The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has filed a case against journalist and part-time teacher Anisur Rahman Alamgir, also known as Anis Alamgir, on charges of acquiring wealth beyond known income sources and money laundering. The case was lodged under Section 27(1) of the ACC Act, 2004, by Assistant Director Akhtaruzzaman at the commission’s headquarters in Segunbagicha, Dhaka. The ACC’s Director General Md. Akhtar Hossain disclosed the information at a press conference on Thursday afternoon. According to the ACC, Alamgir possesses immovable assets worth Tk 2.5 million and movable assets worth Tk 38.46 million, totaling Tk 40.97 million. Including family and other expenses of Tk 1.59 million, his total wealth amounts to Tk 42.55 million. The commission calculated his legitimate income at Tk 9.9 million, derived from savings, talk shows, consultancy, plot sales, and bank interest. The ACC stated that Tk 32.64 million, or about 77 percent of his total assets, could not be explained by known income sources. The report also noted that Alamgir had made controversial remarks on social media following the July uprising, criticizing student groups and the current government.

Newly appointed US Ambassador to Bangladesh Brent Christensen presented his credentials to President Mohammed Shahabuddin at Bangabhaban on Thursday, marking his formal assumption of duties in Dhaka. According to the US Embassy, Christensen said the United States is proud to call Bangladesh a friend and expressed honor in presenting his credentials to the President. Christensen highlighted that for over 50 years, the two nations have worked together to enhance regional stability, promote economic growth beneficial to both peoples, and strengthen mutual respect for sovereignty. He stated his eagerness to continue this collaboration and deepen bilateral ties. Senior officials from the President’s Office and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs attended the ceremony. Christensen arrived in Dhaka on Monday evening as the 19th US Ambassador to Bangladesh. He later met with senior officials at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, reaffirming Washington’s commitment to working closely with Dhaka to advance regional peace and prosperity.

Two men were arrested with a pistol and three locally made weapons during a special army operation in Dhunat upazila of Bogura on Thursday, January 15, 2026. The detainees were identified as Raihan Ali Rana, 40, son of Ijar Uddin of Khanna Omar Dighi village, and Firoz Poddar, 38, son of Jamal Poddar of Shakpala village. The operation was conducted in a rented house at Bererbari Babur Bazar area under the leadership of Lieutenant Colonel Tanvir Ahmed Tamal from the Youth Development Camp near Bogura Tinmatha Railgate. According to police sources, the two men had been living in a rented house owned by Khokon Mia in Babur Bazar area. Acting on a tip-off, army personnel raided the house and recovered one pistol and three machetes. Dhunat Police Station Officer-in-Charge Atikul Islam confirmed the arrests and said the detainees would be handed over to the police for further action. Authorities have not yet disclosed further details about the purpose of the weapons or the suspects’ possible affiliations.

Journalist Akram Hossain, the Manikganj district representative of the daily Amar Desh, has filed a general diary at Manikganj Sadar Police Station after allegedly receiving threats over a published news report. According to the diary, on the night of January 14 around 8:19 p.m., he received a phone call from a foreign number. The unidentified caller used offensive language about the news and its caption and issued multiple threats. The caller reportedly warned that if Akram Hossain or his family faced any harm, even a local MP candidate from Manikganj-3 would not be able to help him. When the journalist asked for the caller’s identity, the person hung up. The diary states that Akram and his family have been living in fear since the incident. Manikganj Superintendent of Police Mohammad Sarwar Alam said the matter is being taken seriously and that necessary legal action will follow after investigation.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has interrogated Bushra Afrin, the first Chief Heat Officer of Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC), as part of an ongoing investigation into alleged illegal wealth accumulation by her father, former DNCC mayor Atiqul Islam. The questioning took place on Thursday at the ACC headquarters in Segunbagicha, Dhaka, from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. According to the ACC, Afrin was summoned to determine whether she had any involvement in her father’s alleged acquisition of illicit assets. Bushra Afrin, who completed her secondary education in Dhaka and pursued higher studies in Canada, was appointed DNCC’s Chief Heat Officer in May 2023. The ACC’s Deputy Director (Public Relations), Akhtarul Islam, confirmed that the commission conducted the questioning. Atiqul Islam was arrested on October 16, 2024, in Dhaka’s Mohakhali DOHS area after going into hiding following the fall of the Awami League government in August 2024. The ACC is investigating allegations that Atiqul Islam and others misused power, manipulated tenders, and engaged in corruption and money laundering related to the purchase of mosquito control equipment.

