Morning, people.
In Jessore, a primary education officer was caught red-handed taking Tk 1.2 lakh in bribes. He took the money, put it neatly in his office drawer, and probably thought the job was done. Unfortunately for him, the ACC arrived before the files could move.

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BD Labor Market | US Intervention on Venezuela

🚧 Bangladesh Labor Market: A Structural Crisis

The 2024 Labor Force Survey reveals a deep paradox in Bangladesh's economy, where nominal stability masks a deteriorating structural reality characterized by "jobless growth" and a significant retreat of women from the workforce. While the total labor force reached 73.45 million, the participation rate dropped to 58.9%, and the number of women in the workforce plummeted from 25.33 million in 2023 to 23.69 million in 2024. This shift is attributed to rising inflation, lack of workplace safety, and inadequate childcare infrastructure, forcing many women back into unpaid domestic roles.

The core of this crisis lies in an economic model where GDP grows without generating quality formal employment, leaving 88% of workers trapped in the informal sector without legal protections or minimum wage guarantees. Although the official unemployment rate is cited at a low 3.66%, this figure is considered misleading by experts because it excludes nearly 47 million people who have stopped looking for work due to frustration, as well as those in underemployed or subsistence roles. Furthermore, a shift back to low-productivity agriculture and a decline in youth labor participation (ages 15–29) suggest that the country’s "demographic dividend" is rapidly eroding.

As Bangladesh approaches the 2026 elections and transition from LDC status, structural labor reforms have become a necessity for national survival rather than a policy luxury. The immediate next steps require the government to prioritize industrial job creation, formalize informal labor, and implement targeted social protections to prevent further economic marginalization and social unrest.

🤔SHOWER THOUGHT

You can tell a long friendship by how short the messages can be.

🚩 Inqilab Moncho convener and Dhaka-8 aspiring independent candidate Sharif Osman Hadi was killed in an act of political vengeance, with Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s DB filing a charge sheet against 17 accused in the case. At a press conference, DB Additional Commissioner said former Dhaka North City Corporation Ward-6 councillor and Jubo League leader Md Taijul Islam Chowdhury Bappi instructed prime accused Faisal Karim Masud and his associate Alamgir Sheikh to carry out the shooting. Investigators said the findings were supported by CCTV footage, forensic tests on weapons and bullets, and verification of video evidence. Of the 17 accused, 11–12 have been arrested, while Faisal, Alamgir and Bappi remain absconding. Hadi was shot on December 12 on Box Culvert Road in Paltan and died on December 18 while undergoing treatment in Singapore, and a court has ordered the freezing and confiscation of more than Tk 6.5 million from Faisal’s bank accounts as the case proceeds.

⛔ Security forces will be deployed nationwide in two phases ahead of the 13th National Parliamentary Election and referendum scheduled for February 12, according to a Home Ministry circular issued on Tuesday and published on Wednesday. The circular said police, BGB, Ansar and VDP, Coast Guard, and armed forces under “in aid to civil power” will be engaged to ensure a free, fair, peaceful and neutral vote, with returning officers coordinating centre-based security, mobile patrols and striking forces. The first phase will continue the current deployment, while the second phase will involve centre-focused duties from February 8 to 14, with forces working for seven days and reporting to returning officers, who may reconfigure teams if needed.

✈️ Biman Bangladesh Airlines is set to launch direct international flights on the Dhaka–Karachi–Dhaka route from January 29, marking a significant development in Bangladesh–Pakistan connectivity. In a statement, Biman’s General Manager (Public Relations) Bosra Islam said the national carrier will initially operate two flights a week, on Thursdays and Saturdays, with fixed departure and arrival times from both cities, aiming to ease passenger movement and support trade, tourism and family travel. Separately, Pakistan confirmed that the air force chiefs of the two countries held talks in Islamabad on a potential defence agreement, including the possible sale of JF-17 Thunder fighter jets jointly developed by Pakistan and China, according to Pakistan’s military. Islamabad also assured Bangladesh of fast-tracked delivery of Super Mushshak trainer aircraft with training and long-term support, as bilateral cooperation continues to expand.

