Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) President Dr. Colonel (Retd.) Oli Ahmed Bir Bikram has strongly condemned and protested the knife attack on July fighters Hasnat and Mahin in Chattogram. The assault took place at midnight on January 16 in Chandanaish upazila, reportedly after a press conference and human chain were organized against Jasim Bahini, a group linked to a cashier of Benazir and an accused in the July student murder case. The condemnation was issued in a statement sent to the media on Saturday.

In his statement, Colonel Oli said that the associates of the fallen fascist government have re-emerged and that the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) must take responsibility. He accused the BNP of sheltering individuals loyal to Hasina and oppressing innocent citizens. He urged the BNP to expel such individuals if it truly respects the July fighters.

Oli Ahmed added that attacking the July fighters is an insult to those who fought against fascism in Bangladesh and sacrificed their lives to ensure freedom and dignity for the people.

The Election Commission has cancelled the nomination of BNP-endorsed candidate Manjurul Ahsan Munshi for the Cumilla-4 (Debidwar) constituency in the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election. The decision was announced on Saturday, January 17, at 4 p.m. following a hearing held at the commission’s auditorium in the basement of its Agargaon headquarters in Dhaka.

According to commission sources, both BNP candidate Manjurul Ahsan Munshi and NCP candidate Hasnat Abdullah had filed appeals challenging each other’s nomination validity. After reviewing the appeals, the Election Commission declared Munshi’s nomination invalid while upholding the validity of Hasnat Abdullah’s candidacy. Abdullah is contesting from the same seat under a 10-party electoral alliance.

The ruling clarifies the candidate lineup for Cumilla-4, where the NCP’s Hasnat Abdullah will now represent the alliance in the upcoming national election.

The central committee of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has dissolved its organizational committees in Galachipa and Dashmina upazilas under Patuakhali-3 constituency. The decision, announced on Saturday through a statement signed by BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Advocate Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, was sent to the district BNP leadership. The move came after local units allegedly failed to work in favor of Gonodhikar Parishad president and former DUCSU VP Nurul Haque Nur, whom the BNP had decided to support in the upcoming national election instead of fielding its own candidate.

According to party sources, some local BNP leaders delayed implementing the central decision and were reportedly working for independent candidate Hasan Mamun, a recently expelled member of the BNP executive committee. In response, the central leadership dissolved both upazila committees and warned members to maintain organizational discipline. Hasan Mamun was also summoned to the BNP chairperson’s Gulshan office but did not respond.

Local leaders acknowledged receiving the dissolution notice, while some defended their stance, saying they remained aligned with Hasan Mamun despite the central directive.

Saudi Arabia’s state-owned mining company Ma’aden has extracted a total of 7.8 million ounces, equivalent to 221,000 kilograms, of gold from four locations across the country. The extraction took place at Mansourah Massarah, Uruk 20/21, Umm al-Salam, and Wadi al-Jawaa. According to the company, Mansourah Massarah yielded 3 million ounces, Uruk 20/21 and Umm al-Salam produced 1.607 million ounces, and Wadi al-Jawaa contributed 3.08 million ounces.

Ma’aden’s Chief Executive Officer Bob Wilt stated that this achievement strengthens Saudi Arabia’s global position as a leading gold producer. He attributed the success to the company’s long-term strategic plan, emphasizing that the results demonstrate its effectiveness in practice.

The report, citing Gulf News, suggests that the large-scale extraction will enhance Saudi Arabia’s mineral reserves and accelerate Ma’aden’s operations as a world-class gold producer.

Bangladesh Border Guard (BGB) seized narcotics worth Tk 2.9 million during operations along the Naogaon border in Dhamoirhat upazila. The 14 BGB battalion recovered 14,600 tapentadol tablets from a mustard field in Chakshobdol village near border pillar 266/1S late Saturday night. The operation was led by Havildar Mehedi Hasan of the Chakilam Border Outpost, and the seizure was confirmed in a statement by Lieutenant Colonel Abdullah Al Mamun, commanding officer of the Patnitala 14 BGB battalion. The confiscated drugs are being processed for handover to Dhamoirhat police.

On the same night, another BGB team from the Kalupara Border Outpost, led by Havildar Badsha Alamgir, seized 126 bottles of narcotic cough syrup from the Ustamabad area near border pillar 272MP. Both operations were conducted inside Bangladeshi territory, and no owners were identified for the seized items.

