Five people were killed in a head-on collision between a CNG-run auto-rickshaw and a gas-carrying truck on the Kushtia bypass road on Saturday, February 21, 2026, around 2:30 p.m. The incident was confirmed by Abu Obaid, Officer-in-Charge of Kushtia Highway Police Station. Among the deceased were three women. The bodies were recovered and taken to Kushtia General Hospital.

The report, filed by the district correspondent in Kushtia, stated that the accident occurred in the afternoon when the two vehicles collided directly on the busy bypass road. Police immediately responded to the scene to manage the situation and transport the victims.

Authorities have not yet released the identities of the deceased or further details about the cause of the collision. The incident adds to ongoing concerns about road safety in the region, particularly involving small passenger vehicles and heavy trucks.

U.S. President Donald Trump has signed an executive order imposing a temporary 10% global tariff after the Supreme Court declared his earlier trade policy invalid. The order, signed late Friday local time, will apply to all countries for the next 150 days under Section 122 of the 1974 U.S. Trade Act. Trump also directed his administration to explore whether previous tariff systems could be reinstated under other legal provisions.

In a post on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump said the United States has several strong alternatives that could generate more revenue and strengthen the country. The move follows his earlier tariff policy announced on April 2, 2025, under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), which introduced a 10% baseline tariff and reciprocal tariffs on trade partners.

According to the report, the United States earned an additional 13.35 trillion dollars in the past year from tariffs under Trump’s previous policy.

At least 50 people were killed when armed assailants attacked a village in Zamfara State, northwestern Nigeria, late Thursday night. The gunmen, riding on motorcycles, stormed the village in the Bukuyum area, setting houses on fire and abducting several women and children. The assault continued until Friday morning, leaving widespread devastation across the community.

Hamisu A. Faru, a legislator representing southern Bukuyum, said the exact number of abducted individuals remains unclear as local officials are still compiling a list of the missing. A local resident, 41-year-old Abdullahi Sani, reported that villagers had alerted security forces a day earlier after spotting more than 150 motorcycles carrying armed men, but no action was taken.

The attack follows a similar incident last week in Niger State’s Borgu area, where at least 46 people were killed, including 38 in Konkoso village, marking another wave of deadly violence in Nigeria’s northwest.

The Islami Chhatra Shibir’s Chattogram North District branch has strongly condemned an armed attack on Md. Jihad, secretary of the organization’s Bauria Union unit in Sandwip upazila, while he was performing Tarawih prayers. In a joint statement issued to the media on Saturday, branch president Shawkat Ali and secretary Main Uddin Raihan expressed deep concern and protest over the incident, as confirmed by central publicity secretary Azizur Rahman Azad.

According to the statement, the attack was allegedly led by a local drug dealer and BNP leader known as ‘Yaba Jamal,’ along with several armed associates. The Shibir leaders described the assault as a violation of religious sanctity and basic human rights, claiming it stemmed from political vengeance. They said the attackers dragged Jihad out of the mosque and beat him brutally, questioning his political affiliation.

The organization demanded a neutral investigation to identify and prosecute those responsible and urged the local administration to ensure justice. They also wished for the quick recovery of the injured leader.

A homemade explosive device, locally known as a cocktail, was detonated at the house of Mohammad Ali, owner of Roman Jute Mill, in Nawapara village of Abhaynagar upazila, Jashore, early Friday night, February 20. The explosion occurred around 2 a.m., reportedly after Ali refused to pay extortion money demanded by a local criminal group. No casualties were reported as the house was unoccupied at the time.

Following the blast, members of the Abhaynagar army camp and local police visited the site. Mohammad Ali’s son, Rakibul Islam, said a known gang had been demanding money for some time and carried out the attack to intimidate the family. Ali’s nephew, Mohammad Sajib, described waking up to a loud noise and seeing smoke rising from the house. Police later recovered materials such as sticks and red tape from the scene.

Abhaynagar police inspector Zahidul Islam confirmed that evidence of a cocktail explosion was found and said an investigation is underway, with legal action in process.

Thousands of migratory birds have flocked to Jobai Beel in Sapahar upazila of Naogaon, creating a lively natural scene even after winter’s end. The wetland, located about nine kilometers west of the upazila headquarters, has become a safe haven for birds arriving from home and abroad in search of food and warmth. According to the Jobai Beel Biodiversity Conservation and Social Welfare Organization, 44 bird species have been recorded this season, including 26 migratory and 18 native species, totaling around 2,258 birds.

