Bangladesh and Japan have signed an agreement over "transfer of defence equipment and technology," which is expected to ensure ‘appropriate control’ over the defence equipment and technology transferred between the two countries. Lieutenant General SM Kamrul Hassan, principal staff officer, Armed Forces Division, Chief Adviser’s Office of Bangladesh and Saida Shinichi, ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Bangladesh, signed the deal on behalf of their respective sides on Tuesday. Specifically, it stipulates procedures to determine and confirm each specific transfer as well as basic rules on the proper use of the transferred defence equipment and technology. The agreement, Japan said, will ensure appropriate control over the defence equipment and technology transferred between Japan and Bangladesh, especially regarding any subsequent transfer to a third party or any extra-purpose use. It is expected that this agreement will contribute to closer cooperation between Bangladesh and Japan for defence equipment and technology, and maintaining and improving the production and technological bases for Japan’s defence industry, thereby contributing to the security of Japan, said the Japanese side.

Finance Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed on Wednesday said the interim government would leave Bangladesh’s economy in a “satisfactory and stable” position for the next elected government. The finance adviser was responding to the queries of reporters after chairing the 5th meeting of the Advisers Council Committee on Government Purchase held on Wednesday at the Cabinet Division Conference Room at Bangladesh Secretariat. When asked whether the government had taken on record levels of debt, the finance adviser said that while borrowings had increased, a substantial amount of external debt had also been repaid. Addressing concerns over contradictory statements about future economic risks, Dr Salehuddin clarified that while the economy is stable, reforms need to be consolidated and carried forward carefully. On power sector reforms, the finance adviser said electricity tariffs are being rationalized rather than increased arbitrarily.

"Those who disrespect the women of the country and abuse them in ugly language, and whatever, cannot be patriotic or people-oriented. A political party wants to imprison mothers and sisters in their homes before the elections. “A leader has clearly said that they do not believe in women's leadership. Dismissing the excuse of hacking as a lie following the controversial remarks, Tarique said, "In the face of severe criticism, they are now saying that the ID has been hacked. A senior leader of a political party is lying in front of the people like this before the election.

Foreign diplomats based in Dhaka today visited the July Mass Uprising Memorial Museum, days before it is set to open for public. Photo: CA's Press WingDHAKA, Feb 3, 2026 (BSS) - Foreign diplomats based in Dhaka today visited the July Mass Uprising Memorial Museum, days before it is set to open for public. During their visit, Cultural Affairs Adviser Mostofa Sarwar Farooki briefed the diplomats and guided them through the museum’s key sections, said the Chief Adviser’s Press Wing this evening. At the outset of two-hour long visit, the diplomats observed one minute silence in memory of the nearly 4,000 people, who were martyred during the fascist regime of Sheikh Hasina. Chief Curator of the July Museum Tanzim Wahab described the various features of the museum to the visiting diplomats and guests.

DHAKA, Feb 3, 2026 (BSS) - The government today approved power purchase proposals from three major combined cycle power plants at re-determined levelized tariffs. The committee endorsed the procurement of electricity from Ashuganj 450 MW Combined Cycle (South) Power Plant at a tariff of US Cents 4.6934 per kilowatt hour, involving an estimated expenditure of Taka 23,880.02 crore. It also approved power purchase from the Siddhirganj 335 MW Combined Cycle Power Plant constructed by EGCB at a tariff of US Cents 4.4140 per kilowatt hour, with an estimated cost of Taka 21,675.04 crore. Another proposal to procure electricity from the Haripur 412 MW Combined Cycle Power Plant at a tariff of US Cents 3.8753 per kilowatt hour, costing Taka 19,864.13 crore, was also recommended. Officials said the revised tariffs would contribute to maintaining stability in the national power grid while optimizing generation costs.

JAMALPUR, Feb 3, 2026 (BSS) - A man was killed in a road accident in Madarganj upazila of the district this afternoon. The deceased was identified as SM Tozammel Hossain, 55, secretary of Sidhuli Union Parishad and resident of Char Pakerdaha village of the upazila. When he reached Polisha area a speeding motorcycle hit his bike from opposite direction around 4 pm. In the accident Tozammel died on the spot. After the accident driver of another bike left the spot leaving his motorcycle.

BTV should allocate a separate slot for the party leader of each political party and determine the duration of the slot. All political parties that request an opportunity to campaign on BTV should be given the opportunity to speak in the order of their application. BTV will finalise the date and time of the campaign recording after discussing with the political party concerned. So far, no application has been received from any political party other than BNP for campaigning on the BTV. So, the party leader of BNP should be given the opportunity to speak in the last slot on February 9 as per their request, the press release said.

Finance Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed -File photoDHAKA, Feb 3, 2026 (BSS) - Finance Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed today said the interim government would leave Bangladesh’s economy in a “satisfactory and stable” position for the next elected government. Dr Salehuddin, however, acknowledged that significant challenges remain ahead. Addressing concerns over contradictory statements about future economic risks, Dr Salehuddin clarified that while the economy is stable, reforms need to be consolidated and carried forward carefully. Highlighting governance reforms, Dr Salehuddin Ahmed said the government has made significant progress in digitising land records and khatian maps, making services cheaper and more accessible to citizens. Dr Salehuddin said despite criticism, many fundamental reforms had been undertaken, even if they were not always visible.

