Members of Bangladesh’s Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances have concluded that most abductions were politically motivated. The commission submitted its final report to Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on Sunday at the state guesthouse Jamuna. The report stated that 1,913 complaints were received, of which 1,569 met the definition of enforced disappearance, including 287 categorized as “missing and dead.” The commission found evidence linking former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, her defense adviser Tariq Ahmed Siddiq, and former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan to several high-profile disappearance cases. Commission member Nabila Idris said the total number of victims could range between 4,000 and 6,000, as many cases remain unreported. The report noted that 75 percent of those who returned alive were Jamaat-e-Islami activists, while 68 percent of those still missing were affiliated with the BNP. The commission also identified the Baleshwar River in Barishal as a major site for killings and body disposals. Chief Adviser Yunus praised the commission’s work, calling it historic and urging that the findings be made accessible to the public. He directed further mapping of extrajudicial killing sites and recommended institutional reforms to prevent future abuses.

Venezuela’s interim president Delcy Rodríguez, known as a close ally of Nicolás Maduro, has been sworn in by the country’s Supreme Court after the United States removed Maduro from power. The court itself remains loyal to Maduro’s political movement, and his supporters continue to occupy key positions in the state apparatus. Despite U.S. President Donald Trump’s earlier claim that the United States would run Venezuela, the report notes that Maduro’s allies still hold real control over the government. Rodríguez has stated that Venezuela will defend itself, while Trump has expressed hope that she will cooperate with Washington, particularly regarding expanded U.S. access to Venezuela’s oil resources. Although U.S. troops are not currently present in Venezuela, Trump has not ruled out that possibility. The depiction of Maduro’s detention by the United States serves as a warning to his remaining loyalists. The report adds that while Maduro’s allies remain in office on paper, their actual ability to resist U.S. pressure is uncertain, leaving questions about the country’s true sovereignty.

Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) Chairman Jalal Ahmed stated that consumers cannot be guaranteed to purchase liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) at government-fixed prices. He made the remarks on Sunday during a press conference announcing new LPG prices. Ahmed said a meeting was being held at the Secretariat to discuss complaints of distributors charging higher prices, with members of the LPG Association in attendance. BERC will also hold discussions with the association on the issue. The chairman explained that the commission sets prices based on importers’ total costs, but cannot ensure that consumers will always get LPG at that exact rate. The LPG Association claims it supplies gas at the fixed price. BERC has also spoken with the Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection to conduct drives against overpricing, and action will be taken if any company is found guilty of charging extra. Ahmed added that shipping shortages from the Middle East and difficulties in opening letters of credit (LCs) are affecting imports. He urged companies to increase imports from Singapore and said the government’s higher authorities would intervene if LC complications persist.

Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) Director General AKM Shahidur Rahman stated that there are several legal ways to bring back the main suspects in the murder of Inquilab Mancha spokesperson Sharif Osman Hadi, even if they have fled to India. Speaking at a press conference at the RAB Media Center in Dhaka’s Karwan Bazar on Sunday, he said RAB will continue its efforts with full force until the two accused, Faisal Karim Masud and Alamgir Sheikh, are arrested. The RAB chief explained that the shooting occurred on December 12, and between December 12 and 16, eight suspects were arrested and two pistols used in the killing were recovered. However, the two main accused remain at large. He added that RAB is using both technological and manual sources to locate them and that once their location is confirmed, legal procedures will be followed to bring them back to Bangladesh. Rahman reaffirmed that RAB remains uncompromising in bringing all perpetrators of this high-profile murder to justice and that no one involved will be spared.

Election Commissioner Brigadier General (Retd.) Abul Fazl Mohammad stated that no indirect or covert instructions for malpractice have been or will be given in the election process. Speaking on Sunday, January 4, 2026, at a meeting in Ukhiya Upazila Parishad auditorium, Cox’s Bazar, he urged election officials to remain neutral, fearless, and law-abiding in performing their duties. He emphasized that the commission’s directives are based on transparency, impartiality, and firmness. He described the upcoming election as an opportunity to restore the image of political institutions, the Election Commission, administration, and police. Warning officials to stay alert against individuals posing as friends with malicious intent, he cited the killing of Osman Hadi as a cautionary example. He also noted that political parties are largely following the code of conduct better than in previous elections, with no major incidents except the one in Dhaka. The commissioner instructed strict measures to prevent Rohingyas from leaving camps during the election and announced that joint forces will soon launch operations to recover illegal weapons and curb terrorism. He also called on political parties to promote awareness about the referendum among voters.

