India has stated that the installation of barbed wire fencing along the Bangladesh border aims to prevent cross-border crimes. According to a statement titled Fencing on the India-Bangladesh Border, the total border length between the two countries is 4,096.7 kilometers, of which 3,232 kilometers have been fenced. The construction adheres to all protocols and agreements, and India expects continued cooperation from the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB). However, 864 kilometers remain unfenced due to issues like wetlands and land acquisition, with 174 kilometers deemed impossible to fence for these reasons. Additionally, BGB has raised strong objections to fencing in certain areas. These details were disclosed by India’s Minister of State for Home Affairs in response to a question in the Lok Sabha.

The student leaders who spearheaded the July uprising are set to launch a new political party. Alongside top leaders from the National Citizens’ Committee and the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, student representatives currently in the government may also be part of this initiative. Before assuming political roles, they will resign from their current positions, but they want to ensure student representation remains in the government. These details were revealed in a report by Dainik Manabzamin. It is also reported that three advisors may resign in phases, though no final decision has been made yet. Changes in the advisory council are expected, and a joint convenor of the new party hinted that one student representative might join the advisory panel.

Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam accused BBC Bangla of being biased in favor of Sheikh Hasina in a Facebook post. He alleged that the media outlet omits key details when reporting on Hasina, particularly her alleged escape to India. He accused Hasina of ordering mass killings, unprecedented violence, looting, corruption, extrajudicial killings, and the disappearance of over 3,000 people before fleeing to India. He also cited a Human Rights Watch report that claimed Sheikh Hasina was responsible for issuing orders related to killings and disappearances.

Advisor Nahid Islam stated that BNP has no political agenda beyond discussing elections. He acknowledged that the government is willing to consider reforms but accused BNP of unnecessarily pressuring authorities. However, he viewed this pressure positively. He emphasized that reforms and elections should not be seen separately, as reform commissions are prioritizing election-related changes. He urged BNP and Jamaat to focus on unity and time management, warning that governing without reforms would be difficult for any party. Despite acknowledging that the government has not met 50% of public expectations in the past six months, he expressed the government’s commitment to reforms, justice, and the rehabilitation of martyrs’ and injured families.

BNP’s Information Secretary, Azizul Bari Helal, reiterated full support for the interim government and urged the announcement of an election roadmap and schedule. Speaking at a BNP rally, he stated that the people of Bangladesh have been deprived of voting rights for 17 years. He welcomed any initiative ensuring free and fair elections. The rally was part of BNP’s broader campaign to establish an equitable and humane society based on their 31-point agenda. He also mentioned that BNP is taking organizational action against any members involved in wrongdoing and advised the interim government not to compare BNP with Awami League.

Advisor Nahid Islam, representing the mass uprising, stated that Awami League has neither the political nor the moral right to operate under its current name and ideology in Bangladesh. Regarding a potential ban, he mentioned that the legal framework is not yet finalized. As the judicial process progresses, recommendations may come from the courts, the Election Commission, and political parties. The final decision will be made accordingly. He emphasized that judicial proceedings should take priority before any ban is enforced.

After a meeting with Netanyahu, Donald Trump announced in a press briefing that the U.S. will take ownership of war-torn Gaza, relocate Palestinians elsewhere, and develop the region economically. Trump stated that Gaza will be cleared of destruction and transformed into a prosperous economic zone under U.S. ownership. He also mentioned the possibility of deploying troops if necessary. Meanwhile, the Israeli Prime Minister emphasized that Gaza should never become a security threat again.

One month and four days into the current academic year, nearly 18 free textbooks are yet to be printed. Although 50 publishers, including Lecture, Panjeri, Advanced, and Poppy, were tasked with printing books, they prioritized guidebooks instead of following the National Curriculum and Textbook Board’s (NCTB) directives. The market is now flooded with unauthorized guidebooks under the pretense of “All-in-One” practice books. Education experts warn that this will increase rote memorization and have advised strict action. The total number of primary and secondary students exceeds 43.4 million, with a demand for 401.5 million textbooks. Despite a daily printing capacity of 4 million books, only about 2 million are being produced due to a paper shortage. Meanwhile, in Nilkhet and Bangla Bazar, textbooks are being sold at high prices due to the shortage.

Teknaf Union Parishad Chairman and Jubo League General Secretary Amzad Hossain Khokon was arrested by police on the evening of February 4. He is an accused in a case related to an attack on students during an anti-discrimination student movement in Teknaf. Additionally, he faces corruption charges. The Officer-in-Charge (OC) stated that after several failed attempts, police successfully arrested him last night.

The verdict in the assassination attempt case against Sheikh Hasina from three decades ago is set to be delivered today. The death reference and appeal hearings concluded on January 30. In 2019, a district and sessions court sentenced nine individuals to death and 25 others to life imprisonment with fines. All the accused were BNP leaders and activists, and five of them have since passed away. According to the case documents, the attack took place in 1994 when Hasina, then the opposition leader, arrived at Ishwardi station during a train march. Gunfire and bomb attacks were allegedly directed at her location.

The election commission for the Chattogram District Lawyers’ Association has resigned five days before the scheduled election. All members resigned collectively on Tuesday evening following tensions between the BNP-Jamaat-backed Lawyers’ Unity Council and the Awami League-backed Lawyers’ Coordination Council. An ad-hoc committee will be formed on February 11, marking the first such incident in the association’s 132-year history. The election commission was left with no choice but to resign as both contesting panels remained firm on their constitutional claims. The elections must be completed within two months, after which the responsibilities will be handed over to the newly elected committee.

Bangladesh Bank has decided to freeze all its reserved lockers following suspicions by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) that these lockers contain a large amount of undisclosed wealth. The ACC has stated that only the Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit has the authority to freeze bank lockers. As a result, the ACC has requested banks not to allocate new lockers or open existing ones for now. Reports suggest that Bangladesh Bank has complied with this request. During an investigation into a former governor, the ACC discovered significant amounts of undisclosed wealth stored in lockers by other bankers.

SAFF-winning female footballer Mastusima Sumaiya has alleged threats of murder and rape in a Facebook post. She claimed that she has been receiving such threats since boycotting coach Peter Butler. The Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) has strongly condemned the incident and assured in a statement that action will be taken against those responsible.

In protest against Sheikh Hasina’s speech in Delhi, the Anti-Discrimination Movement has announced a new program. They stated on their verified Facebook page: After committing the most brutal genocide against the students of Bangladesh, Hasina is now showing the audacity to give a speech in Delhi aimed at the student community. In protest against such shamelessness, the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement will display videos, documentaries, and photos of the July genocide at every corner of Dhaka city tomorrow night at 9 PM (when Hasina is supposed to give her speech). You are urged to spread the video of the July genocide at every corner, market, and street throughout the country. A call is being made to broadcast a special bulletin on the “July Mass Uprising” on all government and private TV channels across Bangladesh tomorrow night at 9 PM. It is hoped that the media will be actively present alongside the students and public supporting the July Mass Uprising.

A fire broke out at a rubber warehouse in Hazaribagh, Dhaka, on Tuesday (February 4), but thanks to the swift action of firefighters, the blaze was quickly brought under control by 2:00 AM. The fire started around 1:00 AM, and two units of the Fire Service worked tirelessly to contain it. The cause of the fire and the extent of the damage remain unclear. Authorities have praised the firefighters for their quick response, and investigations are ongoing.