Govt releases photo card calling for ‘Yes’ vote in referendum
Photo : Chief Adviser’s Press WingDHAKA, Jan 12, 2026 (BSS) - As part of efforts to raise public awareness and encourage participation in the upcoming referendum, the Chief Adviser’s Press Wing today released a photo card urging citizens to cast a ‘Yes’ vote in the referendum slated for February 12. The photo card was released with the message “Cast your seal on ‘Yes’ in the referendum and permanently close the path for the return of fascism”. Earlier, another photo card was also released on Sunday urging the countrymen to cast ‘Yes’ vote in the referendum to build a dreamt Bangladesh. The objective of this initiative is to increase public awareness about the referendum and to encourage the people to participate in the referendum actively. Besides, the government is implementing extensive nationwide programmes to create public awareness about the referendum.
Source:Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha
January 12, 2026 07:16 UTC
Napoli stay in touch with leaders Inter thanks to talisman McTominay
MILAN, Italy, Jan 12, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Scott McTominay kept Napoli in touch with Serie A leaders Inter Milan with a brace in Sunday's entertaining 2-2 draw at the San Siro, after AC Milan were held to a 1-1 draw at Fiorentina. Instead Inter stay three points ahead of their local rivals, with Roma in fourth and level on 39 points with Napoli who were saved by a stellar performance from McTominay. Calhanoglu's spot-kick, rattled in off the post past penalty specialist Vanja Milinkovic-Savic, seemed to be the decisive blow with Inter in the ascendency and Napoli livid. For Inter it was another missed opportunity in a big match, with just one point collected from their four fixtures played against Napoli, Milan and fifth-placed Juve who face Cremonese on Monday. Fiorentina are two points behind Genoa who sit just outside the relegation zone and host Cagliari on Monday evening.
Source:Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha
January 12, 2026 07:09 UTC
Myanmar pro-military party wins Suu Kyi's seat in junta-run poll: party official
YANGON, Myanmar, Jan 12, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Myanmar's main pro-military party won the parliamentary seat of detained democratic leader Aung San Suu Kyi in elections run under the junta's rule, a party official told AFP on Monday. A senior official from the Union Solidarity and Development Party speaking anonymously because they were not authorised to disclose results said they "won in Kawhmu" -- Suu Kyi's former seat in Yangon region. The military deposed and detained Suu Kyi in a 2021 coup, claiming she secured a landslide election win over pro-military parties the previous year by means of massive voter fraud. The final phase of the month-long vote is scheduled for January 25, with the junta saying the election will return power to the people. But with Suu Kyi still held in seclusion and her hugely popular party dissolved, democracy advocates say the vote has been rigged by a crackdown on dissent and a ballot stacked with military allies.
Source:Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha
January 12, 2026 06:50 UTC
Govt implementing extensive programmes nationwide to create awareness about referendum
DHAKA, Jan 12, 2026 (BSS) – The government is implementing an extensive programme across the country to create public awareness about the forthcoming referendum slated for February 12. As part of the ongoing activities, a divisional officers’ conference and an Imam conference were held separately in Barishal on Sunday. At those events, Chief Adviser’s Special Assistant Prof Ali Riaz and Special Assistant, Monir Haider delivered training-oriented speeches on the referendum. Similar programmes will be organized in all other divisions across the country in the next few days. The views exchange meetings at divisional, district and upazila levels and with other stakeholders will play a crucial role in creating awareness about the referendum.
Source:Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha
January 12, 2026 06:48 UTC
8 held in day-long special operation in Rupnagar
DHAKA, Jan 12, 2026 (BSS) - Police arrested eight individuals involved in various criminal activities during a day-long special operation conducted in different areas under the Rupnagar Police Station on Sunday. The arrested individuals are Liton (35), Labani (30), Md. Kalu (30), Md. Bashir (30), Md. Rupnagar Police authorities stated that such special operations will continue in the future to ensure public safety and curb criminal activities in the area.
Source:Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha
January 12, 2026 06:44 UTC
Your Daily Astrology: Jan. 12, 2026
GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Someone could be dancing around a money matter though not much is likely to go awry even so. CANCER (June 21-July 22): New resources could arise, bringing new insights, new solutions, new excitement for the future. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Something that’s been dragging on at home could come together nearly perfectly, potentially bringing comfort and relief. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Believe in yourself, believe in your mission, believe in your destiny and you’ll stay in self-reference as you navigate the world. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Don’t give away power to someone out there no matter how glowing they appear to be.
Source:Daily Sun
January 12, 2026 06:02 UTC
Met Office: Mild cold wave may continue in eight districts
The Meteorological Department on Monday said a mild cold wave is sweeping Rajshahi, Pabna, Dinajpur, Panchagarh, Nilphamari, Jessore, Chuadanga, and Kushtia, and may continue. Weather is expected to remain generally dry with temporary partly cloudy skies over the country, said a Met Office bulletin. Moderate to dense fog may occur at places over river basins while light to moderate fog is likely elsewhere during late night and morning hours. The Met Office also forecast that night and day temperatures are likely to remain nearly unchanged across the country. The lowest temperature was recorded in Tentulia at 8.4°C.
Source:Dhaka Tribune
January 12, 2026 06:01 UTC
Trailblazing Milos Raonic retires from tennis
MELBOURNE, Jan 12, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Trailblazing former world number three Milos Raonic announced his retirement from tennis on Monday, ending a career that earned him eight ATP titles. The big-serving 35-year-old, the first Canadian man to reach a Grand Slam singles final, has not competed in over a year. "This is a moment you know will come one day, but somehow you never feel ready for it," he said. Raonic's best season was in 2016, when he reached the Wimbledon final after defeating Roger Federer in the semis, losing to Andy Murray in the decider. He also advanced to the Australian Open semi-finals and the ATP Finals the same year, finishing the season as world number three.
