Legal firearms to be surrendered by Jan 31 ahead of nat’l pollsFile PhotoDHAKA, Jan 19, 2026 (BSS) - To ensure a free, fair, and peaceful 13th national parliament election, the government has ordered all licensed firearm holders to surrender their weapons to the nearest police station by January 31, 2026. According to a notification from the Home Ministry issued on Sunday, carrying and displaying firearms will be completely prohibited from the date of surrender until February 15, 2026, in line with the announced election schedule. However, the restriction on displaying legal firearms will not apply to candidates for the post of Member of Parliament and their armed retainers, provided their nomination papers have been legally submitted to and accepted by the Election Commission. This exemption will be governed by the "Firearm License and Retainer Appointment Policy, 2025" applicable to politically important persons and parliamentary candidates. The order further warns that legal action will be taken against anyone violating the directive under the relevant provisions of The Arms Act, 1878.

Chhatra Dal continued its program to surround the Election Commission (EC) for the second consecutive day on Monday, protesting what it described as undue influence of a particular political group within the commission and raising concerns over the postal ballot system. More than a hundred leaders and activists of the student organisation were seen taking positions in front of and around the Election Commission in the capital’s Agargaon area. At the outset of the program, Dhaka University Chhatra Dal President Ganesh Chandra Roy Sahas said the national election is scheduled for February 12 and that Chhatra Dal has extended cooperation to ensure a fair poll. “A particular group is conspiring around the election process. On Sunday, a five-member Chhatra Dal delegation led by its president Rakibul Islam met Senior Secretary of the Election Commission Akhtar Ahmed during the first day of the program.

Religious Affairs Adviser A F M Khalid Hossain today spoke as the chief guest at the National Imam Conference at Nimtala, Habiganj. Photo : BSSHABIGANJ, Jan 19, 2026 (BSS) - Religious Affairs Adviser A F M Khalid Hossain today said the government wants to uphold the spirit of the July revolution through the referendum. "If the people ensure victory by casting 'Yes' votes in the referendum, country-engulfing fascism will no longer be able to raise its head in the country," he said. He said the mentality of clinging to power through farcical elections under the guise of so-called polls in an attempt to retain authority would be wiped out through the referendum. Speaking about elections, Khalid Hossain said for the first time in the history of Bangladesh, a free, fair and inclusive election would be held.

Mobile court fines Tk 3 lakh in anti-tobacco drives to protect public health in district. Photo : BSSKHULNA, Jan 19, 2026 (BSS) - A mobile court has realized Tk 3 lakh in fines in separate anti-tobacco drives in the district. During the operations, two individuals, Md Rakibul Islam, 28, and Arit Hasan, 24, were fined Tk 40,000 each for illegal advertisements promoting tobacco products. Another offender, Md Rashed Bepari, was fined Tk 20,000 for violating various provisions of the Smoking and Use of Tobacco Products (Control) (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025. In a separate drive, Md Jahinur Rahman, 35, owner of Nasima Traders, was fined Tk 2 lakh for selling cigarette cartons without pictorial health warnings.

Battery-powered rickshaws have been deemed unsafe from the moment they were on the streets. As things currently stand, with millions of battery-powered vehicles operating nationwide, what began as an affordable mobility option has unfortunately metastasized into a crisis of lawlessness and power theft. We understand that banning these vehicles outright was never the solution, and attempts to do so in the past have predictably failed. However, while there are countless individuals who rely on them for livelihoods and affordable transport, the solution has to be regulation. For too long have we let battery-powered vehicles operate unchecked - yet again we are trading short-term convenience for long-term catastrophe.

Adviser Adilur Rahman Khan today spoke to journalists after paying tributes at the July Memorial set up at Gurudayal Government College ground in Kishoreganj. Photo : BSSKISHOREGANJ, Jan 19, 2026 (BSS) - Adviser to the Ministries of Industries and Housing and Public Works Adilur Rahman Khan today said that those who are raising questions about the government campaigning for the upcoming referendum are basically fugitive forces. The July Charter was framed through the initiative of comrades who sacrificed their lives during July–August mass uprising, and a referendum has been arranged to implement this charter, he added. Mentioning that the referendum has been arranged with the objective of implementing the spirit of the July mass uprising, he noted that those who had taken a position against the July mass uprising are now trying to create confusion among the people over referendum. Later, he joined a view-exchange meeting on the referendum with heads of different government offices at the Deputy Commissioner’s conference room.

He said that if the culprits accused in enforced disappearances go unpunished, forces loyal to fascism learn that people can simply be made to vanish. “But if this tribunal ensures justice, the state will learn that its citizens can never be subjected to enforced disappearance under any circumstances,” Tajul Islam added. He said these testimonies will be corroborated by investigation and inquiry reports conducted by various government and non-government organisations, which contain irrefutable evidence of enforced disappearance and torture. The chief prosecutor also said the entire architecture of enforced disappearance — from abduction to release — was deliberately designed to erase all traces of evidence. Three accused — Sheikh Md Sarwar Hossain, Md Mahbubur Rahman Siddiqui and Ahmed Tanvir Mazhar Siddiqui — are in custody and facing trial in person.

