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.

Following the tragic death of a domestic worker, Geneda Khatun (54), under a Raida Transport bus in Uttara, a seven-day ultimatum has been issued to ban Raida Transport from all routes in Dhaka. Protesters also demanded the death penalty for the driver, helper, and bus owners responsible for the incident. Family members and locals, numbering around 200, participated in a human chain, stating that Raida Transport buses have caused over 20 deaths to date. The victim’s daughter cried, demanding justice for her mother. The accident occurred on February 18 at Uttara 11 Chowrasta.

BNP has announced that it will stay active in the field during Ramadan in preparation for the national elections. Instead of holding rallies, party leaders and activists will engage in organizational and religious activities. BNP leader Amir Khasru stated that Sheikh Hasina’s downfall is the main election message. He mentioned that BNP leaders will host Iftar gatherings, with the central leadership breaking fast with orphans and Islamic scholars on the first day of Ramadan. On February 6, they will hold an Iftar event with diplomats, and Tarique Rahman will join virtually. BNP also plans to hold an extended meeting during Ramadan, while election candidates have already begun efforts to build trust among the public.

BNP leader Moin Khan stated that people want to see their aspirations reflected through voting in order to restore democracy. He compared this desire to the longing for independence before the Language Movement. Speaking at a BNP-organized event on Shaheed Day, he emphasized that the interim government now has the responsibility to restore democracy. He linked the Language Movement and the July uprising, calling for the establishment of a new Bangladesh.

Despite scoring a century in the Champions Trophy match against India in Dubai, Tawhid Hridoy took responsibility for the team's loss. He admitted that cramps hindered his ability to score runs in the final phase. The match started disastrously for Bangladesh, losing five wickets for just 35 runs in 9 overs. However, Hridoy and Zaker built a record 154-run partnership in 206 balls to stabilize the innings. Zaker scored 68 off 114 balls before being dismissed, after which the run rate slowed down. He commented that adding a few more runs at that stage could have made a difference. Hridoy stated that a total of 228 runs could have been enough had the team taken more early wickets.

Qader Gani Chowdhury, Member Secretary of the Bangladesh Combined Professional Council, stated that the essence of February 21 is to uphold rights and sovereignty without submission. He emphasized that for the past 17 years, voting rights, freedom of speech, and democracy were suppressed, undermining the spirit of February 21. He highlighted the importance of reclaiming people's ownership through democratic means following the recent student-led uprising against fascism. He further asserted that only elected representatives have the right to implement reforms and recognized February 21 as the first step toward independence.

The shortage of bottled soybean oil continues in the market, while lemon prices have surged. The price of soybean oil has increased by 5 BDT per liter, and the price of lemons has risen by 20-30 BDT per dozen. Tomato prices have increased from 30 BDT to 40 BDT, carrots from 40 BDT to 50 BDT, bitter gourd is selling at 80 BDT, long eggplants at 60 BDT, and small eggplants at 80 BDT per kg. Green chilies are being sold at 80 BDT per kg. Broiler chicken is priced at 190 BDT per kg, Sonali chicken at 370 BDT per kg, and local chicken at 580 BDT per kg. This information was gathered from the Khilkhet, Kawran Bazar, Shewrapara, and Agargaon markets on Friday morning.

A library built in memory of language movement hero Abdul Matin has fallen into disrepair and is now occupied by drug addicts. Local leader Hakim Member has been accused of embezzling more than 1,500 books and all the furniture from the library. A complaint has been filed with the police.

The use of Bangla in court verdicts has increased significantly, with over 50,000 rulings written in Bangla over the past 26 years. Notably, the recent verdict in the Sheikh Hasina assassination attempt case was delivered in Bangla. Since 2007, High Court civil, criminal, and writ case rulings have increasingly been written in the national language. A single judge has reportedly issued over 30,000 verdicts in Bangla.

Out of 253 educational institutions in Golapganj, Sylhet, only 42 have Shaheed Minars. The rest, 211 institutions, resort to makeshift tributes using banana trees or bamboo structures during International Mother Language Day. The existing monuments are often neglected. The upazila has 180 primary schools, but only 22 have Shaheed Minars. Among 59 secondary schools, four colleges, and one lower secondary school, only 20 have the memorial structures. No government-run madrasas in the area have Shaheed Minars. The education department cited a lack of funds for the issue.

A violent clash erupted between two BNP factions in Vijaynagar, Brahmanbaria, over placing floral tributes at the Shaheed Minar. The confrontation on Thursday night left two people injured, identified as Billal from Petuazuri village and Jibon Mia from Ichapur. The victims are receiving treatment at the Upazila Health Complex. Local police confirmed that a verbal dispute escalated into a knife fight, leading to the injuries.

The Bangladesh Border Guard (BGB) seized foreign liquor and beer smuggled from India at the Tahirpur border in Sunamganj. On Thursday, a BGB patrol team in the Lalghat area confiscated 237 bottles of foreign liquor and 42 bottles of beer worth BDT 366,000. Lieutenant Colonel AKM Zakaria Kadir, commander of the Sunamganj-28 unit, confirmed the seizure.

US President Donald Trump has issued a strong warning to India, Brazil, Russia, China, and South Africa over their BRICS alliance. He threatened to impose a 150% tariff if BRICS nations attempt to introduce a new currency to rival the US dollar. Accusing them of trying to "destroy the dollar," Trump emphasized that any country seeking to move away from the US currency must sever ties with America. No official response has been received from BRICS nations yet.