The Cumilla Battalion-10 of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) seized illegal Indian sarees, three-pieces, and fireworks worth Tk 13.48 million during two separate operations in Cumilla Sadar upazila on Sunday morning. The seizures were made from Murapara and Paharpur areas, located 250 and 100 yards inside Bangladesh’s border respectively. The items were found abandoned along with a mini pickup truck. Battalion Commander Colonel Mir Ali Ejaz confirmed the recovery of the smuggled goods.

According to BGB sources, the Cumilla Battalion regularly conducts anti-smuggling and anti-narcotics operations across its assigned border areas to curb cross-border crimes. The January 18 operations were part of these ongoing efforts under the jurisdiction of the Jashpur Border Outpost (BOP) patrol team.

Colonel Mir Ali Ejaz stated that necessary legal measures would be taken regarding the seized contraband and that such operations would continue to prevent smuggling along the border.

A Kuki woman who survived a gang rape during the 2023 ethnic violence in Manipur, India, has died on January 10, 2026. The assault occurred in May 2023, shortly after clashes erupted between the Meitei and Kuki communities. According to her family, she never recovered from the physical and psychological trauma of the attack. The Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum (ITLF) announced a candlelight vigil in her memory, stating that she had been abducted from Imphal, raped in Langol, and left in Bishnupur to die.

The woman, then 20, had filed a police complaint on July 21, 2023, describing how four armed men in black shirts abducted her and three of them raped her. Kuki groups alleged that some members of Meira Paibi handed her over to Meitei men. Her mother told NewsLaundry that the injuries caused severe breathing problems and that her daughter had lost her cheerful nature after the incident. She had been receiving treatment in Guwahati before her death.

The 2023 ethnic violence between the Meitei and Kuki communities over land rights and political representation left more than 260 people dead and displaced about 50,000 others.

Police recovered two burnt bodies from an abandoned community center in Savar on Sunday afternoon. The discovery was made after local youths and a college student noticed the bodies inside the deserted Savar municipal community center, located about 500 yards from the local police compound. Officers suspect the remains may belong to a woman and a young boy, but their identities have not yet been confirmed.

According to police, the bodies were severely burnt, making identification difficult. The Savar Model Police Station’s officer-in-charge, Arman Ali, said the incident is under investigation. This marks the fifth body recovered from the same abandoned building in the past two months. Earlier, unidentified male and female bodies were found there on several occasions, but none have been identified so far.

Local residents expressed concern that various criminal activities continue inside the abandoned center, located near the police station, and alleged that authorities have failed to take effective action.

A large student gathering titled 'Stand for Hadi' was held at Tamirul Millat Kamil Madrasa in Tongi, Gazipur, demanding justice for the killing of Inqilab Moncho spokesperson Shaheed Osman Hadi. The event, organized by the Tamirul Millat Central Students’ Union (TAKSU), took place on Sunday afternoon in the madrasa’s academic courtyard, drawing participation from around 14,000 students. The campus echoed with chants calling for justice and accountability for Hadi’s death.

Principal Dr. Hefzur Rahman attended as the chief guest, emphasizing that ensuring justice is a fundamental duty of a civilized state. He urged authorities to identify the perpetrators swiftly and bring them under the law through a fair and impartial investigation, warning that delayed justice undermines fairness. TAKSU leaders including Vice President Iqbal Kabir, General Secretary Saeedul Islam, and Assistant General Secretary Moinul Islam also addressed the event.

Speakers stated that students would continue their united movement until justice is achieved and called for effective measures to prevent similar incidents in the future. They described the peaceful protest as a strong stance in favor of justice.

Popular family game show 'Family Feud Bangladesh' is set to return to television with its second season starting January 19. The show will air every Monday at 9:30 p.m. on NTV, with reruns on Wednesdays at 1 p.m. Viewers will also be able to watch it anytime for free on the Bongo app and website. The new season will again be hosted by Tahsan Khan and directed by Wahidul Islam Shuvro.

According to the producers, the second season aims to build on the success of the first, which recorded over one billion total views across platforms and awarded more than three million taka in prizes. The upcoming season promises more excitement, larger prizes, and a wider scope of participation. Tahsan Khan expressed enthusiasm about the show’s return, noting that survey questions were collected from all 64 districts of Bangladesh, making the content more engaging and representative.

The producers expect the expanded format and fresh survey-based questions to enhance the show’s appeal and strengthen its position as a leading source of family entertainment in Bangladesh.

