A Dhaka court has ordered the seizure of land worth Tk 1.75 crore belonging to Jahangir Alam, former personal assistant to former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The same order also froze Tk 1.03 crore held in seven bank accounts under the name of his wife, Kamrun Nahar. The directive was issued on Tuesday by Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Md Sabbir Foyez, following petitions from Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Assistant Director Piyas Pal. According to the ACC petitions, there was a risk that Jahangir Alam might transfer or change ownership of his immovable assets, and that Kamrun Nahar’s bank funds could be moved. The ACC argued that freezing and seizing these assets were necessary to ensure a fair investigation. After hearing the petitions, the court granted both requests. Earlier, on December 17 of the previous year, the ACC filed a case against Jahangir Alam and Kamrun Nahar, accusing them of acquiring wealth beyond known income sources. The case alleged that Kamrun Nahar possessed Tk 6.80 crore in unexplained assets, while Jahangir Alam had Tk 18.29 crore in illegally obtained property.

A total of 15,345 voters in Habiganj district have registered to cast their votes through postal ballots in the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election and referendum. According to District Election Officer Anwar Mahmud, the registered voters include government and private sector employees working in different parts of the country, officials on election duty, and expatriates living abroad. The Election Commission will send symbol-marked ballot papers for the parliamentary election and separate pink ballots for the referendum to the registered voters by mail. Seat-wise data show that Habiganj-1 (Nabiganj-Bahubal) has 4,297 postal voters, Habiganj-2 (Baniachang-Ajmiriganj) has 2,838, Habiganj-3 (Sadar-Lakhai-Shayestaganj) has 3,250, and Habiganj-4 (Madhabpur-Chunarughat) has 4,960. After voting, ballots must be mailed back to the respective returning officers following the prescribed procedure. The counting of postal ballots will take place at 4:30 p.m. on February 12, after the close of voting, in the presence of candidates’ agents at the returning officer’s office.

Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus has instructed authorities to expedite the recovery of looted weapons ahead of the upcoming national election. The directive was conveyed by his Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam during a briefing held on Tuesday afternoon at the Foreign Service Academy auditorium. Earlier that morning, Dr. Yunus made the call during a meeting of the National Implementation Committee on Administrative Reorganization at his Jamuna residence. According to the press secretary, the meeting also approved a proposal to rename the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs as the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs. The committee discussed several administrative restructuring proposals, totaling eleven, as part of ongoing governance reforms. The emphasis on recovering stolen weapons reflects the caretaker administration’s focus on maintaining law and order before the election period, while the ministry’s renaming signals a move toward updated institutional terminology.

The Rural Electrification Board (REB) has initiated a large-scale campaign to encourage citizens to vote 'Yes' in the upcoming national referendum. The decision was made at a meeting held on Tuesday at the Chief Adviser’s Office, attended by Special Assistant Professor Ali Riaz and Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Adviser Muhammad Faozul Kabir Khan. The campaign aims to raise public awareness about the referendum and promote participation across the country. As part of the initiative, REB will distribute leaflets titled 'The Key of the Country is in Your Hands' to 37.2 million customers by February 7, explaining the rationale for voting 'Yes'. The plan also includes regional meetings with 1.8 million prepaid customers, loudspeaker announcements in rural areas, promotional activities on the Facebook pages of 80 rural electricity cooperatives, and drop-down banners at REB offices nationwide. Professor Ali Riaz stated that the people of Bangladesh desire a democratic and humane society and must be motivated to vote 'Yes' to achieve it. The meeting was also attended by Special Assistant Monir Haidar, Power Division Secretary Farzana Momtaz, and REB Chairman Major General S.M. Zia-ul-Azim, with 417 field-level officials joining via Zoom.

U.S. President Donald Trump has posted several controversial images on his social media platform Truth Social, appearing to intensify his rhetoric about taking control of Greenland. Among the images is one showing the U.S. flag flying over Greenland, which has triggered renewed international discussion. Another post includes a screenshot of a message from French President Emmanuel Macron alongside an altered presentation board. The edited image, believed to be from August 2025, originally depicted the Ukraine conflict frontline but now shows U.S. flags over North America, Canada, and Greenland. Trump also shared an illustration portraying himself planting the U.S. flag in Greenland, accompanied by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Vice President JD Vance. A sign in the image reads “Greenland: U.S. Territory, Established 2026.” Analysts cited by the report say the posts have reignited debate over Greenland’s sovereignty and the United States’ intentions. The images have drawn attention to Washington’s stance toward Greenland, with observers noting that the posts could further strain international discussions about territorial sovereignty.

