Following the incident, Chhatra Dal leader and coordinator Zafar Ahmed was confined inside the UNO office for several hours amid public outrage. Tensions escalated when protesters confronted Zafar Ahmed, leading to verbal altercations and a scuffle. As the situation intensified, Zafar Ahmed entered the UNO office, reportedly for safety. However, Upazila Jubo Jamaat President Abidur Rahman disputed the allegation, saying Abdus Shahid was not affiliated with any political party. When contacted, Zakiganj Police Station Officer-in-Charge Abdur Razzak said Abdus Shahid had been produced before the court under Section 161 and was granted bail.

To ensure legal protection for participants of the anti-discrimination student movement in July–August 2024, organized for political resistance, the interim government has approved the “July Uprising Protection and Liability Determination Ordinance 2026.”Under this ordinance, individuals involved in any activities organized for “political resistance” between July 1 and August 31, 2024 will be granted immunity from legal liability. This decision was taken on Thursday during a meeting of the Advisory Council, chaired by Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus. The law adviser said: “By political resistance, the ordinance refers to activities organized with the aim of overthrowing the fascist government and restoring democratic governance. Furthermore, no new cases will be filed against them for similar actions conducted for political resistance. Asif Nazrul said, the National Human Rights Commission will determine if a crime was political or personal; acts found personal will face legal proceedings, while those linked to political resistance will grant immunity.

Islami Andolan Bangladesh will retain 50 seats, while the remaining 250 seats have been negotiated among 10 other parties, including Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, as an 11-party alliance finalised its seat-sharing talks. Mamunul Haque later said discussions with Islami Andolan had already taken place and details would be disclosed at the evening press conference. He expressed optimism that the seat announcement would include Islami Andolan. Negotiations over seat sharing between Jamaat and Islami Andolan are continuing, with talks also underway about possible alternative arrangements. Meanwhile, Islami Andolan said in a statement that while some unease has emerged, it is too early to make a final comment on the seat-sharing arrangement.

The International Crimes Tribunal has set January 21 to pass an order on the framing of charges against Sajeeb Wazed Joy, son of deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina, and former state minister for ICT Zunaid Ahmed Palak. During the hearing, defence lawyers opposed the three charges brought by the prosecution, claiming that neither Joy nor Palak had any involvement in the alleged offences. Conversely, the prosecution prayed for formal charges to be framed against both Joy and Palak. The three charges allege that, on the instructions of Joy, Palak incited violence through Facebook on the night of July 14, 2024. On December 4, the tribunal took cognisance of the formal charges submitted by the prosecution.

The ambassador also formally invited Bangladesh to participate in the upcoming World Defence Show to be held in Riyadh. Welcoming the Saudi envoy, the home adviser described Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia as close and friendly nations, noting that Saudi Arabia holds a special place in the hearts of the Bangladeshi people as the holy land of Islam and as a second home to more than 3.2 million Bangladeshi expatriate workers. He emphasized the significant contribution of expatriates to Bangladesh’s economy and urged Saudi Arabia to recruit more manpower from Bangladesh, expressing optimism that this would further deepen bilateral ties. On national election preparations, the adviser stated that while the Election Commission bears primary responsibility for conducting the polls, the Ministry of Home Affairs is tasked with maintaining law and order and is fully prepared. The home adviser expressed his inability to attend the show due to Bangladesh’s 13th national election on 12 February 2026, but confirmed that a suitable representative would be sent.

Inqilab Mancha has announced a nationwide protest and brief rallies on Friday, demanding justice for its slain spokesman, Sharif Osman Bin Hadi. The protest march and rallies will be held after Jumma prayers, the platform said in a Facebook post on Thursday evening. Osman Hadi, who was also a prospective candidate for the Dhaka-8 constituency, was shot in the head on December 12 while travelling in a rickshaw on Culvert Road in Puratan Paltan. He was later airlifted to Singapore for advanced treatment, where he succumbed to his injuries on the night of December 18. On December 20, he was laid to rest beside the grave of national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam at Dhaka University.

Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) Chairman Jalal Ahmed on Thursday said the commission was working to ease import and supply of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) in the country to offset the ongoing crisis. He said BERC was also working to minimize consumers’ sufferings involving LPG, as the import of the crucial fuel and its distribution in Bangladesh was operated by the private sector. Ahmed said Bangladesh in 2022 imported 1.29 million tones of LPG, 1.28 million tonnes in 2023, while the volume was 1.61 million tonnes in 2024 and 1.465 million tonnes in 2025. He said the import volume of LPG had declined in the last year. Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) President AHM Shofiquzzaman said he believed there should be no import duty on a daily commodity like LPG.

BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman on Thursday evening entered the state guest house Jamuna with his family to pay a courtesy call on Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus. This will be the first formal meeting between Prof Yunus and Tarique Rahman in Bangladesh since the latter’s return home. The two last met in person on June 13 last year in London during Prof Yunus’ visit to the UK. Upon arrival at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, he spoke with Prof Yunus over the phone while waiting at the VIP lounge. Tarique Rahman was elected BNP chairman on January 9 through a unanimous decision of the party’s highest policymaking body, the National Standing Committee.

A bus of Dhaka University was vandalised at the Science Lab intersection in the capital on Thursday during a blockade enforced by students of seven government colleges, leaving at least two students injured. The incident occurred around 2:30 pm (January 15, 2026) when a Dhaka University bus was halted due to the blockade, said witnesses. They said an argument broke out between students travelling on the bus and the protesting students of the seven colleges. Later, at around 4:00 pm Dhaka University students took position at Nilkhet intersection in protest. Dhaka University Central Students’ Union Literary Secretary Musaddiq Ali Ibn Muhammad said in a Facebook post that Dhaka University students were attacked and their bus was vandalised under the guise of a movement.

Police have arrested three people, including a bus driver and his helper, in connection with the gang rape of a college student on the Dhaka–Tangail highway. The arrests were made on Thursday afternoon from the Kartia underpass area of Tangail Sadar upazila on the Dhaka–Tangail highway. The arrested men have been identified as bus driver Md Altaf (25), helper Md Sagar (24), and the driver’s associate Md Rabbi (21). Officer-in-Charge Md Sharif said that the victim and the arrested men were later handed over to Tangail Sadar Police Station for further legal action. The Officer-in-Charge of Tangail Sadar Police Station confirmed that the victim is preparing to file a case in connection with the incident.

“Global markets would feel it far more intensely if Iranian production stopped.”Moreover, fear of regional conflict in the Gulf weighs heavily in Iran’s case. “Roughly half of the world’s oil reserves and a third of global oil production is in the Middle East. These floating storage sites are mostly anchored in Southeast Asia, close to buyers like China, which purchases more than 90% of all Iranian oil production. “There are significant amounts of Iranian oil onthe high seas off the coast of Malaysia,” says Goldthau. Lastly, oil rigs and refineries in neighboring states could become the target of an attack, which would also impact oil markets.

A civic condolence meeting in memory of Begum Khaleda Zia, a three-time former Prime Minister will be held at the South Plaza of the National Parliament Building at 2:30pm. The program will be aired live on state-run broadcaster Bangladesh Betar Dhaka-K (693 KHz), FM 106.0 MHz, Traffic Broadcast Service FM 88.8 MHz, as well as through the website www.betar.gov.bd and the mobile app Bangladesh Betar, said a press release on Thursday. At the same time, the program will be aired simultaneously on the medium-wave frequencies of all regional stations of Bangladesh Betar.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has questioned Bushra Afrin, daughter of former Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) Mayor Atiqul Islam and Asia’s first ‘Chief Heat Officer’. Bushra was interrogated at the ACC headquarters in Segunbagicha, Dhaka, on Thursday (15 January) from 9:30 am to 11:00 am, for approximately one and a half hours. ACC Public Relations Officer Akhtarul Islam said the commission is investigating allegations against imprisoned former mayor Atiqul Islam, including abuse of power, tender manipulation, and the accumulation of wealth beyond known sources of income. In addition to Atiqul Islam, allegations have been raised against his wife, Shaila Sagufta Islam, and daughter, Bushra Afrin, over the accumulation of substantial illegal assets both at home and abroad. Notably, Atiqul Islam was arrested on 16 October from the Mohakhali DOHS area following the fall of the Awami League government on 5 August last year.

Law Adviser Professor Asif Nazrul briefed the media at the Foreign Service Academy this afternoon. About the referendum slated for February 12, the law adviser said, “Since we assumed office, we consistently said that our main tasks are three-reform, trials and elections”. No, we will not remain in the government,” Prof Asif Nazrul said. While there are differences in methods and processes, the law adviser said, no party has rejected the idea of reform itself. “We are actually campaigning in favour of the referendum as per our commitment to reform,” Prof Asif Nazrul said.

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus and BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman. Photo: CollageDHAKA, Jan 15, 2026 (BSS)- BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman will pay a courtesy call on Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus today. The meeting will be held at the state guest house Jamuna, BNP's media cell member and the Convener of 'Amra BNP Poribar' Atiqur Rahman Ruman confirmed the matter to BSS.