A delegation of the European Union countries met BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman on Monday. The meeting, led by European Union Ambassador to Bangladesh Michael Miller, began at 5:40 pm at the BNP Chairman’s Gulshan office, said BNP Media Cell member Sayrul Kabir Khan. Envoys from Germany, France, Sweden, Denmark, Spain and Italy attended the meeting. BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Joint Secretary General Humayun Kabir, party chairman’s Advisory Council member Dr Mahdi Amin and press secretary Saleh Shibly were also present. Earlier in the day, newly appointed US Ambassador to Bangladesh Brent T. Christensen and Canadian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Ajit Singh separately met Tarique Rahman.

The 14-point agreement provides for a ceasefire between the Syrian army and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). Here’s what we know about the deal:The agreement stipulates the integration of the Kurdish forces -- numbering nearly 100,000, according to the Kurds -- into the Syrian army and security forces. Under Sunday’s deal, the SDF will be integrated into the defense ministry while the Kurdish security forces will join the interior ministry. The fate of the all-female Women’s Protection Units was unclear, as the Syrian army and security forces do not include women. The text also outlines the “integration of all civil institutions” in the Kurds’ stronghold of Hasakeh province into the state.

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus, the chief adviser to the interim government, has clearly stated that there is no room for any kind of bias in the upcoming 13th parliamentary election. At the meeting, NCP leaders shared their various observations and concerns about the current election situation. In response, the chief adviser said: “If there are any complaints or suggestions regarding the election, inform the government immediately. At the meeting, NCP leaders said that party leaders and activists at all levels are actively campaigning in favor of a “Yes” vote in the referendum. On this matter, the chief adviser said: “We are trying to explain to the public why a ‘Yes’ vote is necessary in the referendum and what will result from it.

The US Embassy today cautioned Bangladeshi visa applicants against paying any visa bond before interviews, warning that advance payments neither guarantee visa approval nor protect applicants from fraud or scams. In a statement posted on its verified Facebook page today, the embassy said paying a bond in advance does not ensure a visa and noted that third-party websites offering such services may be fraudulent. It noted that a bond would be returned only if the visa holder fully complies with its terms. According to the website, eligible B1/B2 visa applicants from the listed countries may be required to post a bond of $5,000, $10,000 or $15,000, with the amount determined during the visa interview. Applicants must agree to the bond conditions and make payments exclusively through the US Treasury Department’s official online platform, Pay.gov, the state department said.

Donald Trump no longer needs to think “purely of peace” after being snubbed for a Nobel, the US president said in comments published Monday, adding the world will not be safe until Washington controls Greenland. Store also underlined that the Nobel Peace Prize was not awarded by the Norwegian government. Trump has repeatedly said his country needs vast, mineral-rich Greenland for “national security,” despite the United States already having a base on the island and security agreements with fellow Nato ally Denmark. First, the current tariff deal with the United States would be put on hold, he said. Second, European tariffs on imports from the United States, currently suspended until early February, could come into force.

A ship carrying 57,003 tonnes of wheat from the United States has arrived at the outer anchorage of Chittagong Port. The release said that Bangladesh has already started wheat import activities from the United States on a government-to-government basis. Clipper Isadora ship carrying 57,003 tonnes of wheat is now at the outer anchorage of Chittagong Port. It also said that out of the 57,003 tonnes of wheat, 34,320 tonnes will be unloaded in Chittagong and the remaining 22,443 tonnes will be unloaded at Mongla Port. Earlier, the first shipment of 56,890 tonnes of wheat arrived in the country from the United States.

Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr. Ahsan H. Mansur . In his speech, Ahsan H. Mansur clarified that this target is expected to be met without relying on IMF money, stating that any additional external funding would simply be icing on the cake rather than a necessity for hitting the target. The governor highlighted significant progress in the balance of payments and the external sector. The governor addressed the very difficult liquidity situation the banking sector previously faced, which began with a shortage of foreign exchange. “With total deposits now standing at approximately 20 trillion taka, this growth rate translates to an influx of roughly 2.2 trillion taka into the system,” he added.

