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Chief Adviser Congratulates Trump on Inauguration Day
MBBS Admission Test / Results for Candidates Under Freedom Fighter Quota Suspended
The verification of 193 candidates who passed the medical entrance exam under the freedom fighter quota will be completed by January 29, and their admission process will remain suspended until then. Professor Dr Nazmul Hossain, Director General of the Directorate of Health Education, shared this information on the afternoon of Monday, January 20. He mentioned that the decision regarding whether the quota will remain or not will be decided by the Ministry of Public Administration. Earlier on Monday morning, a protest rally was called at the Shaheed Minar demanding the abolition of the freedom fighter quota. The protesting students demanded that the results of the medical entrance exam be cancelled today and the results be re-released after abolishing the freedom fighter quota. The students expressed that through this quota, an attempt is being made to bring back Mujeebism and Sheikh Hasina. They stated that the quota system still exists in every corner of Bangladesh and needs to be abolished immediately. They demand that the quota, for which so many lives were sacrificed, has now been reinstated, and the current government must answer for this. They called for the cancellation of the results and the publication of new results based solely on merit. Meanwhile, Professor Dr Syedur Rahman, Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser, clarified that the decision to abolish the freedom fighter quota in the MBBS entrance exam was the state's decision, not the Ministry of Health. He made this statement after an event at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Dhaka on Monday afternoon. Professor Dr Syedur Rahman explained that following the quota abolition movement, a ruling was issued by the court, which primarily changed the term "grandchildren" to "children" instead of the next generation. Therefore, the issue of the quota is a policy decision, and the MBBS entrance exam was conducted according to existing laws and regulations. However, this will still be scrutinized. He added that the 193 candidates (who secured spots in the merit list under the quota) would be unusual if their fathers are aged 67-68 and the possibility of having children is minimal. If any discrepancies are found, they will be investigated. He further mentioned that the decision on whether the quota will remain in the MBBS entrance exam is not a decision of the Ministry of Health but of the state. This will be verified between January 27 and 29. It is worth mentioning that the MBBS entrance exam for the 2024-25 academic year was held on January 17. A total of 135,665 applications were submitted online for participation in the exam, of which 131,729 candidates attended the exam. This year, the passing score for the entrance exam was 40. Out of the participants, 60,095 candidates passed, representing a pass rate of 45.62%. Among the successful candidates, 22,159 were male, making up 36.87% of the total, while 37,936 were female, making up 63.13%. The highest score achieved in the entrance exam this year was 90.75.
US Renews Pledge to Support Bangladesh's Interim Govt
Bangladesh to Procure Sound Grenades, Tear Shells for BGB
Police, RAB, Ansar Uniforms to be Changed
Salman, Anisul Among 5 Placed on Remand in Murder Case
MBBS Admission Test / Application for Result Re-evaluation Starts Tuesday: How to Apply
The results of the MBBS admission test for the 2024-25 academic year in public and private medical colleges were published on Sunday, January 19.  The re-evaluation process for these results will begin on Tuesday, January 21, as announced by the Directorate General of Medical Education (DGME) in an official notice. Application Window and Fee Applicants can submit requests for re-evaluation from January 21 to January 25 by paying a non-refundable fee of BDT 1,000 through SMS using a Teletalk prepaid mobile number. How to Apply for Re-evaluation First SMS – Request Initiation Type: DGME RSC Roll Number Send to: 16222 Example: DGME RSC 1116000 You will receive a reply message containing a PIN. Second SMS – Fee Payment Type: DGME RSCYES PIN Send to: 16222 Example: DGME RSCYES 12345678 A confirmation message will be sent acknowledging the payment. Important Notes The re-evaluation fee is non-refundable. Applicants will be notified of the results of the re-evaluation in due course. The decision of the committee formed by the DGME will be final.   The MBBS admission test for the 2024-25 academic year was conducted on January 17, with results published on January 19. For any further details, follow the updates provided by the Directorate General of Medical Education.  
