U.S. President Donald Trump has signed an executive order removing the 25 percent punitive tariff previously imposed on Indian goods. The order, which takes effect on February 7, was originally introduced as a penalty for India’s purchase of Russian oil, according to the report. The decision follows recent announcements by Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi that Washington and New Delhi have reached a new trade agreement.

Under the new trade arrangement, tariffs on Indian goods are expected to drop from 50 percent to 18 percent. The executive order also reiterates Trump’s demand that India stop buying oil from Russia and increase its energy imports from the United States. Additionally, it outlines plans for the two countries to expand defense cooperation over the next decade.

India has not confirmed Trump’s claim that it will halt Russian energy purchases. Previously, New Delhi defended its decision to buy Russian oil, describing it as a matter of national interest.

All shops, commercial establishments, and shopping malls across Bangladesh, including Dhaka, will remain closed on February 11 and 12, which fall on Wednesday and Thursday. The Bangladesh Business Association announced the decision on Saturday morning, citing the upcoming national parliamentary election and referendum as the reason for the closure.

In addition to retail and commercial outlets, all scheduled banks operating in the country will also remain closed on the same dates. The directive for bank closures has been issued under the authority granted by Section 45 of the Bank Company Act, 1991. The measure is intended to facilitate the smooth conduct of the election and referendum across the country.

These coordinated closures are expected to ensure that business and financial activities do not interfere with the national voting process and that citizens can participate in the election and referendum without disruption.

Political analyst Abdul Latif Masum argues that Bangladesh may need a national unity government following the 2026 election. He notes that both BNP leader Tarique Rahman and Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman have publicly expressed support for forming a national government after the polls, regardless of which party wins. The proposal, he writes, aims to ensure political stability, economic recovery, and national security in a period of uncertainty and division.

The article recalls historical coalition experiences in Bangladesh, including the BNP–Jamaat partnership of the 1990s and early 2000s, and compares them with global examples such as wartime Britain, post-apartheid South Africa, and transitional Nepal. Masum argues that such governments succeed when parties prioritize national interest over ideology and operate within a defined timeframe.

He concludes that current political and economic conditions show signs that a national government could become essential. According to him, a unity administration involving all major parties could strengthen national security and foster consensus in a politically fragmented Bangladesh.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi described recent indirect nuclear talks with the United States in Muscat, Oman, as a 'good start.' The discussions, mediated by Oman, took place on Friday and lasted about six hours. The U.S. delegation included special envoy Steve Witkoff, presidential adviser Jared Kushner, and CENTCOM chief Brad Cooper. Araghchi said the talks were held in a positive atmosphere and indicated a possible consensus to continue dialogue, though no roadmap was set to ease fears of potential U.S. attacks.

Araghchi emphasized that the discussions focused solely on nuclear issues and were conducted in a calm, threat-free environment. He stated that Iran clearly presented its positions and concerns, while also listening to the U.S. side. Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr al-Busaidi played an active mediating role, facilitating message exchanges between the two sides.

According to Araghchi, the next round of talks will be determined after further consultations through Oman. He noted that overcoming the deep mistrust that developed over the past eight months following the war with Israel remains the first challenge to building a new dialogue framework.

An election rally organized by the Habiganj district unit of Jamaat-e-Islami began on Saturday morning at the Newfield ground in Habiganj. The event started at 8:30 a.m., with local leaders delivering speeches under the chairmanship of district Jamaat chief Maulana Mukhlisur Rahman. Jamaat Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman is scheduled to attend as the chief guest and deliver his address around 10 a.m.

The rally marks the formal start of Jamaat-e-Islami’s election campaign activities in the district. The gathering is being held as part of the party’s broader political mobilization ahead of upcoming polls. The report notes that the event is locally organized and attended by party leaders and supporters.

Further details about the rally’s agenda, attendance, or specific campaign messages were not provided in the source text.

The electoral contest in Comilla-7 (Chandina) constituency has become increasingly complex as internal divisions within the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) threaten its traditional dominance. Dr. Redwan Ahmed, formerly the secretary general of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), joined the BNP and secured its nomination under the paddy sheaf symbol. However, his campaign faces serious challenges following the entry of expelled BNP leader Atikul Alam Shawon as an independent candidate, raising fears of a split in the BNP vote.

