Detective Branch (DB) police detained Ferdous Ahmed Chowdhury Toshar, president of Bahubal upazila BNP in Habiganj, taking him into custody on Sunday. In protest, local BNP, Jubo Dal, and Chhatra Dal activists held a rally and blocked the Mirpur section of the highway around 2 p.m., halting traffic for about half an hour. The demonstrators demanded Toshar’s unconditional release within 24 hours.

Police sources said Toshar was detained following allegations of using abusive language and issuing threats to Bahubal Model Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Md Saiful Islam. A leaked phone call recording of the incident had circulated on social media. The dispute reportedly began after police arrested Masuk Mia, identified as a member of the 2019 Union Jubo League committee, whom some BNP leaders claimed was a BNP activist.

Toshar later went live on social media, accusing the OC of involvement in illegal cigarette seizures, drug trade, and other irregularities, which he said he verbally reported to the district police superintendent.

Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh’s Joint Secretary General Maulana Azizul Haque Islamabadi issued a statement on Sunday calling for widespread public use of the words “Inquilab, Insaaf, and Azadi,” describing them as the language and heritage of the July mass uprising. He criticized what he called “defeated cultural fascists” for opposing these historically significant Arabic-Persian terms, which he said had inspired rebellion during the uprising. Islamabadi also expressed concern that a minister from the ruling party had spoken against the slogan “Inquilab Zindabad.”

In his statement, Islamabadi argued that Arabic, Persian, and Urdu words have enriched the Bengali language and played a vital role in anti-colonial and popular movements. He accused certain “secular cultural elites” of attempting to undermine the revolutionary spirit of the July movement by attacking these words while ignoring other politically charged terms. He urged students and the public to respond peacefully to any attempts to distort the historical slogans.

He further called on intellectuals and media professionals to strengthen their skills and strategies to counter what he described as fascist and hegemonic narratives, emphasizing the need for continued cultural resistance.

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed announced that the next session of Bangladesh’s parliament will begin on March 12. He said the session will be convened by the president on the advice of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. The minister made the statement after a meeting with the prime minister at the Secretariat on Sunday. He added that elections for the Speaker and Deputy Speaker will be held on the same day, while discussions on the new president have not yet taken place.

The 13th national parliamentary election and referendum were held on February 12, followed by the publication of the official gazette the next day. According to constitutional requirements, the first session of the new parliament must be held by March 14. Newly elected members took their oaths on February 17. Tarique Rahman, chairman of the BNP, has been elected as the leader of the house and has already formed a new government.

Jamaat-e-Islami’s Amir Shafiqur Rahman has been chosen as the leader of the opposition, with Syed Abdullah Muhammad Taher as deputy opposition leader and Md Nahid Islam of the National Citizens Party as opposition chief whip.

State Minister for Education and newly elected Member of Parliament for Dhaka-13, Bobby Hajjaj, announced on Sunday his decision to take legal action against Mamunul Haque, a rival candidate in the 13th National Parliamentary Election. Hajjaj accused Haque of orchestrating attacks on BNP activists and attempting to seize polling centers on election day. The announcement came after Hajjaj visited Japan Bangladesh Friendship Hospital in Dhaka to review the condition of those injured in the election-day violence.

According to Hajjaj, Haque’s supporters tried to take control of polling centers under his direction, leading to clashes when BNP supporters resisted. Over a hundred BNP activists were reportedly injured, including Haidar Ali, who remains in critical condition in the hospital’s ICU due to brain hemorrhage. Hajjaj stated that Haque was present at the scene and directly ordered the attacks, prompting the decision to name him as the main accused in the forthcoming case.

Hajjaj also outlined several initiatives to curb drugs and crime in Mohammadpur, including installing CCTV cameras, police boxes, and increasing patrol teams.

The Election Commission (EC) of Bangladesh has announced plans to complete the postponed parliamentary by-elections for Bogura-6 and Sherpur-3 constituencies before Pahela Baishakh, which falls on April 14. Election Commissioner Abdur Rahmanel Ma’shud confirmed the decision on Sunday, stating that the commission aims to finish the voting process before the start of the Bengali New Year celebrations.

According to the commissioner, the EC is working to ensure that all pending electoral activities are concluded on time. In Bogura, expatriate voters who have already registered have cast their votes, and the commission will send ballots to them again. Additional time of a few days may be given to include any new voters who were left out. Alongside these by-elections, the process for reserved women’s seats has also begun through party nominations.

