Bangladesh’s Economic Adviser Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed stated that it is not possible to reduce bank interest rates at this time. He made the remarks on Saturday, January 10, at an event organized by Banking Almanac at the CIRDAP auditorium in Dhaka, where he attended as the chief guest. Ahmed emphasized that given the current realities, lowering loan interest rates is not feasible. He noted that the banking sector has become relatively stable but cautioned that reducing interest rates remains difficult. The adviser also mentioned that controlling inflation cannot be achieved by the government alone without the cooperation of the business community and the broader society. He expressed hope that he would not fail in his role as economic adviser and that moving Bangladesh forward remains a major challenge. The comments highlight the government’s cautious stance on monetary policy adjustments amid ongoing efforts to stabilize the financial sector and manage inflationary pressures.

Exiled opposition leader Reza Pahlavi, son of Iran’s deposed Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, praised the ongoing protests in Iran on Friday and called for larger demonstrations over the weekend. In a social media video message, he urged Iranians to move beyond street rallies and organize to seize and hold city centers. Pahlavi said he was preparing to return to Iran, believing that change was now very close. Human rights activists warned that the Iranian government might shut down the internet to conceal its crackdown. According to the Norway-based Iran Human Rights organization, at least 51 people have been killed so far. Nobel Peace Prize laureate Shirin Ebadi cautioned that security forces could prepare for mass killings under communication blackouts. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei denounced the protesters as vandals and insisted the Islamic Republic would not retreat, blaming the United States for the unrest. U.S. President Donald Trump mentioned possible new military actions against Iran, further heightening tensions.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has announced a hardline stance against the ongoing nationwide protests, declaring the protection of national security and the 1979 Islamic Revolution’s achievements as a “red line” that cannot be crossed. In a statement broadcast on state television on Saturday, the IRGC accused “terrorists and rioters” of attacking military and law enforcement bases, setting fire to public and government property, and killing several security personnel and civilians. The Iranian army, operating separately under Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, also vowed to use maximum force to defend national interests and infrastructure. The protests, spreading for two weeks across Iranian cities, began over inflation and economic hardship but quickly turned political, with demonstrators calling for an end to religious rule. State media reported arson at a municipal building in Karaj and funerals for slain security members in Shiraz, Qom, and Hamedan. Human rights group HRANA said at least 65 people, including 50 protesters and 15 security forces, have been killed, while over 2,500 have been arrested. US President Donald Trump issued a warning to Iranian leaders, expressing support for the “brave people of Iran.” Leaders of France, Britain, and Germany jointly condemned the killings and urged Iranian authorities to refrain from violence.

Mahmudur Rahman, editor of the newspaper Amar Desh, stated that a large portion of Bangladesh’s media failed to support persecuted journalists over the past 16–17 years due to fear, pressure, and opportunism. He made the remarks on Saturday at a meeting in Banani, Dhaka, where BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman met with editors and journalists. Mahmudur Rahman said he would not deliver a long speech but would instead mention names of journalists who, in his view, suffered injustice. He cited the late journalist Ruhul Amin Gazi, who was imprisoned while suffering from cancer and denied treatment, and senior editor Abul Asad, who was jailed for years and unable to be with his wife during her illness. He also described the harsh prison conditions faced by 80-year-old Shafik Rehman and the imprisonment of journalist Kanak Sarwar for broadcasting Tarique Rahman’s speech live. Mahmudur Rahman said mainstream media remained silent in all these cases. In his closing remarks, he addressed Tarique Rahman, asserting that the true history of Bangladesh’s media and liberation war had been distorted and promising to present a detailed account in the future.

Assistant Professor Hasan Mohammad Roman Shuvo of Chittagong University’s Law Department was detained on Saturday by representatives of the Chittagong University Central Students’ Union (ChakSU). He was accused of maintaining regular contact with leaders of the banned Chhatra League, including its current branch president Rubel and secretary Iqbal Hossain Tipu. Information retrieved from his phone reportedly showed frequent communication and messages exchanged in November and December 2025. Roman was also alleged to have ties with Chhatra League leader Abrar Shahriar, who had previously made divisive statements about the Chittagong Hill Tracts. Student leaders from various organizations expressed anger over the incident. ChakSU’s Law and Human Rights Secretary Fazle Rabbi Tawhid questioned whether Roman was conspiring to destabilize the university ahead of elections. Leaders from the Chhatra Dal and Chhatra Shibir criticized the administration for failing to act against those who supported the July uprising’s violence. University Vice-Chancellor (Administration) Professor Md. Kamal Uddin confirmed that Roman’s salary had been suspended following an earlier investigation and that a second inquiry was nearing completion. Further action would be coordinated with the proctor’s office.

