A total of 373,398 expatriate voters across various countries have received postal ballots to participate in Bangladesh’s upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election and referendum, according to the Election Commission (EC). Among them, 196,625 voters have already scanned their QR codes. The EC stated that these registered overseas voters will be able to cast their votes and send them back to Bangladesh after the allocation of election symbols on January 21.

Salim Ahmad Khan, team leader of the ‘OCV-SDI’ project on expatriate voter registration, confirmed that 5,126 ballots were returned to Bangladesh due to incorrect addresses or voters not being found at their listed locations. Earlier, the EC had completed sending postal ballots to 767,028 expatriate voters in 121 countries.

According to EC data, a total of 1,533,683 voters, both domestic and overseas, have registered through the ‘Postal Vote BD’ app. Election officials noted that after symbol allocation, expatriates must send their completed ballots by mail to the respective returning officers’ offices in Bangladesh.

The Dhaka Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board has released the final schedule for the 2026 Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and equivalent examinations. According to the announcement published on January 20, the nationwide exams will begin on April 21 and continue until May 20. The schedule was made available through the board’s website and various media outlets. Alongside the schedule, the board issued 14 mandatory instructions for all examinees.

The directives include arriving at the exam hall 30 minutes before the start, following the time mentioned on the question paper, and completing multiple-choice and creative sections consecutively without breaks. Students must collect admit cards at least seven days before the exam and correctly fill in their OMR forms without folding them. The use of board-approved calculators is allowed, but mobile phones are prohibited except for the center secretary. Practical exams will be held at respective centers, and re-scrutiny applications must be submitted online within seven days of result publication.

The board emphasized that students must pass separately in theoretical, multiple-choice, and practical parts, and institutions are responsible for timely distribution of admit cards and submission of continuous assessment marks.

The Pay Commission led by Zakir Ahmed Khan will submit its report on new salary and allowance recommendations for government employees to Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus at the state guesthouse Jamuna on Wednesday at 5 p.m. Economic Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed confirmed the submission to the media. According to the report, the commission has proposed partial implementation of the new pay structure from January 1, 2026, with full implementation from July 1, 2026, marking the start of the 2026–27 fiscal year.

Sources indicate that the current minimum salary of Tk 8,250 may more than double, while the maximum salary could rise from Tk 78,000 to over Tk 120,000. The commission has recommended setting the ratio between the highest and lowest salaries at 1:8. The revised 2025–26 budget has already increased operating expenses by Tk 22,000 crore to accommodate partial implementation. Full implementation of the proposed structure is expected to require an additional Tk 70,000–80,000 crore.

The commission, formed on July 27 last year with 21 members, was tasked with submitting its report within six months and has suggested higher increases for lower-grade employees.

Faruk-e-Azam, Adviser on Liberation War Affairs and Disaster Management, stated that a victory for the 'Yes' vote in the upcoming referendum would bring fundamental changes to the state structure and secure citizens' rights and freedoms. He made the remarks on Tuesday at a courtyard meeting in Fapor Pashchimpara of Bogura Sadar, organized to raise voter awareness ahead of the referendum and the 13th national parliamentary election.

The adviser emphasized that the interim government is temporary and neutral, with no political affiliation, and will leave after the election. He explained that if the 'Yes' vote wins, the prime minister’s tenure will be limited to ten years, the judiciary will become fully independent, and new courts will be established at divisional and upazila levels. He also said key constitutional bodies like the Public Service Commission and Anti-Corruption Commission would be formed through consensus with the opposition.

Faruk-e-Azam added that although the current government cannot implement the referendum’s outcome, any constitutional changes approved by the people would automatically take effect in the future. The event was attended by local officials, civil society representatives, and students.

The National Implementation Committee on Administrative Reorganization approved the final structure and responsibilities of the newly formed Revenue Policy and Revenue Management Departments, officially dissolving the National Board of Revenue (NBR). The approval was granted on Tuesday during the committee’s meeting, confirming the administrative framework for the two new departments.

According to the decision, the specific duties of the Revenue Policy and Revenue Management Departments have been defined. The meeting also outlined the types of officials to be appointed to these departments and the process for staff deployment. The session was attended by six government advisers, including those from the Finance and Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs ministries, along with the Cabinet Secretary, Principal Secretary, and 14 secretaries or senior secretaries.

In total, the committee approved 11 proposals related to administrative reorganization, marking a significant step in restructuring Bangladesh’s revenue administration system.

