Several students at Jagannath University have said they were unable to cast their ballots in the central students’ union election after polling closed on Tuesday afternoon. Voting in the Jagannath University Central Students’ Union (JnUCSU) election began at 9 am on Tuesday at 178 booths across 39 polling centres in five university buildings and continued without interruption until 3 pm, reports bdnews24.com. Some students who arrived later said they believed voting would continue beyond the official closing time. One student, Nayeem Bhuiyan, said that he had been informed polling would run until 4 pm, but found the campus gates closed when he arrived. When I came to vote, the gates were already shut.”Several other students also expressed frustration at missing the opportunity to vote.

Voting in the Jagannath University Central Students’ Union (Jucsu) and hall parliament elections ended peacefully and in a festive atmosphere on Tuesday. From early morning, students were seen entering the campus in long queues, creating a vibrant and celebratory environment. A total of 157 candidates contested the Jucsu central parliament and 33 candidates ran for the hall parliament. There are 16,735 registered voters for the central parliament and 1,247 for the hall parliament. In total, 38 polling stations were set up for the central parliament and one for the hall parliament, with 190 candidates contesting 34 posts.

COLOMBO, Jan 6, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Sri Lanka recalled Test captain Dhananjaya de Silva to the T20 squad Tuesday for a three-match home series against Pakistan ahead of the World Cup. All-rounder De Silva has not played a T20 since June 2024 against the Netherlands. The 18-member squad will be led by Dasun Shanaka as Sri Lanka gear up for the T20 World Cup next month, which they co-host with India. The opening T20 against Pakistan will be on Wednesday with the next on Friday and the final match on Sunday. Squad: Dasun Shanaka (capt), Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara, Kusal Mendis, Kusal Perera, Dhananjaya de Silva, Charith Asalanka, Janith Liyanage, Kamindu Mendis, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Dushan Hemantha, Traveen Mathew, Dushmantha Chameera, Matheesha Pathirana, Nuwan Thushara, Eshan Malinga.

DHAKA, Jan 6, 2026 (BSS) - The Chief Adviser's Press Wing today debunked communal link regarding obstruction to cremation of an elderly Hindu woman in Ullapara of Sirajganj. "Multiple social media posts have claimed that 'Tawhidi Janata' obstructed the cremation of an elderly Hindu woman in Ullapara, Sirajganj. Besides, the incident has been shown as minority repression," the press wing said in a statement shared on its verified Facebook page - CA Press Wing Facts. Claiming that there is no communal connection to this incident, the statement said due to internal disputes within the Hindu community over the name-change of the crematorium, cremation of the Hindu woman in Ullapara was temporarily got complicated. The relatives of the woman protested when the person, who was in charge of crematorium, was delaying to give its key.

Photo : BSSPANCHAGARH, Jan 6, 2026 (BSS) - A spell of severe cold has been gripping the country's northern district of Panchagarh for the last few days as a mild cold wave is sweeping over the area, causing a sharp fall in temperature and disrupting normal life. The temperature dropped by 4.2 degrees Celsius within a day as 8.6 degrees Celsius was recorded at 9 am today at the Tetulia Weather Observation Centre. According to the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD), temperatures ranging from 8.1 to 10 degrees Celsius indicate a mild cold wave. Considering the prevailing temperature, a mild cold wave is currently sweeping over Panchagarh. Officer-in-Charge of Tetulia Weather Observation Centre Jitendranath Ray said upper-level cloud cover and dense fog are making the cold feel more severe.

Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado said Monday she plans to return home “as soon as possible,” and slammed the interim president in Caracas. In her first public comments since a social media post over the weekend, when the US military forcibly removed president Nicolas Maduro from power, the Nobel Peace Prize winner vowed to return to her country. “I’m planning to go back to Venezuela as soon as possible,” Machado told broadcaster Sean Hannity on Fox News, speaking from an undisclosed location. Machado said Rodriguez is “rejected” by the Venezuelan people, and voters were on the opposition’s side. “In free and fair elections, we will win by over 90 percent of the votes, I have no doubt about it,” Machado said.

Activists said on Tuesday that at least 35 people have been killed in clashes linked to ongoing protests across Iran, with demonstrations continuing unabated. According to the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency, more than 1,200 people have been arrested since the protests began over a week ago. The group reported that those killed include 29 demonstrators, four children, and two members of Iran’s security forces. The organization, which gathers information through a network of activists inside Iran, has previously provided reliable data during periods of unrest. Economic pressure has intensified as sanctions tightened and the country struggled in the aftermath of a 12-day conflict with Israel.

JnUCSU Chatra Dal VP candidate pledges to work with whoever is electedMd Rakib, a vice-president (VP) candidate of the Chatra Dal-backed ‘Oikoboddho Nirbik Jobian’ panel in the JnUCSU elections spoke to journalists today. Photo: BSSDHAKA, Jan 06, 2026 (BSS) – Md Rakib, a vice-president (VP) candidate of the Chatra Dal-backed ‘Oikoboddho Nirbik Jobian’ panel in the Jagannath University Central Students’ Union (JnUCSU) elections, today said he would work with whoever is elected in the polls. Md Rakib said that after a long wait, the JnUCSU elections are finally being held today. This time, a total of 16,645 voters are participating in the JnUCSU and Hall Union elections. A total of 157 candidates are contesting for 21 posts in the JnUCSU election, while 33 candidates are vying for 13 Hall Union posts.