The European Union and South America’s Mercosur bloc have signed a major trade agreement in Asunción, Paraguay, on Saturday. The deal, reported by Turkey-based Hurriyet Daily News, brings together the EU’s 27 member states and Mercosur members Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay, forming one of the world’s largest free trade zones. The signing follows nearly 25 years of complex negotiations.

The agreement is viewed as a significant message against the tariff threats and trade uncertainty associated with U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration. Trump recently threatened to impose tariffs of up to 25 percent on several European countries over the Greenland issue. During the signing ceremony, EU chief Ursula von der Leyen said the parties chose fair trade over tariffs and long-term partnership over isolation. Paraguayan President Santiago Peña described the deal as a clear message in favor of international trade amid global tensions, while European Council head Antonio Costa said it rejects the use of trade as a geopolitical weapon.

Leaders expressed hope that the agreement will generate employment, prosperity, and new opportunities across both regions.

US President Donald Trump plans to charge countries one billion dollars each to become permanent members of his proposed 'Board of Peace', according to a Bloomberg report. The draft charter states that Trump would serve as the board’s first chairman and hold veto power over membership decisions. Countries paying the full amount within the first year would secure permanent membership, while others would have three-year terms.

The draft charter argues that existing international structures have failed to maintain peace and calls for a more flexible and effective global peace organization. The language has raised concern that Trump may be attempting to create an alternative to the United Nations. The board is described as an international body aimed at ensuring stability, lawful governance, and sustainable peace in conflict-prone regions.

Trump has already invited several world leaders to join the board, including those from Egypt, Turkey, Argentina, and Canada. Egypt’s foreign minister said the proposal is under consideration, while a senior aide to Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney expressed interest in accepting the invitation.

The Ministry of Education has finalized the ordinance for establishing Dhaka Central University and sent the draft to the Cabinet Division for approval. Officials confirmed that the ordinance is expected to be placed before the advisory council meeting on Thursday for final approval. The ministry’s public relations officer, Khalid Mahmud, stated that all procedural steps have been completed, including consultations with relevant ministries, public feedback collection, and expert opinions.

The ministry emphasized that the ordinance reflects stakeholders’ expectations and aims to ensure quality education at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. It urged all parties to avoid activities that could cause public suffering or disrupt normal life, warning that instability could undermine the progress achieved. The ministry also assured that the new university will open a new chapter in Bangladesh’s higher education.

The initiative to form Dhaka Central University, comprising seven government colleges in Dhaka, followed student movements last year. After revisions and consultations, the final draft was submitted on January 13. Students have agreed to wait until Thursday for the advisory council’s decision.

Jamaat-e-Islami announced that it will soon finalize candidates for 47 parliamentary seats left vacant after Islami Andolan Bangladesh, led by the Pir of Charmonai, withdrew from the 11-party electoral alliance. The announcement was made by Jamaat’s Assistant Secretary General Ehsanul Mahbub Zubair at a press conference held at the party’s central office in Moghbazar on Sunday.

Ehsanul Mahbub stated that the 10 remaining parties in the alliance will finalize their candidates within a day or two and are also considering a joint election manifesto. Islami Andolan had earlier declared on January 16 that it would contest 268 constituencies independently, prompting the alliance to reorganize its candidate list.

He further said that the 10-party coalition’s election campaign will begin in Dhaka on January 22 and conclude by February 10. Commenting on a student organization’s sit-in near the Election Commission, he expressed hope that such activities would not disrupt the electoral process and that the commission would remain neutral during the national election.

Several candidates in Bangladesh’s 13th National Parliamentary Election have been disqualified for failing to properly renounce their foreign citizenship. The Election Commission received multiple appeals after returning officers issued inconsistent rulings on dual citizenship cases. Some candidates were accused of concealing their dual nationality in affidavits, while others claimed their nominations were unfairly rejected despite submitting required documents.

According to Bangladesh’s Constitution and Representation of the People Order, dual citizens may vote but cannot contest national elections unless they formally renounce foreign citizenship. Legal experts explained that only a final renunciation certificate from the foreign government is acceptable proof. The issue has affected candidates from parties including Jamaat-e-Islami, BNP, and NCP, with several appeals pending before the Election Commission.

Analysts noted that dual citizens remain eligible for local government elections, such as mayoral or council positions, creating debate over differing eligibility standards. The Election Commission is expected to announce its decision on the appeals soon, as the controversy raises broader questions about consistency in electoral law enforcement.

