Sri Lanka began their T20 World Cup campaign with a 20-run victory over Ireland in Colombo. After losing the toss, Sri Lanka batted first and posted 163 for six in 20 overs, led by an unbeaten 56 from Kusal Mendis and a quickfire 44 off 19 balls from Kamindu Mendis. Ireland appeared on track for an upset, needing 60 runs from the final six overs with eight wickets in hand, but their chase collapsed dramatically.

Ireland lost eight wickets for just 38 runs in the last 35 balls, finishing all out for 143 in 19.5 overs. For Sri Lanka, Maheesh Theekshana and Wanindu Hasaranga each took three wickets, while Matheesha Pathirana claimed two. Ireland’s best efforts came from Harry Tector with 40 and Ross Adair with 34. Kamindu Mendis was named Player of the Match for his explosive batting performance.

The win gave host Sri Lanka a strong start to their home World Cup campaign, while Ireland will look to recover quickly in their next group match.

Mojibur Rahman Monju, Chairman of the Amar Bangladesh Party (AB Party), will deliver a televised national address on Monday at 5 p.m. The speech will be broadcast simultaneously on Bangladesh Television (BTV) and Bangladesh Betar. The announcement comes in the lead-up to the 13th National Parliamentary Election, with the address expected to outline the party’s stance on the current political situation, democracy, and the restoration of voting rights.

According to party sources, Monju will present specific proposals for state reform and highlight the AB Party’s commitments to improving the lives of middle-class and ordinary citizens. The address is described as a key moment for the party to clarify its vision for good governance and national development.

AB Party policymakers believe the speech will add a new dimension to Bangladesh’s electoral politics and serve as a milestone roadmap toward building a prosperous nation. The party has urged the public to tune in to the live broadcast on BTV and Bangladesh Betar at the scheduled time.

The Election Commission (EC) has sent letters to all district commissioners (DCs) requesting seat-wise numerical data on executive magistrates assigned for the upcoming 13th parliamentary election and referendum. The letter, signed by EC Senior Assistant Secretary Md. Shahidul Islam, was issued on Sunday, February 8, 2026. It stated that the Ministry of Public Administration had been asked to appoint executive magistrates for the election and referendum scheduled for February 12, and that the appointed magistrates must be reported by 11 a.m. on February 9.

Earlier, on February 3, the Ministry of Public Administration issued a notification appointing 1,051 executive magistrates to perform duties during the parliamentary election and referendum. The EC’s latest directive aims to compile detailed seat-based deployment information ahead of the national polls.

The move reflects the commission’s preparation process to ensure administrative readiness and coordination between the EC and district administrations before the election day.

BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman stated that the future of Bangladesh’s politics will center on nation-building, emphasizing that only his party has the experience to govern the country. He made the remarks on Sunday night at an election rally at Dhaka Polytechnic Institute field in support of the BNP-backed Revolutionary Workers Party’s candidate Saiful Haque for the Dhaka-12 constituency.

Earlier in the day, at a campaign event in Mirpur-10, Tarique Rahman said the BNP’s promises are realistic and achievable. He described the upcoming February 12 national election as not just a voting day but an opportunity for national reconstruction and transformation of people’s lives. He urged voters to support the BNP-backed candidate under the spade symbol.

Highlighting BNP’s election manifesto, Rahman said it outlines plans for women’s welfare, student development, employment for millions of unemployed citizens, and accessible healthcare services. He reiterated that the BNP’s approach is focused on practical commitments aimed at rebuilding the nation.

Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) General Secretary SM Farhad has called on voters to cast their ballots for the scale symbol and vote 'Yes' in the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election. He made the appeal on Sunday afternoon at a post-procession rally in Eidgaon, Cox’s Bazar, organized by the 11-party alliance led by Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami. Farhad said the movement that cost the lives of over 1,400 people and injured nearly 50,000 would lose its meaning if the upcoming referendum failed. He urged citizens to overcome fear and support the alliance and the 'Yes' vote.

The event was presided over by Maulana Salim Ullah Jihadi, the local Jamaat-e-Islami leader, and featured Jamaat’s central assistant secretary general Maulana Muhammad Shahjahan as the chief guest. Shahjahan stated that a wave of change was sweeping across the country under the leadership of the 11-party alliance, which he described as the force supporting national independence and sovereignty.

The rally saw participation from local and national alliance leaders, including the Cox’s Bazar-3 candidate Shahidul Alam Bahadur. Crowds from various unions joined the procession that culminated in a large gathering at Eidgaon Bus Station.

