Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam has accused Indian media outlets and the Awami League of continuously spreading misinformation about Bangladesh. He made the allegation on Monday, February 2, during a policy conclave titled ‘Policy Conclave on Misinformation: Challenges to Governance and Democracy’ held at the central auditorium of Dhaka International University.

Alam claimed that several Indian newspapers, including widely read ones, have consistently published false information about Bangladesh. He said India is deliberately spreading misinformation and disinformation, and that this trend has intensified over the past 18 months. According to him, Bangladesh has never faced such a situation in its 54-year history. He also questioned whether these actions were being orchestrated by external influences.

The press secretary further stated that misinformation poses a major challenge to democracy and governance, with both local and external sources contributing to the problem. He criticized the media for failing to act as the voice of the people and for being fearful of public backlash, urging journalists to overcome this fear.

The Ministry of Education’s Secondary and Higher Education Division has released a draft of a new education law during the final days of the interim government. The draft was published on Sunday, and the ministry has invited public opinions to be submitted via email by 5 p.m. on February 7.

According to the ministry, the proposed law aims to establish a modern, inclusive, and equitable education system that ensures lifelong learning opportunities for all. It seeks to eliminate illiteracy, expand free and compulsory primary education, and guarantee quality education for every citizen. The draft also emphasizes the protection of teachers’ and students’ rights and welfare.

The ministry stated that the new law is intended to consolidate and strengthen existing education-related legislation by introducing supplementary provisions to make the system more effective and contemporary.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) achieved major success in its special crackdown ‘Operation Devil Hunt Phase-2’, conducted across the capital on Sunday, February 1. The coordinated raids in 11 police station areas led to the arrest of 21 suspected criminals with firearms, ammunition, and locally made weapons. The operation was confirmed on Monday, February 2, by DMP’s Deputy Commissioner of Media and Public Relations, Muhammad Talebur Rahman.

The most notable results came from Mugda and Pallabi police stations. Mugda police detained four suspects and seized a foreign pistol, magazines, bullets, and various sharp weapons, while Pallabi police arrested three others with foreign firearms and live ammunition. Additional arrests were made in Khilkhet, Uttarkhan, Jatrabari, Mohammadpur, Rampura, Industrial Area, Shahbagh, Wari, and Hatirjheel. Among those detained were several known figures accused of robbery, extortion, and drug trafficking.

According to DMP, the ‘Devil Hunt’ mission aims to uproot criminal networks and ensure public safety. All detainees have been shown arrested in relevant cases and sent to jail through court procedures.

Public transport across Germany was largely paralyzed on Monday as thousands of bus and tram workers went on strike amid freezing temperatures. The strike, called by the major trade union Verdi, affected nearly all of Germany’s 16 federal states except one, leaving passengers stranded at empty stops. About 150 municipal transport companies suspended operations in cities including Berlin, Hamburg, and Bremen, causing widespread travel disruption.

Verdi said it decided to strike after talks with municipal and state employers over working conditions broke down last week. Representing around 100,000 transport workers, the union is demanding shorter shifts, longer rest breaks, and higher pay for night and weekend work. Verdi’s chief negotiator, Serhat Kanyurt, stated that the strike began as planned and urged transport authorities to return to negotiations.

Union officials said services in Stuttgart, Karlsruhe, and Freiburg would remain halted all day. Deutsche Bahn, the national rail operator, confirmed its S-Bahn and long-distance trains were running normally as its employees are not part of Verdi. Union leaders warned that if no progress is made in talks scheduled for February 9, more severe actions could follow.

A Dhaka court has imposed a travel ban on former Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge Court public prosecutor Abdullah Abu, his wife Monowara Begum, and their two children, Kazi Ahsan Ullah Shibli and Kazi Amreen Sultana. The order was issued on Monday by Dhaka Senior Special Judge Md Sabbir Foyez, according to court bench assistant Md Riaz Hossain.

The Anti-Corruption Commission’s assistant director Neel Kamal Pal had earlier requested the restriction, citing allegations that Abdullah Abu, in collusion with judges of the CMM and Judge Courts, secured bail, acquittals, and reduced sentences for gold traders, drug dealers, and various VIP defendants in exchange for large sums of money. The petition stated that Abu allegedly laundered the illicit earnings abroad and acquired assets beyond known income in his and his family members’ names.

The investigation into these allegations is ongoing. The court concluded that the travel ban was necessary to ensure a fair inquiry, as credible sources indicated that the accused might attempt to flee the country.

