A total of approximately 22.6 million children were administered Vitamin A capsules during a nationwide Vitamin A Plus campaign conducted throughout Saturday. The initiative aims to prevent childhood blindness and reduce child mortality rates. Children aged 6-11 months were given a blue capsule containing 100,000 IU of Vitamin A, while those aged 12-59 months received a red capsule containing 200,000 IU. After the country’s independence, 4.10% of children suffered from night blindness due to malnutrition. To combat this, the government introduced Vitamin A supplementation in 1974.

During an Iftar event held in honor of United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres on Saturday evening, Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus sought UN support in the fight against misinformation. He stated, “We seek your blessings, especially in one area—protecting us from misinformation, which is destroying us.” He added, “Save us from the spread of falsehoods, and we can handle the rest.” The Chief Adviser also highlighted the unity formed among students, which has fostered an unprecedented sense of solidarity across all levels of society.

A wave of protests has erupted in Serbia’s capital, with thousands rallying against government corruption and inefficiency. The movement began in November after a railway station collapse in Novi Sad killed 15 people. What started as a student-led protest has now drawn widespread public support. Demonstrators plan a major rally in front of Parliament at 4 PM local time, demanding accountability for the disaster and an end to systemic corruption across all levels of government. The city is now under the protesters’ control.

The High Court has issued seven directives regarding the use of live ammunition during public demonstrations. The ruling comes in response to a petition filed last July seeking a ban on live bullets during rallies and processions. The key directives include: 1. Every citizen has the right to participate in peaceful protests and gatherings. 2. Law enforcement must prioritize human life as the most valuable asset. 3. Force should only be used when absolutely necessary. 4. Authorities must respect human rights at all times. 5. There should be no discrimination in enforcement actions. 6. Law enforcement agencies must comply with legal obligations and be held accountable. 7. If a peaceful assembly turns into an unlawful gathering, police may take appropriate legal action under the Constitution and existing laws.

The Bangladesh Bank is injecting Tk 2,500 crore into Social Islami Bank and First Security Islami Bank using newly printed money. This move aims to stabilize liquidity-starved banks suffering from financial mismanagement and misappropriation. Social Islami Bank will receive Tk 1,500 crore, while First Security Islami Bank will get Tk 1,000 crore. The liquidity crisis has intensified due to rising cash demands during Ramadan and the upcoming Eid. Struggling banks have been unable to meet withdrawal requests, prompting the central bank to step in as a last resort.

Speaking at a discussion at A.S. Rahat Ali High School in Patiya, Colonel Oli Ahmad, Bir Bikram, criticized the interim government for not taking action against those involved in electoral fraud and corruption during the 2018 elections. He called for their removal, urging citizens to “save the country.” He also emphasized his role in deciding Bangladesh’s independence alongside Ziaur Rahman, stating that protecting this freedom is now the people’s responsibility. He claimed that discussions on social justice today stem from seeds sown 18 years ago.

Serious allegations of corruption and irregularities have surfaced regarding the distribution of Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) food supplies in Ward 41 of Vadu, Gazipur. Complaints include underweight food packages, issuing multiple cards to individuals from the same family, unauthorized distribution without cards, and selling goods in open markets instead of providing them to registered beneficiaries. There are also reports of verbal abuse toward women collecting supplies. A contractor from ‘Shotto Enterprize’ was caught on video attempting to smuggle TCB goods in an autorickshaw. However, Councilor Secretary Nitai Saha denied any irregularities, stating that he only signs off on distributions that are conducted properly.

A 32-year-old man named Sujon was beaten to death by an angry mob in Barisal over allegations of attempting to rape a four-year-old child. The incident occurred on Saturday evening on Dhan Gobeshona Road. According to reports, the victim’s father filed a case after Sujon allegedly attempted to assault the child on Friday afternoon. Locals detained Sujon and handed him over to the police, but not before severely beating him. He was rushed to the hospital in critical condition, where he succumbed to his injuries at 8 PM. Police have launched an investigation into the case.

On Saturday, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) reported that UN Secretary-General António Guterres held a courtesy meeting with Bangladesh Army Chief General Waqar-Uz-Zaman during his visit to Bangladesh. During the meeting, Guterres praised the professionalism and efficiency of Bangladesh’s armed forces in UN peacekeeping missions. He also expressed his sincere gratitude for the significant contributions made by Bangladeshi peacekeepers.

The Arakan Army has released 26 Bangladeshi fishermen who were previously detained after being captured in the Bay of Bengal. The Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) facilitated their return through the Shah Porir Island jetty in Teknaf. Authorities confirmed that the fishermen mistakenly crossed the maritime border into Myanmar’s waters, leading to their detention. Following medical examinations, they will be handed over to their families. Officials are also working to raise awareness among local fishermen to prevent such incidents in the future.

BNP leader Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain has alleged that a conspiracy is being orchestrated to manipulate the upcoming elections. “Delays are being used as an excuse to derail the electoral process,” he claimed, accusing the Sheikh Hasina government of destroying the country over the past 15 years. He asserted that it is the responsibility of an elected government to repair the damage, adding, “An interim government should hand over power to a government chosen by the people’s vote.” Mosharraf also called for an immediate announcement of the national election date, criticizing the lack of a clear roadmap from the interim government even after seven months.

Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Shafiqur Rahman has stated that those who once refused to recognize Jamaat leaders and activists as citizens of Bangladesh have now left the country themselves. He asserted that Jamaat does not want the Awami League to return to power and urged for the release of all political prisoners, including former Jamaat leader ATM Azharul Islam. Rahman further emphasized the need to establish Islamic law in Bangladesh, lamenting the country’s failure to ensure the safety of even an 8-year-old child.

In a massive financial fraud case in Madarganj, Jamalpur, nearly 35,000 depositors lost Tk 700 crore in a cooperative society scam. The organization lured members in with promises of high interest rates before misappropriating their savings. Although six cases have been filed, key perpetrators remain at large. Allegations suggest that the fraudulent cooperative was operated under the protection of Awami League MP Mirza Azam. Despite public outrage, the local administration has not taken effective steps to recover the victims’ funds. Reports indicate that BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami leaders were also involved in the scam and are currently in hiding.

Foreign Affairs Advisor Md. Towhid Hossain has stated that the visit of UN Secretary-General António Guterres is of great significance for the interim government and the future of Bangladesh. He expressed concern over misinformation campaigns against the country following the fall of the League government. Hossain emphasized that Guterres’ visit will support Bangladesh’s democratic transition and reform efforts, ensuring free and fair elections while assisting in necessary governance transformations.

Kalpana Nazma Begum, the mother of deceased marine engineer Sohag Hossain, has accused her son’s wife, Shahana Khatun, of orchestrating his murder to seize a large sum of money. She claimed that Shahana had multiple previous marriages and had been restricting Sohag’s contact with his family. On February 2, Shahana and her associates allegedly demanded Tk 20 lakh, threatening to kill Sohag if he did not comply. When his phone remained unreachable from February 9, police broke into his flat on February 12 and found his partially decomposed body hanging from a ceiling fan, with signs of a broken knee. Kalpana Nazma Begum has demanded immediate arrests of those responsible.