Bangladesh’s professional cricketers have decided to return to the field after reconsidering their boycott of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL). The players had earlier refused to play two BPL matches in protest against negative remarks made by Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) director M Nazmul Islam. The Cricketers’ Welfare Association of Bangladesh (CWAB) announced in a statement that, following internal discussions, the players are now prepared to resume play. The BCB had issued a show-cause notice to M Nazmul Islam and removed him from the board’s finance committee in an effort to ease tensions. CWAB welcomed these steps and expressed hope that Nazmul Islam would also issue a public apology. The organization said that if the apology and disciplinary process proceed as expected, there would be no obstacle to players returning to the BPL from Friday. CWAB noted that the decision considered the importance of the BPL, the ongoing women’s T20 World Cup qualifiers in Nepal, and the upcoming Under-19 World Cup campaign, emphasizing unity across Bangladesh cricket.

Prosecutors have formally filed charges against 26 individuals for crimes against humanity in connection with the killing of seven people, including Mir Mahfuzur Rahman Mugdho, during the July Revolution in Dhaka’s Uttara area. The charges were submitted on Thursday before the International Crimes Tribunal-1, led by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mojumdar, with Justices Md Shafiul Alam Mahmud and Md Mohitul Haque Enam Chowdhury as members. The tribunal accepted the charges and set January 21 for the next hearing. According to the prosecution, the first charge concerns the events of July 18, 2024, when Mugdho, a student of Bangladesh University of Professionals, was shot dead while assisting injured protesters and distributing water and biscuits. Six others were also killed that day, including an Uber driver who was crushed under an armored vehicle. The second charge relates to the killing of four more people in Uttara on July 19, 2024. Eight of the accused, including former DMP Uttara Zone DC Mirza Salahuddin and Uttara East Police OC Mojibur Rahman, are in custody, while 18 others remain fugitives.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has filed three separate cases against Fahim Afsar Alam, Farhan Sadiq Alam, and Tanisha Alam, the children of former Member of Parliament Mahbubul Alam Hanif. The cases were lodged under Section 26(2) of the Anti-Corruption Commission Act, 2004, after the three failed to submit their wealth statements within the stipulated time. The ACC had earlier issued notices on November 27 requesting the statements. At a press conference held at the ACC headquarters in Segunbagicha, Dhaka, on Thursday at 3 p.m., the Commission’s Director General (Prevention), Akhter Hossain, confirmed the filing of the cases. He stated that the Commission had taken the next steps in accordance with the law. The ACC’s action follows procedural requirements under the 2004 Act, which mandates submission of wealth statements upon notice. The Commission indicated that further legal measures would proceed as per due process.

A distributor sales representative (DSR) of Dutch-Bangla Bank’s mobile banking unit was allegedly robbed of Tk 2.4 million in cash at Kamaldi Bridge in Rajoir upazila of Madaripur on Thursday afternoon, January 15, 2026. The victim, Sushmoy Chakraborty, was transporting the money by motorcycle when several men on three motorcycles approached him, used an intoxicating substance near his face, and fled toward Madaripur with the bag of cash. According to police and the victim, Sushmoy had collected Tk 10 lakh from the Tekerhat branch, Tk 7 lakh from the Phultala agent branch in Paikpara, and Tk 7 lakh from the Amgram Bazar agent branch, intending to deliver the total amount to the Dutch-Bangla agent banking branch at Bajitpur Mojuddar Bazar. The incident occurred on the Dhaka-Barishal Highway near Kamaldi Bridge. Dutch-Bangla Bank’s Tekerhat branch manager, Montosh Sarkar, said the matter was immediately reported to police and higher authorities. Rajoir Police Station Officer-in-Charge Sheikh Md Aminul Islam confirmed that an investigation is underway to identify those involved, and the DSR is being questioned.

Police in Comilla’s Debidwar upazila have arrested Union Parishad chairman Haji Jalal Uddin Bhuiyan, 63, an accused named in the murder case of volunteer leader Shaheed Abdur Razzak Rubel. The arrest took place on Thursday, January 15, 2026, at Bhuiyan’s home in Surjapur village under Bhani Union. Police said the operation was conducted based on a court-issued arrest warrant related to Rubel’s killing during the anti-discrimination student movement. After his arrest, Bhuiyan was presented before a Comilla court and sent to jail by court order. According to case records, Rubel, a municipal volunteer leader, was shot dead on August 4, 2024, amid clashes between protesters and others during the nationwide anti-discrimination movement. Two separate murder cases were filed over the incident—one by BNP leader Abul Kashem in Comilla court and another by Rubel’s mother, Hosneara Begum, at Debidwar police station. Police stated that Bhuiyan is also named in several other cases filed over violence and attacks during the same movement. Debidwar police said Bhuiyan had been absconding for a long time before his arrest and was later sent to jail following court proceedings.

