Chief of Army Staff General Waker-Uz-Zaman spoke at a view-exchange meeting during his visit to Patuakhali. Photo: ISPRDHAKA, Jan 28, 2026 (BSS) - The Chief of Army Staff General Waker-Uz-Zaman today put special emphasis on performing forces' duties through professionalism, impartiality, discipline, patience and citizen-friendly behavior. During the visits, the Army Chief evaluated the overall law and order situation and inspected the army personnel deployed under the 'In Aid to the Civil Power' centering the next general elections along with the referendum 2026. He observed the activities of the deployed army personnel on the spot and provided necessary directions and exchanged views with the civilian administration. Subsequently, a similar view-exchange-meeting was held at the Khulna Divisional Commissioner's Office, where inter-institutional coordination and overall security management were discussed to ensure a peaceful, impartial and fair conduct of the upcoming JS polls.

File PhotoDHAKA, Jan 28, 2026 (BSS) - Education Adviser Prof Dr C R Abrar today called for strengthening combined and integrated initiatives to preserve and promote Bangladesh's tradition, culture and handicrafts. "We have to create an environment where national heritage can develop spontaneously," he said. Prof Abrar said the international recognition of Bangladesh's traditional handloom industries-particularly Tangail tant saree and Jamdani-was the result of collective efforts. The dialogue discussed in detail issues related to the ownership of Tangail handloom, community rights, branding, market development, as well as the existing challenges and possible solutions of the handloom industry. Senior officials from different ministries and agencies, researchers, handloom artists, entrepreneurs, designers, and representatives of civil society attended the programme.

Pinky was born on October 9,1934, in Lebanon,Pennsylvania, raised by her mother, Mable Markley, and her foster mother, Veronica Fox. Pinky attended East Stroudsburg University where in theater she met her first husband, Philip O’Neil. With Pinky’s second marriage to Karl Seiler, she gained a daughter and filled her life with dancing and travel. Pinky is survived by her three sons, Jack (Vicki), Scott (Christine), and Shawn (Annie) O’Neil, her stepdaughter Beth Seiler (Shea), 6 grandchildren, 3 step-grandchildren, 5 great-grandchildren, and 3 step great-grandchildren. Pinky is predeceased by her husband Karl Seiler and sister Virginia Fees.

Photo: BSSRANGPUR, Jan 28, 2026 (BSS) – Rapid Action Battalion (RAB)-13 in separate drives seized huge contraband drugs and arrested five presumed drug dealers from different places of Lalmonirhat, Gaibandha and Nilphamari districts on Tuesday night. The seized contraband drugs included 98 bottles of phensedyl-like Fairdeal and seven bottles of ESKuf and 200 pieces of Tapentadol tablets, a press release said here this afternoon. The arrestees were identified as Apon Chandra Roy, 26, and Narayan Chandra Das, 42, of Hatibandha upazila in Lalmonirhat and Md Mokchedul Islam Parvez, 49, of Saidpur upazila and Md Dulu Mia, 36, and Md Nuruzzaman, 33, of Jaldhaka upazila in Nilphamari districts. After filing three separate cases in these incidents, the elite force handed over the arrested persons and seized drugs to the concerned police stations of Lalmonirhat, Gaibandha and Nilphamari districts for further legal action.

BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman is set to visit Bogra on Thursday after a gap of 19 years. Supporters are eagerly waiting to catch a glimpse of him, while organizers expect a turnout of more than 1,00,000 people at his public rally. At around 8pm, he will speak at a public rally at the historic Altafunnesa Playground in Bogra. Sources said that during his stay in Bogra, Tarique Rahman will visit Baitur Rahman Central Mosque, Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Children’s Hospital in the Dattabari area of the city, and the district BNP office. In the upcoming national parliamentary election, Tarique Rahman is contesting from the Bogra-6 (Sadar) constituency.

A local leader of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has died after being injured in a clash between supporters of Jamaat-e-Islami and the BNP in Jhenaigati upazila of Sherpur district on Wednesday evening. Rezaul Karim, general secretary of the Sreebardi Upazila unit, succumbed to his injuries around 9:30pm while on the way to Mymensingh Medical College Hospital, said Sherpur Additional Superintendent of Police Md Mizanur Rahman Bhuiyan. Jamaat candidate for Sherpur-3 constituency Mohammad Nuruzzaman Badal said Rezaul Karim was seriously injured in the clash at Jhenaigati Bazar area earlier in the evening. Following the incident, the district unit of Jamaat-e-Islami brought out a protest rally in Sherpur town. The clash broke out between BNP and Jamaat supporters around 3pm over seating arrangement during a manifesto-reading program, leaving at least 30 people injured, said witnesses.

