Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami’s Nayeb-e-Ameer Dr. Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher has warned the Election Commission that Bangladesh will suffer if the upcoming national election is arranged or manipulated. Speaking to reporters after a meeting with Chief Election Commissioner A.M.M. Nasir Uddin at the Election Commission office in Agargaon on Wednesday, January 7, he said his party had proposed installing CCTV cameras at polling centers to ensure a fair election.

Dr. Taher alleged that the returning officer had approved nomination papers of candidates from one party despite 12 or 13 of them holding dual citizenship, calling it discriminatory behavior by the administration. He also claimed that one candidate was receiving excessive protection, undermining a level playing field, and accused another party of distributing various cards in violation of the electoral code of conduct. He clarified that Jamaat had not submitted any list of SPs or DCs and denied holding any formal meeting with Tarique Rahman, describing a recent encounter as a condolence visit.

The meeting was attended by a six-member Jamaat delegation and four election commissioners along with the Election Commission secretary.

Bangladesh has reaffirmed its decision not to participate in the upcoming T20 World Cup in India, citing concerns over player safety, national security, and the country’s dignity. The announcement was made by Asif Nazrul, Adviser on Youth and Sports and Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, following a meeting at the Secretariat on Wednesday. The meeting was attended by Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) President Aminul Islam Bulbul, board directors, and officials from the Ministry of Youth and Sports.

Nazrul stated that Bangladesh remains steadfast in its position and hopes to convince the International Cricket Council (ICC) of its reasoning. He emphasized that the country wishes to play the World Cup but prefers to do so in Sri Lanka, another host nation. Bangladesh has already informed the ICC about its request to change the venue after Mustafizur Rahman’s name was dropped by Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League.

The adviser expressed optimism that the ICC would consider Bangladesh’s arguments fairly and ensure the team’s participation in the tournament under safe and respectful conditions.

Heavy snowfall and blizzards have caused widespread travel disruption across Europe, leaving at least six people dead. Five fatalities were reported in different regions of France due to road accidents, while one woman died in Sarajevo, Bosnia, after a tree collapsed under heavy wet snow. In France’s Landes area, three people were killed in two separate accidents, and two others died in the Paris region in weather-related crashes.

The severe weather has also led to the cancellation of hundreds of flights across the continent. Thousands of passengers were stranded at airports in Paris and Amsterdam. More than 400 flights were canceled at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport on Wednesday, while Paris’s Charles de Gaulle Airport temporarily suspended about 40 percent of its flights, and Orly Airport canceled roughly one-quarter of scheduled departures.

French Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot warned of further snowfall and urged residents to avoid unnecessary travel and work from home if possible. France’s national meteorological agency issued orange alerts in 38 districts, with conditions expected to persist through Wednesday.

Vote counting for the Jagannath University Central Students’ Union (JAKSU) election is ongoing, with results from 26 of 39 centers officially announced by the Election Commission. According to the latest tally, Shibir-backed vice president candidate Riazul Islam is leading by 351 votes over his rival, AKM Rakib, who is supported by the Chhatra Dal panel. Shibir-backed candidates are also maintaining strong leads in the general secretary (GS) and assistant general secretary (AGS) positions.

In the results so far, Riazul Islam has received 3,364 votes, while AKM Rakib has 3,013. For the GS post, Shibir’s Arif has 3,487 votes compared to Khadijatul Kubra’s 1,379. In the AGS race, Shibir’s Masud has 3,103 votes, followed by Atikul Rahman Tanzil with 2,677. The long-awaited JAKSU election was held on Tuesday after several delays and suspensions.

Out of 16,445 registered voters, 66 percent cast their ballots. The election included 8,479 female and 8,170 male voters, with 190 candidates contesting across 39 centers and 178 booths for both central and hall unions.

Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen paid a courtesy visit to BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman on Wednesday. The meeting took place at the BNP Chairperson’s political office in Gulshan, Dhaka. The report described the encounter as a formal courtesy meeting between the ambassador and the opposition leader.

The article did not provide details about the topics discussed or any statements made during the meeting. It focused solely on the occurrence of the meeting and its location. The report was published on January 7, 2026, by the newspaper Amar Desh.