The commissioner added that the formalities for the reserved women’s seats will be completed within 90 days of the gazette publication, with the EC expecting to finish that election within the stipulated period.

On February 12, 2026, Bangladesh held its 13th parliamentary election and a national referendum. According to the Election Commission, voter turnout stood at 59.44 percent. However, analysis of the results shows that 15 members of parliament were elected after securing less than 40 percent of the total votes cast in their respective constituencies.

Among the winners, BNP candidates, Jamaat-e-Islami leaders, and several independents prevailed in closely contested races. For example, BNP’s Mohammad Akhtaruzzaman won in Mymensingh-10 with 34.56 percent of votes, while Jamaat’s Kamrul Hasan took Mymensingh-6 with 33.03 percent. Other low-margin victories included BNP’s Jahandar Ali Jahan in Madaripur-2 with 32.38 percent and independent Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Iqbal in Kishoreganj-5 with 38.50 percent. Several constituencies, including Gopalganj, Natore, and Dinajpur, also saw winners with similar vote shares.

The data highlights a fragmented electoral outcome, with multiple candidates dividing the vote in many constituencies. The Election Commission’s overall turnout figure contrasts with the narrow winning margins, suggesting highly competitive local races across the country.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian declared that his country will not yield to US pressure regarding its nuclear program. He made the statement during a ceremony honoring members of Iran’s Paralympic team. His remarks came after US President Donald Trump said he was considering limited military strikes to pressure Iranian leaders into reaching a nuclear control agreement.

Responding to Trump’s comments, Pezeshkian said Iran would not bow to any challenges or coordinated efforts by world powers to force compliance. The statement underscored Tehran’s defiance as indirect talks between Iran and the United States resumed earlier this month in Oman, followed by a second round in Switzerland last week.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated on Friday that a diplomatic solution was within reach and that a draft agreement could be finalized within two to three days for submission to Washington.

Nobel Peace Prize laureate Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus has returned to his previous workplace after completing his tenure as the chief adviser of the interim government. On Sunday morning, he arrived at the Yunus Centre located in the Telecom Building in Mirpur, where his long-time colleagues warmly welcomed him with flowers. The information was shared through a post on his verified Facebook page.

According to the post, upon his return, Dr. Yunus held a meeting with the managing directors and advisers of Grameen organizations and the Yunus Centre. The discussion focused on resuming various activities that had been on hold during his public service and on outlining future plans. His return marks the end of an 18-month period since he left the Yunus Centre to lead the interim government during a critical phase in the country’s politics.

The meeting at the Yunus Centre signaled the restart of organizational operations and planning for upcoming initiatives under Dr. Yunus’s guidance.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has strongly condemned and protested the remarks made by Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hasan Mahmud regarding the slogan ‘Inquilab Zindabad’. In a statement sent to the media on Sunday, the party’s Assistant Secretary General and head of its central publicity and media department, Advocate Ehsanul Mahbub Zubair, expressed deep concern, calling the minister’s comments inconsistent and a denial of historical, linguistic, and public realities.

Zubair stated that although the word ‘Inquilab’ has Arabic roots, it has long been used in the subcontinent’s independence movements and struggles for democratic rights. He argued that labeling any word as anti-Bangla based on its origin contradicts linguistic principles. He further said that the slogan symbolizes resistance against oppression and injustice, not the property of any particular group.

Jamaat urged the minister to withdraw his statement immediately, warning that otherwise the people would respond appropriately. The party reiterated that the Bengali language embodies diverse linguistic influences and called on all to avoid divisive rhetoric over language or slogans.

Professor Dr. Niaz Ahmad Khan, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Dhaka, has formally submitted his resignation to Education Minister A N M Ehsanul Haque Milon on Saturday afternoon. The university’s protocol officer, Mohammad Firoz, confirmed that the resignation letter was handed over in the morning. However, the ministry has not yet issued an official notification accepting it. Once approved, further administrative procedures will follow. According to the Ministry of Education, Khan mentioned personal and administrative reasons for his decision, which requires presidential approval to become final.

Professor Khan was appointed Vice-Chancellor on August 27, 2024, following political changes after the fall of the Awami League government in that year’s upheaval. Earlier, on February 10, just two days before the national election, he had publicly expressed his intention to step down from the position.

Born in 1966, Khan holds a PhD in Development Studies from the University of Wales, Swansea, and has served in various academic and advisory roles, including with UNDP, ADB, PKSF, and international organizations.

