Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus delivered an emotional farewell address on February 16, 2026, recalling the events of August 5 as a moment of great national liberation. He described the day as one of immense joy, noting that Bangladeshis at home and abroad shed tears of happiness. Yunus said that young students had freed the country from what he called a 'monster’s grip,' though the state machinery had become completely paralyzed at that time.

He explained that the student leaders behind the uprising decided to form a government to run the country. At that time, Yunus was abroad and initially declined to take responsibility, but the student leaders persuaded him by reminding him of his duty to the nation. He stated that he had faithfully carried out his responsibilities for the past 18 months and that it was now time to hand over power to an elected government.

Yunus described August 5 as a unique moment of liberation in the nation’s history and said that the interim government had worked to restore stability and functionality to the state. As he prepared to transfer power, he expressed gratitude to the people of Bangladesh.

Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus said that full implementation of the July Charter would permanently prevent the return of fascism. In his farewell address to the nation on Monday night, he noted that the people had overwhelmingly supported the Charter through a referendum and expressed hope it would be implemented within the stipulated timeframe. He thanked political parties, social organizations, and rights groups for their contributions to drafting and passing the Charter.

Yunus stated that after nearly one and a half decades, Bangladesh held a festive, participatory, and peaceful national election alongside the referendum on the July Charter, aimed at major constitutional reforms. Reflecting on his 18 months in office, he said the interim government worked on three goals—reform, justice, and election—introducing about 130 new laws and 600 executive orders. He highlighted initiatives such as strengthening judicial independence, recognizing enforced disappearance as a crime against humanity, and police reform.

He added that balanced diplomacy had been restored, citing a trade deal with the United States that reduced reciprocal tariffs from 37 to 19 percent, and growing cooperation with Japan and China. Yunus urged unity in building a just, humane, and democratic Bangladesh as he handed over power to the elected government.

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Chairperson Tarique Rahman has pledged to run the country through consultation with all parties, according to Islami Andolan Bangladesh’s Amir and Charmonai Pir Mufti Syed Muhammad Rezaul Karim. The commitment came after a 45-minute meeting held on Monday evening at Rezaul Karim’s residence on Bailey Road in Dhaka, attended by Tarique Rahman and BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.

Following the meeting, Rezaul Karim described the discussion as cordial and productive, saying they exchanged views on building the nation together and avoiding political hostility. He said Tarique Rahman assured that governance would be based on collective consultation. The meeting also touched on the issue of the proposed upper house mentioned in the July Charter, which Rezaul Karim urged the BNP to uphold to maintain public trust.

Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir stated that the BNP had several notes of dissent regarding the July Charter but would present them in parliament and implement the charter if passed. Rezaul Karim confirmed that his party would attend the upcoming oath-taking ceremony upon receiving an invitation.

The Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Jubo Dal, the youth wing of the BNP, met with party chairperson Tarique Rahman on Monday at his political office in Gulshan, Dhaka. The meeting took place on the eve of Rahman’s scheduled swearing-in as prime minister on Tuesday. During the meeting, Jubo Dal leaders presented him with flowers and extended heartfelt congratulations on what they described as a historic moment.

According to the report, the Jubo Dal leaders expressed optimism that Rahman’s leadership would rebuild democracy, strengthen nationalist ideals, and fulfill public expectations. They also prayed for his good health, long life, and success as a statesman. Among those present were Jubo Dal president Abdul Monayem Munna and general secretary and newly elected member of parliament Nurul Islam Noyon.

The event underscored the youth wing’s support for Rahman’s upcoming assumption of office and its expectation of renewed political direction under his leadership.

Four months after the formal signing of the July National Charter, the newly formed National Citizen Party (NCP), led by young leaders of the mass uprising, signed the document on Monday evening at the state guesthouse Jamuna. The signing took place in the presence of Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus. NCP Convener Nahid Islam and Member Secretary Akhtar Hossain signed on behalf of the party. Also present were National Consensus Commission Vice President Professor Ali Riaz, Commission Member Badiul Alam Majumdar, and the Chief Adviser’s Special Assistant Monir Haider.

Dr. Yunus said the nation had expected NCP to join the charter, and with their signature, the July National Charter reached completion. He thanked the party for its participation and urged vigilance in building a humane Bangladesh through the charter’s implementation. Nahid Islam stated that NCP’s elected members would take their parliamentary oath the next day, marking two simultaneous commitments to the people and the charter.

