The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) has announced that a five-member delegation, led by Bangladesh Army Chief General Waqar-uz-Zaman, will embark on a three-day official visit to Kuwait on February 16.

During the visit, General Zaman will meet with high-ranking military and civilian officials of the Kuwaiti government to discuss bilateral military cooperation. The visit is expected to strengthen ties between the two nations, facilitate the recruitment of skilled Bangladeshi workers in Kuwait, and boost the morale of Bangladeshi personnel engaged in Operation Kuwait Reconstruction.

Pakistan has expressed serious concerns over the U.S. decision to sell advanced F-35 fighter jets to India, warning that it could disrupt regional military balance and strategic stability.

Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Shafqat Ali Khan, strongly rejected the joint U.S.-India statement that linked Pakistan to terrorism, calling it “one-sided and misleading.” The statement had earlier urged action against those responsible for the 2008 Mumbai attacks and the Pathankot incident while emphasizing that Pakistani territory must not be used for cross-border terrorism.

Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman spoke with US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth over the phone on Sunday, as reported by the Saudi Press Agency. Prince Khalid congratulated Hegseth on his appointment and discussed Saudi-US relations, strategic cooperation, and ways to enhance bilateral ties. The conversation also covered efforts to establish international peace and security. The controversial proposal to relocate Gaza residents to Egypt and Jordan has sparked widespread backlash, with both countries strongly opposing the plan.

A Jahangirnagar University student, Naimur Rahman, was beaten and threatened by Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) leader Parvez Mosharraf after confronting him for smoking in an elevator at Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmed Hall. The altercation escalated when Parvez aggressively labeled Naimur as a ‘Shibir supporter.’ Naimur filed a complaint seeking justice and protection. Parvez has not responded to the accusations, and the university’s administration plans to investigate the incident once the written complaint is received.

Former US President Donald Trump announced that India has agreed to purchase oil and gas from the United States. Following a meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Trump stated that Washington and New Delhi would work together to counter the threat of 'Islamic extremism.' Trump also accused India of imposing higher tariffs on American products than any other country. Earlier, he had threatened a reciprocal tariff policy, warning that the US would impose tariffs at the same rate India does.

US President Donald Trump has agreed to meet with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer in the near future. Starmer is expected to visit the United States within the next few weeks. The UK Prime Minister’s office confirmed that Starmer had discussed his upcoming US trip with Trump over the phone. Trump said that Starmer had requested another in-person meeting. The meeting is being described as a friendly discussion, signaling strong relations between the two countries, according to Reuters.

A total of 146,694 students are competing for 1,896 seats in Dhaka University’s Science Unit admission test, making the competition 77 candidates per seat. The 1.5-hour exam will be held on Saturday (Feb 15) from 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM across eight divisional cities. The test includes a 60-mark MCQ section (45 minutes) and a 40-mark written exam (45 minutes). DU Vice-Chancellor Dr. Niaz Ahmed Khan will visit Curzon Hall during the exam. Other units’ admission tests have already been conducted.

On Thursday at 9:00 PM Bangladesh time, billionaire Elon Musk, CEO of X (formerly Twitter), spoke on the phone with Bangladesh’s Chief Advisor Dr. Muhammad Yunus. US President Donald Trump was present during the conversation. Bangladesh’s Ambassador to Mexico, Mushfiqur Fazal Ansari, thanked their close friend, RH Griffiths, via a Facebook post for making this virtual conversation possible. He expressed excitement, stating that this meeting would mark the beginning of a new era for the development of SpaceX and Starlink technology in Bangladesh, opening vast opportunities for innovation, education, and economic growth. “I am thrilled to be a part of it from the start!” he wrote.

Advisor Muhammad Yunus has urged the United Arab Emirates to lift its visa ban on Bangladeshi nationals and recruit more workers. He made the appeal during his visit to Dubai for the two-day World Government Summit, where he also held meetings with several UAE ministers. During these discussions, the UAE’s Minister of Trade proposed establishing Emirati industrial zones in Bangladesh, to which Yunus responded positively. He emphasized that Bangladesh could be developed as a hub for halal product manufacturing, benefiting from affordable labor.

U.S. President Donald Trump has expressed support for Russia’s return to the G-7, calling its exclusion a “big mistake.” He emphasized that Russia should be part of the group, citing it was originally known as G-8. Trump also believes Russia is eager to rejoin. His comments come amid Canada’s presidency of the G-7 this year, although no immediate reaction has been received from Canada regarding his statement.

U.S. President Donald Trump stated that India’s tariff decisions do not concern the U.S., emphasizing a reciprocal approach to trade. During a meeting with Indian PM Narendra Modi, Trump highlighted the need for fairness and mutual cooperation, aiming to reduce the U.S. trade deficit. He reiterated that the U.S. seeks equal trade opportunities. Following past tensions, India recently lowered tariffs on select American exports, including luxury motorcycles. Modi echoed Trump’s slogan, “Make America Great Again,” with his own version, “Make India Great Again.”

Interim Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus has wrapped up his UAE visit after attending the World Government Summit in Dubai. During the trip, he met with key UAE ministers, discussing trade expansion, UAE investments in Chattogram Port, and lifting visa restrictions on Bangladeshi citizens. He urged UAE businesses to relocate factories to Bangladesh and agreed to establish a special industrial park for Emirati companies. UAE’s trade minister plans to lead a delegation to Bangladesh soon. The Chief Adviser is set to return home this evening.

Thousands of worshippers have gathered at the ongoing World Ijtema for the largest Jummah congregation, scheduled at 1:30 PM today. The prayer, held on the sacred night of Shab-e-Barat, will be led by Maulana Yusuf Bin Saad, the elder son of Maulana Saad. According to the Tablighi Jamaat’s media coordinator, Maulana Saad’s two sons arrived at the Ijtema ground early this morning. The second phase of the Ijtema officially began after the Fajr prayer, with an opening sermon delivered by Maulana Abdus Sattar.

Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus urged the public to uphold justice and embrace Islamic principles in all aspects of life. In his Shab-e-Barat message, he called on people to eliminate injustice, violence, and superstitions, replacing them with the values of peace inherent in Islam. He also extended his greetings to Muslims in Bangladesh and around the world, emphasizing the importance of repentance and divine blessings on this holy night.

Bangladesh has formally requested India to extradite fugitive fascist leader Sheikh Hasina, who fled amid a mass uprising. Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mohammad Rafiqul Alam confirmed that Bangladesh would send a formal diplomatic note to India regarding the matter. When asked whether foreign allies would be involved in Hasina’s extradition, the spokesperson stated that the interim government would decide. Bangladesh sent the extradition request on December 23 but has not yet received a response. Regarding a UN report’s potential impact, the spokesperson remarked that the findings are significant enough to shake global conscience.