In the past 24 hours, authorities arrested 461 more people under Operation Devil Hunt, bringing the total to 7,310 since February 8. The police also apprehended 1,189 individuals in other cases and recovered several weapons, including firearms and ammunition. The operation was launched after an attack on students at former minister A.K.M. Mozammel Haque’s residence in Gazipur. The interim government initiated the crackdown to strengthen security, though student leaders claim they were attacked while trying to prevent a robbery. One student later died from injuries.

The Anti-Discrimination Student Movement has strongly condemned the attack on Fazle Rabbi Sifat, a Chhatra Shibir leader in Gazipur, allegedly by Chhatra Dal. The group also criticized police actions, including forced video recording and attempts to deny legal rights. They warned of rising political violence resembling past authoritarian eras and urged Chhatra Dal to embrace intellectual politics. The organization called for patience among student groups and urged the interim government to take stronger measures to maintain law and order.

Students have declared that they will continue their protest until the attackers of general students are brought to justice and their six-point demands are met. It is noteworthy that on February 18, students of KUET (Khulna University of Engineering & Technology) began a movement demanding a ban on student politics on campus. They marched through the university halls and surrounded the Vice-Chancellor’s residence. In response, Chhatra Dal activists attacked the protesters, leading to clashes in which at least 60 students were injured. Some protesters were seen carrying machetes during the confrontation. The army was deployed to bring the situation under control.

BNP Senior Joint Secretary Ruhul Kabir Rizvi has clarified that claims circulating on social media about Khaleda Zia becoming President and Tarique Rahman becoming Prime Minister if the party wins the upcoming election are not BNP’s official position. Rizvi emphasized that these are personal opinions of some individuals. He also reiterated the importance of a free, fair election to restore public trust, stressing the government’s duty to ensure a transparent electoral process.

U.S. President Donald Trump has warned BRICS nations against introducing an alternative to the dollar, threatening a 150% tariff and a complete halt to trade with them. Speaking at a Republican Governors Association meeting in Washington, he accused BRICS of attempting to undermine the dollar and favoring the Chinese yuan. Trump also mocked Canada, calling it America’s “51st state”, and hinted at incorporating its national anthem. Additionally, he pledged to enhance the U.S. education system to match Nordic countries.

Interim Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus emphasized that learning English does not mean abandoning Bengali, as multilingualism is common worldwide. Speaking at the International Mother Language Medal ceremony, he highlighted that the 1952 language movement was fundamentally about self-determination and cultural liberation. He noted that technological advancements influence language dominance, with global interest shifting towards the languages of leading nations. However, he stressed that a country’s global influence—technological or otherwise—naturally increases interest in its language and culture.

Former Indian cricket captain Sourav Ganguly narrowly escaped a road accident. While traveling to Bardhaman for an event, a truck rear-ended his car. Fortunately, neither Ganguly nor his companions were injured, though two of his escort vehicles were damaged. This marks the second accident in his family, as his daughter Sana was also involved in a crash in January when a bus hit her car.

A 50-year-old unidentified woman was killed after being hit by a Subarna Express train in Nangalkot, Comilla. The accident occurred at 9:30 AM on Friday. Witnesses reported that despite the railway crossing barrier being down, she attempted to cross, leading to her tragic death. Local authorities confirmed that her family later collected the body.

Jamaat-e-Islami’s Amir, Shafiqur Rahman, stated that while Bangladesh has removed fascists, the country is still suffering under their oppression. Speaking at a Mother Language Day event, he warned against dishonoring the sacrifices of martyrs. He highlighted ongoing extortion and oppression of working-class people and urged for a social movement against injustice.

A case was filed at Mirzapur Police Station in Tangail three days after a robbery and sexual harassment incident on a moving bus. Passenger Omar Ali filed the complaint, alleging that he was robbed on Monday night. However, he expressed surprise upon seeing the bus driver and supervisor also present at the police station to file a case. He accused them of being involved in the crime. The robbery took place on a bus traveling from Dhaka to Rajshahi.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump warned that World War III is imminent but vowed to prevent it. In a speech on Thursday, he stated that another year under Biden’s administration could have led to global conflict. He criticized the current administration, claiming the U.S. has spent $200 billion more on Ukraine than Europe. Trump emphasized that endless wars must be stopped and declared that no nation could rival American strength in a potential war.

Five Bangladeshis, who left for Europe seeking a better future, ended up in Libya due to human traffickers. They endured severe torture before being sent by boat towards Italy after paying ransom. However, their boat broke down midway, and Tunisia’s coast guard detained them near the Algerian border. After serving various sentences for illegal entry, they were finally repatriated to Bangladesh with the help of BRAC, the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare, and the Bangladesh Embassy in Algeria.

BNP’s Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman urged pro-democracy forces to stay alert to prevent any attempts to suppress democracy. In a statement marking International Mother Language Day, he paid tribute to language martyrs and emphasized that February 21 was the first step toward national liberation. He condemned cultural aggression and reiterated that Bangladesh’s Language Movement strengthened nationalism and unity. He prayed for the departed souls of language movement activists.

Malaysian security forces detained 68 foreigners, including 45 Bangladeshis, at Kuala Lumpur International Airport for suspicious behavior. Despite claiming to be tourists, they wandered around restaurants and other areas instead of proceeding to immigration counters, raising suspicion that they were waiting for someone. As a result, authorities detained 16 Pakistanis, 45 Bangladeshis, and 7 Indians for further scrutiny. After verification, they were denied entry and issued departure notices. Since January 1, Malaysia has deported over 900 foreign tourists.

A two-lane road in Nalitabari, Sherpur, remains unrepaired four months after being severely damaged by a flash flood. The road closure has caused immense suffering for commuters, forcing them to pay higher transportation fares. The devastating flood on October 5 left the road in such poor condition that locals had to construct a makeshift bamboo bridge. Shariful Islam, Executive Engineer of the Sherpur Roads and Highways Department, stated that higher authorities have been informed and multiple inspections have been conducted. Plans to build a culvert have been finalized, and reconstruction work will begin once the tender is approved.