A local Awami League leader, who was incarcerated in Keraniganj Central Jail in connection with a student murder case, died at Dhaka Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) on Thursday night. The deceased, identified as Abdur Razzak, 54, served as the Forest and Environment Affairs Secretary of the Savar Municipal Awami League and the Organizing Secretary of Ward No. 7 Awami League. Belal Uddin Mona, brother-in-law of the deceased, said that Abdur Razzak was admitted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital by the jail authorities after collapsing due to chest pain earlier in the afternoon. He was later transferred to DMCH, where doctors declared him dead at 7:45 pm. “At the time of filing this report, the relatives of the deceased were waiting at the hospital to receive the body following the due procedures,” Mona added.  

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus had a telephone conversation with Elon Musk, the world's richest man and close aide of US President Donald Trump, on Thursday night. Details of the discussion will be revealed in due course, said Chief Adviser’s Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad. The Chief Adviser is currently in Dubai to attend the World Governments Summit. Earlier, Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum invited the Chief Adviser to participate in the Summit. The three-day World Governments Summit convened under the theme of 'Shaping Future Governments.' It began on February 11 and brought together governments, international organisations, thought leaders and private sector leaders from around the globe to foster international cooperation and identify innovative solutions for future challenges, ultimately inspiring and empowering the next generation of governments.  

International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) Chief Prosecutor Muhammad Tajul Islam has called the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) report on the July-August student-led mass uprising irrefutable evidence of crimes against humanity.  “This report will be used in the trial of those involved in the incident, including the government of Sheikh Hasina, at the International Crimes Tribunal,” he said during a briefing at his office on Thursday afternoon. Tajul Islam said, "There is no major difference between the OHCHR report and the evidence found by the ICT investigation agency. The report clearly states that the Awami League party, along with its front organizations Chhatra League and Jubo League, and various security forces, used deadly weapons on people. This was done under the specific planning and direction of party leader and then Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, party General Secretary Obaidul Quader, and former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal." The Chief Prosecutor also said that it is important to take steps to temporarily suspend various forces and government officials who have preliminary evidence of crimes against humanity, following the law and as advised by the UN. He added that officials from different organisations or forces can be tried for crimes against humanity under the International Crimes Tribunal Act. “This tribunal is the right place to try those involved in crimes within the forces.” “No person or institution is above the state,” he emphasised. He also mentioned that if a crime is proven to be committed by a group, action can be taken against the entire group, but the state’s initiative is necessary in such cases. The fact-finding report titled ‘Human Rights Violations and Abuses Related to the Protests of July and August 2024 in Bangladesh’ was released on Wednesday (February 12).  

A 20-year-old construction worker died after falling from an under-construction building on the Supreme Court premises on Thursday. The deceased was identified as Mujibar Rahman, a resident of Komardola village in Saidpur upazila of Nilphamari district. Case filed over attack on students’ picnic in Savar; 4 held Hamidul Islam, a co-worker of the deceased, said Mujibar fell around 8 pm while working on the 11th-floor roof of the under-construction building and was seriously injured. He was later rescued and rushed to Dhaka Medical College and Hospital but succumbed to his injuries. One dead in bus fire in Munshiganj Md. Faruk, in-charge of the DMCH police outpost, said that the body has been kept in the hospital morgue for an autopsy.

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus on Thursday joined a community engagement programme with expatriate Bangladeshis in Dubai, UAE. Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain was also present at the event. Dubai Summit: Bangladesh’s Chief Justice stresses global cooperation in AI regulation The Chief Adviser is visiting Dubai to attend the World Governments Summit. The Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, invited the Chief Adviser to participate in the Summit. The three-day World Governments Summit convened under the theme 'Shaping Future Governments.' Trade, business ties to be expanded with Bangladesh, hopes UAE Health Minister The Summit began on February 11 and brought together governments, international organisations, thought leaders and private sector leaders from around the globe to foster international cooperation and identify innovative solutions for future challenges, ultimately inspiring and empowering the next generation of governments.  

