The Uttarbangha Indigenous Forum held a press conference at the Chapainawabganj District Press Club on Saturday, demanding special security measures for indigenous and religious minority voters in the upcoming election. The organization presented a five-point demand, calling for effective steps to ensure safety and fair voting rights for these communities.

In a written statement, Forum General Secretary Provat Tudu said indigenous and minority groups across the country have long faced discrimination, fear, and violence, which intensify during elections. He noted that many are threatened or prevented from voting, describing such acts as violations of human rights and the constitution. Rajshahi city branch president Sumi Murmu urged the state, including the army, police, and law enforcement agencies, to take preventive measures against pre- and post-election violence and called on the Election Commission to act impartially and investigate intimidation complaints promptly.

Indigenous leaders reported that around 80,000 voters in three constituencies of Chapainawabganj feel insecure ahead of the polls and demanded increased patrols in indigenous areas.

Ata Sarkar’s essay, published on February 7, 2026, explores how Bangladeshi literary books often feature self-congratulatory notes or ‘certificates’ on their back covers. He observes that while a book’s front cover attracts readers through design and artistry, the back cover increasingly serves as a space for exaggerated praise of the author, sometimes written by the author themselves or by well-known figures. Sarkar questions why such certificates are needed when the book itself should serve as the writer’s true credential.

The piece highlights examples of authors who have written their own glowing endorsements or sought validation from prominent intellectuals, including foreign ones, to enhance their literary image. Sarkar criticizes this practice as a marketing strategy that prioritizes vanity over authenticity. He also notes that even lesser-known or rural writers imitate this trend, adding emotional or self-written certificates to their books.

The essay concludes by asserting that genuine literary merit should come from the author’s creative work, not from decorative or self-promotional back-cover statements.

Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus said that the country’s electoral culture has changed and that ensuring a perfect vote is now the biggest challenge. He made the remarks on Saturday night during a high-level meeting on election matters at the state guesthouse Jamuna, which he chaired. After the meeting, his Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam briefed reporters, saying the Chief Adviser expressed satisfaction with the overall election environment and noted nationwide enthusiasm and civility among participants.

Dr. Yunus stated that the upcoming election would be festive and memorable, with women participating joyfully. The Press Secretary added that the Chief Adviser tested body-worn cameras in five remote areas and that any issues would be reported through an Election Security App to the Election Commission and relevant offices. Around 900,000 law enforcement personnel will be deployed, including 108,000 armed forces members already in place. A 333 hotline is being launched for election-related matters.

Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumdar announced that permission for 10,000 election observers from the NGO “Pasha” had been revoked. Officials also assured that journalists face no security risks during the election.

The Election Commission (EC) of Bangladesh has completed the distribution of parliamentary election ballots to returning officers across 299 constituencies. The process concluded on Saturday, with the final district set to receive its ballots on Sunday morning. Returning officers have acknowledged receipt and are authorized to begin constituency-level distribution from Sunday, following official instructions from the EC. The ballots were printed after final symbols were allocated to candidates on January 21.

According to EC officials, this election marks the first time expatriate Bangladeshis can vote through postal ballots alongside government officials, prisoners, and election staff. Over 1.53 million voters registered through the postal voting app, and more than 309,000 have already cast their votes. The remaining 126.2 million voters will vote in person using printed ballots distributed to local election offices.

Field-level distribution to assistant returning officers will begin Sunday, and polling officials are scheduled to collect ballots and materials on February 11. Voting will take place nationwide on February 12 from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Multimedia journalists working in Dhaka held a protest rally on Saturday, February 7, in front of the National Museum, condemning an alleged assault by law enforcement officers on journalists. The demonstration was organized by the Multimedia Reporters Association and journalists based in Dhaka, following what participants described as a planned attack on media workers.

Speakers at the rally said that despite changes in police uniforms, their behavior toward journalists had not changed. They demanded that the police officers involved face justice and alleged that the assault took place in the presence of DC Masud, with his consent. The protesters claimed that police specifically targeted multimedia journalists and vowed to continue their protest programs until justice is served.

Leaders of the Multimedia Reporters Association, including President Fakhrul Islam and General Secretary Akhtaruzzaman, addressed the rally, expressing anger over repeated attacks on journalists covering incidents of violence against civilians.

Asif Mahmud, head of the National Citizens Party (NCP) election management committee, has criticized Tarique Rahman’s recent remarks to Reuters suggesting that Sheikh Hasina’s children could return to politics if the people desired. He made the comments on Saturday during a press conference at the NCP central office.

