February 15 marked the 6th death anniversary of renowned poet Al Mahmud, famous for his work "Sonali Kabin." The Al Mahmud Research Center and Memorial Council in Brahmanbaria organized a three-day commemorative festival. The event was held at Niaz Muhammad High School field, inaugurated by former mayor Hafizur Rahman Molla Kochi. The program commenced with a visit to the poet’s grave and prayers. Poets, literary figures, locals, and organizers participated in the event.

After the Reform Commission's final arrangements, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has urged the interim government to promptly prepare for elections. Central Nayeb-e-Ameer Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher stated, "Today, we held discussions with the Chief Adviser and Commission members on achieving a consensus. We welcome this initiative. A detailed report will be reviewed, and after further meetings with their team, we will announce our final decision. Elections will take place swiftly following the necessary reforms."

In response to the government’s strict enforcement of metered fares, CNG auto-rickshaw drivers went on strike in the capital, gathering in front of Residential Model College. The strike has worsened the transportation crisis, causing significant inconvenience to commuters. The drivers are demanding the withdrawal of penalties for overcharging passengers, the removal of pro-Hasina elements from the BRTA, and the fulfillment of their previous 13-point demand.

At least 18 people, including 11 women and 4 children, were killed in a stampede at Delhi Railway Station due to overwhelming crowds. Many others sustained injuries. According to an NDTV report on February 16, the situation spiraled out of control on two platforms as Kumbh Mela pilgrims overcrowded the station. Indian Railways has launched an investigation into the incident. Compensation of 1 million rupees for the deceased, 250,000 rupees for the injured, and 100,000 rupees for minor injuries has been announced.

The United Nations recently exposed the brutality of dictator Sheikh Hasina against students and citizens during the July uprising. As a result, Hasina's political career has come to an end, said Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam. In a Facebook post, he wrote, "When the Chief Adviser called for a UN investigation at the end of August, many feared it would backfire. However, due to his steadfast decision, the world has now witnessed Hasina's true nature." The press secretary described this as a testament to the Chief Adviser’s political foresight.

In an interview with Anadolu, veteran Malaysian leader Mahathir Mohamad harshly criticized U.S. and EU support for Israel. "America and Europe, aiming to be great again, have backed Israel's genocide. This is nothing short of barbaric behavior," he stated. Earlier, in a post on X (formerly Twitter), he remarked that ignoring all moral values associated with modern civilization disqualifies nations from claiming to be civilized. Recent Israeli attacks in Gaza have resulted in 48,000 deaths, including a significant number of women and children.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in Israel on Saturday night, marking his first visit to the Middle East, AFP reported. After landing at Ben Gurion Airport, Rubio is set to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The meeting will address the controversial Gaza occupation policy under the Trump administration. Prior to this, Rubio attended the Munich Security Conference. Meanwhile, Netanyahu had earlier met with Trump, expressing gratitude for U.S. support and endorsing the plan for Gaza's occupation.

Nasiruddin Patwari, convener of the Citizen Committee, informed journalists after attending a meeting of the National Consensus Commission that they have officially launched the fight for drafting a new constitution and holding Constituent Assembly elections. He mentioned that public opinion surveys are ongoing and a new political party will be announced this month. "In today's (Saturday) meeting, we stated that our party's political agenda will be the fight for a new constitution. We have freed Bangladesh from fascism, and we are beginning the battle for the Constituent Assembly elections to ensure that no new form of fascism takes hold in the country," he stated.

Hasnat Abdullah, convener of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, announced that they have formally proposed canceling the registration of the Awami League as the first step toward banning the party. He stated that this would render the party politically dysfunctional, aligning with the public mandate of August 5, which is expected to be institutionalized. Speaking to journalists after a meeting of the National Consensus Commission, he said that all anti-fascist parties have reached the conclusion that the Awami League has become politically irrelevant. He urged the government to take legal steps to officially ban the party.

Deputy Commissioners (DCs) have proposed the mandatory use of body cameras for police officers during protest control and have suggested banning the use of lethal weapons. Over 300 proposals are set to be discussed at the three-day DC conference. Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus inaugurated the conference today at the Shapla Hall of his office. The Cabinet Secretary noted that the implementation rate of last year’s decisions was lower than in previous years. He explained that the current government does not prioritize extravagant projects under individual names, unlike the previous administration. Reports indicate that out of 381 decisions made last year, only 177 have been implemented.

As the U.S. tightens its immigration policies, another batch of 119 Indian nationals is being deported, following the return of 104 individuals earlier this month. The latest deportation flight is set to land in Amritsar, Punjab, tonight—just like the previous one. This has sparked outrage from Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, who accused the central government of treating illegal immigration as solely Punjab’s problem. He called it a national issue and criticized the decision to land deportation flights only in Punjab. Mann demanded that future flights land in Delhi or Ahmedabad to ensure Punjab’s dignity is upheld.

A new political party, led by young activists and students who spearheaded the recent mass uprising, is set to launch this month. In an interview, Advisor Nahid Islam stated that if he joins the party, he will first resign from the government. He added that the current administration has some stability, but forming a political party is now more urgent. He is considering the move and will make a final decision soon. Since the new party is launching this month, the nation can expect an official announcement shortly.

Despite significant progress, China’s Teesta Mega Project has not been implemented, and former state minister Asadul Habib Dulu blames India for the obstruction. He claimed, “Sheikh Hasina did not implement the project due to India’s objections. Our country, our land—but if it rains in Delhi, Hasina holds an umbrella in Bangladesh!” He also questioned whether India, which provides political shelter to Hasina, can truly be considered a friend of Bangladesh. Dulu argued that if the Teesta project were implemented, it would transform Rangpur into the most prosperous region in the country. “Hasina chose power over securing Teesta’s water for Bangladesh!” he remarked.

Following a dialogue between the National Consensus Commission and political parties on Saturday, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir expressed optimism about reaching a swift consensus on political reforms. “We expect a national election to be held soon,” he stated. He also mentioned that Nobel Laureate Dr. Muhammad Yunus has urged all parties to discuss the reform reports submitted by various commissions. According to him, the initial discussions have begun, and political parties have started presenting their views on the proposed reforms.

Pakistan’s military media wing reported that two separate operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa resulted in the deaths of 15 militants and four soldiers. According to Geo News, a counter-terrorism intelligence-based operation in the Hathala area of Dera Ismail Khan district led to the killing of nine militants. Meanwhile, six more militants were neutralized in another operation in Miranshah, North Waziristan. Since the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan, violence has escalated in Pakistan’s border provinces of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. In January alone, 91 people were killed, including 35 security personnel, 20 civilians, and 36 militants.