Lamya Chowdhury, daughter of late Bangladeshi film stars Parveen Sultana Diti and Sohel Chowdhury, has fallen victim to a brutal attack at her home. Her car was vandalized, and she suffered a broken leg during the assault. The incident took place in Sonargaon, Narayanganj. Following the attack, Lamya went live on Facebook, pleading for help. She claimed that around 30 to 40 individuals attacked her over a land dispute, forcing her to flee to Dhaka for safety. In distress, she questioned, “Do I have no one to stand by me just because my parents are no longer alive?”

The first phase of the ongoing ceasefire and hostage exchange agreement between Israel and Hamas has been completed. On Saturday, five hostages were handed over to Israeli forces via the Red Cross, with a sixth hostage set to be released later. According to AFP, Israel is releasing more than 600 Palestinian prisoners in exchange, including 50 serving life sentences. Hamas has stated that no further hostages will be released unless Israel fully withdraws its troops. Meanwhile, the Israeli Prime Minister declared that temporarily defeating Hamas remains their objective.

U.S. President Donald Trump has dismissed General Charles Q. Brown, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, in a major military shake-up. Defense Secretary also announced the removal of Navy Chief Admiral Lisa Franchetti and Air Force Vice Chief General James Slife. Trump appointed retired Lt. Gen. John Dunn Kane as Brown’s replacement, an unprecedented move as Kane is not a four-star general. Trump hinted at further dismissals, continuing his planned overhaul of the U.S. military leadership.

For the first time, a freight train has been launched from Mongla Seaport, marking a new milestone in cargo transportation. On Friday, a train carrying 1,050 metric tons of molasses imported from Pakistan departed for Baghabari, Sirajganj. The cargo was loaded from United Refinery & Bulk Storage Limited via pipeline into 30 wagons. This new railway link will reduce transport costs and boost trade at Mongla Port. Officials see it as a major step in enhancing the port’s efficiency in handling exports and imports.

A fire erupted at a shop in the Karail slum of Mohakhali, Dhaka, around 12:45 AM on Friday. Ten Fire Service units battled the blaze for an hour before it was brought under control by 1:45 AM. The cause of the fire and damage details remain unknown. Earlier, a fire at a sawmill in Khilgaon was extinguished after two hours. No casualties were reported in either incident, according to Fire Service officials.

Police arrested two individuals, including a banned Chhatra League leader, during a raid in Ashulia’s Gazirchat Ariyara Mor on Friday evening. The arrestees are Md. Sabuj Uddin Khan (26), a leader of the banned student organization, and Selim Reza (25), an active member of Jubo League. Sabuj Uddin Khan is facing charges related to a student-public murder case. The arrests were part of the ongoing Operation Devil Hunt. Both suspects will be presented in court on Saturday.

At the 55th BGB-BSF conference in New Delhi (Feb 17-20), Bangladesh and India’s border forces agreed on six key issues, including reducing border killings to zero through joint patrols, regulating border infrastructure, curbing cross-border crimes, strengthening surveillance, combating human trafficking, and enhancing bilateral cooperation. BGB urged BSF to prevent unnecessary border violence, while BSF reaffirmed its commitment to a non-lethal approach. Discussions also covered flood prevention, waste management in border canals, and security concerns regarding separatist groups. A joint declaration formalized these agreements.

Police have recovered the hanging body of a student from a dormitory at Rajshahi University. The incident took place on Friday evening at Tuhin Hall, where the body was discovered.

Proctor Professor Mahbubur Rahman confirmed the matter. The deceased has been identified as Md. Sifat Sifatullah, a student of the Fisheries Department from the 2022-23 academic session.

His body has been sent to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital for autopsy.

Describing him as a devout and well-mannered individual, his classmate Hasib Chowdhury said, “He had been suffering from depression for some time, but he never shared it with us.”

Two individuals were shot dead by assailants in Shailkupa, Jhenaidah, late on Friday night, February 21st. The incident occurred around 11:30 PM. The officer-in-charge of Shailkupa Police Station, Masum Khan, confirmed the details, adding that the situation has caused unrest in the local community. Residents have expressed deep concern about the deteriorating law and order situation in the country, calling for swift action from the interim government to address the growing instability.

A prisoner has died from burns sustained in an accident while cooking at Rajshahi Central Jail. The incident occurred on Friday morning at around 9:30 AM, and the prisoner succumbed to his injuries at the burn unit of Rajshahi Medical College Hospital. The deceased, Bipul Kumar, was a resident of Mahadebpur, Naogaon, and had been serving a life sentence since 2010 for a drug-related crime. Doctors reported that 20% of his body was burned. Although he was referred to Dhaka for further treatment, he passed away before reaching the capital. The jail superintendent declined to comment further, confirming only the prisoner’s death at the medical facility.

The nation solemnly observed Martyrs’ Day and International Mother Language Day, remembering those who sacrificed their lives for the right to speak Bengali. Thousands walked barefoot to the Central Shaheed Minar, singing “Amar Bhaiyer Rakte Rangano Ekushe February,” as a mark of respect. Security was tight, yet the atmosphere remained peaceful. People from all walks of life, including students and political leaders, paid tribute. The day also reinforced the commitment to a discrimination-free society, emphasizing the importance of linguistic and cultural rights.

A court has issued an order to frame charges against Additional Police Superintendent Mohammad Nazmul Hasan Rajib in a dowry-related case involving his second wife. The plaintiff’s lawyer, Zulfiqar Ali, informed that the court passed this order during the hearing on Thursday. According to the allegations, on October 26, 2023, Nazmul married the plaintiff while concealing his first marriage. He allegedly took a dowry of 21 lakh 40 thousand Taka and subjected the plaintiff to abuse when she refused to meet further demands. This led to the filing of the case. Additionally, there is an ongoing case against him for fetal homicide.

A group of current and former students from Dhaka University staged a protest against a rape incident that took place on a moving bus en route to Rajshahi. The demonstration was supported by the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement and the Bangladesh Student Rights Council.

Protesters blamed the government for a culture of impunity regarding sexual violence and demanded the resignation of the Home Adviser. Sumaiya Akter, one of the protestors, stated, “Even though we have fought for an equal Bangladesh, we still have to take to the streets against violence against women on February 21.”

She further criticized the Home Adviser for remaining silent while perpetrators escape justice. Protesters also alleged that rapists often receive protection from political leaders, allowing them to evade legal consequences.

Malaysia has lifted the ban on Indian Islamic scholar and speaker Dr. Zakir Naik from delivering public speeches. The restriction, imposed temporarily in 2019, is no longer in effect, according to Malaysian media.

During a parliamentary session, a member of parliament questioned the Home Minister about whether the ban on Naik was still in place. In response, the minister confirmed that the restriction was temporary and has since been lifted.

Al Jazeera reports that Zakir Naik remains on India’s wanted list over allegations of money laundering and promoting hate speech. In 2019, Malaysia took a stance against him after his controversial remarks about Malaysian Hindus and Chinese communities sparked outrage.

A fire at a mill near Talatla Market in Khilgaon, Dhaka, was brought under control after two hours of intense effort by Fire Service teams. Ten fire units worked tirelessly to contain the blaze, which was finally under control by 9:35 PM on Friday. Fire Service officials reported that the fire started around 7:30 PM in a garage corner and quickly spread to the mill. Explosions were heard from cylinders in the garage, causing significant damage to many vehicles.