BGB seizes smuggled goods worth over Tk 1,908.28 crore in 2025
DHAKA, Jan 26, 2026 (BSS)- The para-military Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) seized various types of smuggled goods worth about Tk 1,908.28 crore raiding in border areas and other places of the country from January 1 to December 31, 2025. Besides, the weapons recovered during the same period, including 64 pistols, two SMGs, 19 hand grenades, 10 ammunitions revolvers, 56 various types of guns, 1,509 ammunition, 57 magazines, 8 mortar shells, 73,100 lead bullets, 20.05 kg of gun powder, 4 mines, 79 hand bombs, 40 petrol bombs, 178 cocktails and 25 other weapons. During this time, 1,47,14,298 pieces of Yaba tablets, 10 kg 408 grams of crystal meth ice, 1,33,396 bottles of Phensedyl, 1,30,546 bottles of foreign liquor, 2,673 liters of 75 grams of Bengali liquor, 12,678 cans of beer, 22,137 kg of marijuana, 55 kg 636 grams of heroin, 13 kg 647 grams of cocaine, 84 bottles of LSD, 4,26,705 Anegra/Senegra tablets, 1,05,765 Escafe syrup, 1,14,58,693 various types of medicines, 1,649 bottles of MKDil/Kofidil and 6,94,082 narcotic and stimulant injections. Besides, in 2025, BGB arrested 2,334 people on charges of involvement in various types of drug trafficking and other smuggling, including Yaba and crystal meth ice, and 4,238 Bangladeshi citizens, 124 Indian citizens, and 7,368 Myanmar citizens for illegally crossing the border. A legal action was taken against them, the release added.
Source:Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha
January 26, 2026 12:55 UTC
Govt promulgates ordinance giving indemnity to July uprising participants
DHAKA, Jan 26, 2026 (BSS)- The government has issued the 'July Mass Uprising Protection and Liability Determination Ordinance 2026' which is effective from July 1, 2024. The ordinance is aiming to legally protect and remove cases filed against the participants in the mass uprising held in July-August months in 2024. The students and people who participated in the July Mass Uprising started on July 1 in 2024 have been designated as the ‘Gono abhutthankari’ in the ordinance. The ordinance stated that any case or legal procedure filed against the July uprising participants will be removed by the court immediately at the plea of the public prosecutor. The president has promulgated the ordinance according to the power bestowed on him in the article 93(1) of the constitution.
Source:Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha
January 26, 2026 12:55 UTC
Supreme Court Secretariat (Amendment) Ordinance, 2026 issued
The government has issued the Supreme Court Secretariat (Amendment) Ordinance, 2026. The Printing and Publication Wing of Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Division under the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs issued a notification in this regard on Monday. Law Ministry’s public relations officer Dr Md Rezaul Karim confirmed it to BSS.
Source:Dhaka Tribune
January 26, 2026 12:50 UTC
TIB criticizes govt, calls for stakeholder-driven energy master plan
Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) and allied organizations expressed strong concern Monday that the interim government has failed to lay the foundation for transitioning the country’s energy system toward renewable or clean energy. At the event, Ashna Islam, assistant coordinator of TIB’s Energy Governance division, presented a concept paper highlighting the importance of renewable energy and good governance in the sector. The event was moderated by Newazul Moula, Coordinator of Energy Governance, TIB. The TIB ED also said the draft energy master plan remains heavily dependent on fossil fuels and lacks clear guidelines for transitioning to clean energy. To ensure good governance and an effective renewable energy transition, TIB recommended:
Source:Dhaka Tribune
January 26, 2026 12:40 UTC
Over 4 lakh expats cast votes through postal ballot till Monday
A total of 4,05,164 Bangladeshi expatriates cast their votes through postal ballot as of 1:30 pm on Monday, according to the Election Commission. Among them, 3,44,993 voters submitted their ballots at post offices or ballot boxes in their respective countries. Meanwhile, 19,388 ballots were cast within Bangladesh. The Election Commission had sent ballots to 6,83,122 registered expatriate voters. As of 1:30 pm on Monday, a total of 4,78,326 postal ballots had been received from abroad.
