An intelligence agency has warned the government about the potential use of Rohingyas in criminal and political activities during the election period, while recommending stepped-up security measures without sealing the camps. The agency believes it would not be feasible to implement the Election Commission’s proposal to seal the Rohingya camps during the polls, citing the camps’ vast size and infrastructural limitations. Recently, the Election Commission proposed sealing the Rohingya camps to ensure election-time security and prevent their participation in the polls. In addition, the agency advised that camp-in-charges (CICs) posted in the Rohingya camps should not be assigned duties elsewhere and must remain in the camps from seven days before the election. On January 6, Election Commissioner Abul Fazal Mohammad Sanaullah underscored the need to “seal” the Rohingya camps and borders ahead of the 13th National Parliament election, saying strict control over Rohingya movement was essential.

JOHANNESBURG, Jan 24, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Former Aston Villa striker Mahmoud 'Trezeguet' Hassan scored the goals that gave Al Ahly of Egypt a 2-0 victory over Young Africans of Tanzania on Friday in the CAF Champions League. Ahly stamped their authority on the match in the second half and deservedly increased their lead on 75 minutes. Sundowns, whose lone title came in 2016, and Hilal have five points each, with the South Africans ahead on goal difference. Sundowns were level seven minutes later as Brazilian Arthur Sales got behind the Hilal defence and his weak goal attempt trickled into the net. But once again a lead lasted only seven minutes.

MELBOURNE, Jan 24, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Amanda Anisimova ramped up her Australian Open title charge with a 6-1, 6-4 beating of fellow American Peyton Stearns on Saturday to reach the last 16 in imperious fashion. The fourth seed defied a Melbourne Park heatwave to run out a comfortable winner in 71 minutes in roasting sunshine. "I had a lot of fun today playing in front of you guys, especially a lot of American supporters." Anisimova steamrollered the 68th-ranked Stearns in the first set at Margaret Court Arena. The 24-year-old Stearns held up the victory charge in the second set as Anisimova wobbled on her serve.

Inter fight back to thrash Pisa and extend Serie A lead to six pointsMILAN, Italy, Jan 23, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - 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.

DHAKA, Jan 24, 2026 (BSS) - Bangladesh men's futsal team will take on Nepal in their last match of the SAFF Men's Futsal Championship at the Nonthaburi Stadium in Nonthaburi, Thailand today (Saturday). Already eliminated from the title race, Bangladesh are currently placed third in the points table with seven points from five matches, while Nepal stand fifth with five points from four matches. Bangladesh began their campaign with a hard-fought 4-4 draw against India before suffering a 6-1 defeat to Maldives. Nepal, on the other hand, defeated Sri Lanka 2-1, drew 3-3 with India and 4-4 with Pakistan, and lost 2-1 to Maldives. The team finishing on top of the standings after all seven rounds will be crowned the first-ever SAFF Men's Futsal champions.

PARIS, France, Jan 24, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - A tanker suspected of being part of Russia's sanctions-busting "shadow fleet" will be escorted to the French port of Marseille-Fos, sources close to the case said Friday, a day after the navy intercepted it. French forces, with the help of allies, boarded the oil tanker called "Grinch" on Thursday between Spain and Morocco, after it started its journey from the Russian Arctic port of Murmansk. French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday announced that the French Navy, with the support of allies, had intercepted a vessel "subject to international sanctions" and suspected of flying a false flag. A ship called "Grinch" is under UK sanctions, while another called "Carl" with the same registration number is sanctioned by the United States and European Union. The vessel is suspected of being part of a shadow fleet that carries oil for countries such as Russia and Iran in violation of US sanctions.

Countries frequently rejecting Bangladeshi visa applications include Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, and Egypt. While most Western European visas are issued in Dhaka, Eastern European visas are largely processed in Delhi. Calls to relocate European visa centers go unansweredIn December 2024, Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus met ambassadors from 19 European Union countries to discuss visa complications. UAE visa restrictions persistThe United Arab Emirates suspended all visas for citizens of several countries, including Bangladesh, in 2012, citing rising criminal activity. On January 15, Australia’s Department of Home Affairs classified several South Asian countries, including Bangladesh, as high-risk, citing concerns over declining document integrity.

