Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) A M M Nasir Uddin stated that there is no secrecy surrounding the upcoming national election. He made the remarks on Sunday afternoon after a meeting with foreign diplomats at the Westin Hotel in Gulshan, Dhaka. The meeting, organized by the Election Commission, aimed to brief ambassadors, high commissioners, and representatives from the European Union and the United Nations about the forthcoming parliamentary election and public voting process. During a post-meeting briefing, the CEC emphasized the commission’s goal of holding an almost transparent and credible election. He said diplomats were pleased with the discussions. According to Nasir Uddin, diplomats raised questions about postal voting and the deployment of law enforcement personnel during the election period. He assured them that comprehensive security measures would be taken to ensure peaceful voting. The CEC added that members of the army, air force, navy, RAB, BGB, and Ansar would be deployed at polling centers. He reaffirmed that the Election Commission would make maximum efforts to ensure a safe environment for voters.

A Dhaka court has ordered the seizure of income tax records belonging to former reserved seat Member of Parliament Syeda Rubina Akter and her husband Mosharraf Hossain Sardar. The order was issued on Sunday, January 25, 2026, by Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Sabbir Foyez, following separate petitions filed by Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Deputy Director Rashedul Islam. The court move aims to support an ongoing investigation into alleged corruption and misuse of power. According to the ACC’s petitions, Rubina Akter allegedly amassed assets worth Tk 1.57 crore beyond known income sources and conducted suspicious transactions totaling Tk 139.35 crore through her and related bank accounts. The ACC filed a case against her on May 14 of the previous year. Her husband Mosharraf Hossain is accused of jointly acquiring Tk 1.26 crore in assets and engaging in suspicious transactions amounting to Tk 18.44 crore. The court directed that their full tax return records from the beginning to the latest fiscal year be seized for investigation. The court’s decision enables investigators to examine the couple’s financial documents to verify the sources of their wealth and assess potential money laundering activities.

Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) President Colonel (Retd.) Oli Ahmad Bir Bikram has called on voters to support candidates of the 11-party alliance to, in his words, free Bangladesh from the influence of 'Delhi’s servants.' He made the appeal on Sunday afternoon at a campaign rally for the Dhaka-6 constituency, organized by Jamaat-e-Islami Dhaka South at Dhupkhola Field in Gendaria. Jamaat Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman attended the event as the chief guest. During his speech, Oli Ahmad criticized both the Awami League and BNP, saying that the country had long been governed by those he described as 'agents of India.' He recounted his role in the 1971 Liberation War and said the current struggle was to realize the dream of a just, corruption-free Bangladesh. He urged citizens to vote for candidates aligned with the August 5 movement, rejecting those he accused of serving foreign interests. Oli Ahmad introduced Dr. Abdul Mannan for Dhaka-6 and Nasiruddin Patwari for Dhaka-8 as alliance candidates, urging voters to elect them to achieve what he termed a 'new Bangladesh' based on justice and independence.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has extended heartfelt congratulations to the Bangladesh women's football team for winning the SAFF Women's Futsal Championship in Bangkok. The team defeated the Maldives by 14 goals to claim the title, marking Bangladesh’s biggest victory against the Maldives in the competition. Fakhrul expressed pride in the team’s achievement, saying it brought honor to the nation on the global stage. In his congratulatory message issued on Sunday, Fakhrul praised the players’ strong morale and sporting skills, noting that the victory demonstrated their growing confidence and excellence. He also conveyed best wishes to the team’s coaches, officials, and all those involved in the success. Fakhrul expressed optimism that the women’s team would continue to bring further glory to Bangladesh in the near future through their dedication and performance.

Bagerhat Sadar Upazila Chhatra League president Saddam Hossain did not receive parole release, sparking widespread discussion in media and social platforms. District Commissioner Golam Md. Baten explained that a parole application reached his residence on Friday. After notifying prison authorities, he was informed that since Saddam is imprisoned outside the district, granting parole would violate the 2016 Prison Act. The applicants were informed and expressed satisfaction before leaving, and no further contact was made. Saddam’s uncle, Md. Hemayet Uddin, said a written application for parole was submitted on January 23 to the district magistrate, who directed it to the Bagerhat jail authority. They clarified they had no jurisdiction and advised applying to the prison where the accused is held. Later, when the family brought the bodies to Jessore jail, Saddam was allowed to view them for only three minutes. Earlier, Saddam’s wife Kaniz Subarna Swarnali allegedly drowned their nine-month-old child before taking her own life in Bagerhat’s Sabekdanga village. Saddam, arrested after the fall of the Awami League government, remains in Jessore Central Jail facing multiple cases.

