The Election Commission (EC) of Bangladesh has urged citizens not to believe or spread rumors circulating on social media about the postponement of the upcoming referendum and the 13th National Parliamentary Election. The call was made in a press release signed by EC Director of Public Relations Md. Ruhul Amin Mallik on Sunday.

According to the statement, some individuals have been spreading misinformation online claiming that the elections would be delayed. The EC clarified that the national election and referendum will be held as scheduled on February 12, 2026 (Thursday), in 299 parliamentary constituencies, excluding Sherpur-3. The commission reaffirmed that there has been no change to the official election timetable.

The EC requested the public to remain alert against any kind of propaganda or misinformation regarding the postponement of the election and referendum, emphasizing that such rumors are baseless and misleading.

The Education Rights Parliament has expressed deep concern over the government's move to swiftly approve the proposed Education Act 2026. In a statement signed by its convener, Professor Niaz Asadullah, the organization said that passing such a significant law during the interim government's limited tenure, without public engagement, stakeholder consultation, or national consensus, would be inappropriate.

The statement emphasized that the Education Act is a long-term, multidimensional law requiring participation from all relevant stakeholders, evidence-based analysis, and broad civic discussion. The group warned that approving the draft in the current context would undermine democratic deliberation and participation. It also pointed out definitional ambiguities, unclear governance structures, and a lack of implementation guidelines in the draft, which could lead to future administrative and policy complications.

The Education Rights Parliament proposed deferring the approval of the Education Act 2026 until a newly elected government takes office, allowing for inclusive participation and the creation of a stronger, sustainable, and widely accepted education law.

Lieutenant General (Retd.) Md. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, Adviser to the Ministry of Home and Agriculture, stated that there is no possibility of vote rigging in the upcoming national parliamentary election. He expressed confidence that the election would be credible, peaceful, and festive. He urged everyone to cooperate and report any irregularities immediately so that prompt action could be taken. He made these remarks on Sunday afternoon after a meeting on law and order regarding the national election and referendum at the Rangpur Divisional Commissioner’s office.

Responding to a question about whether a fair election is possible under the current law and order situation, the adviser said that necessary preparations have been made according to local needs. The meeting discussed related measures to ensure a peaceful and fair election. He reiterated his expectation of a free, fair, and credible election conducted in a festive atmosphere.

Senior officials from the Ministry of Home Affairs, Rangpur Division, police, district administration, armed forces, Rapid Action Battalion, Border Guard Bangladesh, and Ansar-VDP were present at the meeting.

The interim government of Bangladesh has formed a committee to review and recommend actions on the salary-related reports submitted by the National Pay Commission-2025, Bangladesh Judicial Service Pay Commission-2025, and Armed Forces Pay Committee-2025. The Cabinet Secretary has been appointed as the head of the committee, which includes senior secretaries from the ministries of Public Administration, Defence, Finance, Secondary and Higher Education, the Chief Adviser’s Office, Health Services, and Law and Justice, along with the Comptroller General of Accounts.

According to the report, the committee will examine the salary-related issues presented in the three commissions’ reports and prepare recommendations for the government’s next steps. The formation follows the submission of the National Pay Commission’s report to Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus on January 21, 2026, by commission head Zakir Ahmed Khan.

Earlier, on July 27, 2025, a 21-member pay commission was established to develop a new salary structure for government employees, with a six-month deadline to submit its recommendations.

A joint force operation in Ukhiya upazila of Cox’s Bazar detained 622 Rohingyas, including men, women, and children, for living illegally outside designated refugee camps. The operation, led by Cox’s Bazar Executive Magistrate Monju Bin Afnan, began early Sunday and covered areas such as Palongkhali, Thaingkhali, and Balukhali. Authorities also fined local landlords a total of 157,000 taka in 13 separate cases and sentenced three house owners to jail for renting homes to Rohingyas.

According to the upazila administration, the detainees included 211 men, 196 women, and 200 children who had been living in rented houses across Ukhiya. The arrested individuals will be processed through the Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner (RRRC). Officials said the operation aimed to maintain law and order ahead of the national election and prevent unauthorized settlement outside the camps.

Law enforcement agencies stated that such drives would continue regularly to ensure security and discipline in the area, as illegal Rohingya settlements had previously been linked to deteriorating law and order conditions.

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus has directed authorities to take firm measures against the forgery and misuse of skill development certificates to preserve Bangladesh’s reputation in the international labor market. He issued the directive on Sunday at the Governing Body meeting of the National Skills Development Authority (NSDA) held at his office in Tejgaon. This was the second meeting of the NSDA Governing Body since its establishment in 2018.

