Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus -File PhotoDHAKA, Jan 25, 2026 (BSS)- Chief Adviser (CA) Professor Muhammad Yunus has conveyed a message on the occasion of International Customs Day-2026 to be observed worldwide tomorrow under the theme 'Customs: Protecting Society through Vigilance and Commitment'. “I am pleased to know that, as in previous years, International Customs Day-2026 is being observed this year as well, in line with the theme set by the World Customs Organization (WCO)," he said in a message today. The Chief Adviser congratulated all officers and employees of Bangladesh Customs, as well as service recipients and stakeholders. In this regard, officials of Bangladesh Customs are working with professional competence, specialized knowledge, and a strong sense of responsibility to build a modern and reliable administrative system, he added. The Chief wished every success of all programmes organized on the occasion of International Customs Day-2026.

The order came after Supreme Court lawyer Md Eunus Ali Akond filed a contempt petition, alleging that the Election Commission had ignored a High Court instruction issued on Aug 27, 2025. Akond told the court that he had applied for registration of his proposed party, the Krishak Sramik Janata Party, through the prescribed process. With no response forthcoming, he moved the High Court. Arguing his own contempt petition on Sunday, Akond said the continued inaction amounted to a wilful disregard of the court’s order. “I applied to the Election Commission through due process for registration of a political party.

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus. File PhotoDHAKA, Jan 25, 2026 (BSS) - Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus today extended heartfelt congratulations to the Bangladesh Women's Futsal Team on their historic achievement. In the SAFF Women's Futsal Championship held for the first time, Bangladesh clinched the title today in Bangkok by defeating Maldives 14-2 goals on the final day of the tournament. In a congratulatory message, Prof Yunus said that winning the title with a brilliant performance in the SAFF Women's Futsal Championship is a matter of pride for the country's sports arena. "This success is a shining example of the indomitable spirit, hard work, and capability of Bangladesh's women athletes," the Chief Adviser said.

Environment, Forest and Climate Change Adviser today spoke at a rally organized to raise public awareness against honking at the airport area in Dhaka. Photo : PIDDHAKA, Jan 25, 2026 (BSS) - Environment, Forest and Climate Change Adviser to the Interim Government, Syeda Rizwana Hasan today said that reducing noise pollution is everyone's responsibility. Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Dr. Farhina Ahmed was present at the event as special guest. She noted that the Noise Pollution (Control) Rules 2025 have now been enacted. Secretary Dr. Farhina Ahmed said that the government is firmly committed to implementing the regulations formulated to control noise pollution and sought cooperation from all concerned in this regard.

File PhotoDHAKA, Jan 25, 2026 (BSS) – The prosecution at the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT)-2 today pleaded for the maximum punishment of those accused in a crimes against humanity case over the killing of Begum Rokeya University, Rangpur (BRUR) student Abu Sayed during the July Mass Uprising. Senior prosecutor Mizanul Islam made the plea in the closing arguments in the case. The tribunal framed charges against all 30 accused on August 6, 2025. Advocate Azizur Rahman Dulu represented Sujan Chandra Roy; Advocate Aminul Gani Titu appeared for Shariful Islam; and Advocate Salauddin Regan represented Imran Chowdhury Akash. The ICT-2 issued arrest warrants on June 30 against 26 fugitives, including former BRUR vice-chancellor Professor Dr Md Hasibur Rashid.

Collected photoATHENS, Jan 25, 2026 (AFP) - A boat carrying over 50 migrants sank off the Greek coast, killing a woman and a boy and leaving three others missing, the coastguard said Sunday. "A rescue operation with a coastguard vessel is underway, and a team of rescuers and divers is expected later today," she said. In early December, 17 people were found dead after their boat sank off Crete and 15 others were reported missing. According to the UN refugee agency 107 people died or went missing in 2025 off the Greek coast. The International Organisation for Migration says about 33,000 migrants have died or gone missing in the Mediterranean since 2014.

WASHINGTON, United States, Jan 25, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - The Trump administration plans to repatriate Iranian migrants from the United States despite their home country still reeling from massive protests during which thousands were killed, according to an Iranian-American NGO. The deportation flights would be the first to Iran since the beginning of the mass uprisings in the country, which peaked in early January before being violently repressed. "The same administration that promised Iranians that 'help is on the way' amid a deadly crackdown is now forcibly sending Iranians back into danger," said NIAC president Jamal Abdi. Abolfazl Mehrabadi, a diplomat representing Tehran's interests in the United States, told Iran's official IRNA news agency on Saturday that about 40 Iranians were to be deported. The US Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to AFP queries about the planned deportations.

