Verdict in plot scam case against Hasina, Tulip, 16 others on Feb 2Ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, and her nieces Tulip Siddiq and Azmina Siddiq-File photoDHAKA, Jan 13, 2026 (BSS) - A court here today set February 2 for pronouncing judgment in a case against 18 people, including ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, and her nieces Tulip Siddiq and Azmina Siddiq, over alleged irregularities in allocating a 10-katha plot in the RAJUK New Town Project. Judge Robiul Alam of Dhaka Special Judge Court-4 passed the order as the prosecution and defence concluded their arguments in the case today, Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) public prosecutor Mir Ahammed Salam told BSS. The court on January 8 had set today to place arguments in the case. Earlier, on January 5, the court had brought the testimony in the case to an end. The ACC filed the case against 16 on January 13, 2025, and filed a charge sheet on March 10 against the 18.

BAMAKO, Jan 13, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - A boat capsized near the fabled northern Malian city of Timbuktu, killing several people, the regional governor said Monday. "About 50 people were believed to be on board with their luggage" when the vessel sank late Thursday, the governor said. Boats are widely used in northern Mali on the Niger river and its tributaries. The Niger crosses Mali for 1,750 kilometres (1,100 miles), linking the south to the arid north. The landlocked country has faced a deep security crisis since 2012, fuelled notably by violence from jihadists as well as community-based criminal groups.

BAGERHAT, Jan 13, 2026 (BSS) - The Bangladesh Coast Guard seized 4,000 metres of deer hunting traps along with 100 kilograms of venison from the Kagadobeki area of the Sundarbans. The information was confirmed to BSS by Coast Guard West Zone Media Officer Lieutenant Commander Md Muntasir Ibne Mohsin on Tuesday morning. During the operation, the Coast Guard recovered 4,000 metres of deer hunting traps and 100kg of venison from the spot. However, no one could be arrested as the poachers managed to flee sensing the presence of the Coast Guard. The seized venison and hunting traps were later handed over to the Kagadobeki Forest Patrol Outpost.

The much-awaited dot bangla domain is set to be unlocked for the people tomorrow as Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate it at a function on the day. "Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will open the dot bangla domain at a ceremony at her official Ganabhaban residence in the city tomorrow noon," sources at the Prime Minister's Office said. The International Corporation of Assigned Names and Numbers (ICAAN) has officially allotted the dot bangla (.bangla) internet domain to Bangladesh. Earlier, ICANN-approved another domain label for Bangladesh as dot bd or .bd. In 2003, a specification was released that allows most Unicode characters to be used in domain names.

The Chief Adviser inaugurated the conference titled “South Asian Regional Conference on State of Higher Education and Future Pathway (SARCHE 2026)” organized by the University Grants Commission (UGC) of Bangladesh this morning. Education Adviser Professor Dr CR Abrar addressed the inaugural ceremony as the special guest with UGC Chairman Professor Dr SMA Faiz in the chair. According to the UGC officials, the conference is being organised under the Higher Education Acceleration and Transformation (HEAT) Project. On the first day (today), two sessions will focus on “The Current State of Higher Education in South Asia: Governance, Quality and Inclusion” and “Research, Innovation, Sustainability and Social Engagement”. On the final day, discussions on gender issues in higher education will be held while the conference will end following the adoption of the ‘Dhaka Higher Education Declaration’.

Chairman of MIDA, Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun. File photoDHAKA, Jan 13, 2026 (BSS)- Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun, Executive Chairman of Maheshkhali Integrated Development Authority (MIDA), today said that the government is working to establish a solid foundation for the country's future economic trajectory. Ocean Policy Research Institute (OPRI), Sasakawa Peace Foundation in collaboration with MIDA and Peace and Policy Solutions (PPS) hosted the dialogue. OPRI President Professor Mitsutaku Makino and MIDA Member Commodore Tanzim Faruque, among others, also spoke on the occasion. Dr. Emadul Islam, Senior Research Fellow at the Ocean Policy Research Institute (OPRI) of the Sasakawa Peace Foundation, Japan, delivered the keynote presentation.

Lai, the Apple Daily founder who pleaded not guilty in the case, was convicted in December . Under the security law, a reduced penalty may be granted to those who report on offenses committed by others. Li said Chan, who started working at Apple Daily in 1996, regretted not resisting even more firmly when matters arose that made her uncomfortable. Apple Daily closure dealt a blow to Hong Kong press sceneLai founded Apple Daily in 1995, two years before Hong Kong, a former British colony, returned to Chinese rule. Being openly critical of the Hong Kong and Chinese governments, the newspaper was well-received among pro-democracy readers.

