Police in Lakshmipur have filed a case and arrested businessman Sohel Rana after seizing six illegally prepared ballot seals from his printing shop, Mariam Printers, located on Old Court Road. Acting on a tip-off, officers also confiscated a computer and a mobile phone during the raid. Additional Superintendent of Police (Administration and Finance) Hossain Mohammad Raihan Kazemi confirmed the arrest on Wednesday and said Sohel’s statement would be recorded under Section 164 of the Criminal Procedure Code. The name of the second accused will be disclosed later for investigative reasons.

The incident sparked political tension as the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami held separate press conferences on Tuesday night, each blaming the other. BNP Joint Secretary General and Lakshmipur-3 candidate Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Annie alleged that Sohel was affiliated with Jamaat and that the group was involved in the seal incident. In response, Jamaat’s Lakshmipur-3 candidate and Dhaka North Secretary Rezaul Karim denied any link, asserting that Sohel was not connected to their party.

Police sources said Sohel claimed he made the seals on order but the client never collected them, adding that he had communicated with the client via WhatsApp voice messages.

The Women’s Wing of Jamaat-e-Islami in Natore organized a large election procession on Wednesday morning in support of the scale symbol in the Natore-2 (Sadar-Naldanga) constituency. The rally began at 10:30 a.m. from Madrasa Mor roundabout in Natore town, paraded through Kanai Khali, Nichabazar, and Alai Pur areas, and concluded with a brief gathering back at Madrasa Mor.

At the post-procession assembly, Rajshahi regional assistant director Mostajia Banu, district assistant secretary Shahnaz Shely, and district assistant secretary Zobaida Kakon Lipi addressed the participants. They stated that only Islam can ensure true dignity and respect for women and alleged that some groups are misleading women through misinterpretations. The speakers said women are now more aware, and the large turnout proved their consciousness.

They further emphasized that women have always played a role in upholding truth and justice in Islamic history and will continue to do so. The speakers urged women to support the scale symbol to help establish a welfare-oriented Islamic state.

At a discussion marking World Cancer Day on Wednesday at Gonoshasthaya Nagar Hospital in Dhaka, speakers revealed that around 167,000 people in Bangladesh are newly diagnosed with cancer each year, while approximately 116,500 die from the disease. Despite the high number of patients, the country has only about 30 cancer treatment centers, many of which lack full treatment facilities. Participants emphasized the urgent need for widespread awareness on cancer prevention and early detection.

The event, chaired by Dr. Md. Habibullah Talukder Raskin, founder of the Bangladesh Breast Cancer Awareness Forum, highlighted the absence of a national cancer control strategy, action plan, and program in Bangladesh. Speakers called for expanding cancer treatment to divisional and district-level medical colleges and extending cancer screening services to upazila levels. The theme for this year’s observance, set by the International Agency for Research on Cancer for 2025–2027, is “United by Unique.”

Ten journalists were honored for their contributions to cancer awareness, with several pledging continued work under Dr. Raskin’s leadership to promote public understanding and prevention efforts.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami formally announced its new election manifesto on Wednesday, February 4, 2026, at a hotel in Dhaka. The manifesto introduces a distinctive structure titled 'Five Yes' and 'Five No' to present the party’s political stance in a clear and unambiguous manner. The format aims to highlight the issues the party supports and those it firmly opposes.

According to the manifesto, the 'Yes' section emphasizes honesty, unity, justice, efficiency, and employment as key priorities. In contrast, the 'No' section underscores the party’s opposition to corruption, fascism, domination, unemployment, and extortion. The stage design and visual presentation at the event were also arranged to reflect this dual theme, reinforcing the symbolic and visual representation of the party’s core message.

Organizers believe this presentation style will make Jamaat-e-Islami’s political message more visible and distinctive, aligning the party’s communication strategy with its stated principles.

Bangladesh will observe National Library Day 2026 across the country on February 5 under the theme “Knowledge is Freedom, Foundation of the Future.” The day aims to highlight the importance of public and private libraries, encourage reading habits, and strengthen the role of libraries in building an enlightened society. The Directorate of Public Libraries will organize the main inauguration ceremony at the Bangladesh National Museum in Shahbag, Dhaka, at 10:00 a.m., followed by a special discussion on “Libraries and Knowledge Practice: Context of the 21st Century.”