Ex-MP Mostofa Jalal Mohiuddin Arrested
Mostofa Jalal Mohiuddin, a former Member of Parliament (MP) for Dhaka-7 constituency and a presidium member of the Bangladesh Awami League has been arrested in connection with a murder case.  The arrest was confirmed by Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) spokesperson Muhammad Talebur Rahman. In the early hours of Monday (January 20), the Detective Branch of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DB) arrested him from the Monsurabad Housing area in Mohammadpur, Dhaka. According to police sources, Mohiuddin is an accused in a case related to a massacre during the anti-discrimination student movement in July-August. He has been shown arrested in that case. He is scheduled to be presented before the court this afternoon. However, the Joint Police Commissioner of the North Division of Dhaka Metropolitan Detective Police (DB), Mohammad Rabiul Hossain Bhuiyan, stated that Mostofa Jalal was arrested from the Mohammadpur area of the capital. He was apprehended under the Special Powers Act, and further details will be disclosed soon. Confirming the matter, the Deputy Commissioner of the Media Division of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, Talebur Rahman, said that DB arrested Mostofa Jalal Mohiuddin from the Mohammadpur area. However, he could not confirm which specific case the arrest was made under. Mostofa Jalal Mohiuddin, a senior leader of the ruling Awami League, has a long political career. He has served as a party presidium member since December 2022 and is currently the president of the Bangladesh Medical Association (BMA). From 1981 to 1993, Mohiuddin led the Bangladesh Chhatra League, the student wing of the Awami League. In 2008, he was elected an Awami League MP from Dhaka-7 constituency.
Salman, Anisul, Palak, 13 Others Shown Arrested in New Cases
Salman F Rahman, former Private Industry and Investment Adviser to ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina; former Law Minister Anisul Huq; and former State Minister for ICT Zunaid Ahmed Palak, along with 16 others, have been arrested in multiple cases. On Monday morning, January 20, the accused were presented before Dhaka's Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's Court. A petition was filed to show them as arrested in various cases, which the court approved. Key Arrests: Salman F Rahman: Shown arrested in four cases from Jatrabari Police Station and one from Mohammadpur Police Station. Anisul Huq: Linked to seven cases from Jatrabari, one from Mohammadpur, and one from Khilgaon Police Station. Zunaid Ahmed Palak: Implicated in two cases from Jatrabari and one from Sutrapur Police Station. Other high-profile arrests include: Dr Dipu Moni: Former Social Welfare Minister, shown arrested in two cases from Jatrabari Police Station. Hasanul Haq Inu: JASAD President and former Minister, arrested in five cases from Jatrabari. Rashed Khan Menon: Workers' Party President and former Minister, shown arrested in five cases from Jatrabari. Haji Salim: Former Member of Parliament, implicated in one case from Jatrabari. Additional Arrests: Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun: Former Inspector General of Police (IGP), implicated in 11 cases (6 from Jatrabari, 2 from Mohammadpur, 2 from Sutrapur, and 1 from Khilgaon). Shahidul Haque: Former IGP, shown arrested in one case from Jatrabari. Qamrul Islam: Former Food Minister, implicated in one case from Adabor Police Station. ABM Fazle Karim Chowdhury: Former Member of Parliament, linked to one case from Kotwali and one from Uttara West. Nazrul Islam Mazumdar: Chairman of NASA Group and former EXIM Bank Chairman, implicated in one case from Jatrabari. Other Individuals Arrested: Chowdhury Jahangir Alam: Shown arrested in one case from Jatrabari. Md Julhas: Implicated in one case from Jatrabari. Sabbir Ahmed Shopon: Arrested in one case from Jatrabari. Jamal Mostafa: Former Councillor, linked to cases from Bhashantek and Kafrul Police Stations. The cases involve a variety of charges across multiple jurisdictions, marking a significant development in the ongoing legal proceedings against former political and administrative figures.
Chief Adviser Embarks for Switzerland Today
Dr. Muhammad Yunus, Chief Adviser of the interim government, is traveling to Switzerland on a four-day official visit. Deputy Press Secretary to the Chief Adviser, Abul Kalam Azad Majumder, provided this information during a briefing at the Foreign Service Academy on Sunday evening (January 19). Abul Kalam Azad stated that the Chief Adviser will be attending the World Economic Forum conference and will depart for Switzerland at 1 AM on Monday (January 20). He is scheduled to return home on January 25 after the conference. He mentioned that, in addition to attending the conference, the Chief Adviser will hold bilateral meetings with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, King Philippe of Belgium, and Prime Minister of Thailand, Pheu Thai Party's Paetongtarn Shinawatra, on the sidelines of the forum in Davos. He further said that the Chief Adviser will also meet with several organizational heads, CEOs, and chairpersons of various companies, as well as entrepreneurs, including Amnesty International’s Secretary General Agnes Callamard. Dr. Yunus is also scheduled to give interviews to several international media outlets. The Deputy Press Secretary mentioned that there will be a special dialogue on Bangladesh during the conference. Efforts will be made to present an overview of the investment climate in the country, and foreign investors will be urged to pay attention to Bangladesh.
