The Bangladesh Election Commission (EC) has announced that any voter who shares photos or videos of their postal ballot on social media will face punitive action, including the blocking of their National Identity Card (NID). The directive, disclosed through EC sources, emphasizes that maintaining the secrecy of postal votes is both a right and a responsibility of voters. Sharing any information, images, or video footage of ballots online constitutes a punishable offense under existing law. The EC’s message urges voters to refrain from posting or sharing any content related to postal voting on social media platforms. The commission reiterated that such actions compromise the confidentiality of the electoral process and will trigger legal measures, including NID suspension and other lawful penalties. The announcement underscores the EC’s effort to preserve the integrity and secrecy of postal voting ahead of upcoming electoral activities, warning that violations will be met with strict enforcement.

In Habiganj, the district returning officer and deputy commissioner Abu Hasnat Mohammad Arifin declared 19 out of 29 nomination papers valid after scrutiny across four constituencies on Saturday morning. The verification took place at the district administration conference room in the presence of senior officials including the additional district magistrate and the district election officer. Ten candidates’ nominations were canceled for various procedural and documentation errors. In Habiganj-1, one candidate’s paper was rejected for missing affidavit and signature. In Habiganj-2, three candidates were disqualified for incomplete voter lists, concealing case information, and missing signatures. In Habiganj-3, one candidate’s paper was canceled for faulty application and missing tax return. In Habiganj-4, five candidates were disqualified due to inconsistencies in party nominations, missing signatures, incomplete voter lists, and lack of bank account proof. The district returning officer stated that candidates whose nominations were canceled may appeal by January 9.

Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez has demanded proof that President Nicolás Maduro is alive following claims by the United States that he and First Lady Cilia Flores have been captured. Rodríguez confirmed that the Venezuelan government does not know the whereabouts of either Maduro or Flores and has formally requested immediate evidence of their well-being. Earlier, former US President Donald Trump announced on his social media platform Truth Social that US forces had successfully carried out a major operation against Venezuela, detaining Maduro and his wife and removing them from the country. US officials told CBS News that the operation was conducted by the Delta Force, a top US military counterterrorism unit. Explosions were reportedly heard across Caracas as the US assault began late Friday night, prompting Venezuela to declare a state of emergency. In response, Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino announced the nationwide deployment of the military and condemned the attack as the “worst aggression” against the country, urging citizens to unite in resistance.

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores have been detained and are being transported to New York aboard a US warship, according to US President Donald Trump. In an interview with Fox News, Trump confirmed that the couple were taken from their palace by helicopter and are currently on the USS Iwo Jima. He stated that they would be brought to New York following their capture during a US military operation in Venezuela on Friday night. Trump told Fox News that he had spoken with Maduro a week earlier, offering him a chance to step down and surrender before the attack. He said he personally told Maduro that he must relinquish power and surrender. US Vice President JD Vance also confirmed that Trump had proposed giving Maduro an opportunity before the assault. The report further notes that following the operation, international reactions began to emerge, including comments from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and retired US General Ben Hodges, who warned of potential strategic missteps similar to those in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Bangladeshi newspaper Amar Desh has announced it will boycott all coverage of the Indian Premier League (IPL) following the exclusion of Bangladesh’s fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman from the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) squad. The decision came after India’s cricket board, the BCCI, instructed KKR to release Mustafizur. The newspaper’s editorial board confirmed the boycott soon after the player’s removal was made public. According to the report, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) had granted Mustafizur permission to play in the IPL at the BCCI’s request, following Bangladesh’s ODI series against New Zealand. KKR had purchased Mustafizur for 92 million rupees in the recent auction, making him the highest-priced Bangladeshi player in the league. However, the BCCI has not yet formally notified the BCB about the release order. BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia told Indian media that the decision was made due to recent events, while other Indian figures, including a religious leader and a BJP politician, had earlier criticized KKR’s signing of Mustafizur. The BCB indicated it has limited options beyond appealing to the BCCI.

