The agreement is intended to expand bilateral trade and investment, enhance investor confidence, and attract long-term Japanese investment in Bangladesh. It encompasses a wide range of sectors, including trade in goods and services, customs duties, investment, trade facilitation, and intellectual property rights. As an LDC, Bangladesh will sign an Economic Partnership Agreement for the first time with Japan, the world's fourth-largest economy, said a press release. Notably, Bangladesh's key export items-particularly readymade garments (RMG)-will gain duty-free access to Japan from day one. The proposal to sign the Bangladesh-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (BJEPA) received approval from the Advisers Council at its meeting held today.

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) on Thursday announced five key initiatives ahead of the 13th National Parliamentary Election to engage citizens in shaping the country’s future. The announcement was made at a press conference at the BNP central election office in capital' Gulshan area by Dr Mahdi Amin, spokesperson of the party’s Central Election Steering Committee and adviser to BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman. Dr Mahdi Amin said the initiatives aim to gather public opinion on BNP policies and ensure participation from all sections of society in national development. The third initiative, 'Match My Policy', is a user-friendly web application designed to collect public opinions on BNP policies and plans. BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and Dr Zubaida Rahman, wife of BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman, also attended the session.

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Fifteen platoons of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) will be deployed in Jhenaidah and Magura districts to maintain law and order during the national election. BGB will perform duties in six parliamentary constituencies of Jhenaidah and Magura districts. After deploying BGB members in election-sensitive areas from January 29 to 31 temporary checkpoints will be set up at 55 key locations in the two districts to conduct search operations, he said. Regular patrol teams will also conduct operations to ensure security at polling centres, he added. Efforts are also underway to recover illegal arms in border areas and to motivate voters to participate in the election through public awareness meetings, he said.

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) President Aminul Islam Bulbul reaffirmed the government’s stance on not participating in the upcoming T20 World Cup in India, emphasizing that Bangladesh remains firm on its position. Bulbul’s remarks came a day after the International Cricket Council (ICC) rejected Bangladesh’s request to shift their matches to Sri Lanka. “We are still standing by our demand: we want to play the World Cup, but not in India,” Bulbul said. “We are doing everything possible to participate in the World Cup while avoiding India due to ongoing security concerns. “We had hoped the ICC would approve our request to play in Sri Lanka, but instead we were presented with an ultimatum.

During the rally, Shafiqur handed over the NCP election symbol, the “balance”, to Nahid, who accepted it smilingly on stage. Several other leaders were later given the party symbol as well. He pledged to improve living conditions through flats and family cards. God willing, we want to give them family cards, and farmers will receive farmer cards,” Tarique had said. We will all vote ‘Yes’, rejecting inequality, extortion, injustice, oppression, and authoritarianism,” he said, adding that a “Yes” victory would transform their earlier movement into a triumph for justice.

With so many great releases, The Testament of Ann Lee has gone somewhat unnoticed, especially since its wide release is slated for late January. Ann Lee, called “Mother Ann” by her followers, is notable for becoming a religious leader at a time when women were barred from preaching. What makes The Testament of Ann Lee most special, however, are its musical numbers. The Testament of Ann Lee is crafted with the same grandeur as The Brutalist, but somehow felt much more personal to me. Most of all, I was impressed with Fastvold’s ability to portray Ann Lee in all her complexities, without ever losing that sense of empathy.

However, the new show Heated Rivalry is definitely a hit. To start with some background on the show, it is based on the book Heated Rivalry from the Game Changers series by Rachel Reid. This series focuses specifically on gay hockey romances, with the second and sixth books focusing on the Heated Rivalry main characters Canadian Shane Hollander and Russian Ilya Rozanov. Hockey player Jesse Korteum recently came out as gay in a statement on Facebook and credited Heated Rivalry for providing the representation necessary for him to take that step. Heated Rivalry is definitely worth a watch, but I will warn you that you may end up binging it until 3 a.m..Emma Robinson is a junior in the College of Arts and Sciences.

