Silver prices collapse more than 15%, gold down more than 3%HONG KONG, Feb 5, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Silver prices collapsed more than 15 percent Thursday morning as the volatility that hammered precious metals around last weekend returned, with gold shedding more than three percent. The white metal hit as low as $73.57 an ounce in Asian trade, while gold bullion sank to $4,971.55.

DHAKA, Feb 5, 2026 (BSS)- Opener Saif Hasan and captain Liton Das struck fluent half-centuries as Dhumketu XI thrashed Duronto XI by six wickets inthe opening match of the Odommo Bangladesh T20 Cup at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium today. Three teams - Dhumketu XI, Durbar XI and Duronto XI - are taking part in the tournament, which features total prize money and player fees worth Tk 2.5 crore. Liton led the chase with an unbeaten 65 off 43 balls, while Saif Hasan blasted a 30-ball 50 to guide Dhumketu to victory at 146-4 in just 16.1 overs. Liton and Saif then put Dhumketu firmly in control with a 78-run partnership for the second wicket. Duronto XI, largely made up of Under-19 players, struggled to show resilience against the disciplined bowling attack.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman spoke at an election rally organised by Naogaon district Jamaat at the A. Tim ground in the town this afternoon. Highlighting Naogaon’s importance as an agriculture-based district, Dr Shafiqur Rahman said that although a significant portion of the country’s food grains is supplied from the district, expected development has not taken place there. Speaking on the tourism sector, Dr Shafiqur Rahman said that although Naogaon has many potential tourist attractions, neglect and corruption have hindered their development. Addressing unemployment, Dr Shafiqur Rahman said that young people who took part in the mass uprising never demanded allowances. Later, Dr Shafiqur Rahman handed over election symbols to the candidates.

Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus has emphasised shifting government training away from rigid routines towards problem solving approaches. A report on institutional evaluation of training centres was presented to Yunus at the State Guest House Jamuna on Thursday. Training must be problem-solving oriented. It initially evaluated five institutions under the Ministry of Public Administration: Bangladesh Public Administration Training Centre (BPATC), BCS Administration Academy, BIAM Foundation, National Academy for Development Administration (NADA), and National Academy for Planning and Development (NAPD). Yunus also suggested ranking institutions and opening them to private sector officials for training.

Only one issue remains: the MCU has simply lost its spark. In fact, the MCU has been more and more widely regarded for outputting ‘slop,’ as in easily digestible bites of action with poor to mediocre writing. Allowing director Jake Schreier more creative control seemed key to unlocking a better written story than the MCU had in a few years. Moreover, it had a significantly better look than most Marvel movies, with noticeable color grading rather than the typical flat look of recent projects. However, the directing duo behind the upcoming Avengers has had a near-flawless run within the MCU, meaning this potential issue can be waved away.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman spoke at an election rally at the Nawab Siraj-ud-Daula Government College ground in Natore. If corruption and plunder are eliminated, thecountry will move forward at rocket speed," he told an election rally at theNawab Siraj-ud-Daula Government College ground here. Dr Rahman said, "The youth of this country want new politics and a newBangladesh. The Jamaat chief said if Jamaat-e-Islami came to power through people'svotes, justice would be ensured for all and corruption would not betolerated. Outlining his party's vision, Dr Shafiqur said Jamaat would present a countryof peace and equality "modeled on Madinah," ensuring women's safety anddignity at all times.

BARCELONA, Feb 5, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Spain on Thursday lifted its highest weather alert for torrential rain in the southern region of Andalusia, where a woman went missing, a day after the storm killed one in Portugal. Storm Leonardo dumped more than 40 centimetres (15 inches) of rain in some Andalusian districts on Wednesday, forcing the evacuation of thousands, paralysing rail and road transport and shutting schools. The downpours, which came after a storm killed five people and left hundreds injured in neighbouring Portugal last week, are examples of extreme weather that scientists say climate change is worsening. Spain's Civil Guard told AFP a woman had fallen into the Turvilla river in the Andalusian municipality of Sayalonga on Wednesday, "and we are searching for her." Classes resumed in most of Andalusia but remained suspended in the hardest-hit areas, with several roads and railways still out of service.

The DG made these remarks while speaking at the Ansar-VDP's preparatory rally for the upcoming 13th national parliamentary election and referendum at Tangail District Stadium today. The Director General highlighted that ongoing preparations by the force aim to strengthen a professional, democracy-friendly electoral system. He noted that the preparatory rallies are designed to enhance coordination, awareness, and unity among members assigned to election duties. He added that the combined strength of the 13 Ansar and VDP members stationed at each polling booth would serve as a deterrent against any irregularities or aggression. The rally was simultaneously broadcast to Rajshahi, Naogaon, and Mymensingh districts via giant screens, allowing Ansar and VDP members in those areas to receive the Director General's guidance in real time.

