The National Citizens Party (NCP) has expressed deep concern over reports that journalists supporting the July Movement are being harassed in various media outlets. Mahabub Alam, the party’s joint chief coordinator and head of its election media subcommittee, said in a statement sent to the press on Wednesday night that any form of harassment or retaliatory action would not be tolerated.

Alam stated that supporting the July Movement is not a crime but an honor, emphasizing respect for those who stood for truth and justice despite intimidation. He reiterated that the NCP would not accept any acts of victimization or revenge against journalists who took a stand in favor of the movement.

The party’s statement underscores its stance on protecting press freedom and defending journalists who express political opinions aligned with the July Movement, amid growing concern over reports of mistreatment in the media sector.

Foreign Minister Dr. Khalilur Rahman has responded to questions about whether joining the BNP-led cabinet after serving in the interim government creates a conflict of interest. Speaking to journalists on Wednesday evening at the Padma State Guest House, he said he joined voluntarily and that perceptions about individuals can change over time. Earlier, Rahman and State Minister Shama Obaid met with visiting Nepali Foreign Minister Bala Nand Sharma.

Rahman, who previously served as National Security Adviser during the interim government, stated that Bangladesh is returning to the foreign policy approach of former President Ziaur Rahman. He emphasized that the country will act strictly in line with its national interests and that efforts on Rohingya repatriation will not slow down but rather intensify. He also reiterated Bangladesh’s intention to maintain good relations with all countries while safeguarding its interests.

Addressing allegations of “election engineering” in the 13th National Parliamentary Election, Rahman urged critics to recount the votes if they believe the counting was flawed.

Bangladesh’s new government has begun its work with three key priorities: controlling commodity prices, improving law and order, and ensuring stability in the power and energy sectors. Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed announced these priorities on Wednesday after a cabinet meeting held at the Secretariat. He said the government has adopted a 180-day priority plan during its first cabinet session.

According to Salahuddin Ahmed, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has urged all secretaries and government officials to perform their duties in accordance with the Constitution and the law. The minister emphasized that the government’s initial focus is on maintaining economic stability and public security while ensuring uninterrupted services in essential sectors.

The announcement reflects the administration’s intent to address immediate challenges facing citizens and to establish a foundation for effective governance in the early months of its tenure.

The newly formed cabinet of Bangladesh, established following the 13th National Parliament election, held its first meeting on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, chaired by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman at the Secretariat. The meeting focused on implementing a 180-day priority program, with ministers and state ministers sharing details afterward. The government will announce a 180-day roadmap to execute adopted programs on a priority basis.

State Minister for Finance and Planning Md. Jonaid Saki said the prime minister instructed officials to ensure a comfortable environment during Ramadan and maintain stable electricity supply. He also mentioned that proposals for a media commission are under consideration. State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaid stated that the prime minister emphasized fulfilling public expectations, while State Minister for Labour and Employment Md. Nurul Haque Nur said directives were given to ensure visible, corruption-free work and to expand labor markets in the Middle East.

Adviser to the Prime Minister Zahedur Rahman added that the prime minister instructed authorities to control commodity prices during Ramadan and ensure smooth travel for citizens during Eid.

Police have deposited Tk 7.4 million, two mobile phones, and clothing belonging to Thakurgaon district Jamaat-e-Islami chief Belal Uddin Pradhan to the Nilphamari Chief Judicial Magistrate Court treasury. Nilphamari Superintendent of Police Sheikh Zahidul Islam confirmed the submission on Wednesday, a day before the 13th National Parliamentary Election.

Belal Uddin Pradhan, a teacher and resident of Hajipara in Thakurgaon Sadar, was detained on February 11 after arriving at Saidpur Airport from Dhaka on a US-Bangla flight. During a routine security check, authorities found the large sum of cash in his possession. Unable to provide a satisfactory explanation for the source and purpose of the money, he was taken into custody by a joint security team. He later fell ill and was admitted to Saidpur Hospital before being transferred to Rangpur Medical College Hospital for advanced treatment.

Belal Uddin Pradhan claimed the money was legally earned from his business and that he had a no-objection certificate from Dhaka Airport authorities.

