Chief Advisor Mohammad Yunus presented the Bangla Academy Literary Awards to seven distinguished writers at the Amar Ekushey Book Fair today. The event was presided over by Bangla Academy President Abul Kashem Fazlul Haque, with Cultural Advisor Mustafa Sarwar Farooki also in attendance. Initially, ten writers were listed, but following criticism, the awards for Abdul Hannan and Faruk Nawaz were canceled, while Selis Morshed declined the award. The final awardees were Masud Khan, Shubhashis Sinha, Salimullah Khan, G. H. Habib, Muhammad Shahjahan Mia, Rezaur Rahman, and Syed Jamil Ahmed.

A clash between two BNP factions resulted in the death of Md. Selim Bhuiyan (45), president of the Swechchhasebak Dal in Heshakhal Union. The violence erupted around 3 PM when a motorcade supporting former BNP MP Gafur Bhuiyan passed near a rally venue organized by Upazila BNP president Mobashwer Alam. Several people were injured, and one person was killed. Party activists claim that the deceased was a supporter of Gafur Bhuiyan.

Cultural advisor Mustafa Sarwar Farooki has dismissed the police’s statement—that the Bangla Academy should be allowed to review books before printing—as a personal opinion rather than an official government stance. He called the remark “ridiculous” and reiterated that the government believes in freedom of expression, even if he himself is criticized. Farooki mentioned that in the past government, there were complications in the award nomination process due to a fellow awardee being nominated. During the inauguration ceremony of the 36th National Poetry Festival, he announced that a reform committee would be formed to investigate corruption in the Bangla Academy and restructure it.

The Max Fun on Bay One concert, scheduled to take place on February 13 at Patenga, Chattogram, in celebration of Pohela Falgun and Valentine’s Day, has been postponed. Promotional campaigns announced that Habib Wahid would be performing at the event, and ticket sales had already begun. However, the organizing committee has not disclosed the reason for the sudden postponement. In a statement, they expressed regret and confirmed that the concert has been postponed and rescheduled.

Under the court’s directive, the bodies of three martyrs killed in the anti-discrimination student movement in Savar have been exhumed under the leadership of Executive Magistrate and Ashulia Assistant Commissioner Sadia Akhter. Ashraful Islam’s body was exhumed from the Pabnartek neighborhood cemetery in Ashulia, Jahidul Islam Sagar’s body from the Charalpara neighborhood cemetery, and another individual, Abul Hossain’s body, from a local cemetery in the Ambagan area of Ashulia.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has agreed to provide up to $1 billion in budget support to Bangladesh by June, subject to banking sector reforms, including reducing private bank directors and their tenure. ADB may also offer $300–$500 million for climate change initiatives if Bangladesh meets 16 conditions, such as implementing a national strategy and transport master plan. Other requirements include AI-based early warning systems for farmers and improved waste management. Economic Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed emphasized that Bangladesh will accept only low-interest loans.

Twenty bodies have been recovered from the Mediterranean coast near Brega, Libya, and buried in Ajdabiya. The Libyan Red Crescent suspects they are Bangladeshi migrants, but the Bangladesh Embassy has yet to confirm this. The bodies were in a decomposed state, and no identification documents were found. Local authorities believe a migrant boat capsized, causing the deaths. The Bangladesh Embassy is in close contact with Libyan officials and has arranged to send a team to investigate and take necessary actions.

The Amar Ekushey Book Fair 2025 was inaugurated by Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus at the Bangla Academy premises on February 1 at 4 PM. This year’s theme is “July Mass Uprising: Building a New Bangladesh.” The event began with the national anthem, followed by speeches from Abul Kasem Fazlul Haq, President of Bangla Academy, and Professor Mohammad Azam, Director General of Bangla Academy. Cultural Affairs Adviser Mostofa Sarwar Farooki also addressed the audience. The fair aims to celebrate literature and national history.

The Chief Advisor of the Interim Government, Muhammad Yunus, has instructed an urgent investigation into the death of Jubodol leader Mohammad Touhidur Rahman (40), who died while in police custody during a Comilla operation. His family claims he was tortured after his arrest on January 31. The army has removed the relevant camp commander, and a high-level committee has been set up to investigate the cause of death and hold those responsible accountable.

A new political party formed by students who led the July movement is set to launch soon. Nahid Islam, former information advisor to the interim government, is rumored to lead the party. Discussions are ongoing about other key positions. The party plans to announce its formation after a long march from Shaheed Abu Sayeed’s home to Shaheed Wasim’s in Chattogram. The party’s leadership structure is still being finalized, and applications for registration with the Election Commission are underway.

Ferry services on the Daulatdia-Paturia route resumed after nearly 11 hours of suspension due to dense fog. The fog, which started around midnight on Friday, reduced visibility, causing safety concerns and halting operations. As visibility improved around 10:45 AM on Saturday, ferry services resumed, with 15 ferries operating to transport vehicles and passengers. Priority is being given to emergency services, including ambulances and buses. The disruption caused significant delays, with vehicles waiting up to 2 kilometers on the highway.

U.S. President Donald Trump has temporarily suspended foreign aid programs as part of his “America First” policy. The suspension will last three months while aid projects are reviewed for alignment with U.S. policies. In 2023, Ukraine received the highest U.S. aid, totaling $16.62 billion. Israel, Ethiopia, and Egypt are also major recipients. The decision affects global health programs, including PEPFAR, and could lead to mass layoffs in aid-dependent sectors. Bangladesh, which received $550 million, will see job losses, but Rohingya aid remains unaffected.

BNP has drafted a proposal for the July Uprising declaration and is consulting allied parties for consensus before finalizing it. While BNP acknowledges the student movement’s efforts, differences exist in terminology and approach. BNP refers to the Liberation War as “Muktijuddho,” while students call it “Jonojuddho.” Students demand constitutional reforms before elections, whereas BNP prioritizes elections first. Both emphasize justice for past crimes but differ on scope. BNP plans to finalize the declaration after further discussions with allies.

Students of Government Titumir College blocked a major intersection in Dhaka, Gulshan-1, demanding their college be upgraded to a full-fledged university. They cite long-standing demands and a lack of response from authorities, including a hunger strike by students. The students presented a seven-point demand list, including state recognition, new departments, improved facilities, and qualified teachers. They vow to continue their protest until their demands are met.

The press wing of Bangladesh’s interim government has strongly condemned a report by Indian media outlet Anandabazar Online about a supposed military coup in Dhaka. The government labeled the report as false, fabricated, and part of an information warfare campaign aimed at influencing Bangladesh’s political landscape. It accused Indian media of using hybrid warfare tactics to support Sheikh Hasina’s government and undermine the people’s struggle for independence. The article was later removed by Anandabazar.