Reading time: about 6 minutesI’m from right outside Atlanta, which means a lot of my friends from home ended up at universities scattered across the South. It also means that I can’t go home or visit them as often as I’d like, since it requires a plane ticket. Because of that, I am always urging them to visit me here in Ithaca, something I never expected anyone to actually commit to. So over the past week, I have been brainstorming a list of spots and experiences at Cornell that I could show my friend. Some of them might seem mundane to us who live in Ithaca but seeing them through your friend’s eyes can make them feel new and exciting.

The shipping ministry has ordered importers to clear cargo from lighter vessels within three days or face legal action. To resolve the lighter vessel crisis, the shipping directorate has formed three special task forces. The task forces have enabled delivery of 735 lighter vessels to mother vessels outside the port. A “Lighter Vessel Management Software” app, launched on Jan 30, also allows real-time tracking of vessels. Since Jan 15, the task forces have inspected 455 lighter vessels along rivers, including Shitalakkhya, Dhaleshwari, Buriganga, Meghna, Karnaphuli, and Bhairab.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Get it done today or tomorrow or prepare to wait almost a week for a return to above-zero stars. GEMINI (May 21-June 20): While your heart could want to be at home, you may need to use today to make things happen. Get your ideas out there while you can, be sure to keep them moderate and appropriate to the situation. CANCER (June 21-July 22): If you can work out the situation today or tomorrow, do. Grabbing better odds is worth the wait if you hate to fail and love to get the outcome you want.

File photoSAVAR, Feb 3, 2026 (BSS) - BNP candidate for Dhaka-19 constituency Dr. Dewan Md. He said if the code of conduct is not followed, the Election Commission will not be able to conduct the election properly. Therefore, BNP will fully comply with the code of conduct and cooperate in holding a free, fair, and neutral election. He added that every party and every candidate should strictly follow the election code of conduct so that the Election Commission can deliver a beautiful, free, fair, and impartial election, which the entire nation is eagerly awaiting. The electoral equation in this constituency has changed after Jamaat-e-Islami withdrew its candidate and extended support to the NCP candidate.

Shipping Adviser Brigadier General (retd) M Sakhawat Hussain -File photoDHAKA, Feb 3, 2026 (BSS) - Shipping Adviser Brig Gen (retd) Dr M Sakhawat Hussain today warned of taking tough action if any lighter ship fails to unload goods within three days of reaching the wharf. “Meanwhile, some unscrupulous traders are using lighter vessels as floating warehouses to increase the price of goods focusing on the upcoming Ramadan . This has been creating an artificial shortage of lighter vessels to unload goods from mother vessels,” the adviser mentioned. “A total of 455 lighter ships have been closely inspected by the task force during the operation. The shipping adviser said the taskforce’s vigilance regarding this is going on and will continue.

DHAKA, Feb 3, 2026 (BSS) - The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has started regularly publishing HS Code-based import data on its website to enhance transparency and facilitate easier access to trade-related information for the general public. The NBR recently published HS Code-based data on goods imported under commercial and bonded facilities for December 2025 on its official website (nbr.gov.bd) under the Customs section of the Publication portal. The data include detailed information on the quantity, weight, and value of imported goods, classified according to internationally recognized HS Codes. The regular publication of import data is expected to make access to trade information more open, transparent, and user-friendly. Alongside ongoing trade facilitation measures, the NBR will continue publishing HS Code-based import data for goods imported under commercial and bonded facilities on a monthly basis to ensure wider public access and transparency.

DHAKA, Feb 3, 2026 (BSS) - World Cancer Day will be observed tomorrow to create awareness among people about the deadly disease. The day is observed under the leadership of the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC), a non-governmental organization formerly known as the International Union Against Cancer. According to the Global Cancer Observatory, 116,598 people died of cancer in Bangladesh in 2022, and 167,256 people were newly diagnosed with the disease. The World Health Organization (WHO) said 8.2 million people die of cancer worldwide every year. According to a study (2025) by Bangladesh Medical University (BMU), involvement of tobacco use was found in nearly half (46 percent) of cancer patients in Bangladesh.

Finance Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed on Tuesday said Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has failed in many cases to properly recognise the government’s ongoing reform initiatives, arguing that not all reforms are immediately visible. Referring to the fact that TIB Executive Director Iftekharuzzaman had been a member of the government’s reform commission, the finance adviser said public expectations regarding reforms were understandably high. Drawing on his experience within the administration, Dr Salehuddin said systemic weaknesses and procedural flaws made reform implementation extremely difficult. I know how things work. Frankly acknowledging the challenges, Dr Salehuddin said working within Bangladesh’s administrative framework was particularly demanding.

