Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus has said that government officials should not serve in the same job for more than five years, as prolonged tenure leads to a fixed mindset and loss of creativity. He made the remarks on Wednesday afternoon at the inauguration of the 'Digital Device and Innovation Expo 2026' held at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Center. During the event, he also launched the website and logo of the 'Bangladesh Innovation Challenge'.

Dr. Yunus emphasized that every institution should restart every ten years to adapt to changing goals and avoid stagnation in outdated ideas. He advised people to focus on entrepreneurship rather than seeking jobs, describing the concept of guaranteed employment for all as a form of servitude. He called for government support to encourage entrepreneurship.

He further stated that just as the July Movement opened new possibilities in national politics, the Digital Device and Innovation Expo would open new opportunities in the information technology sector. The event was also attended by Fayez Ahmad Taiyeb, special assistant to the Chief Adviser on Posts, Telecommunications, and Information Technology.

U.S. President Donald Trump warned that 'very bad things' could happen if the Republican Party loses the upcoming midterm elections. Speaking Tuesday at a campaign rally in Clive, Iowa, he launched a surprise campaign tour amid voter concerns over the economy and security. Trump, 79, said Republicans must win both the Senate and the House of Representatives despite his declining approval ratings.

During the rally, Trump told supporters that a Republican defeat would undo previous achievements and threaten tax cuts and economic benefits. He avoided commenting on tensions in neighboring Minnesota, where two people were killed in an anti-immigration operation. The White House said Trump would continue campaigning across several states before the midterms.

Recent polls by The New York Times and Siena College showed Trump’s approval rating falling to 40 percent as inflation and living costs rise. Government data also indicated that U.S. consumer confidence in January dropped to its lowest level since 2014, reflecting growing public dissatisfaction with the economy.

More than a year and a half after the July uprising in Bangladesh, over 1,000 looted firearms and more than 200,000 rounds of ammunition remain missing, raising serious concerns about security ahead of the upcoming parliamentary election. Despite repeated joint operations by the army and police and government-announced rewards of up to 500,000 taka for information, law enforcement has failed to recover all the stolen weapons.

According to the army chief, 3,619 firearms and 456,418 rounds of ammunition were looted during the unrest, with only about 62% of the weapons and 52% of the ammunition recovered so far. Analysts warn that many of the missing weapons have ended up in the hands of criminals and could be used for extortion, robbery, or even political violence during the election period.

Security experts and former police officials say the police force remains weakened since the uprising, and public trust in law enforcement is low. The interim government has deployed around 900,000 security personnel for election duty, but analysts caution that any lapse could undermine voter turnout and election credibility.

The two-day Bangladesh–United States 9th Land Forces Talks (LFT) 2026 concluded successfully on January 27 at the Army Sports Control Board conference room in Dhaka Cantonment. According to an Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) release, the meeting followed up on the 9th LFT held in the United States from September 8 to 10, 2025. Representatives from both armies participated to strengthen mutual cooperation and discuss key areas of partnership.

The Bangladesh delegation, led by Lieutenant Colonel Mohammad Badrul Haque from the Army Training Directorate, included 22 members, while the four-member U.S. team was headed by Major Michael Jacob Oster from the U.S. Army Pacific Command’s Security Cooperation Division. Brigadier General Md Humayun Kabir, Director of the Army Training Directorate, attended the opening and closing sessions. Discussions focused on military cooperation, capacity building, and strategic collaboration, emphasizing training exchanges, advanced technology use, and equipment capability enhancement.

Both sides agreed to organize joint exercises and adopt innovative training methods to strengthen strategic ties. They also committed to contributing to regional security and improving joint preparedness for natural and human-made disasters, highlighting the importance of technological readiness to address global challenges.

Bahrain’s most senior Shia cleric, Sheikh Isa Qassim, has declared that millions of Iranians are prepared to sacrifice their lives for Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Speaking to Press TV, Qassim described Khamenei as a unique global leader distinguished by his deep religious scholarship, spiritual stature, and political leadership.

Qassim stated that both men and women in Iran regard Khamenei’s directives as religious orders and that Muslims around the world also support him. He credited Khamenei’s leadership with promoting Iran’s stability, peace, and human fraternity. The cleric further noted that the mass demonstrations across Iran on January 13 against riots showed clear public support for Khamenei and opposition to what he called foreign-backed sabotage.