A Dhaka court has barred police officer Md. Zakaria Rahman from leaving Bangladesh following a request by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). The order was signed on Sunday by Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Sabbir Foyez after hearing the ACC’s petition. The ACC’s assistant director and investigating officer Al-Amin sought the travel ban, citing evidence of suspicious financial transactions between Zakaria and retired Public Service Commission (PSC) driver Syed Abed Ali. Abed Ali was arrested on July 8, 2024, and remains in custody. On January 5, the ACC filed a case against him under multiple anti-corruption and money laundering laws, alleging over Tk 5 crore in illegal assets and about Tk 45 crore in irregular transactions. Investigators claim Zakaria, a 30th BCS police cadre officer currently posted at Police Headquarters, is linked to a question-leak syndicate and may attempt to flee abroad. The court imposed the travel restriction to ensure an unhindered investigation until the inquiry is complete, according to the ACC’s submission.

Chief Prosecutor of the International Crimes Tribunal Mohammad Tazul Islam has declared that justice will be served in the enforced disappearance and murder cases involving retired Major General Ziaul Ahsan. Speaking on Sunday after a hearing on the formal charge formation, he said that despite any conspiracies or delays, the prosecution and the state remain determined to ensure justice. During the hearing at Tribunal-1, Tazul Islam presented three specific charges against Ahsan, accusing him of orchestrating abductions and killings of over a hundred people. The allegations include the 2011 killing of three detainees taken from the RAB headquarters, mass executions in Barguna’s Patharghata area under code names “Gestapo” and “Golf,” and staged “gunfights” in Sundarbans operations that allegedly killed at least 50 people. Following the prosecution’s submission, the defense requested additional time to respond. The tribunal granted the request and set January 8 as the next hearing date.

The Dhaka Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education has announced a new date for the 2026 Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) and equivalent examination form submission. According to a notice signed by Exam Controller Professor Haydar Uddin Kamal on Sunday, January 4, the new date for starting the form fill-up process has been set for March 11. The notice stated that all heads of institutions under the Dhaka Board must complete the selection tests for HSC candidates and publish the results by March 10. The board also mentioned that a detailed schedule and full circular regarding the form fill-up process will be published later on the board’s official website. The announcement aims to ensure that all institutions under the Dhaka Board complete necessary preparatory steps before the form submission begins, maintaining a structured timeline for the 2026 HSC examination process.

Pope Leo expressed deep concern over the situation in Venezuela following the fall of President Nicolás Maduro after U.S. intervention. Speaking at St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican during his Sunday prayer, the first American pope called for Venezuela to remain an independent and sovereign state. He emphasized the need to uphold human rights and the rule of law as enshrined in the Venezuelan constitution, urging the nation to avoid violence and pursue justice and peace. The Pope stressed that the welfare of the Venezuelan people must stand above all political and geopolitical interests. His remarks came after U.S. President Donald Trump announced that the United States would take control of oil-rich Venezuela following an operation to capture Maduro, who was reportedly held in a New York detention center. The statement by Trump sparked renewed international debate and concern. Pope Leo’s appeal is being viewed as a strong message in favor of a peaceful and law-abiding resolution to Venezuela’s ongoing crisis, highlighting the importance of sovereignty and human dignity amid global tensions.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu publicly praised U.S. President Donald Trump after the removal of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife. In a statement posted on his Facebook account on Sunday, Netanyahu congratulated Trump for what he described as courageous and historic leadership in defense of freedom and justice. He also commended the determination of the U.S. president and the actions of American troops involved in the operation. The statement came amid heightened international attention following the reported removal of Maduro from power. Netanyahu’s remarks framed Trump’s decision as a bold stand for democratic values and justice. The Israeli leader’s message of support highlighted close political alignment between the two leaders on global security and governance issues. The development has sparked questions in other reports about the legality of Trump’s actions and the broader implications for Venezuela’s political situation, though Netanyahu’s statement focused solely on praise for the U.S. president’s leadership.

