has every right to campaign for “yes” vote in referendum: RiazChief Adviser’s Special Assistant Professor Ali Riaz. File PhotoDHAKA, Jan 17, 2026 (BSS) – Chief Adviser’s Special Assistant Professor Ali Riaz today said the government has every right to campaign for “Yes” vote in referendum on July National Charter, calling it a document that came “in exchange of blood”. Riaz acknowledged that some quarters were raising questions about whether servants of the Republic could campaign in favor of a ‘Yes’ vote citing legal grounds. Riaz said it was internationally recognised practice to seek support for a government proposal adding different European nations held 48 referendums over joining the European Union since 1972 and in most cases the governments campaigned for “yes” vote. Chief Adviser’s Special Assistant Monir Haider also spoke on the occasion with Dhaka Divisional Commissioner Md.

AI-generated imageMinority Under Fire Hindu Teacher Home Burnt In Bangladesh Sparks India Concern Ahead Of Polls(With PTI inputs)NEW DELHI: A 30-year-old Bangladeshi Hindu man, employed at a fuel station, died after allegedly being run over by a customer who attempted to leave without paying for fuel, police said.The incident took place on Friday in the Rajbari district. The victim was identified as Ripon Saha.Police have seized the vehicle, an SUV, and arrested its owner, Abul Hashem, 55, along with his driver Kamal Hossain, 43. When the driver attempted to leave without paying, Saha tried to block the vehicle. The car allegedly ran him over and sped away, killing him on the spot.“We will file a murder case. Hasina has been living in Delhi since then.The attacks on Hindus since Hasina’s ouster—though Dhaka maintains that not all were communally motivated—have further strained relations between the two countries.

Zubaidi then disappeared after he failed to board a flight to Riyadh for talks in early January, with Saudi Arabia accusing him of fleeing to Abu Dhabi while supporters insisted he was still in Yemen. The takeover had sparked tensions between Gulf allies Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, who backed rival sides of Yemen's government. Separatist supporters have continued protest and on Friday turned out in their thousands in the southern Yemeni city of Aden, backing Zubaidi and the STC. They brandished photographs of Zubaidi, with some chanting against Rashad al-Alimi, who heads Yemen's Saudi-backed presidential body, and his Saudi backers. One of the protesters, Hussein Mohammed al-Yafai, told AFP he had come out to "reject the illegitimate measures taken by Saudi Arabia... against the South."

A Hindu man was crushed to death by an SUV, which reportedly belonged to a former Bangladesh Nationalist Party worker. The 30-year-old victim, Ripon Saha, a fuel station worker, tried to stop the vehicle from leaving the petrol pump without paying for fuel, but the car allegedly ran over him before fleeing. The incident took place on Friday. Reportedly, the SUV took fuel worth Rs 3,710 from the filling station at around 4:30 am on Friday. Past IncidentThis incident comes days after a Hindu man was beaten and hacked to death in Daganbhuiyan, Feni, on the night of 11 January.

Chairman of the Board of Directors of BSS and Joint Editor of the daily Ittefaq Anwar Aldeen distributed blankets among destitute in Paikgachha, Khulna. Photo: BSSKHULNA, Jan 17, 2026 (BSS) - More than three thousand helpless and destitute people in Paikgachha of Khulna have been provided with high-quality blankets, like previous years, amid biting cold and dense fog. Poor and marginal people from at least ten villages received blankets, giving them some relief from the winter cold. The BSS chairman said they are happy to stand beside the helpless and poor people of the Kapilmuni–Paikgachha area, and that their activities for the poor in this region will continue. Shafiul Islam Hazra, journalists Sheikh Khairul Islam, Oliul Islam and Tapan Pal, among others, were present.

DHAKA, Jan 17, 2026 (BSS) - Contrasting half-centuries from openers DawidMalan and Towhid Hridoy powered Rangpur Riders to an 11-run victory overDhaka Capitals at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium today,confirming their place in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) playoffs as thefinal qualifying team. Despite the win, Rangpur are set to play the Eliminator against SylhetTitans, with Rajshahi Warriors and Chattogram Royals having already securedthe top two spots on the points table. Former England opener Malan starred with a fluent 78 off 49 balls, an inningslaced with eight fours and four sixes. Rangpur then leaned on their bowlers, led by a venomous spell from fastbowler Nahid Rana, who returned outstanding figures of 3-11. Earlier, Fahim Ashraf also played his part for Rangpur by claiming 2-43 tocheck Dhaka's top order.

