Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam. "We expect responsible journalism from our media outlets, especially at a time when they have enjoyed unprecedented freedom over the past 18 months. Dozens of supporters and members of Inquilab Moncho were also injured and received treatment at Dhaka Medical College Hospital, he added. The post quickly went viral and triggered serious tensions," Shafiqul Alam said. Their lack of verification and basic journalistic rigor helped create an explosive situation," Shafiqul Alam said.

In other words, voters' views on development are still mainly focused on building visible infrastructure. The survey showed that most voters consider roads, bridges, culverts and other visible infrastructure projects as the main indicators of development. The study found that voters and candidates give the least importance to social development compared to the environment and economy. In terms of social development, voters' priorities are limited mainly to two basic issues—health and education. The views, expectations, and realistic plans of voters and candidates were analyzed in light of three pillars: environment, green economy, and social development.

Iran’s foreign minister said a fresh round of talks with Washington would take place “soon,” while insisting that enrichment was Tehran’s “inalienable right” and building trust would take time. Abbas Araghchi said the first round of talks in Oman on Friday had been a “good start.”“(Nuclear) Enrichment is our inalienable right and must continue. Friday’s negotiations were the first since nuclear negotiations between Iran and the United States collapsed last year following Israel’s unprecedented bombing campaign against Iran, which triggered a 12-day war. During the war US warplanes bombed Iranian nuclear sites. The two sides had agreed to hold another round of talks “soon,” but the date has yet to be determined, Araghchi said.

Veteran journalist Zakaria Kajol, a founding member of the Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU), was laid to rest at Banani Graveyard in the capital on Saturday afternoon. His namaz e janaza took place at 2:00 pm on Saturday (February 7) on Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) premises, attended by DRU members and representatives from various professional and journalist organizations. Speaking at the janaza, DRU president Abu Saleh Akon and general secretary Mainul Hasan Sohel expressed deep sorrow at the death of Zakaria Kajol and recalled his contributions to journalism. Also present were BFUJ faction president Omar Faruk; former DRU president Saiful Islam; former DRU general secretary Kabir Ahmed Khan; and ERF general secretary Abul Kashem, among others. Veteran journalist Zakaria Kajol passed away on Friday at around 3:30 pm while undergoing treatment at a hospital in the capital.

Zaima Rahman on Saturday campaigned in Dhaka-17 in support of her father, BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman, who is contesting the 13th national parliamentary election with the party’s electoral symbol, the sheaf of paddy. Introducing herself to voters, Zaima said: “I am Tarique Rahman’s daughter, Zaima Rahman. My father is the 'sheaf of paddy' candidate from Dhaka-17. I seek your vote for him.”During the campaign, she distributed election leaflets among pedestrians, rickshaw pullers, CNG drivers and shopkeepers. She said the leaflets were made of plantable paper and could be placed in soil or pots to grow trees, adding that the initiative was taken to reduce election waste and promote environmental protection.

The United States wants Ukraine and Russia to end their nearly four-year war by June, and has offered to host talks between the two sides in Florida next week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said. But Ukraine says ceding ground will embolden Moscow and so it will not sign an agreement that fails to deter Russia from invading again. “The United States has proposed for the first time that the two negotiating teams -- Ukraine and Russia -- meet in the United States, probably in Miami, in a week’s time,” Zelensky told reporters in comments made public early Saturday. Zelensky has repeatedly expressed frustration that his country is being asked to make disproportionate compromises compared to Russia. Ukraine will not tolerate Russia and the United States making deals about Ukraine behind its back, Zelensky added.

BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman will address 14 election rallies across Dhaka over two days on Sunday and Monday, party leaders said on Saturday. The schedule was announced at a press conference in Gulshan by Mahdi Amin, spokesperson of the BNP Election Steering Committee and an adviser to Tarique Rahman. According to Mahdi, the BNP chairman will address six rallies on Sunday in parliamentary constituencies under Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC). He will begin at 2pm at the ECB premises in Dhaka-17, his own constituency. On Monday, Rahman will take part in eight rallies across Dhaka South City, including another event in his constituency.

Thousands gathered on Saturday for the funerals of victims of a suicide bombing at a Shiite mosque that killed 31 people and wounded 169 others in Pakistan’s capital. Friday’s attack, which was claimed by the Islamic State group, was the deadliest in Islamabad since the 2008 Marriott hotel bombing. A security source told AFP that the attacker blew himself up after he was stopped at the mosque’s gate. A worshipper, Imran Mahmood, told AFP that there was a gunfight between the bomber and volunteer security personnel. Friday’s attack was the deadliest in Islamabad since September 2008, when 60 people were killed in a suicide truck bomb blast that destroyed part of the five-star Marriott hotel.

