A joint operation by law enforcement agencies in Kararchar and Jangaila areas of Shibpur upazila, Narsingdi, led to the recovery of a large quantity of weapons and drugs and the arrest of seven individuals. The operation was conducted at around 3 a.m. on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, under the leadership of Lt. Col. Shamim Rahman, PSC Sigs of the 9 Signal Battalion. The detainees and seized items have been handed over to Shibpur Model Police Station.

Among the recovered items were one firearm with two cartridges, three pistol magazines, 1,600 yaba tablets, cash amounting to Tk 15,40,100, 17 mobile phones (13 smartphones and 4 button phones), two samurai swords, six bottles of phensedyl, nine bottles of foreign liquor, two fake pistols, two machetes, and one laptop. The officer-in-charge of Shibpur Model Police Station, Mohammad Kohinur Mia, confirmed the incident.

The arrests include individuals from Kararchar, Shahapur, and Jangaila areas, among them a local figure identified as Jamal Uddin Khoka and his associates. The seized materials are now under police custody for further investigation.

Italy has summoned Iran’s ambassador in protest against the Iranian government’s violent suppression of ongoing demonstrations. Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said he called in Ambassador Mohammad Reza Sabouri to express Italy’s condemnation of the use of force against protesters. Tajani stated that repression of citizens is unacceptable and emphasized that dialogue cannot justify violence against civilians.

According to the report, large-scale anti-government protests have been taking place in Iran since December 28, triggered by a severe economic crisis and the devaluation of the national currency. The Iranian government has accused the United States and Israel of instigating the unrest. Iran has also officially acknowledged for the first time that around 2,000 people have died in the security forces’ crackdown on the protests.

The diplomatic move by Italy adds to growing international concern over Iran’s handling of the demonstrations, highlighting tensions between Tehran and Western governments over human rights and internal repression.

Iran may carry out the death sentence of Erfan Soltani today, a 26-year-old arrested last week in Karaj for alleged involvement in ongoing anti-government protests. Soltani was among thousands detained during the demonstrations. Within less than a week, he was tried, convicted, and sentenced to death, according to The Guardian.

Amnesty International expressed concern over Soltani’s case, warning that Iranian authorities might again be using rapid trials and executions to suppress dissent. The organization said officials informed Soltani’s family of his sentence on January 11. Due to widespread protests and internet shutdowns, Soltani has reportedly been unable to contact his loved ones.

Observers note that Iran is the world’s second-highest executor after China. The Norway-based Iran Human Rights organization reported that at least 1,500 people were executed in Iran last year, highlighting the country’s extensive use of capital punishment.

The Indian Border Security Force (BSF) pushed 17 Bangladeshi nationals, including women and children, into Bangladesh through the Charaldanga border in Gomastapur upazila of Chapainawabganj on Tuesday night. Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) detained them early Wednesday near Shibnagar Bazar, about three kilometers from the border. Lieutenant Colonel Mohammad Ariful Islam Masum, commanding officer of BGB’s 16th Battalion, confirmed the incident.

According to BGB, the group—comprising eight men, five women, and four children—are residents of Khulna and Jashore. They had previously entered India illegally and were arrested by Indian police. The detainees served three years in Agra jail before being released upon completion of their sentences. After their release, Indian police handed them over to BSF, which then pushed them back into Bangladesh.

Following their detention, BGB handed the 17 individuals over to Gomastapur police for further legal procedures.

National Citizen Party (NCP) Joint Member Secretary A S M Suza Uddin has warned that the ongoing multifront war in neighboring Myanmar could become increasingly severe. In a short article shared in the NCP’s Cox’s Bazar district WhatsApp-based media group, he emphasized that ensuring the safety of citizens in Bangladesh’s border areas is the government’s primary responsibility. Suza Uddin, nominated by the NCP for the Bandarban-300 hill constituency and a resident of Maheshkhali in Cox’s Bazar, called for an urgent meeting involving all political stakeholders.

He suggested forming a strong collaborative force comprising government, administration, and local representatives to operate effectively in the Ghumdhum area of Bandarban and the Ukhiya-Teknaf region. He also stressed the need for maximum caution so that no innocent Bangladeshi becomes a victim amid the Rohingya crisis. According to him, Bangladesh is simultaneously facing multiple internal challenges, including elections, fascist tendencies, and international pressures.

Suza Uddin’s remarks highlight growing concern over cross-border instability and the need for coordinated national preparedness in response to Myanmar’s escalating conflict.

Venezuela’s new interim government has begun releasing American citizens imprisoned in the country starting Tuesday, according to a U.S. official who confirmed and welcomed the move. The official, speaking anonymously, said multiple detainees had been freed but did not disclose the total number or further details. The releases were ordered by interim president Delcy Rodríguez, who previously served as vice president under ousted leader Nicolás Maduro, following a request from the United States.

