India’s cricket board (BCCI) has expelled Bangladesh’s only player in the current IPL season, Mustafizur Rahman, following what it described as recent events linked to alleged persecution of Hindus in Bangladesh. The decision came just two days after Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar visited Dhaka to pay respects to Khaleda Zia and delivered a letter from Prime Minister Narendra Modi promoting bilateral ties. Officials and analysts in Dhaka said the expulsion shows India’s hostile stance toward Bangladesh remains unchanged. According to the report, BCCI instructed Kolkata Knight Riders to remove Mustafizur from their squad, a move that followed pressure from extremist Hindu groups and political figures across India. Several leaders from the BJP, Congress, and Shiv Sena publicly demanded his removal, while actor Shah Rukh Khan, KKR’s owner, faced threats for including a Bangladeshi player. The All India Imam Organization also criticized Khan, echoing claims of minority persecution in Bangladesh. Bangladeshi diplomats and analysts described the decision as evidence of India’s deep-seated antagonism toward a Muslim-majority neighbor. They argued that despite official rhetoric of friendship, Delhi’s actions reveal enduring mistrust and political manipulation in bilateral relations.

Students blocked the Farmgate intersection in Dhaka on Sunday morning, demanding justice for the killing of Tejgaon College student Sakibul Hasan Rana and the immediate arrest of those responsible. The blockade began around 10 a.m., halting traffic on one of the city’s key roads and causing severe congestion. Police were deployed in large numbers to control the situation and urged the students to withdraw, but the protesters did not respond initially. The protest followed the death of 18-year-old Sakibul Hasan Rana, a second-year higher secondary student at Tejgaon College, who was injured during a clash between two groups in the college dormitory on December 6 of the previous year. He died four days later, on December 10, while receiving treatment. The incident has sparked anger among students demanding swift justice. After about three hours, the students withdrew their blockade, allowing traffic to resume in the Farmgate area.

The United States military has conducted a direct intervention in Venezuela, capturing President Nicolás Maduro and his wife and transferring them to the US. The operation took place early Saturday in Caracas, and US President Donald Trump announced the action on his social media platform Truth Social. This marks the first direct US military intervention in Latin America since the 1989 invasion of Panama, effectively removing an anti-American leader from power in the region. Nicolás Maduro, born in 1962 in Caracas, rose from a working-class background to become president after the death of Hugo Chávez in 2013. His rule was marked by severe economic crises, allegations of electoral fraud, and accusations of authoritarianism. Despite widespread protests following his disputed 2024 re-election, Maduro maintained power amid US sanctions and international criticism. The US justified its military action by accusing Maduro of involvement in drug trafficking through Venezuela’s notorious Tren de Aragua gang. The operation signals a major escalation in US-Venezuela tensions and raises questions about the future political landscape of the country.

Authorities in Sambhal district of Uttar Pradesh have issued demolition notices for 22 houses and shops near the historic Shahi Jama Masjid, alleging illegal construction on land recorded as a cemetery. The district administration has identified the land as government property and served notices to 48 residents, mostly Muslims and small traders, instructing them to respond within 15 days or face bulldozer action. The move followed a recent land survey that officials said revealed unauthorized structures on the cemetery plot. The notices have sparked fear and anger among local Muslim residents, who claim their families have lived there for decades and accuse the administration of acting hastily. Residents said the threat of bulldozers has created panic, especially among women and children. Local leaders have demanded transparency and restraint, saying they respect the law but seek fairness and time to present their documents. Earlier, the Allahabad High Court declined to halt the land survey, allowing residents to raise objections before revenue officials. The situation remains tense as community members prepare legal responses amid growing unease.

Foreign Affairs Adviser Md. Touhid Hossain stated that there is no scope for rushing the trial of Osman Hadi’s murder case. He said authorities are not yet fully certain about the whereabouts of the killers but assured that efforts are underway to bring them to justice as soon as possible. He made these remarks on Saturday afternoon while speaking to journalists after a meeting with district officials at the Munshiganj Deputy Commissioner’s conference room, chaired by Deputy Commissioner Syeda Nurmahal Ashrafi. Touhid Hossain added that Bangladesh seeks to maintain good relations with all countries and that the government aims to hand over responsibilities to the elected administration promptly after the February 12 election. He emphasized that there is no external pressure regarding the election process. Earlier, the adviser, accompanied by members of martyr families, paid tribute at the July Martyrs Memorial in Munshiganj, visited the graves of July Movement martyrs in Uttar Islampur, and met with their families to inquire about their well-being.

