The Bangladesh government will raise Tk 10,000 crore from Samiliti Islami Bank by issuing a Sukuk bond named 'Bangladesh Government Special Sukuk-1'. According to a Bangladesh Bank press release issued on Sunday, the bond will have a maximum tenure of 10 years, and the bank will receive an annual profit rate of 9.75 percent. The government is scheduled to receive the funds from the bank on January 14. The Shariah Advisory Committee of Bangladesh Bank, chaired by Deputy Governor Dr. Md. Kabir Ahmed, held meetings on January 7 and 8 to finalize the issuance under the Ijara (lease) method. The Sukuk will be issued through private placement directly in favor of Samiliti Islami Bank. The underlying assets for this Sukuk include seven housing projects built by the Public Works Department for government employees and specific train services operated by Bangladesh Railway. The issuance aims to mobilize funds for government projects while adhering to Islamic financial principles, as outlined by the central bank’s advisory committee.

Bangladesh’s interim government foreign affairs adviser Md. Touhid Hossain met Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar in Jeddah on Sunday, January 11, 2026. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the emergency session of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Council of Foreign Ministers. Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the meeting in a statement. According to the statement, both sides expressed satisfaction with the current strength of Bangladesh-Pakistan bilateral relations. They discussed enhancing cooperation through high-level visits, expanding trade, and promoting educational collaboration. The two officials also exchanged views on various important regional and global issues. The meeting followed two recent telephone conversations between Touhid Hossain and Ishaq Dar, one of which occurred while Dar was visiting China. The series of engagements indicates ongoing diplomatic communication between the two countries.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar has called on the European Union to classify Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization. In a post on social media platform X, Sa’ar said he discussed the matter with German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt, during which the issue of declaring the IRGC a terrorist group was raised. Sa’ar noted that Germany has long maintained this position and that the importance of the issue has become increasingly clear. The report adds that several countries, including the United States and Canada, have already listed Iran’s Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist organization. The IRGC, formed shortly after Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution, is described as a powerful armed force closely linked to the country’s supreme leadership. It plays a central role in preserving the revolution’s ideals and maintaining Iran’s Islamic governance, with its own ground, naval, and air forces, as well as a large volunteer militia known as the Basij Resistance Force.

Senior Assistant Press Secretary to the Chief Adviser, Fayez Ahmed, stated that the killing of businessman Moni Chakraborty in Narsingdi was primarily the result of family conflict and business rivalry, not a communal attack as circulated online. He made the remarks during a briefing at the Foreign Service Academy in Dhaka, citing initial assessments by police and the victim’s family that found no communal connection. Ahmed said false claims had spread on social media portraying the incident as a communal assault because the victim was from the Sanatan religious community. He warned that such misinformation could harm social harmony and create confusion. He noted that similar attempts to disrupt communal unity through fabricated narratives had been observed in recent incidents. He also mentioned that several prominent citizens had expressed concern over the killing and urged them to verify facts and, if necessary, visit the site before drawing conclusions. Ahmed called on everyone to act responsibly and cautiously to prevent misinformation from damaging communal coexistence.

Mobile Business Community Bangladesh, a group representing grey market mobile traders, has called on the government to make import taxes on mobile phones more reasonable. The appeal was made on Sunday at a press conference held at the Dhaka Reporters Unity in Segunbagicha, where the group also accused a nine-member syndicate, including Smart Technologies Limited’s managing director Md. Zahirul Islam, of manipulating the system related to mobile registration and import. At the event, representatives including Golam Mahfuz Jony from Jamuna Future Park said traders want to contribute to national revenue if fair tax policies are introduced. They argued that current measures unfairly label them as illegal traders and harm consumers who rely on affordable used phones. The group also demanded the release of detained traders and warned of unrest if further arrests occur. Speakers further alleged irregularities in implementing the National Equipment Identity Register (NEIR), claiming it poses national security risks because data may be stored abroad. They urged the government to ensure any implementation is handled domestically, even suggesting military oversight if necessary.

