Rock legend Ayub Bachchu has been posthumously awarded the 2026 Ekushey Padak, Bangladesh’s highest civilian honor, in recognition of his outstanding contribution to Bangla band music. The announcement came seven years after his death, moving his wife Ferdous Akhtar Chandana, who expressed her emotions on social media on Thursday evening.

Chandana stated that the award is not only an honor for Ayub Bachchu as an artist but also a state recognition of Bangla band music. In her post, she reflected on Bachchu’s lifelong dedication to music and expressed gratitude to the jury board and all involved in granting the honor. She emphasized that Bachchu’s presence endures across Bangladesh and among Bangla-speaking communities worldwide.

The government announced the names of the 2026 Ekushey Padak recipients for contributions in various fields, including actress Farida Akhter Bobita, Ayub Bachchu, nine distinguished individuals, and one band.

The National Committee to Protect State-Owned Sugar Mills has announced a program to besiege the Ministry of Industries on March 31, demanding the reopening of six state-owned sugar mills that were closed during the Awami League government. The announcement was made at a press conference held at the National Press Club, where the committee also declared protest programs at all closed and operational sugar mills until March 26. The committee issued an ultimatum to the interim government to reopen the mills, end corruption, and modernize the industry.

At the event, central convener Kamruzzaman Firoz presided over the session, while joint convener Nur Rahman Palash read the written statement. Labor leaders and representatives from various federations and organizations, including the National Democratic Workers Federation and the Sugar and Food Industries Corporation, were present. Firoz recalled that in November 2024, a decision had been made to modernize and reopen the six mills following a meeting between national leaders and Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus. Although an ordinance was later issued to reopen them, the Finance Ministry withheld funding and suspended sugarcane processing activities.

The committee’s announcement signals renewed pressure on the government to act on earlier commitments to revive the state-owned sugar industry.

The Chattogram Port Raksha Sangram Parishad has announced an indefinite strike starting Sunday, February 8, 2026, at 8 a.m., protesting the decision to lease the port’s New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) to a foreign company and demanding withdrawal of disciplinary actions against workers and employees. The announcement was made by convener Md. Humayun Kabir at a press conference at the Chattogram Press Club. The strike has been supported by the Chattogram Workers-Employees Unity Council (SKOP) and the Jatiyatabadi Sramik Dal.

The organization’s four-point demand includes canceling the lease plan with DP World, removing Port Chairman M. Moniruzzaman, reinstating all employees affected by previous disciplinary measures, and ensuring no legal action against labor leaders. The workers had earlier suspended their blockade for two days after discussions with the shipping adviser Brigadier (Retd.) Sakhawat Hossain but resumed protest following new restrictions on 15 workers imposed by the port authority.

The Parishad stated that despite earlier 96-hour work stoppages, the government took no initiative to resolve the crisis, prompting the indefinite strike that could again disrupt operations at Bangladesh’s main seaport.

Professors Mohammad Abdur Rab and Muhammad Mohiuddin Sarkar argue that Bangladesh’s economy, despite its potential, remains constrained by corruption, debt, and policy short-sightedness. They emphasize that remittances and the ready-made garment sector currently drive the economy, but structural weaknesses such as rising non-performing loans, foreign debt, and low tax-to-GDP ratios threaten long-term stability. The authors call for redefining economic strategies after the July revolution, focusing on sustainable development rather than GDP illusions.

They identify corruption as the root of most crises, noting its deterrent effect on foreign investment and its role in capital flight. The article highlights the need for governance reforms, transparency, and accountability in public spending. It also warns that unplanned foreign borrowing and export dependency could destabilize the economy as Bangladesh transitions from LDC status.

The authors propose an “economy of justice,” where fairness, honesty, and balanced resource distribution guide all policies. They urge reforms in taxation, banking, and trade diversification to ensure inclusive growth and long-term economic resilience.

U.S. President Donald Trump has signed an executive order removing the 25 percent punitive tariff previously imposed on Indian goods. The order, which takes effect on February 7, was originally introduced as a penalty for India’s purchase of Russian oil, according to the report. The decision follows recent announcements by Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi that Washington and New Delhi have reached a new trade agreement.

Under the new trade arrangement, tariffs on Indian goods are expected to drop from 50 percent to 18 percent. The executive order also reiterates Trump’s demand that India stop buying oil from Russia and increase its energy imports from the United States. Additionally, it outlines plans for the two countries to expand defense cooperation over the next decade.

India has not confirmed Trump’s claim that it will halt Russian energy purchases. Previously, New Delhi defended its decision to buy Russian oil, describing it as a matter of national interest.