U.S. President Donald Trump welcomed the initiative, announcing that he had canceled a planned attack on Venezuela in response to the country’s cooperation. The development follows years of political turmoil after Maduro was declared winner of the disputed 2024 presidential election, which triggered mass protests and a harsh government crackdown that led to thousands of arrests.

Earlier, Venezuela had also released Spanish and Italian citizens from detention. The United States has long considered the release of its citizens held abroad a top diplomatic priority.

Reports from Assam’s Nagaon district describe repeated forced deportations of Bengali-origin Muslims to Bangladesh. A 31-year-old resident, Hasan Ali, told media outlet The Scroll that his father, 58-year-old farmer Taher Ali, was pushed across the border three times in eight months after being declared a ‘foreigner’ by Assam’s Foreigners Tribunal. The tribunal, which has stripped thousands of residents of citizenship, often issued unilateral rulings without hearing the accused. Since May last year, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in Assam has allegedly bypassed legal deportation procedures, using the 1950 law to expel declared foreigners at gunpoint during the night.

Bangladesh has refused to accept these individuals, leaving many trapped in a cycle of pushback and return. At least seven residents were reportedly forced across the border in December, only to be denied entry and later detained by Bangladeshi authorities. Legal experts and observers told The Scroll that Assam’s policy violates both constitutional and international norms. An Oxford researcher described the situation as the creation of statelessness, with people being treated like ‘tennis balls’ between two nations.

The Indian Border Security Force and Home Ministry did not respond to inquiries about the legality or nationality verification process behind these expulsions.

Reports from Assam’s Nagaon district describe repeated forced deportations of Bengali-origin Muslims to Bangladesh. A 31-year-old resident, Hasan Ali, told media outlet The Scroll that his father, 58-year-old farmer Taher Ali, was pushed across the border three times in eight months after being declared a ‘foreigner’ by Assam’s Foreigners Tribunal. The tribunal, which has stripped thousands of residents of citizenship, often issued unilateral rulings without hearing the accused. Since May last year, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in Assam has allegedly bypassed legal deportation procedures, using the 1950 law to expel declared foreigners at gunpoint during the night.

Bangladesh has refused to accept these individuals, leaving many trapped in a cycle of pushback and return. At least seven residents were reportedly forced across the border in December, only to be denied entry and later detained by Bangladeshi authorities. Legal experts and observers told The Scroll that Assam’s policy violates both constitutional and international norms. An Oxford researcher described the situation as the creation of statelessness, with people being treated like ‘tennis balls’ between two nations.

The Indian Border Security Force and Home Ministry did not respond to inquiries about the legality or nationality verification process behind these expulsions.

Police in Cumilla’s Burichang upazila arrested three suspects accused of killing a pregnant woman, Fahima Akter Akhi, following a dispute over diaper disposal. The arrests took place near the Kasba border area as the suspects allegedly prepared to flee to India. Burichang police, acting on a tip-off, conducted a joint operation with the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and detained the accused just before they could cross the border.

The arrested individuals were identified as Md. Saidur Rahman, 24, Shafiul Jannat alias Siam, 19, and Shahariar Nazim Joy, 19. Saidur and Siam are residents of Jagatpur (Nagarbari) in Burichang, while Joy is from Bashmangal village under Cumilla Kotwali police station. According to the Burichang police officer-in-charge, the detainees are the first, second, and fourth named accused in the murder case.

The incident occurred on January 11 in Jagatpur village, where a trivial dispute over waste disposal escalated into violence. Fahima Akter Akhi was fatally attacked with a sharp weapon, and three others were seriously injured. Police said multiple sections of the penal code have been invoked, and further legal action is underway.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has warned Israel that it could be referred to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) if it does not reverse actions taken against the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA). In a letter sent on January 8 to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Guterres demanded that Israel repeal laws restricting UNRWA’s operations, return seized assets, and restore access to essential services.

Israel’s parliament passed a law in October 2024 banning UNRWA from operating in the country and prohibiting officials from engaging with the agency. The law was later amended to cut electricity and water supplies to UNRWA centers. Israeli authorities also seized the agency’s East Jerusalem office, an area the UN considers occupied territory, though Israel claims the entire city as its own.

Israel’s ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, rejected Guterres’s letter, saying Israel would not be intimidated and accusing UNRWA of links to terrorism. UN officials and the Security Council have described UNRWA as vital to humanitarian operations in Gaza. The ICJ previously stated that Israel has obligations to ensure Gaza’s civilians’ basic needs, though its opinions are not legally binding.

The United States has officially designated the Muslim Brotherhood branches in Egypt, Lebanon, and Jordan as terrorist organizations. On Tuesday, the U.S. Treasury Department identified the Jordanian and Egyptian branches as 'Specially Designated Global Terrorists,' while the State Department blacklisted the Lebanese branch as a 'Foreign Terrorist Organization' (FTO). The move follows an executive order issued by President Donald Trump in November to blacklist these groups.

