Golam Rabbani Roni, the Joint General Secretary of Singra Municipal Chhatra League in Natore, was arrested during Operation Devil Hunt. A case was filed in September last year regarding an attack on BNP leaders during the 2018 national elections. He has been accused of involvement in the assault on BNP leaders and activists. Rabbani, who holds key positions in both Singra Chhatra League and Upazila Swechchhasebak League, has been sent to court.

Bangladesh has submitted all necessary documents under the prisoner exchange agreement in a diplomatic note to India regarding the return of ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Rafiqul Alam confirmed this on Thursday, adding that India has yet to respond. When asked whether Bangladesh would share the recently published UN fact-finding report with India, he clarified that the report was prepared for Bangladesh and is publicly available. The government’s efforts to bring back Sheikh Hasina remain ongoing.

Jamaat-e-Islami has submitted 23 written proposals to the Election Commission, emphasizing that a fair election is impossible without key reforms. Following a meeting with the EC in Agargaon, Secretary General Mia Golam Parwar stated that electoral processes and related state institutions must be reformed to ensure free and impartial elections. He clarified that while full state reform is the elected government’s responsibility, an interim government should implement the necessary changes for elections. Jamaat-e-Islami is ready to allow reasonable time for these reforms.

The government has issued a gazette renaming 13 public universities that previously carried the names of Sheikh Hasina and her family members. The decision follows her departure from the country amid a mass uprising. The ordinance, signed by the Law Ministry, cites the need to avoid confusion caused by similar university names. The renamed institutions include universities in Netrokona, Kishoreganj, Naogaon, Meherpur, and other districts. The President enacted the changes under constitutional authority, as parliament is currently dissolved.

A shipment of 52,500 tons of wheat from Argentina has arrived at Chattogram port via the MV Indido Omega vessel. The Ministry of Food confirmed the arrival in a press release on Thursday, stating that the wheat was imported through an open tender process. Sample testing of the wheat will be conducted before the unloading process begins. Earlier, on February 5, Bangladesh had received another shipment of 50,200 metric tons of wheat.

The Dhaka Bar Association has formally requested the Chief Justice to take legal action against Cyber Tribunal Judge Nure Alam, citing misconduct. The complaint accuses the judge of rude behavior, intimidation, and making unjust remarks during hearings. The Bar Association also claims the judge ignored a proposal to discuss the matter with the Bar Council. When questioned, the judge allegedly responded, “Am I employed by the Dhaka Bar Council?” The Bar Association has urged the Chief Justice to take appropriate action.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) has called on Bangladesh’s interim government to ensure security forces operate impartially and uphold the rule of law in curbing violence. Referring to recent mass arrests, HRW warned against repeating past mistakes. The statement also highlighted the importance of political and economic reforms, stressing that justice and accountability are essential for national reconciliation. The organization also condemned the recent attacks on protesting students in Gazipur and acts of vandalism across the country, emphasizing that peaceful protest is a fundamental right.

Content creator Nuruzzaman Kafi has filed a case over an arson attack on his home. The case was lodged at Kalapara Police Station on Wednesday at 11:30 PM against unidentified individuals. According to Kafi, the attack was retaliation for his active role in exposing alleged government abuses. The police have launched an investigation. Prior to the incident, attackers locked the outer door of Kafi’s father’s house and set it on fire, but residents managed to escape before the flames spread.

Despite the tradition of warm-up matches before major tournaments, there will be none before this year’s ICC Champions Trophy. As a result, teams are engaging in bilateral and tri-series matches for preparation. Bangladesh, which has not played a single ODI this year, will face Pakistan in a warm-up match between February 14-17 to compensate for the lack of practice. Meanwhile, Pakistan has scheduled two additional warm-up games against Afghanistan and South Africa.

BNP has filed a case in a tribunal, accusing Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina as the prime accused in connection with the July-August mass killings, which allegedly resulted in the deaths of 848 BNP leaders and activists across the country. The case was filed on Thursday by case coordinator Salauddin Khan. The case also includes Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, Law Minister Anisul Haque, and several senior police officials as accused. BNP has submitted audio-visual evidence, charge sheets of 84 related cases, and a list of the deceased. According to BNP, the victims were martyrs of a mass uprising against the government.

Despite assurances of elections by December, BNP continues its nationwide programs to maintain pressure on the government. However, Jamaat does not intend to press for national elections before the upcoming local elections. While various government representatives have given mixed signals regarding elections, a recent meeting with the Chief Adviser provided a clear timeline. Analysts see this as a result of mounting pressure. With the ongoing political turmoil, concerns are growing over the government’s ability to manage the situation. Despite reassurances, BNP remains skeptical about the elections and insists on sustaining the pressure.

Students of Jahangirnagar University (JU) staged a protest demanding a ban on the Awami League, accusing the party of committing mass killings. The protest march began at Murad Square on Wednesday night and ended with a brief rally at the university gate. Addressing the gathering, Chhatra Dal leader Zakir Hossain claimed that many lives were lost due to the Awami League government, yet the party showed no remorse. Another student remarked, “Awami League was fascist in 1975, and it remains so in 2024.”

A six-member delegation of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, led by Secretary General Professor Mia Golam Parwar, is holding a meeting with the Election Commission (EC) today (Thursday, February 13). The meeting, presided over by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) A M M Nasir Uddin, started at 10 AM at the Election Commission building in Agargaon, Dhaka. Earlier, on February 9, the EC had a meeting with BNP, led by its Standing Committee member Nazrul Islam Khan.

A press release from the Bangladesh Embassy in Libya confirmed the repatriation of 145 Bangladeshis detained at Benghazi’s Ganfuda Detention Center on Wednesday (February 12). The repatriation was coordinated with the International Organization for Migration (IOM). The returnees are scheduled to arrive in Dhaka on Thursday (February 13) via Burak Air, with all costs covered by IOM.

A police headquarters press release on Wednesday (February 12) reported that security forces arrested 591 individuals in the latest phase of the nationwide crackdown, ‘Operation Devil Hunt.’ Additionally, 1,095 people wanted in various cases were detained. In the past 24 hours alone, 1,668 individuals were arrested. Authorities recovered a foreign pistol, a looted police rifle, two LG firearms, four one-shooter guns, and various other weapons.