The Chief Advisor’s Office (CAO) has dismissed media reports claiming deputy commissioners advised action on political speeches at Waz-Mahfils during a meeting in Dhaka. According to those reports, district administrators suggested “adding clear instructions” to the election code of conduct to stop political speeches at Waz-Mahfils. A report citing two DCs without naming them said political tension had increased around recent Waz-Mahfils, with political parties allegedly using them as platforms for publicity. They suggested that the election code should include a clear provision banning political remarks at such events, it added. The CAO described the related media reports as “entirely false”.

Bangladesh have edged India 1-0 in a tense AFC Asian Cup qualifier to claim a victory over their neighbours after 22 years, thanks to a deft first-half strike by Sheikh Morsalin. The remainder of the match saw Bangladesh fiercely defend their lead against a desperate Indian attack, holding on to claim the narrow win in the second leg of the third round of Asian Cup qualifiers. Bangladesh’s last victory over India came in the 2003 SAFF Championship, when goals from Rokonuzzaman Kanchan and Matiur Rahman Munna sealed a 2–1 victory. The win also lifted Bangladesh from the frustration of a winless qualifying campaign. Captain Jamal Bhuiya, though sidelined from playing, witnessed his team break through a long spell of disappointment and savoured the moment of triumph.

Political parties taking part in the Election Commission’s ongoing dialogues have delivered a blunt warning: without independence and resolve, the commission cannot hope to deliver a credible national election. Their criticism on Monday laid bare a widening crisis of confidence in the body entrusted with safeguarding Bangladesh’s democratic process, bdnews24.com reports. Representatives from Zaker Party, Amar Bangladesh Party (AB Party), Bangladesh Development Party (BDP), Bangladesh Islami Front, Khelafat Majlis, and Jatiya Ganatantrik Party (JAGPA) expressed concerns in the dialogue. Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasiruddin said they were working sincerely despite encountering “many adversities” with the intention to hold a credible election. On Wednesday, 12 more political parties, including the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, the Jamaat-e-Islami and the National Citizen Party, will hold dialogue with the EC.

Passengers at Dhaka’s Shahjalal International Airport have been thrown into panic after smoke appeared near the departure terminal, a month after a major blaze at the airport’s Cargo Village. Airport officials suspect the fire started after someone discarded a cigarette between the terminal building’s two walls, igniting the rubbish. The smoke briefly alarmed passengers, but swift response by airport’s Civil Aviation fire unit kept the situation under control. On Oct 18, a fire had broken out at the import cargo complex at the airport. Even a month after the fire, operations at the Cargo Village have not fully returned to normal.

Crowds at Dhaka University’s TSC have erupted into celebration after Sheikh Hasina was handed a death sentence over the deadly crackdown on the July Uprising. Slogans have been shouted calling for execution, mentioning ropes, farm tools and references to the verdict becoming reality. A rickshaw-puller named Latif Mia said Hasina has caused suffering, calling the verdict a result of killings, adding it is now time for execution. The International Crimes Tribunal, headed by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mojumdar in a three-member panel, has sentenced Hasina to death. Former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan has also received a death sentence.

The Army and police have blocked a group of people attempting to demolish the ruins of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s residence at Dhanmondi 32. Around 12 pm on Monday, two excavators were brought to the area by an organisation named “Red July”. Police and later the Army dispersed them using batons and stun grenades, according to bdnews24.com. The “Red July” regrouped after being chased away by police, blocking Mirpur Road to shout slogans, prompting police to fire several stun grenades to disperse the crowd once more. Marking six months since the incident, an “excavator march” was held on Feb 5, during which more than half of the house on Road 32 was torn down.

A land office signboard, a section of a highway, and a rail line in Chattogram have been hit by arson attacks. In the early hours of Monday, tree stumps and tyres were set on fire on the railway track and highway in the Hathazari upazila, reports bdnews24.com. Around the same time, the signboard of the Bakalia Circle land office was also set on fire. He said miscreants took tree stumps from a nearby saw mill, placed them on the Chattogram-Nazirhat railway line, set fire to them and fled. Sonia Haque, assistant commissioner (land) of the Bakalia circle, told bdnews24.com that she had seen a video circulating on social media showing the land office signboard being set on fire.

