Electricity generation has resumed at Unit-1 of the Barapukuria coal-fired Thermal Power Plant after a four-day shutdown caused by a boiler tube failure. Chief Engineer of the Barapukuria Thermal Power Plant under Parbatipur upazila, Md Abu Bakar Siddique, confirmed the development last night, saying Unit-I restarted at 11:03pm on Wednesday and began supplying electricity to the national grid at 11:30pm. He said that the Barapukuria plant has three units — the first and second with a capacity of 125 megawatts each, and the third with 275 megawatts. In this connection, he said repair work is underway on the third unit, which is expected to resume generation in early March. Following its restart on Wednesday, power generation from Unit-1 is ranging between 70 and 75 megawatts, with output expected to rise gradually.

Austrian ex-agent to go on trial in Russia spying caseVIENNA, Jan 22, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - A former Austrian intelligence official is due to go on trial Thursday, charged with allegedly handing over sensitive devices and selling secret information to Russia for years. Through his actions, Ott risked inflicting "serious damage" on Austria's reputation among friendly intelligence services, according to the indictment seen by AFP. Austria long saw itself as a bridge between Moscow and the West, but in recent years the EU member country has been rocked by several cases centred on suspected spying for Russia. Ott was suspended from his post at Austria's intelligence services in 2017 amid allegations of spying and briefly arrested in 2021 on these accusations. In 2024, Ott stood trial on violating official secrecy for allegedly passing information to a far-right politician.

Photo : CollectedBy Tanzim AnwarDHAKA, Jan 21, 2026 (BSS) – Biman Bangladesh Airline’s resumption of direct Dhaka–Karachi flights from January 29, after a decade, offered significant time savings and cutting passenger fares by up to Tk 30,000. Biman officials said the revived Dhaka–Karachi route will initially operate as a “strategic observation,” with flights running on a trial basis from January 29 to March 30. Biman last operated direct flights on the route in 2012 but suspended services following sustained losses and weak passenger demand. The re-launch follows months of diplomatic and technical engagement between aviation authorities in Bangladesh and Pakistan, resulting in formal approvals for airspace use and regulatory clearance for the resumption of direct flights. It is observed that the return of the Dhaka–Karachi route as a positive signal for bilateral economic engagement, with business communities in both countries welcoming the move.

The International Cricket Council on Wednesday rejected Bangladesh's demand to shift their matches at next month's Twenty20 World Cup outside India, dismissing any security threat to the team following political tensions between the South Asian neighbours. Uncertainty loomed over the global showpiece after Bangladesh refused to tour India and demanded to play their matches in Sri Lanka, which is co-hosting the tournament. The stalemate prompted an emergency ICC board meeting in which the governing body decided against tinkering with the tournament schedule. "This linkage has no bearing on the tournament's security framework or the conditions governing participation in the T20 World Cup." Pakistan will play their World Cup matches in Sri Lanka in keeping with their policy of not touring India over geopolitical tension between the neighbours.

Youth and Sports Adviser Asif Nazrul is set to hold a meeting with members of Bangladesh’s World Cup squad this afternoon as uncertainty continues over the team’s participation in the upcoming T20 World Cup in India. The meeting will take place at 3:00pm at Hotel InterContinental in the capital, with players named in the World Cup squad expected to attend. However, the ICC reiterated on Wednesday that participation in the World Cup would require Bangladesh to play its matches in India, ruling out any venue change. Following an ICC board meeting earlier on Wednesday, the governing body issued a press release stating that it believes there is no threat in India to Bangladeshi players, supporters, or officials. The ICC also termed the incident involving pacer Mustafizur Rahman — who was dropped from the Indian Premier League after alleged threats from extremists — as “singular and irrelevant.” The ICC further confirmed that the World Cup schedule would not be altered.

PARIS, France, Jan 22, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - A red stencil of a hand pressed against the wall of an Indonesian cave is the oldest rock art ever discovered, scientists said Wednesday, and sheds light on how humans first migrated to Australia. The cave art dates back at least 67,800 years, according to research published in the journal Nature by a team of Indonesian and Australian archaeologists. However the dating of that cave art "has been controversial," the study cautioned. The scientists also established that the Muna caves had been used for rock art many times over a long period. "These paintings provide the first evidence that modern humans were on these Indonesian islands at that time," Aubert said.

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. But Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, director of Norway-based Iran Human Rights (IHR) NGO, said "all available evidence emerging from Iran indicates that the real number of people killed during the protests is far higher." Rights groups, including Amnesty International, have accused security forces of deliberately targeting protesters from rooftops and also seeking to shoot protesters in the eyes.

