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.

The United States has returned the entire $500 million from an initial oil sale to the Venezuelan government as part of an agreement between Caracas and Washington. A U.S. official, speaking anonymously on Tuesday, confirmed that the final $200 million had already been transferred to Venezuela. The funds were returned under a deal reached last month following the January 3 U.S. military operation in which Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro was detained.

According to the U.S. official, the arrangement was designed to allow Venezuela to generate revenue from its own oil to pay salaries for teachers, firefighters, and police officers, and to maintain government operations. The money had been temporarily held in Qatar as a short-term measure to ensure that Venezuela could access the funds necessary for running its administration.

The official emphasized that the return of the funds was intended to prevent institutional collapse in Venezuela while maintaining essential public services.

A prolonged strike at Chattogram Port has escalated into a national crisis, disrupting supply chains and threatening market stability ahead of Ramadan. The strike, initially an eight-hour protest, has turned indefinite following opposition to the government’s plan to lease the New Mooring Container Terminal to foreign operator DP World. As a result, over 120 ships are waiting to unload, including at least 35 carrying essential Ramadan goods such as dates, lentils, chickpeas, sugar, and edible oil. Importers face rising storage costs, and analysts warn that these expenses will likely push consumer prices higher.

The port’s operations have slowed to half capacity, causing severe congestion and revenue losses at the Chattogram Customs House. Business leaders and shipping agents report that each day of delay costs importers tens of thousands of dollars, which will ultimately burden consumers. The government has banned gatherings near the port, ordered regular labor bookings, and formed a six-member committee to assess revenue losses and identify those responsible.

Labor leaders insist the strike will continue until the lease plan is canceled, while port authorities have declined to comment on the pending agreement with DP World.

Operations at Chattogram Port’s New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) have come to a standstill due to an indefinite strike called by the Nationalist Workers Party and the Sramik Oikya Parishad (SKOP). The strike, initially an eight-hour work stoppage, escalated into a full shutdown after the government decided to appoint a foreign operator at the terminal. Despite warnings and transfer orders from the Ministry of Shipping, protesting workers have refused to leave their posts. The port has now accumulated 37,000 containers, with 120 cargo ships waiting offshore.

The unrest follows a High Court ruling on November 30 that upheld the legality of hiring a foreign operator, prompting preparations for a contract between Chattogram Port Authority and global terminal operator DP World. However, the agreement, scheduled for February 1, was postponed amid the protests. Business leaders and port users have expressed concern over the prolonged disruption, warning of severe impacts on trade and the national economy.

Port officials say the situation is being monitored by the government’s top level, while industry associations caution that continued paralysis could damage Bangladesh’s global trade reputation and cause market instability.

Foreign loan approvals for Bangladesh’s private sector fell sharply in fiscal year 2024–25, with only USD 454.6 million approved across 43 applications, compared to over USD 1.4158 billion for 76 applications the previous year. The Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) reported the 75 percent decline in its annual report, attributing it to reduced investment and lower demand for imported capital machinery.

BIDA officials explained that the slowdown in domestic investment has reduced the need for foreign borrowing. Policy Exchange of Bangladesh’s chairman Dr. M Masrur Reaz noted that private sector credit growth dropped to 6.2 percent, the lowest in decades, reflecting weak domestic demand and slower economic output. He expressed hope that investment and loan demand would recover under a newly elected government.

Sources added that higher global interest rates and the depreciation of the taka against the US dollar have increased borrowing costs, further discouraging foreign loans. BIDA’s recent reform allowing short-term loans to be processed directly through banks also affected the reported figures.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s Detective Branch (DB) has reported progress in the investigation into the hacking of Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman’s verified X (formerly Twitter) account. At a press briefing at DMP Media Center on Wednesday night, DB Chief Shafiqul Islam said that Mohammad Saroware Alam, an assistant programmer at Bangabhaban, has been shown arrested in a case filed with Hatirjheel Police Station. He added that Alam’s direct involvement in the hacking would be confirmed only after forensic and detailed investigation.

According to police, the case was filed under the Cyber Security Act by Sirajul Islam, coordinator of Jamaat’s National Election Steering Committee, naming Alam and 20 unidentified persons as accused. The DB seized Alam’s mobile phone, computer, and other devices for forensic examination. The investigation follows a January 31 complaint alleging that Dr. Rahman’s account was hacked to post misleading and offensive content about working women, which was later deleted after public criticism.

Police stated that several other senior Jamaat leaders’ social media accounts were also recently targeted. The DB urged the public to avoid spreading unverified information and assured a transparent investigation.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has filed a case under the Cyber Security Act following the hacking of its Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman’s official X (Twitter) account. The complaint was lodged on Wednesday night around 8:30 p.m. at Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s Hatirjheel Police Station by Sirajul Islam, coordinator of Jamaat’s National Election Steering Committee. The case names Bangabhaban official Mohammad Saroware Alam and 20 unidentified individuals as accused.

According to the case statement, on January 31, unauthorized access was gained to Dr. Rahman’s X account, where posts containing misogynistic, obscene, and hate-inciting content were published. The party later filed a general diary at Hatirjheel Police Station after discovering the incident. Police confirmed receiving the case and noted that the complaint includes both named and unnamed suspects.

