Dhaka, Saturday—A massive conspiracy is being orchestrated with large sums of money to discredit Dr. Muhammad Yunus and distort the narrative of the 2024 mass uprising, claims Chief Advisor’s Press Secretary, Shafiqul Alam. Speaking at the launch of the book Droher Graffiti at the National Press Club on January 8, Alam urged everyone to remain united against fascism. He warned that no further military dictatorship should return and criticized the expansion of the list of freedom fighters, alleging that even two-year-old children and political opponents were included after independence.

Teknaf, Saturday—Mujibur Rahman, the chairman of Saint Martin’s Union Parishad and president of the Awami League’s local chapter, has been arrested by the Coast Guard in a drug raid. During a search of his residence, authorities recovered 12,274 Yaba pills. The operation was conducted early Saturday morning following intelligence reports of illegal drug storage at his house. Mujibur Rahman was caught attempting to escape through the back door and is currently being processed for legal action.

Dhaka, Saturday—Visiting the injured students at Dhaka Medical College Hospital today at 11 AM, Home Affairs Advisor Lt. General Jahangir Alam Chowdhury assured that those responsible for the attack on students in Gazipur will face the highest legal consequences. The attack took place last night near the residence of former Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haque in Gazipur. According to the injured students, Awami League activists assaulted them, labeling them as robbers.

Law enforcement has heightened security around the Supreme Court following reports that a mural there might be vandalized. The area has been cordoned off since 10 a.m. on Saturday. This follows an announcement by activist Hasnat Abdullah on February 5, declaring his intention to “free Bangladesh from fascism.” In recent days, multiple Awami League-affiliated structures, including the historic house at 32 Dhanmondi, have faced attacks. Protesters have vowed to remove any symbols of autocratic rule and recently celebrated the partial demolition of 32 Dhanmondi with cheers.

The BNP is set to meet with Chief Adviser Mohammad Yunus and Chief Election Commissioner A.M.M. Nasir Uddin to discuss the current political situation. On Sunday at 3:30 p.m., a BNP delegation will visit the Election Commission to talk about the roadmap for the upcoming national elections. Additionally, on February 10, the party is scheduled to meet with the Chief Adviser to present its stance on national issues. These decisions were made during an emergency BNP meeting on Friday. The party’s media cell also confirmed that BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam will return from the U.S. on Sunday before the delegation meets with the adviser.

Despite ongoing uncertainty surrounding the national elections, BNP Vice Chairman Shamsuzzaman Dudu stated at a civic meeting on February 8 that Nobel Laureate Dr. Muhammad Yunus still has faith in the interim government. He accused a certain group of deliberately pushing the country toward chaos. Dudu added that the people had hoped for a return to democracy after a political transition but were disappointed by the lack of concrete initiatives. He urged the interim government to announce an election roadmap promptly.

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.