A teenage girl with disabilities was allegedly raped in Patuakhali late Friday night. When her mother and aunt protested, they were physically assaulted. Police have arrested two suspects, Selim Howlader and Hasan Howlader, but the prime suspect, Hossain Howlader, remains at large. The victim was rescued and taken to Patuakhali Medical College Hospital. According to the mother, she had briefly left her daughter at home, during which Hossain lured the girl into an abandoned house and raped her. The mother rushed back upon hearing her daughter’s screams, but the perpetrator fled.

A banner reading “Bangladesh Medical University” (BMU) was hung at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), omitting Sheikh Mujib’s name. The banner was placed by students, doctors, and staff advocating against discrimination at the university. However, university officials claim they were unaware of the change. The Vice Chancellor’s secretary, Md. Ruhul Kuddus Biplob, stated that multiple names are under consideration for the institution, and an official decision is expected within 2-3 days. Earlier, on February 5, the original university signboard was removed at midnight, sparking further controversy.

A memorial featuring an image of Sheikh Mujib and the Awami League’s election symbol, the boat, was vandalized at Chourasta in Boalmari, Faridpur. The incident occurred on February 8 at 8 a.m. when police intervened to stop the attack, but tensions escalated as students began chanting slogans against the authorities, calling them “government agents.” Faced with mounting pressure, the police eventually withdrew. Local authorities have stated that they will investigate the incident, though the police have refrained from making any official comments.

Two more individuals, Bilal and Al Wasi, have been arrested in connection with an attack on New Market Police Station aimed at freeing expelled Chhatra Dal central leader Mohammad Hossain Mithun. Police reported that on January 10, Mithun was arrested for allegedly leading an attack on two executives of the Computer Society in front of Multiplan Center on Elephant Road. In response to his arrest, Chhatra Dal activists attacked the police station, injuring five officers. A case was filed, leading to the imprisonment of Mithun and six others.

A violent clash erupted between two student groups at Jessore University of Science and Technology on Friday night around 9 PM, leaving at least eight people injured, including Proctor Dr. Amzad Hossain. Reports suggest tensions had been brewing for two days over the formation of a new committee for the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement. The conflict escalated when a verbal altercation broke out between supporters of the movement and students from the Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) department near the main gate. Both groups later moved to the proctor’s office for mediation, but CSE students allegedly attacked their rivals. The confrontation turned violent, with both sides throwing bricks at each other. In the ensuing chaos, eight individuals, including the proctor, sustained injuries.

The 11th season of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) concluded with a thrilling final, marking record-breaking ticket sales despite initial mismanagement. According to the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), ticket revenue had surpassed 1.2 billion taka by the second qualifier match. Even with higher ticket prices for the final, demand remained strong, pushing total revenue beyond 1.3 billion taka. For the final match, 6,000 tickets were reserved for BCB stakeholders, while the remaining 16,000 were sold online, through banks, and at ticket booths. In the past four seasons, average ticket revenue was around 400 million taka due to a lack of direct BCB control over sales. This year, earnings more than tripled, with 15% of the revenue allocated to government tax funds.

Despite ongoing geopolitical tensions, Bangladesh's foreign affairs advisor emphasized maintaining strong relations with India, China, and the United States. He highlighted the economic ties between India and China and India's alliance with the US while reaffirming Bangladesh’s commitment to a balanced foreign policy. He also mentioned Dr. Yunus’ role in fostering international confidence in Bangladesh’s trajectory. When asked about the government's achievements over the past six months, he asserted that the country is progressing correctly in both economic and political spheres. Addressing past tensions with Pakistan, he noted that they were politically motivated and unnecessary, and efforts are being made to normalize relations. Acknowledging complexities surrounding Hasina’s asylum in India, the advisor stated that Bangladesh aims to establish mutually beneficial partnerships with all nations. Talks with China have focused on trade and development, while relations with the US remain unchanged.

Political analyst Farhad Mazhar has described the remarks made by exiled former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina as a "litmus test" ahead of the February 12 meeting between Donald Trump and Narendra Modi. He suggested that the reactions to her statement were being closely observed. During a National Citizens’ Committee discussion, Mazhar argued that political movements involve both destruction and reconstruction. He linked Hasina’s remarks to broader geopolitical dynamics and welcomed the formation of a new political party. He urged the new party to embrace revolutionary ideals instead of becoming another election-focused entity like the BNP.

