A severe shortage of LPG autogas has crippled operations at seven filling stations in Lohagara upazila of Chattogram. Since midnight on Friday, most stations have displayed notices reading “gas finished,” leaving thousands of transport drivers dependent on autogas unable to refuel their vehicles. The shortage, which has worsened sharply in the past 24 hours, has caused widespread disruption for both drivers and passengers.

The crisis is part of a broader nationwide LPG shortage, though supply in Lohagara had remained relatively stable until recently. Now, filling stations across southern Chattogram—including Karnaphuli, Patiya, Banshkhali, Chandanaish, Satkania, and Lohagara—report having no gas available. Drivers have been seen waiting for hours only to leave disappointed. One CNG driver described the hardship of being unable to operate his vehicle due to the lack of fuel.

Earlier, the Bangladesh LPG Autogas Station and Conversion Workshop Owners Association warned that if supply issues persist, the autogas industry could collapse. The group urged the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission to ensure uninterrupted LPG supply nationwide.

BNP candidate for Sylhet-2 constituency, Tahsina Rushdir Luna, has called on voters to cast their ballots for the party’s symbol, the ‘Sheaf of Paddy,’ on January 12 to restore the region’s development momentum. She made the appeal on Sunday evening at an election rally organized by the Umarpur Union BNP in Osmaninagar, Sylhet, where she served as the chief guest.

Luna said the BNP’s acting chairman, Tarique Rahman, has outlined a detailed plan to build a strong and prosperous state through family-centered development. She pledged that if the BNP returns to power, family welfare would be central to governance. Her proposals included introducing family cards for women-led households, agricultural cards for farmers, revitalizing community clinics, increasing salaries for imams and muezzins, and expanding skill-based training for youth employment.

Referring to past local development under missing leader Ilias Ali, Luna urged voters to support the BNP to revive that progress. The rally was attended by senior BNP leaders, local representatives, and a large number of supporters.

Two mobile apps designed to identify and avoid American-made products have surged to the top of the Danish App Store following renewed tensions between Denmark and the United States. The rise comes after Trump’s threats to take control of Greenland, a Danish territory, prompted European consumers to push back. The apps, NonUSA and Made O’Meter, help users scan product barcodes to check their origin and suggest local alternatives. NonUSA reached the No. 1 position on Wednesday, while Made O’Meter climbed to No. 5.

According to market intelligence provider Appfigures, downloads for these apps have increased by 867% over the past week across iOS and Android platforms. The Danish App Store, which also serves Greenland, has seen a wave of grassroots boycotts that include canceling U.S. vacations and dropping subscriptions to American streaming services. NonUSA’s top markets now include Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and Iceland, reflecting a broader Nordic participation in the movement.

Although Denmark’s app market is relatively small, the surge underscores how political tensions can quickly influence consumer behavior and digital trends across the region.

Candidates contesting the Sylhet-6 constituency are conducting their election campaigns with relatively low expenditures, relying mainly on donations from expatriates. According to their affidavits, all five candidates have declared that they will use contributed funds rather than personal wealth. BNP candidate Emran Ahmad Chowdhury expects to spend about 6.5 million taka, of which 1.5 million will come from his own income, while the rest will be provided by expatriate relatives and well-wishers in France and the United Kingdom.

In the same constituency, Jatiya Party’s Mohammad Abdun Noor plans to spend 2.5 million taka, including 2.2 million from expatriate relatives. Independent candidate Md. Fakhrul Islam will use 2 million taka from his brother’s overseas earnings out of a total 2.4 million budget. Jamaat-e-Islami’s Mohammad Selim Uddin and Gano Adhikar Parishad’s Zahidur Rahman will spend 2.4 million and 2.5 million taka respectively.

Local civic group leader Advocate Md. Aman Uddin noted that the Beanibazar-Golapganj area has long depended on expatriate support in both national and local elections, and this year’s contest continues that pattern.

A man named Alex Pretty was shot dead by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Saturday. The Trump administration claimed Pretty, a nurse, was armed and had threatened to kill federal officers. However, videos recorded by witnesses show a different account. In the footage, Pretty appears to be holding a mobile phone, not a gun, when agents tackled him to the ground. The Department of Homeland Security later released a photo of a gun, which President Donald Trump identified online as belonging to Pretty.

