Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has announced that the Israeli military is prepared to take control of the Gaza Strip under the leadership of the new army chief, with backing from former US President Donald Trump’s administration. He claimed that Hezbollah is currently at its weakest, cut off from land supply routes in Lebanon and Syria. Smotrich also boasted about the forced displacement of thousands of Palestinians and warned of further military aggression.

International human rights organizations and foreign governments have raised serious concerns over Pakistan’s ongoing deportation of undocumented Afghan refugees and eviction of legal refugees from Islamabad and Rawalpindi. Reports suggest that many deported refugees could face severe persecution under the Taliban regime. The Shehbaz government stated that those with agreements to migrate to third countries will be allowed to do so, while others will be sent back to Afghanistan. The UN Refugee Agency and the International Organization for Migration have expressed deep concern over the sudden arrests of refugees.

Chairman of the Labor Reform Commission, Syed Sultan Uddin Ahmed, stated that drivers and helpers should not always be blamed for road accidents. He emphasized that road infrastructure, vehicles, pedestrians, and drivers all contribute to accidents. He also opposed holding drivers responsible or arresting them at accident sites without a proper trial. Labor leader Razequzzaman Ratan added that vehicle owners must take responsibility, as they profit from the operations.

BUET campus witnessed late-night protests after reports emerged that Muntasir Al Zemi, a convicted death row inmate for the brutal murder of BUET student Abrar Fahad, had escaped from his prison's condemned cell. At 11:30 PM on Monday, students marched from the Shaheed Minar to Raju Memorial, demanding Zemi's immediate arrest and execution. Abrar’s brother, Abrar Faiyaz, revealed that they learned of Zemi’s escape during a High Court hearing that day. He accused the authorities of hiding the escape since August 5 and claimed that the government deliberately withheld the information.

More than 500 egg-laying ducks have reportedly been poisoned and killed at a farm in Tanguar Haor, a Ramsar-listed wetland. The incident took place on a riverine island in Tahirpur. The affected farmer, Sujan Mia, son of Siraj Mia from Mandiyata village, discovered the mass deaths after returning to his farm at noon. Locals reported that Sujan had been guarding the farm overnight and found the ducks dead upon his return. He suspects three individuals from the village, known for poisoning wild migratory birds, might be responsible. However, the Upazila livestock officer stated that he had no prior knowledge of the incident.

Jahangirnagar University Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Mohammad Kamrul Hasan has expressed concern and condemnation over the physical assault on the Vice-Chancellor of Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (KUET). In a press release on Monday, he stated that such an attack is a criminal offense. He pointed out that after the mass uprising, the government set a precedent by appointing eminent academics to universities. He described the assault on these vice-chancellors, who work to uphold and implement the spirit of the uprising, as an attempt to rehabilitate fascists and their allies. He demanded a thorough investigation and exemplary punishment for those responsible.

A violent clash between locals and members of the banned extremist group Hizb ut-Tahrir in Pirgachha, Rangpur, left 15 people injured. Police intervened and arrested seven individuals to control the situation. Reports indicate that around 40 members of the group were holding a secret meeting on Monday morning when locals confronted them, leading to an outbreak of violence. In the ensuing chaos, four houses belonging to Hizb ut-Tahrir members were set on fire. Four critically injured individuals have been taken to Rangpur Medical College, while two others, including an eight-month-pregnant woman, are in police custody.

U.S. President Donald Trump has ordered a crackdown on hundreds of thousands of undocumented migrant children who entered the country without their parents. Reuters described this as an expansion of the deportation drive. The operation, which began on January 27, will be carried out in four phases, though the implementation timeline remains unclear. In recent years, over 10,000 children have been ordered deported, with 31,000 removed solely for missing court appearances. During Trump’s first term, migrant children were separated from their parents at the border, leading to over 1,000 children becoming permanently displaced. This policy was later abandoned amid widespread criticism.

The Home Minister described the country’s law and order situation as satisfactory. Addressing the unusual timing of the press conference, he stated, “Previously, it was impossible to find officials at 2:30 AM. We called this conference to demonstrate that we work day and night.” He dismissed concerns that crime is increasing, explaining that incidents, like the recent mugging in Banasree, are now reported instantly, whereas before, it took days to learn about them. He instructed law enforcement to ensure such incidents do not recur. Meanwhile, the State Minister for Home Affairs hinted at possible changes in security measures after sunset. The Chief Adviser’s press secretary announced that joint patrols in Dhaka will be prioritized.

Muntasir Al Jemi, a death row convict in the brutal murder of BUET student Abrar Fahad, has escaped from prison. Although the escape occurred on August 5 last year, the authorities only disclosed the information on February 24—six months later. Abrar’s younger brother, Abrar Faiyaz, confirmed the news.

According to prison officials, Jemi was among 202 inmates who broke out of Gazipur prison. Among them, 86 were on death row. So far, 51 escapees, including 35 death row inmates, have been recaptured. Authorities continue their efforts to apprehend the remaining fugitives.

In an early morning operation on Monday, RAB-11, CPC-2 Comilla arrested four professional muggers in possession of weapons. The arrested individuals are Ashiqur Rahman (32), Jamil Hossain (19), Jisan (19), and Asifur Rahman Asif (22). Authorities recovered a switchblade, a knife, an anti-cutter, two screwdrivers, a flashlight, and marijuana from their possession. Law enforcement officials stated that the gang engaged in extortion and mugging by holding people at gunpoint.

More than 150,000 Canadians have signed a parliamentary petition seeking to revoke Elon Musk’s Canadian citizenship, The Guardian reports. The petition argues that Musk is a close ally of former U.S. President Donald Trump, who has previously threatened to undermine Canada’s sovereignty and integrate the country as the 51st U.S. state if re-elected. The petition was submitted to the House of Commons by British Columbia-based author Qualia Reed. Born in South Africa, Musk holds Canadian citizenship through his mother and currently heads a key division in the Trump administration.

Eight people were killed in a shooting carried out by gunmen in Mexico’s Guanajuato state, one of the country’s most violent regions, according to an AFP report. The prosecutor’s office confirmed that the victims included five women and three men, though their identities have not yet been disclosed. Guanajuato, a major industrial hub and home to several popular tourist destinations, has witnessed multiple violent incidents in recent years. No arrests have been made in connection with the attack. In 2023, a similar attack in the region left seven people dead, including a child. Since the Mexican government deployed the military against drug cartels in 2006, more than 480,000 people have been killed due to drug-related violence, according to official data.

A fire broke out at a jute warehouse in the Adamjee Export Processing Zone (EPZ) in Narayanganj’s Siddhirganj on Monday (February 24) at around 9:30 AM. Two firefighting units managed to bring the blaze under control after an hour of efforts, confirmed Mohammad Miron Mia, an officer at Adamjee Fire Service. The fire reportedly started at the rear section of a warehouse belonging to U.H.M. Limited, a garment factory. Factory personnel initially attempted to put out the fire but failed, prompting them to call the fire service. The extent of the damage has not yet been determined.

Dr. Atiur Rahman served as the Governor of Bangladesh Bank from 2009 to 2016, inheriting a strong banking sector. However, his tenure saw mismanagement, operational weaknesses, and undermining of the central bank’s autonomy, which ultimately weakened the sector. He played a pivotal role in the destruction of the banking industry. In early 2010, the Hallmark and Basic Bank scandals rocked Sonali Bank, leading to massive fraud at both institutions. Despite the scale of these scams, under Atiur’s leadership, Bangladesh Bank failed to take decisive action. During his time, the focus shifted to facilitating defaulters, and it was under his watch that Bangladesh Bank’s reserve funds were looted.