No further information was included regarding the duration of the meeting, participants, or any follow-up engagements between the Chinese embassy and the BNP leadership.

The Government of Bangladesh has issued a new amended ordinance to ensure legal protection and inheritance rights for families of persons who have been missing due to enforced disappearance. The Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs published the ordinance in the official gazette on Tuesday, and it took immediate effect. The ordinance grants tribunals the authority to declare the property of a person missing for at least five years as distributable among legal heirs if the person has not returned alive.

According to the amendment, titled the 'Enforced Disappearance Prevention and Remedy (Amendment) Ordinance, 2026,' the tribunal can issue such orders after verifying the authenticity of applications submitted by heirs. The amendment also removes the requirement for prior approval from the commission for the spouse or dependents of a disappeared person to initiate legal proceedings. The new provision modifies Section 23 of the 2025 ordinance, overriding the seven-year rule under Section 108 of the Evidence Act, 1872.

Until specific regulations are formulated, the tribunal will determine the procedure for such applications independently.

NCP candidate for Panchagarh-1, Sarjis Alam, stated at a press conference in Panchagarh on Wednesday that a discrepancy in his election affidavit was due to a typing mistake by his lawyer. He explained that his income was mistakenly listed as 2.8 million taka instead of 0.9 million, calling it an unintentional error that was later corrected through proper legal procedures. The returning officer, he said, declared his candidacy valid as the major information in the affidavit was accurate.

During the briefing, Alam accused propaganda pages linked to the Awami League of spreading misinformation and fake content about him on social media. He urged the government and the Election Commission to take legal action against such disinformation. He also alleged that BNP grassroots activists were threatening NCP supporters and their families, warning that such intimidation and misuse of power could undermine the fairness of the upcoming election.

Alam called on the media to maintain professionalism and neutrality before the election, emphasizing that transparent journalism is essential for a fair electoral process.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami’s Nayeb-e-Ameer Dr. Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher has alleged that district commissioners (DCs) and superintendents of police (SPs) are engaging in discriminatory behavior. He made the remarks on Wednesday after meeting with the Election Commission (EC), speaking to journalists about the issue.

Taher stated that field-level administration officials, particularly DCs and SPs, are not maintaining neutrality and are acting in a biased manner in various situations. He said such conduct is obstructing the creation of a fair electoral environment. During the meeting, the Jamaat delegation urged the Election Commission to ensure administrative neutrality and to create a level playing field for all political parties.

The allegations highlight Jamaat’s concerns about fairness in the electoral process and the role of local administration in maintaining impartiality during elections.

The Ministry of Home Affairs has announced that law enforcement agencies will be deployed across Bangladesh for seven days surrounding the upcoming parliamentary election and referendum. According to a circular issued on Wednesday, security forces will remain in the field from February 8 to 14, covering four days before the vote, election day on February 12, and two days after.

The ministry’s circular stated that each polling center is expected to have between 13 and 18 members of law enforcement on duty. More than 700,000 personnel will be engaged in maintaining election security. Among them, around 550,000 will be Ansar and VDP members assigned to polling centers, while over 90,000 will come from the armed forces. Additional forces from the police, RAB, BGB, and Coast Guard will also participate.

The deployment aims to ensure a secure environment during the national election and referendum period, as outlined in the ministry’s directive.

China has sharply criticized U.S. President Donald Trump’s comments about forming an “exclusive partnership” in Venezuela’s oil sector, calling them a violation of international law and a direct threat. At a regular press briefing in Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said Venezuela is a sovereign state with full and permanent control over its oil resources and economic activities.

Mao accused the United States of using coercion and attempting to force Venezuela to align with American interests in managing its oil assets, describing such actions as a serious breach of international law and Venezuelan sovereignty. She added that China and other countries have legitimate rights in Venezuela that must be respected and protected. The spokesperson emphasized that cooperation agreements between Beijing and Caracas are legally binding under both domestic and international law.

The dispute underscores renewed competition between the U.S. and China over influence in Venezuela’s vast oil reserves. Analysts noted that China’s strong response following Trump’s remarks could further strain already tense relations between Washington and Beijing.

