The Election Commission (EC) has instructed printing presses across Bangladesh not to print any election posters ahead of the 13th national parliamentary election, marking the first time posters have been banned in election campaigns. The directive was outlined in a letter signed on Wednesday by Mohammad Monir Hossain, deputy secretary of the EC’s Election Management-2 Wing. Letters have also been sent to all returning officers to ensure the decision is enforced. The EC cited Rule 7(a) of the Political Parties and Candidates’ Code of Conduct for Parliamentary Elections 2025, which prohibits the use of posters in election campaigns. The letter stressed that necessary measures should be taken to ensure no contesting candidate uses posters, that the Code of Conduct for Political Parties and Candidates 2025 is strictly followed, and that printing presses comply with the instruction not to produce election posters.

Dry weather likely with fog in parts of countryFile PhotoDHAKA, Jan 29, 2026 (BSS) - Weather may remain dry with temporary partly cloudy sky over the country during the next 24 hours commencing from 9 am today, according to the Bangladesh Meteorological Department. Light to moderate fog may occur at places over the country during late night to morning, it said. Night temperatures may rise slightly while day temperatures may remain nearly unchanged over the country. The highest maximum temperature recorded yesterday was 32.5 degrees Celsius in Rangamati, while the lowest minimum temperature recorded today was 10.6 degrees Celsius at Tetulia. Today's sunset at Dhaka will be at 5:42 pm, while tomorrow's sunrise is expected at 6:41 am.

MINNEAPOLIS, United States, Jan 29, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - The Trump administration said Wednesday that two immigration agents involved in the fatal shooting of a civilian in Minneapolis had been placed on leave, as the president slammed the city's mayor despite a promise to de-escalate the situation. In a bid to stem the backlash, Trump shuffled the leadership of immigration agents deployed in Minneapolis. That turned to fury this month after immigration agents shot dead two Minneapolis protesters at point-blank range in separate incidents -- Pretti and Renee Good, both US citizens. Late Tuesday, Miller said the Customs and Border Patrol agents who killed Pretti "may not have been following that protocol." Speaking to reporters in Minneapolis Wednesday evening, Omar said Trump's attacks against her helped fuel the incident.

Youth dies after being hit by train in LalmonirhatFile PhotoLALMONIRHAT, Jan 29, 2026 (BSS) - A 22-year-old youth was killed when a train hit him at Patgram Railway Station of the district early this morning. The deceased was identified as Md Munna Mia, son of Khokon Mia, a resident of Chowrangi More area under Patgram Municipality. According to police and locals, Munna was standing on the railway tracks near the mosque adjacent to the station after offering Fajr prayers. At that time, a Lalmonirhat-bound local train departing from Burimari struck him, leaving him critically injured. Local people rushed to the spot and rescued Munna, taking him to Patgram Upazila Health Complex where the on-duty doctor declared him dead.

From January 2026, 10% tax at source on all savings certificates is being deducted for all customers, regardless of the amount invested in savings certificates. National savings certificates have long been one of the safest investments for the middle class, retired and limited income people. As a result, the profit rate of savings certificates remains unchanged on paper and in writing. According to economists, savings certificates are essentially an alternative tool for social security. A large portion of investors in savings certificates seek additional income opportunities beyond regular income or pension.

Iran's foreign minister warned Wednesday its forces would respond immediately and forcefully to any US military operation after President Donald Trump declared time was running out to avoid one, but did not rule out a new deal on Tehran's nuclear program. “Iran has always welcomed a mutually beneficial, fair and equitable NUCLEAR DEAL -- on equal footing, and free from coercion, threats, and intimidation -- which ensures Iran's rights to PEACEFUL nuclear technology, and guarantees NO NUCLEAR WEAPONS,” Araghchi posted on X. Washington has expressed support for the revolt, but Trump's recent statements have focused more on Iran's nuclear program than the fate of the demonstrators. In June last year the US carried out strikes on Iranian nuclear sites during Israel's 12-day war against the Islamic Republic. Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty meanwhile held separate calls with both Araghchi and Witkoff, and stressed the need to “work towards de-escalation,” the Egyptian foreign ministry said.

Deadline for submission of income tax returns extended until Feb 28DHAKA, Jan 29, 2026 (BSS) - The National Board of Revenue (NBR) today extended the deadline for submitting income tax returns by individual taxpayers for the 2025–2026 tax year until February 28, 2026. Previously, the deadline for filing income tax returns for the concerned taxpayers was set for January 31, 2026. Meanwhile, the NBR has made online submission of income tax returns mandatory for all individual taxpayers this time. As per the order, individual taxpayers are required to submit their returns online through the NBR’s e-return portal at www.etaxnbr.gov.bd. Any person who is unable to submit an income tax return online may apply for permission to submit a paper return.

DHAKA, Jan 29, 2026 (BSS) - The interim government has expressed deep concern over the violent incident in Sherpur on Wednesday that resulted in the death of a political activist of the Jamaat-e-Islami and pledged to take legal actions against the perpetrators. “Any loss of life linked to violence is unacceptable and deeply regrettable,” said a statement issued by the Chief Adviser’s Press Wing this morning. With the national election only two weeks away, the government called on all political parties, including the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami, to demonstrate responsible leadership and ensure restraint among their supporters. “Violence, intimidation, and loss of life have no place in a democratic process,” the statement said, adding, police in Sherpur have launched an investigation into the clashes and the murder. “The interim government remains committed to ensuring a peaceful, free, and fair election,” it added.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in Middle Eastern and North African studies and shared this reflection with The Sopris Sun. It wasn’t about history or diplomacy or “conflict resolution.” It was about a quality of resilience so profound it has its own word: sumud. Steadfastness. I saw sumud in the teachers who educate children in schools, now open only three days a week because tax revenues have been withheld for years. Palestinians do not need our hashtags as much as they need us to stop fueling the machinery that oppresses them.

