Amid President Donald Trump’s global suspension of U.S. foreign aid for 90 days, assistance for Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh remains unaffected, confirmed Chief Advisor’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam. The government is planning an international conference on the Rohingya crisis, with 170 countries and the UN as co-host. Discussions are also underway with global leaders to recover $234 billion stolen by the previous regime. The Chief Advisor’s Davos visit marked a significant achievement for Bangladesh’s global relations and economic diplomacy despite the worldwide aid halt.

Eye specialists from Singapore will provide treatment to individuals injured in the July anti-discrimination movement in Dhaka on February 1 and 2. They will treat patients at the National Eye Science Institute and Bangladesh Eye Hospital. The specialists, including surgeons from Mount Elizabeth Hospital and Singapore National Eye Centre, will offer care for retina, cornea, neuro-ophthalmology, and oculoplastic issues. This is part of a broader effort to send severely injured patients abroad for advanced treatment.

Interim Government Legal Adviser Asif Nazrul claimed that 80% of the police force align with Chhatra League, although they are not actively supporting the current government. Speaking at a book launch on the July uprising, he stressed unity to overcome post-revolution challenges. Nazrul urged BNP and student leaders to avoid misunderstandings, emphasizing the importance of collective efforts against those responsible for past atrocities. He highlighted the need to honor the sacrifices of July uprising martyrs to resist adversaries backed by wealth, propaganda, and international support.

A disaster was averted on Sunday near Dhirashram, Gazipur, thanks to the vigilance of railway security personnel. They detected a 20-meter section of the Dhaka-Gazipur track bent and dislodged and quickly placed a red flag to warn approaching trains. The Dhaka-Chapainawabganj-bound Bonolota Express, carrying 1,200 passengers, stopped just 40 meters from the danger zone. Their swift actions ensured all passengers were saved. Another train had crossed the damaged track earlier. After repairs, the Bonolota Express resumed its journey.

Chief Prosecutor Advocate Tazul Islam of the International Crimes Tribunal disclosed that evidence has been found proving that RAB fired from a helicopter during the anti-discrimination student protests in July-August last year. This revelation comes amid ongoing investigations, with an arrest warrant issued for former RAB DG Harun-Ur-Rashid in a murder case. Additionally, former police officials have been presented before the tribunal for their involvement in related incidents, including the burning of six bodies during the protests.

A violent clash between two Awami League factions over local dominance in Bashgari Union, Raipura, Narsingdi, left two people dead and at least 10 injured on Sunday morning. The dispute between former union chairman Ashraful Haque Sarkar and current chairman Ratul Hasan escalated into a confrontation involving spears and firearms. One victim, Alamgir Hossain, died after being taken to the hospital. Police are investigating, but the identity of one deceased and other injured persons remains unknown.

KM Shafiullah, Bir Uttam, the first Chief of Army Staff of Bangladesh and a prominent sector commander in the Liberation War, has passed away at 90. He died on January 26 while undergoing treatment in a private hospital in Dhaka. Born in 1934, he played a crucial role in the 1971 war, leading Sector 3 and later commanding the S Force. After independence, he served as army chief (1972–1975) and as an ambassador in several countries. He had been suffering from multiple health issues.

The Press Wing of the Chief Advisor dismissed the interview of fugitive Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, published in The Indian Express, as misleading and filled with lies. Kamal, accused of genocide, falsely claimed the burning of 460 police stations and looting of 5,829 weapons, which contradicts police records. The Press Wing highlighted his baseless statements, including allegations of media control and calls for Indian intervention in Bangladesh’s judiciary, labeling them as threats to national sovereignty. It reaffirmed the interim government’s commitment to press freedom since August 2024.

In 2024, Bangladesh received the bodies of 4,813 migrant workers, marking a record number compared to 4,552 in 2023. Since 1993, a total of 56,769 bodies have been repatriated. Most deaths occur among young workers, often due to unsafe workplaces, poor living conditions, overwork, and inadequate nutrition. Between 2016 and 2022, 67.4% of repatriated bodies came from Gulf countries, primarily Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Oman. Over 16 million Bangladeshis have worked abroad since 1976, with 76.3% in Gulf nations.

Summary: An explosion at an arms factory in Maharashtra, India, killed at least eight people and injured several others. The incident occurred in the Bhandara district on January 24. The explosion caused a roof collapse, trapping workers beneath the debris. Rescue teams reached the site quickly, recovering eight bodies and rescuing others in critical condition. The factory had at least 14 workers inside, and the cause of the explosion remains under investigation.

A powerful group in Pabna’s West Jamua village destroyed 60 houses in a government shelter project, claiming the land as their own. Residents allege they were forcibly evicted at gunpoint after the fall of the Awami League government. The group looted materials from the homes and placed a signboard citing a court case. Now, displaced families are living in dire conditions on nearby embankments. Local authorities have yet to act, despite repeated appeals from the victims for rehabilitation and justice.

A bomb threat was sent via WhatsApp to the duty officer at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport from a Malaysian number on January 22. The message led to immediate security measures being implemented. However, flight operations remained unaffected. Earlier, another threat about explosives onboard a Bangladesh Airlines flight from Italy was reported as a warning. National Security Advisor dismissed the threats as false information, and authorities are working to identify those responsible for spreading it. No incidents occurred at the airport.

Shortly after taking office, U.S. President Donald Trump issued executive orders targeting undocumented immigrants, sparking nationwide crackdowns. In Brooklyn, New York, ICE officers in plain clothes arrested four Bangladeshis during a raid. Witnesses reported being asked for identification, with one individual arrested after invoking the Fifth Amendment. Trump has signed over 100 immigration-related orders, including revoking birthright citizenship and halting legalization programs. The measures, coupled with heightened border security, have created widespread fear among undocumented immigrants, prompting legal challenges from 24 states and cities.

Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Tazul Islam has warned that promoting hate speech or inflammatory remarks by former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, accused of genocide and crimes against humanity, is prohibited by the International Crimes Tribunal. Addressing journalists, he accused Hasina of attempting to undermine the tribunal’s proceedings and influence investigations through provocative statements from abroad. The tribunal has banned the dissemination of such remarks in media and social platforms and directed the BTRC to remove existing content to ensure justice and protect witnesses.

Sargis Alam, key figure in the anti-discrimination student movement and National Citizens Committee, has stepped down from his role as General Secretary of the July Shaheed Smriti Foundation. In his resignation post, he announced structural changes within the foundation, including the creation of an Executive Committee and the appointment of a CEO. He served for about two months and 10 days, during which he oversaw financial assistance to 628 martyr families and 2,000 injured individuals. Sargis emphasized that stepping down was an act of addressing his limitations responsibly.