Jamaat-e-Islami has withdrawn its candidate from the Dhaka-18 constituency ahead of Bangladesh’s upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election. Principal Ashraful Haque, the party’s nominated candidate, formally withdrew his nomination papers from the Election Commission office on Tuesday, expressing support for the National Citizen Party (NCP) candidate Ariful Islam Adib. Earlier on Saturday, Ashraful Haque had announced his decision to step aside in favor of Adib, who serves as the convener of NCP’s Dhaka Metropolitan North unit. According to an NCP statement, Haque has long been active in the constituency and maintained close ties with local residents. The statement added that, in the interest of broader alliance unity, the Dhaka-18 seat was allocated to the NCP candidate. The withdrawal reflects a strategic move within the electoral alliance, aiming to consolidate support in Dhaka-18 under a single candidate representing the coalition.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has filed a case against Jatiya Party leader and former state minister Md Moshiur Rahman Ranga and former Kurigram MP Ponir Uddin Ahmed. The case, lodged on January 19, 2026, accuses them of embezzling Tk 1.7 crore through nomination trading. According to ACC Director General Md Akhter Hossain, Ranga allegedly accepted the money as a bribe while serving as a member of parliament and presidium member of the Jatiya Party, in exchange for facilitating Ahmed’s participation in the 12th parliamentary election. The ACC stated that the two acted in collusion to gain illegal benefits by transferring, converting, and transacting the funds, which constitutes punishable offenses under sections 161, 165, and 109 of the Penal Code, section 5(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1947, and sections 4(2) and 4(3) of the Money Laundering Prevention Act, 2012. Additionally, the commission has issued a notice under section 26(1) of the ACC Act, 2004, requiring Ranga to submit a statement of his assets for verification. The ACC’s move marks a continuation of its scrutiny of political figures accused of corruption and illicit financial dealings.

China has confirmed receiving an invitation from the United States to join President Donald Trump’s proposed ‘Peace Board’. The announcement was made in Beijing on Tuesday by Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun during a regular press briefing. Guo stated that China had received the invitation but did not clarify whether Beijing would accept it. The board was initially conceived to oversee the reconstruction of the war-torn Gaza region. However, its charter does not specify whether its activities will be limited to Palestinian-controlled areas. According to available information, Washington has invited leaders from several countries to join the initiative. Under the proposed structure, President Donald Trump would serve as the board’s chair, with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney among its members. Guo Jiakun also commented on China–U.S. relations, noting that despite fluctuations over the past year, ties have remained relatively stable. He emphasized that cooperation benefits both nations, while conflict harms both sides.

The Mobile Business Community Bangladesh has demanded the unconditional release of 56 imprisoned mobile phone traders and the withdrawal of what they called false cases against innocent businesspeople. The demand was made during a human chain protest held on Tuesday afternoon in front of the National Press Club in Dhaka, where the organization’s general secretary, Abu Sayeed Piyas, spoke about the issue. Speakers at the event said that decisions taken under the name of implementing NEIR have pushed around 20,000 small and medium mobile phone traders and about 2.5 million people dependent on the sector into uncertainty. They alleged that many traders were arrested in harassment cases for participating in peaceful protests. The leaders also noted that over 30 days of continuous demonstrations and shop closures have caused severe economic losses, leaving employees unpaid and traders unable to cover rent or loan installments. Considering the national situation and the upcoming election, the organization announced a temporary suspension of its shutdown program, with all mobile showrooms set to reopen nationwide on January 22. However, they vowed to continue boycotting products from a specific syndicate accused of trying to monopolize the market under the NEIR initiative.

The Election Commission (EC) of Bangladesh is holding a meeting this Tuesday afternoon with representatives of 63 registered political parties ahead of the 13th National Parliament election and the upcoming referendum. The meeting is scheduled for 4 p.m. at the EC headquarters in Agargaon, Dhaka. According to the commission, the discussions will focus mainly on the functions of the ‘Postal Vote BD’ app and related issues. Chief Election Commissioner A M M Nasir Uddin, other election commissioners, the EC secretary, and senior officials will attend the session. Before the meeting, Swedish Ambassador Niclas Wik will pay a courtesy call on the Chief Election Commissioner at 3 p.m. The commission stated that they will discuss various important matters concerning the forthcoming national election. Meanwhile, the withdrawal of nomination papers has been ongoing since morning at the Election Training Institute (ETI) building, and the EC will announce the total number of withdrawn nominations after 5 p.m. The meeting is part of the EC’s preparations to ensure coordination with political parties and smooth management of election-related processes.