The Guardian reviewed several videos of the incident and found inconsistencies between the footage and official statements. While Pretty had a legal permit to own a firearm, it remains unclear whether he had one during the confrontation. Witnesses said he was filming the agents when they surrounded and assaulted him before one agent shot him at close range. The videos show agents killing a man who was recording their actions.

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz urged President Trump to withdraw federal agents from the state, criticizing their conduct and warning against further violence.

Election campaigning has begun in the Lakshmipur-4 (Ramgati-Kamalnagar) constituency for the 13th parliamentary elections, but voters report little excitement. Unlike previous elections, the area remains free of posters, with only limited use of microphones and festoons in the afternoons. Candidates from several parties, including BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami, JSD, Islami Andolon, and Gana Odhikar Parishad, are contesting the seat.

Field observations show empty campaign spaces with few visible materials. Candidates are relying on hand microphones and leaflets to reach voters, while posters—traditionally a key campaign tool—are absent. Locals, including educators and residents, note that although posters often clutter the environment, they also help create electoral enthusiasm, which is missing this time.

According to Election Commission official Abdul Wadud Suman, the commission has introduced new restrictions: campaign microphones may operate only between 2 p.m. and 8 p.m., festoon use is limited, and posters are completely banned. Digital and social media campaigning is permitted under the new rules.

Amir Hamza, the Jamaat-e-Islami candidate for the Kushtia Sadar parliamentary seat, has claimed that certain groups are engaged in a deep conspiracy against the country. He issued this warning to citizens through a post on his verified Facebook page at around 11 p.m. on Sunday, urging everyone to remain alert and not to believe in rumors.

In his message, Hamza called on the public to stay vigilant, keep their eyes and ears open, and avoid spreading or reacting to unverified information. He suggested that if people remain cautious, those spreading rumors would be frustrated. The post was intended as an advance warning to the nation, emphasizing unity and awareness among citizens.

The statement comes amid his ongoing campaign activities in Kushtia Sadar, where he continues to use social media to communicate directly with supporters and the broader public.

At least 11 people were killed and 12 others injured in an armed attack at a football field in Salamanca, a city in Mexico’s central Guanajuato state, on Sunday. Local authorities confirmed the incident and said that security forces were working to bring the situation under control.

According to a statement from the mayor’s office, an operation has been launched to identify and apprehend those responsible for the attack. News agency AFP reported that details of the assault have not yet been released. Authorities stated that an investigation is ongoing and more information will be shared once available.

The incident has prompted heightened security measures in the area as officials continue efforts to restore order and determine the motive behind the attack.

Maulana Mojibur Rahman, the Khelafat Majlis candidate for the Comilla-4 (Debidwar) constituency, has withdrawn from the election to support Hasnat Abdullah, the 11-party alliance candidate led by Jamaat-e-Islami and the chief organizer of the National Citizens Party (NCP) in the southern region. On Sunday, January 25, he joined Hasnat Abdullah’s campaign in several villages of Debidwar, urging voters to support the alliance’s symbol, the Shapla Koli.

Mojibur Rahman stated that although he did not officially withdraw his candidacy earlier, he is now working in the field according to his party’s decision to ensure the victory of the alliance candidate. He expressed confidence that the Shapla Koli symbol would secure victory for the coalition.

Earlier, on January 20, the final day for candidate withdrawal, Mojibur Rahman had announced his intention to continue contesting. However, he later aligned with the alliance’s decision and began active campaigning for Hasnat Abdullah.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman is scheduled to visit Feni on Friday, January 30, to attend an election rally of the 11-party alliance. The event will begin at 8 a.m. at Feni Government Pilot High School field, where he will deliver the keynote speech as the chief guest. The information was confirmed by the party’s Feni district Ameer, Mufti Abdul Hannan.

According to party sources, Dhaka University Central Students’ Union Vice President Sadiq Kayem, NCP leader Hasnat Abdullah, and Chittagong University Central Students’ Union Vice President Ibrahim Hossain Rony are also expected to speak at the rally. The gathering will call on supporters to unite behind alliance candidates in Feni-1, Feni-2, and Feni-3 constituencies and to support a ‘Yes’ vote in the upcoming referendum. Leaders from other alliance parties at various levels will also address the event.

The visit has generated enthusiasm among alliance activists, with preparations underway for a large turnout. Dr. Rahman last visited Feni on February 3 of the previous year for humanitarian and commemorative activities.