The Jamaat-e-Islami-led 11-party electoral alliance has finalized its seat-sharing arrangement ahead of the upcoming national parliamentary election. At a press conference held at the Diploma Engineers Institute in Dhaka on Thursday night, the alliance announced a list of candidates for 253 constituencies. Under the agreement, the National Citizens Party (NCP) will contest in 30 constituencies. Representatives from Islami Andolon Bangladesh were not present at the event. According to the announced distribution, Jamaat-e-Islami received 179 seats, NCP 30, Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis 20, Khelafat Majlis 10, LDP 7, AB Party 3, Nezame Islami Party 2, and Bangladesh Development Party (BDP) 2. The remaining 47 constituencies have been reserved for Islami Andolon Bangladesh. The finalization of this seat-sharing deal marks a significant step in the alliance’s preparation for the national election, clarifying the internal distribution of constituencies among its member parties.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has announced that it will contest 179 constituencies in the upcoming national parliamentary election as part of an 11-party electoral alliance. The final declaration of the coalition was made on Thursday night at a press conference held at the Diploma Engineers Institute in Dhaka, where a total list of 253 candidates was unveiled by the participating parties. According to the announcement, Jamaat-e-Islami will field candidates in 179 seats, while the National Citizen Party (NCP) will contest 30, Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish 20, Khelafat Majlish 10, Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) 7, Amar Bangladesh Party (AB Party) 3, Bangladesh Nezame Islam Party 2, and Bangladesh Development Party 2. Representatives from Islami Andolan Bangladesh were not present at the press conference. The declaration marks the formalization of the 11-party alliance led by Jamaat-e-Islami ahead of the national polls, signaling coordinated participation across multiple constituencies.

Bangladesh’s Youth and Sports Adviser Asif Nazrul reaffirmed that the country will not send its cricket team to India for the upcoming T20 World Cup. Speaking at a briefing at the Foreign Service Academy in Dhaka on Thursday, he said there is no scope to change this decision. Nazrul emphasized that Bangladesh remains eager to participate in the World Cup but wants the matches to be held in Sri Lanka, which he believes is a feasible alternative. The dispute began after Bangladeshi pacer Mustafizur Rahman was dropped from the Indian Premier League following directives from the Indian cricket board. The move came amid tensions in India over reports of violence against religious minorities in Bangladesh. In response, Bangladesh suspended IPL broadcasts and later decided not to send its team to India for the World Cup, citing security concerns. The Bangladesh Cricket Board formally informed the ICC and requested that its matches be relocated outside India. An ICC delegation has arrived in Dhaka to discuss the issue, but Nazrul reiterated that Bangladesh’s stance remains unchanged and that the team wishes to play in Sri Lanka instead.

The July Shaheed Smriti Foundation (JSSF) has announced that it needs an additional Tk 2.38 billion to fulfill its commitments to the families of martyrs and injured fighters of the July uprising. The foundation’s Chief Executive Officer, Lt. Col. (Retd.) Kamal Akbar, made the statement at a press conference held on Thursday in front of the JSSF stall at the International Trade Fair in Purbachal. He said the foundation’s goal is to ensure dignity, security, and a sustainable future for those who sacrificed their lives or were injured during the July movement. According to Kamal Akbar, JSSF has already distributed Tk 1.1621 billion out of Tk 1.1998 billion received from the Chief Adviser’s Fund and public contributions. The funds have reached 829 martyr families and 6,471 injured fighters, while 7,769 injured fighters are still awaiting financial assistance. He added that 7,082 injured fighters have applied for rehabilitation, with 25 percent seeking training, 20 percent employment, and 54 percent self-employment opportunities. So far, 82 injured fighters have been sustainably rehabilitated through the foundation. Kamal Akbar emphasized that sustainable rehabilitation and proper recognition of the July fighters are essential for the nation’s long-term progress, calling for coordinated support from the media, society, and the state.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has filed two separate cases against the two children of former Narayanganj-4 Member of Parliament Shamim Osman for not submitting their wealth statements within the stipulated period. The announcement was made by ACC Director General Md. Akhtar Hossain at a press conference held at the commission’s headquarters on Thursday at 3 p.m. According to the ACC, notices were issued on August 26 last year to Shamim Osman’s son Imtinan Osman and daughter Labiba Zoha Angna, instructing them to submit their wealth statements within a specified time. However, neither of them applied for an extension nor submitted the required statements within the deadline. As a result, the ACC filed two separate cases against Imtinan Osman and Labiba Zoha Angna under Section 26(2) of the Anti-Corruption Commission Act, 2004.

