A Dhaka court has issued a travel ban on two former vice-chancellors of the National University, Professor Dr. Harun-or-Rashid and Professor Dr. Md. Mashiur Rahman. The order was given on Tuesday by Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Md. Sabbir Foyez, confirmed by the court’s bench assistant Md. Riaz Hossain. The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Deputy Director Muhammad Zainal Abedin had earlier filed a petition requesting the restriction.

According to the petition, a three-member inquiry team has been formed to investigate allegations of irregularities and corruption within the National University. The ACC stated that credible sources indicated the accused might attempt to flee abroad, prompting the request for a travel ban to ensure a fair investigation. After a hearing, the court approved the restriction.

Professor Harun-or-Rashid served two terms as vice-chancellor from March 2013 and was reappointed in May 2017. Professor Mashiur Rahman was appointed in May 2021 and resigned on August 11, 2024, following the fall of the Awami League government.

In Chattogram’s Lohagara upazila, BNP’s defeated candidate for the Chattogram-15 constituency, Nazmul Mostafa Amin, greeted Awami League leader Dula Mia with flowers upon his release from jail. Dula Mia, a leader of the Kolauzan Union Awami League, had been arrested before the election from his home in Chattogram in connection with a murder case filed at Lohagara Police Station.

Photos of the floral reception at the prison gate quickly went viral on social media, drawing widespread negative reactions. Images also circulated showing Dula Mia with senior Awami League leaders and speaking at various party events. Local BNP leader Robiul Hasan Robi criticized the gesture, recalling that Dula Mia had allegedly persecuted BNP activists during the Awami League’s rule.

According to police, Dula Mia was arrested on January 4 from the Sugandha residential area under Panchlaish Police Station based on multiple allegations. His release and the subsequent reception have sparked debate within local political circles.

The High Court has ordered an investigation into allegations of irregularities, corruption, and nepotism in staff recruitment at the under-construction Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant in Ishwardi, Pabna. The order was issued on Tuesday at 11 a.m. by a bench comprising Justice Ahmed Sohel and Justice Fatema Anwar.

The court directed the formation of a high-level committee led by the Secretary of the Ministry of Science and Technology to conduct the investigation and submit a report within two months. The directive followed a writ petition filed seeking a judicial inquiry into reports of unprecedented irregularities, corruption, fraud, and favoritism in the recruitment process. The petition included newspaper reports related to the alleged recruitment fraud.

According to the petitioner’s lawyer, Masud Ahmed Saeed, the High Court’s order aims to ensure accountability in the recruitment process at the national nuclear power project.

Freedom fighter Md. Abdus Salam has formally assumed responsibility as the administrator of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC). The handover took place on Tuesday when he received the charge from Local Government Minister and BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir. His appointment was made by presidential order on Monday, with the official notification signed by Joint Secretary Mahbuba Irene.

According to relevant sources, the appointment aims to strengthen DSCC’s administrative operations and enhance citizen service delivery. Abdus Salam is expected to lead ongoing development initiatives and urban management efforts under the corporation’s jurisdiction.

The new administrator’s leadership is anticipated to bring greater dynamism to DSCC’s service and development programs, focusing on improved governance and efficiency in city management.

Bangladesh Land Minister Md. Mizanur Rahman Minu stated that the government aims to eliminate bribery and corruption in public service delivery, assuring that action will be taken upon receiving complaints. He made the remarks on Tuesday morning while speaking to journalists after visiting the Land Service Call Center and Citizen Care Center at the Land Bhaban in Tejgaon, Dhaka.

During the visit, the minister emphasized that land services will be made more citizen-friendly and acknowledged that working in the ministry is challenging but requires collective effort. State Minister for Land Barrister Kaiser Kamal, who was also present, said that those responsible for the ministry over the past 17 years had made it controversial both nationally and internationally. He declared a zero-tolerance policy against bribery and corruption within the ministry.

The statements reflect the ministry’s renewed commitment to transparency and accountability in land administration, signaling stricter oversight and reform efforts in service delivery.

Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives (LGRD) Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir stated that the decision on whether local government elections will be held under party symbols will be made by the Parliament. He made the remarks on Tuesday afternoon after administrators of six city corporations, including the two in Dhaka, formally joined the Local Government Ministry.

