Bangladeshi shooter Robiul Islam has departed for India to compete in the Asian Shooting Championship, scheduled from February 2 to 14 in New Delhi. He is accompanied by his coach Sharmin Akter. Robiul will participate in the 10-meter air rifle event on February 6, marking his first international competition since the Olympics.

There had been uncertainty over their participation due to earlier government restrictions on sending the national cricket team to India for the T20 World Cup, citing security concerns. However, the government later granted permission for Robiul to compete, considering the individual nature of the shooting event and India’s security arrangements to be safe.

Robiul, aged 27, previously won a medal in the 10-meter air rifle event at the 13th South Asian Games held in Nepal in 2019. His participation in New Delhi represents Bangladesh’s continued presence in regional shooting competitions.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has initiated work on a new central contract for the new year, introducing several changes approved in its latest board meeting. The number of contracted players will increase from 21 to 27, and the board will continue to issue format-based contracts. The BCB’s selection panel has finalized the list, which now awaits approval from the cricket operations department before official publication in the coming days.

Unlike previous years, the BCB will not include an ‘A Plus’ category this time, as there are no players regularly active across all three formats. The contract will begin with the ‘A’ category, featuring the three format captains along with experienced players Mushfiqur Rahim and Taskin Ahmed. Regular white-ball players such as Shoriful Islam, Tanzid Tamim, Mustafizur Rahman, and Tanzim Sakib will also be placed in this group.

Other players will be distributed across ‘B’, ‘C’, and ‘D’ categories based on their performance and format involvement. The finalized list includes 27 cricketers, marking an expansion in the BCB’s central contract structure for 2026.

The Ministry of Home Affairs has established a 'Law and Order Coordination Cell' ahead of the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election and referendum. The announcement was made on Monday, February 2, through an official press release from the ministry. The release also provided emergency contact numbers for the cell, including four landline numbers and two mobile numbers, one of which is available on WhatsApp.

According to the statement, citizens are encouraged to use these numbers to report any law and order-related complaints during the election period. The 13th National Parliamentary Election is scheduled to take place on February 12.

The formation of this coordination cell aims to ensure effective communication and prompt response to any security or order issues that may arise during the election process.

Home Affairs Adviser Lieutenant General (Retd.) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury stated that no one will be spared if any polling center is taken over during the upcoming election. Speaking to journalists on February 2 in Mymensingh City Corporation’s Shahid Shahabuddin Auditorium after a meeting on election-related law and order, he said CCTV cameras are being installed at every polling center, 25,700 body cameras are being provided to police, and drones and security apps are being used to ensure transparency and safety.

He added that both legal and illegal weapons remain outside official control, though recovery efforts have increased. Expressing hope for a peaceful election, he sought cooperation from journalists and the public. Referring to the recent Jhinaigati incident as tragic, he assured that those responsible will be brought under the law, even if it takes time.

Chowdhury described Mymensingh’s law and order situation as highly satisfactory and expressed confidence that their preparations would help deliver a fair and orderly election.

The Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) has announced maximum security measures across Bangladesh ahead of the holy Shab-e-Barat night, which will be observed on the night of February 3. According to a press release issued by RAB’s Law and Media Wing on Monday, the force will remain on full duty to ensure the safety and peaceful observance of religious activities. Adequate RAB personnel will be deployed nationwide until February 4, with intensified patrols in Dhaka and other key cities, especially around major mosques, shrines, and areas with large gatherings.

The statement said both uniformed and plainclothes teams will be active, supported by static and mobile units ready to respond to any situation. RAB has also strengthened cyber monitoring to prevent the spread of rumors, provocative content, or anti-state and anti-religious propaganda on social media. Intelligence-based preparations have been made to prevent any attempt to disrupt the religious atmosphere. Citizens have been urged to contact RAB’s control room for emergency assistance and to cooperate in maintaining law and order.

The National Citizens Party (NCP) has expressed deep concern to the Election Commission over alleged violence, intimidation, and administrative bias in various parts of Bangladesh ahead of the upcoming parliamentary election and referendum. A delegation led by Akram Hossain, Advocate Humayra Nur, and Ayman Rahat met Chief Election Commissioner A.M.M. Nasir Uddin in Agargaon on February 2 to convey these concerns.

