Sarowar Alam, an assistant programmer at the President’s Office, denied any involvement in the case filed over the hacking of the Jamaat-e-Islami chief’s X account. He made the statement on Thursday during a bail hearing before Dhaka’s Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Awlad Hossain Muhammad Jonaid. Police said he was shown arrested on Wednesday night under the Cyber Security Act in a case filed with Hatirjheel Police Station.

During the hearing, the investigating officer, SI Khondoker Saleh Abu Naim, sought to keep Alam in jail, while defense lawyer Md. Alamgir applied for bail, arguing that his client had been falsely implicated due to political vendetta. The prosecution lawyer, Abdur Razzak, opposed bail, alleging that Alam acted to create unrest and provoke voters by hacking the Jamaat chief’s account.

Alam told the court he was arrested from his home and had voluntarily handed over his mobile phone, laptop, and desktop to investigators. He insisted he had never imagined committing such an act and pledged full cooperation with the investigation.

The six-day-long strike by workers and employees at Chattogram Port has been suspended for two days following successful discussions with the shipping adviser. The decision was announced on Thursday, February 5, 2026, at a press conference held at the port building by Humayun Kabir and Ibrahim Khokon, coordinators of the Chattogram Port Protection Struggle Unity Council. Workers will resume full operations from Friday morning, bringing relief to port activities that had been paralyzed for nearly a week.

During the meeting, labor leaders presented four demands, including cancellation of the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) operation agreement, withdrawal of transfer orders for protesting employees, assurance against future legal actions, and removal of the current port chairman. The adviser accepted two of these demands and promised to consider the chairman’s removal. He also sought two days to consult the chief adviser regarding the NCT issue.

Union leaders warned that if the government does not withdraw from the NCT agreement within the given time, they will resume the strike from Sunday. The temporary suspension has restored confidence among traders and port stakeholders after days of disruption.

A Dhaka court has granted bail to Mohammad Saroware Alam, an assistant programmer at Bangabhaban, in a case filed over the hacking of Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman’s X (formerly Twitter) account. The order was issued on Thursday by Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Awlad Hossain Muhammad Junaid after a hearing. Saroware Alam was produced before the Dhaka CMM Court at 3 p.m., where the investigating officer, Sub-Inspector Khandaker Saleh Abu Nayeem of Hatirjheel Police Station, sought to keep him in custody.

During the hearing, defense lawyer Md. Alamgir argued for bail, while prosecution lawyer Md. Abdur Razzak opposed it, citing specific allegations and a forensic report from the accused’s mobile phone. The prosecution claimed the act aimed to create unrest before the election and warned that the accused might abscond if released. Saroware Alam denied the allegations, asserting his innocence and cooperation with investigators, saying he voluntarily handed over his mobile and laptop.

The case was filed under the Cyber Security Act at Hatirjheel Police Station following the hacking incident involving the Jamaat chief’s X account.

A recently released set of documents from the U.S. Department of Justice concerning convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein has reignited discussion around a 2017 interview with former Dutch banker Ronald Bernard. In that interview, Bernard alleged that some members of the global financial elite practiced ritualistic acts, including child sacrifice, as part of occult or Luciferian beliefs. He claimed to have been invited to a ceremony abroad that involved such practices, which he refused to attend.

Bernard told Netherlands-based DVM TV that many high-level financial figures he knew followed what he described as Luciferian worship. He said he had visited places known as the 'Church of Satan,' where rituals involving nudity and alcohol took place, though he admitted uncertainty about their authenticity. His statements resurfaced after the new Epstein-related files hinted at links between several influential individuals and Epstein’s network.

Epstein, who faced charges of child sex trafficking, was found dead in a New York jail in 2019 while awaiting trial. The renewed attention to Bernard’s claims and the Justice Department’s disclosures has again raised questions about the extent of hidden crimes behind wealth and power.

The Bangladesh government has decided to reduce value-added tax (VAT) on liquefied petroleum (LPG) gas, aiming to bring down its market price. The decision was made on Thursday, February 5, during an advisory council meeting chaired by Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus. Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam announced the decision at a press briefing held at the Foreign Service Academy in Dhaka.

According to Shafiqul Alam, the council approved a proposal to exempt the existing 7.5 percent VAT and 2 percent advance tax on local production and trading of LPG, while imposing a 7.5 percent VAT at the import stage. He stated that this adjustment would reduce the overall tax burden on LPG and consequently lower its retail price in the domestic market.

The government expects that the revised VAT structure will ease consumer costs and stabilize LPG prices across the country, providing some relief to households and businesses dependent on the fuel.

