New monetary policy on Thursday, but no relief in sight
As businesses struggle with weak banking confidence, stalled investment, and high interest rates, Bangladesh Bank is set to announce its monetary policy for the second half of the fiscal year (January–June). However, official sources indicate the policy will offer no meaningful relief for businesses, investors, or depositors. Following board approval on Tuesday, the Monetary Policy Statement (MPS) will be announced on Thursday (29 January). As deposit growth slows, credit expansion is expected to remain limited despite unchanged policy rates. Although the new policy aims for 8% growth by June, business leaders view this as unrealistic given high lending rates, fragile banks, policy uncertainty, and weak demand.
Source:Dhaka Tribune
January 28, 2026 13:40 UTC
Foreign media group disappointed as Israel court postpones Gaza ruling
Since the outbreak of the Gaza war in October 2023, triggered by an attack onIsrael by the Palestinian militant group Hamas, the Israeli government hasbarred foreign journalists from independently entering the blockadedterritory. The Foreign Press Association (FPA) filed its petition in 2024, after whichthe court granted the government several extensions to submit its response. - 'Behind closed doors' -"The Foreign Press Association is deeply disappointed that the IsraeliSupreme Court has once again postponed ruling on our petition for free,independent press access to Gaza," the FPA said in its statement. "This secretive process offers no opportunity for us to rebut these argumentsand clears the way for the continued arbitrary and open-ended closure of Gazato foreign journalists," the statement added. The FPA said there were no security arguments that justify what it calledIsrael's "blanket ban" on media access to Gaza.
Source:Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha
January 28, 2026 13:36 UTC
Sudan gold mine collapse kills 13 miners
Collected photoKHARTOUM, Jan 28, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - A partial collapse of a gold mine haskilled 13 miners and wounded six others in southern Sudan, the state miningcompany said on Wednesday. The collapse occurred in "five abandoned shafts" of the Umm Fakroun mine inSouth Kordofan state last Friday, the Sudanese Mineral Resources Company(SMRC) said in a statement. But officials lament that much of the gold is smuggled across bordersincluding through Chad, South Sudan and Egypt before reaching the United ArabEmirates, the world's second-largest gold exporter. Africa's third-largest country is one of the continent's top gold producers,but artisanal and small-scale gold mining, like Umm Fakroun, accounts for themajority of gold extracted. Before the war pushed 25 million Sudanese into acute food insecurity,artisanal mining employed more than two million people, according to industryfigures.
Source:Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha
January 28, 2026 13:36 UTC
2026 Oscars: Picks and Predictions
Reading time: about 24 minutesOn Thursday, Jan. 22, the nominations for the 98th Oscars were announced, and the members of Arts & Culture have some opinions they’d like to share. As you’ll see, some of us are hopeful that our favorites will win while others are not. Regardless, we’ve compiled a list of some editor and staff picks and predictions, as well as the overall consensus for the winners of each category. Best PictureOverall Picks: Sinners and Frankenstein; Overall Prediction: One Battle After AnotherPick / PredictionSydney Levinton ’27 — Hamnet / SinnersJames Palm ’27 — Sentimental Value / SinnersJenna Ledley ’27 — Sentimental Value / One Battle After AnotherMelissa Moon ’28 — Sinners / SinnersSophia Romanov Imber ’28 — One Battle After Another / SinnersHazel Tjaden ’28 — Bugonia / One Battle After AnotherMatthew Rentezelas ’28 — One Battle After Another / One Battle After AnotherChloe Asack ’26 — Marty Supreme / One Battle After AnotherNicholas York ’27 — Frankenstein / One Battle After AnotherBrayden Rogers ’28 — Sinners / One Battle After AnotherCaroline Kelly ’28 — Sinners / HamnetJane Locke ’28 — Frankenstein / One Battle After AnotherLeslie Monter-Casio ’28 — Frankenstein / One Battle After AnotherGia Lish ’29 — F1 / SinnersBest DirectorOverall Pick: Paul Thomas Anderson, One Battle After Another; Overall Prediction: Paul Thomas Anderson, One Battle After AnotherPick / PredictionSydney Levinton ’27 — Josh Safdie, Marty Supreme / Paul