Coast Guard deploys forces ahead of parliamentary election, referendum
The Bangladesh Coast Guard has been deployed across its designated operational areas to maintain peace, order and overall security during the 13th National Parliamentary Election and Referendum 2026. The information was disclosed on Thursday afternoon by Director General of the Bangladesh Coast Guard Rear Admiral Md Ziaul Haque after inspecting the law and order situation at several polling areas in Sandwip, Chattogram. Rear Admiral Ziaul Haque said that since its inception, the Bangladesh Coast Guard has been playing a vital role in ensuring security in the country’s vast maritime, coastal and riverine regions. The Coast Guard, he added, is actively disseminating information to encourage public participation. He reaffirmed that the Bangladesh Coast Guard remains fully alert and prepared to safeguard voting rights and prevent any form of violence throughout the election period.
Source:Dhaka Tribune
January 29, 2026 15:49 UTC
Biman launches direct Dhaka–Karachi flight
Biman Bangladesh Airlines launched direct flight on the Dhaka–Karachi–Dhaka route on Thursday, with the inaugural flight, BG-341, departing from Dhaka at 8pm. The inaugural flight will arrive in Karachi at 11pm local time on Thursday. Biman Bangladesh Airlines will operate the return flight, BG-342, departing Karachi at 12:01am on Friday and arriving in Dhaka at 4:20am the same day. A total of 150 passengers flew on the inaugural flight. With the launch of this route, Biman Bangladesh Airlines establishes direct air connectivity between Bangladesh and Pakistan.
Source:Dhaka Tribune
January 29, 2026 15:49 UTC
Core message of July Charter to restore people’s rights: Ali Riaz
Chief Adviser’s Special Assistant Professor Ali Riaz. File photoDHAKA, Jan 29, 2026 (BSS) - Chief Adviser’s Special Assistant Professor Ali Riaz has said the core message of the July Charter is to restore people’s rights for which people liberated the country in 1971 and for which a mass uprising took place in 2024. Buddhist and Christian Religious Welfare Trust organized the programme at the auditorium of Dharmarajika Buddhist temple at Basabo in the capital. Bhabesh Chakma, Vice Chairman of the Buddhist Religious Welfare Trust chaired the event while Religious Affairs Secretary Md. Kamal Uddin, Buddhist Religious Welfare Trust Secretary Joy Dutta Barua, Christian Religious Welfare Trust Trustee Pius Costa , among others, spoke.
Source:Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha
January 29, 2026 15:47 UTC
Govt employees demand Pay Commission gazette before polls
The Bangladesh Government Employees Coordination Council on Thursday demanded the immediate issuance of a gazette notification for the Pay Commission report, warning of nationwide protests, marches to the secretariat, and a general work stoppage if their demand is not met before the next national election. “Under these circumstances, there is no alternative but to announce tougher protest programs to realize our demands,” he said. Secretary General Badrul Alam Sobuj formally presented the organization’s sole demand: that the Pay Commission report be issued through a gazette notification effective from January 1, 2026, and fully implemented before the next national election. The council plans to submit a memorandum to the Cabinet Secretary on Sunday, February 1, 2026, as an ultimatum. The Secretary General warned that if the Pay Commission report is not implemented on time, the organization will launch strict protest measures, including nationwide rallies, marches towards the Secretariat, and a general work stoppage.
Source:Dhaka Tribune
January 29, 2026 15:37 UTC
Diller man tops state in wheat yield contest
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Source:Daily Sun
January 29, 2026 15:33 UTC
Jamaat ameer questions ‘level playing field’ after fatal Sherpur clash
Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman on Wednesday said the country’s electoral “level playing field” has come under serious question following a deadly clash between Jamaat and BNP activists in Sherpur’s Jhenaigati upazila. Later that night, in a post on his verified Facebook page, Shafiqur Rahman called for swift and decisive action by law enforcement agencies. “Whoever forms the government through a fair and acceptable election, Jamaat-e-Islami will congratulate them. Addressing supporters, Shafiqur Rahman said that if Jamaat came to power, all income, expenditure and activities of members of parliament would be made public annually. Youth and local pledgesCalling youth the future of Bangladesh, Shafiqur Rahman said young people would not be allowed to fall into extortion, terrorism or drug abuse.
Source:Dhaka Tribune
January 29, 2026 15:19 UTC
Alien culture locks door of conscience: Kader Gani
BFUJ General Secretary Kader Gani Chowdhury served as the chief guest at a discussion titled "Our Responsibilities in the Development of Indigenous Culture," held in the capital. Photo: CollectedDHAKA, Jan 29, 2026 (BSS) - Bangladesh Federal Journalists Union (BFUJ) General Secretary Kader Gani Chowdhury said culture is the foundation of civilization while alien culture locks the door of conscience. Mentioning that culture is the pursuit of beauty, Chowdhury said the culture is the foundation of civilization and civilization is the advanced form of culture. Culture shows the path to beauty, while alien culture takes people toward ugliness and pushes them into darkness," he said. The discussion was presided over by Samajik Sangskritik Foundation (Social Cultural Foundation) President Lion Anwara Begum Nipa and moderated by Manjur Hossain Isa.
Source:Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha
January 29, 2026 15:17 UTC
'DON’T BE DUMB' – But A$AP Rocky Might Be…
Reading time: about 5 minutesThe pretty motherf***er A$AP Rocky returns with his first album in eight years since TESTING (2018): DON’T BE DUMB. I had high hopes for this album after seeing Winona Ryder jamming in the “PUNK ROCKY” music video. Rocky has always experimented, but with “PUNK ROCKY” he really ventures outside his genre. I will say the “PUNK ROCKY” music video was entertaining, and I like where his artistry is headed visually. Loved the slow-build into trap elements, Damon Albarn’s vocals and Westside’s little trills and “boom boom boom boom!” That alone almost made up for … the rest of the album.