DHAKA, Jan 19, 2026 (BSS) - Rangpur Riders will take on Sylhet Titans in theEliminator of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) tomorrow (Tuesday) at theSher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in a bid to stay alive for a spot inthe final. The loser of the game will be knocked out of the BPL final race, while thewinner will advance to Qualifier-2, where they will face the loser ofQualifier-1 for a place in the final. Rangpur Riders, widely regarded as one of the strongest teams on paper, had amixed tournament. However, they recovered in time, finishing third with six wins from 10matches to secure a place in the final four. Rangpur have historically struggled in knockout matches, suffering defeats incrucial games over the last three BPL seasons, including their last playoffappearances.

The Muslim festival of Shab-e-Barat will be celebrated in Bangladesh on the night of Feb 3, according to the National Moon-Sighting Committee. The public holiday on the occasion will be on Feb 4. Shab-e-Barat is observed on the night of the 14th of Shaban in the Islamic calendar. It is celebrated 15 days before the arrival of Ramadan, the month of fasting for Muslims. Muslims offer special prayers at mosques and homes, families exchange bread and sweets, and give handouts to the poor on the occasion of Shab-e-Barat.

Govt employees have no bar to campaign for ‘Yes’ vote: Ali RiazSpecial Assistant to the Chief Adviser Professor Ali Riaz spoke as the chief guest at a divisional meeting in Mymensingh aimed at promoting the referendum and motivating voters. “The campaigning for a ‘yes’ vote is not only permissible but also a moral responsibility of the government employees,” he said. Noting widespread public distrust in voting, Prof Riaz said the referendum would be a new experience for many citizens. He dismissed claims that a ‘yes’ vote would remove religious phrases from the constitution as deliberate misinformation and urged government employees to counter such rumors with accurate information. He called on government employees to inspire citizens to vote ‘yes’ to uphold the spirit of the July Uprising and continue Bangladesh’s democratic journey.

"The three-year membership term shall not apply to Member States thatcontribute more than USD $1,000,000,000 in cash funds to the Board of Peacewithin the first year of the Charter's entry into force." Membership of the board would be "limited to States invited to participate bythe Chairman," according to the draft charter. Trump would have the power to remove member states from the board, subject toa veto by two-third of members, and choose his replacement should he leavehis role as chairman. The "Board of Peace" began to take shape on Saturday when the leaders ofEgypt, Turkey, Argentina and Canada were asked to join. Trump also named as members Secretary of State Marco Rubio, former Britishprime minister Tony Blair, senior negotiator Steve Witkoff and his son-in-lawJared Kushner.

Govt asks to deposit all licensed firearms to nearest thana by Jan 31DHAKA, Jan 19, 2026 (BSS)- Home Ministry has directed all licensed firearm holders across the country to deposit their weapons and ammunition at the nearest police station or authorized dealer by January 31 next ahead of the 13th national election and referendum scheduled for February 12. The directive was issued today under Section 26 of the Arms Act, 1878 to ensure a free, fair, and peaceful election. During this period, all licensed firearms and ammunition must be deposited at police stations near the permanent or present addresses of arms holders. The government warned that strict legal action will be taken against anyone violating the order under relevant provisions of the Arms Act, 1878. Officials said the measure aims to maintain public safety and prevent the misuse of firearms during the election period.

GENEVA, Jan 19, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - The humanitarian crisis in Yemen is set toget much worse in 2026 as food insecurity increases and international aidevaporates, the United Nations warned on Monday. Julien Harneis, the UN resident and humanitarian coordinator for Yemen, saidhe feared the calamitous situation would go under the radar until the deathtoll mounts. Last year, 19.5 million people in the country needed humanitarian aid -- andthe UN's response plan for the country was only 28-percent financed, at $688million. "We are expecting things to be much worse in 2026," said Harneis, pointingout that 21 million Yemenis were in need and aid was drying up. He said Yemenis would be "very vulnerable to epidemics" this year, warning:"A humanitarian crisis in Yemen is a risk to the Arabian Peninsula.

Photo: CollectedJOHANNESBURG, Jan 19, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - A minibus carrying students to school collided with a truck south of Johannesburg on Monday, killing 13 pupils, South African police said. The crash happened near the industrial city of Vanderbijlpark, about 60 kilometres (40 miles) south of Johannesburg. Many South African parents have to rely on private minibuses to get their children to school because of limited public transportation. At least five students were killed and eight others injured in September when a school minibus ploughed into a creche in a KwaZulu-Natal township. More than 11,400 lives were lost on South African roads in 2025, according to the latest data from the transport ministry.

×This page requires Javascript. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.