The BGB stated that the operations were part of ongoing efforts to curb cross-border drug trafficking in the Naogaon region.

Russian President Vladimir Putin held a telephone conversation with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian to discuss the current situation in Iran. During the call, Pezeshkian accused the United States and Israel of inciting violence in recent protests, which he said had turned from peaceful demonstrations into violent unrest. He emphasized that Iran’s domestic policies are people-centered and aimed at addressing citizens’ legitimate demands and challenges caused by sanctions. Pezeshkian also noted that large public gatherings across the country had thwarted what he described as rioters’ conspiracies.

Putin stated that Russia is closely monitoring developments in Iran and acknowledged that long-term sanctions have created economic and social difficulties there. According to a Kremlin statement, Pezeshkian briefed Putin on the government’s ongoing efforts to stabilize the situation and reduce tensions. Both leaders agreed that emerging issues in Iran and the wider Middle East should be resolved through political and diplomatic means.

The Kremlin added that Putin and Pezeshkian also agreed to further strengthen the strategic, mutually committed relationship between Russia and Iran across various sectors.

Syria has officially declared the Kurdish language as a national language through a decree issued by President Ahmed Al-Shara. The decree also recognizes the national rights of the Kurdish community and restores their citizenship, which had been revoked following the controversial 1962 census. Additionally, Damascus has declared Nowruz, the Kurdish New Year, as an official public holiday. The decree will take effect upon publication in the official gazette.

According to the decree, Kurdish citizens are described as an integral part of the Syrian people, and their cultural and linguistic identity is recognized as a vital component of Syria’s unified and diverse national identity. The government pledged to protect cultural and linguistic diversity and to ensure Kurdish citizens’ rights to preserve their heritage, arts, and language development within the framework of national sovereignty.

The decree further allows Kurdish to be taught in public and private schools in areas with significant Kurdish populations, either as an optional subject or as part of cultural and educational activities.

U.S. President Donald Trump publicly thanked Iran for suspending the executions of detained protesters. In a post on his social media platform Truth Social on Friday, Trump said Tehran had halted the death sentences of hundreds of protesters who were scheduled to be executed on Thursday. He expressed gratitude to Iran’s leadership for the move.

Trump dismissed claims that Gulf countries or Israel had influenced him to refrain from attacking Iran, saying instead that Iran’s actions had shaped his decision not to strike. Speaking to reporters while leaving the White House for Florida over the weekend, he said no one persuaded him and that the cancellation of executions had a major impact. The White House confirmed on Thursday that Iranian authorities had suspended 800 planned executions and stated that the situation was being closely monitored.

Trump has repeatedly voiced support for Iranian protesters, urging them earlier in the week to continue demonstrations and seize state institutions, promising that help was on the way.

A nearly 900-year-old madrasa has been discovered in the central Turkish city of Kayseri during ongoing urban renewal work. The structure was found south of the city’s historic Grand Mosque, near the tomb of Malik Muhammad Ghazi. The finding was reported on Thursday by the Turkish news agency Anadolu. Kayseri Mayor Memduh Büyükkılıç said the city holds traces of various civilizations and has a significant place in the history of Islam in Anatolia.

According to the mayor, the discovery was made while carefully clearing the area, revealing traces of a religious educational structure built in the traditional style. Malik Muhammad Ghazi, a ruler from the Danishmend dynasty, is regarded as the founder of Kayseri and an important figure in early Turkish Islamic history in Anatolia.

Mayor Büyükkılıç added that the search and excavation work will continue and that the municipality plans to coordinate with the Ministry of Culture and Tourism for restoration efforts.

The United Nations has reported that more than 60 million tons of debris now cover the Gaza Strip after over two years of Israeli military aggression. UN Under-Secretary and Executive Director of the Office for Project Services Jorge Moreira da Silva stated on Thursday that clearing the rubble could take more than seven years. He described the humanitarian situation as dire, with residents exhausted, fearful, and under immense pressure amid cold weather and heavy rain.

Despite a ceasefire declared on October 10, Israeli forces have continued attacks across Gaza. According to the Palestinian Health Ministry, 12 people were killed and 18 injured in the past 24 hours, bringing the total death toll since the ceasefire to 463. Overall, more than 71,000 people have been killed and over 171,000 injured during the two-year conflict.

Meanwhile, the United States has announced the second phase of its Gaza peace plan. President Donald Trump said a “Board of Peace” had been selected to oversee postwar governance under a Palestinian technocratic committee and reiterated his demand for Hamas to disarm immediately.

