Bangladesh’s interim government has decided to temporarily suspend the issuance of on-arrival visas ahead of the upcoming national election. Foreign Affairs Adviser Touhid Hossain announced the decision on Wednesday at an event in Dhaka, stating that the move aims to prevent any unwanted situations before the election period. According to statements released by Bangladeshi embassies in countries whose citizens previously received on-arrival visas, the suspension will be in effect from January 15 to February 15. The Bangladesh High Commission in the Maldives confirmed the one-month suspension through a notice on its official Facebook page. The measure applies to all countries whose nationals were eligible for on-arrival visas. The decision reflects the government’s precautionary approach to maintaining stability and security during the sensitive pre-election period, as reported by BBC Bangla.

Leaders of Khelafat Majlis have called for a fair and just seat-sharing arrangement within the 11-party alliance to maintain unity ahead of Bangladesh’s 13th National Parliament Election. The remarks came during an emergency session of the party’s central Majlis-e-Shura held in Shahjahanpur, Dhaka, where the current situation surrounding the alliance’s seat negotiations was reviewed. The party emphasized that unity among Islamic political forces remains one of its key priorities. Khelafat Majlis leaders noted that despite their active participation in previous alliances of five, eight, and now eleven Islamic-minded parties, many of their important candidates and constituencies have been excluded from the latest discussions. They warned that such exclusions could harm both the party and the alliance. The party submitted 74 nomination papers nationwide, of which 72 were declared valid by the Election Commission. The leaders also criticized the government for deteriorating law and order, alleging that the administration has failed to take effective measures. They urged the Election Commission to ensure a level playing field and enforce electoral rules strictly to guarantee a free and fair election on February 12.

BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman is scheduled to visit Cumilla on January 24 as part of his election campaign, confirmed Cumilla South District BNP General Secretary Ashiqur Rahman Mahmud Wasim. On January 14, BNP leaders, along with a CSF team, inspected the historic Town Hall ground in Cumilla to review preparations for the event, including stage setup, security arrangements, and crowd management. Local BNP leaders expressed optimism that Rahman’s visit would energize party activists and strengthen the campaign momentum in the district. Cumilla Metropolitan BNP General Secretary Yusuf Molla Tipu noted that this would be Rahman’s first major rally in Cumilla since 2003, predicting that his presence would boost the prospects of BNP candidates in the district’s 11 constituencies. Cumilla Metropolitan BNP President Udbatul Bari Abu said extensive preparations were underway to welcome the party chief. BNP leaders further stated that all levels of party members were working together to ensure the success of the program and expected spontaneous participation from the people of Cumilla.

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Chairperson Tarique Rahman has expressed his gratitude to popular cartoonist Uday after receiving a framed cartoon titled 'I Have a Plan for the People of My Country, for My Country'. The artwork was presented to Rahman at his political office in Gulshan on Tuesday night. The event was confirmed to the media on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, by BNP Chairperson’s political adviser Mahdi Amin. During the handover, Uday shared that presenting a cartoon of Tarique Rahman to him had long been a dream, and he felt great joy in fulfilling it. Rahman accepted the framed artwork and thanked Uday warmly for his creative effort. The exchange highlighted a moment of appreciation between a political leader and an artist, reflecting mutual respect and recognition of artistic expression within Bangladesh’s political and cultural landscape.

An elderly man named Jamshed Ali Dhali, aged 70, died on Tuesday while being taken from Shariatpur to Dhaka after repeated obstructions by a local ambulance syndicate delayed his transfer by nearly two hours. The patient, suffering from a stroke, was referred from Shariatpur Sadar Hospital to the National Institute of Neurosciences in Dhaka. Family members alleged that local syndicate members demanded an extra 2,000 taka beyond the agreed fare and blocked the ambulance when they refused to pay. The ambulance was stopped twice—first at Premtala in Sadar upazila and again at Jamtala in Jajira upazila—where the driver and helper were reportedly assaulted. The patient died inside the ambulance before reaching Dhaka’s Banglamotor area. Police said they were informed verbally and would act upon receiving a written complaint. The local ambulance owners’ association condemned the obstruction and called for strict action against those responsible. This is the second death in six months in Shariatpur allegedly linked to ambulance syndicate interference, following a similar incident last August that caused a newborn’s death, sparking renewed public outrage.