Source:Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha
January 12, 2026 05:50 UTC
BB to issue Tk 10,000cr 'Special Sukuk-1' for infrastructure projects
DHAKA, Jan 11, 2026 (BSS) - In a significant move to bolster government infrastructure through Shariah-compliant financing, Bangladesh Bank (BB) has announced the issuance of the 'Bangladesh Government Special Sukuk-1' with a total face value of Tk 10,000 crore. The decision was finalized during two consecutive meetings held on January 7 and 8, 2026, by the Shariah Advisory Committee under the Debt Management Department. The committee was chaired by BB Deputy Governor Dr. Md. The issuance is scheduled to take place on January 14, 2026, through a private placement in favour of Islami Bank PLC. This strategic financial instrument is designed to support national interests by utilizing Islamic banking principles to fund large-scale public utility and housing developments.
Source:Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha
January 12, 2026 05:48 UTC
Suspect arrested over schoolgirl murder in Banasree
Members of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) have arrested Milan, a suspected hotel employee, in connection with the murder of schoolgirl Fatema Akhter Lili in the capital’s Banasree area. Milan was arrested in a joint operation by RAB-3 and RAB-6 in the Bagerhat Sadar Police Station area, RAB said on Monday morning. Earlier, on Saturday afternoon, Fatema’s bloodied body was recovered from a house on the main road of South Banasree. The family lived in a rented house at Pritam Villa in L Block on the main road of South Banasree under Khilgaon Police Station. Milan also came to the house again around noon on the day of the incident, she added.
Source:Dhaka Tribune
January 12, 2026 05:42 UTC
Cold wave shifts, fog deepens despite unchanged temperatures
DHAKA, Jan 12, 2026 (BSS) - A mild cold wave continued to grip parts of the country today, while dense fog conditions emerged as a more prominent concern, even as both day and night temperatures showed little change, according to the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD). Compared to yesterday, the cold spell has shifted and narrowed in coverage. Today, the cold wave is affecting the districts of Rajshahi, Pabna, Dinajpur, Panchagarh, Nilphamari, Jashore, Chuadanga and Kushtia, indicating a reconfiguration of the impacted areas rather than an overall intensification. At the other extreme, Sylhet registered the highest maximum temperature yesterday at 28.3 degrees Celsius, underscoring a persistent contrast between cool nights and warm daytime conditions. In the capital, north to north-westerly winds were blowing at 6-12 kilometres per hour, while relative humidity stood at 72 percent at 6 am, lower than the previous day, which may marginally improve daytime comfort despite morning fog.
Source:Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha
January 12, 2026 05:30 UTC
Dhaka air second most polluted in world Monday morning
Dhaka, the densely populated capital of Bangladesh, ranked second among the world’s most polluted cities on Monday morning, recording an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 285 at 9:43am. On Monday, the city’s air was classified as ‘very unhealthy’, indicating a serious health threat, according to the AQI report. The AQI, which reports daily air quality, informs residents how clean or polluted the air is and highlights potential health effects. Dhaka has long struggled with air pollution. Air quality usually deteriorates in winter and improves during the monsoon season.
Source:Dhaka Tribune
January 12, 2026 05:02 UTC
Son of ousted Iran shah urges security forces to 'stand with the people'
PARIS, France, Jan 12, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - The US-based son of Iran's ousted shah urged Iranian government workers and security forces on Sunday to join the swelling protest movement in the Islamic republic. Pahlavi, who has emerged as an opposition figurehead, also called for replacing the flags outside of Iranian embassies with the pre-Islamic revolution one. "The time has come for them to be adorned with Iran's national flag, in place of the disgraceful banner of the Islamic republic," he said. The ceremonial, pre-revolution flag has become an emblem of the global rallies that have mushroomed in support of Iran's demonstrations. The Iranian foreign ministry summoned the British ambassador in Tehran on Sunday over the flag swapping, according to official outlet IRNA.
Source:Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha
January 12, 2026 04:54 UTC
Ukraine's Kostyuk defends 'conscious choice' to speak out about war
BRISBANE, Australia, Jan 12, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Ukrainian tennis player Marta Kostyuk has defended her "conscious choice" to address the plight of her country during the trophy presentation of a pre-Australian Open event in Brisbane. Like many Ukraine players, Kostyuk refuses to shake hands with Russians or Belarusians following Moscow's invasion of her homeland. In her speech at the trophy presentation, the 23-year-old Kostyuk said: "I want to say a few words about Ukraine. Sabalenka, who has said in the past that she does not support the war, congratulated Kostyuk on reaching the final in her on-court speech. "For me, it's a conscious choice to keep reminding people of what Ukraine and its citizens are going through.
Source:Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha
January 12, 2026 04:39 UTC
In-form Bencic back in top 10 for first time since having baby
In-form Bencic back in top 10 for first time since having babySYDNEY, Jan 12, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Belinda Bencic powered back into the top 10 Monday for the first time since having a baby, with the in-form Swiss brimming with confidence ahead of the Australian Open. The 28-year-old won all five singles matches at the season-opening United Cup in Perth and Sydney, including victories over world number two Iga Swiatek and seventh-ranked Jasmine Paolini. She finished 9-1 for the tournament, with her only defeat coming in the final mixed-doubles decider against Poland on Sunday. Bencic was ranked 421 at the start of the 2025 season, but making the last 16 at the Australian Open a year ago convinced her she could return to the upper echelons of tennis. "I'm always serious about the Australian Open," said the 2021 Tokyo Olympic gold medallist, who reached a career-high number four in February 2020.
Source:Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha
January 12, 2026 04:34 UTC