The government has ordered the deposition of all licensed firearms at the nearest police stations by January 31, ahead of the national election scheduled for February 12. The directive was issued through a notification by the Ministry of Home Affairs on Sunday. The notification also bans the carrying or public display of firearms until the completion of the national election and referendum. Under the policy, a "retainer" is defined as an armed person appointed and authorised to protect a politically important individual or a candidate. A ‘politically important person’ refers to a current or former high-ranking political figure recognised by the government.

The International Crimes Tribunal will deliver its verdict on Tuesday in a crimes against humanity case over the killing of protesters in the capital’s Chankharpul area during the July mass uprising centred on the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement. The verdict proceedings will be broadcast live on Bangladesh Television (BTV). Prosecutor Gazi MH Tamim confirmed the matter on Monday, saying the verdict will be the second to be announced by the reconstituted International Crimes Tribunal. According to Tamim, Tribunal-1 will deliver the verdict against eight accused, including former Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) commissioner Habibur Rahman, on January 20. According to the case documents, police opened fire on a peaceful student movement in the Chankharpul area on August 5, 2024.

HANOI, Vietnam, Jan 19, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Vietnam's ruling Communist Party convened Monday to begin their twice-a-decade congress, where leader To Lam is looking to tighten his grip on power less than two years after assuming the top role. The Southeast Asian nation of 100 million people is both a repressive one-party state and a regional economic bright spot, where the Communist Party has sought to deliver rapid growth to bolster its legitimacy. One source briefed on party deliberations told AFP that Lam's bid for expanded powers had been provisionally approved. The top posts in Vietnam's collective leadership system must be approved by the incoming politburo, and experts say nothing is certain yet. Lam would be the first person to be named to the top two jobs simultaneously by a party congress, rather than stepping in following a death.

File PhotoDHAKA, Jan 19, 2026 (BSS) - Weather may remain dry with temporary partly cloudy sky over the country, while both night and day temperatures are likely to remain nearly unchanged, according to the latest metrological forecast. Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) issued the forecast valid for next 24 hours commencing from 09:00 am said light to moderate fog may occur at a few places across the country during late night to morning hours. The lowest temperature was recorded today at 9.2 degrees Celsius at Tetulia, while the highest temperature recorded yesterday 31.0 degrees Celsius at Ambagan. In Dhaka, wind direction and speed were west to northwesterly at 8 to 12 kilometres per hour, while the relative humidity stood at 76 percent at 6:00 am. Today's sunset in the capital is expected at 5:35 pm, while tomorrow's sunrise is expected at 6:43 am.

SEOUL, Jan 19, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - South Korea and Italy agreed Monday to expand cooperation in artificial intelligence, space and the defence industry, pledging to confront "global challenges" at a bilateral summit in Seoul. President Lee Jae Myung hosted Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni for the summit at his office in the first visit by an Italian leader to South Korea in almost two decades. "In addition, we will pursue complementary cooperation in the defence industry based on each side's strengths," Lee added. But it has not supplied weapons to Ukraine due to a domestic policy preventing the provision of arms to countries at war. "The war in Ukraine also poses an extremely serious risk to Europe's security in every respect," Meloni said.

Since early age of his life, Ziaur Rahman posed himself as a freedom loving person. Ziaur Rahman led the Bangladeshi cadets to protest it and got into a heated argument. Ziaur Rahman was touted as a nation builder as he made pioneering role in building the nation and help Bangladesh to stand on a solid foundation. Recognizing the need for both long-term planning and coordinated efforts to advance a newly independent nation, Ziaur Rahman demonstrated remarkable foresight, adopting a 19-point political philosophy. His glorious work and contribution to the nation earned him the title "a true patriot and a great nation builder".

Clips of so-called “Islamic State training,” Al-Qaeda style footage, or battlefield montages appear in your feed, often with Bangla subtitles and dramatic background music. That is the point where the question of national security enters. National security cannot become a magic word that ends all debate. Bangladesh will be safest when all major political groups, from the secular left to the religious right, compete openly under democratic rules. National security thinking should be prioritized.

Switzerland's Ruegg sprints to second Tour Down Under titleADELAIDE, Australia, Jan 19, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Switzerland's Noemi Ruegg fought off a three-strong attack in a cat-and-mouse downhill sprint finish to defend her Tour Down Under title in the Adelaide Hills on Monday. EF Education-Oatly team's Ruegg, 24, put herself in contention for back-to-back victories in the UCI World Tour opener with an unyielding assault up the demanding Corkscrew summit. Ruegg powered away to win from Spanish pair Mavi Garcia and Paula Blasi, and Poland's Dominika Wlodarczyk, all of UAE Team ADQ. Only Australian Amanda Spratt, with three, has won more women's Tour Down Unders than Ruegg. "Magdeleine was amazing, and I didn't believe it was possible after the first climb," Ruegg said of the Canadian's efforts.