The Election Commission of Bangladesh has directed the Ministry of Home Affairs to ensure security for Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami chief Shafiqur Rahman and six other party candidates until the election. A separate directive was also issued for BNP candidate Mojibur Rahman in Gazipur-1 constituency. The decision followed formal applications submitted to the commission, which were approved and forwarded to the ministry the next day.

The six other Jamaat candidates named in the directive are Nayeb-e-Ameer Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher, Mujibur Rahman, ATM Azharul Islam, Secretary General Professor Mia Golam Porwar, Assistant Secretary General Hamidur Rahman Azad, and Rafiqul Islam Khan. Election Commissioner Abdur Rahman Mashud confirmed that the letters were sent to the ministry after Jamaat’s request.

According to commission sources, security measures have been strengthened across all districts to ensure peaceful and uninterrupted election campaigns. Analysts believe the commission’s decision will help maintain a stable electoral environment.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has accused certain political groups of threatening to obstruct the upcoming national election despite having minimal public backing. He made the remarks on Tuesday at a discussion organized by the BNP at the Diploma Engineering Institution auditorium in Kakrail, Dhaka, marking the 90th birth anniversary of late President Ziaur Rahman. Fakhrul said that with only 23 days left before the election, some parties were loudly declaring they would not allow the polls to take place, even though they lacked significant voter support.

He emphasized that the BNP is eager to participate in the election and will accept the people’s verdict, whether in favor or against the party. Fakhrul also criticized those who, according to him, once denied Bangladesh’s existence and committed atrocities during the Liberation War. He stated that the country has reached its current position through great sacrifice and now faces an opportunity to restore democratic rights.

Addressing reform issues, Fakhrul said the BNP had proposed a 31-point reform plan two years before the government’s current campaign, asserting that reform initiatives originated from the BNP.

The National Implementation Committee on Administrative Reorganization (NICAR), chaired by Chief Adviser Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus, held its 119th meeting and the first under the interim government at the State Guest House Jamuna on Tuesday. The meeting, attended by six advisers and 14 secretaries including the Cabinet and Principal Secretaries, approved a total of 11 proposals related to administrative restructuring.

According to the Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam, the approved proposals include the creation of two new divisions under the Ministry of Finance—Revenue Policy Division and Revenue Management Division—to enhance transparency, accountability, and efficiency in revenue collection. The meeting also approved merging the Health Services Division and the Health Education and Family Welfare Division to form the restructured Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Additionally, the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs will be renamed the Ministry of Women and Children, though its English name will remain unchanged.

Other approvals include upgrading Satkhira to an “A” category district, establishing three new police stations in Gazipur, Narayanganj, and Cox’s Bazar, creating another police station in Narsingdi, and correcting the spelling of Bhulli Police Station in Thakurgaon.

The National Pay Commission of Bangladesh is preparing to recommend a significant rise in allowances for government employees under the ninth pay scale. The proposal includes increasing the Pahela Baishakh festival allowance from the current 20 percent of basic salary to 50 percent. The commission is expected to submit its final report to the Chief Adviser on Wednesday, with all preparatory work reportedly in the final stage. Eid bonuses will remain unchanged under existing rules.

In addition, the commission plans to recommend raising the medical allowance from 3,500 taka to a maximum of 5,000 taka per month. Two age-based categories are proposed: 4,000 taka for employees aged 40 or below, and 5,000 taka for those above 40. Retired government employees would continue to receive a monthly medical allowance of 5,000 taka.

The Finance Ministry has allocated 1,06,684 crore taka for salaries and allowances in the 2025–26 budget, about 22,000 crore more than before. The ministry indicated that either the revised salary or allowance structure may be implemented from January, with further decisions left to the next government.

The Chief Adviser has directed authorities to recover all looted and illegal weapons before the upcoming national election. The instruction came during a meeting of the National Implementation Committee on Administrative Reorganization (NIKAR) held in Dhaka, where the Chief Adviser emphasized that the recovery must be completed as quickly as possible ahead of the polls. The meeting also discussed preparations for the election scheduled for February 12.

According to the Press Secretary, the government is installing CCTV cameras at nearly 42,000 polling centers across the country to ensure transparency and security. Of these, 21,946 centers identified as highly important or risky will receive special funding of Tk 71.98 crore from the Finance Ministry, with at least six cameras per center. Local administrations will fund installations at the remaining centers. Efforts are underway nationwide, with some districts nearing full completion.

Officials confirmed that 299 polling centers without electricity will receive solar power or generator support. The government reiterated that the election will be held on schedule and pledged full support to the Election Commission for a free, fair, and peaceful vote.

