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A murder case has been filed two days after the death of a Jamaat-e-Islami leader during clashes between supporters of rival political parties in Sherpur. More than 700 people have been named as accused in the case, including a BNP candidate contesting the Sherpur-3 parliamentary seat. According to police, the case names BNP nominee Md Mahmudul Haque Rubel and 234 leaders and activists of the BNP and its affiliated organisations. Following his death, Jamaat held a protest rally in Sherpur town on Friday, attended by leaders and activists of the party and its allies. Jamaat chief Shafiqur Rahman is expected to visit Sherpur on Sunday to pay his respects at Rezaur's grave and address an election rally, party officials said.
Photo : BSSRAJSHAHI, Jan 31, 2026 (BSS) - A two-day Ninth Science Festival, organized by the Rajshahi College Science Club, began today at the historic Rajshahi College playground. The programme was presided over by the Principal of Rajshahi College, Professor Dr Md Ibrahim Ali. Among others present at the inaugural ceremony were Vice Principal Professor Abu Md Yunus Ali, science fair convener Professor Md Alauddin, and Literature and Cultural Committee convener Professor Dr Shikha Sarkar. Speaking on the occasion, he said there is no alternative to science education for keeping pace with the modern world. In his address, Principal Professor Dr Md Ibrahim Ali emphasized that students must focus more on science education to build a modern, technology-driven country.
File PhotoJASHORE, Jan 31, 2026 (BSS) - Joint forces recovered 10 grenades, three foreign pistols, 19 rounds of bullets and a number of sharp weapons during a drive in Bagarpara today. The operation took place from 4:00 pm to 9:00 pm at Dhorihagra village in Dhalgram Union of Bagarpara Upazila. Acting on intelligence information, a team of police and army, led by Captain Akib, conducted the drive at the house of Chunnu Mollah. Bagarpara Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mahmudul Hasan said the team recovered 10 grenades, three US-made pistols, 19 bullets, a chapati, a knife and a razor from the house. Raihan Mollah, 28, son of Chunnu Mollah and owner of the weapons, could not be apprehended during the operation, the OC added.
Another consignment of 58,359 metric tonnes (MTs) of wheat from the United States (US) has arrived at Chittagong Port. Under the agreement, a total of 220,000 MTs of wheat will be imported, while the first and second consignments, comprising 114,093 MTs, arrived earlier. With this shipment, a total of 172,452 MTs of wheat has arrived in Bangladesh under cash purchase agreement No. Bangladesh is importing wheat from the US on a government-to-government (G to G) basis. Under the G to G-01 agreement, Bangladesh has already imported a total of 220,000 metric tonnes of wheat.
Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has sharply criticized the interim government’s newly published draft National Media Commission Ordinance and Broadcasting Commission Ordinance, calling them a “parting mockery” of public expectations for the development of free media and independent broadcasting. In a statement issued on Saturday, TIB said the drafts run counter to long-standing demands—and the recommendations of the Media Reform Commission—for a unified, independent, and effective media regulatory body. Despite more than 10 months having passed since the Media Reform Commission submitted its report, the organization noted that the interim government had shown no initiative to implement its proposals. Referring to the limitations of the existing Press Council and the lack of a comparable framework for broadcast media, Dr Zaman said the Media Reform Commission had clearly recommended the establishment of a single, independent media commission free from government influence, based on research and stakeholder consultations. TIB has urged the interim government not to rush the promulgation of the draft ordinances.
Jatiya Party Chairman and Rangpur-3 constituency candidate GM Quader on Saturday said that BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman’s call for ‘Yes’ vote reflects his personal opinion, adding that the party will accept whatever verdict the people deliver. Speaking to journalists during a door-to-door campaign in Rangpur city, GM Quader said everyone has the right to their own views, but the final decision rests with the voters. Without naming Tarique Rahman, Quader reiterated that opinions may differ, but the public will decide whether they support ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ in the vote. He warned that a ‘Yes’ vote could cause serious harm to the country, claiming that it would turn Bangladesh into a terrorism-prone state, bringing no benefits to the people. Responding to a question about the public response to his campaign in Rangpur-3, Quader said he is receiving overwhelming support.
