A joint operation by the Bangladesh Coast Guard and the Upazila Fisheries Department in Matlab North, Chandpur, recovered 850 kilograms (21 maunds 10 kilograms) of illegally transported jatka fish from a passenger vehicle on Friday, January 16, 2026. The operation took place between 5 a.m. and 10 a.m. as part of the government’s enforcement of the jatka fishing ban. The seized fish were immediately distributed among local orphanages and underprivileged residents.

Senior Upazila Fisheries Officer Bijoy Kumar Das, Mohanpur Outpost Contingent Commander M. Sanoar Haque, and Fisheries Field Assistant Mosharraf Hossain were present during the raid. Das stated that despite a complete ban on catching and transporting jatka, some groups continue illegal activities, posing a serious threat to the national hilsa fish population. He emphasized that protecting jatka ensures the future of hilsa production.

Authorities have intensified surveillance on both river and road routes to prevent jatka smuggling, according to the fisheries department.

An International Cricket Council (ICC) delegation arrived in Bangladesh on January 16, 2026, to discuss the Bangladesh Cricket Board’s (BCB) refusal to play the upcoming World Cup in India due to security concerns. The delegation is scheduled to meet BCB officials at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur to address the issue and seek a resolution after previous online meetings failed to produce a final decision.

BCB Director and Umpires Committee Chairman Ifthekhar Rahman Mithu told the media that the BCB president and vice president would attend the meeting, expressing hope for a positive outcome. He described the ICC visit as a good sign, noting that the matter had been at a standstill until now.

The ICC delegation will also meet with the Ministry of Youth and Sports to discuss the situation further. The discussions aim to determine the future of Bangladesh’s participation in the World Cup amid ongoing security concerns.

Police in Rajbari have arrested businessman and former district Jubo Dal president Abul Hashem Sujon and his driver Kamal Hossain Sardar for allegedly killing a petrol pump worker by running him over with a vehicle. The incident occurred around 4:30 a.m. on Friday at Karim Filling Station in Goaland Mor, Rajbari Sadar upazila. The victim, Ripon Saha, aged 28, was the son of Pabitra Saha from Char Khankhanapur village.

According to police and eyewitnesses, a black Pajero jeep arrived at the station, took about five thousand taka worth of octane, and attempted to flee without paying. When Ripon Saha tried to stop the vehicle by standing in front of it, he was fatally struck. Police later recovered the body, collected CCTV footage, and confirmed the incident. Based on intelligence, officers arrested Sujon and his driver from Sujon’s home in Ramkantapur area and seized the vehicle.

Rajbari Sadar Police Station’s officer-in-charge Khondokar Ziaur Rahman said preparations are underway to file a murder case, and legal proceedings are ongoing.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman will begin a nationwide election campaign tour on January 22 ahead of the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election. According to the party’s central publicity department, the tour will start in Dhaka city, where he will conduct public outreach and address an election rally in his constituency, Dhaka-15.

The campaign will continue in northern Bangladesh on January 23 and 24. On January 23, Dr. Rahman is scheduled to attend rallies in Dinajpur’s Gor-e-Shaheed Maidan at 2 p.m., in Thakurgaon at 4 p.m., and in Rangpur city in the evening as the chief guest. The following morning, January 24, he will visit the grave of Abu Saeed, a student of Begum Rokeya University and the first martyr of the July uprising, before addressing a public meeting in Palashbari, Gaibandha at 10 a.m.

The announcement marks the start of Jamaat-e-Islami’s formal campaign activities for the 13th parliamentary election, with Dr. Rahman leading the party’s outreach efforts across key northern districts.

Shafik Rehman, editor of the newspaper Jaijaidin, has invited United States President Donald Trump to visit Bangladesh. He extended the invitation on Friday during a memorial event organized by civil society in remembrance of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia. Rehman said that it is now the era of Donald Trump and personally invited him to come to Bangladesh.

During his speech, Rehman expressed his belief that Khaleda Zia might have lived longer had she not passed away on November 7. He urged young voters to reflect on the messages delivered at the event before casting their first votes. He also noted that the gathering was taking place at a critical time and warned that any untoward incident could delay the election scheduled for February 12. Rehman said that Dr. Yunus had guaranteed that the upcoming election would be joyful.