DHAKA, Jan 17, 2026 (BSS) - Rajshahi Warriors captain Najmul Hossain Shantowon the toss and sent Chattogram Royals into bat first in their last game ofthe Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) game today at Sher-e-Bangla NationalCricket Stadium. Both teams had already confirmed the top two finish, meaning they would playthe Qualifier-1 game on January 21 to move to the final of the BPL. A victory in this match is deemed to be a morale booster for both ofthe sides. A Rajshahi victory in this game would confirm that they will finish the BPLgroup phase as table toppers. Chattogram won the first-leg game between the two sides, edging Rajshahi pastby two wickets in a thrilling contest.

US President Donald Trump and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Photo: CollectedISTANBUL, Jan 17, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - US President Donald Trump has invited Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan to join the so-called Board of Peace that will oversee post-war Gaza, Turkey said Saturday. Erdogan received the proposal in a letter sent Friday by Trump inviting him to "become a founding member" of the board, Turkish presidential communications director Burhanettin Duran posted on social media.

CAIRO, Jan 17, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - The Palestinian committee set to govern post-war Gaza has begun its work in Cairo, a member told AFP on Friday. "We hope to go to Gaza next week or the week after; our work is there, and we need to be there," he said. According to diplomatic sources, the committee will be based in Cairo, with members travelling to and from Gaza regularly. The committee is headed by Gaza native and former Palestinian Authority deputy minister Ali Shaath. Omar Shamali, another member of the committee, meanwhile told AFP that "200,000 prefabricated units will enter Gaza... to provide education, health, and security services".

Ambassador of Bhutan to Bangladesh Dasho Karma Hamu Dorjee today met with BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman at the BNP Chairman's Office in the city's Gulshan. Photo: Video ScreenshotDHAKA, Jan 17, 2026 (BSS) - The Ambassador of Bhutan to Bangladesh DashoKarma Hamu Dorjee today met BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman. The meeting took place at the BNP Chairman's Office in the city's Gulshanarea at around 4:55pm, according to BNP media cell member Shayrul Kabir Khan. BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and its Joint SecretaryGeneral (International Affairs) and BNP Chairman's Foreign Affairs AdvisoryCouncil Member Humayun Kabir were present during the meeting.

WASHINGTON, United States, Jan 17, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Google filed a notice onFriday to appeal a federal judge's ruling that it held an illegal monopoly ononline search, court records show. On Friday, Google said the ruling "ignored the reality that people use Googlebecause they want to, not because they're forced to." That order risks Google losing trade secrets before a decision is made on itsappeal, the company argued in a court filing. He said at the time that Google must make available to "qualifiedcompetitors" search index data and user interaction information that rivalscan use to improve their services. Google on Friday said it is not seeking to postpone other requirements fromMehta's previous orders, including those related to "privacy and securitysafeguards" for user data.

Ukrainian negotiators arrive in US for talks on plan to end war: delegation memberKYIV, Ukraine, Jan 17, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Ukrainian negotiators have arrived inthe United States for talks with the Trump administration on ending almostfour 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. "Arrived in the United States. "A joint meeting with Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner and (US Army Secretary)Daniel Driscoll is planned." Ukraine's ambassador to the US said a day earlier that the talks would focuson security guarantees and post-war reconstruction.

The European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) to Bangladesh on Saturday said it is in the country solely to observe the electoral process and will not interfere, as it deployed 56 long-term observers across all 64 administrative districts. Their observations and insights will form the foundation of an impartial and evidence-based assessment of the electoral process,” she said. The EU EOM applies a structured and well-established methodology for long-term, nationwide observation, allowing for a balanced and comprehensive analysis of the electoral process. The EU Election Observation Mission will present its preliminary findings at a press conference in Dhaka on February 14. A final report, including recommendations, will be submitted to the authorities after completion of the entire electoral process.

Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan inaugurated a rally organised under the Department of Environment's ongoing Integrated and Partnership-based Project for Noise Pollution Control in Dhaka. Adviser Rizwana highlighted that the Noise Pollution (Control) Rules, 2025, have already been gazetted. The adviser identified unnecessary honking and fireworks as the two main sources of noise pollution currently being addressed. Expressing optimism, she said the next elected government would continue ongoing programmes to control noise pollution. Addressing young volunteers, she emphasized that a social movement against noise pollution is essential to protect future generations from hearing impairment.

Protests in Iran seem to have subsided after weeks of mass unrest drew a bloody clampdown that has reportedly left thousands of people dead. There have been no signs of protests for days in the capital, Tehran. But they quickly morphed into the largest threat to the Islamic regime’s rule since it took power in a 1979 revolution. Meanwhile, Iran’s exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi said he was confident the Islamic Republic would fall and called for foreign intervention. Pahlavi, whose father was overthrown by Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution, said he still believes Trump’s promise of assistance.