Two people, including a madrasa student, were killed and at least three others seriously injured when a speeding truck lost control and rammed into a stationary CNG-run autorickshaw in Mirsarai, Chattogram. The accident occurred around 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday near the Zahedia Madrasa area of Baratakia Bazar along the Dhaka–Chattogram Highway. Witnesses said the autorickshaw was stopped for passengers when the truck, heading toward Chattogram, struck it from behind, crushing the vehicle and killing two people on the spot. The truck then plunged into a roadside pond.

One of the deceased was identified as Khadija Mashmum, a tenth-grade student of Baratakia Zahedia Dakhil Madrasa, while the other victim was an unidentified pedestrian. The injured were taken to Chattogram Medical College Hospital for treatment. Police and fire service teams quickly reached the scene to conduct rescue operations and restore traffic flow.

According to police, the crash caused temporary congestion on the Chattogram-bound lane, which was later cleared after rescue efforts.

The United States has announced plans to conduct a military exercise in the Middle East amid ongoing tensions with Iran. According to the US Central Command’s Air Forces Central, the drill aims to demonstrate the ability to rapidly deploy, expand, and conduct air operations in the region. The announcement was reported on Tuesday, with the exercise described as part of efforts to strengthen coordination with regional partners and enhance readiness for potential crises.

US President Donald Trump referred to the operation as a powerful “armada,” led by the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln. However, no details were released regarding the exact schedule, location, or specific military assets involved in the exercise. Analysts cited in the report suggested that the move signals an increase in US military pressure on Iran and serves as a show of strength.

The exercise underscores Washington’s intent to reinforce its strategic presence in the Middle East while maintaining readiness for any escalation involving Iran.

Biman Bangladesh Airlines is set to resume direct flights between Dhaka and Karachi on Thursday, marking the restoration of air connectivity between Bangladesh and Pakistan after 14 years. The inaugural 162-seat flight will depart from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 8 p.m. and is fully booked. Managing Director and CEO Dr. Shafiqul Rahman confirmed that the flight will take about three hours to reach Karachi.

According to airline officials, Biman had suspended operations on the Dhaka-Karachi route in 2012. The plan to reopen the route emerged after the formation of an interim government in 2024. Following official approval from the Bangladeshi government, Pakistan’s Civil Aviation Authority granted Biman permission to operate flights until March 30, 2026, subject to review.

Under the new authorization, Biman must strictly follow designated routes and operational protocols. Karachi airport has allocated a separate slot for the airline, and detailed flight information must be shared before each departure. Officials from both sides expect the route to strengthen bilateral connectivity and cooperation.

A major portion of Mamar Ghat, an important river transport hub under Mongla municipality in Bagerhat, has collapsed into the Pashur River due to severe erosion. The incident has left around 10,000 daily commuters facing acute travel disruptions, while fear and uncertainty spread across the area. Residents along the riverbank are relocating homes and belongings to safer places as the erosion continues.

According to local accounts, the erosion has been ongoing for three years but intensified recently due to heavy upstream runoff that raised river levels and increased current pressure. Illegal sand extraction along the riverbank has worsened the situation, destabilizing the river’s natural flow and embankments. Locals allege that unregulated sand lifting over the past decade has triggered the current crisis, severely affecting transport to the nearby Export Processing Zone (EPZ).

Mongla municipal administrator and Upazila Executive Officer Sharmin Akter Sumi said sand-filled geobags are being placed to curb the erosion. Residents, however, question why preventive measures and enforcement against illegal sand mining were not taken earlier.

A joint operation by the Bangladesh Army and Tungipara police in Gopalganj led to the arrest of one person with 36 kilograms and 600 grams of cannabis. The operation took place on Tuesday evening between 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. near Nilfa Bazar highway under the initiative of the Tungipara Army Camp. The detained individual, identified as Md. Kawsar, 28, from Pirojpur’s Shankar Pasha Union, was apprehended during a search of a passenger bus named Welcome Express.

According to an army press release, the checkpoint was set up based on secret intelligence. The army official stated that a large quantity of cannabis was recovered and reaffirmed the army’s zero-tolerance policy toward narcotics. A police officer from Tungipara confirmed that a case under the Narcotics Control Act is being processed against the detainee.

Authorities said the suspect was handed over to Tungipara police after initial questioning. The joint forces, including the army, police, and district administration, plan to continue regular checkpoints and patrols to maintain security and curb drug trafficking in Gopalganj.

