DHAKA, Jan 12, 2026 (BSS) - The Election Commission (EC) has directed all professional bodies and other organisations across the country to refrain from holding any elections until February 12, the date scheduled for the 13th national parliamentary election and referendum. The directive was issued through a letter signed on Monday by EC Secretariat Deputy Secretary (Polls Operation-2) Mohammad Monir Hossain. According to the EC, as the 13th national election and referendum will be held on February 12, all types of elections organised by professional bodies and institutions must be postponed until after that date to ensure the national polls remain free from any undue influence. The restriction applies to elections of educational institutions, transport owners' and workers' associations, journalists' associations, traders' associations, cooperative societies, trade unions, and other similar organisations. The EC has instructed all returning officers to take necessary measures to implement the decision.

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus -File PhotoDHAKA, Jan 12, 2026 (BSS) - Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus will inaugurate a three-day South Asian regional conference on higher education tomorrow morning. The Chief Adviser will open the conference titled "Current State of Higher Education and Future Directions-2026" at 10:30 am at a city hotel, said the Chief Adviser's Press Wing tonight. The inaugural ceremony of the conference will be broadcast live on Bangladesh Television.

DHAKA, Jan 12, 2026 (BSS) - The Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit has arrested a man namely Sagar Halder on charges of misbehaving with a traffic sergeant, obstructing government duty and later spreading misinformation and issuing threats on Facebook. The arrest was made on Monday following a raid conducted by the CTTC Cyber Crime Investigation Department's Digital Forensic Team, according to a press release. CTTC sources said the incident took place on January 9 in the Motijheel area, where Halder was stopped during a routine traffic check. He claimed that his vehicle documents were under renewal, but online verification revealed that the documents had expired in December 2023 and that outstanding government dues amounted to more than Tk 1.02 lakh. After a case was filed against him under the Road Transport Act, Halder allegedly behaved aggressively, attempted to provoke bystanders and later went live on Facebook, where he reportedly defamed and threatened police personnel.

Three people were killed and 10 others injured on Monday when a train collided with a pickup van carrying jute mill workers in Boalmari upazila of Faridpur district. The deceased were identified as Jabbar Mollah and Musa Mollah, two brothers and sons of Soyfar Mollah, and Jahanara Begum, wife of Abul Kalam, all residents of Bilkorail village in the upazila. The accident occurred around 2:30 pm at the Sotashi level-crossing when the Bhatiapara-bound local train from Kalukhali struck the pickup van as it attempted to cross the rail gate. The impact killed the three instantly and left 10 others injured, according to Anwar Hossain, officer-in-charge of Boalmari Police Station. The injured were taken to Boalmari Upazila Health Complex, and five of them were later referred to Faridpur Medical College and Hospital for further treatment.

Photo : CollectedJAHANGIRNAGAR UNIVERSITY, Jan 12, 2026 (BSS) - Jahangirnagar University Debate Organization (JUDO) has announced its new executive committee for the 2026 session. A press release signed by JUDO Press and Media Secretary Afia Ibnat Samiha was issued in this regard this afternoon. Outgoing president Mirza Saki, a 49th batch student of the Department of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, announced the names of the newly elected office-bearers and handed over responsibilities. Meanwhile, the new committee of the JUDO English Forum was also announced. Sumaiya Islam Samia has been appointed coordinator, Barna Saha Bishal member secretary and Golam Morshed Akib session coordinator of the forum.

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on Monday stressed on taking measures to stop recurrence of election rigging as the committee on investigating alleged irregularities in the 2014, 2018 and 2024 general polls submitted its report to him. After submitting the report, committee members discussed various aspects of their investigation with the chief adviser. Receiving the report, Prof Yunus said: “We had heard about vote rigging, and we knew some things. They could do nothing,” the chief adviser said, adding, for the country’s people to feel at least some relief, the faces of those involved must be unmasked. Measures must be taken so that election rigging never happens again,” Prof Yunus said.

A Dhaka court has fixed January 15 for a hearing on the acceptance of charges submitted in the murder case of Inqilab Moncho spokesperson Sharif Osman bin Hadi. They are Abdus Sobhan Tarafdar, Barrister SM Mainul Karim, and Assistant Attorney General Mustafizur Rahman Mukul. On January 6, DB Inspector Faisal Ahmed, the investigating officer of the case, submitted charges against 17 accused. He was first taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital and later shifted to Evercare Hospital. As his condition worsened, he was flown to Singapore by air ambulance on December 15 for advanced treatment, where he died on December 18.

