EC warns against collecting voters’ NID information, calls for strict compliance with code of conductPhoto: BSSDHAKA, Jan 22, 2026 (BSS) - The Election Commission (EC) has urged all political parties, candidates, and citizens to strictly comply with the electoral code of conduct during the campaign for the upcoming 13th national parliament elections. According to an EC statement, the Commission expressed concern over reports that some individuals are collecting voters’ personal information and National Identity Cards (NIDs) under the pretext of election campaigning. “Such activities constitute punishable offenses under existing election laws and regulations,” the EC said in the statement signed by EC Secretariat Director (Public Relations) and Information Officer Md. It noted that under the National Identity Card Registration Act, 2010, it is illegal to carry, collect, or transfer another person’s NID. The EC urged all citizens and organizations to refrain from these unlawful practices to ensure a free, fair, and credible election process.

NCP today formally launched its election campaign by paying tributes at the shrine of three leaders at the Dhaka University area and the grave of Inqilab Mancha spokesperson Sharif Osman Hadi. Photo: CollectedDHAKA, Jan 22, 2026 (BSS) - National Citizen Party (NCP) today formally launched its election campaign by paying tributes at the shrine of three leaders at Dhaka University area and the grave of Inqilab Mancha spokesperson Sharif Osman Hadi. The election campaign begun this morning with NCP Convener and party-nominated candidate for Dhaka-11 constituency Nahid Islam leading the programme. Meanwhile, NCP Chief Coordinator Nasiruddin Patwari said justice would be one of the party's major election agendas. Following the mazar and grave visits, the NCP's campaign procession began from the Three Leaders' Mausoleum area and concluded at the National Press Club premises.

Allah is the owner of everything, but some people are trying to buy votes by selling tickets to paradise, BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman has said. Urging vigilance against conspiracies, Tarique Rahman said: “I have noticed in recent days that some quarters are plotting schemes. If the Sheaf of Paddy wins on the 12th, canal-digging programmes will resume across the country.”Through this rally in Sylhet, BNP formally launched its campaign for the 13th National Parliamentary Election. Tarique Rahman left for the rally at 11:30am. His first visit to Sylhet in 21 years has sparked widespread enthusiasm among BNP leaders and activists.

The Election Commission (EC) has announced that the National Identity Card (NID) correction process will resume from Sunday. Humayun Kabir said that from Sunday, all correction activities related to NID information will be reopened. Earlier, the EC had suspended NID correction services after 4pm on November 24 to prepare the voter list ahead of the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election and the referendum. However, limited correction services remained available for urgent cases upon application at the EC’s NID sub-division. The final voter list has been prepared for individuals who turned 18 by October 31 of this year.

The government has issued the Rangpur Development Authority (RDA) (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025 inserting a provision of allowing retirement after 25 years of service. Through this amendment, the authority has been given the power to retire any employee, who has completed 25 years of service, in the public interest without giving any reason. The Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Division under the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs on Thursday issued a gazette notification to this end. Earlier, the president, under the powers bestowed upon him by Article 93(1) of the Constitution, issued the "Rangpur Development Authority (Amendment) Ordinance, 2026" on January 19. An employee can voluntarily retire by giving 30 days’ written notice after completing 25 years of service.

Iranian authorities on Wednesday said 3,117 people were killed during protests that first erupted in late December, but activists said the actual toll risked being many times higher due to a crackdown that suppressed the demonstrations. Rights groups however say thousands of protesters demanding change were killed by direct fire from the security forces. In the first official toll from the authorities, a statement by Iran’s foundation for veterans and martyrs, cited by state television, said a total of 3,117 people were killed during protests. He said the high number of “martyrs” showed the “restraint and tolerance of the security forces” during protests. Rights groups, including Amnesty International, have accused security forces of deliberately targeting protesters from rooftops and also seeking to shoot protesters in the eyes.

China on Thursday reacted to China-related remarks by the US Ambassador to Bangladesh, urging the US side "to be more aware of its responsibilities, and focus more on actions" that are "conducive to Bangladesh’s stability" as well as the development and cooperation in the region. "Such remarks by the US Ambassador to Bangladesh are irresponsible and utterly unfounded," said the spokesperson at the Chinese Embassy in Bangladesh, refuting China-related remarks by the US ambassador to Bangladesh. It is conducive to the development and stability in the region," said the spokesperson. China said the cooperation between Bangladesh and China is a matter between the two countries and their peoples, and brooks no interference or finger-pointing by the US side. ‘You know, as I said in my hearing…I am concerned about broader Chinese influence in South Asia.

