US Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed support for anti-government protesters in Iran on Saturday through a post on the microblogging platform X, stating that the United States stands with the Iranian people. His statement followed a warning from President Donald Trump on Friday directed at Iran’s leaders, cautioning them against initiating violence.

The ongoing anti-government demonstrations in Iran have intensified tensions across the country. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) indicated that it may take strict measures if necessary to restore order, asserting that the current instability would not be allowed to persist. Earlier, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had said that the government would not hesitate to act against those involved in destructive activities, a remark that sparked renewed debate over the role of security forces.

The combination of US statements and Iran’s internal warnings underscores a deepening standoff, with both domestic and international attention focused on how Tehran will respond to the protests.

The United States has temporarily suspended the issuance of Diversity Immigrant Visas (DV), according to an emergency announcement from the U.S. Department of State. The department stated that the measure was taken to ensure national and public security, and no new visas under the DV lottery program will be issued until further notice.

The State Department explained that the decision followed recent incidents, including a shooting at Brown University and the killing of a professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where the main suspect had entered the U.S. through the DV program. Authorities said the suspension aims to review and strengthen the screening and verification process to prevent potential security threats.

Applicants who have already applied or have scheduled interviews will still be able to attend them, but even successful candidates will not receive visas until new instructions are issued. Existing valid DV visas remain unaffected, and there are no updates yet regarding the DV-2027 lottery. The suspension will remain in place until the program’s procedures are fully revised.

Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay Verma paid a courtesy call on Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Chairperson Tarique Rahman on Saturday afternoon. The meeting took place at the BNP chairperson’s political office in Gulshan, Dhaka. The information was confirmed by BNP Media Cell member Shairul Kabir Khan, and a video of the meeting was released on the party’s verified Facebook page.

The video showed Pranay Verma entering the BNP chairperson’s office and meeting Tarique Rahman. BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed were also present during the meeting. The report did not mention the topics discussed or any official statements from either side.

The meeting marks a formal diplomatic engagement between the Indian envoy and the BNP leadership, though no further details about the discussions or outcomes were provided in the source.

Photographer Parvez Ahmed Rony has launched a solo exhibition titled 'Border That Bleeds' at the lake beside Korail slum in Dhaka’s Mohakhali. The exhibition began on Friday and is open to the public. It protests border killings and commemorates Felani Khatun, who was shot dead by India’s Border Security Force (BSF) on January 7, 2011, and whose body was left hanging on the barbed wire for hours. The exhibition features seven selected photographs displayed as floating installations on the lake.

According to the source, nearly 1,400 Bangladeshi civilians have been killed by India’s border guards over the years. Rony worked continuously on this subject between 2012 and 2025, documenting the human cost of violence along the Bangladesh-India frontier. The exhibition serves as both an artistic statement and a call for justice for victims like Felani.

The event highlights ongoing concerns about accountability for cross-border killings and aims to raise public awareness through visual storytelling.

Hasnat Abdullah, the chief organizer of the National Citizen Party (NCP) for the southern region and the Jamaat-led alliance candidate for Comilla-4 (Debidwar), stated that no good work can begin with wrongdoing. He made the remarks on Saturday, January 10, during a courtyard meeting held in Yousufpur Union of Debidwar upazila as part of an anti-Indian aggression march.

During the meeting, Abdullah urged local residents to avoid supporting those involved in past corruption, loan defaults, or legal cases in Debidwar. He emphasized that those preparing to seize polling centers or manipulate votes would not succeed, pledging to resist such actions with public support. Earlier in the day, he joined the anti-aggression march through several villages, including Nabipur Bazar, Egarogram, Muksair, Juktogram, and Pairangkul, accompanied by local NCP and Jamaat-e-Islami leaders and activists.

The event reflected the NCP’s ongoing campaign activities in Debidwar ahead of the upcoming election, focusing on anti-corruption and fair voting messages.

Barrister Asaduzzaman Fuad, the general secretary of the Amar Bangladesh (AB) Party and candidate of the 11-party alliance for Barishal-3 (Babuganj–Muladi), stated that a free, fair, and acceptable election cannot take place without ensuring the safety of voters and candidates. He made the remarks on Saturday, January 10, during a post-meeting press briefing in Chandpasha, Babuganj, following a discussion on the electoral code of conduct with alliance leaders and activists.

