The Bangladesh Election Commission (EC) has announced that citizens aged 16 or 17 can now apply for national identity cards (NID). According to a circular issued on Sunday by the National Identity Registration Wing of the EC Secretariat, eligible applicants will receive their NID, and their names will be automatically added to the voter list once they turn 18.

The circular stated that the decision was made under Section 5 of the National Identity Registration Act, 2010, as amended in 2013. It clarified that any Bangladeshi citizen who has reached or will reach the age of 16 or 17 on the date of application may now register for an NID.

The directive, signed by Khan Abi Shahanur Khan, Director (Registration and Expatriates) of the National Identity Registration Wing, instructed all regional, district, and upazila election officers to implement the order immediately.

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed announced that the election of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker will take place during the first session of the 13th National Parliament. He made the statement on Sunday after a meeting with the Prime Minister at the Secretariat. According to the minister, the President will convene the first session of the new Parliament on March 12, following the Prime Minister’s advice.

The Home Minister also stated that ordinances issued during the tenure of the interim government will be presented in the same session. In addition, he mentioned that reshuffles have begun at the higher levels of the police administration.

The announcement marks a key step in initiating the activities of the 13th National Parliament, setting the stage for leadership selection and administrative adjustments within the government.

Newly elected NCP member secretary Akhtar Hossain announced his first post-election visit to his constituency in Rangpur after winning the 13th parliamentary election. His visit to Haragachh has drawn protests and a strike call from the local municipal BNP, led by Emdadul Bhorsa. In a Facebook post early Sunday, Hossain warned that if anything happened to him during the visit, responsibility would lie with Bhorsa and the BNP high command. He stated that he would continue working for the oppressed workers of Haragachh.

In his post, Hossain accused Bhorsa’s supporters of election-day irregularities, intimidation, and post-poll violence against NCP activists. He described incidents of obstruction, threats, and attacks at polling centers, alleging that Bhorsa’s men attempted to manipulate votes in Haragachh. Hossain claimed that despite repeated appeals, authorities took no action to stop the violence or vandalism.

Hossain said he planned to visit damaged homes and meet displaced supporters, adding that he had secured special allocations worth 6.5 crore taka for Haragachh’s development. He reiterated that any harm to him during the visit would be the responsibility of Bhorsa and the BNP leadership.

Five leaders of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) were injured in an alleged attack by Awami League activists at Pattashi Bazar in Indurkani upazila of Pirojpur on Friday night. The incident occurred around 8:30 p.m., leaving the presidents of the local Matsyajibi Dal and JASAS among the injured. The victims, identified as Nazrul Islam Fakir, Zahid Hossain, Nahid Hossain, Nasir Uddin Fakir, and Naim Hossain, were first treated at Indurkani Upazila Health Complex and later transferred to Pirojpur District Hospital.

According to locals, they found the victims bleeding and two of them unconscious when they arrived at the scene after hearing cries for help. Injured Zahid Hossain alleged that the attack was led by Nasir Uddin Tuku, joint secretary of the local Awami League, along with his son Raihan and brother Alaudin, claiming it was retaliation for their involvement with the BNP. However, Nasir Uddin denied the allegation, saying he was injured while trying to stop the fight and was being falsely accused.

Indurkani Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md. Shamim Hawlader said they received reports of the clash and would take legal action upon receiving a written complaint.

Detective Branch (DB) police detained Ferdous Ahmed Chowdhury Toshar, president of Bahubal upazila BNP in Habiganj, taking him into custody on Sunday. In protest, local BNP, Jubo Dal, and Chhatra Dal activists held a rally and blocked the Mirpur section of the highway around 2 p.m., halting traffic for about half an hour. The demonstrators demanded Toshar’s unconditional release within 24 hours.

Police sources said Toshar was detained following allegations of using abusive language and issuing threats to Bahubal Model Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Md Saiful Islam. A leaked phone call recording of the incident had circulated on social media. The dispute reportedly began after police arrested Masuk Mia, identified as a member of the 2019 Union Jubo League committee, whom some BNP leaders claimed was a BNP activist.

Toshar later went live on social media, accusing the OC of involvement in illegal cigarette seizures, drug trade, and other irregularities, which he said he verbally reported to the district police superintendent.

Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh’s Joint Secretary General Maulana Azizul Haque Islamabadi issued a statement on Sunday calling for widespread public use of the words “Inquilab, Insaaf, and Azadi,” describing them as the language and heritage of the July mass uprising. He criticized what he called “defeated cultural fascists” for opposing these historically significant Arabic-Persian terms, which he said had inspired rebellion during the uprising. Islamabadi also expressed concern that a minister from the ruling party had spoken against the slogan “Inquilab Zindabad.”

In his statement, Islamabadi argued that Arabic, Persian, and Urdu words have enriched the Bengali language and played a vital role in anti-colonial and popular movements. He accused certain “secular cultural elites” of attempting to undermine the revolutionary spirit of the July movement by attacking these words while ignoring other politically charged terms. He urged students and the public to respond peacefully to any attempts to distort the historical slogans.

He further called on intellectuals and media professionals to strengthen their skills and strategies to counter what he described as fascist and hegemonic narratives, emphasizing the need for continued cultural resistance.

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed announced that the next session of Bangladesh’s parliament will begin on March 12. He said the session will be convened by the president on the advice of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. The minister made the statement after a meeting with the prime minister at the Secretariat on Sunday. He added that elections for the Speaker and Deputy Speaker will be held on the same day, while discussions on the new president have not yet taken place.

The 13th national parliamentary election and referendum were held on February 12, followed by the publication of the official gazette the next day. According to constitutional requirements, the first session of the new parliament must be held by March 14. Newly elected members took their oaths on February 17. Tarique Rahman, chairman of the BNP, has been elected as the leader of the house and has already formed a new government.

Jamaat-e-Islami’s Amir Shafiqur Rahman has been chosen as the leader of the opposition, with Syed Abdullah Muhammad Taher as deputy opposition leader and Md Nahid Islam of the National Citizens Party as opposition chief whip.

State Minister for Education and newly elected Member of Parliament for Dhaka-13, Bobby Hajjaj, announced on Sunday his decision to take legal action against Mamunul Haque, a rival candidate in the 13th National Parliamentary Election. Hajjaj accused Haque of orchestrating attacks on BNP activists and attempting to seize polling centers on election day. The announcement came after Hajjaj visited Japan Bangladesh Friendship Hospital in Dhaka to review the condition of those injured in the election-day violence.

According to Hajjaj, Haque’s supporters tried to take control of polling centers under his direction, leading to clashes when BNP supporters resisted. Over a hundred BNP activists were reportedly injured, including Haidar Ali, who remains in critical condition in the hospital’s ICU due to brain hemorrhage. Hajjaj stated that Haque was present at the scene and directly ordered the attacks, prompting the decision to name him as the main accused in the forthcoming case.

Hajjaj also outlined several initiatives to curb drugs and crime in Mohammadpur, including installing CCTV cameras, police boxes, and increasing patrol teams.

The Election Commission (EC) of Bangladesh has announced plans to complete the postponed parliamentary by-elections for Bogura-6 and Sherpur-3 constituencies before Pahela Baishakh, which falls on April 14. Election Commissioner Abdur Rahmanel Ma’shud confirmed the decision on Sunday, stating that the commission aims to finish the voting process before the start of the Bengali New Year celebrations.

According to the commissioner, the EC is working to ensure that all pending electoral activities are concluded on time. In Bogura, expatriate voters who have already registered have cast their votes, and the commission will send ballots to them again. Additional time of a few days may be given to include any new voters who were left out. Alongside these by-elections, the process for reserved women’s seats has also begun through party nominations.

The commissioner added that the formalities for the reserved women’s seats will be completed within 90 days of the gazette publication, with the EC expecting to finish that election within the stipulated period.

On February 12, 2026, Bangladesh held its 13th parliamentary election and a national referendum. According to the Election Commission, voter turnout stood at 59.44 percent. However, analysis of the results shows that 15 members of parliament were elected after securing less than 40 percent of the total votes cast in their respective constituencies.

Among the winners, BNP candidates, Jamaat-e-Islami leaders, and several independents prevailed in closely contested races. For example, BNP’s Mohammad Akhtaruzzaman won in Mymensingh-10 with 34.56 percent of votes, while Jamaat’s Kamrul Hasan took Mymensingh-6 with 33.03 percent. Other low-margin victories included BNP’s Jahandar Ali Jahan in Madaripur-2 with 32.38 percent and independent Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Iqbal in Kishoreganj-5 with 38.50 percent. Several constituencies, including Gopalganj, Natore, and Dinajpur, also saw winners with similar vote shares.

