The International Crimes Tribunal-1 has formally begun the trial of retired Major General Ziaul Ahsan on charges of crimes against humanity involving enforced disappearances and killings. The tribunal, chaired by Golam Mortuza Mojumdar with members Shafiul Alam Mahmud and retired judge Mohitul Haque Enam Chowdhury, ordered the start of proceedings on Wednesday. The court also set February 8 for opening statements and witness testimony.

Earlier, on January 8, Ahsan’s lawyers, Monsurul Haque and Naznin Nahar, sought his discharge, arguing that the prosecution had failed to prove his involvement. Chief Prosecutor Tazul Islam opposed the plea, asserting that the prosecution had established a prima facie case. The tribunal had reserved its order for January 14 before deciding to proceed with the trial.

According to the prosecution, Ahsan faces three specific charges, including the killing of detainees in Gazipur in 2011, executions in Barguna’s coastal areas under operations codenamed “Gestapo” or “Golf,” and staged “crossfire” killings in the Sundarbans under operations “Nishankhali,” “Mora Bhola,” and “Kotka.”

At least 22 people were killed and more than 30 injured when a crane collapsed onto a passenger train in Thailand on Wednesday morning. The accident occurred in Sikhiu district of Nakhon Ratchasima province, about 230 kilometers from Bangkok, as the train was traveling from the capital toward the northeast. The crane, used in the construction of a high-speed rail line, suddenly fell onto one of the train’s carriages, causing it to derail and briefly catch fire.

Provincial police chief Thachaporn Chinnawong confirmed the death toll and said the injured were taken to nearby hospitals. Authorities reported that the fire was quickly brought under control and rescue operations began immediately after the incident.

Thai officials have launched an investigation to determine the cause of the collapse. The total number of passengers on board at the time of the accident remains unclear, according to police.

A new report by the Washington-based Center for the Study of Organized Hate’s India Hate Lab (IHL) shows that hate speech incidents targeting Muslims and Christians in India rose sharply in 2025. The study documented 1,318 cases across 21 states, marking a 13 percent increase from 2024 and a 97 percent rise compared with 2023. Nearly 98 percent of the hate speech targeted Muslims, while 133 incidents involved Christians. Most cases occurred in states governed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

According to the report, 88 percent of all hate speech incidents—about 1,164 cases—took place in BJP-ruled or allied regions, up 25 percent from 2024. Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Delhi accounted for 65 percent of all incidents. In contrast, opposition-ruled states saw a 34 percent decline. The report linked 289 incidents to the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal, and 138 to the Akhil Bharatiya Hindu Parishad.

The IHL classified hate speech based on UN definitions, noting that nearly half of the incidents invoked conspiracy theories such as “love jihad,” “land jihad,” and “population jihad.” Several speeches called for violence, weapon use, boycotts, or destruction of religious sites.

The Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) held the training completion parade of its 104th recruit batch on Wednesday morning at the Bir Uttam Mujibur Rahman Parade Ground of the Border Guard Training Center and College (BGTC&C) in Baitul Izzat, Satkania, Chattogram. A total of 3,023 new members, including 2,950 men and 73 women, took an oath to protect the sovereignty and integrity of the country, marking the largest batch in BGB’s history. The event was attended by Home Affairs Adviser Lieutenant General (Retd.) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury as chief guest, who administered the oath and inspected the parade.

Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs Nasimul Gani, BGB Director General Major General Mohammad Ashrafuzzaman Siddiqui, and other senior military and civilian officials were also present. BGB announced that Al Imran, bearing chest number 155, was named best recruit overall, while Shafikul Islam and Lubna Khatun topped in physical excellence, and Shafiqul Rahman Tamim and Nahida Akter were recognized as best firers.

According to BGB, the BGTC&C has been training recruits for 44 years and has successfully completed 72 batches since independence. Despite a capacity of 700 to 1,000 trainees, infrastructure expansion under interim government directives enabled training of this record batch, setting a post-independence milestone.

France and Canada have advised their citizens in Iran to leave the country immediately, citing a rapidly deteriorating political and security environment. Both governments warned that the situation has become increasingly dangerous for foreigners as tensions rise within Iran and across the region.

According to a statement from the Canadian government, ongoing anti-government protests, regional instability, and the risk of arbitrary detention make travel or stay in Iran unsafe. Canada also acknowledged that its ability to provide consular assistance in Iran is severely limited. France’s foreign ministry issued a similar alert, noting that internal unrest and tensions involving the United States and Israel have heightened security risks. French nationals were urged to avoid non-essential travel, stay away from demonstrations, and follow guidance from the French embassy in Tehran.

Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump publicly encouraged Iranian citizens to continue their protests, while Iran accused the United States and Israel of fueling the unrest, claiming that initially peaceful demonstrations were later infiltrated by armed groups.

Jamaat-e-Islami and its allies are set to announce their final 11-party electoral seat-sharing agreement today, Wednesday, at 4 p.m. in the Diploma Engineers Auditorium in Dhaka. Reliable Jamaat sources confirmed the plan, though formal invitations had not been issued as of midnight Tuesday. The announcement follows a series of meetings held throughout Tuesday among leaders of Jamaat, Islami Andolon, Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish, and other allied parties to finalize seat allocations.

According to the report, Islami Andolon had sought more than 70 seats but was allocated 45, leading to dissatisfaction within the party. Its leadership had not yet confirmed participation in the alliance as of Wednesday morning. Other allocations include 30 seats for the National Citizens Party, over 15 for Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish, 10 for Khelafat Majlish, 7 for the Liberal Democratic Party, 3 for AB Party, and 2 for Bangladesh Development Party. Jamaat is expected to retain more than 180 seats.

The coalition evolved from a 10-party alliance announced on December 28 of the previous year, later expanding to 11 parties. The final announcement is expected to include Jamaat Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman and other top leaders.

Iran has accused the United States and Israel of being responsible for the killing of innocent civilians during the ongoing protests across the country. The allegation came from a senior Iranian official in response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s warning about intervening in the demonstrations. According to TRT World, Trump had urged Iranians on social media to seize government institutions, prompting former parliament speaker and current secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, Ali Larijani, to name Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu as the main killers of the Iranian people.

Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations, Amir Saeid Iravani, sent a letter to the UN Security Council accusing Trump of inciting political instability, encouraging violence, and threatening Iran’s sovereignty and national security. He wrote that the U.S. and Israeli governments bear direct and undeniable legal responsibility for the deaths of innocent civilians, especially among the youth. The letter was also sent to UN Secretary-General António Guterres.

Iranian authorities stated that the situation has come under control following nationwide demonstrations that began on Thursday over rising living costs.

Rapid Action Battalion (RAB)-7 has arrested Nazim Uddin, 52, a fugitive accused in the murder case of Jamaat-e-Islami activist Jamal Uddin in Fatikchhari, Chattogram. The arrest took place around 3:45 p.m. on Monday in front of Enayetbazar Mohila College under Kotwali Police Station in Chattogram city. RAB confirmed the arrest on Tuesday, stating that Nazim had been frequently changing locations and blending into crowds to evade capture.

According to the report, Jamal Uddin, a local businessman and Jamaat activist, was shot dead on Saturday evening at Shahnogor Dighir Par area of Lelang Union in Fatikchhari. Three armed men on a motorcycle fired at him from close range, killing him on the spot. Thirteen bullet wounds were found from his head to neck, while another man, Nasir Uddin, was injured and remains under treatment at Chattogram Medical College Hospital.

RAB handed Nazim over to Fatikchhari police after initial questioning. Investigators said the arrest could advance the case, as they are examining whether old rivalries, business disputes, or local political conflicts were behind the killing.

U.S. President Donald Trump announced the cancellation of all scheduled meetings with Iranian officials, citing Iran’s ongoing crackdown on protesters. In a social media post on January 13, he urged Iranian demonstrators to take control of state institutions and said that “help is coming,” though he did not clarify what form that assistance would take. Trump has also indicated in recent days that he is considering ordering military action against Iran.

The decision follows escalating U.S. measures against Tehran. On Monday, Trump declared that any country doing business with Iran would face a 25 percent tariff when trading with the United States. The following day, the U.S. State Department advised American citizens to leave Iran immediately due to rising tensions. When asked by reporters to explain his “help is coming” remark, Trump declined to elaborate.

Protests in Iran began in December after a sharp currency decline and soaring inflation, evolving into a broader anti-government movement. Official figures report more than 2,000 deaths in the ensuing violence.

The Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) campus turned tense after the Bangladesh Election Commission issued a directive prohibiting any elections before February 12. Following the order, uncertainty arose over the Shahjalal University Central Students’ Union (SUSTEC) election, leaving the university’s election commission unable to make a clear decision. The situation escalated on Monday evening when news of the directive sparked protest marches across the campus.

Election commissioners held lengthy discussions with students at the SUSTEC office but failed to reach a conclusion. They advised students to wait for the university administration’s response. Both students and commissioners are now waiting at the SUSTEC office for the arrival of Acting Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Md. Sajedul Karim, whose decision is expected to determine the next steps.

