BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman declared that the people will not allow any form of vote rigging in the upcoming February 12 election. He made the statement on Tuesday night at an election rally in Bhawal Rajbari field, Gazipur, while returning from Mymensingh to Dhaka. Rahman called on voters to reach polling centers early, perform morning prayers there, and remain alert to prevent any pre-poll manipulation. He emphasized that citizens must protect their voting rights, which he said had been violated over the past 15 to 16 years.

Highlighting Gazipur’s role in the 2024 movement, Rahman praised the city’s contribution to the struggle for democracy and independence. He recalled his childhood memories in Gazipur and urged residents to support the BNP’s “sheaf of paddy” symbol. During the rally, he introduced BNP candidates for Gazipur’s five constituencies and sought votes for them.

Rahman also outlined development plans for Gazipur if BNP candidates win, including new industries, affordable housing for workers, family cards for women, daycare centers, flyover construction, canal excavation, and farmer cards. He concluded the day with another rally in Uttara, promising local infrastructure improvements.

Newly appointed US Ambassador to Bangladesh Brent Christensen stated that the United States does not support any particular political party but stands with the people of Bangladesh. He made the remarks on Wednesday after meeting Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) A M M Nasir Uddin at the Election Commission office in Agargaon, Dhaka. Christensen said the US is ready to work with whichever government is elected and expressed keen interest in the upcoming national election scheduled for February 12.

The ambassador emphasized that only the people of Bangladesh have the exclusive right to determine the outcome of their election. Referring to his meeting with the Chief Adviser last week, Christensen said he was assured that the election would be festive and that citizens would be able to exercise their voting rights freely. He expressed hope for a joyful and participatory election.

Christensen also appreciated the Election Commission’s preparations, describing them as commendable, and reaffirmed that Washington is committed to working with representatives who receive the people’s mandate.

Rajshahi University has published the admission test results for the 2025–26 academic year’s B unit of its undergraduate (honours) first-year program. The results were released at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, according to Professor Dr. Md. Saiful Islam, Director of the university’s ICT Center. Students can check their results on the university’s official website.

This year, a total of 30,886 candidates applied for the B unit admission test, with 25,961 appearing for the exam. Among them, 9,356 out of 16,368 candidates from the commerce group passed, representing a 57.16 percent pass rate. In the non-commerce group, 5,900 out of 9,593 candidates passed, marking a 61.50 percent success rate. The B unit has 564 available seats, including 375 for commerce, 158 for science, and 31 for humanities.

The publication of results marks the completion of a key stage in Rajshahi University’s undergraduate admission process for the 2025–26 session.

Hasnat Abdullah, the chief organizer of the NCP’s southern region, stated that Mirza Abbas used to attend court wearing a burqa about one and a half years ago. He made this remark on the night of January 27 during an NCP yard meeting held at Gunai Ghar Shaktala in Debidwar, Comilla, where he was the chief guest.

During his speech, Abdullah also criticized those who, according to him, had remained silent despite sacrifices made by activists such as Abu Bakr and July martyr Mainuddin. He said that the reasons behind their struggles and the fight against fascism are no longer being discussed.

The remarks came during a protest meeting organized in response to an attack on NCP candidate Nasir Uddin Patowary in the Dhaka-8 constituency, highlighting ongoing political tensions surrounding the election campaign.

India’s Rajya Sabha has expressed condolences over the death of former Bangladesh Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia. A condolence motion was introduced in the Indian Parliament on Wednesday to honor her long political career and contributions to South Asian politics.

According to parliamentary sources, both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha will pay tribute to Khaleda Zia, with members observing a brief moment of silence in recognition of her influence as a prominent Bangladeshi political leader. Khaleda Zia served multiple terms as Bangladesh’s Prime Minister and played a significant role in shaping the country’s political structure over several decades.

The tribute in the Indian Parliament is described as part of a constitutional and cultural tradition of honoring influential leaders from neighboring countries whose political lives have had a meaningful impact on regional politics.

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar was killed on Wednesday morning in a plane crash while traveling from Mumbai to Baramati. The small aircraft carrying him went down near Baramati airport as it attempted to land, resulting in the deaths of five people, including Pawar. Preliminary reports suggest that the victims may include the pilot and members of his security team. The crash occurred around an hour after the plane took off from Mumbai at approximately 8 a.m.

