Questions surround referendum as confusion persists
Voters will cast their referendum vote on a separate pink ballot containing detailed descriptions of the four issues. Proponents of the referendum claim that a "yes" vote would prevent the return of fascism. Why ‘fascists will not return’Campaigners repeatedly claim that a ‘yes’ vote would prevent the return of fascism. While the government is legally allowed to campaign for the referendum, the EC has barred government officials and employees from taking sides. “The campaign says the future is in the people’s hands, yet urges them to vote ‘yes’.
Source:Dhaka Tribune
January 31, 2026 06:39 UTC
37,000 BGB personnel deployed to ensure security ahead of national polls
BGB Dhaka Sector Commander Colonel SM Abul Ehsan made the disclosure at a media briefing at the Mirpur National Swimming Complex after inspecting several election base camps in the capital this morning. To maintain maximum vigilance, BGB members will perform both mobile and static duties in all 300 parliamentary constituencies, he said. Under the Dhaka Sector alone, a total of 134 platoons will be deployed across 42 temporary base camps covering 51 constituencies in nine districts and four city corporations, he said. These deployments will be carried out by Dhaka Battalion (5 and 26 BGB), Narayanganj Battalion (62 BGB) and Gazipur Battalion (63 BGB), according to the official. Colonel SM Abul Ehsan said a specialized K-9 Dog Squad Unit will also be deployed to conduct special search operations and further strengthen security.
Source:Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha
January 31, 2026 06:38 UTC
US government shuts down but quick resolution expected
If the House approves the package as expected early next week, funding would be restored within days, limiting the practical impact of the shutdown on government services, contractors and federal workers. Democrats, meanwhile, have remained united in opposing new DHS funding without changes to immigration enforcement following the fatal shootings of Alex Pretti and Renee Good in Minneapolis. Their deaths intensified scrutiny of federal agents' conduct and hardened opposition to approving money for immigration agencies without new guardrails. Several have signaled they will push their own priorities during the upcoming DHS negotiations, including measures targeting states and cities that limit cooperation with federal authorities. The remaining bills fund large swaths of the federal government, making the lapse significant if it ends up being prolonged.
Source:Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha
January 31, 2026 06:23 UTC
The rare and interesting wood turtle
One such event of 2016 really stood out, as it was my first ever – and, to this date, only – encounter with a wood turtle. So, I was startled – and incredibly happy — when I discovered it was a wood turtle. I found many interesting creatures but never expected to ever see a wood turtle. That’s sad, because the wood turtle is one of the more interesting reptiles out there. For a good portion of the year, the wood turtle will venture a considerable distance from water (up to a half mile).
Source:Daily Sun
January 31, 2026 06:20 UTC
No. 10 Men’s Hockey Leaps Ahead of Yale To Begin Four Weeks on the Road
That magic didn’t fade, even as Cornell took the road for the first time in four weeks. Kraft, Walsh and DiGiulian went on to contribute a total of two goals and three assists in the Red’s 5-2 victory at Yale (7-14-0, 6-7-0 ECAC). Cornell (15-5-0, 10-3-0 ECAC) dominated possession from the puck drop, forcing Yale goaltender Noah Pak to make nine saves before the game’s seven-minute mark. Though Cornell took two more penalties and Yale suffered one, the rest of the period passed uneventfully. She is in the Class of 2028 in the College of Arts & Sciences, and she can be reached at arogers@cornellsun.com.
Source:Daily Sun
January 31, 2026 05:43 UTC
Expatriates send nearly 140,000 postal ballots home
DHAKA, Jan 31, 2026 (BSS) - Expatriates registered through the "Postal Vote BD" app to cast their votes in the 13th Jatiya Sangsad (JS) election and the Referendum have begun sending back their ballots. So far, 139,763 expatriate ballots have arrived in the country, revealed Team Leader of OCV-SDI Project on expatriate voter registration Salim Ahmad Khan on Friday night. He said a total of 766,862 ballot papers were dispatched to expatriate voters' addresses by 3:30 pm Friday. Alongside expatriates, postal ballots were also distributed among voters residing inside Bangladesh. The Election Commission (EC) said that postal ballots have been sent to 269,000 voters registered within the country (ICPV) through the "Postal Vote BD" app.
Source:Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha
January 31, 2026 05:25 UTC
Coping with loss: Should you borrow for a funeral?
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Source:Daily Sun
January 31, 2026 05:25 UTC
Arsenal take on Corinthians in historic Women’s Champions Cup final
The inaugural edition of the FIFA Women's Champions Cup concludes on Sunday, as European giants Arsenal Women FC battle Brazilian heavyweights SC Corinthians in a match to be crowned as intercontinental queens. Arsenal qualified for the tournament after overcoming Barcelona in the UEFA Women's Champions League final in May 2025. Renee Slegers, Arsenal coach"In this competition, competing against the champions of other continents, we had to earn the right to get into the final. We know how great Arsenal is in Europe, and we are doing our best to be ready to make another great game, just like we did in the semis." Lucas Piccinato, Corinthians coach"I really value this moment: it’s the final of a very high-profile cup.
