Public transport across Germany was largely paralyzed on Monday as thousands of bus and tram workers went on strike amid freezing temperatures. The strike, called by the major trade union Verdi, affected nearly all of Germany’s 16 federal states except one, leaving passengers stranded at empty stops. About 150 municipal transport companies suspended operations in cities including Berlin, Hamburg, and Bremen, causing widespread travel disruption.

Verdi said it decided to strike after talks with municipal and state employers over working conditions broke down last week. Representing around 100,000 transport workers, the union is demanding shorter shifts, longer rest breaks, and higher pay for night and weekend work. Verdi’s chief negotiator, Serhat Kanyurt, stated that the strike began as planned and urged transport authorities to return to negotiations.

Union officials said services in Stuttgart, Karlsruhe, and Freiburg would remain halted all day. Deutsche Bahn, the national rail operator, confirmed its S-Bahn and long-distance trains were running normally as its employees are not part of Verdi. Union leaders warned that if no progress is made in talks scheduled for February 9, more severe actions could follow.

A Dhaka court has imposed a travel ban on former Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge Court public prosecutor Abdullah Abu, his wife Monowara Begum, and their two children, Kazi Ahsan Ullah Shibli and Kazi Amreen Sultana. The order was issued on Monday by Dhaka Senior Special Judge Md Sabbir Foyez, according to court bench assistant Md Riaz Hossain.

The Anti-Corruption Commission’s assistant director Neel Kamal Pal had earlier requested the restriction, citing allegations that Abdullah Abu, in collusion with judges of the CMM and Judge Courts, secured bail, acquittals, and reduced sentences for gold traders, drug dealers, and various VIP defendants in exchange for large sums of money. The petition stated that Abu allegedly laundered the illicit earnings abroad and acquired assets beyond known income in his and his family members’ names.

The investigation into these allegations is ongoing. The court concluded that the travel ban was necessary to ensure a fair inquiry, as credible sources indicated that the accused might attempt to flee the country.

The Bangladesh government has decided to sell beef and other essential protein items at fair prices during the holy month of Ramadan to ease consumer expenses. The decision was made on Sunday, February 1, at a meeting held at the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock. Under the plan, beef will be sold at 650 taka per kilogram, processed chicken at 250 taka per kilogram, milk at 80 taka per liter, and eggs at 8 taka each.

Farida Akhter, adviser to the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, said the scope of fair-price sales will be expanded this year compared to last year. A total of 48 sales centers will be set up across Dhaka and other regions under her supervision. Director General of the Department of Livestock Services, Dr. Md. Abu Sufian, stated that the government has coordinated with suppliers and stakeholders to ensure smooth distribution.

Officials added that this year’s initiative will cover more locations than before, aiming to reduce hardship for fasting citizens during Ramadan.

The Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock of Bangladesh has clarified that the government has not granted any approval for hilsa fish farming through artificial or indoor methods. In a press release issued on Monday, the ministry urged the public and all concerned parties not to be misled by misinformation or rumors circulating in the media and on social platforms regarding such farming initiatives.

According to the statement, the ministry reviewed recent discussions and reports about hilsa cultivation using recirculating aquaculture systems in controlled environments. A meeting held on February 1 at the ministry, chaired by adviser Farida Akhter, concluded that hilsa is a vital geographical indicator product deeply linked to Bangladesh’s rivers, coastal ecosystems, food security, and the livelihoods of many fishers. The ministry emphasized that hilsa production depends on natural breeding cycles and river-based environments, making any artificial cultivation initiative highly sensitive and policy-dependent.

The ministry further stated that any research or experimental activity related to hilsa must comply with existing laws, policies, and national interests, and must receive prior approval from relevant authorities. Unauthorized activities will not be accepted.

A devastating snowstorm across the United States has claimed more than 100 lives, with the highest fatalities reported in New York, Kentucky, and Tennessee. North Carolina also experienced multiple deaths and over a thousand vehicle collisions due to icy roads. In Kannapolis, 14 inches of snow were recorded, while Charlotte and Greenville saw more than 11 inches, marking Charlotte’s fourth-highest snowfall on record.

Significant snowfall was also reported in South Carolina, Georgia, and Virginia. North Carolina Governor Josh Stein confirmed two deaths from road accidents. In Florida, temperatures dropped to record lows, with Vero Beach and Melbourne reaching 27 and 26 degrees respectively, breaking decades-old February records. Along the East Coast, winds of 20 to 30 miles per hour intensified the cold.

Weather forecasts suggest that temperatures in the northeastern United States may rise slightly in the coming week, with wind speeds expected to decrease.