World-renowned climber Alex Honnold has completed the largest urban free-solo climb in history. On Saturday, January 24, during a live special broadcast on Netflix, he scaled the exterior of Taipei 101, a 508-meter (1,667-foot) skyscraper, without ropes or safety equipment, finishing the ascent in less than 90 minutes. The climb began at 9:17 a.m. local time in Taiwan and marked the first-ever free-solo ascent of a skyscraper. In a previously aired interview, Honnold said Taipei 101 had fascinated him for years and that he had dreamed of climbing it for about 12 years. The challenge unfolded in three stages: first, a 113-meter sloped steel-and-glass section; second, eight “bamboo box” structures with overhangs; and finally, the spire, which posed the toughest physical test. Honnold’s heart rate reportedly reached about 165 beats per minute halfway through. He ended the climb by taking a selfie at the summit. The successful, accident-free feat drew widespread global praise.

A court has issued a six-month injunction preventing authorities from disconnecting electricity, gas, and water supplies to under-construction buildings in Dhaka. The order, delivered by Justices Sikdar Mahmudur Razi and Raziuddin Ahmed, directs WASA, RAJUK, and the Power Division to refrain from cutting any utility connections during this period. The ruling came following a writ petition (No. 21171/2025) filed by the Real Estate and Housing Association of Bangladesh (REHAB). The court accepted REHAB’s argument that disconnection of utilities could cause severe hardship for families living in partially completed buildings and disrupt daily life dependent on water and electricity. Considering humanitarian aspects, the court ordered that the current situation be maintained until the case is finally resolved. The injunction follows months of widespread disconnections, with over 1,200 electricity meters reportedly removed from various construction sites. These actions had stalled many projects, left workers jobless, delayed flat handovers, and caused financial losses for developers. The court’s order is expected to provide temporary relief to developers and residents affected by the earlier utility cuts.

A report presented at a press conference held on Sunday at the Power Division in Dhaka revealed that Bangladesh’s power sector incurred losses of Tk 500 billion over the past 15 years. The findings were shared by National Committee chief Justice Moinul Islam Chowdhury, who stated that the previous government used the severe power crisis as a means of financial exploitation while shielding wrongdoing through an indemnity ordinance. According to the report, the ongoing financial strain, high electricity prices, and excessive generation capacity stem from long-term institutional and contractual failures rather than short-term crises. It highlighted that power plants were built without tenders, widespread corruption and irregularities occurred, and capacity payments increased twentyfold. The report also noted misuse of emergency powers, repeated renewals of special provisions, and disregard for competition laws, which led to transaction-based electricity pricing. The report concluded that the combination of excessive plant construction and inflated pricing has placed the power sector at significant risk, driven by irregularities in contracts and governance failures.

A youth leader and local chairman in Ukhiya upazila of Cox’s Bazar has been accused of blocking a century-old access road used by a Hindu family to construct a shop. The incident occurred on Saturday near the mosque market area of Morichya Bazar, where Imrul Kayes Chowdhury, chairman of the Holdiapalong Union Parishad and senior joint general secretary of the upazila Jubo League, allegedly began building on the path. When locals and members of the affected family protested, a scuffle broke out, leaving at least five people injured. Police later intervened and brought the situation under control. Local residents claim the road has served as the only route for Hindu families in the area for nearly a hundred years. They fear that closing it will severely disrupt both daily movement and local business activities. Several community leaders, including mosque and market committee members, accused the chairman of making unilateral decisions and constructing shops without consultation. Attempts to contact Imrul Kayes Chowdhury for comment were unsuccessful. Following the incident, police, army personnel, and senior officers visited the site. Later that evening, traders organized a torch procession demanding the chairman’s arrest, while another group held a human chain in Ukhiya town over related injuries.

A nationwide study on drug abuse in Bangladesh has revealed that approximately 8.2 million people, or 4.88 percent of the population, use some form of illegal drug. The findings were presented on January 25, 2026, at a dissemination event held at the Super Specialized Hospital in Dhaka, organized by Bangladesh Medical University (BMU) under the supervision of the Department of Narcotics Control (DNC). The research, conducted between February and June 2025 using the Network Scale-Up Method, covered 13 districts and 26 upazilas across eight divisions. The study found that cannabis is the most commonly used drug, with about 6.1 million users, followed by methamphetamine (2.3 million) and alcohol (2 million). Mymensingh, Rangpur, and Chattogram divisions recorded the highest usage rates, while Rajshahi and Khulna had the lowest. Most users are young, with 33 percent starting drug use before age 18. Unemployment, peer influence, and family instability were identified as major risk factors. Researchers emphasized that drug abuse in Bangladesh is a growing public health and social crisis requiring integrated prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation policies beyond punitive measures.