Adviser Faruk E Azam spoke in a meeting held at the Disaster Management and Relief Ministry conference room today. Photo : PIDDHAKA, Jan 22, 2026 (BSS)- Adviser for ministry of Disaster Management and Relief Faruk E Azam today said implementation of the Annual Development Programme (ADP) is one of the main tools for ensuring smooth in the country. “Delivery of expected public services and development benefits depends on its successful execution and so the implementation of ADP is a major tool to accomplish the government’s development projects with priorities,” the adviser said. He noted that while some projects have achieved satisfactory progress, implementation of several others remains below expectations. The adviser informed that the Disaster Management and Relief Ministry has a total of 11 projects, including 10 investment projects and one technical project.

Photo : CollectedJHENAIDAH, Jan 22, 2026 (BSS) - Joint forces have recovered two illegal firearms and two rounds of shotgun ammunition during a special operation in Gopalpur area of Jamal union under Kaliganj upazila of the district last night. According to a press release issued by the Kaliganj Army Camp, the operation was conducted based on secret intelligence indicating an attempt to smuggle illegal weapons between Kola and Jamal unions of the upazila. During the operation, the forces recovered an Indian one-shooter gun, a locally made pistol, and two shotgun cartridges. Sensing the presence of the joint forces, the miscreants reportedly abandoned the weapons and fled the scene. Officer-in-Charge of Kaliganj Police Station Jellal Hossain said the recovered firearms and ammunition have been handed over to the police station by the army.

File PhotoDHAKA, Jan 22, 2026 (BSS) - The High Court (HC) today summarily rejected a writ petition filed by BNP candidate Md Abdul Gafur Bhuiyan, pleading to restoring his nomination for the Comilla-10 constituency. A High Court division bench of Justice Razik-Al-Jalil and Justice Md Anowarul Islam passed the order, rejecting the writ filed against the Election Commission's decision that declared his nomination paper invalid. Kazi Nur-e Alam Siddiqui, a candidate of the Bangladesh Cultural Liberation Alliance from the same constituency, filed an appeal with the Election Commission (EC) alleging that Abdul Gafur Bhuiyan holds dual citizenship. After hearing the appeal, the EC cancelled Bhuiyan's nomination on January 18. However, seeking restoration of his candidacy, Abdul Gafur Bhuiyan filed a writ petition on January 19, challenging the EC's decision.

Rajshahi is bustling with election campaigns as candidates have officially started their campaigns across the six parliamentary constituencies in the district for the 13th National Parliament election. In Rajshahi-2 (Sadar) constituency, BNP-nominated candidate Mijanur Rahman Minu launched his campaign on Thursday noon with a prayer in Upashahar area. After the prayers, Minu began campaign for votes under the party’s symbol Sheaf of Paddy. He called on residents to cast their votes for the development of Rajshahi and held mass rallies in various parts of the city. BNP’s heavyweight candidate Major General (Retd) Sharif Uddin began his election campaign this morning and reached the voters in general in different parts of his Rajshahi-1 (Godagari-Tanore) constituency.

DHAKA, Jan 22, 2026 (BSS) - As part of the soft diplomacy initiative of the foreign affairs ministry is set to host the two-day Embassy Football Fest for the sixth consecutive year, with 35 embassies and international organizations, starting from tomorrow. The much-anticipated 6th edition of the Embassy Football Fest will bring together embassies, high commissions and international organizations based inDhaka in what organizers describe as the largest football tournament yet for the diplomatic community. Dr Md Nazrul Islam, Secretary (Inspector General of Missions) at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, will inaugurate the tournament while Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain is expected to attend the closing ceremony. Organisers said the Embassy Football Fest continues to demonstrate how sports can serve as a bridge between cultures and strengthen unity. As host, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will participate as "Team Bangladesh," while the Bangladesh Football Federation is serving as the logistics partner.

DHAKA, Jan 22, 2026 (BSS) - The government has issued the Rangpur Development Authority (RDA)(Amendment) Ordinance, 2025 inserting a provision of allowing retirement after 25 years of service. Through this amendment, the authority has been given the power to retire any employee, who has completed 25 years of service, in the public interest without giving any reason. Earlier, the President, under the powers bestowed upon him by Article 93(1) of the Constitution, issued the ‘Rangpur Development Authority (Amendment) Ordinance, 2026’ on January 19. An employee can voluntarily retire by giving 30 days’ written notice after completing 25 years of service. If an employee completes 25 years of service, the authority can send him/her to retirement without showing any reason, if it deems it necessary in the public interest, with the prior approval of the government.