Ashraful, a 32-year-old participant in the July movement, passed away on Sunday, February 8, 2026, at 8:03 a.m. while undergoing treatment at the National Institute of Neurosciences Hospital in Dhaka. He had been fighting for his life for one and a half years after being shot in the head during the August 5, 2024, student and public uprising in Mirpur-10. His funeral prayer was held at 2:30 p.m. at the Central Shaheed Minar, attended by political leaders, fellow activists, students, and the public. His body was later taken to his family home in Kishoreganj for burial.

According to family and hospital sources, Ashraful received initial treatment in Bangladesh before being sent to Thailand for advanced care, where he remained under observation for 14 months. He was brought back to Bangladesh on February 4, 2026, and admitted to the ICU, where he later died. BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman, through party representatives, conveyed condolences and pledged continued support to Ashraful’s family. Party leaders reaffirmed their commitment to assist injured activists and ensure proper medical care for others wounded in the July movement.

Jamaat-e-Islami Assistant Secretary Rafiqul Islam Khan said that if his party comes to power, women will have greater opportunities in public service and banking. Speaking on Sunday afternoon at a campaign rally in Alampur Chourasta of Kazipur upazila, Sirajganj, he stated that women would be able to take the BCS exam, become police officers, secretaries, and bank managers. He added that banks managed by women would serve only female customers, eliminating the need for women to stand in mixed queues to withdraw money.

During the same rally organized by Kazipur Upazila Jamaat-e-Islami, Rafiqul Islam Khan questioned who is more qualified to be prime minister, comparing Jamaat Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman and BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman. He claimed that the Awami League’s 16-year record was surpassed by the BNP’s performance in one year without being in power, accusing the BNP of corruption and extortion. The event was presided over by Kazipur Upazila Jamaat Ameer Zahidul Islam, with several district leaders also addressing the gathering.

BNP candidate Ahmed Azam Khan from Tangail-8 (Basail–Sakhipur) has alleged that his party workers are being threatened at gunpoint and that an independent candidate is attempting to disrupt the electoral environment. He made the allegations on Saturday night while speaking to journalists during a campaign event near a temple area in Naluya Bazar, Sakhipur upazila.

Khan claimed that the independent candidate brought in armed outsiders to intimidate locals and create unrest, accusing him of trying to buy votes with large sums of money through mobile transactions, which he said violates the electoral code of conduct. He also expressed frustration with the administration, alleging biased behavior and inaction despite repeated complaints. According to him, several BNP campaign camps have been vandalized and set on fire.

The BNP candidate urged authorities to identify and take legal action against those allegedly bringing in thousands of garment workers to influence the election atmosphere, warning that continued disorder would make the administration responsible for any consequences.

A Panama-flagged cargo vessel named MV Siloed ARC sank off the coast of Phuket, Thailand, on Saturday afternoon while en route from Port Klang, Malaysia, to Chattogram port in Bangladesh. The incident occurred around 3:30 p.m. local time, approximately four nautical miles from the Phuket coast. All 16 Bangladeshi sailors aboard were rescued safely by a team from the Thai Navy.

According to Borhan Uddin, operational manager of Alvi Lines Bangladesh, the ship tilted 30 degrees before sinking in deep waters. The vessel’s captain declared it abandoned before the rescue operation. The rescued sailors were taken to a hotel in Phuket, where they are reported to be in good health.

Borhan Uddin added that the sailors are expected to return to Bangladesh within a few days following their rescue.

Interim government’s adviser for power, energy and mineral resources, Faozul Kabir Khan, announced that corruption over the past fifteen and a half years in Bangladesh’s power and energy sector has been identified. He said all related documents have been handed over to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and expressed hope that the commission will take effective action. He made the remarks on Sunday at the Power Division building during the launch of five new energy-related apps and a review meeting on the sector’s master plan.

Khan told reporters that the interim government had inherited the power and energy sector in a dire financial state and had worked to stabilize it. He noted that implementing any major plan in this sector requires at least three years, and time constraints prevented completion of several initiatives. He also emphasized his personal transparency, stating that his assets had not increased during his tenure.

The adviser added that a national committee led by a High Court judge had reviewed the previous government’s agreement with Adani and submitted a report with recommendations. The next elected government will decide on further action.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami chief Dr. Shafiqur Rahman has announced the names of four leaders who would be made ministers if the Jamaat-led 11-party alliance comes to power in the 13th national election. Speaking at a rally in Dhaka’s Badda on February 8, he declared that Dhaka-11 candidate and NCP convener Nahid Islam would be appointed as a minister if the alliance wins. He also emphasized his confidence in young leadership.

