The Election Commission (EC) on Sunday held a law and order coordination meeting with 16 divisions and agencies, including the armed forces, ahead of the upcoming 13th Jatiya Sangsad Election and the Referendum. The meeting began at 9am at the conference room of the Election Commission at Agargaon in the capital, with Election Commissioner Brigadier General (retd) Abul Fazal Md Sanaullah in the chair. Directors general, principal staff officers and representatives of various law enforcement and security agencies attended the meeting, including Border Guard Bangladesh, Coast Guard, Police, Ansar and Village Defence Force, National Security Intelligence, Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI), National Telecommunication Monitoring Centre and Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), along with others. During the meeting, Election Commissioner Brig Gen Abul Fazal Md Sanaullah (retd) directed the field administration to play a strong role in preventing any kind of violence related the upcoming polls.

AUCKLAND, Jan 11, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Top seed Elena Svitolina powered to a straight-sets victory over China's Wang Xinyu in the Auckland Classic final Sunday in an impressive display just a week before the Australian Open. Ukraine's Svitolina won 6-3, 7-6 (8/6) for a 19th career title in a battle between two baseline specialists which featured only one service break. The world number 13 reached the quarter-finals at Melbourne a year ago, the third time she had made the Australian Open last eight. The former world number three's has a remarkable record in WTA finals, having won 19 times in her 23 appearances. It was just the second time for 24-year-old seventh seed Wang had reached a final.

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But his opponent, 43-year-old Robert Kyagulanyi, better known as Bobi Wine, has framed the election as a protest vote and cannily turned the national flag into a symbol of resistance. Wine's supporters have faced frequent intimidation by the security forces during the campaign, according to the United Nations Human Rights Office and other observers. Like many countries in east Africa, there are laws governing how the national flag may be used, though these were rarely enforced in Uganda in the past. "Everyone has a right to use the national flag, but it depends on in what context they're using it for. I believe the opposition is politicising it," said Israel Kyarisiima, a national youth co-ordinator for Museveni's National Resistance Movement party.

By Md Aynal HaqueRAJSHAHI, Jan 11, 2026 (BSS)- Farming shrimp using mixed-culture methods often in ponds with carp fish is gaining popularity among farmers for profitability. Farmer Shafiul Alam said commercial shrimp farming is gaining popularity with the breakthrough of introducing larvae and post-larvae production in Rajshahi. There are enormous prospects of boosting farmers’ income, employment generation, poverty reduction and protein security through cherished expansion of shrimp farming in the region, Shafiul Alam added. The state-owned breeding hatchery in Rajshahi has raised huge hopes for commercial freshwater shrimp farming by providing farmers with healthy hatchlings. DoF Divisional Director Saifuddin Yeahia said the department is intended to expand shrimp farming in freshwater by providing updated technologies to grassroots farmers.

The American swept to the 2025 Adelaide International trophy and it sparked her run to an Australian Open triumph, won in an epic final against Aryna Sabalenka at Melbourne Park. Keys also won in 2022 on her only other appearance in the South Australia city, and thinks that is a good omen for her Australian Open preparation. "Twice before I've played Adelaide and I ended up making the semis of the Australian Open. The Australian Open is just a week away and Keys is taking only positives from her defeat to Sabalenka at the season-opening Brisbane International last week. "Getting as many good matches as possible helps you figure out what's working, what's not working, where to make some tweaks here or there.

Jordan says its forces took part in strikes against IS in SyriaAMMAN, Jan 11, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Jordan's air force carried out strikes against Islamic State group targets in Syria as part of a US operation this weekend, the military said Sunday. The Jordanian army said Saturday's strikes "were coordinated with partners within the framework of the international coalition... to neutralise the capabilities of terrorist groups and prevent them from reorganising".

If a mother is infected with Nipah virus and has a minor child, breastfeeding should be stopped. If preventive measures are taken, Nipah virus transmission can be controlled to a great extent, she said in while talking to BSS on Nipah virus transmission and public awareness. Dr Borna said prevalence of Nipah Virus is high in Bangladesh and India. She said, according to World Health Organization the fatality rate of Nipah virus infection ranges from 40 to 75 percent. Dr Borna said as no vaccine for Nipah virus has yet been discovered, awareness and prevention are the remedies to be protected.