The prospect of immediate American action seemed to recede in recent days, with both sides insisting on giving diplomacy a chance. The US president's willingness to threaten tariffs over any issue had rattled confidence on trading floors, boosting safe-haven metals, analysts said. The meeting also comes as Trump considers candidates to replace Powell when the Fed chair's term comes to an end in May. The Bank of Japan left its key interest rate unchanged ahead of a snap election next week, which could impact government spending plans. Next week's US earnings calendar is packed with results from Apple, Microsoft, Boeing, Tesla, Meta and other corporate giants.

Brazil's Lula accuses Trump of seeking to forge 'new UN'BRASÍLIA, Jan 24, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva accused Donald Trump on Friday of trying to create "a new UN" with his proposed "Board of Peace." The veteran leftist joins other world leaders who have avoided signing up for Trump's new global conflict resolution organization, where a permanent seat costs $1 billion and the chairman is Trump himself. "Instead of fixing" the United Nations, "what's happening? President Trump is proposing to create a new UN where only he is the owner," Lula said. In his remarks on Friday, Lula said "the UN charter is being torn."

WASHINGTON, United States, Jan 24, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - The US military said it killed two alleged drug traffickers in a strike on a boat in the eastern Pacific Friday, while the Coast Guard was searching for a third person who survived. Three people were visible in the footage prior to the strike, and SOUTHCOM said it "immediately" notified the US Coast Guard to look for the one who survived. President Donald Trump's administration began targeting alleged smuggling boats in early September, insisting it is effectively at war with alleged "narco-terrorists" operating out of Venezuela. International law experts and rights groups say the strikes likely amount to extrajudicial killings as they have apparently targeted civilians who do not pose an immediate threat to the United States. "Participating defense leaders will explore the importance of strong partnerships, continued cooperation, and united efforts to counter criminal and terrorist organizations, as well as external actors undermining regional security and stability," Caine's office said in a statement.

MOUNT MAUNGANUI, New Zealand, Jan 24, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Efforts to rescue at least six people buried alive by a landslide at a New Zealand holiday park ended Saturday, with police shifting their focus to recovering human remains. Police Superintendent Tim Anderson said it could take several days to locate all of the bodies, after a mountain of dirt and debris tumbled onto a campsite in Mount Maunganui on Thursday. "This is heartbreaking news for us and obviously the families involved," he told reporters on Saturday, describing the rescue operation as complex. "Police have confirmed fatalities at the campground and the reality that no one would have been able to survive, therefore the rescue operation taking place there is now moving to a recovery," he said in a statement. Two people died in a separate landslide on Thursday in the neighbouring harbourside city of Tauranga.

KYIV, Ukraine, Jan 24, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Russian strikes killed one person and injured at least 15 others in Ukraine's capital and the northeastern city of Kharkiv overnight, authorities said early Saturday. The country was under an air raid alert with military authorities in Kyiv warning of drones and ballistic missiles. Fires broke out in several buildings hit by drone debris while heat and water services in parts of the capital were interrupted, he said. Farther east in Ukraine's second city Kharkiv, Mayor Igor Terekhov reported an attack by Iranian-made Shahed drones had damaged several residential buildings near the Russian border. "There are now more than 11 wounded people," Terekhov wrote on Telegram.

No alternative to voting for scales to end dark era of misrule, graft: Golam ParwarPhoto : BSSKHULNA, Jan 23, 2026 (BSS) – Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General and Khulna-5 constituency candidate Mia Golam Parwar today said there is no alternative to casting votes for his party’s election symbol the ‘scales’ to bring an end to the dark chapter of misrule, corruption and political repression. Golam Parwar made the remarks while addressing several mass contacts and roadside rallies as chief guest in Dumuria and Phultala upazilas of the district. During the campaign, the Jamaat secretary general further said extortionists, owners of black money and terrorists, regardless of party affiliation, have held the state and society hostage in Khulna-5 constituency. He called upon people to build resistance against these vested quarters by voting for the scales symbol. He also stressed that courageous decisions are essential to establish a humane society.

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