A man named Sheikh Sohel, 45, was shot dead by unidentified assailants in the Afil Gate area under Khanjahan Ali Police Station in Khulna on Thursday afternoon. According to local sources, Sohel was sitting at a motorcycle garage when attackers arrived on a motorcycle and opened fire, leaving him dead on the spot. He was the son of Bacchu Sheikh from the same area and was involved in internet service and fish farming businesses.

Police from Khanjahan Ali Station recovered the body and began an initial investigation, while a CID team collected evidence and verified information at the scene. Officer-in-Charge Hawlader Sanwar Hossain Mashum confirmed that Sohel was shot dead by motorcycle-borne assailants and that senior police officials were present during the investigation.

Authorities stated that the deceased was a member of the extremist group Purbo Bangla Communist Party and had multiple murder cases filed against him. The investigation into the killing is ongoing.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has arrested Mohammad Al Said, the Project Implementation Officer of Sonagazi Upazila in Feni, along with his office assistant, for allegedly taking bribes. The arrest took place on Thursday at the local Project Implementation Office, where an eight-member ACC team conducted a raid and caught them red-handed with bribe money.

According to ACC Noakhali regional office Deputy Director Md Faruk Ahmed, the officials were detained with Tk 1 lakh in cash during the operation. He also stated that Mohammad Al Said had previously taken Tk 5 lakh from various projects in Sonagazi and demanded Tk 12 lakh in bribes for the construction of five bridges in the area.

The ACC official confirmed that the suspects have been detained, necessary paperwork is being processed, and they will be handed over to the police for further legal action.

Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has expressed concern over whether the newly appointed governor of Bangladesh Bank can perform his duties independently and free from conflicts of interest. In a statement issued on Thursday, TIB Executive Director Dr. Iftekharuzzaman questioned the impartiality of a governor who is a businessman involved in the ready-made garment and housing sectors, and who previously rescheduled loans for his own enterprises. TIB noted that the appointment was made hastily and raised doubts about the governor’s ability to act independently of business lobbies and loan defaulters.

The statement further highlighted that a large portion of parliament members and cabinet ministers are businesspersons, many of whom are loan defaulters. TIB warned that appointing a businessperson with a history of loan rescheduling to lead the central bank could send a negative signal nationally and internationally. The organization also argued that the appointment contradicts the ruling party’s electoral pledge to ensure good governance and transparency in the banking sector.

TIB cautioned that the decision could undermine efforts to restore stability, curb inflation, and strengthen financial discipline, especially at a time when the economy faces significant challenges.

An unapproved LPG filling station owned by an Awami League leader exploded in Cox’s Bazar’s Kalatali area on Wednesday night, injuring at least 15 people and damaging over 50 nearby houses and shops. The newly built ‘N Alam Filling Station’ caught fire while gas was being unloaded. Fire service, army, BGB, police, and air force units jointly brought the blaze under control after seven hours of effort.

Ten of the injured were admitted to Cox’s Bazar Sadar Hospital, while six were later transferred to Chattogram Medical College Hospital and Dhaka’s Burn Institute for advanced treatment. A three-member investigation committee led by Additional District Magistrate Mohammad Shahidul Alam has been formed and has already visited the site.

Fire officials stated that the station was operating without approval or safety measures and that legal action would be taken against its owner, Nurul Alam, who is known to be active in Awami League politics. Local authorities confirmed that several houses and vehicles were damaged before the fire was contained.

Bangladesh’s Minister of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku, stated that citizens have been left with a heavy debt burden due to past decisions in the power sector. Speaking on Thursday, February 26, at the ministry’s conference room during the handover ceremony of the Forum for Energy Reporters Bangladesh (FERB) executive committee, he said it is better to endure hardship than to remain trapped in debt.

The minister criticized previous governments for failing to follow earlier policy guidelines that limited private participation in power generation to 35 percent. He noted that private involvement has now reached 82 percent, reducing government control and increasing financial liabilities. He also highlighted inefficiencies such as idle power plants requiring capacity payments and a rise in system loss from 6 percent to 10 percent over 19 years. Each percentage point of system loss equals about 5 million taka in losses.

Tuku said the government aims to reduce system loss to 3 percent, starting with a directive to bring it down to 5 percent. He added that discussions are underway with private power producers to reach a balanced solution without raising electricity prices.

