The Rajshahi branch of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement has received approval for a new convening committee. The announcement was made on Tuesday through a statement signed by the organization’s central president Rifat Rashid, chief coordinator Yunusul Islam, and organizational secretary Muinul Islam. The committee has been approved for a six-month term.

According to the statement, Nahidul Islam Saju has been appointed as convener and Anjuman Ara Haque Arshi as member secretary. Shah Sohanur Rahman will serve as media secretary. Senior joint convener Md. Saffat Ahmed Titas and joint conveners Fa-Ardin Rahman, Shamim Hossain, and Md. Bari have been named. Senior joint member secretary Mamunur Rashid and joint member secretaries Iman Raj, Tanvir Hossain Ruonok, Raju Ahmed, and Abu Yakub have also been appointed.

Khaled Hasan Milu has been named chief organizer, while Moklesur Rahman Bijoy will serve as senior organizer. Ashraful Islam Azim has been appointed spokesperson, and Urmi Khatun as deputy spokesperson. The statement instructed that a full committee be formed within seven working days.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and members of his cabinet are set to begin their first official working day at the Secretariat on Wednesday. Ahead of their arrival, new nameplates have been installed on the office doors of ministers and state ministers, and the rooms have been newly decorated. Officials working at the Secretariat expressed happiness about the new prime minister’s first day in office.

According to a Land Ministry official, the minister will first pay tribute at the National Martyrs’ Memorial in Savar before starting office work at the Secretariat. Relevant authorities said all necessary preparations have been completed to ensure the smooth conduct of the prime minister’s regular official activities, with security measures strengthened across the premises.

The report also mentions that the prime minister is expected to hold a special meeting with cabinet members and an exchange session with secretaries on this first working day.

The official Facebook page of the Chief Adviser of Bangladesh’s interim government, Professor Muhammad Yunus, has been formally declared closed. The announcement was made on Wednesday through a post on the page itself, stating that the page will no longer remain active. The post, issued on behalf of Yunus, included a message of gratitude for the support, interest, and participation received over the past 18 months.

According to the statement, the team expressed sincere thanks to all followers, noting that their support, cooperation, and criticism had enriched the journey of the page. The closure marks the end of the page’s activity, which had served as an official communication channel for the interim government led by Yunus.

The interim government was formed on 8 August 2024 after the fall of the Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League government, which was ousted on 5 August 2024 following a student and public uprising.

Newly elected Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman entered the Bangladesh Secretariat on Wednesday afternoon, accompanied by members of his cabinet. They arrived through Gate 5 shortly after 12:30 p.m. Earlier in the day, Rahman and his ministers paid tribute at the National Martyrs’ Memorial, followed by laying wreaths and offering prayers at the graves of former President Ziaur Rahman and Begum Khaleda Zia.

The Secretariat saw heightened activity since morning as offices prepared to welcome the new prime minister. Security was tightened with members of the Special Security Force stationed inside. The Prime Minister’s Office on the third floor of the Cabinet Division was cleaned and prepared, while new nameplates were installed in ministers’ offices across ministries.

According to Cabinet Division sources, Rahman was scheduled to hold introductory meetings with officials, have lunch at the Secretariat, and chair a special cabinet meeting at 3 p.m., followed by a discussion with secretaries at 4 p.m. Newly appointed ministers and state ministers also began their first day by assuming office, meeting officials, and reviewing ongoing activities.

Newly elected Member of Parliament for Comilla-4 (Debidwar) Hasnat Abdullah has issued a stern warning against extortion in his constituency. On Tuesday night, responding to complaints from shop owners in the New Market area, he told a market leaseholder over the phone that collecting money outside the designated raw market area would not be tolerated. He stated that if anyone attempted to collect illegal tolls, the public might resist, and he would not take responsibility for the consequences.

During the phone conversation, MP Hasnat emphasized that leaseholders must collect fees only within the approved market area and warned that law enforcement would take strict measures to maintain order. He also directed business owners to detain and hand over to police any person, identified as Shah Alam, who collects money outside the permitted zone. Hasnat Abdullah further cautioned that those sheltering extortionists would face legal action.

After taking oath, the MP has been visiting villages in his constituency, engaging with residents, and reaffirming his commitment to fulfill election pledges, including ensuring employment for needy families by March.