The report also mentions that several senior Jamaat leaders, including Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar, have recently faced similar cyberattacks on their social media accounts. The investigation is expected to focus on identifying those responsible for the coordinated hacking incidents.

Bangladesh Bank has purchased an additional 171 million US dollars from 16 commercial banks. The transaction took place on Wednesday, February 4, and was confirmed by the bank’s Executive Director and Spokesperson, Arif Hossain Khan. The cutoff price for the purchase was set at 122.30 taka per dollar.

According to the information provided, this is the second round of dollar purchases in February, bringing the total for the month to 389.5 million dollars. The central bank has been conducting multiple auctions to buy dollars during the 2025–26 fiscal year. As of the latest data, Bangladesh Bank has purchased a cumulative total of 4.32 billion dollars through these auctions.

The continued dollar purchases indicate the central bank’s ongoing efforts to manage foreign exchange reserves and stabilize the domestic currency market, as reflected in its repeated interventions through auctions.

A special operation by the Bangladesh Army in Babuganj, Barishal, led to the arrest of notorious criminal and drug dealer Shahid Pyada, aged 49, along with eight of his associates early Wednesday, February 4. The raid took place in the Bir Sreshtho Jahangirnagar Union area, where the army recovered yaba tablets, marijuana, drug paraphernalia, a large quantity of illegal cigarettes, and locally made weapons. Shahid Pyada was detained from his residence, while his associates were captured from his fish enclosure area.

The detainees, including Shahid Pyada, Shamim Sheikh, Shamim Mridha, Sirajul Islam, Shawon Sheikh, Faruk Sheikh, Washim Bepari, Mamun Khan, and Sultan, were handed over to Babuganj Police Station for legal action. The operation was conducted by a special team from the 62 East Bengal Regiment under the 6 Infantry Brigade of the 7 Infantry Division.

The arrests mark a significant step in the army’s ongoing efforts to curb organized crime and drug trafficking in the Barishal region, according to the report.

Police in Lakshmipur have filed a case and arrested businessman Sohel Rana after seizing six illegally prepared ballot seals from his printing shop, Mariam Printers, located on Old Court Road. Acting on a tip-off, officers also confiscated a computer and a mobile phone during the raid. Additional Superintendent of Police (Administration and Finance) Hossain Mohammad Raihan Kazemi confirmed the arrest on Wednesday and said Sohel’s statement would be recorded under Section 164 of the Criminal Procedure Code. The name of the second accused will be disclosed later for investigative reasons.

The incident sparked political tension as the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami held separate press conferences on Tuesday night, each blaming the other. BNP Joint Secretary General and Lakshmipur-3 candidate Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Annie alleged that Sohel was affiliated with Jamaat and that the group was involved in the seal incident. In response, Jamaat’s Lakshmipur-3 candidate and Dhaka North Secretary Rezaul Karim denied any link, asserting that Sohel was not connected to their party.

Police sources said Sohel claimed he made the seals on order but the client never collected them, adding that he had communicated with the client via WhatsApp voice messages.

Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) has arrested Emran Mia, 30, the main suspect in the murder of tomtom driver Kashem Ali in Bahubal, Habiganj. The arrest took place on February 3 at around 1:30 p.m. during a raid at Duliakhal Point in Habiganj Sadar upazila. The CNG autorickshaw used in the killing was also recovered. Emran, son of Dorbesh Ali, is from Lamatashi village in Mirpur Union, the same village as the victim.

According to PBI sources, the operation was led by Inspector Sujan Chandra Pal, the investigating officer, along with SI Mahmud, ASI Mir Shahin, and driver Constable Azim Molla. Investigators said Emran had been evading arrest for a long time by moving between different locations. Earlier, another accused named Faruk was taken into remand, through which PBI learned about Emran’s involvement.

Using advanced information technology, PBI has reportedly gathered all necessary evidence against Emran, marking a significant development in the high-profile murder case in Bahubal.

Joint forces arrested three individuals, including a commander of the Rohingya armed group ARSA, in two separate operations in Ukhiya, Cox’s Bazar, on Wednesday. The detainees were identified as ARSA commander Zahid Hossain alias Lalu, 38, and two alleged drug traffickers, Mizan, 35, and Rakib, 18. Authorities recovered local and foreign weapons, ammunition, and narcotics during the raids.

According to military sources, an army team from Ukhiya Army Camp conducted a raid in Palongkhali Union’s Nolbonia area based on intelligence, detaining two yaba traders and seizing drug paraphernalia, local liquor, and illegal weapons used in robbery and smuggling. In a separate morning operation, ARSA commander Lalu was captured from a tea shop inside Kutupalong Camp-1 (West), where a pistol and two rounds of ammunition were found on him.

Officials stated that legal action has been taken against the detainees. Sources said Lalu had long been involved in abduction, extortion, and arms trade within the Rohingya camps, and was accused of links to multiple killings under former ARSA leader Ataullah Jununi.