BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman on Tuesday pledged to support the residents of Korail Slum, promising to improve their living conditions and reaffirming his commitment to pro-people politics. Tarique expressed a personal connection to Korail, calling himself “a son of this area,” and thanked the community for hosting the event. He reiterated, “I am the son of the late President Ziaur Rahman and the child of the country’s leader Khaleda Zia. “With your prayers, In sha Allah, we will be able to solve the problems of Korail residents. Tarique Rahman will attend another prayer gathering at the BNP Chairperson’s residence in Banani in the evening to commemorate the late Khaleda Zia.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Tuesday said the fascist Awami League (AL) government had destroyed the country's economy after 2009 and transformed it into the "mafia economy." The economy of the country was turned into a mafia economy." Fakhrul made the remarks as the chief guest in a discussion titled "Policy Dissemination on Priority Social Policies." The BNP Secretary General further said that inside the country, there was no significant employment and meaningful investment. A new era would begin where a larger section of the population would participate in the economic development process under the concept of economic democratization."

The government has allocated around Tk72 crore to install closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras at polling centres ahead of the upcoming national election and referendum, Deputy Press Secretary to the Chief Adviser Abul Kalam Azad Majumder said on Tuesday. Briefing reporters at the Foreign Service Academy in the capital, Azad Majumder said Bangladesh has around 42,000 polling centres, of which 6,552 already have CCTV coverage. He said a special allocation of Tk71.98 crore has been made to install CCTV cameras at 21,946 “important and risk-prone” polling centres. Azad Majumder said the installation process is already underway across the country and has reached near completion in several districts. “We hope that all polling centres can be brought under CCTV coverage by January 31, ahead of the election,” Azad Majumder said.

Iran’s top police officer issued an ultimatum on Monday to protesters who joined what authorities have deemed “riots,” saying they must hand themselves in within three days or face the full force of the law. But the government also pledged to tackle economic hardships that sparked the demonstrations, which were met with a crackdown that rights groups say has left thousands dead. National police chief Ahmad-Reza Radan on Monday urged young people “deceived” into joining the “riots” to turn themselves in and receive lighter punishment. Despite difficulty accessing information, the Iran Human Rights NGO says it has verified that 3,428 protesters were killed by security forces. Outside Iran, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of neighboring Turkey, in his first comments on the protests, described the unrest as a “new test” for Tehran, pledging Turkey would “stand against any initiative” that would drag the region into chaos.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) on Tuesday arrested Syed Sohanur Rahman Siam, son of former Bangladesh Public Service Commission (PSC) driver Syed Abed Ali Jibon, on charges of amassing illegal assets worth around Tk3.25 crore. His wife, Shahrin Akhter Shilpi, has been accused of possessing illegal assets worth Tk1.26 crore. Meanwhile, their son and former Chhatra League leader Syed Sohanur Rahman Siam has been accused of acquiring assets worth Tk3. In July 2024, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the police arrested 17 people, including the former PSC chairman’s driver Abed Ali, in connection with the leakage of PSC question papers. Once working as a porter, Abed Ali later learned to drive and joined the PSC.

A Dhaka court set January 25 for submitting the further probe report in the case lodged over the sensational murder of Inqilab Mancha spokesperson Sharif Osman Hadi. Dhaka Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Jashita Islam passed the order as the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) failed to submit the report on Tuesday. The court on January 15, 2026, directed the CID to carry out further investigation into the sensational murder of Hadi. The six fugitives include Foysal Karim Masud, his accomplice Alamgir Hossain, alleged mastermind and former ward councillor Taijul Islam Chowdhury Bappi, Filips Scalp, Mukti Akter, and Jesmin Akter. According to the case statement, Foysal Karim Masud and Alamgir Hossain, riding a motorcycle, opened fire on Hadi while he was travelling in a battery-run rickshaw on December 12, and then fled the scene.

We are telling you again - the election will be held on February 12, neither a day earlier nor a day later,” Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam told reporters at a media briefing at the Foreign Service Academy in the capital. “We are expecting a record turnout.”Chief Adviser’s Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder echoed the view, saying those claiming uncertainty should clearly explain the grounds and logic behind such assertions. Referring to past elections, Press Secretary Alam said the overall situation is conducive to holding a credible vote. The press secretary said the government is placing high importance on the recovery of looted arms. Chief Adviser’s Senior Assistant Press Secretary Foyez Ahammad was also present at the briefing.

3,000 crore as revenue from the users of the Padma Bridge since its June 25, 2022 opening, Bangladesh Bridge Authority (BBA) said in a statement today. It said the bridge that connected 21 southwestern districts with the rest of the country was increasingly drawing various types of motorized traffic to fatten the government exchequer. “The Padma Bridge is not just an infrastructure. It said the state-of-the-art electronic toll collection (ETC) system was installed at both ends of the Padma Bridge at Mawa and Jajira points, which accelerated the toll collection process without long queues at the toll plaza. “The automatic toll collection through Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) cards has made travel faster and easier,” the statement said.