A joint operation led by the army in Shibpur upazila of Narsingdi recovered a large quantity of weapons and drugs and arrested seven individuals early Wednesday morning. The raid took place in the Kararchar and Jangaila areas under the leadership of Lieutenant Colonel Shamim Rahman, PSC Sigs of the 9 Signal Battalion. The seized items and detainees were handed over to Shibpur Model Police Station. According to the report, the recovered materials included one firearm with two cartridges, three pistol magazines, 1,600 yaba tablets, cash amounting to Tk 1,540,100, 17 mobile phones, two samurai swords, six bottles of phensedyl, nine bottles of foreign liquor, two fake pistols, two machetes, and one laptop. The arrested persons were identified as residents of Kararchar, Shahapur, and Jangaila areas. Shibpur Model Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mohammad Kohinur Mia confirmed the incident. The operation highlights ongoing law enforcement efforts in Narsingdi to curb illegal arms and narcotics activities, with the seized items now under police custody for further investigation.

Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus has reaffirmed that Bangladesh’s 13th national parliamentary election and referendum will be held on February 12, without any change to the schedule. He made the statement on Tuesday night during a meeting with former senior US diplomats Albert Gombis and Morse Tan at the state guesthouse Jamuna in Dhaka. Yunus emphasized that the interim government is determined to hold the election on time and transfer power to a democratically elected government afterward. According to the Chief Adviser’s press wing, the visiting diplomats served under former US President Donald Trump and came to Bangladesh ahead of the crucial election. Yunus said the polls would be free, fair, peaceful, and festive, with the administration remaining neutral and ensuring equal opportunity for all political parties. He added that the government is campaigning for a “Yes” vote in the referendum on the July Charter, which he said would mark a new chapter in democratic governance. Yunus also warned of misinformation and AI-generated fake videos being spread by supporters of the former authoritarian regime, but noted that citizens are becoming more capable of identifying such content.

A writ petition has been filed in the High Court seeking to postpone the upcoming national election until all weapons looted during the 2024 mass uprising are recovered. The petition was submitted on Wednesday, January 14, by lawyer Md. Mahmudul Hasan. The Cabinet Secretary, Home Secretary, Law Secretary, Election Commission Secretary, Inspector General of Police, and Director General of RAB have been named as respondents. According to the petition, media reports indicate that 5,750 firearms and 651,609 rounds of ammunition were stolen from various police stations and law enforcement offices during the 2024 uprising. Despite government rewards for recovery, a significant portion of the weapons remains missing. The petition argues that the presence of these illegal arms poses a serious threat to voters and candidates, citing the killing of Dhaka-8 parliamentary candidate Shahid Sharif Osman Hadi as evidence of the danger. The petition requests that the election be suspended until all looted arms and ammunition are recovered and a secure environment for voting is ensured.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has called for dialogue to address the recent situation in Iran. During a phone conversation with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, Fidan emphasized the need for discussions to ease regional tensions, according to a report citing an unnamed Turkish diplomatic source. The Anadolu news agency reported that Fidan highlighted the importance of preventing escalation through dialogue. The call came as tensions rose following protests in Iran and threats of military intervention from former U.S. President Donald Trump. Turkish officials have reportedly been in contact with their American counterparts amid these developments. Earlier in the week, Fidan accused a foreign intelligence agency of orchestrating the protests, claiming that Israel’s Mossad was openly encouraging Iranians to rebel against their government through online platforms. The Turkish foreign minister’s remarks reflect Ankara’s concern over regional instability and its preference for diplomatic engagement to prevent further escalation.

Dr. Reza Kibria has announced his resignation from the Gana Adhikar Parishad, stating that he cannot remain in a party allegedly funded by Israel. He made the remarks in a recent interview with a private television channel, explaining that he left after learning of alleged links between the party and Israeli interests. Kibria said he initially joined the Gana Adhikar Parishad at the insistence of Dr. Zafrullah Chowdhury, whom he respected deeply. Before that, he was a member of Gano Forum but left due to internal divisions over parliamentary participation. He claimed he was unaware of the alleged foreign connections until media reports surfaced about meetings between party leader Nurul Haque Nur and representatives of Israel’s intelligence agency, as mentioned by the Palestinian ambassador. Kibria reiterated that once he became convinced of the alleged Israeli involvement, he decided to leave the party immediately, emphasizing that he could not support any organization operating under such influence.

