Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman said the nation stands at a critical juncture and described February 12 as a day of change. He made the remarks on Sunday afternoon during an election rally in Sherpur. Rahman warned that any attack on mothers would trigger an explosion in the country and pledged to ensure lawful employment for youth instead of distributing unemployment allowances.

He also addressed a recent incident involving his social media account, which he said had been briefly taken over by miscreants who posted offensive comments about women. Rahman stated that control had been regained and apologized to any women who felt hurt by the incident. Additionally, he condemned the killing of Jamaat leader Professor Maulana Rezaul Karim in Shrimati upazila and the attack on an election meeting, criticizing the authorities for failing to arrest the main suspects after three days.

Rahman said he had directly urged the home adviser to show visible progress in the investigation and warned against testing their patience.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has announced that it will submit a memorandum to the Chief Election Commissioner on Sunday at 3 p.m., protesting continued violence and attacks against women participating in election campaigns. The party’s central women’s division will deliver the memorandum, according to a press release issued by the organization.

The statement said that women campaigning in support of the 11-party electoral alliance, including Jamaat-e-Islami, have been subjected to brutal assaults in various parts of the country. The organization alleged that such attacks are depriving women of their democratic rights.

In the memorandum, Jamaat-e-Islami will call for proper investigations into the incidents, legal action against those responsible, and effective preventive measures by the Election Commission to ensure a safe environment for election campaigning.

In the upcoming 13th parliamentary election, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party’s (BNP) electoral symbol ‘Sheaf of Paddy’ will not appear on ballots in eight constituencies out of 300. The party has allocated 11 seats to its alliance partners, with seven of them contesting under their own party symbols. Additionally, four candidates who recently joined BNP from other parties will compete under the ‘Sheaf of Paddy’ symbol. The court has also cancelled the nomination of BNP candidate Manjurul Ahsan Munshi in Cumilla-4 due to loan default, leaving that seat without a BNP candidate.

A hearing is scheduled today on an appeal regarding the candidacy of BNP’s Sarwar Alamgir in Chattogram-2. If his nomination is cancelled, the number of constituencies without the BNP symbol could rise to nine. BNP sources said the party reached an electoral understanding with Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam, leaving four seats for its candidates, while other alliance partners such as Ganosamhati Andolon, Revolutionary Workers Party, and Gana Odhikar Parishad are contesting under their own symbols.

Several leaders from other parties, including Dr. Redwan Ahmed, Fariduzzaman Farhad, Bobby Hajjaj, and Muhammad Rashed Khan, have joined BNP to contest under the ‘Sheaf of Paddy’ symbol.

An election rally for the BNP’s ‘Sheaf of Paddy’ candidate was held on Saturday afternoon at the Paichbag Islamia High School field in Gafargaon, Mymensingh-10 constituency. Mohammad Aktaruzzaman Bacchu, the BNP candidate, attended the event as the chief guest. The rally was presided over by Ashraf Uddin Wakil Dhali, former convener of Paichbag Union BNP, and was also addressed by former district BNP general secretary Abul Kashem Arju and district BNP member Advocate Al Fatah Khan, among others.

In his speech, Mohammad Aktaruzzaman Bacchu said that Paichbag Union is one of the strongholds of the BNP in the area. He pledged that if elected, the upazila would be free from syndicates, corruption, nepotism, terrorism, extortion, and drugs. He expressed his desire to serve the people as their representative and remain a servant of the public.

The rally reflected the BNP’s local campaign efforts in the Mymensingh-10 constituency ahead of the upcoming election.

U.S. President Donald Trump has directed the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) not to intervene in protests taking place in Democrat-controlled cities unless those cities formally request federal assistance. The order followed nationwide demonstrations that erupted after two Americans were killed in Minneapolis during an incident involving Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. Trump issued the directive on Saturday and announced it through a post on his social media platform, Truth Social.

According to the statement, Trump instructed DHS Secretary Kristi Noem to ensure that federal agencies refrain from intervening in local protests unless asked for help. However, he clarified that ICE and Border Patrol officers would continue protecting federal buildings. Trump also warned that any attacks on federal officers, vehicles, or property would face serious consequences, emphasizing that federal courts and facilities must not be harmed.

The directive highlights Trump’s stance on limiting federal involvement in local unrest while maintaining strict protection of federal assets and personnel.

