Barrister Jaima Rahman, daughter of BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman, hosted an informal ‘tea chat’ with around 55 young men and women on Monday at the Banani DOHS playground in Dhaka. The event aimed to hear the thoughts, expectations, and dreams of youth regarding the country’s future. Jaima Rahman spoke directly with participants, listening to their ideas and sharing her own perspectives and experiences.

During the discussion, she emphasized issues such as women’s empowerment, workplace safety for women, entrepreneurship development, investment-friendly environments, traffic congestion in major cities including Dhaka, and the prospects and challenges of future employment. The event was designed as a fair-like, interactive experience rather than a traditional meeting or speech.

In the final part of the gathering, Jaima Rahman walked and conversed with participants instead of delivering a formal address. She also shared tea, chotpoti, jilapi, and jhalmuri with the attendees, which organizers said made the event more lively and engaging.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has announced its decision to appeal to a higher court against the anticipatory bail granted to 40 accused, including the prime suspect, in the murder case of Maulana Rezaul Karim, secretary of Sherpur’s Sreebardi upazila unit. The announcement was made on Monday afternoon at a press conference held at the party’s central office in Moghbazar, Dhaka, by Assistant Secretary General Ehsanul Mahbub Zubair.

Zubair expressed the party’s dissatisfaction over the bail decision, questioning whether the killers would escape justice. He demanded the immediate arrest of those involved and called for proper legal proceedings to ensure justice. The press conference was also attended by Jamaat’s election committee member Oliullah Noman and Dhaka South assistant publicity secretary Abdus Sattar Suman.

The party’s move to challenge the bail order underscores its frustration with the handling of the case and its insistence on accountability for the killing of its local leader.

The High Court on Monday, February 2, 2026, granted six weeks of anticipatory bail to 40 accused, including BNP candidate for Sherpur-3 constituency Mahmudul Haque Rubel, in a murder case filed over the death of Jamaat leader Maulana Rezaul Karim. The order was issued by a bench comprising Justice Kamrul Hossain Molla and Justice Faisal Hasan Arif after hearing the bail petitions. Defense lawyers Barrister Ruhul Quddus Kajol and Barrister Shahadat Hossain Ziko represented the accused during the proceedings.

According to police, the case was filed by Rezaul Karim’s wife, Marzia, naming Rubel as the prime accused following a violent clash between BNP and Jamaat activists on January 28 at Jhenaigati Mini Stadium in Sherpur. The incident occurred during an election manifesto announcement event organized by the upazila administration, where a dispute over seating escalated into violence. Rezaul Karim, secretary of the Sribordi upazila Jamaat, was critically injured and died en route to Mymensingh Medical College Hospital.

The case includes 231 named and 400 unnamed accused, as confirmed by police at a press briefing on January 31.

BNP Standing Committee member and Dhaka-8 constituency candidate Mirza Abbas said he has been contesting elections in the area since 1977 but has never been certain of victory before any election. Speaking to journalists on Monday after prayers at the Rajarbagh Central Police Hospital Mosque, he said even as an experienced politician he cannot claim a guaranteed win, questioning how those without public engagement or local involvement can be so confident.

Abbas conducted campaign activities in Shahjahanpur’s Income Tax Colony and nearby markets, seeking votes for the BNP’s symbol, the paddy sheaf. He later planned to meet residents at Jahaj Building Road in Shahjahanpur for further outreach. He expressed suspicion that some candidates who should not be winning are already claiming victory, suggesting possible election manipulation or engineering.

He also commented on reports of hacked social media accounts, saying he was surprised at how quickly such accounts were recovered, implying doubts about the authenticity of those claims.

Justice Mamnoon Rahman of the High Court Division of the Supreme Court has submitted his resignation letter to the President of Bangladesh. The letter was sent through the Chief Justice, and he cited personal reasons for his decision. According to the report, Justice Rahman personally emailed his resignation letter to the Registrar General of the Supreme Court.

The report indicates that the resignation was formally communicated via email and transmitted through the appropriate judicial channel involving the Chief Justice. No additional details were provided regarding the timing of the resignation’s acceptance or any official response from the President’s office.

The development marks a notable change within the judiciary, though the source does not specify whether a successor has been named or when the resignation will take effect.

