BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman will start election campaign by visiting the Shrine of Hazrat Shah Jalal (R) and Shahporan (RA) in Sylhet on January 22. BNP Media Cell Convener Prof Dr Moudud Hossain Alamgir Pavel said he will begin election campaign by paying homage at the shrines of Hazrat Shah Jalal (RA) and Shahporan (RA). Earlier in a meeting with editors and senior journalists on Saturday he said: "As a political party, BNP will go to every people to woo their support for vote.”It is learned that the allocation of symbols for the upcoming National Parliament election will take place on January 21. Thereafter, officially the election campaign will begin from January 22 after allocation of the election symbol a day before. On way to Dhaka from Sylhet Tarique Rahman will participate in roadside rallies and public meetings at various locations.

Following the movement’s largest protests yet on Thursday, new demonstrations took place late Friday, according to images verified by AFP and other videos published on social media. It posted images it said were of corpses of people shot dead in the protests piled on the floor of Alghadir hospital in eastern Tehran. On Thursday and Friday, an AFP journalist in Tehran saw streets deserted and plunged into darkness ahead of any protests. An AFP reporter saw shop windows broken, as well as security forces deploying. State TV on Saturday broadcast images of funerals for several members of the security forces killed in the protests, including a large gathering in the southern city of Shiraz.

Police recovered the throat-slit body of 17-year-old schoolgirl Fatema Akter Nili from a flat in Block L of South Banasree of the capital on Saturday afternoon. The deceased was identified as Nili, a class 10 student at Radiant School and daughter of Sajib Mia, a hotel businessman. Md Shafiqul Islam, officer-in-charge of Khilgaon Police Station, told Dhaka Tribune that Nili’s throat had been slit and the killing likely occurred between 1pm and 3:30pm Saturday. The incident is being treated as a suspected murder, though the identity of the perpetrator or perpetrators remains unknown. The body was sent to Dhaka Medical College Hospital morgue for an autopsy.

Eight candidates to contest election in Jamalpur-5 constituencyJAMALPUR, Jan 10, 2026 (BSS) - Eight candidates from different political parties are set to contest the upcoming general election in Jamalpur-5 constituency, comprising Jamalpur Sadar upazila. It has a total of 573,214 voters, of whom 279,896 are male, 293,311 female and seven transgender. According to election officials, all eight nomination papers submitted by political party candidates have been declared valid. The candidates are Shah Md Wares Ali Mamun (BNP), Maulana Muhammad Abdus Sattar (Jamaat-e-Islami), Abu Sayem Mohammad Sa-Adat Ul Karim (Bangladesh Congress), Md Amir Uddin (JSD), Syed Yunus Ahmed (Islami Andolan Bangladesh), Md Babar Ali Khan (Jatiya Party), Muhammad Sanowar Hossain (Amar Bangladesh Party) and Zakir Hossain (Gano Adhikar Parishad). With the election drawing near, all candidates are actively preparing their campaigns and remain hopeful of victory.

Finance Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed has said sharply reducing high lending rates is no easy feat, stressing the need for consistency in monetary policy. "It is not very easy to reduce interest rates suddenly. He noted that although higher interest rates were intended to curb inflation, prices have remained on an upward trend over the past two months.He also acknowledged that interest rates alone are not sufficient to control inflation. Those who invest in treasury bills can see that. "Inflation cannot be controlled only through monetary policy or by increasing the policy rate," he said.

The World Bank has warned the public about online "scams" in Bangladesh "misusing" its name and logo to offer loans directly to individuals. "Perpetrators have created Facebook pages, fake IDs and using other techniques to impersonate the World Bank and lure payments using mobile banking," the international organisation said in a statement.On its verified Facebook page, the institution clarified that it does not provide loans directly to anyone. Its funding is primarily channelled through state-owned or autonomous institutions to support development projects, including reducing unemployment, creating jobs, alleviating poverty, lowering maternal and neonatal mortality, and promoting social awareness.Citizens encountering such schemes are urged to report them to local authorities immediately.Similar warnings were issued to Bangladeshi citizens in May 2024. The World Bank reiterated that it has no involvement in these fraudulent schemes and urged people to remain vigilant against scams falsely claiming affiliation with the organisation. �"bdnews24.com

NARSINGDI, Jan 10, 2026 (BSS) - Police today arrested Shah Jalal Ahmed Shawon, general secretary of the banned Narsingdi District Chhatra League, while he attempted to flee to Dubai. He was arrested around 10 am at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport with the assistance of immigration police. Narsingdi District Additional Superintendent of Police (Crime) Sujan Chandra Sarkar said, "We have initially received information regarding the arrest of Shah Jalal Ahmed Shawon. Shah Jalal Ahmed Shawon is the son of Abul Hashem of Baniachhal area in Narsingdi Sadar upazila. Six separate cases have been filed against him over attacks, gunfire, and murder related to the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement.