The Election Commission (EC) has declared the nomination of independent candidate Syed A.K. Ekramuzzaman for the Brahmanbaria-1 (Nasirnagar) constituency invalid. The decision was made during a hearing held on Saturday at the EC headquarters in Agargaon. Ekramuzzaman, formerly an adviser to BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and Managing Director of RAK Ceramics, had submitted his candidacy as an independent. Ekramuzzaman was expelled from the BNP after defying party decisions to contest the 12th National Parliamentary Election independently. He had previously contested the 9th and 11th parliamentary elections as a BNP candidate but was defeated. In the 12th election held on January 7, 2024, he won the seat as an independent candidate with 89,424 votes under the ‘Banana Stem’ symbol. Later in 2024, Ekramuzzaman joined the Awami League and was appointed as an adviser to the Brahmanbaria District Awami League committee. The constituency has historically been dominated by the Awami League, with BNP never winning there. This time, BNP’s Nasirnagar Upazila President Abdul Hannan is contesting the seat.

RFL Group has introduced its electric scooter brand 'Raido' at the Dhaka International Trade Fair 2026, marking its first appearance with affordable and eco-friendly models. The company is showcasing nine scooter models at Pavilion 23 of the main exhibition building. The highlight of the stall is the Raido Leaf model, priced at Tk 49,000 after a Tk 6,000 discount from its regular price of Tk 55,000, which has drawn strong interest from young visitors. According to Raido’s Head of Marketing, Shariful Islam, the brand’s 'Raido DITF Fest' campaign features scooters ranging from Tk 55,000 to Tk 145,000, catering to different budgets and needs. The company is offering discounts up to Tk 14,000, exclusive gifts, and surprise coupons, alongside pre-booking opportunities. The BRTA-approved scooters feature modern designs, powerful motors, long-lasting batteries, and can operate at a cost of 11 paisa per kilometer. RFL’s Marketing Director Kamruzzaman Kamal said electric scooters have gained global popularity as affordable, eco-friendly vehicles, and the Raido series aims to make urban and rural commuting in Bangladesh more convenient and sustainable.

Mahmudur Rahman, editor of the newspaper Amar Desh, has sharply criticized BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman, saying that he has been away from Bangladesh for 17 years and does not know what has happened in the country during that time. He made these remarks on Saturday, January 10, at a meeting and greeting event organized by the BNP with editors and senior journalists at a hotel in Banani, Dhaka. In his speech, Mahmudur Rahman also referred to Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, claiming that Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was not involved in the Liberation War and did not try to learn about it after returning to the country. According to him, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman relied on what Awami League members and the Indian side told him, which led to his failure. Mahmudur Rahman warned Tarique Rahman that he was relying only on what his associates and new media allies were telling him, and that the real history of Bangladesh’s past 17 years was different. He said he would describe that history if invited to a future event.

A passenger bus crashed into the wall of a mosque in Simantabazar area of Kazipur upazila, Sirajganj, on Saturday before noon while overtaking a stationary truck. The bus, operated by Priyo Enterprise, hit a van carrying sanitary goods before breaking through the wall of the Uttar Jame Mosque. Van driver Farid sustained serious injuries to his shoulder, arm, and head, and was taken to Sirajganj Sadar Hospital. The mosque’s wall, windows, floor, and roof were also damaged in the incident. The bus was reportedly being driven by Mannan, a helper who had taken the wheel for the trip from Kazipur to Sirajganj. He also suffered head injuries requiring several stitches. The bus owner, Arju, stated that accidents are inevitable when helpers drive vehicles. Police collected evidence from the site, and the Kazipur police investigation officer said legal action would follow if a complaint is filed. Local witnesses confirmed that the van’s goods were heavily damaged, and the bus’s front portion was wrecked in the collision.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed support for anti-government protesters in Iran on Saturday through a post on the microblogging platform X, stating that the United States stands with the Iranian people. His statement followed a warning from President Donald Trump on Friday directed at Iran’s leaders, cautioning them against initiating violence. The ongoing anti-government demonstrations in Iran have intensified tensions across the country. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) indicated that it may take strict measures if necessary to restore order, asserting that the current instability would not be allowed to persist. Earlier, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had said that the government would not hesitate to act against those involved in destructive activities, a remark that sparked renewed debate over the role of security forces. The combination of US statements and Iran’s internal warnings underscores a deepening standoff, with both domestic and international attention focused on how Tehran will respond to the protests.

