Leaders of the Barishal District Lawyers’ Association have announced a boycott of the Chief Metropolitan and Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Courts in Barishal. The decision was declared on Tuesday afternoon during a protest in front of the Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court. The lawyers, aligned with the BNP, demanded the removal of Magistrate Sarafat Ullah after he granted bail to Advocate Talukdar Md. Yunus, general secretary of the Barishal District Awami League and former MP for Barishal-2. They vowed to continue the boycott until the magistrate is removed.

According to the report, the bail was granted in a case involving vandalism and assault at BNP offices in Barishal. BNP-affiliated lawyers expressed outrage, alleging that individuals linked to violence and repression were being granted bail without remorse. During the protest, speakers accused the magistrate of pursuing a political agenda and claimed that Awami League leaders were receiving preferential treatment in lower courts. The protest was presided over by Advocate Sadiqur Rahman Linkon and attended by several senior lawyers.

The boycott has caused difficulties for litigants traveling from distant areas, as court activities remain suspended until further notice.

The Iranian government has stated that university students have the right to protest but must not cross certain 'red lines.' The statement came on Tuesday as the government’s first official response after student demonstrations resumed across several campuses over the weekend. Government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani said that sacred matters and the national flag are examples of these red lines, which must be protected and never violated, even in moments of intense anger.

Mohajerani indicated that the government recognizes students’ right to express their opinions. However, she emphasized that maintaining respect for the state’s core values, religious sanctity, and national symbols is everyone’s responsibility. Her remarks were seen as an attempt to balance acknowledgment of student rights with a warning to preserve national and religious boundaries.

Analysts interpret the government’s comments as an effort to calm tensions following the recent wave of campus protests.

Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Ariful Haque Chowdhury announced that the government will ensure the repatriation of deceased expatriates’ bodies to Bangladesh without any cost. He made the statement on Tuesday afternoon while inaugurating two newly added freezing ambulances at the Wage Earners’ Welfare Board premises under his ministry.

Chowdhury emphasized that expatriates represent Bangladesh abroad and contribute significantly to the nation’s economy through remittances. He said their contributions deserve recognition and that the ministry, through the Wage Earners’ Welfare Board, continues to work tirelessly for the welfare of expatriate workers and their families. The event was attended by State Minister Nurul Haque, Senior Secretary Dr. Neyamat Ullah Bhuiyan, and other ministry officials.

Responding to journalists, Chowdhury added that the ministry is newly formed under his leadership and that within the next 180 days, they will strive to implement the election pledges made for expatriates’ welfare.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman chaired a meeting on the proposed 'Family Card' initiative at the Cabinet Division conference room in the Bangladesh Secretariat on Tuesday at 12:30 p.m. The meeting was confirmed by the Prime Minister’s Additional Press Secretary, Atikur Rahman Rumman, who stated that it was held to advance the government’s electoral commitment to introduce the Family Card program.

Earlier in the day, the Prime Minister attended a separate policy meeting on the management and development of the New Mooring Container Terminal at the country’s main seaport in Chattogram. That meeting, which began at 10:30 a.m., was attended by the Finance Minister, the Minister of Shipping, the Minister of Law, and the Chairman of the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA), Ashiq Chowdhury, along with senior officials from relevant departments.

The Family Card initiative is being discussed as part of the government’s broader agenda to fulfill its election pledges, though no further details on its implementation were disclosed in the meeting summary.

The Ministry of Home Affairs has approved the withdrawal of 1,202 politically motivated cases filed against opposition leaders and activists during a 17-year period under what it described as a fascist government. The decision was announced on Tuesday through an official press release from the ministry, confirming that the approval was granted by the Home Minister.

According to the statement, this move follows a similar decision made on February 22, when the Home Minister, Salahuddin Ahmed, announced the withdrawal of 1,006 such cases from the same period. The ministry’s latest approval adds to the ongoing process of dismissing cases that were deemed to have been filed for political harassment.

The announcement marks another step in the government’s effort to address politically motivated legal actions from previous administrations, as stated in the ministry’s communication.

