Kuakata sea beach in Patuakhali has become nearly deserted during this year’s Valentine’s Day, a time when it usually draws large crowds of tourists. Business owners and local guides report that the ongoing 13th parliamentary election and the approaching Ramadan have sharply reduced tourist arrivals over the past two weeks, raising fears of a collapse in the local tourism economy.

Hotel operators, tour guides, and shop owners describe severe financial losses as hotels remain empty and beachside shops see no customers. Mamun Khan, director of Hotel Sea Crown, said they had prepared for the Valentine’s season but faced major losses due to the lack of visitors. The Kuakata Tour Guide Association reported that 70 trained guides are currently without work, while the Tour Operators Association warned of significant revenue losses for both businesses and the government.

Tourist Police officials said patrols continue across all major beach areas to ensure visitor safety. Many local entrepreneurs believe the situation may not improve before the upcoming Eid, deepening concerns over the region’s tourism-dependent economy.

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has extended the deadline for submitting VAT returns for the month of January by one week. As a result, businesses will now be able to file their VAT returns until February 22, 2026, instead of the usual February 15 deadline.

According to NBR sources, the extension was granted because many organizations were unable to complete their VAT submissions on time due to disruptions caused by the 13th National Parliamentary Election. Normally, VAT returns for the previous month must be submitted by the 15th of each month.

The decision aims to provide businesses with additional time to comply with tax obligations affected by the election period.

The U.S.-based social media platform X has removed blue verification badges from several senior Iranian officials’ accounts following allegations that it provided paid services to individuals under U.S. sanctions. The action came after a report by the Tech Transparency Project claimed that X’s paid subscription service, X Premium, was available to sanctioned Iranian figures.

Among those whose verification was revoked are Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, Judiciary Chief Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, and Supreme National Security Council Secretary Ali Larijani. Under U.S. sanctions law, American companies are prohibited from conducting business with certain individuals and entities. X has not issued any official comment on the matter.

The platform, owned by Elon Musk, had previously faced criticism for altering the design of the Iranian flag emoji on its web platform during protests in Iran, replacing the Islamic Republic emblem with the older “lion and sun” symbol associated with monarchist groups.

Astronomical observers in Bangladesh have reported that February 18 will offer a roughly 50-minute favorable window for moon sighting after sunset. According to the Bangladesh Weather Observation Team (BWOT), the moon will remain visible in the western sky for about 50 to 51 minutes after sunset, which is considered a suitable period for naked-eye observation. The new moon will form on the night of February 17, but it will not be visible that day due to its young age.

BWOT stated that sunset in Bangladesh on February 18 will occur at approximately 5:58 p.m., and moonset at around 6:49 p.m., giving a 50-minute observation opportunity. By that time, the moon will be about 24 hours old, making visibility more likely if weather conditions are clear. However, visibility will depend on atmospheric clarity, cloud cover, air pollution, and the observer’s location.

The report also noted that some Middle Eastern countries may attempt moon observation using advanced telescopes. If successful, fasting could begin there on February 18; otherwise, it may start on February 19.

Asian MotorspeX Limited, the sole distributor of Chery vehicles in Bangladesh, recently celebrated Valentine’s Day through a special event titled ‘Delivering Loves’ at the Chery showroom. The event aimed to reinforce customer relationships while highlighting Chery’s commitment to innovation and service excellence. Managing Director Dewan Sajedur Rahman attended as the chief guest, emphasizing the company’s dedication to enhancing the Chery brand experience in Bangladesh.

In his remarks, Rahman stated that Chery seeks to be part of customers’ special life moments, reflecting the brand’s focus on creating meaningful experiences beyond vehicle sales. Popular digital influencers Iftikhar Rafsan, Rakin Absar, and Shaumik joined the celebration, interacting with guests and showcasing Chery’s appeal to younger audiences.

The showroom was decorated with a Valentine’s Day theme, offering visitors a warm and comfortable environment to explore Chery’s advanced technology and premium features. A specially designed Chery Tiggo 8 Pro was also displayed across several Dhaka neighborhoods, underscoring the brand’s goal of building a close-knit customer community in Bangladesh.

