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.

SAARC Secretary General Golam Sarwar stated that Bangladesh wants to make the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) more dynamic. He made the remark on Monday, February 23, after a courtesy meeting with the Foreign Minister at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where he briefed journalists about the discussion.

Sarwar explained that the meeting was primarily held to inform the minister about SAARC’s current situation. He said he briefed the minister on where SAARC currently stands and that the minister inquired about ways to make the organization more active. The discussion focused on SAARC’s present condition and how Bangladesh could play a leading role in shaping its future plans.

Earlier in the day, the Egyptian Ambassador Omar Mohiuddin Ahmed Fahmy, Singapore’s Chargé d’Affaires Mitchell Lee, and Japanese Ambassador Saida Shinichi also met the Foreign Minister at the ministry.

BNP leader and Chandpur-3 Member of Parliament Sheikh Farid Ahmed Manik declared that under Tarique Rahman’s future tenure as prime minister, there would be no place for extortion or thuggery in Bangladesh. He made the remarks on Tuesday, February 11, during a development coordination and monthly law and order meeting held at the Hajimchar Upazila Parishad conference room, where he served as the chief guest.

Emphasizing the importance of maintaining law and order, Manik instructed officials not to entertain any lobbying in cases involving social crimes such as drug abuse, gambling, extortion, and harassment. He urged strict legal action against offenders regardless of their identity and warned that no one involved in activities threatening public safety would be spared. The meeting, chaired by Upazila Nirbahi Officer Amit Roy, was attended by senior administrative and BNP leaders, including the local police officer-in-charge and district BNP officials.

Participants at the meeting pledged to work uncompromisingly for public interest and law enforcement. Following the session, awards were distributed to top-performing educational institutions, teachers, and students as part of National Education Week, and Manik later met local traders and pedestrians in Algi Bazar.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Assistant Secretary General Advocate Ehsanul Mahbub Zubair has expressed deep concern over what he described as attempts by the Awami League to reopen offices and resume political activities. In a statement released to the media on Tuesday, he urged the government to clarify its firm position on the matter and called on citizens to remain alert and cautious about the activities of the party, which he referred to as banned.

Zubair stated that the Awami League has no legal authority to conduct political or administrative activities and alleged that the party is trying to become active again by taking advantage of statements made by some BNP leaders before the last national election. He criticized what he called the ruling party’s lenient attitude, saying it was encouraging the Awami League’s expectations.

He further claimed that the Awami League’s attempts to reopen offices and chant slogans were creating fear and public resentment. Zubair urged the government to take immediate and effective measures to maintain peace, law and order, and ensure citizens’ safety.

Rangpur-4 Member of Parliament and NCP member secretary Akhtar Hossain stated that the current government was formed through a mass uprising and a referendum. Speaking on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, at a public reception and iftar gathering organized by an eleven-party alliance at Mofazzal Hossain Model Government High School field in Kaunia, he warned that the public would not stand by the BNP government if the July Charter directives and the referendum verdict were not implemented.

Hossain accused BNP activists of engaging in extortion and terrorism after the election and of refusing to take the oath of the Constitutional Reform Council. He emphasized that the referendum had clear public support and cautioned that any attempt to disregard its outcome would not be accepted by the people. The event was presided over by Kaunia Upazila Jamaat leader Abdus Salam Sarkar, with several local political figures in attendance.

The remarks underscored growing political tension over the implementation of the referendum results and the legitimacy of the current government’s mandate.

At an emergency press conference on February 24 in Banglamotor, NCP spokesperson Asif Mahmud alleged that attacks were being carried out across the country to establish a reign of fear. He claimed that police had assaulted ordinary citizens and journalists, and criticized the Home Minister’s declaration that protests would not be allowed, calling it a threat to democracy.

Mahmud further stated that the BNP had appointed party administrators in six city corporations, describing the move as a danger to the formation of a new Bangladesh. He urged the government to announce a clear roadmap for local government elections and to set a timeframe for administrator appointments. NCP leaders, including Sarjis Alam and Abdul Hannan Masud MP, said the party had emerged as the third largest in the country and was preparing for local elections through newly formed committees.

The NCP leadership announced plans to contest local elections independently while remaining open to future coalition decisions if deemed necessary for national interest.

European Union Election Observation Mission human rights analyst Ann Marlborough paid a courtesy visit to Justice Moinul Islam Chowdhury, Chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission of Bangladesh, on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, at the commission’s office. During the meeting, Marlborough briefed the commission on the EU’s observation activities during Bangladesh’s 13th National Parliamentary Election and presented the mission’s preliminary post-election statement.

Discussions focused on election-related violence, human rights violations, and threats to democracy in developing countries like Bangladesh. Both sides emphasized ensuring transparency, security, and fairness in the electoral process, as well as protecting the voting rights of women, third-gender individuals, and ethnic minorities. The chairperson highlighted the expansion of the commission’s jurisdiction under the National Human Rights Commission Ordinance 2025, noting that the new legal framework would strengthen institutional capacity for human rights protection.

