We must leave behind our legacy of suppressing free speech
We have unfortunately been here throughout our history, with any form of dissent and criticism being brutally shut down. However, we simply cannot hope to move forward as a nation if we keep clinging to retrograde practices that silence dissent and criminalize free speech. We say that we are looking to turn a corner and leave behind a legacy of suppression. Freedom of speech is not a threat but the lifeblood of democracy. A society that fears criticism simply cannot reform itself and a government that punishes speech is not one that can claim to be democratic.
Source:Dhaka Tribune
January 25, 2026 13:10 UTC
Costly mega projects like Padma Bridge hurt market stability, reiterates Bashir
Costly mega projects taken during the Awami League government, including the Padma Bridge, Padma Rail Bridge, Karnaphuli Tunnel and Payra Port, have had adverse impacts on the market, contributing to economic instability, Commerce Adviser Sk Bashir Uddin reiterated on Sunday. “The projected toll collection from the Padma Rail Bridge was Tk 1,400 crore, but only Tk 26 crore has been realised so far. It was claimed that the Padma Bridge would raise GDP by 2 percent; instead, GDP has declined. “Analyse it yourselves — what did the country actually gain in return for the Padma Bridge? Asked about a Tk 786 crore project to construct three new buildings for future ministers, the adviser said he was completely unaware of the matter.
Source:Dhaka Tribune
January 25, 2026 13:10 UTC
Hadi murder case probe report deferred again
A Dhaka court on Sunday again deferred the submission of the investigation report in the Hadi murder case, setting January 29 as the new deadline. Previously, the Detective Branch (DB) of police submitted a chargesheet on January 6, accusing 17 people in connection with the murder. The six fugitives include Foysal Karim Masud, his accomplice Alamgir Hossain, alleged mastermind and former ward councillor Taijul Islam Chowdhury Bappi, Filips Scalp, Mukti Akter, and Jesmin Akter. According to the case statement, Foysal Karim Masud and Alamgir Hossain, riding a motorcycle, opened fire on Hadi while he was travelling in a battery-run rickshaw on December 12, and then fled the scene. Inqilab Mancha Member Secretary Abdullah Al Zaber filed the case with Paltan Model Police Station on December 14.
Source:Dhaka Tribune
January 25, 2026 13:08 UTC
Prayer meeting for Tati Dal leader Zillur held in Bagerhat
Photo: BSSBAGERHAT, Jan 25, 2026 (BSS) – A prayer meeting was held today seeking eternal peace for the late Sheikh Md. Zillur Rahman, a frontline fighter of the anti-fascist movement and executive member of the central Tati Dal. Bagerhat district BNP convener Engineer ATM Akram Hossain Talim attended the prayer meeting as the chief guest. Speakers at the meeting remembered the life of the late Sheikh Md. Zillur Rahman, his political sacrifices, and his courageous role in the movement with deep respect, and prayed for the eternal peace of his soul.
Source:Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha
January 25, 2026 12:58 UTC
140 disinformation identified in 73 Indian media about Bangladesh in 2025
Unbridled Communal PropagandaIn 2025, Rumor Scanner identified 155 instances of disinformation spread by Indian sources, of which 91 were communal in nature. Evidence shows that in at least 10 incidents, Indian media outlets spread communal falsehoods involving Bangladesh. Disinformation about Bangladesh across 73 Indian media outletsIn 2025, Rumor Scanner analyzed fact-checks of disinformation circulated in Indian media and found that in 38 incidents, 73 news outlets published disinformation involving Bangladesh. Following this, at least 27 Indian media outlets falsely claimed that Sohag was a Hindu—a completely untrue assertion. It is important to note that this list does not represent the full scale of disinformation by Indian media.
Source:Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha
January 25, 2026 12:55 UTC
Djokovic, Alcaraz into Melbourne last eight as next gen roars
Djokovic, Alcaraz into Melbourne last eight as next gen roarsCollected photoMELBOURNE, Jan 25, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Carlos Alcaraz powered into the Australian Open quarter-finals on Sunday and Novak Djokovic joined him without hitting a ball, as the next generation roared. Djokovic will face American ninth seed Taylor Fritz or fifth seed Lorenzo Musetti of Italy for a place in the semi-finals. Alcaraz, who like Djokovic is yet to drop a set at this year's tournament, has never gone beyond the quarter-finals in Melbourne. Tien, 20, eased into his first Grand Slam quarter-final despite a nosebleed in the first set that required lengthy treatment. Belarusian top seed Sabalenka, a two-time Melbourne champion, opened the day on Rod Laver Arena and saw off the brave challenge of 19-year-old Canadian Victoria Mboko.
Source:Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha
January 25, 2026 12:53 UTC
Bangladesh U19 begin WC Super Six campaign against England
Bangladesh qualified for the Super Six with just one win, which came againstthe United States of America (USA) . This is because the USA, whom Bangladesh defeated in the group stage, failedto qualify for the Super Six, meaning that victory does not count towardtheir Super Six points. As Bangladesh shared a point with New Zealand due to the rain-abandonedmatch, both teams will carry one point forward. Bangladesh's first Super Six opponent, England, also carried four points intothe stage. A victory against England is crucial for Bangladesh to keep their semifinalhopes alive, although progression will still depend on several other results.
Source:Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha
January 25, 2026 12:53 UTC
Prices of essentials to remain stable during Ramadan: Bashir
Commerce Adviser Sk. Bashir Uddin spoke after a taskforce committee on reviewing commodity prices and market situation at the commerce ministry conference room in the city. Photo: PIDDHAKA, Jan 25, 2026 (BSS) - Commerce Adviser Sk. Bashir Uddin today said that prices of essentials will remain under control in the upcoming holy month of Ramadan and potentially better than the previous year as the government has already taken all-out preparations to this effect. The adviser was speaking after a taskforce committee on reviewing commodity prices and market situation at the commerce ministry conference room in the city.
