The Government of Bangladesh has expressed concern over the recent United States military intervention in Venezuela and the removal of President Nicolás Maduro. In a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday, Bangladesh said it has been observing the developments in Venezuela with concern. The statement emphasized that disputes between nations should be resolved through diplomatic dialogue. The ministry reaffirmed Bangladesh’s unwavering commitment to the United Nations Charter and international law. The concern follows a late-night operation on Friday in which US special forces reportedly conducted a sudden raid in Venezuela and arrested President Nicolás Maduro. Maduro and his wife have been charged in the United States with cocaine importation and illegal possession of weapons, and they are currently being held at a Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn. Bangladesh’s statement underscores its preference for peaceful resolution of international disputes and adherence to global legal frameworks.

Customers withdrew Tk 107.77 crore from five troubled Islamic banks over two days, while new deposits of Tk 44 crore were made during the same period. Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr. Ahsan H. Mansur disclosed the figures at a press conference held on Monday in Dhaka. He said the central bank had managed the situation well following the announcement of a new scheme, as the level of withdrawals was lower than initially feared. According to the governor, a total of 13,314 transactions took place during the two days, with the highest withdrawal of Tk 66 crore recorded at EXIM Bank. He reassured depositors that their funds remained safe and that those placing new deposits could withdraw them at any time. The governor’s remarks aimed to restore confidence among depositors amid concerns about the financial health of the affected Islamic banks.

Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) has decided to form a nine-member steering committee to ensure free public access, proper management, and maintenance of parks, playgrounds, and public spaces under its jurisdiction. The decision was made at DNCC’s 13th corporation meeting held on Monday at the Gulshan Nagar Bhaban. The committee will monitor whether the 106 parks, playgrounds, and public spaces across 52 wards are being properly maintained and managed. DNCC Administrator Mohammad Ejaz stated that the city’s parks and playgrounds are managed under different ownerships, which often leads to mismanagement and encroachment. The new committee will bring together all relevant authorities, including RAJUK, the Public Works Department, the National Housing Authority, Dhaka Metropolitan Police, and the district administration, along with civil society representatives. The committee will submit monthly reports, oversee safety and maintenance, and prevent any club or commercial entity from occupying public spaces. Additionally, local citizen committees will be formed in each of DNCC’s ten regions to manage and maintain parks and playgrounds. The steering committee will coordinate with these local bodies and discuss with school and college authorities to allow community use of their fields in the evenings.

Maulana Mamunul Haque, Amir of Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis and Joint Secretary General of Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh, has expressed concern about the level playing field for the upcoming 13th national parliamentary election. Speaking at a discussion with the media on Sunday night at the Dawatul Quran Madrasa in Bhuiygar, Fatullah, Narayanganj, he said that many officials from the previous authoritarian era remain in the administration and often take opposing positions toward Islamic parties. Haque emphasized that ensuring equal opportunities for all political parties is the government’s responsibility to guarantee a fair and transparent election. Regarding electoral alliances, he clarified that no formal coalition has been formed, only seat-sharing arrangements among several Islamic-oriented parties. He added that the final seat distribution would be announced soon and that no internal conflicts had yet arisen. Addressing local-level announcements about candidate withdrawals, Haque stated that such declarations are personal opinions and not final. He also commented on a statement by 101 scholars, saying that many senior scholars named in it were unaware of the statement and later clarified their positions through various messages.

Civil Aviation and Tourism Adviser Sheikh Bashiruddin has confirmed that the third terminal of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport will not be inaugurated during the tenure of the current interim government. He made the statement while responding to a question at a press conference organized on the ‘Travel Agency (Registration and Control) (Amendment) Ordinance, 2026’. The adviser explained that despite extensive efforts, including meetings and negotiations with the Japanese vice minister, the government could not complete the necessary processes to open the terminal. He said the administration had made every possible attempt but their efforts were not successful. Bashiruddin added that the government is currently working to keep the procedural requirements active for future actions, and the next government will make the final decision on the terminal’s opening.

