. Tehran prosecutors said some detainees were charged as 'enemies of God' and face possible death sentences.

The International Crimes Tribunal-1 has formally begun the trial of retired Major General Ziaul Ahsan on charges of crimes against humanity involving enforced disappearances and killings. The tribunal, chaired by Golam Mortuza Mojumdar with members Shafiul Alam Mahmud and retired judge Mohitul Haque Enam Chowdhury, ordered the start of proceedings on Wednesday. The court also set February 8 for opening statements and witness testimony. Earlier, on January 8, Ahsan’s lawyers, Monsurul Haque and Naznin Nahar, sought his discharge, arguing that the prosecution had failed to prove his involvement. Chief Prosecutor Tazul Islam opposed the plea, asserting that the prosecution had established a prima facie case. The tribunal had reserved its order for January 14 before deciding to proceed with the trial. According to the prosecution, Ahsan faces three specific charges, including the killing of detainees in Gazipur in 2011, executions in Barguna’s coastal areas under operations codenamed “Gestapo” or “Golf,” and staged “crossfire” killings in the Sundarbans under operations “Nishankhali,” “Mora Bhola,” and “Kotka.”

At least 22 people were killed and more than 30 injured when a crane collapsed onto a passenger train in Thailand on Wednesday morning. The accident occurred in Sikhiu district of Nakhon Ratchasima province, about 230 kilometers from Bangkok, as the train was traveling from the capital toward the northeast. The crane, used in the construction of a high-speed rail line, suddenly fell onto one of the train’s carriages, causing it to derail and briefly catch fire. Provincial police chief Thachaporn Chinnawong confirmed the death toll and said the injured were taken to nearby hospitals. Authorities reported that the fire was quickly brought under control and rescue operations began immediately after the incident. Thai officials have launched an investigation to determine the cause of the collapse. The total number of passengers on board at the time of the accident remains unclear, according to police.

A new report by the Washington-based Center for the Study of Organized Hate’s India Hate Lab (IHL) shows that hate speech incidents targeting Muslims and Christians in India rose sharply in 2025. The study documented 1,318 cases across 21 states, marking a 13 percent increase from 2024 and a 97 percent rise compared with 2023. Nearly 98 percent of the hate speech targeted Muslims, while 133 incidents involved Christians. Most cases occurred in states governed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). According to the report, 88 percent of all hate speech incidents—about 1,164 cases—took place in BJP-ruled or allied regions, up 25 percent from 2024. Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Delhi accounted for 65 percent of all incidents. In contrast, opposition-ruled states saw a 34 percent decline. The report linked 289 incidents to the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal, and 138 to the Akhil Bharatiya Hindu Parishad. The IHL classified hate speech based on UN definitions, noting that nearly half of the incidents invoked conspiracy theories such as “love jihad,” “land jihad,” and “population jihad.” Several speeches called for violence, weapon use, boycotts, or destruction of religious sites.

The Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) held the training completion parade of its 104th recruit batch on Wednesday morning at the Bir Uttam Mujibur Rahman Parade Ground of the Border Guard Training Center and College (BGTC&C) in Baitul Izzat, Satkania, Chattogram. A total of 3,023 new members, including 2,950 men and 73 women, took an oath to protect the sovereignty and integrity of the country, marking the largest batch in BGB’s history. The event was attended by Home Affairs Adviser Lieutenant General (Retd.) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury as chief guest, who administered the oath and inspected the parade. Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs Nasimul Gani, BGB Director General Major General Mohammad Ashrafuzzaman Siddiqui, and other senior military and civilian officials were also present. BGB announced that Al Imran, bearing chest number 155, was named best recruit overall, while Shafikul Islam and Lubna Khatun topped in physical excellence, and Shafiqul Rahman Tamim and Nahida Akter were recognized as best firers. According to BGB, the BGTC&C has been training recruits for 44 years and has successfully completed 72 batches since independence. Despite a capacity of 700 to 1,000 trainees, infrastructure expansion under interim government directives enabled training of this record batch, setting a post-independence milestone.

France and Canada have advised their citizens in Iran to leave the country immediately, citing a rapidly deteriorating political and security environment. Both governments warned that the situation has become increasingly dangerous for foreigners as tensions rise within Iran and across the region. According to a statement from the Canadian government, ongoing anti-government protests, regional instability, and the risk of arbitrary detention make travel or stay in Iran unsafe. Canada also acknowledged that its ability to provide consular assistance in Iran is severely limited. France’s foreign ministry issued a similar alert, noting that internal unrest and tensions involving the United States and Israel have heightened security risks. French nationals were urged to avoid non-essential travel, stay away from demonstrations, and follow guidance from the French embassy in Tehran. Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump publicly encouraged Iranian citizens to continue their protests, while Iran accused the United States and Israel of fueling the unrest, claiming that initially peaceful demonstrations were later infiltrated by armed groups.

Jamaat-e-Islami and its allies are set to announce their final 11-party electoral seat-sharing agreement today, Wednesday, at 4 p.m. in the Diploma Engineers Auditorium in Dhaka. Reliable Jamaat sources confirmed the plan, though formal invitations had not been issued as of midnight Tuesday. The announcement follows a series of meetings held throughout Tuesday among leaders of Jamaat, Islami Andolon, Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish, and other allied parties to finalize seat allocations. According to the report, Islami Andolon had sought more than 70 seats but was allocated 45, leading to dissatisfaction within the party. Its leadership had not yet confirmed participation in the alliance as of Wednesday morning. Other allocations include 30 seats for the National Citizens Party, over 15 for Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish, 10 for Khelafat Majlish, 7 for the Liberal Democratic Party, 3 for AB Party, and 2 for Bangladesh Development Party. Jamaat is expected to retain more than 180 seats. The coalition evolved from a 10-party alliance announced on December 28 of the previous year, later expanding to 11 parties. The final announcement is expected to include Jamaat Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman and other top leaders.

Iran has accused the United States and Israel of being responsible for the killing of innocent civilians during the ongoing protests across the country. The allegation came from a senior Iranian official in response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s warning about intervening in the demonstrations. According to TRT World, Trump had urged Iranians on social media to seize government institutions, prompting former parliament speaker and current secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, Ali Larijani, to name Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu as the main killers of the Iranian people. Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations, Amir Saeid Iravani, sent a letter to the UN Security Council accusing Trump of inciting political instability, encouraging violence, and threatening Iran’s sovereignty and national security. He wrote that the U.S. and Israeli governments bear direct and undeniable legal responsibility for the deaths of innocent civilians, especially among the youth. The letter was also sent to UN Secretary-General António Guterres. Iranian authorities stated that the situation has come under control following nationwide demonstrations that began on Thursday over rising living costs.