The organization’s president, Sohanur Rahman Sabuj, noted that while the number of species has increased, the total bird count has declined from about 11,000 the previous year. Local residents said that as water levels recede after the monsoon, small fish, snails, and insects become abundant, attracting diverse bird flocks. Nature enthusiasts have called on authorities to protect the birds from hunters.

Visitors and bird lovers have urged the government to declare part of Jobai Beel a protected area and develop it as a traditional tourist center to ensure safe bird habitation year-round.

The Someshwari River flowing past Madhyanagar upazila in Sunamganj is rapidly losing navigability, turning into sandbars and threatening the survival of the 150-year-old Madhyanagar market. Once a major rice trading hub, the market now faces stagnation as boat transport has become nearly impossible during dry months. Traders report that goods must be unloaded and reloaded multiple times, increasing both time and costs, while irrigation now depends on deep tube wells due to reduced water flow.

Local traders and boatmen said that from mid-Poush to Chaitra, parts of the river dry up completely, halting large boat movement for three to four months. Business leaders warned that without dredging, the market’s economic importance will vanish. Farmers and traders are already suffering from higher transport costs and reduced trade volume. The Sunamganj district farmers’ association and local business groups have long demanded river dredging to restore navigability.

According to the Water Development Board’s Sunamganj office, a plan to dredge 19 rivers, including the Someshwari, is under consideration. The project awaits approval before dredging can begin.

Markets across Bangladesh have become unstable at the start of Ramadan, with prices of almost all essential goods rising sharply. Reports from Sunamganj, Naogaon, Kurigram, and Pabna show that vegetables, fish, meat, and grocery items are being sold at significantly higher prices than a week earlier. In Sunamganj, cucumbers and carrots have doubled in price, while onions, garlic, and green chilies have also seen steep increases. Similar trends are reported in other districts, where milk, lemons, and dates are being sold at inflated rates, putting pressure on ordinary consumers.

Traders attribute the price hikes to transportation problems, increased demand, and reduced imports. Local business associations and consumer rights officials have acknowledged the situation, saying monitoring and enforcement drives are underway to prevent artificial shortages and overpricing. In several districts, local administrations have pledged to take legal action against traders found guilty of price manipulation.

Officials and traders expressed hope that prices of key items such as onions and garlic may stabilize within a few days as supply improves and monitoring continues.

Three people, including the driver of a CNG autorickshaw, were killed and two others injured in a head-on collision between a pickup van and the autorickshaw at Shahpur in Giasnagar area of Moulvibazar early Friday night. The accident occurred around 1:30 a.m. when a Moulvibazar-bound pickup van collided with a CNG autorickshaw heading toward Sreemangal.

According to Moulvibazar Model Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md. Saiful Islam, autorickshaw driver Alinur and passenger Rehan died on the spot. Another passenger, Rubel Mia, who was seriously injured, was rescued by the Fire Service and taken to Moulvibazar 250-bed General Hospital, where he later died. Alinur was from Kalenga village in Kamalganj upazila, while Rehan and Rubel Mia were residents of Dargah Mahalla in Moulvibazar Sadar.

The bodies of the deceased have been kept at Moulvibazar Sadar Hospital. Police said legal procedures regarding the incident are ongoing.

British police continued searching the former Windsor home of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor on Friday, a day after questioning him for 11 hours on suspicion of misconduct in public office linked to his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein. The 66-year-old was released under investigation after his arrest, while officers also raided Wood Farm on the King’s Sandringham Estate in Norfolk, where he currently resides. Unmarked police vehicles were seen entering the Royal Lodge grounds throughout the morning.

Thames Valley Police confirmed a full investigation into the alleged misconduct, which carries a potential life sentence if proven. The inquiry follows U.S. government document releases suggesting that Mountbatten-Windsor shared confidential British government reports with Epstein while serving as a trade representative. The king issued a rare statement emphasizing that “the law must take its course.”

Other UK police forces, including London’s Metropolitan Police, are coordinating related investigations into Epstein’s activities, such as possible human trafficking through British airports. Authorities said no new sexual offence allegations have been made within their jurisdiction.

United States President Donald Trump has sharply criticized the Supreme Court after a 6-3 ruling struck down his global tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). Speaking at a Friday news conference, Trump called the court a “disgrace” and accused it of being influenced by foreign interests. He said he would continue his tariff policy using the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, announcing a new 10 percent global tariff for 150 days to replace some of the duties invalidated by the court. The new measure is expected to take effect within three days.