He further advised citizens to question candidates about the stability of essential commodity prices, law and order, and the safety of bank deposits before voting.

The Bangladesh Meteorological Department reported on Friday, January 16, 2026, that although temperatures in the capital Dhaka slightly decreased compared to the previous day, there is no possibility of severe cold in the country. The lowest temperature was recorded in Tetulia at 8.5 degrees Celsius, up from 7.5 degrees the previous day. The department noted that cold wave conditions were limited to only three northern districts—Dinajpur, Panchagarh, and Chuadanga.

According to meteorologist Kazi Zebun Nesa, the overall temperature across Bangladesh fell slightly, but the cold wave area has shrunk compared to previous days. The feeling of cold has increased somewhat due to the temperature drop, yet there are no signs of an intense cold spell. The department expects similar conditions to persist on Saturday, with daytime temperatures in the northern region possibly falling further, while Dhaka’s temperature is likely to remain stable.

The weather office also confirmed that the cold wave area is not expected to expand in the coming days, suggesting a stable winter pattern without severe cold conditions.

Police in Keraniganj, Dhaka, have arrested two sisters, Mim Akter and Nusrat, for the murder of Rokeya Rahman, 32, and her 14-year-old daughter, Jobaida Rahman Fatema. The killings occurred on December 25 but came to light three weeks later when neighbors reported a foul smell from Mim’s apartment. Officers recovered the mother’s body from under a bed and the daughter’s from a bathroom ceiling. The victims were sent to Sir Salimullah Medical College Hospital morgue.

According to police, Mim Akter had taken a loan of 150,000 taka from an NGO, with Rokeya Rahman acting as guarantor. When Mim failed to repay, the NGO pressured Rokeya, leading to disputes between the two women. On December 25, Fatema went to Mim’s home for private lessons and was killed along with her mother, who was lured there afterward. The suspects allegedly lived with the bodies for 21 days before discovery.

Investigators said Mim and her sister confessed to committing the murders due to prior enmity. Police also detained Mim’s husband for questioning as part of the ongoing investigation.

The Sylhet Power Development Board announced that electricity supply will be suspended for eight hours on Saturday, January 17, 2026, across multiple areas of Sylhet city. The outage will last from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. to allow transformer repairs and transmission line improvements. The affected zones include Sheikhghat, Shubhechha Residential Area, Surjer Hashi Clinic, Jitu Mia Point, Talotola VIP Road, Park View Hospital, Hilltown Residential Hotel, Teli Haor, Kazirbazar, Court Point, Surma Market, Mirzajangal, Topkhana, Kotwali Thana, the Circuit House area, the offices of the Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent of Police, and several other nearby locations.

Executive Engineer Mohammad Arafat of the Sales and Distribution Division-1 confirmed the planned interruption through an official notice issued on Friday, January 16. He expressed regret for the temporary inconvenience and assured residents that power would be restored earlier if the maintenance work is completed ahead of schedule.

The maintenance aims to enhance the reliability of Sylhet’s electricity infrastructure and minimize future disruptions once the upgrades are completed.

An e-ticketing service has been officially launched at the Sixty Dome Mosque and its adjacent museum in Bagerhat to reduce tourist inconvenience and save time. The inauguration took place on Friday, January 16, 2026, with officials expressing hope that the new system will make visitor entry more efficient through modern management.

The event was attended by the Chief Adviser’s Special Assistant Fayez Ahmed Taiyeb, Director General of the Department of Archaeology Sabina Alam, Bagerhat Deputy Commissioner Golam Md. Baten, Khulna Divisional Director of Archaeology Lovely Yasmin, Bagerhat Museum Curator Md. Zahed, and Additional Superintendent of Police Md. Shamim Hossain, among others. Fayez Ahmed Taiyeb stated that the e-ticketing initiative would save visitors’ time and reduce hassle, marking an important step in tourism management.

He added that combining heritage preservation with modern technology would attract more tourists and enhance Bagerhat’s international recognition as a heritage destination.

Hasnat Abdullah, the chief organizer for the southern region of the National Citizens Party (NCP), met with the family of Shaheed Adil, who was killed during the July uprising in Narayanganj. The meeting took place on Friday afternoon in Delpara, Fatullah upazila. During the visit, Abdullah called on young voters in the Narayanganj-4 (Sadar) constituency to cast 'Yes' votes in the forthcoming referendum.

