Independent candidate S M Mamunur Rashid Mamun has withdrawn from the electoral race in Nilphamari-4 (Kishoreganj-Saidpur) constituency to support the BNP nominee Abdul Gafur Sarkar. The announcement was made on Friday night at the Saidpur political district BNP office, where Mamun expressed solidarity with the BNP candidate. Party leaders and activists celebrated the decision by distributing sweets.

Mamun, who had initially sought BNP’s nomination but contested independently after not receiving it, said he decided to step aside for the party’s greater interest. He clarified that no one had pressured or enticed him to withdraw. Abdul Gafur Sarkar, the BNP’s district president and candidate, welcomed the decision, describing Mamun as a loyal BNP supporter who had corrected his earlier mistake.

The joining event was attended by several BNP leaders, including district general secretary Shahin Akhtar and former MP Shawkat Chowdhury. Nine candidates, including those from Jamaat-e-Islami and Jatiya Party, are contesting in the Nilphamari-4 seat.

Thousands of women took to the streets in Borhanuddin upazila of Bhola on Friday, seeking votes for Mufti Maulana Fazlul Karim, the Jamaat-e-Islami and United Bangladesh Alliance candidate for the Bhola-2 (Borhanuddin-Daulatkhan) parliamentary seat. The rally followed a women’s gathering organized by the upazila unit of Jamaat-e-Islami at the local government high school field.

Fazlul Karim, speaking as the chief guest, pledged strong action against any harassment or violence toward women and promised that women would enjoy maximum security, dignity, and freedom if Jamaat came to power. Central LDP leader Mokfar Uddin Chowdhury, as special guest, criticized political mismanagement and called for peaceful coexistence, saying threats could not suppress the public. Other speakers, including district and upazila Jamaat leaders, urged women to play a more active role in religious and social activities.

Borhanuddin upazila women’s leader Laizu Begum also addressed the event, emphasizing women’s rights, moral education, and their responsibilities in building society. Female activists and supporters from various areas of the municipality and upazila attended the gathering.

The White House is planning to hold the first meeting of the Gaza Peace Board on February 19, according to a report by U.S. media outlet Axios. The meeting aims to raise funds for Gaza’s reconstruction. The report noted that the plan remains in its early stages and could change. The White House and the U.S. State Department have not yet responded to questions regarding the meeting.

Earlier, the Trump administration announced the founding members of the Gaza Peace Board, including former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. A White House statement said that Donald Trump will serve as chairman, with his Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner as founding executive members.

The board will temporarily oversee Gaza’s administration and manage its reconstruction efforts. Other executive members include private financier Mark Rowan, World Bank President Ajay Banga, and U.S. National Security Adviser Robert Gabriel. The White House stated that each member will play a key role in stabilizing Gaza and ensuring its long-term success.

Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman declared that Bangladesh will not be divided again on religious grounds, emphasizing merit-based opportunities for all. Speaking at an election rally in Habiganj on Saturday morning, he said the region’s tea gardens would be modernized and that people of all faiths—Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, and Christian—should live together peacefully and practice their religions freely.

Dr. Rahman stated that politics is a duty, not a profession, and condemned extortion and corruption, promising to end such practices permanently. He criticized past leadership for failing to improve citizens’ lives and pledged that if elected, his party would present annual income and expenditure reports to the public. He also demanded apologies from those who disrespected women.

The Jamaat leader further announced that if his party comes to power, its members of parliament would not accept tax-free cars or subsidized flats, opting instead to pay full prices. He attributed the country’s current problems of terrorism and corruption to previous rulers and called for an equitable society free from dishonest politics.

A child named Huzaifa, who was critically injured by gunfire from the Arakan Army along the Teknaf border, has died while undergoing treatment. His mother, Sabekunnahar, confirmed the death, which occurred at 9:50 a.m. on February 7, 2026, at the National Institute of Neurosciences and Hospital in Dhaka.

Huzaifa was wounded on January 11 when bullets fired from Myanmar’s Rakhine State struck him in the Teccibridge border area of Hwaikyang Union, Teknaf. Locals rescued him and first took him to the MSF hospital in Kutupalong, Ukhiya, before he was referred to Chittagong Medical College Hospital. Following a medical board decision, he was transferred on January 13 to the National Institute of Neurosciences in Dhaka with assistance from the Border Guard Bangladesh and hospital authorities.

The child’s death has cast a shadow of grief across the local community, with mourning continuing in his family and neighborhood.

