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Prime Minister of Poland Donald Tusk. Photo: CollectedMOSCOW, Jan 6, 2026 (BSS/TASS) - Even allies will stop taking Europe seriously if it becomes weak and divided, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk believes. "No one will take seriously a weak and divided Europe: neither enemy nor ally. We must finally believe in our own strength, we must continue to arm ourselves, we must stay united like never before. Otherwise, we are finished," he wrote on X.Tusk's remarks followed the recent US strike on Venezuela, as well as statements by US President Donald Trump about Washington's territorial claims on Greenland, which is part of Denmark.

Photo: BSSDhaka, Jan 6, 2026 (BSS)- The voting in the Jagannath University CentralStudents' Union (JnUCSU) election and hall union elections have ended andballot boxes have been taken to the counting centre by the ElectionCommission by the evening and now the vote counting is going on. A total of 66 percent votes were cast in the JnU central students' union and77 percent votes were cast at the hall union election. Briefing reporters at noon, the Chief Election Commissioner said votingconcluded with a turnout of 66.18 percent and described the electionenvironment as satisfactory. He added that as the campus is relatively small and this is the first-everJnUCSU election, some minor issues arose. Although a fewisolated incidents took place outside, the Election Commission remainedsatisfied with the overall voting atmosphere," he said.

The Non-Government Teachers’ Registration and Certification Authority (NTRCA) has announced a major recruitment drive to appoint 67,208 teachers and lecturers to MPO-listed private educational institutions across Bangladesh. Applications will open on Saturday and remain available until midnight on Jan 17, according to the NTRCA website on Tuesday. NTRCA said the validity of a teacher registration certificate is three years from the date of publication of the registration exam results. In line with directives from the Ministry of Education, teachers already working in MPO-listed institutions will not be eligible to apply for the same positions. The government’s Monthly Pay Order (MPO) policy for private schools and colleges has introduced several changes, including provisions to bring Bachelor’s (Honours) and Master’s-level teachers under the scheme, alongside revised criteria for institutions seeking MPO eligibility.

A total of 164 aspirants filed appeals with the Election Commission in the first two days, challenging returning officers’ decisions on the acceptance and rejection of nomination papers for the February 12 national election. The Election Commission will receive the appeal petitions till January 9 next and then the Commission, headed by Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin, will hear and dispose of the petitions from January 10 to 18. A total of 2,568 aspirants submitted nomination papers for the country’s 300 constituencies by the December-29 deadline to contest the 13th parliamentary election. The Election Commission on December 11 last announced the election schedule to arrange the national election and the referendum on the July National Charter (Constitutional Reform) Implementation Order simultaneously on February 12, 2026. The election campaign will start on January 22 and continue till 48 hours before the balloting period (7:30am on February 10).

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus’s office plans to engage mosques, temples, churches, and other religious institutions across Bangladesh to encourage public participation in the upcoming referendum. Officials said religious leaders from other faiths will also be engaged, and the Ministry of Religious Affairs is printing thousands of leaflets to distribute nationwide. He expressed confidence that people across Bangladesh will understand the importance of a “Yes” vote and the objectives of the July Charter. Referring to the 1977 referendum, Alam noted that literacy has risen from around 27% then to nearly 80% today. Tuesday’s meeting included the religious affairs adviser, ministry officials, and religious figures such as Maulana Mizanur Rahman Azhari and Shaykh Ahmadullah.

“Those who are still spreading confusion about the election, we see their profiles are very clear. Why are they spreading confusion? We think we are very well prepared,” said Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam. “If you look at the presence in terms of crowd and numbers, there have never been such big events in Bangladesh,” he said. Chief Adviser’s Senior Assistant Press Secretary Foyez Ahammad also spoke at the media briefing.

Sellers are continuing to sell liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) at inflated prices despite ongoing government drives, with some 12-kg cylinders reportedly fetching Tk2,500 taka. Experts say controlling LPG prices remains challenging and they stress the need for social awareness. “Since the government has set the price, and LPG operators say cylinders are being sold at higher retail prices, social resistance is necessary,” a source said. When this reporter posed as a customer, several shops reported that a 12-kg cylinder now costs Tk2,500. What can we do?”A shop on Road 12, C Block, Banasree, also confirmed the 12-kg cylinder price at TK2,500 and said no discounts were possible.