The minister said that city elections would be held first where the current term has ended, adding that political administrators would perform better than bureaucrats. He also clarified that the government has no plan to appoint political administrators in municipalities.

The statement came during an official event marking the assumption of duties by newly appointed city administrators, highlighting the government’s approach to managing local governance transitions.

Former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, former mayor Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh, and former MP Jahangir Kabir Nanak are being named as accused for the first time in the explosives case linked to the 2009 BDR tragedy. Chief Public Prosecutor Md. Borhan Uddin confirmed the development on Tuesday morning, stating that witness testimonies have mentioned the names of several Awami League leaders, including former ministers and MPs. Legal provisions allow their inclusion, and action is expected on February 26.

The explosives case, filed under the Explosives Act, currently lists around 800 accused and 1,200 witnesses, with testimony from about 300 already recorded. Witness statements reportedly contain information implicating Sheikh Hasina and others. The case remains at the testimony stage, and about 200 accused have been granted bail since August 2024.

The related murder case from the 2009 BDR mutiny saw 152 sentenced to death and 160 to life imprisonment in 2013. The High Court upheld 139 death sentences, and the case is now pending in the Supreme Court’s Appellate Division.

Saudi academic Dr. Ahmad Al-Tuwaijri published a controversial article criticizing Israel and the United Arab Emirates, accusing Abu Dhabi’s rulers of aligning with Zionists and acting as a ‘Trojan horse’ for a wider Israeli project in the Middle East. The article, printed in a newspaper close to Saudi authorities, was briefly removed following protests from Tel Aviv and Washington, and accusations of antisemitism from pro-Israel networks in the United States. It was later restored, with claims that it had never been withdrawn.

The publication marked an unprecedented public critique of the UAE by a Saudi figure, highlighting growing friction between the two allies. Al-Tuwaijri argued that a deep regional rift has emerged, rooted in Israel’s actions in Gaza and Yemen’s ongoing conflict. He said Saudi Arabia feels humiliated by Israel’s conduct and has shifted its tone, recognizing that peace with Israel is unlikely under current conditions.

The episode underscores a possible strategic divergence between Riyadh and Abu Dhabi, as Saudi Arabia seeks closer ties with Turkey and reconciliation with Iran while reassessing its regional alliances.

President Md. Shahabuddin has convened the first session of Bangladesh’s 13th National Parliament for March 12 at 11 a.m., fulfilling the constitutional requirement to begin within 30 days of election results. The February 12 election, held under an interim government, gave the BNP-led alliance a two-thirds majority with 212 of 297 seats, while the Jamaat-e-Islami–led alliance secured 77. The session will open with the election and oath of the new Speaker and Deputy Speaker, followed by the President’s address and presentation of ordinances issued by the outgoing interim government.

Analysts and parliamentary sources expect the session to be vibrant and contentious, with disputes over the Constitutional Reform Council’s oath-taking and post-election violence likely to dominate early debates. Both ruling and opposition parties are preparing for active participation, with the opposition training its members on legislative procedures and planning to raise issues such as price hikes, traffic congestion, and governance reforms.

Opposition leaders, including Jamaat-e-Islami’s Amir Dr. Shafiqur Rahman, have pledged constructive engagement, while government members anticipate an end to boycott politics and a more functional parliament representing public interests.

Eighteen months after the July 2024 uprising, investigations into related cases in Chattogram have seen little progress, according to victims’ families. Relatives allege that inquiries have slowed further since the new government took office, with no official follow-up or communication. Police confirmed that among 151 cases filed, only one has reached the reporting stage, while the rest remain under investigation.

Families of those killed, including students Wasim Akram, Faisal Ahmed Shanto, Omar Nurul Absar, and Mahbubul Alam Masum, expressed frustration over the lack of justice and government contact. They said that during the interim government, officials and students had visited them, but since the new administration assumed power, even phone calls have stopped. Police and court sources reported that the cases involve more than 21,000 named and 30,000 unidentified accused individuals.

The victims’ families say they have received neither financial assistance nor rehabilitation. Many now doubt whether justice will ever be served, as investigations remain stalled and no visible progress has been made.

Advocate Tajul Islam has been removed from his position as Chief Prosecutor of the reconstituted International Crimes Tribunal, and Advocate Aminul Islam has been appointed as his replacement, according to a government notification issued on Monday. The change comes amid ongoing trials related to the July genocide and crimes against humanity, prompting discussions about the continuity and pace of the tribunal’s proceedings.

