The Supreme Court has scheduled a review hearing for Jamaat-e-Islami leader ATM Azharul Islam’s death sentence appeal on Thursday. The case is listed ninth on the Supreme Court’s official cause list, with proceedings set to take place under Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed’s bench. Azhar was sentenced to death on December 30, 2014, by the International Crimes Tribunal for war crimes committed in 1971. The verdict was upheld by the Appellate Division on October 23, 2019.

The Revolutionary Student Council has urged President Mohammad Shahabuddin Chuppu not to attend the first-hour tribute at the Central Shaheed Minar on February 21. At a protest at Dhaka University’s Raju Memorial on Wednesday, council convener Abdul Wahed accused the president of remaining silent during the July-August massacre, where over 2,000 people were killed. Wahed also claimed that Chuppu was elected by an “illegitimate parliament” and demanded his resignation. He urged the president to “reflect on his position” from Bangabhaban instead of appearing in public during International Mother Language Day.

Following the removal of Cox’s Bazar Police Superintendent Rahmat Ullah over a drug-related scandal, seven more officers, including District Intelligence Branch OC Jahangir Alam, have been suspended and attached to the police lines. Investigations against them are ongoing. Earlier, on January 6, a Toyota Land Cruiser Prado was seized in Ramu Upazila with 490,000 yaba pills. A team led by OC Jahangir Alam and SI Samir Guha initially arrested four suspects but allegedly released three in exchange for 12 million BDT. The matter came to light through an investigative report by Jugantor, prompting police authorities to take disciplinary action.

A court has ordered the freezing of 20 bank accounts belonging to former State Minister Nasrul Hamid Bipu and his wife, Seema Hamid, following a request from the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) on Wednesday. These accounts reportedly hold over 21 million BDT. The ACC stated that an investigation is underway into the couple’s alleged unexplained wealth and that they were attempting to transfer or launder their assets, making an immediate freeze necessary.

The Ministry of Public Administration has appointed 33 Deputy Commissioners (DCs), who previously served as Returning Officers during the 2018 national elections, as Officer on Special Duty (OSD). A separate notification was issued on Wednesday detailing their new assignments. These officials, previously holding the position of Joint Secretary, have now been transferred to the Ministry of Public Administration. The move reflects ongoing administrative adjustments post-election.

The police in the Vairamara area of Kushtia have discovered the bodies of a married couple in their home. The body of the wife, 65-year-old Rabeya Khatun, was found lying under a blanket on the bed, with her head covered. Meanwhile, her husband, 75-year-old Farid Uddin, was found hanging from the rafters nearby. The bodies were recovered at 12 PM on Wednesday and sent to the morgue. The police suspect that the wife may have been strangled to death, as there are signs of neck injury. Farid Uddin, originally from Natore, lived with his second wife. Rabeya Khatun’s children from her first marriage also live nearby. The cause and motive of the deaths are yet to be determined, but the police suspect that the husband may have killed his wife.

An armed robbery took place on a moving bus in the Uttara area of the capital. A woman passenger, who was a victim of the incident, shared a post on Facebook detailing the event. According to her post, she was traveling on the bus heading towards the airport when 5-6 young men boarded, disguised as regular passengers. They quickly drew knives and robbed the passengers of their mobile phones, wallets, and other valuables. One passenger was even stabbed before the robbers quickly exited the bus. The Uttara East Police Station has confirmed hearing of the incident but stated they have not received an official complaint yet. However, actions are being taken.

Adviser Nahid Islam has handed over a check worth over 10 million 6 lakh taka to the Bangladesh Workers’ Welfare Foundation, under the Ministry of Labour and Employment. The check was received by Adviser Sakhawat Hossain. The funds are sourced from the profits of Bangladesh Submarine Cables PLC for the fiscal year 2023-24. These funds will be used to ensure fair wages for workers and improve other public services, as stated by Adviser Nahid. During the handover, he emphasized the importance of adhering to financial regulations.

Five individuals, including Mehedi Hasan Saif, a Jubo League member and leader of a teenage gang, have been arrested in connection with the brutal machete attack on Mehabul and Ifti in Uttara. The police recovered the weapons from the Turag River, and Saif, along with accomplices, was involved in the attack over a dispute involving loud motorcycles and rickshaw harassment. The suspects were apprehended in Gazipur, and the investigation is progressing rapidly. The others arrested are Mobarak, Robi Roy, Alfaz, and Sajib.

On Tuesday, seven bus passengers were killed in an armed attack in Balochistan, Pakistan. Local officials reported that around 40 unidentified armed individuals intercepted several buses, began verifying passengers’ identities, and then forced seven people off the buses before shooting them dead. All the victims were residents of Punjab. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack as of now. While law enforcement has cordoned off the area, the perpetrators have yet to be apprehended. Armed separatist groups have long been engaged in battles for regional autonomy in areas bordering Afghanistan and Iran.

On Wednesday afternoon, Mohammad Akhtarul Islam, the spokesperson for the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), confirmed that two bags of documents, including an FDR of 12 crore taka and land deeds, have been seized from former Inspector General of Police (IGP) AKM Shahidul Haque. The ACC stated that, in connection with an investigation into allegations of illicit wealth accumulation, intelligence reports revealed that Shahidul Haque had sent documents detailing his unlawful assets to a close relative in two bags. These documents contain information about the vast wealth, amounting to millions of taka, acquired by Shahidul Haque through illegal means.

During the July-August mass uprising, the crackdown on student protesters in the capital’s Jatrabari hotspot was led by the controversial Additional DIG, Mohammad Farid Uddin. Farid, who has been widely mocked on social media, infamously declared that it would take just “10 minutes” to clear the movement. In connection with a murder case, Farid Uddin has been referred to as the “Guardian of Genocide.” He is currently on the run, and authorities are actively searching for him. Farid was closely associated with a former Home Minister, who, when contacted, stated that he is on leave and denied any involvement in the killings.

In Begumganj, Noakhali, the residence of a local BNP leader was attacked twice following a Facebook live broadcast. The attacks are believed to have been orchestrated by political rivals. According to family sources, on Sunday, Farhan, a leader of the Chhatra Dal, went live on Facebook. During the broadcast, he spoke out against extortionists, tender manipulators, and allies of the Awami League from the 1/11 period. In response to his Facebook Live, the President of the local BNP, Kamaksha Chandra Das, allegedly threatened Farhan’s father over the phone, demanding that his son delete the live stream or face dire consequences. The following day, two attacks were carried out on the family. The accused has denied the charges.

A violent clash occurred at Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (KUET) on Tuesday, with over 60 students injured. Chhatra Dal leaders have blamed activists from the anti-discrimination student movement, Chhatra Shibir, and Chhatra League for the violence. The altercation began when Chhatra Dal supporters were attacked during a rally, leading to retaliatory violence. The situation escalated into a campus-wide confrontation, involving both local party members and outsiders. At least 10 injured students were hospitalized in critical condition.

In a recent interview with Fox News’ Sean Hannity, former U.S. President Donald Trump stated that India would not be exempt from Washington’s reciprocal tariff policies. Trump revealed that he had told Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, “We are going to implement reciprocal tariffs. Whatever you impose on us, we will impose the same on you.” When Modi expressed his disapproval, Trump reaffirmed his stance. India has historically imposed high tariffs on imported American goods, particularly in the automobile sector, where duties can reach up to 100%. During the interview, Trump boldly asserted, “No one can argue with me. If they impose tariffs, I will impose the same amount!”