Two Ansar personnel have been detained over the rape of a housewife who sought safety at Manikganj’s 250-bed General Hospital, police said Monday. The on-duty Ansar personnel, Shahadat Hossain and Abu Saeed, offered assistance and took the couple inside the hospital. The husband was left on the ground floor while the woman was taken to the second floor and raped. Police interrogated all on-duty Ansar personnel, and upon identification by the victim, the accused were taken into custody. Manikganj District Police Superintendent Mohammad Sarwar Alam visited the hospital to check on the victim’s condition and confirmed her ongoing treatment.

Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police have arrested five Chinese nationals along with eight others, including members of a Telegram fraud gang, during a raid in the capital. Authorities seized 50,000 SIM cards of various operators and a large quantity of illegal VOIP equipment, said The DMP Media Division confirmed the arrests on Monday but did not specify the exact location or timing of the operation. A press conference will be held regarding he matter at the DMP Media Center on TuesdayMuhammad Talebur Rahman, deputy commissioner of the DMP Media Division, said: “The DB seized over 50,000 SIM cards, mobile phones, and a large amount of VOIP equipment, and arrested eight members of a Telegram fraud gang, including five Chinese nationals.”

An investigation committee probing allegations surrounding Bangladesh’s three controversial national parliamentary elections — held in 2014, 2018, and 2024 — has reported that 80% of votes in the 2018 election were cast at night. According to the committee, opposition parties, including the BNP, participated in the 2018 election without fully understanding the then ruling Awami League’s extensive strategy, aimed at ensuring the party’s victory. In the 2024 election, the BNP and other opposition parties boycotted the vote. Following the system’s removal, appointments to the Election Commission were made in a non-transparent manner, favoring loyalists. Cooperation from agencies like NSI helped uncover substantial corruption within the Election Commission,” he said.

The government has directed four press officers posted at Bangladesh missions abroad to be relieved of their duties immediately and return home. The officers are: First Secretary (Press) Sufi Abdullahil Maruf at the Bangladesh High Commission in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; First Secretary (Press) Md Arifur Rahman at the Bangladesh Consulate General in Dubai, United Arab Emirates; Second Secretary (Press) Asaduzzaman Khan at the Bangladesh Embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; and Second Secretary (Press) Md Imranul Hasan at the Bangladesh Embassy in Tokyo, Japan. A later notification issued on April 13 revoked that decision, allowing them to continue their duties until new officers were appointed to the missions. The notification said that new officers have since been appointed to those missions and the necessary government orders have been issued in their favour. In view of this, the four officials have now been instructed to be mandatorily relieved from their duties with immediate effect and return to Bangladesh.

Non-fiction books play a crucial role in shaping thinking and providing deep, verified, and analytical knowledge, Education Adviser Dr CR Abrar said on Monday, as the three-day Ninth Non-Fiction Book Fair concluded at Dhaka University (DU). “They (Non-fiction books) shape thinking, raise questions, teach reasoning, and help us understand society. Amid social media, rapid news cycles, and fragmented opinions, the need for deep, verified, and analytical knowledge is greater than ever. Non-fiction books play an indispensable role in meeting that need,” Abrar said, underlining the significance of the fair in bringing research and scholarship from the university to the wider public. The fair underscored the growing importance of non-fiction in fostering analytical thinking and a knowledge-based society in Bangladesh.

Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam on Monday said they recognize the significance of the UN Security Council decision to establish the International Stabilization Force (ISF) for Gaza and understand that some Muslim countries are interested in participating in the force. These include, among others, that the ISF should be temporary and operate under a clear UN Security Council mandate, he said, adding that there must be permanent ceasefire and complete withdrawal of all Israeli forces from Gaza; and the responsibilities for Gaza will be transferred to the Palestinians. Bangladesh noted that the United Nations Security Council, on 17th November 2025, adopted resolution 2803 which provided for, among other things, the establishment of an ISF for Gaza. Shafiqul said all Muslim countries members of the Security Council voted for the resolution. He also said a number of other Arab and Muslim countries jointly recommended the adoption of the resolution by the Security Council.

Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser Prof Ali Riaz addressed a conference of Imams of Rajshahi division at Hazrat Shah Makhdum Edigah today. Photo: BSSRAJSHAHI, Jan 12, 2026 (BSS)- Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser Prof Ali Riaz has said a mandate of the voters (referendum) on the July Charter is indispensable for future Bangladesh’s state structure and full-length establishment of democracy. Ali Riaz said this while addressing a conference of Imams of Rajshahi division at Hazrat Shah Makhdum Edigah in the city today. Prof Ali Riaz said some differences among the political parties were seen on the issue of signing of the July National Charter. Prof Ali Reaz also said if the people give verdict to the fundamental structure of state operation the next governments will be compelled to function according the peoples will.

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