A Dhaka court on Monday placed three people on a seven-day remand in connection with the murder of Swechhasebak Dal leader Azizur Rahman Musabbir in Tejturi Bazar, Karwan Bazar, the capital. Dhaka Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Jashita Islam ordered the remand for Billal, Riaz (32) and Abdul Qadir (28) following a request by the investigation officer. During proceedings, accused Riaz claimed he was not present at the scene, saying, “I was at work that day. I have been arrested without any reason.”The shooting occurred around 8:30pm last Thursday in an alley beside Hotel Super Star in West Tejturi Bazar. Musabbir and Masud were shot, and Musabbir was declared dead at a local hospital.

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on Monday urged Japanese investors to expand their investments in Bangladesh and recruit more Bangladeshi workers for employment in Japan, the world’s fourth-largest economy. He made the call when former Japanese First Lady Akie Abe and a delegation of Japanese entrepreneurs paid a courtesy visit to him at the State Guest House Jamuna in central Dhaka. Abe praised Professor Yunus’s leadership in restoring peace and stability in Bangladesh and guiding the country’s economic recovery. During the meeting, the two sides discussed potential cooperation in investment, marine research, and the recruitment of caregivers and nurses for Japan, which is facing rapid population aging. He noted that Bangladesh has already signed agreements with Japanese investors to send at least 100,000 workers to Japan over the next five years and sought the support of Ms Abe and the Japanese delegation to further increase recruitment.

DHAKA, Jan 11, 2026 (BSS) - Bangladesh Bank (BB) today purchased US$81 million from 10 commercial banks through multiple auction methods as part of its ongoing strategy to curb the depreciation of the US dollar against the taka and revitalise the remittance and export sectors. According to central bank data, it bought dollars today at the rate of Tk 122.30. Accordingly, total purchases stood at $698 million in January 2026 and $3,833.50 million in FY 2025–26 to date.

CARACAS, Jan 12, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Venezuela said on Monday 116 political prisoners had been released since the government announced last week it would begin freeing those jailed under president Nicolas Maduro, who was seized by US forces in a raid on Caracas. "These measures have benefited individuals deprived of liberty for acts related to disrupting the constitutional order and undermining the Nation's stability," the Ministry of the Penitentiary Service said in a statement. The statement put the number of those released at 116, although opposition and rights groups have reported lower figures.

The trial of former adviser to ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina, Salman F Rahman, and former law minister Anisul Huq formally began on Monday after the International Crimes Tribunal framed charges against them over allegations of inciting genocide and organising crimes against humanity during the July–August crackdown on the anti-discrimination student movement. A three-member bench of International Crimes Tribunal-1, led by Chairman Justice Md Golam Mortuza Majumder, passed the order. At the outset of the hearing, lawyers representing Salman F Rahman and Anisul Huq pleaded not guilty and sought their discharge from the case. Tribunal member Justice Md Shafiul Alam Mahmud then read out the charges. The prosecution submitted the formal charges on December 4, which the tribunal took cognisance of on the same day.

Human rights leader and chairperson of Bangladesh Human Rights Foundation (BHRF), Advocate Alena Khan called on human rights activists and concerned citizens to come forward to support people suffering from severe cold across the country. Speaking at the meeting, Advocate Khan said compassion is one of the greatest human values and stressed that people should rise above all differences to help those in need during difficult times. The meeting was chaired by Advocate Alena Khan and conducted by BHRF secretary general Advocate Zia Habib Ahsan. During the meeting, trustee board member Lion Salma Adil MJF, also the Founder of the Salma Adil Foundation, donated Tk50,000 to support winter relief initiatives. In addition, awards were announced for branches that observed World Human Rights Day on December 10, 2025.

The incident occurred around 11am in the Shahjahan Island area along the Hoaikyong border in Teknaf upazila. The blast came a day after a child was injured by gunfire from Myanmar in the same border area. Locals also formed a human chain demanding proper treatment for Huzaifa Afnan, the child injured by cross-border firing on Sunday, and stronger security measures along the border. Mohammad Amin, a resident of Lambabil, said locals had earlier taken part in a human chain demanding security and treatment for the injured child. Border residents are spending their days in extreme insecurity,” he said.

Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen met Ameer of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Dr Shafiqur Rahman on Monday and discussed ways to strengthen party-to-party exchanges. The two sides had in-depth discussions on China-Bangladesh relations, party-to-party exchanges and other issues of common interest in a cordial and constructive atmosphere, said the Chinese Embassy in Dhaka. Both sides agreed to further strengthen party-to-party exchanges, deepen friendly cooperation in various fields, promote the development of the Bangladesh-China Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership, so as to bring more benefit to the people of both countries.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has said campaigning for the referendum is not the responsibility of the BNP, stressing that participation and choice rest with the people. “It is the people’s responsibility to vote. Responding to questions about the exclusion of cricketer Mustafizur Rahman from the IPL, Mirza Fakhrul said: “I used to play cricket and was also involved with the cricket board. Cricket involves international issues, and the honour of our country is linked with it. Commenting on the electoral environment, Fakhrul said a fair atmosphere currently exists, adding that the real situation would become clear once election campaigning begins.

The sluggish pace of development project implementation is likely to continue through the current fiscal year, Planning Adviser Professor Wahiduddin Mahmud said on Monday. Prof Wahiduddin said while the quality of projects has improved overall development spending has been constrained by structural, administrative and political factors. “The government has focused on better quality and accountability even though these reforms have temporarily slowed project execution,” he added. The Planning Adviser also acknowledged longstanding weaknesses in project management including shortages of competent project directors, delays, and cost overruns. To address this, NEC approved the creation of a pool of trained civil servants for key planning and project management roles.

Health officials on Monday said they recorded 33 fresh cases of dengue onslaughts, killing at least one person in the past 24 hours. "We recorded death of one dengue patient in 24 hours ending at 8 am today," a spokesman of Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) said adding his office simultaneously recorded 33 fresh cases of dengue onslaughts during the same period. Since the start of the dengue onslaughts Bangladesh this year witnessed so far one death while the disease inflicted 610 people. The dengue last year claimed 413 lives and inflicted 1,02,861 people in the country. Besides, the dengue claimed 575 lives and inflicted 1,01,214 people in 2024.

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 on Monday. District Administration and Islamic Foundation organized the conference aimed at publicity for the referendum and motivating the voters. 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.

Bangladesh’s T20 World Cup campaign has been plunged into fresh controversy after Youth and Sports Adviser Asif Nazrul said the International Cricket Council (ICC) has formally flagged the inclusion of star pacer Mustafizur Rahman in the Bangladesh squad as a potential security risk. According to Asif Nazrul, the ICC letter warned that the overall security threat could increase if Mustafizur is part of the squad, if Bangladeshi supporters are seen wearing the national team jersey, and as India’s election period draws closer. However, the Sports Adviser revealed that the ICC security team has already communicated its assessment in a separate letter, outlining three factors that would significantly increase security risks for the Bangladesh team in India. “This statement of the ICC security team has proven beyond doubt that there is no situation for the Bangladesh cricket team to play the T20 World Cup in India,” he said. “We believe that the prevailing communal situation in India and the anti-Bangladesh atmosphere… have made it impossible for Bangladesh to play cricket in India,” he said, adding that he would make the ICC security letter available to the media.

Prime Bank PLC has taken another meaningful step toward inclusive banking by distributing Braille books among persons with visual impairments, ensuring that financial knowledge is accessible to all. The initiative, carried out recently in Savar in collaboration with Team Inclusion Bangladesh, reflects the bank’s deep commitment to empowering underserved communities. Building on its earlier Consumer Banking Braille books initiative, Prime Bank expanded its efforts through the distribution of CMSME Banking Braille books, enabling visually impaired individuals to better understand banking products, services and opportunities. Recognizing that access goes beyond information, the Bank also arranged on-the-spot bank account opening services, allowing participants to immediately enter the formal banking system. The engagement served as a heartfelt reminder that financial inclusion is not merely a service—it is a responsibility toward building a more compassionate and inclusive society.

Former Japanese First Lady Akie Abe and a delegation of Japanese entrepreneurs met with Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus at the State Guest House Jamuna on Sunday. Photo: CA's Press wingDHAKA, Jan 12, 2026 (BSS) - Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus has called on Japanese investors to expand investment in Bangladesh and recruit more Bangladeshi workers for employment in Japan, the world’s fourth-largest economy. During the meeting, the Chief Adviser and the former First Lady discussed potential cooperation in investment, marine research, and the recruitment of caregivers and nurses for Japan, which is facing rapid population ageing. At the invitation of the Chief Adviser, Sasakawa Foundation has also planned to sign an agreement with the newly constituted Maheshkhali–Matarbari Development Authority to establish three model fishing villages along the Chattogram coast. The Chief Adviser said his government has intensified efforts to train thousands of nurses and caregivers for employment in Japan and has expanded Japanese language training programmes to support this initiative.