The Bangladesh Madrasah Education Board has issued its 2026 recruitment circular, published on February 5 and 6, 2026. According to the notice, the board will appoint 48 qualified male and female candidates to six job categories on a permanent basis. The positions fall under the 16th, 19th, and 20th government pay grades, with monthly salaries ranging from 8,250 to 22,490 taka. Applicants must submit their forms online through the official website by providing educational certificates, national ID details, a color photograph, and a signature image.

The online application process began on February 8, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. and will close on February 28, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Eligibility requirements vary by position, with educational qualifications ranging from completion of class eight to a bachelor’s degree. The age limit for general applicants is 18 to 32 years as of February 8, 2026. Application fees are set at 56 or 112 taka depending on the post.

The recruitment offers standard government employment benefits, and all details are available on the official website of the Bangladesh Madrasah Education Board (https://bmeb.gov.bd).

Thengamara Mohila Sabuj Sangha (TMSS), a non-governmental organization, has published a recruitment notice offering positions across several job categories. The announcement, released on February 15, 2026, states that TMSS will hire qualified male and female candidates for a total of 12+74+02 positions in 04+09+01 job categories. Applications must be submitted online between February 15 and 22, 2026, including personal, educational, and experience details as required.

According to the notice, applicants must be at least 18 years old, and educational qualifications range from completion of class eight to a bachelor’s degree or equivalent, depending on the position. Both new and experienced candidates are eligible to apply. The monthly salary for the advertised posts ranges from 8,000 to 20,000 Bangladeshi taka. Applications can be submitted directly or by post.

The recruitment notice was published on February 11 and 15, 2026, and further details are available on the official TMSS website at https://tmss-bd.org.

The Bangladesh Meteorological Department has forecast potential cyclonic activity and multiple heatwaves in the country over the next three months. According to its three-month climate outlook issued in early February, hailstorms and thunderstorms may occur toward the end of February and several times through April. The department also warned that by the end of this period, Bangladesh could experience three to five mild or moderate heatwaves and one to two severe heatwaves, with temperatures ranging from 36°C to 41.9°C.

The forecast further indicates that sea conditions may become rough several times before April, with two to three low-pressure systems likely to form, one of which could intensify into a depression or cyclone. Overall rainfall is expected to remain normal, though both day and night temperatures may stay above average during this period.

The outlook suggests that the transition from winter to spring will bring increased weather variability, requiring close monitoring of heat and storm developments across the country.

After nine months of diplomatic and inter-ministerial negotiations, Bangladesh has finalized the Agreement on BD-US Reciprocal Trade (ART) with the United States. The deal reduces the previously imposed 20 percent reciprocal tariff to 19 percent and grants zero-duty access for about 2,500 Bangladeshi products in the US market, according to a statement from the Chief Adviser’s Office. The agreement follows the US Executive Order No. 14257 of April 2, 2025, which had imposed reciprocal tariffs on most countries.

The ART covers a wide range of areas including goods, services, customs procedures, trade facilitation, investment, e-commerce, labor, environment, and transparency. Bangladesh’s commitments align with existing WTO, ILO, and TRIPS agreements, meaning no new conditions were imposed. The textile and apparel sector received special benefits, allowing duty-free access for garments made with US cotton and synthetic fibers. Bangladesh also included an exit clause in the agreement, unlike other countries.

Officials expect the ART to help Bangladesh maintain competitiveness in the US market, expand trade and investment, and generate broader economic benefits.

Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company has announced that gas pressure will remain extremely low across all its service areas, including Dhaka and surrounding regions. The company stated on Sunday that the disruption is caused by maintenance work at one of the LNG terminals, which has significantly reduced gas supply from LNG sources. The low-pressure situation is expected to continue until midnight on Monday.

According to Titas Gas, the maintenance-related shutdown of the LNG terminal has led to a notable drop in gas availability, affecting all categories of consumers under its network. The company expressed regret for the temporary inconvenience caused to customers and assured that normal supply would resume after the maintenance period.

