On the second day of ‘Devil Hunt’ operations, police in Tongi East and West arrested 19 more Awami League leaders and activists in connection with an attack on students at the residence of former minister A.K.M. Mozammel Haque. Tongi West police confirmed that eight suspects were apprehended overnight, while Tongi East police arrested 11 individuals from various locations. Authorities allege that all detainees were involved in the assault on students at the former minister’s home.

The ongoing trade war between the world’s two largest economies continues as China enforces retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods starting Monday. The U.S. had earlier imposed a 10% tariff on all Chinese imports, prompting China to respond with import duties on selected American products. China has recently imposed a 15% tariff on liquefied natural gas (LNG) and a 10% duty on other U.S. goods. In a related move, Chinese regulators have launched an antitrust investigation into Google and placed PVH Corp. on an “unreliable entity” list.

The U.S. Senate is considering a ban on the Chinese AI assistant ‘DeepSeek’ due to national security concerns. Senator Josh Hawley has introduced a bill that imposes severe penalties on businesses and government agencies using the chatbot. Violators could face a personal fine of up to $1 million and a 20-year prison sentence, while corporations could be fined up to $100 million. U.S. authorities claim that DeepSeek’s parent company shares user data with the Chinese government, prompting the move toward an outright ban.

Malaysia has deported 278 detainees, including 23 Bangladeshi nationals, after they completed their sentences for violating immigration and other laws. Following citizenship verification by their respective embassies, the deportees were sent back via air and land routes at their own expense. Malaysia’s immigration authorities confirmed that these individuals have been blacklisted to prevent their return to the country.

U.S. President Donald Trump has announced a 25% tariff on steel and aluminum imports. According to a Reuters report, the White House is set to make the official announcement on Monday. Trump stated that the U.S. would impose retaliatory tariffs on any country that levies tariffs on American goods, aiming to create trade balance. U.S. government data indicates that Canada is the country’s largest supplier of duty-free goods. The new tariffs are expected to hit Canada and Mexico the hardest.

Teachers recommended in the third phase of recruitment for government primary schools in Dhaka and Chattogram divisions have blocked roads in Shahbagh, bringing traffic to a standstill. They gathered in front of the National Museum on Monday afternoon, protesting the cancellation of their recruitment and demanding immediate appointments. The recommended teachers have labeled the cancellation order as discriminatory and deceptive. They are calling for an immediate reversal of the decision and the finalization of their recruitment.

The High Court has begun hearing the appeal and death reference for those convicted in the murder of BUET student Abrar Fahad. The hearing commenced on February 10 under a bench led by Justices A.K.M. Asaduzzaman and Syed Enayet Hossain. In 2021, a trial court sentenced 20 individuals to death and five others to life imprisonment for the 2019 killing of Abrar Fahad by Bangladesh Chhatra League members. Abrar was brutally beaten to death in his dormitory, and his body was discovered on a stairway corridor at 3 AM.

Journalist Mahmudur Rahman, editor of ‘Amar Desh,’ has been acquitted in the controversial case related to an alleged abduction plot against Sajeeb Wazed Joy, the son of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court overturned his seven-year prison sentence on Monday. Rahman’s lawyer, Tanvir Ahmed Al-Amin, confirmed the acquittal, and Rahman expressed satisfaction with the verdict, stating that he would not have received justice had the Awami League government remained in power.

Former State Minister for ICT, Zunaid Ahmed Palak, currently in remand for his alleged involvement in the murder of martyr Parvez Mia during the July uprising in Jatrabari, was seen smiling when asked about his condition in prison. As he was being taken back to the detention center in handcuffs, a bulletproof vest, and a helmet, Palak cryptically remarked, ‘Victory is achieved through love, not fear.’ His legal team confirmed that he has been granted a total of 60 days of remand across various cases, with 24 more days pending.

Hamas has dismissed former U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposal regarding Gaza’s ownership as ‘absurd.’ On February 9, Trump suggested that the United States should consider purchasing Gaza and treating it as a real estate investment. He also proposed transferring its administration to other Middle Eastern nations. In response, Hamas issued a statement asserting that Gaza is not a commodity to be bought or sold but an integral part of Palestinian land.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump has announced that billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk will assist in exposing corruption worth hundreds of billions of dollars within government agencies. In a televised interview on Sunday, Trump emphasized that American citizens demand an end to wasteful government spending, and Musk is playing a crucial role in this initiative. Trump revealed that in his second term, he has tasked Musk with leading a newly established 'Department of Government Efficiency' to identify and eliminate financial misconduct in public offices.

Under the interim government, Bangladesh has prioritized economic interests by strengthening trade ties with Pakistan, a stark contrast to the strained trade policies during the Hasina administration. Meanwhile, imports from India have significantly decreased, while exports to Pakistan have risen. However, Bangladesh still imports far more from both nations than it exports. From July to December, Bangladesh imported 12.47 million metric tons of goods from India, costing BDT 661.6 billion, while exports to India amounted to BDT 115.77 billion. In the same period, exports to Pakistan totaled BDT 4.75 billion, while imports stood at 1.08 million metric tons, costing BDT 53.56 billion.

The Public Administration Reform Commission has proposed reducing the number of ministers and secretaries while merging certain ministries. The recommendations include limiting the number of ministers to 23, with only two technocrats, and capping the number of state and deputy ministers at 12. Additionally, the commission suggests reducing the number of secretaries and equivalent officials from 80 to 60. The proposal also calls for appointing a chief secretary in ministries with multiple divisions. While experts acknowledge the potential benefits for governance efficiency, concerns remain about its practical implementation.

Bangladesh’s Foreign Adviser Touhid Hossain and India’s Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar will meet on the sidelines of the Indian Ocean Conference 2025, scheduled for February 16-17 in Oman. Dhaka is expected to convey a strong message urging India to refrain from any actions that could destabilize bilateral relations. The Bangladeshi delegation will also warn against using Sheikh Hasina’s political influence to create internal unrest. The meeting invitation was extended by India’s foreign ministry last month, following their last bilateral discussion in the United States.

The United Nations fact-finding mission is set to release a report on February 13, revealing evidence of serious human rights violations and atrocities committed during the July uprising. The report, to be presented in Geneva at a press conference, will highlight the involvement of top officials in the previous government. The UN had previously shared a draft of the report with the Bangladesh government for feedback. Spanning approximately 150 pages, the report is expected to call for further investigations into the incidents.