DHAKA, Jan 17, 2026 (BSS) - Bangladesh Women's team will take on USA to kick-start their ICC Women's T20 World Cup Qualifiers campaign tomorrow (Sunday) at Upper Mulpani Cricket Ground. Drawn in Group A, Bangladesh will also face off Ireland, Namibia and Papua New Guinea to qualify to the ICC T20 World Cup to be held in England and Wales in June-July this year. The Bangladesh Women's team however had a superb preparation in the build up to the tournament as they won both of their official warm-up matches. The top four teams from the Super Six will qualify for the ICC Women's T20 World Cup. The Group B team is formed with Nepal, Thailand, Zimbabwe, Netherlands and Scotland.

Fahad ended with the figures of 5-38, thoroughly embarrassing Indian batterswith his nagging line and length. After Bangladesh put India into bat first, Fahad dealt a double blow in hisjust second over, dismissing Indian captain Ayush Mhatre (6) and VedantTrivedi for ducks in consecutive deliveries. Iqbal Hossain Emon and captain Azizul Hakim who both picked up two wicketsapiece gave him the apt support in further keeping India at bay. However, amid the Bangladeshi bowlers' surge, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi hammered a67 ball-72 with six fours and three sixes to keep India's scoreboardrotating. Abhigyan Kundo eventually top-scored for the side with 80 off 112, hittingfour fours and three sixes.

Religious Affairs Adviser Dr A F M Khalid Hossain addressed the Zakat Conference 2026 as chief guest at a city hotel in the capital this afternoon. Photo: CollectedDHAKA, Jan 17, 2026 (BSS)- Religious Affairs Adviser Dr A F M Khalid Hossain today said poverty could be eradicated through proper management of zakat. Proper zakat management could also reduce dependence on foreign assistance,” the adviser said. He made the remarks while addressing the Zakat Conference 2026 as chief guest at Hotel Sonargaon in the capital this afternoon. Terming poverty, as a curse for nation, Dr Khalid said a strong economy ensures stability, while poverty hinders national progress.

The Election Commission (EC) has dismissed an appeal against the valid nomination of National Citizen Party (NCP) candidate Abul Hasnat Abdullah in Comilla-4, thereby upholding his candidacy while cancelling Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) candidate Manjurul Ahsan Munshi’s nomination from the same seat over loan default charges. Earlier, BNP candidate Manjurul Ahsan Munshi had filed an appeal challenging the candidacy of NCP nominee Hasnat Abdullah in Comilla-4. The EC rejected the appeal and upheld Hasnat Abdullah’s candidature. Separately, the EC declared Manjurul Ahsan Munshi’s nomination invalid on charges of loan default. Previously, NCP candidate Hasnat Abdullah had filed an appeal with the EC seeking the cancellation of Manjurul Ahsan Munshi’s nomination on allegations of loan default.

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has announced a two-day program to mark the 90th birth anniversary of its founder Ziaur Rahman. The programs include paying respects at his grave, offering floral tributes, holding prayer sessions and organizing a discussion meeting. He said that on January 19 at 11am BNP and its affiliated and associate organizations will place wreaths and offer prayers at Ziaur Rahman’s grave in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar. On the second day January 20 at 11am BNP will hold a discussion meeting highlighting the colourful life of Ziaur Rahman. Senior party leaders are expected to attend the program.

Greenlanders were putting cautious hope in all-out efforts to contain US President Donald Trump’s designs on their Arctic island, as European soldiers arrived in their streets and US lawmakers visited Denmark. The Republican has pursued that argument, despite Greenland -- as part of Denmark -- being covered by Nato’s security umbrella. While the European military presence has been relatively discreet, it has been well-received on the city’s icy streets, where Greenland’s red-and-white flag hangs from many shopfronts and buildings. “There will be more military flights and ships,” Greenland’s deputy prime minister Mute Egede said on Wednesday. But now is not the time, Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen said this week.

Nepal’s Ambassador to Bangladesh Ghanashyam Bhandari on Saturday called on Chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Tarique Rahman at the latter’s office and discussed issues of mutual interest. During the meeting, they reviewed the current state of Bangladesh-Nepal relations, said the Nepalese Embassy in Dhaka. They also discussed ways to further strengthen cooperation in areas of mutual interest, including trade, investment, energy, tourism, education and people-to-people exchanges. BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam, BNP Joint Secretary Humayun Kabir, and senior officials of the Embassy were present at the meeting.