Ferry services on the Mongla River in Bagerhat have been severely disrupted due to a navigability crisis, leaving operations suspended for about 20 hours each day. As a result, ambulances, trucks, and other vehicles are forced to wait for high tide to cross, causing widespread suffering among residents and traders. The disruption has particularly affected the transport of perishable goods and emergency patients.

According to the Roads and Highways Department in Bagerhat, the ferry service was launched in 2003 after two terminals were built at a cost of around 2.5 million taka. Initially, the service reduced transport time and costs, becoming popular among locals. However, within a few years, siltation began to obstruct navigation, and the situation has now worsened, with only one ferry currently operating.

Mongla municipal administrator and Upazila Nirbahi Officer Sharmin Akter Sumi acknowledged the problem, stating that repeated terminal extensions failed to solve it. She said dredging is the only permanent solution and that the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority has been contacted to take prompt action.

U.S. President Donald Trump has announced a reduction in tariffs on Indian goods following a phone conversation with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Under the new agreement, the U.S. will lower tariffs on Indian products from 25 percent to 18 percent, while India has pledged to eliminate tariffs and non-tariff barriers on American goods. Modi expressed gratitude to Trump for the decision, calling it beneficial for both nations.

Trump stated on his social media platform Truth Social that the discussion also covered the Russia–Ukraine war. He claimed Modi agreed to stop purchasing Russian oil and instead buy from the U.S. and Venezuela, leading to the removal of an additional 25 percent penalty previously imposed on India. As part of the deal, India will purchase over $500 billion worth of U.S. goods, including energy, technology, agricultural products, and coal.

The agreement follows months of trade tension after the U.S. imposed tariffs of up to 50 percent on Indian goods last August, sharply reducing Indian exports. The new deal is viewed as a major step toward easing that strain. (Sources: BBC, Reuters)

Samomilito Islami Bank PLC held its fourth board meeting on Monday at the City Center in Motijheel, Dhaka. The meeting was chaired by the bank’s chairman, Mohammad Ayub Mia, PhD, and attended by members of the board of directors. The executive director in charge of the Bank Resolution Department of Bangladesh Bank also participated in the session.

Administrators from five banks currently undergoing merger processes with Samomilito Islami Bank were present at the meeting upon the board’s invitation. The gathering marked a continuation of the bank’s ongoing coordination with regulatory authorities and merging institutions.

The meeting reflected the bank’s efforts to advance its merger process and strengthen institutional collaboration under the supervision of Bangladesh Bank.

The Chattogram Port Protection Struggle Council has declared a 24-hour work stoppage starting at 8 a.m. Tuesday to protest the government’s decision to lease the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) to a foreign company. The announcement was made Monday afternoon at the port building premises by the council’s coordinator and nationalist labor leader Md. Humayun Kabir.

According to Kabir, port workers and employees have been demonstrating for the past three days against what they describe as a conspiracy to hand over the port to foreign control. He said participation in the protests has been growing, disrupting import deliveries, container handling, and the movement of cargo vehicles inside the port. Kabir accused the government of ignoring the port’s interests and instead transferring leaders involved in the movement, which has further angered workers.

The council demanded an immediate halt to the process of appointing a foreign operator at NCT and the cancellation of transfer orders for protesting workers. Kabir warned that if these demands are not met, more severe programs will follow.

Industry leaders and policymakers have called for coordinated efforts to strengthen Bangladesh’s light engineering sector to make it more export-oriented and globally competitive. The call came at the opening of the three-day Bangladesh Light Engineering Expo 2026, organized by the Bangladesh Engineering Industry Owners Association (BAISHIMAS) in Dhaka on February 2. Speakers emphasized the need for capacity building, technological advancement, and policy support as the country prepares to graduate from Least Developed Country (LDC) status in November 2026, which will gradually reduce duty-free export benefits.

EC4J Project Director Md. Abdur Rahim Khan said Bangladesh has yet to fully capitalize on global opportunities in light engineering despite its growing importance in export structures. He stressed enhancing government implementation capacity and private sector innovation. World Bank specialist Hosna Ferdous Sumi highlighted quality compliance, production efficiency, and cost reduction as key challenges, while BAISHIMAS President Abdur Razzak noted the sector’s 3% GDP contribution and potential to reach USD 12.56 billion in exports by 2030 with proper policy and investment.

Speakers also underscored the need for technology transfer, research support, and easier financing to accelerate industrial diversification and domestic market growth.

