Millions of battery vehicles fuel power theft, lead pollution
Private sector estimates suggest the number of e-bikes exceeds 1.1 million, alongside battery rickshaws and other three-wheeled electric vehicles. Across four million vehicles, that means roughly 800 million kilograms of lead entering the environment annually. Daily charging of one million vehicles places enormous pressure on the national grid. Despite official bans, battery-powered rickshaws continue to operate on major roads, including VIP routes. Calls for regulation, not prohibitionPolicy experts argue that outright bans are neither realistic nor fair, given that millions depend on battery-powered vehicles for livelihoods and affordable transport.
Source:Dhaka Tribune
January 17, 2026 19:12 UTC
Players shake hands as Bangladesh U-19 fall short in rain-hit thriller against India in World Cup opener
A tense, rain-interrupted contest at Bulawayo ended with a show of sportsmanship as Bangladesh Under-19 and India Under-19 players exchanged handshakes after the latter clinched an 18-run victory via the DLS method in their ICC Men’s Under-19 World Cup Group B opener on Friday. The match had earlier drawn attention at the toss when Bangladesh’s acting captain Zawad Abrar and India skipper Ayush Mhatre did not shake hands, a moment that briefly sparked discussion on the field. Fahad struck early, removing Indian captain Mhatre and Vedant Trivedi in consecutive deliveries, and later returned to dismantle the lower order. Bangladesh were bowled out for 146 in 28.3 overs, falling 18 runs short. Despite the disappointment of a narrow defeat, the post-match scenes of mutual respect and handshakes between the young cricketers stood out, bringing a fitting end to a hard-fought, rain-affected World Cup opener.
Source:Dhaka Tribune
January 17, 2026 19:12 UTC
Editors urge unity to defend press freedom amid rising attacks
He said that the Constitution explicitly protects two institutions, an independent judiciary and an independent media, because of their central role in upholding democracy. Anam urged journalists to uphold ethical standards in both professional and personal lives, warning that moral failure erodes public trust in the entire profession. He cautioned against assuming that a political transition alone would guarantee press freedom, citing past experiences of repression under different regimes. The convention concluded with broad consensus that defending press freedom is not only a professional struggle but a national responsibility. Organizers said the convention could pave the way for similar initiatives in the future, signaling a renewed effort to confront threats to press freedom through unity and reform.
Source:Dhaka Tribune
January 17, 2026 19:12 UTC
Badiul: Expectations of both 1971 and 1990 remain unfulfilled
The aspirations that inspired the Liberation War in 1971 and the mass uprising of 1990 remain unfulfilled, and there is now a growing risk that the July 2024 mass uprising may also be derailed, said Badiul Alam Majumdar, Secretary of Shushashoner Jonno Nagorik (SUJON). He added that the framework agreed upon by the three political alliances during the 1990 uprising was also never realised. Whether an authoritarian structure persists, he said, depends on the democratic values and political culture of those parties. Dr Majumdar also emphasised that free and credible elections alone are not enough for democratic transition; structural reforms are essential. In this context, he said, a referendum is extremely important, and added that the government faces no obstacle in campaigning for a “yes” vote in a referendum based on expert opinions.
Source:Dhaka Tribune
January 17, 2026 19:12 UTC
Asif Mahmud: Election Commission acting with bias
The spokesperson of the National Citizen Party (NCP), Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuiyan, has alleged that the Election Commission (EC) is behaving in a biased manner. Asif Mahmud said: “Tomorrow (Sunday) is a ‘red line’ for the Election Commission. He further claimed that the Election Commission is attempting to provide its own interpretation of the Constitution regarding dual citizenship, which he described as extremely dangerous. NCP leaders issued a stern warning, stating that if the Election Commission fails to uphold its dignity as an independent institution, it will be confronted both politically and legally. They reaffirmed that the National Citizen Party will not allow loan defaulters or individuals with dual citizenship to participate in the election by exploiting any legal loopholes.