Following the meeting, Ayman Rahat told reporters that activists of the BNP and Awami League were carrying out coordinated attacks on Jamaat and NCP supporters, while authorities failed to take effective action despite filed cases. He cited incidents in Noakhali’s Hatiya, where armed attacks occurred during a ferry inauguration event and subsequent rallies. Rahat alleged that local officials remained inactive and that the administration’s neutrality was in question.

The NCP also raised issues regarding statements by BNP leaders suggesting involvement of law enforcement and intelligence agencies in candidate selection, and criticized a Bangladesh Bank official’s actions following a political speech. The party urged the Election Commission to ensure a level playing field and take stronger visible measures to guarantee a fair and credible election process.

Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman is scheduled to visit Gazipur, Mymensingh, and Kishoreganj on Tuesday as part of his ongoing election campaign. He will speak at three public rallies during the day, beginning at 10:30 a.m. at Katiadi College Field in Kishoreganj, followed by a rally at 12:00 p.m. at Mymensingh Circuit House Field. His final address will take place at 2:00 p.m. at Rajbari Field in Joydebpur, Gazipur, where he will attend as the chief guest at a gathering organized by the 11-party electoral alliance.

According to party sources, Dr. Rahman will continue his campaign tour across various districts until February 7. On February 8 and 9, he is expected to conduct voter outreach in his own constituency in Dhaka. After completing today’s rallies, he will return to Dhaka-15 constituency for a local campaign event scheduled at 4:30 p.m. near Adarsha School beside Karar Mosque in Mirpur-10.

The visits are part of Jamaat-e-Islami’s broader effort to mobilize support ahead of the upcoming national election.

Bangladeshi short film 'Scarlet Echoes' (Bengali title 'Raktim') has been officially selected for the main competition of the 56th Tampere Film Festival, one of the world’s most prestigious film events. Directed and written by young filmmaker Hemonto Sadik, the film is set against the backdrop of the historic July 2024 mass uprising. Out of 7,125 international submissions, only 60 films from 44 countries were chosen, with 'Scarlet Echoes' being the sole entry from Bangladesh.

The docu-fiction blends real footage from the 2024 July movement with fictional storytelling centered on Adnan, a photographer and single father, capturing the streets of Dhaka and the spirit of the people. Producer Dilruba Hossain Doel stated that the film was made without institutional support, shot mostly within the movement using a smartphone, and created entirely through voluntary collaboration.

Dedicated to late photographer Tahir Zaman Priyo, who was killed during the movement, the film will have its world premiere at the festival in Tampere, Finland, from March 4–8, 2026.

Private sector credit growth in Bangladesh fell to 6.10 percent at the end of December 2025, marking the lowest level in recent years, according to the latest Bangladesh Bank report. The growth rate stood at 7.28 percent during the same period in 2024. The central bank’s data show that private sector credit totaled Tk 17.88 trillion in December 2025, up from Tk 16.85 trillion a year earlier.

Industry insiders said the slowdown reflects weak demand for loans as businesses remain reluctant to invest or expand amid political uncertainty. Many are waiting for a peaceful political transition, and stakeholders believe that only a free and fair election could revive investment appetite. The subdued demand for credit has led to increased liquidity in the banking sector.

Bangladesh Bank had set a target of 7.2 percent private sector credit growth for the July–December period of the current fiscal year, but the actual growth fell short of that goal.

Jamaat-e-Islami’s central Nayeb-e-Ameer Dr. Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher declared that his party and its allies would not bow to India, emphasizing independence in policymaking. Speaking on Monday afternoon at an election rally in Dakshin Shripur under Gunabati Union of Chauddagram, Cumilla, he said that previous governments believed power required appeasing India, but his alliance rejects that notion. He asserted that only God should be feared and promised that if the 11-party coalition wins, there will be no corruption or compromise of national sovereignty.

Dr. Taher said the coalition, comprising Islamic-minded groups, freedom fighters’ parties, and the July Revolution group, aims to bring qualitative change to Bangladesh’s politics. He criticized past governments for corruption, extortion, and misrule, claiming that despite different names, their governance styles were similar. He described the upcoming election as a turning point for the nation’s destiny.