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has been granted an additional five days to submit its report in the murder case of Inquilab Moncho convener Shahid Sharif Osman Hadi. On Tuesday, January 20, 2026, Dhaka Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Jashita Islam directed the CID to file the report by January 25. The court had earlier set January 20 as the deadline, but the CID failed to submit the report on that date, prompting the extension. The information was confirmed by prosecution officer SI Ruknuzzaman.

The case involves the killing of Hadi, who was shot on December 12 in Dhaka’s Bijoynagar area while returning from a campaign event. He later died on December 18 in Singapore after being transferred there for treatment. The Detective Branch (DB) police had previously submitted a charge sheet on January 6, accusing 17 individuals, including former ward councillor Taizul Islam Chowdhury Bappi and former Chhatra League activist Faisal Karim Masud. Dissatisfied with the DB’s report, the plaintiff Abdullah Al Jaber filed a petition, leading the court to assign the investigation to the CID.

Five of the accused, including Faisal Karim, remain absconding, according to the case documents.

U.S. President Donald Trump has shared on social media screenshots of messages purportedly sent by French President Emmanuel Macron and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte. According to Reuters, a source close to Macron confirmed the authenticity of Macron’s message. In the message, Macron questioned Trump’s activities in Greenland and proposed holding a G7 meeting after the World Economic Forum in Davos.

Macron also suggested inviting Russia to the proposed G7 meeting, noting that the country had been expelled from the G8 in 2014 following its annexation of Crimea. Trump additionally posted another screenshot showing a message from NATO chief Mark Rutte, who thanked Trump for his work in Syria and expressed commitment to finding a way forward in Greenland.

The posts have drawn attention due to their references to Greenland and the potential inclusion of Russia in future G7 discussions, though no further official responses were mentioned in the report.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has described the upcoming 13th National Parliament election as a tough test for his party and for Bangladesh’s liberal democratic forces. Speaking on Tuesday at a discussion marking the 90th birth anniversary of BNP founder and late President Ziaur Rahman at the Diploma Engineers Institute auditorium in Dhaka, Fakhrul said the election would determine whether the country remains under liberal democratic leadership or falls into the hands of extremist and anti-state elements.

He emphasized that BNP seeks an election and will accept the people’s verdict, pledging to go to the voters with the party’s 31-point program, Tarique Rahman’s new eight-point plan, and initiatives like the Family Card and Farmers Card. Fakhrul said victory for BNP’s symbol, the paddy sheaf, would be a true tribute to Ziaur Rahman and Khaleda Zia. He also criticized Jamaat-e-Islami’s past political role and urged all parties to practice honest politics without exploiting religion.

Fakhrul reiterated that BNP first proposed state reforms through Vision 2030 and the 31-point plan, calling reform their “brainchild” and stressing consensus for the nation’s greater interest.

Hedayet Ali Shah Fakir, chairman of Itakhola Union Parishad and vice president of the district Krishak League, joined the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) in Nilphamari. The event took place on Tuesday afternoon at the municipal market office in the district town, where he formally joined by presenting flowers to BNP candidate for Nilphamari-2 constituency, Engineer Shahrin Islam Chowdhury Tuhin. Along with him, nine union parishad members also joined the party.

During his speech, Hedayet Ali Shah Fakir expressed pride in joining under Tuhin’s leadership, describing him as a blessing for the area and emphasizing the need for development in Nilphamari. District BNP leaders, including convener Mir Selim Faruk and member secretary A.H.M. Saifullah Rubel, were present at the event.

In his address, Tuhin outlined plans to make Nilphamari an illiteracy-free district and develop it as a center for education and healthcare. He also announced a plan to create employment for 100,000 people and pledged to make Nilphamari the best district in Rangpur Division within five years if elected.

A Dhaka court has ordered the seizure of land worth Tk 1.75 crore belonging to Jahangir Alam, former personal assistant to former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The same order also froze Tk 1.03 crore held in seven bank accounts under the name of his wife, Kamrun Nahar. The directive was issued on Tuesday by Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Md Sabbir Foyez, following petitions from Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Assistant Director Piyas Pal.

According to the ACC petitions, there was a risk that Jahangir Alam might transfer or change ownership of his immovable assets, and that Kamrun Nahar’s bank funds could be moved. The ACC argued that freezing and seizing these assets were necessary to ensure a fair investigation. After hearing the petitions, the court granted both requests.

Earlier, on December 17 of the previous year, the ACC filed a case against Jahangir Alam and Kamrun Nahar, accusing them of acquiring wealth beyond known income sources. The case alleged that Kamrun Nahar possessed Tk 6.80 crore in unexplained assets, while Jahangir Alam had Tk 18.29 crore in illegally obtained property.