Kalim Uddin Ahmed Milon, the BNP central organizing secretary and candidate for the Sunamganj-5 (Chhatak–Doarabazar) constituency, said the upcoming February 12 parliamentary election is not just a voting day but a day to determine the fate of the people. He made the remarks on February 1 at an election rally in Jauabazar organized by the Chhatak Upazila Jamiat, where he served as the chief guest. Milon stated that a strong wave of public support has formed for the BNP’s ‘sheaf of paddy’ symbol, driven by people’s desire for change. He emphasized that citizens have long been deprived of their rights and that BNP’s politics aims to ensure democratic and voting rights, not revenge. Referring to BNP’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman’s directive, he urged voters to cast and guard their votes to secure victory for the party. He added that the election offers an opportunity to establish an accountable government and strengthen democracy. The rally was presided over by Maulana Shamsul Islam and attended by local BNP and Jamiat leaders.

Israel has banned the operations of the medical charity Doctors Without Borders (MSF) in Gaza and ordered the organization to leave the enclave by February 28, according to TRT World. Israeli authorities said the decision followed MSF’s refusal to submit a list of its staff to Tel Aviv, a requirement applied to all humanitarian organizations operating in the region. Citing the newspaper Maariv, Israel stated that the measure aims to ensure legitimate relief activities and prevent the misuse of humanitarian aid for terrorism. MSF responded that it would not provide the names of its Palestinian and international staff because Israel had refused to guarantee their safety or the organization’s operational independence. MSF is one of the largest humanitarian organizations working in Gaza. Observers fear that halting its activities could severely threaten medical services in the territory, already devastated by two years of war that have killed about 71,800 Palestinians, injured more than 171,400, and destroyed nearly 90 percent of civilian infrastructure.

Former British minister Lord Peter Mandelson has resigned from the ruling Labour Party following renewed controversy over his alleged links with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The decision came after the US Department of Justice released millions of new documents related to Epstein, which reportedly included Mandelson’s name. He stated that he did not want to place the party in an embarrassing position and announced his resignation soon after the files were made public last Friday. According to reports, the newly released documents claim that Epstein paid Mandelson a total of 75,000 US dollars in three installments during 2003 and 2004. Mandelson had previously been removed from his position as British ambassador to the United States last year over similar allegations. In a letter to the Labour Party’s general secretary, he expressed regret that his name had again been linked to the scandal. Mandelson denied the allegations, saying he had no record or memory of any financial dealings with Epstein nearly 20 years ago and called for an investigation into the matter.

For the second consecutive day, workers and employees at Chattogram Port have enforced a blockade protesting the government’s decision to appoint a foreign operator at the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT). The program, organized under the banners of the Nationalist Workers Party and the Workers-Employees Unity Council, has brought the country’s main import-export hub to a standstill. Although limited container handling continues at the jetty, no new goods are entering or leaving the port, raising fears of congestion in yards and off-docks. The protest follows a High Court ruling favoring the government’s plan to hand over NCT operations to global terminal operator DP World. In response, the port authority has taken a hardline stance, transferring 11 workers so far and preparing a list of 180 for further action. Additional police have been deployed, and gatherings have been banned in the port area. A committee has been formed to assess financial losses, which stakeholders estimate to exceed hundreds of crores of taka. Business leaders warn that prolonged disruption could harm the national economy, particularly the garment sector, and cause market instability if the deadlock continues.

Former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s stay in India after her ouster in the August 2024 uprising has reignited political debate. A leaked audio message from fugitive Awami League leader Mohammad A Arafat revealed Hasina describing her situation as a “banbas,” or exile, expressing sympathy for party members still in Bangladesh. The report recounts that before fleeing, Hasina ensured the safe departure of several close relatives and officials, while many grassroots activists now face hardship. The article draws parallels between Hasina and Sikkim’s Lhendup Dorji, portraying both as figures who allegedly served Indian interests. It notes that during Hasina’s 15-and-a-half-year rule, Bangladesh signed numerous agreements with India, many said to have favored Indian interests. Former army chief Iqbal Karim Bhuiyan criticized India’s continued support for Hasina, calling it interference in Bangladesh’s sovereignty and warning of rising bilateral tension. The comparison between Hasina and Dorji resurfaced during the funeral of BNP leader Khaleda Zia, where her past remarks labeling Hasina as “India’s agent” were replayed, amplifying the controversy over Hasina’s political legacy and her current refuge in India.