DAVOS, Switzerland, Jan 22, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - US President Donald Trump will show off his new "Board of Peace" and meet Ukraine's leader at Davos on Thursday -- burnishing his claim to be a peacemaker a day after backing off his own threats against Greenland. On his second day at the Swiss ski resort, Trump will seek to promote the "Board of Peace", his controversial body for resolving international conflicts, with a signing ceremony for the organisation's charter. "I think it's the greatest board ever formed," Trump said Wednesday as he met Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, another of the leaders who have agreed to join. Trump said he was due to hold talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky after the "Board of Peace" meeting as difficult negotiations for a ceasefire in the Ukraine war continue. Rutte told AFP in Davos that the meeting had been "very good" but that there was "still a lot of work to be done" on Greenland.

A mild cold wave is sweeping over the districts of Panchagarh and Kurigram and it may continue. Light to moderate fog may occur at places over the country during late night to morning hours. Night temperature may fall slightly while day temperature may rise slightly across the country. The lowest temperature recorded today was 9.4°C at Tetulia, while the highest temperature recorded yesterday was 31.4°C at Teknaf. The wind direction and speed at Dhaka were west to northwesterly at 8 to 12 kilometres per hour.

DHAKA, Jan 22, 2026 (BSS) - The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has confiscated immovable properties of Monirul Islam, a Facebook fraudster, in favor of the state after uncovering a large-scale fraud carried out through Facebook. According to CID officials, the seized assets were purchased with money embezzled by fraudster Monirul Islam, who used Facebook to deceive victims from various professional backgrounds, particularly elderly individuals. Using fake identities, Monirul used to send friend requests to different persons in Facebook impersonating him as a doctor, a college principal, or even the Prime Minister’s personal secretary. Monirul Islam was named as the accused in the case. Based on these findings, the CID applied to the court, which subsequently ordered the confiscation of the illegally acquired properties of Monirul Islam.

As Bangladesh moves closer to a new election cycle, it is disappointing how little attention political parties are paying to the rights and needs of people with disabilities. A thriving democracy should invite conversations that include all citizens, but the silence around disability rights in campaign agendas suggests that one of the country’s most marginalized communities is being overlooked yet again. Bangladesh’s commitment to human rights, equity, and social justice must mean more than mere bold statements. We must also do our part in demanding that disability rights be taken seriously in policy agendas, not treated as an afterthought. Inclusion is not charity, it is justice -- and this pledge to justice must be at the heart of how Bangladesh progresses.

KARACHI, Jan 22, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - The death toll from a mall fire in Pakistan's biggest city rose to at least 55 people, a Karachi government official told AFP on Thursday. "A total of 55 bodies have been recovered since Saturday night" when the fire erupted, said Javed Nabi Khoso, deputy commissioner of Karachi's south district. More than 50 families have given DNA samples, provincial health official Summaiya Syed told journalists Wednesday. "We will hand over the bodies (remains) to the family, once DNA samples are matched," she said outside the Civil Hospital Karachi mortuary. Faraz Ali, whose father and 26-year-old brother were inside the mall, told AFP he wants "the bodies to be recovered and handed over to their rightful families".

Liverpool eased to a 3-0 win in Marseille in the Champions League on Wednesday as Harry Kane's double earned Bayern Munich a 2-0 victory against Union Saint-Gilloise that secured a place in the last 16 for the German giants. Arne Slot's Liverpool extended their unbeaten run to 13 matches in all competitions since a 4-1 hammering at home by PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League in November. Kane headed in to open the scoring early in the second half, then won and converted a penalty on 55 minutes. However, a brilliant Dani Olmo strike restored Barca's lead just after the hour and Lewandowski sealed the win with his first Champions League goal this season. Juventus continued their Champions League recovery with a third straight European win, beating Benfica 2-0 thanks to second-half goals by Khephren Thuram and Weston McKennie.

The code also bans political parties and candidates from holding public meetings, rallies, or campaign activities abroad in connection with the election. Besides, wall writing or drawings for election campaigning are strictly forbidden. Election campaigning is strictly prohibited in mosques, temples, pagodas, churches or any other religious places of worship, as well as in government offices and educational institutions. Regarding election campaigning on social media, the code allows candidates, their election agents, or representatives to conduct election campaigns through social media platforms. The use of artificial intelligence with dishonest intent in election campaigning or election-related matters is prohibited.

BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman on Thursday morning held an interactive discussion with hundreds of non-political youths at a hotel in Sylhet, ahead of his scheduled election rally at the Sylhet Government Alia Madrasa ground at 11am. Abdul Munaem, a student of Sylhet MC College, urged Tarique Rahman to take initiatives to upgrade Sylhet Osmani International Airport into a fully functional international airport if BNP comes to power through a free and fair election. Tarique Rahman listened attentively to their proposals and exchanged views on employment, education, infrastructure development, and youth empowerment. Tarique Rahman arrived in Sylhet on Wednesday evening to formally begin BNP’s election campaign for the 13th National Parliamentary Election. At around 9:45pm, Tarique Rahman visited the nearby shrine of Hazrat Shahparan (RA).