In Sitakunda upazila of Chattogram, large-scale filling of farmland, ponds, and natural drainage channels is taking place under the guise of industrialization. Despite repeated incidents, local administration has yet to take effective action, leaving residents fearful of environmental damage and future flooding. In Bashbaria Union’s Magpukur area, a company named Automation Engineering has reportedly begun filling a one-acre waterbody, blocking a key drainage route and alarming hundreds of nearby families.

Locals allege that unplanned and illegal landfilling is threatening food production and causing waterlogging even after light rainfall, endangering homes, mosques, schools, and roads. A former union member said he filed a written complaint two weeks earlier but no action followed, while company representatives allegedly filed false police cases against protesters. Experts say changing land use or filling wetlands without permission is illegal and call for coordinated action by environmental and land authorities, though such oversight appears absent in Sitakunda.

Officials stated that unauthorized filling will be halted if proven, while the accused company owner claimed ignorance about the need for permission and promised to obtain it if required.

In Lalmonirhat’s Aditmari upazila, the fertilizer market has reportedly fallen under the control of a powerful syndicate. Government-allocated fertilizers are missing from authorized dealers’ warehouses but are being sold in retail shops at double the official price. Farmers allege that an artificial crisis has been created, forcing them to buy fertilizers such as TSP at inflated rates ranging from Tk 2,400 to Tk 3,200 per bag. The shortage has disrupted potato and other crop cultivation during the current Rabi season.

Farmers accuse local agriculture officials of negligence in monitoring the market. According to the report, sub-assistant agricultural officers often limit their duties to signing dealer registers without field inspections, allowing dishonest dealers to divert stock to the black market. Officials claim they cannot conduct raids without the assistant commissioner’s approval, leaving room for irregularities. Farmers describe the few raids conducted as superficial, with only minor fines imposed on small retailers.

The district’s Department of Agricultural Extension deputy director, Saikhul Arefin, denied any fertilizer shortage. However, locals question this claim, pointing to rising prices and the spread of adulterated fertilizers that threaten soil quality and future crop yields.

As Bangladesh prepares for the February 12 national election, the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami alliances are competing intensely for power, with both parties offering varied promises to voters. The central question remains whether the incoming government will alter the 2025–26 fiscal budget announced by the interim administration led by Dr. Muhammad Yunus. So far, neither alliance has held formal discussions on revising the current budget structure.

A BNP policy adviser told Amader Desh that if the party forms the next government, it will prioritize market stability during Ramadan, possibly reducing import duties to keep prices within consumers’ reach. BNP also plans to adjust tariffs on education materials and introduce a “family card” to ensure household healthcare access. In contrast, Jamaat’s leadership said no internal review of the budget has yet taken place and that any decision will follow party-level discussions.

An NBR official noted that with less than five months left in the fiscal year, major structural changes would be difficult to implement. He added that the next government will likely focus on preparing the following year’s budget while managing inflation, revenue targets, and debt pressures.

Saudi Arabia has begun allowing wealthy non-Muslim foreign residents to buy alcohol, easing a 73-year-old ban. The change follows the 2024 opening of a liquor store in Riyadh’s diplomatic quarter for foreign diplomats. By late 2025, new rules were quietly introduced permitting affluent non-Muslim expatriates to purchase beer, wine, and spirits from the same outlets.

To qualify, buyers must hold a premium residency permit costing 100,000 riyals annually or earn at least 50,000 riyals per month. Muslim expatriates remain barred from purchasing alcohol, and buyers must present their residency card and declare their religion at the store. The policy marks a significant shift in the kingdom’s long-standing restrictions on alcohol sales.

Saudi Arabia originally banned alcohol in 1952. The recent relaxation is part of broader social and economic reforms aimed at reshaping the country’s image as more moderate and investment-friendly.

The Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) announced that from 9 a.m. today, the country will experience mainly dry weather with partly cloudy skies for the next 24 hours. Mild cold waves are currently sweeping across Moulvibazar, Panchagarh, Rajshahi, and Pabna districts, and these conditions may persist for a few more days. Light to moderate fog may form in river basin areas during early morning hours.

According to the BMD, both day and night temperatures across the country are expected to remain largely unchanged. The highest temperature recorded today was 31.6 degrees Celsius in Teknaf, while the lowest was 8.4 degrees Celsius in Sreemangal. In Dhaka, winds are blowing from the west-northwest at speeds of 8 to 12 kilometers per hour, with relative humidity measured at 68 percent at 6 a.m.

The department also reported that sunset in Dhaka will occur at 5:48 p.m. today, and sunrise tomorrow will be at 6:37 a.m.

