Bangladesh Bank announced that a newly designed Tk10 banknote will enter circulation on Tuesday. The note will first be issued from the central bank’s Motijheel office and later distributed through other branches. The announcement was made in a press release on Monday. The new note, signed by Governor Dr. Ahsan H. Mansur, measures 123 mm by 60 mm and features a watermark of a Royal Bengal Tiger’s face with a predominantly pink color scheme.

According to the central bank, the front side of the note displays an image of the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque and a background design of the national flower, the water lily. The reverse side features an image titled “Graffiti–2024.” Security features include a 2 mm-wide security thread inscribed with “10 Taka,” which changes color from red to green when tilted, and a see-through image showing the number “10” when held against light. Microprinted text “BANGLADESH BANK” appears on both sides.

Existing paper notes and coins will remain legal tender. Additionally, non-exchangeable specimen notes will be available for collectors at the Taka Museum for a fixed price.

In Chandina upazila of Cumilla, BNP-nominated candidate Dr. Redwan Ahmed’s chief election coordinator, Principal Abul Kashem, was fined Tk10,000 by a mobile court for violating the electoral code of conduct. The fine was imposed on Sunday afternoon at a private hospital office in Madhaiya Bazar. The mobile court was conducted by Executive Magistrate and Assistant Commissioner (Land) Faisal Al Nur.

Earlier, an army team had conducted a raid at Abul Kashem’s village home in Naotola, Madhaiya, after a video showing him giving Tk500 to a voter went viral on social media. In response, Kashem held a press conference claiming the video was edited and that he had personally helped a poor elderly woman for medical treatment days earlier. He alleged that rival supporters spread the video to mislead authorities and damage his reputation.

Magistrate Faisal Al Nur stated that even though the donation was made for humanitarian reasons, it occurred during election campaigning and thus breached the electoral code, warranting the fine.

A mass rally was held in Gafargaon municipality of Mymensingh-10 constituency on Monday in support of BNP-nominated candidate Akhtaruzzaman Bachchu and his electoral symbol, the paddy sheaf. The procession began at the Gafargaon municipal field, paraded through key streets of the town, and concluded at Imam Bari.

Following the rally, Akhtaruzzaman Bachchu addressed a brief gathering, describing the paddy sheaf as a symbol of democracy and justice. He expressed that if the paddy sheaf wins, the people of the country will enjoy peace, security, and nationwide development. The event drew participation from BNP members, affiliated organizations, and residents of various age groups, creating a festive atmosphere across the municipality.

The rally reflected visible grassroots mobilization in support of the BNP candidate within the Gafargaon area ahead of the election campaign period.

Political tensions are rising in Jamalpur-3 (Melandah-Madarganj) constituency ahead of Bangladesh’s 13th parliamentary election, with nine candidates competing. The main contest appears to be between BNP’s Mostafizur Rahman Babul and Jamaat-e-Islami’s Maulana Mujibur Rahman Azadi. However, BNP’s rebel candidate Sadiqur Rahman Siddiqi Shubho, running as an independent, is drawing attention and could split the BNP vote. Allegations of embezzlement involving a cooperative society linked to expelled Jamaat leaders have also created discomfort for both major opposition parties.

The Awami League’s absence from the race has left the field open, but BNP’s candidate is not unchallenged. Local voters and analysts suggest that despite strong BNP support, the rebel candidate and controversies could significantly influence the outcome. Both BNP and Jamaat candidates claim strong public response during their campaigns, while independent and smaller party candidates continue active outreach across Melandah and Madarganj.

Observers note that the final battle is likely to remain between BNP and Jamaat, though internal divisions and corruption allegations may alter the expected results.

Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev stated that European nations have failed to defeat Russia in Ukraine. In an interview cited by TRT World, he said Europe’s attempt to weaken Russia has instead caused severe damage to its own economy. Medvedev remarked that Europe has surprised him by undermining the very foundations of its existence, calling the situation astonishing.

He added that European powers sought to impose a strategic defeat on Russia but achieved nothing in that effort. During the same interview, Medvedev praised U.S. President Donald Trump as a leader who seeks peace. When asked whether Trump is positive or negative for Russia, Medvedev responded that the American people chose him and that Moscow respects that decision.

The comments reflect Russia’s continued criticism of Western policies toward the Ukraine conflict and highlight Moscow’s view that European sanctions and strategies have backfired economically.

