Three young men lost their lives due to alcohol poisoning in Gafargaon, Mymensingh. Another individual, Masud (37), is critically ill and receiving treatment at Mymensingh Medical College Hospital. The deceased have been identified as Suman Mia (35), A. Jalil (42), and Nizam Uddin (38). The incident occurred on Wednesday night when Masud, a resident of Ibrahimpur, Dhaka, visited his cousin’s house with his friend Nizam. The group consumed locally brewed alcohol together, after which all four fell critically ill. One of them passed away at Gafargaon Upazila Hospital, while the remaining two were declared dead upon arrival at Mymensingh Medical College Hospital.

The interim government has condemned the vandalism at Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s residence in Dhanmondi 32, calling it an unfortunate and unwarranted incident. However, in a statement from the Chief Advisor’s press wing, the government attributed the public outrage to Sheikh Hasina’s provocative remarks from India against the July Uprising. The statement accused Sheikh Hasina of disrespecting the martyrs of the uprising and continuing her rhetoric of oppression, corruption, and violence. It also noted that her remarks have repeatedly wounded public sentiment regarding the July massacre. Furthermore, the government urged India not to allow its territory to be used for destabilizing Bangladesh and called for restrictions on Hasina’s public statements.

Foreign Affairs Advisor Md. Touhid Hossain stated that Bangladesh has lodged a formal protest with India over the activities of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, citing them as provocative. In response to a question, he confirmed that the Foreign Ministry had submitted a diplomatic note to the Indian High Commission in Dhaka but had yet to receive a reply. He described Hasina’s remarks as highly aggressive and offensive to the younger generation. Dhaka has urged New Delhi to restrain Hasina from making such statements, and officials are closely monitoring India’s response. Hossain also remarked that the controversial Adani deal was not in Bangladesh’s best interests and announced that the Prime Minister’s Chief Advisor would soon undertake an official visit to the UAE to discuss various bilateral issues, including visa policies.

A Dhaka Metropolitan Special Court has ordered the freezing of 28 bank accounts belonging to former Health Minister Zahid Maleque and his son, Rahr Maleque. The order came following a petition by Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Deputy Director Md. Fazlul Haque. Prosecutor Mahmud Hossain Jahangir argued that substantial financial transactions had been detected in the accused's accounts, with suspicions of attempts to transfer funds elsewhere. The court deemed it necessary to freeze the accounts to prevent any obstruction to the ongoing investigation.

Shahjalal Ahmed Jony, a student leader of the Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (BNP’s student wing), was injured while attempting to demolish the nameplate of Begum Fazilatunnesa Mujib Hall at Kazi Nazrul Islam University. Witnesses reported that tensions escalated after Hasina’s speech, prompting protesters to announce their intention to destroy murals commemorating the Mujib family. While attempting to damage the nameplate, Jony slipped off a ladder and was rushed to Mymensingh Medical College Hospital. He has since recovered. The university’s acting registrar confirmed that both the mural and the nameplate had been destroyed by the protesters.

"Hasina, you have picked a fight with the wrong generation," warned anti-discrimination student leader Hasnat Abdullah in a Facebook post directed at former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who is currently in exile in India. Following reports that Hasina would be addressing the banned student wing of her party via a virtual speech at 9 PM, student activists and online influencers called for mass protests and vandalism at Dhanmondi 32. National Citizen Committee member Sharif Osman Hadi and Inquilab Mancha convener Pinaki Bhattacharya also urged their followers to destroy Dhanmondi 32. Soon after, reports emerged of extensive vandalism at the location.

At 11 AM in Companiganj, members of the anti-discrimination student movement in Noakhali attacked and vandalized the residence of Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader. Witnesses reported hearing slogans of ‘Naraye Takbir’ and ‘Kauwa Kauwa’ during the attack. The movement’s Noakhali chapter had earlier announced the protest on social media, urging activists to prepare with bulldozers for a march to Quader’s house. Protesters set fire to vehicles and furniture. The demonstrators accused Quader of inciting violence against students and using inflammatory rhetoric, claiming their actions were a response to his provocations.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently visited Panama, where he urged Panamanian authorities to exempt U.S. government ships from canal tolls. Following his visit, the U.S. State Department announced that Panama has agreed to waive toll fees for U.S. government vessels, potentially saving millions of dollars. In November, former President Donald Trump had vowed to reclaim control over the Panama Canal. Rubio also raised concerns about Chinese investments in the canal, alleging that Panama had violated the 1997 agreement. As a result, Panama has withdrawn from China’s Belt and Road Initiative. However, China has denied any interference in Panama’s sovereignty, reaffirming its commitment to recognizing the canal as a neutral international waterway.

In three separate incidents in recent weeks, one person was killed and 15 others were arrested while attempting to cross into Canada from the United States. The arrested individuals are from various nationalities, while the deceased was confirmed to be a U.S. citizen, according to Canada's Assistant Police Commissioner. Using thermal imaging and aerial footage, authorities demonstrated their advanced border security measures. The U.S. citizen was fatally shot while attempting to flee after being stopped near the Coutts Port of Entry. A day prior to the incident, five individuals were arrested, and six more were detained on January 14.

Teachers and employees under the Education Unity Alliance have staged a protest at the Education Ministry, demanding the immediate removal of Dr. Ehteshamul Haque, newly appointed Director-General of the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education (MAUSHI), and Dr. Zulfiqar Haider, Director-General of the National Academy for Educational Management (NAEM). Protesters claim that the appointments are politically motivated and favor ruling party affiliates. They particularly object to Ehteshamul Haque’s selection, citing his prior dismissal from a principal position at a Barishal school due to alleged misconduct. The demonstrators are calling for their immediate withdrawal.

The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner has announced plans to equip traffic sergeants with small arms to combat rising incidents of highway robbery. He stated that reforms, including bus counter regulations and e-ticketing, have been introduced to improve passenger safety. He urged transport owners to ensure proper employment contracts for drivers and encouraged commuters to report misconduct. He also mentioned that a recent crackdown has significantly reduced robbery cases over the past 15 days.

Families of those killed in the July-August uprisings have blocked Dhaka’s Shahbagh intersection, demanding swift justice and official recognition for the victims. The protest, which began at 11 AM, caused a halt in traffic as demonstrators held placards and pictures of their deceased loved ones. Accusing the government of negligence, they called for Sheikh Hasina’s extradition from India to face trial. The families claim that, despite months of attempts, they have been denied a meeting with the Chief Advisor. They condemned the perpetrators' continued freedom as a disgrace to the memory of the martyrs.

In response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s threats of imposing tariffs, Mexico has deployed 10,000 National Guard and military personnel along its border. Troops have been seen patrolling areas near Tijuana and Juarez. Despite a decline in drug trafficking and illegal migration over the past year, Trump has declared a border emergency. The U.S. administration aims to curb arms smuggling and violence, as criminal groups compete to control the lucrative migrant smuggling industry.

Tamanna Zerin, the alleged head of a human trafficking network that smuggled Bangladeshis to Russia, has been arrested at Dhaka’s Shahjalal International Airport by the CID. She faces charges of sending individuals to Russia under false job promises, only for them to be forced into fighting against Ukraine. One victim, Humayun Kabir from Natore, was killed in combat, while his brother-in-law, Rahmat Ali, now seeks a way to return home. Following increased surveillance, Zerin was captured while attempting to flee to Nepal.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has warned U.S. President Donald Trump against supporting actions that could lead to ethnic cleansing in Gaza. Speaking at the UN Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, Guterres emphasized the importance of adhering to international law and avoiding policies that could worsen the crisis. He reiterated that a two-state solution remains the only viable path to resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.