File photoDHAKA, Jan 11, 2026 (BSS) - The country’s minimum temperature dropped by one degree Celsius today, while a mild cold wave continues to affect several regions, said the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD). The cold wave is prevailing over Rangpur division and the districts of Rajshahi, Pabna, Naogaon, Jashore and Chuadanga, and may persist. Although the minimum temperature fell nationwide, the number of districts under cold wave conditions decreased to nine today from 19 yesterday. Tetulia in Panchagarh recorded the country’s lowest temperature at 7.3 degree Celsius today, down from 8.3 degree Celsius yesterday. In Dhaka, the minimum temperature rose to 15.1 degree Celsius today, compared to 12.4 degree Celsius yesterday and 12.2 degree Celsius on Friday.

While we continue to speak of the numerous issues that our country currently faces, we must remember that climate change remains our single biggest existential threat. Indeed, our coastal belt, as with many other parts of the country, is no longer bracing for climate change but right in the middle of feeling its devastating effects. What is happening in our country is no longer an environmental crisis but rather a humanitarian and economic emergency. The nations of the Global North must recognize their responsibility, not just in terms of cutting their emissions but more importantly, financing mitigation and adaptation in nations such as ours. Climate justice is not and has never been charity.

Two, we can use government and regulation, Hardin called this the socialist answer. Here we've a limitation on crab harvesting issued by the government -- this is the socialist answer in this system of classification. Ostrom also pointed out that this really only works where social pressure within the community works to limit behaviour. So, to make sure that there is crab next season, the season after, and so on, we've got to limit the fishing for crab in the here and now. For if “socialism” works then why shouldn't we have lots and lots more of it?

Bangladesh Army, rather than being bogged down in political interference as in other militaries in South Asia, has maintained favourable civil-military relations. The positive civil-military balance projects the Bangladesh Army as a guardian in periods of national crisis. The attrition rate of the rescue operations was high, and it resulted in heavy losses for the Bangladesh Army. Bangladesh army remains proactive with the prospect of a possible earthquake, and Bangladesh Armed Forces regularly organizes exercises on earthquake disasters. The Bangladesh Army has maintained a watchful stance in this regard, which has foiled the plots of the deliberate and motivated disturbances in the country.

Every year, we witness a most troubling pattern: Unscrupulous traders exploiting heightened demand to drive up the cost of staples. This is one of the reasons that our ongoing battle with inflation has been so damaging to the country. Food security should never be a luxury for any nation and is indeed the most basic responsibility of the state. Nothing is more important than ensuring that every individual in Bangladesh has food to eat. The guarantee that every citizen can afford a simple meal is far more important than any economic growth numbers.

Bangladesh aligns itself fully with the collective resolve of the OIC to uphold international law, respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity of Member States, and the unity and solidarity of the Muslim world, said Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain. The Extraordinary Session was convened to deliberate on recent developments concerning Israel’s recognition of the so-called “Somaliland” and its implications for the sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Somalia, as well as broader regional and international ramifications. During his intervention, Adviser Touhid urged the OIC to categorically reject and condemn Israel's recognition of the so-called "Somaliland" and reaffirm, in the strongest possible terms, its full and unwavering support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Somalia. He underscored the sovereignty of OIC Member States is non-negotiable, stresaing that illegal negotiations will not be tolerated and that Justce, international law, and multilateralism must prevail over unilateralism and coercion. The meeting also reaffirmed continued solidarity with the Palestinian people and the centrality of the Palestinian cause to the OIC.

EPUYEN, Argentina, Jan 11, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - A major forest fire in southern Argentina has burned more than 5,500 hectares, authorities said Saturday, as hundreds of firefighters and volunteers battled to contain the blaze threatening small communities. The governor of the surrounding Chubut province, Ignacio Torres, said on social media that 5,500 hectares had already burned and warned the next 48 hours would be critical due to adverse weather. Firefighters in Argentina face growing challenges from climate change, which brings higher temperatures and lower humidity, while having to accept low wages following government spending cuts. Fires are active in other Patagonian provinces, including Neuquen, Rio Negro and Santa Cruz. The region lost 32,000 hectares to wildfires in early 2025.