A joint team of police and army recovered 95 crude bombs from the Poragacha Byaparikandi area of Moktarer Char Union in Naria upazila, Shariatpur, early Monday. The explosives were found stored in 12 buckets inside a mosque veranda and houses belonging to local residents Khalil Peda, Jilu Madbar, and Bachchu Peda. Three individuals—Mehedi Hasan, Bachchu Peda, and Roni Peda—were detained during the operation, which also yielded several sharp weapons including spears and machetes.

Sub-inspector Akhil Ranjan Sarkar brought the seized items and detainees to Naria police station around 8 a.m. Police said the operation followed intelligence reports about explosives stored for possible sabotage. The area had previously seen similar incidents, including the recovery of 60 crude bombs in August and a fatal explosion in a nearby village in January. In the past three days, police also recovered 22 crude bombs from three other locations in Naria.

Officer-in-Charge Bahar Mia stated that law enforcement remains active ahead of the election, with cases being filed and investigations underway to determine who stored the explosives and for what purpose.

China has executed four additional members of a Myanmar-based mafia group connected to a large-scale online fraud operation, according to state media reports published on February 2, 2026. The four individuals, belonging to the notorious Bai family, were convicted by a court in Guangdong Province for crimes including fraud and murder.

The report noted that in November of the previous year, five other members of the Bai family, including their leader Bai Suocheng, had been sentenced to death. Bai Suocheng later died of illness following his sentencing. Earlier, Chinese authorities had already executed 11 members of the same family for their involvement in running scam centers in Myanmar.

Separately, a court in Zhejiang Province had sentenced members of the Ming family in September of the previous year for multiple serious crimes such as murder, illegal detention, fraud, and running gambling operations. The Ming family was among several influential groups controlling Laukkai, a small town near the China–Myanmar border that became known for casinos and nightlife under their rule.

The army has arrested BNP leader Mohammad Kayes, the prime accused in the murder case of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) leader S M Sohel. The arrest took place on Monday in the Baklia police station area of Chittagong. A police officer from Baklia confirmed the arrest, stating that Kayes was first brought to their station and later transferred to Patiya police station. However, Patiya Police Officer-in-Charge Ziaur Haque said the accused was still at Baklia station and had not yet been handed over.

According to the report, Sohel was killed on April 22, 2022, in the Budhpura Bazar area under Patiya police station following a dispute over local dominance. The case was filed by Sohel’s brother, Abul Kasem, chairman of Kashiyaiash Union Parishad, naming Kayes as the main accused along with several others. Sohel was also the nephew of Khalilur Rahman, chairman of KDS Group and president of the Chittagong Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

The arrest marks a significant development in a case that has remained under investigation since 2022, with local authorities coordinating between Baklia and Patiya police stations for custody procedures.

A sudden earthquake measuring 4.8 on the Richter scale struck large parts of Jammu and Kashmir early Monday morning. According to preliminary data from the German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ), the tremor occurred at 5:35 a.m. The National Center for Seismology reported that the epicenter was located in Budgam district, about 10 kilometers below the surface, at coordinates 33.9°N and 74.76°E.

The quake was felt across several nearby areas, including Charar-i-Sharif, Pulwama, Srinagar, and Shopian. Many residents, awakened by the shaking, rushed outdoors in fear. Around the same time, a mild earthquake was also recorded in India’s Andaman region.

As of the latest reports, no casualties or property damage have been reported from the affected areas.

Bangladesh Bank announced that a newly designed Tk10 banknote will enter circulation on Tuesday. The note will first be issued from the central bank’s Motijheel office and later distributed through other branches. The announcement was made in a press release on Monday. The new note, signed by Governor Dr. Ahsan H. Mansur, measures 123 mm by 60 mm and features a watermark of a Royal Bengal Tiger’s face with a predominantly pink color scheme.

According to the central bank, the front side of the note displays an image of the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque and a background design of the national flower, the water lily. The reverse side features an image titled “Graffiti–2024.” Security features include a 2 mm-wide security thread inscribed with “10 Taka,” which changes color from red to green when tilted, and a see-through image showing the number “10” when held against light. Microprinted text “BANGLADESH BANK” appears on both sides.

Existing paper notes and coins will remain legal tender. Additionally, non-exchangeable specimen notes will be available for collectors at the Taka Museum for a fixed price.