The Indian government has sharply criticized New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani after his letter to jailed Indian student leader Umar Khalid surfaced online. The Ministry of External Affairs advised Mamdani to focus on his own affairs, following the letter’s circulation on social media platforms such as X and Instagram. Mamdani had written the letter after meeting Khalid’s parents during their visit to the United States in December last year. According to a report by Middle East Eye, ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated that elected representatives should respect the independence of other democracies’ judiciaries and avoid expressing personal biases. Khalid has been imprisoned without trial since September 2020, accused of involvement in the February 2020 Delhi riots. The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom has described him as persecuted for protesting in defense of religious freedom. On January 5, 2026, India’s Supreme Court rejected the bail petitions of Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam, extending Khalid’s continued detention.

Israeli police have detained Zachi Braverman, chief of staff to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, on allegations of obstructing an investigation. The arrest, confirmed on Sunday, follows reports that Braverman was linked to the leak of sensitive military information during the Gaza war. Braverman had been nominated as Israel’s next ambassador to the United Kingdom, but opposition figures are now calling for his appointment to be suspended. Former Netanyahu aide Eli Feldstein recently claimed that Braverman tried to interfere with a probe into the leak of classified military documents to foreign media during the conflict with Hamas. Feldstein himself had been arrested in 2024 for leaking a secret Israeli military document to a German tabloid, which aimed to support Netanyahu’s stance that military pressure could secure the release of Israeli hostages. Israeli media reported that police searched Braverman’s home and expect Feldstein to provide further testimony. Braverman and Feldstein have also been linked to the so-called “Qatargate” scandal, involving alleged efforts to promote Qatar’s image in Israel. Opposition leader Yair Lapid urged the government to suspend Braverman’s ambassadorial nomination in light of these developments.

Police in Ishwardi, Pabna recovered the hanging body of Fasiul Alam Onik, a 22-year-old Chhatra Dal leader, on Sunday evening. The body was found in a rented room at Diyar Sahapur village under Sahapur Union. Onik, son of Mahidul Islam Rana, was a student of Ahsanullah University of Science and Technology in Dhaka and served as the ward vice-president of Khilgaon Thana Chhatra Dal. According to police and local sources, although Onik usually stayed in Dhaka for his studies, he had recently rented a room at the house of Ruhul Driver near his village. When locals noticed no response from his room for a long time, they informed police, who broke open the door and found him hanging from a ceiling fan. Witnesses said one of his feet was on the bed and the other touched the floor, raising questions and mystery in the area. Ishwardi Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md. Mominuzzaman said the body was sent to Pabna General Hospital morgue for autopsy to determine the cause of death. Legal action will follow after investigation.

BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman will begin his official campaign for the 13th National Parliamentary Election on January 22, starting from Sylhet. According to BNP Media Cell Convener Dr. Mowdud Hossain Alamgir, Rahman will inaugurate the campaign by visiting the shrines of Hazrat Shahjalal (R.) and Shah Paran (R.) before participating in rallies and public meetings across the country. The Election Commission’s schedule sets January 21 as the date for the allocation of election symbols, with formal campaigning permitted from the following day. Rahman stated at a hotel event in Dhaka that the BNP will present its planned programs to the public beginning January 22. The campaign marks the formal entry of the BNP into the election race, aligning with the national timeline for political activities as defined by the Election Commission.

A Dhaka court has ordered the freezing of five bank accounts belonging to Dr. Md. Jalal Uddin, the BNP-nominated candidate for Chandpur-2 (Matlab) constituency in the 13th National Parliamentary Election, and four of his family members. The order was issued on Sunday by Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Md. Sabbir Foyez following a petition from the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). ACC Assistant Director (Public Relations) Tanzir Ahmed confirmed the court’s decision. According to the ACC’s application, an ongoing investigation is examining allegations that Jalal Uddin and his associates earned money unlawfully, transferred it under their own and related names to legitimize it, and attempted to launder funds abroad. Investigators found five bank accounts under the names of Jalal Uddin and his family members with unusually large and suspicious transactions. The ACC argued that freezing the accounts was necessary to prevent possible withdrawal or transfer of the funds during the inquiry. Earlier, on December 22, the same court had imposed a travel ban on Jalal Uddin, his wife Shahanaz Sharmin, their two sons, and daughter.

