BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman on Monday said public security would be the highest priority if his party forms the government, pledging to take strict measures to ensure safety and law and order across the country. Speaking at an election rally at Pirjangi Mazar Road in Motijheel, Dhaka in support of Mirza Abbas, the sheaf of paddy candidate for Dhaka-8, Tarique said the party would bring the law-and-order situation under strict control. He claimed that changing the fate of the people and eliminating corruption could only be achieved through BNP leadership. Dhaka-8 candidate and BNP Standing Committee member Mirza Abbas, Jatiyatabadi Mohila Dal President Afroza Abbas, and other local leaders also addressed the rally. The BNP chairman campaigned earlier in the day at a total of eight election rallies across the capital, including Dhaka-17, Dhaka-10, Dhaka-9, and Dhaka-5 constituencies, in support of the sheaf of paddy candidates.

Leaders of various professional organisations have urged the government to pass the Smoking and Tobacco Products Usage (Control) (Amendment) Ordinance 2025 into law in the first session of the upcoming 13th National Parliament. The demand was raised at an exchange meeting titled “A Landmark Achievement in Protecting Public Health—The Tobacco Control Ordinance 2025 and the Way Forward,” organised by Dhaka Ahsania Mission at Dhanmondi in the capital on Monday. “To prevent this massive loss and save lives, the interim government approved the Tobacco Control Ordinance. He stressed that enacting the Tobacco Control Ordinance 2025 into law would help prevent such deaths. Shariful Islam, coordinator of the organisation’s Tobacco Control Project, presented the keynote paper.

At least 30 people have been killed and an unspecified number injured in a road accident in northwest Nigeria, authorities said. The accident occurred on Sunday in Kwanar Barde in the Gezawa area of Kano State and was caused by “reckless driving” by the driver of a truck-trailer, Gov. Africa’s most populous country recorded 5,421 deaths in 9,570 road accidents in 2024, according to data by the country’s Federal Road Safety Corps. Adeniyi Mobolaji Kayode, Joshua’s driver, was charged with dangerous and reckless driving and his trial is scheduled to begin later this month. Africa has the highest road fatality rate in the world despite having only about 3% of the world’s vehicles, mainly due to weak enforcement of road laws, poor infrastructure and widespread use of unsafe transport.

The UN migration agency on Monday said 53 people were dead or missing after a boat capsized in the Mediterranean Sea off the Libyan coast. The International Organization for Migration said the boat overturned north of Zuwara on Friday, in the latest disaster involving migrants attempting the perilous Mediterranean crossing in the hope of reaching Europe. “According to survivor accounts, the boat -- carrying migrants and refugees of African nationalities departed from Al-Zawiya, Libya, at around 11:00 pm on February 5. Between the start of 2014 and the end of 2025, more than 33,000 migrants died or went missing in the Mediterranean, according to the IOM’s Missing Migrants Project. Last year, it recorded 1,873 missing or dead in the Mediterranean, including 1,342 on the central route.

You know this by now: I love discovering and learning new things related to basketball or related to the Suns. This season, the Suns don’t win because they shoot better, but because they shoot more. Phoenix is not elite in shooting (15th in shooting efficiency this season), but Phoenix — and some of its players — is a team that manipulates the volume of play. Here, the Suns are less good: 19th in offensive TOV% and 15.4 turnovers per game, which is huge for a team that creates so many “easy” situations. Speaking of Jordan Goodwin, the wing ranks among the best in the league in this possession‑maximization profile.

Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) has described the imposition of strict restrictions on journalists carrying mobile phones at polling centres while collecting information during the 13th National Parliamentary Election and the referendum as a naked, unjustified and unacceptable interference in independent journalism. According to the restrictions issued by the Election Commission, carrying mobile phones within a radius of 400 yards of polling stations has been prohibited for everyone except a few designated officials. The DRU clearly states that modern journalism is unimaginable without mobile phones. Preventing journalists from carrying mobile phones means controlling the flow of election-related information and rendering the electoral process opaque to the public. The DRU strongly and firmly demands that the Election Commission immediately ensure the right of journalists on duty to carry mobile phones at polling centres.

A Dhaka court on Monday deferred the submission of the investigation report in the murder case of Inqilab Mancha convener Sharif Osman Hadi for the sixth time and fixed February 15 as the next date. Earlier, on February 3, the probe report was deferred for the fifth time. Earlier, the Detective Branch (DB) of the police submitted a charge sheet on January 6, naming 17 people as accused in the Hadi murder case. However, Inqilab Mancha expressed dissatisfaction with the charge sheet. On that day, Abdullah Al Jaber sought two days to review the charge sheet, which the court granted and fixed January 15 for accepting the charge sheet.

BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman on Monday congratulated Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and her party on their decisive win in Japan’s parliamentary elections, saying the result demonstrated the Japanese people’s trust in democratic participation and accountable governance. “I congratulate Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and her party on their decisive victory in Japan’s parliamentary elections,” he said in a post on his verified Facebook page. Tarique said the election results reflect the confidence of the Japanese people in democratic participation and accountable leadership. Drawing a parallel with Bangladesh, the BNP chief said the Japanese election carried an important lesson for all democracies, particularly as Bangladesh prepares for its own national polls. “I hope Prime Minister Takaichi’s leadership will further deepen the long-standing friendship between Japan and Bangladesh, and contribute to peace, prosperity, and democratic values across Asia,” Tarique said.

A writ petition has been filed seeking suspension of the candidature of NCP-nominated candidate Md Nahid Islam in the Dhaka-11 constituency over allegations of holding dual citizenship of Bangladesh and the Commonwealth of Dominica. Jatiya Party candidate for Dhaka-11, Shamim Ahmed, filed the writ on Monday. In the writ, the Election Commission secretary, the returning officer and Nahid Islam have been made respondents. According to the petition, Nahid Islam obtained citizenship of Dominica on April 20, 2025. The constituency has a total of 439,078 voters, including 222,877 male voters, 216,198 female voters and three voters of the third gender.

Tarique said Bangladesh witnessed severe hardship after independence, recalling the 1974 famine in which lakhs of people died. “A country that once suffered famine later achieved food self-sufficiency and even exported food during President Ziaur Rahman’s tenure,” the BNP chief said. The BNP leader urged people to allow BNP to implement its plans and programmes.“BNP will build the country together with the people. Outlining BNP’s plans if elected, Tarique said public expectations are naturally high, especially from a party like BNP. Seeking votes as the Dhaka-17 candidate, Tarique urged local residents to support him and the party’s candidates across the country.

T20 World Cup debutants Italy had a bruising introduction to cricket's biggest stage as they suffered a crushing 73-run loss to Scotland on Monday in Kolkata. Brandon McMullen with an unbeaten 18-ball 41 and Leask, who hit two fours and two sixes in the last five balls, took Scotland to their best T20 World Cup total. Italy suffered a blow when Madsen fell awkwardly while trying to stop a boundary in the fourth over and went off the field wincing in pain. The captain still completed an unusual World Cup double on Monday -- playing in two different sports for two separate countries. He played at the field hockey World Cup for his native South Africa, but holds an Italian passport now through his ancestry.

The government has removed Mohammad Azaz from his position as Administrator of the Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC). It further said that the newly appointed administrator, Suraiya Akhtar Jahan, will exercise the powers and perform the duties of the Mayor of Dhaka North City Corporation. She will carry out the responsibility as an additional charge alongside her current position. As per regulations, she will receive only a “duty allowance” and no other financial or ancillary benefits. Mohammad Azaz, Chairman of the River and Delta Research Centre, was appointed as DNCC Administrator on February 12 last year.

Journalists have expressed strong concern and anger over the Election Commission’s (EC) decision to restrict the carrying of mobile phones inside polling stations during the 13th National Parliamentary Election and referendum. They argue that the letter issued by the EC does not clearly mention journalists, creating uncertainty over whether reporters will be allowed to enter polling stations with mobile phones. Journalists say mobile phones are now their primary work tools, used for taking photos and videos, providing live updates and maintaining communication. He noted that journalists rely on mobile phones to document the environment and any irregularities at polling stations. MRA General Secretary Akhtaruzzaman said preventing journalists from entering polling stations with mobile phones would effectively halt reporting.

The government has appointed Surayya Akhtar Jahan, additional secretary of the Local Government Division, as the administrator of Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC). The Local Government Division under the Local Government , Rural Development and Cooperatives Ministry, issued a gazette notification in this regard on Monday. As administrator, Surayya Akhtar will exercise the powers and perform the duties of the DNCC mayor under further order in line with Section 25A(3) of the ordinance. Mohammad Azaz had been serving as the administrator of DNCC and he will be replaced by Surayya Akhtar. The Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives appointed Azaz as DNCC administrator on February 12 last year for a one-year term.

Journalists and election observers will be permitted to carry mobile phones inside polling stations during the 13th National Parliamentary Election, Election Commissioner Brigadier General (Retd) Abul Fazal Md Sanaullah said on Monday. He made the clarification while speaking to reporters after inspecting the results booth at the Election Commission building in Agargaon, Dhaka. Allowing mobile phones, he said, would facilitate real-time reporting and monitoring of the electoral process. The 13th National Parliamentary Election is scheduled for February 12, with the Election Commission stressing transparency and accountability in its preparations. Mobile phones are an indispensable tool for journalists to perform their professional duties,” he said.