Thomas Anderson, One Battle After AnotherJames Palm ’27 — Josh Safdie, Marty Supreme / Ryan Coogler, SinnersJenna Ledley ’27 — Chloé Zhao, Hamnet / Paul Thomas Anderson, One Battle After AnotherMelissa Moon ’28 — Chloé Zhao, Hamnet / Paul Thomas Anderson, One Battle After AnotherSophia Romanov Imber ’28 — Ryan Coogler, Sinners / Ryan Coogler, SinnersHazel Tjaden ’28 — Paul Thomas Anderson, One Battle After Another / Paul Thomas Anderson, One Battle After AnotherMatthew Rentezelas ’28 — Paul Thomas Anderson, One Battle After Another / Paul Thomas Anderson, One Battle After AnotherChloe Asack ’26 — Josh Safdie, Marty Supreme / Paul Thomas Anderson, One Battle After AnotherNicholas York ’27 — Josh Safdie, Marty Supreme / Paul Thomas Anderson, One Battle After AnotherBrayden Rogers ’28 — Paul Thomas Anderson, One Battle After Another / Paul Thomas Anderson, One Battle After AnotherCaroline Kelly ’28 — Paul Thomas Anderson, One Battle After Another / Paul Thomas Anderson, One Battle After AnotherJane Locke ’28 — Paul Thomas Anderson, One Battle After Another / Paul Thomas Anderson, One Battle After AnotherLeslie Monter-Casio ’28 — Ryan Coogler, Sinners / Joachim Trier, Sentimental ValueGia Lish ’29 — Chloé Zhao, Hamnet / Paul Thomas Anderson, One Battle After AnotherBest ActressOverall Pick: Jessie Buckley, Hamnet; Overall Prediction: Jessie Buckley, HamnetPick / PredictionSydney Levinton ’27 — Emma Stone, Bugonia / Jessie Buckley, HamnetJames Palm ’27 — Jessie Buckley, Hamnet / Jessie Buckley, HamnetJenna Ledley ’27 — Rose Byrne, If I Had Legs I’d Kick You / Emma Stone, BugoniaMelissa Moon ’28 — Jessie Buckley, Hamnet / Jessie Buckley, HamnetSophia Romanov Imber ’28 — Emma Stone, Bugonia / Emma Stone, BugoniaHazel Tjaden ’28 — Emma Stone, Bugonia / Emma Stone, BugoniaMatthew Rentezelas ’28 — Rose Byrne, If I Had Legs I’d Kick You / Jessie Buckley, HamnetChloe Asack ’26 — Jessie Buckley, Hamnet / Jessie Buckley, HamnetNicholas York ’27 — Rose Byrne, If I Had Legs I’d Kick You / Jessie Buckley, HamnetBrayden Rogers ’28 — Rose Byrne, If I Had Legs I’d Kick You / Jessie Buckley, HamnetCaroline Kelly ’28 — Jessie Buckley, Hamnet / Jessie Buckley, HamnetJane Locke ’28 — Jessie Buckley, Hamnet / Rose Byrne, If I Had Legs I’d Kick YouLeslie Monter-Casio ’28 — Emma Stone, Bugonia / Rose Byrne, If I Had Legs I’d Kick YouGia Lish ’29 — Jessie Buckley, Hamnet / Rose Byrne, If I Had Legs I’d Kick YouBest ActorOverall Picks: Timothée Chalamet, Marty Supreme and Michael B. Jordan, Sinners; Overall Prediction: Timothée Chalamet, Marty SupremePick / PredictionSydney Levinton ’27 — Timothée Chalamet, Marty Supreme / Timothée Chalamet, Marty SupremeJames Palm ’27 — Timothée Chalamet, Marty Supreme / Michael B. Jordan, SinnersJenna Ledley ’27 — Michael B. Jordan, Sinners / Timothée Chalamet, Marty SupremeMelissa Moon ’28 — Michael B. Jordan, Sinners / Timothée Chalamet, Marty SupremeSophia Romanov Imber ’28 — Michael B. Jordan, Sinners / Michael B. Jordan, SinnersHazel Tjaden ’28 — Leonardo DiCaprio, One Battle After Another / Timothée Chalamet, Marty SupremeMatthew Rentezelas ’28 — Timothée Chalamet, Marty Supreme / Timothée Chalamet, Marty SupremeChloe Asack ’26 — Timothée Chalamet, Marty Supreme / Timothée Chalamet, Marty SupremeNicholas York ’27 — Timothée Chalamet, Marty Supreme / Timothée Chalamet, Marty SupremeBrayden Rogers ’28 — Wagner Moura, The Secret Agent / Timothée Chalamet, Marty SupremeCaroline Kelly ’28 — Michael B. Jordan, Sinners / Timothée Chalamet, Marty SupremeJane
Source:Daily Sun
January 28, 2026 13:29 UTC
Journalist unions demand immediate formation of 10th wage board
They also called for the full implementation of the 9th Wage Board award, including payment of arrears, in all media organizations where it has not yet been enforced. As a result, journalists have long been subjected to discrimination and have been consistently demanding the formation and declaration of the 10th Wage Board. No initiative has yet been taken to form a Wage Board implementation committee for journalists, they added. The BFUJ and DUJ leaders said journalists are not opposed to salary and allowance increases for government officials or other professionals. The journalist leaders reiterated their demand for the immediate formation of the 10th Wage Board and thus declaring it side by side urged the government to take effective steps to ensure the implementation of the 9th Wage Board, including arrears, in all media organizations.
