Bir Muktijoddha Rafiqul Baset, former president of Gazipur Metropolitan Freedom Fighter unit and vice-president of BNP’s central Freedom Fighter unit, has left the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) to join Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami. He formally joined the party on Wednesday evening at the Jamaat office of Ward 57 under Tongi East Police Station in Gazipur. Baset announced his decision through a Facebook post, stating that he had voluntarily resigned from all responsibilities within BNP and its affiliated organizations.

In his post, Baset explained that after long self-reflection and contemplation, he decided to lead his life according to Islamic ideals. He joined Jamaat through Gazipur Metropolitan Nayeb-e-Ameer and Jamaat’s nominated candidate for Gazipur-2 constituency, Hossain Ali, and Metropolitan Assistant Secretary Afzal Hossain. He expressed his belief that the Islamic way of life ensures justice in personal, social, and state affairs, and sought forgiveness for past mistakes.

After joining, Baset said that Jamaat-e-Islami follows the path of Allah and His Messenger and that he had long desired to join the party. He added that he had been involved with BNP politics since the era of Ziaur Rahman.

Iran reopened its airspace after keeping it closed for nearly five hours due to concerns over possible military tensions with the United States. The temporary closure led several airlines to cancel, reroute, or delay flights. According to a notice published on the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) website, Iran announced the closure of its airspace to all flights at 5:15 p.m. local time on Wednesday, though government-authorized international flights were still allowed to enter and leave the country.

Flight tracking service Flightradar24 reported that the notice was withdrawn shortly before 10 p.m. Eastern Time, equivalent to 0300 GMT. Following the reopening, five flights operated by Iranian carriers Mahan Air, Yazd Airways, and Ava Airlines resumed operations through Iranian airspace.

The temporary closure and subsequent reopening occurred against the backdrop of ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, raising renewed concerns about the safety and stability of international air travel in the region.

The Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) has found evidence that former Bangladesh Bank deputy governor S M Moniruzzaman received Tk 20 million in bribes from the controversial business conglomerate S Alam Group. The BFIU report states that the payment was made in August 2021 through a pay order from an S Alam-owned company account, shortly after Moniruzzaman opened a new savings account. The funds were later used to open three fixed deposits. The report found no documentation of any legitimate service or contract behind the payment and described the transaction as highly suspicious.

The BFIU also discovered that Moniruzzaman worked for 27 months after retirement at an S Alam-owned company, earning Tk 650,000 monthly. Investigators suspect he may have provided undue advantages to S Alam-linked banks and institutions during his tenure as deputy governor between 2016 and 2020. The findings have been forwarded to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) for further action.

Moniruzzaman denied all allegations, claiming the Tk 20 million was payment for a property he sold to S Alam Group.

U.S. President Donald Trump said he has been assured that the killing of anti-government protesters in Iran has stopped. Speaking to reporters at the Oval Office on Wednesday, Trump stated that he learned executions of protesters had also been suspended. He did not specify the source of this information but described it as coming from 'very important sources.' Trump added that the situation in Iran would continue to be closely monitored and did not rule out possible U.S. military action, noting that a formal statement would be issued later.

In a separate interview with Fox News, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said there were no plans to execute anti-government protesters. The protests in Iran began over the country’s economic crisis, with years of currency devaluation making the Iranian rial one of the world’s weakest currencies. The report noted that one U.S. dollar currently equals 994,055 Iranian rials.

The statements from both sides suggest a temporary easing of tensions, though the situation remains under observation by the U.S. administration.

Two leaders of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) in Tongi, Gazipur, formally joined Jamaat-e-Islami on Wednesday evening. The joining ceremony took place at the 57th Ward Jamaat office in Tongi Bazar. The new members are Rafiqul Baset, central vice-president of the Bangladesh Nationalist Freedom Fighters’ Party and president of its Gazipur metropolitan unit, and Sohrab Uddin, a former member of the Greater Tongi Thana BNP. Jamaat leaders including Muhammad Hossain Ali, Gazipur metropolitan Nayeb Amir and MP candidate for Gazipur-2, attended the event along with other local leaders.

After joining, Rafiqul Baset said he decided to join Jamaat-e-Islami after long self-reflection and a desire to live by Islamic ideals. He expressed his belief that Jamaat works under divine guidance and prayed to remain steadfast in his new political path. Sohrab Uddin stated that they would openly inform BNP leaders and share the news on social media.

The event marks a notable shift of local BNP figures toward Jamaat-e-Islami in Gazipur’s Tongi area.