Source:Dhaka Tribune
January 17, 2026 19:12 UTC
Despite profitability, Betna Express handed over to private operator
Despite earning profits, Bangladesh Railway has handed over the operation of Betna Express train, running on the Benapole–Khulna–Mongla route, to the private sector, triggering dissatisfaction among the passengers in the southwestern region. H&M Trading Corporation, a private company, has assumed responsibility for the train’s commercial and ticket management since January 11, 2026. Railway sources said that Bangladesh Railway issued a tender on April 22, 2025 to lease ticket management for the route. Benapole Railway Stationmaster Aynal Hasan said that train fares would remain unchanged despite the shift to private management. Implementation was delayed due to budgetary and administrative issues, he said, adding that the train has been operating under private ticket management since Sunday.
Source:Dhaka Tribune
January 17, 2026 19:12 UTC
Dr Zahid: Attempt to monopolize July Uprising’s achievements will fail
BNP National Standing Committee member Dr AZM Zahid Hossain on Saturday warned that any attempt by a political party to monopolize the achievements of the July Uprising would fail, saying the movement was a collective effort of people from all walks of life. Dr Zahid made the remarks while speaking at a winter clothes distribution programme for poor and orphaned students, organised by the Hakimpur Upazila, Dinajpur and Municipality BNP units at noon. Referring to accountability, Dr Zahid said those responsible for disappearances, killings and other brutal acts during the ousted regime would be brought to justice. The programme was chaired by Hakimpur Upazila BNP President Ferdous Rahman. District BNP President Advocate Md Mofazzal Hossain Dulal, Adviser Akram Hossain, Upazila BNP General Secretary Sakhawat Hossain Shilpi, Municipality BNP President Md Farid Khan and General Secretary Nazmul Haque were also present.
Source:Dhaka Tribune
January 17, 2026 19:12 UTC
BCB reiterates request to move T20 World Cup matches from India to Sri Lanka
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has reiterated its formal request to the International Cricket Council (ICC) to relocate Bangladesh’s matches in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 from India to Sri Lanka, citing serious safety and security concerns. The BCB said it conveyed the Bangladesh government’s concerns regarding the safety of players, support staff, fans, media personnel and other stakeholders should the team travel to India. The renewed appeal comes amid visibly heightened tensions between Bangladesh and India, which have spilled onto the cricket field during the ICC Under-19 World Cup in Zimbabwe on the same day. In a press release issued, the BCB said: “During the discussions, the Board reiterated its formal request to the ICC to relocate Bangladesh’s matches to Sri Lanka. Among other proposals, the BCB raised the possibility of shifting Bangladesh to a different group so that its matches could be played in Sri Lanka with minimal logistical adjustments.
Source:Dhaka Tribune
January 17, 2026 19:12 UTC
35 swimmers begin Bangla Channel crossing
Thirty-five swimmers, including two women, have begun an attempt to swim across the Bangla Channel, a stretch of water off the coast of Bangladesh known for its strong currents. The Bangla Channel forms part of the sea route between Teknaf and St Martin’s Island and measures about 16.1 kilometres. Among the participants is Saiful Islam Russell, a former member of Dhaka University Central Students’ Union, who has previously crossed the Bangla Channel six times and completed a double crossing in 2021. The Bangla Channel swim was first attempted in 2006 under a plan devised by the late scuba diver and cinematographer Kazi Hamidul Haque. The two women taking part this year are Ferdousi Akhtar, a student at Daffodil University, and Shohagi Akhtar, the first woman to have previously completed the Bangla Channel crossing.