Qassim also dismissed former U.S. President Donald Trump’s calls for reform in Iran, saying no one would believe such claims.

Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus called for an end to fraudulent practices in Bangladesh, emphasizing that the July Movement had opened new possibilities, just as the Digital Device and Innovation Expo 2026 could do for the information technology sector. He said the participants of the July Movement would one day lead the world. Yunus made these remarks on Wednesday afternoon at the inauguration of the Digital Device and Innovation Expo 2026 held at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Center.

He stated that Bangladesh had become known for fraud, which had damaged its international image. To excel in technology, he said, the country must eliminate fraudulent practices. Yunus stressed that Bangladesh has the ability to move forward with pride if integrity is maintained.

The event highlighted the government’s focus on innovation and digital transformation, with Yunus positioning the fight against fraud as essential for restoring Bangladesh’s reputation and achieving technological progress.

Major General Mohammad Ashrafulzaman Siddiqui, Director General of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), formally inaugurated two new border outposts in Cox’s Bazar on Tuesday. The outposts, Saint Martin BOP and the newly established Sea Beach BOP under Teknaf Battalion (2 BGB), were confirmed by Lieutenant Colonel Md Hanifur Rahman, commander of the 2nd Battalion, on Wednesday.

According to BGB, the Saint Martin BOP includes modern facilities and infrastructure designed to enhance the safety, efficiency, morale, and operational capacity of stationed personnel. The new Sea Beach BOP at Lengurbil in Teknaf features modern architecture and comprehensive amenities, aimed at strengthening border security and improving the working environment for BGB members.

BGB sources stated that the establishment of these outposts will make the overall security management of Saint Martin Island more dynamic and effective. The inauguration marks the full operational start of the Saint Martin BOP, following the redeployment of BGB to the island in April 2019 after earlier security responsibilities had been transferred to the Bangladesh Coast Guard.

BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman is scheduled to return to his ancestral home in Bogura on January 29, 2026, after 19 years. His visit will include participation in election programs across three northern districts—Rajshahi, Naogaon, and Bogura. A large public rally is planned at Bogura’s Altafunnesa playground, where preparations are nearly complete with banners, festoons, and sound systems installed. The event was initially set for January 28 but was rescheduled due to flight ticket complications.

Local BNP leaders, including district president Rezaul Karim Badsha, expect hundreds of thousands to attend the rally. After the Bogura event, Rahman will stay overnight and continue campaign activities in Bogura-6 constituency the next day, visiting his ancestral village Bagbari in Gabtali. Party leaders and supporters across northern Bangladesh have expressed enthusiasm, with many preparing to welcome him.

According to BNP sources, Rahman last visited Bogura on December 24, 2006. His return has sparked a festive atmosphere among local residents and party activists eager to see their leader again.

Iran has executed a man convicted of spying for Israel, according to the judiciary’s media outlet Mizan. The execution took place on Wednesday, and the individual was identified as Hamidreza Sabet Esmailipour. He had been arrested on April 29, 2025, and was accused of working for Israel’s intelligence agency Mossad by transferring secret documents and sensitive information. The death sentence was carried out after the Supreme Court upheld the verdict and all legal procedures were completed.

Iran, which has long been engaged in covert conflict with Israel, has previously executed several individuals accused of collaborating with Israeli intelligence. Authorities claim these individuals assisted Israel’s clandestine operations inside Iran. Analysts noted that the number of such executions has risen significantly since last year, particularly after Israeli and U.S. attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities in June, which intensified Tehran’s security operations.

The report suggests that Iran’s recent actions reflect heightened internal security measures amid ongoing regional tensions and direct confrontations with Israel and the United States.

At a campaign rally in Debidwar, Cumilla, National Citizen Party (NCP) spokesperson Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan announced that the Eleven-Party Alliance would arrest those responsible for Hadi’s killing and declare Cumilla a division within one month if it comes to power. Speaking as the chief guest at the NCP’s election march on Wednesday, he urged voters to demand justice for Hadi’s murder from all candidates seeking their votes.

Asif Mahmud, also chairman of the NCP election committee, said the February 12 election would determine Bangladesh’s future. He accused previous governments of repression, enforced disappearances, and killings, and alleged that another party had recently begun similar abuses. He called on voters to support the alliance to free the country from oppression. Other NCP leaders, including Monira Sharmin and Toriqul Islam, criticized rival parties for corruption, violence against women, and misleading promises about development projects.