A press conference was held at Rajapur Press Club in Jhalakathi-1 constituency, where female activists of Jamaat-e-Islami alleged that they were obstructed by local Jubo Dal leaders while campaigning for Jamaat candidate Dr. Fayzul Haque’s ‘scales’ symbol. The event took place on Monday afternoon, with Khadija Begum, a member of the upazila women’s Jamaat council, presenting the allegations.

According to the statement, the incident occurred in Pingri area of Shuktagar Union, Rajapur, when a group of Jamaat-supporting women faced resistance initially from Mazeda Begum, sister of a late BNP leader. She reportedly informed Jubo Dal leaders, who then arrived and blocked the campaign. The women claimed they were also prevented from campaigning in nearby areas, and that local BNP activists chanted slogans forbidding their activities.

The women further alleged that Jamaat’s union leader Abdul Alim was confined when he arrived at the scene. They said they avoided confrontation to prevent escalation. Jamaat leaders stated that similar obstructions had occurred several days earlier in the same area.

The Dhaka University unit of Islami Chhatri Sangstha organized a protest rally on Monday afternoon at the base of the Raju Sculpture, condemning alleged incidents of violence, harassment, and abuse of women by BNP and Chhatra Dal activists across the country. The organization’s statement said the demonstration aimed to protest what it described as a pattern of gender-based violence linked to opposition political groups.

Speakers at the rally, including the DU branch president Tamanna, sharply criticized BNP and Chhatra Dal, accusing them of hypocrisy and demanding justice for victims of recent assaults. They cited a recent case involving a Chhatra Dal leader accused of raping a seventh-grade student as an example of ongoing impunity. Other speakers urged the government and administration to ensure women’s safety on campuses and nationwide.

Participants chanted slogans calling for an end to violence against women and demanded exemplary punishment for those involved. The protest drew a large number of female students and members of the organization, who called for stronger social resistance against gender-based violence.

Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has stated that the government has shown weakness in ensuring accountability for army members allegedly involved in enforced disappearances. The observation came from a research report presented at a press conference held at TIB’s headquarters in Dhanmondi, Dhaka. The report also noted that despite evidence tampering allegations against security and law enforcement agencies, the government has failed to bring those responsible under accountability.

According to TIB, ten army officers managed to flee abroad despite arrest warrants and travel bans, while trials have begun against some law enforcement and army officials, but many key perpetrators remain beyond justice. The organization also reported that fifteen army officers accused of crimes against humanity and killings during the July uprising were being held in sub-jails inside cantonments, raising questions about fairness. TIB’s research covered issues including anti-discrimination movements, human rights violations, governance reforms, and corruption prevention.

TIB Executive Director Iftekharuzzaman expressed concern about the upcoming national election, citing the influence of money, muscle, and religion. He urged the government to take action against those who helped suspects escape accountability.

Rear Admiral Mohammad Musa, Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Operations), visited polling centers in Hatiya, Noakhali on Monday morning and instructed naval personnel to remain alert so that no acts of sabotage occur during the national parliamentary election. He emphasized that maintaining law and order and ensuring the safety of people's lives and property are the navy’s primary objectives during the election period. Musa also stressed the importance of working closely with the local administration to ensure that the election and any referendum are conducted in a free, fair, peaceful, and festive manner.

During his visit to the Hatiya Town Girls’ High School polling center in Ward No. 1, he was accompanied by the Upazila Nirbahi Officer and Assistant Returning Officer Md. Alauddin, Hatiya Police Station Officer-in-Charge Saiful Alam, and other naval officers deployed in the area. Earlier, he inspected the navy camp at Hatiya Dwip Government College campus and later addressed naval members at the college field.

The visit highlighted the navy’s active role in supporting local authorities to maintain election security and public confidence in the electoral process.

Nahid Islam, the Dhaka-11 constituency candidate nominated by the 11-party alliance and convener of the National Citizens Party (NCP), claimed that a group he described as a mafia is trying to halt the progress of his campaign symbolized by 'Shapla Kali'. In a verified Facebook post on Monday morning, he alleged that his campaign billboards and banners were being torn down in different areas, including one near Noorbagh Mosque in Ward 23 on the previous night.

He condemned the incidents as disgraceful and said those attempting to stop him through such acts were mistaken. Nahid Islam expressed confidence that residents of Badda, Bhatara, and Rampura would respond to these actions on the 12th of the month. His comments reflect growing tension around campaign activities in the constituency ahead of the upcoming political event.

The post underscores the candidate’s assertion that his campaign momentum has triggered fear among opponents, while he continues to emphasize public support as his strength.

