A joint force operation in Ukhiya upazila of Cox’s Bazar detained 622 Rohingyas, including men, women, and children, for living illegally outside designated refugee camps. The operation, led by Cox’s Bazar Executive Magistrate Monju Bin Afnan, began early Sunday and covered areas such as Palongkhali, Thaingkhali, and Balukhali. Authorities also fined local landlords a total of 157,000 taka in 13 separate cases and sentenced three house owners to jail for renting homes to Rohingyas.

According to the upazila administration, the detainees included 211 men, 196 women, and 200 children who had been living in rented houses across Ukhiya. The arrested individuals will be processed through the Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner (RRRC). Officials said the operation aimed to maintain law and order ahead of the national election and prevent unauthorized settlement outside the camps.

Law enforcement agencies stated that such drives would continue regularly to ensure security and discipline in the area, as illegal Rohingya settlements had previously been linked to deteriorating law and order conditions.

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus has directed authorities to take firm measures against the forgery and misuse of skill development certificates to preserve Bangladesh’s reputation in the international labor market. He issued the directive on Sunday at the Governing Body meeting of the National Skills Development Authority (NSDA) held at his office in Tejgaon. This was the second meeting of the NSDA Governing Body since its establishment in 2018.

During the meeting, the Chief Adviser emphasized that NSDA provides a strong framework for developing skilled human resources based on national and international labor market demands. He warned that certificate fraud undermines the credibility of Bangladeshi workers and could erode employer trust. He highlighted the importance of a unified certification system across all training institutions to curb such malpractice and strengthen Bangladesh’s brand image abroad.

The meeting also reviewed progress on previous decisions and approved plans to establish an integrated skills ecosystem. This system aims to standardize training curricula across ministries, reduce public spending waste, and enhance the reliability of Bangladeshi skill certificates in global markets.

The Ministry of Education has initiated the preliminary process to bring 1,719 private schools and colleges under the Monthly Pay Order (MPO) scheme in the first phase. According to a press release issued on Sunday, February 8, 2026, by the Secondary and Higher Education Division, the ministry has already sent a letter to the Finance Division seeking approval for the inclusion of these institutions, which were evaluated through an automated software system.

The ministry stated that the selection was made based on policy criteria, regional balance, and grading standards. Before finalizing the list, submitted information will be verified through the databases of the Land Ministry, Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education, relevant education boards, and the National University, with field inspections if necessary. The entire MPO process is being conducted transparently through automated software, leaving no scope for personal contact or financial transactions.

Applicants were invited under the “Private Educational Institutions (Schools and Colleges) Staffing Structure and MPO Policy 2025,” which received 3,615 applications across various educational levels.

Brigadier (Retd.) Sakhawat Hossain, adviser to the Ministry of Shipping, said on Sunday that the ongoing protests at Chattogram Port cannot continue by holding 180 million people hostage. Speaking to reporters at the Secretariat, he described the protesters’ demands as trivial and confirmed that the government would now adopt a hardline stance. He also mentioned that several individuals involved had already been arrested.

The adviser alleged that some groups were attempting to create unrest ahead of the upcoming national election. He warned that if the election in Chattogram did not take place, questions could arise about the entire national election. Referring to the upcoming holy month of Ramadan, he noted that essential commodities such as lentils, oil, and chickpeas are imported through the port, and a few people were disrupting this vital supply chain.

On the issue of the port contract, Sakhawat Hossain said that DP World had sent a letter to the chief adviser requesting additional time for the signing process.

Former army chief General (Retd.) Iqbal Karim Bhuiyan testified before International Crimes Tribunal-1 on Sunday in a case against Ziaul Ahsan, alleging that after the 2009 BDR mutiny, resentment against India and the Awami League sharply increased within the Bangladesh Army. He stated that professional officers were sidelined while loyal ones were promoted, and the army was drawn into national projects, leading to corruption. According to his testimony, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina believed a corrupt army would be safer for her government.

Bhuiyan further said that during Hasina’s 1996–2001 tenure, she consolidated control over the state by abolishing the caretaker government system and amending the constitution. He claimed that her relative, Tarique Siddique, as security adviser, established influence over intelligence and security agencies including DGFI, NSI, RAB, NTMC, Ansar, and BGB, forming four operational circles that extended political and financial control. Bhuiyan also described internal conflicts over RAB’s extrajudicial activities and his attempts to discipline officers defying military rules.

The testimony portrays a period of deep institutional division and alleged politicization within the armed forces following the BDR massacre.