Local analysts note that grassroots dissatisfaction has strengthened Shawon’s position, particularly after the dissolution of the Chandina Upazila BNP committee for not supporting Redwan. Many BNP activists allege that Redwan has close ties with a section of the local Awami League and had been disconnected from party activities for 17 years, while Shawon remained active during periods of political repression. The constituency now sees a three-way race among Redwan, Shawon, and Solaiman Khan of the 11-party alliance, which includes Jamaat-e-Islami.

Observers suggest that the internal rift and multiple strong contenders have placed the BNP candidate under significant pressure ahead of the election.

BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman is visiting three northern districts of Bangladesh today as part of the campaign for the 13th National Parliamentary Election. He is scheduled to attend an election rally at 11:30 a.m. at Thakurgaon Government Boys High School field. Following this, he will address a campaign gathering at 1:00 p.m. at Nilphamari Municipality’s large field and later join another rally at Birampur Government College field in Dinajpur.

The entire city of Thakurgaon has been prepared for his arrival, with heightened enthusiasm among party leaders and activists. Security measures have been tightened around the rally venues to ensure a smooth visit. The events mark a significant phase in the BNP’s election campaign in northern Bangladesh.

The rallies are expected to energize local supporters and strengthen the party’s organizational presence ahead of the upcoming national election.

A long-anticipated meeting between the United States and Iran took place in Oman, where U.S. President Donald Trump described the discussions as 'very good.' Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on his way to Mar-a-Lago in Florida, Trump said Iran was eager to reach a deal and confirmed that another round of talks would be held next week.

The meeting in Muscat was led by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, while the U.S. delegation included Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, and U.S. Central Command chief Brad Cooper. The talks occurred amid a significant U.S. military buildup in the Middle East, with the stated goal of preventing further escalation of tensions.

During the discussions, Trump issued an executive order imposing punitive measures against Tehran. The order stipulates that countries purchasing goods from Iran will face secondary tariffs on their own exports to the United States.

Election campaigning has intensified across Bogura and northern Bangladesh ahead of the 13th parliamentary election and referendum. Following BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman’s recent visit to Bogura, local party activities have gained new momentum. Rahman, contesting from Bogura Sadar-6 constituency with the paddy sheaf symbol, addressed a rally at Altafunnesa Field after 19 years and later issued directives to strengthen grassroots outreach. BNP activists are now conducting door-to-door campaigns across the district to seek votes.

According to the Election Commission, Bogura’s 12 upazilas have seven parliamentary constituencies with a total of 2.956 million voters, including 1.467 million men and 1.488 million women. Local BNP units have appointed coordinators in unions, municipalities, and wards to organize campaign efforts. The party is promoting promises such as family, health, and farmer cards as part of its development agenda.

District BNP leaders said Rahman’s visit has energized activists and improved voter engagement. They expressed optimism about reclaiming Bogura’s seven constituencies, historically seen as a BNP stronghold.

In Sitakunda upazila of Chattogram, large-scale filling of farmland, ponds, and natural drainage channels is taking place under the guise of industrialization. Despite repeated incidents, local administration has yet to take effective action, leaving residents fearful of environmental damage and future flooding. In Bashbaria Union’s Magpukur area, a company named Automation Engineering has reportedly begun filling a one-acre waterbody, blocking a key drainage route and alarming hundreds of nearby families.

Locals allege that unplanned and illegal landfilling is threatening food production and causing waterlogging even after light rainfall, endangering homes, mosques, schools, and roads. A former union member said he filed a written complaint two weeks earlier but no action followed, while company representatives allegedly filed false police cases against protesters. Experts say changing land use or filling wetlands without permission is illegal and call for coordinated action by environmental and land authorities, though such oversight appears absent in Sitakunda.

Officials stated that unauthorized filling will be halted if proven, while the accused company owner claimed ignorance about the need for permission and promised to obtain it if required.

Preparations for the upcoming election in Chattogram have reached their final stage, with 1,965 polling centers ready across 16 constituencies. According to the Election Commission, a total of 6,682,517 voters are expected to cast their ballots. Election officials are completing last-minute arrangements, while candidates continue their campaigns across the city and surrounding areas. Security forces have been placed on high alert to ensure a peaceful voting process.

Security sources report that the army will deploy with maximum readiness, conducting area domination from 48 hours before to 24 hours after voting. Patrols will cover key roads, industrial zones, hilly routes, and remote unions. Technology-based surveillance, including drone monitoring, mobile signal mapping, and night-vision teams, will support rapid response units. Army officers will coordinate directly with returning officers to handle any unrest.