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus today inspected the progress of the final phase work of the July Uprising Memorial Museum at the Gonobhaban. The Chief Adviser added: “We do not want there to be a need to build such a museum anywhere in the future. If our nation ever becomes perplexed for any reason, it will find its path in this museum”. Prof Yunus made the remarks this afternoon after inspecting the progress of the final phase work of the July Uprising Memorial Museum at the Gonobhaban here, the residence of ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. When a brutal act was happening, the Chief Adviser said, the youth and students stood up against it and resisted it.

The properties include 35 decimals of land in Noakhali and a 1,385 SQF flat in the capital’s Mirpur. Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Md Sabbir Faiz passed the orders, allowing two separate petitions filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). Kamrun Nahar, on the other hand, allegedly acquired assets worth Taka 6.80 crore beyond her known source of income. The ACC filed the case, which is under investigation, and noted that the movable assets in her name, including bank balances, may be transferred or altered. In the interest of a fair investigation, freezing of her movable assets is deemed necessary, the plea added.

The meeting was jointly organised by the Bangladesh Competition Commission and FBCCI. Abdur Rahim Khan, while Chairman (Secretary) of the Bangladesh Competition Commission A H M Ahsan attended the programme as the chief guest, said a press release. At the beginning of the meeting, Assistant Director of the Competition Commission Nuruddin Jobayer delivered a detailed presentation highlighting the objectives of the Competition Act, 2012, and the roles and responsibilities of the Bangladesh Competition Commission. During the open discussion session, business leaders emphasised the need to enhance awareness of the Competition Act among grassroots-level business communities, particularly at the district level. Among others, members of the Bangladesh Competition Commission Dr. Md.

File photoDHAKA, Jan 20, 2026 (BSS) – The government is likely to consider separate proposals for procuring 30,000 metric tons of urea fertilizer and more than 2.71 crore liters of soybean oil to meet the growing demand for the country. In this regard, the Advisers Council Committee on Government Purchase is set to meet tomorrow at the Bangladesh Secretariat and consider proposals for large-scale imports of refined soybean oil and urea fertilizer. Finance and Science and Technology Adviser Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed will chair the meeting to be held at the Cabinet Division Conference Room of Bangladesh Secretariat. In addition, a procurement proposal for consultancy services covering road infrastructure assessment, design, supervision, environmental and social management, and land acquisition services under Package No. SP (RHD)-02m of the “Bangladesh Road Safety” project is likely to be discussed.

The pledges were unveiled at the daylong Policy Summit 2026, held from 9am at the InterContinental Dhaka, where Shafiqur delivered the opening address. Shafiqur Rahman said 100 students would be given interest-free education loans each year to study at top global universities, including Harvard, MIT, Oxford and Cambridge, ensuring that talented students from poor families are not left behind. He announced plans for a “smart social security card” combining NID, TIN, health and social services. Jamaat also promised interest-free monthly loans of up to Tk 10,000 for up to two years for 500,000 young people until they secure jobs after graduation, alongside similar education loans for 100,000 students. Under a “First Thousand Days Programme”, maternal and child nutrition from pregnancy to age two would be brought under social protection.

DHAKA, Jan 20, 2026 (BSS) - The government has allocated Tk 719,828,000 for installing CCTV cameras at 21,946 very important and risky polling stations across the country ahead of the 13th national parliament election and referendum slated for February 12. Azad Majumder said that out of approximately 42,000 polling stations nationwide, 6,552 already have CCTV coverage while cameras are installed in rest of the polling stations. Of the polling stations, 21,946 have been declared as more important and risky. Special allocation has been made from the Finance Ministry for installing CCTV cameras in the polling stations. The Deputy Press Secretary also said that 299 polling centers across the country currently lack electricity connections.

DHAKA, Jan 20, 2026 (BSS) – A total of 76,580 Bangladeshi Hajj pilgrims so far have completed registration for the Hajj-2026 against the total 78,500 expected Bangladeshi Hajj pilgrims, official said. “A total of 76,580 people including 72,344 under private management while 4,260 of government management have so far registered to perform Hajj in 2026 according to the Saudi government's Hajj roadmap,” he said. According to the Hajj Office, 72,344 Bangladeshi nationals will perform the Hajj under the private management and 4,565 people under the government management this year. Hajj pilgrims made initial and final registration through the e-Hajj system (www.hajj.gov.bd), Labbaik mobile app, Union Digital Center, Islamic Foundation's divisional, district and Baitul Mukarram offices and Ashkona Hajj office. A total three airlines will carry Bangladeshi Hajj pilgrims.