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.

In Ashulia, Savar, 11 people, including women and children, were injured in a gas cylinder explosion while preparing traditional sweets for Shab-e-Barat. The incident occurred around 9:30 PM on Friday. Witnesses reported that Sumon, a garment worker, lived on the second floor of a building with his two children. That night, his brother Sohel came to visit with his family, and they were preparing sweets when the gas cylinder exploded. As a result, 11 people suffered burn injuries. They were initially taken to the Ashulia Women and Children’s Hospital and later transferred to the burn unit of Dhaka Medical College for further treatment.

In Shibchar, Madaripur, three individuals were arrested by the joint forces for impersonating army officers and committing fraud. The arrests were made during an operation conducted from Thursday to Friday across various areas. The arrested individuals are Jahangir (35), Simanta Malo (20), and Kawser Sikdar (21). According to police sources, the suspects called a woman and demanded 3,000 taka, claiming that the glass of an army vehicle had been broken during a conflict at her shop. They threatened her with a legal case if she refused to pay. In this manner, the group extorted a total of 25,000 taka. Following a complaint to the police, the joint forces took action, leading to their arrest.

The death toll in the second phase of the 58th World Ijtema has risen to three following the death of another worshipper. The deceased have been identified as Abdul Aziz Sheikh (62) from Shariatpur, Nazmul Hossain (75) from Bogura, and Didar Torfadar (55) from Khulna. Abdul Aziz and Nazmul Hossain passed away on Friday, February 14, while Didar Torfadar died on Thursday. The information was confirmed by Mohammad Sayem, the media coordinator for the second phase of the World Ijtema. The ongoing event is being held by the Saad faction, with the concluding Akheri Munajat scheduled for Sunday.

The UN fact-finding mission’s report has documented cases of enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, and repression by Sheikh Hasina’s party, government, and state forces during the July uprising. The report also includes several recommendations. Rory Mungoven, an official from the UN office, stated that the collected data could be used in trials at the International Criminal Court (ICC). Human rights activists have emphasized the necessity of taking cases from domestic tribunals to the ICC. The UN recommendations call for impartial investigations and trials without human rights violations. Additionally, they suggest banning the death penalty in accordance with international standards, which could increase pressure on Bangladesh to abolish capital punishment. Some recommendations focus solely on political party reforms, while others require long-term structural changes, adding to the complexity of implementation.

Abdus Salam, the chief of Jamaat-e-Islami in Bandarban district, has stated that justice should come before elections. Speaking at a conference on Friday, he emphasized the need for harmony over hostility. He criticized those who, according to him, lacked the courage to remove a car from in front of their leader’s house yet now speak against Jamaat-e-Islami. He also claimed that there is no evidence of Jamaat activists being involved in extortion or tender manipulation. Furthermore, he stressed the importance of electing honest individuals as local representatives to establish good governance.