Army Chief General Waqar-uz-Zaman has categorically stated that no army personnel were involved in the Pilkhana massacre. “There should be no ‘ifs’ and ‘buts’—the brutal incident was carried out by members of the then-BDR,” he emphasized. He warned that raising doubts about the perpetrators could undermine the judicial process, which has already convicted those responsible. “I was an eyewitness to the tragedy—we lost 57 army officers that day, along with some of their family members,” he said. He also noted that an investigation commission has been formed to determine if external forces or political entities were involved. He cautioned against creating unnecessary controversy regarding the massacre, stating that such debates would not be beneficial.

During a photo exhibition marking National Martyr Soldier Day on Tuesday, the Army Chief warned that internal disputes could jeopardize the country’s sovereignty. He urged all parties to remain united for the sake of the nation. “If we engage in mudslinging among ourselves, the sovereignty of the country will be at risk. Consider this a warning—you won’t be able to say later that you weren’t cautioned,” he stated. He also praised Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus for his efforts in keeping the nation united. Regarding the upcoming parliamentary elections, the Army Chief remarked, “It seems we are heading towards an election. Earlier, I stated that an election would be held within 18 months. We expect a free and fair election by December, and Chief Adviser Dr. Yunus is making every possible effort to ensure this.”

French President Emmanuel Macron has expressed disagreement with former U.S. President Donald Trump on multiple issues related to Ukraine. Speaking at a joint press conference with Trump, Macron stated, “We also want to end the war, but not with a fragile agreement.” He asserted that peace does not mean Ukraine’s surrender and demanded security guarantees for Ukraine, which Trump did not address. However, both leaders agreed that EU peacekeeping forces should remain inside Ukraine after the war ends, but not at the border. Macron also rejected Trump’s claim that the U.S. only provided financial aid, clarifying that 60% of the aid was grants, not loans.

Home Affairs Adviser Jahangir Alam Chowdhury has warned that no security personnel will be spared if found negligent in the ongoing operation launched last night. Speaking at the Banani Military Cemetery after laying a wreath in memory of the Pilkhana massacre victims, he emphasized that journalists would assess the success or failure of the operation. He also mentioned that necessary action had already been taken against two Superintendents of Police (SPs) following recent media reports about their misconduct.

The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court has ordered the reinstatement of 85 Upazila election officials who were dismissed during the 2007 caretaker government. The court also directed authorities to provide benefits to all affected individuals, including three officials who passed away during legal proceedings. On February 25, a five-member appellate bench led by the Chief Justice delivered the ruling. The dismissed officials were among 327 individuals recruited in 2005 through the Public Service Commission (PSC) but were terminated following an evaluation by the caretaker government in 2007.

A U.S. civil society organization, Democracy for the Arab World Now (DAWN), has urged the International Criminal Court (ICC) to investigate former U.S. President Joe Biden, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin for allegedly aiding, abetting, and deliberately contributing to Israeli war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. On January 19, DAWN submitted a 172-page complaint to ICC prosecutor Karim Khan, detailing crimes such as $17.9 billion in arms transfers, intelligence sharing, targeting assistance, and diplomatic support for Israel’s actions in Gaza.

A magnitude 5.1 earthquake struck Kolkata and Odisha on Tuesday morning, with mild tremors felt in Dhaka due to its proximity. Reports from Live Mint indicate that the earthquake’s epicenter was in the Bay of Bengal, 91 kilometers below the surface. The Hindustan Times reported that the quake was felt at 6:10 AM. No casualties or damages have been reported so far. A separate earthquake of magnitude 3.7 was also recorded in Himachal Pradesh the same day.

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has announced that the Israeli military is prepared to take control of the Gaza Strip under the leadership of the new army chief, with backing from former US President Donald Trump’s administration. He claimed that Hezbollah is currently at its weakest, cut off from land supply routes in Lebanon and Syria. Smotrich also boasted about the forced displacement of thousands of Palestinians and warned of further military aggression.

International human rights organizations and foreign governments have raised serious concerns over Pakistan’s ongoing deportation of undocumented Afghan refugees and eviction of legal refugees from Islamabad and Rawalpindi. Reports suggest that many deported refugees could face severe persecution under the Taliban regime. The Shehbaz government stated that those with agreements to migrate to third countries will be allowed to do so, while others will be sent back to Afghanistan. The UN Refugee Agency and the International Organization for Migration have expressed deep concern over the sudden arrests of refugees.

Chairman of the Labor Reform Commission, Syed Sultan Uddin Ahmed, stated that drivers and helpers should not always be blamed for road accidents. He emphasized that road infrastructure, vehicles, pedestrians, and drivers all contribute to accidents. He also opposed holding drivers responsible or arresting them at accident sites without a proper trial. Labor leader Razequzzaman Ratan added that vehicle owners must take responsibility, as they profit from the operations.

BUET campus witnessed late-night protests after reports emerged that Muntasir Al Zemi, a convicted death row inmate for the brutal murder of BUET student Abrar Fahad, had escaped from his prison's condemned cell. At 11:30 PM on Monday, students marched from the Shaheed Minar to Raju Memorial, demanding Zemi's immediate arrest and execution. Abrar’s brother, Abrar Faiyaz, revealed that they learned of Zemi’s escape during a High Court hearing that day. He accused the authorities of hiding the escape since August 5 and claimed that the government deliberately withheld the information.

More than 500 egg-laying ducks have reportedly been poisoned and killed at a farm in Tanguar Haor, a Ramsar-listed wetland. The incident took place on a riverine island in Tahirpur. The affected farmer, Sujan Mia, son of Siraj Mia from Mandiyata village, discovered the mass deaths after returning to his farm at noon. Locals reported that Sujan had been guarding the farm overnight and found the ducks dead upon his return. He suspects three individuals from the village, known for poisoning wild migratory birds, might be responsible. However, the Upazila livestock officer stated that he had no prior knowledge of the incident.

Jahangirnagar University Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Mohammad Kamrul Hasan has expressed concern and condemnation over the physical assault on the Vice-Chancellor of Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (KUET). In a press release on Monday, he stated that such an attack is a criminal offense. He pointed out that after the mass uprising, the government set a precedent by appointing eminent academics to universities. He described the assault on these vice-chancellors, who work to uphold and implement the spirit of the uprising, as an attempt to rehabilitate fascists and their allies. He demanded a thorough investigation and exemplary punishment for those responsible.

A violent clash between locals and members of the banned extremist group Hizb ut-Tahrir in Pirgachha, Rangpur, left 15 people injured. Police intervened and arrested seven individuals to control the situation. Reports indicate that around 40 members of the group were holding a secret meeting on Monday morning when locals confronted them, leading to an outbreak of violence. In the ensuing chaos, four houses belonging to Hizb ut-Tahrir members were set on fire. Four critically injured individuals have been taken to Rangpur Medical College, while two others, including an eight-month-pregnant woman, are in police custody.

U.S. President Donald Trump has ordered a crackdown on hundreds of thousands of undocumented migrant children who entered the country without their parents. Reuters described this as an expansion of the deportation drive. The operation, which began on January 27, will be carried out in four phases, though the implementation timeline remains unclear. In recent years, over 10,000 children have been ordered deported, with 31,000 removed solely for missing court appearances. During Trump’s first term, migrant children were separated from their parents at the border, leading to over 1,000 children becoming permanently displaced. This policy was later abandoned amid widespread criticism.