Pakistan’s security forces have killed at least 34 militants described as India-backed during operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces, according to a statement from the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) released on February 26, 2026. The operations were carried out over several days based on intelligence reports targeting two groups identified as Fitna al-Kharij and Fitna al-Hindustan.

The ISPR said that on February 24, four separate clashes in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa resulted in the deaths of 26 members of Fitna al-Kharij, while eight militants from Fitna al-Hindustan were killed in an operation in Sambaza, Balochistan. One of the deceased was identified as an Afghan national. Additional operations were conducted in Lakki Marwat, Bannu, and North Waziristan districts, where further militants were killed after intense exchanges of fire.

Weapons and ammunition were recovered from the militants, according to the ISPR statement. The operations are part of Pakistan’s ongoing counterterrorism efforts in its northwestern and southwestern regions.

A team of the Detective Branch (DB) police in Netrokona came under attack by smugglers during an operation in the border area of Kolmakanda upazila on Tuesday afternoon. The incident occurred in Terotopa village of Rangchhati Union, leaving six DB members, including two sub-inspectors and one assistant sub-inspector, injured. Local police later rescued the injured officers and detained 15 individuals allegedly involved in the assault. Authorities recovered 4.65 million taka, five Indian cows, five bottles of Indian liquor, 20 yaba tablets, an unregistered motorcycle, and a money-counting machine from the scene.

According to police and local sources, the detained group is part of an organized network engaged in smuggling Indian cattle, sugar, cumin, and cosmetics across the Kolmakanda border. The DB team, led by Sub-Inspector Abdul Jalil, launched the operation following intelligence about illegal cattle trading and money exchange at the home of Sarful Islam in Terotopa village. The smugglers reportedly incited locals to attack the officers with iron rods and sticks.

Police are preparing multiple cases over the incident, confirmed Additional Superintendent of Police (Special Branch) Hafizul Islam.

The once fast-flowing Karangi River in Bahubal upazila of Habiganj district has dried up, turning into a dead canal. The riverbed has lost navigability, creating an acute water shortage for residents of three unions who depend on it for agriculture and daily needs. The drying of the river has also endangered local biodiversity.

Farmers who previously relied on the river for irrigation during the Boro season are now dependent on mechanical irrigation systems. Environmentalists allege that no government initiative has been taken to restore the river’s flow, and that unplanned embankments built upstream in Chunarughat have worsened the water crisis downstream. Local farmers and residents report difficulties in farming, livestock rearing, and domestic water use.

Community representatives and social workers have called for immediate dredging to revive the river. The Bahubal Upazila Nirbahi Officer stated that discussions with the Water Development Board are underway to take necessary measures under government planning.

A case has been filed in Chakaria, Cox’s Bazar, over an armed attack on three journalists working for national and regional newspapers. The case, lodged on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, by journalist A K M Iqbal Faruk of Dainik Amar Desh and Dainik Purbodesh, names 11 individuals including alleged illegal sand miner and hill grabber Nazim Uddin, along with 14 to 15 unidentified others, totaling 26 accused. Chakaria Police Station’s Officer-in-Charge Mohammad Monir Hossain confirmed the filing.

The attack occurred on Sunday, February 22, 2026, in the Ichachhari area of Harbang Union while the journalists were documenting illegal sand extraction. The assailants, led by Nazim Uddin, allegedly beat and hacked the journalists, leaving them seriously injured and temporarily detained at the suspect’s house. Locals later rescued them and took them to hospital for treatment.

In response, local journalists held a human chain and protest rally in Chakaria town on Tuesday, demanding the immediate arrest of those involved. Police said no arrests had been made yet but efforts were ongoing to detain the named suspects.

Residents of Sreebardi municipality in Sherpur are facing severe hardship due to the absence of a designated dumping station. Household and market waste is being dumped into a leased private pond in the Purbo Chhonkanda area, as well as scattered along roads and open spaces. The situation has led to environmental pollution, foul odors, and health risks for nearby residents.

Local people complain that despite repeated objections, the municipality has not taken effective action. The pond used for dumping is surrounded by densely populated homes, causing unbearable stench and mosquito infestations. Environmental group Sabuj Andolon’s Sherpur unit criticized the worsening waste management, urging the establishment of an eco-friendly sanitary landfill.

Municipal administrator and Upazila Nirbahi Officer Monisha Ahmed stated that due to the lack of municipal land, waste is temporarily being dumped on rented private property. She added that under the upcoming “32 Municipality Project,” plans are in place to build a modern dumping station to resolve the issue.