The United States has accused China of secretly conducting a nuclear test in 2020, revealing the allegation at a global disarmament conference in Geneva. Washington urged the creation of a new and broader arms control agreement involving both China and Russia. The claim came a day after the expiration of the New START treaty, the last active nuclear arms control pact between the US and Russia. US Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security Thomas DiNanno said the test, allegedly conducted on June 22, 2020, had an explosive yield equivalent to hundreds of tons of TNT and was concealed by the Chinese military using seismic masking techniques.

An official from the international nuclear test monitoring organization countered that no event consistent with a nuclear explosion was detected on that date, noting their system can identify blasts of 500 tons of TNT or greater. The Chinese embassy in Washington rejected the accusation, reaffirming China’s commitment to its “no first use” policy and its moratorium on nuclear testing. Beijing called on all parties, including the US, to uphold test-ban commitments.

Analysts warned that the end of the New START treaty and renewed nuclear tensions could destabilize global power balances, underscoring the need for constructive arms control dialogue.

The article discusses the recently revealed Epstein Files, described as a mirror reflecting the moral and ethical decay of modern civilization. Based on court records, investigative documents, and official files, the report shows how powerful figures maintained close ties with a man repeatedly accused of serious crimes. It questions how a system emerged where the voices of children and young victims were silenced while the names of the powerful remained protected.

The piece argues that the files reveal the hypocrisy of global power structures, where those who publicly advocate for human rights privately sustain exploitative networks. It highlights how state mechanisms often shield offenders, slowing investigations and weakening charges, leaving victims exhausted and disillusioned. The files also expose the narrowness of accountability in international politics, where laws are harsh for the weak but lenient for the powerful.

Despite the revelations, the article notes that real change remains elusive, with only statements and denials surfacing. It concludes that the Epstein Files uncover the duplicity of the global order, warning that if power remains beyond question, injustice will persist.

All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) president Asaduddin Owaisi has sharply criticized Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma for his alleged anti-Muslim remarks. Speaking at a public rally in Nizamabad on Friday, Owaisi accused Sarma of discriminating against 'Miya Muslims' and violating the Indian Constitution’s guarantee of equal rights for all citizens. Owaisi mocked Sarma’s earlier comments about giving lower fares to Muslim auto drivers, saying he would personally offer the chief minister two rupees, questioning whether he would accept it.

Earlier, Sarma had referred to undocumented immigrants as 'Miya Muslims' and suggested they should vote in Bangladesh rather than Assam. He also said efforts should be made to pressure them to leave the state, adding that his administration was openly opposed to them. The term 'Miya' is widely regarded as a derogatory label used in Assam for Bengali-speaking Muslims, implying they are of Bangladeshi origin.

The exchange highlights ongoing political and communal tensions in Assam over identity, migration, and citizenship issues.

In the upcoming parliamentary election for Dhaka-19 (Savar-Ashulia), BNP-nominated candidate Dr. Dewan Mohammad Salauddin Babu is conducting an energetic campaign and receiving strong voter response. Meanwhile, NCP candidate Dilshana Parul, backed by Jamaat-e-Islami and an 11-party alliance, is depending on Jamaat’s vote bank but has yet to mobilize a large portion of its activists on the ground. Field reports indicate that among eight contestants, the BNP candidate and former MP Babu currently enjoys a lead in public support.

Dr. Babu has pledged a 100-day priority plan focusing on eliminating drugs, extortion, and illegal occupation of footpaths, along with traffic control measures. He is contesting for the fifth time under BNP’s “sheaf of paddy” symbol. Dilshana Parul, a former Jahangirnagar University student leader, entered the race after Jamaat withdrew its own candidate but faces hesitation among long-time Jamaat workers due to the new election symbol.

Election officials said 38 of the 275 polling centers have been marked as risky, with additional security and CCTV already deployed. The constituency has 747,070 registered voters.

Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman declared that politics is not a profession but a duty, pledging to end extortion and corruption in Bangladesh. Speaking at an election rally in Habiganj on Saturday at 11 a.m., he criticized dishonest leadership for failing to improve people's lives and promised annual public disclosure of income and expenditure if elected. He demanded that those who insulted women apologize to the nation’s 180 million citizens.

Rahman blamed former ruling powers for spreading terrorism and corruption, saying that dishonest politics has perpetuated inequality despite sacrifices for a just society. He pledged to modernize Habiganj’s tea gardens and to prevent religious divisions, emphasizing merit-based opportunities for all citizens.

He further stated that if his party comes to power, its members of parliament would not accept tax-free cars or subsidized flats, opting instead to pay full price or use simpler means of transport if necessary.

