Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) on Saturday rejected allegations made by a Jamaat-e-Islami leader regarding alleged agreements between BNP and India, describing the claims as “political propaganda” aimed at creating confusion ahead of the election. There is no truth or factual basis to such claims, nor will he be able to provide any evidence,” Mahadi said. He added that the allegations were either a deliberate political tactic to stir controversy or a result of misinformation and ignorance. “We want to state clearly that claims of BNP signing agreements with India are entirely fabricated,” he said. He further said BNP expects a shift towards positive and responsible politics in the post-uprising political landscape, warning against disinformation, political manoeuvring and divisive narratives.

BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman is set to begin the second phase of his election campaign from Chittagong on Sunday, completing electioneering in Sylhet. “Our leader Tarique Rahman is travelling to Chittagong today as part of his election campaign. Later in the afternoon, Tarique will address a mass rally at the Chittagong Polo Ground. Following the Chittagong programs, he will address campaign rallies at Feni Pilot School ground, Chauddagram High School ground in Cumilla, Sonagazi Digbazi Field, Daudkandi Central Eidgah ground, and Kanchpur Balur Math in Narayanganj. Tarique launched the first phase of his election campaign on January 22 from Sylhet’s Alia Madrasah ground and spoke at seven rallies in Sylhet, Moulvibazar, Habiganj, Kishoreganj, Narsingdi and Narayanganj the same day.

To say that as a nation, we continue to struggle with road safety, would be a gross understatement. Year after year, road fatalities in Dhaka look grim, and 2025 is no different: 219 lives lost in 2025, and shockingly, nearly half of them pedestrians. Most shocking perhaps was the surge in nighttime accidents -- an increase of over 40% of the total. With the country heading into general elections, and amid lofty promises of growth, jobs, and reforms, it is important that all political parties do not overlook the critical issue of road safety. As such, the next government must treat road safety as the national priority it has been.

The killing of Swechchhasebak Dal leader Azizur Rahman Musabbir in Dhaka’s Kawran Bazar was driven by disputes over extortion and control of the area, police said on Saturday. Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Additional Commissioner (Detective) Shafiqul Islam disclosed the information at a press briefing held around 11am at the DMP Media Centre on Mintu Road. Shafiqul Islam said eight to nine extortion syndicates — both overt and covert — are active in the Kawran Bazar area. The murder was carried out on the orders of a man known as Dilip alias Binash following a dispute over extortion proceeds. Earlier, DB police arrested Jinnat, 24; Abdul Qadir, 28; Md Riaz, 31; and Md Bilal in connection with the murder on January 11.

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Weather Alert...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON CST SUNDAY... * WHAT...Heavy mixed precipitation expected. * IMPACTS...The strong winds and weight of snow on tree limbs may down power lines and could cause sporadic power outages. Power outages and tree damage are likely due to the ice. Consider taking a winter storm kit along with you, including such items as tire chains, booster cables, flashlight, shovel, blankets and extra clothing. Also take water, a first aid kit, and anything else that would help you survive in case you become stranded.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has formally requested the intervention of the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) Independent Dispute Resolution Committee, refusing to back down from its demand to shift their T20 World Cup matches out of India. Following a meeting with the World Cup squad at a Dhaka hotel on Thursday, Youth and Sports Adviser Asif Nazrul declared that there is “no chance” of the government altering its stance. He confirmed that unless the ICC relocates the fixtures to co-host Sri Lanka, Bangladesh will not participate in the global event scheduled to begin on February 7. During the meeting with the Sports Adviser, the players were briefed on the geopolitical realities and security threats that necessitated this hardline approach. BCB President Aminul Islam maintained that the team is physically and mentally prepared to play but will only do so if the matches are moved to Sri Lanka.

Senior Assistant Press Secretary to the Chief Adviser, Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb, has urged voters who registered through the Postal Vote BD app to promptly cast their votes in the 13th National Parliamentary Election and the referendum and send them to the nearest post office. He made the appeal in a post on his verified Facebook page on Saturday. Citing the Election Commission, he wrote that voters who registered via the Postal Vote BD mobile application should, upon receiving their ballots, complete the voting process as quickly as possible and submit the yellow envelope at the nearest post office or postal drop box. Only ballots that reach the Returning Officer by 4:30pm on February 12 will be included in the vote count.

