Jahangir Alam Chowdhury-File PhotoDHAKA, Jan 25, 2026 (BSS) - Agriculture and Home Affairs Adviser Lieutenant General (Retd) Md. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury today said the government is planning to provide incentives to potato farmers as they failed to get fair prices due to increased production. The adviser said production of major crops including paddy, potato, onion, vegetables and mustard has increased significantly this year. Paddy production rose by six percent compared to last year, while potato production increased by 14 percent. Onion production saw a sharp rise of 22 percent, contributing to price stability in the market, he said.

Prison officials said Jewel was not released on parole, but was allowed a brief viewing at the prison gate on humanitarian grounds. Bagerhat Deputy Commissioner Golam Md Baten later said the family had been advised to apply to the Jessore district administration, as Jewel was being held there. However, the Jessore district administration said no written or verbal parole application was submitted to the Jessore DC. You asked a question about agriculture.”Between law and humanityFor Suborna’s family, the debate over procedure offers little comfort. Circumstances, confusion and delay ensured he received only a farewell at the prison gate.

Photo: ISPRDHAKA, Jan 25, 2026 (BSS) - Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) is replacing its 62 peacekeepers of the Aviation Transport Unit contingent deployed in the United Nations (UN) Peacekeeping Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). As part of this replacement, 35 members of the Bangladesh Air Force left Dhaka for the Democratic Republic of Congo today aboard an UN-Chartered aircraft (Ethiopian Airlines), said a release of the Inter-Services of Public Relations (ISPR) Directorate this evening. The remaining 27 members of the new contingent will leave Dhaka for Congo on February 2, 2026 (Monday) in an UN chartered aircraft (Ethiopian Airlines), it mentioned. Group Captain Mohammad Salim Javed of the BAF contingent led the forces. Assistant Chief of Air Staff (Operations) Air Vice Marshal Javed Tanvir Khan and senior officers of the Air Force were present at the airport to bid them farewell, the release added.

A two-day training workshop on election-time journalism was held in Rajshahi to promote professional ethics, safety, and responsible reporting among journalists. Organized by the Press Institute of Bangladesh (PIB) in cooperation with the Rajshahi Union of Journalists (RUJ), the program awarded certificates to 50 journalists from Rajshahi University and nearby upazilas at its closing ceremony at the Rajshahi Muktijuddho Smriti Stadium. The program was chaired by RUJ General Secretary Dalim Hossain Shanto and moderated by PIB trainer Mohammad Shah Alam, with speakers including Salahuddin Ahmad Bablu and RUJ President Abdul Awal. Simultaneously, another two-day workshop for 50 journalists from Chapainawabganj and Naogaon districts concluded at the Social Services Office, chaired by Abdul Awal and attended by Pro-Vice-Chancellor Professor Farid Uddin Khan and trainer Sharmin Rinvi. Participants noted that such training is vital for promoting responsible journalism and enhancing professional skills during election periods.

A major milestone was achieved with the promulgation of the Revenue Policyand Revenue Management Ordinance, 2025, separating revenue policy formulationfrom revenue administration. To strengthen long-term revenue capacity, NBR has adopted a 10-year Mediumand Long-Term Revenue Strategy (MLTRS) targeting higher revenue-to-GDP ratio. Trade facilitation has been prioritized through monthly stakeholder meetingswhere business representatives directly present customs, VAT and income taxissues to NBR leadership. In income tax, online return filing has been made mandatoryfor most taxpayers, with over 34 lakh e-returns already submitted this fiscalyear. Overall, through policy reforms, digital transformation and administrativestrengthening, NBR has demonstrated visible progress in revenue managementduring the interim government period, contributing to fiscal stability andsustainable economic development.

An 18-year-old boy was arrested in Tungipara in Gopalganj after roaming suspiciously at night with a walkie-talkie and claiming to be a member of the Bangladesh Army. Locals grew suspicious of the teenager, identified as Rahat Chowdhury, son of Delwar Chowdhury of Bhagyaakul village, Srinagar Upazila, Munshiganj, after noticing his unusual behavior. Residents alerted the police, and Rahat was subsequently detained by Tungipara Police and personnel from a nearby Army camp. During questioning, he stated that he had come to visit a friend and worked at a shop in Gopalganj town. A case has been filed against Rahat with Tungipara Police Station, and he was sent to jail on Sunday afternoon.

Did You Know? Have you ever considered the indirect effects of climate change? For example, as our climate warms, the territory habitable for bark beetles expands. As they take over and kill our evergreens, forests become primed for wildfires. More wildfires, like the Flagstaff Fire and Fourmile Fire that occurred near Boulder in the last few years, ultimately contribute to flooding by increasing run-off.

Corsicana, TX (75110)TodayFlurries or snow showers possible early. Cloudy skies early, followed by partial clearing. Winds NNW at 10 to 20 mph..TonightFlurries or snow showers possible early. Cloudy skies early, followed by partial clearing. Winds NNW at 10 to 20 mph.