An allegation has surfaced that the father of a local BNP leader has illegally occupied land belonging to C.N.B. Degree College in Niamati Union of Bakerganj upazila, Barishal, and started constructing tin-shed shops there. The incident has sparked anger and concern among residents. According to reports, on Thursday, a group led by Adud Farazi, father of Niamati Union BNP president Sohel Farazi, forcibly took possession of part of the college’s property and began building structures within the boundary of the old college building.

College founder Jobed Ali Khan stated that constructing private establishments on land officially recorded under the institution’s name is completely illegal and lamented the encroachment on educational property for commercial use. He alleged that Adud Farazi, along with Ashok Nandi and Swapan Nandi, occupied the land and erected tin-shed shops, demanding swift administrative action. Acting principal Biplob Halder confirmed that a legal case over the property is ongoing, yet construction proceeded despite the dispute. Upazila Nirbahi Officer Rumana Afroze said she had not been informed earlier but promised an investigation and necessary measures.

Attempts to contact the accused for comment were unsuccessful, the report added.

Bangladesh’s domestic debt increased by more than Tk 1.13 trillion during the 14 months of the interim government, according to data from Bangladesh Bank. The total domestic debt stood at Tk 9.24 trillion in July 2024, when the Awami League government was in power, and rose to Tk 10.36 trillion by the end of October 2025. This growth indicates continued borrowing from domestic sources, creating additional pressure on revenue management.

Bangladesh Bank data show that the government borrowed Tk 5.49 trillion from banks and Tk 4.88 trillion from non-bank sources, reflecting a strong reliance on domestic financial institutions. The upward trend in borrowing had already been visible earlier, with domestic debt increasing by about 10 percent year-on-year as of October 2024.

The report suggests that while new borrowing from banks may be slowing, the overall rise in domestic debt continues to strain fiscal stability and highlights the government’s dependence on internal financing channels.

Bangladesh Bank’s newly appointed governor, Mostakur Rahman, announced an 11-point plan on his first day in office aimed at accelerating economic recovery and strengthening growth. The central bank’s spokesperson released the written plan on Thursday, outlining measures to maintain macroeconomic stability while promoting investment-driven expansion to create employment opportunities.

According to the official statement, the interim government had stabilized the economy at a low equilibrium after a fragile period, and the new governor emphasized the need to move toward sustainable, inclusive growth. His plan includes maintaining macroeconomic stability, ensuring inclusive growth beyond GDP expansion, reopening closed factories and businesses, reconsidering high interest rates, controlling inflation, ensuring good governance in the banking sector, adopting objective-based and rule-based management, delegating authority to speed up operations, coordinating with other government agencies, and protecting the central bank’s reputation.

The announcement marks the governor’s first policy direction since assuming office, signaling a focus on stability, governance, and coordinated economic management.

Bangladesh Bank spokesperson Arif Hossain Khan announced that newly appointed governor Mustakur Rahman has formally taken charge after stepping away from all business affiliations. The statement came on Thursday, February 26, following a meeting between the new governor and officials from various departments of the central bank.

According to the spokesperson, the governor’s main objective is to create employment opportunities. The meeting focused on high interest rates and inflation, with emphasis on maintaining price stability while exploring ways to ease interest rates. The governor also highlighted the importance of reopening closed factories and promoting inclusive economic growth through job creation.

Khan added that the governor instructed departments to coordinate their activities and prepare an action plan to ensure the government does not face challenges due to lack of coordination. The meeting reaffirmed the central bank’s commitment to good governance and policy coherence across departments.

A fire broke out on February 26, 2026, around 11:15 a.m. in Barakotha Union’s Ward No. 1 of Uzirpur upazila in Barishal, destroying the homes of five families. The blaze reportedly began at the house of Md. Jalil Mallik and quickly spread to nearby houses. Local residents attempted to extinguish the flames but failed to bring the situation under control before the fire service arrived and contained the fire. The affected families include those of A. Jalil Mallik, Kabir Mallik, Siddiq Mallik, A. Haque Mallik, and A. Rob Mallik.

According to the Uzirpur Upazila Nirbahi Officer Mohammad Ali Suza, humanitarian assistance will be provided promptly to the affected families. The officer-in-charge of Uzirpur Model Police Station, Md. Rakibul Islam, stated that the fire service’s initial assessment suggests the fire originated from an electrical short circuit. An investigation into the incident is underway.

Preliminary estimates indicate that the total damage amounts to several lakh taka, with all five houses completely destroyed.

Police in Cumilla’s Burichang upazila arrested nine individuals from Nimsar Bazar on Wednesday night for allegedly extorting Tk 3,000 instead of the official Tk 100 market fee. The arrests were confirmed by Burichang Police Station Officer-in-Charge Lutfur Rahman. However, the alleged masterminds, Humayun Kabir, vice-president of the BNP’s Mokam Union unit, and Shakil Hossain Shahin, a member of the same unit, remain at large.

