During an interview with Al Jazeera on Wednesday (February 12), Hamas spokesperson Sami Abu Zuhri stated that Hamas remains committed to the agreed hostage release schedule but will not release all Israeli hostages on Saturday. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz warned that failure to release hostages by Saturday would result in severe consequences. Former U.S. President Donald Trump also weighed in, stating, "If all hostages are not returned by Saturday noon, I believe it's time to call off the ceasefire deal."

Following a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and Jordan’s King Abdullah II reaffirmed their countries' unified stance on Gaza. They stressed that Palestinians must not be displaced from their homeland. Trump had earlier warned that if Egypt and Jordan refused to accept Palestinian refugees, U.S. aid to these nations could be cut. Arab News reports that Egypt and Jordan are leading a strong regional resistance against Trump's plan to relocate Gazan Palestinians to their territories.

Filmmaker and advisor Mostofa Sarwar Farooki compared the country’s 16-year ordeal to the infamous Ayna Ghor detention center. In a Facebook post, he recalled his friend Sajedul Islam Suman, who was allegedly executed and disposed of in the Shitalakkhya River under orders from intelligence officials.

On his birthday, anti-discrimination student activists honored Abrar Fahad, a Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) student who was brutally killed by expelled Chhatra League members. Their tribute described him as a guiding light in the fight against fascism and Indian hegemony.

In a Fox News interview, Donald Trump suggested that Ukraine may or may not reach a peace deal and could potentially become part of Russia in the future. He demanded that Ukraine repay the vast financial aid it received from the U.S., proposing that the country use its rich agricultural land and natural resources to settle the debt.

During a visit to the notorious Ayna Ghor detention center, Supreme Court lawyer Barrister Arman recounted his harrowing eight-year captivity. He described being blindfolded and handcuffed behind his back at all times, even during prayers. He told interim government officials that he was subjected to extreme conditions, often left bound and motionless for 24 hours. Arman was released on August 6.

The interim government has welcomed the UN Human Rights Office’s report on the violent crackdown on students and workers by the Sheikh Hasina-led administration. The government reaffirmed its commitment to the rule of law, stating that the UN’s independent investigation has exposed grave human rights violations, including extrajudicial killings, arbitrary arrests, and excessive force.

During a protest, anti-discrimination student movement leader Hasnat Abdullah declared that the interim government must take responsibility for investigating the BDR massacre. He assured protesters that a meeting with advisor Asif Nazrul would take place within the week to discuss six demands, including reinstating dismissed BDR members. Abdullah alleged foreign interference in the Pilkhana killings. Protesters, defying police water cannons, marched into the Secretariat, staging a dramatic sit-in wearing funeral shrouds.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk has stated that the former Awami League government employed systematic brutality to maintain power amid public opposition. A UN investigation into human rights violations during the July-August uprising in Bangladesh found credible evidence against security forces and the former ruling party. The report suggests that these acts could amount to international crimes and calls for further criminal investigations.

A case has been filed in Sunamganj against five expatriates for allegedly defaming interim government leader Dr. Muhammad Yunus and BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman. The case was lodged by Ramzan Ali, a former member of Jubo Dal's Sunamganj municipal unit. The accused, including Ahmed Chowdhury and Salma Akter, are charged with publishing derogatory images and making offensive remarks.

Home Affairs Advisor Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Md. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury has stated that 'Operation Devil Hunt' will continue for as long as needed. He claimed that the operation has already achieved significant success. Regarding the Awami League ban, he said he was unaware of any decision on the matter. He also mentioned that the media is not fully reporting the extent of weapons being seized and assured that authorities are closely monitoring the situation.

Police in Babuganj, Barishal, recovered five homemade pipe guns from a pond on Wednesday afternoon. According to eyewitnesses, local children found a bag containing the weapons near a primary school and alerted the police. Officer-in-charge Zakir Sikdar confirmed that an investigation is underway, but no suspects have been identified or arrested yet.

Poet and political analyst Farhad Mazhar has criticized the 1992 public trial organized by Jahanara Imam's movement against war criminals, calling it a "pure example of mob justice." In a Facebook post, he mocked those who consider the religious community’s protests as terrorism while supporting such extrajudicial actions. He suggested that justice should be served through a fair trial, not mob decisions.

Iran has warned former U.S. President Donald Trump that any act of aggression will have severe consequences, describing his threats of force as reckless and provocative. According to Reuters, Iran's ambassador to the United Nations has sent a letter to the UN Security Council, citing Trump's remarks about eliminating Iran's nuclear capability instead of conducting airstrikes. The letter emphasizes that Iran will firmly protect its sovereignty, territorial integrity, and national interests against any hostile actions.

Following the inspection of Aynaghar, writer Faham Abdus Salam has called for the inclusion of the story of Barrister Arman—a former prisoner of Aynaghar and son of Jamaat-e-Islami leader Mir Quasem—in school textbooks. In a social media post, Faham shared an emotional account of Arman’s experiences, stating, “Listening to Arman and his wife’s story brings tears to my eyes. His father was executed without trial, and Arman himself was imprisoned in a tiny cell for eight years.” Faham believes that the stories of such brave individuals should be made part of national education so future generations understand the horrors of the past.