President of Bangladesh has accepted the resignations of Supreme Court High Court Division judges Mamnoon Rahman and Naima Haider. The announcement came on Monday, February 23, 2026, through separate notifications issued by the Ministry of Law. According to the notifications, both judges submitted signed resignation letters to the President under clause (8) of Article 96 of the Constitution of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh.

Justice Mamnoon Rahman, who had been on leave for a year, resigned on February 2 citing personal reasons. He sent his resignation letter to the President via email through the Supreme Court Registrar General and the Ministry of Law, reportedly from Canada. Justice Naima Haider resigned on February 9, submitting her signed resignation letter through the Chief Justice to the President.

The Ministry of Law confirmed that the President formally accepted both resignations, completing the constitutional process for their departure from the High Court Division.

The Bangladesh government has decided to review all firearm licenses issued during the tenure of the Awami League government. Home Minister Salauddin Ahmed announced the decision on Monday after a meeting with heads of agencies under the Home Ministry. He said the verification process would determine whether licenses were issued properly and to eligible individuals. Licenses found to have been granted unlawfully or for criminal purposes will be canceled, and associated weapons will be confiscated. A circular on the review process was expected to be issued the same day.

The minister also directed the ministry to compile statistics on the total number of licenses and licensed firearms. He emphasized that improving law and order is the current government’s top priority, aiming to make law enforcement more people-friendly. Ahmed further revealed that over 10,000 firearms not surrendered before the last election have become illegal and will be recovered through legal measures.

He added that cases filed after August 5, 2024, following the fall of the Awami League government, will be reviewed for fairness, and a new commission will be formed to reinvestigate the BDR mutiny.

The Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs has directed all its officials and employees to be present in their respective offices by 9 a.m. on working days. The order, signed by Senior Secretary (Administration) Kamrul Hasan, was issued on Monday. It reminded staff that unauthorized absence, leaving the office without permission, or late attendance are considered disciplinary offenses under the Government Employees (Regular Attendance) Rules, 2019.

The circular further stated that no one should leave the office before the end of official hours—3:30 p.m. during the holy month of Ramadan and 5 p.m. after Ramadan. For official or emergency reasons, employees must obtain permission from their division head and record their departure in the office leave register, along with digital attendance.

The ministry warned that any violation of these attendance and discipline rules would lead to action under the Government Employees (Regular Attendance) Rules, 2019, and the Government Employees (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 2018.

Two senior officers of the Bangladesh Army have been promoted and assigned to key positions, according to an order issued from Army Headquarters on Monday. Major General Mohammad Asadullah Minhajul Alam, previously General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the 10 Infantry Division and Cox’s Bazar Area Commander, has been promoted to Lieutenant General and appointed as GOC of ARTDOC. Brigadier General Golam Mohiuddin Ahmed Mahi, who served as a director at Army Headquarters, has been promoted to Major General and will now serve as GOC of the 10 Infantry Division and Cox’s Bazar Area Commander.

The promotions follow a series of senior-level reshuffles announced on Sunday, including the appointment of Lieutenant General Mainur Rahman as Chief of General Staff, replacing Lieutenant General S M Kamrul Hasan, who was transferred to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as ambassador. Major General Mir Mushfiqur Rahman was appointed Principal Staff Officer of the Armed Forces Division, while Major General Ferdous Hasan became GOC of the 24 Infantry Division.

The Defense Intelligence Directorate (DGFI) also saw changes, with Brigadier General Kaiser Rashid promoted to Major General and appointed as its new Director General, continuing the broader restructuring within the army’s top command.

The Parliament Secretariat has submitted the voter list for the reserved women’s seats of the 13th National Parliament to the Election Commission (EC). The submission was confirmed on Monday by the EC’s election management division. According to EC sources, the list of 296 voters was sent in compliance with the legal requirement to deliver it within three working days of the publication of the general election gazette. The EC will now proceed with necessary legal steps.

Under the law governing reserved women’s seats, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) is expected to secure 34.66 or 35 seats, while Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami will receive 11.33 or 11 seats. Independent candidates may obtain one seat if they form an alliance, and the National Citizen Party will get one seat. Smaller parties will not receive any seats unless they form coalitions. If alliances are formed, BNP’s share could rise to 36 seats, and Jamaat’s to 13.