Photo: BSSDHAKA, Feb 03, 2026 (BSS) – Energy experts today urged the next government to build a national consensus on energy transition while taking immediate steps to tackle the ongoing crisis. They suggested that the next government should initiate realistic and sustainable long-term plans to overcome the crisis in the energy sector. The speakers emphasized that data-driven plans should be adopted when assessing energy demand, avoiding the exaggerated forecasts of the past, as the power and energy sector continues to face a deep crisis. “Bangladesh's energy sector has been facing a crisis mainly due to long-term neglect of primary energy. However, limited allocation was in the energy sector but huge amount spent in the power sector.

Syeda Rizwana Hasan-File PhotoDHAKA, Feb 3, 2026 (BSS) – Adviser of the ministries of Information and Broadcasting, Environment, Forest and Climate Change and Water Resources Syeda Rizwana Hasan today expressed her optimism that Bangladesh will become horn-free through the strict application of law. “New noise pollution control regulations are being formulated to ensure the proper enforcement of the law,” she said while addressing a rally organized at the High Court Mazar intersection in the city. In her speech, Rizwana emphasized that while the regulations aim to address all sources of noise pollution, the primary focus is currently on curbing the use of horns. For the first time in Bangladesh, she said, punishments are being enforced under the Bangladesh Police Act to prevent unnecessary honking. Anisur Rahman, and the Project Director of the Noise Pollution Control Project, Farid Ahmed, among others.

File photoDHAKA, Feb 3, 2026 (BSS) - The Special Metropolitan Magistrate of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) disposed of a total of 4,334 cases in January, including 3,292 criminal cases and 1,442 traffic cases, through summary trial courts. Among 5,610 individuals arrested during the month, 3,416 received various sentences. Summary trials enable the Special Metropolitan Magistrate Court to quickly process non-serious offences and minor crimes under the provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure. Law Officer (District Judge) Mohammad Ataul Haque provided details on case disposal and arrests across DMP divisions. He said a total of 1,953 cases were filed with the Motijheel Traffic Division, of which the Special Metropolitan Magistrate disposed of 1,442 cases, including 383 cases handled in person, with fines totaling Tk 6,87,300.

About 35,000 people are diagnosed with lung cancer each year, and nearly 5,000 die annually from the disease. Smoking and exposure to secondhand smoke are the leading causes, accounting for nearly 90% of lung cancer cases, experts said. Among women, breast cancer has become the most common cancer, overtaking cervical cancer, which has declined slightly in recent years. Breast cancer cases, however, continue to rise. Cancer patients often require long-term radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and, in the case of breast cancer, hormone therapy for five to ten years.

Ultra-processed food manufacturers are increasingly using strategies pioneered by the tobacco industry to drive overconsumption—an alarming trend that could worsen the heavy burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), according to a new international study. According to the World Health Organization, NCDs account for more than two-thirds of all deaths in the country, with unhealthy diets identified as a major risk factor. “They are optimised for craving, rapid intake and repeated use—and that level of harm demands regulatory action.”The study draws striking parallels between ultra-processed food marketing and the tobacco industry’s past practices. The article appears in The Milbank Quarterly, a peer-reviewed journal of population health and health policy published by the Milbank Memorial Fund. “The fight against cancer is to a large degree a fight against NCDs, and prevention has to be pivotal,” she added.

The chiefs of the three services - General Waker-Uz-Zaman (Chief of Army Staff), Admiral M Nazmul Hassan (Chief of Naval Staff) and Air Chief Marshal Hasan Mahmood Khan (Chief of Air Staff) jointly visited Gazipur district on the occasion of the upcoming 13th Jatiya Sangsad (JS) polls and the Referendum. "During the visit, the chiefs of the three services exchanged views with senior military officers, various law enforcement agencies and civil administration officials of Gazipur, Narsingdi and Narayanganj districts of Dhaka division at the conference room of the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute here," said a release of Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) Directorate. During the view exchange meeting, inter-institutional coordination and overall security management were discussed to ensure the holding of a fair, peaceful and impartial general election, slated for February 12. The chiefs put special emphasis on performing respective duties with professionalism, impartiality, discipline, patience and citizen-friendly behaviour, the ISPR added. Senior military officers of the Army, Navy and Air Force, as well as senior officers of the civil administration and law enforcement agencies, were present there.

A Dhaka court on Tuesday deferred the submission of the further investigation report in the murder case of Inqilab Mancha convener Sharif Osman Hadi for the fifth time. Earlier, the Detective Branch (DB) of the police submitted a charge sheet on January 6, naming 17 accused in the Hadi murder case. The case came up for hearing on January 12, when Abdullah Al Jaber sought two days to review the charge sheet. The court granted the request and set January 15 for receiving the charge sheet. On that day, Abdullah Al Jaber, member secretary of the plaintiff Inqilab Manch, filed a petition expressing dissatisfaction with the charge sheet submitted by the DB.