Fuad alleged that despite submitting multiple complaints to the district administration and returning officer, no effective action has been taken. He claimed that law enforcement agencies are showing bias toward one political party and that plans are underway by that party’s activists to seize polling centers. He said his alliance has prepared a list of vulnerable centers and informed the authorities about alleged plans for armed demonstrations.

Calling on the government to act more decisively, Fuad suggested detaining individuals involved in violent or center-seizing activities under special powers laws for two to three months to reduce potential clashes and ensure a secure voting environment.

Nahid Islam, convener of the National Citizens Party (NCP) and candidate for Dhaka-11, claimed that the Jamaat-e-Islami and NCP alliance is significantly ahead of the BNP in preparations for the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election. He made the statement on Saturday, January 10, after a meeting with the European Union (EU) election observation delegation at the InterContinental Hotel in Dhaka.

During the meeting, Nahid Islam said the NCP had informed the EU that it still lacked confidence in achieving a level playing field for the election. He alleged that signals were being given to favor a particular party, citing that nominations of several loan defaulters had been declared valid and that various violations of the electoral code of conduct were occurring. He expressed hope that the Election Commission would take strict action on these issues.

Nahid Islam added that despite security concerns, his alliance would continue its campaign activities on the ground, emphasizing that the Jamaat-NCP coalition was well ahead in election readiness compared to the BNP.

Law adviser and academic Professor Asif Nazrul claimed that he was the most targeted victim of cyberbullying in Bangladesh over the past 16 months. He made the statement on Saturday at a policy dialogue titled “Political Parties, Human Rights and Freedom of Expression,” organized by the Centre for Governance Studies (CGS) at the CIRDAP auditorium in Dhaka. Nazrul said that within the first four months alone, four dedicated videos were made to attack him personally.

Expressing frustration, he said he had been falsely labeled as both a supporter of Pakistan and India, and accused of having property in the United States. He described these campaigns as severe forms of cyberbullying against someone who values honesty. Addressing the issue of bail in July’s cases, Nazrul stated that 90 percent of the bail orders came from the High Court, and that responsibility for any errors lies with the judges, not the law ministry.

Nazrul further alleged that such attacks serve political and financial motives, claiming that targeting him benefits certain political agendas and online monetization. He urged everyone to engage in self-criticism as a moral practice.

BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman on Saturday addressed editors and journalists at a hotel in Banani, Dhaka, emphasizing that Bangladesh should not return to cycles of violence and revenge. He said the events of August 5, 2024, and other national tragedies must serve as lessons for the nation. Rahman expressed concern over press freedom, recalling incidents involving journalists Mahmudur Rahman and Ruhul Amin Gazi, and stressed the need for unity beyond political divisions.

He warned of a severe water crisis in Dhaka within 10–15 years due to pollution in major rivers and called for preventive health measures, women’s empowerment, and youth employment. Rahman announced plans for a “Family Card” to support women’s economic independence, the recruitment of 100,000 mostly female health workers, and modernization of vocational institutes to expand skilled overseas employment. He also proposed export incentives, IT park development, and international payment gateways for freelancers.

Rahman urged all political parties to prioritize citizens’ daily needs—health, education, safety, and jobs—and reaffirmed his commitment to democratic accountability. He said BNP would present its detailed plans to the public from January 22.

The Election Commission (EC) has declared the nomination of National Democratic Party–JAGPA vice president and spokesperson Rashed Pradhan valid. The decision came on Saturday, January 10, 2026, following a hearing on his appeal. Pradhan had earlier filed the appeal on January 6 after his nomination was rejected by the returning officer and Panchagarh Deputy Commissioner Kazi Md. Sayemuzzaman on January 3 due to an affidavit-related complication. He is contesting in both Panchagarh-1 and Panchagarh-2 constituencies in the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election.

In his initial reaction, Rashed Pradhan expressed gratitude for the EC’s decision but voiced concern about the absence of a level playing field, citing the approval of loan-defaulter candidates from the BNP. JAGPA president Barrister Tasmia Pradhan, who attended the hearing in support of her brother, said she was present not as a party leader or lawyer but as family, emphasizing unity for the country as children of Shafiul Alam Pradhan.

The EC’s ruling restores JAGPA’s representation in two key northern constituencies ahead of the national election.

Independent candidate Dr. Tasnim Jara announced her intention to contest the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election from Dhaka-9 constituency using the football symbol. On Saturday, January 10, 2026, after an appeal hearing at the Election Commission, her candidacy was declared valid. She told reporters that her appeal had been accepted and thanked supporters at home and abroad for their encouragement during the past week.