Mahmud argued that if the public had wanted Sheikh Hasina’s children to reenter politics, there would have been no need for an uprising or the loss of 2,400 lives. He said the people did not want the BAKSAL system in 1975 and claimed that bringing Sheikh Hasina back into politics was a mistake by Ziaur Rahman, a decision that cost both Zia and Khaleda Zia for decades. He accused some political leaders of being blinded by power and said Tarique Rahman was repeating the same mistake.

Mahmud also alleged that the BNP had taken an anti-people stance by opposing the July Charter and lacking any concept of proportional representation in its manifesto. He further accused the Election Commission of issuing show-cause notices to NCP candidates over minor issues.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) is facing a potential financial loss of over 3.6 trillion Bangladeshi taka after Pakistan decided to boycott its T20 World Cup match against India, according to a report by The Guardian. The match, scheduled for February 15, is crucial for the renewal of ICC’s broadcasting rights deal with Geo Star, valued at three billion US dollars over four years. If the match does not take place, the broadcaster may refuse to renew the contract, severely impacting ICC’s revenue structure, which depends heavily on media rights.

The current deal between ICC and Geo Star expires next year, and its renewal largely depends on the frequency of India-Pakistan encounters, which generate the highest viewership and revenue. Each India-Pakistan match reportedly brings ICC around 200 crore rupees, with total market revenue estimated at 500 million US dollars. Political tensions in South Asia have increased uncertainty, and Sri Lanka Cricket has urged Pakistan to reconsider its stance, though the Pakistan Cricket Board remains firm under government direction.

If the deal collapses, ICC’s income and member distributions, particularly to the Indian board, could decline sharply, threatening the organization’s financial stability.

Manchester United extended their unbeaten run in the Premier League to five matches with a 2-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur on February 7, 2026. Under manager Michael Carrick, the team has now won four consecutive league games. Bryan Mbeumo opened the scoring after Tottenham’s Cristian Romero was sent off in the 29th minute for a foul on Casemiro. Bruno Fernandes sealed the victory with a goal in the 81st minute.

United dominated from the start, creating several chances in the first half. Tottenham’s defense initially held firm, but Romero’s red card left them with ten men, and they struggled to recover. Mbeumo’s goal came from a set-piece move involving Kobbie Mainoo and Fernandes, while the captain’s late strike confirmed the result.

With this win, Manchester United moved four points ahead of fifth-placed Chelsea. Tottenham remain 14th in the table, having won only two of their last sixteen league matches.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is reconsidering its decision to boycott the T20 World Cup group-stage match against India, following a formal request from Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC). The match, scheduled for February 15 in Colombo, was initially boycotted by Pakistan in protest against the ICC’s decision to exclude Bangladesh from the tournament over security concerns. SLC appealed to Pakistan to withdraw the boycott, citing the long-standing friendship between the two nations and the severe financial losses Sri Lanka would face if the high-profile match did not take place.

According to reports from Indian media, PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi will discuss the matter with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif after returning to Pakistan. SLC President Shammi Silva personally contacted Naqvi, stressing that the India-Pakistan match is crucial for Sri Lanka’s tourism recovery and cricket revenues. The ICC could lose around USD 500 million if the match is canceled, while both cricket boards would face significant financial setbacks.

The PCB’s final decision will depend on consultations with the government, as the original boycott was approved at the cabinet level.

A group of armed robbers attacked the home of Khan Ashikuzzaman, a local correspondent for Amar Desh in Mongla upazila of Bagerhat, early Friday night. The assailants held the journalist and his wife hostage at gunpoint, looting cash, gold ornaments, important documents, and journalism equipment. The robbers also threatened to kill him if he continued his journalism work and used a chemical spray to render the couple unconscious before fleeing.

According to Ashikuzzaman, the incident occurred around 3 a.m. on February 6 when six to seven armed men broke into his tin-shed house in Sundarban Union. They took about 4,000 taka, one bhori of gold, national ID cards, a Green Television microphone boom, and a Vivo V-29 mobile phone. The couple was later rescued unconscious by neighbors and admitted to Mongla Upazila Health Complex.

Ashikuzzaman filed a written complaint with Mongla Police Station against unidentified robbers. Assistant Superintendent of Police Md. Refatul Islam said police visited the scene and legal action is underway.

