At least 26 tornadoes struck the US on Friday night and early Saturday, causing massive destruction in Arkansas, Illinois, Mississippi, and Missouri. At least 20 people have died, including 11 in Missouri. Missouri State Highway Patrol reported ongoing rescue operations and damage assessments. Meanwhile, Texas and Oklahoma are battling over 100 wildfires.

A ward boy at Chattogram Medical College Hospital (CMCH) has been accused of stopping the oxygen supply to a newborn after the family failed to provide a tip. As a result, the infant, who was undergoing treatment, passed away. A three-member investigation committee has been formed, with a report expected within a week. The baby was born at Zamzam Hospital seven days ago and was transferred to CMCH due to pneumonia.

Former US President Donald Trump repeatedly claimed during his election campaign that he could end the Russia-Ukraine war within 24 hours. However, even nearly two months after taking office, the conflict continues. In a recent interview on the television program Full Measure, Trump clarified his remarks, saying, “When I said that, I was joking a little bit.” However, he maintained that he genuinely intended to resolve the conflict and believes he could achieve success in doing so.

A total of approximately 22.6 million children were administered Vitamin A capsules during a nationwide Vitamin A Plus campaign conducted throughout Saturday. The initiative aims to prevent childhood blindness and reduce child mortality rates. Children aged 6-11 months were given a blue capsule containing 100,000 IU of Vitamin A, while those aged 12-59 months received a red capsule containing 200,000 IU. After the country’s independence, 4.10% of children suffered from night blindness due to malnutrition. To combat this, the government introduced Vitamin A supplementation in 1974.

During an Iftar event held in honor of United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres on Saturday evening, Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus sought UN support in the fight against misinformation. He stated, “We seek your blessings, especially in one area—protecting us from misinformation, which is destroying us.” He added, “Save us from the spread of falsehoods, and we can handle the rest.” The Chief Adviser also highlighted the unity formed among students, which has fostered an unprecedented sense of solidarity across all levels of society.

A wave of protests has erupted in Serbia’s capital, with thousands rallying against government corruption and inefficiency. The movement began in November after a railway station collapse in Novi Sad killed 15 people. What started as a student-led protest has now drawn widespread public support. Demonstrators plan a major rally in front of Parliament at 4 PM local time, demanding accountability for the disaster and an end to systemic corruption across all levels of government. The city is now under the protesters’ control.

The High Court has issued seven directives regarding the use of live ammunition during public demonstrations. The ruling comes in response to a petition filed last July seeking a ban on live bullets during rallies and processions. The key directives include:
1. Every citizen has the right to participate in peaceful protests and gatherings.
2. Law enforcement must prioritize human life as the most valuable asset.
3. Force should only be used when absolutely necessary.
4. Authorities must respect human rights at all times.
5. There should be no discrimination in enforcement actions.
6. Law enforcement agencies must comply with legal obligations and be held accountable.
7. If a peaceful assembly turns into an unlawful gathering, police may take appropriate legal action under the Constitution and existing laws.

The Bangladesh Bank is injecting Tk 2,500 crore into Social Islami Bank and First Security Islami Bank using newly printed money. This move aims to stabilize liquidity-starved banks suffering from financial mismanagement and misappropriation. Social Islami Bank will receive Tk 1,500 crore, while First Security Islami Bank will get Tk 1,000 crore. The liquidity crisis has intensified due to rising cash demands during Ramadan and the upcoming Eid. Struggling banks have been unable to meet withdrawal requests, prompting the central bank to step in as a last resort.

Serious allegations of corruption and irregularities have surfaced regarding the distribution of Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) food supplies in Ward 41 of Vadu, Gazipur. Complaints include underweight food packages, issuing multiple cards to individuals from the same family, unauthorized distribution without cards, and selling goods in open markets instead of providing them to registered beneficiaries. There are also reports of verbal abuse toward women collecting supplies. A contractor from ‘Shotto Enterprize’ was caught on video attempting to smuggle TCB goods in an autorickshaw. However, Councilor Secretary Nitai Saha denied any irregularities, stating that he only signs off on distributions that are conducted properly.

A 32-year-old man named Sujon was beaten to death by an angry mob in Barisal over allegations of attempting to rape a four-year-old child.

The incident occurred on Saturday evening on Dhan Gobeshona Road. According to reports, the victim’s father filed a case after Sujon allegedly attempted to assault the child on Friday afternoon.

Locals detained Sujon and handed him over to the police, but not before severely beating him. He was rushed to the hospital in critical condition, where he succumbed to his injuries at 8 PM.

Police have launched an investigation into the case.

Foreign Affairs Advisor Md. Towhid Hossain has stated that the visit of UN Secretary-General António Guterres is of great significance for the interim government and the future of Bangladesh. He expressed concern over misinformation campaigns against the country following the fall of the League government. Hossain emphasized that Guterres’ visit will support Bangladesh’s democratic transition and reform efforts, ensuring free and fair elections while assisting in necessary governance transformations.

Kalpana Nazma Begum, the mother of deceased marine engineer Sohag Hossain, has accused her son’s wife, Shahana Khatun, of orchestrating his murder to seize a large sum of money. She claimed that Shahana had multiple previous marriages and had been restricting Sohag’s contact with his family. On February 2, Shahana and her associates allegedly demanded Tk 20 lakh, threatening to kill Sohag if he did not comply. When his phone remained unreachable from February 9, police broke into his flat on February 12 and found his partially decomposed body hanging from a ceiling fan, with signs of a broken knee. Kalpana Nazma Begum has demanded immediate arrests of those responsible.

A Dubai-based expatriate, Arif Hossain Miazi, was allegedly assaulted in Banani for refusing to pay Tk 2 crore in extortion money. He filed a case at Banani police station against two arrested suspects—Nazim Uddin (54) and Ibrahim Hossain Roni (39)—along with 8-10 unidentified accomplices. The attack occurred at around 1:10 AM near Plan B in Banani when the suspects blocked his path and forcibly took Tk 30,500 from him while demanding the larger sum. Upon hearing his cries for help, locals and a police patrol team intervened and rescued him. Authorities have since arrested two suspects and launched an investigation.

Malaysian authorities have detained 95 Bangladeshi nationals at Kuala Lumpur International Airport for attempting to enter the country on tourist visas with the intention of working illegally. During a routine operation, the enforcement department seized documents from 139 foreigners, including the 95 Bangladeshis. Upon verification, officials suspected that these individuals were attempting to bypass entry regulations to seek illegal employment.

Hitu Sheikh, the father-in-law of the victim’s sister, has confessed to his involvement in a rape case in Magura. He was presented in court at 10:15 AM today after requesting to provide a confessional statement while in a seven-day remand. The judge recorded his statement until 4 PM before ordering his transfer to prison. According to Officer-in-Charge Ayub Ali, the official details of his statement have not been disclosed yet. Meanwhile, three other accused individuals remain in remand for further interrogation.