Police have arrested three individuals in connection with the gang rape of a housewife in Joypurhat’s Sonamukhi Union. The suspects, identified as Rubel Hossain (33) from Mohammadpukur village, Faruk Hossain (40), and Ekramul Haque (42) from Ramshala village, were taken into custody following the incident that occurred on the night of February 5. According to reports, the victim was returning home after attending a training session at a TTC center in preparation for working abroad. Rubel, whom she had recently met, offered to drop her home on his motorcycle. However, instead of taking her home, he took her to a deep tube well facility, where the three suspects took turns assaulting her throughout the night before fleeing the scene. The victim is currently receiving medical treatment at Bogura’s Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College Hospital. Authorities are investigating the incident further.

Vehicles that violate traffic rules three times will be permanently banned from using the Elevated Expressway, authorities have announced. Speeding violations will be monitored through video surveillance, and cases will be filed accordingly. The Kuril Expressway Company Limited shared this update during a press conference on Saturday. Currently, the maximum speed limit on the main expressway is 60 km/h, while the entry and exit ramps have a limit of 40 km/h. Authorities are considering increasing the maximum limit to 80 km/h. Any vehicle exceeding 100 km/h will be automatically reported to the police for legal action. Additionally, vehicles must use the designated emergency lanes for stoppages, and any damage to infrastructure will require compensation.

A gold shop in Cumilla fell victim to an armed robbery, during which a neighboring shopkeeper, Mosharraf Hossain, was shot while attempting to resist the criminals. The incident took place at Preeti Jewellers, owned by Rabindra Dutta. Around 8 PM on Saturday, a gang of 7-8 armed robbers entered the shop posing as customers and asked to see gold jewelry. As the situation escalated, locals attempted to intervene, leading to the shooting. During the escape, residents managed to catch one of the robbers, identified as Kaiser, and handed him over to the police. According to the Chaudhagram Police Station Officer-in-Charge, one suspect has been arrested, and efforts are ongoing to apprehend the rest and recover the stolen gold.

The Qatari government has announced an amnesty program for undocumented expatriates who have overstayed their visas or residency permits. Under this initiative, they can leave the country without facing fines or penalties. The amnesty period, which started on February 5, will last for three months. During this time, undocumented migrants can visit the Search and Follow-up Department on Salwa Road between 1 PM and 9 PM daily to complete the necessary formalities. Authorities believe this initiative will help facilitate the safe return of undocumented individuals to their home countries.

Under the directive of the Ministry of Home Affairs, a nationwide crackdown named ‘Operation Devil Hunt’ is currently underway. So far, 40 Awami League activists have been arrested across five police stations in Gazipur, according to the district’s police superintendent. The operation was launched following a terrorist attack on students at the residence of expelled Awami League leader Mozammel in Gazipur. Security checkpoints have been set up in front of the Gazipur District Commissioner’s office. The crackdown follows a violent incident yesterday when unidentified assailants on motorcycles shot a dedicated activist of the anti-discrimination student movement in front of the District Commissioner’s office before fleeing the scene.

Despite an ongoing ceasefire, Israeli forces have conducted airstrikes in eastern Lebanon, killing six people and injuring two others, according to a BBC report. On February 9, Israeli drones targeted a Hezbollah position in the Shara area of Jenata city, Bekaa region. This follows a series of previous Israeli attacks in the Bekaa Valley. Hezbollah official Ibrahim has condemned the latest Israeli strike, calling it a dangerous violation and an act of extreme aggression.

The Election Reform Commission has recommended that habitual loan defaulters be barred from contesting elections. According to the proposed reforms, candidates must clear any outstanding loans at least six months before submitting their nominations. Additionally, Members of Parliament (MPs) will lose their seats if they are declared loan defaulters. The commission also proposed that fugitives declared by a court should not be eligible to run for office. Other recommendations include requiring certified copies of bail documents for candidates with criminal charges and ensuring that legal documents of incarcerated candidates are attested by prison authorities. Furthermore, individuals convicted of moral turpitude will be disqualified from contesting elections from the moment they are found guilty. Local government representatives must resign before running for parliament. The commission also suggests increasing the requirement for independent candidates from 1% to 500 voter endorsements, banning candidates from contesting multiple constituencies, and imposing a lifetime ban on candidates providing false information in affidavits.