Source:Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha
January 28, 2026 13:11 UTC
Asking Eric: Friend group sides with suspicious HOA president against whistleblower
One member of our group is the HOA president and has held that position for more than 20 years. There’s almost no communication from our HOA board on property repairs or future projects. I addressed this lack of transparency with our HOA president many times over the years and offered my help to the HOA board to improve communication and transparency but was dismissed. Since then, I helped organize a group of owners to address our concerns with the HOA board. We belong to a running group that is more about having beers together than actually running for fitness.
Source:Daily Sun
January 28, 2026 13:08 UTC
Iran warns against instability after US strike group arrives
Iran’s president on Tuesday warned US “threats” against the Islamic Republic would only cause instability, as a US naval strike group led by an aircraft carrier took up position in Middle Eastern waters. Axios said Trump declined to discuss the options presented to him by his national security team, or which he prefers. The US briefly joined Israel’s 12-day war against Iran in June with strikes on nuclear sites. “Security agencies continue to pursue an approach centered on mass arrests, intimidation, and control of the narrative,” Hrana said. Over the weekend, Persian-language TV channel Iran International, which is based outside Iran, said more than 36,500 Iranians were killed by security forces between January 8 and 9, citing reports, documents and sources.
Source:Dhaka Tribune
January 28, 2026 12:51 UTC
Foreign adviser: Rohingyas with passports are not citizens
A large number of Rohingyas went abroad many years ago using Bangladeshi passports due to Bangladesh’s own mistakes, Foreign Adviser Md Touhid Hossain said on Wednesday, stressing that holding a passport does not make them citizens. “Due to our own mistakes, a large number of Rohingyas went abroad with Bangladeshi passports many years ago. At that time, the passports were handwritten, and there were numerous allegations of corruption,” he told reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. “The situation is such that those who went with our passports are being pressured by the Saudis to have their passports renewed by us. Just know this: we tried to avoid doing it, but due to our other interests, we ultimately decided to give Bangladeshi passports to these 69,000 Rohingyas.
Source:Dhaka Tribune
January 28, 2026 12:51 UTC
North Korea to soon unveil next-stage nuclear plans, Kim says
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un will unveil plans to bolster his nuclear forces at an upcoming ruling party meeting, state media reported Wednesday, after a missile launch he said would bring “excruciating mental agony” to his enemies. Overseeing a ballistic missile test on Tuesday, Kim said the party congress “will clarify the next-stage plans for further bolstering up the country’s nuclear war deterrent,” the state-run Korean Central News Agency (Kcna) said. Kim, accompanied by senior North Korean officials as well as his young daughter, watched the test-firing of a “large-caliber” multiple rocket launcher that fired four missiles, Kcna said. The rockets “hit a target” in waters 358.5 kilometers away, according to the North Korean leader. Washington still stations 28,500 troops in South Korea as a deterrent against the nuclear-armed North.
