India’s historic free trade agreement with the European Union (EU) is already reverberating across South Asia, with Bangladesh and Pakistan among the countries most immediately affected, bdnews24.com reports citing Zee News. The deal will eliminate or sharply reduce tariffs on over 90 percent of EU exports to India, including machinery, chemicals, and pharmaceuticals, enabling New Delhi to expand its presence in the European market, the report added. “We were always asked how Bangladesh exports so much to Europe. Zee News notes that Islamabad fears closer India–EU trade and strategic cooperation, including counter-terrorism partnerships, could disadvantage Pakistan-backed Khalistani groups active in Europe. Beyond South Asia, the agreement has unsettled the United States, where stalled Indo-US trade talks now contrast with Europe’s growing economic partnership with India, Zee News reported.

Real Madrid were handed a quick rematch with Jose Mourinho's Benfica in the draw for the Champions League play-off round on Friday, while reigning European champions Paris Saint-Germain will face domestic rivals Monaco. PSG slipped out of the top eight after winning only one of their last five outings in the league phase and finishing in 11th place. However, 2004 Champions League finalists Monaco have been in poor form, with just one win in six games since the turn of the year. However, a 0-0 draw with Juventus on Wednesday allowed them to secure a play-off place in Europe. This season's Champions League final will be played in Budapest on May 30.

The government has launched a groundbreaking initiative fixing one-way airfare on the Saudi Arabia–Bangladesh route at Tk20,000 to ensure affordable travel for expatriate Bangladeshi workers. “Through this initiative, expatriate workers will benefit directly, while the state-owned airline, Biman Bangladesh Airlines, is also expected to gain significant financial benefits,” he said. Bashir informed that under this special arrangement, the minimum one-way fare on the Madinah–Dhaka and Jeddah–Dhaka routes has been fixed at Taka 20,500 while the minimum return fare on the Madinah–Dhaka–Madinah and Jeddah–Dhaka–Jeddah routes has been set at Tk42,000. This special fare will be applicable for arrivals in Bangladesh from April 18, 2026 to May 25, 2026, and for departures from Bangladesh from May 30, 2026 to June 30, 2026, he said. Therefore, it must be ensured that this initiative is implemented with 100% effectiveness,” Prof Yunus said.

The world must scale up efforts to alleviate the human suffering in Gaza, building on the momentum from the ceasefire’s first phase, the head of the Red Cross said Friday. “States must harness the momentum generated by the first phase of the agreement between Israel and Hamas to urgently improve the dire humanitarian conditions in Gaza,” Mirjana Spoljaric, president of the International Committee of the Red Cross, said in a statement. “Many people in Gaza are still living in the rubble without basic services, struggling to stay warm amid harsh winter conditions,” the ICRC chief said. “All states and parties to conflict have a responsibility to ensure the boundaries and protections enshrined in international humanitarian law are upheld,” said Spoljaric. “This is essential for saving lives, restoring human dignity and laying the foundations on which lasting peace can be built.”

BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Friday alleged that Jamaat-Shibir activists are repeatedly threatening female BNP workers and subjecting them to physical and psychological harassment both online and offline. He made the allegations at a press conference at the BNP chairperson’s office in Gulshan, Dhaka, where several affected female party workers were present. Rizvi noted that the party’s ameer has publicly stated that the head of his party can never be a woman. Jahangirnagar University professor Nahrin Islam said a particular political party wants women confined to their homes and described it as anti-women for promoting such a narrative. She alleged that the party exploits women to seek votes and to sell what she termed “tickets to heaven.”

While winter vegetables remain affordable in the capital’s markets, rising prices of meat, aromatic rice, and imported powdered milk are causing concern among consumers ahead of Shab-e-Barat and Ramadan. Vegetable and potato prices provide reliefVisits to markets in Narinda and Raysaheb Bazaar in Old Dhaka on Friday showed most vegetables selling for under Tk60 per kilogram. Because supply is good, prices remain reasonable. Ramadan is approaching, after all.”Meat and eggs remain expensiveDespite relief in vegetables, the prices of chicken and beef remain high. Nestlé’s Lactogen and NAN milk prices have increased by Tk50 per pack.

Joint forces have arrested 504 suspected criminals in operations carried out across the country, including the capital, over the past seven days from January 23 to 29, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Directorate on Friday. Those arrested include alleged criminals, drug dealers and users, members of robbery gangs, juvenile gang members, and smugglers. During the drives, the forces recovered 48 illegal firearms, 75 rounds of assorted ammunition, 95 crude cocktails, locally made weapons, and narcotics. After primary interrogation, the arrestees were handed over to the respective police stations for further legal action, ISPR said. Bangladesh Army said such operations would continue to ensure public safety and maintain overall law and order across the country, urging people to report any suspicious activities to the nearest army camp.

BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman has called on voters in Bogra to cast their ballots for the party’s “paddy sheaf” symbol in the upcoming national parliamentary election, asserting that the area has long been a BNP stronghold. He made the remarks while addressing an election roadshow at the Mokamtola bus stand in Shibganj upazila on Friday around 3pm. Mir Shah Alam, the BNP-nominated MP candidate for Bogra-2 (Shibganj) constituency from the “paddy sheaf” symbol, also spoke at the event. “Every time the ‘paddy sheaf’ has been given the opportunity to form a government through the people’s vote, it has worked for the development of the country and the region,” Tarique said. “Dear residents of Mokamtola, we want to develop your area once again.”At least 50,000 leaders, activists, and supporters from Mohasthan to Rahbal-Dosimana attended the roadshow.

