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.

Prof Yunus formally inaugurated the program in 12 schools in the hill districts joining virtually from state guesthouse Jamuna and interacted with teachers and students of the three primary and nine secondary schools. The schools where e-learning began include Rani Dayamoyi High School in Rangamati, Al-Amin Nuria Dakhil Madrasha in Kaptai, Farua Primary School, Islamabad Government Primary School, Kamalchhari Pilot High School and Hajachhari Junior High School in Khagrachhari, Manikchhari Girls High School, Pujgang Mukh Government Primary School, Balaghata Ideal School in Bandarban, Haji Firoza Begum Academy, Tindu Junior High School and Bogamukh Para Government Primary School. Today we start with 12 schools, although the plan is to reach 3,500 schools. “A new horizon is opening for education in the hill districts. People of the hill districts should not be left behind—they want to stay connected with Bangladesh and the world,” he added.

National Citizen Party (NCP) Convener Nahid Islam on Tuesday said no attempt to rehabilitate Awami League-style politics would be allowed in Bangladesh, stressing the need to safeguard democratic values and ensure a fair political environment in the post-uprising period. "We do not want a situation where eggs are thrown at candidates of one party today and at candidates of another party tomorrow. Nahid Islam alleged that Nasiruddin Patwary, chief coordinator of the NCP, was obstructed and pelted with bricks and stones when he went to Habibullah Bahar College as an invited guest. He also said that Ariful Islam Adib, an NCP candidate in the Dhaka-18 constituency, was attacked earlier. Referring to the post-uprising political context, Nahid Islam said the mass movement had created an opportunity to establish a new political culture based on accountability and democratic practices.

The Election Commission (EC) has imposed restrictions on the plying of motorcycles across the country three days before and after the national election. According to the EC directives issued on Tuesday, the movement of four types of vehicles — trucks, microbuses, taxi-cabs, and motorcycles — will remain suspended for 24 hours on the election day. The EC has sent a letter requesting the Road Transport and Highways Division to ensure the implementation of the restriction. Besides, candidates or anyone on their behalf cannot use any vehicles to bring voters to the polling station on the election day, said the notice. Therefore, wherever possible, two secret booths should be set up in each polling room, and if it is not feasible, additional polling rooms must be arranged, it said.

A 35-year-old man was killed after being crushed between two buses while crossing the road in the Badda Link Road area of the capital on Tuesday. The deceased was identified as Abul Kashem Azad, a staff member of UCB Bank, Khilkhet branch and son of Abul Kalam Azad of Faridganj upazila in Chandpur district. He used to live with his family in the Khilkhet area. Inspector Md Faruk, in charge of Dhaka Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) police camp, said the accident occurred around 6:15pm when Abul Kashem was crushed between "Raida Paribahan" and "Victor Paribahan" while crossing the road, leaving him injured. Later, he was taken to Dhaka Medical College and Hospital, where the doctors declared him dead.