He urged unity across political lines for national interest and mentioned that Tk 180 crore had been allocated for development projects in Chauddagram, expressing hope for a historic victory.

Bangladesh Bank has purchased an additional $218.5 million from 16 commercial banks, bringing its total dollar purchases to $4.15 billion since the start of the current fiscal year, according to Executive Director and Spokesperson Arif Hossain Khan. The central bank’s move aims to maintain stability in the foreign exchange market, where dollar supply currently exceeds demand.

The report notes that Bangladesh’s dollar market became unstable in 2022, with the exchange rate rising from 85 to 122 taka per dollar. Over the past three fiscal years, the central bank sold about $34 billion to support the market but bought only around $1 billion during that period. Following the fall of the previous Awami League government, the current administration tightened measures against money laundering, boosting both exports and remittances and increasing dollar inflows.

As a result of higher remittances and central bank purchases, Bangladesh’s foreign exchange reserves rose to $33.18 billion as of January 29, or $28.68 billion under the BPM-6 calculation, up from $20.48 billion at the time of the previous government’s departure.

Economic Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed said the interim government tried to advance and stabilize Bangladesh’s economy but could not achieve everything. He warned that the coming economic challenges would be large and difficult, requiring strong measures to overcome. He made the remarks on Monday at Sonali Bank’s annual conference held at the International Convention City Bashundhara in Dhaka.

Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr. Ahsan H. Mansur, Finance Division Secretary Dr. Khairuzzaman Mozumdar, and Financial Institutions Division Secretary Nazma Mobarek attended as special guests, while Sonali Bank Chairman Mohammad Muslim Chowdhury presided over the event. Ahmed noted that Sonali Bank currently has no capital shortfall and a satisfactory advance-deposit ratio. He emphasized prioritizing loans for small and medium enterprises over large businesses, citing their role in job creation and lower risk.

Governor Mansur said state-owned banks often struggle to recover loans, forcing a contraction in lending. He urged Sonali Bank to move toward a fully commercial model and expand lending with greater confidence to strengthen its profitability and contribution to the broader economy.

Muhammad Faozul Kabir Khan, adviser to the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, announced that his personal phone number had been hacked. He disclosed the incident on Monday through a post on his personal Facebook account, warning the public not to respond to any requests for money that might appear to come from his number.

In his Facebook post, the energy adviser clarified that he was not seeking any financial assistance and urged people to ignore such messages. The announcement was made to prevent possible misuse of his contact information following the hacking incident.

The report did not include further details about how the hack occurred or whether any official investigation had been launched into the matter.

The Election Commission (EC) has begun distributing ballot papers bearing candidate names and symbols to returning officers across Bangladesh ahead of the 13th National Parliamentary Election scheduled for February 12. According to information released from the EC Secretariat in Agargaon, Dhaka, the first phase of distribution on February 1 covered 13 districts, while the second phase on February 2 extended to eight more districts, totaling 21 districts over two days.

Officials stated that ballot papers and other election materials are being sent from Dhaka under tight security. These materials will be stored at the offices of returning officers and delivered to polling centers the day before voting. The EC also confirmed that approximately 260 million ballot papers are being printed for both the parliamentary election and a concurrent referendum, with a total printing cost of 400 million taka.

According to the official schedule, voting will take place nationwide on February 12 without interruption.

The Chief Adviser’s Press Wing has reported 274 incidents of violence across Bangladesh between December 12 of last year and February 1, a 51-day period following the announcement of the schedule for the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election. The data, released on Monday under the title “Violent Incidents in the 13th National Election–2026,” includes 15 attacks on candidates, 89 clashes among rival supporters, and 5 killings. Other reported incidents include intimidation, use of illegal weapons, threats, obstruction of campaign activities, and attacks on election offices.

The Press Wing also presented comparative statistics from the previous three national elections held during the Hasina administration. In the 2014 election, 530 violent incidents were recorded with 115 deaths and 315 injuries. The 2018 election saw 414 incidents, 22 deaths, and 780 injuries, while the 2024 election recorded 534 incidents, 6 deaths, and 460 injuries. The data also detailed property damage, arson, and explosive attacks during those periods.

The report highlights a continuing pattern of election-related violence, though the current tally appears lower than in previous election cycles.