A day laborer named Rezaul Karim, 38, died from electrocution on Sunday morning while assisting in the reinstallation of an electricity transformer in Chaubila village under Salonga Union of Raiganj upazila, Sirajganj. He was working with a lineman named Atik when the accident occurred around 11 a.m. Karim, son of the late Omar Ali Sheikh of Charia Ujir Shaopara village, had long been employed as a tree-cutting worker for the local Palli Bidyut office. According to police and local sources, the team assumed the power line was disconnected before starting work. However, an adjacent line remained live, and Karim was fatally electrocuted upon contact. His coworkers later disconnected the power and, with local help, brought down his body. Police visited the scene, granted permission for burial, and recorded an unnatural death (UD) case at Salonga Police Station. Local residents have raised questions about how a tree-cutting laborer was assigned to transformer installation work, as attempts to contact the Salonga Palli Bidyut zonal office and its acting AGM went unanswered.

Bangladesh Bank has decided to withhold profits for 2024 and 2025 from depositors of five Islamic banks currently undergoing a merger process. The affected banks are First Security Islami Bank, Global Islami Bank, Union Bank, EXIM Bank, and Social Islami Bank, which are being consolidated into a new entity named Sammilit Islami Bank. The central bank announced the decision last Wednesday, stating that depositors will not receive profits for the two years, and any previously withdrawn profits will be deducted from their accounts. The decision has sparked widespread anger among depositors, leading to disruptions in normal banking operations at some branches and a human chain protest in Dhaka’s Gulshan area. Depositors argued that they should not bear the burden of bank mismanagement and demanded full repayment of their deposits and due profits. Bank officials requested the central bank to reconsider, but the governor reaffirmed that the decision, based on Shariah principles, would not be reversed. According to Bangladesh Bank sources, withholding two years of profits will reduce liabilities by about Tk 10,000 crore, lowering total deposits from Tk 1.31 trillion to an estimated Tk 1.21 trillion across the five banks, which currently serve around 7.5 million depositors.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has questioned the transparency of several activities of the Election Commission (EC), alleging that the commission has shown bias in many cases. He warned that such behavior could hinder a fair election but expressed optimism that a credible election is still possible under the current commission if existing flaws are quickly resolved. Fakhrul made these remarks after meeting the Chief Election Commissioner on Sunday, January 18, at 4:45 p.m. He claimed that the postal ballots sent to voters were faulty and designed to favor a particular party, demanding immediate supply of correct symbol-marked ballot papers. Fakhrul also criticized the collection of voters’ NID, mobile, and bKash numbers, expressing doubts about the purpose behind it. He alleged that campaign rules were being violated through one-sided promotion and that voter transfers in parts of Dhaka were being done deliberately. Calling on the EC to act, Fakhrul urged investigations against biased officials and demanded equal opportunities for all parties. He reiterated that a fair election is possible if the commission identifies and corrects its shortcomings and proves its neutrality.

The Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives has temporarily suspended Md. Saidur Rahman Bhuiyan, chairman of Lengura Union Parishad in Netrokona’s Kalmakanda upazila. The order, issued on Sunday, stated that Bhuiyan obstructed the activities of an executive magistrate and committed contempt of court during official proceedings, which constituted misuse of power and misconduct under local government law. According to the report, the incident occurred when Bhuiyan became involved in an argument with Kalmakanda Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Masudur Rahman. The dispute arose at Lengura Bazar after the UNO detained Bhuiyan’s brother, Md. Parvez, during the construction of a market on government land. A video of the altercation later circulated on social media. The suspension order emphasized that Bhuiyan’s actions were inconsistent with the responsibilities of an elected representative and violated administrative discipline.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said that a US military attack on Greenland would make Russian President Vladimir Putin the happiest man in the world and signal the death knell for NATO. He made the remarks in an interview published Sunday in the Spanish newspaper La Vanguardia, according to Reuters. Sánchez argued that any US military action against Denmark’s vast Arctic island would damage NATO and legitimize Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The comments came after former US President Donald Trump shifted his stance on Greenland, pledging to raise tariffs on European allies until the United States is allowed to purchase the island. In a Truth Social post, Trump announced that starting February 1, a 10 percent import tariff would apply to goods from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Finland, and Great Britain, rising to 25 percent on June 1 if no purchase deal is reached. Danish and Greenlandic leaders have reiterated that the island is not for sale and that they do not wish to become part of the United States. Sánchez’s warning underscores growing tensions between Washington and European allies over Greenland and NATO’s unity amid global geopolitical strains.

