After a four-day shutdown, partial power generation has resumed at Dinajpur’s Barapukuria Thermal Power Plant. Among the three units of the 525 MW coal-based plant, Unit 1, with a capacity of 125 MW, was restarted at 5:29 PM on Saturday after resolving mechanical issues. Chief Engineer Md. Abu Bakkar Siddique expressed optimism that Unit 3, which has a capacity of 275 MW, could also be operational within the next couple of days.

Police in Birampur, Dinajpur, arrested eight gamblers during a raid at Shantimor Bazar. Acting on a tip-off, officers from Birampur Police Station conducted the operation early in the morning and seized gambling equipment. The arrested individuals are identified as Ashraful, Mizanur, Zakir, Zahidul, Liton, Faruq, Tobarak, and Raju Ahmed. Officer-in-Charge Momtazul Haque stated that cases have been filed against them under the Gambling Act, and they were presented before the Dinajpur court on Saturday.

A human trafficking gang lured Arif Hossain (45) from Kaliganj with the promise of a job in Italy, only to trap him in Myanmar and subject him to brutal torture. The gang extorted Tk 1 million in ransom in multiple phases but still refused to release him. The case was uncovered by Officer-in-Charge Alauddin’s team, leading to the arrest of four members of the gang, including a Rohingya national, from Cox’s Bazar. The victim had sought assistance from local agents to travel abroad, but they turned out to be traffickers. Law enforcement tracked the phone numbers used for ransom demands and apprehended the criminals. The victim remains in Myanmar, and efforts are ongoing to rescue him, police confirmed.

Student activists and the public gathered at Raju Sculpture in protest against fascism have published a list of ministers, advisors, and MPs from the authoritarian Sheikh Hasina government and its political allies, declaring them as fascists. They have called for the arrest of these individuals and their sentencing to 7-14 years in prison. The protesters also demanded that they be stripped of their right to participate in elections. Abdul Wahed, convener of the Revolutionary Student Council, presented five key demands at the conference, including the banning of the Awami League and its allies, confiscation of the parties’ assets, and the designation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, her cabinet members, MPs, and all district chairmen and members as fascists, with arrest warrants issued.

Mahbub Uddin Khokon, advisor to the BNP Chairperson, stated that the Yunus government is unwilling to relinquish power. He claimed the government’s delay under the guise of reform is evidence that the ‘ghost of the League’ is haunting them. He emphasized that staying in power without elections raises concerns of accountability. Khokon called for the immediate announcement of a national election date and urged the completion of the election by this year. He further mentioned that reform would no longer be necessary as Tarique Rahman would implement reforms with his 31-point agenda. These comments were made during a rally demanding reforms in the face of rising commodity prices, improvements in law and order, and the announcement of a democratic electoral roadmap to counter various fascist conspiracies.

Two robbers arrested for a robbery and assault on passengers aboard a bus traveling from Dhaka to Tangail on the Dhaka-Rajshahi Highway have given confessional statements in court. Another suspect, who refused to confess, has been remanded for five days. The confessions were made by Sabuj (30) and Shariful Islam Sharif (28). Shahidul Islam Muhit (30) has not confessed. According to lawyers, four more individuals are involved in the incident. The suspects were arrested from Savar, Dhaka, on Friday.

Akhtar Hossain, Secretary General of the National Citizens’ Committee, shared a post on Facebook with a picture of himself and two young advisers, Nahid Islam and Mahfuz Alam. This post has raised speculation about the leadership structure of a new political party being formed by youth leaders. Nahid is set to become the convener, while Akhtar is expected to take the role of Secretary General. The party, with strong ties to the National Citizens’ Committee, is expected to launch soon.