The nomination of BNP candidate Morshed Milton for the Bogura-7 (Gabtali-Shajahanpur) constituency, previously held by Khaleda Zia, has been declared valid for the 13th National Parliamentary Election. The announcement was made on Saturday by Bogura Deputy Commissioner and Returning Officer Toufiqul Rahman after verifying five submitted nomination papers, of which three were approved. The nominations of Begum Khaleda Zia, due to her death, and Muslim League leader Ansar Ali were cancelled for not meeting the required criteria. The two other valid candidates in the constituency are Golam Rabbani of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and Md. Shariful Islam of Islami Andolan. This marks the first time a BNP candidate outside the Zia family, Morshed Milton, who is the district BNP vice-president and Gabtali Thana BNP president, has been nominated for this seat. Local reports indicate that Milton’s nomination as the BNP’s young candidate under the party’s ‘sheaf of paddy’ symbol has generated widespread enthusiasm in the Bogura-7 constituency.

Leaders and activists of the central Anti-Discrimination Student Movement staged a sit-in at Shahbagh on Saturday night demanding the immediate release of Mahadi Hasan, the Habiganj district member secretary and a self-proclaimed July fighter. The protest began around 10 p.m., following an announcement made on the organization’s Facebook page at 9 p.m. Earlier that evening, police detained Mahadi from a lawyer’s residence in Habiganj town. According to the district convener Arif Talukdar, the reason for Mahadi’s detention was not clear, though police said it was for questioning. The organization issued a one-hour ultimatum for Mahadi’s unconditional release, warning of nationwide action if the demand was not met. After the deadline passed without response, the group announced the Shahbagh sit-in at 10:15 p.m., calling on students and the public to join. The arrest followed a viral video showing Mahadi confronting a police officer in Shaistaganj over the detention of a student leader involved in the movement. The group stated that if Mahadi was not released promptly, it would escalate its protest programs across the country.

Mahdi Hasan, member secretary of the Habiganj district branch of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, was detained by the Detective Branch (DB) police on Saturday evening from a lawyer’s residence in the district town. The branch’s convener, Arif Talukdar, said he was not yet clear about the reason for the detention, though police informed them it was for interrogation. Attempts to contact the Habiganj DB police for further details were unsuccessful. According to reports, Mahdi may have been detained in connection with an incident on January 2, when he allegedly threatened police after admitting to burning the Baniachang police station and assaulting a sub-inspector while trying to secure the release of an accused person. Earlier on Saturday afternoon, the movement’s central office secretary, Shahadat Hossain, issued a show-cause notice to Mahdi, instructing him to respond within 24 hours and barring him from participating in organizational activities until further notice. The report also mentioned that a former Chhatra League leader, Enamul Hasan Noyon, had been detained earlier, prompting protests from movement activists who demanded his release.

The United States launched a military attack on Venezuela, with President Donald Trump claiming the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife. Shortly after the assault began, Democratic Senator Ruben Gallego of Arizona denounced the action on social media platform X, calling it an illegal and unjustified war. Gallego, a former US Navy serviceman who served in Iraq from 2002 to 2006, described it as the second unjust war of his life. Republican Senator Mike Lee of Utah also questioned the legality of the operation, writing on X that he was eager to understand how the move could be constitutionally justified without a formal declaration of war or congressional authorization for the use of military force. In recent months, several Democratic and Republican lawmakers have voiced opposition to the Trump administration’s military actions in Latin America. The bipartisan criticism highlights growing unease in Congress over unilateral military interventions in the region, suggesting potential challenges ahead for the administration’s foreign policy approach.

Russia’s Foreign Ministry has condemned the United States for launching an attack against Venezuela, calling the justification for the assault unacceptable. In a state statement issued on Saturday, Moscow urged Washington to exercise restraint and warned that the situation in Caracas had intensified following a series of early-morning explosions. Russia also reaffirmed its commitment to stand by Venezuela, following the path of Bolivarian leadership. The ministry emphasized that ideologically driven hostility had overshadowed pragmatic relations and reiterated that dialogue is the only viable solution to the conflict. It expressed readiness to support diplomatic efforts aimed at resolving tensions. The statement further reaffirmed solidarity with the Venezuelan people and support for the country’s sovereignty and national interests. The Russian Embassy in Caracas reported that it continues to operate normally and maintains constant communication with Venezuelan authorities and Russian citizens in the country. It confirmed that no Russian nationals were injured in the attack.

