Meredith Village Savings Bank is deepening its commitment to local economic growth by once again participating in the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston’s Jobs for New England program. From left, Tate Miller, MVSB commercial loan officer; Tina Simpson, MVSB VP commercial loan office; and Dan Osetek, MVSB SVP senior commercial lending officer. (Courtesy photo)
Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) chief Tarique Rahman has pledged to create 10 million jobs if his party is elected to govern. Speaking on Pirjangi Mazar Road, Tarique said unemployment among young people was a major problem not only in Dhaka but across Bangladesh, reports bdnews24.com. He said the BNP had drawn up programmes and plans to address the issue and would, if elected, create 10 million employment opportunities over the next five years. Tarique also outlined his party’s economic plans, saying a BNP government would encourage domestic investment, attract foreign investors, and expand industry by establishing mills and factories to help reduce unemployment. The BNP candidate in the Dhaka-8 seat is Mirza Abbas.
The Bangladesh Coast Guard has been deployed across coastal and riverine areas to ensure law and order and overall security during the 13th National Parliamentary Election and Referendum 2026. Director General of Bangladesh Coast Guard Rear Admiral Md Ziaul Haque shared the information on Monday after inspecting the law and order situation in several electoral areas of Chandpur, said a press release. He said the Coast Guard has been working relentlessly to maintain security in coastal regions, inland waterways, and river-surrounded remote areas, adding that the force has earned public trust in riverine districts like Chandpur by ensuring effective law enforcement. According to him, around 3,585 Coast Guard personnel, organized into 100 platoons, have been deployed for 28 days from January 18 to February 14, 2026, in connection with the election scheduled for February 12. The Coast Guard will continue to coordinate closely with other law enforcement agencies to ensure a peaceful and secure voting environment, he said.
Two supporters of independent candidate Advocate Farhad Iqbal in Tangail-5 (Sadar) constituency died after falling ill while attending a campaign on Monday afternoon. The incident occurred in Tangail Sadar upazila as supporters gathered for the candidate’s final-day election rally. Eyewitnesses said one supporter suddenly fell ill shortly before the procession began, while another became sick during the rally. The incident cast a pall of gloom over the area, with deep grief prevailing among the victims’ families and relatives. Expressing condolences, independent candidate Advocate Farhad Iqbal said all possible assistance would be extended to the bereaved families, and that arrangements for the burial and funeral rites had already been made.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has extended heartfelt gratitude to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), the International Cricket Council (ICC), and all parties involved for their positive roles in navigating the recent T20 World Cup challenges. BCB President Md Aminul Islam, who returned from a brief visit to Pakistan on Sunday, has urged Pakistan to play its upcoming World Cup fixture against India, scheduled for 15 February in Sri Lanka. “Following my short visit to Pakistan yesterday and given the forthcoming outcomes of our discussions, I request Pakistan to play the ICC T20 World Cup game on 15 February against India for the benefit of the entire cricket ecosystem,” he said. In a statement released on Monday night, the BCB specifically thanked PCB Chairman Mohsin Raza Naqvi, his Board, and Pakistan’s cricket fans, praising their solidarity and exemplary sportsmanship. The appeal comes as the ICC, BCB, and PCB appear to be on the brink of resolving the ongoing T20 World Cup controversy.
Ahead of the 13th National Parliamentary Election, authorities have deployed a record number of security personnel amid heightened fears of clashes, particularly between supporters of the main contenders – BNP, Jamaat and the NCP. This is significantly higher than the 40,000–42,000 personnel deployed in the 2024, 2018, and 2008 elections. Any complaints or incidents of violence inside or outside polling stations will be reported through the election security app for rapid intervention. He said that record security deployment is necessary because the risk of conflict and violence is highest on election day and in the immediate days after. He added that the army is now authorized to enter polling centers and exercise magisterial powers.
Asked whether she plans to vote, Asma said she had learned that she would need to return to her village to cast her ballot. “If domestic postal voting were available, I would definitely vote,” he said. While postal voting has been introduced for overseas Bangladeshis and certain government officials, no alternative voting arrangements exist for millions of internal migrants displaced by employment demands, climate change and rapid urbanisation. Earlier, BRAC’s Migration Programme noted that Bangladesh’s rapidly growing internal migration necessitates urgent reform of voter registration and voting systems. Shahzada M Akram, senior research fellow at Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB), told Dhaka Tribune that this was the first time Bangladesh had introduced postal voting to expand electoral participation.