Several activists of the banned Bangladesh Chhatra League and Jubo League have been accused of occupying the Awami League office in Burichang upazila of Cumilla. The incident occurred on Wednesday evening when a group of activists were seen cleaning and repairing the office premises while chanting slogans, according to local sources. A video lasting about two minutes and eleven seconds reportedly shows them taking part in the activity at the office, which had been vandalized on August 5 following the July mass uprising.

Leaders of the Burichang unit of the Chhatra Dal questioned how members of the banned organizations could hold a rally and occupy the office in the heart of the municipality. They demanded a proper investigation and necessary action from the administration. Burichang Police Station Officer-in-Charge Lutfor Rahman confirmed that the activities of the Chhatra League are banned and said the matter would be investigated and appropriate measures taken.

The incident has created political tension in the area, though police stated that the law and order situation remains under control.

Police detained five Awami League leaders and activists in Parbatipur upazila of Dinajpur following tension surrounding the opening of a party office in the New Bazar area. The operation took place around noon on Wednesday, led by Officer-in-Charge Faruk Hossain of Parbatipur Model Police Station. The detainees were identified as Akhtar Hossain, Sajjad Hossain, Gouranga Roy, Mozammel Haque, and Babul Sarkar.

According to police, the arrests were made to prevent possible unrest and maintain law and order after tensions arose over the party office opening. A political case was later filed against the detainees, who were subsequently sent to jail custody. Additional police forces have been deployed in the area to ensure stability.

Authorities reported that while some tension remains in the locality, the overall situation is currently under control, and law enforcement continues to monitor developments closely.

Newly appointed Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed announced that the government aims to completely end mob culture in Bangladesh. He stated that no one will be allowed to engage in mob actions in the name of demands, though peaceful rallies, processions, and submission of memorandums for legitimate causes will remain permitted. He emphasized the continuation of democratic practices in the country.

Speaking on his first working day at the Secretariat during an introductory meeting with ministry officials, Ahmed said the police must become friends of the people and restore their damaged image. He pledged to make the Home Ministry free from corruption, ensuring transparency and accountability among officials. He warned that no illegal lobbying would be tolerated and that any member of the security forces found involved in crimes would face immediate investigation and action.

The meeting was chaired by Acting Secretary Md. Delwar Hossain and attended by officials from various levels of the ministry. Upon arrival, the minister was greeted with flowers and given a guard of honor.

Advocate Ehsanul Mahbub Zubair, Assistant Secretary General and head of the central publicity and media department of Jamaat-e-Islami, has expressed deep concern over the killing of party activist Abbas Uddin in Lakshmipur Sadar. In a statement to the media on Wednesday, he said Abbas Uddin was burned to death after miscreants set fire to Jitu Agro Fish Farm in Ward No. 1 of Char Ramani Mohan Union. He condemned the incident as a brutal act of political vengeance.

Zubair urged the government to conduct a free, fair, and impartial investigation to identify and punish those responsible for the killing. He described the incident as an inhumane act against an innocent person and demanded exemplary punishment for the perpetrators.

He also prayed for Abbas Uddin to be accepted as a martyr and extended his condolences to the bereaved family, praying for their strength to endure the loss.

Islami Chhatra Andolan Bangladesh has called for closing hotels and restaurants during daytime in the holy month of Ramadan to maintain its sanctity. The appeal was made by the organization’s Secretary General Sultan Mahmud at a rally held on Wednesday afternoon at Paltan intersection in Dhaka, organized to welcome Ramadan.

During his address, Sultan Mahmud emphasized that Ramadan is a month of self-purification, restraint, and morality for Muslims. He urged the government to take effective measures to control market syndicates, ensure the supply of adulteration-free food, and keep essential commodities affordable for the public. He also called on the administration to take strict action if necessary to uphold the sanctity of Ramadan.

Mahmud further requested that all educational institutions provide quality and affordable meals for students. Leaders at the rally encouraged unity to foster social harmony, morality, and human values in building a welfare-oriented society during Ramadan.

Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir organized a colorful rally and gathering in Rajshahi city on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, to welcome the holy month of Ramadan and demand control of essential commodity prices. The event began at 10 a.m. from the city’s Museum Mor and concluded at Zero Point after passing through key streets. Participants carried banners and festoons, chanting slogans to mark the occasion.

