Road Transport, Bridges and Shipping Minister Sheikh Robiul Alam has issued directives to ensure safe, smooth and comfortable Eid-ul-Fitr travel for people across Bangladesh, including the southwestern region. He made the announcement on Friday during an inspection of the Padma Bridge and its toll booths, noting that the Prime Minister has instructed authorities to make road travel safe and hassle-free for the public.

According to the minister’s guidance, officials have been asked to implement a 45-day coordinated program starting from the beginning of Ramadan until 15 days after Eid. The plan includes keeping all toll lanes and electronic toll collection systems operational, deploying sufficient manpower, and maintaining discipline and efficiency in toll collection. Emergency services such as wreckers and fire vehicles are to remain on standby, with strengthened fire safety and continuous monitoring.

The minister also emphasized close coordination among local administrations, highway police, fire service, and civil defense agencies. During his visit to the Mawa end of the bridge, officials welcomed him and noted that the introduction of bus bays would further improve passenger management and reduce congestion.

The Bangladesh Passenger Welfare Association has criticized a new minister from the BNP government for allegedly legitimizing extortion in the transport sector. In a statement sent to the media on Friday, the association’s secretary general, Mozammel Haque Chowdhury, said that such an approach mirrors the footsteps of a fallen autocrat. The statement accused the minister of seeking favor from transport mafias by endorsing such practices.

According to the association, during the period of the fallen autocrat, extortion in the transport sector had turned into an industry. Some transport owners and labor leaders became extremely wealthy, while certain corrupt police officers were also involved, leaving ordinary citizens too fearful to protest. The association said the minister’s remarks have disappointed the public.

The statement added that extortion in transport increases bus fares for low-income people and raises commodity prices, creating embarrassment for the government.

Sitakunda Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Mohinul Islam has come under criticism after allegedly sending a cake to a man who had previously made derogatory remarks about current Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Tareq Rahman. The incident became public on the day of the Prime Minister’s oath-taking, sparking strong reactions in local political circles.

According to local sources, in 2013, a man named Forkan Abu made offensive comments about Tareq Rahman’s birth identity during a Victory Day event in Sitakunda, attended by the then Member of Parliament. Although the remarks drew widespread criticism at the time, no legal action was taken. Local BNP leaders claim they could not act due to the political situation and fear of legal harassment.

The recent controversy arose when OC Mohinul Islam reportedly sent a cake to Forkan Abu on the anniversary of a local newspaper. The OC stated that the gesture was for the newspaper’s founding anniversary, not for any individual. However, BNP leaders argue that Forkan Abu personally received the cake, creating confusion and dissatisfaction among party members.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has reaffirmed his government’s commitment to consolidating the progress of democracy in Bangladesh. In a message issued on Friday ahead of the observance of Shaheed Day and International Mother Language Day 2026, he said that democratic values, people’s rights, and equality were the core spirit of the 1952 Language Movement, through which democracy has now been reestablished in the country.

Rahman paid tribute to the martyrs of the 1952 Language Movement, including Abul Barkat, Abdus Salam, Rafiq Uddin Ahmed, and Abdul Jabbar, whose sacrifices laid the foundation for the liberation of then East Bengal. He noted that the movement not only secured linguistic rights but also strengthened the basis of Bengali self-determination, democracy, and cultural identity. He highlighted that UNESCO’s recognition of February 21 as International Mother Language Day honors this legacy.

Calling for the preservation of linguistic diversity and proper use of Bangla, the prime minister urged all to uphold the dignity of all languages and cultures. He also wished success for all programs marking the national observance.

Opposition leader and Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman will place a floral wreath at the Central Shaheed Minar at 12:01 a.m. on Friday to honor the language martyrs on the occasion of Shaheed Dibosh and International Mother Language Day. The information was confirmed by Mujibul Alam, senior publicity assistant of Jamaat’s central publicity department.

Newly elected members of parliament from the 11-party alliance will accompany Dr. Rahman during the tribute. Following the ceremony, he will visit the Azimpur graveyard to pay respects at the graves of the language martyrs and offer prayers for their souls.

The event marks Jamaat-e-Islami’s formal participation in the national observance of the day, reflecting the party’s acknowledgment of the historical significance of the language movement.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s new government has assigned specific portfolios to eight advisers holding ministerial and state minister ranks. The Cabinet Division issued a notification on Friday, February 20, 2026, confirming the distribution of responsibilities. Earlier in the week, ten advisers had been appointed to the new administration.

