After the 13th parliamentary election, discussions have intensified within Bangladesh’s police administration over who will be appointed the next Inspector General of Police (IGP). Although current IGP Baharul Alam dismissed rumors of his resignation, his contract runs until November 21, 2026. A police headquarters official indicated that a new IGP may be appointed once the newly elected political government assumes office.

According to the report, three senior officers are leading the race: RAB Director General AKM Shahidur Rahman, Armed Police Battalion chief Ali Hossain Fakir, and Chattogram Metropolitan Police Commissioner Additional IGP Hasib Aziz. Meanwhile, Railway Police chief Barrister Zillur Rahman is being discussed as a possible candidate for the RAB Director General post. Sources said several officers have been lobbying actively, meeting political figures and presenting their credentials.

Officials noted that the next IGP is expected to be a professional, honest, and controversy-free officer. Many previously sidelined or forcibly retired officers are seeking contract-based reappointments and await evaluation by the new government.

A four-tier security arrangement has been implemented around the South Plaza of Bangladesh’s National Parliament complex ahead of the new government’s oath-taking ceremony. Around 15,000 personnel from the police, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), army, and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) have been deployed. Specialized units including SWAT, bomb disposal, and canine teams are on standby. The oath chamber has been refurbished, with chairs polished and replaced where necessary. The ceremony will take place on Tuesday, with members of parliament taking their oaths in the morning and the new cabinet in the afternoon.

Security measures have been strengthened and modernized to ensure the safety of key installations and VVIPs. The South Plaza’s roof and brick surfaces have been repaired due to deterioration. Bomb disposal and dog squads have already swept the area, and plainclothes intelligence officers are stationed at key points. The National Parliament Secretariat’s secretary, Kaniz Mowla, confirmed the schedule for the oath events.

The enhanced security and infrastructure repairs reflect heightened caution following past unrest, including incidents during the August 2024 mass uprising.

Newly elected members of Bangladesh’s 13th National Parliament are taking their oath today, February 17, 2026, at 10 a.m. The ceremony is being held in the oath-taking chamber of the National Parliament Secretariat, administered by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) A. M. M. Nasir Uddin. Elected MPs began arriving at the Parliament complex early in the morning, where the area has been fully prepared for the event with heightened security measures.

According to on-site observations, the Parliament area has taken on a festive atmosphere, with party leaders, activists, and members of the public gathering outside. Law enforcement agencies remain on alert to ensure order. MPs stated that this Parliament is different from previous ones, emphasizing that the people have established a government through their votes and expressing unity against fascism. They also voiced a collective commitment to building a better Bangladesh.

The oath ceremony will proceed in several phases, with different political parties and independent MPs taking their oaths separately before signing the official register. No guests will attend. Later in the afternoon, the new cabinet will also take its oath at Parliament, a departure from the usual venue of Bangabhaban.

Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Annie, the BNP Joint Secretary General and Member of Parliament from Lakshmipur-3 constituency, has been invited to take oath as a member of the BNP government’s cabinet. The invitation was conveyed to him by telephone from the Cabinet Division on Tuesday morning, according to a close source. The swearing-in of the newly elected members of the 13th Parliament is scheduled for 10 a.m. today, followed by the cabinet’s oath-taking ceremony in the afternoon.

Annie, representing Lakshmipur-3 (Sadar Upazila), was previously elected to Parliament in 2001 and 2008. In the 13th national election, he secured his seat for the third time, receiving 133,765 votes. His nearest rival, Jamaat candidate Md. Rezaul Karim, obtained 117,079 votes.

The developments mark Annie’s return to a ministerial role under the BNP-led government, with formal cabinet appointments expected to follow the scheduled oath ceremonies later in the day.

Indian media outlets have voiced strong concern over the rise of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and its alliance with the National Citizens Party (NCP) following the country’s 13th parliamentary election. Reports from India Today, Times of India, News18, and others described the Islamist party’s success—winning 68 seats alone and 77 with allies—as a potential threat to India’s national security, particularly in border districts adjoining Assam and West Bengal. Analysts cited the party’s ideological proximity to Pakistan and its anti-India stance as reasons for heightened vigilance.

Several reports noted that Jamaat and its allies performed strongly in border regions such as Lalmonirhat, Chapainawabganj, Kurigram, Meherpur, and Satkhira, areas where Indian outlets claim strategic and demographic sensitivities exist. Former Eastern Command GOC Lt. Gen. Ranapratap Kalita told India Today that Jamaat leveraged latent anti-India sentiment in rural and frontier areas to achieve its gains. Indian intelligence agencies are reportedly monitoring the situation closely.

