Jamaat-e-Islami candidate for Thakurgaon-3 constituency, Mizanur Rahman, declared that those who doubt the party’s ability to govern Bangladesh are mistaken. Speaking at an election rally on Thursday afternoon at Katihar Bazar in Ranishankail, Thakurgaon, he said Jamaat possesses an ideological strength capable of guiding not only Bangladesh but the entire world.

Addressing rival BNP, Rahman criticized their principles and accused them of corruption and internal violence. He alleged that BNP supporters were tearing Jamaat posters but insisted that such actions could not erase the party’s symbol from people’s hearts. He urged the administration not to suppress Jamaat’s movement by removing campaign materials.

Rahman further stated that his political ideals are rooted in the teachings of the Prophet and cited a peaceful mass gathering in Dhaka as evidence of Jamaat’s discipline. He urged opponents to learn politics from Jamaat before seeking votes, emphasizing that the party’s ideology is based on moral and religious values.

Publishers have strongly criticized the Bangla Academy’s decision to hold the Amar Ekushey Book Fair from February 20, calling it unilateral, undemocratic, and self-destructive. In a joint statement sent to the media on Thursday, they alleged that the academy made the announcement without consulting any stakeholders. The publishers warned that starting the fair during Ramadan would lead to a shortage of visitors, impose inhumane pressure on stall workers, and cause certain financial losses for publishers.

According to the statement, 32 pavilion and 152 stall owners had already expressed written support for holding the fair after Eid-ul-Fitr. The publishers argued that organizing the event during Ramadan would turn it into a failed and tarnished festival, describing the decision as “a blow to an already wounded situation.” They urged the authorities to reconsider immediately and arrange the fair in a festive atmosphere after Eid.

The publishers further appealed to the government and Bangla Academy to acknowledge their concerns, warning that the organizers would bear full responsibility for any resulting crisis if the decision is not revised.

Pakistan has announced that it will consult its government before deciding whether to play India if the two teams meet in the knockout stage of the upcoming T20 World Cup. The statement came from Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha, who told reporters in Colombo that the decision to boycott the group-stage match against India was made by the government, not the players. He added that any future decision regarding a semifinal or final against India would also depend on government advice.

The controversy follows the International Cricket Council’s decision to replace Bangladesh with Scotland in the tournament lineup, a move Pakistan has publicly protested as unfair. Pakistan’s government responded by boycotting the group-stage match against India. The Pakistan Cricket Board had earlier supported Bangladesh’s stance of not traveling to India and suggested hosting Bangladesh’s matches in Sri Lanka.

By forfeiting the group-stage match, Pakistan will lose two points, which could negatively affect its net run rate. Captain Salman acknowledged the challenge, saying the team aims to focus on playing good cricket despite limited room for error and unpredictable weather conditions.

Bangladesh Bank officials have voiced disappointment that the central bank has not been granted autonomy during the interim government’s reform period. At a press conference held on Thursday, February 5, 2026, by the Bangladesh Bank Officers’ Welfare Council at the bank’s headquarters, officials also condemned recent comments by the finance adviser questioning their integrity, calling the remarks unjust, inappropriate, and offensive.

Council leaders, including President A.K.M. Masum Billah and General Secretary Golam Mostafa Shraban, stated that it is unfair to hold the central bank responsible for irregularities in the banking sector without granting it autonomy. They demanded that the bank’s accountability be placed under a parliamentary committee rather than the government. The officials also criticized the failure to amend the Bangladesh Bank Order and the Bank Company Act despite the presence of senior economic figures in the interim administration.

The council further urged the resolution of recruitment and promotion deadlocks, cancellation of all contractual adviser appointments made without transparent procedures, and greater focus from the governor on central bank affairs.

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus emphasized replacing conventional training in government service with problem-solving-based programs to improve efficiency and eliminate corruption. He made the remarks on Thursday, February 5, at the state guesthouse Jamuna while receiving a report from the Governance Innovation Unit (GIU) on the performance and institutional evaluation of training institutes. Yunus said the goal is to ensure that citizens do not need to approach government offices, as services should reach them directly through technology-enabled automation.

He criticized outdated training systems that lack skilled personnel and modern methods, calling for performance-based incentives to motivate officials. Yunus instructed the development of high-quality training institutes with ranking systems and encouraged participation from private-sector employees. The GIU’s evaluation, initiated on September 10 under the National Training Council’s guidance with UNDP support, covered five institutions under the Ministry of Public Administration. The report included strategies to enhance quality and overcome institutional challenges.