Armed assailants opened fire at an under-construction building in Dhaka’s Badda area on Tuesday night, allegedly over extortion demands. Police confirmed that the incident occurred at a site owned by a developer company named Royal Mission. The Badda Police Station’s officer-in-charge, Md Nasirul Amin, stated that reports of gunfire at the National Citizen Party (NCP) office were false. According to police, the attackers identified themselves as associates of a man named Mehedi before firing shots in front of the building. Mehedi is reportedly abroad, and a police team is investigating those linked to his group. The developer’s owners had recently received phone threats demanding money from extortionists. Mahbub Alam, head of the NCP’s election media subcommittee, said the shooting took place near the party’s organizational office in Ward 38 but was unrelated to any political office or figure. He added that the incident did not appear to have political connections.

A Dhaka Cyber Tribunal has dismissed a case filed under the Digital Security Act against former Bangladesh Pratidin editor Naeem Nizam and two others. The order, issued on Wednesday by Judge Mohammad Saidur Rahman, also acquitted publisher Moynal Hossain Chowdhury and Bangla Insider editor Syed Borhan Kabir. The court ruled that the charges were not covered under the Cyber Security Ordinance, leading to the case’s cancellation. Defense lawyer Enamul Haque argued that the charges under sections 25, 29, and 35 of the 2018 Digital Security Act had been annulled by the Cyber Security Ordinance 2025, as published in an official gazette on October 22, 2025. The ordinance states that cases under those sections cannot continue in court, prompting the tribunal to issue the acquittal order. The case was originally filed on February 15, 2022, by Barrister M Sarwar Hossain, who alleged defamatory reporting in Bangladesh Pratidin and Bangla Insider. The CID later submitted a report in November 2024 accusing three individuals, but the tribunal’s latest ruling effectively ends the proceedings.

Bangladesh Bank and several commercial banks have launched campaigns supporting a 'Yes' vote in the upcoming referendum tied to the July Charter implementation, scheduled on the national election day. On Wednesday, banners promoting the referendum were displayed in front of the central bank’s headquarters, urging citizens to vote 'Yes' for change. Similar banners were also seen at the main offices and branches of state-owned banks such as Sonali, Janata, Agrani, and Rupali, as well as private banks. The campaign follows a meeting held last Sunday between the Bangladesh Bank governor and managing directors of various banks, where instructions were given to display two banners at each branch promoting the referendum. The meeting also discussed using corporate social responsibility (CSR) funds to finance the campaign. The initiative was undertaken last week under directives from the Chief Adviser’s Office to raise public awareness about the referendum. The promotional materials highlight themes of political cooperation, constitutional restraint, and citizen empowerment, emphasizing that the 'Yes' vote represents the key to national change.

The Association of Development Agencies in Bangladesh (EDAB) and the Center for Atmospheric Pollution Studies (CAPS) jointly proposed ten recommendations to minimize loss of life and property during earthquakes. The proposals were presented on Wednesday at a seminar titled “Measures to Protect Life and Property in Earthquakes,” held at the Dhaka Reporters Unity under the chairmanship of EDAB Chairman Anwar Hossain. CAPS President Professor Dr. Ahmed Kamruzzaman Majumdar presented the concept paper, with participation from academics, disaster management experts, and civil defense professionals. The recommendations include strict enforcement of the National Building Code, ensuring all new buildings follow earthquake-resistant designs, banning unauthorized construction, and auditing old or weak structures for retrofitting or removal. They also call for strengthening essential services such as hospitals, schools, and utilities, promoting family-level preparedness plans, maintaining emergency kits, and conducting regular earthquake drills in schools and communities. The seminar participants noted that current government disaster management efforts and preparedness remain unsatisfactory and urged stronger enforcement and coordination among departments. Speakers emphasized that government accountability and improved coordination are essential to reduce risks and ensure effective earthquake preparedness across Bangladesh.

The United Nations has expressed serious concern over escalating tensions between the United States and Iran. UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said on Tuesday that statements resembling military rhetoric could further aggravate the situation. His comments came in response to recent remarks by US President Donald Trump, who encouraged Iranian protesters to continue their demonstrations, saying that help was on the way. Dujarric emphasized that all member states should prioritize diplomacy over military-style language. He also clarified that the UN currently has no plans to withdraw its personnel from Iran, where 46 international staff and 448 local employees are working. The UN’s position reflects its caution amid growing unrest and economic deterioration in Iran. In recent weeks, Iran has witnessed widespread protests triggered by economic decline and the rapid devaluation of the Iranian rial. Reports indicate multiple deaths among protesters and police officers across several cities, with incidents of violence adding to the instability.