World Valentines Day is observed in Bangladesh on February 14 in a blend of Western and native culture.
The idea of Valentines Day in this country comes from the West. On this day, love is expressed towards the beloved through the exchange of flowers and gifts like chocolates, clothes and so on.
"I have always wanted every family, every relationship to be full of all kinds of love, so that there will be no violence, revenge and hatred between people," journalist Shafik Rehman, who has made the Western Valentines Day popular in Bangladesh, by celebrating it as Bhalobasa Dibos.
Shafik Rehman, the founding editor of the once widely circulated and popular weekly Jai Jai Din (currently the editor of Jai Jai Din Pratidin), brought out a separate issue called Bhalobasha Dibosh in his weekly in 1993. Since then, Valentines Day is being celebrated all over the country.
Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus has vowed that he would not allow key figures from the ousted Sheikh Hasina regime to escape punishment, noting that the people of Bangladesh will not forgive his administration if they fail to bring them to justice.
"We will bring her (Hasina) to justice. It has to happen, otherwise people will not forgive us," he told UAE state-owned English daily The National, mentioning that deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina and her senior officials would be sought out and returned home to face the full force of the law.
Nobel Peace Prize laureate Prof Yunus was appointed chief adviser to the interim government in August last year (2024) after Sheikh Hasina fled when her official residence was stormed by protesters. She had presided over one-party rule for 15 years. Her police and supporters killed an estimated 1,400 people in student protests in July and August, with another 11,000 injured. She fled to India, where she remains in exile.
"We have sent notice to India that Sheikh Hasina should be repatriated - we have lots of evidence, including the UN High Commissioner Report on Human Rights," Prof Yunus told The National in an interview on the sidelines of the World Governments Summit in Dubai.
The government has formed a seven-member Jatiya Oaikymoto Commission, led by Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus, to consider and adopt the recommendations submitted by six commissions.
A notification in this regard was issued on Wednesday by the Cabinet Division.
The commission other members are Constitutional Reform Commission chief Prof Ali Riaz, Public Administration Reform Commission chief Abdul Muyeed Chowdhury, Police Reform Commission chief Safar Raj Hossain, Election Reform Commission chief Badiul Alam Majumder, Judiciary Reform Commission chief Justice Emdadul Haque and Anti-Corruption Reform Commission chief Dr Iftekharuzzaman.
The newly formed commission will start functioning from February 15 and its tenure has been fixed for next six months.
The commission will hold discussions with political parties and forces to form a national consensus to consider and accept the recommendations of the commissions formed for reforms in the election system, public administration, judiciary and anti-corruption, including police activities.
The commission will recommend steps in this regard later.
Food Adviser Ali Imam Majumdar today instructed the authorities concerned to be strict in preventing smuggling of food grains in Myanmar.
"There is a possibility of food crisis due to civil war in Myanmar Rakhine state. In this situation, law enforcement agencies including BGB must be strict in preventing the smuggling of food grains from Bangladesh," he said.
The adviser gave this order at a meeting on Strengthening Food Grain Smuggling Prevention System at Coxs Bazar Deputy Commissioner office.
After the meeting, Imam said if there is a food crisis, there will be a risk of some smuggling from Bangladesh.
"There was already a tendency to smuggle fertilizers and fuel oil here. Therefore, it has been decided to continue surveillance and strengthen it if necessary. So that there can be no smuggling under any circumstances," he added.