Source:Dhaka Tribune
January 26, 2026 12:40 UTC
Plan to cut Medicaid rates for Coloradans with disabilities gets no support from governing board, moves ahead anyway
When it came time for any of the Colorado Medical Services Board members to make a motion, there was only dead silence. But about a week later, Medicaid officials posted a memo directing case managers to move ahead with the rule change anyway. While Medicaid officials didn’t get the backing of the Medical Services Board, they have an August executive order from Gov. Yet Medicaid officials, in asking for the rule change, told board members they needed the emergency rule approved in order to move forward. It costs the federal-state Medicaid program $460 million annually, with a median per-person cost of $76,000 per member.
Source:Daily Sun
January 26, 2026 12:39 UTC
Cultural Ministry revokes its 'Book Selection Committee'
DHAKA, Jan 26, 2026 (BSS) - Cultural Affairs Ministry today cancelled its 'Book Selection Committee' amid stiff social media criticism on buying books during the tenure of former director of National Book Centre Afsana Begum. "The Book Selection Committee formed on November 11, 2025 to select books for donation to private libraries in the fiscal year 2025-2026 was revoked," said an official release. Earlier, a mammoth debate grew on online platform as the list of books bought by the committee was spread. Mofidur Rahman said, "The book selection committee has been revoked and a new committee will be formed soon...We have also taken a decision to buy books being imbued with July spirits". The ministry will go ahead with purchasing books on July mass uprising, Philkhana and Shapla tragedy during this fiscal, he added.
Source:Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha
January 26, 2026 12:25 UTC
Italy visa applications suspended worldwide February 11–18
DHAKA, Jan 26, 2026 (BSS) – The Embassy of Italy in Dhaka today announced a temporary worldwide suspension of visa application submissions in mid-February due to scheduled technical maintenance of the Italian visa processing system. In an advisory, the embassy said that no visa applications of any category will be accepted at Italian visa offices worldwide on February 11, 12, 15, 16, 17 and 18 because of technical maintenance. The embassy instructed VFS Global not to collect any visa applications or requests for withdrawal during the period. Applicants who urgently need to travel to Italy between February 11 and February 18 were strongly advised to submit their visa applications by early February, as the system may require up to 10 days to authorize the issuance of a visa. The embassy urged applicants to plan their travel and visa submission schedules accordingly to avoid inconvenience.
Source:Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha
January 26, 2026 12:25 UTC
Death of wife, infant son: Chhatra League leader granted bail on humanitarian grounds
The High Court on Monday granted six months’ bail to Jewel Hasan Saddam, president of the Bagerhat Sadar Upazila unit of the Chhatra League, a banned organization, following the deaths of his wife and nine-month-old son. A High Court bench comprising Justice JBM Hasan and Justice Aziz Ahmed Bhuiyan issued the order on January 26. Lawyer Saeed Ahmed Raja represented Saddam at the hearing and said the court granted bail on humanitarian grounds. On the evening of January 24, jail authorities allowed him to see his deceased wife and infant son for the last time for only five minutes at the gate of Jessore Central Jail. At about 7:30 pm, jail officials allowed six close relatives to enter the jail gate with the ambulance.
Source:Dhaka Tribune
January 26, 2026 12:14 UTC
BNP says it leads in women nominations; slams Jamaat, others
In the forthcoming national parliamentary election, he said BNP candidates are contesting in 292 constituencies with the "Sheaf of Paddy". “They have served the people and stood by them.”Besides, Mahdi said 19 former ministers are also contesting the polls this time with the BNP symbol. “Their past experience in state administration and public engagement gives BNP a distinct advantage.”According to him, 237 BNP candidates hold at least a bachelor’s degree. Mahdi said BNP candidates include individuals who were victims of enforced disappearance during what he described as the "fascist period". Mahdi said almost all BNP candidates are facing multiple cases, with many having more than a hundred cases filed against them.
