India has extended congratulations to Dr. Shafiqur Rahman, the leader of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and the newly appointed Leader of the Opposition in the 13th National Parliament. The message was conveyed during a courtesy meeting between India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and Dr. Rahman on Tuesday in Dhaka, held on the sidelines of the new government’s oath-taking ceremony. The Indian High Commission in Dhaka confirmed the meeting in a verified Facebook post.

During the discussion, Vikram Misri emphasized the people-centric nature of India-Bangladesh relations and reiterated India’s longstanding support for Bangladesh. He also congratulated Dr. Rahman on his new role. In response, Dr. Rahman highlighted the deep civilizational ties between the two nations and expressed optimism about building a stronger bilateral relationship.

The exchange marks one of the first formal diplomatic interactions between India and Bangladesh’s new opposition leadership following the recent parliamentary transition.

The Khulna City Corporation (KCC) organized a public broadcast of the oath-taking ceremony of newly elected members of parliament on Tuesday morning at Shaheed Hadis Park. The event was shown on a digital display screen, first featuring BNP lawmakers followed by those from Jamaat and NCP. KCC administrative officer Molla Maruf Rashid said the cabinet’s oath ceremony would also be aired live in the afternoon. The city authority arranged a canopy and about two hundred chairs for attendees.

Alongside KCC officials, many local residents and passersby gathered to watch the ceremony with interest. Retired government employee Mofazzal Hossain, who came for a morning walk, stayed to witness the event and expressed hope for the new parliament’s success. Rickshaw puller Azizul, watching from his seat near the park gate, said that if the MPs uphold their oath, the country will prosper, but if they fail, hard times may return. He noted that all four constituencies in the district were won by Jamaat candidates.

The event reflected public curiosity and cautious optimism about the new parliament’s ability to meet national expectations.

The government has officially appointed BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman as the new Prime Minister of Bangladesh. A gazette notification was issued by the Cabinet Division on Tuesday night confirming the appointment under Article 56(3) of the Constitution. The President made the appointment on Tuesday, February 17, following the outcome of the recent national election.

According to the gazette, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) formed the government on Tuesday afternoon after securing more than two-thirds of the seats in the 13th parliamentary election. The new cabinet consists of 50 members, including 25 ministers and 24 state ministers. The Secretariat has reportedly prepared to welcome the new Prime Minister, and he is scheduled to pay tribute at the National Martyrs’ Memorial today.

The appointment marks the formal beginning of a new BNP-led administration following its decisive electoral victory, as the government transitions under Tarique Rahman’s leadership.

Following the announcement of the full cabinet of the new government, it was revealed that 25 districts across Bangladesh have no direct representation through ministers or state ministers. Despite the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) forming the government with an absolute majority in the 13th National Parliament, several regions were left without cabinet inclusion. Tarique Rahman took oath as Prime Minister on Tuesday before the President, leading a cabinet where more than one-third of the country’s districts remain unrepresented.

Analysis of the party’s published list shows that northern districts such as Kurigram, Nilphamari, Gaibandha, Rangpur, Chapainawabganj, Meherpur, Satkhira, and Chuadanga saw no BNP victories, leaving no scope for ministerial appointments. Even BNP strongholds like Noakhali and major districts like Khulna were excluded despite electoral wins. In Gopalganj, Madaripur, and Shariatpur, where BNP secured multiple seats, no ministers were chosen. However, Faridpur and Rajbari each received one state minister.

In Dhaka, Sheikh Robiul Alam was appointed full minister for road, rail, and waterways, while four others became state ministers, including technocrat Aminul Haque. Yet, several Dhaka areas and nearby districts like Munshiganj, Narayanganj, and Gazipur remain without cabinet representation.

The White Panel, a group of teachers at Jagannath University who believe in Bangladeshi nationalism, has extended heartfelt congratulations to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and his newly formed cabinet. The message followed the Bangladesh Nationalist Party’s (BNP) sweeping victory in the 13th National Parliamentary Election, where the party formed a government on its own. The congratulatory statement was issued on Tuesday by Professor Mostafa Hasan, vice-president of the panel, and Professor Md. Roich Uddin, its general secretary.

According to the statement, the White Panel leaders praised the spontaneous participation of the Bangladeshi people in the election, held after 17 years, and viewed the result as a restoration of voting rights and freedom of expression. They expressed optimism that under the new prime minister’s leadership, the government would work for the welfare of the people, uphold national history and heritage, and foster new national unity.