12 men’s hockey hosted its most anticipated opponent of the season in front of a 4267-spectator crowd on Saturday night. Against Harvard, Cournoyer finally vanquished his first-period demons, stopping all nine shots he faced in the opening frame. Kraft found a spot in a new top line alongside Walsh and freshman forward Gio DiGiulian against Dartmouth, and the trio held steady against the Crimson. Kraft, junior defenseman George Fegaras and freshman forward Aiden Long all lit the lamp in the middle frame. - Jane McNallyThe Class of 2029 Meets the MomentThe date of the Harvard game gets circled on the calendar by nearly everyone in the Cornell men’s hockey community, players included.

EU Ambassador to Bangladesh Michael Miller delivered a keynote address titled "The EU Means Business in Bangladesh". Photo: European Union in Bangladesh Facebook pageDHAKA, Jan 25, 2025 (BSS) - European Union (EU) Ambassador to Bangladesh Michael Miller has stressed the need for a level playing field for EU operators and sustained policy stability to further strengthen Bangladesh-EU bilateral relations. The ambassador made the remarks while delivering a keynote address titled "The EU Means Business in Bangladesh" at the EuroCham Business Evening 2026 in Dhaka recently, said an EU press release here today. In his address, Miller described the European Union as a steadfast and reliable partner of Bangladesh, highlighting the depth and resilience of the EU's commercial engagement with the country. The event was hosted by the European Union Chamber of Commerce in Bangladesh, the official chamber of the European Union in Bangladesh and part of the European Business Organisation (EBO) Worldwide Network, at the United Convention Centre.

BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman on Sunday urged voters to ensure victory for the party’s ‘Sheaf of Paddy’ candidates in all seats of greater Noakhali, referring to the area as his maternal ancestral home. “Just as the people of Feni, Noakhali and Lakshmipur have expectations from BNP to solve their problems, BNP also has one key demand from them. Referring to demands for a medical college and an EPZ in Feni, Tarique said BNP will take steps to establish a medical college in the district. After concluding a rally at Chattogram’s Polo Ground, Tarique Rahman arrived at the Feni Pilot School ground at 5:55pm. Tarique Rahman formally launched BNP’s election campaign from Sylhet on January 22.

Auto-rickshaw drivers in Sreepur of Gazipur blocked the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway on Sunday demanding legal permission to operate auto-rickshaws and an end to alleged police harassment. According to police, around 200 to 250 auto-rickshaw drivers gathered in the New Market area of Shreepur and halted vehicular movement on the busy highway. Traffic movement returned to normalacy around 10:00am after police cleared the protesters from the road. Officer-in-Charge of Shreepur Police Station Md Nasir Uddin said multiple police teams were deployed to bring the situation under control. Police worked to remove the protesters from the highway and restore normal traffic flow, he added.

The Ministry of Home Affairs has clarified that no application was submitted for the parole release of prisoner Jewel Hasan Saddam, who is currently detained in Jashore Central Jail following the death of his wife and child. In a statement issued on the matter, the Home Ministry said neither Saddam’s family nor any representative applied to the Jashore Deputy Commissioner and District Magistrate or to the Jashore Central Jail authorities seeking his release on parole. The ministry added that reports circulating in various media outlets and on social media claiming that such an application had been made are incorrect. According to the statement, based on the verbal intention expressed by Saddam’s family, it was decided to show the bodies of his wife and child at the Jashore Jail gate. Considering the humanitarian aspect of the situation, the Jashore District Administration and the Jashore Central Jail authorities extended maximum cooperation to facilitate the process.

A pedestrian named Ashfaq Chowdhury Piplu was killed after an iron rod fell on his head from an under-construction building in Gulshan, the capital. The victim’s father-in-law filed the case at Gulshan police station on Friday. Investigating officer Sub-Inspector Aziz Mahmud of Gulshan police station said the iron rod fell from a high-rise building under construction by Concord Real Estate in Gulshan-1, piercing Ashfaq’s head and causing his death. The case has been filed under Section 304A of the Penal Code for causing death by negligence. According to family sources, after finishing lunch, Ashfaq was returning to his workplace when an iron rod fell from the roof of an under-construction building in Gulshan and struck his head.

PARIS, France, Jan 25, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Lebanon will need some sort of international force after the withdrawal of the United Nations's Unifil mission scheduled for 2027, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said during a visit to Paris Saturday. The force would need a mix of observers and peacekeepers, largely because of a "history of hostility" with Israel, he added. UN peacekeepers current operate in southern Lebanon in cooperation with the Lebanese army, part of a ceasefire between Israel and the pro-Iranian Shiite movement Hezbollah in place since November 2024. While Israel was supposed to withdraw its forces from southern Lebanon, it has maintained them in five areas it considers strategic. The Lebanese army says it has completed the first phase, which calls for disarming Hezbollah south of the Litani River.