Family members of those who were forcibly disappeared under the last regime, with many yet to return even after 11-12 years, and activists have praised the report by UN OHCHR into human rights violations and abuses related to the protests of July and August 2024 in Bangladesh. They were speaking at a discussion organised by Maayer Daak, which emerged as a platform for the families of the victims of enforced disappearance during the Awami League regime. It is led by Sanjida Islam Tulee, whose brother Sajedul Islam, a BNP activist, was picked up by security agencies in December 2013, and hasn't been seen since. Addressing the programme, Tasneem Khalil, Editor-in-Chief of Netra News, applauded the UN's report on the July Uprising massacre, which should give an impetus to the quest for justice that had seemed to be drifting in recent weeks. Speaking at the discussion titled ‘UN Investigation Report and the Crimes Against Humanity Trial Process: International Context’ at the Jatiya Press Club on Thursday, Khalil said the government must fully cooperate with the UN’s investigation into these crimes. Sketch of Nafiz's body on rickshaw footboard featured in UN Human Rights Report Family members of those who were forcibly disappeared also shared their thoughts during the discussion. Khalil said that the main point of the UN report is that the coordinated attack on the protesters during the July Uprising was a crime against humanity, and this has been proven. The report also mentions that more investigation is needed to prosecute the crimes in a court of law. “If proven, this will not just be a local issue for Bangladesh, but will become an international matter, leading to calls for justice and accountability," he added. He also urged the Bangladesh government to provide necessary support to this UN investigation. While we believe there is goodwill from investigators in Bangladesh, there is a lack of specialized expertise. “We need international help, particularly in forensic architecture." UN report finds brutal, systematic repression; calls for justice Khalil also suggested that the government should ask the UN for assistance in recovering money that has been laundered from Bangladesh. Human rights organisations could also come together to discuss next steps, he said. Family members of the disappeared spoke about their pain. They said that enforced disappearance is one of the greatest crimes against humanity because the missing person leaves no trace behind, only memories. A family member shared, "Those who did not return may have begged, ‘I have small children at home, elderly parents, please let me go.’ But no one hears their cry." They demanded justice for those responsible for these disappearances. Dr Yunus reaffirms commitment to upholding rule of law, welcomes OHCHR report Manorom Palak, whose father journalist Shafiqul Islam Kajol remained missing for 53 days before law enforcement agencies produced him before a court, shared his family's experience of loss and his own introduction into activism while fighting for his father's freedom and even just to find out where he was. Lamia Islam Meem, whose father Kawsar Hossain, a driver by profession who was involved in BNP politics, and still remains missing after eight years, said: "I just want to walk holding my father's hand. I don’t need anything else. I heard that my father is in Aynaghar, but where is he? I saw Aynaghar, but couldn’t find him."  

Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain and his Indian counterpart, External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar, are likely to hold a meeting on the sidelines of the 8th Indian Ocean Conference to be held in Muscat, Oman, on February 16-17. "There is a possibility.....we expect that the meeting will be held," Spokesperson at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mohammad Rafiqul Alam told reporters at the weekly briefing on Thursday. Foreign Adviser Hossain is now in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and is scheduled to go to Muscat on February 14. This would be their second meeting since the formation of the interim government led by Prof Muhammad Yunus in August last year. Adviser Hossain and Minister Jaishankar had their first meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York in September last year. The 8th Indian Ocean Conference is being organised by India Foundation in association with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Oman. The theme of the Indian Ocean Conference this year is "Voyages to New Horizons of Maritime Partnership." The Indian Ocean Conference was started by India Foundation in 2016 in Singapore, with participation from 30 countries. In the last 8 years, the conference has emerged as the flagship consultative forum for countries in the region over regional affairs. The conference endeavours to bring critical states and principal maritime partners of the region together on a common platform to deliberate upon the prospects of regional cooperation for Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR). The Foreign Adviser is scheduled to return home on February 18 after attending the Indian Ocean Conference. In Muscat, President of the India Foundation Ram Madhav on Wednesday said the conference brings together the countries of the Indian Ocean region. "It has become a calendar event, not only in the region but the entire world.” Oman Foreign Minister Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi (host) along with foreign ministers of Australia Penny Wong, Bahrain Abdullatif Bin Rashid, Bhutan DN Dhungyel, Iran Abbas Araghchi, Maldives FM Abdulla Khaleel, Mauritius D Ramful, Nepal Arzu Rana Deuba, Sri Lanka Vijitha Herath, Seychelles Errol Fonseka, Eritrea FM Osman Saleh, will be present in Muscat. Around 27 foreign ministers will be attending the gathering, with delegations from 45 countries in attendance. The conference aligns with Oman’s Vision 2040, which focuses on economic diversification, environmental sustainability, and promoting renewable energy.

