He said that if the culprits accused in enforced disappearances go unpunished, forces loyal to fascism learn that people can simply be made to vanish. “But if this tribunal ensures justice, the state will learn that its citizens can never be subjected to enforced disappearance under any circumstances,” Tajul Islam added. He said these testimonies will be corroborated by investigation and inquiry reports conducted by various government and non-government organisations, which contain irrefutable evidence of enforced disappearance and torture. The chief prosecutor also said the entire architecture of enforced disappearance — from abduction to release — was deliberately designed to erase all traces of evidence. Three accused — Sheikh Md Sarwar Hossain, Md Mahbubur Rahman Siddiqui and Ahmed Tanvir Mazhar Siddiqui — are in custody and facing trial in person.

The government has ordered the deposition of all licensed firearms at the nearest police stations by January 31, ahead of the national election scheduled for February 12. The directive was issued through a notification by the Ministry of Home Affairs on Sunday. The notification also bans the carrying or public display of firearms until the completion of the national election and referendum. Under the policy, a "retainer" is defined as an armed person appointed and authorised to protect a politically important individual or a candidate. A ‘politically important person’ refers to a current or former high-ranking political figure recognised by the government.

The International Crimes Tribunal will deliver its verdict on Tuesday in a crimes against humanity case over the killing of protesters in the capital’s Chankharpul area during the July mass uprising centred on the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement. The verdict proceedings will be broadcast live on Bangladesh Television (BTV). Prosecutor Gazi MH Tamim confirmed the matter on Monday, saying the verdict will be the second to be announced by the reconstituted International Crimes Tribunal. According to Tamim, Tribunal-1 will deliver the verdict against eight accused, including former Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) commissioner Habibur Rahman, on January 20. According to the case documents, police opened fire on a peaceful student movement in the Chankharpul area on August 5, 2024.

HANOI, Vietnam, Jan 19, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Vietnam's ruling Communist Party convened Monday to begin their twice-a-decade congress, where leader To Lam is looking to tighten his grip on power less than two years after assuming the top role. The Southeast Asian nation of 100 million people is both a repressive one-party state and a regional economic bright spot, where the Communist Party has sought to deliver rapid growth to bolster its legitimacy. One source briefed on party deliberations told AFP that Lam's bid for expanded powers had been provisionally approved. The top posts in Vietnam's collective leadership system must be approved by the incoming politburo, and experts say nothing is certain yet. Lam would be the first person to be named to the top two jobs simultaneously by a party congress, rather than stepping in following a death.

File PhotoDHAKA, Jan 19, 2026 (BSS) - Weather may remain dry with temporary partly cloudy sky over the country, while both night and day temperatures are likely to remain nearly unchanged, according to the latest metrological forecast. Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) issued the forecast valid for next 24 hours commencing from 09:00 am said light to moderate fog may occur at a few places across the country during late night to morning hours. The lowest temperature was recorded today at 9.2 degrees Celsius at Tetulia, while the highest temperature recorded yesterday 31.0 degrees Celsius at Ambagan. In Dhaka, wind direction and speed were west to northwesterly at 8 to 12 kilometres per hour, while the relative humidity stood at 76 percent at 6:00 am. Today's sunset in the capital is expected at 5:35 pm, while tomorrow's sunrise is expected at 6:43 am.

SEOUL, Jan 19, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - South Korea and Italy agreed Monday to expand cooperation in artificial intelligence, space and the defence industry, pledging to confront "global challenges" at a bilateral summit in Seoul. President Lee Jae Myung hosted Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni for the summit at his office in the first visit by an Italian leader to South Korea in almost two decades. "In addition, we will pursue complementary cooperation in the defence industry based on each side's strengths," Lee added. But it has not supplied weapons to Ukraine due to a domestic policy preventing the provision of arms to countries at war. "The war in Ukraine also poses an extremely serious risk to Europe's security in every respect," Meloni said.

Since early age of his life, Ziaur Rahman posed himself as a freedom loving person. Ziaur Rahman led the Bangladeshi cadets to protest it and got into a heated argument. Ziaur Rahman was touted as a nation builder as he made pioneering role in building the nation and help Bangladesh to stand on a solid foundation. Recognizing the need for both long-term planning and coordinated efforts to advance a newly independent nation, Ziaur Rahman demonstrated remarkable foresight, adopting a 19-point political philosophy. His glorious work and contribution to the nation earned him the title "a true patriot and a great nation builder".