In the 13th National Parliament election for Comilla-11 (Chouddagram) constituency, BNP candidate Md. Kamrul Huda has declared significantly higher assets than Jamaat-e-Islami’s candidate Dr. Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher. According to affidavits submitted to the district returning officer, Kamrul Huda’s total assets amount to Tk 10.07 crore, with an annual income of Tk 80.53 lakh. His movable assets, including Tk 2.86 crore in cash, vehicles, jewelry, and furniture, exceed Tk 8.8 crore, while his wife owns assets worth Tk 1.03 crore. Dr. Taher, Jamaat’s central Nayeb-e-Ameer, reported total assets of Tk 1.80 crore, while his wife Dr. Habiba Akter Chowdhury holds Tk 4.64 crore in assets, including property valued at around Tk 5.5 crore. Between 2011 and 2018, Dr. Taher faced 37 cases, of which 17 were withdrawn in 2024–2025, and he was acquitted or discharged from the rest. His wealth reportedly decreased from Tk 1.02 crore in 2008 to Tk 1.80 crore in 2026, which local Jamaat leaders attributed to political and business losses.

Bangladesh’s Ministry of Religious Affairs has issued new instructions regarding the management of Hajj flights for 2026, scheduled to begin on April 18. The ministry sent letters on January 11 to Hajj agency owners and three airlines responsible for transporting pilgrims, directing them to strictly follow Saudi government regulations and the ‘Hajj Package and Guideline 2026’. According to the directive, all pilgrims under the same service company must travel to Saudi Arabia on the same flight. Each Hajj agency must send at least 20 percent of its total pilgrims during the mid-phase of pre-Hajj flights, while 30 to 50 percent must travel during the first and last phases. The ministry also clarified that no agency may issue less than 30 percent or more than 50 percent of tickets in either the first or last phase. The ministry urged all concerned parties to take necessary measures for flight management and ticket issuance in line with the prescribed guidelines.

The Election Commission (EC) of Bangladesh has completed sending postal ballots to expatriate voters ahead of the upcoming 13th parliamentary election and referendum. The EC warned that any political campaigning on ballot envelopes sent to registered voters will be treated as a punishable offense. Salim Ahmad Khan, team leader of the OCV-SDI project, confirmed the information on Sunday. The EC also urged voters registered through the Postal Vote BD app to collect their ballots personally and maintain secrecy, warning that violations could lead to National ID card blocking and legal action. According to the EC, postal ballots were sent to expatriate voters between December 20 and January 8, and many have already received them. After election symbols are allocated on January 21, expatriates will cast their votes and return the ballots to the returning officers. Within Bangladesh, 761,141 voters registered under the in-country postal vote category, and their ballots will be sent after symbol allocation. The EC reported a total of 1,533,683 registered postal voters through the Postal Vote BD app. The entire domestic postal voting process is expected to take about seven days, according to EC officials.

The European Union has decided to send a large election observation mission to Bangladesh for the 13th national parliamentary election. The decision was conveyed by Ivars Ijabs, chief observer of the EU Election Observation Mission and a member of the European Parliament, during a meeting in Dhaka with Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus. Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam briefed reporters at the Foreign Service Academy, saying the meeting discussed election preparations, a level playing field, and the upcoming referendum. According to the briefing, the EU views the upcoming election as historic and has not sent observers to Bangladesh during the previous 16 years of Sheikh Hasina’s rule. Ijabs noted that the last three elections were not credible but expressed optimism about the current atmosphere. Yunus assured that the election and referendum would be free, fair, and peaceful, with equal opportunity for all parties. Security measures will include CCTV and body-worn cameras at polling centers, and the army will act as a rapid response force. The chief adviser also said official campaigning will begin on January 22, describing the EU’s observer decision as recognition of Bangladesh’s democratic progress.

The Election Commission of Bangladesh has reinstated the nomination of Jamaat-e-Islami candidate Dr. Abdul Mobin for the Chandpur-2 (Matlab North and Matlab South) parliamentary seat. The decision was made on Sunday at 11 a.m. following an appeal hearing at the Election Commission building in Agargaon. His nomination had previously been canceled during the scrutiny process due to a signature error in his affidavit. Dr. Mobin appealed the cancellation, and after reviewing his case, the commission declared his nomination valid. Following the decision, he expressed satisfaction, stating that justice had been achieved through a lawful process. He also called on party leaders and activists to unite and engage actively in the upcoming election campaign. According to the report, six candidates’ nominations were initially rejected in the Chandpur-2 constituency. After appeals and hearings, several were reinstated. Observers believe Dr. Mobin’s return to the race adds a new dimension to the electoral competition in the area.