Dr Humayra Sultana -Photo: CollectedDHAKA, Feb 3, 2025 (BSS) - The government today appointed Additional Secretary at the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism Dr Humayra Sultana as Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Biman Bangladesh Airlines Limited as an additional charge. “Under Section 30(ga) of the Bangladesh Biman (Repeal of the Bangladesh Biman Order, 1972, Reinstatement and Amendment) Act, 2023, Dr Humayra Sultana has been assigned the responsibilities of MD and CEO of Biman Bangladesh Airlines as an additional charge,” said an office of Biman-1 wing of the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism here. Dr Humayra Sultana will continue in this role until a new MD is appointed, the order added. Meanwhile, the government has cancelled the contractual appointment of Biman’s MD and CEO Dr Md Safiqur Rahman, as he has been imprisoned after being accused in a criminal case. Senior Assistant Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism Mosammat Shakila Parvin signed the order.

Studios have turned to romance novels as a way to revive the rom-com hype, and who better to turn to than the queen of the modern rom-com, Emily Henry. Earlier this year, on Jan. 9, the first of Emily Henry’s adaptations, People We Meet on Vacation, was released onto the streaming giant, Netflix, debuting to 17.2 million viewers over its launch weekend. Much of the film’s accolades are traced to its genius casting of Tom Blyth as Alex and Emily Bader as Poppy. It’s a book that is widely enjoyed, but hardly ever anyone’s Emily Henry favorite. While the future of rom-coms was looking bleak for a while, have no fear, Emily Henry is here to save the day with her upcoming films.

The government has appointed Dr Humaira Sultana as managing director and CEO of Biman Bangladesh Airlines following the termination of Dr Md Shafiqur Rahman’s contract after his imprisonment in a criminal case. Sultana, currently additional secretary of the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism, will hold the position until a new MD is appointed. The ministry’s office order, issued Tuesday by its Biman-1 division, cited Section 30(g) of the Bangladesh Biman (Revival and Amendment of the Biman Bangladesh Order, 1972) Act, 2023, for granting her the additional responsibility. Copies of the order were sent to key offices, including the Chief Adviser’s Office, national security adviser, Ministry of Finance, Election Commission Secretariat, and Biman’s administration. Internal sources said the leadership change comes amid ongoing management and operational challenges, including criticism over financial management and service quality.

Essential livestock products will be sold at fixed prices through mobile sales centers from the day before Ramadan until the 25th, covering a total of 26 days. Under the scheme, dressed broiler chicken will be sold at Tk245 per kilogram, pasteurized milk at Tk80 per litre, eggs at Tk8 each, and beef at Tk650 per kilogram, according to the the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock on Tuesday.

Research and advocacy organization Progga (Knowledge for Progress) has urged the incoming parliament to pass the recently amended Smoking and Tobacco Products Usage (Control) (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025 in its first session to tackle Bangladesh’s growing cancer burden. Wednesday will mark World Cancer Day. According to the Global Cancer Observatory, an estimated 116,598 people died of cancer in Bangladesh in 2022, while 167,256 new cases were diagnosed the same year. The World Health Organization notes that 30 to 50% of cancer deaths can be prevented by avoiding tobacco use. On World Cancer Day 2026, ABM Zubair, executive director of Progga, said: “There is no alternative to passing the Tobacco Control Ordinance in the first session of the upcoming parliament to combat tobacco-related cancers.”

UK-based The Economist weekly has dubbed BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman as the front-runner to become Bangladesh's prime minister as the country is set to hold its general elections on February 12. "The return to democracy should improve law and order, reassure investors, and begin repairing Bangladesh's fraught ties with India," the analysis said. The analysis said: "all this opens a door for Rahman" while his BNP was "leading in the polls". Since returning to the country, Rahman said much of what people wanted to hear, "though most still choose to talk off the record, in case the other side wins". "Observers say the man who has come back from London seems different from the one they knew before," it read.

A man was beaten to death and eight others injured Tuesday morning after a dispute over possession of a market under construction in Shreenagar, officials said. The deceased, Alamgir Hossain, 50, was attacked around 6am in the Balashur area while trying to stop rivals from taking over the site of Tamiz Market, which he was building with his brother, Tamizuddin. They were first treated at a local hospital before being admitted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital. Local residents took Alamgir to Shreenagar Upazila Health Complex, but he died on the way to Dhaka around 9am. Dr Shankar Tan of Shreenagar Upazila Health Complex said: “Several injured people were brought to the hospital around 6:30am.