The Supreme Court majority, comprising three liberal and three conservative justices, ruled that only Congress can levy tariffs in peacetime. The decision dealt a major blow to Trump’s economic agenda, which had projected $3.6 trillion in tariff revenue from 2026 to 2035. Oxford Economics estimated the ruling would immediately lower the effective tariff rate from 12.7 percent to 8.3 percent. Trump, however, insisted that his powers under the Trade Expansion Act could yield even higher revenues.

Experts warned that the ruling complicates the administration’s ability to impose tariffs quickly, creating uncertainty for businesses and consumers. Analysts said Trump’s alternative approach may sustain tariff burdens but with reduced flexibility and scope.

Bangladesh has formally applied to the United Nations to postpone its graduation from the Least Developed Countries (LDC) category by three years. A letter signed by Economic Relations Division (ERD) Secretary Md. Shahriar Kader Siddiqui was sent to the UN Committee for Development Policy (CDP) last Wednesday, requesting that the graduation preparation period be extended until November 24, 2029. The country was originally scheduled to graduate on November 24 this year, with the third review process currently underway.

The letter cited multiple global and domestic challenges, including the economic impacts of the Russia-Ukraine war, rising energy and food prices, global monetary tightening, and supply disruptions in shipping. Domestically, declining investment, slower revenue growth, and reduced GDP growth have hindered structural reforms. The government noted that uncertainty over GSP Plus access in European markets and policy shifts by major trading partners could further strain competitiveness.

Following the CDP meeting from February 24–28, a preliminary assessment report is expected within two weeks, with final recommendations and a decision anticipated in September.

State Minister for Food, Agriculture, Fisheries and Livestock Sultan Salauddin Tuku has announced that artificial crises created by syndicates in the food and agriculture sectors will be resolved through continuous monitoring. He made the statement on Friday afternoon while speaking to journalists after a views-exchange meeting at the Tangail Deputy Commissioner’s conference room.

Tuku said that a market monitoring cell has already been formed and that those responsible for market regulation are actively working. He added that the government has just begun its efforts and he will do his utmost to fulfill all promises made to the public. Earlier, the state minister held a meeting with district-level officials, chaired by Deputy Commissioner Sharifa Haque, attended by Superintendent of Police Shamsul Alam Sarkar, Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) Sanjay Kumar Mahanta, and heads of various district departments.

The minister emphasized that regular supervision and monitoring can solve all problems in the food and agriculture sectors, aiming to ensure stability and transparency in market operations.

A local leader of Islami Chhatra Shibir was allegedly dragged out of a mosque and severely beaten during Tarawih prayers in Sandwip’s Bauria Union on Friday night. The incident occurred at Jamir Majhir Mosque in Ward No. 5, where 20-year-old Jihad, the union’s Shibir secretary, was attacked by several individuals identified as Jasib, Nirab, and Naeem. Witnesses said the assailants entered the mosque, pulled Jihad outside, and assaulted him with sticks and local weapons while chanting political slogans. Worshippers reportedly could not intervene due to the attackers being armed.

Colleagues of the injured claimed the attack was politically motivated, linked to Jihad’s support for the “Dhapipal” symbol in a recent election and internal ideological disputes. He was rescued in critical condition and admitted to Sandwip Upazila Health Complex, where doctors confirmed serious injuries and bleeding marks on his body.

Sandwip Police Station Officer-in-Charge Zayed Noor stated that police are monitoring the situation and will take legal action once a written complaint is filed, assuring that no perpetrator will be spared.

A young housewife named Arpita Rani Karmakar Sithi, aged 18, reportedly died by suicide in Jautdaibaki village of Lalpur upazila, Natore, on Friday, February 20, 2026. Police and local sources said the incident followed a family dispute over mobile phone use. During an argument, Arpita allegedly poured petrol on herself and set herself on fire. Family members rescued her in a severely burned condition and took her to Lalpur Upazila Health Complex, where doctors declared her dead.

Arpita was the wife of Jagai Karmakar, a tea seller from the same village, and daughter of Asim Karmakar from Baneswar Mistri Para in Puthia upazila, Rajshahi. The couple had been married for about two years. According to her husband, disagreements arose because he believed her frequent phone use caused neglect of household duties. He took her phone away, which reportedly upset her deeply.

Lalpur Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mojibur Rahman confirmed that the body was recovered and a case of unnatural death (UD) has been filed. The body will be handed over to the family after autopsy, and legal steps will follow based on the investigation.