Reading time: about 2 minutesThe annual Experiential Learning Symposium was held on Nov. 13 celebrating its 11th anniversary. Over 50 undergraduates majoring in global and public health sciences, along with five graduate students studying public health, presented their research at the symposium. The event was presented by the Global Health Student Advisory Board, a student organization that helps GPHS students find research and internship opportunities. As a part of their graduation requirement, students present their research findings and work during the annual symposium. “I worked on climate change preparedness for medical students in Moshi, Tanzania that started from following Professor [Jeanne] Moseley on her research in Tanzania,” Law said.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has rejected allegations by Jamaat-e-Islami that it has reached an agreement with India to return to power, describing the claim as “total propaganda”. Responding to these claims, Mahdi noted that the Jamaat leader had cited media reports but failed to provide any evidence. He urged the public to inform the party or contact law-enforcing agencies if anyone asks for money for these cards. ELECTION HOTLINETo improve communication with the public, the BNP has launched an election hotline at 16543 and a WhatsApp service at 01806977577. Mahdi said these channels aim to provide information on election rules, monitor voter complaints, and ensure a transparent, citizen-friendly electoral environment.

DAE Khulna distributes seeds and fertilizers to 70,050 farmers to boost Rabi crop production. Photo : BSSKHULNA, Jan 24, 2026(BSS) - The Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) Khulna Zone has begun distributing of seeds and fertilizers among 70,050 listed farmers of the region during 2025-2026 season. Each of the farmers is getting the incentives for 11 types of agriculture crops against one bigha (33 shatak) land to increase Rabi Crops production in the current season. “Of those, the DAE is distributing agri-incentives for boro paddy, wheat, mustard, groundnut, sunflower, onion, vegetables, and four kind of pulses (Mug, Mosur, Khesari, Arohor),” said Md Rafiqul Islam, Additional Director of the DAE Khulna region today. MdRafiqul Islam said the farmers are getting incentives as per the guidelines of the Ministry of Agriculture.

Photo : BSSRAJSHAHI, Jan 24, 2026 (BSS)- A five-day "Digital Citizenship and Misinformation Resilience Training" was concluded at Varendra University here today. Students received hands-on training on digital citizenship, online behavior, fact-checking techniques, identifying fake news, and responsible engagement on social media. Another student, Aishwarya Mondal, said, "I didn't realize that there are certain ethics and values that should be followed while using social media. Through this training, students had the opportunity to learn how to behave responsibly on these platforms. Under the Digital Citizenship and Misinformation Resilience Training project, more than 600 students from 10 universities across the country have been trained in phases.

DHAKA, Jan 24, 2026 (BSS) - The Bangladesh Championship League (BCL), the second-tier professional football league of the country, begins from tomorrow (Sunday), with three matches billed for the opening day at two separate venues in the capital. In the first round matches on the day, Khelaghar Samaj Kalyan Samity will take City Club at Fortis ground Jalshiri at 2.30 pm, Wari Club will face Dhaka Wanderers Club at Bashundhara Kings arena practice ground at 2.30 pm while Little Friends Club will play against BRTC Sports Club at the same venue at 6 pm. In the remaining first-round matches on the following day (January 26), Dhaka Rangers Football Club will meet Chittagong Abaani Limited at Bashundhara Kings arena practice ground while Chattogram City Football Club will take on Shuktara Jubo Sangsad at Fortis Grond (Jalshiri).

Tk 5.86 cr given for transportation of textbooks at school levelFile PhotoDHAKA, Jan 24, 2026 (BSS) - The Department of Primary Education has provided Taka 5,86,55,000 for transportation of textbooks at school level. In a recent letter, it was mentioned that under the operating budget of the 2025-26 fiscal year, Taka 5,86,55,800 has been provided for transportation of free textbooks at school level for the academic year 2026. On conditions, the concerned upazila/thana education officers have been given the authority to spend the amount allocated in accordance with the government rules. The concerned expenditure officers can spend the money in fiscal 2025-26 using IBS++ through the authorization of DDO. The concerned officers will be personally responsible for any irregular expenditure.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen. Photo: CollectedCOPENHAGEN, Jan 24, 2026 (AFP) - Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen onSaturday slammed US President Donald Trump for saying NATO allies had shiedaway from the front line in Afghanistan. "I fully understand that Danish veterans have said no words can describe howmuch this hurts," she said on Facebook. "Denmark has always stood by the United States, and we have shown up incrisis zones around the world when the United States asked us to," theassociation said in a statement. "Denmark is one of the NATO countries that has suffered the highest lossesper capita," the Danish prime minister underscored.

DHAKA, Jan 24, 2026 (BSS) - The Bangladesh Election Commission (EC) has urged voters registered through the "Postal Vote BD" mobile application to cast their ballots promptly after receiving them. They should submit the yellow envelopes to the nearest post office or letter box within the stipulated time, a PID release said. EC said only those postal ballots that reach the Returning Officer by 4:30 pm on February 12, 2026 will be considered for counting.

