Farmers in Rajshahi staged protests by dumping sacks of potatoes on the Rajshahi-Naogaon highway, condemning a 100% rent hike in cold storage fees. The protest was backed by local BNP leaders.

Previously, the storage cost was 4 BDT per kg, but owners have now increased it to 8 BDT per kg. Farmers have demanded a return to the original rate, stating they would rather discard their produce than pay the inflated fees.

BNP leader Shafiqul Haque Milon criticized the cold storage syndicate, vowing to dismantle their monopoly and ensure fair pricing for farmers.

A court has ordered the seizure of 65 bighas of land owned by Additional DIG Gazi Md. Mozammel Haque following an Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) request. The land is valued at over 21.9 million BDT.

Additionally, 12 plots worth 27.6 million BDT, owned by his wife Farzana Mozammel, and 10 plots worth 7.98 million BDT, registered under his daughter Gazi Bushra Tabassum, have been seized. The court also froze 28 bank accounts belonging to the family, holding a total of 145.6 million BDT.

The ACC stated that an investigation is ongoing into their illegally acquired wealth, and immediate action was necessary to prevent asset transfers.

Following the removal of Cox’s Bazar Police Superintendent Rahmat Ullah over a drug-related scandal, seven more officers, including District Intelligence Branch OC Jahangir Alam, have been suspended and attached to the police lines. Investigations against them are ongoing.

Earlier, on January 6, a Toyota Land Cruiser Prado was seized in Ramu Upazila with 490,000 yaba pills. A team led by OC Jahangir Alam and SI Samir Guha initially arrested four suspects but allegedly released three in exchange for 12 million BDT. The matter came to light through an investigative report by Jugantor, prompting police authorities to take disciplinary action.

The Ministry of Public Administration has appointed 33 Deputy Commissioners (DCs), who previously served as Returning Officers during the 2018 national elections, as Officer on Special Duty (OSD). A separate notification was issued on Wednesday detailing their new assignments. These officials, previously holding the position of Joint Secretary, have now been transferred to the Ministry of Public Administration. The move reflects ongoing administrative adjustments post-election.

The police in the Vairamara area of Kushtia have discovered the bodies of a married couple in their home. The body of the wife, 65-year-old Rabeya Khatun, was found lying under a blanket on the bed, with her head covered. Meanwhile, her husband, 75-year-old Farid Uddin, was found hanging from the rafters nearby. The bodies were recovered at 12 PM on Wednesday and sent to the morgue. The police suspect that the wife may have been strangled to death, as there are signs of neck injury. Farid Uddin, originally from Natore, lived with his second wife. Rabeya Khatun’s children from her first marriage also live nearby. The cause and motive of the deaths are yet to be determined, but the police suspect that the husband may have killed his wife.

An armed robbery took place on a moving bus in the Uttara area of the capital. A woman passenger, who was a victim of the incident, shared a post on Facebook detailing the event. According to her post, she was traveling on the bus heading towards the airport when 5-6 young men boarded, disguised as regular passengers. They quickly drew knives and robbed the passengers of their mobile phones, wallets, and other valuables. One passenger was even stabbed before the robbers quickly exited the bus. The Uttara East Police Station has confirmed hearing of the incident but stated they have not received an official complaint yet. However, actions are being taken.

Adviser Nahid Islam has handed over a check worth over 10 million 6 lakh taka to the Bangladesh Workers’ Welfare Foundation, under the Ministry of Labour and Employment. The check was received by Adviser Sakhawat Hossain. The funds are sourced from the profits of Bangladesh Submarine Cables PLC for the fiscal year 2023-24. These funds will be used to ensure fair wages for workers and improve other public services, as stated by Adviser Nahid. During the handover, he emphasized the importance of adhering to financial regulations.

On Tuesday, seven bus passengers were killed in an armed attack in Balochistan, Pakistan. Local officials reported that around 40 unidentified armed individuals intercepted several buses, began verifying passengers’ identities, and then forced seven people off the buses before shooting them dead. All the victims were residents of Punjab. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack as of now. While law enforcement has cordoned off the area, the perpetrators have yet to be apprehended. Armed separatist groups have long been engaged in battles for regional autonomy in areas bordering Afghanistan and Iran.

