Photo: CollectedLAHORE, Pakistan, Jan 25, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Pakistan left out express pacerHaris Rauf from the 15-man squad named Sunday for next month's Twenty20 WorldCup jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka. Rauf is also the highest wicket-taker for Pakistan in T20I cricket with 133in 94 matches. Another pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi was declared fit and included in the squadwith Naseem Shah and relatively inexperienced Salman Mirza the other fastbowlers in the squad. In the final build-up for the World Cup, Pakistan will face Australia in athree-match T20I series in Lahore on January 29, 31 and February 1. Squad: Salman Agha (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, FakharZaman, Khawaja Nafay, Mohammad Nawaz, Salman Mirza, Naseem Shah, SahibzadaFarhan, Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan, Usman Khan, Usman Tariq

Photo: CollectedPERTH, Australia, Jan 25, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Josh Inglis blasted a six to seala crushing six-wicket victory for the Perth Scorchers and their record sixthBig Bash League T20 title over the Sydney Sixers in Perth on Sunday. It was a final between the two most successful clubs in BBL history, with theSixers chasing their fourth title. The Sixers were making their return transcontinental trip to Perth in thespace of six days, having stumbled in the qualifier. Steve Smith, Josh Philippe and Moises Henriques were all dismissed for 24,and the Sydney Sixers were bundled out for a below-par score on the finalball of their 20 overs. Jhye Richardson supported Payne with three wickets for 32 as the Scorcherskept a tight rein on the Sixers' scoring.

With support from UNESCO’s Global Media Defence Fund (GMDF), Somosti established the support desk under the project titled “Enhancing Legal Support System to Strengthen Media Protection”, in partnership with journalists and legal aid organizations. Mir Masruruzzaman, executive director of Somosti, spoke on the background and structure of the support desk. Dr Susan Vize said the Journalist Support Desk is a timely and highly important initiative that will help journalists carry out their duties safely and professionally. “In the context of Bangladesh, this initiative will ensure timely legal support for journalists, and UNESCO and GMDF will continue to support this effort moving forward,” she said. Through the support desk, journalists will receive prompt advice and necessary referral support if they face cases, legal complications, or harassment.

Mark Tully. Photo: CollectedNEW DELHI, Jan 25, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Veteran BBC correspondent Mark Tully, known to millions as the broadcaster's "voice of India" for covering defining moments across the subcontinent, died on Sunday aged 90, the BBC said. Tully, who died in New Delhi, covered the 1971 Bangladesh liberation war and the demolition of the Mughal-era Babri mosque in Uttar Pradesh in 1992. Tully was awarded the Padma Shri and the Padma Bhushan, among India's highest civilian honours, and rarely bestowed on foreigners. Britain also knighted him for his services to broadcasting and journalism in 2002 - a recognition Tully would later describe as "an honour to India".

DHAKA, Jan 25, 2026 (BSS) - Bangladesh's 2026 economic outlook balancespotential growth (around 5 percent) with structural challenges with inflationexpected to ease gradually, according to the Economic Update and Outlook(January) published by the General Economics Division (GED) of the PlanningCommission. General inflation rose further in December 2025 to 8.49 percent from 8.29percent in November, driven by accelerating food prices amid persistentlyhigh non-food inflation. Food inflation increased from 7.36 percent to 7.71 percent during the period,while non-food inflation remained elevated at 9.13 percent. Overall rice inflation declined from 12.26 percent in November to 11.92percent in December, with medium rice inflation easing from 10.96 percent to10.48 percent, fine rice from 15.43 percent to 14.84 percent, and coarse ricefrom 11.04 percent to 10.92 percent. While price inflation rose by 0.20 percentage points, wage inflationincreased marginally from 8.04 percent to 8.07 percent.

Officially election campaign began on January 22 and will continue till 12 midnight on February 10 as all types of polls campaigns must be terminated 48 hours before polling. Written permission shall be obtained from the appropriate authority regarding the schedule and venue of the public meeting, but a written copy of the permission of the public meeting shall be submitted to the local EC office. No procession, public meeting or any showdown shall be held with any bus, truck, boat, motorcycle or any other motorized vehicle during the poll campaign. No election campaign shall be conducted in mosques, temples, pagodas, churches or any other religious places of worship and in any government office or educational institutions. No one shall use any force or spend money to influence voters for or against any rival candidate, according to the election code.

After 34 years, Bangladesh is returning to a political instrument that has historically carried both promise and controversy — the referendum. The interim government has described the referendum as a decisive step toward political reform and democratic renewal. The last referendum in Bangladesh was held in 1991, when voters overwhelmingly supported a return to parliamentary democracy following a mass uprising. That vote is often cited as a rare example of a referendum emerging from popular pressure rather than executive initiative. Rather than voting on these issues individually, voters must approve or reject the entire reform agenda through a single “Yes” or “No” choice.