TOKYO, Jan 22, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - The restart of the world's largest nuclear power plant was suspended in Japan Thursday just hours after the process began, its operator said, but the reactor remained "stable". Kashiwazaki-Kariwa is the world's biggest nuclear power plant by potential capacity, although just one reactor of seven was restarted. The facility was taken offline when Japan pulled the plug on nuclear power after a colossal earthquake and tsunami sent three reactors at the Fukushima atomic plant into meltdown in 2011. The company also operates the stricken Fukushima Daiichi plant, now being decommissioned. That makes no sense," Yumiko Abe, a 73-year-old resident, told AFP this week during a protest in front of the plant.

MOUNT MAUNGANUI, New Zealand, Jan 22, 2026 (AFP) - A landslide smashed into a campsite in rain-swept northern New Zealand on Thursday leaving multiple people missing, police and rescuers said. Police said the number of people missing was in the "single figures", while images on local media showed mud engulfing a toilet block at the campsite at the foot of Mount Maunganui.

A meeting of the Council of Advisers was held at the Chief Adviser's Office (CAO) in Tejgaon, Dhaka. Photo : PIDDHAKA, Jan 22, 2026 (BSS) – A meeting of the Council of Advisers was held at the Chief Adviser's Office (CAO) in the city's Tejgaon area today. Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus presided over the meeting.

The National Citizen Party (NCP) began its election campaign by visiting the graves of three national leaders — Huseyn Suhrawardy, Khwaja Nazimuddin, and Sher-e-Bangla AK Fazlul Huq. Party leaders also paid respects at the graves of national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam and Inqilab Mancha leader Sharif Osman Hadi. On Thursday, NCP leaders and activists first visited the graves of the three leaders at Doel Chattar. They then proceeded to the graves of Kazi Nazrul Islam and Osman Hadi near Dhaka University’s Central Mosque. The program was attended by a large number of party leaders and activists, including Dhaka-8 candidate Nasiruddin Patwary.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) on Thursday began its official election campaign for the 13th national parliamentary election with a mass rally at the historic Alia Madrasa Field in Sylhet. The Sylhet rally marks BNP’s first public election meeting of the campaign. Tarique Rahman arrived in Sylhet on Wednesday night to formally launch the party’s election campaign. He is accompanied by his wife, Zubaida Rahman, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and other party leaders. Upon arrival at Sylhet airport, Tarique Rahman went directly to the shrines of Hazrat Shahjalal (RA) and Hazrat Shahparan (RA) to offer prayers.

PARIS, France, Jan 22, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - French bank Societe Generale is planning to cut 1,800 jobs in France by the end of 2027 as part of restructuring measures, the bank said Thursday, adding there would be no forced layoffs. France's third-largest bank, which employs some 40,000 people in France, said the jobs would go in the form of "natural" shedding and "internal mobility" as part of its reorganisation plans to reduce costs and bolster its capital position. The CGT union, which had revealed the plan outline Wednesday, slammed what it called a "fait accompli." "For management, the natural attrition rate of five percent (covering voluntary departures or retirements) and the low number of job openings mean there is no need for support measures we have seen up to now until now," such as voluntary departures or voluntary redeployment, the union regretted. Employee representatives are due to approve the plan at an April special plenary meeting.

The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT)-2 on Thursday framed charges against seven accused, including Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader, for alleged crimes against humanity committed during the July Mass Uprising. The three-member tribunal, led by Justice Nazrul Islam Chowdhury, passed the order, scrapping discharge petition filed for the accused. The tribunal also set February 17 for placing opening statement and recording deposition of the prosecution witnesses. The second tribunal on January 18 had set today to pass order on indictment. The second tribunal on December 18, 2025, issued arrest warrant against the seven accused.

COPENHAGEN, Jan 22, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Denmark called on Thursday for "constructive" talks over Greenland that respect the territorial integrity of the EU and NATO member. The comments came after US President Donald Trump abruptly announced he was scrapping tariffs against Europe and ruling out military action to take Greenland from Denmark. The agreement, he told reporters at the World Economic Forum in Davos, was negotiated with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte. Rutte said the subject of Greenland's sovereignty "did not come up" in his talks with Trump. "The Kingdom of Denmark wishes to continue a constructive dialogue with its allies on ways to strengthen security in the Arctic, including the US Golden Dome, provided that this is done with respect for our territorial integrity," she said.