Daksu Vice President Sadiq Kayem has alleged that a student organization is attempting to stop the Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) Central Student Union (ShakSU) election, scheduled for January 20. In a Facebook post on January 18, he warned that the student community would not accept any effort to halt the election through force. He urged the Election Commission and university administration not to yield to any threats or pressure and to ensure a fair and impartial election on time. The post further stated that the alleged attempt was being made to serve the agenda of the organization’s parent body. Kayem emphasized that any move to curtail students’ democratic rights after the July Revolution would be resisted. Meanwhile, an independent candidate, Mominur Rashid Shubho, has filed a petition with the High Court seeking to postpone both the ShakSU and hall union elections. The Election Commission has extended the campaign period for participating candidates by 12 hours, while the ShakSU election remains set for January 20.

The Ministry of Education has finalized a decision to divide the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education (DSHE) into two separate directorates. The decision was made on Sunday during an inter-ministerial meeting held at the ministry’s conference room. According to the plan, secondary-level education will fall under a new Directorate of Secondary Education, while college-level education will be managed by a Directorate of Higher Education or Directorate of Higher Education and Research. An eight-member committee has been formed to develop a strong institutional organogram for the new structure. An official present at the meeting, who requested anonymity, said that each of the two directorates will have a Director General and additional Director General positions, though the number of additional posts has not yet been determined. Another committee will finalize the full staffing structure and submit it to the Cabinet Division, which will issue a circular to implement the separation. The meeting was attended by Rehana Parveen, Secretary of the Secondary and Higher Education Division, along with officials from the Education, Finance, Cabinet, and Public Administration ministries. Once the Cabinet Division issues the circular, the two directorates will officially begin operating separately.

Mufti Amir Hamza, the Jamaat-e-Islami candidate for the Kushtia-3 (Sadar) parliamentary seat, has claimed that he has been receiving death threats from various sources. He made the statement on Sunday through a post on his personal Facebook account, saying he has been threatened since the previous day and that he is always prepared for death. In recent days, an old video of Amir Hamza’s speech at a religious gathering has gone viral on social media. In that video, he was seen distorting the name of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia’s younger son, Arafat Rahman Koko, and comparing it to an animal’s name. The resurfaced clip sparked political tension, and the Kushtia district unit of the BNP publicly protested his remarks. Following the backlash, Amir Hamza posted an apology on Facebook late Friday night, expressing regret over his earlier comments.

Engineers from Rosatom have confirmed that fuel loading for Unit-1 of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant in Pabna is expected to take place by the end of February 2026. The announcement follows a recent inspection visit by Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed, adviser to the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Ministry of Finance, who reviewed the project’s progress and met with officials and engineers at the site. During the visit, Dr. Ahmed praised the dedication of the workforce and expressed optimism that the Rooppur plant, Bangladesh’s first nuclear power facility, will play a transformative role in the national energy sector. The project aims to meet the country’s growing electricity demand while strengthening energy security and advancing sustainable development goals. According to project engineers, approximately 350 megawatts of electricity from Unit-1 could be supplied to the national grid by the end of March 2026, with full generation capacity expected to reach about 1,150 megawatts once operations stabilize.

A verbal altercation occurred between Sayedur Rahman Bhuiya, chairman of Lengura Union Parishad and general secretary of Kalmakanda upazila BNP, and Masudur Rahman, the upazila nirbahi officer (UNO) and executive magistrate of Kalmakanda in Netrokona. The incident took place on Saturday afternoon during a mobile court operation at Lengura Bazar, where legal action was taken against two individuals accused of constructing illegal structures. A video of the exchange later spread on social media. According to local sources, the dispute began when Bhuiya arrived at the scene and questioned the UNO’s actions, asserting his authority as the elected representative of the area. Bhuiya later alleged that the administration had not informed him about the operation and accused the UNO of misusing administrative power against political opponents. In response, UNO Masudur Rahman stated that the law does not require permission from a union chairman to conduct a mobile court. Earlier the same day, a separate incident was reported involving independent candidate Rumin Farhana, whose campaign was halted following allegations of misconduct with an executive magistrate.