Incidents of violence against women and children have increased across Bangladesh, with police records showing between 1,440 and 2,097 complaints filed monthly in 2025. Over a ten-month period, around 19,000 cases were recorded nationwide. Many victims reportedly avoid filing cases due to fear of social stigma, threats from influential individuals, or the risk of being humiliated through leaked videos. The Police Headquarters reported that 80 percent of the cases involve domestic violence, while others relate to dowry, rape, and sexual harassment.

Police officials stated that all incidents are being investigated and legal action is being taken, emphasizing that no one is above the law. A senior police officer noted that increased police activity and proper legal procedures could help reduce such crimes. Surveys by BBS and UNFPA revealed that 8.3 percent of women and girls have faced gender-based cyber violence, including sexual exploitation, defamation, and online harassment, which are harming their real lives and progress.

Authorities acknowledged that social instability and the rise of technology-driven abuse are changing the nature of violence, prompting calls for stronger preventive measures and legal enforcement.

A powerful snowstorm has struck across the United States, leaving at least three people dead and causing widespread disruption. As of Sunday afternoon local time, around 900,000 customers were without electricity, and more than 10,000 flights had been canceled nationwide, according to a BBC report. The National Weather Service said adverse conditions extended from Texas to New England, forcing the closure of schools and roads across multiple states.

Two people in Louisiana reportedly died from hypothermia, while another fatality occurred in Texas. The storm brought heavy snowfall, sleet, and freezing rain that could persist for several days, potentially affecting more than half of the country’s population. Meteorologist Allison Santorelli from the National Weather Service told CBS News that melting would be slow, hindering snow removal efforts.

Authorities warned that the hazardous weather could continue to disrupt transportation and power services in the coming days as cleanup operations face delays due to persistent cold and ice.

A report alleges that 153 officials appointed to the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) during the past 15 years under the Awami League government remain in their positions despite questions about their legality. Many were reportedly hired without proper qualifications, competitive exams, or within the legal age limits, often through political recommendations. The appointments allegedly violated government recruitment rules and the 2001 Telecommunications Act. A 2023 compliance audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General raised objections over these irregularities, but no corrective action has been taken.

Sources cited in the report claim that after the July uprising and the formation of the caretaker government, other sectors saw promotions for long-deprived officials, but BTRC did not. Over one-third of its 355 permanent staff are said to hold illegal appointments, while more than 50 positions remain vacant. Some of the disputed appointees are reportedly lobbying for promotions. A three-member committee was formed to investigate, but it has yet to submit a report.

The report suggests that political influence and administrative irregularities have hindered BTRC’s intended role as an independent regulator of the telecommunications sector.

Dr. Md. Enamul Haque, in an article published on January 26, 2026, reflects on Bangladesh’s 2024 mass uprising, which he says cost thousands of lives and injuries but did not bring structural change. He writes that despite the public’s demand for accountability and balance of power, the state’s core machinery remained intact, with only faces changing in government. The author identifies a persistent 'deep state'—a network of military and civilian bureaucracy, security agencies, economic oligarchs, foreign-linked lobbies, and media influence—that operates beyond elected authority.

According to Haque, this deep state neutralized the uprising through delay tactics, narrative control, and preservation of administrative continuity. Promised reforms, investigations, and rehabilitation remained largely declarative, while the same bureaucratic and security structures continued to dominate. He argues that no meaningful accountability, electoral reform, or economic transparency followed the movement.

The article concludes that real transformation requires dismantling entrenched power habits through transparency, decentralization, and institutional reform. Without such change, Haque warns, future uprisings will repeat the same cycle of sacrifice without systemic progress.

BNP-nominated candidate Air Vice Marshal (Retd.) Altaf Hossain Chowdhury carried out a mass outreach campaign in Patuakhali municipality on Monday night, January 25. Representing the Patuakhali-1 constituency, which includes Patuakhali Sadar, Mirzaganj, and Dumki, he began the campaign from Suraiya Villa on Sher-e-Bangla Road, accompanied by district BNP leaders and a large number of activists. The team distributed leaflets starting from New Market and marched through the main streets of the town before holding a brief street meeting at the local launch terminal area.

District BNP President Snehangshu Sarkar Kuti, General Secretary Advocate Md. Mojibur Rahman Toton, and Election Steering Committee Coordinator Maksud Ahmed Bayezid Panna were among those present. Several other district leaders and activists also joined the campaign, which aimed to strengthen BNP’s presence in the constituency.

The event marked a formal start to Altaf Hossain Chowdhury’s local campaign activities in the area as part of BNP’s broader electoral efforts in Patuakhali.