Israel’s High Court has ordered the forced eviction of Palestinian residents from the Batn al-Hawa area of Silwan in occupied East Jerusalem. The court also directed that the properties be transferred to Israeli settlers, according to Middle East Monitor. The ruling has raised fears among Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem of further forced displacement.

Silwan, located near Jerusalem’s Old City, has long been a focal point of Israeli settlement activity and demolition policies. Thousands of Palestinians live in the area, which has seen accelerated house demolitions and evictions. In the nearby al-Bustan neighborhood, Israel plans to build a park called “King’s Garden,” demolishing dozens of homes and threatening many more.

Human rights organizations have stated that Israel’s actions in Silwan are part of a broader policy aimed at displacing Palestinian residents. East Jerusalem remains surrounded by concrete walls and barbed wire, much of it built on West Bank land. Israel claims the barrier is for security, while Palestinians and the United Nations view it as part of a land seizure strategy.

Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan, spokesperson and head of the election management committee of the National Citizens Party (NCP), is scheduled to attend a rally at the Sarail Shaheed Minar in Brahmanbaria today at 4 p.m. The event is part of the NCP and its 11-party alliance’s ongoing nationwide campaign in support of the ‘Yes’ vote, aimed at mobilizing public opinion ahead of upcoming political processes focused on state reform.

Party sources said the rally will feature central and local leaders of the alliance. Asif Mahmud is expected to emphasize the need for reforming the current state structure, restoring democratic rights, and highlighting the importance of public opinion. NCP candidate Maulana Ashraf Mahadi will also speak, asserting that genuine public freedom requires state reform and direct citizen participation in governance.

According to party leaders, the ‘Yes’ campaign has gained strong response across Sarail, Ashuganj, and Bijoynagar areas of Brahmanbaria-2. They expressed optimism that the rally will raise public awareness and positively influence voter sentiment.

A joint army team arrested a notorious criminal, Sajjad Hossain, and his wife, Jannat Akter, in Ashakpur Union of Shahjahanpur upazila, Bogura, around 9 p.m. on January 27, 2026. Acting on intelligence information, the operation was led by Captain Sadif and Lieutenant Fahad. The couple was detained with a foreign-made firearm, and several sharp local weapons were also recovered from their residence.

During interrogation, Sajjad admitted to possessing a 9mm pistol made in Germany. When the army team went to recover the weapon, Jannat attempted to dispose of it by throwing it into a nearby drain. Later, under the direction of Lieutenant Colonel Tanvir, the search team recovered the pistol and seized additional weapons from the house. The arrested couple and the recovered arms were handed over to the police for legal proceedings.

According to the army, such operations will continue to maintain law and order during the election period in the region.

Democratic Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, a Muslim lawmaker from Minnesota, was attacked during a town hall meeting in Minneapolis on Tuesday night, January 27, while criticizing former President Donald Trump’s immigration policies and the role of the Department of Homeland Security. According to eyewitnesses, an unidentified man approached the stage and sprayed a clear liquid toward Omar’s podium before being detained by security. Omar was shaken but unharmed and resumed her speech shortly afterward, declaring she would not be silenced.

Following the incident, Omar posted on social media platform X that she was safe and that such provocations would not deter her from fulfilling her duties. Minneapolis police later arrested a 55-year-old man identified as Anthony James Kazmierczak in connection with the attack.

Democratic Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez condemned the assault, saying such attacks have become disturbingly frequent, while the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) described it as a result of racist and Islamophobic incitement. Omar, of Somali descent, has long been a vocal critic of Trump, who has previously used inflammatory language against her and the Somali community.

V Kamakoti, Director of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras since 2022, has been awarded the Padma Shri for his contributions to education and research in India. Following the announcement, Kerala Congress made sarcastic remarks on social media platform X about Kamakoti’s past research related to cow dung and cow urine, sparking widespread debate and verbal exchanges online.

In response to the criticism, Zoho Corporation founder Sridhar Vembu publicly defended Kamakoti, leading to an open exchange between the two sides on X. Kamakoti later issued a statement describing the Padma Shri as an inspiration toward the national goal of “Viksit Bharat 2047,” emphasizing that the honor represents collective effort rather than individual achievement.

The controversy highlights differing perspectives on traditional and cultural aspects of research in India, while Kamakoti expressed motivation to continue contributing to the country’s development and innovation.

