Police have arrested three individuals in connection with the gang rape of a housewife in Joypurhat’s Sonamukhi Union. The suspects, identified as Rubel Hossain (33) from Mohammadpukur village, Faruk Hossain (40), and Ekramul Haque (42) from Ramshala village, were taken into custody following the incident that occurred on the night of February 5. According to reports, the victim was returning home after attending a training session at a TTC center in preparation for working abroad. Rubel, whom she had recently met, offered to drop her home on his motorcycle. However, instead of taking her home, he took her to a deep tube well facility, where the three suspects took turns assaulting her throughout the night before fleeing the scene. The victim is currently receiving medical treatment at Bogura’s Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College Hospital. Authorities are investigating the incident further.

Vehicles that violate traffic rules three times will be permanently banned from using the Elevated Expressway, authorities have announced. Speeding violations will be monitored through video surveillance, and cases will be filed accordingly. The Kuril Expressway Company Limited shared this update during a press conference on Saturday. Currently, the maximum speed limit on the main expressway is 60 km/h, while the entry and exit ramps have a limit of 40 km/h. Authorities are considering increasing the maximum limit to 80 km/h. Any vehicle exceeding 100 km/h will be automatically reported to the police for legal action. Additionally, vehicles must use the designated emergency lanes for stoppages, and any damage to infrastructure will require compensation.

A gold shop in Cumilla fell victim to an armed robbery, during which a neighboring shopkeeper, Mosharraf Hossain, was shot while attempting to resist the criminals. The incident took place at Preeti Jewellers, owned by Rabindra Dutta. Around 8 PM on Saturday, a gang of 7-8 armed robbers entered the shop posing as customers and asked to see gold jewelry. As the situation escalated, locals attempted to intervene, leading to the shooting. During the escape, residents managed to catch one of the robbers, identified as Kaiser, and handed him over to the police. According to the Chaudhagram Police Station Officer-in-Charge, one suspect has been arrested, and efforts are ongoing to apprehend the rest and recover the stolen gold.

Under the directive of the Ministry of Home Affairs, a nationwide crackdown named ‘Operation Devil Hunt’ is currently underway. So far, 40 Awami League activists have been arrested across five police stations in Gazipur, according to the district’s police superintendent. The operation was launched following a terrorist attack on students at the residence of expelled Awami League leader Mozammel in Gazipur. Security checkpoints have been set up in front of the Gazipur District Commissioner’s office. The crackdown follows a violent incident yesterday when unidentified assailants on motorcycles shot a dedicated activist of the anti-discrimination student movement in front of the District Commissioner’s office before fleeing the scene.

BNP leader Engineer Ishraq Hossain has alleged that elements within the police and security forces are working as agents of the ruling Awami League, citing the recent Gazipur incident as evidence. He has demanded their removal and the arrest of those involved. Speaking further, he questioned, “Why is there so much fear? Are those in key government and military positions untouchable? Can’t they be criticized?” He asserted that as representatives of the people, they do not even recognize Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s authority, let alone these government employees. Ishraq, who serves as BNP’s Dhaka South leader, urged the government to take immediate action and reassured that the opposition is closely monitoring the situation.

The Election Reform Commission has recommended that habitual loan defaulters be barred from contesting elections. According to the proposed reforms, candidates must clear any outstanding loans at least six months before submitting their nominations. Additionally, Members of Parliament (MPs) will lose their seats if they are declared loan defaulters. The commission also proposed that fugitives declared by a court should not be eligible to run for office. Other recommendations include requiring certified copies of bail documents for candidates with criminal charges and ensuring that legal documents of incarcerated candidates are attested by prison authorities. Furthermore, individuals convicted of moral turpitude will be disqualified from contesting elections from the moment they are found guilty. Local government representatives must resign before running for parliament. The commission also suggests increasing the requirement for independent candidates from 1% to 500 voter endorsements, banning candidates from contesting multiple constituencies, and imposing a lifetime ban on candidates providing false information in affidavits.

China has raised objections regarding maps and information in Bangladesh’s primary and secondary school textbooks, as well as on the Survey Department’s website. Beijing claims that Arunachal Pradesh and Aksai Chin are incorrectly marked as part of India instead of being recognized as Zangnan and Aksai Chin, which China asserts as its own territories. Additionally, China has sent a letter to Bangladesh addressing concerns over the depiction of Hong Kong and Taiwan as separate entities in trade data rather than as part of China. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh has stated that these concerns will be taken into account next year, as the printing of this year’s textbooks is nearly complete. However, the border dispute between India and China remains unresolved, with both nations laying claim to these territories.