A young man named Md. Roni, 22, was injured by gunfire from India’s Border Security Force (BSF) near the Gotamari border area of Hatibandha upazila in Lalmonirhat. Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) rescued him and sent him to Rangpur Medical College Hospital, where doctors said his condition is currently stable. The incident occurred around 12:10 a.m. on Tuesday when a BGB patrol from the Daikhawa Border Outpost heard gunshots near border pillar 902 and found several people running, including one injured person being moved from the site.

BGB later identified the injured man as Roni, a resident of Gotamari Union, and claimed he was involved in drug trafficking in the area. According to BGB, Roni had previously been injured by BSF birdshot on December 22 and had gone into hiding afterward. Authorities said legal proceedings are underway against him under the Passport Act and for illegal border crossing.

Lieutenant Colonel Mehedi Imam, commanding officer of the 15 BGB Battalion, expressed concern over continued illegal activities despite repeated warnings and urged local residents and representatives to cooperate in preventing smuggling and drug trafficking along the border.

U.S. President Donald Trump has said that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is unhappy with him because of the high tariffs imposed on India. Speaking at a meeting with Republican members of Congress, Trump claimed that Modi had requested to meet him, saying, “Sir, may I see you?” Trump added that despite their good relationship, Modi was displeased due to the tariff rates India faces.

Trump further stated that India had ordered 68 Apache helicopters and had significantly reduced its oil purchases from Russia. He described Modi as a good person who understood the importance of keeping the U.S. president satisfied, noting that the U.S. could quickly raise tariffs on India if necessary. Trump also said the tariffs were making the United States wealthier.

Discussing defense ties, Trump mentioned that India had been waiting for years for the Apache helicopters, but the process was now moving forward. He said the situation was changing as India’s order for 68 Apache helicopters progressed.

Dr. Reza Kibria, the BNP-nominated candidate for the Habiganj-1 (Nabiganj-Bahubal) constituency, has been issued a show-cause notice over alleged violations of the electoral code of conduct. The notice was confirmed on Wednesday, January 7, 2026, by Abu Hasnat Mohammad Arefin, the district commissioner and returning officer. It had been issued earlier on Monday, January 5, instructing Kibria to provide a written explanation regarding specific allegations and to clarify why legal action should not be taken against him.

According to election authorities, the notice was prompted by accusations that several provisions of the electoral code were breached. Kibria has been directed to submit his written response by January 14. Officials stated that further action may be taken if his explanation is found unsatisfactory after review.

The case remains under examination by the election authorities, who will determine subsequent measures based on the adequacy of the candidate’s response.

A joint operation by the army and police in Ramu upazila of Cox’s Bazar led to the recovery of a large quantity of illegal weapons and ammunition early Wednesday morning. Acting on a tip-off, the raid was conducted around 6:30 a.m. in Thoingakata Samarghona area under Ward 3 of Gorjonia Union. The seized items included a locally made gun, two rusted pistols, six Chinese rifle bullets, forty-nine pistol bullets, four used shotgun shells, parts of a large gun butt, two long machetes, a toy pistol, two button mobile phones, and a cutter. The weapons were confiscated around 7:30 a.m.

Police arrested a 20-year-old woman named Ayesha Begum Riya from the scene. Preliminary questioning indicated that the recovered weapons might be linked to a local organized criminal group, according to police statements. Other suspects managed to flee during the operation.

Authorities confirmed that efforts are ongoing to apprehend the remaining fugitives and further investigate the network behind the seized arms.

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Standing Committee member Dr. Abdul Moin Khan said the 2008 national election was meticulously organized by various powerful forces. Speaking on Wednesday at a memorial meeting for Begum Khaleda Zia organized by the Nationalist Alliance at the Dhaka Reporters Unity, he questioned how a popular party like the BNP could win only 30 to 35 seats out of 300 if the process had been fair.

Moin Khan alleged that a section of actors at the time sought to depoliticize Bangladesh, but he asserted that the people are now alert and will not allow any domestic or foreign power to control the country’s politics. He described Begum Khaleda Zia as immensely popular, noting her multiple electoral victories as proof of public support. He added that from 2008 to 2025, she endured false cases and attacks but remained steadfast.

He further stated that the events of August 5, 2024, marked a victory for truth, showing that those who harmed the country were defeated and that Khaleda Zia’s integrity was vindicated in the eyes of the people.