According to the notification, Mirza Abbas Uddin Ahmed, Nazrul Islam Khan, and Ruhul Kabir Rizvi Ahmed were named political advisers with ministerial rank. Md. Ismail Jabiullah was assigned to the Ministry of Public Administration, while Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir received the Ministry of Finance portfolio. Among advisers with state minister rank, Brigadier General (Retd.) Shamsul Islam was given the Ministry of Defence, Mahdi Amin was assigned to the Education, Primary and Mass Education, Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment, and Labour and Employment ministries, and Rehan Asif Asad was given responsibility for the Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology, and Science and Technology ministries.

The order is expected to make the administrative and policy functions of the respective ministries more dynamic, according to the announcement.

The National Revolutionary Council’s convener, Khomeni Ihsan, announced a six‑month ultimatum to ensure the trial and punishment of those accused in the July massacre. Speaking after Friday prayers at a protest rally near the north gate of Baitul Mukarram National Mosque, he also demanded the abolition of what he called the fascist constitution and a legal ban on the Awami League and similar organizations. Ihsan warned that if justice was not delivered within six months, nationwide protests and parliamentary blockades would follow.

During the rally, Ihsan accused the ruling BNP of betraying the July revolution’s martyrs by allowing the Awami League to reopen offices and by avoiding constitutional reform. He alleged that Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and Law Minister Asaduzzaman had shown reluctance to outlaw the Awami League. Other speakers, including Naeem Ahmad and Syed Kutub, criticized the 1972 constitution as an obstacle to democratic progress and called for a new people‑oriented charter.

The council urged all pro‑democracy groups to unite for a mass movement to draft a new constitution, warning of intensified street action if their demands remain unmet.

A mass signature campaign demanding that Qadianis be declared non-Muslims by the state was launched in Dhaka on Friday. The event took place at the north gate of the National Mosque Baitul Mukarram, organized by religious groups including the Sammilito Khatme Nabuwat Parishad. Various clerics such as Maulana Mohiuddin Rabbani, Maulana Rashid Ahmad, and others attended the inauguration, where participants from different professions joined the initiative.

Speakers at the event stated that public opinion on this issue has existed for a long time and that the collected signatures will be formally submitted to the relevant government authorities. They emphasized that the campaign will continue across different districts of the country, with plans to submit all collected signatures within a set timeframe.

Religious leaders at the event argued that declaring Qadianis as non-Muslims would protect the core identity of Islam and end long-standing religious and social confusion. They cited examples of other Muslim-majority countries where similar declarations have been made.

State Minister for Housing and Public Works Ahmed Sohel Manzur Suman has directed the local administration to take strict measures against extortion and ensure that prices of essential commodities remain stable during Ramadan. He emphasized that no dishonest group should be allowed to create an artificial crisis to increase public suffering. The instructions were given on Friday morning at a discussion meeting held at the Pirojpur Circuit House, focusing on law and order, market monitoring, and ongoing development activities.

During the meeting, the minister announced integrated initiatives for infrastructural development, road repairs, government building construction, and river erosion prevention across the seven upazilas of Pirojpur district. He said visible development would be ensured through coordinated planning, with special emphasis on education, health, and communication sectors.

The meeting was attended by the Pirojpur Superintendent of Police Mohammad Manzur Ahmed Siddiqui, Deputy Commissioner Abu Sayeed, and local political leaders. The Deputy Commissioner assured stronger market monitoring and mobile court operations, while the Superintendent of Police pledged maximum vigilance to maintain law and order.

Opposition Chief Whip of the National Parliament, Nahid Islam, will pay tribute to the language martyrs at the Central Shaheed Minar on the occasion of Shaheed Dibas and International Mother Language Day. According to the announcement, he will place a floral wreath at midnight on Friday, marking the beginning of the observance.

Following his tribute, the National Citizen Party (NCP) will lay another wreath on behalf of the party at 12:30 a.m. Party leaders and activists are scheduled to proceed from Palashi intersection to the Shaheed Minar at that time. The information was officially released by the NCP on Friday evening.