Foreign Affairs Adviser Md. Touhid Hossain stated that there is no external pressure on Bangladesh regarding the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election. He made the remarks on Saturday, January 3, in Munshiganj after a meeting with heads of government offices. Hossain emphasized that Bangladesh maintains good relations with all foreign partners, and the election process is being organized independently within the country. He added that the government will conduct the election and hand over responsibilities to the newly elected administration by February 12. The adviser noted that how other countries choose to maintain relations with Bangladesh is their own matter. On a separate issue, he said efforts are underway to bring back those involved in the Osman Hadi murder case, though their exact location in India remains unknown. Hossain clarified that there is no urgency in the judicial process and that once the suspects’ whereabouts are confirmed, the Indian government would be requested to assist in their capture.

Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino announced the immediate deployment of the country’s armed forces across Venezuela following what he described as a US attack. In a video message delivered in Spanish on Saturday, Padrino called the assault the “worst act of aggression” against Venezuela and urged citizens to unite in resistance. He stated that the nation was following President Nicolás Maduro’s directives and declared that the attackers would not succeed in suppressing them. Earlier, US President Donald Trump claimed that American forces had carried out a large-scale operation against Venezuela and detained President Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. Trump made the statement on his social media platform, Truth Social, adding that the operation was conducted with the cooperation of US law enforcement agencies and that further details would be shared at a press conference in Mar-a-Lago. CBS News cited US officials saying that the Delta Force, an elite counterterrorism unit, had captured Maduro and his wife. According to BBC sources, explosions were heard across Caracas during the overnight assault, prompting Venezuela to declare a state of emergency.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro has published a post on social media platform X identifying Venezuelan regions affected by what he described as United States attacks. According to the report, the strikes targeted both civilian and military installations across several Venezuelan states. The post was shared on January 3, 2026, by the online outlet Amar Desh. The report states that multiple areas in Venezuela were struck, though it does not specify the names of the affected regions or the scale of the damage. The information was presented as coming from Petro’s social media post, which highlighted the extent of the alleged US operations. The article also referenced related developments involving Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and broader US actions in Latin America. The report underscores ongoing tensions in the region, with references to historical US involvement in Latin America and expressions of solidarity from European countries toward the Venezuelan people.

The Election Commission (EC) has clarified the specific procedure for filing appeals against returning officers’ decisions on the acceptance or rejection of nomination papers for the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election. According to a directive from the EC Secretariat’s legal wing, any candidate whose nomination is rejected, or any candidate objecting to another’s acceptance, must submit an appeal following the prescribed rules. The directive emphasizes strict adherence to clause 19 of Circular-2 previously issued by the commission. For candidates’ convenience, the EC stated that appeals must be submitted at designated booths assigned for each region, using the official format provided by the commission. The entire appeal process must be completed within the timeframe set in the announced election schedule. Returning, assistant returning, and regional officers have been instructed to promptly inform candidates about these procedures. As in previous elections, special booths and hearing courts will be set up at the EC Secretariat, where the Chief Election Commissioner and other commissioners will conduct hearings to resolve appeals swiftly.

Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar visited the Bangladesh High Commission in Islamabad on Saturday, January 3, 2026, to pay tribute to former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Khaleda Zia following her death. During the visit, he signed the condolence book placed at the mission in her memory, according to a statement from Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Earlier, on Wednesday, Pakistan’s National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq traveled to Dhaka after news of Khaleda Zia’s death. He attended her funeral and met with Tarique Rahman, the acting chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), to express condolences on behalf of Pakistan. The visits by senior Pakistani officials reflect Islamabad’s gesture of sympathy toward Bangladesh’s political leadership following the passing of Khaleda Zia, a significant figure in the country’s political history.