The event will feature Cultural Affairs Adviser Mostofa Sarwar Farooki as chief guest, with senior officials from the National Museum, Bangla Academy, and the Kazi Nazrul Islam Institute attending as special guests. Professor Dr. Kazi Mostak Gausul Haque of Dhaka University will serve as the keynote speaker, and the session will be chaired by the Secretary of the Ministry of Cultural Affairs. Distinguished library professionals and officials will also participate.

In addition to the national program, district public libraries, universities, and cultural institutions across Bangladesh will host various activities to mark the day, coordinated by local administrations and library associations.

An 'Azadi March' was held in Sherpur, Bogura, on Wednesday, February 4, 2026, to promote the 'Yes' vote in the upcoming referendum and support the scale symbol ahead of the 12th National Parliamentary Election. The event saw significant participation from local leaders and activists.

District Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary Maulana Mansurur Rahman, Upazila NCP Convener Abdul Alim, Upazila Jamaat Secretary Abdullah Al Mostafidh Nasim, NCP Joint Convener Rashed Sadat, Jamaat Publicity Secretary Iftekhar Alam, Islami Chhatra Shibir leader Rakibul Islam Robin, and several student and political leaders attended the march. Participants carried placards featuring the scale symbol and 'Yes' slogans as they moved through key roads and highways from Hamsayapur to Sheruabatatla, Mirzapur, and Dhunatmor.

Speakers at the event emphasized the need for unity to ensure people’s voting rights and a free, fair, and acceptable election. The march created a festive atmosphere in the area and drew notable public attention.

Bangladesh faces uncertainty over midfielder Dewan Hamza Chowdhury’s participation in the Asian Cup qualifying match against Singapore on March 31. The Leicester City player, who represents Bangladesh internationally, suffered a knee injury during an English Championship match against Charlton Athletic last Saturday and had to leave the field on crutches. The injury has raised concerns among Bangladeshi supporters about his availability for the crucial fixture.

Leicester City coach Andy King confirmed that Hamza sustained a serious knee injury and may need six to eight weeks of rehabilitation. He noted that Hamza was seen wearing a knee brace after the match, suggesting a slow recovery. The Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) is maintaining regular contact with Hamza. National team manager Amer Khan said they are closely monitoring his condition but cannot yet confirm whether he will be fit to play.

Hamza has been a key figure for Bangladesh since joining the national team in March last year, leading them to notable success, including a victory over India in November.

Barcelona advanced to the semifinals of the Copa del Rey after defeating second-division side Albacete 2-1 in the quarterfinals. The match, held in Albacete, saw goals from Lamine Yamal and Ronald Araujo secure victory for the Spanish giants. Yamal opened the scoring in the 39th minute following a sequence involving Marcus Rashford and Frenkie de Jong, while Araujo doubled the lead in the 56th minute with a header from a Rashford corner. Albacete managed a consolation goal through Moreno late in the game.

Albacete had previously made headlines by eliminating Real Madrid from the tournament, creating one of the biggest surprises of the competition. However, they could not repeat that feat against Barcelona, who maintained control for most of the match. Despite a disallowed goal for offside in the 83rd minute, Albacete’s late effort was not enough to overturn the deficit.

With this win, Barcelona move into the last four and now set their sights on reaching the Copa del Rey final.

Pakistan has announced a boycott of its upcoming T20 World Cup match against India, sparking widespread debate over the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) neutrality. Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif accused the ICC of double standards and called for the creation of a new international cricket body. His remarks, shared on social media, were echoed by sports analyst and journalist Omar Quraishi, who questioned the ICC’s impartiality and policy consistency.

Quraishi argued that Pakistan’s decision reflects long-standing political realities in international cricket, which he said the ICC itself has allowed to develop. He claimed that past favoritism toward the Indian government by the ICC has contributed to the current situation. According to Quraishi, Pakistan’s participation in the World Cup remains both pragmatic and principled, as it is a multilateral event rather than a bilateral series.

He added that Pakistan’s stance highlights the need for equal application of rules across all teams, asserting that until fairness is ensured, the country’s position remains justified and defensible.

England sealed a comprehensive 3–0 Twenty20 series victory over Sri Lanka after winning the third and final match by 12 runs. Batting first, England posted 128 for nine in their 20 overs, with Sam Curran scoring 58 off 48 balls and Jos Buttler adding 25. In reply, Sri Lanka were bowled out for 116 in 19.3 overs, falling short despite early aggression from Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis. England’s bowlers, led by Jacob Bethell with 4 for 11 and Will Jacks with 3 for 14, ensured the visitors’ clean sweep.