The event is part of the nationwide observance of the historic day, which honors those who sacrificed their lives for the Bengali language. The NCP’s participation underscores its respect for the martyrs and commitment to preserving the spirit of the language movement.

Jaima Rahman, daughter of Bangladesh’s Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman, shared an emotional post on Facebook on Friday, February 20, 2026, at 4 p.m. In her verified page post, she described her father as the most hardworking and dedicated person she has ever known, calling him her first and greatest role model in life.

In the post, Jaima reflected on childhood beliefs about fathers being capable of everything and said her father embodies that ideal. She expressed deep trust in him, stating that he is the one person she can always rely on in any situation. Toward the end of her message, she expressed hope that the people of Bangladesh would soon witness his exceptional qualities and that his love and patriotism for the country had brought him to his current position.

Jaima concluded by expressing her belief that these qualities would establish Tarique Rahman as a true Prime Minister of the nation, reflecting her admiration and confidence in his leadership.

The central committee of the Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) has suspended Atiqur Rahman Atiq, joint convener of the Comilla University unit, for two months following allegations of involvement in a violent clash over hall seat allocation and bringing outsiders into the dormitory. The incident reportedly left a party activist injured, with his nose fractured. The decision was announced in a press release issued by the JCD central committee on Friday, February 20, 2026.

According to the statement, Atiqur Rahman was suspended on specific charges of violating organizational discipline. The decision was approved by JCD president Rakibul Islam Rakib and general secretary Nasir Uddin Nasir. Other accused individuals include joint convener and former student Mohammad Saiful Islam, as well as students Tarikul and Sifat from later academic sessions.

The injured activists were identified as Mazharul Islam Abir from the Anthropology Department, Tofayel Ahmed Nibir from the Economics Department, and Saurav Kabya from the Accounting and Information Systems Department. All are reportedly involved in JCD politics at the university.

A video showing the hoisting of party and national flags at the banned Awami League city office adjacent to Faridpur Kotwali police station went viral on social media on Friday, February 20, 2026. Several leaders and activists of the district’s Jubo League and Chhatra League reportedly took part in the event around 7:30 a.m. The video shows former city Jubo League general secretary Asibur Rahman Farhan, former Rajendra College Chhatra League VP Kawsar Akand, district Jubo League members Himel and Mahfuz, and former district Chhatra League vice president Debashish Nayan raising the flags and chanting slogans.

Witnesses said a brief gathering followed the flag-raising. All participants are listed as fugitives in a murder case related to the July Movement. In the video, Debashish Nayan is heard saying the office was reopened under the direction of Mujibur Rahman Chowdhury Nixon and leadership of Farhan and Kawsar.

When contacted, Faridpur Kotwali police officer-in-charge Mohammad Shahidul Islam said he was unaware of the incident, despite the office being located next to the police station.

Malaysian Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim called Bangladesh’s newly elected Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Friday, February 20, at 3 p.m. to convey his congratulations and best wishes. During the phone conversation, the Malaysian leader expressed his commitment to working together with Bangladesh on various bilateral issues in the future.

In response, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman thanked Anwar Ibrahim for his warm greetings and emphasized his determination to advance the development and prosperity of both nations through mutual cooperation. The exchange highlighted a shared intention to strengthen bilateral relations between Bangladesh and Malaysia.

The conversation underscored both leaders’ willingness to deepen collaboration in areas of mutual interest, signaling continuity in friendly ties between the two countries.

Bangladesh Health Minister Sardar Sakat Hossain Bokul announced that the government will work to free the healthcare sector from syndicates and corruption. He made the statement on Friday afternoon while speaking to journalists at his home in Monohardi, Narsingdi, after a meeting with local administration officials and party leaders. The minister emphasized that medical services must reach people’s doorsteps so that citizens no longer have to chase doctors; instead, doctors should reach out to patients.

Bokul said the government bears equal responsibility toward all citizens, regardless of whether they voted for the ruling party. He called for unity beyond political divisions to build a prosperous Bangladesh aligned with the spirit of the Liberation War. The minister also announced plans to establish medical colleges in Narsingdi and other areas where needed, and expressed his intention to set up two ICU units in Narsingdi.

This was his first visit to his constituency, Narsingdi-4, after assuming office as health minister. Local residents, party members, freedom fighters, and administrative officials welcomed him with flowers.