Bangladesh’s Ministry of Religious Affairs announced that visa applications for the 2026 Hajj season have opened from Sunday, February 8, and will continue until March 20. The ministry’s Hajj Wing Deputy Secretary Mohammad Sofiuzzaman Bhuiyan said the schedule follows Saudi Arabia’s Hajj and Umrah Ministry’s guidelines for this year’s visa issuance. Applicants must apply through Saudi Arabia’s digital platform ‘Nusuk Masar’ within the specified period.

According to the ministry, the earlier completion of visa procedures aims to ensure better organization and safety for pilgrims. Last year, many faced difficulties obtaining the mandatory Nusuk card due to late visa processing. This year, Saudi authorities have set a strict timeline to avoid such issues and make the pilgrimage process more orderly.

All registered Bangladeshi pilgrims, including expatriates, must undergo medical examinations at any government hospital, receive vaccinations from designated centers, and obtain a fitness certificate before applying. The ministry confirmed that no pilgrim will be allowed to travel without this certificate. Hajj flights are scheduled to begin on April 18, with the pilgrimage expected on May 26, subject to moon sighting.

Former army chief General (Retd.) Iqbal Karim Bhuiyan testified before International Crimes Tribunal-1 that the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI) detained and tortured Tarique Rahman during the 2007–2009 emergency period. His statement came in a case against Ziaul Ahsan over alleged crimes against humanity involving abduction and murder. Bhuiyan said DGFI became the main controlling authority of the country during that time, detaining ministers and political figures in secret cells for interrogation.

In his testimony, Bhuiyan described how the emergency period altered the culture within the armed forces, leading to a return to political involvement, a rise in dominance attitudes, and divisions between senior and junior officers. He also mentioned the emergence of a cash-driven culture and blind obedience to superiors’ orders.

The testimony further recalled the 2009 BDR mutiny, in which 57 military officers and 17 civilians were killed. Human Rights Watch reported that around 50 BDR members died under interrogation at Pilkhana. Later, a court sentenced 152 to death, 161 to life imprisonment, and 256 to various prison terms.

The Bangladesh interim government has requested assistance from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in investigating the killing of Shahid Sharif Osman Hadi, spokesman of Inquilab Mancha. According to a press release from the Chief Adviser’s Press Wing on Sunday, the Permanent Mission of Bangladesh in Geneva sent a note verbale to the OHCHR on February 6, following instructions from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The letter sought technical and institutional support from the UN human rights office for the investigation.

Hadi was critically injured in a shooting in Dhaka’s Bijoynagar area on December 12 and later died while receiving treatment in Singapore on December 18. The Geneva mission stated that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs would be informed once a response from the OHCHR is received.

The interim government reaffirmed its commitment to identifying those responsible and bringing them to justice, pledging to ensure maximum transparency and accountability in line with international human rights standards.

BNP Chairperson and Dhaka-17 candidate Tarique Rahman announced that at least 40 new playgrounds would be built across Dhaka if the BNP’s electoral symbol, the paddy sheaf, wins in the upcoming February 12 election. He made the announcement on Sunday during a campaign rally at ECB Square in Mirpur, Dhaka. Rahman said he kept his speech brief to avoid causing inconvenience to the public and emphasized his deep personal connection to the area, where he spent much of his life and family milestones.

Rahman stated that if the BNP forms the next government, the initiative would ensure open spaces for children to play and for residents, including elders and women, to walk and exercise. He also promised to widen a long-demanded local road to improve living conditions and traffic flow. Concluding his remarks, Rahman urged residents to vote for the paddy sheaf symbol and sought prayers for the opportunity to serve both his constituency and the entire nation.

The campaign event was part of Rahman’s outreach ahead of the February 12 polls in Dhaka-17 constituency.

National Citizen Party (NCP) spokesperson Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan has mocked a statement by a Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) candidate who urged party activists to stop extortion until February 12. Bhuiyan made the remarks on Saturday during an election rally, questioning whether the statement implied that extortion would be acceptable after the election. He argued that such comments create confusion among the public and raise doubts about the sincerity of the political party involved.

Bhuiyan emphasized that extortion is always illegal and reprehensible, not something that can be temporarily prohibited. He urged all political parties to take a clear and responsible stance to maintain law and order during the election period and to combat crime consistently. Otherwise, he warned, public trust could be seriously undermined.

The controversy began after BNP candidate Sarwar Jamal Nizam from Chattogram-13 (Anwara and Karnaphuli) made the appeal during the inauguration of an election office on February 6. A 55-second video of his remarks spread on social media, sparking widespread discussion and criticism in local political circles.

Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis has withdrawn its candidates from two constituencies in Narayanganj ahead of the 13th National Parliamentary Election. The party’s Amir, Allama Mamunul Haque, announced the decision on Saturday at an election rally in Fatullah. He declared support for Jamaat-e-Islami candidate Dr. Md. Iqbal Hossain in Narayanganj-3 (Siddhirganj-Sonargaon) and National Citizen Party (NCP) candidate Abdullah Al Amin in Narayanganj-4 (Fatullah). Khelafat Majlis nominees Shahjahan Shibli and Khondaker Anwar Hossain have stepped aside from their respective races.

Mamunul Haque explained that internal surveys showed Jamaat’s candidate in Narayanganj-3 had stronger prospects, while Abdullah Al Amin would contest as the unified candidate of the 11-party alliance in Narayanganj-4. He urged supporters to act with patience, tolerance, and loyalty in the interest of the broader coalition. The announcement was made in the presence of NCP’s Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan, Khondaker Anwar Hossain, and Abdullah Al Amin.

The move consolidates alliance support in two key Narayanganj constituencies ahead of the upcoming national election.

Nahid Islam, convener of the National Citizens Party (NCP) and candidate for Dhaka-11, declared that his party would achieve victory on February 12. Speaking at an election rally in Badda on Sunday, he expressed confidence in success not only in his constituency but across Bangladesh. He called on voters to support the 11-party alliance, which he described as a coalition for forming the next government and leading the future of the country.

In his speech, Nahid Islam urged citizens to make Bangladesh free from occupation, dominance, and terrorism. He criticized another unnamed political party for allegedly planning to endanger the country and emphasized the need to defeat such plans. He also highlighted the lack of public facilities in Dhaka-11, including the absence of government hospitals and high schools, poor drainage, and widespread land grabbing.

Nahid Islam pledged to eliminate land grabbers’ syndicates, restore or compensate lost lands, and ensure equal access to civic amenities. He attributed the area’s underdevelopment to political causes and vowed to address economic disparities if elected.

Chief Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury has called a full court meeting of all judges from both the Appellate and High Court Divisions of the Supreme Court. The meeting is scheduled to take place at 4 p.m. on Monday in the Supreme Court’s conference room.

According to the report, the agenda includes decisions on matters such as leave schedules, promotions, and approval of the annual calendar for subordinate courts. The meeting will also address several important administrative issues related to the Supreme Court Secretariat.

The gathering is expected to bring together all sitting judges to finalize key judicial and administrative decisions for the upcoming year, as indicated in the source.

Bangladesh is set to hold national elections on February 12, the first since student-led protests in 2024 forced former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to flee the country following a violent crackdown on demonstrators. More than 127 million citizens are eligible to vote, and for the first time, about 15 million expatriates will be able to cast postal ballots. The caretaker government, led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, is overseeing the polls amid concerns about potential unrest.

The Awami League, Hasina’s former ruling party, has been banned as its leader and senior officials face criminal trials for their roles in the 2024 crackdown. Hasina was sentenced to death in absentia for ordering the killing of protesters, but India, where she has taken refuge, has not agreed to extradite her. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Jamaat-e-Islami are the main contenders, each leading multi-party coalitions. A total of 1,981 candidates are competing for 350 parliamentary seats.

Bangladesh’s elections have historically been marred by boycotts, violence, and allegations of rigging. The upcoming vote is being described as the country’s largest democratic exercise of the year.

Bangladesh has expressed interest in buying freight wagons and coaches from Pakistan at a lower cost, according to a report by Pakistani newspaper The Dawn on February 8. A two-member Bangladeshi delegation, led by a senior official, visited Pakistan Railway’s carriage factory and workshop in Mughalpura, Lahore, as well as facilities in Islamabad. During the visit, they observed the production process of train coaches, wagons, and related components.

Officials from Pakistan Railways said the delegation included Bangladesh’s Secretary for International Organization and Consular Affairs and the Bangladeshi High Commissioner to Pakistan, Mohammad Iqbal Hussain Khan. Chief Mechanical Engineer Muhammad Nasir Khalili briefed them on the workshop’s operations, technical capacity, and ongoing projects, and a short documentary was shown. The delegation also toured the locomotive workshop, where they were informed about engine maintenance and production. At the end of the visit, Bangladeshi representatives said the trip reflected the strong relationship between the two countries.

Pakistan’s Railway Minister Hanif Abbasi stated that enhanced railway cooperation would benefit both nations. He added that Bangladesh is also in talks with India for similar purchases but has shown interest in Pakistan as well.