Newly elected Prime Minister Tarique Rahman paid tribute to the martyrs of the Liberation War at the National Martyrs’ Memorial on Wednesday at 11 a.m. He observed a minute of silence after laying a wreath. Later, accompanied by members of his cabinet, he placed another floral wreath to honor the heroic martyrs of the Liberation War.

The tribute followed his swearing-in as Prime Minister on Tuesday. After Rahman took his oath, ministers and state ministers of the new government were also sworn in. President Md. Shahabuddin administered the oaths at the South Plaza of the National Parliament Building after 4 p.m. This marked the beginning of a new government under Tarique Rahman’s leadership and the return of a BNP-led administration after nearly two decades.

The events at the National Martyrs’ Memorial symbolized the new government’s formal start and its acknowledgment of the nation’s liberation legacy.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has retained control of one ministry and two divisions under his direct supervision. According to a notification issued by the Cabinet Division on Tuesday night, February 17, he has kept the Cabinet Division, the Ministry of Defence, and the Armed Forces Division under his own charge. The rest of the ministries and divisions have been distributed among other members of the cabinet in accordance with the Rules of Business.

The announcement came shortly after Tarique Rahman, chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), took oath as prime minister on Tuesday afternoon following his party’s absolute majority in the 13th National Parliament election. He subsequently appointed 25 ministers and 24 deputy ministers to his new cabinet.

The Cabinet Division has already issued the official gazette allocating portfolios to the ministers and state ministers, marking the formal beginning of the new administration’s work.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has congratulated Tarique Rahman on taking oath as the new Prime Minister of Bangladesh. The Saudi Press Agency reported the message on Wednesday, noting that the Crown Prince wished continued progress and prosperity for the people of Bangladesh. He also extended congratulations on the formation of a new government under Rahman’s leadership.

According to the report, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) formed a cabinet of nearly 50 members on Tuesday, led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. The new cabinet includes 25 full ministers and 24 state ministers who have taken oath. This follows the publication of the official gazette of the 13th parliamentary election results, where the BNP secured 209 of 297 seats, while Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami won 68 seats. The remaining seats went to various alliances, parties, and independent candidates.

The report also mentioned that around 150 of the elected members are first-time parliamentarians, marking a significant generational shift in the new legislature.

US Vice President JD Vance stated that Iran has not yet fully complied with the 'red lines' set by President Donald Trump. Speaking after a meeting in Geneva on Tuesday, Vance said discussions with Iran were positive in some areas, and both sides agreed to hold another round of talks. However, he noted that several key issues remain unresolved.

In an interview with Fox News, Vance explained that while progress was made, Iran has not accepted or acted upon the conditions defined by the president. Earlier, Trump had warned that the US might consider the use of force if Iran failed to reach agreements on critical matters, including its nuclear program. Despite this, Vance emphasized that Washington continues to prioritize diplomatic solutions.

Vance added that diplomatic efforts will persist, but the authority to end those efforts rests solely with the president. He expressed hope that the situation would not escalate further, though he affirmed that the final decision would be made by President Trump if necessary.

Newly appointed Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman is scheduled to begin his first official working day at the Secretariat today, accompanied by members of his cabinet. From early Wednesday morning, various administrative offices and the Prime Minister’s office were seen busy preparing to welcome him, with officials entering the premises carrying flower bouquets. Members of the Special Security Force (SSF) have been deployed inside the Secretariat to ensure security.

Officials confirmed that the Prime Minister’s office on the third floor of the Cabinet Division was cleaned and prepared on Tuesday afternoon. Nameplates have been installed in ministers’ and state ministers’ offices, and rooms have been newly decorated. According to the Cabinet Division, Tarique Rahman will first pay tribute at the National Martyrs’ Memorial at 10 a.m. before returning to the Secretariat to begin his duties.

He is expected to hold an introductory meeting with Cabinet Division officials, have lunch at the Secretariat, and chair a special cabinet meeting at 3 p.m., followed by a discussion with secretaries at 4 p.m. Newly appointed ministers and state ministers will also assume their responsibilities and brief journalists later in the day.

Professor Dr. A.Z.M. Zahid Hossain has been appointed as the minister in charge of both the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs and the Ministry of Social Welfare. The announcement follows his election as a Member of Parliament from Dinajpur-6, marking his first term in the national legislature and his first inclusion in the cabinet.