Voter List Update Kicks Off Nationwide Today
The door-to-door voter list update program starts today, with Chief Election Commissioner A M M Nasir Uddin inaugurating the activity in Savar. On Sunday, January 19, the Director of Public Relations of the Election Commission (EC), Md. Shariful Alam, informed the media about the program. He mentioned that the inauguration would take place on Monday at 10:30 AM in the Savar Upazila Parishad auditorium, attended by the Chief Election Commissioner and other election commissioners. Shariful Alam added that senior officials, including the Divisional Commissioner of Dhaka and the DIG of Dhaka Range, would also be present. The EC announced that the program will run from January 20 to February 3, with biometric registration at registration centers from February 5 to April 11. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has provided 175 laptops, 200 scanners, and 4,300 bags for data collection to support the update process. CEC Nasir Uddin expressed his appreciation for UNDP’s swift assistance, emphasizing their historic role as development partners of Bangladesh. According to EC sources, the update will collect information on individuals born on or before January 1, 2008, and those who missed previous updates, as well as remove deceased voters from the list. Biometric registration will take place from February 5 to April 11 for eligible individuals. Required Information for Voter Registration: Copy of a 17-digit online birth certificate. Copy of nationality or citizenship certificate. Copy of a relative’s NID (e.g., parents, siblings). Copy of SSC, Dakhil, equivalent, or eighth-grade certificate (if applicable). Copy of utility bills (electricity, gas, water, or watchman tax receipt). Precautions During Voter Registration: Ensure names match exactly with birth registration or educational certificates. Birthdate must align with birth registration or educational certificates. Provide the actual permanent address. Avoid dual or multiple registrations. Currently, there are 121,850,160 voters in Bangladesh, including 62,144,587 males, 59,704,641 females, and 932 third-gender voters.
British MPs Retract Report on Yunus Government Criticism
A report by a group of British MPs criticizing the interim government led by Dr. Muhammad Yunus in Bangladesh has been withdrawn. British newspaper The Guardian reported that this decision was made following allegations that the report was biased in favor of the ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's government. The Commonwealth All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) of the UK presented the report last November, which criticized the current interim government of Bangladesh. However, many of the facts mentioned in the report have been contested as inaccurate. UK government officials stated that after a complaint was lodged by an MP in the House of Commons, the report is no longer being distributed and is under review. A spokesperson mentioned that the report is considered an internal document under review and is no longer being circulated. According to The Guardian, the report titled "Current Situation in Bangladesh" was made public last November, three months after Sheikh Hasina's government was overthrown amid protests. These protests were met with severe repression by law enforcement, resulting in an estimated 1,000 deaths. The APPG report criticized Sheikh Hasina's successor, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus. In a press release, APPG Chair and Conservative Party MP Andrew Rosindell wrote, "Bangladesh should have a prosperous future, with opportunities for everyone, not just for those supporting the ruling party. Without immediate change, the hopes of the international community for the new government will vanish, leading to potential danger." The report accused Yunus's government of using the law as a political tool and supporting "extremist Islamists." It claimed there was evidence of numerous charges against former ministers, Awami League leaders, MPs, former judges, scholars, lawyers, and journalists, raising questions about the legitimacy of these accusations. It was further noted that the report was primarily based on information from the Delhi-based think tank Rights and Risks Analysis Group.
Chief Adviser to Visit 'Aynaghar' Soon
The Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances held a meeting with the Chief Adviser of the interim government, Dr Muhammad Yunus. The meeting took place today, Sunday, at 5 pm at the State Guest House Jamuna. During the meeting, the members of the commission briefed the Chief Adviser on the progress of investigations into incidents of enforced disappearances. They requested him to visit the 'Joint Interrogation Cell,' popularly known as 'Aynaghar.'  The commission members expressed that such a visit by the Chief Adviser would provide reassurance and confidence to the families of the disappeared persons. They also narrated harrowing accounts of several incidents of disappearances during the discussion. Responding to the commission's appeal, the Chief Adviser said, "The incidents uncovered by your investigation are truly horrifying. I will visit Aynaghar very soon."
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