The data highlights a fragmented electoral outcome, with multiple candidates dividing the vote in many constituencies. The Election Commission’s overall turnout figure contrasts with the narrow winning margins, suggesting highly competitive local races across the country.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian declared that his country will not yield to US pressure regarding its nuclear program. He made the statement during a ceremony honoring members of Iran’s Paralympic team. His remarks came after US President Donald Trump said he was considering limited military strikes to pressure Iranian leaders into reaching a nuclear control agreement.

Responding to Trump’s comments, Pezeshkian said Iran would not bow to any challenges or coordinated efforts by world powers to force compliance. The statement underscored Tehran’s defiance as indirect talks between Iran and the United States resumed earlier this month in Oman, followed by a second round in Switzerland last week.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated on Friday that a diplomatic solution was within reach and that a draft agreement could be finalized within two to three days for submission to Washington.

Nobel Peace Prize laureate Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus has returned to his previous workplace after completing his tenure as the chief adviser of the interim government. On Sunday morning, he arrived at the Yunus Centre located in the Telecom Building in Mirpur, where his long-time colleagues warmly welcomed him with flowers. The information was shared through a post on his verified Facebook page.

According to the post, upon his return, Dr. Yunus held a meeting with the managing directors and advisers of Grameen organizations and the Yunus Centre. The discussion focused on resuming various activities that had been on hold during his public service and on outlining future plans. His return marks the end of an 18-month period since he left the Yunus Centre to lead the interim government during a critical phase in the country’s politics.

The meeting at the Yunus Centre signaled the restart of organizational operations and planning for upcoming initiatives under Dr. Yunus’s guidance.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has strongly condemned and protested the remarks made by Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hasan Mahmud regarding the slogan ‘Inquilab Zindabad’. In a statement sent to the media on Sunday, the party’s Assistant Secretary General and head of its central publicity and media department, Advocate Ehsanul Mahbub Zubair, expressed deep concern, calling the minister’s comments inconsistent and a denial of historical, linguistic, and public realities.

Zubair stated that although the word ‘Inquilab’ has Arabic roots, it has long been used in the subcontinent’s independence movements and struggles for democratic rights. He argued that labeling any word as anti-Bangla based on its origin contradicts linguistic principles. He further said that the slogan symbolizes resistance against oppression and injustice, not the property of any particular group.

Jamaat urged the minister to withdraw his statement immediately, warning that otherwise the people would respond appropriately. The party reiterated that the Bengali language embodies diverse linguistic influences and called on all to avoid divisive rhetoric over language or slogans.

Professor Dr. Niaz Ahmad Khan, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Dhaka, has formally submitted his resignation to Education Minister A N M Ehsanul Haque Milon on Saturday afternoon. The university’s protocol officer, Mohammad Firoz, confirmed that the resignation letter was handed over in the morning. However, the ministry has not yet issued an official notification accepting it. Once approved, further administrative procedures will follow. According to the Ministry of Education, Khan mentioned personal and administrative reasons for his decision, which requires presidential approval to become final.

Professor Khan was appointed Vice-Chancellor on August 27, 2024, following political changes after the fall of the Awami League government in that year’s upheaval. Earlier, on February 10, just two days before the national election, he had publicly expressed his intention to step down from the position.

Born in 1966, Khan holds a PhD in Development Studies from the University of Wales, Swansea, and has served in various academic and advisory roles, including with UNDP, ADB, PKSF, and international organizations.

The Election Commission (EC) of Bangladesh announced on Sunday that it will soon release revised election schedules for the Bogura-6 by-election and the Sherpur-3 constituency poll. Both elections are expected to be held before April 14. The EC stated that the schedules will be declared very soon to ensure compliance with constitutional requirements.

The Bogura-6 seat became vacant after BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman, who was elected from both Bogura-6 and Dhaka-17 in the February 12 general election, expressed his intention to vacate one seat as per the Representation of the People Order (RPO), which prohibits holding multiple constituencies simultaneously. Meanwhile, voting in Sherpur-3 was postponed due to the death of a valid candidate during the same election.

According to the EC, previously valid candidates in Sherpur-3 will not need to resubmit nomination papers. Only new candidates will be allowed to submit nominations under the revised schedule.