River erosion has intensified in Jotpara area of Chauhali upazila in Sirajganj as the water level of the Jamuna River begins to recede. The erosion, reportedly caused by the movement of sand-laden bulkheads near the eastern embankment, has put a multi-crore taka river protection structure at serious risk. Locals have staged repeated protests demanding a halt to bulkhead operations to save their homes and farmland.

According to residents, continuous bulkhead traffic along the eastern bank has endangered around 500 households and large areas of cropland, as well as public institutions including the upazila complex, schools, and markets. In Bagutia Union, geo-bag dumping along a three-kilometer stretch has been damaged due to bulkhead movement close to the bank, threatening nearby villages.

Local authorities, including the Chauhali police and the assistant commissioner (land), have intervened to stop bulkhead movement after residents gathered to block them. Officials confirmed that bulkhead operations have been halted, though a few vessels remain stuck due to navigability issues.

Bangladesh has imported fruits worth around Tk 5,000 crore during the ongoing Ramadan season, as local fruits are not in season. Despite a 30 percent increase in import volume compared to last year, retail fruit prices have risen by at least 30 percent per kilogram. Prices continue to climb daily by Tk 5 to Tk 8. Chattogram port data show large imports of apples, grapes, oranges, and dates, with total customs revenue exceeding Tk 2,500 crore.

Importers and traders attribute the high prices to heavy import duties of up to 136 percent, high transport and refrigeration costs, and additional port handling expenses. The Chattogram Fruit Traders Association argues that fruits are treated as luxury goods, urging the government to reduce duties during Ramadan when domestic supply is low. Port officials note that over a thousand refrigerated containers of fruits remain undelivered, which could ease prices once released.

Consumer rights advocates allege that market syndicates are manipulating supply to inflate prices, warning that without stricter monitoring, imported fruits will remain unaffordable for ordinary consumers.

Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera Cervantes, leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel and one of the world’s most-wanted drug traffickers, was killed in a Mexican military operation on Sunday in Tapalpa, Jalisco. The raid, supported by information from U.S. authorities, resulted in Oseguera and two others dying from injuries sustained during the mission. Four cartel members were killed at the scene, and three Mexican soldiers were injured. The U.S. State Department urged American tourists in affected areas to shelter in place as violence erupted across multiple states.

Following the operation, suspected cartel members torched buses, blocked roads, and attacked businesses in Jalisco, Michoacán, and Guanajuato. Flights to Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara were canceled, leaving travelers stranded, though airports later resumed operations. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum praised the military’s coordination and said most of the country remained calm. U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau called Oseguera’s death a major development for both nations.

The operation marks a significant security milestone for Mexico amid pressure from the Trump administration to curb drug trafficking, though Sheinbaum has previously warned that targeting cartel leaders can trigger further violence.

Polish prosecutors have filed criminal charges against two former intelligence chiefs for using Israeli-made Pegasus spyware in their official duties, alleging the act endangered sensitive state information. The National Prosecutors’ Office announced on Wednesday that Piotr P, former head of the ABW internal security agency, and Maciej Materka, former head of the SKW military counterintelligence service, lacked the required IT security accreditation to operate the software. Both face up to three years in prison for alleged dereliction of duty. Prosecutors said the men denied the accusations and refused to provide explanations during questioning.

Materka publicly identified himself and condemned the charges, asserting that all operations under his leadership were legally authorized and that he had served Poland with an impeccable record. The case forms part of a broader investigation into the use of Pegasus spyware by Polish officials.

Former Justice Minister and Attorney General Zbigniew Ziobro also faces separate charges, including abuse of power and misuse of funds intended for crime victims to purchase Pegasus, allegedly to monitor political opponents.

A newly built gas station in the Kalatali area of Cox’s Bazar municipality exploded and caught fire on Wednesday night, injuring at least 15 people. The incident occurred around 10:30 p.m. at the ‘N Alam’ filling station after a gas leak had started around 7 p.m. According to police, gas spread through the air for nearly three hours, covering about a one-kilometer radius and causing panic among residents.

Local residents reported difficulty breathing due to the strong gas odor before the explosion. The blast ignited multiple parts of the station and nearby structures, affecting densely populated neighborhoods such as Adarsha Gram, Chandrima Housing, and the jail area, where about 20,000 people live. Authorities evacuated residents and closed Kalatali Road to prevent further danger, disrupting travel toward Dhaka and Chattogram.