In a Facebook post at 4 AM today, the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement announced a protest rally scheduled for 1:30 PM on Saturday at Rajbari Field in Gazipur Sadar Upazila. The protest is in response to an alleged attack on the movement's organizers by the "Mozammel-Jahangir Machete Gang." The announcement stated that central leaders and the general public would be present at the rally. Earlier, activist Sarjis Alam posted that today would mark the "end of Awami terrorists" in Gazipur, declaring, "We are coming!" On Friday at 10 PM, an angry mob attempted to attack the house of Mozammel Haque. However, a mosque announcement falsely warned of a robbery, inciting locals to confront the protesters. The ensuing clash left 15 people injured.

On February 5, an enraged crowd vandalized Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s house at Dhanmondi 32, setting it on fire before demolishing it with a bulldozer. Former State Minister Sohel Taj blamed the Awami League’s 15 years of killings, enforced disappearances, and corruption for the incident. In a Facebook post, he criticized the party’s failure to reflect and called on its supporters to unfollow him. Taj, son of Bangladesh’s first Prime Minister, remains vocal on social and political issues despite stepping away from active politics.

The National Citizens’ Committee has announced a protest in Gazipur against the alleged attack on students at the residence of former minister A.K.M. Mozammel Haque. The rally will be held on Saturday at 10:30 AM in front of the DC office. Locals reportedly attacked students following a misleading mosque announcement about a robbery. At least 12 were injured, with five in critical condition taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital. Police and army intervened, stabilizing the situation, and an investigation is ongoing.

In Jhenaidah, vast fields near the central bus terminal and behind the banana market are now dominated by tobacco cultivation. As one moves further along the road, the dried-up Nabaganga River reveals farmers attempting paddy cultivation in the riverbed. Excessive use of fertilizers has been degrading the fertility of agricultural land. Despite repeated warnings from the agricultural department, farmers are leasing out their lands to tobacco growers, lured by lucrative offers from tobacco companies. Each bigha (0.33 acres) of land fetches around BDT 40,000 in lease payments. Tobacco farming in the district has expanded from 193 hectares last year to 229 hectares this year, while paddy cultivation spans 90,194 hectares. Tobacco companies provide advance payments and fix purchase prices, ensuring profitability, making it an attractive option for farmers. Conversely, vegetable growers have faced heavy losses, further pushing cultivators toward tobacco farming. When questioned about paddy cultivation in the dried-up riverbed, the Water Development Board stated that a committee has already been formed to oversee the river's re-excavation.

Angry Mob Attacks Former Liberation War Affairs Minister A.K.M. Mozammel Haque’s House in Gazipur, Reports of 20 Injured

An angry mob attacked the house of former Liberation War Affairs Minister A.K.M. Mozammel Haque in Gazipur, leading to allegations that some locals captured and assaulted several attackers. Reports indicate that 20 people were injured in the incident, with three in critical condition.

The attack began around 9 PM on Friday (February 7). It is claimed that an announcement was made through the mosque’s loudspeaker, stating that robbers had entered the minister’s house, urging people to come forward.

Students allege that Chhatra League and Jubo League activists were lying in wait at the location and attacked them when they tried to capture the so-called robbers.

The number of cancer patients in Bangladesh is rising at an alarming rate. According to a recent study conducted by Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), 46% of cancer cases in the country are linked to tobacco consumption. While many individuals have moved away from smoking, they continue to use smokeless tobacco products such as jorda and gul, which are equally deadly. Shockingly, 60% of female cancer patients in Bangladesh are addicted to these products. Professor Khalekuzzaman, the lead researcher of the study, highlighted a critical issue: Bangladesh lacks a population-based cancer registry, forcing researchers to rely on data from neighboring countries. As a result, the true scale of the cancer crisis remains unknown. The study also revealed that cancer accounts for 12% of total deaths in the country, with lung, stomach, and respiratory tract cancers being the most prevalent. Additionally, 60% of cancer patients undergo combined treatment, while 7.4% receive no treatment at all. Professor Khalekuzzaman emphasized that all forms of tobacco pose serious health risks and called for stronger measures to curb tobacco consumption.

On a winter morning, Mahbub Alam, a passionate photographer, would set out early to capture the beauty of dawn. Now, he spends his days in darkness. Mahbub’s mother shared his tragic story—how her son, a master's graduate from Narayanganj Tolaram College, lost his eyesight to police-fired pellets during the mass uprising on July 18. Initially uninvolved in the protests, Mahbub joined after the martyrdom of Abu Saeed. While helping a protester suffering from heatstroke, he sought shelter in an alley as police launched an attack on students. As he peeked to check if the police had left, he was shot. Mahbub suffered 40 bullet wounds. Despite undergoing treatment in India and Thailand, doctors have given him little hope of regaining his sight. His family has already spent Tk 1.5 million on treatment. His father stated that advanced treatment is available in the United States, but they need financial assistance to pursue it. The July Smriti Foundation has donated Tk 100,000, while the district administration provided Tk 20,000.