On February 25 and 26, 2009, the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) Headquarters in Pilkhana, Dhaka, was attacked by rebel soldiers, resulting in the deaths of 57 army officers. At the time, Sohel Taj, the then-State Minister for Home Affairs, was residing in the United States. Expatriate journalist Elias Hossain has written that military sources had informed him of Sohel Taj’s potential involvement in the BDR massacre. Elias warned that Taj should be cautious about traveling abroad. In response, Sohel Taj condemned these claims as propaganda and expressed his readiness to cooperate with any investigations, while also stating that he would not enter politics at this time.

The Bangladesh Air Force has dismissed reports that local miscreants from Samitipara launched a surprise attack on the Cox’s Bazar Air Force base on Monday, calling the news misleading. Meanwhile, ISPR stated that rumors are being spread claiming that a young man was killed by Air Force gunfire in Cox’s Bazar. According to the statement, a sudden attack by some local miscreants left four Air Force personnel injured, who are currently undergoing treatment.

Zakir Hossain (32), the personal secretary of former mayor Jahangir Alam, was detained by students and handed over to the police. The incident occurred around 12:30 AM on Sunday at Chandna Chourasta area. Following his arrest, Zakir was implicated in several cases, including extortion, land grabbing, and anti-discrimination student movements. Officer-in-charge of Basan Police Station, Kaisar Ahmed, confirmed that Zakir is facing multiple charges. As part of a special operation, dubbed “Operation Devil Hunt,” he was arrested and sent to jail following a court order.

Abdur Rouf Talukder, the last Governor of the Central Bank during the League government, took office on July 12, 2022. Upon assuming his duties, he made several promises, including restoring discipline in the banking sector, solving liquidity issues, and reducing non-performing loans. However, the situation took a turn for the worse. Rather than restoring discipline, bank takeovers and looting occurred, with sources claiming that Governor Talukder himself facilitated these actions. He is alleged to have relaxed existing bank policies, enabling widespread looting. Under his tenure, the highest amount of currency in history was printed, leading to an increase in inflation. Reports also suggest that Talukder proactively handed over control of one bank to its attackers.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif has expressed his desire to make Pakistan a nation greater than India. Speaking at a large rally on Sunday, he said, “One day, we will leave India behind. And if we fail to do that, my name won’t be Shahbaz Sharif. We will work day and night to transform Pakistan into a great nation and surpass India.” Shahbaz added that his government is focused on achieving economic stability, with the goal of reducing Pakistan’s reliance on foreign loans.

পুলিশের আইজিপি বাহারুল আলম জানিয়েছেন, ছিনতাইরোধে পুলিশের তিনটি বিশেষায়িত ইউনিট সোমবার সকাল থেকে মাঠে নামছে। ঢাকা মেট্রোপলিটন পুলিশ, র‍্যাব ও এন্টি টেরোরিজম ইউনিট যৌথ অভিযান চালাবে। আইজিপি বলেন, দিনেরাতে ছিনতাই বেড়েছে। ছিনতাই প্রতিরোধে সোমবার সকাল থেকে বিশেষ একটি ব্যবস্থা বাস্তবায়ন করার সিদ্ধান্ত নেওয়া হয়েছে। এভাবে উন্নতি না হলে আমাদের অন্য পরিকল্পনায় যেতে হবে। বাহারুল বলেন, একটি গোষ্ঠী চায় না বাংলাদেশে স্থিতিশীল পরিবেশ বজায় থাক। সেটার পেছনে রাজনৈতিক উদ্দেশ্য থাকতে পারে। তিনি বলেন, অপারেশন ডেভিল হান্ট মূলত যারা সন্ত্রাস করে, সমাজবিরোধী তাদের বিরুদ্ধে।

The Anti-Discrimination Student Movement and the National Citizens Committee have organized a press conference to announce the launch of a new political party. The conference will take place at 7 PM on Monday at the Citizens Committee office in Rupayan Tower, Banglamotor, Dhaka. This initiative aims to address issues of discrimination and provide a platform for citizens to actively engage in politics. The press conference will mark the official beginning of this new political endeavor.

Army Chief General Waqar-uz-Zaman has instructed military personnel to maintain patience and avoid excessive use of force while ensuring law and order until an elected government takes office. Speaking at an event at Savar Cantonment, he emphasized that any use of force must be strictly proportionate and kept to a minimum. “We must continue serving the nation until we have an elected government and the country is stable. Until then, we must perform our duties with patience,” General Waqar stated.

A new report by Al Jazeera, citing Access Now’s global internet shutdown study, reveals that Israel has restricted internet access in Gaza six times in 2024, more than any other country in the Middle East and North Africa. Despite international condemnation, Israeli occupation forces have deliberately disrupted Gaza’s internet and telecommunications infrastructure, a move the report likens to war crimes. The blackouts have severely impacted communication in the besieged Palestinian territory, drawing widespread criticism from human rights organizations.

Government officers under the Inter-Cadre Discrimination Elimination Council have temporarily suspended their planned half-day work stoppage to honor National Martyrs’ Day on Tuesday. A statement from the protesting officers indicated that if all suspensions and departmental cases against 25 cadre officers are not withdrawn by February 27 and no effective measures are taken to address inter-cadre disparities, a full-day strike will be observed on March 2. They have also warned of stricter actions if their demands remain unmet. Notably, 12 officers from the 25-cadre group were recently suspended for their social media posts.

The Bangladesh Air Force has refuted claims of an attack on its Cox’s Bazar base, labeling them as misinformation. The incident started when a local was taken inside for questioning over missing motorcycle documents, prompting a crowd confrontation. Miscreants threw stones, injuring several, including four Air Force personnel. Blank rounds were fired, but no live ammunition was used. The Air Force condemned false reports and confirmed that the base’s name remains “Cox’s Bazar Air Force Base.”

On Monday (February 24), the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB-2) arrested six members of the notorious ‘Kobji Kata’ (Wrist Cutter) Anwar gang from Mohammadpur, Dhaka. Among those arrested were key gang members Tunda Babu and Rafat. RAB’s media wing confirmed the arrests in the morning. The other four detainees are known associates of Tunda Babu and Rafat. RAB-2 will hold a press briefing at its Basila camp at 3 PM to provide further details, with Additional DIG Md. Khalidul Haque Howlader leading the discussion.

Kangana Ranaut has criticized Bollywood for distorting the traditional concept of marriage. In response to the film Mrs., where a woman sacrifices her dreams for her in-laws, Kangana objected to the portrayal of joint families and housewives being compared to paid workers. She emphasized that marriage is not only about personal attention but also about supporting the elderly and newborns. Kangana argued that marriage should be about fulfilling one’s duties, as per traditional values, and that Bollywood films have tarnished this concept.

According to Indian media outlet NDTV, a tragic accident occurred in Jabalpur district, Madhya Pradesh, on Monday when a jeep returning from the Prayagraj Maha Kumbh Mela collided with a bus. The crash resulted in six fatalities and left two others critically injured. The victims were residents of Karnataka. District Collector Deepak Saxena stated that the jeep driver lost control, hitting a road divider and a tree before veering onto the highway’s opposite lane, where it collided with an oncoming bus. All six passengers in the jeep died on the spot.

On Monday, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) issued a statement confirming an attack by assailants on an airbase in Cox’s Bazar. The ISPR reported that some individuals from the nearby Samiti Para carried out an unexpected attack on the Cox’s Bazar airbase. The Bangladesh Air Force is taking necessary action in response, but details on casualties or the motive behind the attack are still unclear.