Speakers from allied groups such as Jamaat-e-Islami and Jatiya Juboshokti expressed support for the alliance’s candidate Hasnat Abdullah, urging voters to ensure his victory in the upcoming national election.

France has moved toward restricting children’s use of social media, with its lower house of parliament passing a bill to ban access for those under 15. The measure still requires approval from the Senate before becoming law. In response, the European Union is considering similar action, with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen supporting the idea of setting a minimum age limit. The Commission plans to form an expert panel early this year to advise on possible steps for all 27 member states.

The EU already enforces the Digital Services Act, which bans advertising targeted at children and allows regulators to require structural changes to online platforms. France, Denmark, and three other countries are testing an age verification app designed to protect minors from harmful online content, with the Commission expecting a full rollout by the end of the year.

Although no EU-wide ban is yet in place, regulators anticipate initial decisions on child protection measures during the first half of 2026.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney stated that there is currently “nothing normal” about Canada’s relationship with the United States. He made the remark in Parliament on Tuesday while responding to a question about managing ties with U.S. President Donald Trump. Carney recently said in a speech at Davos that the rules-based international order built under Washington’s leadership over decades is now undergoing a “fracture.”

His Davos remarks received bipartisan praise in Canada. Opposition Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre described the speech as “well-planned and eloquently delivered,” while Bloc Québécois leader Yves-François Blanchet called it “reassuring and promising.” However, Blanchet later criticized Carney in the new parliamentary session, saying that speeches do not create jobs or protect employment.

Carney said he spoke with President Trump for about 30 minutes on Monday, discussing trade, Arctic security, and the situations in Ukraine and Venezuela. He clarified that he did not retract any part of his Davos speech during the call, adding in French that “the world has changed, Washington has changed, and almost nothing is normal in the United States.”

BNP candidate Shariful Alam for the Kishoreganj-6 (Bhairab-Kuliarchar) constituency has pledged to introduce government-managed salaries and allowances for imams and muezzins. He made the announcement on Wednesday morning during a campaign visit and courtyard meeting in Sadeqpur village of Bhairab upazila. Alam also reiterated his support for Tarique Rahman’s proposed farmer and family card initiatives and urged voters to cast their ballots early on election day.

The courtyard meeting was organized by the Sadeqpur Union BNP and attended by several local leaders, including Bhairab upazila BNP president Md Rafiqul Islam, vice-president and freedom fighter Tofazzal Haque, general secretary Ariful Islam, and organizational secretary VP Saiful Haque. The event formed part of Alam’s broader campaign outreach in the constituency.

The pledge highlights the BNP candidate’s focus on religious and community welfare issues as part of his electoral commitments in the Kishoreganj-6 constituency.

Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman has called for ensuring coexistence in the interest of electoral discipline, warning that attempts are being made to create disorder through attacks. He said the country should be guided toward order through elections. He made these remarks on Wednesday morning during a public outreach event at Uttara Kafrul High School in Mirpur.

Dr. Rahman emphasized that the party aims to assert two key aspects of education—moral and professional—both of which he said are severely lacking in the country. He noted that many young people complete their studies but quickly become frustrated because they lack linguistic and professional skills, leaving them unable to fit well into the global workforce.

He added that covering both aspects of education for the nation’s 180 million children would enable citizens to contribute substantially both at home and abroad, fostering pride in national identity.

Turkey has announced the start of a large-scale reconstruction and resettlement program in Syria, focusing on residential areas devastated during the years of conflict under the Assad government. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan made the announcement in a speech on Tuesday, according to TRT World. He said that cities destroyed by bombings during Bashar al-Assad’s rule would be prioritized for rebuilding.

Erdoğan stated that improvements in Syria’s security and stability would have positive effects across neighboring countries and the wider region. He also welcomed a recent decree by Syria’s new administration that guarantees basic rights for Kurdish citizens who had lost their citizenship during Assad’s regime. The Turkish president called for unity and warned against any attempts to inflame ethnic divisions.

Erdoğan added that Turkey is closely coordinating with Syria’s new government to respond to humanitarian aid requests from Kurdish communities living beyond its borders.