Former Bangladesh cricket captain Aminul Haque has claimed that pacer Mustafizur Rahman was a victim of a religiously motivated conspiracy after being dropped from the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) squad ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season. The franchise reportedly acted on a special directive from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), following protests by hardline Hindu groups demanding Mustafizur’s removal. The Bangladesh star had been signed by KKR for 92 million rupees, the highest price ever for a Bangladeshi player in the IPL. Aminul expressed anger over the decision and urged the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) to investigate whether any group was involved in creating a religious controversy. He warned that such incidents could strain Bangladesh-India relations and voiced concern about the safety of Bangladeshi players during the upcoming T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka. Aminul called on both the BCB and the Bangladesh government to address the issue through dialogue and ensure player security. He further stated that although Mustafizur might face financial loss, his national respect would remain intact, emphasizing the need for transparency and accountability in the matter.

U.S. President Donald Trump announced that a group will assume control of Venezuela until a safe and fair transfer of power is ensured. When asked who would be part of this group, Trump said his Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, had been in contact with Delcy Rodríguez, who served as Vice President under Nicolás Maduro. Rodríguez became the first Venezuelan official to speak publicly after the U.S. attack, urging Washington to provide proof of life for Maduro and his wife. During a press conference, Trump stated that Rodríguez expressed willingness to do whatever the United States wants. Rodríguez and her brother Jorge, head of Venezuela’s National Assembly, have long been strong supporters of Maduro’s government. However, it is suggested that Rodríguez may have agreed to cooperate with the Trump administration to ensure her own safety. The situation marks a significant shift in Venezuela’s internal power dynamics following the U.S. intervention, with uncertainty surrounding the future leadership structure and the fate of Maduro.

More than 150 academics, doctors, human rights activists, journalists, and legal experts from home and abroad have expressed concern and protest over what they described as false accusations and defamation against Amar Desh editor Mahmudur Rahman. In a joint statement issued on Saturday, they said that following the December 18 news of the death of Shaheed Sharif Osman Hadi, a leader of the July Revolution, attacks and arson took place at two newspaper offices in Dhaka, and Mahmudur Rahman was unfairly implicated in those incidents. The signatories stated that the attacks on the offices of Prothom Alo and The Daily Star were attempts to silence the media and restrict freedom of expression. They condemned the social media campaign linking Rahman to the violence as a disgraceful act and an obstacle to independent journalism. They urged the state to identify those responsible for both the attacks and the defamatory campaign and ensure justice through legal means. The statement further alleged that writers AFM Rashedul Haque Mallik (Maruf Mallik) and AKM Wahiduzzaman Apollo committed criminal offenses by spreading false and defamatory claims, calling for their public apology and legal accountability.

US President Donald Trump announced that the United States will temporarily administer Venezuela following the capture of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife during a military operation. Speaking at Mar-a-Lago in Florida, Trump said the operation took place overnight, disabling much of Caracas’s power supply and rendering Venezuela’s military capacity ineffective. He confirmed that no US troops were killed and no equipment was damaged, adding that helicopters, fighter jets, and a large number of soldiers participated, supported by the FBI’s Hostage Rescue Team. Trump stated that Venezuela would remain under US control until a safe and prudent power transition is completed. He warned of a possible second strike if necessary but said it was unlikely after the successful mission. Maduro faces drug and weapons charges, while Caracas accused Washington of seeking to seize oil and mineral resources. The US hinted at no further action against Caracas, though Venezuela declared a state of emergency. The United Kingdom denied involvement in the attack, and Russia condemned the operation. Reports cited BBC, Al Jazeera, and Fox News as sources.

Youth and Sports and Law Adviser Dr. Asif Nazrul has urged the Information and Broadcasting Adviser to suspend the broadcast of the Indian Premier League (IPL) in Bangladesh. In a Facebook post on Saturday night, he said the move came after the Indian cricket board allegedly instructed Kolkata Knight Riders to drop Bangladeshi cricketer Mustafizur Rahman under pressure from extremist communal groups. Nazrul condemned the decision and termed it an insult to Bangladesh and its cricketers. He stated that, as the minister in charge of the sports ministry, he had directed the Bangladesh Cricket Control Board to formally explain the matter to the International Cricket Council (ICC). He also instructed the board to inform the ICC that if a Bangladeshi player cannot play in India despite having a contract, the national team might not feel safe participating in the World Cup there. Nazrul further said he had advised the board to request that Bangladesh’s World Cup matches be held in Sri Lanka instead. Nazrul reiterated that Bangladesh would not tolerate any insult to its cricket or cricketers and declared that the days of subservience were over.