During his one and a half years in office, Tajul Islam led significant progress in the prosecution of July genocide cases, resulting in multiple convictions, including death sentences for former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal. Under his leadership, 24 formal charges were filed, 21 trials are ongoing, and three verdicts have been delivered. Tajul expressed confidence that the new prosecutor would continue the pursuit of justice and emphasized the need to prevent future atrocities.

New Chief Prosecutor Aminul Islam, previously a lawyer for Khaleda Zia, pledged to uphold the aspirations of the July movement and ensure fair trials. He stated that under the elected government, the tribunal’s work would proceed with greater momentum.

The Election Commission (EC) of Bangladesh is set to amend postal ballot regulations following experiences from the recently held 13th parliamentary election. According to EC sources, the changes will remove the voter declaration form and the provision for multiple envelopes. These elements were found to compromise ballot secrecy, as the declaration form contained both the postal ballot number and the voter’s national ID, potentially revealing voting choices.

Election Commissioner Abdur Rahmanel Mashud confirmed that the EC is considering dropping the declaration form, noting that voter identity is already verified through registration with a photograph. He also said the number of envelopes used in postal ballots will be reduced. EC officials explained that, unlike regular ballots cast in secret booths, postal ballots could expose voter preferences due to the attached declaration form.

Dr. Badiul Alam Majumdar, secretary of Citizens for Good Governance (SUJAN), welcomed the move, calling the declaration form unnecessary and a risk to voter privacy. He described the reform as a positive step toward protecting electoral confidentiality.

Newly elected Member of Parliament Akhtar Hossain from Rangpur-4 (Kaunia-Pirgacha) constituency and member secretary of the National Citizens Party (NCP) pledged to fulfill all his election promises despite his alliance not forming the government. Speaking as the chief guest at a large public reception and iftar gathering at Pirgacha Government College field on February 23, he said he would visit government offices to secure development projects for his constituents.

Hossain sharply criticized the BNP, accusing its defeated candidate Emdadul Haque Bhorsa of instigating violence and looting in Haragach. He said his party rejected politics of hatred and sought to work inclusively for all. He also praised Local Government Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and urged attention to small infrastructure projects in northern Bangladesh to improve accessibility for rural residents.

The event, organized under the leadership of local Jamaat-e-Islami representatives, featured speeches from leaders of Jamaat, NCP, Islami Chhatra Shibir, and Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis. Before the reception, Hossain attended a meeting with the Pirgacha Upazila administration, visited a late Jamaat leader’s grave, and inaugurated a local road.

The Bangladesh Police Service Association has called on the government to reconsider its decision to change the long-standing uniform of the Bangladesh Police. In a statement signed by its General Secretary and Cumilla Superintendent of Police Md. Anisuzzaman on February 23, the association said that more research and public opinion assessment are needed before altering the traditional attire.

The statement recalled that the khaki uniform was chosen in 2003–2004 after extensive evaluation by a government committee, considering factors such as officers’ skin tone, climate, visibility during day and night duties, and distinction from other forces. The association argued that the new uniform selected by the current interim government does not adequately address these practical issues and resembles those of other agencies, making field identification difficult.

It further noted that the khaki uniform symbolizes the force’s tradition, discipline, and professionalism, and that changing it would be costly. The association suggested that funds would be better spent on modernization, logistics, and training to strengthen morale and efficiency.

The European Union (EU) has congratulated the Election Commission of Bangladesh, led by Chief Election Commissioner A.M.M. Nasir Uddin, for successfully conducting the 13th parliamentary election in a free, fair, and acceptable manner. The EU’s ambassador to Bangladesh, Michael Miller, conveyed the message during a meeting with the Chief Election Commissioner at the Election Commission building on Monday, February 23, where Election Commission Secretary Akhtar Ahmed was also present.

During the meeting, Ambassador Miller appreciated the Chief Election Commissioner’s expression of gratitude for the EU’s support in the electoral process. He noted that the Election Commission’s work continues with upcoming by-elections and local government polls covering 12 city corporations, 495 upazilas, and 4,582 union councils. The EU pledged to maintain its assistance for these future elections as well.

The 13th national parliamentary election was held on February 12, marking another milestone in Bangladesh’s electoral process under the current commission’s leadership.