Source:Dhaka Tribune
January 31, 2026 05:05 UTC
Court backs Getafe in La Liga player registration row
MADRID, Jan 31, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - A Spanish court on Friday granted La Liga strugglers Getafe a potential lifeline by partially accepting their appeal against a ban on registering new players for a salary cap breach. The move cleared financial space for Getafe to register players but La Liga was unhappy with the way the club valued Uche and slashed Getafe's salary limit. Getafe challenged the rulings, by La Liga and the Spanish football federation (RFEF), calling them "an abuse of dominant position" under EU competition law. A Madrid commercial court partially accepted Getafe's request and "orders that the registration window for Getafe remain open until La Liga and the RFEF can formally object". La Liga said in a statement that it had "the fullest respect for judicial rulings" but expressed "its disagreement" with the provisional measure.
Source:Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha
January 31, 2026 04:35 UTC
Bezos's Blue Origin to 'pause' space tourism to focus on Moon efforts
NEW YORK, Jan 31, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Jeff Bezos's space company Blue Origin said Friday it would temporarily pause flights of its space tourism rocket to focus more resources on its lunar ambitions. "The decision reflects Blue Origin's commitment to the nation's goal of returning to the Moon and establishing a permanent, sustained lunar presence," the statement read. But Blue Origin also aims to compete with Elon Musk's SpaceX in the orbital flight market. Also last year, NASA said it was opening bids for a planned Moon mission, the third phase of the Artemis program, to compete against rival SpaceX, which the then-chief said was "behind." Blue Origin currently has the contract for the fifth planned mission of the multibillion-dollar Artemis program.
Source:Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha
January 31, 2026 04:35 UTC
Venezuela interim president announces 'general amnesty' law
CARACAS, Jan 31, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Venezuela's acting president Delcy Rodriguez announced on Friday a move to grant "general amnesty" for political violence in the country, in her latest major reform since being installed after the US toppling of Nicolas Maduro. "We have decided to propose a general amnesty law covering the entire period of political violence from 1999 to the present," Rodriguez said during remarks at a ceremony at the Supreme Court. She also announced the impending closure of the notorious El Helicoide prison in Caracas, where rights groups say political prisoners were tortured by Maduro's intelligence services.
Source:Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha
January 31, 2026 04:33 UTC
Online foes Trump, Petro set for White House face-to-face
After months of trading insults from their very active social media accounts, presidents Donald Trump and Gustavo Petro will hold an unlikely summit in Washington on Tuesday. Trump and Petro come from opposite ends of the political spectrum, and have sparred over everything from Israeli operations in Gaza to jailed migrants to Venezuela. "Both Trump and Petro are volatile," said Felipe Botero, a political expert at the University of the Andes. Ahead of the meeting, Petro took steps to please Washington, announcing the resumption of migrant deportation flights to Colombia, the original trigger of the Petro-Trump conflict. The government says Petro also agreed with Trump to act jointly against the ELN -- Colombia's largest guerrilla group -- near the Venezuela border, after failed peace talks.
Source:Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha
January 31, 2026 04:28 UTC
Deadly landslide strikes militia-held mining site in DR Congo
RUBAYA, DR Congo, Jan 31, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - A series of landslides struck a militia-held mine in the Democratic Republic of Congo, burying people alive and killing several, the governor and witnesses told AFP on Friday. A second landslide struck on Thursday morning. Some were buried and others are still in the pits," freelance miner Franck Bolingo told AFP. Eraston Bahati Musanga, the M23?appointed governor of North Kivu province, told AFP the slide had been deadly. Several international mining firms have temporarily halted their operations in the east as a result of the M23's advance.
Source:Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha
January 31, 2026 04:18 UTC
Chhatra Union removes Shibir referendum ‘Yes’ billboard from Raju statue
Bangladesh Chhatra Union removed a "Yes" billboard put up by Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir in support of the referendum from the Raju Sculpture at Dhaka University around midnight on Friday. The billboard was removed at around 12am, Chhatra Union leaders said. The organisation claimed the billboard was removed and relocated elsewhere as it had covered the statue of martyr Moin Hossain Raju. Bangladesh Chhatra Union (Party) Central Committee General Secretary Bahauddin Shuvo said a large billboard promoting Islami Chhatra Shibir’s campaign had been installed in front of the Raju Sculpture. Chhatra Union activists removed the billboard to free the sculpture,” he said.
Source:Dhaka Tribune
January 31, 2026 04:07 UTC
Five killed after drum truck hits van in Naogaon
Five people were killed after a drum truck hit a van in Mohadevpur upazila of Naogaon early Saturday. Resident Medical Officer (RMO) of Mohadevpur Upazila Health Complex Imrul Kayes confirmed the deaths. They are Bipul Pahan, 25, and Sanju Rao, 45, both residents of the Nurpur area of the upazila. Mohadevpur Fire Service and Civil Defence Station Officer-in-Charge Abul Kashem said the drum truck was heading towards Patnitala from Mahadevpur when it lost control and hit the van. Two people died on the spot, while three others were rescued in critical condition and taken to Mohadevpur Upazila Health Complex, where they later died, the RMO said.
Source:Dhaka Tribune
January 31, 2026 04:07 UTC