Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman is set to make his first foreign trip since assuming office, traveling to Saudi Arabia this week. He is scheduled to depart early Wednesday to attend a ministerial-level meeting. Prime Minister Tareq Rahman’s adviser Humayun Kabir is also expected to accompany him on the visit.

According to the report, the meeting will take place at the Secretariat of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Jeddah on Thursday. The session is described as an emergency meeting of the OIC Executive Committee, with participation from foreign ministers of member states.

The visit marks Rahman’s first international engagement as foreign minister and will involve discussions among OIC member countries on issues of mutual concern, as indicated by the meeting’s agenda.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has called on the public and media users to refrain from spreading false and misleading information regarding its potential nominees for the reserved women’s seats in the National Parliament. The appeal was made on Tuesday through a press statement issued by Advocate Ehsanul Mahbub Zubair, the party’s Assistant Secretary General and head of its Central Publicity and Media Department.

In the statement, Zubair said that several social media posts had circulated fake names claiming that wives or close relatives of senior Jamaat leaders were being nominated for the reserved seats. He dismissed these claims as completely baseless and intended to create public confusion. He emphasized that Jamaat-e-Islami operates as an Islamic, systematic, and democratic organization, where all major decisions, including nominations for reserved seats, are made according to its constitution.

Zubair further clarified that the nomination process for women members would be conducted in a fully constitutional manner and in consultation with the party’s women’s division. He urged everyone to avoid spreading misinformation and called on citizens not to be misled by such propaganda.

The newly appointed administrators of Dhaka North and South City Corporations have announced their commitment to make the capital free from terrorism. They made the declaration on Tuesday afternoon after paying tribute at the graves of Ziaur Rahman and Khaleda Zia. Alongside this pledge, they also expressed hope to resolve long-standing civic problems in the city.

Dhaka South City Corporation Administrator Abdus Salam stated that tackling corruption and extortion to ensure an active administration is now a major challenge. The administrators emphasized their intention to restore order and address the issues that have affected city governance for years.

Their statements signal an administrative focus on improving governance and public safety in Dhaka, though specific plans or timelines for implementation were not detailed in the announcement.

Noakhali-3 Member of Parliament Barkatullah Bulu stated that prices of essential commodities have begun to decline since the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) came to power. He made the remarks on Monday night in Begumganj while distributing iftar items among underprivileged people. According to Bulu, the price of LPG gas, which had risen to 2,200–2,300 taka, has now dropped to around 1,280 taka.

Bulu said that all commodity prices would gradually come under control, citing BNP’s past experience in state governance. He added that Prime Minister Tarique Rahman would lead the country based on that experience. During the event, Bulu announced plans to distribute iftar items worth 3.2 million taka among 5,000 marginalized people across Begumganj and later distribute Eid items.

He urged wealthy residents of Begumganj to support the poor during Ramadan so that everyone could break their fast comfortably. Several local BNP leaders and activists were present at the event.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) of Bangladesh has transferred 27 of its officials and employees, including deputy directors, assistant directors, deputy assistant directors, and assistant inspectors. The transfers were made through separate orders signed by ACC Director (Administration and Human Resources) Mohammad Nazmul Hasan on Monday. According to the orders, 13 officials were transferred under one directive and 14 under another.

The officials have been reassigned to various regional offices, including Dhaka, Chattogram, Barishal, Khulna, Noakhali, Tangail, Gopalganj, and Cox’s Bazar. The commission did not specify the reasons for the transfers or the duration of the new postings.

The move reflects an administrative reshuffle within the ACC, aimed at redistributing personnel across key divisions to support its ongoing operations against corruption nationwide.

China has proposed to assist Bangladesh in the Teesta project, according to Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives (LGRD) Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir. He said the proposal came from China’s own initiative, but details would be shared once the government makes a policy decision. The minister made the remarks on Tuesday, February 24, after a courtesy meeting with Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen at the Secretariat in Dhaka.

