DHAKA, Jan 08, 2026 (BSS) - The ACC today filed a case against 13 people, including Orion Group Chairman Mohammad Obaidul Karim, for embezzling Taka 507,51, 41,341 through “loan fraud" involving Mercantile Bank Limited. Director General of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Md. The principal accused of the case includes - Orion Group Chairman Mohammad Obaidul Karim, its Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Salman Obaidul Karim, former Managing Director and CEO of Mercantile Bank Limited Md. Kamrul Islam Chowdhury, current Managing Director of the bank Matiul Hasan, former Deputy Managing Director (DMD) and branch manager Gaus-ul-Wara Mortaza, former Vice President and Credit In-Charge Pratap Kumar Deshmukh, former Vice President and Manager (Operations) Md. The ACC investigation found that the accused had colluded to approve a loan against insufficient collateral.

DHAKA, Jan 8, 2026 (BSS) - The Election Commission (EC) has issued a circular directing authorities to take measures to prevent terrorist activities and the casting of fake votes in the 13th National Parliamentary Election. The circular, issued today, stated that preventive actions must be taken against illegal activities such as voting under false identity, abduction, use of force or intimidation, terrorist acts, display or use of weapons or muscle power, canvassing within 400 yards of polling centres on polling day, unruly conduct, unlawful interference, and any interference with the secrecy of voting.

Corsicana, TX (75110)TodayConsiderable cloudiness. Occasional rain showers in the afternoon. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%..TonightA few clouds. NNW winds at 5 to 10 mph, increasing to 10 to 20 mph.

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Chief Adviser Professor Professor Muhammad Yunus presided over the Council of Advisers' weekly meeting this morning at his Tejgaon office. The ordinances are: the Personal Data Protection (Amendment) Ordinance 2026, the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (Amendment) Ordinance 2026, the Bangladesh Forest Industries Development Corporation Ordinance 2026, the Third Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC 3.0) and the Supreme Court Secretariat (Amendment) Ordinance 2026. Later, Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam briefed the media about the meeting at the Foreign Service Academy here this afternoon. About the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy ordinance, he said, the ordinance was approved, significantly expanding the Academy's institutional structure. The Council of Advisers approved the Bangladesh Forest Industries Development Corporation Ordinance 2026 replacing the outdated Forest Industries Development Corporation Ordinance of 1959.

Foreign Adviser Md Touhid Hossain. File photoDHAKA, Jan 8, 2026 (BSS) - Bangladesh will pursue diplomatic efforts to seek exemption from the United States' newly imposed visa bond requirement, Foreign Adviser Md Touhid Hossain said today, describing the measure as unfortunate but not abnormal. The foreign adviser said this non-regular immigration problem is policy-related and had been continuing since long. The US had initially included six countries in the visa bond list in August last year, later adding seven more. The website said the bond requirement for the newly added countries, with a few exceptions, will come into effect from January 21.

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Photo: TexworldDHAKA, Jan 08, 2026 (BSS) - Bangladesh is preparing to showcase its industrial strength on the global stage with 15 exhibitors confirmed for Texworld USA – New York, scheduled for January 20–22, 2026. Held at the Javits Convention Center, this event is recognized as one of the largest and most influential textile sourcing exhibitions on the U.S. East Coast, said a press release. Under the EPB’s banner, 14 leading Bangladeshi companies will participate, including M&A Composite Ltd, Golden Tex, Blue Apparel, Hera Sweaters, PM Sourcing, Excom Fashion, AB Apparels, and Design Sourcing International Corp. For Bangladesh—a nation already globally recognized for its dominance in ready-made garments and fabric exports—this event serves as a "powerful gateway". It offers local manufacturers the opportunity to forge new international partnerships, gain insights into current trend cycles, and align with global sustainable sourcing trends.

