Masud Saeedi, Jamaat-e-Islami’s nominated candidate for the Pirojpur-1 constituency and former chairman of Jhalokathi’s Jianagar Upazila Parishad, alleged that India is continuously conspiring to prove Bangladesh a failed state. He made the remarks on Sunday afternoon while addressing a gathering of associate members at the Jamaat-e-Islami office in Nazirpur Upazila, Pirojpur. Saeedi said that those who shed blood in July must not be betrayed, and vowed to build a united and new Bangladesh despite any conspiracies.

He urged all political parties to remain united on national issues following the recent mass uprising, emphasizing that ideological differences should not divide the country’s interests. Saeedi stated that Jamaat-e-Islami seeks a peaceful, stable, and prosperous Bangladesh and called for collective efforts to restore social harmony through the creation of a welfare-oriented state.

The event, presided over by Nazirpur Upazila Jamaat Amir Maulana Abdur Razzak, was attended by several local Jamaat leaders, including former upazila amirs and departmental heads.

The Election Commission (EC) has instructed all political parties and independent candidates contesting the upcoming national parliamentary election not to exceed the prescribed size of election symbols during campaign activities. The directive, issued through the EC’s verified Facebook page on Sunday, limits the length, width, and height of campaign symbols to a maximum of three meters. The EC also prohibited the use or display of live animals as election symbols, emphasizing that such practices are completely forbidden.

According to the election schedule, the scrutiny of nomination papers concluded on Sunday. Appeals against returning officers’ decisions can be filed from January 5 to 9, with resolution scheduled between January 10 and 18. The deadline for withdrawal of candidacy is January 20, and final candidate lists with symbol allocations will be published on January 21. Campaigning will begin on January 22 and continue until 7:30 a.m. on February 10, while voting is set for February 12.

The EC’s directive aims to ensure uniformity and discipline in campaign displays ahead of the national election.

Top business leaders of Bangladesh held a meeting with BNP’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman on Sunday at the party chairperson’s political office in Gulshan, Dhaka. The meeting brought together prominent figures from major trade and business organizations across the country.

Among those present were former FBCCI president Mir Nasir Hossain, BCI president Anwar-ul Alam Chowdhury, BKMEA president Mohammad Hatem, former BTMA president Matin Chowdhury, and MCCI president Kamran T Rahman. Also attending were BSMA president Moinul Islam Swapon, BAB president Abdul Hai Sarkar, Transcom Group and ICC Bangladesh CEO Simeen Rahman, and Uttara Motors Corporation Limited chairman Matiur Rahman, along with heads of other leading business groups.

The report did not specify the agenda or outcomes of the meeting, focusing solely on the participants and venue details.

The Non-Government Teachers’ Registration and Certification Authority (NTRCA) is set to publish its seventh mass circular to recruit more than 67,000 teachers for non-government educational institutions. According to NTRCA sources, the age calculation for applicants will be based on June 4, 2025, the same date used in the previous sixth circular. No changes have been made to this age calculation method.

However, the upcoming circular introduces significant changes in the application process. Candidates will now be allowed to select a maximum of seven preferred institutions from the list of vacancies, a sharp reduction from the previous limit of 40 institutions. Additionally, an “Other Option” will be available in the e-application form, allowing applicants to indicate whether they are willing to accept appointments outside their chosen institutions.

Officials said the new system aims to make the recommendation process simpler and more efficient for both applicants and the authority.

In Kurigram-3 (Ulipur) constituency, the nomination paper of Jamaat-e-Islami candidate Barrister Mahbubul Alam Salehi was canceled on Sunday by District Returning Officer and Deputy Commissioner Annapurna Debnath. The decision followed earlier suspension of his nomination over dual citizenship allegations. Salehi appeared at the returning officer’s office within the given deadline with required documents, but officials reportedly declared the nomination invalid without reviewing them, prompting protests from his supporters.

Witnesses said the cancellation announcement was made hastily, ignoring requests to verify the submitted papers. Around 200 to 250 Jamaat activists demonstrated outside the district administration office following the decision. Salehi told reporters that he was denied a fair opportunity to present his documents and alleged that the move might be politically motivated. Local lawyer Khaja Moin Uddin and Kurigram Press Club’s general secretary Mahfuzur Rahman also criticized the process.

Assistant Commissioner Abu Bakkar Siddique, acting officer of the district returning office, stated that inconsistencies in the submitted nomination led to its rejection, adding that the candidate could appeal within the legally prescribed timeframe.

