Tourism does not mean entitlement
It is quite infuriating to see how Saint Martin’s Island is being destroyed not by ignorance, but by the reckless entitlement of the very public who claim to love it. Our only coral island and among the most treasured natural resources we have, declared an ecologically critical area for decades now, is now at the mercy of reckless tourism. When tourism was suspended for nine months in 2025, nature rebounded. Conservation works but only if given priority and Saint Martin’s cannot sustain the thousands who descend on it during peak season. Unchecked tourism has already caused too much damage to Bangladesh’s natural beauty, and if we do not get serious about addressing it through stricter regulations, we risk losing these scenic destinations forever.
Source:Dhaka Tribune
January 17, 2026 02:53 UTC
The BNP’s moment of truth
The question is stark: Will BNP rise to the occasion -- or miss its moment? If the BNP acts boldly, these voters can become the decisive force that saves Bangladesh from division and darkness. Women empowerment: Guarantee equal pay, safety, education, and leadership opportunities. Guarantee equal pay, safety, education, and leadership opportunities. BNP’s credibility will hinge on whether these commitments are communicated with precision and backed by actionable timelines.
Source:Dhaka Tribune
January 17, 2026 02:53 UTC
Cricket and politics
At least, that is how people outside viewed the Indian Cricket Board decision. Understandably, a deeply anguished Bangladesh Cricket Board took the decision not to play in Indian cities (two) in the upcoming T20 series citing security concerns. This decision of course was a serious concern to the International Cricket Council (ICC), the organizer of the T20 World Cup. It asked its security team to assess the threat situation and guide their decision on Bangladesh Cricket Board’s request. In support of his decision, he cited three risk factors, quoting from an alleged letter from the ICC Security Team.
Source:Dhaka Tribune
January 17, 2026 02:53 UTC
Resisting authoritarianism by exhaustion: Why we must fight Trump’s new travel ban
Just a week after Donald Trump first took office as president, he signed Executive Order 13769 -- his first travel ban. It halted refugee admissions and suspended entry into the US for citizens of Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen. On the first day of 2026, a proclamation signed by Trump took effect, expanding an earlier travel restriction to 39 countries. On a human level, the January 1 travel ban means this. This is not an exhaustive list, but merely a snapshot of the devastating and entirely predictable consequences of Trump’s new travel ban.
Source:Dhaka Tribune
January 17, 2026 02:53 UTC
Iran protest movement subsides in face of 'brutal' crackdown
The "brutal" repression has "likely suppressed the protest movement for now", said the US-based Institute for the Study of War, which has monitored the protest activity. But it added: "The regime's widespread mobilisation of security forces is unsustainable, however, which makes it possible that protests could resume." Pahlavi also told a news conference in Washington on Friday that "The Islamic republic will fall -- not if, but when." Norway-based rights group Iran Human Rights (IHR) says 3,428 protesters have been verified to have been killed by security forces, but warns the actual toll could be several times higher. Iran's representative at the meeting, Gholamhossein Darzi, accused Washington of "exploitation of peaceful protests for geopolitical purposes."
Source:Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha
January 17, 2026 02:51 UTC
Jamalpur makes winning start in Shitalakha zone
Photo: BSSDHAKA, Jan 16, 2026 (BSS) - Jamalpur U-17 district football team made winningstart in the Shitalakha zone of U-17 National Football Championship beatingMymensingh U-17 district football team by a lone goal held at Jamalpurdistirct stadium in Jamalpur today (Friday). In the day's match, Abur Hossain of Jamalpur scored the decisive goal for histeam in the 92md minute of the match. Earlier, Deputy Commissioner of Jamalpur District, Mohammad Yusup Ali was thechief guest in the opening ceremony. Jamalpur Police Superintendent Dr. Chowdhury Md. Bangladesh Football Federation executive member Sayeed Hasan Kanon was alsopresent there and inaugurated the championship.
Source:Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha
January 17, 2026 02:51 UTC
Shah's son confident Iran rulers to fall as Trump holds off
Trump had repeatedly warned Iran that if it kills protesters, the United States would intervene militarily. Trump wrote Friday on his Truth Social platform that Iran had called off executions of hundreds of protesters and said to the clerical state, "Thank you!" Gulf Arab monarchies, despite frequent friction with Iran, have urged Trump to show caution. He also urged all countries to expel diplomats from Iran and to help restore internet access, which has been severely hampered. Pahlavi promised that a new Iran would have better relations with the leadership's sworn enemies -- the United States and Israel -- and integrate into the global economy.
Source:Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha
January 17, 2026 02:46 UTC
Stock markets take breather at end of turbulent week
Stock markets take breather at end of turbulent weekNEW YORK, Jan 17, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Stock markets mostly retrenched on Friday at the end of a week jam-packed with geopolitical developments, content to languish after record-breaking performances in recent days. Wall Street stocks followed European bourses into the red at the end of the session, with investors in no mood to take fresh positions. The S&P 500 concluded Friday's session at 6,940.01, down 0.1 percent for the day and 0.4 percent for the week. Analysts expect companies in the S&P 500 to report 8.2 percent earnings growth in the fourth-quarter compared with the year-ago period, according to FactSet. Stovall also flagged US inflation data next week as a key input as far as what to expect from the Federal Reserve.