Source:Daily Sun
January 29, 2026 15:10 UTC
55,341 postal ballots reach home
A total of 4,45,588 expatriate voters who registered through the Postal Vote BD mobile app have already cast their votes in the 13th national elections and referendum, officials said on Thursday. Of these, 55,341 completed postal ballots have so far reached Bangladesh, according to the Election Commission (EC). Salim Ahmad Khan, team leader of the Out of Country Voting (OCV) System Development & Implementation (SDI) Project, told BSS that postal ballots were sent to 2,44,625 registered expatriate voters across 52 districts of the country. The EC said that by 10:30 am on Thursday, a total of 7,66,862 postal ballots had reached expatriate destination countries, while 5,09,601 expatriate voters had received their ballots. In addition, 3,94,174 expatriate voters submitted their completed ballots at post offices or post boxes in their respective countries, the EC added.
Source:Dhaka Tribune
January 29, 2026 15:05 UTC
3 murder case accused released without bail in Mymensingh
Three murder case accused were allegedly released from Mymensingh Central Jail without bail, prompting the formation of a three-member investigation committee. The incident occurred on Tuesday evening at Mymensingh Central Jail and came to light on Thursday. Senior Jail Superintendent of Mymensingh, Md Aminul Islam, said: “The jail officials mistakenly released the inmates. This was an unintended release.”The three released prisoners are Md Anis Mia, Rashedul Islam, and Zakirul Islam. Deputy Inspector General of Prisons (DIG Prisons) of Mymensingh Division, Mohammad Towhidul Islam said, three murder case accused were mistakenly released as their court summons were treated as bail papers; Deputy Jailer Zakaria Imtiaz has been temporarily suspended over the matter and a three-member investigation committee formed.
Source:Dhaka Tribune
January 29, 2026 15:05 UTC
EC to reinstate manual election passes for journalists
The Election Commission (EC) has decided to issue journalists’ election passes manually, reverting to the previous system, for coverage of the 13th National Parliamentary Election and the upcoming referendum. The move comes in response to demands from the journalism community, reversing an earlier plan to accept applications online. Senior Secretary of the EC, Akhtar Ahmed, announced the decision on Thursday during a briefing at the EC building in Agargaon, Dhaka. He clarified that journalists who have already registered online and received approval will retain their cards, and no new online registration will be required. Earlier, the EC had planned to provide journalists’ election coverage cards and vehicle stickers through online applications ahead of the parliamentary election and referendum.
Source:Dhaka Tribune
January 29, 2026 15:05 UTC
US ambassador calls on army chief
US Ambassador to Bangladesh Brent T Christensen paid a courtesy call on the Chief of Army Staff General Walker-uz-Zaman, at the Army Headquarters in Dhaka Cantonment. According to the verified Facebook page of the Bangladesh Army, the ambassador and the army chief exchanged greetings during the meeting. The discussion focused on the longstanding friendly relations between the Bangladesh and United States armed forces, as well as issues related to bilateral military cooperation, it said.
Source:Dhaka Tribune
January 29, 2026 15:05 UTC
Jhenaigati UNO Ashraful made OSD
Md Asraful Alam Rasel, upazila nirbahi officer (UNO) of Jhenaigati, Sherpur district, has been made an officer on special duty (OSD) at the Ministry of Public Administration. The decision was announced on Thursday in a notification, signed by Senior Assistant Secretary Samiul Amin of the ministry. According to the notification, Rasel has been transferred and put on as OSD (Senior Assistant Secretary) and will be released from his present post this afternoon. Otherwise, his transfer will be treated as a stand released as per the order of the ministry. The order has been issued for the sake of the public interest.
Source:Dhaka Tribune
January 29, 2026 15:05 UTC
Report: Structural tax reform key to strengthen revenue capacity
The report, titled “Tax Policy for Development: A Reform Agenda for Restructuring the Tax System,” observes that the existing tax system is unnecessarily complex and inefficient, characterized by a narrow tax base, excessive reliance on manual administration, and heavy dependence on indirect taxation. It underscored that durable and credible revenue mobilization cannot be achieved through administrative action alone unless it is firmly grounded in a coherent and well-designed tax policy framework. The report identifies 55 priority policy issues across key tax segments, including direct taxes (32 issues), value-added tax (10 issues), and trade taxes (13 issues). The report cautions that when tax policy is incoherent, marked by narrow bases and distorted rate structures, even strong enforcement delivers limited revenue. Trade tax reformsOn trade taxes, the report stresses the need to gradually reduce reliance on tariffs and para-tariffs and shift toward domestic taxes such as VAT, personal income tax, corporate income tax, and property taxes.
Source:Dhaka Tribune
January 29, 2026 15:05 UTC
Jamaat ameer: Won’t allow people’s rights to be snatched
Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman on Thursday said he was ready to sacrifice his life for the country if necessary but would not allow the people’s rights to be taken away. He made the remarks while addressing an election rally of the 11-party alliance in front of Petrobangla at Karwan Bazar in the capital. The Jamaat ameer alleged that extortion drives prices up fourfold from farmers to consumers, leaving farmers deprived of fair prices while everyone else suffers. He reiterated that the country’s situation would change following the 13th National Parliamentary Election scheduled for February 12, starting from February 13. Nothing can be achieved by force.”After the Karwan Bazar rally, the Jamaat ameer was scheduled to campaign in Mirpur in the afternoon and later at the Banani field.
Source:Dhaka Tribune
January 29, 2026 15:05 UTC