Turkey has declared its opposition to any form of military intervention in Iran as tensions rise between Tehran and Washington. Speaking in Istanbul on Thursday, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Iran should resolve its internal issues independently and that avoiding instability in Iran is a priority for Ankara. His remarks came as U.S. President Donald Trump repeatedly threatened military action against Iran, while Tehran warned of strong resistance if attacked.

Fidan emphasized that the current economic crisis in Iran stems from existing policies and sanctions, which have created deep social and economic challenges. He described Iran as a diverse and dynamic society and cautioned that external interference would only worsen the situation. He added that Turkey views Iran as an important neighbor and that resolving Tehran’s problems would benefit Ankara.

Meanwhile, protests in Iran entered their 20th day on Friday, with reports of thousands arrested and internet access still restricted. Iranian authorities claimed the situation was stabilizing, and state media reported large funeral gatherings for those killed in recent unrest.

Four candidates from the Gaibandha-3 (Sadullapur-Palashbari) constituency have regained their eligibility to contest in Bangladesh’s 13th National Parliamentary Election after their appeals were accepted by the Election Commission. The appeals were heard on January 11, 12, and 15, 2026, at the Election Commission building, where the decisions were finalized. The reinstated candidates are Manjurul Haque of Janata Dal, Abdullah Adil Nannu of the Communist Party of Bangladesh, and independent candidates S.M. Khademul Islam Khudi and Azizur Rahman.

Their nomination papers had earlier been rejected by the Gaibandha returning officer due to alleged inconsistencies during the scrutiny process. Following their appeals, the Election Commission declared their nominations valid, bringing the total number of candidates in the constituency to ten. The approval list was signed by Arifur Rahman, Senior Assistant Secretary of the EC Secretariat’s Law-2 branch.

According to the election schedule, the last date for withdrawal of candidacy is January 20, symbol allocation will take place on January 21, and voting is scheduled for February 12, 2026, from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. across 145 polling centers with 506,185 registered voters.

U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to impose tariffs on countries that oppose American control over Greenland. Speaking at a rural healthcare event at the White House on Friday, Trump warned that he could take similar action to the tariffs previously imposed on the pharmaceutical industry. He stated that if allies do not support the United States in taking control of Greenland, tariffs could be applied against them, emphasizing that the island is essential for U.S. national security.

Trump reiterated that Greenland’s strategic location and vast mineral resources make it vital to U.S. interests. He did not rule out the possibility of using force to secure control of the island but mentioned tariffs for the first time in this context. The president also said he was discussing the issue with NATO, stressing that without Greenland, there would be a significant gap in U.S. national security.

The remarks mark an escalation in Trump’s rhetoric regarding Greenland, linking economic pressure with geopolitical objectives.

The Election Commission (EC) has declared the nomination of independent candidate Dr. Gobinda Chandra Pramanik valid for the Gopalganj-3 (Kotalipara-Tungipara) constituency in the 13th National Parliamentary Election. The decision was made on Friday, January 16, during an appeal hearing held at the EC auditorium in Agargaon, Dhaka. His nomination had earlier been canceled by the returning officer over allegations of forged supporter signatures submitted with his nomination papers.

Following the EC’s decision, Dr. Pramanik told journalists that the allegations against him were baseless and politically motivated. He said the returning officer’s decision to cancel his nomination was unjustified, and the appeal hearing proved the accusations false. He expressed satisfaction with the outcome, stating that truth had prevailed and reaffirmed his confidence in the Election Commission.

Dr. Pramanik also alleged that his rival candidate had influenced some government officials to create obstacles to his candidacy. He said he now plans to continue his campaign with full energy to fight for the people's rights in his constituency.

U.S. President Donald Trump has announced several members of the new Gaza Peace Board, which will oversee the interim administration in the war-torn territory. The seven-member founding executive board includes U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, and World Bank President Ajay Banga. Trump will chair the 15-member board himself, describing it as the most prestigious of its kind.

The board stems from Trump’s 20-point peace plan introduced in late 2025, which led to an initial ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas and a prisoner exchange. The plan calls for an international “Board of Peace” to supervise a Palestinian technocratic body managing Gaza’s governance during the transition period. However, the White House has not yet detailed the board’s specific responsibilities.

Residents of Gaza have expressed skepticism about the recently announced second-phase ceasefire, citing unfulfilled promises from the first stage of the agreement.