Rail communication between Sylhet and the rest of Bangladesh resumed on Saturday evening after being suspended for about six and a half hours due to an engine failure on the Sylhet–Chattogram-bound Paharika Express at Magurchhara in Kamalganj upazila of Moulvibazar. The disruption began around 12:30 p.m. when the train’s engine broke down and ended at 6:30 p.m. after the disabled train was towed to Sreemangal station.

According to Kulaura station master Md. Ruman Ahmed, the breakdown caused severe schedule disruptions for four trains: the Dhaka-bound Parabat Express, Dhaka-bound Jayantika Express, Sylhet-bound Paharika Express, and Chattogram-bound Paharika Express. A replacement engine from the Jayantika Express was initially sent, but the coupling hook detached after being connected.

After the stranded Paharika Express was finally moved to Sreemangal station, normal rail operations between Sylhet and the rest of the country were restored, easing the travel disruption that had affected multiple routes for much of the day.

BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman announced that his party aims to enhance farmers’ financial well-being and create employment for the unemployed through agro-based industrialization. Speaking as the chief guest at an election rally on Saturday at Birampur Government College field in Dinajpur, he said BNP’s politics goes beyond raw agricultural production and focuses on ensuring fair prices for farmers. He pledged to establish processing centers, storage facilities, and export-oriented industries in the region to reduce waste and boost exports.

Rahman highlighted Dinajpur’s fertile soil and hardworking people, emphasizing the potential of its renowned Kataribhog rice and lychees in global markets. He criticized the previous government for neglecting farmers and increasing production costs without ensuring fair returns. He promised that a BNP government would prioritize agriculture and protect farmers’ rights.

He also mentioned plans for equitable water distribution under the Teesta Master Plan and long-term agricultural and environmental protection. Rahman urged unity to build a democratic, agriculture-friendly, and development-oriented Bangladesh ahead of the February 12 national election.

Police in Shibganj upazila of Chapainawabganj recovered a foreign-made pistol, two magazines, and two rounds of ammunition from a mango orchard. The operation took place on Friday night in the Kaliganj Khochpara area of Binodpur Union, owned by a local named Al Kesh. The recovery was confirmed on Saturday evening by Shibganj Police Station Officer-in-Charge Humayun Kabir.

According to the officer, the weapons were found inside a yellow and blue tissue shopping bag during a special police operation. He stated that the operation was part of heightened intelligence activities ahead of the upcoming election, as Shibganj is a border area. No one was arrested during the raid.

Police have initiated legal proceedings regarding the recovered firearms, and the matter remains under investigation.

A special team of the army-led joint forces arrested Mehedi Hasan, also known as Dipu, a close associate of top criminal Subrata Bain, from a house in North Badda, Dhaka, on Friday. Police reported that 11 sophisticated foreign firearms, 394 rounds of ammunition, eight magazines, 32 cartridges, a rifle, knives, walkie-talkies, and a laptop were recovered from a flat in Dipu’s three-storey house. The Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s Gulshan Zone Deputy Commissioner Rownakul Alam confirmed the arrest and said a court granted five days of remand under the Arms Act.

According to police, Dipu had been evading arrest since Subrata Bain’s capture in May 2025 during a joint forces operation in Kushtia. After Bain’s imprisonment, Dipu allegedly took control of the underworld network, extorting money in Badda, Bhatara, and Gulshan areas through threats and illegal arms trade. Police also linked him to two murders in 2025 and said he managed Bain’s weapons stockpile.

Police added that Dipu had been on the wanted list for years and frequently changed locations to avoid capture. Joint forces are now conducting operations to arrest his remaining associates.

Independent candidate and BNP dissident Taiful Islam Tipu has alleged that minority voters in the Natore-1 (Lalpur-Bagatipara) constituency are being threatened and intimidated ahead of the upcoming national election. Speaking at a press conference on Saturday at his campaign office in Walia, Lalpur, Tipu claimed that a group is deliberately trying to influence the election by scaring minority voters and discouraging them from going to polling centers.

He further alleged that his campaign activities have been repeatedly obstructed, citing a recent clash in Kachua area where 13 of his supporters were reportedly injured. Tipu accused his rivals of using firearms to create panic and claimed that one of his workers named Khalil was detained. Calling on the administration and Election Commission, he urged immediate legal action to ensure the safety of minority voters and prevent violence.

To ensure a free and fair election, Tipu presented six proposals, including arresting those threatening minority voters, recovering illegal weapons, setting up law enforcement camps in risky areas, and stopping arbitrary arrests of innocent people and political activists.