The signing signifies the final endorsement of the July National Charter, completing a key step in the country’s ongoing political transition.

The coordinated platform of election observer organizations, Voice Network, has stated that widespread post-election violence across nearly all divisions of Bangladesh is undermining the success of the recently held fair and peaceful parliamentary election. The observation came on Monday in Dhaka during the presentation of its preliminary report on the national election and referendum, delivered by the organization’s chairman, Professor Dr. Jasim Uddin.

According to the report, the 13th National Parliamentary Election was comparatively fair, peaceful, and acceptable. However, incidents of violence, deaths, and looting reported in about 40 districts have tarnished the overall electoral environment. The report urged the Election Commission, interim government, and winning political parties to act responsibly to address the situation. Observers noted irregularities, including obstruction to their work in 8 percent of polling centers, inadequate facilities for elderly, sick, and pregnant voters, and partiality in 15.5 percent of centers.

The report also cited procedural ambiguities in vote counting and tabulation, limited observer access, and restricted media coverage, which affected transparency and public confidence in the results.

Sheikh Bashiruddin, adviser to the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism, has stepped down from his position as chairman of Biman Bangladesh Airlines. On Monday, he submitted his resignation letter to the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism, which has been forwarded to the Chief Adviser’s Office for approval. A farewell reception for him is scheduled to be held at Biman’s headquarters, Balaka, on Monday evening.

Sheikh Bashiruddin was appointed chairman of Biman Bangladesh Airlines on August 26 of the previous year through a ministry notification. He succeeded Muid Chowdhury, the former chairman of Biman and a former adviser to the caretaker government. In addition to his role in the aviation ministry, Sheikh Bashiruddin also serves as an adviser to the Ministry of Commerce.

The resignation marks the end of Sheikh Bashiruddin’s tenure of less than a year at the national carrier, pending formal approval from the Chief Adviser’s Office.

The High Court has postponed for two weeks the hearing on a writ petition challenging the legality of the ordinance and administrative actions that dissolved the National Board of Revenue (NBR) and created two new divisions named Revenue Policy and Revenue Management. The bench of Justice Rajik Al Jalil and Justice Anwarul Islam announced the decision on Monday, February 16, after five days of hearings, without issuing any rule. NBR’s counsel Barrister Omar Faruk confirmed the decision, noting that the court will observe the new parliament’s stance once the government is formed.

The writ was filed by Tanvir Ahmed, a joint secretary of the Cabinet Division, who argued that the new rule requiring secretaries to have VAT and tax experience reduces his eligibility for promotion. He also claimed that the changes to the Rules of Business were unconstitutional and beyond the advisory council’s authority. A previous bench had dismissed a similar petition in August, citing non-presentation.

The government issued the ordinance on May 12 of the previous year, sparking protests among NBR officials under the banner of the NBR Reform Unity Council. Although amendments were later made, the protests continued until June 29, when the movement was withdrawn following government warnings and reports of anti-corruption investigations.

BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman visited the residence of Islami Andolan Bangladesh’s Amir and Charmonai Pir, Mufti Syed Muhammad Rezaul Karim, on Monday evening at 7:15 p.m. The meeting took place at Karim’s residence on Bailey Road in Dhaka as part of a series of courtesy visits by the BNP leader.

According to the report, Tarique Rahman had earlier paid courtesy visits on Sunday evening to Jamaat-e-Islami Amir Dr. Shafiqur Rahman and later that night to NCP Convener Nahid Islam at their respective residences. Islami Andolan Bangladesh had fielded 257 candidates out of 300 constituencies in the recent election. In Barishal-5, BNP’s Mojibur Rahman Sarwar was unofficially elected with 131,431 votes, while his closest rival, Islami Andolan’s Mufti Faizul Karim, received 93,528 votes.

The series of visits marks continued political engagement among opposition and Islamist party leaders following the election results.

The Election Commission (EC) of Bangladesh has declared the Bogura-6 parliamentary seat vacant following BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman’s decision to represent the Dhaka-17 constituency. EC Secretary Akhtar Ahmed issued a gazette notification on Monday, February 16, 2026, confirming the vacancy effective from the same date. The decision was made under Article 71(2)(a) of the Constitution after Rahman formally submitted a signed declaration expressing his intent to represent Dhaka-17.