Ministry sources said the meeting was held in a cordial atmosphere and covered several bilateral issues of mutual interest. Local Government Division Secretary Md. Rezaul Maksud Jahedi was also present. Discussions included strengthening Bangladesh-China bilateral relations, cooperation in trade, investment, and development partnerships, as well as collaboration in waste management, waste-to-energy projects, and improving city corporation capacities.

Mirza Fakhrul described China as a major development partner of Bangladesh and expressed hope that the historic and strategic friendship between the two countries would deepen further in the future.

The Ministry of Social Welfare has issued a special warning regarding the government’s Family Card program. The announcement was made on Tuesday through an official press release from the ministry. According to the statement, the Family Card is one of the government’s priority initiatives, and the administration is committed to its full implementation. The card will be issued in the name of the female head of each family, regardless of religion, caste, or ethnicity, and will be provided free of charge under government supervision.

The ministry emphasized that any financial transactions or dealings through brokers to obtain the Family Card are illegal. Citizens have been urged to report anyone involved in such unlawful activities to law enforcement agencies. The warning aims to ensure transparency and prevent exploitation in the distribution process.

The directive reinforces the government’s stance on maintaining fairness and accountability in delivering social welfare benefits to all eligible families.

On 23 February, the Bangladesh Probashi Kalyan Parishad (BPKP) organized an iftar and discussion meeting at the Kacchi Dine Event Hall in East London. The event called for establishing a migrant-friendly, accountable, and justice-based state system to ensure the fair rights of Bangladeshi expatriates. The chief guest, Minister for Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Ariful Haque Chowdhury, addressed the gathering via teleconference and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to protecting expatriates’ rights and welfare.

BPKP leaders presented six major demands, including the creation of a fast-track NRB tribunal for land and civil disputes, free repatriation of deceased expatriates’ bodies, full open-sky facilities at Sylhet Osmani International Airport, a national NRB pension scheme, one-stop skills promotion services at foreign missions, and parliamentary representation for expatriates. Messages containing these demands were sent to the prime minister, opposition leader, and the expatriates’ welfare ministry.

Speakers emphasized that expatriates are a key driving force of Bangladesh’s economy and urged effective institutional measures for their protection and support. The organization reiterated its pledge to work constructively with the government for expatriate welfare.

Retired secretary Sarwar Alam has been reappointed as the press secretary to President Md. Shahabuddin. The Ministry of Public Administration issued a notification on Tuesday confirming his appointment on a one-year contractual basis. The appointment will take effect from the date he assumes office.

According to the ministry’s notification, the appointment was made under Section 49 of the Government Service Act, 2018, requiring him to relinquish any professional or organizational affiliations with government, semi-government, or private entities. Sarwar Alam previously served in the same position but was removed during the interim government period.

Before this, on December 23, 2024, he had been appointed for a two-year term as the President’s press secretary with the rank of secretary. The new order reinstates him to the same role under the current administration.

Former Chief Prosecutor of the International Crimes Tribunal Mohammad Tazul Islam has alleged that deliberate falsehoods are being spread to discredit the tribunal’s judicial process. In a written statement sent to the media on Tuesday, February 24, he said certain media outlets and social media posts had circulated misleading and baseless information about him, allegedly quoting another prosecutor. He described these claims as entirely false and without evidence.

Tazul Islam asserted that all actions taken by him and his prosecution team were transparent and lawful during his tenure, and no one had grounds to question their conduct. He claimed that a group was orchestrating this misinformation campaign to divert attention from ongoing and completed trials against fallen autocrats and perpetrators of genocide, aiming to obstruct the progress of justice.

He further stated that after his departure, a vested group was raising unfounded allegations to benefit those accused of genocide. He urged all concerned to refrain from such false and malicious activities. The statement followed his recent replacement as Chief Prosecutor by Supreme Court lawyer Md. Aminul Islam under the new BNP government.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has suspended all party positions, including the primary membership, of Zahidul Alam Jahangir, president of the Mithamain upazila unit in Kishoreganj. The decision followed confirmation that he cut down roadside trees to ease vehicle access to his home. The suspension was announced Tuesday in a notice signed by BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Advocate Ruhul Kabir Rizvi.

