The US-based Time magazine, in its latest issue published on Wednesday, called BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman the “clear frontrunner” in the upcoming February 12 elections as it carried an analysis ahead of the polls. but if you ask me to do something, I try my best,” Rahman told the magazine. The Time wrote to his supporters, Rahman was a “persecuted redeemer returning to save his beleaguered homeland” while he “insists he’s the right person to heal his riven nation”. Time wrote Rahman appeared “soft-spoken and introverted, preferring to listen rather than hold court” while his favorite pastime in London was strolling around leafy Richmond Park, “lost in his thoughts, or reading history books”. Rahman told the magazine he planned to install trash-burning power generators, repurpose technical colleges to upskill migrant workers, and partner with private hospitals to alleviate an overwhelmed state health care system.

US Ambassador to Bangladesh Brent T. Christensen today spoke to journalists after a courtesy meeting with Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) M M Nasir Uddin at the Election Commission building in Agargaon. Photo: BSSDHAKA, Jan 28, 2026 (BSS) - US Ambassador to Bangladesh Brent T. Christensen today said that the United States is ready to work with any government elected in accordance with the will of the Bangladeshi people, reiterating that Washington will not take sides in the country's upcoming national elections. The ambassador told journalists after a courtesy meeting with Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) A M M Nasir Uddin at the Election Commission building at Agargaon. "I am very optimistic about the upcoming elections," he said, adding that he looked forward to observing both the election process and its outcome. Abdul Fazlul M Sanaullah and Election Commission Secretary Akhter Ahmed were present at the meeting.

DHAKA, Jan 28, 2026 (BSS) - A court here today placed Rubel Ahammed, a close associate of alleged shooter Foysal Karim Masud, on a three-day fresh remand in a case filed over the murder of Inqilab Mancha spokesperson Sharif Osman Hadi. The court placed Rubel on a six-day remand on January 22 in the case. According to the case statement, Foysal Karim Masud and Alamgir Hossain opened fire on Hadi while he was travelling in a battery-run rickshaw on December 12 and fled the scene. Inqilab Mancha Member Secretary Abdullah Al Zaber filed the case with Paltan Model Police Station on December 14 as an attempted murder. The Detective Branch (DB) submitted a charge sheet on January 6 against 17 accused, including alleged shooter Foysal Karim Masud and his parents Humayun Kabir and Hashi Begum.

BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman has said he is the right person to heal Bangladesh’s divisions, insisting his return is driven by party supporters rather than family lineage. “My party supporters are the reason why I’m here today.”Tarique arrived in Dhaka on Dec 25, greeted by hundreds of thousands of supporters. Tarique denies his past corruption allegations, saying: “They have failed to prove anything.”His prior convictions were quashed by the interim government. “If I can implement just 30 percent of what I have planned, I’m sure the people of Bangladesh will support me,” he told Time. More recently, the Donald Trump Administration imposed “reciprocal” tariffs of 20 percent on Bangladesh, which has hit its export-reliant economy.

Photo: BSSDHAKA, Jan 28, 2026 (BSS) - Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman has announced plans to introduce a comprehensive public transport system for mothers, along with daycare and baby care centers, to support working women. Reflecting on the profound importance of mothers, Dr. Rahman expressed gratitude for their sacrifices, saying, "We owe everything to our mothers, who carry us for nine months in their wombs. The Jamaat Ameer also touched on the importance of empowering the youth, particularly young women. He pledged to provide quality education and vocational training to help young women become self-reliant and achieve their career goals. Addressing recent attacks on female party members, Dr. Rahman condemned the violence and called on those responsible to repent and seek forgiveness.

The Secondary and Higher Education Division of the Ministry of Education has granted administrative approval to recommend appointments for 13,599 vacant posts, including heads of institutions and assistant heads. He explained that the government, through the NTRCA, will now conduct selection tests and recommend candidates for these 13,500 administrative posts. Previously, the authority to recruit for these administrative posts rested with the respective institution's Managing Committee or Governing Body, a system that faced long-standing allegations of irregularities at the local level. According to data from three directorates under the Education Ministry, the recruitment drive covers 13,599 vacancies. According to the ministry circular, the NTRCA will conduct a separate examination for these administrative posts carrying a total of 100 marks.

Responding to journalists, he said: “Among those involved in the election, there is no such thing as a ‘stooge’ of the Awami League. Only capable and honest individuals will conduct the election.”He made the remarks after a meeting in Sylhet on law-and-order arrangements for the national parliamentary election and referendum. He added that preparations are thorough and better than in any previous election. He also said: “Election preparations in Sylhet have exceeded expectations. The administration here has done even better than we had hoped.”The meeting was attended by Divisional Commissioner Khan Md Reza-un-Nabi, Sylhet Deputy Commissioner, police superintendents of the four districts in the division, and officials from various government departments.