Election materials have been transported by helicopter to three extremely remote polling centres in Khagrachhari. The three centres are Naraichari in Dighinala upazila and Shuknachhari and Futyachari in Lakshmichhari upazila, reports UNB. A helicopter took off from the Lakshmichhari Zone helipad of the Bangladesh Army and first delivered election materials to remote Shuknachhari centre on Monday while the same helicopter later carried materials to Futyachhari in Lakshmichhari and Naraichhari in Dighinala in phases. District Election Officer SM Shahadat Hossain said not only ballot boxes and election materials but also polling officials and members of the law enforcement agencies were transported to the remote centres by helicopter. A total of 5,54,114 voters are expected to cast their votes from the Khagrachari constituency at 203 polling centres.
The DIY trend, known as “Punch Card Goals,” transforms personal goals into a tangible, friend-bonding experience that makes accountability feel fun, rather than tantalizing. Whether academic or personal, the punch cards offer a creative way to commit to goals and track progress without pressure or perfectionism. Rose Yardeni ’29 centered her punch card around journaling, pairing it with a DoorDash reward. She also made a punch card as a gift for her boyfriend, focused on trying new restaurants together. Ultimately, these punch cards prove that motivation doesn’t have to be complicated.
DHAKA, Feb 9, 2026 (BSS) - The Economic Relations Division (ERD) and theUnited Nations Development Programme (UNDP), today signed two projectdocuments, Transformative Economic Policy Programme (TEPP) Phase- II and theInstitutional Strengthening for Promoting Accelerated Transformation (ISPAT)at ERD in the Capital. Shahriar Kader Siddiky, secretary of ERD, and Stefan Liller, residentrepresentative of UNDP Bangladesh, formally signed the documents on behalf oftheir respective institutions. Through these projects, we aim to develop confident,capable institutions and professionals who can effectively support goodgovernance and Bangladesh's economic transformation, particularly during thepost-LDC transition." Stefan Liller said, "These two projects are highly strategic and catalytic,strengthening the institutions and policy ecosystems that underpinBangladesh's economic transformation and governance reforms. Working closelywith government and development partners, UNDP is committed to supportingnationally led, forward-looking reforms that will deliver long-term impact."
DHAKA, Feb 9, 2026 (BSS) – The Election Commission (EC) has imposed a ban on outsiders from entering electoral areas to ensure that the 13th National Parliament election and the referendum, scheduled for February 12, are conducted in an influence-free, neutral, and peaceful manner. According to the EC’s decision, only persons directly involved in election activities, individuals permitted by the Election Commission, and residents or voters of the relevant constituency will be allowed to remain in the area from 48 hours before the start of voting until 24 hours after the conclusion of voting. The ban will be effective from 7:30am on February 10 to 4:30pm on February 13, said a notification signed by Senior Assistant Secretary of the EC Secretariat Md Shahidul Islam today. It further stated that concerned parties have been instructed to take necessary measures in accordance with the EC’s directive. The notification added that all metropolitan police commissioners, deputy commissioners, and superintendents of police have been issued instructions to implement the decision.
Arnav Kamulkar is a senior at the School of Hotel Administration and an accomplished chef, creating innovative takes on traditional South Asian cuisine while balancing academics and fraternity life. Clove 12 had invited Kamulkar to do pop-up dinners during his senior year of high school. In junior year, though filmed a year prior, Kamulkar appeared on season 4 of Next Level Chef. “Growing up, there wasn't a lot of South Asian fine dining,” Kamulkar said. The basement dining room connected perfectly with the industrial kitchen but was segmented from the rest of the house, making it ideal for a private dining experience.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Photo: CollectedLONDON, Feb 9, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - British Prime Minister Keir Starmer "is concentrating on the job in hand" and will not resign, his official spokesman said Monday, as the embattled leader faces intense pressure over the Epstein scandal. Starmer was "getting on with the job of delivering change across the country", the spokesman told reporters, hours after the prime minister's communications chief and chief of staff both resigned. The Labour leader, in office for 19 months, is himself facing calls from opposition politicians to resign over the appointment of Peter Mandelson as US ambassador, despite knowing Mandelson had maintained links to Epstein after the US sex offender was convicted in 2008.
The moment she said it, everything came flooding back. And the best part… the pretzel sticks he always gave us while we waited. What struck me is that I probably haven’t thought about Mr. Lee in 35 or 40 years. If a child were sitting in Mr. Lee’s shop today, would they be on a bench… or on a device? Those in-between moments where we used to look around, notice, daydream and take in the present moment.
DHAKA, Feb 9, 2026 (BSS) - A delegation of the European Union election observation mission today met Chief Adviser's Special Assistant Professor Ali Riaz. The EU delegation sought updates on the upcoming referendum, reform measures, and constitutional restructuring. Seeking continued European Union support, he said Bangladesh's efforts toward democratic transition would benefit from international cooperation. The EU delegation reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Bangladesh's democratic transition, emphasizing the EU's respect for democracy and freedom of expression. The Chief Observer of the EU Polls Observation Mission expressed support for the interim government's reform agenda and the planned referendum.