On Sunday, the first trading day of the week, the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) recorded its highest index rise of the year. The DSEX, the main index, gained 76 points or 1.53 percent, closing at 5,035 points and crossing the 5,000 mark again. This was the highest level in two and a half months, last seen on November 3 when the index stood at 5,061 points. The DSE-30 and DSE Shariah indices also rose by about 1.5 percent each. Trading volume increased significantly, with transactions totaling Tk 474 crore compared to Tk 379.8 crore on the previous trading day, marking an increase of about Tk 95 crore. Out of 389 traded issues, prices rose for 290, fell for 42, and remained unchanged for 57. Leasing companies under liquidation led the gains, with People’s Leasing, Premier Leasing, Prime Finance, Bangladesh Industrial Finance, and Fareast Finance each rising over 10 percent. International Leasing’s share price rose 9.75 percent. The DSE also adjusted its indices, adding nine new companies and removing sixteen from the main index. Three companies were added and three removed from the DSE-30 index, with the changes confirmed as effective by the DSE’s public relations department.

The Ministry of Commerce has recommended withdrawing the bonded warehouse facility for importing 10 to 30 count yarn used in export-oriented garment manufacturing. A letter signed on January 12, 2026, from the ministry’s WTO Cell-2 instructed the National Board of Revenue to take necessary action. The move follows recommendations from the Bangladesh Tariff Commission and the Bangladesh Textile Mills Association to safeguard domestic spinning mills, promote employment, and strengthen local value addition ahead of Bangladesh’s graduation from least developed country (LDC) status. According to the ministry, bonded imports under HS headings 52.05, 52.06, and 52.07 have surged in recent years, particularly from India, rising from 351,000 tons in 2022–23 to 697,000 tons in 2024–25. The ministry noted that duty-free or low-duty yarn imports are being sold at lower prices, undermining local mills that are operating at only 60% capacity. Around 50 spinning mills have already closed, and many others face losses. The ministry believes ending the facility will restore balance in the spinning sector, boost domestic production, and help Bangladesh meet local value addition requirements in global trade after LDC graduation.

Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) recovered two USA-made pistols, four magazines, and eight rounds of ammunition during a special operation in Rajshahi’s border area. The operation took place on the night of January 17, 2026, at Katakhali border, based on secret intelligence. The recovery was announced at a press briefing held at the BGB Rajshahi headquarters on January 18 by Lieutenant Colonel Riaz Shahriar, director of Rajshahi BGB. The seized weapons were found buried in the ground at Padma Char area and will be handed over to Katakhali Police Station. No arrests were made in connection with the incident. Lieutenant Colonel Shahriar stated that the operation was part of intensified surveillance and patrol measures to prevent illegal arms, ammunition, and explosives from entering the country ahead of the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election. He also detailed a comprehensive security plan for Rajshahi, including deployment of mobile and striking forces, K-9 units, and river patrol crafts. BGB plans to complete deployment across all electoral areas between January 29 and February 1, establishing temporary base camps to ensure smooth election-time security operations.

Five people were killed and several others injured when a passenger bus hit an easybike on the Dhaka-Barishal highway in Madaripur’s Ghatokchar area on Sunday, January 18, 2026, around 5:30 p.m. The accident occurred near the Mill Gate area when a Sarbik Paribahan bus traveling from Madaripur to Dhaka collided with the easybike, causing the vehicle to crumple and the bus to fall into a roadside ditch. Fire service personnel, highway police, and local residents are conducting rescue operations at the scene. Among the deceased were Pannu Munshi, a helper of Sarbik Paribahan, and Ruman, son of Shah Alam from Ghatokchar village in Kendua Union of Madaripur Sadar. Three people died on the spot, and another succumbed to injuries at the hospital. The injured were taken to Madaripur 250-bed District Hospital for treatment. Police and fire service teams continue their operations to recover victims and clear the site. Mastafapur Highway Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mamun Al Rashid said he was heading to the scene and would provide further details later.

Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman met with the interim government’s Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus at the state guesthouse Jamuna on Sunday evening. The meeting began at 6:17 p.m., with a four-member delegation from Jamaat-e-Islami accompanying Dr. Rahman. The discussion focused on various contemporary political matters, according to the report. Earlier, on Thursday evening, BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman had paid a courtesy call on Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus at the same venue. Tarique Rahman was accompanied by his wife Dr. Zubaida Rahman and their daughter Barrister Zaima Rahman. The report noted that both meetings took place at Jamuna and were centered on political issues. These consecutive meetings between the Chief Adviser and leaders of major political parties indicate ongoing consultations within the interim government framework, though the report did not specify any outcomes or decisions from the discussions.