Dhaka University organized a 'Language Walk' on Sunday morning to welcome Language Month and mark the upcoming Shaheed Day and International Mother Language Day. The event, initiated by the Department of Linguistics, began at the base of Aparajeyo Bangla and was inaugurated by Pro-Vice Chancellor (Administration) Professor Dr. Saima Haque Bidisha. The walk circled the university campus and concluded at the Central Shaheed Minar.

At the Shaheed Minar, teachers and students laid floral wreaths to pay deep respect to the martyrs of the historic Language Movement. Participants highlighted the significance of the movement, the dignity of the mother tongue, and the importance of preserving linguistic diversity. The event was attended by senior university officials including the Dean of the Faculty of Arts, the Proctor, and the Chairperson of the Department of Linguistics.

Organizers stated that the Department of Linguistics arranges this annual walk to honor the memory of language martyrs and to spread the spirit of the Language Movement among the younger generation.

A large procession and rally were held in Gafargaon, Mymensingh, on Saturday in support of Maulana Ismail Hossain Sohel, the 11-party alliance–endorsed candidate for Mymensingh-10 (Gafargaon). The event began at the Imam Bari Eidgah field in the municipal area and moved through several town streets before concluding at Jamtala intersection, where a brief rally took place. Sohel, who is also the upazila amir of Jamaat-e-Islami, led the march.

The gathering was attended by local and regional leaders from Jamaat-e-Islami, Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis, and other allied organizations, including religious scholars, human rights activists, and professionals. In his address, Sohel emphasized that there is no alternative to honest, competent, and patriotic leadership for the welfare of the nation and urged citizens to unite in building a just society.

The event reflected the 11-party alliance’s campaign momentum in the Gafargaon constituency ahead of upcoming political activities, highlighting calls for ethical leadership and social unity.

A 5.3-magnitude earthquake struck the town of Mohr in Iran’s Fars province on Sunday morning, February 1, 2026. The tremor occurred at 8:11 a.m. local time at a shallow depth of 10 kilometers. The German Research Centre for Geosciences confirmed the event, noting that many residents near the epicenter felt the quake. No reports of major damage have been received so far.

According to earthquake experts, tremors of this magnitude can cause minor incidents such as items falling from shelves or windows breaking, but they are unlikely to trigger a large-scale natural disaster. The Volcano Discovery website also reported the same preliminary magnitude and depth.

Authorities and monitoring agencies continue to assess the situation, though early indications suggest limited impact in the affected area.

After nearly seven years, the United States is taking steps to restore its diplomatic presence in Venezuela. On Saturday, the new top US envoy, Laura F. Dogu, arrived in Caracas and announced her arrival on social media, saying she and her team were ready to begin work. A State Department official said Dogu would engage with representatives from government, private sectors, and civil society to advance a three-step plan on Venezuela set by the US president and secretary of state.

Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yván Gil Pinto welcomed Dogu’s arrival, describing it as part of efforts to outline bilateral cooperation and resolve differences based on mutual respect and international law. Dogu currently serves as chargé d’affaires of the US Venezuela Affairs Unit based in Colombia, and her arrival in Caracas is seen as a significant public step toward restoring relations between the two countries.

The US withdrew its diplomats and suspended embassy operations in Caracas in 2019. Washington now plans to gradually reopen embassy functions and establish temporary diplomatic facilities, with Dogu expected to lead future operations from Caracas.

The International Crimes Tribunal-2 has set February 5 for delivering the verdict in the case over the killing of seven people, including the burning of six bodies, during the July uprising in Ashulia. The decision was announced on Sunday, February 1, 2026, by a three-member judicial panel led by Justice Nazrul Islam Chowdhury, with judges Md Manjurul Basid and Nur Mohammad Shahriar Kabir as members.

According to prosecutor Gazi MH Tamim, the incident occurred on August 5, 2024, in front of Ashulia Police Station, where victims were shot dead and their bodies set on fire with petrol. The case involves 16 accused, eight of whom are currently in custody. Those detained include former Dhaka district Additional Superintendent of Police (Crime and Ops) Md Abdullahil Kafi, former Additional SP (Savar Circle) Md Shahidul Islam, and several other police officers. Former Member of Parliament Saiful Islam and the remaining accused are absconding.

The tribunal’s verdict is expected to conclude a significant case of crimes against humanity tied to the violent events of the July uprising.