Inter Milan roared back from two goals down to hammer promoted Pisa 6-2 on Friday and move six points clear at the top of Serie A. Inter's thumping victory piled pressure on title rivals AC Milan and Napoli, who both have tough away fixtures this weekend. Pisa are bottom of the division, having collected just four points from their last 10 matches. This heavy defeat came after a dream start in the Tuscan side's first match against Inter at the San Siro since October 1990. But Alberto Gilardino's team crumbled once Zielinski struck, and Pisa ended up conceding the same number of goals to Inter that they did over a quarter of a century ago.

The government has a long-term plan for the installation of a broad-gauge rail line on Lalmonirhat–Parbatipur route and construction of a new Teesta rail bridge, Railway Director General Afzal Hossain has said. He disclosed the plan while talking to journalists Friday night after inspecting different offices of Lalmonirhat Railway Division and the historic Teesta rail bridge. During the visit, the DG said Lalmonirhat rail division currently has a predominance of metre-gauge rail lines and the plan was taken to make rail services faster and more modern. If the plan for installing a broad-gauge line is implemented, the master plan will also include construction of a modern new rail bridge in place of the existing one. He also expressed concern over incidents of theft of different components and materials from the Teesta rail bridge.

Pegula beats heat to sweep into last 16 at Australian OpenMELBOURNE, Jan 24, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Dominant sixth seed Jessica Pegula powered past unseeded Russian Oksana Selekhmeteva and into the last 16 at the Australian Open Saturday as she eyes a deep run at the season-opening Grand Slam. "Nice to be first out on court and not a super long match and didn't need to kill myself in the heat today," she said. Pegula grabbed a break in game five of the first set with a forehand winner to take charge and never relented, with the Russian making 16 unforced errors. The decisive break in the second set came in game six, with another slew of errors from Selekhmeteva leading to her downfall. Pegula is into a Grand Slam last 16 for the 11th time but she has only pushed on to a final once before, in 2024 at the US Open when she lost to Aryna Sabalenka.

Nepal skipper eyes new summit with 'nothing to lose' at T20 World CupCOLOMBO, Jan 24, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Nepal captain Rohit Paudel says his side have "nothing to lose" in next month's T20 World Cup as they target more famous upsets and a place in the tournament's Super Eight second phase. The Himalayan nation stunned the two-time T20 World Cup winners West Indies last year for their first series win over a Test-playing side in the shortest format. Nepal made their T20 World Cup debut in 2014 and returned in 2024, pushing South Africa and Bangladesh close in narrow defeats. "First we had a dream of playing in a World Cup. "Now this is our third time at a World Cup."

MELBOURNE, Jan 24, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Australian Open organisers suspended play Saturday in Melbourne because of extreme heat forecast to hit 40C, before some matches resumed under roofs. Among the matches held up was the third-round clash between defending champion Jannik Sinner and the American Eliot Spizzirri at Rod Laver Arena. "Play is suspended for all matches and practice on outside courts," the tournament said on X.Roofs on the courts that have them "will close and remain closed for the remainder of the match". The tournament has a Heat Stress Scale of 1-5, with five the highest. It hit five in the early afternoon, prompting the suspension.

The Teesta Mega Plan, long discussed as a development project, has become a defining test for northern Bangladesh’s safety, livelihoods, and water diplomacy. From very different points of view, river researchers and environmental scientists argue that the Teesta crisis stems from the disruption of its natural flow. Without ensuring a scientifically determined minimum flow, no mega project will be sustainable in the long run,” he said. “The engineering of the Teesta Mega Plan must account for natural flow regimes, sediment transport, and the impacts of climate change. There is broad consensus: the success of the Teesta Mega Plan depends on whether government agencies, scientists, planners, economists, and—most importantly—riverbank communities can be meaningfully brought into a single, coherent framework.

The National Citizen Party (NCP) will release its election theme song, Madur Pete, ahead of the 13th national parliamentary election. The song will be launched at a program scheduled for 5pm on Saturday in front of the National Museum in Shahbagh, Dhaka. Meanwhile, the NCP has announced a 12-day election march to seek votes for its Shapla Kali electoral symbol. During the march, party leaders will also campaign for candidates of the 10-party alliance and for a “Yes” vote in the referendum. The NCP has also announced the names of its representatives in 238 constituencies.