Facebook founder and Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg revealed in a recent interview that he had once faced the threat of death in Pakistan. He shared that the issue arose when a Facebook user posted a drawing of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), which enraged the Pakistani government. As a result, the Pakistani government filed a lawsuit against Zuckerberg and decided to personally charge him. Although Zuckerberg did not see it as a direct threat to himself, he considers it a major issue for tech companies and freedom of speech. He emphasized the need for U.S. government protection for tech companies.

The three-day District Commissioners (DC) conference will kick off on Sunday, February 16. The Chief Adviser of the interim government, Mohammad Yunus, will inaugurate the event. A press conference regarding the conference will be held at the Secretariat on Saturday at 4:00 PM. The conference will commence on Sunday at 10:30 AM, at the Shapla Hall of the Chief Adviser’s office. The DC conference will feature 34 sessions, including discussions, a courtesy meeting with the Chief Justice, orientation sessions, and a closing ceremony. During the conference, proposals from the District Commissioners (DCs) concerning various ministries and departments will be discussed and decisions will be made in the presence of advisers and secretaries. DCs serve as representatives of the government at the grassroots level.

Recently, U.S. President Donald Trump unveiled a disturbing plan to seize Gaza and expel Palestinians from the region, sparking widespread protests globally. Arab and Muslim-majority countries, in particular, strongly rejected his proposal, voicing fierce opposition. In response, Egypt announced the organization of an Arab summit, while Pakistan and Saudi Arabia decided to convene an emergency meeting of foreign ministers from the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to address the Gaza crisis. Saudi Arabia has confirmed the hosting of an urgent summit on February 20, which will bring together leaders from four Arab countries to discuss Trump’s proposal to take control of Gaza. The summit will be attended by leaders from Egypt, Jordan, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas also participating. (Source: AFP)

A police officer in Bangladesh has gained widespread praise for dispersing protesters without using force. A viral video shows him striking the road and electric poles with his baton instead of attacking protesters, effectively breaking up the gathering near the Bangladesh Secretariat. Social media users hailed his approach as the ideal form of policing. Many called for him to be recognized and rewarded, believing such methods could restore public trust in law enforcement. Legal expert Dr. Asif Nazrul also expressed admiration for his actions.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky claimed on Friday that a Russian drone struck the protective structure of the destroyed fourth unit at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, causing significant damage. However, the Kremlin dismissed the allegation, calling it provocation. Russian officials stated that their military had not carried out any such attack and accused the Kyiv government of making frequent baseless accusations. The claim comes at a sensitive time, as discussions on ending the war continue and the Munich Security Conference is underway.

A businessman named Russell Ahmed (46) was robbed of 47.5 lakh taka by a group posing as Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) officers in South Keraniganj. The incident occurred on Thursday at an underpass on the Dhaka-Mawa highway. According to the victim’s complaint, he had sold his wife’s gold jewelry to arrange the money for an urgent need. While returning home, six to seven individuals stopped his vehicle, claiming to be RAB officers, and forced him into a microbus. The robbers blindfolded him, held him at gunpoint, looted the cash, and later abandoned him in a deserted location before fleeing.

Today marks Pohela Falgun, the first day of spring. To welcome the season, the Faculty of Fine Arts at Dhaka University is hosting a lively festival at Bakultala. The grand celebration, titled “Boshonto Utsob 1431,” kicked off with the “Somogeet Utsob 1431”, featuring performances themed around “July Uprising: My Song of Rebellion and Love.”

The event showcases a variety of cultural performances, including folk songs and traditional music from indigenous hill communities. Dance performances were staged by students of Pathshala, while Somogeet artists participated in musical pieces inspired by hill and tea garden melodies.

Many visitors expressed their excitement about experiencing the spring festival before heading to the Ekushey Book Fair later in the day.

The Cyber Tribunal, which had been paralyzed for a week due to a lawyers’ boycott, will resume operations from Sunday, according to the Judicial Service Association. The deadlock was resolved after discussions between judicial and legal representatives. The dispute began on February 6 when tensions escalated over bail issues, leading to protests and disruption of proceedings. However, a resolution has now been reached, ensuring the tribunal’s normal functioning.

In a recent meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, there was no discussion about interim government leader Muhammad Yunus or fugitive Sheikh Hasina, who is currently in India. Meanwhile, BNP held a press conference urging India to extradite Hasina to Bangladesh. Citing reports from the mass uprising, BNP stated that Hasina’s regime orchestrated systematic attacks and killings to suppress opposition forces.

In a heartbreaking incident in Chunarughat, Habiganj, a man named Abdur Rauf took his own life and that of his two young daughters by ingesting poison. The deceased were identified as Abdur Rauf, his five-year-old daughter Khadija Akter, and his three-year-old daughter Ayesha Akter. According to the police, Rauf had frequent disputes with his wife, who left for her parents' home two days prior, leaving their children behind. In despair, Rauf locked himself in a room with his daughters and consumed poison late Thursday night. Their screams alerted neighbors, but by the time they were rushed to the hospital, doctors declared them dead.

The year 2024 has been recorded as the most dangerous year for journalists, with at least 124 killed across 18 countries, according to a report by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ). The report states that Israel is responsible for 70% of these deaths. In comparison, 102 journalists were killed in 2023, while 69 were killed in 2022. CPJ, which has been tracking journalist fatalities for three decades, noted that this year’s toll surpasses previous records, including the 2017 peak of 113 journalist deaths.

A powerful explosion in Harnai, Balochistan, killed 11 coal miners and injured four others, local authorities confirmed. Geo News reported that the explosion, which occurred on February 14, may have been caused by an improvised explosive device (IED) planted on the road. Some of the injured workers remain in critical condition. Similar attacks have occurred in the region before, but this incident marks one of the deadliest in recent history.

A devastating fire broke out at a resort under construction in the South Korean port city of Busan, resulting in six deaths. According to Reuters, the incident occurred on February 14, with firefighters evacuating around 100 people and rescuing seven injured individuals. South Korea’s acting president has directed authorities to deploy all necessary resources to extinguish the fire and manage the aftermath.

Newly elected U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Thursday his interest in negotiating nuclear arms reduction with the leaders of China and Russia. Responding to journalists, Trump stated that nuclear disarmament is a priority in his second term. Meanwhile, Russia expressed skepticism about extending its last remaining nuclear arms control treaty with Washington, raising concerns about a potential deadlock. Trump reaffirmed his commitment to disarmament, emphasizing that there is no justification for producing more nuclear weapons. He also noted that initial discussions on arms reduction with Russia and China were disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic during his first term.

Despite the ongoing ceasefire agreement, Israel conducted airstrikes on the besieged Gaza Strip on Thursday (February 13). No immediate casualties were reported. According to Anadolu News Agency, the Israeli military claimed the targeted location was used for launching rockets. Palestinian authorities have yet to respond. The war, which began on October 7, 2023, has resulted in over 48,000 Palestinian deaths, with more than 12,000 missing. Although a ceasefire was declared on January 19, Israel continues to violate it.