Source:Dhaka Tribune
January 28, 2026 12:51 UTC
Constable found dead at Jatrabari police camp
A police constable was found dead in a washroom of a police camp in the Jatrabari area in Dhaka on Wednesday. The deceased was identified as Shafiqul Islam, 47, son of Mannan Mallik of Matlab North upazila in Chandpur district. Shafiqul, father of a daughter and a son, joined the police service in 2003. Md Russel, sub-inspector of Jatrabari Police camp, said Shafiqul was found hanging in the washroom in the morning. Later, he was taken to the Dhaka Medical College and Hospital morgue for autopsy around 1:30 pm.
Source:Dhaka Tribune
January 28, 2026 12:51 UTC
Iran rejects talks with US amid military threats
Iran on Wednesday rejected holding negotiations with the United States if it makes threats against the Islamic Republic, after President Donald Trump refused to rule out military intervention over its deadly crackdown on protests. Trump has not ruled out military action against Iran in response to the crackdown, while appearing to keep his options open. The Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Ali Larijani spoke with Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, who is also foreign minister, both sides said. Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty meanwhile held separate calls with both Araghchi and Witkoff, Cairo said. HRANA warned that the crackdown was continuing with security forces searching hospitals for wounded protesters, doctors who helped protesters arrested, and “forced confessions” broadcast on state television.
Source:Dhaka Tribune
January 28, 2026 12:51 UTC
EU signs trade deals to boost global ties and reduce reliance on US
The European Union is seeking new trade partnerships worldwide as it aims to reduce dependence on the United States and strengthen its global influence. The EU recently signed a free trade agreement with India, part of a series of deals with countries including Japan, Indonesia, Mexico, and South America’s Mercosur nations. The agreement with India, signed by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in New Delhi, could impact up to 2 billion people. The EU has also pursued trade deals with Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Australia, and is negotiating with the United Arab Emirates. Beyond trade, the EU is investing in its defense industry and infrastructure, spurred by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and past criticism from the Trump administration over low European defense spending.
Source:Dhaka Tribune
January 28, 2026 12:51 UTC
Ex-CAAB chief engineer arrested over Tk150 crore misappropriation
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) on Wednesday arrested former chief engineer of the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) Md Habibur Rahman on charges of embezzling Tk150 crore in connection with the construction of the terminal and runway at Cox’s Bazar International Airport. A team of the ACC held Habibur Rahman from the Segunbagicha area of Dhaka, ACC Assistant Director (Public Relations) Tanzir Ahmed said. The ACC has requested his detention until the probe is completed, citing concerns over potential evidence tampering and witness influence. The case statement alleges that irregularities amounting to nearly Tk1,500 crore have been uncovered in the Cox’s Bazar Airport development project. The ACC said the accused allegedly ensured the project was awarded to a preferred contractor and, in collusion with local agent Aerones International Limited, misappropriated at least Tk150 crore from the project.
Source:Dhaka Tribune
January 28, 2026 12:51 UTC
Oikkoboddho Chhatra Sangsad to campaign for ‘Yes’ vote in divisional cities
Oikkoboddho Chhatra Sangsad, a joint platform of five university student councils. has announced a series of campaigns in divisional cities across the country to ensure victory for the ‘Yes’ vote in the upcoming referendum. The platform comprised of Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (Ducsu), Jahangirnagar University Central Students’ Union (Jucsu), Rajshahi University Central Students’ Union (Rucs), Chittagong University Central Students’ Union (Cucsu) and Jagannath University Central Students’ Union (JnUCSU). Continuing that legacy, he said, the five student councils have jointly announced a series of public rallies in divisional cities in support of a ‘Yes’ vote in the referendum under the banner of Oikkoboddho Chhatra Sangsad. Similar rallies will be organized gradually in all divisional cities across the country.
Source:Dhaka Tribune
January 28, 2026 12:51 UTC
Touhid: Indian journalists to get visas ahead of election
Dhaka will issue visas to Indian journalists who wish to cover the upcoming election, Foreign Adviser Md Touhid Hossain said on Wednesday, while ordinary visas remain closed for the next eight to 10 days. “Arrangements for journalists to come have been made. On foreign election observers, he said: “I do not have detailed information because it goes directly to the Election Commission. We also want sufficient journalists from all news agencies to ensure transparency.”Regarding Indian officials in Dhaka sending their families home, he said: “It is entirely their decision. Minor incidents happen in every election, but nothing more serious seems to have occurred this time.”Asked about election conflict, he said: “Any disorder could come from those not participating in the election.
Source:Dhaka Tribune
January 28, 2026 12:51 UTC