During the meeting, the Chief Adviser emphasized that NSDA provides a strong framework for developing skilled human resources based on national and international labor market demands. He warned that certificate fraud undermines the credibility of Bangladeshi workers and could erode employer trust. He highlighted the importance of a unified certification system across all training institutions to curb such malpractice and strengthen Bangladesh’s brand image abroad.

The meeting also reviewed progress on previous decisions and approved plans to establish an integrated skills ecosystem. This system aims to standardize training curricula across ministries, reduce public spending waste, and enhance the reliability of Bangladeshi skill certificates in global markets.

A recent survey in Poland found that most respondents favor banning social media use for children under 16. Conducted by SW Research for the newspaper Rzeczpospolita and reported by TVP World on February 8, 2026, the poll showed that 64.3 percent supported the restriction, while 21.9 percent opposed it and 13.8 percent had no opinion. The survey, held on February 3–4 among 800 internet users aged 18 and above, indicated that support for the ban increased with age.

Lower-income respondents and residents of medium-sized cities showed stronger support. Among those earning less than 3,000 zlotys (about 840 dollars) per month, 71.9 percent backed the ban. Lawmakers from Poland’s centrist Civic Coalition are drafting a bill to restrict social media use for children under 15. Former education minister Roman Giertych said the measure aims to protect children from algorithmic influence and addiction risks that could harm their mental health and education.

Poland’s consideration follows similar actions in other countries, including Australia’s ban on under-16 users and regulatory plans announced in France and Spain.

The Ministry of Education has initiated the preliminary process to bring 1,719 private schools and colleges under the Monthly Pay Order (MPO) scheme in the first phase. According to a press release issued on Sunday, February 8, 2026, by the Secondary and Higher Education Division, the ministry has already sent a letter to the Finance Division seeking approval for the inclusion of these institutions, which were evaluated through an automated software system.

The ministry stated that the selection was made based on policy criteria, regional balance, and grading standards. Before finalizing the list, submitted information will be verified through the databases of the Land Ministry, Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education, relevant education boards, and the National University, with field inspections if necessary. The entire MPO process is being conducted transparently through automated software, leaving no scope for personal contact or financial transactions.

Applicants were invited under the “Private Educational Institutions (Schools and Colleges) Staffing Structure and MPO Policy 2025,” which received 3,615 applications across various educational levels.

An intense Arctic cold wave has swept across the eastern United States, placing about 80 million people under weather alerts. According to ABC News, extreme cold warnings have been issued across most of the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions. The combination of frigid air and strong winds has driven wind chills far below freezing, with dangerous conditions reported from the Great Lakes to the Carolinas since early Saturday.

In coastal New England, snowfall has begun to ease, though an inverted trough caused heavy snow in some areas, with rates reaching up to 2.5 inches per hour. Temperatures across much of the Northeast have dropped into single digits, and wind chills are expected to remain below zero. Major cities such as New York, Boston, and Buffalo may experience wind chills near minus 10 degrees Fahrenheit, while parts of upstate New York and northern New England could see readings between minus 20 and minus 30 degrees Celsius.

The weather service indicated that conditions may gradually improve from Monday as winds weaken and temperatures begin to rise across the eastern region.

Brigadier (Retd.) Sakhawat Hossain, adviser to the Ministry of Shipping, said on Sunday that the ongoing protests at Chattogram Port cannot continue by holding 180 million people hostage. Speaking to reporters at the Secretariat, he described the protesters’ demands as trivial and confirmed that the government would now adopt a hardline stance. He also mentioned that several individuals involved had already been arrested.

The adviser alleged that some groups were attempting to create unrest ahead of the upcoming national election. He warned that if the election in Chattogram did not take place, questions could arise about the entire national election. Referring to the upcoming holy month of Ramadan, he noted that essential commodities such as lentils, oil, and chickpeas are imported through the port, and a few people were disrupting this vital supply chain.

On the issue of the port contract, Sakhawat Hossain said that DP World had sent a letter to the chief adviser requesting additional time for the signing process.

India and Malaysia have pledged to deepen cooperation in trade, security, and technology, with a particular focus on advancing their partnership in the semiconductor industry. During his first visit to Malaysia in more than ten years on February 8, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. The two leaders signed several agreements covering renewable energy, healthcare, and artificial intelligence.

