Students of Government Titumir College have declared an indefinite shutdown starting Monday, demanding the college be upgraded to a university. They will continue their “Barasat Barricade to North City” movement. Classes, exams, and administrative activities will remain halted until their demands are met. However, Saraswati Puja celebrations will proceed as planned. The students also demand recognition as a university, withdrawal of an education advisor’s statement, and an investigation into legal obstructions. Earlier, they blocked the Dhaka-Mymensingh Highway for two hours in protest.

On Sunday, February 2, at 11 PM, protesting students held a press conference in front of the main gate, announcing their continuation of hunger strikes and the Barasat Barricade to North City movement to demand university status for Titumir College. They have also declared an indefinite college shutdown starting Monday, February 3. Earlier, after a two-hour blockade, students returned to campus at 8 PM. While classes, exams, and administrative activities will remain suspended, Saraswati Puja celebrations on Monday will continue as planned. Their demands include: • University recognition for Titumir College, • The withdrawal of the education advisor’s statement, and • A public apology from the legal advisor for obstructing the formation of the Titumir Commission.

The government is considering providing lifelong medical care and allowances to those injured in the July people’s uprising, announced Faruk-i-Azam, Advisor to the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs. A department is being set up to implement this, with a budget of 232 crore Taka for this fiscal year. Martyrs’ families will receive savings bonds worth 10 lakh Taka each, and the injured will receive allowances ranging from 50,000 to 3 lakh Taka. The government aims to ensure comprehensive support and honor their sacrifices.

The injured from the July uprising in Feni have protested on the Dhaka-Chittagong highway, demanding rehabilitation, the cancellation of the category system, and improved medical treatment in a timely manner. Nahid, who was injured in the uprising, stated, “Our fighters are martyred due to the lack of advanced treatment, and we seek recognition from the government.” After the administration promised discussions, the injured students moved from the road after about an hour of blockage. They threatened to block the railway as well if their demands are not met. The injured Azim described it as frustrating, saying, “We do not want to cause public suffering, but we have to take to the streets for our treatment.”

Under Donald Trump’s orders, the U.S. Air Force has conducted an airstrike on an ISIS secret base in Somalia. The regional authorities of Puntland, a semi-autonomous region in Somalia, confirmed that several key leaders, including a senior member of the militant group, were killed or injured in the attack. This action is part of the United States’ efforts to counter the group’s activities in the war-torn country. Donald Trump confirmed this on his Truth Social platform, and U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth also made a statement. No fatalities have been reported from the attack, but it is believed to have reduced the group’s capabilities. Following the strike, Somalia’s president thanked Trump.

The court has issued a travel ban against four individuals, including former Awami League Minister for Liberation War Affairs, A.K.M. Mozammel Haque, following a petition by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). The former minister is under investigation for allegations of receiving contractor commissions, irregularities, laundering illicit wealth abroad, and accumulating assets beyond known sources of income under his and his family’s names. The other three individuals facing travel bans are Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Finance, Farid Aziz, former Commissioner Mohammad Belal Hossain Chowdhury, and his wife, Hosna Ferdous Sumi. The ACC has also formed an investigation committee against them on charges of embezzlement, corruption, and money laundering.

Education Advisor Professor Dr. Wahiduddin Mahmud has stated that there is no scope for granting special privileges to Titumir College. He believes that Rajshahi College should be upgraded to a university at this moment, as it is one of the oldest colleges in Bangladesh. He also urged students of Titumir College to return to classes and avoid causing public inconvenience. Addressing the issue of Dhaka University and the seven affiliated colleges, he noted that since neither side prefers the current arrangement, steps are being taken to establish a separate university for the seven colleges. He further added that setting a strict deadline for fulfilling students’ demands is not desirable.

In the Mirpur 13 section, three advisors inaugurated the canal renovation project by walking on a red carpet placed over the temporary bridge of the canal. Present at the event were advisors Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Adilur Rahman Khan, and Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan! When asked about the red carpet, she said, “I didn’t notice it.” She also mentioned that the goal is to make three rivers pollution-free by February. Each river contains five meters of plastic. An ADB team will visit on February 16, who will share their experiences of river restoration in China, Nepal, and Indonesia, said advisor Rizwana Hasan.

China has pledged to take countermeasures against the 10% tariff imposed by the Trump administration on Chinese imports but has not escalated tensions immediately. Unlike the confrontational approach seen during Trump’s first term, Beijing’s response remains measured. On Sunday, China condemned the US move while signaling openness to negotiations to prevent further deterioration of trade relations. The measured stance suggests China aims to balance retaliation with diplomacy, keeping the possibility of resolution through talks or a challenge in the WTO.

Canada has imposed 25% retaliatory tariffs on $155bn worth of US goods, mirroring President Trump’s tariffs on Canadian and Mexican imports. Prime Minister Trudeau emphasized standing up for Canadians while warning of economic consequences. The tariffs target American beer, wine, household appliances, and more. Economists predict rising consumer prices as the trade war escalates. The White House defends tariffs as a crackdown on drug trafficking, but Trudeau refutes security concerns. Trump signals further tariff hikes if met with retaliation, deepening tensions between the neighboring nations.

India’s special security forces have confirmed the deaths of eight Maoist rebels during an operation in central India. The clash occurred early Saturday morning in the forests of Chhattisgarh. Over the past decade, the insurgency has claimed 10,000 lives, including 287 deaths this year alone. Maoist rebels claim to be fighting for marginalized indigenous communities. Last year, Indian Home Minister Amit Shah declared that the insurgency would be completely crushed by 2026.

According to the 2022 Labor Force Survey by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics, 28 out of every 100 highly educated individuals are unemployed. The report highlights that labor force growth has been at 2% per year for the last decade, while GDP growth has remained between 5-7%. Despite the rise in graduate rates from 3.2-3.5% in the early 2000s to 9% in the last decade, employment opportunities have not increased proportionally. Lack of necessary skills is also a contributing factor to this high unemployment rate.

Cultural advisor Mustafa Sarwar Farooki has dismissed the police’s statement—that the Bangla Academy should be allowed to review books before printing—as a personal opinion rather than an official government stance. He called the remark “ridiculous” and reiterated that the government believes in freedom of expression, even if he himself is criticized. Farooki mentioned that in the past government, there were complications in the award nomination process due to a fellow awardee being nominated. During the inauguration ceremony of the 36th National Poetry Festival, he announced that a reform committee would be formed to investigate corruption in the Bangla Academy and restructure it.

Under the court’s directive, the bodies of three martyrs killed in the anti-discrimination student movement in Savar have been exhumed under the leadership of Executive Magistrate and Ashulia Assistant Commissioner Sadia Akhter.

Ashraful Islam’s body was exhumed from the Pabnartek neighborhood cemetery in Ashulia, Jahidul Islam Sagar’s body from the Charalpara neighborhood cemetery, and another individual, Abul Hossain’s body, from a local cemetery in the Ambagan area of Ashulia.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has agreed to provide up to $1 billion in budget support to Bangladesh by June, subject to banking sector reforms, including reducing private bank directors and their tenure. ADB may also offer $300–$500 million for climate change initiatives if Bangladesh meets 16 conditions, such as implementing a national strategy and transport master plan. Other requirements include AI-based early warning systems for farmers and improved waste management. Economic Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed emphasized that Bangladesh will accept only low-interest loans.