The leaders also expressed hope that Jagannath University, founded by the new prime minister’s mother, would see significant development under his leadership.

The Cabinet Division of Bangladesh has issued a gazette announcing the dissolution of the current interim government. The order, signed by Cabinet Secretary Nasimul Gani on behalf of the President, was published on the division’s website on Tuesday night. According to the gazette, the President has appointed Tarique Rahman, a member of parliament who commands the confidence of the majority in the 13th National Parliament, as the new Prime Minister under Article 56(3) of the Constitution.

The gazette further states that with the formation of the new government under Rahman’s leadership, the advisory council of the interim administration will be considered dissolved. A separate gazette has also been issued confirming Rahman’s appointment as Prime Minister.

Following the announcement, preparations were reported underway at the Secretariat to welcome the new Prime Minister, while his official Facebook page of the Chief Adviser’s Office was declared closed.

Dr. Atiq Mujahid, Member of Parliament for Kurigram-2 and Joint Convener of the National Citizens Party (NCP), visited the grave of martyr Osman Hadi on Tuesday night, February 17, 2026, after taking his parliamentary oath. Standing beside the grave around 9 p.m., he offered prayers and became emotional during the visit.

During the prayer, Dr. Mujahid asked for divine guidance to embody the ideals, honesty, courage, and competence of martyr Osman Hadi. He expressed hope that he and others could contribute effectively to building a just, humane, and prosperous Bangladesh inspired by Hadi’s vision. He also prayed for the emergence of qualified and dedicated representatives across all 300 constituencies who would serve the nation with integrity and commitment to truth and justice.

Several NCP leaders, including Joint Convener Nizam Uddin, Joint Member Secretary Zainal Abedin Shishir, Joint Chief Coordinator Mahabub Alam, and member Konok, were present during the visit.

Bangladesh’s new Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has appointed his Personal Secretary-1, Assistant Personal Secretary-1, and Protocol Officer-1. The Ministry of Public Administration issued three separate notifications on Tuesday announcing the appointments. Joint Secretary Miah Muhammad Ashraf Reza Faridi has been named as Personal Secretary-1, Senior Assistant Secretary Mohammad Mamun Shibli as Assistant Personal Secretary-1, and Senior Assistant Secretary Md. Uzzal Hossain as Protocol Officer-1. Each appointment will remain effective as long as the Prime Minister holds office or wishes to retain them in their respective positions.

The appointments come on the same day the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) formed a new government after winning more than two-thirds of the seats in the 13th parliamentary election. The new cabinet consists of 50 members, including 25 ministers and 24 state ministers. This marks the BNP’s fourth term in government and the first time its chairperson, Tarique Rahman, has assumed the role of Prime Minister.

The administrative appointments signal the beginning of the new Prime Minister’s office operations following the formation of the BNP-led government.

National Citizen Party (NCP) convener and opposition chief whip Nahid Islam has accused the ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) of violating its commitment by not taking the oath for the Constitutional Reform Council. Speaking at a post-oath press briefing in the National Parliament complex on Tuesday, he said BNP’s refusal disregarded the referendum result that supported constitutional reform and breached a key public promise.

Nahid Islam argued that the BNP’s decision created both legal and constitutional complications, as the July National Charter Order clearly required that members of parliament and the reform council take their oaths together if the referendum’s “yes” vote prevailed. He noted that BNP had signed and accepted this order but was now offering contradictory explanations about the referendum’s legitimacy.

He further criticized the inclusion of Dr. Khalilur Rahman in the BNP cabinet, calling it unethical and evidence of election engineering. Jamaat-e-Islami’s deputy leader Dr. Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher echoed this view, while opposition leader Dr. Shafiqur Rahman and other MPs were present at the briefing.

National Citizens Party (NCP) convener Nahid Islam has criticized the inclusion of Khalilur Rahman in the new government’s cabinet, saying it exposes the political ‘engineering’ behind the constitutional reform process. He made the remarks on Tuesday after taking oath as a member of the National Parliament and the Constitutional Reform Council.

Nahid Islam stated that by not taking oath in the Constitutional Reform Council, the government broke its promise on the very first day of formation. He added that this breach not only violated political commitments but also created legal complications. He further said that the explanation given by the BNP regarding its participation in the referendum after signing the constitutional reform order was unacceptable.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami’s Nayeb-e-Ameer Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher also commented that Khalilur Rahman’s joining the BNP-led government, after serving as security adviser in the interim administration, was unethical.