The BMD said a mild cold wave is currently affecting Panchagarh, Kurigram and Nilphamari districts and it may continue. This marks a reduction in the number of districts under cold wave conditions compared to yesterday, indicating a gradual easing of the cold spell. The lowest temperature was recorded today 7.5 degrees Celsius at Tetulia in Panchagarh, while the highest maximum temperature yesterday was 29 degrees Celsius at Sylhet. The lowest temperature of 7.5 degrees Celsius at Tetulia in Panchagarh confirmed that the northern fringe of the country remains the cold core, influenced by cold air inflow from the Himalayan foothills. In contrast, the highest maximum temperature of 29 degrees Celsius at Sylhet yesterday reflects a warmer daytime environment in the north-eastern region.

DHAKA, Jan 13, 2026 (BSS) - A Dhaka court today set February 18 to submit a probe report in the case lodged over the Bangladesh Bank (BB) reserve heist that took place in 2016. Dhaka Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Jashita Islam set the new date as the investigation agency Criminal Investigation Department (CID) failed to submit the report today. According to the case documents, unidentified Hackers stole $101m from BB's accounts with the Federal Reserve Bank of New York on February 5, 2016. However, the transfer of $20 million to Sri Lanka failed because of a spelling error by the hackers. Then Deputy Director (accounts and budgeting) of Bangladesh Bank Zobayer Bin Huda filed the case with Motijheel Police Station on March 15, 2016.

When global leaders gathered in Brazil for COP30 to discuss the future of forests, Bangladesh did not need reminding why those discussions matter. National plans such as the Bangladesh Delta Plan 2100 and the National Adaptation Plan recognize mangrove restoration as central to climate resilience. Protecting the Sundarbans is not a symbolic environmental act -- it is a matter of national survival. Email: [email protected]. Email: [email protected].

Xabi Alonso's reign as Real Madrid coach lasted less than eight months as the Spaniard agreed a deal to depart from the Spanish giants on Monday. At Real Madrid the squad's biggest names tend to rule the roost and despite a good start in terms of results, cracks began to show as Alonso's approach did not suit them. After being substituted in a 2-1 Clasico victory in La Liga in October, Vinicius showed his rage at Alonso. Along with the return of the stars, some of Alonso's concepts were faded out too. - Downward spiral -A 5-2 thrashing by Atletico Madrid in September was an early blot in Alonso's copy book, while even when Madrid were winning games, they were not overly convincing.

Real Madrid has ended its partnership with Xabi Alonso and promoted B team manager Álvaro Arbeloa to lead the first team, the club announced Monday. Reports of conflicts with players, including Vinícius Júnior, and ongoing locker room tensions marked his tenure. In 34 matches under Alonso, Madrid won 24, drew four, and lost six. Despite a 2-1 win over Barcelona in the season’s first clasico, Real Madrid trails the Blaugrana by four points at the halfway point of La Liga. Álvaro Arbeloa, 42, a former teammate of Alonso at Madrid and Spain, enjoyed a decorated playing career, winning eight titles with Real Madrid, including two Champions League trophies, and Spain’s 2010 World Cup and two European Championships.

Gold prices in Bangladesh soared to an all-time high as the Bangladesh Jewellers Association (Bajus) raised the price of gold by Tk4,199 per bhori, effective from Tuesday morning. Bajus announced the price hike late Monday night, citing an increase in the price of pure gold (tejabi gold) in the local market. Considering the overall market situation, the association said it has revised gold prices accordingly. Bajus last revised gold prices on January 10, when it increased the price of 22-carat gold by Tk1,050 per bhori to Tk227,856. This marks the fourth adjustment of silver prices in the local market this year, with prices increased twice and reduced twice.

The Election Commission (EC) has directed the authorities concerned not to allow elections of any organisation or association, including professional bodies, across the country before the 13th parliamentary election scheduled for February 12, 2026 - the same day as a key referendum. The Commission on Monday issued the directive in a letter sent to the returning officers. In the letter, the Commission said the 13th parliamentary election and referendum will be held on February 12, 2026, and to keep the electoral process completely free from any kind of influence, the EC has instructed that elections of all professional bodies be held after that date. The restriction will apply to elections of professional organisations, educational institutions, transport owners’ and workers’ associations, journalists’ associations, traders’ bodies, cooperative societies, trade unions and all other organisations, the letter said. The EC asked them to take necessary measures in line with the decision.

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), 1989 specifies a collective commitment to protecting children’s rights. The Act was considered as a great achievement for ensuring the care and protectionand best interests of children under the juvenile justice system in Bangladesh. However, major concerns persist in establishing a truly welfare-based model in which the needs of children are prioritized. However, there are no up-to-date statistical records of how many children and young people come under the justice system. According to national and international guidelines, detention should be used only as a measure of last resort for children.