A Dhaka court has issued a travel ban on two former vice-chancellors of the National University, Professor Dr. Harun-or-Rashid and Professor Dr. Md. Mashiur Rahman. The order was given on Tuesday by Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Md. Sabbir Foyez, confirmed by the court’s bench assistant Md. Riaz Hossain. The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Deputy Director Muhammad Zainal Abedin had earlier filed a petition requesting the restriction.

According to the petition, a three-member inquiry team has been formed to investigate allegations of irregularities and corruption within the National University. The ACC stated that credible sources indicated the accused might attempt to flee abroad, prompting the request for a travel ban to ensure a fair investigation. After a hearing, the court approved the restriction.

Professor Harun-or-Rashid served two terms as vice-chancellor from March 2013 and was reappointed in May 2017. Professor Mashiur Rahman was appointed in May 2021 and resigned on August 11, 2024, following the fall of the Awami League government.

In Chattogram’s Lohagara upazila, BNP’s defeated candidate for the Chattogram-15 constituency, Nazmul Mostafa Amin, greeted Awami League leader Dula Mia with flowers upon his release from jail. Dula Mia, a leader of the Kolauzan Union Awami League, had been arrested before the election from his home in Chattogram in connection with a murder case filed at Lohagara Police Station.

Photos of the floral reception at the prison gate quickly went viral on social media, drawing widespread negative reactions. Images also circulated showing Dula Mia with senior Awami League leaders and speaking at various party events. Local BNP leader Robiul Hasan Robi criticized the gesture, recalling that Dula Mia had allegedly persecuted BNP activists during the Awami League’s rule.

According to police, Dula Mia was arrested on January 4 from the Sugandha residential area under Panchlaish Police Station based on multiple allegations. His release and the subsequent reception have sparked debate within local political circles.

The High Court has ordered an investigation into allegations of irregularities, corruption, and nepotism in staff recruitment at the under-construction Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant in Ishwardi, Pabna. The order was issued on Tuesday at 11 a.m. by a bench comprising Justice Ahmed Sohel and Justice Fatema Anwar.

The court directed the formation of a high-level committee led by the Secretary of the Ministry of Science and Technology to conduct the investigation and submit a report within two months. The directive followed a writ petition filed seeking a judicial inquiry into reports of unprecedented irregularities, corruption, fraud, and favoritism in the recruitment process. The petition included newspaper reports related to the alleged recruitment fraud.

According to the petitioner’s lawyer, Masud Ahmed Saeed, the High Court’s order aims to ensure accountability in the recruitment process at the national nuclear power project.

Freedom fighter Md. Abdus Salam has formally assumed responsibility as the administrator of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC). The handover took place on Tuesday when he received the charge from Local Government Minister and BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir. His appointment was made by presidential order on Monday, with the official notification signed by Joint Secretary Mahbuba Irene.

According to relevant sources, the appointment aims to strengthen DSCC’s administrative operations and enhance citizen service delivery. Abdus Salam is expected to lead ongoing development initiatives and urban management efforts under the corporation’s jurisdiction.

The new administrator’s leadership is anticipated to bring greater dynamism to DSCC’s service and development programs, focusing on improved governance and efficiency in city management.

Bangladesh Land Minister Md. Mizanur Rahman Minu stated that the government aims to eliminate bribery and corruption in public service delivery, assuring that action will be taken upon receiving complaints. He made the remarks on Tuesday morning while speaking to journalists after visiting the Land Service Call Center and Citizen Care Center at the Land Bhaban in Tejgaon, Dhaka.

During the visit, the minister emphasized that land services will be made more citizen-friendly and acknowledged that working in the ministry is challenging but requires collective effort. State Minister for Land Barrister Kaiser Kamal, who was also present, said that those responsible for the ministry over the past 17 years had made it controversial both nationally and internationally. He declared a zero-tolerance policy against bribery and corruption within the ministry.

The statements reflect the ministry’s renewed commitment to transparency and accountability in land administration, signaling stricter oversight and reform efforts in service delivery.

Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives (LGRD) Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir stated that the decision on whether local government elections will be held under party symbols will be made by the Parliament. He made the remarks on Tuesday afternoon after administrators of six city corporations, including the two in Dhaka, formally joined the Local Government Ministry.