Committees comprising academia, training representatives, and senior officials guided the process, which followed a learning-by-doing approach and incorporated international best practices and standards.

Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) has announced that metro rail services will continue as usual during the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election and referendum. Director AKM Khairul Alam confirmed on Thursday that the metro will operate on election days to ensure smooth travel for Dhaka residents and facilitate voter movement, despite restrictions on other vehicles.

According to DMTCL, gates of metro stations located directly beside polling centers may remain closed, while all other gates will stay open. To maintain uninterrupted service, all staff leave has been canceled. Earlier, the Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges issued a circular on February 2 imposing nationwide transport restrictions, including a ban on taxis, pickups, microbuses, and trucks from midnight February 11 to midnight February 12, and a 72-hour motorcycle ban from midnight February 10 to midnight February 13. Exceptions will apply for emergency and election-related activities.

The decision ensures that metro rail remains the only public transport operating normally during the election period, supporting voter mobility across Dhaka.

The government has issued a gazette recognizing 474 individuals severely injured in the July Uprising as 'July Fighters' under a revised classification. The announcement was made through a notification from the Gazette Branch of the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs, published on February 5, 2026. According to the notice, the decision was made under the authority granted by Section 11(4) of the July Uprising Martyrs’ Families and July Fighters’ Welfare and Rehabilitation Ordinance, 2025 (Ordinance No. 30, 2025).

The gazette specifies that the recognized individuals fall under Class 'B' (severely injured) in the updated categorization. The order was issued with the approval of the competent authority, and the official list of names has been made available for public reference.

The publication of this gazette formalizes the government’s recognition of those injured during the July 2024 uprising, ensuring their inclusion in welfare and rehabilitation measures outlined in the 2025 ordinance.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has urged US President Donald Trump to carefully consider any decision to send weapons to Taiwan, calling the island an integral part of China. The two leaders held a phone conversation following recent visits to China by Western leaders, including UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. During the call, Xi reaffirmed China’s commitment to safeguarding its sovereignty and territorial integrity regarding Taiwan.

According to Chinese state media, Xi emphasized Beijing’s strong interest in maintaining constructive relations with Washington. He expressed optimism that both countries could find ways to resolve their differences on various issues. The conversation came after Xi’s virtual meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin and ahead of Trump’s planned visit to China in April, which Xi said he was eagerly anticipating.

The latest exchange marks a continuation of dialogue between the two leaders, who last spoke in November when Xi invited Trump to visit China.

Rabeya Islam Shampa, wife of slain Inkilab Mancha spokesperson Sharif Osman Hadi, along with the platform’s leaders and activists, staged a sit-in in front of the Chief Adviser’s residence, Jamuna, on Thursday, February 5. They demanded that the investigation into Hadi’s killing be conducted under the supervision of the United Nations. The protest began around 5 p.m., with key members including Abdullah Al Jaber and Fatima Tasnim Juma present at the scene.

Fatima Tasnim Juma told the media that Inkilab Mancha and Hadi’s widow were demonstrating to press for a UN-supervised investigation. She alleged that while the group had extended full cooperation to the government, administration, and political parties, they had not received reciprocal support. The protest follows the fatal shooting of Hadi on December 12 in Dhaka’s Paltan area, a day after the announcement of the 13th national election and referendum schedule.

Hadi was taken to several hospitals in Dhaka and later to Singapore, where he died on December 18. A murder attempt case filed on December 14 at Paltan Police Station was later converted into a murder case.

Israeli authorities have started constructing a new settlement road north of occupied East Jerusalem, according to the Jerusalem Governorate. The road extends from the city of Mikhmas in the east to the village of Qalandiya in the west, spanning about six kilometers. Officials said the project is part of a bypass network designed to connect Israeli settlements while avoiding Palestinian areas. Around 280 dunams of land have been confiscated from four Palestinian towns for the construction.

Palestinian officials argue that such infrastructure projects restrict Palestinian movement and entrench land confiscation. They accuse Israel of using settlement expansion and road construction to isolate East Jerusalem from the West Bank. The report notes that since the Gaza war began in October 2023, Israeli military operations in the West Bank have intensified, with increased killings, demolitions, forced evictions, and settlement expansion.

According to official Palestinian statistics, at least 1,110 Palestinians have been killed, about 11,500 injured, and more than 21,000 detained in the West Bank during that period.