U.S. President Donald Trump said that Cuba will soon collapse, citing the loss of economic and energy assistance from Venezuela. Speaking to reporters in Iowa on Tuesday, Trump described Cuba as a nation on the brink of failure, noting that it no longer receives oil supplies from Venezuela. His remarks were reported by the Anadolu news agency.

The comments came shortly after a U.S. military operation removed Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro from power on January 3. Following the operation, interim leader Rodríguez took charge in Venezuela. Trump warned that if Rodríguez’s government fails to meet Washington’s conditions, it could face the same fate as Maduro’s administration. Among those conditions is granting the United States access to Venezuela’s vast oil resources.

Trump’s statement links Cuba’s potential collapse to the disruption of oil supplies from Caracas, highlighting the geopolitical consequences of recent U.S. actions in Venezuela.

Major General Mohammad Ashrafuzzaman Siddiqui, Director General of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), inaugurated two new Border Observation Posts (BOPs) in Cox’s Bazar’s Teknaf and Saint Martin on Tuesday. The Saint Martin BOP and the newly built Sea Beach BOP in Teknaf’s Lengurbil were opened at separate times. Both facilities are equipped with modern amenities aimed at improving the safety, efficiency, morale, and operational capacity of BGB personnel.

According to a statement from Lieutenant Colonel Md Hanifur Rahman, commander of BGB-2 in Teknaf, the Saint Martin BOP includes modern soldier accommodations and is expected to enhance the island’s overall security management. The island, located about 16 kilometers south of Teknaf, was previously under Bangladesh Rifles until 1997, then handed to the Coast Guard, and BGB was redeployed there in April 2019.

The inauguration marks the full operational launch of the Saint Martin BOP, while the new Sea Beach BOP is expected to strengthen border security and support stationed personnel in the Teknaf area.

U.S. President Donald Trump and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan held a phone conversation on Tuesday to discuss the situation in Syria, efforts surrounding the Gaza Peace Board, and a range of regional and global issues, according to TRT World. The two leaders also talked about advancing bilateral relations between their countries.

Erdoğan stated that Turkey would continue taking steps to strengthen cooperation with the United States in all areas for their mutual benefit. He emphasized the importance of fully implementing the ceasefire and unification agreement in neighboring Syria and said Ankara was closely monitoring the process in coordination with the U.S. and Syrian authorities. Erdoğan also expressed hope that the Gaza Peace Board would achieve its objectives, ending the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and paving the way for lasting peace through reconstruction.

Trump had announced the establishment of the Gaza Peace Board on January 15 as part of his broader plan for the region.

Former Indian cricketer Jacob Martin was arrested by Vadodara police in Gujarat for allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol and causing a road accident. The incident occurred early Tuesday morning in the Akota area of Vadodara. According to police, around 2:30 a.m., Martin lost control of his MG Hector vehicle near the Puneet Nagar Society and hit several parked cars, causing severe damage. Police suspect the 53-year-old was intoxicated at the time of the crash.

Authorities said Martin was arrested under charges of drunk driving and rash driving, and his vehicle was seized. Police believe he had consumed alcohol with a friend before driving that night. The report did not mention any injuries resulting from the collision.

Jacob Martin represented India in 10 One Day Internationals between 1999 and 2001. He also captained the Baroda Ranji Trophy team and was known as a prominent domestic batsman during his playing career.

The United States has started releasing Venezuelan funds that were frozen under sanctions, according to interim president Delcy Rodríguez. Speaking on state television from Caracas, Rodríguez said the assets owned by the Venezuelan people are being gradually freed and will be used to purchase medical equipment for hospitals from the United States and other countries. She did not specify the total amount being released.

Venezuela has been under strict US sanctions since 2019, following the disputed 2018 re-election of former president Nicolás Maduro. During Donald Trump’s first term, Washington froze large sums of Venezuelan assets abroad, which Maduro in 2022 claimed totaled about 30 billion dollars. After Maduro was ousted in a US military operation on January 3, Rodríguez’s interim government reached several agreements with Washington. Rodríguez said a framework of mutual respect and courtesy has been established with President Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

As another sign of improving ties, the US announced that former diplomat Laura F. Dogu will serve as chargé d’affaires in Venezuela, marking a step toward restoring full diplomatic relations severed in 2019.