Mahdi Amin has been appointed as the spokesperson for the Bangladesh Nationalist Party’s (BNP) central election management committee. The announcement was made on Sunday in Dhaka’s Gulshan area following a committee meeting chaired by Nazrul Islam Khan, who stated that Amin will now conduct regular briefings on behalf of the committee. Mahdi Amin also serves as an adviser to the party’s acting chairman, Tarique Rahman.

Earlier, the first meeting of the committee on managing the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election was held at the BNP’s election office on Gulshan 90 Road. The committee, formed last Thursday night, consists of 41 members. Nazrul Islam Khan, a member of the BNP Standing Committee, was appointed chairman, while Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi was named member secretary. Md. Ismail Jabirullah was assigned as the chief coordinator.

The formation of the committee marks a key organizational step for the BNP as it prepares for the upcoming parliamentary election, with Mahdi Amin now responsible for communicating the committee’s activities to the public.

The Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority (DTCA) has introduced a new mobile application to make the use of Metro Rail’s Rapid Pass and MRT Pass cards more convenient. According to an announcement issued on Saturday, users can now recharge their cards directly through the Rapid Pass app. Initially, some features may face temporary issues as the app is newly launched, but DTCA’s technical team is working continuously to improve performance and ensure a smoother user experience.

Registered users of the rapidpass.com.bd website can log in to the app using their existing user ID and password. After logging in, they can recharge amounts ranging from 100 to 5,000 taka using bank cards, as well as mobile financial services such as bKash and Nagad. The app is available for download on Android devices by searching “Rapid Pass” in the app store or through the provided Google Play link.

DTCA stated that the initiative aims to enhance passenger convenience and streamline the metro card recharge process through digital means.

The International Crimes Tribunal-1 has rejected a defense request to have foreign experts examine a phone conversation between former law minister Anisul Huq and former prime minister’s adviser on industry and investment Salman F Rahman. The call record was presented by the prosecution in a case alleging that the two incited violence and imposed a curfew to kill students and civilians during the July uprising. The three-member panel, led by Justice Md Golam Murtuza Majumdar, issued the order on Sunday and scheduled the next hearing on the defendants’ discharge petition for Tuesday.

During the hearing, defense lawyers argued that foreign specialists should verify the authenticity of the call recordings to ensure fairness. The tribunal chairman ruled that the law does not permit such examination and dismissed the request. The court also discussed a pending application to appoint foreign lawyers, instructing the defense to first obtain approval from the Bar Council.

Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam opposed further delays, accusing the defense of prolonging proceedings. The tribunal granted the defense two final days to prepare, setting January 6 for the next hearing.

After a gap of 34 years, the World Ijtema is being held in West Bengal’s Puinan village under the Dhaniakhali constituency of Hooghly district. The event began on January 2, 2026, and will conclude on January 5 at noon, covering an area of about 60 square kilometers. Millions of devotees from various Indian states and other countries have joined the congregation, with around 10 to 12 lakh people attending Friday prayers.

Local authorities have arranged extensive facilities for the participants, including a temporary 170-bed hospital near the Ijtema grounds, staffed round the clock by doctors and health workers. Dhaniakhali MLA Asima Patra stated that both the administration and local representatives have ensured all necessary arrangements for the visitors and emphasized that the event has no political connection.

Participants such as Kamal Uddin from Biratnagar, Nepal, expressed their devotion, noting that they have attended multiple Ijtemas in different locations to listen to religious teachings.

Members of Bangladesh’s Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances have concluded that most abductions were politically motivated. The commission submitted its final report to Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on Sunday at the state guesthouse Jamuna. The report stated that 1,913 complaints were received, of which 1,569 met the definition of enforced disappearance, including 287 categorized as “missing and dead.” The commission found evidence linking former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, her defense adviser Tariq Ahmed Siddiq, and former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan to several high-profile disappearance cases.

Commission member Nabila Idris said the total number of victims could range between 4,000 and 6,000, as many cases remain unreported. The report noted that 75 percent of those who returned alive were Jamaat-e-Islami activists, while 68 percent of those still missing were affiliated with the BNP. The commission also identified the Baleshwar River in Barishal as a major site for killings and body disposals.

Chief Adviser Yunus praised the commission’s work, calling it historic and urging that the findings be made accessible to the public. He directed further mapping of extrajudicial killing sites and recommended institutional reforms to prevent future abuses.

