A writ petition has been filed in the High Court challenging the validity of the referendum held on February 12 and seeking cancellation of the results announced on February 13. The petition was submitted on Tuesday by Supreme Court lawyer A B M Ataul Majid Touhid in the public interest.

Following the referendum, in which the 'yes' side prevailed, the July National Charter (Constitutional Reform) Implementation Order stipulates that a Constitutional Reform Council should be formed with representatives elected to the 13th National Parliament. According to the order, the elected members are to take oath first as Members of Parliament and then as members of the Reform Council.

However, 209 Members of Parliament elected from the BNP have not taken oath as members of the Constitutional Reform Council, leaving uncertainty about the council’s full formation and the next steps in implementing the constitutional reform process.

United Kingdom Under Secretary Seema Malhotra paid a courtesy call on Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus on Tuesday at the Jamuna State Guest House in Dhaka. The meeting was confirmed by the Chief Adviser’s Press Wing.

According to the press release, British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Sarah Cook and the Chief Adviser’s Office SDG Chief Coordinator Lamia Morshed were also present during the meeting. The report did not provide details about the topics discussed or any outcomes from the meeting.

The visit reflects ongoing diplomatic engagement between Bangladesh and the United Kingdom, though no further information on the agenda or future cooperation was disclosed in the source.

A new cabinet comprising 25 ministers and 24 state ministers has been formed under the leadership of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. The oath-taking ceremony took place on Tuesday afternoon at the South Plaza of the National Parliament Building. Despite widespread anticipation among party members, several long-time influential leaders of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) did not receive cabinet positions, sparking political discussion.

Among the senior BNP figures excluded from the new cabinet are Standing Committee members Mirza Abbas, Abdul Moyeen Khan, Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Nazrul Islam Khan, Selima Rahman, Amanullah Aman, and Gayeshwar Chandra Roy. In addition, Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi and Vice Chairman Shamsuzzaman Dudu were not included. Except for Shamsuzzaman Dudu, Nazrul Islam Khan, and Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, the others previously held key ministerial roles in past BNP governments.

The exclusion of these experienced leaders has drawn attention within political circles, as the new cabinet marks a significant reshuffle under Tarique Rahman’s leadership.

Six elected leaders of the National Citizens’ Committee (NCP) took oaths as members of parliament and as members of the Constitutional Reform Council on Tuesday, February 17, 2026. Shortly after the dual oath-taking, the NCP leadership announced that they would not attend the new cabinet’s oath ceremony scheduled for later that afternoon. The decision was confirmed in a Facebook post by Akhtar Hossain, the NCP member secretary and newly elected MP from Rangpur-4.

Hossain stated that the NCP decided to boycott the cabinet oath because the government had not honored the referendum’s verdict regarding the Constitutional Reform Council’s oath procedure. Before the NCP, Jamaat MPs had already taken their oaths as council members, while BNP MPs refrained from doing so. BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed told party MPs that they would not take the council oath, arguing that the council had not yet been incorporated into the constitution.

The differing positions among parties highlight ongoing disputes over the implementation of the referendum’s outcome and the legal framework for the Constitutional Reform Council.

U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday described Cuba as a 'failed state' and urged Havana to reach an agreement with Washington. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump dismissed the possibility of any U.S. military operation to change the Cuban government, saying he did not think such action would be necessary.

According to AFP, Trump made the remarks while discussing Cuba’s ongoing crisis. The island nation is facing severe fuel shortages and widespread power outages. The Trump administration has tightened the long-standing U.S. embargo on Cuba and is pressuring other countries to halt oil supplies to Havana.

Addressing the energy crisis, Trump called it a 'humanitarian threat'. His comments come as Washington continues to exert economic pressure on Cuba while maintaining a stance against direct military intervention.

Independent lawmaker Rumin Farhana took oath as a member of parliament from Brahmanbaria-2 (Sarail, Ashuganj, and part of Bijoynagar) on Tuesday. Speaking to journalists after the ceremony, she commented that around 30 percent of the country’s population will not have representation in the new parliament. She also pointed out that the Awami League is absent from the current parliament.