Earlier, on February 2, Nahid filed a writ petition with the High Court challenging the legality of Quayum’s candidacy and seeking a stay on his participation in the election in the Dhaka-11 constituency. On February 3, the High Court summarily dismissed the petition. Following the order, Quayum’s lawyers said there was no longer any obstacle to his participation in the election in Dhaka-11. The order was delivered by a High Court bench comprising Justice Fahmida Kader and Justice Md Asif Hasan. Previously, the Election Commission declared valid the nomination papers of both Nahid Islam—the candidate of the 12-party alliance and NCP convener—and MA Quayum, the BNP-nominated candidate and the party’s secretary for microfinance affairs, for the Dhaka-11 constituency.

Around 18% of the total polling centres in Dhaka-14, Dhaka-16 and Dhaka-18 constituencies have been identified as risk-prone. Among the three constituencies, Dhaka-14 and Dhaka-16 are marked as highly risky. Lt Col Fuad Masrur said the Army remains on the highest alert to ensure that voters can travel to and from polling centres without disruption. Based on the level of risk, polling centres have been categorised as highly risk-prone, medium-risk and general, and necessary security measures are being taken accordingly, he said. The camp commander added that the Army will ensure the security of both election candidates and media personnel.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday hailed an interim trade agreement with the United States, saying it would bolster global growth and deepen economic ties between the two countries. The pact cuts US “reciprocal” duties on Indian products to 18% from 25%, and commits India to large purchases of US energy and industrial goods. US President Donald Trump, while announcing the deal Tuesday, had said Modi promised to stop buying Russian oil over the war in Ukraine. The shift marks a significant reduction in US tariffs on Indian products, down from a rate of 50 percent late last year. Washington and New Delhi are expected to sign a formal trade deal in March.

BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman has said his party was confident to win the election to form the next government, rejecting a proposal to form a coalition or unity government with Jamaat-e-Islami. The wire service said Tarique’s aides said BNP was confident of winning more than two thirds of the 300 parliamentary seats up for grabs while the party was contesting 292 of them, with allies vying for the rest. They said Tarique, however, declined to give a number but said "we are confident that we'll have enough to form a government”. All opinion polls have forecast a BNP victory but also a stiff challenge from the Jamaat alliance, which includes a Gen Z party that emerged from the youth-led anti-Hasina protests. As long as it is not safe, they are very welcome to stay here,” he said.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman on Saturday called the February 12 election a historic turning point for Bangladesh, pledging to end corruption, recover looted public funds, and ensure justice nationwide if his party comes to power. Addressing an election rally at the Sylhet Government Alia Madrasa ground, Shafiqur said: “The sun that rises on February 13 must illuminate a new Bangladesh. I am not seeking victory for Jamaat alone; I seek victory for the country’s 180 million people.”The rally was organized by the district and metropolitan units of Jamaat and presided over by Metropolitan Jamaat Ameer Md. The Jamaat ameer accused successive governments of looting public funds over the past 54 years, singling out the "facist" administration for allegedly siphoning Tk28.5 lakh crore abroad in the last 15 and a half years. “Wherever they are in the world, we will bring back every penny they stole.

The chairman of Yemen’s ruling leadership council has announced the formation of a new cabinet, weeks after deadly violence erupted in the country’s south and a separatist group was dissolved. Rashad al-Alimi, chairman of the Presidential Leadership Council, announced the formation of a new cabinet in a presidential decree released late Friday by the state-run Saba news agency, reports UNB. Only two women were included in the cabinet: Afrah al-Zouba, appointed minister of planning and international cooperation, and Ahd Jaasous, named state minister for women’s affairs. Both are tasked with overseeing Saudi backed operations aimed at dismantling militias linked to the separatist Southern Transitional Council, which is supported by the United Arab Emirates. Although the Southern Transitional Council opposes the Houthis, it seeks an independent southern state.

Faheem Ashraf smashed an unbeaten 29 off 11 balls as Pakistan scrambled past the Netherlands by three wickets to avoid a massive shock in the curtain-raiser of the T20 World Cup in Colombo on Saturday. With the chase wobbling, Faheem stitched a priceless unbroken 34-run stand for the eighth wicket with Shaheen Afridi to steady the ship and keep Pakistan afloat. The 2009 champions can ill afford a defeat in the group stage, having already conceded points against India following a government enforced forfeiture. Captain Scott Edwards anchored the innings with a polished 37 off 29 balls, but perished when he tried to take the aerial route against leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed. Pakistan conceded just 20 runs in the final four overs backed up by a razor-sharp performance in the field with several outstanding catches in the deep.