With talk of Bangladesh’s turnaround as a nation, we cannot afford to treat our railway system as an afterthought. However, for our railway network to thrive, it also requires maintenance and giving it the importance it deserves. Railways are also central to our climate commitments as they consume far less energy than road transport and can significantly reduce emissions. Bangladesh’s future itself depends on how seriously we treat our railway system. With an election looming, we expect the next government to prioritize our railway network to truly thrive and reach its full potential to serve the nation.

Bangladesh is approaching a historic crossroads as it prepares to hold a long-awaited parliamentary election, alongside a national referendum, scheduled for February 12, 2026. It represents a critical test of democratic renewal, institutional credibility, and national reconciliation, not only for the people of Bangladesh, but also for the global community closely watching its trajectory. Any compromise on neutrality, however minor, would risk eroding public confidence and reigniting political tensions. The inclusion of a national referendum alongside the parliamentary election further elevates the stakes. The maturity shown by political actors in 2026 will determine whether this election becomes a moment of national healing or another chapter of division.

The government and people of Bangladesh have expressed surprise and shock that fugitive Sheikh Hasina, convicted by the International Crimes Tribunal for crimes against humanity, was permitted to make a statement at a public event in New Delhi on January 23, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Sunday. MoFA, in a statement, said Hasina openly called for the removal of the government of Bangladesh and issued blatant incitements to her party loyalists and the general public to carry out acts of terror to derail the upcoming general elections in Bangladesh. "The unabashed incitements by Awami League's leadership yet again demonstrated why the interim government had to ban its activities," said the interim government. Bangladesh is deeply aggrieved that while India is yet to act on its obligations to hand Sheikh Hasina over to Bangladesh under the bilateral extradition agreement, despite repeated requests by the Bangladesh government, she has instead been allowed to make such statements from its own soil, said the ministry. "It sets a dangerous precedent vis-a-vis the future of Bangladesh-India relations and may seriously impair the ability of the future elected polity in Bangladesh to engage, shape, and nurture mutually beneficial bilateral relations," it said.

In 2010, the United Nations General Assembly, through Resolution 64/292, explicitly recognized the human rights to water and sanitation as essential to the realization of all human rights. While the Bangladesh Water Act 2013 lists potable water as the "highest priority right," implementation has historically been fragmented and hindered by a lack of political will. The state must also address the "urban-rural divide" in water quality, ensuring that the quality of water in a remote village in Rangpur is as high as that in a high-end neighbourhood in Dhaka. The state should implement a "lifeline tariff" system, under which a basic amount of safe water is provided free of charge or at a highly subsidized rate, as recommended by the UN Special Rapporteur on the human right to safe drinking water. Moving beyond the "charity" mindset, now, safe water is a debt the state owes its citizens.

We have unfortunately been here throughout our history, with any form of dissent and criticism being brutally shut down. However, we simply cannot hope to move forward as a nation if we keep clinging to retrograde practices that silence dissent and criminalize free speech. We say that we are looking to turn a corner and leave behind a legacy of suppression. Freedom of speech is not a threat but the lifeblood of democracy. A society that fears criticism simply cannot reform itself and a government that punishes speech is not one that can claim to be democratic.

Costly mega projects taken during the Awami League government, including the Padma Bridge, Padma Rail Bridge, Karnaphuli Tunnel and Payra Port, have had adverse impacts on the market, contributing to economic instability, Commerce Adviser Sk Bashir Uddin reiterated on Sunday. “The projected toll collection from the Padma Rail Bridge was Tk 1,400 crore, but only Tk 26 crore has been realised so far. It was claimed that the Padma Bridge would raise GDP by 2 percent; instead, GDP has declined. “Analyse it yourselves — what did the country actually gain in return for the Padma Bridge? Asked about a Tk 786 crore project to construct three new buildings for future ministers, the adviser said he was completely unaware of the matter.

A Dhaka court on Sunday again deferred the submission of the investigation report in the Hadi murder case, setting January 29 as the new deadline. Previously, the Detective Branch (DB) of police submitted a chargesheet on January 6, accusing 17 people in connection with the murder. 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. Inqilab Mancha Member Secretary Abdullah Al Zaber filed the case with Paltan Model Police Station on December 14.

Photo: BSSBAGERHAT, Jan 25, 2026 (BSS) – A prayer meeting was held today seeking eternal peace for the late Sheikh Md. Zillur Rahman, a frontline fighter of the anti-fascist movement and executive member of the central Tati Dal. Bagerhat district BNP convener Engineer ATM Akram Hossain Talim attended the prayer meeting as the chief guest. Speakers at the meeting remembered the life of the late Sheikh Md. Zillur Rahman, his political sacrifices, and his courageous role in the movement with deep respect, and prayed for the eternal peace of his soul.