Jahangir Alam spoke at the parade ground of the Prison Training Centre in Kashimpur today. Photo : BSSGAZIPUR, Jan 27, 2026 (BSS) - Home Affairs Adviser Lieutenant General (Retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury today said there is no possibility of disrupting or foiling the forthcoming 13th national election despite provocative speeches by deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina from India. “There is no scope to foil or disrupt the national election,” he said while responding to questions from journalists regarding concerns over political instability ahead of the polls. “If they have courage, they should return to the country and give their speeches while taking shelter under the law,” he said. The Home Adviser urged the host countries to send back what he termed militants and fascists to Bangladesh.

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on LinkedIn Share on WhatsApp Share via Email Share via SMS Copy LinkFor the past six years, I have attended Nevada County’s annual three-day Board of Supervisors “workshop” as a citizen observer. The County presents this workshop as a strategic planning session where Board objectives for the coming year are shaped. Year after year, the same objectives reappear: homelessness, housing, economic development, broadband, emergency preparedness, climate resilience, cannabis regulation. There is no presentation from the Sheriff’s Department, despite ongoing discussions about homelessness, public safety impacts, and emergency response. By consolidating objectives and making them countywide priorities, the annual workshop could shift from managing presentations to producing results.

Dennis E. Gosier died of natural causes on Friday, January 16, 2026, at his home in Lady Lake, Florida, where he had lived for the better part of the past decade. Born on March 31, 1939, Dennis grew up in Hammond, New York, earned his bachelor’s degree in history from LeMoyne College, served a brief tour in the Army, and earned a master’s degree in international relations from the University of Pennsylvania. He married Roberta J. Gosier in 1966, and they raised their family in Northwest Washington, D.C., and in Silver Spring, Maryland. Dennis was predeceased by his wife, Roberta J. Gosier, and their daughter, Denise Eleanor Gosier. He is survived by their children, Christopher Gosier, Phillip Gosier, Kenneth Gosier, and Amanda DesBarres, and by his sister, Marlene Webster.

Photo: BSSDHAKA, Jan 27, 2026 (BSS) - The Election Commission (EC) has dispatched postal ballots to 63,600 voters across 18 districts who registered for the 13th national parliament election and referendum through the Postal Vote BD app. According to EC data from the ICPV Postal Vote BD registration system, a total of 761,138 voters have registered through the app so far. Meanwhile, voting activities among expatriate voters are progressing significantly. As of 10:30 am on January 27, ballots for 766,862 expatriate voters had reached their respective destination countries. Voting has been completed by 425,788 expatriate voters, while 370,322 have deposited their ballots in post offices or post boxes in their respective countries.

Photo: BSSLALMONIRHAT, Jan 27, 2026 (BSS) - A district-level imam conference was held in the district today to raise voter awareness and encourage active participation in the democratic process ahead of the upcoming national elections. The conference took place at 10:30 am at the field adjacent to the District Model Mosque, with the participation of Imams and Khatibs from different parts of the district. Deputy Commissioner HM Rakib Haider attended the programme as the chief guest, while Superintendent of Police Md. The conference was chaired by Rezaul Karim, Deputy Director of the Islamic Foundation, Lalmonirhat. Speakers at the programme emphasized the moral responsibility of voters in the context of the forthcoming national elections.

Excessive use of horns causes greatest harm to drivers themselves: RizwanaEnvironment, Forest and Climate Change Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan. File PhotoDHAKA, Jan 27, 2026 (BSS) - Environment, Forest and Climate Change Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan today said excessive use of horns causes the greatest harm to drivers themselves as 65 percent of drivers in the country suffer from hearing impairment. Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) organized the training programme under the Integrated and Participatory Project to Control Noise Pollution (3rd Revised). Rizwana, also adviser for Information and Broadcasting and Water Resources ministries, said for the first time, a practical, partnership-based initiative has been launched to control noise pollution through training drivers. Environment, Forest and Climate Change Secretary Dr. Farhina Ahmed was also present as the special guest with BRTA Chairman Abu Momtaz Saad Uddin Ahmed in the chair.

'No Horn, No Dust' symbolic silence programme held in GulshanPhoto: BSSDHAKA, Jan 27, 2026 (BSS) - A symbolic silence programme titled "No Horn, No Dust" was held today in capital's Gulshan area to raise awareness among drivers and the general public about preventing noise and environmental pollution. Organised by the Gulshan Traffic Division, the awareness programme covered the Gulshan, Banani and Niketan areas, with the main event taking place at the Gulshan-2 intersection. As part of the programme, drivers of passing vehicles were requested to step out of their vehicles and observe one minute of silence. To mark the programme, traffic signals at the Gulshan-2 intersection were kept on red for one minute in all four directions-north, south, east and west-ensuring the symbolic observance of silence. Deputy Commissioner of Gulshan Traffic Division Mizanur Rahman Shelly, along with other concerned officers and around 150 tag members, were present during the programme.