Foreign Affairs Adviser Md. Touhid Hossain stated that no election is ever perfect, emphasizing that the key issue is whether an election truly reflects public opinion. He made the remarks on Thursday, February 5, during a discussion with journalists at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Hossain expressed hope that the upcoming election would be held within a week, noting that although some people remain doubtful, he sees no reason for the election not to take place.

He added that understanding public sentiment does not depend solely on numbers, as it becomes evident through broader observation. Referring to the previous four elections, he said each had reflected public opinion to some extent. Drawing a comparison with India, Hossain mentioned that even in the world’s largest democracy, elections are not flawless and face certain issues.

Responding to a question about whether foreign diplomats had exerted pressure regarding the Awami League’s participation in the election, Hossain clarified that while some diplomats had inquired about the matter, none had applied any pressure.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has seized two ships accused of smuggling fuel near Farsi Island, off the coast of Bushehr Province in the Persian Gulf. The IRGC Navy’s public relations office announced on Thursday that the vessels were captured following an operation in the strategically important waters around the small, barren island. According to the statement, more than one million liters of smuggled fuel were recovered, and 15 foreign crew members were detained and handed over to judicial authorities.

The IRGC alleged that the ships were part of an organized fuel smuggling network active for several months. Intelligence surveillance and targeted operations led to their identification and capture. However, the statement did not disclose the ships’ origin or destination, nor the nationalities of the detained sailors.

The incident occurred amid heightened tensions in the Persian Gulf, as the United States has recently increased its military presence in the region and President Donald Trump has threatened military action against Iran. Meanwhile, Iran and the United States have agreed to begin indirect nuclear talks in Muscat, Oman, on Friday through regional mediation.

The Ministry of Labour and Employment has declared February 10, 2026, a general holiday for workers and employees in industrial areas across Bangladesh in view of the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election. As a result, workers in factories and industries will enjoy three consecutive days off on February 10, 11, and 12. The decision was approved at a meeting of the Advisory Council held on Thursday.

According to the Chief Adviser’s Press Wing, factories implementing the February 10 holiday may later require workers to work one additional day to compensate for the leave. The decision followed a request from the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) and was finalized during the council meeting.

The announcement aims to facilitate workers’ participation in the national election and referendum while allowing industrial operations to recover the lost workday afterward.

National Citizens Party (NCP) convener Nahid Islam declared that Bangladesh’s government will be chosen solely by its people and that no foreign interference or dominance will be accepted. Speaking on Thursday at an election rally in Baroghopa, Kutubdia, Cox’s Bazar, organized to support the Jamaat-led 11-party alliance candidate, he asserted that Delhi’s influence over Bangladesh would no longer be tolerated.

Nahid Islam described those who adopted policies of extortion, land grabbing, and rehabilitation of fascists after August 5 as the country’s new oppressors, calling for resistance against them on February 12. He said the electoral struggle extended beyond the Cox’s Bazar-2 constituency, representing a national fight to free Bangladesh from domination, fascism, corruption, and exploitation.

Jamaat-e-Islami’s Nayeb-e-Ameer Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher emphasized the need for a free, fair, and acceptable election, urging the government and Election Commission to act impartially. Speakers urged voters to support the “scales” symbol to build a new Bangladesh, while candidate Hamidur Rahman Azad pledged fair salt prices, sustainable embankments, and improved ferry services.

Bangladesh and the United States are set to sign a counter-tariff trade agreement on Monday, February 9, in Washington, D.C. The formal activities related to the signing will begin a day earlier, on February 8. Although the event will span two days, Bangladesh’s Commerce Adviser Sheikh Bashir Uddin and Commerce Secretary Mahbubur Rahman will not attend in person.

According to the Ministry of Commerce, a five-member Bangladeshi delegation will travel to the United States to represent the country at the signing ceremony. A government order issued on February 3 appointed Additional Secretary and WTO Division Head Khadiza Nazneen as the delegation leader. Other members include Joint Secretaries Firoz Uddin Ahmed and Mustafizur Rahman, Senior Assistant Secretary Sheikh Shamsul Arefin, and NBR Commissioner Rois Uddin Khan. The delegation is scheduled to leave Dhaka on February 6 and return around February 10.

Meanwhile, Commerce Adviser Sheikh Bashir Uddin and Commerce Secretary Mahbubur Rahman have departed for Tokyo to attend the Bangladesh-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement signing program, taking place from February 4 to 6.