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.

Masud Saeedi, the Jamaat-e-Islami candidate for Pirojpur-1 constituency, alleged that opposition groups were intimidating both Jamaat and Hindu voters to prevent them from going to polling centers on February 12. He made the claim on Wednesday at a press conference held at a local restaurant in Pirojpur, organized to mark the visit of Jamaat Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman. Saeedi said that while he personally had not been threatened, voters were warned that their legs would be broken if they went to vote and that they would face consequences afterward.

During the same event, Saeedi also criticized a recent student rally in Pirojpur that allegedly chanted offensive slogans against him following the hacking of the Jamaat Ameer’s X account, calling it a breach of political decorum. Pirojpur district Jamaat Ameer Tafazzal Hossain Farid read a written statement announcing preparations for a large public rally on Friday at the local government boys’ school ground, where Dr. Rahman is expected to deliver guidance for the upcoming election.

The press conference was attended by local Jamaat and allied political leaders, including representatives from JAGPA and NCP.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) will announce its election manifesto on Friday, February 6, ahead of the upcoming national parliamentary election. The announcement was made by Nazrul Islam Khan, a member of the BNP Standing Committee and chairman of the party’s Central Election Steering Committee. He spoke on Wednesday, February 4, at a meeting with members of the Reporters Forum for Election and Democracy at a hotel in Gulshan, Dhaka.

During the discussion, Nazrul Islam Khan emphasized that if the forthcoming election is not free, fair, and impartial, public frustration will deepen. He urged all to remain vigilant so that the opportunity to restore democracy is not undermined by unethical actions. Stressing that elections are the foundation of democracy, he said democracy cannot exist without genuine electoral participation. He also called on journalists to keep a watchful eye to prevent any unethical or unlawful activities surrounding the election.

The BNP’s manifesto announcement marks a key step in its preparation for the national polls, focusing on democratic restoration and fair electoral practices.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman announced that the Teesta River will be revitalized and transformed into the economic center of North Bengal. He made the remarks on Wednesday at 2 p.m. while addressing an election rally organized by the 11-party alliance at the helipad ground near the Teesta Barrage in Hatibandha upazila of Lalmonirhat. Rahman said proper water management of the Teesta would make vast areas fertile and end the suffering of thousands of families affected by river erosion. He vowed to implement the Teesta master plan at any cost, emphasizing that the interests of the people would come first.

He also discussed the modernization of the Burimari land port, saying it could significantly contribute to the national economy. Rahman called for constructing a six-lane road from Burimari to Lalmonirhat, criticizing the poor condition of the existing road that causes severe hardship for residents. Highlighting long-standing neglect of North Bengal, he said the region’s people have been deprived for generations and promised to develop it into a center for agriculture and industry, with potential for export-oriented production.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has launched a free Wi-Fi service in the Korail slum of Dhaka-17 constituency ahead of the 13th national parliamentary election. The service was inaugurated on Wednesday at Jamai Bazar field by BNP Joint Secretary General Humayun Kabir, under the initiative of the non-political organization Chetana Bangladesh. Kabir said that if BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman wins the February 12 election, he will lead the country as both a social and economic reformer.

Kabir criticized the Jamaat-e-Islami candidate’s recent activities, alleging that they reflect disorderly behavior rather than social service. He urged voters to support the BNP’s symbol, the paddy sheaf, to strengthen Tarique Rahman’s leadership. Chetana Bangladesh Chairman Engineer Faisal Salam stated that the free Wi-Fi will benefit all smart device users, especially students, and that the organization has long been involved in social welfare initiatives.

Salam added that the service will gradually expand throughout Korail and eventually across Dhaka-17. Future plans include cleaning Banani Lake and improving waste management to enhance local living standards if Tarique Rahman is elected.