Photo: BSSRAJSHAHI, Jan 24, 2026 (BSS)- The ‘B’ Unit admission test for the first year of the undergraduate (honours) programme of the 2025–26 academic session at Rajshahi University (RU) was held today (Saturday) smoothly. In the B Unit, 55 candidates are competing for each seat. According to university sources, the B Unit consists of six departments under the Faculty of Business Studies as well as the Institute of Business Administration (IBA). So far, no untoward incidents have occurred. We have also not received any reports of untoward incidents from other centres across the country.

CARACAS, Jan 24, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Venezuela's interim president Delcy Rodriguez said Friday that over 600 inmates have been released, far more than estimated by rights groups, who are demanding the liberation of all political prisoners. The announcement, which was hailed by Washington, created expectations of large groups of prisoners walking free. Rodriguez said 626 prisoners have been released since December and said she would ask the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to verify the number. Foro Penal, a leading Venezuelan rights group, said it had counted 155 political prisoners released, mostly since Maduro's overthrow, and estimated that over 700 people were still being held. Marlene Blanco, a 65-year-old accountant, was particularly critical of Trump's grab for Venezuelan oil.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman today addressed a rally of 10-party electoral alliance at the SM Pilot High School ground in Palashbari upazila this morning. Highlighting employment and education, the Jamaat Ameer said unemployed youths would be brought under technical training to turn 'idle hands into productive hands'. At the end of the rally, the Jamaat Ameer introduced the alliance-backed candidates of Gaibandha district and sought votes for them. The candidates are Professor Majedur Rahman (Gaibandha-1), Jamaat district Ameer Abdul Karim (Gaibandha-2), Principal Maulana Nazrul Islam (Gaibandha-3), Dr. Abdur Rahim Sarker (Gaibandha-4) and Bir Muktijoddha Abdul Wares (Gaibandha-5). Chaired by Gaibandha district Jamaat Ameer Md.

WASHINGTON, United States, Jan 24, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - The US military will prioritize protecting the homeland and deterring China while providing "more limited" support to allies in Europe and elsewhere, a Pentagon strategy document released on Friday said. "As US forces focus on homeland defense and the Indo-Pacific, our allies and partners elsewhere will take primary responsibility for their own defense with critical but more limited support from American forces," the strategy said. Both the Biden and Trump strategies say homeland defense is important, but their descriptions of the threats facing the US differ significantly. Like Trump's national security strategy, which was released last month, the NDS elevates Latin America to the top of the US agenda. We will use it to protect our Homeland and our access to key terrain throughout the region," the NDS said.

A show-cause notice has been issued to Sarjis Alam, the candidate of the 10-party alliance in the Panchagarh-1 constituency, over allegations of violating the electoral code of conduct. The notice was issued on Saturday afternoon by the office of the Panchagarh Deputy Commissioner and Returning Officer, Kazi Md Sayemuzzaman. The matter was later confirmed to Dhaka Tribune by the Deputy Commissioner and Returning Officer himself. According to the notice, on January 23, Sarjis Alam used banners, billboards and arches displaying photographs of a political party chief other than his own—specifically Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman—at an election rally organized by the 10-party alliance in Panchagarh. The notice further states that Sarjis Alam constructed three arches in defiance of restrictions, which violates Section 13(a) of the code of conduct.

Indian High Commissioner Pranay Verma -File photoDHAKA, Jan 24, 2026 (BSS) - Indian High Commissioner Pranay Verma today said India and Bangladesh, as fast-growing economies, are well positioned to act as catalysts for each other's sustainable growth and anchors of robust regional integration. "Bangladesh has been an important co-traveler in this journey of ours," he said at a reception marking India's Republic Day at a city hotel. Verma said Dhaka and Delhi seek "forward-looking and future-ready collaborations," describing a partnership "rooted in trust, driven by innovation and technology, and nurtured and sustained by mutual interest, mutual benefit and mutual sensitivity." Highlighting bilateral ties, Verma said, Bangaldesh and India share "a special relationship, along with an indelible history of shared sacrifices during Bangladesh's Liberation War of 1971." He said together India and Bangladesh can build "regional value chains, shared digital ecosystems, and energy corridors," ensure a "clean, affordable and secure" energy future and jointly address environmental sustainability and climate change.

We oppose any action that would undermine our country’s sovereignty,” Fakhrul said referring to BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman’s statements while making the remarks. He spoke during an election outreach and street meeting at Jatibhanga, one of Thakurgaon’s bonded lands dating to 1971. Recalling the 1971 Liberation War, Fakhrul said: “Here in 1971, a brutal genocide took place, and these bonded lands bear witness to it. We cannot elect anyone who has not recognized our independence.”Fakhrul outlined several initiatives planned under Tarique Rahman’s leadership. Highlighting Thakurgaon’s agricultural profile, Fakhrul said: “This is an agriculture-dominated area, currently producing large quantities of vegetables, mangoes, lychees, oranges, and other fruits.