A group of writers organized a memorial meeting in remembrance of former three-time Prime Minister and political leader Begum Khaleda Zia. The event took place on Thursday, January 15, 2026, at 4 p.m. in the Al Mahmud Writer’s Corner of Bangla Academy. BNP Vice Chairman Shamsuzzaman Dudu attended as the chief guest, while writer and publisher Saeed Bari presided over the session. The program featured poetry recitations, reminiscences, and discussions highlighting various aspects of Khaleda Zia’s life and political career. Participants included poets, writers, researchers, and journalists such as Mahmud Shafik, Razueddin Stalin, Asad Kajol, Kalam Fayezi, and others. Speakers recalled that during Khaleda Zia’s tenure, Bangladeshi writers enjoyed significant freedom and that even those with differing opinions received state recognition. Speakers expressed that her liberal political philosophy would continue to inspire future generations of writers and intellectuals in Bangladesh.

The Election Commission (EC) has declared the nomination of Hummam Quader Chowdhury, BNP’s candidate for Chittagong-7 and a member of the party’s central executive committee, as valid. The decision was announced on Thursday, January 15, 2026, following an appeal hearing held at the Election Building in Dhaka. This marks Hummam’s first participation in a parliamentary election. He had submitted his nomination papers on December 29 after receiving party endorsement on November 3. His candidacy faced challenges over allegations of loan default and concealment of financial information in his affidavit. Hummam claimed that attempts were made to label him a defaulter through a special process on January 8, but the High Court had already issued a stay order on the disputed report. The EC, led by the Chief Election Commissioner, considered the legal documents before validating his nomination. According to his affidavit, Hummam’s annual income is about Tk 1.25 million, with movable assets worth Tk 8.42 million. His wife’s declared assets amount to nearly Tk 410 million. The EC’s decision reportedly revived enthusiasm among BNP supporters in Chittagong-7.

Interim government industry adviser Adilur Rahman Khan has called on citizens to vote 'Yes' in the upcoming February 12 referendum, held alongside the 13th National Parliamentary Election. Speaking as chief guest at the inauguration of the 'Vote Car' caravan following an Imam Conference at the district stadium in Chattogram, he urged voters to remember those who sacrificed their lives during the 36 days of the fiery July movement and to participate in a festive atmosphere. Adilur Rahman said the referendum aims to establish the 'July Charter' signed by anti-fascist movements and to pave the way for building a century-long Bangladesh. He recalled the past 16 years as a period of fear and oppression, marked by disappearances, killings, and repression. He emphasized that citizens had been deprived of voting rights and that thousands had been imprisoned under a fascist regime. He appealed to all citizens to vote for their preferred candidates in the national election and simultaneously cast a 'Yes' vote in the referendum to ensure that such oppression never returns and to continue the transformation initiated by the July movement.

Ukraine’s new Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov told parliament that nearly 200,000 soldiers have left their posts without authorization, describing the situation as a severe manpower crisis. Speaking before his confirmation vote on Wednesday, Fedorov said around two million Ukrainians are currently wanted for evading military duties. He noted that the army has been under immense pressure for years while defending the country against a much stronger enemy. According to Fedorov, the front-line situation remains dire, with Ukrainian forces struggling to hold key positions despite shortages of personnel and weapons. CNN reported that rumors of low morale and desertions had circulated for some time, but Fedorov’s remarks marked the first official acknowledgment of the scale of the problem. Ukrainian law requires all men aged 18 to 60 to register for military service, while those aged 25 to 60 are subject to mandatory mobilization. After meeting Fedorov, President Volodymyr Zelensky said the country’s mobilization process needs major reform. Fedorov, 34, emphasized that technological advancement, including drones and robotics, is now vital to offset manpower shortages.

RAB-11 has arrested a suspect in connection with an attack on an NCP candidate during an election campaign in Narayanganj-4. The arrested individual, identified as 22-year-old Maruf Hasan from Kashipur Union, was detained in a special operation at Char Kashipur around 2 a.m. on January 15. The incident occurred on the evening of January 14 when Advocate Abdullah Al Amin, the NCP candidate, was conducting campaign activities in Bashmuli area under Fatullah Police Station. Two unidentified youths followed him and his team, leading to the detention of one suspect from whom a machete was recovered. During the attack, two of Abdullah Al Amin’s associates were injured, though the candidate and his team managed to leave safely with local assistance. Later, the detained suspect was reportedly freed by accomplices wielding local weapons. The incident gained wide attention after video footage spread across media platforms. According to RAB, the arrested suspect has been handed over to Fatullah Police Station for legal proceedings. Additional Superintendent of Police Tarek Al Mehdi stated that legal action is underway and security monitoring has been intensified in the area to ensure election safety.

