On March 25, Bangladesh will face hosts India in the first match of the Asian Cup qualifiers. Bangladesh’s head coach has included English Premier League player Hamza Choudhury in the preliminary squad. Captain Jamal Bhuyan commented, “This is now our best squad with Hamza’s inclusion. We’re all eagerly waiting for him.” He added that Hamza will join the team a bit later and that Bangladesh has a 50-50 chance against India in what is expected to be a tough contest.

Following a strong protest from the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), India’s Border Security Force (BSF) has apologized for entering Bangladesh and assaulting six citizens near the Fulbari border in Kurigram. During a battalion commander-level flag meeting on Saturday afternoon, BSF assured that actions would be taken against those responsible. The incident occurred on Friday at Balarhat Krishnanandabokshi border, where victims Shamsul Alam, Javed Ali, Kashem Ali, Ripon Mia, and Limon Mia were injured. BSF has assured that such incidents will not recur inside Bangladesh’s territory.

On Saturday afternoon, Chhatra Dal leader Omar Faruq and activist Abu Sayeed began an indefinite hunger strike at the base of the Raju Sculpture at Dhaka University, demanding a ban on the “fallen fascist Awami League.” Leaders and activists of the Revolutionary Student Council expressed solidarity and, seeing a common cause, also announced their participation. Among them were council convenor Abdul Wahed, secretary Fazlur Rahman, and members Yamin Sarker, Ashraful Islam, and Ariful Islam.

A fire erupted in a building in Islambagh, Dhaka, on Saturday afternoon. The Fire Service responded promptly, deploying 8 units from multiple stations, including Lalbagh, Hazaribagh, Polashi, and Siddique Bazar, to control the fire. The blaze was reported at 3:17 PM, with the first unit reaching the site by 3:25 PM. The cause of the fire and the extent of the damage are still under investigation. No casualties have been reported so far.

After a surge in meat prices during Shab-e-Barat, the costs of beef, chicken, and mutton have returned to normal. Beef is now Tk 750 per kg, down from Tk 800, while mutton dropped by Tk 50 to Tk 1,100 per kg. Broiler chicken prices have also stabilized after a temporary hike. Fish prices, which had risen by Tk 20–30 per kg, are also adjusting. Meanwhile, vegetable prices remain unchanged, with tomatoes at Tk 20, potatoes at Tk 20, and green chilies at Tk 40–60 per kg.

The date of the next election will be determined by the July Charter, according to Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam. Speaking to journalists in Dhaka, he mentioned that the election could be held by December, with some reforms implemented before that. A six-month National Consensus Commission will discuss reforms with political parties, aiming for an agreement. The political dialogue, led by Dr. Muhammad Yunus, has begun, with major opposition leaders participating to shape Bangladesh’s democratic transition.

Political parties have begun discussions with the National Consensus Commission, led by Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus. The meeting started at 3:00 PM at the Foreign Service Academy, Dhaka. Leaders from BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami, LDP, Islami Andolan Bangladesh, and other parties attended. The government recently formed the seven-member commission, appointing Dr. Ali Riaz as Vice Chairman. Delegations from various parties, including Jamaat and Islami Andolan, participated. Dr. Yunus is set to address the gathering on the commission’s role in shaping the transition.

The controversy surrounding unpaid wages in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) has now extended to the Dhaka Premier League (DPL). Cricketer Munim Shahriar has accused Partex Sporting Club of failing to pay his dues. Shahriar, who played for Partex during the 2023-24 season, revealed that a year has passed since the tournament ended, yet he has not received his full payment. Despite repeated assurances, the club has stopped responding. In a Facebook post, he mentioned that club representative Sajjad Saheb and his son Jarif had initially promised payment before the season ended, but they have failed to fulfill their commitment even after multiple follow-ups.

BNP's Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi has declared that national elections must take precedence over local elections. He warned that delaying the elections would further discredit the government. Speaking at a roundtable discussion, he said, "For 17 years, we have witnessed the dire consequences of rigged elections. Nobody imagined that the momentum of the 1990 movement would be abruptly halted. Political science has had to incorporate a new chapter—where voters are instructed via loudspeakers not to go to polling stations, and elections are held overnight." He further stated that when state power is misused to conduct one-sided elections, it results in severe oppression of the opposition, which is beyond description.

Since independence, Bangladesh has seen the rise of various political parties, with BNP being the largest among them. The Jatiya Party also held power through controversial elections but managed to establish certain regional vote banks. For decades, the country's political landscape has been dominated by Awami League and BNP. However, a new student-led party is emerging as a centrist force, steering clear of extreme right or left ideologies. Akhtar Hossain, the party's secretary, emphasized their commitment to equality, justice, and good governance. Samanta Sharmin stated that they aim to engage in politics driven by rights, responsibilities, and empathy. The party also draws inspiration from the success of Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Imran Khan, and Arvind Kejriwal's political movements.

Calling for self-reflection, Hasnat Abdullah stated, "We do not want a country where microphones are snatched away from religious scholars and clerics are thrown into jail by pulling their beards." He further emphasized, "We do not want an incompetent government to rule the country. We want a Bangladesh where every individual can practice their religion freely." Speaking at a gathering, the leader of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement urged people to acknowledge their mistakes. He also pointed out that at an age when people should be taking responsibility for their families, they are instead having to work on reforming the state. Additionally, he called on people to refrain from bribery and favoritism.

A young woman was arrested in Brahmanbaria’s Bijoynagar on Friday night, and police seized 3,000 yaba pills from her possession. The arrest occurred around 11:30 PM at Chandura Dakbanglo Mor. The woman, identified as Mariyam Begum, was initially questioned by the police during their routine patrol. After a search, the yaba pills were found. The police have announced that a drug-related case will be filed against the arrested woman, according to Officer-in-Charge Md. Rowshan Ali.

Speakers at a seminar organized by Citizen Initiative claimed that the police are refusing to file cases because they are involved in the murders themselves. They emphasized that fascism should be judged in international courts. According to the speakers, reconciliation without justice is dangerous. Since August 5, only three of the disappeared persons have been released, while the others remain missing. BNP leader Salahuddin Khan alleged that the ruling Awami League, using law enforcement agencies, has been involved in forced disappearances and killings to suppress opposition. Speakers also noted that they would seek UN assistance to secure justice.

A violent clash erupted between two villages in Sunamganj’s Jagannathpur on Friday, sparked by a fight among transport workers. At least 30 people were injured, including one person who was shot. The incident occurred at the Jagadishpur field around noon. Police, the military, and the UNO arrived at the scene to bring the situation under control. Eyewitnesses reported that the altercation between transport workers from the two villages escalated into a heated argument, which eventually turned into a violent clash with local weapons. The injured were taken to MAG Osmani Hospital and the upazila health complex for treatment.

A total of 146,694 students are competing for 1,896 seats in Dhaka University’s Science Unit admission test, making the competition 77 candidates per seat. The 1.5-hour exam will be held on Saturday (Feb 15) from 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM across eight divisional cities. The test includes a 60-mark MCQ section (45 minutes) and a 40-mark written exam (45 minutes). DU Vice-Chancellor Dr. Niaz Ahmed Khan will visit Curzon Hall during the exam. Other units’ admission tests have already been conducted.