In Ashulia, Savar, 11 people, including women and children, were injured in a gas cylinder explosion while preparing traditional sweets for Shab-e-Barat. The incident occurred around 9:30 PM on Friday. Witnesses reported that Sumon, a garment worker, lived on the second floor of a building with his two children. That night, his brother Sohel came to visit with his family, and they were preparing sweets when the gas cylinder exploded. As a result, 11 people suffered burn injuries. They were initially taken to the Ashulia Women and Children’s Hospital and later transferred to the burn unit of Dhaka Medical College for further treatment.

Since taking office for a second term, President Donald Trump has dismissed nearly 10,000 government employees as part of a cost-cutting initiative. On January 20, he established a new office, “Government Spending Reduction and Workforce Efficiency,” led by Tesla CEO Elon Musk. However, Congress has not recognized the office as a ministry, keeping Musk in an advisory role. The layoffs affect multiple departments, including Energy, Health, and Veterans Affairs. The IRS announced that over 1,000 more employees will be dismissed next week.

In Shibchar, Madaripur, three individuals were arrested by the joint forces for impersonating army officers and committing fraud. The arrests were made during an operation conducted from Thursday to Friday across various areas. The arrested individuals are Jahangir (35), Simanta Malo (20), and Kawser Sikdar (21). According to police sources, the suspects called a woman and demanded 3,000 taka, claiming that the glass of an army vehicle had been broken during a conflict at her shop. They threatened her with a legal case if she refused to pay. In this manner, the group extorted a total of 25,000 taka. Following a complaint to the police, the joint forces took action, leading to their arrest.

The death toll in the second phase of the 58th World Ijtema has risen to three following the death of another worshipper. The deceased have been identified as Abdul Aziz Sheikh (62) from Shariatpur, Nazmul Hossain (75) from Bogura, and Didar Torfadar (55) from Khulna. Abdul Aziz and Nazmul Hossain passed away on Friday, February 14, while Didar Torfadar died on Thursday. The information was confirmed by Mohammad Sayem, the media coordinator for the second phase of the World Ijtema. The ongoing event is being held by the Saad faction, with the concluding Akheri Munajat scheduled for Sunday.

The UN fact-finding mission’s report has documented cases of enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, and repression by Sheikh Hasina’s party, government, and state forces during the July uprising. The report also includes several recommendations. Rory Mungoven, an official from the UN office, stated that the collected data could be used in trials at the International Criminal Court (ICC). Human rights activists have emphasized the necessity of taking cases from domestic tribunals to the ICC. The UN recommendations call for impartial investigations and trials without human rights violations. Additionally, they suggest banning the death penalty in accordance with international standards, which could increase pressure on Bangladesh to abolish capital punishment. Some recommendations focus solely on political party reforms, while others require long-term structural changes, adding to the complexity of implementation.

Abdus Salam, the chief of Jamaat-e-Islami in Bandarban district, has stated that justice should come before elections. Speaking at a conference on Friday, he emphasized the need for harmony over hostility. He criticized those who, according to him, lacked the courage to remove a car from in front of their leader’s house yet now speak against Jamaat-e-Islami. He also claimed that there is no evidence of Jamaat activists being involved in extortion or tender manipulation. Furthermore, he stressed the importance of electing honest individuals as local representatives to establish good governance.

A recent survey published by The Times of Israel on Saturday reveals that 61% of Israelis oppose resuming war with Hamas. Instead, they support moving forward with the second phase of the ongoing prisoner exchange to secure the release of hostages. The survey, conducted among 600 Israelis, found that only 18% support restarting military operations, while 21% remain undecided. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister announced the release of three Israeli citizens as part of the sixth phase of the prisoner exchange.

Arab nations, led by Saudi Arabia, are formulating an alternative plan to counter U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposal to relocate Palestinians from Gaza. A high-level meeting in Riyadh, involving Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, and the UAE, will discuss strategies, including a reconstruction fund and governance excluding Hamas. Egypt’s draft plan, favoring Gaza’s rebuilding over relocation, is gaining traction. The initiative, backed by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, is expected to be presented at the Arab summit on February 27.