The interim government of Bangladesh has approved the draft of the July Uprising Protection and Liability Determination Ordinance, which is expected to become law within five to seven days through a gazette notification. The approval was given at a meeting of the advisory council chaired by Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus in Tejgaon. Later, at a press conference at the Foreign Service Academy, Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Adviser Asif Nazrul said the ordinance fulfills the government’s commitment to those involved in the July uprising. According to Nazrul, the ordinance grants immunity from criminal liability to individuals who participated in political resistance activities during July and August aimed at restoring democratic governance by toppling the fascist regime. The government will withdraw existing criminal cases related to such activities, and no new cases can be filed for actions taken during that period. However, acts of violence committed for personal gain or revenge will not be exempted. The National Human Rights Commission has been tasked with determining whether killings were politically motivated or driven by personal interests. Victims’ families may appeal to the commission, whose investigation reports will carry the same legal weight as police reports in court.

Students and professionals from biochemistry and molecular biology disciplines protested a new directive by Bangladesh’s Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) that mandates only registered doctors to sign pathology reports. The protest took place on January 15, 2026, in front of Tejgaon College, Dhaka, where participants called the decision unreasonable and discriminatory. Teachers from related departments also expressed solidarity with the demonstrators. According to the protesters, DGHS circulars issued on January 5 and 7 introduced new rules for pathology and radiology services, requiring signatures exclusively from Bangladesh Medical and Dental Council (BMDC)-registered physicians. They argued that this disregards the qualifications of clinical biochemists, microbiologists, and lab scientists who play key roles in diagnostic processes. They emphasized that international standards such as ISO, CAP, and NABL recognize biochemists as qualified lab professionals. The participants urged authorities to recognize clinical biochemists and lab-based specialists as essential personnel, reconsider the signature-only policy, and establish a laboratory regulatory body to ensure quality control across all diagnostic centers in Bangladesh.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has announced the suspension of four of its branch committees in Patuakhali. The decision was disclosed on Thursday, January 15, 2026, through a press release issued by BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Advocate Ruhul Kabir Rizvi. According to the statement, the existing committees of Patuakhali Municipality, Sadar Upazila, Dumki Upazila, and Mirzaganj Upazila BNP will remain suspended until further instructions from the party. The announcement, distributed to the media, serves as an official notification to all concerned members and stakeholders within the party. No specific reasons for the suspension were mentioned in the release, and no replacement committees were announced at this stage. The suspension indicates an internal organizational adjustment within the BNP’s local structure in Patuakhali, pending future directives from the central leadership.

Jamaat-e-Islami has denied allegations that it is collecting voters’ National ID (NID) and bKash numbers ahead of the upcoming referendum and parliamentary elections. The party’s Assistant Secretary General Dr. A.H.M. Hamidur Rahman Azad dismissed the claims after a meeting with Chief Election Commissioner A.M.M. Nasir Uddin at the Election Commission building on Thursday, January 15, 2026. He described the allegations as false and misleading. According to the report, several senior Jamaat leaders, including Advocate Ehsanul Mahbub Zubair, Mobarak Hossain, Advocate Jasim Uddin Sarkar, and Barrister Najib Momen, attended the meeting. The allegations had been raised by BNP leaders, who claimed that Jamaat activists were collecting personal information from voters. The referendum and parliamentary elections are scheduled for February 12, 2026. The denial comes amid heightened political activity surrounding the upcoming national polls, with multiple parties engaging in discussions with the Election Commission.

BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman met Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus on Thursday evening at the Chief Adviser’s official residence, Jamuna, accompanied by his wife Zubaida Rahman and daughter Zaima Rahman. According to a source, they shared dinner together following an invitation from Dr. Yunus. The meeting marked Tarique Rahman’s first visit to Jamuna since returning to Bangladesh in late December after years abroad. The source indicated that discussions might have included the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election and the country’s current political situation, though neither the Chief Adviser’s press wing nor the BNP confirmed any details. Press wing officials said the dinner involved an exchange of greetings in a cordial atmosphere. This was the third meeting between Dr. Yunus and Tarique Rahman since June of the previous year, when they first met in London after Yunus became Chief Adviser. Their earlier meetings included a private discussion in London and a brief encounter during Khaleda Zia’s funeral prayer at the National Parliament premises.