AHMEDABAD, India, Jan 12, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Monday that Iran's use of "disproportionate and brutal violence" against protesters was "a sign of weakness". "We condemn this violence in the strongest possible terms," he said during a visit to India. "This violence is not an expression of strength, but rather a sign of weakness. This violence must end."
Jahangir Alam Chowdhury on Monday said corruption is the biggest enemy of the state, warning that it not only causes economic damage but also erodes state institutions and destroys public trust. The adviser said if any Ansar member acts out of personal interest, greed or political motives, it weakens the foundation of the state. “Bangladesh Ansar and VDP members are not forces of any political party or vested group. Bangladesh Ansar and VDP Director General Major General Abdul Motaleb Sazzad Mahmud and senior officials were present at the event. According to the home adviser, under the new training policy, about 56,000 Upazila/Thana Company Ansar, 255,000 VDP and TDP members, and over 3,000 Ansar Battalion members have already received basic training.
LONDON, Jan 12, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - The Russian captain of a cargo ship which hit a tanker in the North Sea off the UK coast triggering a huge fire goes on trial Monday charged with manslaughter for the death of a crew member. Vladimir Motin, 59, from St Petersburg, has been charged with one count of gross negligence manslaughter. He has pleaded not guilty and will stand trial at London's Old Bailey court which is expected to last several weeks. The stationary oil tanker was operating "in compliance" with watch requirements for an anchored vessel, its owner Crowley insisted. More than 16 tonnes (16,000 kilograms) of plastics were removed from beaches in northeastern Lincolnshire, according to the local council.
Jahangir Alam Chowdhury today said corruption is the biggest enemy of the state, warning that it is not only causes economic damage but also erodes state institutions and destroys public trust. The adviser said if any Ansar member acts out of personal interest, greed or political motives, it weakens the foundation of the state. “Bangladesh Ansar and VDP members are not forces of any political party or vested group,. Bangladesh Ansar and VDP Director General Major General Abdul Motaleb Sazzad Mahmud and senior officials were present at the event. They included 15 officers of the 41st BCS Ansar Cadre, 88 Upazila Trainers, 1,100 members of the 26th Ansar Battalion and 2,124 members of the 27th Ansar Battalion.
PARIS, France, Jan 12, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Iran's shutdown of the internet, which activists fear masks a crackdown they say has killed hundreds, has now lasted more than three-and-a-half days, a monitor said Monday. "As Iran wakes up to a new day, metrics show the national internet blackout is past the 84 hour mark," monitor Netblocks said, saying that the blackout could be circumvented with shortwave radio, connecting to cell coverage at borders, Starlink and satellite phones.
LOS ANGELES, United States, Jan 12, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - The injury-hit San Francisco 49ers sent the reigning Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles crashing out of the NFL playoffs on Sunday in a stunning wild card round upset. - Allen late show sparks Bills -In the AFC, meanwhile, Josh Allen rushed for a game-winning touchdown as the Buffalo Bills outdueled the Jacksonville Jaguars 27-24 in a roller-coaster wild card thriller. "Great game, great win," Allen said afterwards. The identity of Buffalo's opponents in the next playoff round will hinge on the outcome of other AFC wild card games being played on Sunday and Monday. In Sunday's other wild card game, the New England Patriots host the Los Angeles Chargers.
Manchester United crashed out of the FA Cup with a meek 2-1 home defeat to Brighton on Sunday as Gabriel Martinelli's hat-trick fired Arsenal to a 4-1 win at Portsmouth to reach round four. The roles were reversed midway through the second half as Welbeck lashed into the top corner against his former club. United will play only 40 games this season after exiting both domestic cup competitions at the first hurdle -- their lowest number since 1915. - Martinelli 'talking on pitch' -Martinelli shrugged off the backlash to his clash with stricken Liverpool defender Conor Bradley as Arsenal reached the fourth round for the first time in three years. Gabriel Jesus teed up Martinelli to kill the tie off early in the second period before he completed his hat-trick from another Arsenal corner.
Many young voters were active participants or close witnesses in the mass mobilization that culminated in regime change in mid-2024. In past polls, many young voters were deterred not by indifference but by fear. Turnout figures alone will not restore trust if young voters suspect that results are predetermined. In such a vote, youth participation could be even more decisive. Unlike previous moments of political transition, today’s young voters are not simply inheriting a system; they have already challenged it.
