Gold prices in Bangladesh surged past the Tk 250,000 per bhori-mark on Wednesday (Jan. 21) hitting an all-time high in the domestic market. The Bangladesh Jewellers Association (BAJUS) raised the price of 22-carat gold by Tk 8,339 per bhori (11.664 grams), setting the new rate at Tk 252,467, the highest ever recorded in the country.

In a notification issued at night, BAJUS said the price adjustment was made in view of a rise in the local market price of pure gold (tejabi gold). The new prices will come into effect from Thursday. According to the revised rates, the price of 21-carat gold has been fixed at Tk 240,978 per bhori, 18-carat gold at Tk 206,569 per bhori, while gold under the traditional method will sell at Tk 169,653 per bhori. Gold prices have been revised 10 times already in the domestic market so far in 2026.

Chief of Army Staff General Waker-Uz-Zaman this week said 3,619 weapons were looted from different police stations of the country during the mass uprising in 2024. Of the looted weapons, 2,259 have been recovered, which is 62.4 percent of the looted weapons, he said during a high-level meeting held on the overall law-and-order situation in view of the election and referendum to be held on the same day next month.

The Army Chief said the amount of ammunition looted from different police stations was 456,418 rounds, of which 237,100 rounds have already been recovered (52 percent), He said the forces are taking various steps based on mutual discussions to reassure the people ahead of the election. If implemented in the coming days, the Army Chief said, it is possible to present a peaceful election to the nation. The meeting was chaired by Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus, was held at the Chief Adviser's official residence.

A proposed new pay structure for government officials and employees would see salary increases ranging from 100 to 147 percent. Under the proposal, the minimum salary, for grade 20 workers, would be Tk 20,000, while the top earners in grade 1 would earn Tk 160,000 per month. The proposed structure is contained in the report submitted by the {ay commission, headed by former finance secretary Zakir Ahmed Khan. In preparing the report, the commission considered opinions from 7.8 million participants collected through an online survey. Views on inflation, living standards and related issues were taken into account.

The commission has recommended partial implementation of the new pay structure from January 1, 2026, with full implementation from the first day of the 2026-27 fiscal. Also, the Baishakhi allowance for government officials and employees is proposed to be increased from 20 percent to 50 percent, and a transport allowance would be available to employees in grades 11 to 20.

Nana Akufo-Addo, former President of the Republic of Ghana, will lead the Commonwealth observer group for Bangladesh's 13th parliamentary election and the referendum on the July Charter. The Charter is a post-uprising reform framework proposing political and constitutional changes. Both polls are scheduled for February 12, 2026. The Commonwealth Secretary-General, Shirley Botchwey, announced the composition of the 14-member Observer Group in London, following an invitation from the Bangladesh Election Commission.

She reaffirmed the fundamental importance of 'credible, transparent and inclusive' electoral processes in strengthening democratic governance and supporting long-term stability. President Akufo-Addo will be joined by experts from across the Commonwealth, including professionals in politics, law, media, gender, and election administration. The Observer Group will be supported by a Secretariat team led by Linford Andrews, Head and Adviser, Electoral Support Section.The mandate of the Commonwealth Observer Group is to observe the electoral process and provide an independent assessment of whether the elections and referendum are conducted in a credible, transparent, and inclusive manner.