Government employees have begun marching toward the Chief Adviser’s residence at Jamuna, demanding immediate publication and implementation of the gazette for the 9th pay scale based on the Ninth National Pay Commission’s report. The march started around 11 a.m. on Friday when participants broke through a police barricade near Hotel Intercontinental in Dhaka. Protesters declared they would not return home unless the gazette was issued within the day.

Earlier in the morning, government workers gathered at the Central Shaheed Minar in Dhaka before setting out for Jamuna. Participants included members of the Government Officers and Employees Welfare Association, as well as staff from various government, semi-government, and pay-scale-covered offices. Demonstrators alleged that although a pay commission was formed during the interim government, the failure to publish the gazette constituted an injustice.

The protest reflects growing frustration among public servants over delays in formalizing the new pay scale, with demands centered on immediate government action.

Ahead of Ramadan, edible oil prices have unexpectedly increased in Bangladesh despite adequate imports. Retailers report that companies have reduced commissions, indirectly raising prices. Unscrupulous traders are accused of artificially inflating soybean and palm oil prices. In contrast, vegetable prices have declined due to increased supply, while chicken prices rose by Tk 10 per kilogram and egg prices fell by Tk 5 per dozen.

Industry sources indicate that Bangladesh’s annual edible oil demand is about 2.5 million tons, with imports exceeding seasonal needs. By December, over 2.4 million tons of palm oil had been imported, and additional shipments are awaiting unloading at Chattogram port. Refinery owners claim that global price hikes have not yet affected the domestic market, suggesting that local manipulation and weak monitoring may be driving the rise.

Despite the oil price surge, traders say the supply of essential goods such as lentils and sugar remains stable, and they expect no major price hikes during Ramadan if monitoring improves.

Multiple earthquakes struck India’s Himalayan state of Sikkim late Wednesday night, with tremors also felt across northern Bangladesh. According to India’s National Center for Seismology (NCS) and the US Geological Survey (USGS), the epicenters were located in Sikkim’s Namchi and Mangan areas. The first major quake, measuring 4.6 on the Richter scale, occurred at 1:39 a.m. Bangladesh time, followed by two more of magnitudes 4.4 and 4.0 at 2:50 a.m. and 3:31 a.m. respectively. Several smaller aftershocks were recorded until around 6 a.m., totaling eight to ten tremors overall.

The quakes were shallow, with depths between 5 and 10 kilometers, which made the shaking more intense. Residents in Bangladesh’s Rangpur division reported strong vibrations and fear during the night. A resident of Nilphamari described the experience as terrifying, saying it felt as though the room might collapse.

Geological experts noted that Sikkim and the adjoining Himalayan region lie on an active fault line, making aftershocks common following a major tremor. Earlier in the week, a 5.9-magnitude quake in Myanmar and another in Satkhira’s Kalaroa area had also been felt across Bangladesh.

Production at the state-owned Jamuna Fertilizer Factory in Jamalpur came to a halt early Friday after rats chewed through electrical wires, causing a short circuit and a sudden blackout across the plant. The incident occurred around 1 a.m. in the factory’s power plant, disrupting electricity supply and stopping the production process. General Manager (Operations) Md. Fazlul Haque confirmed that repair work was underway and production was expected to resume by Saturday.

The Jamuna Fertilizer Factory, the country’s largest urea producer, has faced repeated production interruptions in recent months. After resuming operations on November 24 following a 23-month gas shortage, the plant has experienced multiple shutdowns due to low gas pressure and technical faults. The latest disruption adds rodent infestation to its list of operational challenges.

Factory officials and engineers cited long-standing maintenance and safety constraints, including inadequate budgets and outdated equipment. Experts noted that proper cable protection and regular pest control could have prevented the blackout. Authorities said the situation was under control and pledged to strengthen preventive measures to avoid similar incidents in the future.

Bangladesh Bank officials have voiced disappointment that the central bank has not been granted autonomy during the interim government’s reform period. At a press conference held on Thursday, February 5, 2026, by the Bangladesh Bank Officers’ Welfare Council at the bank’s headquarters, officials also condemned recent comments by the finance adviser questioning their integrity, calling the remarks unjust, inappropriate, and offensive.

Council leaders, including President A.K.M. Masum Billah and General Secretary Golam Mostafa Shraban, stated that it is unfair to hold the central bank responsible for irregularities in the banking sector without granting it autonomy. They demanded that the bank’s accountability be placed under a parliamentary committee rather than the government. The officials also criticized the failure to amend the Bangladesh Bank Order and the Bank Company Act despite the presence of senior economic figures in the interim administration.

The council further urged the resolution of recruitment and promotion deadlocks, cancellation of all contractual adviser appointments made without transparent procedures, and greater focus from the governor on central bank affairs.