U.S. President Donald Trump has warned of a second round of attacks on Venezuela if the country fails to cooperate with Washington. He made the statement on Sunday while speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One. When asked whether he had spoken with Venezuela’s interim president Delcy Rodríguez, Trump said his administration was working with those who had just been sworn in, adding that the U.S. was effectively in charge. Earlier, Venezuela’s interim president Delcy Rodríguez called for building a “balanced and respectful” relationship with the United States. Her appeal came after U.S. forces carried out an attack in Caracas that led to the capture of leftist leader Nicolás Maduro. Rodríguez emphasized that establishing a respectful partnership between the two nations was a priority. The exchange highlights ongoing tensions between Washington and Caracas following the U.S. military action and leadership transition in Venezuela, with both sides signaling sharply different approaches to future relations.

The government has launched a hotline for citizens and institutions to report rumors, misinformation, and disinformation. The announcement was made on Monday, January 5, through a post on the Chief Adviser’s official Facebook page. The hotline number 01308332592 and the email address notify@ncsa.gov.bd will receive complaints related to false or misleading information at national, personal, and institutional levels. According to the post, the initiative aims to strengthen the government’s capacity to counter the spread of misinformation across social media and other platforms. In addition, a Central Cyber Crime Prevention Committee has been formed in connection with the upcoming national parliamentary election. Authorities expect that the hotline and the new committee will enable more effective measures to address the growing challenge of false information during the election period and beyond.

U.S. President Donald Trump has warned Iran of a strong response if more protesters are killed during ongoing demonstrations over rising living costs. At least 20 people have died in the unrest, which has intensified across Iran. Speaking aboard Air Force One on Sunday night, Trump said the United States is closely monitoring the situation and would deliver a harsh blow if Iranian authorities resume killing civilians, according to a report by Al Jazeera. Iran’s Foreign Ministry responded Monday, accusing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and hardline U.S. officials of encouraging terrorism and violence through their remarks on Iran’s internal affairs. The ministry’s statement added that what it called the “Zionist entity” is waiting for any opportunity to undermine Iran’s national unity. The warning to Iran came shortly after a U.S. special forces raid in Venezuela that led to the arrest of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife on charges of cocaine importation and illegal weapons possession. Both are being held at a detention center in Brooklyn, New York.

The European Union has called on all sides to remain calm and avoid further escalation following a US operation in Venezuela. In a statement posted on social media platform X, EU foreign and security policy representative Kaja Kallas urged restraint and emphasized the need for peace amid rising tensions. The statement reaffirmed the EU’s support for the Venezuelan people’s right to determine their own future. It stressed that reflecting the will of the people is the only path to resolving the current crisis and restoring democracy in the country. According to the report, the United States detained Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife at midnight on Friday. Maduro, accused of drug trafficking and terrorism, is being held in a New York prison and is expected to appear in court on Monday.

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) A M M Nasir Uddin stated that the environment for the 13th National Parliamentary Election remains satisfactory so far. He made the remark on Monday while inspecting appeal booths at the Election Commission building in Agargaon, Dhaka. The CEC expressed optimism that with cooperation from all sides, the upcoming election could be held freely and fairly. According to the Election Commission, appeals against returning officers’ decisions on nomination papers began on January 5. Hearings on these appeals will take place from January 10 to 18 at the commission’s auditorium in Agargaon. The country has been divided into ten regions, each with a separate booth for receiving appeals. Applicants must submit one set of original documents and six photocopy sets in memorandum form. Hearing results will be displayed immediately on monitors and sent via email as PDF copies. Hard copies of rulings will be available on specific dates: January 12, 15, and 18, depending on the hearing schedule. The commission noted that the timetable may change depending on circumstances and the number of appeals.

