Hasnat Abdullah referred to Sheikh Hasina as a butcher, stating, “Hasina and Chhatra League are now a ‘death chapter.’ On August 5, we closed this chapter. In post-uprising Bangladesh, despite differences in opinion and politics among anti-fascist parties, discussions will take place at the same table. But one thing is clear—there will be no rehabilitation of Hasina and fascism.” He also criticized the media for not referring to Hasina as a fascist and a murderer, accusing them of maintaining Hasina’s fascist media structure. Additionally, he warned that any media outlet broadcasting Hasina’s speeches would be identified as her collaborator.

The Administrative Reform Commission has proposed dividing Bangladesh into four provinces and creating separate divisions for Comilla and Faridpur. It also recommends the formation of a Greater Dhaka Capital City with Dhaka and Narayanganj, along with a separate police unit for immigration. Additionally, the commission suggests establishing three Public Service Commissions. The Judicial Reform Commission has also recommended the recruitment of attorneys via a service exam to ensure judicial independence. The recommendations were submitted to the Chief Advisor, Dr. Muhammad Yunus.

The Public Administration Reform Commission has proposed allowing government employees to retire with full pension benefits after 15 years of service. The recommendation, made by the commission, aims to provide an option for employees who wish to transition in their careers. Currently, government employees are eligible for retirement benefits, including pensions, after 25 years of service. The proposal seeks to offer more flexibility and career options to public sector workers.

The Public Administration Reform Commission has recommended the formation of a ‘Capital City Government,’ federally controlled like New Delhi, to manage the sprawling Dhaka Metropolitan Area. The proposal, presented to the Chief Advisor of the Interim Government, includes additional reforms such as dividing the country into four provinces and changing the titles of deputy commissioners. This comes as part of the broader state reform efforts, with six commissions submitting their reports so far.

The National Revenue Board has exempted VAT on the fees, hotel charges, and hospitality expenses of foreign doctors who came to treat those injured in the anti-discrimination student movement. This exemption has been granted under the powers conferred by Section 23 of the Income Tax Act.

Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus has received the report from the Judiciary and Public Administration Reform Commission. Although the report was scheduled for submission last month, the commission’s head stated that fieldwork delayed the process. The report contains over 100 recommendations, though specifics were not disclosed. The commission was initially formed on October 8 to address reforms in public administration and the judiciary.

In a meeting with Nirapad, an organization working for worker safety, Chief Advisor Dr. Muhammad Yunus stated that labor law reforms are being undertaken to meet International Labour Organization (ILO) standards. During the meeting, Special Envoy of the Chief Advisor, Lutfi Siddiqui, mentioned that the government has already signed an 18-point agreement with labor unions and manufacturers, bringing stability to the sector. Nirapad Chairperson Simon Sultana thanked the Chief Advisor for initiating these reforms in the garment sector.

On February 4, students in Kaliganj surrounded the local police station, demanding the arrest of a dismissed lecturer from North Bengal College in Lalmonirhat. Lecturer Tamanna is accused of vandalizing a police vehicle and assaulting the officer-in-charge (OC). She had earlier organized a human chain protest demanding the resignation of the college principal and the Upazila Executive Officer. However, local residents and students disrupted the protest. Later, she staged a hunger strike in front of the Kaliganj police station but had to take shelter inside due to pressure from protesting students. The students are demanding her immediate arrest.

Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam accused BBC Bangla of being biased in favor of Sheikh Hasina in a Facebook post. He alleged that the media outlet omits key details when reporting on Hasina, particularly her alleged escape to India. He accused Hasina of ordering mass killings, unprecedented violence, looting, corruption, extrajudicial killings, and the disappearance of over 3,000 people before fleeing to India. He also cited a Human Rights Watch report that claimed Sheikh Hasina was responsible for issuing orders related to killings and disappearances.

After a meeting with Netanyahu, Donald Trump announced in a press briefing that the U.S. will take ownership of war-torn Gaza, relocate Palestinians elsewhere, and develop the region economically. Trump stated that Gaza will be cleared of destruction and transformed into a prosperous economic zone under U.S. ownership. He also mentioned the possibility of deploying troops if necessary. Meanwhile, the Israeli Prime Minister emphasized that Gaza should never become a security threat again.

One month and four days into the current academic year, nearly 18 free textbooks are yet to be printed. Although 50 publishers, including Lecture, Panjeri, Advanced, and Poppy, were tasked with printing books, they prioritized guidebooks instead of following the National Curriculum and Textbook Board’s (NCTB) directives. The market is now flooded with unauthorized guidebooks under the pretense of “All-in-One” practice books. Education experts warn that this will increase rote memorization and have advised strict action. The total number of primary and secondary students exceeds 43.4 million, with a demand for 401.5 million textbooks. Despite a daily printing capacity of 4 million books, only about 2 million are being produced due to a paper shortage. Meanwhile, in Nilkhet and Bangla Bazar, textbooks are being sold at high prices due to the shortage.

Bangladesh Bank has decided to freeze all its reserved lockers following suspicions by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) that these lockers contain a large amount of undisclosed wealth. The ACC has stated that only the Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit has the authority to freeze bank lockers. As a result, the ACC has requested banks not to allocate new lockers or open existing ones for now. Reports suggest that Bangladesh Bank has complied with this request. During an investigation into a former governor, the ACC discovered significant amounts of undisclosed wealth stored in lockers by other bankers.

The concluding prayer of the second phase of the first part of the Shura-e-Nizam Ijtema will take place today (Wednesday) at 12 PM, led by Maulana Zubair Ahmed. Today’s teachings were delivered by India’s Maulana Jamal, while Maulana Ibrahim Deol spoke with senior scholars, and Maulana Farid addressed students. After Zuhr prayer, Maulana Ismail delivered a sermon, followed by Maulana Zuhairul Hasan after Asr prayer. Later, dowry-free marriages were conducted. Tomorrow, sermons will be given by Maulana Faruq and Abdur Rahman.

There are allegations of appointing a favored individual as the Managing Director (MD) of Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL). Concerned parties claim that discrimination is being exercised to benefit certain individuals or groups. According to DMTCL’s articles, the chairman is not involved in the appointment process. Some metro rail officials are dissatisfied with the mandatory requirement for the candidate to be an engineer. Allegations suggest that despite lacking the necessary qualifications, a specific candidate was awarded higher marks by the appointment recommendation committee. The advisor to the Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges stated that the 2017 amendment has been repealed, and only individuals with metro rail experience will be appointed as MD.

During a meeting of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, recommendations were made to make the Foreign Ministry more efficient. In the first session, three advisors discussed internal matters of the ministry with Advisor Md. Touhid Hossain. The five-member committee, formed to assess the government’s response to the July coup, includes Advisor Touhid Hossain, Adilur Rahman Khan, Mahfuz Alam, the Foreign Secretary, and a representative of the Chief Advisor.