Spring Festival and Valentine's Day are two special days for flower traders in Chattogram. The flower market becomes bustling, and buyers' interest in roses doubles. However, this time the picture was a little different. Flower shops are decorated with roses, gladiolus, marigolds, gerberas and other flowers. Although traders are preparing to sell flowers, the presence of buyers was comparatively less. Despite waiting for roses on the day before Valentine's Day, sales have slumped. While in previous years, flowers worth Tk. 1.5-2 crore were sold, this time the sales volume may be close to Tk. 50 lakh, traders say.

On Thursday (February 13) night, visiting flower shops on Cheragi Pahar and Momin Road, one could see various types of flowers including roses, gladiolus, marigolds, gerberas, chrysanthemums, marigolds and China lilies. The shops were full of arranged, folded and cut flowers. But the number of buyers was low.

This year's market is a bit disappointing for flower traders. Former president of the Chattogram Flower Traders Association, Qutub Uddin, told Barta24.com, "Every year we make special preparations for the spring festival and Valentine's Day. However, this time, sales have not been as expected because Shab-e-Barat, the Hindu Lagna and Friday coincide. There are about fifty flower shops in Chittagong, including Cheragi and Agrabad. These shops usually sell flowers worth Tk. 1.5-2 crore in these two-three days, but it is doubtful whether it will even reach Tk. 50 lakh this time." Tausif Uddin of Aparajita Pushpa Bitan also expressed similar disappointment and told Barta24.com, "Our preparations were good, but this time the sales are very low. The day before spring, the main day and the day after are the best days for business. But this time, people have reduced their flower purchases due to Shab-e-Barat and Lagna."

Meanwhile, flower farmer Abdul Quader said, we wait for this time every year. This time we have produced a lot of roses, marigolds, gladiolus and marigolds, but wholesale traders are buying less flowers and offering lower prices. As a result, we are afraid of losses.

However, some excitement has also been seen among buyers. Bank officer Imran Hossain told Barta24.com, I have come to buy white chrysanthemums for my mother. Although the prices were high earlier, this time they seem comparatively lower.

University student Rakib Hasan, who came to buy flowers, told Barta24.com that every year on this day the market is so crowded that there is no place to stand. This time the market seems empty. However, the prices seem a bit lower.

Teacher Tania Rahman has come to buy some flowers for her daughter. She told Barta24.com, my daughter likes marigolds, so I bought some. There is no commotion in the market like before.

The wholesale flower shops on Cheragi Pahar and Momin Road always have a lot of roses. This time too, there was no exception. Local roses were sold for Tk. 20-40, foreign red, white and pink roses were sold for Tk. 100-150. Sticks of marigolds were sold for Tk. 10-25, 10 pieces of white chrysanthemums for 50-100 taka, chrysanthemums of different colors including red and blue for 40-50 taka, gladiolus for 30-50 taka, 1,000 marigolds for 400-500 taka and gerberas for 30-40 taka. In addition, pieces of crowns were sold for 300-400 taka and China lilies for 450-600 taka.

Meanwhile, a lot of flowers were also bought and sold to give flowers to Shaheed Minar on February 21, Martyrs' Day and International Mother Language Day. Traders are hoping that even though sales are low during the Spring Festival and Valentine's Day, some of the losses can be made up for on February 21.

However, overall, sellers feel that the flower business in Chittagong has not been as expected during the Spring Festival and Valentine's Day this time.

According to the revised calendar of the Bangla Academy in 2020, Phalgun begins on February 14 instead of February 13. The spring festival is celebrated on that day. The same day is World Valentine's Day. In history, which is known as Saint Valentine’s Day? Traders sell flowers at higher prices around these days.

The university administration has removed Dr. M. Harun-or-Rashid, a professor of the Department of Agricultural Economics at Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU), accused of sexually assaulting a Malaysian female student.

This information was given in an order signed by the university's Additional Registrar (Establishment) on Thursday (February 13).