The delay has created uncertainty about the timing of the student council election and heightened tensions among students awaiting administrative guidance.

Iran has accused the United States of attempting to create a pretext for military intervention in the country. The allegation was made on Tuesday through a post by Iran’s mission to the United Nations on social media platform X. Tehran claimed that U.S. President Donald Trump was responsible for inciting protesters and that Washington’s actions were aimed at destabilizing Iran’s internal situation.

According to the post, the United States seeks to change Iran’s governing system through sanctions, threats, and deliberate efforts to create unrest and disorder. The statement came as Washington continued to warn of tough measures against Tehran over alleged repression of ongoing demonstrations. Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations, Amir Saeid Iravani, also sent a letter to the UN Security Council accusing Trump of encouraging political instability, inciting violence, and threatening Iran’s sovereignty and national security.

In the same letter, Iravani asserted that the United States and Israel bear direct and undeniable legal responsibility for civilian deaths, particularly among young people. The letter was also sent to UN Secretary-General António Guterres.

The Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) is facing unrest over the upcoming central students’ union (ShakSU) and hall council elections. In response to the ongoing tension, Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. A. M. Sarwaruddin Chowdhury met with the Election Commission in Dhaka on January 13, where Chief Election Commissioner M. M. Nasir Uddin and the full commission discussed the situation. The commission set three written conditions for candidates: no untoward incidents during the election, no deterioration of law and order, and no influence on the national election. The university administration stated that the ShakSU election would proceed on January 20 only if these conditions were accepted.

Students have rejected the Election Commission’s conditions and continued their protest in front of the administrative building. They demanded that the university announce the January 20 election date unconditionally and immediately. The students said they would withdraw their movement only after such an announcement.

The standoff has left the future of the ShakSU election uncertain, as both the administration and students remain firm on their respective positions.

United States fast bowler Ali Khan has claimed that his visa application to enter India was rejected ahead of the upcoming T20 World Cup. The Pakistan-born cricketer shared the news on Instagram, posting a photo with a humorous caption implying he did not get the Indian visa but did get KFC. The tournament is set to begin in less than a month, and the US team is scheduled to play three group-stage matches in India, including one against the hosts in Mumbai on February 7.

Reports suggest that several Pakistan-origin players representing other countries have faced similar visa difficulties due to strained India-Pakistan relations. Ali Khan’s case has brought the issue into public attention. Since his debut in 2019, he has played 15 ODIs and 18 T20Is for the United States and is considered a key part of their pace attack, though the final squad has not yet been announced.

Social media discussions and reports indicate that other US players, including Shayan Jahangir, Ehsan Adil, and Mohammad Mohsin, may also face visa complications. The US cricket board may approach the ICC for assistance if the issue persists.

The death toll from a bomb explosion in Jajira upazila of Shariatpur district has risen to three after Nayon Molla, 25, died while undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Dhaka on Wednesday night. He was a resident of Beparikandi village in Bilaspur union. Earlier, Nabi Hossain, 22, died on January 8 at Dhaka Medical College Hospital, and another victim, Sohan Bepari, 32, was found dead near the blast site on the same day.

Police said the explosion occurred early on January 8 while bombs were being made in Beparikandi area, blowing off the roof of a tin house. Following the incident, joint forces conducted operations across Bilaspur union and recovered 45 bomb-like objects, several cocktails, local weapons, and a drone. A case under the Explosives Act has been filed against 53 people, and 12 have been arrested so far.

According to police sources, the explosion is linked to a long-standing rivalry between supporters of Bilaspur Union Parishad chairman Kuddus Bepari and his rival Jalil Madbar, which has led to repeated clashes and explosions in the area.

U.S. President Donald Trump has called on Iranian protesters to continue their demonstrations and take control of state institutions. In a post on his social media platform Truth Social on Tuesday, Trump described the protesters as patriots and urged them to preserve the names of those responsible for killings and abuses, saying they must pay a heavy price. He also announced the cancellation of all meetings with Iranian officials until the killing of protesters stops, adding that help is on the way.

A few hours after the post, reporters in Washington asked Trump what he meant by 'help is on the way.' He declined to elaborate, saying they would have to find out. Later the same day, in an interview with CBS News, Trump said the United States had not yet received verified information on casualties in Iran. He explained that the lack of confirmed data was the main reason Washington had not made any final decision regarding a possible operation in Iran.

Trump told CBS that while the number of casualties appeared significant, the U.S. still lacked confirmed figures.