According to the Trump administration, the decision was taken due to the Brotherhood’s alleged support for the Palestinian group Hamas and involvement in activities opposing Israeli interests in the Middle East. The Treasury Department stated that although the Brotherhood presents itself as a legitimate social organization, it directly assists terrorist groups like Hamas. The State Department added that the designation would cut off the Brotherhood’s financial sources and bar its members from entering the United States.

Senator Marco Rubio described the action as the first step in a long-term effort to counter the Brotherhood’s violent and destabilizing activities worldwide. The decision effectively freezes the organizations’ financial transactions and imposes a permanent entry ban on their members.

The Islamist alliance led by Jamaat-e-Islami is facing internal rifts ahead of the February 12 parliamentary election due to unresolved seat-sharing disputes. The main contention arises from the demands of Syed Muhammad Rezaul Karim, the Pir of Charmonai, whose Islami Andolon Bangladesh insists on more constituencies, claiming a strong nationwide voter base. Jamaat had agreed to leave 40 seats and even proposed keeping some open, but Charmonai rejected the offer, leading to repeated but fruitless negotiations.

Similarly, Maulana Mamunul Haque’s Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis is demanding more seats than initially agreed, creating further tension within the 11-party coalition. Attempts to finalize seat distribution and issue a joint declaration on Tuesday failed, leaving the alliance uncertain. Jamaat has refrained from nominating candidates in over a dozen constituencies contested by Charmonai and Mamunul’s parties, giving them leverage in negotiations.

The alliance, originally an eight-party Islamist bloc, expanded to 11 parties after the inclusion of NCP, LDP, and AB Party. This expansion reduced the influence of smaller Islamist groups, intensifying competition over seat allocation and raising the risk of a formal split.

Eighteen leaders and activists of the Ganadhikar Parishad have joined Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami in Kaharol upazila of Dinajpur. The formal joining took place on Tuesday night at the Jamaat office in Joynand Bazar of Dabore Union. The event was attended by Jamaat’s nominated candidate for the Dinajpur-1 (Birganj–Kaharol) constituency, Matiur Rahman, as chief guest, and Kaharol upazila Jamaat Ameer Maulana Torikul Islam. Several district and upazila-level leaders from Dinajpur and Birganj were also present.

Selim Reza, vice-president of the Ganadhikar Parishad’s Dinajpur district branch, said the party had deviated from people’s aspirations by aligning with the “sheaf of paddy” symbol, which he described as disappointing and embarrassing. The new Jamaat members include Selim Reza, Murshed Ali, Joydeb Roy, Mamunur Rashid, Sohel Rana, Monirul Islam, Faruk Hossain, and several others from the union branch. They filled out associate membership forms and were welcomed with flowers and garlands by local Jamaat leaders.

The joining marks a shift in local political alignments within Kaharol, reflecting dissatisfaction among some Ganadhikar Parishad members with their party’s recent direction.

U.S. President Donald Trump has warned that Washington will take 'very severe measures' if Iran begins executing protesters detained during the ongoing demonstrations. He did not specify what actions the United States might take. The statement, delivered on Tuesday, drew a sharp response from Tehran, which accused Washington of using the warning as a pretext for potential military intervention, according to AFP.

Human rights organizations reported that thousands have been killed during the crackdown on protests, which analysts describe as one of the biggest challenges to Iran’s religious leadership in years. The Iranian mission to the United Nations said on social media that U.S. strategies aimed at regime change have failed before and will fail again, accusing Washington of using sanctions, threats, and unrest to justify intervention.

Iranian authorities claimed they have regained control after several nights of mass protests, while rights groups alleged that security forces shot demonstrators and shut down the internet for over five days to conceal the scale of repression. Tehran prosecutors said some detainees were charged as 'enemies of God' and face possible death sentences.

The International Crimes Tribunal-1 has formally begun the trial of retired Major General Ziaul Ahsan on charges of crimes against humanity involving enforced disappearances and killings. The tribunal, chaired by Golam Mortuza Mojumdar with members Shafiul Alam Mahmud and retired judge Mohitul Haque Enam Chowdhury, ordered the start of proceedings on Wednesday. The court also set February 8 for opening statements and witness testimony.

Earlier, on January 8, Ahsan’s lawyers, Monsurul Haque and Naznin Nahar, sought his discharge, arguing that the prosecution had failed to prove his involvement. Chief Prosecutor Tazul Islam opposed the plea, asserting that the prosecution had established a prima facie case. The tribunal had reserved its order for January 14 before deciding to proceed with the trial.

According to the prosecution, Ahsan faces three specific charges, including the killing of detainees in Gazipur in 2011, executions in Barguna’s coastal areas under operations codenamed “Gestapo” or “Golf,” and staged “crossfire” killings in the Sundarbans under operations “Nishankhali,” “Mora Bhola,” and “Kotka.”