The meeting concluded with a mutual commitment to enhance cooperation and partnership between the EU mission and the commission to advance human rights protection in Bangladesh.

Jamaat-e-Islami Assistant Secretary General Dr. AHM Hamidur Rahman Azad has described the 2009 Pilkhana killings as a premeditated massacre rather than a mutiny. Speaking on Tuesday morning at a discussion organized by Sushil Forum at the National Press Club to mark the 'Pilkhana Killing Day,' he claimed the incident was a deliberate act aimed at weakening Bangladesh’s army. Azad alleged that the then government orchestrated the event and that if the army had been allowed to act, the losses would have been less severe.

He further asserted that the killings were linked to earlier incidents in Roumari and Paduya and reflected an attempt to turn Bangladesh into “Sikkim.” Azad also referred to a statement allegedly made by a former Indian foreign minister in the Lok Sabha about taking revenge for those incidents. During the event, he prayed for the victims, expressed sympathy for the affected families, and called for justice and the release of those he said were unjustly detained.

The discussion was chaired by Sushil Forum president Md. Zahid and attended by journalist leaders, academics, and Jamaat members.

Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer and opposition leader Dr. Shafiqur Rahman has termed the president’s behavior unacceptable. In a Facebook post on Tuesday, he alleged that the president concealed key facts regarding the events of August 5, 2024. Rahman claimed that the president’s current statements contradict what he told political leaders and later conveyed to the nation about the alleged resignation of the fugitive prime minister.

In his post, Rahman questioned whether the president would reconcile the differences between his earlier and current remarks, noting that millions of people had heard the original statements. He asserted that the nation is not naïve and that such conduct from the highest office of the state is unacceptable.

The comments reflect Jamaat-e-Islami’s dissatisfaction with the president’s handling of past political events, highlighting ongoing tensions between the opposition and the head of state.

Bangladesh’s Minister of Religious Affairs, Kazi Shah Mofazzal Hossain Kaikobad, held a courtesy meeting with the United Arab Emirates Ambassador Abdullah Ali Kasef Al-Moudhir on 24 February at the Ministry of Religious Affairs in Dhaka. The meeting emphasized the long-standing historical and fraternal ties between Bangladesh and the UAE and reaffirmed both sides’ commitment to expanding and deepening bilateral relations.

Discussions focused on enhancing cooperation in religious affairs, increasing people-to-people contact, and promoting cultural exchange to foster mutual understanding. Both dignitaries also exchanged views on modernizing religious services, strengthening institutional capacity, and applying digital technology to make faith-based education and support programs more effective and timely.

The meeting concluded in a spirit of goodwill and strategic partnership, with both parties reiterating a shared vision to elevate Bangladesh-UAE relations to a higher level in the coming days.

A renewed debate has emerged in India over whether Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government is adopting an “Israeli model” in its governance of Kashmir. The discussion resurfaced after former Indian Consul General Sandeep Chakravorty, speaking at a private event in New York in November 2019, suggested applying such a model in Indian-administered Kashmir. His remarks came months after the revocation of Jammu and Kashmir’s special constitutional status in August 2019, amid strict security measures and political detentions.

Analysts cited in the report argue that the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party’s Hindutva-based ideology shares similarities with Israel’s identity-driven state model, influencing closer bilateral ties. The article also highlights domestic controversies such as “bulldozer justice” in BJP-ruled states, where homes of alleged rioters were demolished, and the Supreme Court’s 2024 ruling against property destruction without due process. Defense cooperation between India and Israel has deepened, including drone purchases and joint training.

Further disputes involve surveillance technology, notably allegations of Pegasus spyware use against journalists and opposition figures. Critics claim Kashmir remains under heavy militarization and surveillance since 2019, while the government maintains these measures are necessary for counterterrorism and development.

Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Saida Shinichi met with Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Afroza Khanam (Rita) on Tuesday at her office in the ministry. The meeting took place in Dhaka and was attended by State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism M. Rashiduzzaman Millat.

The report noted the official nature of the meeting but did not provide details about the topics discussed or any outcomes. The presence of both the minister and the state minister highlighted the diplomatic engagement between Bangladesh and Japan within the civil aviation and tourism sectors.

No further information was provided regarding the agenda or future cooperation plans stemming from the meeting.

Former Chief Prosecutor of the International Crimes Tribunal, Tazul Islam, has issued a statement rejecting allegations of corruption and irregularities made against him by fellow prosecutor BM Sultan Mahmud. The allegations were reported by several media outlets on Monday, prompting Tazul Islam to respond through a written statement sent to the press on Tuesday.

In his statement, Tazul Islam described the claims as baseless, malicious, and intended to undermine the integrity of the tribunal’s judicial process. He asserted that all actions taken by him and his prosecution team were transparent and lawful. He further alleged that a group was deliberately spreading falsehoods to divert attention from the tribunal’s ongoing and completed trials against former autocrats and perpetrators of genocide.

Tazul Islam urged all concerned to refrain from engaging in what he termed as false propaganda and malicious activities aimed at discrediting the tribunal’s work.