Asif Nazrul, an advisor, stated in a press briefing on February 8 that they are committed to holding free and fair elections based on political consensus. He emphasized that they have no interest in delaying the process to stay in power. He also announced plans to initiate discussions with political parties by mid-February, even during Ramadan if necessary. Nazrul affirmed that political parties have the right to demand an expedited election process and that many necessary reforms have already been implemented. He stressed that constitutional and electoral reforms must be finalized through dialogue and mentioned that most of the urgent tasks could be completed within a month.

The US State Department has officially notified Congress of a planned $7.4 billion arms sale to Israel. The deal will be delivered in two phases. The first shipment, worth $6.75 billion, includes precision-guided munitions, 166 small-diameter bombs, 2,800 500-pound bombs, fuses, and other military equipment, all set to be delivered this year. The second phase, scheduled to begin in 2028, involves 3,000 Hellfire missiles valued at $660 million.

A Jubo Dal activist was shot in the chest and leg on Friday night in Sonaiamuri, Noakhali. The victim, identified as Mizan (39), was attacked after a dispute with youths from a neighboring union escalated. The altercation reportedly began over a minor issue, leading Mizan’s followers to assault a rival named Zahir. Shortly afterward, unidentified assailants stopped Mizan’s autorickshaw, shot him, and fled the scene. Sonaiamuri police stated that the incident stemmed from a land dispute. The wounded activist is currently receiving treatment at a hospital in Dhaka. Authorities have advised his family to file a formal complaint, assuring them that legal action will follow upon receiving an official report.

Authorities successfully defused a set of crude bombs, locally known as cocktails, found near Farmgate in Dhaka. Around 12:00 PM, a caller to the national emergency number 999 reported a suspicious object resembling an explosive. Sher-e-Bangla Nagar police quickly responded and called in the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Bomb Disposal Unit. By 12:45 PM, the unit secured the area and confirmed that the objects were crude bombs. They were safely neutralized shortly afterward. Police suspect the devices were planted to create public panic. Investigations are ongoing to identify those responsible.

The Bangladeshi government has launched ‘Operation Devil Hunt’ nationwide from today to curb terrorism following a violent attack on students and civilians in Gazipur. The decision was made in a high-level meeting at the Ministry of Home Affairs, involving law enforcement agencies. A joint task force will lead the operation to restore law and order and bring perpetrators to justice. The operation starts immediately, and more details will be shared in a press briefing on Sunday. The move follows Friday night’s terrorist attack, which left several critically injured.

Kushtia, Saturday—Thousands of residents from at least five unions surrounding Islamic University (IU) staged a protest and blocked the Kushtia-Khulna Highway to oppose the relocation of the IU police station. The demonstrators felled trees and burned tires on the highway starting from 11 AM, demanding that the police station remains within the university premises. University students also joined the protest. Local residents warned, “We shed blood for the establishment of Islamic University, and if necessary, we will shed blood again to protect our demands.” The president of Islami Chhatra Shibir, the student wing of Jamaat-e-Islami, stated that the police station ensures security for 20,000 students and locals. If another station is needed in Jhaudia, authorities should build a cantonment there instead, but IU’s station must not be relocated.

Dhaka, Saturday—A massive conspiracy is being orchestrated with large sums of money to discredit Dr. Muhammad Yunus and distort the narrative of the 2024 mass uprising, claims Chief Advisor’s Press Secretary, Shafiqul Alam. Speaking at the launch of the book Droher Graffiti at the National Press Club on January 8, Alam urged everyone to remain united against fascism. He warned that no further military dictatorship should return and criticized the expansion of the list of freedom fighters, alleging that even two-year-old children and political opponents were included after independence.

Teknaf, Saturday—Mujibur Rahman, the chairman of Saint Martin’s Union Parishad and president of the Awami League’s local chapter, has been arrested by the Coast Guard in a drug raid. During a search of his residence, authorities recovered 12,274 Yaba pills. The operation was conducted early Saturday morning following intelligence reports of illegal drug storage at his house. Mujibur Rahman was caught attempting to escape through the back door and is currently being processed for legal action.

Amid ongoing debate over Elon Musk’s influence in the Trump administration, TIME magazine has featured the billionaire on its cover, seated behind the Resolute Desk in the White House. The article highlights Musk’s unprecedented authority as head of the Department of Government Efficiency, a position that has led to mass layoffs as part of his policy implementation. While the White House has yet to comment, speculation is rife that Trump might be displeased. This follows a 2017 TIME cover featuring Steve Bannon as the “Great Manipulator,” after which Bannon was eventually ousted from Trump’s administration.

A teenage girl with disabilities was allegedly raped in Patuakhali late Friday night. When her mother and aunt protested, they were physically assaulted. Police have arrested two suspects, Selim Howlader and Hasan Howlader, but the prime suspect, Hossain Howlader, remains at large. The victim was rescued and taken to Patuakhali Medical College Hospital. According to the mother, she had briefly left her daughter at home, during which Hossain lured the girl into an abandoned house and raped her. The mother rushed back upon hearing her daughter’s screams, but the perpetrator fled.

A banner reading “Bangladesh Medical University” (BMU) was hung at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), omitting Sheikh Mujib’s name. The banner was placed by students, doctors, and staff advocating against discrimination at the university. However, university officials claim they were unaware of the change. The Vice Chancellor’s secretary, Md. Ruhul Kuddus Biplob, stated that multiple names are under consideration for the institution, and an official decision is expected within 2-3 days. Earlier, on February 5, the original university signboard was removed at midnight, sparking further controversy.

A memorial featuring an image of Sheikh Mujib and the Awami League’s election symbol, the boat, was vandalized at Chourasta in Boalmari, Faridpur. The incident occurred on February 8 at 8 a.m. when police intervened to stop the attack, but tensions escalated as students began chanting slogans against the authorities, calling them “government agents.” Faced with mounting pressure, the police eventually withdrew. Local authorities have stated that they will investigate the incident, though the police have refrained from making any official comments.

The European Union warned on Friday that U.S. sanctions against the International Criminal Court (ICC) could undermine global justice and threaten the court’s independence. The U.S. imposed sanctions following the ICC’s issuance of an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The sanctions may impact ongoing investigations, including those related to Ukraine. The EU has stated that it will monitor and assess the implications of these actions. Meanwhile, the U.S. claims the ICC is engaging in unlawful activities, particularly in its investigations into alleged war crimes by U.S. forces in Afghanistan and Israeli forces in Gaza, despite neither country being an ICC member.

The Taliban government has expressed a willingness to rebuild relations with the Trump administration but firmly ruled out returning military equipment left in Afghanistan in 2021. Taliban Foreign Ministry spokesperson Abdul Bahar Balkhi claimed that the US and NATO military equipment left behind is now Afghanistan’s property. According to Pentagon data, the US had transferred over $7.2 billion worth of military equipment to Afghan security forces before the Taliban takeover. Over the past four years, much of this equipment has been damaged or utilized by Taliban fighters. Prior to the elections, Donald Trump had vowed to retrieve the abandoned US military assets in Afghanistan.

A regional aircraft that went missing in western Alaska has been found crashed 24 miles southeast of Nome. All 10 passengers on board were killed. Rescuers have recovered three bodies, while the remaining seven are believed to be inside the wreckage. The plane lost communication while flying 12 miles offshore and had been missing since last Thursday. Images show the aircraft wrecked in a snow-covered area. This marks the third plane crash in the region within two weeks, raising concerns about aviation safety in the U.S.