Hajj pilgrims to be vaccinated through 80 centresPhoto : CollectedDHAKA, Jan 18, 2026 (BSS) – Pilgrims intending to perform the Holy Hajj this year are to be vaccinated against meningitis and influenza through 80 vaccination centres in the country under the government initiative, an official statement said here today. “The religious affairs ministry today published a list of 80 vaccination centres for Hajj pilgrims, who will receive the required vaccines from there,” said the ministry statement. It said the date of vaccination would be communicated to pilgrims through SMS on their mobile phones later. The capital-based centres are: Dhaka Medical College Hospital, Sir Salimullah Medical College and Mitford Hospital, Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital, Kurmitola General Hospital, Mugda Medical College Hospital, Government Employees Hospital, Combined Military Hospital (CMH), Central Police Hospital and Bangladesh Secretariat Clinic. The other centres are Shaheed Ahsan Ullah Master General Hospital and Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmed Medical College Hospital in Gazipur, Chittagong Medical College Hospital, Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital, Khulna Medical College Hospital, 250-bed Mohammad Ali Hospital in Bogura and 250-bed Sadar Hospital in Dinajpur.

Photo : BSSDHAKA, Jan 18, 2026 (BSS) - BNP Chairperson's Adviser and Chief Coordinator of the Dhaka-17 Election Campaign Committee Abdus Salam today said women voters will play the decisive role in determining victory or defeat in the upcoming national parliamentary election. It is the vote that will decide who wins and who loses. Salam was addressing a views exchange meeting with the leaders of different professional organisations at the main election office of Dhaka-17 constituency in Banani this afternoon. Abdus Salam further said, "Everyone knows BNP will come to power. Stressing the importance of an overwhelming victory in Dhaka-17, he said, "The party's candidate in Dhaka-17 is BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman.

Collected photoMELBOURNE, Jan 18, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - An error-strewn Aryna Sabalenka made a stodgy start to her Australian Open title charge with a 6-4, 6-1 win over French wildcard Tiantsoa Rakotomanga Rajaonah on Sunday. The world number one, who is chasing a third Melbourne crown in four years, faces Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova of Russia or Chinese qualifier Bai Zhuoxuan next. Sabalenka, who is favourite to add a fifth Grand Slam title to her career haul, pulled back level but if she expected the spirited world number 118 to melt away, it did not immediately happen. The reigning US Open champion offered an apology to her underdog opponent at 4-4 when she unleashed a forehand into the 20-year-old's head. Sabalenka was stunned in the Melbourne final by Madison Keys of the United States a year ago.

Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam has warned against using the word “mob” to describe the July Uprising, saying it risks questioning the legitimacy of the movement. Justice has not been delivered.”Former CPB general secretary Ruhin Hossain Prince described Tajul’s comments as a “threat”. Jatiya Party Secretary General Shamim Haider Patwary also spoke, saying mobs had once been tolerated but were now undermining institutions. The debate follows earlier remarks by Chief Advisor’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam, who last year described mobs as “pressure groups”. CGS President Zillur Rahman, moderating the event, warned that legitimising mobs had already led to incidents such as attacks on newspapers.

Without naming the party, BNP also accused its workers of collecting copies of national ID cards and mobile payment numbers from voters, calling it a violation of privacy and a criminal offence. After the meeting, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir briefed reporters, saying the party had raised objections over postal ballots as well. BNP urged that postal ballots for election officials be distributed only after symbols are allocated. Despite the concerns, Fakhrul said BNP believes a fair election is possible if the commission addresses the issues raised. The BNP delegation included Standing Committee Member Nazrul Islam Khan, Advisory Council Member Ismail Jabiuallah, Election Committee Member Mohammad Zakaria and lawyer Ruhul Quddus Kajal.

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DHAKA, Jan 18, 2026 (BSS) - A leaflet titled "Yes", calling for state reforms through the upcoming referendum, will be distributed among 3.72 crore consumers of the Bangladesh Rural Electrification Board (REB), which provides electricity services across the country's rural areas. The information was shared today by REB Chairman Major General S M Zia-Ul-Azim during a meeting with Chief Adviser's Special Assistant Professor Ali Riaz at his office in Dhaka. Chief Adviser's Special Assistant (Consensus) Monir Haider was also present at the meeting.