The divisional commissioner and returning officer Dr. Md. Ziauddin are overseeing all preparations, ensuring coordination among administrative agencies. Police, RAB, and other forces have been assigned to maintain order, with at least one platoon of police at each center and permanent RAB camps in high-risk areas.

In Lalmonirhat’s Aditmari upazila, the fertilizer market has reportedly fallen under the control of a powerful syndicate. Government-allocated fertilizers are missing from authorized dealers’ warehouses but are being sold in retail shops at double the official price. Farmers allege that an artificial crisis has been created, forcing them to buy fertilizers such as TSP at inflated rates ranging from Tk 2,400 to Tk 3,200 per bag. The shortage has disrupted potato and other crop cultivation during the current Rabi season.

Farmers accuse local agriculture officials of negligence in monitoring the market. According to the report, sub-assistant agricultural officers often limit their duties to signing dealer registers without field inspections, allowing dishonest dealers to divert stock to the black market. Officials claim they cannot conduct raids without the assistant commissioner’s approval, leaving room for irregularities. Farmers describe the few raids conducted as superficial, with only minor fines imposed on small retailers.

The district’s Department of Agricultural Extension deputy director, Saikhul Arefin, denied any fertilizer shortage. However, locals question this claim, pointing to rising prices and the spread of adulterated fertilizers that threaten soil quality and future crop yields.

India’s Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh told the Lok Sabha on Friday that India’s relationship with Bangladesh is independent and not influenced by any third country. Responding to written questions, he said India continuously monitors areas of national interest in Bangladesh and takes all necessary measures to safeguard them. Singh also reaffirmed India’s support for a democratic, stable, peaceful, progressive, and inclusive Bangladesh, which has been conveyed to the country’s interim government.

He emphasized that India and Bangladesh share deep historical, geographical, cultural, linguistic, and social ties, with bilateral relations aimed at people-centric development. Regular meetings and exchanges continue under existing institutional frameworks. On the issue of minority safety in Bangladesh, Singh said India consistently raises the matter with the Bangladeshi government at the highest levels, including during meetings between senior officials.

Addressing another question on a possible Bangladesh-Pakistan-China alignment, Singh said India keeps constant watch over its security and economic interests and maintains active engagement with neighboring countries under its “Neighbourhood First” policy to ensure regional peace and prosperity.

Students and members of Inquilab Mancha staged a road blockade in Lalmonirhat on Friday evening to protest a reported police attack on their leaders in Dhaka. The blockade began around 6 p.m. at Mission Mor and continued until 4 a.m., halting all vehicular movement. Participants included 15–20 students, among them Sajjadur Nabi, Al Nahirar Kabir, Sabbir Islam Sajib, Al Amin, and Emdadul Haque Naim.

Protesters demanded justice for the killing of Shaheed Osman Hadi and a fair investigation into the police assault on Inquilab Mancha’s Abdullah Al Jaber, Fatima Tasnim Juma, and Salauddin Ammar. They expressed frustration that such incidents were occurring in post-2024 Bangladesh and criticized the lack of visible progress in Hadi’s murder case. The demonstrators vowed to continue the blockade until receiving instructions from their central leadership.

Earlier, a separate protest march was held in Rangpur city organized by Jatiya Chhatra-Shakti. The Lalmonirhat blockade disrupted road connectivity between the Burimari land port and the rest of the country.

The central committee of the Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal has expelled nine leaders from its Hatia upazila unit in Noakhali. The decision was announced on Friday night through a press release signed by central office secretary Jahangir Alam. According to the statement, the expelled leaders were found to have violated the BNP’s directives by participating in election activities against the party’s nominated candidate who ran under the paddy sheaf symbol.

Those expelled include former Hatia upazila Chhatra Dal convener Arefin Ali, former joint convener Mirza Arif, former member Md. Mizan, former Hatia municipal joint convener Md. Robin, Azmir Hossain, former member secretary Shamsul Arefin Rustam, and several others. Additionally, Babor Ahmed, president of Hatia Dwip Government College Chhatra Dal, Md. Tarek, general secretary of Hatia Degree College Chhatra Dal, Md. Tarek of Sukhchar Azharul Ulum Fazil Madrasa, and Zahidul Islam Tarif of Tamraddi Ahmadia Fazil Madrasa were also expelled.

The press release stated that central president Rakibul Islam Rakib and general secretary Nasir Uddin Nasir approved the decision and instructed all members to avoid any organizational contact with the expelled individuals.