PATUAKHALI, Jan 8, 2026 (BSS) - A battery-run auto-rickshaw driver was killed and two passengers were seriously injured after a goods-laden truck ran over the auto-rickshaw in Bauphal upazila of the district today. The accident occurred around 7:00 pm today on the Bauphal-Dashmina road in front of Panchayet Bari Mosque at Kalaiya Union of the upazila. Local people rescued the injured from the spot and took them to Bauphal Upazila Health Complex. Emergency department physician Dr Nurjahan of Bauphal Upazila Health Complex said the auto-rickshaw driver Md Motaleb Munshi had died before being brought to the hospital. Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Bauphal Police Station Md Siddiqur Rahman said police were sent to the spot after receiving the news of the accident.

The case has been lodged against five individuals - Alif Industries Chairman Md. The case was filed with Gulshan Police Station on January 7, 2026, under Sections 4(2) and 4(4) of the Money Laundering Prevention Act, 2012, against the accused directors and concerned officials. Special police super of CID, media, Md Jasim Uddin Khan confirmed filing the case. At the current market rate of Tk 122 per US dollar, the amount stands at around Tk 29.77 billion. The investigation found evidence of discrepancies in both price and quantity of imported goods, leading to significant financial losses for the state through misuse of foreign currency and money laundering.

Glenn on course for Olympic berth at US Figure Skating championshipsLOS ANGELES, United States, Jan 8, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Amber Glenn upstaged world champion Alysa Liu with a record score to take the lead after the women's short program at the US Figure Skating Championships in St Louis on Wednesday. The 26-year-old two-time US champion leads world champion Liu, on 81.11, with Isabeau Levito in third. Glenn said her performance had been inspired by the memory of her grandmother Barbara, who passed away in February last year. "For some reason I just felt my grandma with me today, and that meant a lot," Glenn said. While Efimova and Mitrofanov look poised to retain their US crown, the duo are sweating on their eligibility for a place at the Olympics.

DHAKA, Jan 08, 2026 (BSS) - Bangladesh Bank (BB) today purchased US$206 million from 15 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 $617 million in January 2026 and $3,752.50 million in FY 2025–26 to date.

The interim government has amended an ordinance to include a retired chief justice as a member of the Supreme Court Secretariat Commission. The announcement was made on Thursday at the Foreign Service Academy by Chief Advisor’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam, who briefed the media on decisions taken at the Advisory Council meeting, bdnews24.com reports. “A Supreme Court Secretariat Commission will be formed,” he said. From now on, a retired chief justice will also be included as a member.”The Supreme Court Secretariat Ordinance, 2025 was issued on Nov 30 to establish a separate secretariat ensuring the full independence of the judiciary. The ordinance lists the members of the commission.

469 appeals filed with EC in four days over nomination decisionsFile photo. With this, the total number of appeals filed over the past four days has reached 469, EC officials said. Of the 174 appeals filed on Thursday, 164 were against rejection of nomination papers, while 10 were against acceptance of nomination papers. Earlier, 131 appeals were filed on Wednesday, while 122 appeals were lodged on Tuesday, the second day, against returning officers' decisions on acceptance and rejection of nominations. EC officials said appeals against acceptance and rejection of nomination papers can be filed until 5:00 pm tomorrow.

During the operations, the River Police recovered a total of 4,56,24,465 meters of banned illegal fishing nets, 3,915 kg of fish, 50,000 fish fry, and 1,120 kg of jellied shrimp, said a press release of the force. In addition, 456 bushes used for illegal fishing activities were destroyed from rivers across the country. These include 53 cases under the Fisheries Act, 10 under the Reckless Speeding Act, six cases of unintentional death, two narcotics cases, and one case each under the Naval Accident Act, River Pollution Act, extortion, Marine Fisheries Act, and murder, along with four Sand Mahal cases. The River Police stated that the seized illegal nets and jellied shrimp were destroyed in accordance with the law. The River Police have said such operations will continue to safeguard aquatic resources and maintain law and order on the country’s waterways.