Source:Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha
January 17, 2026 02:44 UTC
Iran protest death tolls
Here is a breakdown of different tolls:- Iran-focused rights groups -The Norway-based Iran Human Rights group has verified that 3,428 protesters have been killed by security forces. As of January 15, the Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRANA) said 2,677 deaths had been confirmed and that it was investigating another 1,693 cases. - Media outside Iran -At least 12,000 people were killed during protests, mostly on January 8 and 9, said Iran International, a Persian-language opposition channel based outside the country, citing senior government and security sources. CBS news this week said "two sources, including one inside Iran" told the US news outlet "that at least 12,000, and possibly as many as 20,000 people have been killed". Amnesty International called the crackdown "a massacre", saying that "by official admission" the death toll had reached 2,000 as of a January 14 report, but that rights groups put the toll at much higher.
Source:Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha
January 17, 2026 02:42 UTC
Trump says 'thank you' to Iran for not hanging protesters
Trump says 'thank you' to Iran for not hanging protestersWASHINGTON, United States, Jan 17, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - US President Donald Trump thanked Iran's leadership on Friday after saying Tehran had called off the executions of hundreds of protesters arrested in a brutal crackdown. "I greatly respect the fact that all scheduled hangings, which were to take place yesterday (Over 800 of them), have been cancelled by the leadership of Iran. Trump repeatedly threatened military action against Iran over the past two weeks to help protesters, where rights groups say Iranian forces have killed thousands of people. But he is now holding off on intervening after saying on Wednesday that he had been told the killings had stopped. "Nobody convinced me -- I convinced myself," Trump told reporters later Friday as he left the White House to head to Florida for the weekend.
Source:Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha
January 17, 2026 02:42 UTC
The story of Westerly’s first newspaper
You have permission to edit this article.
Source:Daily Sun
January 17, 2026 02:07 UTC
RU admission test begins amid massive preparations
Photo : BSSRAJSHAHI, Jan 16, 2026 (BSS)- A three-day admission test for first-year honors classes in the 2025-2026 academic session of Rajshahi University (RU) began today (Friday) amid massive preparations. The admission of the C unit began in two shifts on this day. A total of 1,18,962 students appeared in the C unit test with 26 Departments belonging to the science, agriculture, engineering, bioscience, and geosciences faculties. VC Saleh Hassan Naquib said the admission test for the C unit was held today, while Saturday has been fixed for A unit. Detailed information about the admission tests remained available in http://admission.ru.ac.bd/ website.
Source:Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha
January 16, 2026 22:01 UTC
Looted Chinese rifle, local firearm recovered in Cumilla
Photo: BSSCUMILLA, Jan 16, 2026 (BSS) - Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) has recovered a Chinese rifle and a locally-made firearm that were looted from a police station during last year, following a special operation in Muradnagar upazila of the district. The recovery was confirmed on Friday at around 12 noon by Major Sadman Ibne Alam, company commander of RAB-11, CPC-2 in Cumilla. Following the incident, intelligence surveillance was intensified nationwide to track down and recover the looted government weapons. As part of that ongoing effort, the two firearms were recovered in Muradnagar based on confidential information. RAB stated that legal proceedings are underway in connection with the recovered weapons.
Source:Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha
January 16, 2026 21:46 UTC
Krishak League leader resigns in Gopalganj
A Krishak League leader in Tungipara upazila of Gopalganj has announced his resignation,stating that he does not even know who included his name in the union committee. He made the announcement at a press conference held at his residence at Patgati village in theupazila on Thursday night. Rakhal Sarkar was the Assistant Office Secretary of the Patgati Union Krishak League. In his written statement, he said that he recently came to know that during the tenure of theprevious Awami League government, his name had been included—without his knowledge—asAssistant Office Secretary of the Patgati Union Krishak League. He also said that he does not know who or how his name was included in thecommittee.
Source:Dhaka Tribune
January 16, 2026 21:45 UTC
Supradip calls for casting ‘Yes’ vote in the referendum
Adviser Supradip Chakma today spoke as the chief guest at a voter awareness rally at the Khagrachari Town Hall. Photo : BSSKHAGRACHARI, Jan 16, 2026 (BSS)- Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) Affairs Adviser Supradip Chakma today called constitutional reform to establish a truly democratic nation. The rally was organized under the theme “Referendum 2026: The key to the country is in your hands.”Supradip Chakma urged the public to cast 'Yes' votes to fulfil their aspirations. He stated that the referendum aims to end the struggle for power and instead create a stable state structure. He said national election and the referendum will be held simultaneously which is a historic opportunity for comprehensive state reform.
Source:Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha
January 16, 2026 21:16 UTC