Earlier, on January 31 in Comilla-11, he announced that Jamaat’s Nayeb-e-Ameer and local candidate Dr. Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher would serve as a senior cabinet member. On February 2 in Maheshkhali, he said that Jamaat candidate Hamidur Rahman Azad could become an important minister if elected. Additionally, during a January 24 rally in Ullapara, Sirajganj, he stated that Maulana Rafiqul Islam Khan would be made a minister if the alliance forms the government.

Through these successive announcements, Jamaat has presented a partial outline of a possible future cabinet under its leadership.

The Election Commission (EC) has issued a warning to Sarowar Jamal Nizam, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) candidate for Chattogram-13, over alleged violations of the electoral code of conduct ahead of the upcoming 12th National Parliamentary Election. A letter from the EC Secretariat dated February 7, 2026, stated that certain campaign activities on social media had come to the attention of the Electoral Inquiry and Adjudication Committee and might conflict with the prescribed regulations.

The letter reminded that under the Political Parties and Candidates’ Code of Conduct 2025, no unauthorized campaign activities are permitted before the official campaign period. The EC cautioned that repeated violations could lead to legal action, including fines or cancellation of candidacy, under relevant provisions of the Representation of the People Order, 1972. The letter, signed by EC Deputy Secretary (Law) Mohammad Didar Hossain, was also circulated to related offices.

The EC emphasized that all candidates and stakeholders must strictly adhere to the code of conduct to ensure a free and fair election. The same candidate had previously been served a show-cause notice by the EC’s Electoral Inquiry and Adjudication Committee.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman said that if his party comes to power, the next president will be a person who is honest, competent and dedicated. He made the remarks on Saturday evening while speaking to journalists during a public outreach event in Dhaka-15 constituency. Rahman emphasized that the people of Bangladesh have long awaited justice, good governance and the establishment of citizens’ rights, and that integrity and merit will be prioritized in leadership selection.

The question of who might become president under a Jamaat-led government sparked local discussion, with residents expressing curiosity about potential appointments to key state positions. Rahman did not name any individual but reiterated a policy-based stance, stating that honesty, competence and dedication are essential qualities for anyone holding high office. He added that such individuals can earn public trust and uphold the nation’s dignity.

Citing a verse from the Qur’an, Rahman urged patience and perseverance, saying that political change requires endurance and struggle. He also stated that Jamaat envisions a Bangladesh free from political persecution and injustice.

The Bangladesh Army held a meeting with journalists in Barishal on Sunday morning ahead of the 13th National Parliamentary Election. The discussion took place at the LGED office conference room, where Major Saikat, commander of the Barishal Fishery Training Camp, said the army has been working since July 20, 2024, to safeguard national sovereignty and maintain internal order. Acting under the Election Commission and government directives, the army is assisting civil administration and other forces to ensure law and order, secure polling centers, and support a peaceful and credible election.

Major Saikat emphasized that the Bangladesh Army is performing its duties with neutrality and professionalism, without favoring or opposing any political party. He stated that the army’s sole objective is to uphold the constitution and guarantee citizens’ safety so that everyone can exercise their voting rights freely. He also noted that the overall law and order situation in Barishal city remains calm and under control.

The army remains in constant coordination with local administration, police, and other agencies, maintaining readiness to support a peaceful election process.

Silent diplomatic discussions have reportedly begun between the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to end the ongoing stalemate in world cricket. Sources indicate that the talks, which also involve circles close to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), are now proceeding within a legal and practical framework rather than emotional exchanges. The ICC has raised a key legal question about the justification for invoking a ‘force majeure’ clause for a single match while the rest of the tournament continues, signaling that the dialogue has entered a deeper phase.

Analysts suggest that while a settlement may be possible, it should not be limited to venue changes, financial compensation, or broadcast rights. They argue that such a narrow deal would harm the spirit of cricket. Instead, they call for written inclusion of core behavioral standards, such as mandatory pre- and post-match courtesies, respect for officials, media participation, and dignified presence at ceremonies.

Observers warn that if cricket becomes a stage for political hostility rather than sportsmanship, the game itself will suffer. The outcome of these talks will determine whether cricket can retain its integrity as a bridge between nations.