The Chandpur district unit of the Jatiya Party has officially announced its support for the BNP candidate in Chandpur-3 constituency. The declaration was made on Sunday afternoon during a discussion meeting held in the Biponibag area of Chandpur town, presided over by Sirajul Islam Siru Miji, convener of the Jatiya Party’s Chandpur municipal committee. Speakers at the event said the decision was taken in the context of the current political situation to restore democracy and ensure people’s voting rights. They expressed hope that collective efforts would help fulfill public expectations in the constituency. Senior leaders from the district and municipal levels, along with activists from various tiers of the party, attended the meeting and pledged to work unitedly for BNP’s paddy-sheaf symbol candidate Sheikh Farid Ahmed Manik. In response, Sheikh Farid Ahmed Manik welcomed the support, calling it a positive step that would strengthen their campaign. He emphasized cooperation among all to build Chandpur and noted that the Jatiya Party’s backing was aimed at advancing their shared political goals.

Hasnat Abdullah, the chief organizer of the NCP’s southern region, has called for a united stand against any attempt at vote rigging, even in the presence of the administration. He made the remarks on Sunday, January 25, during a brief rally following an election march at Jibanpur village in Rasulpur Union of Debidwar upazila, Comilla. Addressing local residents, Abdullah said that people must rise above religious, political, and social divisions to resist injustice and ensure that no one can manipulate votes like a bank robbery. He urged voters to remain vigilant and united until the election results are announced. Referring to his birthplace, he mentioned that Rasulpur Union has about 22,000 voters and encouraged them to vote collectively for the “Shapla Koli” symbol to secure victory. He also appealed to female voters to speak with at least ten others daily to ensure support for his electoral symbol. The event was attended by local leaders from NCP and Jamaat, including Saiful Islam Shahid and Jahangir Alam.

The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) has approved 25 development projects worth Tk 45,191 crore across Bangladesh. The meeting, chaired by Chief Adviser and ECNEC Chair Dr. Muhammad Yunus, was held at the NEC conference room of the Planning Commission on Sunday. Among the approved projects, 14 are new, six are revised, and five have been granted time extensions. Of the total cost, Tk 10,881 crore will come from government funds, Tk 32,018 crore from foreign loans, and Tk 2,291 crore from the implementing agencies’ own resources. The approved projects span communication, health, education, agriculture, water resources, power, transport, and human resource sectors. Major initiatives include widening regional highways, constructing an elevated expressway from Lalkhan Bazar to Shah Amanat International Airport in Chattogram, strengthening the airport runway, and expanding tourism facilities in the hill tracts. Other projects cover rural infrastructure in Cumilla, police facility construction, dual-gauge rail line expansion to Cox’s Bazar, and establishment of a 1,000-bed Bangladesh–China Friendship General Hospital. Officials expressed optimism that these projects will enhance infrastructure capacity, generate employment, and contribute positively to national economic growth.

BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman met with the father of slain student leader Wasim, who was killed during the July 24 mass movement, in Chattogram on Sunday morning. During the meeting, Rahman expressed deep respect to Wasim’s father, calling him a proud parent of a hero. He assured that the people of Bangladesh would always remember Wasim and all others who were martyred or injured in the 2024 movement. Rahman emphasized that the sacrifices made by those who fought for democracy and people’s rights would never be forgotten by the nation. The meeting was described as a courtesy visit, reflecting the BNP leader’s continued acknowledgment of those who lost their lives in political struggles. The event highlighted the party’s ongoing effort to honor the memory of activists associated with the July 24 movement and to reaffirm its commitment to democratic principles.

A powerful snowstorm has disrupted daily life across several regions of the United States, leaving more than 230,000 customers without electricity, mostly in Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas, Tennessee, and New Mexico. Nearly 13,000 flights have been canceled as the storm continues to affect transportation and utilities. The report, citing Reuters, said the storm began Saturday and is expected to bring heavy snow, sleet, and freezing rain from the southern Rocky Mountains to New England through Monday. Former President Donald Trump approved a federal emergency disaster declaration for multiple states, including South Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee, Georgia, North Carolina, Maryland, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Indiana, and West Virginia. On social media, he stated that authorities are monitoring all states in the storm’s path and maintaining communication with them. The Department of Homeland Security reported that 17 states and Washington, D.C., have declared weather emergencies. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said thousands remain without power in southern states, and restoration work is underway as quickly as possible.