DHAKA, Jan 10, 2026 (BSS) - Sylhet Titans all-rounder Azmatullah Omarzai left the franchise to join his national team Afghanistan which will play a series against West Indies as part of their preparation for the Afghanistan national team. Sylhet confirmed the news through a video message of Omarzai in their social media page today. Omarzai made his BPL debut in 2022 with Sylhet Sixers, which was his first franchise tournament. “Sylhet supporters have been excellent. Sylhet Titans management also thanked Omarzai for his contribution.

Jamaat mourns deaths of three Bangladeshis in Oman road crashDHAKA, Jan 10, 2026 (BSS) - Jamaat-e-Islami today expressed deep sorrow over deaths of three and injury of two Bangladeshis belonging to the same family in a road crash in Oman. The deceased were identified as Bilkis Begum, her son Mohammad Sakibul Hasan and son in law Mohammad Didarul Alam. The mnames of the wounded woman and the child could not be known immediately. The statement said Jamaat leaders prayed for the eternal peace of the departed souls and quick recovery of the injured. The party expressed heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family members and relatives in this moment of grief.

DHAKA, Jan 10, 2026 (BSS) - International Master Manon Reja Neer of Bangladesh Navy took solo lead in the points table with 6.5 points after the seventh round of BCF Open FIDE Rating Chess Tournament held at the Bangladesh Chess Federation Hall Room today (Saturday). They are - International Master Mohammad Fahad Rahman of Bangladesh Ansar, International Master Abu Sufian Shakil of Bangladesh Police Chess Club, International Master Md. Minhaz Uddin of Bangladesh Navy and FIDE Master Subrota Biswas of Dhaka University. They are - FIDE Master Sakline Mostafa Sajid of Titas Club, FIDE Master Mohammad Javed of Bangladesh Navy, Candidate Master Md. Sajidul Haque of Manha’s Castle, Tashriq Saihan Shan of Bangladesh Police Chess Club, Rayan Rashid Mugdho of Khelaghor Daba Sangah and Muhtady Tajwar Nasheed of Janata Bank Officers Welfare Society.

Police trying to come out of past disgrace: IGPIGP Baharul Alam today spoke to journalists after participating in a special welfare meeting with police officers at the Rangpur Police Lines School and College auditorium. Photo : BSSRANGPUR, Jan 10, 2026 (BSS)- Inspector General of Police (IGP) Baharul Alam has said that during the 15 years rule of past Awami League regime police have done many anti-people acts. We are trying to come out of that disgrace and restore its previous glorify again,” he said. Baharul Alam said, “Death of Sharif Osman Hadi has shaken entire nation. About the criticism on Operation Devil Hunt Phase-2 the IGP said, “We are trying to work as objectively as possible.

WASHINGTON, United States, Jan 10, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - NASA crewmembers aboard the International Space Station (ISS) could return to Earth as soon as Thursday, the US space agency said, after a medical emergency prompted the crew to return from their mission early. "NASA and SpaceX target undocking Crew-11 from the International Space Station no earlier than 5pm ET on Jan. 14, with splashdown off California targeted for early Jan. 15 depending on weather and recovery conditions," the agency said in a post on X. These expeditions generally last around six months, and the crew was already due to return to Earth in the coming weeks. Officials indicated it was possible the next US mission could depart to the ISS earlier than scheduled, but did not provide specifics. Continuously inhabited since 2000, the ISS functions as a testbed for research that supports deeper space exploration -- including eventual missions to Mars.

DHAKA, Jan 10, 2025 (BSS) - To raise awareness among students aboutmisinformation, disinformation, and responsible digital engagement ahead ofthe upcoming national election Dot Initiative today organised a workshoptitled "Fact-Checking and Countering Misinformation Ahead of NationalElection 2026" at the University of Dhaka (DU). The 13th Parliamentary Election has been scheduled for February 12, 2026. He warned about the growing threat of misinformation during election periodsand highlighted the vital role of youth in safeguarding democratic valuesthrough responsible information sharing. Quadaruddin demonstrated practical tools for verifying news, images, andviral social media content, urging students to critically evaluateinformation before sharing it online. Students from various departments of the University of Dhaka took part in theprogramme.

While December's figures were decent, job growth has slowed significantly over the past year while the unemployment rate crept up towards its highest level since 2021. "We're in a new normal, in a new equilibrium," said Sweet, adding that this is roughly the level of job growth one should expect going forward. But "job growth in 2025 was the weakest in over a decade, outside of the pandemic," Senator Elizabeth Warren, the top Democrat on the Senate Banking Committee, said in a statement. The sluggish job growth figure was underpinned by a mere 37,000 increase in private payrolls, he said. Accordingly, we look for only a small pick-up in employment growth ahead," Tombs said.

Speed of progress must be Bangladesh’s core economic concern: Hossain ZillurCountry’s renowned economist and former Adviser to the caretaker government Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman. Dr Rahman said that while “moderate progress” may be acceptable for some countries, but Bangladesh must aim higher. Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman said this while chairing the publication ceremony of the 7t edition of the ‘Banking Almanac’ at the CIRDAP International Conference Centre (ground floor) in the capital today. Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman noted that Bangladesh’s economic fundamentals have improved over time, moving from a fragile position towards greater stability. Mohammad Emdadul Haque, Executive Editor of the Banking Almanac gave the vote of thanks.