The High Court has set Wednesday, January 21, for the hearing of a writ petition filed by BNP candidate Manjurul Ahsan Munshi challenging the Election Commission’s decision that invalidated his nomination for the Comilla-4 constituency. The bench led by Justice Rajik Al Jalil fixed the date on Tuesday. Munshi’s legal team includes Advocate Ahsanul Karim, Barrister Hamidul Misbah, and Advocate Saifullah Al Mamun, while Hasnat Abdullah is represented by Barrister Ehsan Abdullah Siddiqi and others. Earlier, on January 17, the Election Commission (EC) accepted an appeal by National Citizen Party (NCP) candidate Hasnat Abdullah, who alleged that Munshi concealed information about being a loan defaulter. Following the EC’s decision, Munshi’s nomination was declared invalid. Before that, the returning officer had approved his nomination as valid. Munshi’s petition seeks to overturn the EC’s January 17 decision and restore his candidacy. The High Court’s ruling on Wednesday will determine whether he can contest the election in Comilla-4.

Ambassadors from Russia, Sweden, Denmark, and Norway held separate courtesy meetings with BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman on Tuesday afternoon at his political office in Gulshan, Dhaka. The discussions took place in a cordial atmosphere, according to BNP Joint Secretary General and Foreign Affairs Advisory Committee member Humayun Kabir, who briefed reporters afterward. Kabir said the international community has shown special interest in Tarique Rahman and his views on Bangladesh’s development. The meetings focused on how to work together based on mutual cooperation while prioritizing Bangladesh’s national interests. He added that if the BNP comes to power through the February 12 national election, the party intends to maintain diplomatic relations and engage with the international community in line with its 31-point program. Kabir clarified that no specific issues regarding the election were discussed, though the ambassadors expressed optimism about Bangladesh’s democratic process and its post-election trajectory. BNP officials Saleh Shibli, Mahadi Amin, and Rashedul Haque were also present during the meetings.

A discussion meeting and prayer gathering were held in Parshuram, Feni, on Tuesday, January 20, to mark the 90th birth anniversary of late President Ziaur Rahman. The event took place at a local auditorium and was organized by the upazila and municipal units of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) along with its affiliated organizations. Abdul Halim Manik, convener of the upazila BNP and former union parishad chairman, presided over the program, while Abu Taleb, a member of the BNP’s national executive committee, attended as the chief guest. The event was conducted by Mahbubul Haque Majumdar and Abul Khayer Liton, with several BNP leaders including Ibrahim Khalil Moni, Habibur Rahman Habib, and Kazi Yusuf Mahfuz attending as special guests. In his speech, Abu Taleb said that Ziaur Rahman had established the BNP as a people’s party and sacrificed his life for the country’s independence and sovereignty. He urged party members to work toward implementing the ideals left by Ziaur Rahman. The gathering reflected the BNP’s continued efforts to honor its founder’s legacy through local organizational activities.

Nine people have been confirmed dead following an explosion at a steel plant in China’s northern Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, according to state media reports on Tuesday. The incident occurred over the weekend at the Baogang United Steel plant, where a water and steam tank with a capacity of 650 cubic meters reportedly exploded. At least 84 people were hospitalized after the blast, and one person remains missing as rescue teams continue search operations. Videos circulating on social media showed the plant’s collapsed roof, debris, and thick plumes of smoke rising into the sky. Firefighting vehicles were deployed to the site, and footage captured a large object being hurled into the air during the explosion. Residents living several kilometers away said the blast shook their homes and shattered windows. The report noted that China has experienced several major industrial accidents in the past, including a fireworks factory explosion in Hunan Province last June that killed nine people and a 2015 chemical warehouse blast in Tianjin that claimed more than 170 lives.

A Dhaka court has issued arrest warrants against former Bangladesh Bank governor Dr. Atiur Rahman and 24 others in a case involving the alleged embezzlement of about Tk 531 crore under the name of Anontex Group. The warrants were issued by Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Md. Sabbir Foyez following confirmation from Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) public prosecutor Mohammad Tarikul Islam. The court also set March 4 for submission of the report on the execution of the warrants. According to the ACC, the accused conspired to defraud Janata Bank PLC by creating false records and misappropriating Tk 531.44 crore, which with interest amounts to approximately Tk 1,130.19 crore. The case was filed on February 22 of the previous year by ACC Deputy Director Md. Nazmul Hossain at the commission’s Dhaka Integrated District Office. The charge sheet against 26 individuals, including Dr. Abul Barkat, was submitted on October 20, and the court took cognizance on January 15. Dr. Abul Barkat, the only accused currently in custody, was produced before the court, which rejected his bail plea and ordered his return to prison.