DHAKA, Jan 18, 2026 (BSS)- A superb 73 off 44 balls from Saif Hassan helped Dhaka Capitals romp to a commanding 42-run victory over Chattogram Royals in their final Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) match at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium today. Dhaka finished their BPL campaign second from bottom in the points table with three victories. The bowlers then delivered a disciplined performance, led by Taskin Ahmed and Mohammad Saifuddin, to dismiss Chattogram for 128 in 19.4 overs. Saif took charge early after the dismissal of opener Usman Khan, who played a brief but blistering knock of 16 off six balls. Mohammad Saifuddin ripped through the middle order with figures of 4-20, while Taskin finished with 3-28.

A four-member delegation of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami led by its Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman met with Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus at the State Guest House Jamuna today. I seek cooperation of all political parties in this regard," the Chief Adviser added. Planning Adviser Wahiduddin Mahmud, Industries Adviser Adilur Rahman Khan and Road Transport and Bridges Adviser Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan were present at the meeting. The Jamaat leaders informed the Chief Adviser that the election campaign will start in full-swing from January 22. Responding to the Jamaat leaders, the Chief Adviser said, "We must hold a good election at any cost.

Eisakhil spent the first half of the ongoing BPL season on the sidelinesbefore finally getting an opportunity for Noakhali Express in Sylhet. The match was also memorable as it marked the first time Eisakhil took thefield alongside his father, Mohammad Nabi, in professional cricket. Eisakhil struck a 72 ball-107, laced with four fours and 11 sixes and withthat effort, he joined an elite list of batters to have hit 11 sixes in asingle BPL innings, alongside Chris Gayle, Tamim Iqbal and Johnson Charles. "I never thought I had to hit 10 or 11 sixes. I didn't even realize that Ihit 11 sixes today.

Under the new arrangement, importing taxpayers will automatically receivebill-of-entry-wise information on advance income tax paid during the relevantincome year while entering business income details in their e-returns. Theimport-stage income tax will be adjusted against the total payable tax,enabling automatic calculation of the net payable amount. The initiative is expected to significantly facilitate e-return filing forimporting businesspersons and ensure accurate and timely tax credit. It reiterated that its efforts would continue toenable individual taxpayers to pay income tax and submit returns easily fromhome. The NBR also urged all individual taxpayers to submit their income taxreturns online through the e-return system by January 31, 2026.

However, sincebeing promoted to the opening position, Hridoy has been in scintillatingform, scoring 272 runs in four innings, including a century, at a strike rateof over 140. Despite his success as an opener, Hridoy stressed that impact matters morethan position in the batting order. Despite flourishing in the opening role, Hridoy maintained a team-firstapproach when asked about his preferred batting position in the nationalside. "At the end of the day, it's a team game, not my game alone. But in a team game, I try to servethe team wherever needed and contribute as much as I can."

European Union Ambassador to Bangladesh Michael Miller visited the exhibition "Women in the July Uprising: Essential Then—Why Erased Now?" Photo: Video ScreenshotDHAKA, Jan 18, 2026 (BSS) - The European Union (EU) today reaffirmed itssupport for women's participation in democratic life as a cornerstone ofresilience, prosperity and security, with its envoy stressing recognition andequal space for women in civic, political and media spheres. That women's participation is essential," EuropeanUnion ambassador to Bangladesh Michael Miller said. The envoy made the remarks at a guided tour of the exhibition 'Women in theJuly Uprising: Essential Then-Why Erased Now?' on the third day of the 11thedition of Chobi Mela - International Festival of Photography (CM XI), heldat the South Plaza of the Bangladesh National Parliament on Manik Mia Avenue.

Safdarpur Bazar of Kotchandpur upazila has emerged as the largest date jaggery market in the district. The Safdarpur market offers a wide variety of date jaggery, including jhola jaggery, granular jaggery, jiren raser jaggery and patali jaggery. Abul Kashem Babu, lessee of the Safdarpur Jaggery Market, expressed concern over the gradual decline of date palm trees. If the government supports the preservation and plantation of date palm trees, jaggery production will increase and contribute more to the national economy,” he said. “If plantation and proper care of date palm trees are increased, jaggery production will rise further,” he added.

Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan today spoke as the chief guest at the referendum promotion and voter motivation view-exchange meeting in Nilphamari. Photo: PIDNILPHAMARI, Jan 18, 2026 (BSS) - Environment, Forest and Climate Change Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan today urged voters to vote for “Yes” in the upcoming general elections and referendum. “If you are in favour of change, if you are in favour of reform, if you truly want accountable governance and political leadership, then you must vote for ‘Yes’,” she said. While speaking as the chief guest at the referendum promotion and voter motivation view-exchange meeting at District Shilpakala Academy auditorium here this afternoon, Rizwana highlighted the importance of the referendum. The adviser said the government has formed various reform commissions to determine the process through which change can be brought.