Recently released documents from the US Department of Justice on convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein have brought Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) vice chairman Abdul Awal Mintu back into discussion. The documents, spanning millions of pages, include Mintu’s name among donors to former New Mexico governor Bill Richardson’s 2006 re-election campaign. According to the file EFTA02729080, created on March 7, 2006, Mintu donated 5,000 US dollars to Richardson’s campaign, while Epstein contributed 50,000 dollars. The records identify Mintu as a Bangladeshi businessman, and there is no evidence of any direct contact between him and Epstein.

The documents also detail Epstein’s extensive political connections and funding networks, including his repeated donations to Richardson’s campaigns. Allegations of Richardson’s involvement with Epstein’s trafficking network have surfaced in earlier court filings, though Richardson denied them. Mintu, meanwhile, is contesting Bangladesh’s upcoming 13th national election from Feni-3 constituency under the BNP’s “sheaf of paddy” symbol.

The release of these documents has renewed scrutiny of Epstein’s political ties and drawn attention to international figures whose names appear in the records.

Jagannath University (JnU) has declared a five-day holiday for its students in connection with the upcoming 13th National Parliament election and referendum. The university administration announced that the holiday will begin on February 10, 2026. Acting Registrar Professor Dr. Md. Sheikh Gias Uddin confirmed the decision on February 2, following an official notice signed by him detailing the schedule.

According to the notice, the Ministry of Public Administration declared February 11 and 12 as public holidays to facilitate voting and election activities. Based on that directive and by executive order of the Vice-Chancellor, February 10 was added as an additional holiday. Combined with the regular weekend on February 13 and 14, students will enjoy a continuous five-day break.

The university stated that normal academic and administrative operations will resume on February 15. The administration expects the extended holiday will help students exercise their voting rights smoothly and participate more easily in this national event.

Syeda Rizwana Hasan, adviser to the interim government’s Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and Water Resources, said that no government would dare suppress journalists if professional journalism is established. She made the remarks on Monday at an event organized by the July Revolutionary Journalists’ Alliance (JRJA) at the National Press Club.

Hasan emphasized that journalists may have personal political views, but objectivity must guide their work. She noted that the constitution guarantees freedom of speech, expression, press, and association, and journalists should uphold these rights while working within the legal framework. She added that disagreements among journalists are natural, but the key is to ensure objective reporting. Analytical differences are acceptable as long as the reporting remains factual.

Regarding lawmaking, she said that draft laws related to broadcasting have been opened for public opinion and will be revised based on reasonable feedback. Hasan further stated that democracy is not established solely through elections and that journalism is a vital pillar in protecting it. She urged journalists to overcome allegations of shifting loyalties through professional best practices.

Home Affairs Adviser Lieutenant General (Retd.) Md. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury announced that 100,000 army personnel will be deployed across Bangladesh to maintain law and order during the upcoming parliamentary election and referendum. He made the statement on Monday at a meeting on law and order held at the Barishal Shilpakala Academy auditorium. In addition to the army, 150,000 police, 5,000 navy, 37,000 Border Guard Bangladesh, 10,000 Rapid Action Battalion, 5,000 Coast Guard, and about 600,000 Ansar members will also be deployed.

The adviser said all necessary preparations have been completed to ensure a peaceful election. He emphasized the need for collective effort and responsibility from all involved to maintain peace and order. The number of Coast Guard and Navy personnel in coastal areas has been increased, and Bangladesh National Cadet Corps members will also be engaged. Body cameras, CCTV, drones, and a security app will be used to monitor activities and prevent crimes.

Home Secretary Nasimul Gani and senior government and law enforcement officials from six districts of the Barishal division attended the meeting.

The Bangladesh government has decided to sell beef and other essential protein items at fair prices during the holy month of Ramadan to ease consumer expenses. The decision was made on Sunday, February 1, at a meeting held at the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock. Under the plan, beef will be sold at 650 taka per kilogram, processed chicken at 250 taka per kilogram, milk at 80 taka per liter, and eggs at 8 taka each.

Farida Akhter, adviser to the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, said the scope of fair-price sales will be expanded this year compared to last year. A total of 48 sales centers will be set up across Dhaka and other regions under her supervision. Director General of the Department of Livestock Services, Dr. Md. Abu Sufian, stated that the government has coordinated with suppliers and stakeholders to ensure smooth distribution.

Officials added that this year’s initiative will cover more locations than before, aiming to reduce hardship for fasting citizens during Ramadan.

Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev has warned that the world faces new risks if the New START nuclear arms control treaty is not renewed. Speaking from his residence outside Moscow, Medvedev told Reuters that for the first time since the early 1970s, the largest nuclear powers may have no limits on their arsenals. The treaty, signed in 2010 by then U.S. President Barack Obama and Medvedev, limited each side to 1,550 strategic nuclear weapons. It is set to expire on February 5, and Russian officials said Washington has not formally responded to President Vladimir Putin’s proposal to extend existing missile and warhead limits for another year.

Medvedev emphasized that arms control agreements have been vital not only for limiting weapons but also for maintaining trust and verification between major nuclear powers. He cautioned that the “doomsday clock is ticking” and urged timely action to prevent escalation. In January, U.S. President Donald Trump indicated he preferred the treaty to lapse, suggesting a better deal could follow.

The treaty’s future remains uncertain after Russia suspended its participation in 2023 due to U.S. support for Ukraine, raising concerns about renewed nuclear competition.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has accused Jamaat-e-Islami of trying to prevent Bangladesh’s progress and of wanting to turn the country into Afghanistan. He made the remarks on Monday, February 2, during a campaign visit to his constituency in Dholarhat Union, Thakurgaon. Fakhrul alleged that Jamaat opposes women’s education and employment, seeking to confine them to their homes.

Referring to a recent post by the Jamaat Ameer on the social platform X, Fakhrul said that if the Ameer indeed made a misogynistic comment, it was wrong. He added that a country cannot be safe in the hands of those who lack respect for women. Fakhrul also claimed that Jamaat is threatening the Hindu community and urged everyone to move forward without fear.

The BNP leader, contesting from Thakurgaon-1, said that there is now an opportunity to build a just state. He emphasized that BNP wants a fair and inclusive electoral environment and called on voters to make the right decision to help the party form the next government.

The Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock of Bangladesh has clarified that the government has not granted any approval for hilsa fish farming through artificial or indoor methods. In a press release issued on Monday, the ministry urged the public and all concerned parties not to be misled by misinformation or rumors circulating in the media and on social platforms regarding such farming initiatives.

According to the statement, the ministry reviewed recent discussions and reports about hilsa cultivation using recirculating aquaculture systems in controlled environments. A meeting held on February 1 at the ministry, chaired by adviser Farida Akhter, concluded that hilsa is a vital geographical indicator product deeply linked to Bangladesh’s rivers, coastal ecosystems, food security, and the livelihoods of many fishers. The ministry emphasized that hilsa production depends on natural breeding cycles and river-based environments, making any artificial cultivation initiative highly sensitive and policy-dependent.

The ministry further stated that any research or experimental activity related to hilsa must comply with existing laws, policies, and national interests, and must receive prior approval from relevant authorities. Unauthorized activities will not be accepted.

The Anti-Discrimination Student Movement has announced a nationwide campaign supporting a 'Yes' vote in the upcoming February 12 referendum. At a press conference held in front of Dhaka University’s Madhur Canteen, the organization’s president Rifat Rashid detailed the campaign schedule and said agents would be appointed and their list published to ensure organized participation at polling centers.

Rashid stated that Bangladesh stands at a critical juncture following recent political developments, blaming power-hungry groups for repeated crises. He criticized the Consensus Commission’s reform proposals as unclear to the public and said the referendum questions were complex and undemocratic. Despite the interim government and commission’s failures, he viewed the referendum as an opportunity for partial reform.

The campaign will include rallies and meetings with families of martyrs across Rangpur, Rajshahi, Khulna, Barishal, Mymensingh, Sylhet, Chattogram, and Dhaka between February 3 and 10. Rashid emphasized that a 'Yes' victory is essential to establish a moral and political foundation for future reforms and to protect citizens’ voting rights.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has expelled 28 leaders and activists for violating party decisions and engaging in activities deemed anti-organizational. The expulsions, announced on Monday, February 2, 2026, were confirmed in a press release signed by Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi. Those expelled include current and former leaders from district, upazila, and ward levels across Noakhali, Patuakhali, and Pirojpur districts. They have been removed from all party positions, including primary membership.

According to the BNP statement, the disciplinary action was taken against individuals accused of working against the party’s official candidates in the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election. Party sources indicated that some of the expelled members supported independent candidates instead of those nominated by the BNP, prompting the leadership to enforce organizational discipline.

The announcement follows a broader internal crackdown within the BNP, as more leaders have reportedly faced expulsion for similar conduct related to rebel candidacies ahead of the national polls.