Pakistani batting legend Mohammad Yousuf has issued a scathing critique of the International Cricket Council (ICC), accusing the global body of compromising the sport's integrity by ignoring Bangladesh's “legitimate security concerns” regarding the T20 World Cup in India. Yousuf’s comments come days after the ICC officially replaced Bangladesh with Scotland following the BCB's refusal to play in India due to safety fears. Taking to X (formerly Twitter) on Monday night, the former captain highlighted the sheer magnitude of the Bangladeshi fanbase to underscore the ICC's strategic blunder. “In a sport that relies globally on viewership, ignoring the legitimate security concerns of Bangladesh raises serious questions about consistency and governance,” Yousuf wrote. Cricket must be governed by principles, not influence.”Yousuf joins a growing chorus of former Pakistani greats, including Shahid Afridi and Jason Gillespie, in condemning the decision.

Two teenagers were shot and injured apparently by stray bullets fired from Myanmar amid exchanges of gunfire near the border at Jimbongkhali in Teknaf upazila of Cox’s Bazar on Tuesday morning. The injured were identified as Sohel, 15, son of Sheikh Kamal and Obaidullah, 14, son of Muhammad Yunus of Kanjorpara area of the upazila. The victims were collecting firewood in a forest area near Jimbongkhali BOP when bullet from the Myanmar side hit them around 11:30am. Sohel was shot in his left leg and hand while Obaidullah sustained a gunshot wound to the head. Earlier, on January 11, a 12-year-old girl suffered injuries by a stray bullet allegedly fired from Myanmar along the Teknaf border in Cox’s Bazar.

Speakers at a roundtable on Tuesday called for strong political commitment and strict enforcement of existing laws to prevent the use of children in political activities, stressing the protection of disadvantaged children ahead of the 13th National Parliamentary Election. The event, titled “Safeguarding the Rights of Disadvantaged Children Ahead of the 13th National Parliamentary Election 2026,” was organized by the Local Education and Economic Development Organization (LEEDO) with support from Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC). Participants condemned exploiting children for political gain, calling it unethical and a serious violation of child rights. DNCC Administrator Mohammad Azaz stressed building a child-friendly city through playgrounds and a clean environment, noting that urban safety nets often overlook disadvantaged children. Media and theatre personality Tropa Majumder said: “But these children are future citizens,” stressing the media’s role in child advocacy.

No proposal over the construction of 9,000 square feet flats for ministers has been placed before the Advisers Council Committee on Government Purchase, said Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Adviser Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan on Tuesday. He said any project involving such a significant expenditure would necessarily have to be placed before the Purchase Committee. Such matter has not been discussed at the committee level, he said, responding to a question over the media report on flat construction. “They may be preparing something at their level, but a project involving such a large amount of money must come to the purchase committee. I attend every purchase committee meeting, and I do not recall any such proposal being placed,” he said.

Families of martyrs have expressed dissatisfaction with the verdict in the crimes against humanity case over the killing of six people in Chankharpul during the July uprising linked to the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement. On Tuesday, Motasim Billah Mahfuz, secretary of the movement’s Legal Cell, submitted a memorandum to the Registrar of International Crimes Tribunal-1 seeking reconsideration of the ruling. Family members of martyrs from the July–August 2024 movement were present. The memorandum stated that those who died in the violence will be remembered as martyrs and that their sacrifice strengthened the struggle to restore democracy and establish human rights and justice in the country. The memorandum, signed by Mir Mahmudur Rahman Dipto, elder brother of martyr Mir Mugdho, and other family members, urged the tribunal to review the verdict to ensure justice and uphold the spirit of the July uprising.

More than half a million Americans woke up without power Tuesday, as freezing temperatures gripped swathes of the country in a monster storm that has killed at least 30 people. It added that “record low temperatures” hit southern states, which are unaccustomed to intense winter weather. More than 9,000 flights were disrupted, as the storm paralyzed transportation across the country. We’ve been here since Sunday,” Alan Vazquez told AFP at Dallas–Fort Worth airport in Texas. NWS meteorologist Allison Santorelli told AFP this storm recovery was particularly arduous because so many states were impacted -- meaning northern states with more winter supplies were unable to share their resources with less-prepared southern regions.

The event, titled “Media Reform in Bangladesh: Between Freedom, Responsibility and Power,” was held at the CIRDAP auditorium in Dhaka and brought together senior journalists, editors, academics, political leaders, and media analysts. Former head of the Media Reform Commission Kamal Ahmed attended as guest of honor. Media freedom and political pressureCGS President Zillur Rahman said that despite the chief adviser’s “three zeros” rhetoric, a governance vacuum persists. Political pressure and professional risksDr Sajedul Huq Rubel noted media freedom depends on the ruling party’s ideology and criticized inaction on inflammatory social media content. Reaz Ahmad praised the Media Reform Commission but criticized the government for ignoring its recommendations.

The International Crimes Tribunal-2 will deliver its judgment any day in the case over the killing of Begum Rokeya University Student Abu Sayed during the July uprising. A three-member ICT-2 bench led by Justice Manjurul Bashid kept the verdict pending after concluding the law-point arguments of both sides in the case. On June 30, 2025, the investigating agency of the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) found the involvement of 30 people, including police, in the killing of Abu Sayed. They are former assistant sub-inspector Amir Hossain, former constable Sujan Chandra Roy, former Proctor of Begum Rokeya University Shariful Islam, banned Chhatra League leader Imran Chowdhury, Rafiul Hasan Russel and Anwar Pervez. Abu Sayed, a 12th batch student of Begum Rokeya University's English Department, was shot dead during students’ protests on July 16 last year in front of Begum Rokeya University at Park Mor in Rangpur.