A Dhaka court on Monday ordered the discharge of actress Mehazabien Chowdhury and her brother Alishan Chowdhury in a case filed on allegations of intimidation. The order was passed by Dhaka Executive Magistrate Md Adnan Zulfiqar, confirmed defence lawyer Tuhin Hawladar. Mehazabien Chowdhury appeared before the court in the morning along with her brother, while the plaintiff was also present. Earlier, on November 16, Mehazabien Chowdhury and Alishan Chowdhury had surrendered before the court and were granted bail by Dhaka Executive Magistrate Court-3 Judge Afroza Haque Tania. Subsequently, Amirul Islam filed the case with the Dhaka Executive Magistrate’s Court.
This has produced widespread uncertainty about the purpose of universities -- and growing skepticism about their relevance. If higher education institutions wish to remain meaningful national institutions, they must break free from outdated routines and redefine their roles in ways that reflect today’s realities. On one side is society’s expectation that higher education will produce graduates who can thrive in complex, unpredictable environments. Far from being a limitation, this dual responsibility represents the defining challenge -- and opportunity -- of contemporary higher education. Only by navigating the tension between the transformational and the transactional can higher education prepare graduates for a world that changes faster than any curriculum can be rewritten.
Starting January 21, 2026, those applying for a US B1/B2 (business/tourist) visa with a Bangladeshi passport who are deemed otherwise eligible during the interview process may be required to pay a visa bond of $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000. It's essential to note that this bond is not a visa surcharge but a condition of travel. The State Department clearly states that the bond does not guarantee visa issuance. Even if the bond is assumed to be refunded, tying up cash for a certain period of time stifles households and businesses. Bonds, which appear like insurance, act thus as a double burden, tying up cash and restricting travel plans.
The recent progress in trade talks with the United States could be a hopeful turning point in bilateral economic relations for us, with the Chief Adviser’s office stating that Washington may be considering reducing Bangladesh’s current 20% reciprocal tariff rate. It is time now for us to seize this momentum. The US will remain a vital partner for just about every nation on the planet. As such, it is a time for pragmatism and partnership to converge. By embracing this approach, we can secure a stronger foothold in the US market, diversify our trade portfolio, and chart a path toward more resilient, mutually beneficial economic ties.
On December 29, Bangladesh Bank had issued a circular allowing a maximum 270-day deferred payment facility for the import of industrial raw materials. With the latest decision, LPG imports have now been brought under the same facility. Industry insiders believe the decision will help reduce immediate foreign exchange pressure linked to LPG imports and lower the risk of supply disruptions in the domestic market. In this context, the government had recommended that Bangladesh Bank facilitate LPG imports, sources said. The circular, issued by Bangladesh Bank’s Foreign Exchange Policy Department-1, was signed by the department Director Md Harun-or-Rashid.
Bangladesh is set to achieve a milestone in institutionalizing its growing freelancing sector as the country’s first national digital platform for freelancer registration and ID card management, freelancers.gov.bd, will be formally inaugurated on Tuesday. The platform’s security and technical capabilities have been successfully verified through VAPT (Vulnerability Assessment and Penetration Testing), said a press release of the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology on Monday. Implemented by the Information and Communication Technology Division (ICT Division) and the Department of ICT, the platform will allow freelancers in the country, for the first time, to obtain a government-recognized digital identification card (Freelancer ID Card). Through this ID card, registered freelancers will have easier access to banking services, loans and credit facilities, financial incentives, and various government and private training opportunities. The freelancers.gov.bd platform will also serve as a national freelancer database, maintaining updated information on the number of freelancers, their skills, types of work, and market trends.
In a country where the default approach is often to shy away from acknowledging failure, such honesty is welcome. Police reform remains among the most critical steps for the future health of the nation - and is a step that cannot be left to the police alone. At the same time, a functional nation requires a police force that protects citizens, not intimidates them. One that upholds the rule of law, not bends it to expediency and that earns trust through fairness, dignity, and accountability. Without such a force, progress and the very foundation of creating a democratic nation remains a distant dream.