Chief Prosecutor Muhammad Tajul Islam made the plea during the hearing of an appeal (ICT-BD Case No. The ICT-1 on January 26 convicted and sentenced three people, including former Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Habibur Rahman, to death in the case. The other two condemned convicts are former DMP Joint Commissioner Sudip Kumar Chakraborty and former Additional Deputy Commissioner Shah Alam Mohammad Akhtarul Islam. It also sentenced former assistant commissioner of DMP’s Ramna Zone Mohammad Imrul to six years’ imprisonment. Chief Prosecutor Muhammad Tajul Islam expressed dissatisfaction over the verdict on the day of its delivery and said the prosecution would file an appeal.

Photo : CA's Press WingDHAKA, Jan 29, 2026 (BSS) - Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus has said that the repatriation of more than one million Rohingyas to their homeland in Myanmar’s Rakhine State remains the only viable and sustainable solution to the crisis. He said prolonged stay of the Rohingyas in the camps could never be a solution, as it had already created tensions with host communities, and called for renewed international efforts to ensure repatriation. Our job is to make sure they return to their homeland in peace and dignity,” the Chief Adviser said. The meeting also covered the Rohingya situation in Bhasan Char, the upcoming general elections and referendum, and the country’s democratic transition. Ivo Freijsen said that Barham Salih, the newly appointed UNHCR chief, has expressed keen interest in visiting Bangladesh in the near future and is expected to travel to the Rohingya camps.

Shahjahan Mia. Photo: BSSCHANDPUR, Jan 29, 2026 (BSS) – Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami candidate for the Chandpur-3 constituency, Shahjahan Mia, has pledged to build a corruption-free and aesthetically pleasing Chandpur. Shahjahan Mia, a layer by profession, is the Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami-nominated candidate for the Chandpur-3 (Sadar–Haimchar) constituency. In the 13th national election, a total of seven candidates from different parties are contesting in the Chandpur-3 constituency. They are BNP candidate Sheikh Farid Ahmed, Jamaat-e-Islami candidate Md Shahjahan Mia, Gono Forum leader Selim Akbar, Communist Party of Bangladesh leader Md Jahangir Hossain, Gano Odhikar Parishad leader Md Zakir Hossain, Islami Andolan Bangladesh leader Md Zainal Abedin Sheikh and Bangladesh Islami Front leader AHM Ahsan Ullah.

Photo: BSSCHANDPUR, Jan 29, 2026 (BSS) – Gono Forum candidate for the Chandpur-3 (Sadar–Haimchar) constituency Advocate Selim Akbar has said that if elected, he would work to make Chandpur discrimination-free and create equal opportunities for every citizen. Selim Akbar, the Gono Forum-nominated candidate in Chandpur-3 (Sadar–Haimchar), has been involved in politics for nearly 35 years. He is a former president of the district Gono Forum and is currently a member of the party’s central presidium. I want to work toward building a discrimination-free Bangladesh at all levels, including parliament. They are BNP candidate Sheikh Farid Ahmed, Jamaat-e-Islami candidate Md Shahjahan Mia, Gono Forum leader Selim Akbar, Communist Party of Bangladesh candidate Md Jahangir Hossain, Gano Odhikar Parishad leader Md Zakir Hossain, Islami Andolan Bangladesh leader Md Zainal Abedin Sheikh and Bangladesh Islami Front candidate AHM Ahsan Ullah.

China executed 11 people linked telecom scam operations, on Thursday, state media reported, as Beijing toughens its response to the sprawling, transnational industry. Fraud compounds where scammers lure internet users into fake romantic relationships and cryptocurrency investments have flourished across Southeast Asia, including in the lawless borderlands of Myanmar. Initially largely targeting Chinese speakers, the criminal groups behind the compounds have expanded operations into multiple languages to steal from victims around the world. The September rulings that resulted in Thursday’s executions also included death sentences with two-year reprieves to five other individuals. In November, Chinese authorities sentenced five people to death for their involvement in scam operations in Myanmar’s Kokang region.

The prosecution of the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) on Thursday filed a formal charge against eight individuals, including ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina, in a case over the alleged staged raid by law enforcers that left nine people dead. Earlier, on March 24, 2025, ICT-1 showed AKM Shahidul Haque, Asaduzzaman Miah and the then assistant commissioner (AC) of DMP's Mirpur Zone Jasim Uddin Mollah, arrested in the case. According to the prosecution, members of different units of the DMP and Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) conducted a raid at a house locally known as "Jahajbari" in the capital's Kalyanpur area on July 26, 2016. Subsequently, allegations surfaced that the raid was staged and that the nine individuals killed, who were branded as militants, had no links to militancy. Following the incident, then IGP AKM Shahidul Haque visited the spot and claimed that the deceased were members of the banned militant outfit Neo-Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (Neo-JMB).