Images and videos from the site showed wreckage scattered across the area, with fire and smoke visible as ambulances and rescue teams arrived quickly. Injured individuals were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment. Authorities have launched an investigation to determine whether mechanical failure or weather conditions contributed to the crash.

Pawar had been en route to attend four major public meetings in Baramati ahead of local government elections. His sudden death has cast a shadow of grief over Maharashtra’s political community, with leaders and organizations expressing deep condolences.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has declared that the kingdom will not permit the use of its airspace or territory for any military operation against Iran. The statement came during a phone conversation with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, as reported by Saudi state news agency SPA on Tuesday, January 28, 2026. The crown prince emphasized that Saudi Arabia supports dialogue-based solutions to regional disputes and prioritizes diplomacy over conflict.

According to Iranian media, President Pezeshkian told the Saudi crown prince that Tehran welcomes any process under international law that helps avoid war. The United Arab Emirates had earlier announced a similar stance, refusing to allow its airspace or waters to be used for military actions against Iran. The developments come amid heightened regional tension following U.S. President Donald Trump’s statement that a military armada was moving toward Iran, though he expressed hope it would not be used.

Human rights groups have alleged that thousands were killed in Iran’s recent protest crackdowns, calling it the worst since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, claims denied by Iranian authorities.

The government of Bangladesh has approved separate proposals to buy 10 million liters of refined soybean oil and 10,000 tons of lentils to stabilize the market ahead of the upcoming holy month of Ramadan. The approvals were granted at the fourth meeting of the Advisory Council Committee held at the Cabinet Division on Tuesday, chaired by Economic Adviser Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed. After the meeting, Energy Adviser Muhammad Faozul Kabir Khan said the decision was taken to keep the prices of edible oil and lentils stable during Ramadan.

According to the approved plans, the lentils will be purchased from local company KBC Agro Products Pvt. Ltd. through open tender in 10 lots at a total cost of Tk 70.96 crore, with the price set at Tk 70.96 per kilogram. The soybean oil purchase will cost Tk 185.92 crore, with 5 million liters to be bought from Super Oil Refinery Ltd. at Tk 185.95 per liter and another 5 million liters from Shabnam Vegetable Oil Industries Ltd. at Tk 185.90 per liter.

The same meeting also approved fertilizer imports, a road sector project, and the purchase of a research vessel and speedboats for oceanographic research.

Bangladesh’s mobile phone sector is facing severe instability following the government’s implementation of the National Equipment Identity Registrar (NEIR) system. The Mobile Phone Industry Owners Association of Bangladesh (MIOB) raised branded handset prices soon after the rollout and donated Tk 46 crore to the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) to support the project. Meanwhile, grey market traders have protested the initiative, claiming it will render their unsold stock unusable. After a 20‑day closure, they reopened shops but suspended sales of officially distributed smartphones, pledging to continue demonstrations until March 15.

Industry sources said the price surge is not sudden but linked to a global rise in memory chip costs, which have increased by up to 60% since 2025. The higher component prices, coupled with growing demand for AI‑enabled smartphones requiring more RAM and processing power, have pushed production costs up by 10–15%. Retail prices in Bangladesh have risen 10–25% across categories, with brands such as Xiaomi, Vivo, Infinix, Realme, Samsung, and OnePlus all increasing prices.

The BTRC stated that it accepted MIOB’s donation due to the absence of government budget for NEIR, describing the move as being in the national interest.

Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser’s Special Envoy for International Affairs, Lutfey Siddiqi, has said that the United States is likely to announce a reduction in counter-tariffs on Bangladeshi products early next week. Speaking at a press conference at the Foreign Service Academy on Tuesday, he stated that the US is sincere about lowering tariffs and that an official announcement could come by the end of this week or the beginning of next. The current tariff rate stands at 20 percent, though the extent of the reduction has not yet been clarified.

Siddiqi explained that he held detailed discussions on the issue with US Treasury Secretary and cabinet member Scott Besent during the World Economic Forum in Davos. He noted that many elements of the US non-tariff policy align with Bangladesh’s interim government’s reform agenda and that the trade deficit between the two countries, previously around six billion dollars, has significantly narrowed. These developments, he said, have contributed to a positive outlook from the US regarding easing trade barriers for Bangladesh.

Siddiqi also discussed Bangladesh’s ongoing trade talks with the European Union, Japan, Singapore, and South Korea, highlighting both opportunities and challenges in securing future trade benefits after the country’s graduation from LDC status.