Photo:BSSBy Md Aynal HaqueRAJSHAHI, Jan 25, 2026 (BSS) - Farmers in Rajshahi, part of the Barind region, are increasingly turning to commercial strawberry cultivation, attracted by its ease of growth and high profitability. According to the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) and local farmers, strawberry plants start bearing fruit within a month of planting, with production continuing for four to five months. In Rajshahi district, strawberry cultivation has expanded by an additional two hectares this year. "Since starting strawberry cultivation, I no longer need other work. Professor Rafiqul Islam of Rajshahi University's Department of Botany said strawberry cultivation is as easy as growing potatoes or eggplants.

DHAKA, Jan 25, 2026 (BSS) - The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT)-1 is scheduled to pronounce its judgment tomorrow in a case filed over crimes against humanity committed in the city's Chankharpul area on August 5, 2024, when six people were brutally killed. The tribunal was earlier set to pronounce the judgment on January 20, but later refixed the date to January 26 as the verdict could not be readied within the scheduled time. The first four accused are yet to be arrested and are being tried in absentia. The six victims-Shahriar Khan Anas, Sheikh Mahdi Hasan Zunayed, Md Yakub, Md Rakib Hawlader, Md Ismamul Haque, and Manik Miah-were killed in Chankharpul on August 5, 2024. The tribunal's investigation agency submitted a 90-page probe report on April 20, 2025.

Rapid Action Battalion (RAB)-11 in a drive arrested two drug dealers identified as the pickup driver Md. Moharam Ali (26) along with 80 kgs of ganja in Palash upazila of the district last night. Photo: BSSNARSINGDI, Jan 25, 2026 (BSS) - Rapid Action Battalion (RAB)-11 arrested two suspected drug peddlers and recovered 80 kilograms of ganja during an anti-narcotics operation in Palash upazila of the district last night. According to RAB-11, the operation was conducted around 11:40 pm in Charnagardi Bazar area on the Panchdona-Charsindur road, based on secret information. The arrested were identified as Md Kawsar, 27, the driver of the vehicle, and his assistant Md Maharam Ali, 26.

GENEVA, Jan 25, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - The World Health Organization's chief pushed back Saturday against harsh US criticism of his agency's record during the Covid pandemic, rejecting charges it had violated countries' sovereignty. US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. took aim at the WHO in a video posted on X on Friday as he announced that Washington had formally withdrawn from the organisation. He argued that WHO, which has not confirmed that the US withdrawal has taken effect, had "lost its way". Deputy Health Secretary Jim O'Neill meanwhile charged on X that the WHO had "ignored rigorous science and promoted lockdowns" during the pandemic. - 'Inaccurate information' -Responding on X, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the statement "contains inaccurate information".

Election Commission (EC) today held a meeting with foreign diplomats at the Ballroom of Westin Hotel in the capital's Gulshan. Photo : BSSDHAKA, Jan 25, 2026 (BSS) - The Election Commission (EC) today held a meeting with foreign diplomats stationed in Bangladesh to brief them on preparations for the upcoming national parliamentary election and referendum. Senior Secretary of the EC Secretariat Akhtar Ahmed and other senior officials of the commission were also present. According to EC sources, the diplomats were briefed on the overall election preparations, the electoral process, appointment of international observers, measures to ensure transparency, and the prevailing law and order situation, among other issues. Following the meeting, the Chief Election Commissioner is expected to brief journalists at the Election Commission building, the sources added.

MELBOURNE, Jan 25, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - World number one Aryna Sabalenka said Sunday she is keen to play mixed doubles with Novak Djokovic, but is still waiting for the Serbian great to tell her she is "his dream partner". The pair played together once before, a charity match on Rod Laver Arena ahead of the 2024 Australian Open. "I'm still waiting for that long message from him, how he would like to play with me, that I'm his dream partner. "So I'm still waiting for the message. She has previously credited him with helping her on and off the court, seeking his counsel after losing two finals last year.

CARACAS, Jan 25, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Venezuela's interim president Delcy Rodriguez called on Saturday for discussions with the opposition to reach "agreements" for peace, three weeks after the US ouster of her former boss, Nicolas Maduro. "There can be no political or partisan differences when it comes to peace in Venezuela," Rodriguez said on state television, speaking from the coastal state of La Guaira. "Despite our differences, we must speak to each other with respect. Despite our differences, we must come together and reach agreements," she added.

CISARUA, Indonesia, Jan 25, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Indonesian rescuers resumed searching on Sunday for around 80 people missing in a deadly landslide, after the mission coordinator said operations had to be suspended overnight due to harsh weather. Triggered by heavy rain, the landslide barrelled into villages in Java's West Bandung region early Saturday morning, burying residential areas and forcing dozens of people to evacuate their homes. At least nine people were killed and around 80 are still missing, the local search and rescue agency confirmed on Saturday, warning that the figures were provisional. The rain forced rescue efforts to pause overnight, mission coordinator Ade Dian Permana said in a statement. But operations resumed on Sunday morning as the rain subsided, an AFP reporter saw.