WhatsApp is introducing a new message scheduling feature that allows users to write and set messages in advance for automatic delivery at a chosen date and time. The feature is currently being tested in the iOS beta version 26.710.72, with an Android rollout expected soon. Users can schedule greetings, reminders, or work-related messages without needing to be online when the message is sent.

The new option, available under the 'Chat Info' screen, lets users view all scheduled messages, edit their content, or delete them before sending. This feature aims to help users manage busy schedules and avoid forgetting important dates or communications. It marks the first time in WhatsApp’s 17-year history that users can schedule messages directly within the app.

By automating message delivery, WhatsApp seeks to make personal and professional communication more convenient, reducing the need for external reminders or third-party scheduling tools.

State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism M. Rashiduzzaman Millat announced that the government is committed to ensuring halal animal protein such as meat, milk, and eggs reach people at affordable prices. He made the statement on Friday, February 27, 2026, while inaugurating a distribution program at Dewanganj Kamil Madrasa field in Jamalpur, aimed at supporting low-income families during the holy month of Ramadan.

The minister explained that demand for animal products rises during Ramadan, increasing financial pressure on poor households. To address this, the government has launched the initiative to make these essential items available at fair prices. Temporary sales centers have been set up across the upazila to distribute the products daily within fixed hours.

According to the announcement, the program will continue until the 27th of Ramadan, ensuring that a large number of people can access affordable meat, milk, and eggs throughout the period.

Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury stated that Bangladesh must increase taxes and boost investment to manage the country’s difficult economic situation. Speaking on Friday afternoon while inspecting land for a government hospital near the Marine Drive area of Patenga in Chattogram, he emphasized that without investment, employment opportunities cannot be created. He said the BNP government’s major program focuses on generating employment and that both domestic and foreign investments are being encouraged.

The minister added that the government is also working to improve education quality and bring major reforms to the health sector, fulfilling promises made before the election. He mentioned that the upcoming budget will prioritize employment creation. Plans include establishing a general hospital with specialized units, a nursing institute, and a technologist institute in the Marine Drive area to address shortages in these sectors.

He further noted that several potential sites are under consideration for the hospital project, and the government will select the most suitable one after evaluating all factors.

The Bangladesh Meteorological Department has forecast a gradual rise in temperature across the country starting from March 1. According to its regular bulletin issued on February 27, both daytime and nighttime temperatures are expected to increase slightly, with fluctuations in nighttime temperatures during the first week of March. The department also noted that the heat will intensify gradually as the month progresses.

Meteorologist Kazi Zebunnesa stated that temperatures are already increasing, with Sandwip recording the highest temperature of 33 degrees Celsius the previous day. She added that the feeling of heat will become more noticeable from early March and may rise further in the latter half of the month as the spring season continues. The department also indicated the possibility of rain or thundershowers in parts of the Sylhet division in early March.

The lowest temperature recorded in the country on February 27 was 13.1 degrees Celsius, while Dhaka’s minimum temperature stood at 19 degrees Celsius, according to the department’s report.

Bangladesh experienced three earthquakes within a span of 39 hours, with tremors felt across the country including the capital Dhaka. The latest quake struck on Friday at 1:53 p.m., registering a magnitude of 5.3 on the Richter scale. The Bangladesh Meteorological Department reported that the epicenter was in Satkhira, while the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) recorded a similar magnitude of 5.3.

Earlier, on Thursday at 12:04 p.m., another earthquake was felt in various parts of the country, originating in India’s Sikkim region, about 455 kilometers northwest of Dhaka. That event measured 4.6 on the Richter scale. A day before, on Wednesday night, another quake of magnitude 5.1 was recorded. Additionally, a mild 4.0 magnitude tremor had been felt in Sylhet on February 10.

Assistant meteorologist Farzana Sultana described the latest quake as moderate, noting that its epicenter was in Ashashuni, Satkhira, approximately 188 kilometers southwest of Dhaka. Authorities have not reported any major damage or casualties so far.

Fresh allegations of corruption and nepotism have emerged in the Jet A-1 underground pipeline project in Narayanganj. The project, designed to supply aviation fuel to Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, has been linked to companies allegedly influenced by Tariq Ahmed Siddiq, a former security adviser to Sheikh Hasina, who was sentenced to death for genocide. The Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) initiated the project in 2017 through a contract with the Navy Welfare Foundation Trading Company Limited (NKFTCL), but repeated delays, cost disputes, and contractor changes have plagued its progress.

Initially valued at Tk 183.77 crore, the project faced multiple route changes and cost escalation requests from subcontractors China Machinery Engineering Construction Corporation and Baraka Engineering Limited. After disagreements over revised pricing, NKFTCL attempted to hand over the project to Buildstone Construction Company Limited, allegedly linked to Siddiq, at a higher estimated cost. Following the July revolution, the interim government reassigned the project to Engineering Construction Battalion 24 with a reduced budget of Tk 420 crore.

Energy experts have warned that political interference could jeopardize fuel security. BPC officials expressed concern that ongoing corruption investigations against Siddiq may further delay the project’s completion.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Bangladesh received $2.79 billion in remittances during the first 25 days of February 2026, equivalent to about Tk 34,062 crore at an exchange rate of Tk 122 per dollar. On February 25 alone, expatriates sent Tk 1,317 crore. The figures were released by Bangladesh Bank spokesperson Arif Hossain Khan on February 26.

According to the central bank, remittance inflows during the same period last year totaled $2.28 billion, marking a 22.4 percent increase this year. From July 1, 2025, to February 25, 2026, total remittances reached $22.22 billion, compared with $18.24 billion during the corresponding period of the previous fiscal year.

The data indicate a steady rise in remittance inflows, reflecting stronger contributions from Bangladeshi expatriates and potentially supporting the country’s foreign exchange reserves.