Dhaka has ranked first among 100 cities worldwide for air pollution, according to data recorded on Monday morning. The Air Quality Index (AQI) in the Bangladeshi capital reached 259, categorized as very unhealthy. Measurements were taken around 8:15 a.m., and Swiss-based monitoring organization IQAir reported that pollution levels in one area of the city exceeded 400. Eight locations across Dhaka recorded particularly poor air quality.

At the same time, Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Cairo in Egypt ranked second and third, with AQI readings of 247 and 227 respectively. The report noted that AQI levels above 200 are considered very unhealthy, while readings over 300 are deemed hazardous. The AQI scale classifies 0–50 as good, 51–100 as moderate, 101–150 as unhealthy for sensitive groups, 151–200 as unhealthy, and 201–300 as very unhealthy.

The data highlights Dhaka’s ongoing struggle with severe air pollution, which continues to pose serious health risks to residents.

For the second consecutive day, workers and employees at Chattogram Port have enforced a blockade protesting the government’s decision to appoint a foreign operator at the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT). The program, organized under the banners of the Nationalist Workers Party and the Workers-Employees Unity Council, has brought the country’s main import-export hub to a standstill. Although limited container handling continues at the jetty, no new goods are entering or leaving the port, raising fears of congestion in yards and off-docks.

The protest follows a High Court ruling favoring the government’s plan to hand over NCT operations to global terminal operator DP World. In response, the port authority has taken a hardline stance, transferring 11 workers so far and preparing a list of 180 for further action. Additional police have been deployed, and gatherings have been banned in the port area. A committee has been formed to assess financial losses, which stakeholders estimate to exceed hundreds of crores of taka.

Business leaders warn that prolonged disruption could harm the national economy, particularly the garment sector, and cause market instability if the deadlock continues.

Cash holdings outside banks in Bangladesh surged by about Tk 410 billion over December and January, according to Bangladesh Bank data confirmed by its spokesperson Arif Hossain Khan. The increase coincides with intensified campaign activities for the upcoming 13th parliamentary election scheduled for February 12. The central bank attributes the rise to withdrawals by candidates covering election-related expenses, while the Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) is monitoring large or suspicious transactions.

Bangladesh Bank data show that cash outside banks rose from Tk 2.69 trillion in November to Tk 3.10 trillion in January. This reverses a previous downward trend observed from July to November. Former World Bank economist Zahid Hossain noted that such increases before elections are not unusual, as campaign spending often involves cash transactions. The BFIU has tightened oversight since January 11, requiring weekly reports on cash transactions of Tk 1 million or more.

Additionally, mobile financial services will be restricted from February 8 to 13 to prevent misuse of funds for voter influence. Daily transaction limits will be capped at Tk 10,000, with a maximum of Tk 1,000 per transaction, as directed by the BFIU at the Election Commission’s request.

Bangladesh and the United States are expected to sign a bilateral trade agreement in Washington on February 9, aimed at reducing U.S. counter-tariffs on Bangladeshi goods and expanding trade benefits. Commerce Secretary Mahbubur Rahman said the draft agreement has been prepared and submitted for approval. He confirmed that the signing date has been set and that final tariff rates will be determined by that day.

The U.S. initially imposed counter-tariffs of 37 percent and later 35 percent on Bangladeshi products under the Trump administration, but after several rounds of talks, the rate was reduced to 20 percent on July 31 last year. Although no formal agreement was signed then, discussions continued to secure further tariff cuts and duty-free access for garments made with U.S. cotton. To gain these benefits, Bangladesh has pledged to reduce its trade deficit with the U.S. by increasing imports of Boeing aircraft, fuel, LNG, wheat, and cotton.

The Commerce Secretary also noted that Bangladesh is pursuing free trade agreements with other countries, including Japan and South Korea, to address post-LDC graduation challenges and enhance export growth.

The three-day Bangladesh Light Engineering Expo 2026 began on Monday, February 2, at the Shaheed Abu Sayeed International Convention Center in Dhaka’s Minto Road. The event was inaugurated by Md. Abdur Rahim Khan, Project Director of the Export Competitiveness for Jobs (EC4J) project. The expo, running until February 4, showcases the latest technologies, machinery, and innovative products from the country’s light engineering sector.

Speakers emphasized coordinated efforts to make the sector export-oriented and competitive as Bangladesh prepares to graduate from LDC status in November. They highlighted the need for capacity building, technology advancement, and policy support to offset the loss of duty-free trade benefits. The World Bank’s Hosna Ferdous Sumi noted that both export and domestic markets, worth around USD 8 billion, offer major opportunities but stressed quality compliance and production efficiency as key challenges.

