The home of Shaheed Russel, who was killed in the anti-discrimination student movement, was attacked twice—once late at night on February 3 and again at 8 AM the next morning—in Kashab Union of Manda Upazila, Naogaon. The martyr’s father accused the attacks of being carried out by a group of assailants led by their neighbor, Rafatullah Mondal. Attempts to contact Rafatullah were unsuccessful. The Officer-in-Charge (OC) stated that the attack site has been inspected, and preparations for a case are underway.

A U.S. Air Force C-17 aircraft carrying Indian immigrants has departed for India, marking the beginning of the U.S. initiative to deport illegal Indian immigrants. Previously, the U.S. had deported undocumented migrants to Guatemala, Peru, Honduras, and Brazil. In January, India’s Foreign Minister stated that India has no objections to taking back its illegal immigrants, a message also conveyed to the U.S. Secretary of State. Meanwhile, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to meet U.S. President Donald Trump on February 13 in Washington, which is being described as a meeting between two close allies.

The death toll in Hamas-controlled Gaza has risen to 61,709, with over 14,000 people presumed dead. Among the casualties are 17,881 children. Over 6,000 Palestinians have been detained by Israeli forces, while more than 2 million people have been forcibly displaced. The number of injured has reached 111,588. According to Gaza’s government information, 76% of the missing bodies have been recovered and taken to medical facilities. However, an estimated 14,222 bodies are still trapped under the rubble. The ongoing war has also claimed the lives of 1,155 healthcare workers, 205 journalists, and 194 civil defense personnel.

Three young men lost their lives in a motorcycle accident on their way home after attending Saraswati Puja in Feni. The victims have been identified as Daibu Vaishnav (22), Antar Ghosh (20), and Sourav Goswami (22). The accident occurred around 8:30 PM on the Feni-Noakhali regional highway. Their motorcycle, moving at high speed, lost control while overtaking a truck and crashed into the trunk of a tree. Two of them died on the spot, while the third succumbed to his injuries after being taken to the district hospital. According to a sub-inspector of the Feni Highway Police Station, reckless speed was the main cause of the accident.

Ten Bangladeshis from Rajair upazila in Madaripur have been confirmed dead in a tragic boat capsizing in the Mediterranean while attempting to reach Italy illegally. Four more remain missing. On January 30, the Bangladeshi embassy in Libya reported the recovery of several bodies from the shores of Brega. Families of the victims are demanding punishment for human traffickers responsible for the tragedy. According to one survivor, he paid Tk 2.8 million to traffickers, who failed to ensure their safe journey. The mastermind behind the trafficking ring has been identified as Monir Howlader and Rafique from Bhanga upazila. The local administration has promised to arrange the repatriation of the bodies.

U.S. President Donald Trump has temporarily backed off from imposing a 25% tariff on Canadian and Mexican goods after both countries pledged to enhance border security and combat drug trafficking. Trump stated that Canada has assured the U.S. of securing its northern border, and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has allocated $1.3 billion for border security. Previously, the Mexican president also confirmed reaching an agreement with the U.S.

According to Hindustan Times, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to meet U.S. President Donald Trump on February 13. Modi will arrive in Washington on February 12 and meet American corporate leaders and representatives of various Indian communities. Last week, Trump mentioned that Modi was coming for a meeting with him. Trump is focused on selling U.S. defense equipment to India and ensuring a fair trade relationship. In the 2023-24 fiscal year, trade between the two countries exceeded $118 billion.

Out of 50,000 foreign nationals living illegally in Bangladesh, 15,618 have left the country as of January after being ordered to leave. However, 33,648 remain illegally. A 11-member task force, led by an additional secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs, has been formed to decide on further actions. Earlier, on December 8, the ministry instructed authorities to take legal actions against illegal foreigners. According to the Special Branch of Police, 27,000 Indians and 10,000 Chinese nationals have overstayed their visas and need to pay fines to renew them.

Three motorcyclists tragically lost their lives in an accident on the Feni-Noakhali regional highway. The incident occurred at Beker Bazar, Daangonbhunja, when the motorcycle lost control due to excessive speed. Two riders died at the scene, and one succumbed to injuries at the hospital. The victims, initially identified as residents of Bashurhat in Noakhali, were traveling from Noakhali to Daangonbhunja when the accident took place. Local authorities are investigating the cause of the crash.

The Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council accused the country of witnessing 23 deaths in communal violence in the past four and a half months. However, the interim government, quoting the Police Headquarters, dismissed these claims. The government clarified that the police had investigated 22 incidents, with only a few related to theft and robbery. Two deaths were due to suicide and drowning. The interim government urged responsible reporting, warning that misleading information could harm communal harmony.

Interim government Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus has instructed law enforcement agencies to maintain the highest vigilance, stating that 2025 is crucial for the country. In a security review meeting, he emphasized the need for modern communication technology and a central command center. He accused Sheikh Hasina’s associates of funding chaos and spreading misinformation. He also ordered strict action against extortionists, protection of minorities, and swift trials for recent killings. Bangladesh has requested Interpol to issue a Red Notice against Sheikh Hasina.

Fears of a global trade war emerged after Donald Trump imposed tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China, causing the rupee to drop by 67 paise to 87.29. As investors sought safe-haven assets, the US dollar strengthened, weakening Asian currencies. Last week, India’s foreign exchange reserves faced a slight crisis, declining by $1.888 billion to $623.983 billion. The Indian stock market also saw a downturn, with the Sensex losing 575 points and the Nifty falling by 206 points.

Japan will provide a $5.45 million grant to help Bangladesh monitor air pollution. Representatives from both governments signed an agreement, with Bangladesh’s ERD Secretary, Japanese Ambassador Saida Shinichi, and JICA’s Chief Representative Ichiguchi Tomohide as signatories. The Environment Ministry will implement the project from March 2025 to June 2028. It aims to measure and analyze air pollution, particularly vehicle emissions. Continuous air monitoring stations will be set up in Dhaka and Chattogram to track pollution levels.

The Ministry of Home Affairs has formed an 11-member task force to address the issue of foreign nationals residing illegally in Bangladesh. The Additional Secretary (Security & Immigration) will lead the task force, with representatives from key government and security agencies. The committee will coordinate actions, provide recommendations, and issue directives regarding illegal foreign residents. It can also invite officials to meetings and co-opt members as needed. The initiative aims to streamline efforts to manage and regulate undocumented foreigners.

Students of Titumir College have blocked the railway tracks at the Mohakhali Railgate area. As a result, trains heading towards Noakhali have been redirected back to Dhaka Railway Station. On-site observation reveals that 20-30 students are on the railway tracks, with over a hundred more students gathered around the area. Police, DB, BGB, and ABBN forces have surrounded the students, with water cannons stationed behind. Their demand is for Titumir College to be upgraded to a university. A special committee was formed to address this demand, but after receiving no positive response, students have been staging a hunger strike and other protests since January 29.