UAE’s Minister of Health, Abdul Rahman bin Mohammed Al Owais, met with Professor Muhammad Yunus on the sidelines of the World Government Summit in Dubai on Thursday. Thanking Dr. Yunus for his participation, the minister said, "Your presence has inspired the summit." He further remarked, "We learn from people like you." Al Owais also congratulated Dr. Yunus for his leadership in Bangladesh during this critical time. In response, Dr. Yunus expressed gratitude to the UAE for providing shelter to one million Bangladeshi expatriates.

Parbatipur Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Fatema Khatun faced strong protests from local activists of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement and the Citizen Committee over allegations of corruption and irregularities. Following a human chain demonstration at the local Shaheed Minar, protesters marched to the UNO office, chanting slogans of "Fake, Fake," and demanded her removal. Under intense pressure, the UNO eventually left her office. Protesters claimed that despite receiving three transfer orders, she remained in Parbatipur due to "invisible influences." She was given a two-hour ultimatum to leave the upazila, but she insisted that she could not leave without an official release order.

The Anti-Discrimination Student Movement has demanded a ban on all organizational activities of the Awami League and the swift trial of those responsible for the July coup massacre. In a statement, they condemned the attack on students in Gazipur by Awami League-backed terrorists, which led to the death of their member Abul Kashem Khan while undergoing treatment at DMCH. They also urged the interim government to take firm action against ongoing assassinations and violence, holding Awami League accountable for its crimes.

The U.S. Senate website announced on Wednesday that Paul Kapoor, an Indian-American diplomat, has been nominated for the position of Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs. The nomination, made by the Trump administration, is pending Senate approval. If confirmed, Kapoor will oversee U.S. relations with countries in South and Central Asia. He is widely recognized as an expert on India and Pakistan and has previously served as a faculty member at the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School. Additionally, he has worked as a visiting professor at Stanford University’s Hoover Institution.

After previously refusing to release Israeli hostages due to allegations that Israel was not honoring the ceasefire agreement, Hamas has now changed its stance. According to a report by The Times of Israel, the Palestinian resistance group has announced plans to release three Israeli hostages on Saturday. This decision came a day after a Hamas delegation, led by senior official Khalil al-Hayya, arrived in Cairo for negotiations with mediators. Hamas stated that Egyptian and Qatari mediators have assured them of efforts to remove obstacles hindering the flow of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip.

Golam Rabbani Roni, the Joint General Secretary of Singra Municipal Chhatra League in Natore, was arrested during Operation Devil Hunt. A case was filed in September last year regarding an attack on BNP leaders during the 2018 national elections. He has been accused of involvement in the assault on BNP leaders and activists. Rabbani, who holds key positions in both Singra Chhatra League and Upazila Swechchhasebak League, has been sent to court.

Bangladesh has submitted all necessary documents under the prisoner exchange agreement in a diplomatic note to India regarding the return of ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Rafiqul Alam confirmed this on Thursday, adding that India has yet to respond. When asked whether Bangladesh would share the recently published UN fact-finding report with India, he clarified that the report was prepared for Bangladesh and is publicly available. The government’s efforts to bring back Sheikh Hasina remain ongoing.

Jamaat-e-Islami has submitted 23 written proposals to the Election Commission, emphasizing that a fair election is impossible without key reforms. Following a meeting with the EC in Agargaon, Secretary General Mia Golam Parwar stated that electoral processes and related state institutions must be reformed to ensure free and impartial elections. He clarified that while full state reform is the elected government’s responsibility, an interim government should implement the necessary changes for elections. Jamaat-e-Islami is ready to allow reasonable time for these reforms.

The government has issued a gazette renaming 13 public universities that previously carried the names of Sheikh Hasina and her family members. The decision follows her departure from the country amid a mass uprising. The ordinance, signed by the Law Ministry, cites the need to avoid confusion caused by similar university names. The renamed institutions include universities in Netrokona, Kishoreganj, Naogaon, Meherpur, and other districts. The President enacted the changes under constitutional authority, as parliament is currently dissolved.

A shipment of 52,500 tons of wheat from Argentina has arrived at Chattogram port via the MV Indido Omega vessel. The Ministry of Food confirmed the arrival in a press release on Thursday, stating that the wheat was imported through an open tender process. Sample testing of the wheat will be conducted before the unloading process begins. Earlier, on February 5, Bangladesh had received another shipment of 50,200 metric tons of wheat.

The Dhaka Bar Association has formally requested the Chief Justice to take legal action against Cyber Tribunal Judge Nure Alam, citing misconduct. The complaint accuses the judge of rude behavior, intimidation, and making unjust remarks during hearings. The Bar Association also claims the judge ignored a proposal to discuss the matter with the Bar Council. When questioned, the judge allegedly responded, “Am I employed by the Dhaka Bar Council?” The Bar Association has urged the Chief Justice to take appropriate action.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) has called on Bangladesh’s interim government to ensure security forces operate impartially and uphold the rule of law in curbing violence. Referring to recent mass arrests, HRW warned against repeating past mistakes. The statement also highlighted the importance of political and economic reforms, stressing that justice and accountability are essential for national reconciliation. The organization also condemned the recent attacks on protesting students in Gazipur and acts of vandalism across the country, emphasizing that peaceful protest is a fundamental right.

During the high-level “AI Action Summit” held in Paris, world leaders discussed the future of artificial intelligence (AI), policy frameworks, and ethical use. French President Emmanuel Macron emphasized Europe’s commitment to AI development while ensuring environmental sustainability. While 60 countries, including India, signed the AI governance declaration, both the United States and the United Kingdom refused to sign, raising questions about their stance on AI regulations.

Content creator Nuruzzaman Kafi has filed a case over an arson attack on his home. The case was lodged at Kalapara Police Station on Wednesday at 11:30 PM against unidentified individuals. According to Kafi, the attack was retaliation for his active role in exposing alleged government abuses. The police have launched an investigation. Prior to the incident, attackers locked the outer door of Kafi’s father’s house and set it on fire, but residents managed to escape before the flames spread.

Despite the tradition of warm-up matches before major tournaments, there will be none before this year’s ICC Champions Trophy. As a result, teams are engaging in bilateral and tri-series matches for preparation. Bangladesh, which has not played a single ODI this year, will face Pakistan in a warm-up match between February 14-17 to compensate for the lack of practice. Meanwhile, Pakistan has scheduled two additional warm-up games against Afghanistan and South Africa.