Venezuela’s interim president Delcy Rodríguez, known as a close ally of Nicolás Maduro, has been sworn in by the country’s Supreme Court after the United States removed Maduro from power. The court itself remains loyal to Maduro’s political movement, and his supporters continue to occupy key positions in the state apparatus. Despite U.S. President Donald Trump’s earlier claim that the United States would run Venezuela, the report notes that Maduro’s allies still hold real control over the government.

Rodríguez has stated that Venezuela will defend itself, while Trump has expressed hope that she will cooperate with Washington, particularly regarding expanded U.S. access to Venezuela’s oil resources. Although U.S. troops are not currently present in Venezuela, Trump has not ruled out that possibility. The depiction of Maduro’s detention by the United States serves as a warning to his remaining loyalists.

The report adds that while Maduro’s allies remain in office on paper, their actual ability to resist U.S. pressure is uncertain, leaving questions about the country’s true sovereignty.

Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) Chairman Jalal Ahmed stated that consumers cannot be guaranteed to purchase liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) at government-fixed prices. He made the remarks on Sunday during a press conference announcing new LPG prices. Ahmed said a meeting was being held at the Secretariat to discuss complaints of distributors charging higher prices, with members of the LPG Association in attendance. BERC will also hold discussions with the association on the issue.

The chairman explained that the commission sets prices based on importers’ total costs, but cannot ensure that consumers will always get LPG at that exact rate. The LPG Association claims it supplies gas at the fixed price. BERC has also spoken with the Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection to conduct drives against overpricing, and action will be taken if any company is found guilty of charging extra.

Ahmed added that shipping shortages from the Middle East and difficulties in opening letters of credit (LCs) are affecting imports. He urged companies to increase imports from Singapore and said the government’s higher authorities would intervene if LC complications persist.

Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) Director General AKM Shahidur Rahman stated that there are several legal ways to bring back the main suspects in the murder of Inquilab Mancha spokesperson Sharif Osman Hadi, even if they have fled to India. Speaking at a press conference at the RAB Media Center in Dhaka’s Karwan Bazar on Sunday, he said RAB will continue its efforts with full force until the two accused, Faisal Karim Masud and Alamgir Sheikh, are arrested.

The RAB chief explained that the shooting occurred on December 12, and between December 12 and 16, eight suspects were arrested and two pistols used in the killing were recovered. However, the two main accused remain at large. He added that RAB is using both technological and manual sources to locate them and that once their location is confirmed, legal procedures will be followed to bring them back to Bangladesh.

Rahman reaffirmed that RAB remains uncompromising in bringing all perpetrators of this high-profile murder to justice and that no one involved will be spared.

Election Commissioner Brigadier General (Retd.) Abul Fazl Mohammad stated that no indirect or covert instructions for malpractice have been or will be given in the election process. Speaking on Sunday, January 4, 2026, at a meeting in Ukhiya Upazila Parishad auditorium, Cox’s Bazar, he urged election officials to remain neutral, fearless, and law-abiding in performing their duties. He emphasized that the commission’s directives are based on transparency, impartiality, and firmness.

He described the upcoming election as an opportunity to restore the image of political institutions, the Election Commission, administration, and police. Warning officials to stay alert against individuals posing as friends with malicious intent, he cited the killing of Osman Hadi as a cautionary example. He also noted that political parties are largely following the code of conduct better than in previous elections, with no major incidents except the one in Dhaka.

The commissioner instructed strict measures to prevent Rohingyas from leaving camps during the election and announced that joint forces will soon launch operations to recover illegal weapons and curb terrorism. He also called on political parties to promote awareness about the referendum among voters.

A Dhaka court has barred police officer Md. Zakaria Rahman from leaving Bangladesh following a request by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). The order was signed on Sunday by Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Sabbir Foyez after hearing the ACC’s petition. The ACC’s assistant director and investigating officer Al-Amin sought the travel ban, citing evidence of suspicious financial transactions between Zakaria and retired Public Service Commission (PSC) driver Syed Abed Ali.

Abed Ali was arrested on July 8, 2024, and remains in custody. On January 5, the ACC filed a case against him under multiple anti-corruption and money laundering laws, alleging over Tk 5 crore in illegal assets and about Tk 45 crore in irregular transactions. Investigators claim Zakaria, a 30th BCS police cadre officer currently posted at Police Headquarters, is linked to a question-leak syndicate and may attempt to flee abroad.

The court imposed the travel restriction to ensure an unhindered investigation until the inquiry is complete, according to the ACC’s submission.