KHARTOUM, Feb 3, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - The Sudanese army and paramilitary forces traded strikes on each others' positions in the west and south of the country on Monday, a military source and witnesses told AFP. In Darfur in the west, army strikes hit the town of Zalingei, one of five state capitals in the vast region controlled by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Confirming the attack, the military source told AFP that the building was an RSF warehouse. After announcing last week that it had opened two corridors around Dilling, the army was continuing to advance towards South Kordofan capital Kadugli, the military source said. The secretary general of the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), Jan Egeland, called South Kordofan "Sudan's most dangerous and neglected frontline".

PARIS, France, Feb 3, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - France adopted a 2026 government budget on Monday following months of fraught negotiations after Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu survived the latest in a string of no-confidence motions. Lawmakers rejected two no-confidence motions from the hard left and far-right parties tabled after the premier on Friday forced his budget through parliament without a vote for the third and final time. The outcome cleared the way for the budget's final approval after four months of political deadlock over government spending. Motions tabled by the France Unbowed, the Greens and other left-wing groups drew 260 of the 289 votes needed to oust the the government. The plan boosts military spending by 6.5 billion euros, a move the premier last week described as the "heart" of the budget.

The genre of dark academia seeks to capture this feeling. Gang of Youths: “Achilles Come Down”What would dark academia be without references to Greek mythology? “Young and Beautiful” was released specifically for the 2013 film adaptation of The Great Gatsby, emphasizing Gatsby’s distinctive yearning and adhering perfectly to the ‘classic literature’ element of the dark academia genre. The abrupt switch in tone from Phoebe Bridgers’ “Garden Song” to this only amplifies the alarming nature of the narrative. ‘Solar Flare’ is a weekly playlist column where Sun contributors spotlight a slice of musical taste with the campus community.

NCP Election Management Committee Chairman Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuiyan today spoke at Satmero High School field in Goaljhora in Panchagarh. "Sarjis Alam has worked for the development of tourism and roads here even without being an MP. Addressing the rally, Sarjis Alam, the 11-party alliance candidate for Panchagarh-1, urged voters to reject those involved in filing false cases, extortion, terrorism and violence against women. If he cannot, he can never be a good leader," Sarjis Alam said. "We will work together to ensure Sarjis Alam's victory in Panchagarh-1, Insha'Allah."

Finance Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed-File PhotoDHAKA, Feb 2, 2026 (BSS) – Finance Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed today said that the interim government has tried to keep the economy relatively stable and has tackled many challenges. “The interim government has tried to keep the economy relatively stable and has tackled many challenges. Advising Sonali Bank officials to maintain professionalism during the tenure of an elected government, the finance adviser warned that political pressure would inevitably arise. At the event, Sonali Bank Chairman Mohammad Muslim Chowdhury stressed the need for greater autonomy under the bank’s new PLC structure. Sonali Bank Chairman Mohammad Muslim Chowdhury presided over the conference, while senior officials from the Ministry of Finance and Sonali Bank were present.

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The remarks were made at the inauguration of the three-day 2nd Bangladesh Light Engineering Expo 2026, organised by the Bangladesh Engineering Industry Owners Association (BEIOA), which began in the capital today. The expo will run until February 4 and remain open daily from 11:00 am to 7:00 pm, showcasing the latest technologies, components, machinery, and innovative products from the country’s light engineering sector. But, the next step — light engineering — has not seen the kind of transition it should have,” he said. If these issues are addressed, light engineering products from Bangladesh would gain a strong competitive edge in international markets. At present, exports from the light engineering sector stand at approximately $795 million.

Photo: BSSDHAKA, Feb 2, 2026 (BSS)- Vice-President of Ziaur Rahman Foundation (ZRF) DrZubaida Rahman today exchanged views with underprivileged working womenresiding in the slums (Korail, Shattola, and TNT) of the Dhaka-17 NationalParliamentary Constituency Electoral Area. The Ziaur Rahman Foundation organised the meeting this afternoon whileExecutive Director of the Ziaur Rahman Foundation Prof Dr. Farhad HalimDonar, Director of Planning Dr. Syeda Tajnin Waris Simki, and the ChiefCoordinator of the Dhaka-17 constituency electoral area valiant FreedomFighter Abdus Salam were present. Everyone openly and lively discussed their problems with Dr. Zubaida Rahmanduring the meeting. She listened to everyone's problems with great importanceand assured them of taking practical steps in accordance with BNP's electionmanifesto.

