EC Sanaullah; No evidence of postal ballot irregularities found
Election Commissioner Brig Gen (retd) Abul Fazal Md Sanaullah on Thursday said the Election Commission (EC) has found no evidence of any irregularities in the postal ballots sent to expatriate Bangladeshis abroad, reviewing several video clips circulating on social media regarding the distribution of postal ballots. The election commissioner made the remarks while briefing reporters at Nirbachan Bhaban in the city on Thursday evening. Earlier on Tuesday, BNP raised concerns before the Election Commission over the viral videos related to the distribution of postal ballots sent to expatriates. The Election Commissioner said a total of 7,67,084 postal ballots were dispatched for the expatriate voters. Some 1,71,680 voters used an address shared by two voters, while 95,816 voters used addresses shared by up to five voters, 59,276 voters used addresses shared by up to 10 voters, 38,109 voters used addresses shared by up to 20 voters, 21,915 voters used addresses shared by 20 to 50 voters, 14,891 voters used addresses shared by 100 or more voters, he said.
Source:Dhaka Tribune
January 15, 2026 19:13 UTC
Rizwana stresses establishing functional financial system
Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan spoke at the 25th ICMAB Convocation 2026 held in the capital today. Photo : BSSDHAKA, Jan 15, 2026 (BSS) - Adviser to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Syeda Rizwana Hasan today said that the country must establish a functional financial system free from political influence and corruption to ensure rational and accountable public expenditure. She made the remarks while attending the 25th ICMAB Convocation 2026 as the chief guest at the Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel in the capital. Jean Bouquot, President of the International Federation of Accountants, spoke as the convocation speaker. Past presidents, council members, associate and fellow members, and guests from the government and corporate sectors attended the event.
Source:Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha
January 15, 2026 18:48 UTC
Historic 'Amtala 52 Gate' at DMCH reopens after 40 yrs
The historic 'Amtala 52 Gate'. Photo : CollectedBy Bulbul ChowdhuryDHAKA, Jan 15, 2026 (BSS) - After nearly four decades, Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) authorities have reopened the historic 'Amtala 52 Gate', a site deeply connected with the memories of the 1952 Language Movement. The reopening of the Amtala 52 Gate is being seen as both a practical solution to traffic woes and a symbolic restoration of a historic landmark of the Language Movement. With the reopening of the alternative Amtala Gate, vehicles will now be able to enter through one gate and exit through another, ensuring smoother and faster access for emergency patients. This time, following direct instructions from the DMCH Director, the gate has been permanently reopened for public use.
Source:Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha
January 15, 2026 18:27 UTC
Inside the Suns: Jalen Green, the trade deadline, the Western Conference competition
Welcome to Inside the Suns, your weekly deep down analysis of the current Phoenix Suns team. Each week the Fantable — a round table of Bright Siders — give their takes on the Suns’ latest issues and news. I want to go full conspiracy theory here, as I believe that things might not be right in “Jalen Green Land”. Q2: When team owner Mat Ishbia was recently questioned about the upcoming trade deadline, he responded, “We don’t need to make a change at all. ET)April 14-17 - SoFi NBA Play-In TournamentApril 18 - NBA Playoffs begin
Source:Daily Sun
January 15, 2026 18:01 UTC
Colorado is working on a plan to reintroduce wolverines next. Here’s what it would look like.
Canada Lynx were reintroduced into the same habitat wolverines will be released starting in 1999, with CPW releasing 218 of them into the San Juan Mountains. But finalizing the 106-page plan is a big step toward bringing more “charismatic critters” to Colorado, says Luke Perkins, agency spokesperson. Designation will come only after the federal government reviews the reintroduction plan under the National Environmental Policy Act. CPW said it’s unclear if or how that situation would impact wolverine reintroduction, because it could still be years off. But the plan says Colorado is still a good place to restore wolverines.
Source:Daily Sun
January 15, 2026 17:51 UTC
New program at Winter Park ski area gives patrollers tools for dealing with stress
Ski patrollers are on the front line of those crowds, handling ugly traumas, terrible accidents, near-misses and worse. Winter Park’s ski patrollers assist their service dog onto the chairlift, Feb. 29, 2024, at the ski area in Winter Park. (Hugh Carey, The Colorado Sun)But a new three-year program at Winter Park ski area is better preparing patrollers for the stresses of front-line resort work. “Ski patrollers are exposed to acute long-term stress and short-term stress and historically, response to that stress has been reactive,” said Griffin Lawrence, the director of Responder Alliance. Charlie, a service dog for the Winter Park Ski Patrol, rests prior to the daily meeting, Feb. 29, 2024, at the ski area in Winter Park.
Source:Daily Sun
January 15, 2026 17:02 UTC
Saudi official: Saudi, Qatar, Oman convinced Trump to give Iran a chance
Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Oman led efforts to talk US President Donald Trump out of an attack on Iran, a senior Saudi official told AFP on Thursday, with another Gulf official confirming the discussions. The Gulf trio “led a long, frantic, diplomatic last-minute effort to convince President Trump to give Iran a chance to show good intention,” the Saudi official said on condition of anonymity. After the repeated threats Trump changed course, saying he had received assurances from “very important sources on the other side” that Iran would not execute demonstrators. The Gulf efforts aimed to “avoid an uncontrollable situation in the region,” the Saudi official said. “We told Washington that an attack on Iran would open the way for a series of grave blowbacks in the region,” the official added.
