Actress and filmmaker Meher Afroz Shaon was detained by the Detective Branch (DB) from Dhanmondi on Thursday night. According to Additional Commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), Rezaul Karim Mallik, she was taken into custody on charges of conspiracy against the state and is being transported to the DB office for questioning. Shaon’s recent political stance and remarks had sparked widespread debate and criticism. In a dramatic turn of events, earlier in the evening, an enraged group of local students set fire to her ancestral home. Later that night, news of her arrest surfaced.

The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Traffic Division has filed 1,403 cases against traffic law violators in various areas of the capital. In a press release signed by the Deputy Police Commissioner of the DMP Media and Public Relations Division, it was revealed that during the operation, 122 vehicles were dumped, and 33 were towed. The ongoing crackdown on traffic violations will continue across Dhaka city, as stated in the release.

Forbes has released its 2025 list of the world’s most powerful countries, with the United States securing the top spot, followed by China and Russia. Israel, despite its smaller economy compared to other nations, has made it to the 10th position. The rankings are based on various factors, including economic, political, military strength, and international relations. Notably, India is absent from the top 10, while the United Kingdom, Germany, South Korea, France, Japan, and Saudi Arabia are included. The exclusion has sparked widespread discussions and debates across India, especially regarding the Modi government’s performance. The top 10 list includes: #1. United States #2. China #3. Russia #4. United Kingdom #5. Germany #6. South Korea #7. France #8. Japan #9. Saudi Arabia #10. Israel

The National Socialist Party (JASD) has strongly condemned the demolition of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s residence at 32 Dhanmondi. In a statement issued on February 6, the party expressed that the destruction on February 5 further revealed the actions of anti-independence and pro-Pakistani extremist forces. These forces, who took control of state power, are erasing the symbols and memories of the Liberation War as an act of revenge for their defeat. The statement emphasized that the destruction of buildings, sculptures, and murals related to the independence struggle and the Liberation War cannot erase the historical facts of the atrocities committed by Pakistani invaders, collaborators, and war criminals, including the genocide of 3 million people and the systematic sexual violence of over 200,000 women. The party also called for peace-loving citizens to raise their voices and foster national unity.

A woman in Natore died after ingesting poisonous gas tablets and allegedly giving the same to her three daughters due to persistent taunts from her husband and in-laws for having three daughters. The incident occurred late Wednesday night in Singra Upazila. The woman, Sharmin Begum (32), passed away before reaching the hospital, while her daughters, Jim (8), Mim (8), and Sinha (3), were hospitalized in critical condition. Police are investigating the incident and an unnatural death case has been filed.

A passenger bus in Jhenaidah caught fire due to a battery short circuit, but fortunately, no passengers were harmed. Firefighters controlled the blaze after an hour and a half of effort. Passenger Abul Kalam, who was on the bus, stated that the fire started while the bus was en route from Jhenaidah to Kushtia. As soon as the bus stopped, all passengers safely exited. The in-charge of the Shailkupa Fire Service reported that two fire units rushed to the scene immediately upon receiving the news, successfully extinguishing the fire after about an hour and a half of work.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump has revealed plans for Israel to transfer control of Gaza to the United States after the war. He stated that, by then, Palestinians will be relocated to safer, more beautiful areas, with modern homes in secure locations. Trump mentioned that he had previously discussed evacuating Gaza and is now sharing the full plan. Despite global protests, he remains steadfast in his approach. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has praised the plan, supporting the removal of Palestinians from Gaza.

The Ekushey Padak 2025 will be awarded to 14 distinguished individuals and the Bangladesh National Women’s Football Team for their contributions in various fields. The honorees include Azizur Rahman (Film, posthumous), Ustad Nirod Baran Barua and Ferdous Ara (Music), Nasir Ali Mamun (Photography), Rokeya Sultana (Fine Arts), Helal Hafiz (Poetry, posthumous), Shahidul Zahir (Literature, posthumous), Dr. Shahidul Alam (Culture & Education), Dr. Niaz Zaman (Education), Mehedi Hasan Khan (Science & Technology), Moeedul Hasan (Research), Mahfuz Ullah (Journalism, posthumous), Mahmudur Rahman (Journalism & Human Rights), and Mohammad Yusuf Chowdhury (Social Work, posthumous). The prestigious award recognizes outstanding contributions to arts, literature, journalism, education, and social service.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has launched an investigation into allegations that former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina spent hundreds of crores of public money on foreign trips and acquiring fraudulent doctorate degrees. At a press conference, the commission claimed that Hasina paid lobbyists to secure honorary doctorates from various institutions, including Tripura University (India), the Catholic University of Brussels (Belgium), and Visva-Bharati University (India). Reports suggest that these degrees were obtained either through hefty financial transactions or in exchange for agreements that compromised national interests.