Dr. Jara, who resigned from the National Citizen Party (NCP), had her nomination initially rejected by the Dhaka district returning officer on January 3. Following her appeal, the Election Commission reversed that decision, allowing her to run as an independent candidate. She expressed gratitude to those who supported her and said she would now apply for the football symbol, pending the commission’s approval.

With her candidacy restored, Jara plans to campaign with public support in the Dhaka-9 constituency, awaiting the Election Commission’s final decision on her preferred election symbol.

Bangladeshi newspaper Amar Desh has reported that Wikipedia administrators are allegedly deleting and distorting pages related to the 2024 July Revolution and its martyrs. The investigation claims that a coordinated ideological group has been removing or altering entries about key figures such as student leaders Wasim Akram, Faisal Ahmed Shanto, and Imtiaz Ahmed Jabir under the 'N7' clause, which labels topics as non-notable. Contributors say these deletions occurred despite the pages being well-sourced and compliant with Wikipedia’s rules, and that requests for restoration were ignored or met with account suspensions.

The report further alleges that pages of political and cultural organizations linked to the July Revolution, including the National Citizens Party (NCP), have also been targeted, while pages praising former ruling party figures remain intact. Several writers and editors interviewed by Amar Desh claim that the Bangla Wikipedia is being influenced by pro-Indian and anti-Muslim groups, undermining its neutrality. Government officials have acknowledged the issue and suggested dialogue with the Wikipedia community to determine next steps.

The investigation concludes that contributors are urging the interim government to take action to preserve national historical content and ensure fair editorial practices on the platform.

The Election Commission (EC) of Bangladesh has resolved 36 appeals filed against returning officers’ decisions on nomination papers for the 13th parliamentary election. The hearing took place on Saturday, January 10, 2026, at the EC headquarters in Agargaon from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Out of the 36 appeals, 26 candidates were declared valid, including independent candidate Tasnim Zara, who left the NCP. Six appeals were rejected, while four candidates were granted additional time to submit further documents.

Between January 5 and 9, candidates whose nomination papers had been canceled submitted 645 appeals to the EC. A total of 723 nominations had been rejected during the initial scrutiny, while returning officers had declared 1,842 candidates valid. The EC’s first phase of hearings marks the beginning of the appeal resolution process ahead of the 13th parliamentary election.

Further hearings are expected as the EC continues to review the remaining appeals before finalizing the list of valid candidates for the upcoming election.

The contractor responsible for building the Government Technical School and College in Saghatta, Gaibandha, has abandoned the project midway, leaving the construction incomplete after seven years. The project began on February 20, 2018, under the Gaibandha District Education Engineering Department, with a budget of Tk 15.47 crore. Dhaka-based firm Messrs Dhali Construction was tasked to complete the work by June 30, 2021, but only 67 percent has been finished. Locals reported that the contractor’s workers left the site three months ago, taking equipment with them.

Despite the institution starting academic activities two years ago, students and staff continue to face difficulties due to the lack of classrooms and administrative buildings. Principal Tarikul Islam said the incomplete construction is disrupting educational activities, and repeated appeals to the ministry have not resolved the issue.

Executive Engineer Ashish Kumar Roy of the Education Engineering Department confirmed that a new tender process has begun to appoint another contractor, and work will resume once the new work order is issued.

Representatives of the Chittagong University Central Students’ Union (ChakSU) detained Assistant Professor Hasan Mohammad Roman Shuvo of the Law Department on Saturday afternoon and handed him over to the university administration. He was accused of supporting mass killings during the July uprising. The incident occurred after noon when Shuvo, reportedly trying to leave the Faculty of Law building, was stopped and taken to the proctor’s office.

University sources said Shuvo had been assigned as an invigilator for the first-year admission test of the 2025–26 academic session under the Faculty of Arts and Humanities. ChakSU leaders, including Law Secretary Fazle Rabbi Tawhid, detained him after learning of his presence. Allegations against Shuvo include labeling students as extremists, supporting a faction of the Chhatra League, and hosting gatherings at his residence. A university probe committee had already submitted a report on these allegations.

Shuvo denied all accusations, claiming he had not participated in any demonstrations and had committed no wrongdoing. The university proctor stated that Shuvo fled out of fear after hearing rumors of a mob attack and was later brought to the office by students.