The Police Headquarters has announced the reinstatement of 1,522 police officers who were dismissed during the previous Awami League government. A committee, led by a DIG, reviewed the appeals, and those who won their cases in the tribunal are being reinstated. However, officers who did not appeal or have criminal charges related to misconduct or corruption remain ineligible. The authorities emphasized their commitment to justice while urging reinstated officers to maintain discipline and avoid any violations.

The Constitutional Reform Commission has proposed electing the President through direct votes and making the National Parliament bicameral with 500 seats. It also suggested forming a National Constitutional Council responsible for appointing key constitutional bodies and overseeing caretaker governments. The Election Commission Reform Commission has recommended holding local elections before national elections and implementing online voting alongside ballots. Additional proposals include re-elections if less than 40% of votes are cast, introducing a ‘No Vote’ option, canceling elections if ‘No Vote’ wins, and incorporating national referendums.

An internal police report highlights that despite various reforms, the police cannot become citizen-friendly unless corruption in other government sectors is addressed. The report describes ‘public-friendliness’ as an infectious trait, stating that if other institutions remain unfriendly, expecting only the police to change is unrealistic. Issues identified include flawed recruitment processes, extreme behavioral problems, an insufficient number of officers compared to service demand, and dual responsibilities at both station and field levels. Additionally, political pressure, bureaucratic hurdles, and a culture of favoritism in service delivery contribute to the problem.

The Supreme Court has disclosed information regarding 12 High Court judges who were sent on leave due to allegations of partisanship, corruption, and links to fascist elements. According to court administration, one judge resigned on January 30, two were not appointed as permanent judges, and two have retired. Full investigations by the Supreme Judicial Council are ongoing against four judges, while preliminary inquiries are underway for the remaining three. Earlier, on October 15, Hasnat Abdullah and Sarjis Alam called for the resignation of these judges, leading to a protest at the High Court. However, the Chief Justice clarified that he lacked the authority to remove judges, as it falls under the President’s jurisdiction.

Legal Advisor Asif Nazrul has announced plans to withdraw politically motivated ‘phantom cases’ filed against opposition members during the Awami League government’s tenure. He revealed that 36 types of documents previously required authentication by the Ministry of Law, causing public harassment, will now be digitized. He also detailed the progress made in six months of the interim government, including efforts to establish a separate judicial secretariat, abolish arbitrary marriage registration taxes, and review the controversial Cyber Law. Additionally, amendments to the 1973 International Crimes Tribunal Act and a new ordinance on judicial appointments have been implemented.

Bangladesh Air Force Chief Hasan Mahmood Khan has left for an official visit to Saudi Arabia and the UAE, according to a press release issued on February 8. The ISPR reported that he will visit Saudi Arabia from February 9-13 at the invitation of the Royal Saudi Air Force, where he will inspect facilities and discuss bilateral interests. Following this, he will visit the UAE on February 14-15 at the invitation of the UAE Embassy to engage in similar discussions and site visits.

Hasnat Abdullah, convener of the anti-discrimination student movement, has called for the arrest of all criminals in Gazipur through ‘Operation Devil Hunt.’ Addressing a protest in Rajbari, he stated that Prime Minister Hasina’s associates in Awami League and Jubo League have laundered $260 billion, knowing they wouldn’t stay in the country. He stressed that the people have to stay and fight for their rights. He also warned against police extortion in the name of security and condemned former freedom fighters turned perpetrators of the July massacres. Abdullah made these remarks while protesting an attack on students by Awami League supporters at Mozammel Haque’s residence.

A group named 'Bangladesh’s People' has launched a long march from Rajshahi to Chapainawabganj, protesting the killings of Bangladeshis by India’s Border Security Force (BSF) and demanding fair water distribution from the Farakka Barrage. Around 150 members of the organization began their march from Shahbagh at 11 PM on Saturday. Before departing, the leaders held a rally at Shaheed Minar, condemning India’s border policies and Bangladesh’s submissive foreign policy over the past 15 years. They emphasized that the image of Felani’s lifeless body hanging on the barbed wire symbolizes Bangladesh’s violated sovereignty.