Source:Dhaka Tribune
January 15, 2026 16:23 UTC
Students vacate roads, announce fresh blockade
The protesters cleared Science Lab and Technical intersections later in the evening but warned of renewed agitation on Monday, saying they would again blockade Science Lab Morh and set up a mass assembly stage if their demands remain unmet. The demonstrations began around 1pm, with students blocking roads at Science Lab intersection as part of a pre-announced program. At one point, clashes broke out between the college protesters and Dhaka University students, resulting in the vandalism of a Dhaka University bus. The prolonged blockade at Science Lab caused immense inconvenience for thousands of commuters. Among students, opinions were also divided, with some supporting swift legal recognition and others opposing the schooling structure.
Source:Dhaka Tribune
January 15, 2026 16:18 UTC
3 top officials including NSA join Biman board
The interim government has appointed three key officials of the administration to the Board of Directors of Biman Bangladesh Airlines Limited. The new appointees are National Security Adviser (NSA) Dr Khalilur Rahman, Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb, and Senior Secretary of the Election Commission (EC) Secretariat Akhtar Ahmed. A gazette notification was issued in this regard by the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism on Wednesday. The order, issued by the president's command and signed by the ministry's Senior Assistant Secretary Mst Shakila Pervin stated that the appointments were made under Section 30(b) of the Bangladesh Biman Act, 2023. The order comes into effect immediately in the "public interest," according to the notification.
Source:Dhaka Tribune
January 15, 2026 16:04 UTC
Tarique Rahman meets Prof Yunus
BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman and his family members paid a courtesy call on Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus at the State Guest House Jamuna this evening. Photo: CA's Press WingDHAKA, Jan 15, 2026 (BSS) - BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman and his family members paid a courtesy call on Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus at the State Guest House Jamuna here this evening. Tarique Rahman, his wife Dr Zubaida Rahman and daughter Barrister Zaima Rahman reached Jamuna around 7:30 pm, said the Chief Adviser's Press Wing, adding that they spent about over an hour with the Chief Adviser and his daughter Deena Yunus. During the meeting, the members of the two families exchanged greetings with each other, the press wing said.
Source:Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha
January 15, 2026 15:56 UTC
Photo exhibition on Begum Zia's struggle to open tomorrow
Former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia. File photoDHAKA, Jan 15, 2026 (BSS) - A two-day photo exhibition showcasing the struggle and achievements of three-time former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia will be held at the capital tomorrow. BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir is expected to inaugurate the exhibition. The exhibition will feature around 100 photographs depicting different phases of Begum Zia's family and political life. Additionally, a special video documentary on her life will be screened at the park's open-air stage (mukta mancha).
Source:Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha
January 15, 2026 15:55 UTC
Bangladesh rules out playing T20 World Cup in India, urges ICC to moves matches to Sri Lanka
Bangladesh will not reverse its decision to skip the T20 World Cup in India, youth and sports advisor Asif Nazrul had reiterated. “We strongly want to play the World Cup, and we want to do it in Sri Lanka,” he said. That night, Nazrul posted on Facebook that he did not consider it safe for the national team to travel to India for the World Cup. Following this, the information ministry ordered all IPL matches and related programmes to remain off-air in Bangladesh from Jan 5 until further notice. On Thursday, Nazrul reaffirmed that Bangladesh remains keen to play the T20 World Cup in Sri Lanka.
Source:bd News24
January 15, 2026 15:53 UTC
CPD raises questions over draft Energy and Power Master Plan
The Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) has questioned whether the interim government rushed the draft Energy and Power Sector Master Plan, warning that it could signal a reversal of Bangladesh’s energy transition and may have been prepared in the interest of specific countries. The think tank shared its initial reaction to the draft Energy and Power Master Plan (2026–2050) at a press conference on Thursday at its Dhanmondi office in Dhaka. In that context, a draft master plan on energy and power has been submitted without our knowledge,” he said. “In the previous master plan, the estimated cost for LNG infrastructure was $3.9 billion. Therefore, it would not be unreasonable to assume that these agreements or countries have influenced the preparation of this draft master plan,” he said.
Source:Dhaka Tribune
January 15, 2026 15:44 UTC
Saudi, Qatar, Oman convinced Trump to 'give Iran a chance': senior Saudi official
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, Jan 15, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Oman led efforts to talk US President Donald Trump out of an attack on Iran, a senior Saudi official told AFP on Thursday, with another Gulf official confirming the discussions. The Gulf trio "led a long, frantic, diplomatic last-minute effort to convince President Trump to give Iran a chance to show good intention", the Saudi official said on condition of anonymity. The Gulf efforts aimed to "avoid an uncontrollable situation in the region", the Saudi official said. "We told Washington that an attack on Iran would open the way for a series of grave blowbacks in the region," the official added. The second Gulf official said "the message conveyed to Iran has been that an attack on US facilities in the Gulf would have consequences on relations with countries in the region".
Source:Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha
January 15, 2026 15:32 UTC
130th BAF Junior Command and Staff Course's certificate giving ceremony held
Photo: ISPRDhaka, Jan 15, 2026 (BSS)- The certificate award ceremony of the Bangladesh Air Force’s 130th Junior Command and Staff Course (JCSC) was held today at Bangladesh Air Force Base Cox’s Bazar. According to an Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) press release, Assistant Chief of Air Staff (Operations) Air Vice Marshal Javed Tanveer Khan attended the ceremony as the chief guest and distributed certificates and trophies among the officers who successfully completed the course. For outstanding performance in the course, Bangladesh Air Force Squadron Leader Sabik N Ahmed was awarded the “Chief of Air Staff’s Trophy.”Addressing the graduating officers, the chief guest delivered a directive speech, providing guidance for their future professional responsibilities. A total of 39 officers from home and abroad participated in the course. Senior officials from Air Headquarters and the host base, instructors and invited guests from Cox’s Bazar were present at the concluding ceremony.
Source:Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha
January 15, 2026 15:15 UTC