Intern doctors at Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital, who had been on strike since Saturday morning, announced they will return to work at 8 a.m. Monday, January 19, following two rounds of meetings with hospital administration on Sunday. The decision came after assurances that their demands, including workplace safety and administrative support during untoward incidents, would be addressed.

Intern representative Mahmudul Hasan Sadik said the first meeting on Sunday morning was inconclusive, but a second meeting in the afternoon led to a mutual understanding. Hospital Director Brigadier General Umar Rashed Munir confirmed that discussions were held in detail and that the interns agreed to resume duties based on mutual consensus.

The hospital has formed a five-member investigation committee to probe the incident that triggered the strike and filed a general diary with Kotwali Model Police Station. The work stoppage began after a clash Friday night between interns and relatives of a patient in the surgery ward, which left four people injured and led to the detention of three attendants by police.

At least 5,000 people have been killed in ongoing anti-government protests and violence across Iran, according to the country's authorities. Among the dead are about 500 members of the security forces, a government official told Reuters. The official, who requested anonymity, blamed the deaths of 'innocent' Iranians on 'terrorists and armed rioters.' The most severe clashes and highest casualties reportedly occurred in the Kurdish-populated northwestern regions, where separatist groups are active.

The U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) earlier reported a lower confirmed death toll of 3,308, with an additional 4,382 deaths still under verification. HRANA also stated that more than 24,000 people have been arrested during the unrest. The differing figures highlight the difficulty of obtaining accurate casualty data amid widespread violence and restricted information flow.

The situation remains tense, particularly in Kurdish areas, which have historically experienced intense unrest during periods of political instability.

Islami Andolan Bangladesh, led by the Pir of Charmonai, has confirmed that it will not return to the Jamaat-e-Islami-led 11-party electoral alliance. The party had earlier announced on January 16 that it would contest 268 constituencies independently. The clarification came from the party’s organizational secretary, Ifthekhar Mahmud Tarek, who stated that there is no possibility of rejoining the alliance and that the party will proceed with its own electoral symbol.

Following Islami Andolan’s withdrawal, Jamaat’s Secretary General Ahsan Mahbub Zubair said that high-level discussions were ongoing to bring the party back into the alliance. Asif Mahmud, chairman of the election management committee of another alliance member, the NCP, also expressed hope that Islami Andolan would rejoin. However, Tarek made it clear that the decision to contest alone was final and based on internal review and consensus.

The announcement ends speculation about Islami Andolan’s possible return to the alliance and sets the stage for its independent participation in the upcoming election.

Interim government legal adviser Asif Nazrul stated that substantial reforms have been implemented, countering claims that no progress has been made. Speaking on Sunday, January 18, 2026, at a policy dialogue titled “Judicial Independence and Rule of Law” organized by the Centre for Governance Studies (CGS) at the CIRDAP auditorium in Dhaka, he said that while expectations were high, at least four out of ten reform goals had been achieved. However, he admitted that police reform had not advanced as intended.

Nazrul emphasized that extensive consultations were held during the reform process, comparable to those during the drafting of the 1972 Constitution. He argued that judicial appointments should not depend on slogans and that the higher judiciary also requires internal reform. He added that all necessary laws for judicial independence have been enacted, but establishing the rule of law may take another five to ten years.

He concluded that the reform process is ongoing and that if future elected governments continue this trajectory, citizens will eventually benefit from the reforms.

Bangladesh’s interim government and Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus have publicly endorsed a ‘Yes’ vote in the upcoming referendum on institutional reforms. Following criticism that such support could compromise the administration’s neutrality, the Chief Adviser’s press wing issued a clarification on January 18, 2026. It stated that the endorsement aligns with the government’s reform mandate and democratic accountability, arguing that silence in a national crisis would signal a lack of leadership rather than neutrality.

The clarification explained that the interim government was formed after a mass uprising to restore stability and democratic credibility, not merely to manage daily affairs or hold elections. The reform package, developed through consultations with political parties, civil society, professionals, and youth over the past eighteen months, reflects this mission. The press wing added that international democratic practices allow government leaders to take positions on major constitutional or institutional changes.

It further emphasized that the referendum’s legitimacy depends on voters’ freedom to decide, not on leaders’ silence. The interim government has no electoral interest in the outcome, and its outreach aims to clarify reform issues and counter misinformation, ensuring informed public participation.