Islamic scholar Mizanur Rahman Azhari emphasized the power of unity in a recent gathering in Chapainawabganj. He said, “When we are alone, we are individuals; when we unite, we are a force.” Azhari urged the need to harness this collective strength for the betterment of Islam. He highlighted the successes of unity, citing how Bangladesh has shown resilience in the face of oppression. “What could not be achieved in 16-17 years was accomplished in just a few days through unity,” he remarked. He also expressed a desire for a Bangladesh where no one dares to oppress others, emphasizing the importance of peaceful politics and leadership that resonates with the entire nation. “We want leaders whose illness will bring the entire country to their knees in prayer,” he concluded.

Law enforcement agencies have arrested an additional 769 individuals across the country in the ongoing Operation Devil Hunt. Among those arrested, 572 were wanted in connection with various cases. A total of 1,341 arrests have been made nationwide. The police headquarters reported that the operation has resulted in the seizure of a locally made single-barrel shotgun, two cartridges, four machetes, two cleavers, a knife, an LG, and a pair of scissors. To date, a total of 8,079 people have been arrested under the Devil Hunt operation.

Mahmudur Rahman Manna, President of Nagorik Oikya, has alleged that he was prevented from entering the Ekushey Padak award ceremony. Speaking at a rally in Dhaka on Saturday, he claimed that although he had received an invitation, security personnel denied him entry. The award ceremony took place last Thursday, where notable figures were invited. Manna expressed deep humiliation, stating that he was turned away for arriving slightly late. “Nowhere on the invitation card did it say that doors would close 15 minutes early!” he remarked, directing his frustration at the current administration.

The interim government aims to announce the “July Charter” based on political consensus regarding reforms. To achieve this, the National Consensus Commission will hold separate discussions with political parties in early March. A written reform report has already been sent to all parties for review. Political leaders have stated they will participate in discussions after their internal evaluations. Commission Vice President Ali Riaz expressed hope that consensus could be reached before the set deadline. However, differences remain—Jamaat-e-Islami favors elections only after full reforms, while BNP demands an expedited election with minimal reforms.

Saiful Haque, General Secretary of the Revolutionary Workers Party of Bangladesh, stated that the people of Bangladesh have been waiting for 16 years to cast their votes in a national election. He warned that if the interim government prioritizes local elections over national elections, it will further destabilize the country. Calling this a reckless decision, he urged the government to first bring market prices under control. “People will not accept you if you fail to control inflation,” he asserted. He also called on election commissions to quickly outline a reform roadmap, stressing the urgency of holding national elections. He criticized the interim government, saying it is proving to be as ineffective as the Awami League administration.

Farida Akhter, an adviser for livestock and fisheries, remarked that the younger generation of Bangladesh is more inclined toward poultry rather than traditional fish-based meals. “We have always been a nation that thrives on fish and rice, but is the younger generation truly following this tradition?” she questioned. She pointed out that many youths now refuse to eat meals without eggs or meat, making them a “poultry and rice generation.” Stressing the importance of fish consumption, she emphasized teaching children to eat fish, including those with bones, to make fish more popular again.

Jamaat-e-Islami’s Central Naib-e-Ameer, Dr. Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher, has stated that the interim government is moving in the right direction. “We believe that once the necessary reforms are complete, they will organize elections and hand over power to a democratic government,” he said.

Dr. Taher accused the previous Awami League administration of politicizing every sector of the country, pushing it to the brink of collapse. “There is no discipline anywhere, which is why this government is struggling to implement reforms,” he added. Expressing optimism, he hoped that the interim administration would successfully carry out the required restructuring. He also emphasized the urgency of these reforms and stated that if his party comes to power, they will govern the country in accordance with Sharia law.

Lamya Chowdhury, daughter of late Bangladeshi film stars Parveen Sultana Diti and Sohel Chowdhury, has fallen victim to a brutal attack at her home. Her car was vandalized, and she suffered a broken leg during the assault. The incident took place in Sonargaon, Narayanganj. Following the attack, Lamya went live on Facebook, pleading for help. She claimed that around 30 to 40 individuals attacked her over a land dispute, forcing her to flee to Dhaka for safety. In distress, she questioned, “Do I have no one to stand by me just because my parents are no longer alive?”