File photoDHAKA, Jan 20, 2026 (BSS) – The government is likely to consider separate proposals for procuring 30,000 metric tons of urea fertilizer and more than 2.71 crore liters of soybean oil to meet the growing demand for the country. In this regard, the Advisers Council Committee on Government Purchase is set to meet tomorrow at the Bangladesh Secretariat and consider proposals for large-scale imports of refined soybean oil and urea fertilizer. Finance and Science and Technology Adviser Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed will chair the meeting to be held at the Cabinet Division Conference Room of Bangladesh Secretariat. In addition, a procurement proposal for consultancy services covering road infrastructure assessment, design, supervision, environmental and social management, and land acquisition services under Package No. SP (RHD)-02m of the “Bangladesh Road Safety” project is likely to be discussed.

The pledges were unveiled at the daylong Policy Summit 2026, held from 9am at the InterContinental Dhaka, where Shafiqur delivered the opening address. Shafiqur Rahman said 100 students would be given interest-free education loans each year to study at top global universities, including Harvard, MIT, Oxford and Cambridge, ensuring that talented students from poor families are not left behind. He announced plans for a “smart social security card” combining NID, TIN, health and social services. Jamaat also promised interest-free monthly loans of up to Tk 10,000 for up to two years for 500,000 young people until they secure jobs after graduation, alongside similar education loans for 100,000 students. Under a “First Thousand Days Programme”, maternal and child nutrition from pregnancy to age two would be brought under social protection.

DHAKA, Jan 20, 2026 (BSS) - The government has allocated Tk 719,828,000 for installing CCTV cameras at 21,946 very important and risky polling stations across the country ahead of the 13th national parliament election and referendum slated for February 12. Azad Majumder said that out of approximately 42,000 polling stations nationwide, 6,552 already have CCTV coverage while cameras are installed in rest of the polling stations. Of the polling stations, 21,946 have been declared as more important and risky. Special allocation has been made from the Finance Ministry for installing CCTV cameras in the polling stations. The Deputy Press Secretary also said that 299 polling centers across the country currently lack electricity connections.

DHAKA, Jan 20, 2026 (BSS) – A total of 76,580 Bangladeshi Hajj pilgrims so far have completed registration for the Hajj-2026 against the total 78,500 expected Bangladeshi Hajj pilgrims, official said. “A total of 76,580 people including 72,344 under private management while 4,260 of government management have so far registered to perform Hajj in 2026 according to the Saudi government's Hajj roadmap,” he said. According to the Hajj Office, 72,344 Bangladeshi nationals will perform the Hajj under the private management and 4,565 people under the government management this year. Hajj pilgrims made initial and final registration through the e-Hajj system (www.hajj.gov.bd), Labbaik mobile app, Union Digital Center, Islamic Foundation's divisional, district and Baitul Mukarram offices and Ashkona Hajj office. A total three airlines will carry Bangladeshi Hajj pilgrims.

Finance Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed. File PhotoDHAKA, Jan 20, 2026 (BSS) – Finance Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed today informed that the Pay Commission, formed to frame a new salary structure for the government employees, is scheduled to submit its report before the Chief Adviser tomorrow. He noted that the verification and review process usually takes three to four months, indicating that the new pay structure would take some time to come into effect. He described the work of the current Pay Commission as an exceptional example, noting that its members consulted a wide range of stakeholders during the process. “The fact that the Chief Adviser himself will receive the Pay Commission report shows how much importance the government is attaching to this issue,” he said.

The Finance Division noted that delegation of financial powers was first introduced through operating budget-related orders in 1983 and 1985. Subsequently, broader financial powers were delegated in 1994, followed by revised orders in 2000 and 2004. It has been clarified that officials who have already been granted special financial powers through separate government orders will continue to exercise those powers. In cases requiring Finance Division concurrence, sanctions must be endorsed by the relevant wing of the Finance Division before being forwarded. The Finance Division stated that the order will take immediate effect from the date of issuance and remain in force until further notice.

Last victim of Milestone School jet crash to be released from NIBPS tomorrowFile PhotoDHAKA, Jan 20, 2026 (BSS) - After six months of intensive treatment, the last surviving patient of the Milestone School and College fighter jet crash is set to be released from the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery (NIBPS) tomorrow. Abdur Rahim, a student of Milestone School and College aged around 13-14 years, suffered critical burn injuries in the tragic incident that occurred at the institution's Uttara branch on July 21, 2025. "We will release the last victim of the Milestone School and College tragedy at around 12 pm tomorrow," Resident Surgeon of NIBPS Dr Shawon Bin Rahman told BSS today. With Rahim's discharge, a total of 36 injured patients from the incident will have been released from the burn institute following treatment. On July 21, 2025, a Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) fighter jet crashed into a two-storey building of Milestone School and College minutes after taking off at around 1 pm.

DHAKA, Jan 20, 2026 (BSS) - The Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) has issued special guidelines to protect the rights of the tenants in the capital and to resolve disputes between the landlords and the tenants. According to the new guidelines, house rent cannot be increased before two years under any circumstances. The 16-point guideline has been issued in light of the 'House Rent Control Act, 1991' signed by the Chief Revenue Officer of the DNCC. DNCC Administrator Mohammad Ejaz announced the new house rent guidelines for Dhaka at a press conference held at the DNCC Bhaban here today. According to the guidelines, tenants will have access to the house at any time.