The order states that Dr. M. Harun-or-Rashid, a professor of the Department of Agricultural Economics, was accused of sexually assaulting a Malaysian female student. In light of the recommendations of the investigation committee formed in the wake of the allegations of sexual harassment of a Malaysian student against Harun-or-Rashid, as per the decision taken in the emergency session of the Syndicate held on 14-10-2024, the response submitted to the charge sheet sent was not satisfactory, and as per decision No. 1 (v) taken in the 327th session of the Syndicate held on 30-12-2024, he was removed from the service of Bangladesh Agricultural University as per Section 4 (1) (f) of the Bangladesh Agricultural University Employees (Efficiency and Discipline) Handbook.

Elon Musk, one of the richest businessmen in the United States and the owner of X (formerly Twitter), spoke to the chief adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus on the phone. US President Donald Trump was next to Musk during the phone conversation.

The conversation took place at 9 pm Bangladesh time on Thursday (February 13). Deputy Press Secretary of the Chief Adviser of the interim government, Mohammad Abul Kalam Azad Majumder, confirmed the matter on his verified Facebook page. He said that the details of their discussion will be announced at the appropriate time.

The chief adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus is currently in Dubai. He went there on a two-day visit to participate in the World Government Summit 2025 conference. The chief adviser arrived in Dubai at 11:15 pm local time on Wednesday (February 12).

Earlier, on January 13, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, sent an invitation to the Chief Adviser to attend the World Government Summit 2025 in Dubai.

SpaceX, Tesla founder and X (former Twitter) owner Elon Musk, held discussions with Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus to bring Starlink services to Bangladesh. In addition, Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus invited Elon Musk to come to Bangladesh.

He made the invitation on the eve of a comprehensive discussion on future cooperation and further progress on the launch of Starlink satellite internet services in Bangladesh via video call with Elon Musk on Thursday (February 13). The Chief Advisor's press wing reported this information.

The meeting was attended by High Representative for the Rohingya Crisis and Priorities Dr. Khalilur Rahman, Principal Coordinator for SDGs Lamia Morshed, SpaceX Vice President Lauren Dreyer and Global Engagement Advisor Richard Griffiths.

During the conversation, Dr. Muhammad Yunus and Elon Musk highlighted the transformative impact of Starlink satellite communications, especially on Bangladesh’s entrepreneurial youth, rural and vulnerable women, and remote communities.

The discussion focused on how high-speed, low-cost internet connectivity can bridge the digital divide in Bangladesh, empower education, healthcare, and economic development in underserved areas, and provide access to millions of small and micro entrepreneurs across national borders.

Dr. Yunus said that adding Starlink connectivity to Bangladesh’s infrastructure will create new opportunities for millions of people and integrate the country more closely with the global digital economy.

He expressed his interest in working with Musk to unlock the full potential of technology-driven social and economic growth in Bangladesh and other countries around the world.

Dr. Yunus said that Starlink can be an extension of Grameen Bank and Grameen Phone, which will play a leading role in showcasing rural women and youth to the world. They will become global entrepreneurs.

Elon Musk praised Grameen Bank’s microfinance model and talked about its global impact on poverty alleviation.

Tesla Motors founder Elon Musk said he has been familiar with the work of both Grameen Bank and Grameen Palli Phone for many years.

He expressed his strong belief that leveraging technological advances like Starlink can further accelerate innovation, economic empowerment, and financial inclusion in Bangladesh.

Dr. Yunus invited Elon Musk to visit Bangladesh for the potential launch of Starlink services and highlighted the significance of this initiative for national development, to which Musk responded positively. Musk said, “I look forward to it.”

This engagement is expected to be an important step in bringing advanced satellite connectivity to Bangladesh, fostering economic growth, digital inclusion, and innovation across the country.

Both sides agreed to make rapid progress on this initiative and the High Representative instructed Khalilur Rahman, Ms. Dreyer and Mr. Griffiths to coordinate further work.