💰US has added Bangladesh to an expanded visa bond list, requiring certain travellers to deposit between $5,000 and $15,000 to obtain B1 (business) or B2 (tourist/visit) visas, according to the US State Department. The requirement, part of a 12-month pilot programme launched in August, applies to citizens of 38 countries and will take effect for Bangladesh from January 21, with the bond amount decided by consular officers during visa interviews. US authorities said the refundable bond is intended to deter visa overstays and will be returned if travellers leave within the authorised period or if a visa is denied, though refunds may take time. Bond holders may face restrictions including single entry, a maximum 30-day stay and entry through designated airports, while officials clarified that paying a bond does not guarantee visa approval.

📊Data Point

After seven and a half years, 57,855 tons of US corn worth $14.2 million arrived at Chittagong port at $246 per ton, $5-14 lower than Brazilian corn, imported by three poultry feed companies.

🚨 US has seized two oil tankers linked to Venezuela in what officials described as enforcement of sanctions against so-called “ghost” or “dark fleet” vessels, triggering diplomatic objections from Russia. US military said it commandeered the Russian-flagged Marinera (formerly Bella-1) in the North Atlantic for violations of US sanctions after weeks of pursuit, while a second tanker, the Panama-flagged M Sophia, was seized in international waters near the Caribbean. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the “blockade of sanctioned and illicit Venezuelan oil remains in full effect anywhere in the world,” and confirmed the operation was supported by the UK military through surveillance and naval assistance. Russia protested that the tanker was in international waters and accused Washington of violating maritime law.

🤖 Nvidia announced plans to power robotaxi fleets with its AI chips and Drive AV software by 2027, targeting "Level 4" autonomous vehicles that can operate without human intervention in designated areas. The company currently generates only $592 million in automotive revenue (about 1% of total sales) but sees self-driving technology as its second-most important growth area after AI infrastructure. Nvidia demonstrated its technology in a December test drive through San Francisco using a 2026 Mercedes-Benz CLA sedan, though the system still required driver intervention during complex traffic situations. CEO Jensen Huang envisions a future where "a billion cars on the road will all be autonomous," either as robotaxis or personally owned vehicles, with the company's Drive AGX Thor computer priced at approximately $3,500 per chip.

❌ Grok is facing international condemnation after generating sexualized images of women and children without consent through its "Grok Imagine" feature. Governments in the UK, Poland, France, India, Malaysia, and Brazil have demanded urgent action, with some launching investigations and threatening legal consequences. A nonprofit analysis found that 2% of 20,000 images generated by Grok between December 25 and January 1 depicted individuals appearing under 18, including young girls in bikinis or transparent clothing. While X claims it removes illegal content and suspends offending accounts, Musk's xAI responded to media inquiries with "Legacy Media Lies," and regulators say the platform has failed to adequately address safeguards. Yesterday, xAI, the company that owns both Grok and X, announced it raised $20 billion in a Series E funding round.

“If our players are not respected as professionals on foreign soil, our national pride cannot be traded for a tournament trophy."

- Asif Nazrul

> Islami Chhatra Shibir candidates won key positions in Jagannath University Central Students' Union elections, with Riazul Islam securing vice president (5,564 votes) and Arif Hossain winning general secretary post. (more)

> BNP nominated 10 women among 328 candidates for general seats, NCP nominated 3 among 44, while Jamaat-e-Islami fielded zero women among 276 candidates, with 30 other parties also having no women nominees. (more)

> White House confirmed Tuesday that Trump is discussing options to acquire Greenland, including military use, calling it a national security priority, while European leaders and Denmark rejected any territorial claims. (more)

> A Paris court convicted 10 people of cyber-harassing French First Lady Brigitte Macron for spreading false claims that she was born male, sentencing eight to suspended prison terms and one to six months in jail. (more)

> Lego unveiled the Smart Brick at CES 2026, a technology-packed 2x4 brick with built-in chip, speaker, and LED lights that can interact with other Smart Bricks and Minifigures, launching March 1 with three Star Wars sets. (more)

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