A Dhaka court on Monday, February 2, 2026, ordered the imprisonment of Biman Bangladesh Airlines Managing Director and CEO Shafiqul Rahman, his wife Bithi, and two others in a case filed over the alleged torture of an eleven-year-old domestic worker. Metropolitan Magistrate Raju Ahmed issued the order after police arrested the four from Uttara the previous night. The prosecution was represented by Sub-Inspector Tahmina Akter, who confirmed the court’s decision.

The case was filed by the victim’s father, hotel employee Golam Mostafa, who alleged that his daughter Mohona had been severely abused while working at Rahman’s residence in Uttara Sector 9. According to the complaint, Mohona was employed there in June of the previous year, and after November 2, she was no longer allowed to meet her family. On January 31, she was returned to her father with serious injuries and was later hospitalized in Gazipur. During questioning, Mohona reportedly described repeated beatings and burn injuries inflicted by Rahman, his wife, and others.

The court rejected a bail plea from the defense and ordered all four accused to remain in custody pending further proceedings.

Railway police in Bhairab, Kishoreganj, have arrested Meraj Mia, 25, the prime suspect in the murder of college student Abu Sufian, also known as Shah Alam, aged 17. The arrest took place late Sunday night, February 1, during raids in different parts of the upazila. Meraj, a known mugger with 14 prior cases, and his associate Ibrahim, 24, were detained in connection with the killing near Bhairab Railway Junction.

According to the case statement and police sources, Sufian had boarded the intercity Egarsindhur Express from Dhaka’s Kamalapur station on January 29 to attend a family event in Kishoreganj. When he failed to reach home, his family grew worried, and his phone was found switched off. Around 2 a.m., police recovered his bloodied body beside the railway tracks near Bhairab’s Newtown area. The Police Bureau of Investigation later confirmed his identity through fingerprint analysis.

Police recovered Sufian’s mobile phone from the suspects and believe he was killed during a mugging attempt. Efforts are ongoing to apprehend others involved in the incident.

Buddhist spiritual leader the Dalai Lama has won his first Grammy Award in the audiobook, narration, and storytelling category. The award was announced at the Grammy ceremony held in Los Angeles, recognizing the audio version of his book 'Meditations: The Reflections of His Holiness the Dalai Lama'. Currently living in exile in India, the 90-year-old leader expressed gratitude, calling the honor a recognition of shared human values rather than a personal achievement.

In a social media message, the Dalai Lama said he accepted the award with humility and gratitude, emphasizing peace, compassion, care for the environment, and unity as essential for the collective well-being of humanity. The audio project featured artists including Rufus Wainwright and Maggie Rogers, with Wainwright accepting the award on his behalf.

The Dalai Lama fled Tibet in 1959 after a Chinese military crackdown and has since lived in India. The Chinese government labels him a separatist and claims authority over his succession, a claim he rejects, asserting that the decision rests solely with his office in India.

A private car driver was killed in a road accident on Monday morning in Gopalganj’s Kashiani upazila. The incident occurred at the Pona Bus Stand area on the Dhaka-Khulna highway when a Dhaka-bound bus of Sohag Paribahan (Dhaka Metro Ba 15-2478) collided with a private car (Dhaka Metro Ga 27-0248) coming from the opposite direction. The driver, identified as Mohiuddin Mondal from Savar, Dhaka, died on the spot.

Inspector Md Masud Khan of Bhatiapara Highway Police confirmed the incident, stating that the car was severely damaged in the collision. Members of the Bhatiapara Fire Service recovered the victim’s body, and highway police quickly restored normal traffic flow on the highway.

The report did not mention any other casualties or the condition of the bus passengers. Authorities have not yet provided further details regarding the cause of the accident or any subsequent investigation.

A ride-sharing motorcyclist named Abdul Hamid Khan, aged 45, was killed after being hit by a speeding pickup van while crossing the road near Gate No. 2 in Dhaka’s Hatirjheel area shortly after midnight on Sunday. Witnesses said Hamid, who lived in Tejgaon’s Kunipara and worked for ride-sharing apps, was returning home after parking his motorcycle when the vehicle struck him and fled the scene. He was taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, where doctors declared him dead at 12:50 a.m.

Police and local sources reported that the pickup van sped away immediately after the collision. They suspect the driver lost control due to excessive speed on the nearly empty road. The body has been sent to the hospital morgue for autopsy, and the concerned police station has been informed.

Following the incident, social media users renewed calls for safer roads, urging authorities to curb the reckless speed of cargo vehicles at night in the Hatirjheel area. Police have begun collecting CCTV footage to identify the fleeing pickup.