Rumin Farhana further remarked that while the previous parliament did not include the BNP, this time both the Awami League and left-leaning parties are missing. She took oath only as a member of parliament and did not take oath as a member of the Constitutional Reform Council.

Her comments highlight the changed political composition of the new parliament and the absence of major political parties, which she suggested will affect representation in national decision-making.

Barrister Farzana Sharmin Putul, newly elected Member of Parliament from Natore-1 (Lalpur-Baghatipara), has been called to serve as a state minister by the central committee. The confirmation came from her close associates, including former Lalpur Upazila BNP member-secretary Harunar Rashid Pappu. The announcement follows her recent electoral victory in the 13th National Parliamentary Election.

Putul, the BNP-nominated candidate, secured 102,197 votes under the paddy-sheaf symbol, defeating Jamaat-e-Islami’s Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, who received 89,431 votes under the balance symbol. Independent candidate Taiful Islam Tipu obtained 72,887 votes under the pitcher symbol. A total of 272,355 votes were cast in the constituency.

Barrister Farzana Sharmin Putul is the daughter of the late BNP leader Fazlur Rahman Patol. Her appointment as state minister marks a significant step for the BNP in the Natore region following a closely contested election.

An arson attack occurred late Tuesday night at the home of Humayun Molla, president of the BNP’s Hobokhali Union unit in Narail Sadar upazila. According to police and family members, around 1 a.m. residents awoke to an explosion-like sound and discovered a fire in a storage shed on Molla’s property. Despite efforts to extinguish the blaze, the tin structure and its contents were completely destroyed.

Supporters of Humayun Molla alleged that the attack stemmed from disputes between two groups following the recently concluded election, in which Molla supported a rebel BNP candidate for the Narail-2 constituency. Police said no formal complaint had yet been filed and that an investigation was underway to determine the cause of the incident.

Authorities have not confirmed any suspects or motives, and the investigation remains ongoing.

Former national footballer Aminul Haque has been appointed as the state minister for the Ministry of Youth and Sports in Bangladesh. Although he contested the national parliamentary election from Dhaka-16 as a BNP candidate and did not win, he has been included in the cabinet as a technocrat state minister. The oath-taking ceremony is scheduled for Tuesday, February 17, 2026, at 4 p.m. at the South Plaza of the National Parliament Building, where Aminul will take his oath.

The new cabinet includes 25 ministers and 24 state ministers, with two appointed under the technocrat quota. Aminul Haque, who once led Bangladesh to victory in the SAFF Championship during his playing career, is one of them. After taking office, he is expected to begin his official duties on the same day and hold discussions with journalists.

His appointment marks the inclusion of a sports personality in the government’s leadership, reflecting recognition of his contributions to national sports and potential to advance youth and sports development.

The Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) has expressed deep concern after the BNP-led alliance declined to take the oath for the Constitutional Reform Council. In a statement issued on Tuesday, DUCSU leaders said the alliance’s refusal disregarded the people’s direct mandate and contradicted both democratic practice and the commitments made in the July Charter. They emphasized that the recent referendum showed a clear majority in favor of reform, and avoiding the oath process amounted to disrespecting the people’s verdict.

DUCSU’s statement recalled that under Article 7 of the Constitution, all power belongs to the people, and the Constitution represents their supreme will. It noted that the interim government had assumed power with three mandates—reform, justice, and election—following the July Charter Order 2025, which was enacted to implement the July Charter. DUCSU urged the BNP alliance to honor the people’s decision by taking the oath and warned that failure to do so could trigger a new constitutional crisis, raising questions about the legitimacy of the interim government, justice, and elections.

The statement concluded by urging all political forces to act responsibly to uphold transparency, accountability, and institutional reform, warning against repeating past defiance of public will.