Source:Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha
January 25, 2026 12:49 UTC
Putin, Zelensky may meet shortly: Axios
Collected collageWASHINGTON, Jan 25, 2026 (BSS/TASS) - Russian President Vladimir Putin may soon meet Vladimir Zelensky, Axios web portal said, citing a source in the US administration. "We are very close to a meeting between Putin and Zelensky," a US official said, cited by the news portal. Washington believes that trilateral talks of representatives of Russia, the United States and Ukraine in Abu Dhabi "went as well as we could have expected." "We feel good where we are now," another US official told Axios. Trilateral consultations were held in Abu Dhabi on January 23 and 24.
Source:Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha
January 25, 2026 12:49 UTC
Education Adviser for introducing merit based evaluation system
Education Adviser Prof. Dr C R Abrar today addressed at a programme on the premises of Nagbari Hasina Chowdhury High School in Tangail. Photo: BSSDHAKA, Jan 25, 2026 (BSS) - Education Adviser Prof. Dr C R Abrar today laid emphasis on introducing merit based evaluation system for flourishing the latent talent of students. “Ensuring proper evaluation of merit is the core foundation of a modern education system,” he said while addressing at a programme on the premises of Nagbari Hasina Chowdhury High School in Tangail district as the chief guest. Recalling the contributions of Dr. Ashraf Siddiqui, Prof. Abrar said, “He was a multidimensional and deeply humane personality. Teachers and students, cultural activists, local dignitaries and senior officials from the district and upazila levels were also present at the programme.
Source:Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha
January 25, 2026 12:44 UTC
Govt to construct 1000-bed hospital in Nilphamari
Photo: PIDDHAKA, Jan 25, 2026 (BSS) - The government today approved a major healthcareinfrastructure project worth Taka 2,459.34 crore to establish a 1,000-bedBangladesh-China Friendship General Hospital in Nilphamari. The project, titled "Establishment of a 1,000-bed Bangladesh-China FriendshipGeneral Hospital", has an estimated cost of Taka 2,459.34 crore. Talking to BSS, Planning Commission officials said the objective of theproject is to establish a modern, specialised 1,000-bed general hospital toensure quality healthcare for the people of northern Bangladesh. The hospital will provide integrated general and specialised services,including nephrology, cardiology, oncology and neurology, enabling effectivetreatment of complex and long-term diseases. Currently, healthcare services in the district mainly depend on the 250-bedNilphamari General Hospital and primary healthcare facilities at the upazilalevel.
Source:Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha
January 25, 2026 12:39 UTC
Two women held with 5.1-kg ganja in Lalmonirhat
RANGPUR, Jan 26, 2026 (BSS) - Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) arrested twoalleged female drug dealers with 15.1 kilograms of ganja from the Teesta TollPlaza area under Sadar Police Station in Lalmonirhat district on Saturdaynight. The detainees were identified as Most Babita, 35, wife of Md Lebon ofKandirpara village and Most Rubia Khatun, 36, wife of Farman Mandal of ChakKrishnapur village under Doulatpur Police Station of Kushtia district. On a tip-off, an operational team of RAB-13 Crime Prevention SpecialisedCompany from Rangpur in a drive seized the contraband [5.1-kg] ganja andarrested the alleged two female drug dealers from the Teesta Toll Plaza areaat 10:30 pm, a press release said. After filing a case against the arrested women under the Narcotics ControlAct, 2018, the elite force handed over them along with the seized drugs toSadar Police Station of Lalmonirhat district, the release added.
Source:Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha
January 25, 2026 12:30 UTC
EC prepares postal ballot boxes for Dhaka-13 & Dhaka 15 seats
This special measure was taken for the 'Out of Country Voting' (OCB) and 'InCountry Postal Ballot' (ICPB) voting, introduced for the first time in thecountry's history. "There are 5,617 registered voters in Dhaka-13 constituency where some 14ballot boxes were prepared for them and 19 ballot boxes were ready for 7,405registered voters in Dhaka-15 electoral constituency," he said. He said, "Today, the ballot boxes were closed with the prescribed lock sealsin front of the candidates' representatives. Earlier, a notification has alsobeen issued stating the number with which these ballot boxes have beenclosed." After the postal ballots arrive from the postal department, theywill be verified with a barcode scanner and entered in Form No.
Source:Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha
January 25, 2026 11:59 UTC
Court bars disconnection of utility services to under-construction buildings
The High Court has issued a six-month injunction restraining the authorities concerned from disconnecting electricity, gas and water connections to under-construction buildings in Dhaka. The order came in response to a writ petition filed by the Real Estate and Housing Association of Bangladesh (REHAB), seeking protection against the disconnection of utility services at construction sites. During the hearing, REHAB placed before the court the possible adverse impacts of disconnecting utility services. The court noted that disconnection of water and electricity often creates severe crises, which it took into consideration while issuing the injunction. The association claimed that the disconnection of electricity and utility services at developers’ projects had effectively stalled many construction works.
Source:Dhaka Tribune
January 25, 2026 11:33 UTC
Protestors gather in front of BB, demand return of deposits
On Sunday (January 25), more than a hundred depositors participated in the human chain in front of Bangladesh Bank's head office in Motijheel. The speakers in the human chain said that Bangladesh Bank had announced in a notification dated January 14, 2026, that no profit would be paid on deposits for 2024 and 2025. Later, in another notification issued on January 21, the previous decision was revised to pay only 4% profit. If this decision becomes a precedent, the responsibility for corruption in any bank in the future will be placed on ordinary depositors. The depositors raised six demands in the human chain.
Source:Dhaka Tribune
January 25, 2026 11:33 UTC