Long-standing allegations of political pressure on Bangladesh’s business community during election seasons have resurfaced, following public claims that parliamentary candidates are demanding large sums of money from business leaders -- renewing debate over opaque political financing practices ahead of the national polls. Speaking on a televised talk show, Russell said such demands are placing unsustainable pressure on businesses already struggling with rising costs and economic uncertainty. Russell argued that while political fundraising is often rationalized by unemployment or grassroots mobilization, demands made by parliamentary candidates cannot be justified on social or political grounds. “Political party leadership must give clear instructions. He acknowledged that some businesses are being compelled to contribute, noting that while one major political party finances its campaigns largely through institutional means, others depend heavily on business donations.

BNP leaders said the symbolic start underlines the party’s effort to reconnect with voters as the election race officially opens. After offering prayers at the shrine, Tarique Rahman visited the grave of General MAG Osmani, commander-in-chief of 1971 Liberation War, located within the shrine complex. After visiting the shrines, Tarique Rahman was scheduled to visit his in-laws’ home in Biraimpur village of South Surma upazila, where he would pay respects at family graves. Thursday, the first day of the official campaign, Tarique Rahman is set to exchange views with young voters in the morning before addressing BNP’s inaugural election rally at the Sylhet Government Alia Madrasa ground around 11am. BNP leaders said the Sylhet program marks the party’s full-scale entry into the election campaign as nationwide canvassing begins.

File PhotoDHAKA, Jan 21, 2026 (BSS) - A court here today ordered the freezing of 21 bank accounts belonging to Md Mohibul Haque, former senior secretary of the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism, and his wife Syeda Afroza Begum, former additional secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, over graft allegations. Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Md Sabbir Faiz passed the orders, allowing two separate pleas filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). The inquiry found that Mohibul Haque owns 1.72 acres of land in Bagerhat and Gazipur districts, while his daughter Moshreka Moumita Haque owns 0.1243 acre of land in Bagerhat. It also revealed that his wife Syeda Afroza Begum owns a 2,700-square-foot flat in Dhaka's Mohakhali DOHS area. Records further showed transactions involving crores of Taka in 21 accounts held by Mohibul Haque and his wife with eight banks and the National Savings Directorate.

The process of allocating election symbols to candidates contesting the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Elections in Rajshahi has been completed. The Election Commission stated that candidates will be able to officially begin their election campaigns from Thursday in compliance with the electoral code of conduct. The symbol allocation process began at 10:30 am on Wednesday at the office of the Deputy Commissioner and District Returning Officer. In the presence of all candidates and their representatives, the District Returning Officer Afia Akhter formally allocated the symbols. In addition, three independent candidates from two constituencies were allotted their preferred symbols.

Govt to provide Tk 2cr financial assistance to family of Osman HadiSharif Osman Hadi -Photo: CollectedDHAKA, Jan 21, 2026 (BSS) - The government has decided to provide a total of Taka 2 crore in financial assistance to the family of Inqilab Mancha Convener Shaheed Sharif Osman Hadi, including Taka 1 crore for purchasing a flat in Dhaka and another Taka 1 crore for livelihood support. “Taka one crore will be given from the Ministry of Finance for purchasing a flat or house. Another Taka one crore is being provided separately from the Chief Adviser’s fund for livelihood of Hadi’s,” he said. Sharif Osman Bin Hadi had earlier announced his intention to contest the 13th Jatiya Sangsad election as an independent candidate from the Dhaka-8 constituency. On December 15, Hadi was flown to Singapore by air ambulance and admitted to Singapore General Hospital.

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The High Court (HC) on Wednesday summarily rejected a writ petition filed by BNP candidate Monzurul Ahsan Munshi, pleading to restoring his nomination for the Comilla-4 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, reports BSS. Earlier, the returning officer declared Munshi’s nomination paper valid during scrutiny. The Election Commission on January 17 upheld the appeal on allegations of loan default, thereby declaring Munshi’s nomination paper invalid. Challenging the EC decision,Munshi later filed the writ petition with the High Court seeking to regain his candidacy.