Police in Damudya upazila of Shariatpur arrested Abu Taher Bepari, a 36-year-old Youth Dal activist, on January 15, 2026, in connection with an extortion case. The case, filed under sections 143, 447, 385, and 506, was registered at Damudya Police Station as case number 11. According to the complaint, filed by Md. Lutfar Rahman of Char Malgaon Bishwaskandi village, Taher allegedly occupied his land for six months and demanded Tk 20 lakh to return it. Sub-inspector Narayan Sarkar of Damudya Police Station confirmed the arrest, stating that legal action would follow after investigation. The complaint alleged that Taher threatened not to return the land unless the money was paid, prompting the victim to seek police help. Upazila Youth Dal general secretary Mosaddeq Hossain Mehedi said Taher was a supporter of the organization but emphasized that the party respects the law and would take internal action if the allegations are proven.

Advocate Abdullah Al Amin, joint member secretary of the National Citizen Party (NCP) and parliamentary candidate for Narayanganj-4, has filed a general diary (GD) at Fatullah Model Police Station citing security concerns. The GD was recorded on Thursday, January 15, 2026, according to Inspector (Investigation) Anwar Hossain. The filing followed an attempted attack on Al Amin in the Bashmuli area of Kashipur Union, Sadar upazila, on Wednesday evening. In his GD, Al Amin stated that an unidentified caller had threatened to kill him and verbally abused him. He also reported that his party’s leaders and activists were receiving threats from various phone numbers. Al Amin said he and his family were living in fear due to these threats. Law enforcement agencies, including the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and police, have confirmed the detention of two individuals allegedly involved in the attempted attack on Al Amin.

The Director General of the Department of Fisheries, Dr. Md. Abdur Rouf, has warned that the use of unnecessary antibiotics in Bangladesh’s fish farming sector is increasing at an alarming rate. Speaking on Thursday at a discussion meeting titled “Stopping Unnecessary Antibiotic Use in Fisheries,” held at the Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute auditorium in Mymensingh, he said that using antibiotics without expert advice may bring short-term benefits but poses serious long-term risks to public health, food safety, and the environment. The meeting, chaired by Mymensingh Divisional Director Nripendra Nath Biswas, was attended by senior officials, fish farmers, hatchery owners, feed producers, and other stakeholders. Speakers noted that many farmers use excessive antibiotics to prevent disease and boost growth, especially in closed water bodies, leaving harmful residues in fish that can increase antibiotic resistance in humans. Officials said inexperienced farmers often apply antibiotics without departmental guidance, sometimes encouraged by drug company representatives and local feed traders. Participants emphasized the need to ban antibiotic sales and use without expert consultation and called for stricter monitoring and awareness campaigns to protect public health and the aquatic environment.

National Film Award-winning actress Dolly Zahur is returning to the big screen after a 13-year hiatus. Having stepped away from films in 2011 while continuing to act in television dramas, she is now working on two new projects. Shooting has been completed in Dhaka and Gazipur for Yamin Ilan’s family drama ‘Jhamela’, produced under the Diya Productions banner. The director stated that the story is entirely original and not adapted from any foreign film. Initially hesitant, Zahur agreed to join after hearing the story. The director expressed hope that audiences would connect with the film’s storyline. The cast includes Shyamal Mawla, Tanjika Amin, Rashed Mamun Apu, Kazi Nowshaba Ahmed, Abu Huraira Tanvir, Saberi Alam, and several others. The final phase of shooting began on Thursday, with plans to release the film during an upcoming Eid. Zahur also appears in Redoan Rony’s ‘Dom’, playing Afran Nisho’s mother in a survival story inspired by true events, featuring Chanchal Chowdhury and Pooja Cherry. Filming took place partly in Pabna and Kazakhstan, with a release planned for Eid-ul-Fitr. Zahur said she had not intended to return to films but was drawn by the stories and creative process of these two projects, which also feature many of her regular television co-actors.

Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) has announced that the four additional metro rail trips planned for Friday will not operate following the cancellation of Thursday’s scheduled Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) match. The information was confirmed by Md. Ahsan Ullah Sharifi, Deputy Project Director (Public Relations) of MRT Line-6, on January 15, 2026. According to Sharifi, DMTCL had planned to run four extra trips daily from January 15 to 23 to accommodate passengers traveling to and from Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur during BPL match days. However, the plan has been temporarily suspended due to the match cancellation. Officials stated that decisions regarding additional trips for upcoming match days will be made based on the evolving situation and future schedules.