Ahead of the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election and Referendum 2026, a manifesto-reading programme of the contesting candidates of Rajshahi-6 constituency was held on Tuesday at the Binodpur School field. The event was jointly organized by the administrations of Charghat and Bagha upazilas and was presided over by Assistant Returning Officer and Bagha Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Shammi Akhter. Candidates representing four political parties took part in the programme and read out their election manifestos from the same stage. They also committed to conducting their election campaigns in strict compliance with the Election Commission’s code of conduct. Rajshahi-6 constituency comprises Charghat and Bagha upazilas.

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on Wednesday said Bangladesh has earned an unenviable reputation as a “world champion in fraud,” citing widespread document forgery that has damaged the country’s global credibility. Visas are fake, passports are fake,” Yunus said. “I have seen cases where people applied for visas using fake certificates. Highlighting the role of youth, Yunus said the mass uprising of 2024 had opened new possibilities for Bangladesh. Referring to a past internet shutdown, Yunus said it had triggered widespread outrage among young people and played a significant role in mobilising protests.

Dhaka University (DU) executive member of the Central Students’ Union (Ducsu) Sarba Mitra Chakma has not responded to a show-cause notice issued by the university on Monday and said he will resign within two days. The notice was issued over an incident in which several teenagers playing on DU’s central field were reportedly forced to do squats while holding their ears. DU Proctor Saifuddin Ahmed said the notice had the vice chancellor’s approval and that further action would follow after Mitra’s response. “There is no point in explaining myself to an administration that has failed to see causes for so long,” Mitra said. Mitra said Wednesday that he would submit his pending work to the Pro VC and Ducsu before resigning.

Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) has recovered two abandoned pistols during an operation in Samantasena Panchar Bot Tola cluster village in Noihati Union under Rupsha Upazila of Khulna district. According to a RAB-6 press release issued on Wednesday, acting on a tip-off, a special operational team of the Crime Prevention Company (CPC) of RAB-6 from the Khulna camp conducted a drive in the area and recovered the weapons during a search of a deserted room late Tuesday night. RAB-6 official Major Nazmul Islam said no one could be arrested from the spot. An investigation is underway to identify the source and ownership of the weapons. He added that intelligence surveillance has been intensified in Rupsha and its adjoining areas, while anti-terrorism and anti-narcotics operations are continuing.

The Indian Parliament paid homage to former prime minister Begum Khaleda Zia on the opening day of its 2026-27 Budget Session. After the president’s address to the joint sitting of both Houses, the Parliament observed obituary references to the passing of former Indian MPs L Ganesan, Suresh Kalmadi, and Khaleda Zia, reports Wionews. The tribute to Khaleda Zia comes amid a period of strained relations between India and Bangladesh, it said. Khaleda Zia, Bangladesh’s first woman prime minister, passed away at 80 after a prolonged illness. On the day of her passing, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences, highlighting her contributions to Bangladesh’s development and India-Bangladesh relations.

A female leader of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami was injured in an alleged machete attack while conducting campaign activities in the Kadamtali area of the capital. The injured leader has been identified as Kazi Maria Islam Baby, a Rukon (member) of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and a women’s leader of the party. The incident took place on Wednesday afternoon in Ward No. According to Kazi Maria Islam Baby, she was working in Ward No. Regarding the incident, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Kadamtali Police Station, Sheikh Ashrafuzzaman, said, “We have learned that a female Jamaat worker has been injured.

BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman today spoke at an election rally at the Azampur Eidgah ground in the capital's Uttara. Photo : BSSDHAKA, Jan 28, 2026 (BSS) - BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman today said that the people of Uttara have made history; now the responsibility of protecting democracy is also theirs. Tarique Rahman made the remarks early today at an election rally at the Azampur Eidgah ground in the capital's Uttara. Addressing the gathered people who waited until deep into the night, Tarique Rahman outlined BNP's specific plans for the development of the Uttara area. Tarique Rahman further said that a long-standing demand of the middle- and lower-income people of Uttara is a government hospital.

Online registrationApplicants must register online by providing their National Identity Card (NID) number, email address, mobile number, and a password. Application processAfter registering, applicants can log in using their mobile number and password to apply for an accreditation card. Name, office address, email, phone number, and registration number. Vehicle stickerApplicants requiring a vehicle sticker must indicate “Yes” or “No.” If “Yes,” relevant vehicle registration documents must be uploaded. Issuance of accreditation cardUpon verification, the EC will issue a QR code–enabled accreditation card in PDF format.

The Election Commission (EC) has estimated the overall expenditures for the upcoming referendum and the 13th national parliamentary election at some Tk 3,100 crore. The Commission on Wednesday approved the budget, estimating the total cost of Tk 3,100 crore to conduct the referendum and general election simultaneously on February 12 next, said EC officials. Of the total cost, Tk 1,200 crore has been earmarked for election management and operational expenses, while Tk 1,400 crore has been allocated for deployment of law enforcement agencies. Another Tk 500 crore has been set aside for costs related to the referendum, postal ballots and other ancillary purposes. In 2024, the expenditure for the 12th national election stood at Tk 2,276 crore.