Chittagong Port is set to reopen on Friday morning after six days of shutdown due to worker protests against the government’s decision to appoint a foreign operator at the port’s New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT). Shipping Adviser M Sakhawat Hossain announced the resumption following a series of meetings at the port building on Thursday, warning that strict legal action would be taken against anyone obstructing operations.

The adviser said discussions with worker representatives were not fruitful but assured that the terms of the agreement with DP World would be reviewed to include workers’ concerns where possible. He emphasized that the government could not withdraw from its current position on the deal. Hossain also noted that the country was in a sensitive period ahead of elections and Ramadan, making it essential to keep the port operational.

Leaders of the Port Protection Struggle Council have suspended their protest programs for Friday and Saturday following the adviser’s assurances. They warned that if the government fails to make a positive decision within two days, they will resume their movement from Sunday.

A meeting held in Chattogram on Thursday to resolve the ongoing deadlock at the port ended without any decision. The session, attended by Shipping Adviser M Sakhawat Hossain, was convened amid a six-day blockade by port workers protesting the government’s decision to lease the NCT terminal to a foreign company. Despite the adviser’s presence and discussions with port authorities and stakeholders, the protesting workers refused to join the meeting and continued their demonstrations outside.

Sakhawat Hossain told reporters that no foreign operator had yet been appointed and that there was no justification for halting operations at the country’s key economic hub ahead of Ramadan and the national election. He expressed hope that the crisis could be resolved if workers agreed to sit for talks. However, the workers, led by the Port Protection Struggle Council coordinator Humayun Kabir, rejected an invitation to a follow-up meeting at the Boat Club, insisting that any discussion must take place at the port building.

The standoff remains unresolved, with security forces maintaining a presence around the port premises.

The Washington Post, owned by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, has begun large-scale layoffs affecting roughly one-third of its staff across all departments, according to a company spokesperson on Wednesday. The move will significantly reduce the size of the organization. Several foreign bureaus, including the entire Middle East desk, Ukraine coverage, and operations in Australia and India, have also been scaled back.

Employees were reportedly instructed via email to stay home on Wednesday morning, prompting questions from staff, former editors, and readers about Bezos’s silence and role in the decision. Many current and former employees expressed frustration, suggesting that Bezos is no longer as actively engaged with the newsroom as before.

U.S. media reports cited restructuring and financial challenges as the main reasons for the layoffs, rather than performance. Some dismissals were also linked to internal disputes or ideological differences. Former chief fact-checker Glenn Kessler wrote that Bezos appears focused on surviving under Donald Trump’s political climate rather than saving the paper, reflecting broader concerns about editorial and business decisions being influenced by non-journalistic factors.

The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) filed 1,561 cases over two days against traffic law violators across various areas of the capital. The operation was conducted on Tuesday and Wednesday, according to a statement issued Thursday by Muhammad Talebur Rahman, Deputy Commissioner of DMP’s Media and Public Relations Division. The cases involved different types of vehicles, including buses, trucks, covered vans, CNGs, and motorcycles.

According to DMP traffic sources, the highest number of cases was recorded in the Mirpur division with 300, followed by Uttara with 228 and Motijheel with 177. Other divisions such as Ramna, Lalbagh, Wari, Tejgaon, and Gulshan also reported numerous cases. During the operation, 523 vehicles were dumped and 213 were towed. The DMP stated that these actions are part of its ongoing efforts to maintain traffic discipline in Dhaka.

The traffic department confirmed that similar enforcement drives will continue across the city to ensure compliance with traffic regulations and improve road safety.

A Bangladesh tribunal has sentenced former Member of Parliament Saiful Islam and five others to death for crimes against humanity related to the killing of seven people and burning of six bodies in Ashulia during the July uprising. The verdict was delivered on Thursday afternoon by the three-member judicial panel of Tribunal-2, chaired by Justice Nazrul Islam Chowdhury. Seven others received life imprisonment, and two were sentenced to seven years in prison. Former Ashulia police sub-inspector Sheikh Abzalul Haque was acquitted.

The court also ordered the confiscation of Saiful Islam’s assets for distribution among the victims’ families. Those sentenced to death include former Ashulia police officials and a local youth leader. The tribunal area and the Supreme Court premises were placed under tight security, with police, RAB, BGB, army, and intelligence personnel deployed.

The ruling marks a significant judgment in a case tied to violent events during the July uprising, underscoring the tribunal’s continued pursuit of accountability for crimes against humanity.