Addressing the gathering, Abdullah said that the goal of the NCP is to build a corruption- and extortion-free Bangladesh. He emphasized that the party seeks a state where the balance of power is maintained and citizens’ dignity and democratic values are upheld. He stated that voting 'Yes' is essential to create a new Bangladesh based on these principles.

NCP’s nominated candidate for Narayanganj-4, Advocate Abdullah Al Amin, was also present. Together with local party leaders and activists, they campaigned across the area in favor of the 'Yes' vote, urging the youth to take the lead in shaping a new political direction.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman called on everyone to show respect and patience in a Facebook post published on Friday night, January 16, 2026. In his message, he emphasized that patience is the greatest test and prayed for divine guidance to help people maintain it. He also wrote that showing respect to others would lead to receiving greater respect from Allah.

The post quickly drew significant attention online, receiving over 10,000 comments within 50 minutes. Among the responses, one user named Kharid Saifullah Mohiuddin remarked that although many were pleased, both sides had suffered losses while a third party benefited. Another commenter, Md. Enamul Islam, expressed disappointment that a collective effort had not ended well.

The post reflects ongoing discussions among supporters and observers of Islamic political groups in Bangladesh, with some expressing concern about unity and cooperation among such parties.

A joint force led by the army conducted an operation in the Lavrapara area of Bhulta Union, Rupganj upazila of Narayanganj on Friday morning. During the operation, authorities seized 135 kilograms of cannabis, 10,000 yaba tablets, 290 bottles of Phensedyl, and 1,331 bottles of a similar intoxicant. Three young men—Tanjid Hasan (28), Rifat Mia (18), and Ridul Mia (23)—were arrested from the area.

Major Sharif of the Rupganj Army Camp stated that the operation was carried out based on confidential information. According to the army, the three detainees already faced multiple cases with Rupganj Police Station. After their arrest, they were handed over to the local police.

Officer-in-Charge Md. Sabjel Hossain of Rupganj Police Station confirmed that a case under the Narcotics Control Act has been filed, and the arrested individuals have been sent to the Narayanganj court.

A drug dealer abandoned his motorcycle and fled after spotting an army checkpoint in Tanore upazila of Rajshahi on Friday, January 16. The incident occurred around 3:30 p.m. near the Talanda Union Parishad in Debipur Mor. Security forces later recovered 115 bottles of Phensedyl from the unregistered blue Apache RTR motorcycle and handed both the drugs and the vehicle over to the local police station.

According to police, the seized narcotics have an estimated market value of about two lakh taka. The operation was part of a joint force drive in the area, and preparations are underway to file a case under the Narcotics Control Act at Tanore Police Station.

Authorities have not yet identified the suspect who fled the scene, and further investigation is ongoing to trace the individual involved in the drug trafficking attempt.

Interim government finance adviser Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed has called on government officials and employees to remain patient regarding the announcement and implementation of the new pay scale. Speaking to journalists on Friday evening at Gurudaspur Upazila Mini Stadium in Natore, he said that necessary steps would be taken promptly once the committee’s report on the pay scale is received. He confirmed that a committee has already been formed and that the government will act based on its recommendations.

Addressing another issue, Dr. Ahmed said that the upcoming referendum would reflect the will of the people. He noted that administrative officials are working to ensure a ‘yes’ vote and that the media also has a responsibility to raise public awareness about the referendum. He added that he has been visiting various districts to highlight its importance.

Several senior officials, including the cabinet secretary, finance secretary, and other top administrative and departmental representatives, were present during the visit.

A rare Himalayan vulture was rescued by residents of Debiganj in Panchagarh on Thursday, January 15. The bird was found in the Bhaualganj Baniyapur Pradhan Para area of Chilahat Union after it became injured while attempting to hunt a goat in a local agricultural field. The vulture reportedly collided with a tree and got entangled in a net used for farming. Local farmer Akkel Ali and his son Tarek discovered the injured bird and rescued it.

After the incident became known, residents informed the Debiganj Upazila Forest Department. Officials from the department arrived at the scene, took custody of the vulture, and brought it to the Debiganj Upazila Range Officer’s office for treatment. The bird is currently receiving medical care, and authorities said it will be released back into the wild once it recovers.

The rescue highlights local awareness and cooperation in protecting rare wildlife species in the region.