BNP candidate for Thakurgaon-1 and party Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Wednesday expressed hope for a fair election after 15 years of alleged vote manipulation. This time, we hope there will be a fair election. Fakhrul urged voters to support him, promising development initiatives and restoration of peace. If you elect me in the upcoming election, I will work for the development of the district,” he said. Fakhrul pledged to punish wrongdoers, provide low-cost medicines, build new hospitals, strengthen the police, and establish industries in the district.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) on Wednesday accused Jamaat-e-Islami of spreading “fascist propaganda,” political double standards, and misleading narratives to influence voters in the upcoming election. Speaking at a press conference in Dhaka, BNP Election Steering Committee spokesperson and adviser to the party chairperson, Mahdi Amin, said Jamaat is branding BNP as a “world champion of corruption” to mislead the public—claims he described as detached from reality and politically motivated. He also noted that Jamaat, which held ministerial posts and parliamentary seats between 2001 and 2006, had raised no objections about corruption during that period. “Now, in the election field, they are continuing the same old fascist propaganda, which is nothing but blatant political hypocrisy,” Mahdi said. Mahdi also accused Jamaat of exploiting religious sentiments to win votes, citing promises of heaven, oaths on the Holy Quran, and financial inducements.

DHAKA, Jan 28, 2026 (BSS) – The results of the 7th Recruitment Notice (Special) to fill entry-level vacancies in private educational institutions were published today, recommending initially for the appointment of 11,713 candidates. According to NTRCA, among the recommended candidates, 5,742 have been placed under the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education (DSHE), while 4,255 in Madrasas, 354 in Technical Educational Institutions, and 1,362 in various affiliated institutions of Technical and Higher Education, Madrasas, and Technical streams. Earlier, on August 19 last year, 41,627 candidates were recommended under the 6th recruitment notification. Following the collection of e-requisitions, a total of 67,130 vacancies were received from 19,208 educational institutions. NTRCA has been continuously conducting recruitment processes to address teacher shortages in private educational institutions and ensure quality education.

The Election Commission (EC) has imposed a three-day ban on motorcycle movement across the country ahead of the parliamentary election and referendum. Motorcycle movement will be banned for longer, from 12am on Feb 11 to 12am on Feb 14. EXEMPTIONS TO THE RESTRICTIONSThe restrictions will not apply to the following categories:● Vehicles used by law-enforcing agencies, armed forces, the administration and authorised election observers. ● Vehicles engaged in emergency services, including the transportation of medicines, healthcare services, similar essential goods and newspapers. ● Vehicles operated by the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) and BTRC-licensed entities, as telecommunications services are considered emergency services.

DHAKA, Jan 28, 2026 (BSS) - Champions Bangladesh women’s team will return home from Bangkok tomorrow (Thursday) after finishing their campaign in the just concluded inaugural SAFF Women’s Futsal Championship. A BG 389 flight, carrying the women’s team, is expected to land at Hazrat Shahjalal Int’l Airport at 6 pm. The Bangladesh women’s team, led by Sabina Khatun, emerged champions in the seven-team SAFF Futsal championship securing highest 16 points in the points table from six matches. Earlier, Bangladesh eve team made a winning start in the tournament beating India by 3-1 goals in their match. The Sabina and Co, came from behind, played out to a 3-3 with Bhutan in their second match, blanked Nepal by 3-0 goals in their third match and beat Sri Lanka by 6-3 goals in their four match, thrashed Pakistan by 9-1 goals in their penultimate match and crushed Maldives by 14-2 goals to emerge champions in the tournament, all held at Nonthaburi Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.

DHAKA, Jan 28, 2026 (BSS) - The South Asian Olympic Council (SAOC) hasretained Pakistan as the host nation for the 14th South Asian Games scheduledto be held from March 23 to 31 next year, said a Bangladesh OlympicAssociation (BOA) press release today. The SAOC meeting was chaired by Prince Jigyel Ugyen Wangchuck, vice presidentof the OCA and president of the Bhutan Olympic Committee. The meeting was attended by the president of Pakistan Olympic Association(POA) and SAOC Arif Saeed and Federal Secretary of Pakistan's Sports MinistryMr Mohyuddin Ahmad Wani. At the SAOC executive committee meeting held in Lahore February 25 last year,it was decided to retain the disciplines and events scheduled for the SouthAsian Games in the Games. The 14th SA Games were originally scheduled to be held March in 2023, beforebeing successively pushed back to March 2024, then January 2026 and now 2027.

Given this unprecedented evolution, the CIA incites a coup to overthrow the government and gain control over international operations. This series centers on the tragic love story between Shahrzad, a medical student, and Farhad, a politically active journalist. A powerful mafia figure forcibly weds Shahrzad to his nephew, Ghobad, prohibiting ties between Shahrzad and Farhad. The series simultaneously showcases the social power dynamics at play as well as international forces acting on Iranian livelihoods. The Salesman (2016)The Oscar-winning film The Salesman portrays the gripping, heart-rending life of Rana and Emad.

DHAKA, Jan 28, 2026 (BSS) - Opener Mohammad Paran continued his purple patchas Duronto registered its second consecutive victory, thrashing Odommo by 57runs in the CCDM T20 Challenge Cup at National Cricket Ground in the city'sPurbachal area today. Moahmmad Shoaib and Drupom Patranabi then claimed three wickets apiece tohold Odommo back to 118-9, scripting the side's comprehensive victory. Paran held the innings together after his side opted to bat first. Odommo batters couldn't come up with the terms right from the start,jeopardizing their chance to make some resistance. No.9 batter Sujon Howladar was their top-scorer with 28 runs.