Clips of so-called “Islamic State training,” Al-Qaeda style footage, or battlefield montages appear in your feed, often with Bangla subtitles and dramatic background music. That is the point where the question of national security enters. National security cannot become a magic word that ends all debate. Bangladesh will be safest when all major political groups, from the secular left to the religious right, compete openly under democratic rules. National security thinking should be prioritized.

Switzerland's Ruegg sprints to second Tour Down Under titleADELAIDE, Australia, Jan 19, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Switzerland's Noemi Ruegg fought off a three-strong attack in a cat-and-mouse downhill sprint finish to defend her Tour Down Under title in the Adelaide Hills on Monday. EF Education-Oatly team's Ruegg, 24, put herself in contention for back-to-back victories in the UCI World Tour opener with an unyielding assault up the demanding Corkscrew summit. Ruegg powered away to win from Spanish pair Mavi Garcia and Paula Blasi, and Poland's Dominika Wlodarczyk, all of UAE Team ADQ. Only Australian Amanda Spratt, with three, has won more women's Tour Down Unders than Ruegg. "Magdeleine was amazing, and I didn't believe it was possible after the first climb," Ruegg said of the Canadian's efforts.

LEIPZIG, Germany, Jan 19, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said Xabi Alonso's Real Madrid exit was a surprise but also predictable from the European giants known for cut-throat coaching decisions. And no, I wasn't surprised," Klopp told AFP and other media in Leipzig. Referencing Madrid sacking German manager Jupp Heynckes in 1998 eight days after winning the Champions League for failing to win La Liga, Klopp said "it's always like that from Madrid when they're not first in the table." "I have no clue why it happened, but it's always a specific case and not a general problem, because what they see now, Real Madrid, is that bringing in just the next one is not that easy. "I don't get up and excited if Real Madrid are showing interest -- if they would be -- but it's the media."

MELBOURNE, Jan 19, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Amanda Anisimova began her quest for a third consecutive Grand Slam final with a ruthless straight-sets win at the Australian Open on Monday. The fourth seed from the United States overpowered Simona Waltert of Switzerland 6-3, 6-2 in an hour on Margaret Court Arena. The 24-year-old faces Katerina Siniakova of the Czech Republic or Hungary's Panna Udvardy in round two. "It's really good to be back here, I feel like Australia is my second home," said Anisimova, who enjoyed a breakthrough 2025. Anisimova is bidding to go beyond the last 16 at the Australian Open for the first time.

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MELBOURNE, Jan 19, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Erratic title contender Coco Gauff and three-time finalist Daniil Medvedev reached the Australian Open second round Monday ahead of a defiant Novak Djokovic launching his latest bid to win a record 25th Grand Slam crown. A former world number one, now ranked four, Djokovic is the undisputed king of Melbourne, having won a record 10 Australian Open crowns. With Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner now dominant, Djokovic's last Grand Slam victory came at the US Open in 2023. Poland's Swiatek, the second seed, has never gone beyond the last four in Melbourne. Like Alcaraz, she is pursuing a career Grand Slam of all four major titles, having triumphed previously at Wimbledon, the US Open and French Open.

KYIV, Ukraine, Jan 19, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Kyiv held "substantive" talks on security and economic issues with Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner and envoy Steve Witkoff, with more discussions expected in Davos this week, Ukraine's security chief said Sunday. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who has said he hopes to sign documents with the US on security guarantees at Davos, said his team had held several rounds of talks in the US. "We had substantive discussions on economic development and prosperity plan as well as security guarantees for Ukraine," security chief Rustem Umerov said on social media. More talks will be held at this week's Davos Economic Forum, he added. The Ukrainian team held talks with Kushner, Witkoff and US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll.

The architect of multi-party democracy and founder of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman, Bir Uttam. Photo : CollectedDHAKA, Jan 19, 2026 (BSS) - The 90th birth anniversary of the architect of multi-party democracy and founder of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman, Bir Uttam, is being observed today. Ziaur Rahman was the second of five sons of Chemist Mansur Rahman and Jahanara Khatun. President Ziaur Rahman founded the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) on September 1, 1978. Ziaur Rahman spent his childhood in Kolkata, where his father, Mansur Rahman, served as a scientific officer of the then British government.