According to a UN document shared by the Chief Adviser's Press Wing here today, the proposal came into effect on February 3. Earlier, the Council of Advisers approved the proposal at its weekly meeting on January 29 to withdraw the declaration under Article 14(1) of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT). At the time of accession to the convention, Bangladesh along with the Bahamas, Fiji, New Zealand, Samoa, and the United States made reservations to Article 14(1). With the withdrawal of the reservation, the path has now been cleared for victims of state torture to receive rehabilitation and compensation. The Council of Advisers believes that the decision of withdrawing the reservation was a landmark and historic step.

Bangladesh’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Salahuddin Noman Chowdhury, spoke at the ECOSOC Special Meeting on Financial Integrity at United Nations Headquarters on Wednesday. Photo: PIDDHAKA, Feb 5, 2026 (BSS) – Bangladesh has called for stronger international cooperation to curb illicit financial flows and ensure the return of stolen assets, saying recovered funds are vital for development, public welfare and rebuilding trust in public institutions. Speaking at the ECOSOC Special Meeting on Financial Integrity at United Nations Headquarters on Wednesday, Bangladesh’s Permanent Representative to the UN Salahuddin Noman Chowdhury said the July 2024 mass uprising renewed public expectations for integrity, transparency and accountability in public affairs, said a press release received here today. He observed that so-called “mega projects” often deliver limited benefits to ordinary people while creating opportunities for corruption and the diversion of public resources to offshore safe havens. Expressing concern over slow and fragmented global cooperation on asset recovery, the ambassador urged fairer access to relevant information, enhanced transparency and meaningful partnerships to ensure stolen assets are returned to their legitimate owners.

MINNEAPOLIS, United States, Feb 5, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - US President Donald Trump suggested Wednesday that a "softer touch" may be needed on immigration, as his administration said 700 federal officers would be pulled from Minnesota but that mass deportations would not stop. Before the launch of the high-profile crackdown in Minnesota, there were only 150 federal immigration officers in the state, he said. "President Trump fully intends to achieve mass deportations during this administration, and immigration enforcement actions will continue every day throughout this country," Homan said. Two weeks later, immigration officers beat and shot dead intensive care nurse Alex Pretti, also 37, as he lay pinned to the ground. The killings drew international attention and condemnation over the government's false accounts of what happened, intensifying public concern about the conduct of federal immigration operations.

Ukraine, Russia, US to start second day of war talksABU DHABI, Feb 5, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Ukraine, Russia and the United States will start a second day of talks in Abu Dhabi on Thursday, seeking to end Moscow's nearly four-year invasion. A first day of trilateral talks in the Emirati capital on Wednesday concluded with Kyiv describing the negotiations as "substantive and productive", though there was no apparent breakthrough. Ukraine's top negotiator Rustem Umerov said "concrete steps and practical solutions" had been discussed during the first day of the talks. In Ukraine, foreign ministry spokesman Georgiy Tykhy said of the second round of talks that Kyiv was "interested in finding out what the Russians and Americans really want". Trump could use economic sanctions against Russia or transfer weapons to Ukraine to "maintain this pressure on Putin", Zelensky said, but added that Kyiv would not compromise on sovereignty.

China says it will not join nuclear talks 'at this stage'BEIJING, Feb 5, 2026 (AFP) - China said on Thursday it would not join nuclear talks "at this stage" after the expiry of the US-Russian New START treaty triggered fears of a global arms race. The United States has said any new nuclear agreement would have to include China, but international efforts to encourage Beijing to join fresh talks have so far failed. "China's nuclear capabilities are of a totally different scale as those of the United States and Russia (and) will not participate in nuclear disarmament negotiations at this stage," he said. Russia and the United States together control more than 80 percent of the world's nuclear warheads but arms agreements have been withering away. China's nuclear arsenal is growing quickly, with an estimated 550 strategic nuclear launchers, which is still well below the 800 each at which Russia and the United States were capped under New START.

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus today chaired the meeting of the Council of Advisers at the Chief Adviser's Office. The Council of Advisers today approved the proposal at its weekly meeting at the Chief Adviser's Office (CAO) in the city with Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus in the chair. Later, Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam disclosed the matter at a briefing at the Foreign Service Academy here this afternoon. Besides, the advisory council also gave approval to the draft of the Bangladesh Gas (Amendment) Ordinance-2026, aimed at preventing illegal gas connections and theft. Shafiqul Alam said that illegal gas connections and misuse cause losses amounting to thousands of crores of taka every year.

DHAKA, Feb 5, 2026 (BSS) - Bangladesh U-19 women's football team captainArpita Biswas expressed her high hope to lift the title of SAFF U-19 Women'schampionship beating India in the final. Bangladesh will take on India in the final match of the SAFF U-19 Women'sChampionship scheduled to be held at Pokhara Rangasala Stadium in Pokhara,Nepal on Saturday (Feb 7). "Since we beat India once, and there will be another match against them.... Arpita informed that there is no injury concern in the team at the moment andall are mentally prepared to fight against India in the final. Earlier, Bangladesh crushed Bhutan 12-0, beat India 2-0 and defeated Nepal 4-0 in the championship.