Photo : CollectedDHAKA, Jan 6, 2026 (BSS) - The Advisers Council Committee on Government Purchase today recommended approval of separate proposals to procure lentil and edible oil to stabilise the market for essential commodities ahead of the Holy Month of Ramadan. The proposal was placed by the Ministry of Commerce, with Payel Automatic Food Processing Mills, Chattogram selected as the supplier. The committee also approved import of 1,35,75,000 litres of refined soybean oil under the international Direct Procurement Method (DPM) at a cost of around Taka 178.47 crore, with the per litre price set at Taka 131.47. The soybean oil will be imported from Thailand through Prime Corp World Company Limited. Meanwhile, a separate proposal to procure soybean oil through national tender was withdrawn at the request of the Ministry of Commerce.

Photo : CollectedDHAKA, Jan 6, 2026 (BSS) – The Advisers Council Committee on Government Purchase today recommended approval of several fuel oil and crude oil import proposals to meet the country’s growing energy demand during 2026. Under the government-to-government arrangements, refined fuel oil will be imported from seven companies of different countries at an estimated cost of Taka 10,826.11 crore during the January-June period of 2026. The suppliers include PetroChina, China, ENOC, UAE, IOCL, India, OQT, Thailand, PTLCL, Malaysia, BSP, Indonesia, and UNIPEC, China. The committee also recommended importing 700,000 metric tons of Murban grade crude oil from Abu Dhabi National Oil Company at a cost of around Taka 5,542.86 crore, and 800,000 metric tons of Arabian Light Crude from Saudi Aramco costing around Taka 6,320.22 crore. In addition, the committee approved the import of 180,000 metric tons of diesel through the India–Bangladesh Friendship Pipeline from Numaligarh Refinery Limited, with an estimated cost of Taka 1,461.76 crore.

National Citizen Party (NCP) Convener Nahid Islam on Monday said the entire incident involving Tahrima Jannat Surovi, popularly known as a “July warrior”, was false and fabricated. Tahrima, who was granted bail and released from jail on Monday night, did not receive justice, Nahid said while visiting her residence late at night. “Justice was not served to Tahrima Jannat Surovi. The NCP leader said the incident involving Surovi was part of a continued effort to malign such individuals. Later, a revision petition was filed, and the court granted bail to Tahrima on Monday night.

Photo : CollectedDHAKA, Jan 6, 2026 (BSS) – The government today approved a proposal for procuring some 40,000 metric tons of bulk granular fertilizer from Saudi Arabia for the current fiscal year (FY26) to meet the growing demand for such key agricultural input. The approval came from the 1st meeting of the Advisers Council Committee on Government Purchase in this year held today at the Cabinet Division Conference Room at Bangladesh Secretariat with Finance Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed in the chair. The fertiliser will be imported from SABIC Agri-nutrients Company, Saudi Arabia, under the 15th lot. Placed by the Ministry of Industries, the proposal involves a total cost of Taka 191.41 crore, with the price fixed at US$390 per ton.

Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Adviser Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan on Tuesday said the abnormal rise in Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) prices was created by retail and wholesale traders. The adviser said the government has ordered the authorities to conduct mobile courts across the country through district administrations and police to tackle the situation. “Those who expected LPG prices to rise saw that BERC increased the price by Tk53 or so and many tried to take advantage of that. We have asked the cabinet secretary to ensure mobile courts are conducted in every district. There is no real reason for such abnormal price hike and this has been done through manipulation, he added.

The government has stopped issuing new permits for onion imports from India through Hili land port, citing the interest of domestic farmers. On Monday alone, some 344 tons of onions arrived at Hili land port in 12 trucks. Onion importer at Hili land port Mobarak Hossain said the government had allowed onion imports earlier to curb rising prices in the domestic market. Deputy Assistant Quarantine Officer of the Hili Land Port Plant Quarantine Centre Yusuf Ali said onions were being imported from India on Monday under previously issued permits. “No new import permits have been issued since Monday morning,” he said, adding that higher authorities have confirmed that fresh permits will not be approved.

Run-machine Travis Head hit a swashbuckling 163 and Steve Smith a composed unbeaten 129 as Australia built a 134-run lead over England to seize control on day three of the fifth and final Ashes Test on Tuesday. Australia lead the series 3-1 and have already retained the Ashes, with England desperate for another morale-boosting win after victory at the previous Test in Melbourne. Nice to start my innings on the back of a great innings from Travis Head," Smith told Fox Sports. Skipper Smith treated Bethell with contempt, launching him for a big six on his way to a 37th Test hundred. Batting like a top-order batsman, he smacked four boundaries before getting a thin edge to wicketkeeper Jamie Smith off Carse.