At least 12 people were killed when a Russian drone struck a bus carrying miners in Ukraine’s central-eastern Dnipropetrovsk region, Ukrainian authorities said on Sunday. The bus was traveling near the city of Ternivka, about 65 kilometers from the front line. Energy company DTEK confirmed that all victims were returning from work at one of its mines. Photos released by Ukraine’s State Emergency Service showed shattered windows and a damaged windshield. Regional military administrator Oleksandr Hancha reported on Telegram that the drone hit a company shuttle bus in the Pavlohrad district, injuring at least seven others. The AFP news agency said it could not independently verify the circumstances of the attack. Hancha also reported that a separate overnight drone strike in the city of Dnipro killed a man and a woman. The attacks occurred as the deadline expired for a unilateral reduction in Russian strikes announced by U.S. President Donald Trump. Trump had claimed Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to halt winter assaults on Kyiv and other cities, though the terms remained unclear and the Kremlin did not confirm any weather-related ceasefire.

At least sixteen people were killed in two separate road accidents in southern Turkey on Sunday, according to reports from local and international news agencies. The first crash occurred near the city of Antalya when a passenger bus veered off the highway and overturned, killing nine people and injuring at least twenty-five others. Antalya’s provincial governor Hulusi Sahin said seven of the injured were in critical condition. In a separate incident in the Burdur area, seven people were killed and five injured on the Antalya–Isparta route. Governor Sahin stated that the bus involved in the first accident was carrying thirty-four passengers from Tekirdag to Antalya. He added that the crash site was located on a dangerous curve where speeding was unsafe. Preliminary findings suggested that reckless driving and slippery roads caused by rain might have contributed to the accident. It was not immediately clear whether any foreign nationals were among the passengers. Antalya and its surrounding coastal areas are known as popular tourist destinations that attract large numbers of foreign visitors each year.

In Syedpur town of Nilphamari-4 constituency, candidates are using both Bangla and Urdu loudspeakers to seek votes ahead of the upcoming election. The campaign includes Urdu songs and ghazals, drawing mixed reactions from residents. Many visitors find the approach entertaining, while others see it as a novel way to connect with Urdu-speaking voters who make up about half of the municipality’s electorate. Urdu-speaking residents, locally known as Biharis, have lived in Syedpur since 1947, with many gaining voting rights in 2008. Around 60,000 voters from 22 Urdu-speaking camps are considered decisive in determining election outcomes. Candidates say the use of Urdu helps these voters better understand names and symbols. However, some citizens criticize the move, citing the historical struggle to establish Bangla as the state language, while others defend it as inclusive and democratic. Local officials confirmed that the Election Commission has not issued any directive on language use in campaigns. Analysts note that the Urdu-language outreach reflects both electoral strategy and broader social and cultural discourse in Syedpur.

A devastating landslide has struck a militia-controlled mine in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo, with government sources warning that at least 200 people may have died. The incident occurred on Sunday, according to an official statement released by the Congolese government. Reports from Kinshasa, citing AFP, indicate that the M23 armed group, which re-emerged in 2021, has seized large parts of the mineral-rich eastern territories of the country. Backed by Rwanda, M23 took control of the Rubaya mine in North Kivu province in April 2024, the site where the latest tragedy unfolded. Authorities have not yet provided details on rescue operations or the exact cause of the landslide, but the scale of the disaster has raised concerns about safety conditions in conflict-affected mining zones.

Cash holdings outside banks in Bangladesh surged by about Tk 410 billion over December and January, according to Bangladesh Bank data confirmed by its spokesperson Arif Hossain Khan. The increase coincides with intensified campaign activities for the upcoming 13th parliamentary election scheduled for February 12. The central bank attributes the rise to withdrawals by candidates covering election-related expenses, while the Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) is monitoring large or suspicious transactions. Bangladesh Bank data show that cash outside banks rose from Tk 2.69 trillion in November to Tk 3.10 trillion in January. This reverses a previous downward trend observed from July to November. Former World Bank economist Zahid Hossain noted that such increases before elections are not unusual, as campaign spending often involves cash transactions. The BFIU has tightened oversight since January 11, requiring weekly reports on cash transactions of Tk 1 million or more. Additionally, mobile financial services will be restricted from February 8 to 13 to prevent misuse of funds for voter influence. Daily transaction limits will be capped at Tk 10,000, with a maximum of Tk 1,000 per transaction, as directed by the BFIU at the Election Commission’s request.