On Wednesday afternoon, Mohammad Akhtarul Islam, the spokesperson for the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), confirmed that two bags of documents, including an FDR of 12 crore taka and land deeds, have been seized from former Inspector General of Police (IGP) AKM Shahidul Haque. The ACC stated that, in connection with an investigation into allegations of illicit wealth accumulation, intelligence reports revealed that Shahidul Haque had sent documents detailing his unlawful assets to a close relative in two bags. These documents contain information about the vast wealth, amounting to millions of taka, acquired by Shahidul Haque through illegal means.

A devastating whale stranding has occurred on a beach in Tasmania, Australia, where 157 whales have become trapped. Among them, 67 have already died, while rescue efforts are underway to save the remaining 90.

The stranded whales belong to the false killer whale species, known for their medium-sized black bodies. Australia’s Department of Environment has deployed marine specialists to the site to coordinate rescue operations.

Experts estimate that the whales have been stranded for 24 to 48 hours. Authorities are assessing whether the surviving whales can be safely returned to the ocean. Due to the risks involved, the public has been advised to avoid the area.

A ninth-grade madrasa student was raped while on a trip to Gazni Obokash in Sherpur. Overwhelmed with shame, the victim’s mother consumed poison and is now in critical condition at Mymensingh Medical College Hospital.

The victim’s father has filed a case at Jhenaigati police station. According to the police, on February 14, the girl had gone to Gazni Spot with her friends when a 35-year-old man named Elias detained and raped her. The influential perpetrator attempted to suppress the incident and pressured the victim’s family to remain silent. However, as the incident became known, the victim’s mother attempted suicide.

The officer-in-charge (OC) of Jhenaigati police station stated that efforts are underway to arrest the accused.

Students of Khulna University of Engineering & Technology (KUET) have locked down the university’s administrative and academic buildings, demanding the resignation of the Vice-Chancellor along with five other key demands. The protest escalated on Wednesday at around 1:30 PM, following tensions on campus due to an attack on students. Amid the unrest, the Vice-Chancellor remains confined inside the university premises.

Earlier in the day, the 98th syndicate meeting was postponed, leading to an emergency session starting at 11:30 AM. The Deputy Registrar confirmed that the Vice-Chancellor participated in the meeting virtually due to being under lockdown. The protesting students have reiterated their demands, which include banning student politics, ensuring justice for the attack victims, and the resignation of the Vice-Chancellor and five other officials.

During a joint press conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Ankara on Tuesday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan stated that Turkey could serve as an ideal venue for the planned peace talks between Russia, the United States, and Ukraine. Erdoğan reaffirmed Turkey’s commitment to fostering peace between Russia and Ukraine, expressing readiness to provide all necessary support to ensure the success of the negotiations. He emphasized that Ankara unequivocally recognizes Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Additionally, Erdoğan mentioned that former U.S. President Donald Trump’s initiative to end the war aligns with Turkey’s policies over the past three years. In response, Zelensky expressed his gratitude.

The Chairman of the Inter-Education Board Examination Control Committee and Controller of Examinations of the Dhaka Education Board, Professor SM Kamal Uddin Haider, announced the schedule for the upcoming Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) exams. According to the timetable, theoretical exams will begin on 26th June and continue until 10th August, while practical exams will be held from 11th August to 21st August. In a statement, ten guidelines were issued for candidates, including the requirement to take their seats 30 minutes before the exam starts. The exams will be conducted in two parts: multiple choice first, followed by creative/subjective (theoretical) questions. The 30-mark multiple-choice section will have a 30-minute duration, while the 70-mark creative exam will be allocated 2 hours and 30 minutes.

The Inter-Cadre Discrimination Elimination Council has declared a half-day strike from 9 AM to 1 PM on February 25 across all government offices. In a statement, the organization highlighted that based on public feedback, leaders from 25 different cadres submitted written opinions to the Public Administration Reform Commission. Among the key recommendations were the principle of “Cadres belonging to their respective ministries,” the abolition of quotas, and ensuring equality for all cadres. The council stated that their recommendations were disregarded, and the reform commission has focused only on elevating a single cadre above elected representatives. Furthermore, 12 members of the 25 cadres were temporarily dismissed in a Facebook dispute with the administration cadre, while no punitive action was taken against the administration cadre for their offensive writings. If their demands are not met, the council has warned of a full strike beginning March 1.