Media commentary suggested that New Delhi should work with Bangladesh’s ruling BNP to contain Jamaat’s influence and ensure border stability and minority safety, reflecting India’s growing unease over the political shift in Dhaka.

Bangladesh’s newly elected members of parliament and cabinet ministers are set to take oath today, Tuesday, following the Bangladesh Nationalist Party’s (BNP) landslide victory in the 13th parliamentary election. The MPs will be sworn in at 10 a.m. in the parliament building’s oath room, while the cabinet oath will take place at 4 p.m. at the South Plaza of the National Parliament. BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman will take oath as the new Prime Minister, marking the party’s return to power after nearly two decades. The ceremony will be administered by President Mohammad Shahabuddin and attended by regional leaders from South Asia and several Muslim-majority countries.

The BNP secured two-thirds of the seats in the February 12 election, its sixth time forming government since its founding in 1978. Tarique Rahman, son of former President Ziaur Rahman and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, will lead the new administration. The party plans to appoint up to 30 ministers and state ministers initially. The new government faces major challenges, including economic instability, inflation, and institutional reform, which Tarique Rahman has identified as top priorities for his administration.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami will hold a meeting of its parliamentary party on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, following the oath-taking ceremony of newly elected members of parliament. The announcement was made in a press release issued on Monday, February 16, by Mujibul Alam, senior publicity assistant of the party’s central publicity department.

According to the statement, the meeting will take place at the National Parliament Building immediately after the swearing-in ceremony. The event marks the first formal gathering of Jamaat’s newly elected lawmakers following their official induction into parliament.

The press release did not provide further details about the meeting’s agenda or participants beyond confirming the time and venue.

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus delivered a farewell address to the nation on Monday night, marking the end of Bangladesh’s 18-month interim government. He emphasized that the administration began its work from a state of collapse, rebuilding institutions before initiating reforms. Yunus urged that the ongoing practice of democracy, accountability, freedom of speech, and rights must never stop as power transfers to an elected government.

In his address, Yunus highlighted institutional reforms, including the enactment of about 130 new laws and 600 executive orders, 84 percent of which have been implemented. He cited improvements in law enforcement, judicial independence, and economic recovery, noting foreign reserves now stand at 34 billion dollars. He also announced the conversion of the former prime minister’s residence into a National July Memorial Museum to preserve the memory of the July uprising.

Yunus described the “July Charter” as the interim government’s greatest achievement, approved by referendum, and said its implementation would permanently block the return of fascism. He called on all citizens, regardless of background, to continue building a just, humane, and democratic Bangladesh.

The central executive council of Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis, in its monthly meeting held on Monday at the party’s Purana Paltan office, congratulated the candidates who won in the recent national election under the rickshaw symbol. The leaders also extended congratulations to BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman as the head of the majority party, expressing hope that his leadership would establish a responsible, stable, and people-oriented political environment. They emphasized prioritizing direct public opinion over party agendas in implementing the post-referendum July Charter.

During the meeting, party leaders expressed strong anger and concern over the election results of Dhaka-13 (Mohammadpur–Adabor–Sher-e-Bangla Nagar), alleging that their party chief Maulana Mamunul Haque was defeated through organized vote manipulation. They claimed that valid votes for the rickshaw symbol were declared invalid, result sheets were overwritten, and final results were distorted. The party demanded a neutral and judicial investigation by the Election Commission and warned of legal and street movements if justice was not ensured.

The meeting also condemned post-election violence, attacks on activists, and vandalism, urging immediate investigation and punishment of those responsible while calling for political tolerance and law and order.

Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer and newly elected Member of Parliament Dr. Shafiqur Rahman announced that his party will serve as a responsible opposition in the National Parliament, prioritizing the interests of the people and the country. Speaking on Monday evening at a meeting with newly elected Jamaat MPs at Al-Falah Auditorium in Dhaka’s Moghbazar, he said the party’s role will be guided by the principles of justice and opposition to wrongdoing. The meeting was held to finalize party decisions before the oath-taking ceremony.

Dr. Rahman stated that despite some irregularities during the February 12 national election and referendum, the voting was largely peaceful and enthusiastic. He emphasized that Jamaat would cooperate with the government on positive initiatives but oppose any actions harmful to the nation. He also called for restoring institutional integrity, particularly in the judiciary, and urged the ruling party to take the lead in rebuilding state structures.