Right-wing politician Laura Fernández has been elected president of Costa Rica following Sunday’s election, pledging to crack down on violence linked to the cocaine trade. According to AFP, she secured a landslide victory, surpassing the 40 percent threshold needed to avoid a runoff. With 81.24 percent of votes counted, Fernández, the political successor to outgoing President Rodrigo Chaves, received 48.94 percent, while her main rival, centrist economist Álvaro Ramos, obtained 33.02 percent.

Supporters of Fernández’s Sovereign People’s Party celebrated across the country, waving national flags in San José and other cities. In a video message at the party’s official event, the 39-year-old thanked Chaves for his trust and promised to work tirelessly for economic growth, freedom, and progress. She cited El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele’s strict anti-crime policies as an inspiration, and Bukele was the first foreign leader to congratulate her.

Analysts said Fernández’s victory signals a strengthening of right-wing politics in Latin America. Critics, however, fear possible constitutional changes, which she denied, reaffirming her commitment to Costa Rica’s democratic tradition.

US President Donald Trump has said that Washington is holding talks with Cuba’s top leadership to reach a possible agreement. He made the remarks at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Palm Beach, Florida, just days after threatening an effective oil blockade against Cuba’s struggling economy. Trump described Cuba as a failed state and suggested that the absence of Venezuelan support has left Havana vulnerable, though he did not disclose details of the proposed deal.

Since the US-led operation on January 3 that removed Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, the Trump administration has intensified pressure on the communist-ruled island. Venezuela had been a key ally and oil supplier to Cuba. Last Thursday, Trump signed an executive order threatening additional tariffs on countries supplying oil to Cuba, which led to long queues at Havana’s fuel stations the following day.

Meanwhile, Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum announced plans to send humanitarian aid, including food and other goods, to Cuba and to pursue diplomatic efforts to maintain oil shipments. The Cuban government accused Trump of trying to economically strangle the island as power outages and fuel shortages worsened.

Election campaigning in Manikganj has intensified, with candidates actively engaging voters across towns and villages. On Monday morning, a group of hijra community members drew attention at Dautia Bazar in Manikganj Sadar upazila as they campaigned for BNP-nominated candidate Afroza Khanam Rita in the Manikganj-3 constituency. Wearing headbands and distributing leaflets, they moved through the market, urging people to vote for the paddy sheaf symbol in a lively and colorful atmosphere.

The campaign was led by community leaders Nargis and Rokhsana, joined by others including Nandini, Guti, and Mukta. They stated that around 50 hijra individuals live in Manikganj and are divided into groups to campaign daily for the BNP candidate. They emphasized their rights as citizens and expressed support for those who stand by their community.

Local shopkeepers and residents responded with curiosity and encouragement, capturing videos and applauding the group. Many remarked that such participation reflects growing awareness and the beauty of democracy.

A new Asahi newspaper poll indicates that Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), led by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, is on track for a major victory in next week’s lower house election. The survey, released on February 2, 2026, shows the LDP could secure well above the 233 seats needed for a majority in the 465-member chamber, up from its current 198 seats. Together with coalition partner Japan Innovation Party (Ishin), the ruling bloc could reach as many as 300 seats, strengthening Takaichi’s mandate.

According to Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley Securities strategist Keisuke Tsuruta, such a result would reinforce Takaichi’s authority and allow her to continue her “proactive” economic policies, including boosting consumption and cutting taxes. The main opposition Centrist Reform Alliance faces a potential loss of half its 167 seats amid a tight race.

Takaichi dissolved parliament last month and called the snap election for February 8 to seek public approval for her expansionary economic agenda. Her earlier decision to suspend the 8% food tax for two years triggered a market slump and raised public concern about Japan’s fiscal discipline.

U.S. President Donald Trump has expressed optimism about reaching an agreement with Iran. Speaking to reporters at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida on Saturday, Trump said he hoped a deal could be achieved. He also stated that the United States possesses the world’s most powerful warships, according to a report by TASS.

Earlier, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had warned that any U.S. attack on Iran would trigger a regional conflict. Responding to Khamenei’s remarks, Trump said it was understandable for him to speak that way and added that time would tell whether Khamenei was right or wrong if no deal was reached.

Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that discussions on Iran’s nuclear program with the United States remain possible if mutual trust can be restored. He noted that Iran has lost confidence in the U.S. as a negotiating partner and warned that any military intervention in Iran could spread across the broader region.