Incidents of physical abuse of students by teachers in educational institutions across Bangladesh have once again reached an alarming level. Despite the existence of laws, policies, and clear court directives, corporal punishment continues in practice. When I go to school, I feel like I will be beaten again.”Child psychiatrist Dr Farhana Yasmin said corporal punishment causes deep trauma. “This stems from inadequate teacher training and weak monitoring systems.”Corporal punishment in educational institutions is legally prohibited in Bangladesh. The National Education Policy 2010 bans all forms of corporal punishment, while in 2011 the High Court declared it illegal and a violation of human rights.

The long-awaited Jagannath University (JnU) Central Students’ Union (JnUCSU) and hall union elections were held in a festive atmosphere on Tuesday, marking the first-ever JnUCSU election in the university’s 21-year history. JnUCSU Election Commissioner Professor Md Shahidul Islam said: “We commenced the counting process. It feels wonderful to participate in my first JnUCSU election.”Mujahid, a student of the Department of Bangla, said: “Today’s turnout shows how important the JnUCSU election is for students. He claimed: “Two suspicious women were handed over to the police by Chhatra Dal members, only for Shibir members to intervene.” He called for administrative action. Legal action must be taken against Chhatra Dal members who harassed our female workers.”He alleged that four female students, including Mahima from the Law Department, were harassed by Chhatra Dal members.

Of the total centers, 8,746 have been marked as highly risky, 16,359 as risky, and 17,359 as general. Additional security will be deployed at risky and highly risky centers. According to Police Headquarters data, of the 2,131 polling centers under the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), 695 are highly risky and 1,133 risky. Division-wise, more than half of the 8,031 polling centers in Dhaka Division are risky or highly risky. Risky and highly risky centers will be under round-the-clock surveillance using body cameras.

Shipping and Labour and Employment Adviser Brig Gen (retd) Dr M Sakhawat Hussain urged the nation and future leadership to uphold the legacy of those who sacrificed their lives during the July uprising of 2024. Sakhawat said that nearly 1,400 people were killed in the July uprising as the Awami League government launched ruthless crackdown on protesters. "The brave July heroes gave their fresh blood to combat fascism" he said, asserting that the nation would remember their contribution for as long as Bangladesh exists. In his current capacity as an adviser for the Ministry of Shipping and the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Sakhawat Hossain has prioritized providing employment for those involved in the July movement. Furthermore, Sakhawat expressed deep gratitude for being able to provide employment opportunities for several July heroes at the Chattogram Port and other locations under his ministries.

DHAKA, Jan 6, 2026 (BSS) - The ACC today filed five cases against 15 people, including former chairman of Premier Bank HBM Iqbal for embezzling about Taka 81.7 million in the name of advertisement promotions. According to the ACC, the accused, in connivance with each other, misappropriated the money in 2020 against five work orders issued for advertisement promotions. The accused include the bank’s former chairman, several directors and senior officials, as well as the Managing Director of an advertising firm, Mind Tree Limited. The ACC investigation revealed that in 2020, Premier Bank authorities issued five work orders worth about Taka 92.5 million to Mind Tree Limited for advertising on various television channels. The prominent accused in the cases are former Premier Bank Chairman HBM Iqbal, several directors and senior officials of the bank and Mind Tree Limited’s Managing Director Iqbal Al Mahmud.

[1] In the national elections slated for February 12, 2026, the country's Islamist forces, primarily led by Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and an Islamist faction of youth leaders who emerged from the street protests of July 2024, are eyeing real power, hoping to ride on the strength of Gen Z. The Awami League is barred from elections. There are early indications that Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has left 30 seats for the NCP, the party that emerged from the protest movement. The BNP members have also done so in the past, having voted for the Awami League despite its secular outlook. As the Awami League is restricted from participating in this election, BNP is expected to win a large share of the Awami League votes.

Photo: BSSRAJSHAHI, Jan 6, 2026 (BSS)- Rajshahi City Corporation (RCC) has sought close-coordination with all the internal line departments for boosting civic services. This was revealed in a coordination meeting with heads of the internal departments held today at RCC conference hall with Commissioner of Rajshahi division and RCC Administration Dr ANM Bazlur Rashid in the chair. Dr Bazlur Rashid called for formulating a master plan coordinating RCC and the development associate institutions for sustainable developments. Terming the city corporation as a service-oriented institution, he said the RCC has been providing civic services side by side with extending cooperation to other institutions. In his remarks, RMP Commissioner Dr Zillur Rahman underscored the need for bringing the entire city under close circuit cameras to ensure security to all.