The International Crimes Tribunal-2 on Thursday sentenced former MP Muhammad Saiful Islam and five others to death in the Ashulia seven-murder case, which involved the killing and burning of six bodies during the July Revolution. The tribunal also ordered the confiscation of Saiful’s properties for distribution among the victims’ families. The verdict was delivered at 1:15 p.m. by a three-member panel led by Justice Nazrul Islam Chowdhury.

The other death-row convicts are former Ashulia police officers AFM Sayed Rony, Abdul Malek, Biswajit Saha, constable Mukul Chowdhury, and Jubo League member Rony Bhuiyan. Seven others, including former DIG Syed Nurul Islam and SP Asaduzzaman Ripon, received life imprisonment, while two were sentenced to seven years. SI Afzalul Haque was pardoned for testifying as a state witness. The tribunal panel also included retired judges Manjurul Bashid and Nur Mohammad Shahriar Kabir.

The case stemmed from the August 5, 2024 incident in front of Ashulia Police Station, where five people were shot dead and one fatally injured before police allegedly set fire to a vehicle carrying the bodies.

The International Crimes Tribunal-2 on Thursday sentenced former Member of Parliament Saiful Islam to death in the Ashulia case involving the burning of six bodies and the killing of seven people during the July Revolution. The tribunal also ordered the confiscation of all his properties for distribution among the poor. The verdict was delivered at 1:15 p.m. by a three-member panel led by Justice Nazrul Islam Chowdhury, with judges Manjurul Bashid and Nur Mohammad Shahriar Kabir.

According to the prosecution, the case was filed against 16 accused, including eight who are currently in custody and eight, including Saiful Islam, who remain absconding. The tribunal heard testimony from 24 witnesses, including ASI Sheikh Abzalul Haque, who turned state witness and sought forgiveness from the victims’ families. The prosecution submitted 313 pages of documents, 62 witness statements, 168 pages of evidence, and two pen drives.

Chief Prosecutor Tazul Islam described the Ashulia killings as one of the most brutal acts in human history, asserting that the crimes were proven beyond doubt through video evidence and eyewitness testimony.

Heavy rainfall has caused extensive flooding across northern Morocco, prompting the evacuation of hundreds of thousands of people from four provinces. Authorities confirmed that rescue operations are ongoing to ensure public safety and minimize damage. In Larache province’s Souk El Khemis city, about 81,709 residents were evacuated, while 9,728 people were moved from Sidi Kacem, 2,853 from Sidi Slimane, and 14,133 from Kenitra.

Officials stated that emergency shelters have been established and essential assistance is being provided to those affected. The Ministry of Water reported that rising water levels in the Massen Valley triggered flash floods near Guercif in eastern Morocco early Wednesday.

Flooding has disrupted traffic on major roads across several provinces, including routes connecting Tangier and Tetouan, as well as roads in Larache, Kenitra, Sidi Kacem, and Sidi Slimane.

Serious allegations have emerged against a contractor over substandard roadwork on the M A Gani Road in Burichang upazila of Comilla. Locals claim that the contractor ignored tender conditions, used low-quality materials, and completed the carpeting hastily at night without following the approved schedule. As a result, the newly carpeted surface began to peel off within just seven days, sparking anger and concern among thousands of users of the Burichang–Brahmanpara road.

Residents alleged that the required quality standards were not maintained, with minimal bitumen used and carpeting thickness far below the specified 50 millimeters—sometimes only 5 to 25 millimeters. Witnesses reported that the contractor’s team continued nighttime repairs despite local objections, raising further doubts about transparency. Contractor Mohammad Abul Hossain acknowledged hearing about damaged sections and said repairs were being arranged.

Locals have demanded an impartial investigation into the project’s quality and strict action against those responsible. The Comilla Roads and Highways Department’s executive engineer, Khondaker Golam Mostafa, stated that post-completion re-carpeting should not occur and confirmed that an investigation is underway.

Venezuelan interim president Delcy Rodríguez has met with senior executives from Spain’s Repsol and France’s Maurel & Prom to discuss the country’s energy sector. The state-owned oil company PDVSA confirmed the meetings on Wednesday, describing them as the new administration’s first major talks with foreign investors since the ouster of Nicolás Maduro one month ago.

According to PDVSA’s separate statements, discussions with Repsol focused on ensuring Venezuela’s energy security and sovereignty while maintaining mutual interests and profitability. Talks with Maurel & Prom emphasized strengthening strategic partnerships aimed at increasing Venezuela’s oil production capacity.

Both Repsol and Maurel & Prom have long been involved in Venezuela’s oil production and trade, though their operations have faced disruptions in recent years due to strict U.S. sanctions.