Dr. A N M Ehsanul Haque Milan has been appointed as Bangladesh’s new Education Minister, along with responsibility for the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education. The appointment came on February 17, 2026, shortly after he took oath as a Member of Parliament. Milan won the Chandpur-1 (Kachua) constituency in the 13th National Parliamentary Election, contesting under the ‘paddy sheaf’ symbol. He secured 133,162 votes across 110 polling centers, defeating his nearest rival Abu Nasar Ashrafi, who received 67,077 votes.

Milan is a politician, writer, and former State Minister for Education who previously served in that role from 2001 to 2006. Born in Kachua, Chandpur, in 1957, he completed his education in Bangladesh and the United States, earning an MBA from the New York Institute of Technology and later a PhD in Political Science from the International Islamic University Malaysia. His doctoral research focused on the role of technical and vocational education in Bangladesh’s socio-economic development.

He first entered parliament in 1996 as a Bangladesh Nationalist Party nominee and currently serves as the party’s International Affairs Secretary.

A controversy has erupted at Begum Rokeya University in Rangpur after Registrar Dr. Harunur Rashid was dismissed from his post. The decision was made during the university’s 120th syndicate meeting held last Monday, shortly after the reopening following the 13th parliamentary election recess. Sources within the university alleged that Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Shawkat Ali removed the registrar without cause, labeling him as Jamaat-affiliated to safeguard his own position.

Several unnamed teachers and officials told Amader Desh that the vice-chancellor acted out of fear after both pro-Awami and pro-BNP teachers began accusing him and the registrar of Jamaat links on social media. Dr. Harun claimed his removal followed his efforts to expose fake appointments and forged certificates within the university. He said he had initiated disciplinary actions against several employees and filed a case over the killing of student Abu Sayeed during the July uprising, naming university staff and police officers as accused.

Vice-Chancellor Shawkat Ali stated that Dr. Harun was on a contractual appointment and that the contract had simply been terminated.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman visited the graves of his parents, late President Ziaur Rahman and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia, on Tuesday night. Following his swearing-in ceremony as prime minister at the South Plaza of the National Parliament, he went to the Zia Uddyan in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka, accompanied by his family members.

At the gravesite, Tarique Rahman placed floral wreaths, recited prayers, and took part in a special munajat. His wife Dr. Zubaida Rahman, daughter Barrister Zaima Rahman, and his late brother Arafat Rahman Koko’s wife Shamila Rahman were present during the visit. The prime minister stood silently for a while to pay his respects.

The visit marked Tarique Rahman’s first public appearance after assuming office as prime minister, symbolizing a personal and familial tribute immediately following his official oath-taking ceremony.

President Md. Shahabuddin and newly sworn-in Prime Minister Tarique Rahman exchanged floral greetings on Tuesday night at the National Parliament Building. Earlier that afternoon, Tarique Rahman, chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), took oath as the country’s 11th Prime Minister, administered by President Shahabuddin.

Following the swearing-in ceremony, outgoing Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus exchanged greetings with Prime Minister Rahman. The event was attended by a large number of local and foreign guests, including representatives from various South Asian countries. This year, the oath-taking ceremony for the Prime Minister and cabinet members was held at the South Plaza of the National Parliament Building instead of the traditional venue at Bangabhaban.

The new Prime Minister is scheduled to pay respects at the National Martyrs’ Memorial, marking his first official act following the assumption of office.

Salahuddin Ahmed, Member of Parliament for Cox’s Bazar-01 (Chakaria-Pekua), was sworn in as a full minister of the Bangladesh government on February 17, 2026, at Bangabhaban before President Md. Shahabuddin. According to the report, he has been assigned the portfolio of Home Minister. This marks the first time since independence that the coastal district of Cox’s Bazar, known as the country’s tourism capital, has received a full ministerial appointment. Salahuddin previously served as State Minister for Communications during the BNP-led four-party alliance government.

A senior member of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party’s (BNP) National Standing Committee, Salahuddin won the 13th National Parliamentary Election by defeating Jamaat-e-Islami candidate Abdullah Al Farukh by 95,830 votes. His political career spans decades, including earlier parliamentary victories in 1996 and 2001. He endured abduction and exile in 2015 and returned to Bangladesh in August 2024 after nearly a decade abroad.

Local BNP leaders described his appointment as a historic and proud moment for Cox’s Bazar, expressing hope that his leadership will contribute to the district’s and the nation’s development.