Nahid Islam, convener of the National Citizen Party (NCP) and a candidate of the 11-party alliance, on Friday said the politics practiced during the Sheikh Hasina era would no longer continue in Bangladesh, pledging to build a discrimination-free state and keep loan defaulters and land grabbers out of parliament. Addressing voters during the campaign, Nahid said the fall of the previous government came in the face of their movement and that the time had now come to reform both the state and society. Promising an end to harassment of ordinary people, Nahid said that under his party’s rule, citizens would no longer be held hostage by political leaders. During the campaign, Nahid sought votes for his electoral symbol, the “Shapla Kali” (water lily bud), in the February 12 election. Nahid walked through various roads in the area, starting from Aftabnagar and moving through Anandnagar and Merul Badda, exchanging greetings with residents and distributing leaflets.

Election Commissioner Abul Fazal Muhammad Sanaullah expressed optimism about the upcoming polls, saying he expects citizens to participate spontaneously and actively, reflecting the vibrancy of democracy. I am very satisfied with the preparations for the Patuakhali election. I am optimistic about a beautiful and fair election,” he said while exchanging views with the Law and Order Cell and Vigilance Observation Team of Patuakhali District ahead of the National Election and Referendum on Friday. Sanaullah added that the election environment this year is significantly better than that of the last national polls. On the role of government employees during the referendum, he clarified: “Whatever is prohibited in the general election is also prohibited for the referendum.

File PhotoDHAKA, Jan 30, 2026 (BSS) - Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) has intensified security measures along the country’s border areas ahead of the forthcoming 13th national parliamentary election to ensure a peaceful, free, fair and credible polling environment slated for February 12. BGB has also strengthened border security in Rajshahi Division alongside other parts of the country’s border. BGB Rajshahi Sector Commander Colonel Syed Kamal Hossain said extensive security measures have been adopted in view of the election. Overall, more than 4,000 BGB personnel will be engaged in election duties in the Rajshahi Sector alone. Regular coordination meetings have also been held with India’s Border Security Force (BSF) to ensure calm along the border.

DHAKA, Jan 30, 2026 (BSS) – Bangladesh Coast Guard (BCG) has arrested 10 alleged drug traffickers with huge quantity of yaba tablets from Teknaf in Cox's Bazar. The BCG Media Officer Lieutenant Commander Siam-ul-Haq said that the Coast Guard Station Teknaf conducted a drive in the Naf River adjacent to Nayapara under Teknaf Police Station in Cox's Bazar at 1 pm yesterday. Haq said based on secret information, the Coast Guard arrested 10 drug traffickers from two separate boats with 25,000 pieces of contraband yaba tablets. The Coast Guard handed over the drug traffickers and seized goods to Teknaf Model Police Station for further legal action. The Coast Guard officer said BCG will continue such operations in future to prevent drug trafficking.

On the other hand, Prof Mujibur Rahman, Central Senior Nayeb-e-Ameer of Jamaat-e-Islami, is contesting as the party-nominated candidate with the party symbol 'Scales'. Two other candidates are also in the race: Meer Muhammad Shahjahan of Gono Adhiker Parishad, contesting with the 'Truck' symbol, and Abdur Rahman of Amar Bangladesh Party, contesting with the 'Eagle' symbol. Political analysts said the main contest is expected to be between the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami candidates, a scenario that is becoming increasingly common across the country. Meanwhile, Jamaat-e-Islami candidate Prof Mujibur Rahman is carrying out extensive electioneering across the constituency in support of the Scales symbol. The local Jamaat-e-Islami unit held an election rally at Kalma Union on Thursday afternoon, with Prof Mujibur Rahman attending as the chief guest.

File PhotoDHAKA, Jan 30, 2026 (BSS) - Canadian multinational oil and gas company Niko has to pay $42 million to Bangladesh as the country achieved a final victory in the international court in its long legal battle against Niko over Tengratila blowout. "An international arbitration tribunal has ordered Canadian energy company Niko Resources to pay $42 million in compensation to Bangladesh over the Chhatak gas field blowouts that occurred in 2005," said a Petrobangla official. Chairman of Petrobangla Engineer Rezanur Rahman confirmed the verdict to the media last night and said that Niko will have to pay $42 million to Bangladesh in compensation. Niko was given the responsibility of exploring gas in the Tengratila gas field in 2003. The Development Project Proposal (DPP) for drilling new wells in the Chhatak gas field has already been prepared.

BNP chief Tarique Rahman has paid his respects at the grave of Abu Sayed, the first martyr of the July 2024 mass uprising. Tarique began his party’s election campaign in Rangpur on Friday by visiting the grave in Pirganj Upazila's Babonpur village. Abu Sayed, a student of the Department of English at Begum Rokeya University in Rangpur, was shot dead by police on Jul 16, 2024. After visiting the grave, he spoke with members of Abu Sayed’s family. “It is not enough to only mark Abu Sayed’s death anniversary or visit his grave.