Fire service officials said seven units were working to control the blaze and stop the gas leak, though the fire remained partially uncontrolled after 90 minutes. Fifteen burn victims were taken to Cox’s Bazar Sadar Hospital, with one transferred to Dhaka and eight to Chattogram for advanced treatment.

Police have arrested Zahidul Alam Jahangir, the suspended president of the Mithamain Upazila unit of the BNP, in connection with a case over cutting trees planted on an embankment in Kamalpur area of Kishoreganj’s Mithamain upazila. The arrest took place on Wednesday evening in the district town, confirmed by Kishoreganj Superintendent of Police Dr. S M Farhad Hossain.

Earlier, on Tuesday, Upazila Engineer Faizur Razzak filed a case with Mithamain Police Station over the incident. Following the filing of the case, the BNP central committee suspended Jahangir’s primary membership and all organizational posts. According to the report, Jahangir had been cutting down trees since August 5 to make access to his home easier, removing about 20 trees planted to prevent river erosion.

Local residents said the trees were cut in phases, with the last batch of 10 to 12 trees felled on February 21 using an electric saw. Each tree was estimated to be worth between Tk 20,000 and Tk 25,000.

The Bangladesh Coast Guard rescued four abducted fishermen and arrested eight members of the notorious Jahangir gang, including its leader, during operations in Cox’s Bazar. The rescue followed a robbery incident on February 24 near Sonadia Char under Maheshkhali police station, where a fishing boat named “FB Mayer Doa-3” was attacked. Acting on information received through the emergency hotline 16111, Coast Guard units from Cox’s Bazar and Maheshkhali launched a joint operation.

During the operation, a suspicious fishing boat ignored a stop signal and attempted to flee. The Coast Guard fired five blank rounds and successfully intercepted the vessel. A search recovered three homemade firearms, four live cartridges, and six local weapons. Jahangir, the gang leader, and four associates were detained, and two fishermen held hostage were rescued alive. Based on further information, another operation at Laboni Point led to the arrest of four more gang members and the rescue of two additional fishermen.

The Coast Guard reported that all rescued fishermen were found alive, and the seized weapons were taken into custody for further investigation.

A youth wing activist of the opposition party was shot dead by unidentified assailants in Raozan, Chattogram, on Wednesday evening. The victim, Mujibur Rahman, 50, was a resident of East Gujra Union’s Ward 4 and a follower of newly elected MP Gias Uddin Quader Chowdhury. The shooting occurred around 6:30 p.m. inside a fruit shop at Olimiahat Bazar, where Mujibur was chatting before iftar. Witnesses said several attackers fired at him and fled immediately.

According to family members, Mujibur left home before iftar and was later found dead with three bullet wounds. His brother Abdul Aziz said he had an argument with some youths earlier that evening, which may have led to the attack. A medical officer at Raozan Upazila Health Complex confirmed that Mujibur died before reaching the hospital due to excessive bleeding.

Police have cordoned off the area and are working to identify and arrest the perpetrators. Local tension remains high following the killing.

Police in Uzirpur upazila of Barishal recovered the body of Mobarak Hawlader, 60, from the Sandhya River two days after he went missing. The body was found floating near the house of Mosharraf Dafadar in Dakshin Shikarpur area on Wednesday afternoon. Locals discovered the body while collecting water spinach and informed the police, who later retrieved it and took it to the police station. Family members later identified the deceased.

According to police and family sources, Mobarak Hawlader, a resident of Mundpasha village and son of the late Wahed Hawlader of Baherchar, had returned to Bangladesh after years of working in Saudi Arabia. He had purchased land and built a home in his village, where he lived with his wife and children. Reports indicate he had been suffering from stroke-related illness for a long time.

Uzirpur Model Police Station’s officer-in-charge Md. Rakibul Islam said the cause of death is under investigation, and further legal procedures will follow.

Bangladesh Bank has reported a rise in the country’s total foreign exchange reserves, which reached 35.31 billion US dollars as of February 25, 2026. The information was confirmed by Arif Hossain Khan, Executive Director and Spokesperson of the central bank, on Wednesday. According to the latest data, the gross reserve stood at 35.31 billion dollars, while under the IMF’s BPM6 calculation method, the reserve amounted to 30.28 billion dollars.

Just two days earlier, on February 23, the gross reserve was recorded at 34.86 billion dollars, and the BPM6-based reserve stood at 30.10 billion dollars. The net reserve is calculated following the IMF’s BPM6 standard, which deducts short-term liabilities from the total reserve to determine the actual amount.

The increase in reserves indicates a positive shift in the country’s foreign currency position, as reflected in the central bank’s latest update.