Source:Dhaka Tribune
January 26, 2026 12:14 UTC
Bangladesh promulgates ordinance granting immunity to July fighters
The government has promulgated the July Uprising (Protection and Liability Determination) Ordinance, 2026, providing immunity to the people who participated in the July Uprising. A gazette notification was issued by the Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Law Ministry on Sunday night in this regard. The ordinance ensures withdrawal of all existing civil and criminal cases related to the uprising and bars the filing of any new cases against the participants. The ordinance allows allegations of killings during the uprising to be investigated by the Human Rights Commission. The government may frame rules as necessary to implement the ordinance.
Source:Dhaka Tribune
January 26, 2026 11:52 UTC
Chief adviser urges armed forces to remain on high alert for credible polls
Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on Monday directed the armed forces to remain on high alert to help ensure a free, fair, impartial and acceptable referendum and 13th national parliamentary election scheduled for February 12. “As a symbol of public trust, the armed forces will, as in the past, discharge their responsibilities with professionalism, impartiality and accountability,” he said. The chief adviser paid tribute to the martyrs of the Liberation War and the July–August student uprising, recalling the armed forces’ contribution to maintaining peace and stability. “In this context, the armed forces are an indispensable partner,” he said, expressing confidence in their ability to fulfil the responsibility. The chief adviser was received at the Helmet Auditorium by Army Chief General Waqar-uz-Zaman, Navy Chief Admiral M Nazmul Hasan, Air Chief Marshal Hassan Mahmud Khan and Principal Staff Officer of the Armed Forces Division Lt Gen SM Kamrul Hasan.
Source:Dhaka Tribune
January 26, 2026 11:42 UTC
BGB seizes smuggled goods worth Tk 1,908.28 crore in 2025
DHAKA, Jan 26, 2026 (BSS) - Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) seized smuggled goods worth over Tk 1,908.28 crore during extensive raids carried out across border areas and other parts of the country throughout 2025. The recovered contraband included large quantities of gold and silver, garments, cosmetics, fireworks, food items, household goods, vehicles, and livestock. The para-military force also recovered vehicles, mobile phones and accessories, wood, stone, coal, fertilizer, seeds, and 12,294 cows and buffaloes. As part of these operations, BGB arrested 2,334 individuals for involvement in drug trafficking and smuggling. BGB officials said the year-long operations reflect the force’s commitment to protecting national security, preventing drug trafficking, and curbing cross-border smuggling.
Source:Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha
January 26, 2026 11:31 UTC
England, Root test Sri Lanka's home ODI success
COLOMBO, Jan 26, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Sri Lanka's five-year unbeaten home series ODI run faces its stiffest test on Tuesday, with England levelling the series 1-1 and Joe Root again the key obstacle. Sri Lanka know the equation only too well. Dawson believes that depth could be a trump card with the T20 World Cup looming, which Sri Lanka will co-host with India. The Sri Lanka tour is a dress rehearsal for the World Cup for England. "Hopefully we can win the last game, build some confidence, compete well in the T20 series coming up and head into the World Cup on a high."
Source:Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha
January 26, 2026 11:17 UTC
Historic winter storm kills at least 10 across US
The US National Weather Service (NWS) told Americans to expect more of the same weather conditions into Monday morning. New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani said five people were found dead outside over the weekend in freezing temperatures. The PowerOutage.com tracking site showed more than 840,000 customers without electricity as of Sunday night, mostly in the US South where the storm intensified Saturday. Authorities from Texas to North Carolina and New York urged residents to stay home due to the perilous conditions. The storm was moving Sunday into the northeast, dumping snow and sleet on heavily populated cities including Philadelphia, New York and Boston.
Source:Dhaka Tribune
January 26, 2026 11:15 UTC