"The eight districts, where the system is going to be launched in the second phase, are- Manikganj, Bandarban, Meherpur, Joypurhat, Moulvibazar, Panchagarh, Jhalakathi and Sherpur," said Law Ministry Spokesperson Dr Md Rezaul Karim. Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Adviser Dr Asif Nazrul is going to launch the system simultaneously in these districts virtually from the capital on January 21. Earlier, the government initiated the system in Narayanganj on October 15, 2025, and its operation is going on successfully," Dr Karim added. The system marks a new chapter in the digital transformation of the justice system, reflecting the government's commitment to modern governance and citizen-friendly services," he added. He said the government is determined to bring legal and administrative services to citizens' doorsteps through technology, and the 'E-Bail Bond' is part of that broader effort.

Dr Abrar stresses the need for on curriculum reform, co-education to make education practicalEducation Adviser Professor Dr Chowdhury Rafiqul Abrar delivered the chief guest speech at the prize distribution and closing ceremony of the ‘National Education Week-2026’ at Osmani Memorial Auditorium this morning. Photo : PIDDHAKA, Jan 20, 2026 (BSS) - Education Adviser Professor Dr Chowdhury Rafiqul Abrar today stressed the need for reconsidering the importance of curriculum and co-education programme aiming to make the education practical and life-oriented. The education adviser made the remarks while addressing as the chief guest a prize distribution and concluding ceremony of the ‘National Education Week-2026’ at Osmani Memorial Auditorium here this morning. Professor Dr Abrar said the education institutions should be decorated with attractive environment so that the students feel attraction to move toward school. Recalling his own student life, Professor Dr CR Abrar said he was inspired to recitation with the motivation of his classmates.

DHAKA, Jan 20, 2026 (BSS) -The Cyber Police Center (CPC) of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has arrested a professional fraudster for impersonating the Home Adviser and attempting to mislead the Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Rajshahi regarding the upcoming national election. Shamim Osman (29), son of Md. According to CID sources, Shamim Osman sent a WhatsApp message to the Deputy Commissioner of Rajshahi while falsely introducing himself as Home Affairs Adviser Lieutenant General (Retd.) Investigations revealed that Shamim Osman is a repeat offender and professional fraudster, with a history of impersonating high-ranking government officials to commit fraud. CID officials stated that investigations are ongoing to determine whether others were involved in the incident and whether the accused used the identities of other senior government officials to carry out similar fraudulent activities.

Photo: CollectedADAMUZ, Spain, Jan 20, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Spain began three days of national mourning on Tuesday for 41 people killed after two high-speed trains collided in the country's deadliest train accident in over a decade. It crossed on to the other track, where it crashed into an oncoming train, which also derailed. The death toll rose to 41 after the body of a passenger was recovered on Monday evening from one of the Iryo train carriages, the regional government said. Heavy machinery was deployed on Monday to lift the most severely damaged train carriages and give rescuers better access. Renfe, the operator of the second train travelling to the southern city of Huelva, said it was carrying 184 passengers.

DHAKA, Jan 20, 2026 (BSS) - The trial in a crimes against humanity case over the killing of 28 people in the capital's Rampura area during the July Mass Uprising began today at the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT)-1, with the chief prosecutor placing the opening statement. "The way BGB carried out the killings in Rampura was similar to what took place on March 25, 1971. Following the opening statement, the son of a July Mass Uprising martyr testified as the first prosecution witness (PW) before ICT-1. According to the prosecution, at least 28 people were killed and many others injured in the Rampura area of the capital during the July Mass Uprising. It was alleged that former BGB official Mohammad Redwanul Islam was seen firing live rounds from his automatic rifle during the incident.

LONDON, Jan 20, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Britain's unemployment rate remained at 5.1 percent at the end of last year, official data showed Tuesday, as companies trimmed staff amid UK budget uncertainty. The near five-year high rate for the three months to the end of November was unchanged from the quarter ending October 31, the Office for National Statistics said in a statement. A more recent picture on UK inflation arrives Wednesday with official data for December. The unemployment data "suggests that the next policy meeting in February may be too soon for another interest rate cut", noted Ashley Webb, UK economist at Capital Economics research group. But if December's CPI inflation figures turned out much weaker than the Bank expects, "it's possible the door for a February rate is pushed ajar", he said.

BEIJING, Jan 20, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - China pledged "forceful" measures on Tuesday to boost demand in coming years, formulating plans to relieve a domestic spending slump exacerbated by property sector woes and demographic pressure. The world's second-largest economy grew five percent last year, according to official data released Monday, buoyed by record-breaking exports and reaching the government's official target. "The current economy faces the problem of strong supply but weak demand," said Wang Changlin, Vice Chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), the country's top body for economic planning. Wang said that the NDRC will "study and formulate an implementation plan for expanding domestic demand from 2026 to 2030", vowing to "create new demand through new supply and provide strong innovative measures". Complicating the challenges are demographic trends, with a shrinking and ageing population weakening the outlook for a future spending boom.