Iran has suspended the execution of 26-year-old Erfan Soltani, who was sentenced to death for participating in anti-government protests. His family and the Norway-based human rights organization Hengaw confirmed the suspension, according to CNN. Soltani, a small business owner from Karaj near Tehran, was arrested on January 8 for allegedly joining demonstrations. Within three days, he was tried and sentenced to death without the presence of family or friends in court. The Guardian reported that his sister, a registered lawyer, was not allowed to participate in the proceedings.

A relative named Somayeh said the family learned that the execution had not been carried out but had not yet been canceled, and they were awaiting further information. Hengaw later confirmed the suspension of the death sentence. On the same day, U.S. President Donald Trump stated in Washington that killings of protesters in Iran had stopped and planned executions of detainees were on hold, with Soltani’s suspension reported hours after his remarks.

Nearly 10,000 doctors in Bangladesh’s health cadre, including supernumerary positions, are undergoing promotion, with more than 5,500 already elevated to ranks such as junior consultant, assistant professor, associate professor, and professor. A significant portion of those promoted are reportedly aligned with the Awami League and its affiliate organization, Swadhinata Chikitsak Parishad (Swachip). Allegations have surfaced that a syndicate involving the Chief Adviser’s Office and the Ministry of Public Administration facilitated these promotions, sometimes in exchange for money. Some doctors accused of legitimizing violence during the so-called ‘peace rally’ at the Shaheed Minar have also been promoted.

Officials from the Health Ministry acknowledged that promotions were granted under an old executive order from the autocratic era, bypassing mandatory senior scale examinations. This has caused discontent among qualified but overlooked candidates. The Health Secretary stated that actions are taken only when specific complaints or intelligence reports are received, as no comprehensive list of Awami-affiliated doctors exists.

Investigations are ongoing into about 1,500 Swachip members whose promotions were withheld, while allegations persist that political groups including BNP, Jamaat, and NCP also influenced the process.

The United Kingdom has temporarily closed its embassy in Tehran, Iran, citing security concerns. A government statement released on Wednesday confirmed the decision, noting that the embassy will now operate remotely. According to a British official, the ambassador and all consular staff have been withdrawn from Iran after a review of the security situation, emphasizing that the safety of personnel was the top priority.

Iran is currently facing one of the largest waves of violent protests in its history, triggered by economic deterioration and the sharp devaluation of the Iranian rial. The unrest began on December 28 at Tehran’s Grand Bazaar and has since spread to several cities. The situation has been further strained by threats of intervention from U.S. President Donald Trump.

Several European countries, including Italy, Poland, Germany, and Spain, have also issued urgent advisories for their citizens to leave Iran due to the worsening security environment. The ongoing instability and fears of possible U.S. military action have heightened regional tensions.

A new report by the Washington-based Center for the Study of Organized Hate (CSOH) and its India Hate Lab (IHL) project shows a sharp rise in hate speech incidents targeting religious minorities in India. In 2025, over 1,318 hate speech cases were recorded across 21 states, marking a 13 percent increase from 2024 and a 97 percent rise since 2023. Nearly 98 percent of these incidents targeted Muslims, while 133 involved Christians. Most cases occurred in states governed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), accounting for 88 percent of all recorded hate speech.

The report found that extremist Hindu groups such as the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), Bajrang Dal, and Akhil Bharatiya Hindu Parishad were linked to hundreds of incidents. Many speeches invoked conspiracy theories like “love jihad,” “land jihad,” and “population jihad,” often calling for violence, boycotts, or destruction of mosques and churches. Attacks on Christians also surged around Christmas, including assaults on churches in Raipur and other cities.

Experts cited in the report warned that religious hate speech has become intertwined with BJP’s political strategies, fueling communal tensions and violence against minorities.

Bangladesh has declared that playing cricket in India is currently unsafe and remains firm in its demand to shift its World Cup matches to Sri Lanka. The country’s stance has created tension with the International Cricket Council (ICC), which has yet to decide whether Bangladesh can play its matches outside India. The tournament, scheduled to begin in February, now faces uncertainty as multiple teams encounter logistical and political obstacles.

The report highlights that India’s strict visa policy toward individuals born in Pakistan has affected more than 20 players from several countries, including the United States, Oman, Canada, and the Netherlands. These players, many of Pakistani origin, are struggling to obtain visas to enter India. The issue extends beyond Bangladesh’s security concerns, as several teams may be unable to field their best squads.

With only weeks remaining before the tournament, unresolved visa restrictions and safety concerns have raised doubts about India’s ability to host the event smoothly. The author suggests that the ICC consider moving the World Cup to a neutral venue to ensure fair participation and avoid further controversy.

Exiled Iranian figure Reza Pahlavi, son of the country’s last deposed Shah, presented his vision for a future Iran following the fall of the Islamic Republic. In a message posted Wednesday on social media platform X, he said a new Iran would end its nuclear military program, recognize Israel, and seek normalized relations with the United States.