The Dhaka Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education has issued an urgent directive regarding the 2026 Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) examinations. According to a notice signed by Examination Controller Professor S M Kamal Uddin Haydar, test or selection exams for students intending to sit for the 2026 HSC will begin in February. The results of these tests must be published by March 10. The notice, described as 'highly urgent,' was released on Sunday in a revised form. While the board confirmed that the test exams will start in February, it did not specify an exact date. The notice further stated that the HSC form fill-up process will begin on March 11. A detailed schedule and full instructions for form submission will be published later on the board’s official website. The directive aims to ensure timely preparation and administrative readiness for the upcoming HSC examinations, maintaining the academic calendar for 2026 as planned.

The Election Commission (EC) has fixed the maximum campaign expenditure for candidates in the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election at between 2.5 million and 8 million taka, depending on the number of voters in each constituency. According to EC officials, constituency-based voter lists have already been prepared, and candidates collected CDs of these lists when submitting nomination papers. Spending must remain within the legal limits based on these lists, and violations could result in up to seven years of imprisonment and fines. Under Article 44(b), clause 3 of the Representation of the People Order, a candidate’s total election expenditure, including that of the nominating political party, cannot exceed 10 taka per voter or 2.5 million taka, whichever is higher. The highest voter count is in Gazipur-2 constituency, where 804,333 voters allow a spending limit of 8,043,330 taka. Dhaka-19 follows with 747,070 voters and a limit of 7,470,700 taka, while Gazipur-1 and Noakhali-4 have limits of 7,209,390 and 7,003,390 taka respectively. The EC emphasized that all candidates must adhere strictly to these expenditure ceilings during the election period.

France has declared its solidarity with Denmark following a renewed threat from US President Donald Trump to claim Greenland as part of the United States. The French Foreign Ministry announced the position on Monday, with spokesperson Pascal Confavreux telling broadcaster TF1 that no country’s borders can be changed by force. He emphasized that Greenland belongs to its people and to Denmark, and that only they have the right to decide its future. The statement came after Denmark’s prime minister urged Trump to stop threatening Greenland, a call that the US president dismissed by reiterating his belief that Greenland should belong to the United States. The issue has drawn further concern in Europe following a US military attack in Caracas and the detention of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, which European leaders viewed with alarm. France’s foreign ministry said international law was not respected during the US operation in Venezuela. Confavreux added that France condemns the rise of “the law of the strongest” and will not yield to it, reaffirming France’s duty as a permanent member of the UN Security Council to oppose any violation of the UN Charter.

Venezuelan Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López has condemned the US-led operation that captured President Nicolás Maduro, calling it a “cowardly abduction.” López said several of Maduro’s bodyguards were killed “in cold blood,” along with Venezuelan soldiers and civilians. The operation reportedly took place late Friday night in Caracas and surrounding areas, during which US forces detained Maduro and his wife. According to the report, Maduro is being held in a New York prison and is scheduled to appear in court Monday on charges of drug trafficking and illegal possession of weapons. In a televised statement on Sunday, López expressed support for the Supreme Court’s decision to appoint Vice President Delcy Rodríguez as acting president. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump warned that Rodríguez would face serious consequences if she refused to cooperate with the United States. The developments mark a sharp escalation in tensions between Venezuela and the United States, with leadership transition and legal proceedings now unfolding under intense international scrutiny.

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores, currently held in a Brooklyn prison, are scheduled to appear in a U.S. federal court in Manhattan on Monday. According to U.S. officials, the couple faces charges related to drug and arms trafficking. Maduro has consistently denied the allegations since they were first brought against him. The arrests followed a special midnight operation last Friday in Venezuela, during which U.S. forces detained Maduro and Flores before transferring them to New York. They have since been held in a detention facility in Brooklyn pending court proceedings. The case marks a significant escalation in U.S. legal action against Venezuela’s leadership. Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump warned Venezuela’s acting president, Delcy Rodríguez, that failure to cooperate with Washington could result in severe consequences. In an interview with The Atlantic on Sunday, Trump stated that Rodríguez’s fate could be worse than Maduro’s if she does not act in alignment with U.S. expectations.