Party sources described his appointment as recognition of his long political experience and organizational skills. Dr. Hossain has been active in the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), serving as a member of the chairperson’s advisory council in 2010, later becoming a central vice-chairman in 2016, and most recently being elected to the party’s standing committee on August 16, 2024.

Residents of Dinajpur-6, which includes Birampur, Nawabganj, Ghoraghat, and Hakimpur upazilas, expressed hope that he will contribute significantly to local development, social welfare, and the advancement of women and children’s rights.

Dr. Yusuf Zarif, a public policy expert, argues that Bangladesh’s secular intellectual class deliberately uses the terms “progressive” and “non-communal” to marginalize Islamic perspectives and promote anti-Muslim sentiment. Writing on February 18, 2026, he claims this group holds unchecked authority across institutions, discourages rational debate, and normalizes Islamophobia as a political activity. Zarif contends that despite some change since August 2024, structural bias against Islamic discourse persists, particularly in academia and media.

He further asserts that global and domestic elites, supported by Western-funded civil society organizations, have formed a coalition that undermines reform efforts following the August 2024 revolution. According to Zarif, this coalition resists governance reforms and seeks to suppress emerging political movements rooted in justice and Islamic values. He emphasizes that sustainable political competition requires moral commitment and accountability.

Zarif concludes that resolving Bangladesh’s political crisis demands cultural consensus recognizing Muslim identity as central to national character. He calls for alliances based on justice, good governance, and independence in policymaking to build a fair and accountable state.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei declared that the United States can never destroy the Islamic Republic, responding to recent anti-Iran statements by US President Donald Trump. Speaking on Tuesday in East Azerbaijan Province before thousands gathered ahead of the anniversary of the 1978 Tabriz uprising, Khamenei warned that even the most powerful American warships could be sunk. He said the US military, though claiming to be the world’s strongest, could still be struck so hard that it could not recover.

Khamenei accused Washington of seeking dominance over the Iranian nation and asserted that Iranians know how to respond. He reaffirmed Iran’s right to pursue its nuclear program, including uranium enrichment, under international frameworks, calling any attempt to undermine that right unreasonable. His remarks followed Trump’s claim about US military strength and his stance toward Iran.

The comments, reported by the Mehr news agency, underscore Tehran’s defiance amid continued US pressure and highlight Iran’s insistence on maintaining its nuclear rights within international norms.

Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer and newly elected opposition leader in parliament, Dr. Shafiqur Rahman, began his official duties by cleaning streets in Mirpur’s Manipur area on Wednesday morning, a day after taking oath as the Member of Parliament for Dhaka-15 constituency. Starting from in front of Baitur Nur Mosque after Fajr prayers, he personally swept the streets, joined by local residents and party activists.

Speaking to journalists, Rahman said that as members of parliament and the constitutional reform council, they aim to bring positive change through reform and social cleanliness. He emphasized that the initiative symbolizes both environmental and moral purification, aiming to build a society with clean surroundings and minds. Rahman stated that each Jamaat unit will conduct similar cleaning activities after Fajr prayers, regardless of government funding, to make the area a model of cleanliness.

He added that he would continue the cleaning drive daily while in Dhaka and replicate it elsewhere during visits, calling for cooperation beyond political and religious divisions to create a peaceful and responsible society.

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) leader Tareq Rahman took oath as the new prime minister on Tuesday, February 17, following his party’s sweeping victory in the national parliamentary election held on February 12. The election came nearly 17 months after the fall of the Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League government through a mass uprising. Members of Rahman’s cabinet were also sworn in on the same day.

The formation of the new government received wide coverage in international media. Reuters described the event as a decisive shift in South Asian politics, while the Associated Press noted that Rahman, son of former prime minister Khaleda Zia and former president Ziaur Rahman, is the first male prime minister in Bangladesh in 35 years. Deutsche Welle called the BNP’s victory an “easy win,” and Al Jazeera, Dawn, The Hindu, and NDTV all reported on Rahman’s assumption of office, with NDTV describing it as the beginning of a new era in Bangladesh’s politics.

The reports collectively underscored the significance of the BNP’s return to power and the generational political transition represented by Rahman’s leadership.