Following the meeting, Modi stated that the partnership between the two countries would expand further in artificial intelligence, digital technology, semiconductors, health, and food security. Anwar Ibrahim said the discussions would make bilateral relations more strategic and robust. Official data show Malaysia ranks sixth globally in semiconductor exports, contributing about 25 percent of its GDP. India’s foreign ministry noted Malaysia’s 30–40 years of experience in the sector and expressed Indian companies’ interest in collaboration on research, production, and testing facilities.

Trade between the two nations remains significant, with India exporting goods worth $7.32 billion to Malaysia last year and importing $12.54 billion. Modi also highlighted the role of Malaysia’s 3 million people of Indian origin as a vital bridge in bilateral relations.

Former army chief General (Retd.) Iqbal Karim Bhuiyan testified before International Crimes Tribunal-1 on Sunday in a case against Ziaul Ahsan, alleging that after the 2009 BDR mutiny, resentment against India and the Awami League sharply increased within the Bangladesh Army. He stated that professional officers were sidelined while loyal ones were promoted, and the army was drawn into national projects, leading to corruption. According to his testimony, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina believed a corrupt army would be safer for her government.

Bhuiyan further said that during Hasina’s 1996–2001 tenure, she consolidated control over the state by abolishing the caretaker government system and amending the constitution. He claimed that her relative, Tarique Siddique, as security adviser, established influence over intelligence and security agencies including DGFI, NSI, RAB, NTMC, Ansar, and BGB, forming four operational circles that extended political and financial control. Bhuiyan also described internal conflicts over RAB’s extrajudicial activities and his attempts to discipline officers defying military rules.

The testimony portrays a period of deep institutional division and alleged politicization within the armed forces following the BDR massacre.

Bangladesh’s Ministry of Religious Affairs announced that visa applications for the 2026 Hajj season have opened from Sunday, February 8, and will continue until March 20. The ministry’s Hajj Wing Deputy Secretary Mohammad Sofiuzzaman Bhuiyan said the schedule follows Saudi Arabia’s Hajj and Umrah Ministry’s guidelines for this year’s visa issuance. Applicants must apply through Saudi Arabia’s digital platform ‘Nusuk Masar’ within the specified period.

According to the ministry, the earlier completion of visa procedures aims to ensure better organization and safety for pilgrims. Last year, many faced difficulties obtaining the mandatory Nusuk card due to late visa processing. This year, Saudi authorities have set a strict timeline to avoid such issues and make the pilgrimage process more orderly.

All registered Bangladeshi pilgrims, including expatriates, must undergo medical examinations at any government hospital, receive vaccinations from designated centers, and obtain a fitness certificate before applying. The ministry confirmed that no pilgrim will be allowed to travel without this certificate. Hajj flights are scheduled to begin on April 18, with the pilgrimage expected on May 26, subject to moon sighting.

Former army chief General (Retd.) Iqbal Karim Bhuiyan testified before International Crimes Tribunal-1 that the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI) detained and tortured Tarique Rahman during the 2007–2009 emergency period. His statement came in a case against Ziaul Ahsan over alleged crimes against humanity involving abduction and murder. Bhuiyan said DGFI became the main controlling authority of the country during that time, detaining ministers and political figures in secret cells for interrogation.

In his testimony, Bhuiyan described how the emergency period altered the culture within the armed forces, leading to a return to political involvement, a rise in dominance attitudes, and divisions between senior and junior officers. He also mentioned the emergence of a cash-driven culture and blind obedience to superiors’ orders.

The testimony further recalled the 2009 BDR mutiny, in which 57 military officers and 17 civilians were killed. Human Rights Watch reported that around 50 BDR members died under interrogation at Pilkhana. Later, a court sentenced 152 to death, 161 to life imprisonment, and 256 to various prison terms.

The Bangladesh interim government has requested assistance from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in investigating the killing of Shahid Sharif Osman Hadi, spokesman of Inquilab Mancha. According to a press release from the Chief Adviser’s Press Wing on Sunday, the Permanent Mission of Bangladesh in Geneva sent a note verbale to the OHCHR on February 6, following instructions from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The letter sought technical and institutional support from the UN human rights office for the investigation.

Hadi was critically injured in a shooting in Dhaka’s Bijoynagar area on December 12 and later died while receiving treatment in Singapore on December 18. The Geneva mission stated that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs would be informed once a response from the OHCHR is received.

The interim government reaffirmed its commitment to identifying those responsible and bringing them to justice, pledging to ensure maximum transparency and accountability in line with international human rights standards.