The announcement serves as a caution for households and industries in the affected areas to prepare for limited gas availability until the stated time frame.

Bangladesh Telecommunications Company Limited (BTCL) has postponed the launch of the country’s first Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) SIM and its integrated triple-play package combining voice, data, and content services. The launch, initially scheduled for February 15, 2026, will now take place on March 1, 2026, according to an official announcement citing unavoidable reasons for the delay.

A press release stated that BTCL successfully completed call tests for key MVNO services on February 8, 2026. These included voice and data calls, Alap-to-Mobile, Alap-to-Alap, and GPON integration. Despite earlier media reports suggesting a February 15 rollout, BTCL confirmed that the new date has been finalized for pilot marketing of the MVNO service.

Previously, the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology had announced that the MVNO SIM and triple-play package would be available at BTCL’s sales centers in Ramna, Gulistan, and Gulshan from February 15. The revised schedule now sets March 1 as the official market introduction date.

Bangladesh’s stock market saw a sharp rise following the national election in which the BNP secured a two-thirds majority and is set to form the next government. On the first trading day after the election, the Dhaka Stock Exchange’s main index, DSEX, jumped by 190 points within the first two and a half hours of trading, marking an increase of more than 3.5 percent. Trading volume also surged to around Tk 800 crore during the same period.

Analysts said investors who had been waiting on the sidelines during the election period have now become active, driving both the index and trading volume upward. They advised investors to focus on company fundamentals rather than market rumors. Among the traded issues, prices rose for 370 companies, fell for 17, and remained unchanged for 4.

The market optimism reflects renewed investor confidence following a peaceful election and the country’s return to a democratic process after 17 years.

A new team of four astronauts reached the International Space Station (ISS) after a 34-hour journey aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida. The spacecraft successfully docked with the ISS on Saturday. The mission, known as Crew-12, includes American astronauts Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway, French astronaut Sophie Adenot, and Russian cosmonaut Andrei Fedyaev. They will stay for several months to conduct scientific research in microgravity.

Jessica Meir, the mission commander and a marine biologist, said the crew is continuing humanity’s legacy of over 25 years of continuous presence in space. The mission follows the early return of Crew-11 in January due to a medical emergency, marking the first such incident in ISS history. Crew-12 fills that gap, restoring full operations at the station, which orbits 400 kilometers above Earth.

Sophie Adenot, the second French woman in space, will test the use of artificial intelligence and augmented reality for self-administered medical ultrasounds. NASA plans to deorbit the ISS in 2030, making Crew-12 one of its final long-duration teams.

At least four people were killed in Mozambique when Cyclone Ghazni struck the southern coastal province of Inhambane on Saturday. The storm hit with winds reaching 215 kilometers per hour, according to meteorologists cited by AFP. The country’s national electricity company reported that fallen trees and broken power lines left more than 13,000 people without electricity, while water supply was disrupted in several districts of Inhambane.

A day earlier, the same cyclone caused severe destruction in Madagascar, where 41 people were killed, 427 injured, and about 16,300 displaced. The government there declared a national emergency, estimating damages at around 142 million dollars. Mozambique, which frequently experiences natural disasters, has seen the intensity of such events increase due to climate change.

Authorities in both countries are assessing the full extent of the damage as recovery efforts continue in affected areas.

After a three-day closure due to the 13th parliamentary election, referendum, and weekly holidays, import and export operations between Bangladesh and India resumed at Hili land port in Hakimpur upazila of Dinajpur. The trade activities restarted on Saturday afternoon when Indian trucks began entering Bangladesh. Workers returned to their duties in the morning, and port operations gradually increased throughout the day.

According to port sources, between 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., Indian cargo trucks carrying corn, spices, and fruits crossed the border and entered the Hili yard. The goods were unloaded and dispatched to various destinations across the country. Officials from Panama Port Limited, customs, and plant quarantine departments confirmed that all administrative, customs, and inspection activities had returned to normal. The Hili Importers and Exporters Group stated that traders had also resumed their business operations at the port.

The resumption of trade is expected to restore regular cross-border commerce and stabilize supply chains disrupted during the election-related closure.