In the 13th national election, Tarique Rahman contested and won from both Bogura-6 and Dhaka-17 constituencies. His party, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), secured a sweeping majority with victories in 212 seats. The EC’s announcement follows Rahman’s formal choice of constituency representation as required by law.

Newly elected members of parliament and cabinet members are scheduled to take oath on Tuesday, February 16, 2026, during which Tarique Rahman is set to be sworn in as the next Prime Minister of Bangladesh.

Sri Lanka’s Minister of Health and Mass Media, Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa, will represent his country at the oath-taking ceremony of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Chairperson Tareq Rahman’s new cabinet on Tuesday. The event marks Rahman’s assumption of office as Prime Minister following his party’s sweeping victory in Bangladesh’s 13th national parliamentary election held on February 12.

According to a message received in Dhaka, Bangladesh’s High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Andalib Elias, saw off Minister Jayatissa at Colombo airport before his departure. The Sri Lankan minister’s participation is being viewed as a reflection of the strong and friendly bilateral relations between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

The ceremony underscores ongoing diplomatic engagement between the two South Asian nations as Bangladesh transitions to a new government under Tareq Rahman’s leadership.

The National Citizen Party (NCP) has signed the July National Charter at the state guesthouse Jamuna in Dhaka on Monday, in the presence of Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus. NCP Convener Nahid Islam and Member Secretary Akhtar Hossain signed the document on behalf of the party. The event was attended by National Consensus Commission Vice President Professor Ali Riaz, Commission Member Badiul Alam Majumdar, and the Chief Adviser’s Special Assistant Monir Haider.

Chief Adviser Yunus said the nation had expected NCP’s signature on the charter, and with this step, the July National Charter reached completion. He thanked the party for participating in what he described as a noble initiative and urged all to remain vigilant so that the document contributes to building a humane new Bangladesh. He also announced that newly elected members of parliament would take their oaths the following day.

NCP leader Nahid Islam stated that their elected MPs would take oath tomorrow, marking two oaths at once, and pledged to fulfill the trust placed in them by the people.

BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi has returned home after being discharged from Square Hospital in Dhaka. He had been admitted with fever, cold, and breathing difficulties, and was released on Monday following several days of treatment. His personal assistant, Arifur Rahman Tushar, confirmed the development.

Doctors reported that Rizvi’s health has improved significantly, noting that his fever has subsided and his breathing problems have largely eased. He had been admitted to the hospital urgently last week due to his deteriorating condition.

A medical board comprising specialist doctors supervised his treatment during his stay at the hospital, ensuring close monitoring of his recovery process.

The Manobadhikar Sangskriti Foundation (MSF) reported that at least seven people were killed and 350 injured in violence that erupted across 26 districts of Bangladesh following the announcement of the 13th National Parliament election results. The organization released a statement on Monday, three days after the election, expressing strong condemnation and deep concern over the incidents. It urged the state to take swift and effective action to stop the violence and called on political parties to act responsibly and urgently.

According to MSF, victims included supporters of independent candidates in Munshiganj and Bagerhat, a child in Mymensingh, and an Awami League activist in Bhola. Two people died in a bomb explosion in Chapainawabganj, and a rickshaw driver in Lakshmipur was found dead after being missing since election night. The group also reported that over 350 political activists and civilians were injured in attacks across multiple districts, with cases of arson, vandalism, and one reported rape in Noakhali’s Hatiya.

MSF warned that misleading information and videos circulating on social media could further inflame the situation.

Pakistan’s Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal Chaudhry will represent his country at the oath-taking ceremony of Bangladesh’s newly elected government, scheduled for tomorrow at the South Plaza of the National Parliament Building. Although invited, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will not attend, and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar are also unlikely to visit due to an ongoing trip to Europe. Ahsan Iqbal will therefore attend on their behalf as Pakistan’s Minister for Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives.

From India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will also be absent, but Om Birla and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri will participate in the event. Other foreign guests expected include Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, Tshering Tobgay, and Bala Nanda Sharma.

The oath ceremony follows Bangladesh’s national election held on February 12, in which the Bangladesh Nationalist Party secured a two-thirds majority to form the government. An 11-party alliance, including Jamaat and NCPC, won 77 seats and will sit in the opposition benches.