Crude hand bombs were also detonated in parts of the capital. Fire Service Control Room Duty Officer Lima Khanam said the incidents of arson and crude bomb blasts occurred from Sunday night until Monday morning, report bdnews24.com. According to police, a bus was torched in Merul Badda near the water tank next to BRAC University. Scattered bomb blasts and vehicle arson attacks have since occurred in Dhaka and other parts of the country. In response, Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Sheikh Md Sazzat Ali issued a directive for police to shoot anyone attempting to commit arson on vehicles or hurl bombs.

Japanese–Bangladeshi fashion and sustainability venture REVIVAL Group Co Ltd and REVIVAL Projects Ltd will lease and restart the long-shuttered BEXIMCO Textile Division, according to a press release. “The company aims to reconnect BEXIMCO Textile with its global buyer base, while simultaneously developing new international partnerships. The revival agreement with REVIVAL now makes that possible.”REVIVAL says, “With Japanese precision, US financial strength and the resilience of the Bangladeshi workforce, the revival of BEXIMCO Textile stands as a powerful symbol of economic renewal. Since then, unrest has brewed among the companies of the Beximco Group, the country’s leading industrial group. Though 32 factories were listed at the Beximco Industrial Park, a government investigation committee subsequently found that only 16 existed.

Actress Mehazabien Chowdhury and her brother Alisan Chowdhury have secured bail after surrendering before a Dhaka court in an “embezzlement” case. On Sunday evening, they turned themselved in before the Dhaka Executive Magistrate Court-3 judge Afroza Tania. Their lawyer, Tuhin Hawlader, said the bail petitions were granted after a hearing. Mehazabien, however, has dismissed the allegations as “baseless”. Attempts to reach Mehazabien by phone for comment were unsuccessful.

Finance Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed has responded to claims that “nothing is happening”, saying many developments cannot be revealed because of government-imposed “secrecy”. “Many people on talk shows are saying nothing is being done,” he said. “A tunnel was built at a cost of hundreds of millions, but it carries very few vehicles. Rest houses were built in megaproject areas for one to two hundred million. “We have initiated the process; the next government will take it forward.”

Content creator Ashraful Alam, widely known as Hero Alom, has secured bail after being arrested in a case filed by his former wife, accusing him of attempted murder and assault. “He was arrested and sent to court under an outstanding warrant in a physical assault case filed by his wife, Ria Moni,” the DC added. According to the case, Alom divorced Ria Moni following marital disputes and forced her out of their home. Ria filed the case with Hatirjheel Police on Jun 23. The court, however, issued arrest warrants after they allegedly failed to appear for scheduled hearings, thereby violating the conditions of their bail.

The Rab Commander said the body was left in the room overnight while Jarez and Shamima stayed there. The following day, Thursday, they purchased a machete and dismembered Ashraful's body into 26 pieces, stuffing the remains into two drums, said the RAB official. She also said Jarez had planned to flee the country to Malaysia and arrangements for a passport were underway for Jarez. Shamima told RAB that they had planned to extort Tk 1.0 million from Ashraful using the intimate video. Ashraful Haque's dismembered body was found stuffed into two drums and dumped beside the National Eidgah ground on Thursday.

Trailing to Rohit Chand's first-half strike, Bangladesh levelled through Hamza's exquisite overhead effort just a minute into the second half before the England-born midfielder calmly chipped home from the spot four minutes later. The hosts, who last beat Nepal 2-0 in Dhaka five years ago, started with plenty of possession but little penetration. Nepal made them pay three minutes later, when Sumit Shrestha's cutback was misjudged by Sohel Rana Sr, allowing Rohit to rifle a low drive past Mitul Marma. Moments later, Hamza struck again with a cheeky Panenka past Kiran Limbu to make it 2-1. Bangladesh, already clinging on, were undone when Tamang flicked home from a corner in added time.

Police in Khagrachhari’s Ramgarh have taken two Chinese nationals into custody, saying they travelled to the hill district “without permission”. Ramgarh Police Chief Md Main Uddin said the two Chinese passport holders were being kept in their custody until Friday afternoon. Citing a home ministry circular, the police chief said foreign nationals require prior permission to travel to or enter the Chittagong Hill Tracts, but the two had no such approval. Police say the two arrived in Ramgarh on Wednesday through Md Rokon Uddin, an employee of Aborna Classic, an aluminum company in Kumira, Chattogram. The detained Chinese nationals told police they arrived in Chattogram about one and a half months ago and had been living in the city’s Khulshi area.