BNP central vice chairman and Noakhali-4 candidate Md. Shahjahan announced that if the party wins the 13th national parliamentary election and forms the government, Noakhali Sadar and Subarnachar will be made free from drugs, terrorism, and extortion. He made the remarks on Friday evening at an election rally held at Adarsha High School field in Kadir Hanif Union under Noakhali Sadar upazila. Shahjahan urged voters in Noakhali-4 and across the country to support the BNP’s paddy sheaf symbol in the February 12 election.

The rally was presided over by Abdul Motaleb Apple and conducted by Mostafizur Rahman Palash, with the presence of BNP leaders including Barrister A.S.M. Sayem, Mahbub Alamgir Alo, and Md. Harunur Rashid Azad. Shahjahan, a former three-term MP, promised to prioritize infrastructure development, modern drainage systems, educational improvements, and upgraded healthcare facilities if elected.

He emphasized BNP’s commitment to civility, tolerance, and non-retaliatory politics, describing the party as popular among people of all professions and calling for prayers for the Zia family and himself.

Professors Mohammad Abdur Rab and Muhammad Mohiuddin Sarkar argue that Bangladesh’s economy, despite its potential, remains constrained by corruption, debt, and policy short-sightedness. They emphasize that remittances and the ready-made garment sector currently drive the economy, but structural weaknesses such as rising non-performing loans, foreign debt, and low tax-to-GDP ratios threaten long-term stability. The authors call for redefining economic strategies after the July revolution, focusing on sustainable development rather than GDP illusions.

They identify corruption as the root of most crises, noting its deterrent effect on foreign investment and its role in capital flight. The article highlights the need for governance reforms, transparency, and accountability in public spending. It also warns that unplanned foreign borrowing and export dependency could destabilize the economy as Bangladesh transitions from LDC status.

The authors propose an “economy of justice,” where fairness, honesty, and balanced resource distribution guide all policies. They urge reforms in taxation, banking, and trade diversification to ensure inclusive growth and long-term economic resilience.

Bangladeshi writer Maskawath Ahsan, in a column published on February 7, 2026, argues that Indian media’s repeated questioning of Bangladesh’s secularism is hypocritical given India’s own religious politics. He cites examples of Indian outlets such as The Week and Al Jazeera journalists asking whether Bangladesh might become a religious state if certain political alliances come to power. The article also mentions Indian politician Harsh Vardhan Shringla’s claim that an NCP–Jamaat victory would indicate an unfair election.

Ahsan contrasts these concerns with India’s internal developments under the Hindu nationalist BJP government, including the revocation of Kashmir’s autonomy, anti-Muslim violence, and the construction of the Ram temple on the Babri Mosque site. He accuses Indian media and film industries of promoting Islamophobia through propaganda and selective narratives.

The author concludes that Bangladesh should focus on building an inclusive, humane state rooted in harmony among all religious and ethnic groups, while maintaining cultural sovereignty and resisting sectarian influence from India’s Hindutva politics.

Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) seized a truck loaded with a large quantity of Indian cosmetics and medicines worth around Tk 20 million in Madhabpur, Habiganj. The operation was conducted early Friday by the 55 Habiganj Battalion following a tip-off. Acting on secret information, a special BGB team took strategic position near the Madhabpur Muktijoddha Chattar area on the Dhaka–Sylhet highway. Around 4 a.m., a suspicious truck arrived, but the driver fled after noticing the BGB patrol.

Upon searching the abandoned vehicle, BGB members discovered Indian cosmetics and a large quantity of Melanocyl medicine hidden under stones inside sacks. Lieutenant Colonel Tanzilur Rahman, commanding officer of the 55 Habiganj Battalion, confirmed that the truck and illegal goods brought for smuggling were immediately seized. The recovered items have been handed over to the customs authorities.

According to BGB, similar anti-smuggling operations will continue in the area to prevent illegal cross-border trade.

U.S. President Donald Trump has signed an executive order warning of additional tariffs on countries that continue trading with Iran. The order, signed on Friday during U.S.-Iran discussions in Oman, does not specify the exact tariff rate but cites 25 percent as an example. According to the order, the tariffs would apply to goods imported into the United States from any country that directly or indirectly purchases, imports, or receives services from Iran.

Trump did not make direct comments about the order itself, but while speaking aboard Air Force One on Friday night, he reiterated that Iran must not possess nuclear weapons. Earlier this year, Trump had issued a similar warning on Truth Social, threatening a 25 percent tariff on nations doing business with Iran.

The executive order underscores Washington’s continued pressure on Tehran and its trading partners, signaling potential economic consequences for countries maintaining commercial ties with Iran.