A Dhaka court has fixed January 15 for a hearing on the acceptance of charges submitted in the murder case of Inqilab Moncho spokesperson Sharif Osman bin Hadi. They are Abdus Sobhan Tarafdar, Barrister SM Mainul Karim, and Assistant Attorney General Mustafizur Rahman Mukul. On January 6, DB Inspector Faisal Ahmed, the investigating officer of the case, submitted charges against 17 accused. He was first taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital and later shifted to Evercare Hospital. As his condition worsened, he was flown to Singapore by air ambulance on December 15 for advanced treatment, where he died on December 18.

Two Ansar personnel have been detained over the rape of a housewife who sought safety at Manikganj’s 250-bed General Hospital, police said Monday. The on-duty Ansar personnel, Shahadat Hossain and Abu Saeed, offered assistance and took the couple inside the hospital. The husband was left on the ground floor while the woman was taken to the second floor and raped. Police interrogated all on-duty Ansar personnel, and upon identification by the victim, the accused were taken into custody. Manikganj District Police Superintendent Mohammad Sarwar Alam visited the hospital to check on the victim’s condition and confirmed her ongoing treatment.

Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police have arrested five Chinese nationals along with eight others, including members of a Telegram fraud gang, during a raid in the capital. Authorities seized 50,000 SIM cards of various operators and a large quantity of illegal VOIP equipment, said The DMP Media Division confirmed the arrests on Monday but did not specify the exact location or timing of the operation. A press conference will be held regarding he matter at the DMP Media Center on TuesdayMuhammad Talebur Rahman, deputy commissioner of the DMP Media Division, said: “The DB seized over 50,000 SIM cards, mobile phones, and a large amount of VOIP equipment, and arrested eight members of a Telegram fraud gang, including five Chinese nationals.”

An investigation committee probing allegations surrounding Bangladesh’s three controversial national parliamentary elections — held in 2014, 2018, and 2024 — has reported that 80% of votes in the 2018 election were cast at night. According to the committee, opposition parties, including the BNP, participated in the 2018 election without fully understanding the then ruling Awami League’s extensive strategy, aimed at ensuring the party’s victory. In the 2024 election, the BNP and other opposition parties boycotted the vote. Following the system’s removal, appointments to the Election Commission were made in a non-transparent manner, favoring loyalists. Cooperation from agencies like NSI helped uncover substantial corruption within the Election Commission,” he said.

The government has directed four press officers posted at Bangladesh missions abroad to be relieved of their duties immediately and return home. The officers are: First Secretary (Press) Sufi Abdullahil Maruf at the Bangladesh High Commission in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; First Secretary (Press) Md Arifur Rahman at the Bangladesh Consulate General in Dubai, United Arab Emirates; Second Secretary (Press) Asaduzzaman Khan at the Bangladesh Embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; and Second Secretary (Press) Md Imranul Hasan at the Bangladesh Embassy in Tokyo, Japan. A later notification issued on April 13 revoked that decision, allowing them to continue their duties until new officers were appointed to the missions. The notification said that new officers have since been appointed to those missions and the necessary government orders have been issued in their favour. In view of this, the four officials have now been instructed to be mandatorily relieved from their duties with immediate effect and return to Bangladesh.

Non-fiction books play a crucial role in shaping thinking and providing deep, verified, and analytical knowledge, Education Adviser Dr CR Abrar said on Monday, as the three-day Ninth Non-Fiction Book Fair concluded at Dhaka University (DU). “They (Non-fiction books) shape thinking, raise questions, teach reasoning, and help us understand society. Amid social media, rapid news cycles, and fragmented opinions, the need for deep, verified, and analytical knowledge is greater than ever. Non-fiction books play an indispensable role in meeting that need,” Abrar said, underlining the significance of the fair in bringing research and scholarship from the university to the wider public. The fair underscored the growing importance of non-fiction in fostering analytical thinking and a knowledge-based society in Bangladesh.

Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam on Monday said they recognize the significance of the UN Security Council decision to establish the International Stabilization Force (ISF) for Gaza and understand that some Muslim countries are interested in participating in the force. These include, among others, that the ISF should be temporary and operate under a clear UN Security Council mandate, he said, adding that there must be permanent ceasefire and complete withdrawal of all Israeli forces from Gaza; and the responsibilities for Gaza will be transferred to the Palestinians. Bangladesh noted that the United Nations Security Council, on 17th November 2025, adopted resolution 2803 which provided for, among other things, the establishment of an ISF for Gaza. Shafiqul said all Muslim countries members of the Security Council voted for the resolution. He also said a number of other Arab and Muslim countries jointly recommended the adoption of the resolution by the Security Council.

Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser Prof Ali Riaz addressed a conference of Imams of Rajshahi division at Hazrat Shah Makhdum Edigah today. Photo: BSSRAJSHAHI, Jan 12, 2026 (BSS)- Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser Prof Ali Riaz has said a mandate of the voters (referendum) on the July Charter is indispensable for future Bangladesh’s state structure and full-length establishment of democracy. Ali Riaz said this while addressing a conference of Imams of Rajshahi division at Hazrat Shah Makhdum Edigah in the city today. Prof Ali Riaz said some differences among the political parties were seen on the issue of signing of the July National Charter. Prof Ali Reaz also said if the people give verdict to the fundamental structure of state operation the next governments will be compelled to function according the peoples will.

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Gwynda L. Hook, age 75, passed away peacefully on January 4, 2026, at the Cornerstone Hospice House in The Villages, Florida, after a brief illness. Gwynda was born in Baltimore, Maryland, on March 26, 1950. Friends and family describe her as kind and giving, with a great sense of humor, a feisty nature, and a fierce love for family and friends. She will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her, and her kindness, compassion, and unwavering devotion to family and friends will be remembered always. A Celebration of Life is being planned for a later date in Maryland, with details to be shared with family and friends.

DHAKA, Jan 12, 2026 (BSS) -The BCF FIDE Blitz Rating Chess Tournament,organized by the Bangladesh Chess Federation (BCF), begins tomorrow(Tuesday), at the hall-room of BCF. This tournament is open to all and interested chess players are requested opresent at the venue in time. The tournament will be conducted under the Swiss-League system and thewinners' will be awarded a total cash prize of Taka 30,000 (thirty thousandtaka).

Analysts believe that some policy and administrative decisions made during the interim government have created additional pressure for the next elected government. However, to increase investment, it is necessary to improve the law-and-order situation, reduce administrative complexity, and ensure policy stability—which is not an easy task in political reality." The Center for Policy Dialogue (CPD) says the biggest challenge for the next elected government will be to restore investment and control inflation. However, according to Fahmida Khatun, it is not possible to restore the entire economy in one and a half years. According to the CPD, consumers are not benefiting from the international price decline due to weak market management, rising production costs, and influential business syndicates.

Brent Christensen, the newly appointed 18th United States Ambassador to Bangladesh, arrived in Dhaka on Monday evening (12 January). Diplomatic sources said Ambassador Christensen is expected to present his credentials to President Mohammed Shahabuddin later this week. Following the ceremony, he pledged to strengthen bilateral relations between the United States and Bangladesh. A seasoned diplomat and senior member of the US Foreign Service, Christensen previously served in Dhaka as Political and Economic eounsellor from 2019 to 2021. From 2022 to 2025, Christensen served as Foreign Policy adviser to the United States Strategic Command.

'We are not there yet', EU says on talking to PutinEU spokeswoman Paula Pinho. "At some point there will have to be talks, also with President Putin, and inthe meantime, a lot of work is being done. Unfortunately, we're not seeingany signs by President Putin to be engaging," EU spokeswoman Paula Pinhosaid. Trump has spoken repeatedly to Putin and US negotiators have held multiplerounds of talks with counterparts from Moscow. Any push to talk to Putin would likely face resistance from more hawkishcountries along the bloc's eastern border who are profoundly wary of dealingwith Russia.

Chief Adviser’s Special Assistant for the Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges Sheik Moinuddin inaugurated the mobile app service at the DTCA in Dhaka. The authorities said that through the app, users can safely recharge their Rapid Pass and MRT Pass without visiting counters. After logging in, previously linked cards will be displayed automatically, and users can add new Rapid Pass or MRT Pass cards if needed. Earlier, on November 25 last year, online recharge facilities were introduced through the Rapid Pass website at Agargaon Metro Station. Following that announcement, the Android-based Rapid Pass app was made available on the Google Play Store from January 1 this year.