The National Consensus Commission, led by Interim Government’s Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus, is set to begin its official activities today with a meeting with BNP. The discussion, scheduled for 3:00 PM at the Foreign Service Academy in Dhaka, will focus on reports from six reform commissions formed by the interim government. BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir will lead the party’s delegation. The reform reports have already been shared with political parties for review ahead of the discussions.

In a remarkable environmental initiative, over 1,000 students planted 40,000 Hijol and Koroch trees in a single day at Tanguar Haor, Bangladesh’s second-largest Ramsar site. The tree plantation drive aims to protect 83 villages surrounding the 10,000-hectare wetland in Tahirpur and Madhyanagar upazilas from seasonal floods, according to the Deputy Commissioner of Sunamganj. Students from five secondary schools and one higher secondary institution participated in the event, which also included a clean-up campaign. To create a sense of ownership and long-term commitment, each tree will be tagged with the name of the student who planted it—allowing them to track its growth in the future.

At least 15 people were injured in a violent clash between two groups in Muradnagar, Cumilla, over the scheduled visit of controversial Islamic speaker Gias Uddin Taheri. The incident took place on Friday afternoon in Ampal village, prompting authorities to deploy additional police forces to maintain order. Local sources reported that religious scholars and residents opposed to Taheri’s visit had announced a protest rally and demonstration on February 21 outside Suruj Fakir’s residence, where Taheri was set to appear. Following Friday prayers, as the protest rally began, supporters of Suruj Fakir allegedly attacked the demonstrators, leading to a full-blown clash between the two sides. Opponents claim their peaceful march was disrupted by violence, while event organizers argue that rumors of an attack on a shrine prompted Taheri’s supporters to intervene, resulting in injuries to 7-8 of their members.

BNP senior leader Ruhul Kabir Rizvi has expressed concerns that centrist politics may face significant challenges in the near future. He stated that a particular political party is advocating for local elections before holding the national elections, and some of its members are attempting to mislead the interim government. As a result, there is growing uncertainty about the future of centrist politics. Rizvi also remarked on Dr. Muhammad Yunus, calling him an internationally renowned figure and a victim of persecution under the Hasina administration. He believes Dr. Yunus will make just decisions. Rizvi further emphasized that people have been fighting for free elections for 17 years, and a national election should first establish a stable political environment. Only then should the elected government organize local elections, he asserted.

A case has been filed under the Arms and Explosives Act against former Law Minister Anisul Huq, former MP of Sylhet-5 Hafiz Ahmad Majumder, former Sylhet City Mayor Anwaruzzaman Chowdhury, former MP of Sylhet-3 Habibur Rahman Habib, and 473 others—all affiliated with the Awami League. The case was lodged by Sajib Ahmed, Religious Affairs Secretary of Sylhet District Jubo Dal. According to the complaint, on August 3, at around 4:00 PM, a demonstration was taking place in front of Sylhet Government Women’s College as part of the one-point movement against discrimination and in protest of student killings. The plaintiff, Sajib Ahmed, was participating in the protest when the accused allegedly marched from Rikabibazar and opened fire on the assembled students and citizens at Chouhatta, followed by detonating improvised explosive devices. Sajib Ahmed sustained injuries from the gunfire.

In a late-night raid on Thursday, a joint task force apprehended two members of a criminal gang in Dhaka’s Pallabi area, seizing a foreign-made pistol. The arrested individuals have been identified as Md. Hasan Mahmud (31) and Sabuj Howlader (28). Law enforcement recovered one foreign pistol, three empty magazines, 20 rounds of ammunition, a machete, and three iron hammers with bamboo handles from their possession. Several of their accomplices managed to escape upon sensing the presence of the authorities. A case has been filed against them under the Arms Act.

On Thursday at 9:00 PM Bangladesh time, billionaire Elon Musk, CEO of X (formerly Twitter), spoke on the phone with Bangladesh’s Chief Advisor Dr. Muhammad Yunus. US President Donald Trump was present during the conversation. Bangladesh’s Ambassador to Mexico, Mushfiqur Fazal Ansari, thanked their close friend, RH Griffiths, via a Facebook post for making this virtual conversation possible. He expressed excitement, stating that this meeting would mark the beginning of a new era for the development of SpaceX and Starlink technology in Bangladesh, opening vast opportunities for innovation, education, and economic growth. “I am thrilled to be a part of it from the start!” he wrote.