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.

Two motorcyclists were killed after their speeding motorcycle lost control and crashed into a road divider on the Dhaka-Mawa Expressway in Srinagar upazila of Munshiganj on Tuesday. The accident occurred around 11:30am in the Keotkhali area of the expressway. Both the rider and the passenger were thrown off the motorcycle and died on the spot. The deceased were identified as Arif, son of Haru Mia from the Mugda area of Dhaka, and Mamun from Faridpur. Srinagar Fire Service Station Officer Dewan Azad said the motorcycle hit the railing of the road divider after losing control.

Ameer of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Dr Shafiqur Rahman on Tuesday said the people of Bangladesh no longer support "old and decayed" politics centred on families, individuals or vested groups. Speaking at an election rally at the Circuit House ground in Mymensingh, Dr Shafiqur called for a government "truly run by the people". Dr Shafiqur said people were increasingly rejecting partisan politics and aspiring for a Bangladesh founded on justice and fairness. Referring to the upcoming election, the Jamaat leader claimed voters had already decided to support candidates who are "tested, known and proven", and who stand for justice, truth and fairness. The rally was presided over by Mymensingh city Jamaat Ameer Kamrul Ahsan Emrul, who introduced candidates from 11 constituencies of Mymensingh and five constituencies of the Netrokona district.

Dhaka-17 constituency Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami candidate Dr SM Khaliduzzaman has expressed regret over an incident involving an argument with army personnel after a video of the exchange went viral on social media. The incident occurred when Dr Khaliduzzaman attempted to enter the Dhaka Cantonment area with a gunman. On-duty army personnel stopped him, informing him that there is no provision for entering the cantonment with weapons or gunmen. An argument followed, during which the Jamaat candidate was seen speaking in an agitated manner. On Tuesday (February 3) afternoon, Khaliduzzaman explained the incident in a Facebook post.

BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Tuesday strongly criticised Jamaat-e-Islami, saying that if the party continues to distort history, it may one day claim that Ghulam Azam proclaimed Bangladesh’s independence. Reacting to the Jamaat chief’s remarks, Rizvi said the party cannot hide the truth by creating controversy over an established historical fact. Rizvi asserted that former president Ziaur Rahman was the real proclaimer of Bangladesh’s independence. “As a major, Ziaur Rahman declared independence and gave direction to the nation, calling people to join the Liberation War. The BNP leader questioned whether people would accept such sudden political claims made for vested interests.

Bangladesh's leading Islamist Party, Jamaat-e-Islami, has scored what many believe is a self-goal just a fortnight before the February 12 parliament elections. In a recent interview with Al Jazeera, Rahman was unapologetic about what his party thought of women in public life and employment. Powerful women activists in Bangladesh have launched vitriolic attacks on Jamaat-e-Islami, describing it as "medieval and barbaric" and an "enemy of social progress". 'Snake Reveals Poison Again'"Don't forget how Jamaat supplied Bengali women to satisfy the desires of their Pakistani masters in 1971. The votes of the women of Bangladesh will surely count in the February 12 elections.

Photo : BSSDHAKA, Feb 3, 2026 (BSS) - Nineteen students of Dhaka University received the '2nd TFP Creative Excellence Awards 2025' today, presented by the Department of Television, Film and Photography (TFP) on the occasion of the department's 14th founding anniversary. Professor Dr Mamun Ahmed, Vice-Provost (Academic) of Dhaka University, attended the ceremony as the chief guest. I believe this continuity in creative work will continue in the future." Department Chairman Saiyeed Shahjada Al Kareem said the programme was organised to nurture students' creative confidence. "With adequate support, this department will be able to provide world-class education and establish Dhaka University as a centre of creative work recognised worldwide," he added.