The Police Headquarters has announced the reinstatement of 1,522 police officers who were dismissed during the previous Awami League government. A committee, led by a DIG, reviewed the appeals, and those who won their cases in the tribunal are being reinstated. However, officers who did not appeal or have criminal charges related to misconduct or corruption remain ineligible. The authorities emphasized their commitment to justice while urging reinstated officers to maintain discipline and avoid any violations.

A powerful 7.6 magnitude earthquake has struck the Caribbean Sea, about 130 miles off the northern coast of Honduras, according to NDTV. The US Geological Survey (USGS) reported that the earthquake occurred at a shallow depth. The U.S. Tsunami Warning System has issued alerts for the Caribbean Sea and the northern coast of Honduras, warning of potential dangerous tsunami waves. This follows previous significant earthquakes of magnitudes 7.7 and 7.8 in the region in 2020 and 2018.

The Constitutional Reform Commission has proposed electing the President through direct votes and making the National Parliament bicameral with 500 seats. It also suggested forming a National Constitutional Council responsible for appointing key constitutional bodies and overseeing caretaker governments. The Election Commission Reform Commission has recommended holding local elections before national elections and implementing online voting alongside ballots. Additional proposals include re-elections if less than 40% of votes are cast, introducing a ‘No Vote’ option, canceling elections if ‘No Vote’ wins, and incorporating national referendums.

An internal police report highlights that despite various reforms, the police cannot become citizen-friendly unless corruption in other government sectors is addressed. The report describes ‘public-friendliness’ as an infectious trait, stating that if other institutions remain unfriendly, expecting only the police to change is unrealistic. Issues identified include flawed recruitment processes, extreme behavioral problems, an insufficient number of officers compared to service demand, and dual responsibilities at both station and field levels. Additionally, political pressure, bureaucratic hurdles, and a culture of favoritism in service delivery contribute to the problem.

The Supreme Court has disclosed information regarding 12 High Court judges who were sent on leave due to allegations of partisanship, corruption, and links to fascist elements. According to court administration, one judge resigned on January 30, two were not appointed as permanent judges, and two have retired. Full investigations by the Supreme Judicial Council are ongoing against four judges, while preliminary inquiries are underway for the remaining three. Earlier, on October 15, Hasnat Abdullah and Sarjis Alam called for the resignation of these judges, leading to a protest at the High Court. However, the Chief Justice clarified that he lacked the authority to remove judges, as it falls under the President’s jurisdiction.

Legal Advisor Asif Nazrul has announced plans to withdraw politically motivated ‘phantom cases’ filed against opposition members during the Awami League government’s tenure. He revealed that 36 types of documents previously required authentication by the Ministry of Law, causing public harassment, will now be digitized. He also detailed the progress made in six months of the interim government, including efforts to establish a separate judicial secretariat, abolish arbitrary marriage registration taxes, and review the controversial Cyber Law. Additionally, amendments to the 1973 International Crimes Tribunal Act and a new ordinance on judicial appointments have been implemented.

The Constitutional Reform Commission has recommended abolishing the ‘Father of the Nation’ clause, stating that the principle of secularism in the 1972 Constitution has created division and confusion. The commission’s full report, released on Saturday, argues that mandating Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s portrait promotes personality cults and paves the way for autocracy. It asserts that Bangladesh’s independence was a collective achievement of countless leaders and sacrifices, with no historical basis for a single ‘Father of the Nation.’ The report also claims that secularism was never part of Awami League’s pre-Liberation War manifesto and was inserted without discussion. Furthermore, it identifies elements of fascism within the 1972 Constitution and recommends maintaining Islam as the state religion, given the majority consensus.

To maintain law and order, the nationwide ‘Operation Devil Hunt’ has commenced. On February 8, Islamic scholar Mizanur Rahman Azahari posted on social media expressing his support for the operation, writing, “May Operation Devil Hunt be successful.” His followers also showed their support in the comments. Earlier, the Ministry of Home Affairs announced that the operation would begin across the country, including in Gazipur. A decision regarding the operation was made in a meeting after Friday night’s attack on student protesters. Prior to this, Advisor Asif Mahmud provided details about a joint forces operation to recover illegal weapons.