In early January, the United States conducted a special operation in Venezuela that resulted in the capture of President Nicolás Maduro, who is now facing trial in a US court. During a Senate hearing on Wednesday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended the operation, describing it as lawful and strategically necessary. Rubio argued that the mission did not constitute an act of war under the US Constitution and that Maduro’s continued rule posed a major strategic risk to the United States.

Several senators, including Republican Rand Paul, opposed the operation. Paul questioned what the US response would be if a similar action were taken against an American president, such as Donald Trump, and whether such an act would be considered a declaration of war. He asserted that if a foreign power abducted a US president, he would support war despite being anti-war.

The exchange between Rubio and Paul highlighted growing divisions within Congress over the use of military force and regime-change strategies abroad, reflecting deepening debate on the limits of executive power in foreign interventions.

Workers and employees at Chattogram Port continued their strike for a second day on Sunday, halting operational activities and disrupting import-export traffic. From 8 a.m., workers attempted to stage demonstrations outside the port, while law enforcement, including the army, tightened security. The Chattogram Metropolitan Police (CMP) issued directives prohibiting assemblies and gatherings in the port area for one month to maintain normal port operations.

According to sources, the strike was called to protest the decision to lease the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) to a foreign company and a related court ruling. The port authority formed a six-member committee to assess revenue losses and identify those responsible. Four employees accused of leading the movement were transferred to Dhaka’s Pangaon ICT, and officials warned of disciplinary action against participants during office hours.

CMP Commissioner Hasib Aziz’s public notice imposed restrictions under the 1978 Metropolitan Police Ordinance, banning gatherings, weapons, and explosives in key port areas until March 2. However, election campaigns for the 2026 national polls remain exempt from the ban.

Iraq’s Shia political alliance, the Coordination Framework, reaffirmed on Saturday its support for former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki to lead the next government. The announcement came as US President Donald Trump warned that Washington would cease cooperation with Iraq if al-Maliki returned to power. The coalition, which holds a parliamentary majority, nominated al-Maliki following the recent elections.

In a statement, the Coordination Framework emphasized that the selection of Iraq’s prime minister is a constitutional matter that should proceed without foreign interference. It added that the alliance seeks balanced relations with international partners based on mutual respect. Al-Maliki previously served as Iraq’s first elected prime minister after the 2003 US-led invasion that ousted Saddam Hussein.

Trump’s warning was described as one of the strongest examples of US efforts to curb the influence of Iran-backed groups in Iraq. The country continues to navigate a delicate balance between its two key allies, Washington and Tehran.

A Grameen Bank officer was killed in a road accident on the Dhaka–Barishal highway in Uzirpur upazila of Barishal on Sunday morning. The incident occurred around 7:30 a.m. near the Ichladi toll plaza when Ripon Biswas, 43, from Ramanandi village in Agailjhara upazila, was crossing the road. A speeding Sakura Paribahan bus traveling from Barishal to Dhaka lost control and ran him over, killing him on the spot. The driver fled after leaving the bus beside the road, and locals later recovered the body.

According to police and eyewitnesses, the bus has been seized while the driver remains at large. Gouranadi Highway Police Officer-in-Charge Mohammad Shamim Sheikh said preparations were underway to hand over the body to the victim’s family. Uzirpur Model Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mohammad Rokibul Islam confirmed that police were deployed at the scene and traffic movement had returned to normal.

Police investigations are ongoing to locate the absconding driver and complete formal procedures related to the fatal accident.

The Bangladesh Meteorological Department has forecast partly cloudy skies over Dhaka and surrounding areas today, with mainly dry weather conditions. The forecast, issued for six hours from 7 a.m. Sunday, indicates that light fog may occur in some places. Winds are expected to blow from the west or northwest at speeds between 5 and 10 kilometers per hour. The department also reported that daytime temperatures are likely to remain nearly unchanged.

According to the morning observation, Dhaka recorded a temperature of 18.2 degrees Celsius at 6 a.m., with humidity at 98 percent. The highest temperature in the capital on the previous day was 27.7 degrees Celsius, while the lowest today was 17.5 degrees Celsius. No rainfall was recorded in the last 24 hours. Sunset is expected at 5:45 p.m. and sunrise tomorrow at 6:40 a.m.

The nationwide forecast suggests that skies across Bangladesh may remain temporarily partly cloudy until 6 p.m., with dry weather prevailing and both day and night temperatures likely to stay nearly steady.