Senior Supreme Court lawyer Shishir Monir has announced that he will contest in court a writ petition seeking suspension of the effectiveness of the recent referendum results. He made the announcement on Tuesday through a verified Facebook post, stating that his team would legally challenge the petition filed to halt the implementation of the referendum outcome.

Earlier, on February 17, Supreme Court lawyer A B M Ataul Majid Touhid filed a public interest writ in the High Court challenging the legality of the February 12 referendum and seeking cancellation of the results announced on February 13. The Chief Election Commissioner, Cabinet Secretary, and Law Ministry Secretary were named as respondents in the petition. The hearing is expected to take place next week before a bench led by Justice Fatema Nazib.

The February 12 nationwide referendum saw a 60.26 percent voter turnout, with 48,074,429 voting in favor of change and 22,565,627 voting against.

Newly appointed cabinet member and Lakshmipur-3 lawmaker Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Annie has called for cooperation from all citizens, regardless of political affiliation, to build the nation. He made the remarks on Tuesday after taking the oath as a minister, emphasizing that fulfilling public expectations requires collective effort and unity.

Earlier in the day, at 4:11 p.m., BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman was sworn in as Prime Minister. The oath of office for ministers and state ministers was administered by President Md. Shahabuddin. Annie reiterated that differences in opinion and approach are natural but stressed that everyone must remain united for the country’s interest.

He expressed confidence that with sincere cooperation from all, the newly elected government would be able to build a prosperous and beautiful Bangladesh.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami chief Dr. Shafiqul Rahman has been selected as the Leader of the Opposition in the 13th National Parliament. Dr. Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher, newly elected from Cumilla-11 (Chouddagram) and Jamaat’s Nayeb-e-Ameer, will serve as Deputy Leader of the Opposition. Nahid Islam, convener of the National Citizens Party (NCP), has been appointed as the Opposition Chief Whip. The decisions were made on Tuesday, February 17, during a parliamentary party meeting following the swearing-in of members.

Gaibandha-2 MP and Jamaat leader Md. Abdul Karim confirmed the appointments after attending the meeting. According to party sources, an official joint statement from the 11-party alliance will be issued soon to formally announce the leadership structure. Earlier in the day, Jamaat MPs took their oaths at 12:30 p.m., followed by NCP members.

Members of the 11-party alliance also took oaths for the Constitutional Reform Council, signaling the start of their parliamentary responsibilities under the new opposition leadership.

Public discussion has intensified across Bangladesh following the formation of the new cabinet under the 13th National Parliament, particularly regarding the appointment of ministers under the ‘technocrat quota’. Many citizens are curious about how individuals who are not elected members of parliament can still become ministers and why such a provision exists.

According to Article 56(2) of the Constitution of Bangladesh, the Prime Minister may appoint up to one-tenth of the cabinet members from among persons who are not members of parliament, provided they meet all the qualifications required to be an MP. These technocrat ministers are typically chosen for their professional expertise, specialized knowledge, or policymaking ability in fields such as economics, information technology, foreign affairs, or health. They enjoy the same salaries and privileges as regular ministers but cannot vote in parliament.

The provision aims to integrate expert knowledge into governance, recognize merit and experience, and maintain political balance. The use of the technocrat quota is not mandatory and remains at the discretion of the Prime Minister.

The newly formed BNP cabinet, announced on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, shows the highest representation from Chattogram division with 12 members, including 10 full ministers and 2 state ministers. In contrast, Sylhet division received the fewest appointments, with only two ministers. The data was compiled from the Cabinet Division’s official list.

According to the analysis, Dhaka division follows with 11 ministers and state ministers combined, while Rajshahi has six, Barishal five, Mymensingh five, Khulna four, and Rangpur four. The report lists the names of all appointed ministers and state ministers from each division, highlighting the regional distribution within the new BNP-led government.

The composition indicates a strong representation from the southern and central regions, particularly Chattogram and Dhaka, while the northeastern division of Sylhet remains least represented in the new cabinet.