Three young men lost their lives due to alcohol poisoning in Gafargaon, Mymensingh. Another individual, Masud (37), is critically ill and receiving treatment at Mymensingh Medical College Hospital. The deceased have been identified as Suman Mia (35), A. Jalil (42), and Nizam Uddin (38). The incident occurred on Wednesday night when Masud, a resident of Ibrahimpur, Dhaka, visited his cousin’s house with his friend Nizam. The group consumed locally brewed alcohol together, after which all four fell critically ill. One of them passed away at Gafargaon Upazila Hospital, while the remaining two were declared dead upon arrival at Mymensingh Medical College Hospital.

The interim government has condemned the vandalism at Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s residence in Dhanmondi 32, calling it an unfortunate and unwarranted incident. However, in a statement from the Chief Advisor’s press wing, the government attributed the public outrage to Sheikh Hasina’s provocative remarks from India against the July Uprising. The statement accused Sheikh Hasina of disrespecting the martyrs of the uprising and continuing her rhetoric of oppression, corruption, and violence. It also noted that her remarks have repeatedly wounded public sentiment regarding the July massacre. Furthermore, the government urged India not to allow its territory to be used for destabilizing Bangladesh and called for restrictions on Hasina’s public statements.

Foreign Affairs Advisor Md. Touhid Hossain stated that Bangladesh has lodged a formal protest with India over the activities of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, citing them as provocative. In response to a question, he confirmed that the Foreign Ministry had submitted a diplomatic note to the Indian High Commission in Dhaka but had yet to receive a reply. He described Hasina’s remarks as highly aggressive and offensive to the younger generation. Dhaka has urged New Delhi to restrain Hasina from making such statements, and officials are closely monitoring India’s response. Hossain also remarked that the controversial Adani deal was not in Bangladesh’s best interests and announced that the Prime Minister’s Chief Advisor would soon undertake an official visit to the UAE to discuss various bilateral issues, including visa policies.

A Dhaka Metropolitan Special Court has ordered the freezing of 28 bank accounts belonging to former Health Minister Zahid Maleque and his son, Rahr Maleque. The order came following a petition by Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Deputy Director Md. Fazlul Haque. Prosecutor Mahmud Hossain Jahangir argued that substantial financial transactions had been detected in the accused's accounts, with suspicions of attempts to transfer funds elsewhere. The court deemed it necessary to freeze the accounts to prevent any obstruction to the ongoing investigation.

Shahjalal Ahmed Jony, a student leader of the Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (BNP’s student wing), was injured while attempting to demolish the nameplate of Begum Fazilatunnesa Mujib Hall at Kazi Nazrul Islam University. Witnesses reported that tensions escalated after Hasina’s speech, prompting protesters to announce their intention to destroy murals commemorating the Mujib family. While attempting to damage the nameplate, Jony slipped off a ladder and was rushed to Mymensingh Medical College Hospital. He has since recovered. The university’s acting registrar confirmed that both the mural and the nameplate had been destroyed by the protesters.

"Hasina, you have picked a fight with the wrong generation," warned anti-discrimination student leader Hasnat Abdullah in a Facebook post directed at former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who is currently in exile in India. Following reports that Hasina would be addressing the banned student wing of her party via a virtual speech at 9 PM, student activists and online influencers called for mass protests and vandalism at Dhanmondi 32. National Citizen Committee member Sharif Osman Hadi and Inquilab Mancha convener Pinaki Bhattacharya also urged their followers to destroy Dhanmondi 32. Soon after, reports emerged of extensive vandalism at the location.