Rajshahi will now take on Chattogram Royals in the summit clash, scheduled for Friday, with the coveted BPL trophy on the line. Fernando returned for his second spell to claim two more wickets, effectively ruining Sylhet's chances, with Woakes left stranded on 15. After being sent in to bat, Tanzid Hasan Tamim and Sahibzada Farhan gave Rajshahi a rapid start, with Tanzid particularly in imperious touch. His dismissal sparked a collapse as Rajshahi lost three wickets for 18 runs. The pair added 77 runs for the sixth wicket, pushing Rajshahi past the 150-run mark.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has decided to file six cases against 21 individuals over appointing six officers through the 29th Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) exam under the freedom fighter quota. ACC Director General Md Akhtar Hossain informed journalists about the decision to prosecute the suspects at a press conference at the agency’s headquarters on Wednesday. The ACC said the candidates did not originally apply under the quota, and the appointments were given to applicants without valid freedom fighter certificates. The appointments were made through “abuse of power, deception, and forgery”, the ACC said. The graft-busters will prosecute current and former officials of the Public Service Commission in the cases.

NASA astronaut Suni Williams. Photo: CollectedWASHINGTON, United States, Jan 21, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - A NASA astronaut who wasstuck in space for nine months because of problems with her spacecraft hasretired after 27 years of service, the space agency said Tuesday. "Anyone who knows me knows that space is my absolute favorite place to be,"she said in a statement. During her career, Williams logged 608 days in space -- the second mostcumulative time in space by a NASA astronaut, the agency said. She also ranks sixth on the list of longest single spaceflights by anAmerican due to the Starliner incident, NASA added.

Newly appointed US Ambassador to Bangladesh Brent T Christensen on Wednesday said he is concerned about broader Chinese influence in South Asia, stressing that they have a host of options available to try to help their partner militaries meet their capability needs. ‘You know, as I said in my hearing…I am concerned about broader Chinese influence in South Asia. I think the United States government has been very clear about that," he said while responding to a question during an interaction with a small group of journalists. He said the US and Bangladesh have strong military-to-military cooperation, and it has been growing stronger. During his nomination hearing, Senator Pete Ricketts of Nebraska, a Republican, asked Christensen about what he described as Bangladesh’s growing military-to-military cooperation with China.

On the third day of a highly-anticipated nine-week trial Harry will testifyagainst Associated Newspapers Ltd (ANL), the publisher of the Daily Mail andThe Mail on Sunday, alleging illegal privacy breaches. He is scheduled to begin giving evidence at the High Court in London at 11:30am (1130 GMT). They allege it paid private investigators implicated in other phone-hackinglawsuits for some of the unlawful information used to generate dozens ofstories. Ahead of his evidence session Wednesday, he sat in the High Court on Mondayand during some of Tuesday's proceedings. David Sherborne, representing the seven, told the High Court he will show"there was clear and systematic use of unlawful gathering of information" atANL.

Former advisor to a caretaker government and civil servant M Hafizuddin Khan has died at the age of 89. He died at his residence in Uttara’s Sector 1 on Wednesday at 7pm due to natural causes, according to his maternal cousin Liaquat Ali. Hafizuddin served as secretary of the posts and telecommunications ministry and was an advisor to several ministries, including finance and planning, during the 2001 caretaker government. He also chaired the central executive committee of SHUJAN, served as Transparency International Bangladesh’s chairman, and held leadership roles in Basic Bank Limited, Rupali Bank, and Agrani Bank. Liaquat said the body is at his Uttara home; funeral arrangements will be finalised after his daughters arrive from Canada.

The University ranked second overall among 527 institutions that received foreign funds. These forms of payment made up a little over 11% of the foreign funds. Harvard, the only other university receiving more foreign funds than Cornell, received most of its funds from England and Switzerland. When asked why the University receives aid from foreign nations, a University spokesperson told The Sun that the funds help increase collaborations across the world. “Most scientific challenges and their solutions transcend national borders and require international expertise, data, facilities, and collaborations,” a University spokesperson wrote to The Sun.

According to the Insurance Development and Regulatory Authority (Idra)’s September 2025 quarterly report, the life funds of at least seven life insurance companies have fallen to zero or gone negative. Protective Islamic Life Insurance and Jamuna Life Insurance also have negative life funds. Idra data shows that by September, total life insurance claims stood at Tk5,986 crore, of which Tk3,880.58 crore remained unsettled. Sunflower Life Insurance, Progressive Life Insurance, and even the state-owned Life Insurance Corporation also have large volumes of unpaid claims. Idra data shows Progressive Life has Tk153 crore in expired claims against a life fund of only Tk79 crore.