Local traders accused the two BNP leaders of collecting excessive tolls under the guise of market lease fees along the Dhaka–Chattogram highway. Police said the operation was conducted under the supervision of Additional Superintendent of Police (Cumilla Sadar Circle) Saiful Malek after receiving a tip-off about the extortion activities. Burichang Upazila Nirbahi Officer Tanvir Hossain confirmed that complaints of overcharging had been received earlier.

Police stated that a case is being processed in connection with the incident, and efforts are ongoing to apprehend the main suspects.

At a ceremony held on Thursday morning at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium in Dhaka, nine distinguished individuals and the band Warfaze were awarded the Ekushey Padak 2026 for their outstanding contributions in various fields. Prime Minister Tarique Rahman presented the country’s second-highest civilian honor to the recipients. The late musician Ayub Bachchu was honored posthumously, and his wife Ferdous Akhtar Chandana accepted the award on his behalf, later expressing gratitude on social media.

Following the ceremony, a statement was released on the official Facebook page of LRB, the band founded by Ayub Bachchu. The post described the state recognition as a tribute to his lifelong dedication to music and his role in enriching Bangla rock culture. It expressed deep appreciation to the government for acknowledging his legacy and noted that such recognition honors the entire music community. The statement also voiced hope that Ayub Bachchu’s creative and patriotic contributions would one day earn him the nation’s highest civilian award.

The message concluded by affirming that although Ayub Bachchu is no longer alive, his music, courage, and dreams continue to inspire future generations of artists.

The new government has decided to waive agricultural loans of up to 10,000 taka, including interest, for farmers across Bangladesh. The decision was made on Thursday, February 26, 2026, during the first cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman at the Secretariat. According to official estimates, around 1.2 million farmers will be freed from a total debt burden of approximately 1,550 crore taka.

Cabinet Secretary Md. Nasimul Gani informed reporters that the initiative aims to strengthen farmers’ financial capacity and revitalize the agricultural sector. The waiver applies to outstanding loans of up to 10,000 taka, covering both principal and interest, and will directly benefit marginal farmers who have struggled to repay small loans.

According to Bangladesh Bank data, government and private commercial banks, as well as specialized banks, are owed about 1,550 crore taka in agricultural loans as of February 25. These loans will now fall under the waiver scheme, providing direct relief to about 1.2 million farmers nationwide.

Agriculture, Fisheries, Livestock and Food Minister Mohammad Amin Ur Rashid said that with proper planning, efficient management, and effective field-level initiatives, agro-products could become Bangladesh’s leading export items. He emphasized that if newly appointed officers work closely with farmers and communities, agricultural potential can be turned into economic strength, ensuring food security and socio-economic development. The minister made these remarks on Thursday, February 26, at the closing ceremony of a five-day orientation course for newly recruited 44th BCS (Livestock) cadre officers at the Soil Resource Development Institute in Dhaka.

He noted that many countries with limited agricultural seasons have made agriculture the foundation of their economies, while Bangladesh’s favorable climate and fertile soil allow year-round production. However, he stressed that more initiatives are needed to achieve the desired economic success. The minister also highlighted the benefits of properly processing and using cow dung to reduce chemical fertilizer use, protect the environment, and preserve soil fertility.

He urged the new officers to serve people with honesty, responsibility, and competence, saying that proper use of natural and agricultural resources would help build a prosperous and sustainable Bangladesh for future generations.

Police in Matlab North, Chandpur, have solved the mystery surrounding the murder of Shakila Akter and arrested the main suspect, Billal Hossain. The arrest was announced at a press conference held at Matlab North Police Station on Thursday morning, where Assistant Superintendent of Police Jabir Husnain Sanib detailed the investigation progress and evidence analysis. Shakila’s body was found on February 16 near the Nandlalpur Shibpur embankment, and she was later identified as a 26-year-old nurse from Rangukhar Kandi village.

According to police, Shakila had returned home on February 11 to vote in the national election and was last seen leaving for work on February 15. Investigators said she had been in a relationship with Billal, with whom she lived in Demra under the guise of marriage. Disputes arose over marriage registration and Billal’s first wife. Police stated that Shakila died by suicide at their rented home, after which Billal allegedly transported and abandoned her body to mislead the investigation.

Authorities said the investigation will continue based on autopsy results and further evidence, with legal action to follow as required.