The United States has temporarily suspended the issuance of Diversity Immigrant Visas (DV), according to an emergency announcement from the U.S. Department of State. The department stated that the measure was taken to ensure national and public security, and no new visas under the DV lottery program will be issued until further notice. The State Department explained that the decision followed recent incidents, including a shooting at Brown University and the killing of a professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where the main suspect had entered the U.S. through the DV program. Authorities said the suspension aims to review and strengthen the screening and verification process to prevent potential security threats. Applicants who have already applied or have scheduled interviews will still be able to attend them, but even successful candidates will not receive visas until new instructions are issued. Existing valid DV visas remain unaffected, and there are no updates yet regarding the DV-2027 lottery. The suspension will remain in place until the program’s procedures are fully revised.

Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay Verma paid a courtesy call on Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Chairperson Tarique Rahman on Saturday afternoon. The meeting took place at the BNP chairperson’s political office in Gulshan, Dhaka. The information was confirmed by BNP Media Cell member Shairul Kabir Khan, and a video of the meeting was released on the party’s verified Facebook page. The video showed Pranay Verma entering the BNP chairperson’s office and meeting Tarique Rahman. BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed were also present during the meeting. The report did not mention the topics discussed or any official statements from either side. The meeting marks a formal diplomatic engagement between the Indian envoy and the BNP leadership, though no further details about the discussions or outcomes were provided in the source.

Photographer Parvez Ahmed Rony has launched a solo exhibition titled 'Border That Bleeds' at the lake beside Korail slum in Dhaka’s Mohakhali. The exhibition began on Friday and is open to the public. It protests border killings and commemorates Felani Khatun, who was shot dead by India’s Border Security Force (BSF) on January 7, 2011, and whose body was left hanging on the barbed wire for hours. The exhibition features seven selected photographs displayed as floating installations on the lake. According to the source, nearly 1,400 Bangladeshi civilians have been killed by India’s border guards over the years. Rony worked continuously on this subject between 2012 and 2025, documenting the human cost of violence along the Bangladesh-India frontier. The exhibition serves as both an artistic statement and a call for justice for victims like Felani. The event highlights ongoing concerns about accountability for cross-border killings and aims to raise public awareness through visual storytelling.

Hasnat Abdullah, the chief organizer of the National Citizen Party (NCP) for the southern region and the Jamaat-led alliance candidate for Comilla-4 (Debidwar), stated that no good work can begin with wrongdoing. He made the remarks on Saturday, January 10, during a courtyard meeting held in Yousufpur Union of Debidwar upazila as part of an anti-Indian aggression march. During the meeting, Abdullah urged local residents to avoid supporting those involved in past corruption, loan defaults, or legal cases in Debidwar. He emphasized that those preparing to seize polling centers or manipulate votes would not succeed, pledging to resist such actions with public support. Earlier in the day, he joined the anti-aggression march through several villages, including Nabipur Bazar, Egarogram, Muksair, Juktogram, and Pairangkul, accompanied by local NCP and Jamaat-e-Islami leaders and activists. The event reflected the NCP’s ongoing campaign activities in Debidwar ahead of the upcoming election, focusing on anti-corruption and fair voting messages.

Barrister Asaduzzaman Fuad, the general secretary of the Amar Bangladesh (AB) Party and candidate of the 11-party alliance for Barishal-3 (Babuganj–Muladi), stated that a free, fair, and acceptable election cannot take place without ensuring the safety of voters and candidates. He made the remarks on Saturday, January 10, during a post-meeting press briefing in Chandpasha, Babuganj, following a discussion on the electoral code of conduct with alliance leaders and activists. Fuad alleged that despite submitting multiple complaints to the district administration and returning officer, no effective action has been taken. He claimed that law enforcement agencies are showing bias toward one political party and that plans are underway by that party’s activists to seize polling centers. He said his alliance has prepared a list of vulnerable centers and informed the authorities about alleged plans for armed demonstrations. Calling on the government to act more decisively, Fuad suggested detaining individuals involved in violent or center-seizing activities under special powers laws for two to three months to reduce potential clashes and ensure a secure voting environment.