Speakers at the gathering alleged that dishonest business syndicates and hoarders create artificial crises during Ramadan, pushing prices beyond the reach of ordinary people. They urged the government to take strict monitoring measures and effective action against such groups. Rajshahi Metropolitan Shibir President Imran Nazir said profiteering through hoarding contradicts the spirit of Ramadan, while Secretary Dr. Sakhawat Hossain called for a zero-tolerance policy against hoarders.

The event concluded with prayers for the prosperity of the nation, unity of the Muslim Ummah, and peace for oppressed Muslims worldwide. A large number of Shibir leaders and general citizens attended the rally.

On February 18, 2026, LGRD Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir spoke with journalists at his office in the Secretariat on the first working day of the newly formed government. He evaluated the activities of the outgoing interim administration led by Dr. Muhammad Yunus and discussed the upcoming challenges for the government headed by Tarique Rahman. Fakhrul said the new cabinet was formed to implement the prime minister’s specific plan to solve people’s problems and move Bangladesh forward.

He emphasized that democracy would remain central to all government efforts, noting that the Local Government Ministry directly connects with grassroots citizens. Addressing concerns about law and order and the economy, Fakhrul stated that conditions had improved, with better control over the banking sector and restored macroeconomic stability. He warned against mob justice and said the government would bring such incidents under control.

Fakhrul credited the interim government for successfully managing the transition to democracy and said there was no need to issue a white paper on its activities. He also claimed that the recent election had gained both national and international acceptance.

Supreme Court senior lawyer and former Islami Chhatra Shibir central secretary Shishir Monir has announced that any legal challenge against the July National Charter or related referendum will be met through proper legal procedures. He made the statement on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, in a post on social media platform Facebook.

In his post, Monir assured that he and his fellow lawyers would handle any such legal actions skillfully in court and urged people not to be worried about the matter. His declaration comes amid discussions surrounding the July National Charter and referendum, though the source does not specify the nature of the potential challenges or the broader political context.

The announcement signals a readiness from Monir and his legal associates to defend the legitimacy of the July National Charter through judicial means if contested.

India’s External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar has congratulated Dr. Khalilur Rahman on his appointment as Bangladesh’s new foreign minister in the recently formed government. Jaishankar extended his greetings through his official verified Facebook page, expressing eagerness to work together for mutual progress and prosperity between the two neighboring countries.

Dr. Khalilur Rahman previously served as the National Security Adviser in the interim government and as the High Representative on Rohingya issues under the Chief Adviser. He earned his master’s degree in economics from the University of Dhaka in 1977, securing first place in his class, and joined the Bangladesh Civil Service (Foreign Affairs) cadre in 1979. He later obtained an MA in Law and Diplomacy and a PhD in Economics from Tufts and Harvard universities in the United States.

Between 1983 and 1985, Rahman worked in the South Asia Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and as the personal secretary to the foreign minister. He was later posted to Bangladesh’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York and joined the UN Secretariat in Geneva in 1991 as a special adviser to UNCTAD.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Sheikh Mohammad Sajjat Ali stated that the police have delivered a fair and widely accepted election through utmost sincerity and dedication. He made the remarks on Wednesday at the monthly crime review meeting for January 2026, held at the Bangladesh Police Auditorium in Rajarbagh. Addressing DMP members, he thanked all officers for maintaining neutrality and professionalism during the election and said the force had regained its lost glory. He urged everyone to continue working to uphold this positive image.

During the meeting, Additional Police Commissioner (Admin) Mohammad Sarwar instructed officers to manage heavy traffic before iftar during Ramadan to ensure smooth movement for the public. Additional Police Commissioner (Crime and Operations) S.N. Mohammad Nazrul Islam directed vigilance during major upcoming events such as International Mother Language Day and the Ekushey Book Fair, and to prevent theft and snatching during Ramadan nights. The DMP Commissioner also awarded officers for outstanding performance in maintaining law and order and public safety in January.

Senior DMP officials, including several additional and joint commissioners, deputy commissioners, and officers-in-charge from all police stations, attended the meeting.