BSCIC President Abdur Razzak said the sector contributes about 3% to GDP, employs 300,000 skilled workers, and meets half of the USD 8.2 billion domestic demand. With proper policy and investment, exports could reach USD 12.56 billion by 2030, he added.

Testimony in the murder case of lawyer Saiful Islam Alif began on Monday at the Chattogram Divisional Speedy Trial Tribunal, presided over by Judge Md Zahidul Haque. During the hearing, all accused except Chandan Kumar Dhar alias Chinmoy Krishna Das, who remains in prison, were produced before the court under tight security. The victim’s father and plaintiff, Jamal Uddin, gave his statement as the first witness, while accused Chinmoy Krishna Das joined the proceedings virtually.

According to the plaintiff’s counsel, Advocate Md Raihanul Wazed Chowdhury, the trial gained momentum with the plaintiff’s testimony, though the defense repeatedly sought adjournments to delay proceedings. The court set the next hearing for February 18 after the defense requested time for cross-examination. The investigating officer has reportedly summoned around 50 witnesses in the case.

Additional police were deployed around the court premises during the hearing to ensure security.

The Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) has increased the retail price of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) for February. The price of a 12-kilogram LPG cylinder has been raised by 50 taka to 1,356 taka. The new rate will take effect from 6 p.m. on Monday. Alongside, the price of autogas has also been increased by 2.34 taka per liter, setting the new consumer price at 62.14 taka per liter including VAT.

According to BERC Chairman Jalal Ahmed, the February adjustment follows the previous revision on January 4, when the price of a 12-kilogram LPG cylinder was raised by 53 taka to 1,306 taka. Similarly, autogas prices were last adjusted on January 4, when the rate was increased by 2.48 taka per liter to 59.80 taka per liter including VAT.

The latest price adjustment reflects BERC’s monthly review process for LPG and autogas rates, which are periodically revised based on market conditions and other regulatory considerations.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has expressed deep concern after 40 accused, including the prime suspect, were granted anticipatory bail in the murder case of Maulana Rezaul Karim, secretary of Jamaat’s Sreebardi upazila unit in Sherpur. The party’s Secretary General, Mia Golam Porwar, issued a statement to the media on Monday voicing the concern.

In the statement, Porwar said that Rezaul Karim was brutally beaten to death during a planned attack at a public event related to an election manifesto announcement. He described the killing as a national tragedy and questioned the granting of bail before justice was served, saying it undermined public confidence in the justice system and raised questions about citizens’ safety.

Porwar warned that such a decision in a clear and high-profile murder case could embolden criminals and encourage future political violence. He demanded the immediate arrest of the accused and called for a fair, impartial, and speedy trial, urging the higher court to take necessary steps to ensure justice.

Global oil prices declined on Monday following remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump expressing optimism about reaching a deal with Iran. In early Asian trading, West Texas Intermediate crude dropped 3.4 percent to 62.99 dollars per barrel, while Brent crude fell 3.2 percent to 67.09 dollars.

The price movement followed weeks of heightened tension between Washington and Tehran. After anti-government protests in Iran were met with a crackdown, Trump had threatened military action and ordered an aircraft carrier to the Middle East. He has been pressing for a new agreement over Iran’s nuclear program. On Sunday, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei compared the protests to an “uprising” and warned that any military intervention would lead to a regional war.

Responding to Khamenei’s comments, Trump told reporters he hoped for a deal but said time would determine whether Khamenei’s stance was right or wrong.

A Feni court has accepted the charge sheet in the murder case of college student Wakil Ahmed Shihab, who was killed during the July uprising in Mohipal. On Sunday, February 1, Senior Judicial Magistrate Mohammad Hasan issued arrest warrants against 157 fugitive accused, including former MPs Alauddin Ahmed Chowdhury Nasim, Nizam Uddin Hazari, and Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Masud Uddin Chowdhury. The case was filed by Shihab’s mother, Mahfuza Akter, following his death on August 4, 2024, during an anti-discrimination protest.

According to investigators, the charge sheet submitted on December 8, 2024, named 219 individuals, including 148 listed in the initial complaint and 71 identified during investigation. So far, 62 suspects have been arrested, and two have confessed under Section 164 to participating in the shooting. Three individuals were dropped from the charge sheet due to lack of evidence or identification issues.

Court police inspector Saiful Islam confirmed that one accused is a minor and will be tried in juvenile court. The next hearing is scheduled for February 10.