On August 5, in the face of a student uprising, Sheikh Hasina, who had fled the country, gave a speech to the student wing of the Awami League. In response, enraged student protesters attacked and vandalized the house of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, a place full of historical significance, on the night of February 5. This week, after Advisor Sheikh Hasina remarked that India should take responsibility if she engages in politics from its soil, Sheikh Hasina went live on the Awami League page! In this context, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the Indian High Commissioner in Dhaka. India clarified that it is not using Indian platforms. Subsequently, Indian Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jayaswal expressed regret over the destruction of the historic residence of Sheikh Mujib, a symbol of bravery against occupation and oppression. The statement further emphasized that all those proud of their Bengali identity are aware of the importance of this residence.

Forbes has released its 2025 list of the world’s most powerful countries, with the United States securing the top spot, followed by China and Russia. Israel, despite its smaller economy compared to other nations, has made it to the 10th position. The rankings are based on various factors, including economic, political, military strength, and international relations. Notably, India is absent from the top 10, while the United Kingdom, Germany, South Korea, France, Japan, and Saudi Arabia are included. The exclusion has sparked widespread discussions and debates across India, especially regarding the Modi government’s performance.

The top 10 list includes:
#1. United States
#2. China
#3. Russia
#4. United Kingdom
#5. Germany
#6. South Korea
#7. France
#8. Japan
#9. Saudi Arabia
#10. Israel

The United States has deported 104 Indian nationals via a military aircraft as part of its strict immigration enforcement under the Trump administration. The C-17 aircraft carrying the deportees from Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Punjab landed in Amritsar. This marks the longest-distance deportation flight since military aircraft were allocated for migrant transportation. Relatives of the deported individuals expressed their distress, stating that they endured extreme hardships to reach the U.S., only to be sent back. One returnee, Akashdeep, spent $60,000—selling two-thirds of his property—only to be deported within seven months.

Rezaul Islam, a Muslim M.Tech student from West Bengal, faced religious harassment on a train while returning from Bishwa Ijtema in Bangladesh. A group of passengers at Ranaghat Station taunted him over his faith, falsely accused him of being Bangladeshi, and expressed hatred toward Bangladesh, claiming that people like him were taking over Kolkata. He was physically assaulted, had his cap knocked off, and was threatened to be thrown off the train. He later filed an FIR with Kolkata Police.

A major fire broke out at Kolkata Airport on Wednesday near the conveyor belt, but no casualties have been reported. The fire began during welding work when sparks ignited a flex, causing it to spread to nearby items. The airport staff managed to control the fire within 15 minutes before the fire services arrived. Despite the scare, flight operations were not affected. This incident raised concerns ahead of the World Bengal Business Summit, which began on the same day.

India has stated that the installation of barbed wire fencing along the Bangladesh border aims to prevent cross-border crimes. According to a statement titled Fencing on the India-Bangladesh Border, the total border length between the two countries is 4,096.7 kilometers, of which 3,232 kilometers have been fenced. The construction adheres to all protocols and agreements, and India expects continued cooperation from the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB). However, 864 kilometers remain unfenced due to issues like wetlands and land acquisition, with 174 kilometers deemed impossible to fence for these reasons. Additionally, BGB has raised strong objections to fencing in certain areas. These details were disclosed by India’s Minister of State for Home Affairs in response to a question in the Lok Sabha.

According to a report by German news outlet Deutsche Welle, Indonesia is in final discussions to purchase BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles from India in a deal worth $450 million. If finalized, Indonesia would become the second ASEAN country after the Philippines to acquire the missile. Last month, during his visit to India for Republic Day celebrations, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto met with the CEO of BrahMos in the presence of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Additionally, the Chief of the Indonesian Navy, along with a high-level delegation, inspected the missile. The BrahMos missile is jointly developed by India and Russia. Analysts suggest that amid rising tensions with China, Indonesia is seeking to modernize its naval and military forces, making this purchase a strategic move.

Social media posts in India falsely labeled footage of student clashes in Bangladesh as a ‘Hindu killing’. AFP fact-checking revealed no evidence of Hindu students’ deaths in the violence. The clashes, involving students from Dhaka’s colleges, were unrelated to religious tensions. The incident stemmed from a protest after the death of a student due to hospital negligence. Authorities confirmed that the violence was not religiously motivated, and no Hindu students were targeted or injured in the conflict.

Rahul Gandhi, leader of India’s opposition, criticized Prime Minister Modi’s ‘Make in India’ initiative as a failure, stating that China is at least 10 years ahead of India in various sectors. Gandhi also raised concerns over Modi’s contradictory statements on Chinese aggression in Ladakh. Additionally, he criticized Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal over pollution, challenging him to drink polluted Yamuna water and fulfill his promises of cleaning the river. Gandhi emphasized India’s failure in increasing production capacity, benefiting China instead.

Fears of a global trade war emerged after Donald Trump imposed tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China, causing the rupee to drop by 67 paise to 87.29. As investors sought safe-haven assets, the US dollar strengthened, weakening Asian currencies. Last week, India’s foreign exchange reserves faced a slight crisis, declining by $1.888 billion to $623.983 billion. The Indian stock market also saw a downturn, with the Sensex losing 575 points and the Nifty falling by 206 points.

India’s special security forces have confirmed the deaths of eight Maoist rebels during an operation in central India. The clash occurred early Saturday morning in the forests of Chhattisgarh. Over the past decade, the insurgency has claimed 10,000 lives, including 287 deaths this year alone. Maoist rebels claim to be fighting for marginalized indigenous communities. Last year, Indian Home Minister Amit Shah declared that the insurgency would be completely crushed by 2026.

Indian news outlet Zee 24 Ghanta misrepresented Bangladesh’s poverty by using an image actually taken in India. The photo, showing children standing in line with plates, was from New Delhi in 2020, where slum children waited for free food during the COVID-19 lockdown. A reverse image search confirmed its prior use by CNBC and Getty Images. Despite this, the misleading image was intentionally used to depict Bangladesh’s poverty, raising concerns about journalistic integrity in Indian media.

In Kochi, Kerala, 27 Bangladeshis were arrested for illegal residency following an overnight operation by Kerala Police and India’s Anti-Terrorism Squad. The suspects, found with Bangladeshi national IDs and passports, could not provide valid Indian residency documents. A total of 54 individuals were arrested in the operation. This action is part of a broader crackdown on Bangladeshis living unlawfully in various parts of India. Earlier, two Bangladeshis were arrested in Versova, Maharashtra.

Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan shared his experience of facing religious discrimination when trying to buy a house in Juhu, Mumbai. Despite searching for homes in the area, he was informed that due to his different community, he wouldn’t be able to purchase a property there. Saif, who has married non-Muslims, expressed that while he has never faced religious intolerance abroad, his own country questioned his religion, leaving him deeply insulted by the experience.

A stampede at the Maha Kumbh Mela in Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, India, left 15 people dead and many injured during the ‘holy bath’ ritual. The incident occurred early on January 29 amid massive crowds. Prime Minister Narendra Modi discussed the situation with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and urged immediate relief efforts. This year’s Kumbh Mela, marked by a rare celestial alignment, has already seen 148 million attendees. Hindus believe bathing in the sacred rivers cleanses sins and grants liberation from rebirth.