An allegation of arson has been raised over the election campaign banners of Barrister Muhammad Naoshad Zamir, the BNP-nominated candidate for the Panchagarh-1 constituency and the party’s international affairs secretary. The incidents reportedly took place on Saturday night in two separate areas—Jatnpukuri under Dhakkamara Union and Sannyasipara village in Banglabandha Union—where unidentified individuals allegedly set fire to the banners. Two general diaries were filed at Panchagarh Sadar and Tentulia police stations following the incidents. On Sunday evening, Zamir’s election agent, Nawfal Zamir, held a press conference at the district BNP office protesting the incidents. According to the briefing, the banners were completely damaged after flammable substances were used to ignite them. BNP representatives claimed the attacks were politically motivated. District-level BNP leaders and activists were present at the press event. The two general diaries were lodged separately by local BNP leaders Mahfuzar Rahman Babu and Md. Rashed Ali Sarkar, seeking official documentation of the incidents ahead of the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election.

With only nine days left before Bangladesh’s 13th parliamentary election, anti-fascist political parties have become active across Chittagong. However, the National Citizens Party (NCP), which led last year’s mass uprising, remains largely absent from the campaign field. Although the NCP secured one seat under an 11-party alliance in Chittagong-8, its candidate Zobairul Hasan Arif is struggling to gain momentum as Jamaat-e-Islami’s candidate has not withdrawn and continues to receive quiet support from party workers. The NCP’s organizational activities have weakened, with internal conflicts, leadership controversies, and public criticism over alleged extortion and misconduct among its leaders. Many of its former student leaders have returned to their original organizations or left politics altogether. Despite earlier plans to contest in nine constituencies, the party now has only one active candidate. Party officials claim many leaders are working outside Chittagong to strengthen the organization nationally. Political analysts in Chittagong describe the NCP’s absence as disappointing, noting that their silence could harm their future local political prospects if they fail to participate visibly in the election process.

Bangladesh observed National Food Safety Day 2026 on Monday with the theme “Ensure safe food, build a healthy life.” The Bangladesh Food Safety Authority (BFSA) organized a discussion emphasizing citizens’ right to safe food and the need for awareness across production, processing, and sales. However, questions persist about whether the agency can ensure food safety nationwide. BFSA Chairman Zakaria acknowledged the growing presence of trans fat in food and said the authority is working with multiple institutions to control it through monitoring and awareness. According to the World Health Organization, Bangladesh is among the 15 countries most at risk of trans fat–related heart disease, responsible for 4.41% of cardiac deaths. Experts warned that trans fat, excessive sugar, salt, and “testing salt” used in fast food pose serious health threats, including heart disease, kidney failure, and cancer. A national survey found excessive testing salt in chips, noodles, popcorn, and fries. The government has decided to require labeling of sugar, salt, and trans fat on packaged foods, though many businesses still fail to comply. Health officials and researchers urged stronger legal enforcement and public awareness to prevent toxic food consumption and reduce noncommunicable diseases in Bangladesh.

Bangladesh and the United States are expected to sign a bilateral trade agreement in Washington on February 9, aimed at reducing U.S. counter-tariffs on Bangladeshi goods and expanding trade benefits. Commerce Secretary Mahbubur Rahman said the draft agreement has been prepared and submitted for approval. He confirmed that the signing date has been set and that final tariff rates will be determined by that day. The U.S. initially imposed counter-tariffs of 37 percent and later 35 percent on Bangladeshi products under the Trump administration, but after several rounds of talks, the rate was reduced to 20 percent on July 31 last year. Although no formal agreement was signed then, discussions continued to secure further tariff cuts and duty-free access for garments made with U.S. cotton. To gain these benefits, Bangladesh has pledged to reduce its trade deficit with the U.S. by increasing imports of Boeing aircraft, fuel, LNG, wheat, and cotton. The Commerce Secretary also noted that Bangladesh is pursuing free trade agreements with other countries, including Japan and South Korea, to address post-LDC graduation challenges and enhance export growth.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Sheikh Md. Sajjat Ali has directed that maximum security be ensured at every polling center across the capital ahead of the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election 2026. The instruction came on Monday, February 2, during a coordination meeting held at the DMP Headquarters, where senior police officials discussed the security plan and overall management for the election. In his address, the DMP Commissioner emphasized maintaining vigilance to prevent any disorder at polling centers, particularly those located far from police stations. He also instructed that police patrols be intensified in all station areas. Additional Police Commissioner (Crime and Operations) S.N. Md. Nazrul Islam noted that this election is taking place in a different context and stressed the importance of maintaining law and order with additional forces deployed. During the meeting, Joint Police Commissioner (Operations) Mohammad Shahidullah presented the comprehensive security plan through a PowerPoint presentation. Senior DMP officials shared their opinions, and the Commissioner provided further directives to ensure smooth election-day operations.