The death toll from Iran’s crackdown on nationwide protests rose to at least 538 people on Sunday, according to activists, amid an intensifying security response and an ongoing communications blackout. The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) said more than 10,600 people have been detained during nearly two weeks of unrest. Of those killed, 490 were protesters and 48 members of the security forces, it said, warning that the toll was likely to increase. With internet access largely shut down and international phone lines cut, verifying events on the ground has become increasingly difficult. HRANA said it was relying on a network of activists inside Iran who cross-check information — a method it says has produced accurate figures during previous periods of unrest. Iranian authorities have not released any overall casualty figures. Reuters and the Associated Press said they were unable to independently verify the death toll, citing restrictions on communications. The protests, the largest since 2022, began on 28 December over soaring prices before broadening into a challenge to Iran’s clerical leadership, which has ruled since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Authorities have accused the United States and Israel of fomenting unrest. State television broadcast footage on Sunday showing dozens of body bags at Tehran’s coroner’s office, saying the dead were victims of violence caused by “armed terrorists”. Despite the blackout, videos posted on social media showed large crowds marching at night in Tehran, chanting and clapping. Footage from the northeastern city of Mashhad appeared to show fires burning in the streets, debris scattered across roads and the sound of explosions. Reuters verified the locations of the videos. As tensions rose, US President Donald Trump reiterated his support for protesters, saying Washington stood “ready to help”. The Wall Street Journal reported that Trump was due to be briefed on options including tighter sanctions, cyber operations and possible military action. Iran’s parliament speaker, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, warned Washington against what he called “a miscalculation”, saying any attack on Iran would make US bases and Israel legitimate targets. Israeli officials said Israel was on high alert but stressed the protests were an internal Iranian matter, while monitoring developments closely. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, speaking in a televised interview, accused Israel and the US of orchestrating the unrest and bringing in “terrorists”. He urged families to keep young people away from violence, while saying the government was prepared to listen to public grievances and address economic problems. Analysts said the protests were unlikely to topple Iran’s leadership in the short term but could leave the establishment weakened. “It is more likely the state eventually suppresses the unrest, but emerges from it significantly diminished,” said Alan Eyre, a former US diplomat and Iran expert. State media reported funerals across several cities for members of the security forces killed during the unrest, including ceremonies in Isfahan, Gachsaran and Yasuj.

Australia has moved Bangladesh into its highest student visa risk category, tightening integrity checks that could lead to closer scrutiny and longer processing times for Bangladeshi applicants. Under a revised Assessment Level (AL) framework effective from Jan 8, 2026, Bangladesh has been upgraded from AL1 to AL3, the highest risk tier, according to a notification issued through Australia’s PRISMS system by the Department of Education, The Australia Today reports. Alongside Bangladesh, India and Nepal have also been moved to AL3 from AL2, while Sri Lanka has been shifted from AL1 to AL2. Pakistan remains in AL3. The update is part of a broader review aimed at addressing “emerging integrity issues”, particularly concerns over fraudulent academic and financial documents, while continuing to facilitate genuine international students, the department said. Assessment Levels are used by Australia’s Department of Home Affairs and Department of Education to determine the level of risk associated with student visa applications from different countries. Higher levels generally mean stricter documentary requirements and closer scrutiny. The changes come less than four months after the last formal update on Sept 30, 2025, raising concerns within Australia’s international education sector about policy stability. Phil Honeywood, chief executive officer of the International Education Association of Australia, said the frequency of changes was creating confusion among education providers and overseas agents, particularly as the 2026 intake season begins. “Right when we are trying to ensure a good start to the year intake, there is uncertainty about which countries Australia is seeking to recruit from,” he said, noting that institutions need clearer and more consistent policy signals. Australian authorities have reportedly cited an increase in suspected fraudulent documentation from parts of South Asia as a key reason behind the revised risk assessments. While sector experts acknowledge the need to protect visa integrity, the sharp elevation of Bangladesh to AL3 has sparked concern about the potential impact on genuine students. Higher assessment levels typically require more extensive proof of finances, academic credentials and genuine student intent, often resulting in longer processing times and higher application costs. Education stakeholders say Bangladeshi students will still have pathways to study in Australia, but applicants should be prepared for stricter checks and possible delays. Further guidance from Australian authorities is expected to clarify how the new requirements will be applied and whether the changes represent a long-term shift in policy.

Bangladesh Bank (BB) has announced the issuance of a Tk10,000 crore Shariah-compliant bond, titled “Bangladesh Government Special Sukuk-1”, to finance major government infrastructure projects. The decision was finalised at two consecutive meetings of the Shariah Advisory Committee under the central bank’s Debt Management Department on 7 and 8 January 2026. The meetings were chaired by BB Deputy Governor Dr Md Kabir Ahmed. Sukuk is a long-term Islamic financing instrument structured in line with Shariah principles. Unlike conventional bonds, it does not offer fixed interest, which is prohibited under Islamic law. Instead, investors receive profits generated from underlying assets. The Ministry of Finance has initially selected the projects to be financed through the sukuk and has recently asked the implementing agencies to review project plans to ensure compliance with Islamic financing requirements, according to ministry documents. The projects include the construction of 329 technical schools and colleges at upazila level, the development of selected private secondary schools, and the Important Urban Infrastructure Development Project (Second Phase). Sources said the combined cost of the projects is estimated at around Tk34,500 crore, with nearly half of the funding expected to come from the Islamic bond. To meet development spending, the government traditionally relies on revenue collection, treasury bills and bonds, bank borrowing and savings certificates. Officials said they are now turning to sukuk as a source of long-term financing, amid weaker-than-expected revenue growth and rising project costs. Islamic banks and other Shariah-compliant financial institutions are expected to be the main investors. In his FY23 budget speech, Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal said the introduction of sukuk had opened significant opportunities for Islamic banks to participate in government development programmes. Bangladesh has issued sukuk bonds in previous years. In FY21, the government raised Tk8,000 crore through sukuk to finance a major water supply project. The following year, a further Tk10,000 crore was issued, including Tk5,000 crore for a government primary school development project. The project to build 329 technical schools and colleges, which is expected to receive the largest share of the current sukuk proceeds, was approved by the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) in January 2020. The total cost has been estimated at Tk20,525 crore, with funding to come entirely from government sources. The project includes land acquisition, construction of academic and administrative buildings, teachers’ dormitories, 200-bed student hostels, memorial structures, and the procurement of vehicles, machinery and teaching materials. Project Director Sayed Masum Ahmed Choudhury said land acquisition was under way, with land already acquired for five institutions and construction begun at one site. “Land acquisition and construction of the remaining schools will start gradually,” he told The Business Standard. The government also plans to finance about one-third of the Development of Selected Private Secondary Schools Project through sukuk. The project’s total cost is estimated at Tk10,649 crore, with Tk3,500 crore expected from Islamic bond proceeds. The Education Engineering Department is implementing the project. Under the scheme, four-storey academic buildings are being constructed in remote areas, six-storey buildings in urban areas, and five-storey structures in haor regions, with the ground floor left open. As of June 2021, overall progress stood at 56 per cent, with expenditure of around Tk6,000 crore. The government has also earmarked sukuk financing for the Important Urban Infrastructure Development Project (Second Phase), launched in 2019 at a cost of Tk3,465 crore across 281 municipalities. About half of the project cost is expected to be financed through Islamic bonds. The Local Government Engineering Department is implementing the project, which has a completion deadline of December 2023.