The Public Administration Reform Commission has proposed reducing the number of ministers and secretaries while merging certain ministries. The recommendations include limiting the number of ministers to 23, with only two technocrats, and capping the number of state and deputy ministers at 12. Additionally, the commission suggests reducing the number of secretaries and equivalent officials from 80 to 60. The proposal also calls for appointing a chief secretary in ministries with multiple divisions. While experts acknowledge the potential benefits for governance efficiency, concerns remain about its practical implementation.

Bangladesh’s Foreign Adviser Touhid Hossain and India’s Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar will meet on the sidelines of the Indian Ocean Conference 2025, scheduled for February 16-17 in Oman. Dhaka is expected to convey a strong message urging India to refrain from any actions that could destabilize bilateral relations. The Bangladeshi delegation will also warn against using Sheikh Hasina’s political influence to create internal unrest. The meeting invitation was extended by India’s foreign ministry last month, following their last bilateral discussion in the United States.

The United Nations fact-finding mission is set to release a report on February 13, revealing evidence of serious human rights violations and atrocities committed during the July uprising. The report, to be presented in Geneva at a press conference, will highlight the involvement of top officials in the previous government. The UN had previously shared a draft of the report with the Bangladesh government for feedback. Spanning approximately 150 pages, the report is expected to call for further investigations into the incidents.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) is set to hold a meeting with Chief Adviser Mohammad Yunus on Monday evening. The agenda includes the presentation of a roadmap for the national elections, which will be formally announced by the Chief Adviser. Sources within BNP stated that the meeting is organized in response to the current political climate and the upcoming elections. However, the party has yet to disclose the names of its representatives who will attend. Last Friday, BNP’s standing committee decided to move forward with this high-level discussion.

Bangladesh’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has confirmed the discovery of human bones at a location linked to a high-profile investigation. The details surrounding the find remain undisclosed, but forensic experts are examining the remains to determine their origin and relevance to the ongoing investigation.

The Daily Telegraph has reported that Bangladesh’s Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) is investigating the alleged illicit funds of Tulip Siddiq in the UK. The ACC has been working to recover laundered money from the Hasina administration. The commission’s director general confirmed ongoing cooperation with multiple countries for this investigation. Tulip Siddiq recently resigned from her position as City Minister due to ethical concerns. Allegations have surfaced linking her to corruption and illegal assets acquired during the Sheikh Hasina government.

Following the fall of the Hasina government in August 2024, Mohammad Yunus assumed the role of Chief Advisor. Recently, a viral video falsely claimed that the U.S. had imposed sanctions on Dr. Yunus and 20 others for insulting Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Sheikh Hasina. Investigations revealed that the video was manipulated by merging clips from two separate news reports. Fact-checking platform Rumor Scanner has labeled it as propaganda and fake news.

A devastating fire in Chattogram’s Kotwali area early on February 10 claimed the lives of a husband and wife, while three others sustained injuries. Firefighters from two stations and four units managed to control the fire. The victims were rescued but later succumbed to smoke inhalation while receiving treatment. Fire service officials suspect the fire originated from an electrical short circuit, causing damage worth 1.5 million BDT.

At a National Citizen Committee event, Sarjis Alam, the chief organizer of the Diaspora Committee, expressed gratitude to Pinaki Bhattacharya, Elias Hossain, and Kanak Sarwar for their contributions. The central committee was formed with 75 representatives from 30 countries across four continents. Alam highlighted the critical role of the diaspora community post-uprising, noting that while media voices were suppressed in Bangladesh, freelance journalists abroad continued to expose the truth.

On February 9, a gas cylinder explosion in Madaripur left three family members critically injured. The victims, Jewel Hawlader, his wife Tania Begum, and their daughter Sohagi Akter, were burned when Tania attempted to light a stove. The explosion, believed to have been caused by a gas leak, resulted in severe injuries. Firefighters rescued the victims and transported them to the district hospital, with Tania later transferred to Dhaka’s burn unit due to her critical condition.

Chief Advisor Mohammad Yunus has directed authorities to swiftly bring those involved in bank looting under the law. During a meeting on ‘Bangladesh’s Economy: Recent Challenges and Future Strategies,’ he also emphasized increasing remittance flow and reopening visa services in countries where they are currently restricted. The central bank has identified 12 oligarchs involved in financial misconduct. Meanwhile, economic advisors claim macroeconomic stability is improving, and efforts are underway to recover laundered money.

Bangladesh’s border security forces detained 18 Indian nationals and took legal action against them, while 1,538 Myanmar citizens were apprehended and repatriated in January. Border security operations also led to the seizure of smuggled goods worth approximately 1.62 billion BDT, including gold, silver, diamonds, sarees, cosmetics, rifles, pistols, and ammunition. These details were provided by the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) on Sunday.

The Bangladesh Post Office has released a commemorative stamp worth 10 BDT, a 10 BDT special envelope, a 5 BDT data card, and a special postmark to commemorate the July popular uprising. The stamp, inaugurated by advisor Mohammad Yunus, highlights the spontaneous participation of women in the uprising. The role of women in the movement is depicted through images, cartoons, and graffiti, which served as a source of inspiration during the protests.

The court has imposed a travel ban on former Agriculture Minister and Awami League leader Abdur Razzaq, his wife Shirin Akhter Banu, and their son Redwan Shahnewaz Sujit. The ban has been issued due to allegations of extortion, tender manipulation, party position trading, nomination business, and various corrupt practices. Meanwhile, the court has also ordered the seizure of the tax records of former Health Minister Zahed Malek, his son Rahat Malek, Naimul Islam Khan, and his wife Nasima Khan, among six individuals. Cases have been filed against them with the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), leading to this court directive.

A court has imposed a travel ban on former Agriculture Minister and Awami League leader Abdur Razzaq, his wife Shirin Akhter Banu, and their son Redwan Shahnewaz Sujit over allegations of extortion, tender manipulation, political appointments, and various corrupt activities. In a related development, the court has ordered the seizure of tax records of former Health Minister Zahid Malek, his son Rahat Malek, and several associates, including Naeemul Islam Khan and his wife Nasima Khan. These individuals are currently facing corruption cases filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), prompting the court’s directives.