According to the notice, around 20 mahogany trees planted along an embankment in Kamalpur to prevent river erosion were felled for personal benefit. The act was described as a clear violation of party principles, ideals, and discipline. The suspension will remain in effect until further instructions from the party.

Local sources said the trees were cut gradually after August 5, with 10 to 12 trees felled on February 21. The trees had been planted earlier to protect the haor region from erosion.

Former interim government adviser Fawzul Kabir Khan has called on citizens to stand by the newly elected government and allow it time to deliver on its commitments. In a Facebook post on Tuesday at noon, he stated that no government possesses a 'magic lamp' to change everything instantly and that national unity behind the elected leadership is essential.

In his post, Khan explained that he refrains from commenting on government decisions or his previous office matters, noting that the new administration holds full authority to make decisions. He mentioned leaving detailed handover notes for his successors in three ministries, outlining achievements, unfinished tasks, and future directions. He also said that five ministries and divisions have published brief booklets on their activities.

Khan emphasized that criticism of the government is the role of the opposition and shadow cabinet, while citizens should focus on supporting progress. He added that infrastructure projects take time and urged patience, citing the short tenure of the interim government as a reason some planned initiatives could not be completed.

Bangladesh’s Minister of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, Iqbal Hasan Mahmud, has described all electricity purchase agreements made during the previous Awami League government as anti-national and a threat to the country’s sovereignty. Speaking to reporters at his office in the Secretariat on Tuesday, he said the current BNP-led government will review all such contracts, including those with Indian and private sector entities, to ensure national interests are protected.

Mahmud stated that electricity and national sovereignty are inseparable, criticizing the former government for failing to safeguard sovereignty in power sector agreements. He emphasized that the BNP government’s policy focuses on enhancing domestic capacity rather than relying on foreign or private power imports. The minister confirmed that a committee has already submitted a report on the issue and that the government will prioritize renewable energy and affordable, uninterrupted electricity for citizens.

According to ministry sources, Bangladesh’s power generation capacity exceeds 28,000 megawatts, yet the country continues to import electricity from India’s Adani group under a costly deal that obliges Bangladesh to bear financial risks for any operational losses in India.

The National Citizen Party (NCP) has formed a ‘Local Government Election Steering Committee’ ahead of the upcoming local government elections. Sargis Alam, the party’s chief organizer for the northern region, has been appointed as the committee’s chairman. The announcement was made through a press release signed by Sadia Farzana Dinar, a member of the NCP’s office cell, on Monday night.

According to the release, the committee was formed under the direction of NCP convener Md. Nahid Islam and member secretary Akhtar Hossain. Abdul Hannan Masud, senior joint chief coordinator and Member of Parliament for Noakhali-6, has been named the committee’s member secretary. Other members include Ariful Islam Adib, Alauddin Mohammad, Tahsin Riaz, and Advocate Monjila Jhuma. All divisional organizational secretaries will serve as ex-officio members, while central and district-level leaders will provide overall support.

After assuming his new role, Sargis Alam posted on social media encouraging potential candidates at all local levels to prepare for the upcoming elections.

London police have arrested former British ambassador Peter Mandelson, 72, on suspicion of misconduct during his tenure in the UK cabinet. The arrest followed revelations of his connection with convicted US sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Mandelson, who had served as the UK’s ambassador to Washington, was dismissed by the British prime minister after those links became public. He was later released on bail while the investigation continues.

According to a document released by the US Department of Justice, Mandelson allegedly shared sensitive government information with Epstein while serving as a minister. The UK government under Prime Minister Keir Starmer handed over details of Mandelson’s communications with Epstein earlier this month, prompting police to open a formal investigation. Reuters reported that plainclothes officers detained Mandelson at his central London home on Monday morning.

Police emphasized that the arrest indicates suspicion of a possible offense but does not constitute proof of guilt. Mandelson’s lawyers have not issued any comment regarding the case.