The minister said that city elections would be held first where the current term has ended, adding that political administrators would perform better than bureaucrats. He also clarified that the government has no plan to appoint political administrators in municipalities.

The statement came during an official event marking the assumption of duties by newly appointed city administrators, highlighting the government’s approach to managing local governance transitions.

Former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, former mayor Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh, and former MP Jahangir Kabir Nanak are being named as accused for the first time in the explosives case linked to the 2009 BDR tragedy. Chief Public Prosecutor Md. Borhan Uddin confirmed the development on Tuesday morning, stating that witness testimonies have mentioned the names of several Awami League leaders, including former ministers and MPs. Legal provisions allow their inclusion, and action is expected on February 26.

The explosives case, filed under the Explosives Act, currently lists around 800 accused and 1,200 witnesses, with testimony from about 300 already recorded. Witness statements reportedly contain information implicating Sheikh Hasina and others. The case remains at the testimony stage, and about 200 accused have been granted bail since August 2024.

The related murder case from the 2009 BDR mutiny saw 152 sentenced to death and 160 to life imprisonment in 2013. The High Court upheld 139 death sentences, and the case is now pending in the Supreme Court’s Appellate Division.

Saudi academic Dr. Ahmad Al-Tuwaijri published a controversial article criticizing Israel and the United Arab Emirates, accusing Abu Dhabi’s rulers of aligning with Zionists and acting as a ‘Trojan horse’ for a wider Israeli project in the Middle East. The article, printed in a newspaper close to Saudi authorities, was briefly removed following protests from Tel Aviv and Washington, and accusations of antisemitism from pro-Israel networks in the United States. It was later restored, with claims that it had never been withdrawn.

The publication marked an unprecedented public critique of the UAE by a Saudi figure, highlighting growing friction between the two allies. Al-Tuwaijri argued that a deep regional rift has emerged, rooted in Israel’s actions in Gaza and Yemen’s ongoing conflict. He said Saudi Arabia feels humiliated by Israel’s conduct and has shifted its tone, recognizing that peace with Israel is unlikely under current conditions.

The episode underscores a possible strategic divergence between Riyadh and Abu Dhabi, as Saudi Arabia seeks closer ties with Turkey and reconciliation with Iran while reassessing its regional alliances.

President Md. Shahabuddin has convened the first session of Bangladesh’s 13th National Parliament for March 12 at 11 a.m., fulfilling the constitutional requirement to begin within 30 days of election results. The February 12 election, held under an interim government, gave the BNP-led alliance a two-thirds majority with 212 of 297 seats, while the Jamaat-e-Islami–led alliance secured 77. The session will open with the election and oath of the new Speaker and Deputy Speaker, followed by the President’s address and presentation of ordinances issued by the outgoing interim government.

Analysts and parliamentary sources expect the session to be vibrant and contentious, with disputes over the Constitutional Reform Council’s oath-taking and post-election violence likely to dominate early debates. Both ruling and opposition parties are preparing for active participation, with the opposition training its members on legislative procedures and planning to raise issues such as price hikes, traffic congestion, and governance reforms.

Opposition leaders, including Jamaat-e-Islami’s Amir Dr. Shafiqur Rahman, have pledged constructive engagement, while government members anticipate an end to boycott politics and a more functional parliament representing public interests.

Eighteen months after the July 2024 uprising, investigations into related cases in Chattogram have seen little progress, according to victims’ families. Relatives allege that inquiries have slowed further since the new government took office, with no official follow-up or communication. Police confirmed that among 151 cases filed, only one has reached the reporting stage, while the rest remain under investigation.

Families of those killed, including students Wasim Akram, Faisal Ahmed Shanto, Omar Nurul Absar, and Mahbubul Alam Masum, expressed frustration over the lack of justice and government contact. They said that during the interim government, officials and students had visited them, but since the new administration assumed power, even phone calls have stopped. Police and court sources reported that the cases involve more than 21,000 named and 30,000 unidentified accused individuals.

The victims’ families say they have received neither financial assistance nor rehabilitation. Many now doubt whether justice will ever be served, as investigations remain stalled and no visible progress has been made.