The Government of Japan extended a grant of USD 80,719, which is approximately Tk 9.5 million, to Kumudini Welfare Trust of Bengal (BD) Ltd. SAIDA Shinichi, ambassador of Japan to Bangladesh, signed the ‘Grant Contract’ for Grant Assistance for Grass-Roots Human Security Projects (GGHSP) at the Embassy of Japan on Thursday. Kumudini has been awarded USD 80,719 as grant for “The Project for the Expansion of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and the Procurement of Medical Equipment at Kumudini Hospital in Tangail District”. Kumudini has been operating to ensure the health and socio-economic welfare of poor and vulnerable women through its hospital, educational institutions, and training facilities. With the assistance of the GGHSP funding, Kumudini will expand Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and procure and install ICU Ventilator, Humidifier Set For Ventilator, Infant Incubator, Radiant Warmer, Overhead Phototherapy, Portable X-ray that will ensure adequate medical care to newborns at Kumudini Hospital.　 Japan has supported 218 NGO projects through GGHSP since 1989 with the view to enhancing economic and social human security at the grass-roots levels. The total sum of these GGHSP grants extended to approximately $17.3 million.  

Chief Justice of Bangladesh Syed Refaat Ahmed on Thursday stressed the need for global cooperation in regulation of artificial intelligence (AI) and other emerging technologies in a bid to address the challenges of a rapidly changing world. “As we look to the future, we must also consider the global nature of these challenges. AI and other emerging technologies do not respect national borders, and neither should our regulatory approaches. By fostering international cooperation and sharing best practices, we can create a global ecosystem of regulation that is both innovative and equitable,” he said. The Chief Justice said this while delivering a keynote speech at a session of the World Regulatory Forum of the Global Government Summit 2025 in Dubai, according to a press release. His speech focused on the challenges and opportunities posed by emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the critical role of regulatory impact assessments (RIAs) and global collaboration in shaping adaptive legal frameworks in this regard. Switzerland to focus on further deepening diplomatic, economic cooperation with Bangladesh: Envoy “By leveraging AI, conducting rigorous regulatory impact assessments, and utilizing regulatory sandboxes, we can build a regulatory environment that is adaptive, resilient, and capable of addressing the challenges of a rapidly changing world,” he said. Syed Refaat Ahmed said this is not just a technical or legal challenge—it is a moral imperative. “As we shape the future of regulation, we must ensure that it serves not only the interests of today but also the needs of generations to come,” he added. He emphasized the importance of designing modern regulatory mechanisms that are agile, inclusive, and able to respond to the complexities of an ever-evolving technological landscape. The Chief Justice highlighted how AI has transformed sectors like healthcare, education, finance, and governance, while also raising significant ethical, legal, and regulatory challenges. Trade, business ties to be expanded with Bangladesh, hopes UAE Health Minister He said AI’s global impact necessitates a harmonized regulatory approach that transcends national boundaries and to address this urge the policymakers and global leaders to work towards collaborative solutions. About the role of Regulatory Impact Assessments (RIAs), the Chief Justice emphasized the need for RIAs in AI governance, ensuring policies remain forward-looking and responsive to rapid technological changes. He pointed out that regulatory mechanisms are essential for testing new technologies and refining regulatory frameworks. He called for the wider adoption of innovative regulatory tools to ensure that legislation keeps pace with technological advancements. Putting emphasis on the global cooperation and interdisciplinary collaboration to develop robust and inclusive regulatory frameworks, he said the borderless nature of technologies like AI, national legal systems alone are insufficient to address their complexities. CA Dr Yunus in Dubai to attend World Governments Summit He recommended building a legal framework in combination of both civil and common law traditions to create adaptive and resilient legal structures. The session was chaired by the Minister of State, and the Secretary General of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Maryam Al Hammadi.

A case has been filed against the owner and staff of Aladin’s Park in Dhamrai upazila of Savar in connection with the attack on students who went there for a picnic. Abdul Hye Majumdar, assistant professor of Banophool Adibashi Green Heart College in Mirpur, filed the case against four identified and 25-30 unidentified people on Thursday. Alauddin, owner of the park; Rifat Mahmud, son of the owner; manager Rony; and another staff member Abul Kalam Azad were accused in the case, said Manirul Islam, officer-in-charge of Dhamrai Police Station. Police in a drive arrested four people from the adjacent villages in the upazila on Thursday. They are: Rakib, Antar, Md Sumon and Rana, ride operator of the park. According to the case statement, a mobile phone was missing from in front of the office room of the park on Wednesday afternoon. A heated argument transpired between the students and the staff of the park led by Rifat. At one stage, Rifat, along with his staff, equipped with weapons, attacked the students, leaving 30 people including students and teachers injured. They also vandalised eight buses, used for the picnic, and snatched away 20-25 mobile phones from the students. The students also vandalised the glass of a building inside the park. Some 600 students from the Banophool Adibashi Green Heart College, Mirpur went to the park for a picnic on Wednesday and the park authorities provided lockers to keep the valuables including mobile phone of the students. On information, police rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control. Meanwhile, Alauddin, owner of the park, alleged that the estimated loss caused by the vandalism is over Tk 10 lakh.