This was the second time Sri Lanka have been whitewashed by England in a three-match T20 series. England had already secured the series after winning the first two matches under the leadership of Harry Brook. Dushmantha Chameera took five wickets for 24 runs for Sri Lanka, but it was not enough to prevent defeat.

Sam Curran was named both Player of the Match and Player of the Series for his all-round performance, highlighting England’s dominance throughout the contest.

Arsenal advanced to the League Cup final after defeating Chelsea 1-0 in the second leg of the semifinal at Emirates Stadium. The decisive goal came in added time from Kai Havertz, securing a 4-2 aggregate victory for Mikel Arteta’s side. The win marks Arsenal’s first appearance in the League Cup final in six years, continuing their strong form across competitions this season.

Chelsea, despite losing the first leg at home, pressed Arsenal for long periods but failed to create enough clear scoring chances. Arsenal’s Piero Hincapié tested Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sánchez early in the match, while Chelsea’s five-man defense limited Arsenal’s attacking rhythm. In the second half, Chelsea introduced Cole Palmer and Estevão in search of an equalizer but could not find the net.

Arsenal maintained control throughout much of the match, and Havertz’s composed finish from Declan Rice’s pass sealed their place in the final, extending the team’s winning momentum in both the Premier League and the League Cup.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has announced its 41-point election manifesto ahead of the 13th parliamentary election. The manifesto, which prioritizes 26 key areas, was presented by the party’s Ameer, Shafiqur Rahman, on Wednesday evening at Hotel Sheraton in Banani, Dhaka.

The announcement marks the party’s formal entry into the upcoming national election campaign. The manifesto outlines the party’s policy priorities and commitments across multiple sectors, though specific details were not disclosed in the source text. The event was organized as part of Jamaat’s broader effort to communicate its political agenda to voters.

The declaration signals Jamaat’s intent to participate actively in the electoral process, positioning itself among other political parties preparing for the 13th parliamentary polls.

Colonel Oli Ahmed, chairman of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and former army officer, has responded to the social media debate surrounding comments made by Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh’s Ameer, Shafiqur Rahman. Speaking on Tuesday afternoon in Rangunia after an 11-party alliance rally, Oli said the Jamaat leader did not claim he was the declarer of independence but only stated that Oli was the first to revolt, which he accepted as accurate.

The controversy began after Shafiqur Rahman’s February 2 speech at a rally in Chittagong port, where he said the declaration of independence came from Chittagong and that Colonel Oli Ahmed was the first to revolt. However, video verification showed that Rahman did not identify Oli as the declarer of independence. Earlier that day, Oli had said at a Lohagara rally that he declared rebellion from Chittagong.

Addressing the issue in Rangunia, Oli Ahmed said the Jamaat chief’s statement was correct and not disrespectful. He criticized those spreading misinformation online, saying they were acting improperly.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami announced its election manifesto on February 4, 2026, at the Sheraton Hotel in Banani ahead of the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election. Party Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman presented the manifesto, which outlines 26 priority areas and 41 pledges divided into eight sections for the next five years of governance. Diplomats, political leaders, senior journalists, and business figures attended the event.

The manifesto emphasizes building a safe, humane, and just Bangladesh under the slogan “Uncompromising Bangladesh in National Interest.” It includes commitments to ensure good governance, women’s safety, youth empowerment, corruption-free administration, and a technology-driven smart society. Other priorities include strengthening democracy through proportional representation, reforming the economy and banking sector, expanding employment, and guaranteeing universal healthcare and education.

Jamaat-e-Islami described the document as a realistic and research-based roadmap for national reconstruction, focusing on achievable short-term goals and long-term institutional reforms to establish a prosperous welfare state grounded in transparency and justice.

Dr. Zubaida Rahman, wife of BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman, said that collective problems can be solved through proper planning. She made the remarks on Wednesday at a discussion meeting with professionals in Dhaka’s Hatirjheel, organized ahead of the 13th National Parliamentary Election, where she attended as the chief guest.

In her speech, Zubaida Rahman emphasized that politics should be based on well-structured planning and collective responsibility. She stated that their political philosophy prioritizes the nation and the people before power, calling for equality, respect for labor, merit-based employment, and justice for all. She also highlighted the need to build a society where citizens come before leaders.

She urged everyone to work together for a knowledge-based and equality-driven state that values labor and fairness. Zubaida Rahman assured that her team would continue listening to people’s concerns to create a just and inclusive Bangladesh.