On February 9, a gas cylinder explosion in Madaripur left three family members critically injured. The victims, Jewel Hawlader, his wife Tania Begum, and their daughter Sohagi Akter, were burned when Tania attempted to light a stove. The explosion, believed to have been caused by a gas leak, resulted in severe injuries. Firefighters rescued the victims and transported them to the district hospital, with Tania later transferred to Dhaka’s burn unit due to her critical condition.

Chief Advisor Mohammad Yunus has directed authorities to swiftly bring those involved in bank looting under the law. During a meeting on ‘Bangladesh’s Economy: Recent Challenges and Future Strategies,’ he also emphasized increasing remittance flow and reopening visa services in countries where they are currently restricted. The central bank has identified 12 oligarchs involved in financial misconduct. Meanwhile, economic advisors claim macroeconomic stability is improving, and efforts are underway to recover laundered money.

U.S. President Donald Trump’s executive orders have faced multiple legal challenges. On Saturday, a U.S. court blocked restrictions on the Department of Government Efficiency, led by Elon Musk. Additionally, a federal judge temporarily halted Trump’s order to withhold hundreds of billions of dollars in federal grants and loans. The court also blocked an order revoking birthright citizenship and a decision to send 2,200 USAID employees on unpaid leave. Trump, however, clarified that Prince Harry would not be deported as part of the immigration crackdown.

Bangladesh’s border security forces detained 18 Indian nationals and took legal action against them, while 1,538 Myanmar citizens were apprehended and repatriated in January. Border security operations also led to the seizure of smuggled goods worth approximately 1.62 billion BDT, including gold, silver, diamonds, sarees, cosmetics, rifles, pistols, and ammunition. These details were provided by the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) on Sunday.

The Bangladesh Post Office has released a commemorative stamp worth 10 BDT, a 10 BDT special envelope, a 5 BDT data card, and a special postmark to commemorate the July popular uprising. The stamp, inaugurated by advisor Mohammad Yunus, highlights the spontaneous participation of women in the uprising. The role of women in the movement is depicted through images, cartoons, and graffiti, which served as a source of inspiration during the protests.

On February 9, Indian security forces killed 31 Maoists in Chhattisgarh, while two policemen lost their lives in the operation. According to an Al Jazeera report, this was the largest operation of the year. The police and paramilitary forces conducted the mission based on intelligence inputs. However, the Maoist rebels have not yet issued any statement. Maoist insurgents have been engaged in an armed struggle against the Indian government since 1967.

Russia has claimed that Ukraine lost 235 soldiers in a single day during clashes with Russian forces. In a statement on Sunday, the Russian Defense Ministry reported that over 140 Ukrainian soldiers were killed in the Battle Group East region, along with a tank and an armored combat aircraft. The ministry further stated that three Ukrainian mechanized, tank, and defense brigades suffered significant losses on other frontlines. Additionally, 95 Ukrainian soldiers and military equipment were lost in another region.

The court has imposed a travel ban on former Agriculture Minister and Awami League leader Abdur Razzaq, his wife Shirin Akhter Banu, and their son Redwan Shahnewaz Sujit. The ban has been issued due to allegations of extortion, tender manipulation, party position trading, nomination business, and various corrupt practices. Meanwhile, the court has also ordered the seizure of the tax records of former Health Minister Zahed Malek, his son Rahat Malek, Naimul Islam Khan, and his wife Nasima Khan, among six individuals. Cases have been filed against them with the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), leading to this court directive.

A court has imposed a travel ban on former Agriculture Minister and Awami League leader Abdur Razzaq, his wife Shirin Akhter Banu, and their son Redwan Shahnewaz Sujit over allegations of extortion, tender manipulation, political appointments, and various corrupt activities. In a related development, the court has ordered the seizure of tax records of former Health Minister Zahid Malek, his son Rahat Malek, and several associates, including Naeemul Islam Khan and his wife Nasima Khan. These individuals are currently facing corruption cases filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), prompting the court’s directives.

Former MP of Sirajganj-6 and Awami League leader Chayan Islam was arrested on the night of February 9 in a village in Sreepur, Gazipur. According to local sources, he had been in hiding in a fourth-floor apartment of a six-story building owned by Khairul Islam Milon. Acting on a tip-off from student activists protesting discrimination, police from Sreepur Police Station apprehended him and took him into custody. The police confirmed the arrest and stated they are investigating the allegations against him.

Dr. Md. Aminul Islam, Special Assistant Professor at the Ministry of Education, has warned that students are increasingly relying on ChatGPT for assignments instead of reading books. Speaking at an event marking International Education Day, he called this trend alarming, noting that students are now simply copying answers from AI-generated content. He further criticized ChatGPT’s role in higher education, stating that even PhD and MPhil research is being compromised. He attributed the rising number of unemployed graduates to this issue and emphasized the importance of technical education. He praised the recent decision to introduce a three-year honors program and a one-year diploma under the National University.

Fortune Barishal cricketers were set to celebrate their BPL championship win with fans at Bell's Park in Barishal on Sunday. However, the celebration was cut short as Tamim Iqbal and his team had to leave the stage within minutes due to security concerns. Frustrated fans vandalized the stage in response. In a video message, Tamim apologized, explaining that the team had planned to engage with fans and speak individually, but due to the overwhelming crowd of over 150,000 people, security personnel deemed the situation unsafe.

A minor dispute over dominance escalated into a violent confrontation between students of Dhaka City College and Dhanmondi Ideal College on February 5. The clash involved chasing, counter-chasing, and stone-pelting, eventually being brought under control by police intervention. However, tensions flared up again on February 9 when more than a hundred students from Ideal College stormed the Dhaka City College premises and removed the word ‘City’ from its nameplate, sparking another altercation. The incident reportedly stemmed from allegations that City College students had previously harassed and physically assaulted an Ideal College student.

Garment workers from Self Innovation Fashion Limited blocked the Dhaka-Mymensingh Highway in the Hariken area of Gazipur, demanding two months of unpaid wages. The protest, which began on Sunday, February 9, caused severe traffic congestion, affecting commuters and drivers. Industrial police and local administration officials rushed to the scene to negotiate with the protesters. The workers alleged that despite multiple appeals, the factory management failed to resolve the issue, leaving them with no choice but to take to the streets.

Mongla Customs House has issued sale orders for 27 out of 72 vehicles put up for auction at Mongla Port. Importers managed to secure the release of 45 vehicles through court rulings. On February 6, the customs authority finalized the sale orders for the remaining 27 vehicles, with the highest bid going to a USV Prado model at BDT 11.45 million. According to an assistant commissioner of Mongla Customs House, these 72 vehicles had been abandoned at the port for a long time as importers failed to clear them within the stipulated period.