Election Commissioner Abdur Rahmanel Machud stated that the EC plans to hold the reserved women’s seat election during Ramadan and complete all procedures before Eid. Elections for Sherpur-3 and Bogura-6 constituencies are scheduled after Eid.

The government has issued official notifications withdrawing three secretaries from their current positions. On Monday, the Ministry of Public Administration released three separate circulars announcing the withdrawal of Md. Kamal Uddin, Secretary of the Ministry of Religious Affairs; Md. Saifullah Panna, Secretary of the Prime Minister’s Office; and Ms. Rehana Parvin, Secretary of the Secondary and Higher Education Division. Following their withdrawal, all three officials have been attached to the Ministry of Public Administration.

The notifications were published on February 23, 2026, confirming the administrative changes. The Ministry of Public Administration handled the process through individual orders for each secretary. No further details were provided regarding the reasons for the withdrawals or their future assignments.

The reassignment places the three senior officials under the Ministry of Public Administration, indicating an internal reshuffle within the government’s top administrative structure.

Dhaka-5 Member of Parliament Mohammad Kamal Hossain declared that there will be no compromise in eliminating terrorism, extortion, and drug-related crimes. Speaking as the chief guest at a meeting with police officials on February 23, he emphasized the need for full enforcement of the law to protect citizens’ lives and property. The meeting was held at the Wari Zone DC office to discuss improving law and order.

Expressing anger over the recent killing of Laguna driver Nure Alam Khairul in Jatrabari for refusing to pay extortion money, Hossain instructed police to bring those involved to justice swiftly. He said his duty as an elected representative is to ensure safety and legal support for all residents of Dhaka-5, regardless of political affiliation or voter status.

Hossain further stated that anyone committing crimes, regardless of party identity, would face legal action. He directed police to act impartially, asserting that the law must apply equally to everyone.

The Ministry of Public Administration has issued a directive for candidates recommended under the freedom fighter quota in the 45th Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) examination. According to the ministry’s notice released on Monday, those listed in the provisional results of the 45th BCS Exam 2022 must submit their freedom fighter certificates for verification. Candidates are instructed to fill out the designated form and send the required documents either by post or directly to the relevant branch by March 2.

The final results of the 45th BCS examination were published on November 27 of the previous year, with 1,807 candidates provisionally passing and being recommended for appointment to various cadres. The ministry’s directive specifically applies to those who received recommendations through the freedom fighter quota.

The submission process aims to verify the authenticity of the quota-based recommendations before final appointments are confirmed.

Bangladesh Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed announced that all cases filed after the fall of the Awami League government on August 5, 2024, will be re-examined. Speaking at the Secretariat after a meeting with heads of agencies under his ministry, he said the directive was issued to ensure that innocent people are not victimized by opportunistic groups. The police have been instructed to scrutinize these cases and submit reports accordingly.

The minister also said that a new commission will be formed to review the BDR mutiny killings and that its recommendations will guide future judicial actions. He added that firearm licenses issued during the previous government will be verified to determine whether they were granted through proper procedures, with politically motivated licenses to be canceled. Ahmed further addressed public complaints about passport services, proposing a registration system for online application assistants to improve accountability and service quality.

He mentioned that the initiative will be piloted in Dhaka and other divisional cities before possible nationwide implementation, with a policy framework to be developed soon.

Muhammad Tajul Islam, the outgoing Chief Prosecutor of the International Crimes Tribunal, stated that it is natural for an elected government to appoint its preferred individuals to various state positions. He made the remarks on Monday, February 23, 2026, while speaking to journalists at the tribunal premises. Earlier that morning, the new BNP government relieved him of his duties and appointed Supreme Court lawyer Aminul Islam as the new Chief Prosecutor.

Tajul Islam, a leader of the Amar Bangladesh (AB) Party, had been serving as Chief Prosecutor in the tribunal reconstituted to try crimes against humanity committed during the July uprising. Responding to his removal, he welcomed his successor and expressed good wishes for the completion of unfinished tasks. He recalled that when he took office, the tribunal’s main building was abandoned and operations were being conducted from a tin shed amid disarray left by the previous prosecution team.

He explained that the government initially indicated continuity but later signaled its intention to replace him. He said he was told the change would occur through a natural process rather than resignation to avoid sending a wrong message.

Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis has demanded the cancellation of results and a neutral investigation into alleged irregularities in the 13th national parliamentary election held on February 12. The party made the call at a press conference at its central office in Paltan, Dhaka, where Secretary General Jalaluddin Ahmad claimed that agents of party leader Mamunul Haque were forcibly removed from polling centers in Dhaka-13 constituency. He also alleged that veiled and general voters were intimidated and that Mamunul Haque was confined at a center and forced to leave with army assistance.

The press conference further alleged widespread irregularities and vote rigging across constituencies nationwide. The party presented six specific demands, including the formation of a commission to investigate election misconduct. Jalaluddin Ahmad also accused the newly elected MP and current State Minister for Education, Babu Hajjaj, of threatening legal action against Khelafat Majlis activists and claimed post-election attacks on their members in Dhaka-13.

Party leaders urged an end to attacks and threats against their activists and warned of strict programs if their demands remain unaddressed.

The Parbatya Chattogram Chukti Bastobayan Andolon has called for the withdrawal of the non-hill state minister from the Ministry of Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs and redistribution of the portfolio. In a joint statement sent to the media on Monday, the group’s joint coordinators, human rights activist Zakir Hossain and Professor Dr. Khairul Islam Chowdhury, congratulated the newly elected BNP-led government and party chairman Tarique Rahman following the 13th national parliamentary election.

The statement expressed hope that under Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s leadership, the new democratic journey of Bangladesh would prioritize full implementation of the 1997 Chittagong Hill Tracts Accord, along with the protection of ethnic and religious minority rights and the human rights of marginalized communities. The leaders argued that appointing a non-hill state minister alongside a hill full minister contradicts the spirit of the 1997 accord.

They recalled that the BNP government initiated dialogue with the Jana Sanghati Samiti in the 1990s, leading to the 1997 accord, and later played a responsible role in its implementation. The group urged correction of decisions inconsistent with the accord to realize the BNP’s “rainbow nation” vision.

A video from Tonk Sawai Madhopur in Rajasthan has gone viral showing BJP leader and former MP Sukhbir Singh Jaunpuria refusing to give blankets to Muslim women during a distribution event. The footage shows him asking a woman’s name and then denying her a blanket after learning she was Muslim. He was heard saying that those who insult Prime Minister Modi have no right to receive blankets.

The video also shows several people confronting Jaunpuria, protesting that the women had waited for hours only to be turned away. Jaunpuria responded that he did not want to argue and left the scene, later claiming the blankets were distributed from his personal initiative without any government funds.

Congress MP Harish Chandra Meena, who currently represents Tonk-Sawai Madhopur, shared the video and strongly condemned the former MP’s behavior, warning that such attitudes could damage India’s social fabric. He questioned whether the Prime Minister had instructed party members to deny aid to those who did not support the ruling party.

Rafiqul Alam Majnu, Member of Parliament for Feni-1 and convener of Dhaka South BNP, visited the home of Runa Akter Munni, a 32-year-old woman from Paglir Kul village in Chithlia Union, Parshuram upazila, on Monday, February 23, 2026. Runa was reportedly divorced by her husband after she voted for the paddy sheaf symbol during the February 12 national election instead of the scales symbol he preferred. Majnu, accompanied by local BNP leaders, expressed solidarity with Runa and her two children, offering them financial assistance on behalf of the BNP.

Majnu stated that he came under the instruction of BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman after learning of the incident. He condemned the divorce as an act of social injustice, saying that voting is a constitutional right and that punishing someone for their political choice violates human rights. He pledged legal and social support for Runa and emphasized that no one should face persecution for their voting preference.

The visit drew attention to the alleged political and social repercussions faced by individuals for exercising their voting rights in Parshuram.

Bangladesh Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed announced that the appointment of Superintendents of Police (SPs) and Officers-in-Charge (OCs) will no longer be made through a lottery system. Speaking to reporters at the Secretariat on Monday after a meeting with heads of departments under the Home Ministry, he said future postings will be based on merit and professional competence.

The minister explained that during the tenure of the interim government before the election, SPs and OCs were appointed through a lottery process. He criticized the method, saying it failed to ensure effective service delivery and lacked transparency. According to him, the responsibilities of large and small districts differ, requiring consideration of experience, skill, and suitability, which were not properly followed under the previous system.

Salahuddin Ahmed added that government appointments should not be handled in such a manner. He instructed that only those deemed competent and qualified by the relevant departments will be appointed according to established standards.