Source:Dhaka Tribune
January 17, 2026 19:12 UTC
DMP Commissioner: Ethical education essential alongside academics
Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Sheikh Md Sazzat Ali on Saturday urged the police members to teach their children ethical education and moral values alongside academic education, as it is impossible to build a developed nation without morally sound people. “You have to teach them ethical education from childhood, and you have to obey morality yourselves,” he said while speaking at the Scholarship-2024 award ceremony for meritorious children of DMP personnel at the Bangladesh Police Auditorium in Rajarbagh. At the event, scholarships were awarded to 517 meritorious students under different categories to inspire them in their academic pursuits. Addressing the students, the DMP Commissioner emphasised the importance of technical education in line with present-day demands and stressed the need to focus on English language proficiency. If you (meritorious students) become good human beings, that would make your parents proud, he added.
Source:Dhaka Tribune
January 17, 2026 19:12 UTC
Search for Indonesia plane missing with 11 people on board
Search for Indonesia plane missing with 11 people on boardMAKASSAR, Indonesia, Jan 17, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Indonesian authorities aresearching for a small passenger plane after contact with the aircraft waslost on Saturday, rescue officials told AFP. The Indonesia Air Transport turboprop plane left from Yogyakarta and washeaded for the city of Makassar on Sulawesi island, carrying three passengersand eight crew members, according to the Makassar search and rescue agency. Muhammad Arif Anwar, the head of the local search and rescue agency, saidteams were deployed to a mountainous area of Maros Regency, which bordersMakassar, near the last known location of the plane. Andi Sultan, operations chief at the Makassar search and rescue agency, saida helicopter and drones were being used to find the plane. In September last year, a helicopter carrying six passengers and two crewmembers crashed shortly after taking off from South Kalimantan province,killing everybody on board.
Source:Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha
January 17, 2026 18:58 UTC
Iran's Khamenei says authorities 'must break the back of the seditionists'
Iran's Khamenei says authorities 'must break the back of the seditionists'Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Photo: CollectedPARIS, France, Jan 17, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah AliKhamenei on Saturday said authorities "must break the back of theseditionists" and blamed US President Donald Trump for "casualties" after acrackdown on a protest wave against the country's clerical authorities. "By God's grace, the Iranian nation must break the back of the seditionistsjust as it broke the back of the sedition." Iranian authorities have blamed the United States for the mass demonstrationsthey have called "riots" and "terrorist" operations. "This was an American conspiracy," he said, adding that "America's goal is toswallow Iran... the goal is to put Iran back under military, political andeconomic domination".
Source:Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha
January 17, 2026 18:53 UTC
Bangladesh U19 suffer defeat to India despite Fahad's fifer
Fahad produced a venomous spell to claim 5-38 as India were dismissed for 238 in 48.4 overs after Bangladesh opted to bowl first. Bangladesh lost opener Zawad Abrar early in the chase, but Rifat Beg and skipper Azizul Hakim Tamim kept the innings on track with positive batting. Indian spinner Vihan Malhotra then triggered a dramatic collapse, claiming 4-14 as Bangladesh were bowled out for 146 in 28.3 overs. He was aptly supported by Iqbal Hossain Emon and Azizul Hakim Tamim, who picked up two wickets each to keep India in check. Although Emon dismissed Sooryavanshi to regain control, Abhigyan Kundu produced a resolute innings to push India past the 200-run mark.
Source:Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha
January 17, 2026 17:40 UTC
Flagstaff City Council discusses potential purchase of downtown parcel as locals seek to prevent David Babbitt House demolition
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Source:Daily Sun
January 17, 2026 17:33 UTC
Theodore Emil Ravas, Jr.
Theodore "Ted" Ravas Jr. passed away on Monday, December 22, 2025, at his home in The Villages, Florida. Predeceased by his beloved wife, Barbara Ann Ravas, Ted leaves behind a legacy of love and resilience. He is survived by his two children: Stephen H Ravas and his wife, Lesley; Theodore John Ravas and his wife, Yanni; and his partner, Kristy Kemp. Born on August 1, 1943, Ted's life was nothing short of miraculous. After law school, Ted moved to Washington, D.C. and joined the Department of Agriculture, where he drafted policy.
Source:Daily Sun
January 17, 2026 17:11 UTC