Campaign activities have gathered momentum in Rajshahi-6 (Charghat-Bagha) constituency ahead of the 13th National Parliamentary Election scheduled for February 12. However, local sources indicate that the main contest is likely to be between candidates from the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami. Former Charghat Upazila Parishad Chairman Abu Sayeed Chand is contesting with the Sheaf of Paddy symbol as the BNP candidate. Following permission from the Bangladesh Election Commission to begin campaigning on January 22, candidates have been using microphones to reach voters. Many residents are actively discussing and promoting their preferred candidates at local gathering spots.
The wife of a journalist was found dead while the journalist was injured at their rented house at Hargram Bazar in Rajshahi city on Friday evening. The deceased was identified as Roushan Ara, wife of Golam Kibria Kamal, 60, alias Kamal Malik, deputy editor of local daily ‘Rajshahi Sangbad’. Police rushed to the house around 7pm and found the door locked from inside. Both were taken to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital. Editor of Rajshahi Sangbad Ahsan Habib said they rushed to the hospital after learning about the incident.
The 1,249th literary meeting of the Rangpur Sahitya-Sangskriti Parishad (RSSP) was held in Rangpur on Friday night marking the 202nd birth anniversary of poet Michael Madhusudan Dutta. The meeting took place at the RSSP office at the Rangpur Town Hall premises with RSSP President Dr Nasima Akter in the chair. RSSP adviser Professor Atahar Ali Khan spoke on his literary works, while Dr Mofizul Islam Mantu highlighted the poet’s life in exile in Iran and his creations during that period, reports BSS. Advocate Masum Hasan and Niresh Mukherjee recited Dutta’s poems, while several poets, including Hasnain Rabbi and Sarkar Bablu, presented poems in Rangpur’s regional dialects. The meeting was moderated by RSSP Literary Secretary Afzal Hossain.
Police recovered the body of a female student of Rajshahi University (RU) hanging from the ceiling of a house adjacent to the university area in Meherchandi of Rajshahi on Friday. The deceased was identified as Zobaida Islam Ety, a student of the Department of Social Work. Manirul Islam, officer-in-charge of Chandrima Police Station, said Zobaida had been living in a rented house in the area. Zobaida was found hanging from the ceiling of her room on Friday evening and was later taken to the emergency department of Rajshahi Medical College Hospital, where doctors declared her dead, said RU Proctor Mahbubur Rahman. An investigation is underway in this regard, the OC said.
Successive record prices in Bangladesh’s gold market have renewed a pressing public question—will the price of gold per bhori soon cross Tk3 lakh? Market insiders note that domestic gold prices have reached this level due to the combined impact of international gold rates, dollar exchange fluctuations, local refined gold prices, import costs, taxation, and market management expenses. He told Dhaka Tribune that ongoing tensions between the United States, Venezuela, and Iran are driving international gold prices upward. Abdul Qader, a gold trader from Pabna, told Dhaka Tribune that gold prices could reach Tk300,000 per bhori within three months if current trends continue. According to the World Gold Council, gold prices rose more than 64% in 2025, marking the largest annual increase since 1979.
Residential and non-residential female students at Dhaka University are feeling "unsafe" on campus due to vagrants and homeless individuals, and have faced various unpleasant incidents. Students from four of Dhaka University's five female halls, as well as some non-residential students, confirmed to Dhaka Tribune that they feel "unsafe" due to vagrants on campus and that the number of vagrants has increased recently. Residential female students voice safety fearsA residential student of Sufia Kamal Hall from the Sociology department Ushasi Biswas told Dhaka Tribune that feeling "unsafe" due to vagrants is a daily occurrence. Non-residential female students feel at riskIt's not only residential female students who face this problem; non-residential female students also feel unsafe. Dhaka University Assistant Proctor Rafiqul Islam confirmed the above information to Dhaka Tribune.
An initiative has been taken to establish an NRB (Non-Resident Bangladeshi) Help Desk at Sylhet Press Club to provide support to expatriate Bangladeshis. The help desk will be formally launched soon, said Press Club President Muktabis Un Noor. A views-exchange meeting with expatriate community leaders was held on Saturday at Sylhet Press Club in this regard. Speakers described the initiative as a milestone and stressed stronger cooperation between Sylhet Press Club and London Bangla Press Club. In his concluding remarks, Muktabis Un Noor said Press Club also plans programs to improve education in Sylhet and urged expatriates to extend their cooperation.