Addressing “friends” around the world, Pahlavi stated that Iran’s current global image is defined by terrorism, extremism, and poverty. He argued that a free Iran would contribute to regional stability and act as a responsible global partner. On security and foreign policy, he pledged to halt support for terrorist groups and cooperate internationally against terrorism, organized crime, drug trafficking, and extremist Islamism.

Pahlavi also emphasized economic openness, describing Iran as one of the world’s largest untapped markets. He said the country would aim to become a reliable global energy supplier and adopt international standards of transparency and good governance. He called for international support for the Iranian people, envisioning a free Iran as a force for peace and prosperity.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in his first public remarks since the start of nationwide protests, attempted to distinguish between what he called the bazaar’s “legitimate” grievances and the broader anti-state uprising. He praised the country’s merchants as among the Islamic Republic’s most loyal supporters and insisted that foreign enemies could not use the bazaar to challenge the state. However, demonstrations have continued in Tehran’s markets, where authorities used tear gas to disperse crowds chanting anti-government slogans, including calls for Khamenei’s removal.

The unrest reflects a deeper erosion of the bazaar’s traditional alliance with Iran’s ruling establishment. Once a pillar of the 1979 revolution, the merchant class has seen its influence decline over two decades of economic favoritism toward the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and religious foundations, compounded by sanctions and inflation. The IRGC’s growing dominance in trade, banking, and infrastructure has marginalized traditional business networks that once anchored the regime’s stability.

Analysts note that while the state could theoretically ease sanctions and curb IRGC-linked conglomerates to regain bazaar support, escalating tensions with the West and entrenched power structures make such reforms increasingly unlikely.

Relations between Bangladesh and India have sharply worsened ahead of upcoming elections in both countries. The crisis began after Sheikh Hasina, who ruled Bangladesh for 15 years with close ties to New Delhi, was ousted in 2024 following mass protests led by students and young people. After fleeing to India, the new interim government in Dhaka demanded her return for trial, but India refused, sparking anger among Bangladeshis. The dispute escalated into a diplomatic standoff, with both sides suspending visa services and trading accusations over minority safety and political interference.

The tension has extended into sports, as Indian right-wing groups protested against Bangladeshi players, leading to one being dropped from the Indian Premier League. In response, Bangladesh announced it would not participate in the upcoming Cricket World Cup in India and requested that its matches be relocated. Analysts say both nations’ domestic politics are driving the hostility, with India seeking regional dominance and Bangladesh’s interim leader, Dr. Muhammad Yunus, balancing public sentiment and diplomatic pragmatism.

With elections approaching in February, anti-India sentiment is shaping Bangladesh’s political landscape, while India explores new ties with the opposition BNP. Observers warn that mutual mistrust and rising nationalism may keep relations strained in the near term.

A closed-door meeting was held at the White House on Wednesday between the United States, Denmark, and Greenland amid escalating tensions over control of Greenland. US Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with the foreign ministers of Denmark and Greenland. According to The Guardian, the meeting lasted less than an hour. Danish officials described the talks as positive, but Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen admitted that the two countries still differ on Greenland’s future.

Rasmussen said President Donald Trump clearly outlined his stance on Greenland, while Denmark maintained a different position and remained uncertain about reaching any agreement. Greenland’s Foreign Minister Vivian Motzfeldt stated that Greenland seeks stronger cooperation as an ally, not subordination to the US. Denmark’s Prime Minister echoed that Greenland’s takeover is unnecessary and dismissed claims of immediate threats from Russia or China. Hours before the meeting, Trump reiterated that US control of Greenland is vital for missile defense and NATO strength.

Denmark and Greenland firmly opposed Trump’s plan, declaring Greenland is not for sale. Denmark announced increased Arctic military presence in 2026, with Germany, France, Sweden, and Norway joining joint NATO deployments. Sweden has already begun sending troops under Denmark’s “Operation Arctic Endurance.”

South Korea has pledged to identify and punish those responsible for a recent drone intrusion into North Korea, following Pyongyang’s demand for an official apology. North Korea claimed that a South Korean drone crossed the shared border into Kaesong earlier this month, was shot down, and its wreckage displayed publicly. Seoul denied any military or government involvement but acknowledged the possibility of civilian participation.

National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac stated during a press briefing in Nara, Japan, that authorities are investigating whether the incident originated from the civilian sector and promised legal consequences if guilt is proven. He also noted that North Korea had previously sent drones into South Korea, calling such actions violations of the armistice agreement that ended the 1950–53 Korean War.

President Lee Jae-myung has ordered a joint military and police investigation into the matter, warning that any civilian involvement would pose a serious threat to peace on the Korean Peninsula.