A United States military operation in Venezuela has drawn global attention after American forces captured President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores from the capital, Caracas. The unprecedented action, which took place late Friday local time, has been compared to past US interventions such as those in Panama and Iraq. US Attorney General Pamela Bondi said the couple will soon face the American justice system, while former President Donald Trump confirmed they are being taken to New York for trial under US criminal law. Analysts have likened the event to the 1989 capture of Panamanian leader Manuel Noriega and the 2003 arrest of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, though the Caracas operation occurred without prior warfare. Washington accuses Maduro’s government of using stolen oil revenues to fund drug trafficking and terrorism, allegations Venezuela denies. The US had recently imposed a total ban on Venezuelan oil tankers and labeled the government a terrorist organization. The future of Venezuela remains uncertain. Observers suggest a possible return to democratic governance, with opposition figures María Corina Machado and Edmundo González Urrutia emerging as potential successors, though no clear path has yet been defined.

Satellite images have revealed significant damage at Venezuela’s Fuerte Tiuna, one of the country’s key military installations. The images, captured by Vantor and analyzed by BBC Verify, show that at least six structures within the complex have sustained severe damage. One image depicts smoke rising from a large red-roofed building, while three smaller buildings to its south appear almost completely destroyed. The analysis provides a clearer picture of the extent of destruction at the site, though the cause of the damage has not been specified in the report. The repeated satellite observations suggest that the damage is widespread and concentrated in multiple areas of the facility. Further details about the timing or source of the destruction were not included in the available information, leaving the broader context of the incident unclear.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has called President Donald Trump to protest the U.S. operation in Venezuela that led to the detention of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. Speaking at a press conference in New York, Mamdani said he strongly opposes any attempt to change another country’s government. He confirmed that he personally spoke with Trump to express his objection to the operation. Mamdani stated that his opposition is rooted in what he described as an effort to impose regime change, which he believes violates both federal and international law. Earlier, in a post on social media platform X, he said that a unilateral attack on a sovereign nation amounts to an act of war and breaches international norms. He also noted that such actions affect not only people abroad but also New Yorkers, including thousands of Venezuelan immigrants living in the city. According to the report, Maduro and his wife were brought to New York after being detained in Venezuela and were later sent to a detention facility in Brooklyn following legal procedures.

Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman has been dropped from the Kolkata Knight Riders squad despite being signed earlier, following a directive reportedly influenced by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). The decision was justified on security grounds amid heightened political tensions between India and Bangladesh. The move has sparked debate on both sides of the border, linking it to the exile of former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who fled to India after resigning during anti-government protests last year. Former Pakistan cricketer Rashid Latif expressed surprise at what he called India’s double standards, noting that while Hasina remains in India, Mustafizur has been denied participation in the Indian Premier League (IPL). The controversy follows protests by Hindu nationalist groups in India over alleged attacks on minorities in Bangladesh, which led to calls for excluding Bangladeshi players from the IPL. Mustafizur, who was sold for 92 million rupees, was subsequently dropped, and KKR owner Shah Rukh Khan was labeled “traitor” by critics. In response, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has informed the International Cricket Council (ICC) that it will not send its team to the upcoming World Cup in India, citing security concerns and requesting a venue change.

China has condemned the United States for what it described as a clear violation of international law after US forces conducted a military operation that forcibly detained Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. In a statement issued on Sunday, China’s Foreign Ministry expressed concern and called for the immediate release of the couple. Russia also voiced concern over the US attack in Venezuela and the transfer of Maduro and his wife to the United States. The Russian Foreign Ministry urged Washington to reconsider its position and emphasized the need for dialogue between Venezuela and the United States to resolve the issue. Moscow described Maduro as the legitimately elected president of a sovereign and independent country and demanded his and his wife’s prompt release. Both Beijing and Moscow’s statements reflect strong opposition to the US action and highlight calls for diplomatic engagement rather than unilateral military intervention.