Dhaka has ranked first among 100 cities worldwide for air pollution, according to data recorded on Monday morning. The Air Quality Index (AQI) in the Bangladeshi capital reached 259, categorized as very unhealthy. Measurements were taken around 8:15 a.m., and Swiss-based monitoring organization IQAir reported that pollution levels in one area of the city exceeded 400. Eight locations across Dhaka recorded particularly poor air quality.

At the same time, Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Cairo in Egypt ranked second and third, with AQI readings of 247 and 227 respectively. The report noted that AQI levels above 200 are considered very unhealthy, while readings over 300 are deemed hazardous. The AQI scale classifies 0–50 as good, 51–100 as moderate, 101–150 as unhealthy for sensitive groups, 151–200 as unhealthy, and 201–300 as very unhealthy.

The data highlights Dhaka’s ongoing struggle with severe air pollution, which continues to pose serious health risks to residents.

The U.S. Department of Justice released millions of new documents on Friday, January 30, related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The files have drawn global attention for naming several influential figures and institutions, including former U.S. President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. The revelations have reportedly caused renewed discomfort for the Clintons as the documents detail alleged links between Epstein, his associate Ghislaine Maxwell, and Clinton’s staff.

According to a BBC report cited in the source, the release coincides with preparations in the U.S. House of Representatives to hold a vote on contempt of Congress charges against the Clintons for allegedly ignoring subpoenas in the Epstein investigation. The Republican-controlled House has seen growing debate on the issue, with some Democratic members also reportedly supporting the move.

The documents further claim that Bill Clinton traveled on Epstein’s private jet at least 16 times between 2001 and 2004 and that there were regular communications between Maxwell and Clinton’s staff regarding travel, dinners, and social events.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) deputy commander Brigadier General Ahmed Vahidi has described the recent deployment of US naval forces in the Gulf as an act of psychological warfare. Speaking to the Mehr news agency, Vahidi said the move is part of a broader psychological campaign aimed at spreading the perception that war is imminent.

He warned that Iran should not fall into this trap and that national actions must remain unaffected by such psychological operations. The commander emphasized that the presence of US naval forces in the region is not new and should be viewed within the same framework of psychological warfare. Vahidi also stated that Iran’s armed forces are at the highest level of readiness and are continuously monitoring all enemy movements.

According to the report, US President Donald Trump said in a social media post that a large naval fleet is heading toward Iran and urged Tehran to join negotiations immediately.

As Bangladesh’s national election approaches, cybersecurity analysts warn of heightened risks of cyberattacks targeting voter databases, the Election Commission’s infrastructure, government websites, and political parties’ digital platforms. Experts say the pre-election period is the most vulnerable, with threats including DDoS attacks, data breaches, coordinated misinformation, and deepfake videos aimed at disrupting information flow and public trust.

Recent incidents, such as the hacking of the Jamaat-e-Islami leader’s verified social media account, have underscored the immediacy of these threats. The government claims to have strengthened digital defenses, with the ICT Division, Election Commission, and law enforcement cyber units monitoring suspicious activity. However, independent specialists argue that gaps remain between official preparedness and actual capacity, citing weaknesses in data protection, rapid response, and coordination with social media platforms.

Officials from the national cyber response team, BGD e-Gov CIRT, confirm that alerts have been issued and preventive measures are underway. Yet experts caution that limited skilled manpower, outdated systems, and policy shortcomings could leave Bangladesh’s digital infrastructure exposed during the election period.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said discussions with the United States over Tehran’s nuclear program remain possible if mutual trust can be rebuilt. Speaking to CNN on Sunday, he stated that Iran has lost confidence in the US as a negotiating partner but emphasized that restoring trust could reopen dialogue. Araghchi also warned that any military intervention in Iran would spread across the wider region.

He explained that Iran is not worried about war itself but about misinformation and external efforts that could push Washington toward conflict through misjudgment. According to Araghchi, regional countries are acting as intermediaries to exchange messages and help rebuild confidence between Tehran and Washington. He described current talks as “productive” and said they could lay the groundwork for substantive negotiations.

Araghchi stressed that the focus should be on the core issues rather than the format of talks, noting that whether communication is direct or indirect is less important. He also referenced former US President Donald Trump’s stated goal of preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, saying Tehran agrees with that objective.

Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has protested an event held in New Delhi on 23 January titled “Save Democracy in Bangladesh,” where a recorded audio message from former prime minister Sheikh Hasina was played. The meeting was organized under the banners of the Foreign Correspondence Club of South Asia and the International Association of Press Clubs. In her message, Hasina reportedly urged her party members to resist the upcoming election and criticized interim government head Dr. Muhammad Yunus. Dhaka described the event as an attempt to incite unrest and undermine the country’s democratic process.

The ministry’s statement said India’s decision to allow a convicted individual to deliver inflammatory remarks from its soil violated principles of sovereignty, non-interference, and good neighborly relations. It added that Bangladesh had repeatedly requested Hasina’s extradition under the bilateral treaty, but India had not acted. The government expressed deep concern that such actions could harm bilateral ties and pose a serious threat to national security.

The article further alleged that India was pursuing broader efforts to disrupt Bangladesh’s February 12 parliamentary election and destabilize the country’s political environment.

Kalim Uddin Ahmed Milon, the BNP central organizing secretary and candidate for the Sunamganj-5 (Chhatak–Doarabazar) constituency, said the upcoming February 12 parliamentary election is not just a voting day but a day to determine the fate of the people. He made the remarks on February 1 at an election rally in Jauabazar organized by the Chhatak Upazila Jamiat, where he served as the chief guest.

Milon stated that a strong wave of public support has formed for the BNP’s ‘sheaf of paddy’ symbol, driven by people’s desire for change. He emphasized that citizens have long been deprived of their rights and that BNP’s politics aims to ensure democratic and voting rights, not revenge. Referring to BNP’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman’s directive, he urged voters to cast and guard their votes to secure victory for the party.

He added that the election offers an opportunity to establish an accountable government and strengthen democracy. The rally was presided over by Maulana Shamsul Islam and attended by local BNP and Jamiat leaders.

Israel has banned the operations of the medical charity Doctors Without Borders (MSF) in Gaza and ordered the organization to leave the enclave by February 28, according to TRT World. Israeli authorities said the decision followed MSF’s refusal to submit a list of its staff to Tel Aviv, a requirement applied to all humanitarian organizations operating in the region.

Citing the newspaper Maariv, Israel stated that the measure aims to ensure legitimate relief activities and prevent the misuse of humanitarian aid for terrorism. MSF responded that it would not provide the names of its Palestinian and international staff because Israel had refused to guarantee their safety or the organization’s operational independence.

MSF is one of the largest humanitarian organizations working in Gaza. Observers fear that halting its activities could severely threaten medical services in the territory, already devastated by two years of war that have killed about 71,800 Palestinians, injured more than 171,400, and destroyed nearly 90 percent of civilian infrastructure.

Former British minister Lord Peter Mandelson has resigned from the ruling Labour Party following renewed controversy over his alleged links with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The decision came after the US Department of Justice released millions of new documents related to Epstein, which reportedly included Mandelson’s name. He stated that he did not want to place the party in an embarrassing position and announced his resignation soon after the files were made public last Friday.

According to reports, the newly released documents claim that Epstein paid Mandelson a total of 75,000 US dollars in three installments during 2003 and 2004. Mandelson had previously been removed from his position as British ambassador to the United States last year over similar allegations. In a letter to the Labour Party’s general secretary, he expressed regret that his name had again been linked to the scandal.

Mandelson denied the allegations, saying he had no record or memory of any financial dealings with Epstein nearly 20 years ago and called for an investigation into the matter.

For the second consecutive day, workers and employees at Chattogram Port have enforced a blockade protesting the government’s decision to appoint a foreign operator at the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT). The program, organized under the banners of the Nationalist Workers Party and the Workers-Employees Unity Council, has brought the country’s main import-export hub to a standstill. Although limited container handling continues at the jetty, no new goods are entering or leaving the port, raising fears of congestion in yards and off-docks.

The protest follows a High Court ruling favoring the government’s plan to hand over NCT operations to global terminal operator DP World. In response, the port authority has taken a hardline stance, transferring 11 workers so far and preparing a list of 180 for further action. Additional police have been deployed, and gatherings have been banned in the port area. A committee has been formed to assess financial losses, which stakeholders estimate to exceed hundreds of crores of taka.

Business leaders warn that prolonged disruption could harm the national economy, particularly the garment sector, and cause market instability if the deadlock continues.