The diplomatic tension between Dhaka and New Delhi has spilled onto the cricket field, as the captains of the Bangladesh and India Under-19 teams refused to shake hands during the toss at the ICC U-19 World Cup on Saturday in Zimbabwe. In a scene reminiscent of recent India-Pakistan encounters, Bangladesh acting captain Jawad Abrar and India captain Ayush Mhatre visibly avoided each other at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo. This incident mirrors the stance taken by India during the Asia Cup in September, where captain Suryakumar Yadav confirmed that his team would not shake hands with Pakistani players due to military conflicts. The breakdown in on-field courtesies comes amid “cold relations” between the two nations and a deepening standoff regarding the upcoming senior Men's T20 World Cup. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) remains firm in its decision not to send the national team to India for the tournament in February, citing severe security risks.

Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis Ameer Maulana Mamunul Haque has stated that there is no longer any scope for a seat-sharing arrangement with Islami Andolan. He made the remarks on Saturday afternoon at an event held at the central office of Jamaat-e-Islami in Moghbazar, Dhaka. Rejecting claims of any third-party influence behind Islami Andolan’s withdrawal, Mamunul Haque said that the situation had arisen due to a lack of mutual understanding. “There is no possibility of holding any fresh discussions with Islami Andolan ahead of the election,” he said. “However, if they wish to return to the alliance, they will be welcomed.

Saudi Arabian Mining Company (Maaden) has reported the discovery of 7.8 million ounces of additional gold resources across four locations in the Kingdom, strengthening its drive to grow domestic mineral reserves and build a global gold business. The expansion follows an intensive drilling program that initially outlined more than nine million ounces before standard annual reporting adjustments. Mansourah Massarah delivered the biggest increase, adding three million ounces year-on-year. Uruq 20/21 and Umm As Salam together contributed 1.67 million ounces, while Wadi Al Jaww delivered a maiden resource of 3.08 million ounces. He added that the latest discoveries highlight the scale of Maaden’s exploration pipeline.

Ukrainian negotiators have arrived in the United States for talks with the Trump administration on ending almost four years of war with Russia, a member of the delegation said on Saturday. They will meet US President Donald Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law Jared Kushner. The talks will take place in Miami just days short of the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. “Arrived in the United States. Zelensky said on Friday he hoped Ukraine would sign agreements with the United States next week.

Pacer Tanzim Hasan Sakib played the key role in wrapping up Chattogram to paltry total, finishing with 4-17. Two foreign recruits Jahandad Khan and Ryan Burl played a second fiddle to Tanzim with two wickets apiece. James Neesham who returned figures of 1-16 gave the early breakthrough, dismissing Naim Sheikh for duck after Rajshahi captain Najmul Hossain Shanto put Chattogram into bat first. Tanzim Sakib then appeared into the stage and ably supported by Jahandad and Burl he ripped through Chattogram middle order, denying any batter to steady the innings. Asif Ali, however, scored a 24 ball-39 to help Chattogram go past 100-run mark, which looked unlikely at one stage.

Pacer Al Fahad produced a dazzling display with the ball as Bangladesh restricted India to 238 in their opening U19 World Cup match. He grabbed five wickets for 38 runs in 9.2 overs at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo on Saturday. Fahad made early inroads, striking twice in the third over and troubling India’s top order with disciplined pace and movement. Support came from pacer Iqbal Hossain (2-45) and offspinner Azizul Hakim (2-42), who chipped in, while Sheikh Parvez Jibon (1-46) claimed his maiden U19 World Cup wicket. For India, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (72) made repairs early before Kundu guided the team in the middle overs.

Photo: CollectedLONDON, Jan 17, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - UN chief Antonio Guterres Saturday deploreda host of "powerful forces lining up to undermine global cooperation" in aLondon speech marking the 80th anniversary of the first UN General Assembly. They met in London because the UN headquarters in New York had not yet beenbuilt. Guterres paid tribute to Britain for its decisive role in the creation of theUnited Nations and for continuing to champion it. "We see powerful forces lining up to undermine global cooperation," he said,adding: "Despite these rough seas, we sail ahead." Guterres cited a new treaty on marine biological diversity as an example ofcontinued progress.

Yoweri Museven. Photo: CollectedKAMPALA, Jan 17, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni, 81, wona seventh term in office on Saturday with 71.65 percent of the vote, thecountry's Electoral Commission said. He defeated his main challenger, 43-year-old Bobi Wine -- real name RobertKyagulanyi -- who received 24.72 percent of the vote, according to theofficial results.