The Election Commission (EC) of Bangladesh announced on Sunday that it will soon release revised election schedules for the Bogura-6 by-election and the Sherpur-3 constituency poll. Both elections are expected to be held before April 14. The EC stated that the schedules will be declared very soon to ensure compliance with constitutional requirements.

The Bogura-6 seat became vacant after BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman, who was elected from both Bogura-6 and Dhaka-17 in the February 12 general election, expressed his intention to vacate one seat as per the Representation of the People Order (RPO), which prohibits holding multiple constituencies simultaneously. Meanwhile, voting in Sherpur-3 was postponed due to the death of a valid candidate during the same election.

According to the EC, previously valid candidates in Sherpur-3 will not need to resubmit nomination papers. Only new candidates will be allowed to submit nominations under the revised schedule.

The White House has confirmed that U.S. President Donald Trump will visit China from March 31 to April 2, marking the first visit by an American president to Beijing since 2017. A White House official confirmed the schedule last Friday. Trump previously visited China during his first presidential term in 2017. Both Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping have recently described communication between the two countries as “excellent” and “good.”

Trump said the upcoming trip would be a “grand” one, emphasizing that the U.S. presence and arrangements should surpass any previous events in Chinese history. The visit comes as the U.S. Supreme Court has annulled tariffs Trump had imposed on several countries. Trump had earlier described tariffs as a tool to push other nations to support his policies.

Trade tariffs and China’s response are expected to be key topics during the meetings. Due to tariff impacts, China has reportedly stopped purchasing soybeans from the United States, one of its top import items. The visit follows recent trips to Beijing by several Western leaders, including Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, who discussed trade and electric vehicle restrictions.

Prime Minister Tareq Rahman has expressed optimism that the friendly relations between Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia will reach new heights in the future. The statement came during a courtesy meeting with Saudi Ambassador Dr. Abdullah Zafar H. Bin Abiya at the Cabinet Division in Dhaka Secretariat on Sunday, February 22, 2026, at 11 a.m. Foreign Minister Dr. Khalilur Rahman and Prime Minister’s Adviser Humayun Kabir were also present at the meeting.

During the meeting, the Saudi ambassador congratulated Tareq Rahman on assuming office as prime minister and assured that the Saudi government would continue all forms of cooperation with Bangladesh. Earlier that morning, at 9:05 a.m., Tareq Rahman began his official duties at the Cabinet Division, where Chief Secretary A.B.M. Abdus Sattar welcomed him.

The meeting underscored the mutual commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation, with both sides expressing confidence in advancing the long-standing friendship between Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia.

On Sunday, February 22, 2026, the Bangladesh Secretariat experienced an unusually high number of visitors as people came to meet and congratulate newly appointed ministers. Many visitors brought flowers to offer their best wishes, while officials from various government departments and organizational representatives also joined the visits. The increased presence of people and vehicles was noticeable throughout the morning.

Members of the Bangladesh Government Primary Teachers’ Association said they came to greet the new education minister and state minister with flowers. Assistant Sub-Inspector Barek, who was on duty at the Secretariat, confirmed that the crowd was larger than usual but assured that security arrangements remained adequate. Entry procedures were being managed according to ministry requests.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman arrived at the Secretariat’s Cabinet Division office at 9:05 a.m. and was received by Chief Secretary A.B.M. Abdus Sattar. The day’s activity reflected heightened public and administrative engagement following the formation of the new cabinet.

A heated phone dispute between Bahubal Model Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md Saiful Islam and Upazila BNP President Ferdous Ahmed Chowdhury Toshar has stirred widespread discussion in Habiganj. The controversy began after the arrest of a young man named Masuk Mia, which led to a leaked audio recording of Toshar allegedly threatening and verbally abusing the officer. The recording, whose date remains unverified, spread rapidly on social media, with Toshar reportedly saying that police must consult him to work in Bahubal.

According to local sources, Masuk Mia, a member of the local Union Jubo League committee from the 2019 session, was arrested by police. Some BNP leaders claimed he was a BNP activist and unsuccessfully tried to secure his release. District BNP member Mokhlesur Rahman also reportedly called the OC, urging him to release Masuk, but the officer refused, causing discontent among some BNP members.

OC Saiful Islam confirmed receiving abusive calls from Toshar, while the BNP leader later went live on social media accusing the OC of corruption and misconduct, claiming he had informed the police superintendent verbally.