He expressed optimism that through mutual sincerity between the government and opposition, Bangladesh could return to a healthy democratic path. Rahman thanked voters for their support and reaffirmed Jamaat’s commitment to remain with the people in all circumstances.

At the National Press Club on Monday evening, Syed Abdal Ahmad, Executive Editor of Amar Desh, congratulated newly elected BNP-nominated MP MA Hannan from Nasirnagar upazila of Brahmanbaria district with flowers. Ahmad expressed hope that the new lawmaker would ensure balanced development in Nasirnagar without discrimination based on political affiliation, religion, or ethnicity, emphasizing that Hannan represents all residents of the constituency.

Drawing on the example of late BNP minister Chowdhury Kamal Ibne Yusuf, Ahmad said that a true people's representative must rise above party boundaries and treat everyone equally. He recalled Yusuf’s willingness to assist anyone from his area with legal recommendations, regardless of political background. Ahmad expressed confidence that Hannan would work to fulfill the expectations of the voters who elected him.

The event was attended by retired additional secretary Mofiz Uddin Ahmad, Dhaka University professor Hafiz Uddin, and retired banker Syed Shafin, among others.

The National Citizen Party (NCP) has conditionally signed the July National Charter four months after its formal adoption. The signing took place on Monday evening at the state guesthouse Jamuna in the presence of Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus. NCP Convener Nahid Islam and Member Secretary Akhtar Hossain signed the document on behalf of the party.

After the signing, Akhtar Hossain told reporters that the NCP joined the charter at the invitation of the interim government but under specific conditions. He explained that their endorsement was tied to the full implementation of the referendum verdict without any note of dissent. Hossain also expressed the party’s expectation that the oath-taking ceremony would proceed without delay.

He further stated that NCP demands the newly elected members of the Constitutional Reform Council take their oaths first, followed by the members of the National Parliament. The signing marks a conditional alignment of the NCP with the interim government’s initiative.

Multiple Hindu families in Hatiya upazila of Noakhali have alleged attacks, vandalism, looting, and assaults following the 13th National Parliamentary Election. On Sunday, February 15, victims filed two complaints with the local police station and earlier held a human chain protest at Riaz Market in Sonadia Union’s Ward 8. Over fifty victims joined the protest, describing their losses and demanding exemplary punishment for those responsible.

Speakers at the protest accused supporters of the Nationalist Citizens Party (NCP) of creating fear and intimidation from election day through the announcement of results. They alleged that at least ten houses were attacked and looted, livestock were injured, and victims continued to face assaults days after the election. Several victims named local individuals they claimed led the attacks. Police confirmed receiving written complaints and said investigations were underway.

Victims urged newly elected Member of Parliament Abdul Hannan Masud and the administration to intervene and restore safety in the affected areas.

In a televised address to the nation on Monday, February 16, 2026, at 9:15 p.m., Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus called on citizens to commit to honesty, transparency, and accountability in building a new Bangladesh. He said the country must move away from a past culture of corruption, dishonesty, irregularities, and fraud that had undermined national credibility. Yunus emphasized the need for a corruption-free state at every level and urged adherence to rules and promises.

Reflecting on the past 18 months, Yunus noted that Bangladesh had seen the gradual revival of democracy, welfare governance, freedom of speech, and accountability. He praised the festive atmosphere of the recent referendum and elections, describing them as historic moments that ensured people’s rights. He congratulated both winners and losers, calling electoral competition the beauty of democracy.

Yunus concluded his speech with a call for unity across political, religious, and social lines to build a just, humane, and democratic Bangladesh. He expressed optimism as his advisory government’s 18-month tenure came to an end and a new government prepared to take office.

Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus described the Rohingya crisis as a serious and long-term pressure on Bangladesh’s national security, regional stability, and economy. He made the remarks in a televised address to the nation on Monday, February 16, 2026, at 9:15 p.m.

In his speech, Yunus said that for a long time there had been no effective or coordinated international initiative to resolve the crisis. He stated that since taking office, his administration had succeeded in bringing the nearly forgotten issue back to the center of global attention. The Chief Adviser emphasized the need for continued international engagement to address the humanitarian and security dimensions of the crisis.

The statement underscores the government’s renewed diplomatic efforts to revive international focus on the Rohingya issue, which remains a major challenge for Bangladesh’s stability and development.