US military forces have carried out a large-scale operation in Venezuela, capturing President Nicolás Maduro and his wife and transferring them to the United States. The raid, led by the elite Delta Force unit, marks the first direct US military intervention in Latin America since the 1989 invasion of Panama. Following the operation, questions have emerged over who will assume control of Venezuela’s leadership. In an interview with Fox News, US President Donald Trump said his administration is considering whether to support opposition leader María Corina Machado, currently in Norway, as Venezuela’s new leader. Trump described Maduro’s election as disgraceful and said the arrest sends a clear message that the United States will no longer bow to pressure. Washington has indicated no further action will be taken against Caracas, while the Venezuelan government has accused the US of seeking to seize its oil and mineral resources. The United Kingdom stated it was not involved in the operation, and Russia condemned the US military action. A state of emergency has been declared across Venezuela following the raid.

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president Aminul Islam Bulbul commented on the controversy surrounding Mustafizur Rahman after Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) dropped the player from their upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) squad. Speaking in Sylhet after inaugurating a regional cricket center, Bulbul said he had limited information and could not make detailed comments yet. He confirmed that BCB had not received any official statement from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) or the franchise. According to the report, KKR removed Mustafizur following threats from several Hindu nationalist groups and India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The decision was reportedly made under BCCI’s instruction. The issue has raised concerns ahead of next month’s T20 World Cup, where Bangladesh is scheduled to play three group matches in Kolkata and one in Mumbai. Threats have also been issued against these matches, including warnings about damaging the Eden Gardens pitch. BCB media committee chairman Amjad Hossain said the board had just learned of the situation and would prioritize player safety in discussions with the International Cricket Council (ICC). He noted that ICC safety guidelines would determine the final venue decisions.

The International Crimes Tribunal-1 is scheduled to hold a hearing today on the charge framing against retired Major General Ziaul Ahsan in a case involving crimes against humanity. The three-member tribunal, chaired by Justice Golam Mortuza Majumder with members Justice Shafiul Alam Mahmud and retired judge Mohitul Haque Enam Chowdhury, will hear the prosecution’s submission. Ziaul Ahsan was produced before the tribunal on December 23, after which he was shown arrested and sent to jail pending the hearing. The prosecution had filed formal charges against Ziaul Ahsan on December 17, accusing him of involvement in enforced disappearances and killings. The tribunal issued a production warrant and accepted the charges for hearing. The case includes three specific allegations: the killing of detainees taken from the RAB headquarters in 2011, executions in Barguna’s coastal areas under a code-named operation, and staged “gunfights” in the Sundarbans under operations such as Nishankhali, Mora Bhola, and Kotka. The prosecution claims at least 100 people were killed in these incidents. Ziaul Ahsan, a former director general of the National Telecommunication Monitoring Centre, was arrested in Dhaka’s Khilkhet area after August 5 last year and remains in custody.

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) announced that it registered 131,000 previously unregistered businesses for Value Added Tax (VAT) during a special campaign conducted across Bangladesh in December. According to an NBR press release issued on Saturday, the campaign was carried out by 12 VAT commissionerates, which worked daily, including holidays, to identify and register new entities. Before the interim government took office, the number of VAT-registered businesses stood at 516,000, which has now risen to 775,000. NBR’s public relations officer Md. Al Amin Sheikh said the campaign coincided with VAT Day on December 10 and VAT Week from December 10 to 15, followed by a special registration drive from December 10 to 31. He noted that VAT contributes the largest share of total revenue, accounting for 38 percent last year. To expand the VAT base, the government has amended the VAT law, lowering the annual turnover threshold for mandatory registration from 30 million to 5 million taka. NBR has also introduced measures to simplify VAT registration and payment, including online submission of VAT returns and automated refunds directly to bank accounts.

During the state-run Operation Devil Hunt Phase-2, aimed at preventing possible sabotage and violence ahead of the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election, joint forces continued special drives across Bangladesh. In Chuadanga’s Darshana area, police arrested two local Jubo League figures—Begumpur Union Jubo League General Secretary Shahin Ahmed and former leader Saiful Azam Mintu—on January 1 during a special raid at the Hijolgari camp. Police sources said both detainees were known as active leaders of the ruling party’s youth wing and had been involved in local influence and alleged subversive activities. However, on January 2, while Shahin was sent to court, Saiful was released by police. The release sparked widespread criticism and human chains in Darshana. Officer-in-Charge Mehedi Hasan stated that both men were brought in for questioning, but Saiful was freed because he held no current organizational post. Locals have questioned whether a police officer alone has the authority to release a political figure under such circumstances, fueling debate in Begumpur and Darshana.