Ranjit Das, one of the finest goalkeepers in the history of Bangladeshi football, has passed away. He breathed his last in the early hours of today (Monday) after suffering a heart attack at a hospital in Sylhet. A shining star of football in the pre-independence era, Ranjit Das regularly guarded the goalposts of the East Pakistan team from 1955 to 1961. His cremation will be held this evening at the Chalibandar crematorium in Sylhet.”Renowned for his exceptional skills on the field, Ranjit Das played for Ispahani Club, Azad Sporting Club and Mohammedan Sporting Club before independence. In recognition of his outstanding contribution to football, Ranjit Das was honoured with the National Sports Award.

Money supply is the sum of cash in circulation and bank deposits. Bangladesh Bank statistics show that money supply grew rapidly during the tenure of the last government. The most widely used measure of money supply, M2 or “broad money”, increased from Tk13.7 lakh crore in June 2020 to Tk18.9 lakh crore in June 2023. In just three years, money supply grew by roughly Tk5.2 lakh crore. Economists agree that the combination of low interest rates and sustained fiscal deficits fuels money supply growth and inflation.

British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Sarah Cooke has met Chief of Army Staff General Waker‑uz‑Zaman to explore ways to deepen defence ties. She also reaffirmed the UK’s long‑standing encouragement of free, fair, credible and peaceful elections in Bangladesh, said the High Commission on Monday. The courtesy meeting with the Chief of Army Staff was held at Army Headquarters. In addition to exchanging mutual greetings, both sides discussed various aspects of further enhancing defence cooperation between two nations, said the Bangladesh Army in a message through its verified Facebook page.

The webinar, titled Breaking Accessibility Barriers in Online Learning Platforms for Persons with Disabilities, was organized by the Access Bangladesh Foundation in collaboration with the Internet Society Foundation and leading media Dhaka Tribune. The discussion focused on persistent barriers faced by learners with disabilities in online education and the urgent need for inclusive digital design. Moderated by Albert Mollah, executive director of Access Bangladesh Foundation, the session highlighted how poorly designed digital platforms from accessibility perspective continue to marginalize learners with disabilities. “Digital exclusion is not accidental, it is designed,” he said, stressing that accessibility must be integrated at the core of online learning systems rather than treated as an afterthought. From the private sector, Raihan Patwary of Learning Bangladesh highlighted accessibility as critical for inclusion, noting higher commitment among learners with disabilities and plans to add AI‑driven features.

Barrister Zaima Rahman, daughter of BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman, on Monday stressed the need for a common platform to ensure the participation of people from all walks of life in building an inclusive Bangladesh. During the program, she moved from table to table, listening to the thoughts, concerns and aspirations of students from different universities and colleges. Expressing concern over cyberbullying, Zaima said laws alone are not enough to tackle the problem unless they are properly enforced. Zaima said young people have shown a strong interest in contributing to the country, which should be seen positively. At another table, Zaima thanked the students for attending and said the purpose of the gathering was to understand what kind of Dhaka and Bangladesh young people want to see in the future.

As Bangladesh gears up for its 13th national parliamentary election, public anxiety is rising amid a notable surge in election-related violence across the country. According to government sources, four people have died and more than 500 were injured in election-related incidents since the schedule was released. Since campaigning began on January 21, they have recorded four deaths, 414 injuries, and 51 incidents of clashes. The Chief Adviser’s Press Wing said 274 election-related violent incidents over the 53 days from December 12 to 9:00 pm on February 1. By comparison, during the 10th national parliamentary election, from December 22, 2013, to January 4, 2014, 530 incidents were reported, resulting in 115 deaths and 315 injuries.

Md Hasinur Rahman, chief scientific officer, has been appointed Member (Planning) (current charge) of the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission (BAEC). The appointment was made through an office order issued by the Ministry of Science and Technology on 29 January 2026. Prior to assuming the new role, Rahman was serving as director (Physical Sciences) of the commission. After joining BAEC in 1995 as a scientific officer, he has worked for nearly three decades in the fields of nuclear instrumentation, energy analysis and nuclear power plant project management. During his career, he was closely involved with the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant construction project for an extended period and served as deputy project director.