The long-anticipated Padma Barrage construction project, valued at Tk 50,444 crore, has been halted at the final stage after it was not presented for approval at the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) meeting. The project aimed to restore biodiversity across 26 districts and 123 upazilas in Bangladesh’s southwest region, severely affected by India’s upstream water withdrawal. The Planning Ministry confirmed that despite all preparations, the project was not tabled for reasons not disclosed.

Geopolitical analysts view the delay as a sign of the interim government’s concession to India, while experts stress that India’s unilateral withdrawal of water from shared rivers has caused severe environmental and agricultural damage in Bangladesh. The Planning Ministry stated that the government’s current priority is to ensure a free and fair national election, after which the elected administration will decide on the project.

Documents show that India has repeatedly objected to the project during bilateral and technical discussions. Officials indicated that the proposal may be reconsidered in a future ECNEC meeting or by the next elected government.

The Election Inquiry and Judicial Officer has issued a show-cause notice to BNP candidate Hafiz Ibrahim from Bhola-2 (Daulatkhan-Borhanuddin) constituency for allegedly violating the electoral code of conduct. The notice, signed by District Civil Judge Md. Suman Hossain on Tuesday, instructs Ibrahim to respond by January 29 either in person or through an authorized representative.

According to the notice, the allegation was filed by Md. Nur Islam on behalf of Jamaat-e-Islami candidate Maulana Fazlul Karim. The complaint claims that on the evening of January 25, supporters of the BNP candidate allegedly attacked and intimidated Jamaat activists on their way to the party office, which constitutes a clear breach of the 13th parliamentary election code of conduct.

The notice further states that Ibrahim must explain why legal action should not be recommended to the Election Commission. This is the first instance in the district where a candidate has been served such a notice.

BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Advocate Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said that cultural activists will be at the forefront of the party’s democratic movement and that the newly launched campaign song will touch people’s hearts. He made the remarks on Tuesday at the Banani Club in Dhaka during the inauguration of the viral ‘Dhaner Shish’ election song, which he believes will inspire renewed enthusiasm among the public ahead of the upcoming election.

Rizvi emphasized that throughout history, cultural workers have led political struggles, noting that songs written during times of oppression became voices of protest even beyond Bangladesh’s borders. He praised the song’s creators, including composer Ethun Babu and singer Moushumi, expressing confidence that their work captures the emotional power of the BNP’s ‘Dhaner Shish’ symbol. He also highlighted the role of literature, music, and poetry in social transformation, citing artists such as Kazi Nazrul Islam and Salil Chowdhury.

Rizvi expressed hope that the campaign song will win the hearts of voters, strengthen the democratic movement, and encourage citizens to assert their rights through voting.

Pakistan’s legendary cricketer Mohammad Yousuf has strongly criticized the International Cricket Council (ICC) after Bangladesh was excluded from the upcoming T20 World Cup. According to the report, Bangladesh had made a justified request to change the tournament venue, but the ICC, allegedly influenced by India, pressured Bangladesh and ultimately removed the team from the competition. The decision has sparked widespread criticism across the cricket world.

In a post on his X handle, Yousuf questioned the ICC’s fairness, consistency, and administrative competence, saying the organization failed to ensure justice for Bangladesh. He compared Bangladesh’s massive fan base to that of ten other cricketing nations combined, arguing that ignoring Bangladesh’s legitimate security concerns raises serious doubts about ICC’s integrity. Yousuf emphasized that cricket should be governed by principles, not favoritism.

The report adds that Scotland has replaced Bangladesh in the tournament and will play in Group C alongside Pakistan, Zimbabwe, and England.

Pakistan’s legendary spinner Saqlain Mushtaq has said that politics should not be mixed with sports, describing it as harmful not only to cricket but also to humanity. Speaking to India’s news agency NNI after Bangladesh’s elimination from the T20 World Cup, Mushtaq criticized the involvement of politics in cricket and emphasized that the game should unite nations rather than divide them.

In the interview, Mushtaq stated that politics should be eradicated because it acts as an enemy to humanity and damages both sports and players. He reiterated that cricket is meant to be a source of entertainment, not a battlefield or a tool of conflict. The former Pakistan cricketer declined to comment on Bangladesh’s decision not to play in India, saying he does not believe in politics.

Mushtaq’s remarks underline his long-held view that cricket should remain a unifying and entertaining sport, free from political interference and national disputes.