Garment workers from Self Innovation Fashion Limited blocked the Dhaka-Mymensingh Highway in the Hariken area of Gazipur, demanding two months of unpaid wages. The protest, which began on Sunday, February 9, caused severe traffic congestion, affecting commuters and drivers. Industrial police and local administration officials rushed to the scene to negotiate with the protesters. The workers alleged that despite multiple appeals, the factory management failed to resolve the issue, leaving them with no choice but to take to the streets.

Mongla Customs House has issued sale orders for 27 out of 72 vehicles put up for auction at Mongla Port. Importers managed to secure the release of 45 vehicles through court rulings. On February 6, the customs authority finalized the sale orders for the remaining 27 vehicles, with the highest bid going to a USV Prado model at BDT 11.45 million. According to an assistant commissioner of Mongla Customs House, these 72 vehicles had been abandoned at the port for a long time as importers failed to clear them within the stipulated period.

Students of the Medical Assistant Training School (MATS) have announced a new protest program to press for their four-point demand. They will hold a sit-in protest at the Central Shaheed Minar until noon on February 10 and have threatened to go on a hunger strike if their demands are not met. At a press conference, they revealed that the Health Ministry has assured them of addressing their grievances, but as three of their demands remain unresolved without a specific timeframe, the protest will continue. The students also alleged that police attacked them while they were on their way to meet the health advisor, injuring 60 individuals. Their demands include higher education opportunities, recruitment for vacant posts, creation of new positions, and the continuation of the four-year academic course.

The Bangladesh Bank has lodged a formal complaint against ACC Director Kazi Saemuzzam for his social media comments regarding the investigation into bank officials’ safe deposit lockers. The complaint, sent to the ACC Chairman, expresses objections to Saemuzzam’s remarks, which the Central Bank argues violate the Ministry of Public Administration’s policies. The complaint includes examples of his comments, which the Central Bank alleges have caused confusion and been detrimental to its staff.

Bangladesh’s Chief Advisor, Mohammad Yunus, will be traveling to Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on Tuesday. He will lead a delegation to the World Government Summit, which will take place from February 11-13. According to Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Rofiqul Alam, an invitation has been extended by the Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. This year’s summit will focus on enhancing effective partnerships between governments and increasing global dialogue and cooperation to bridge the gap between governments and citizens.

Saudi Arabia has imposed a ban on taking children as companions for the 2025 Hajj season. The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah stated that this decision is to ensure the safety of children amidst the large crowds. Priority will be given to first-time pilgrims. Hajj pilgrims must verify their information, register companions, and request changes to their mahrams through the Nusuk app or online. The Saudi authorities have emphasized preparation before the sale of Hajj packages and have initiated the process through the Nusuk platform.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has failed to find any safe deposit lockers under the names of 25 officials, including former governor Abdur Rouf Talukder. According to ACC Director Kazi Saemuzzaman, investigations related to the 25 officials’ alleged involvement have not yielded any lockers. The ACC has also received further complaints, and investigations will continue with court approval. To date, the ACC has identified 272 safe deposit lockers.

The Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB), which sells subsidized goods across the country, has sent out 5.7 million Smart Family Cards to district administrations and city corporations. An additional 600,000 cards are being printed, with data collection ongoing for 1.5 million more cards. The cards are provided free of charge to eligible consumers. Local administrations and city corporations are responsible for selecting beneficiaries, collecting data, and monitoring the distribution of goods. The interim government has started this card distribution initiative, following the cancellation of 10 million cards due to irregularities during the previous administration.

US President Donald Trump has issued an executive order to suspend American aid to South Africa. According to Reuters, this move criticizes the South African government’s law that allows for the expropriation of land from white farmers, a policy the Trump administration deems discriminatory. Trump accused the South African government of seizing land from minority white farmers through legislation passed in January. Johannesburg has denied these allegations. Trump also expressed frustration over South Africa’s stance on the genocide accusations against Israel and its alliance with Iran.

Bangladesh’s economy has made a strong recovery, with key indicators showing significant improvement, according to Chief Advisor Professor Muhammad Yunus’s Press Secretary, Shafiqul Alam. Speaking at a press briefing, he stated that macroeconomic stability has returned, with foreign reserves at $20 billion, covering 3.5 months of imports. Export growth has reached 10%, new jobs are being created, and inflation has dropped from 12% to 9%. The government expects inflation to fall further to 7.5% by July, ensuring price stability during Ramadan.

This year, Mehedi Hasan Khan, the creator of the Avro Keyboard, was nominated for the Ekushey Padak in the Science and Technology category. However, three more contributors to the Avro project will also receive the prestigious award. Filmmaker Mostofa Sarwar Farooki revealed that Mehedi Hasan initially declined the award. Nevertheless, the authorities proceeded with the decision to honor him. Later, Mehedi Hasan stated that he did not want to take full credit for Avro’s success alone. He acknowledged the contributions of his three collaborators—Rifat Nabi, Tanbin Islam, and Shabab Mustafa. In recognition of their role in the project, the decision was made to award the Ekushey Padak to all four of them.

In a nationwide crackdown under Operation Devil Hunt, law enforcement agencies arrested 1,308 individuals to maintain law and order. The police headquarters confirmed the arrests on Sunday, stating that 274 were apprehended in metropolitan areas and 1,034 in regional zones. The interim government launched the operation to bring criminals under legal action. The decision was made on Saturday during a high-level meeting at the Ministry of Home Affairs, where law enforcement agencies coordinated their efforts for the large-scale operation.

Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed, Economic Advisor to the government, has stated that no final decision has been made regarding inflation allowance for government employees. Speaking at a seminar on the role of remittances in the national economy, he mentioned that Bangladesh has not met all the conditions set by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which is why it is said that the country has “failed” to comply with IMF requirements. He also noted that balancing government revenue and expenditure is crucial, and various demands from teachers are being considered for the upcoming budget. Emphasizing the importance of sending skilled workers abroad, he warned that remittance through informal channels (hundi) does not contribute to official foreign reserves, which he identified as a negative factor.

Billionaire entrepreneur and close associate of former U.S. President Donald Trump, Elon Musk, has stated that he has no interest in acquiring TikTok’s operations in the United States. His remarks, made via video link from Germany in January, surfaced a week later. Musk clarified that he has no plans for TikTok, as he doesn’t use the platform. According to AFP, TikTok is facing legal pressure in the U.S. that could force its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to either divest its ownership or shut down operations in the country.

Bangladesh Bank will announce a new monetary policy tomorrow for the last six months of the fiscal year, prioritizing inflation control, foreign reserves, and exchange rate stability. Despite previous rate hikes failing to curb inflation, the central bank will keep policy interest rates unchanged. Experts argue that raising rates increases production costs and worsens inflation. Governor Dr. Ahsan H. Mansur, announcing his first policy, aims for a cautious approach. Analysts stress the need for market regulation and coordinated institutional efforts to tackle inflation effectively.