Bangladesh’s newly appointed Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, leader of the BNP-led government, will begin his first official working day at the Secretariat on Wednesday, February 18, 2026. His day will start at 10 a.m. with a wreath-laying ceremony at the National Martyrs’ Memorial in Savar to honor the heroes of the Liberation War. He is scheduled to arrive at the Secretariat by 12:30 p.m., where he will work from the office allocated to him in the Cabinet Division and attend several key meetings.

According to Cabinet Division sources, Rahman will first meet officials of the division for introductions and a brief exchange of views. After lunch, at 3 p.m., he will chair a special meeting with members of the new cabinet, marking the first formal policy discussion of the new government. Later, at 4 p.m., he will meet secretaries from various ministries to outline the government’s priorities and directions for implementing public expectations.

The 13th parliamentary election results have been officially gazetted, with the BNP securing 209 of 297 seats, followed by Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami with 68 seats. Many of the newly elected lawmakers are first-time members of parliament.

Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman has called on the current government to take strict and effective measures to control the prices of essential commodities during the holy month of Ramadan. In a statement released to the media on Tuesday, he urged citizens to uphold the sanctity of the month and emphasized that Ramadan is a time for piety, tolerance, and compassion.

Dr. Rahman said the government should pay special attention to law and order, rising commodity prices, and improving the living standards of ordinary people. He warned that dishonest traders remain active in society and must be prevented from raising prices of daily essentials and iftar items. He also called for breaking all syndicates and establishing a transparent and well-planned market system, suggesting subsidies to keep basic goods affordable for low-income citizens.

He further noted that the 13th national parliamentary election was held on February 12 in what he described as a fascism-free environment, marking a new democratic journey for the nation. He urged unity against destabilizing efforts and called for continued struggle to establish a peaceful and humane Bangladesh.

The Dhaka University White Panel, a group of teachers aligned with Bangladeshi nationalism, has extended heartfelt congratulations to the newly formed cabinet led by Prime Minister Tareq Rahman. The message was issued on Tuesday, February 17, following the thirteenth national parliamentary election in which Rahman’s party achieved an absolute majority and formed the government independently. The panel expressed optimism that under Rahman’s leadership, Bangladesh will advance toward democracy, development, and stability.

In their statement, convenor Professor Dr. Morshed Hasan Khan and joint convenors Professor Dr. Abdus Salam and Professor Dr. Md. Abul Kalam Sarkar said the new government emerged through the restoration of voting rights and freedom of expression after a long struggle. They voiced expectations that the administration would build an inclusive and accountable governance system, strengthen the rule of law, and ensure judicial independence.

The panel also urged the government to address inflation, create employment, and attract foreign investment to build a sustainable economy. They emphasized improving education quality, protecting university autonomy, and restoring Dhaka University’s historic legacy.

Former minister and Jatiya Party secretary general Mosiur Rahman Ranga suffered a major political setback in the 13th National Parliamentary Election. Contesting from his home constituency Lalmonirhat-1 (Hatibandha-Patgram), he finished fourth with 5,152 votes and lost his electoral deposit under election rules. The unofficial results show BNP candidate Hasan Rajib Pradhan winning with 138,686 votes, followed by Jamaat-e-Islami’s Md. Anwarul Islam Raju with 129,572 votes, and independent candidate Shihab Ahmed with 7,959 votes.

Local voters and analysts attributed Ranga’s collapse to several negative factors. Allegations of taking Tk 1.7 crore in bribes for nomination during the 11th election cycle went viral, damaging his image. His long absence from local engagement, perceived arrogance during campaigning, and controversial role as a former state minister under the ousted Awami League government further eroded public trust. Frequent shifts in political stance and expulsion from the Jatiya Party also alienated supporters.

Ranga, who served as state minister for local government in 2014 and later as opposition chief whip, declined to comment further, saying he had nothing more to seek after 17 years in politics.

A writ petition has been filed in the High Court challenging the validity of the referendum held on February 12 and seeking cancellation of the results announced on February 13. The petition was submitted on Tuesday by Supreme Court lawyer A B M Ataul Majid Touhid in the public interest.

Following the referendum, in which the 'yes' side prevailed, the July National Charter (Constitutional Reform) Implementation Order stipulates that a Constitutional Reform Council should be formed with representatives elected to the 13th National Parliament. According to the order, the elected members are to take oath first as Members of Parliament and then as members of the Reform Council.

However, 209 Members of Parliament elected from the BNP have not taken oath as members of the Constitutional Reform Council, leaving uncertainty about the council’s full formation and the next steps in implementing the constitutional reform process.

United Kingdom Under Secretary Seema Malhotra paid a courtesy call on Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus on Tuesday at the Jamuna State Guest House in Dhaka. The meeting was confirmed by the Chief Adviser’s Press Wing.

According to the press release, British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Sarah Cook and the Chief Adviser’s Office SDG Chief Coordinator Lamia Morshed were also present during the meeting. The report did not provide details about the topics discussed or any outcomes from the meeting.

The visit reflects ongoing diplomatic engagement between Bangladesh and the United Kingdom, though no further information on the agenda or future cooperation was disclosed in the source.

A new cabinet comprising 25 ministers and 24 state ministers has been formed under the leadership of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. The oath-taking ceremony took place on Tuesday afternoon at the South Plaza of the National Parliament Building. Despite widespread anticipation among party members, several long-time influential leaders of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) did not receive cabinet positions, sparking political discussion.

Among the senior BNP figures excluded from the new cabinet are Standing Committee members Mirza Abbas, Abdul Moyeen Khan, Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Nazrul Islam Khan, Selima Rahman, Amanullah Aman, and Gayeshwar Chandra Roy. In addition, Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi and Vice Chairman Shamsuzzaman Dudu were not included. Except for Shamsuzzaman Dudu, Nazrul Islam Khan, and Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, the others previously held key ministerial roles in past BNP governments.

The exclusion of these experienced leaders has drawn attention within political circles, as the new cabinet marks a significant reshuffle under Tarique Rahman’s leadership.

Six elected leaders of the National Citizens’ Committee (NCP) took oaths as members of parliament and as members of the Constitutional Reform Council on Tuesday, February 17, 2026. Shortly after the dual oath-taking, the NCP leadership announced that they would not attend the new cabinet’s oath ceremony scheduled for later that afternoon. The decision was confirmed in a Facebook post by Akhtar Hossain, the NCP member secretary and newly elected MP from Rangpur-4.

Hossain stated that the NCP decided to boycott the cabinet oath because the government had not honored the referendum’s verdict regarding the Constitutional Reform Council’s oath procedure. Before the NCP, Jamaat MPs had already taken their oaths as council members, while BNP MPs refrained from doing so. BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed told party MPs that they would not take the council oath, arguing that the council had not yet been incorporated into the constitution.

The differing positions among parties highlight ongoing disputes over the implementation of the referendum’s outcome and the legal framework for the Constitutional Reform Council.

U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday described Cuba as a 'failed state' and urged Havana to reach an agreement with Washington. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump dismissed the possibility of any U.S. military operation to change the Cuban government, saying he did not think such action would be necessary.

According to AFP, Trump made the remarks while discussing Cuba’s ongoing crisis. The island nation is facing severe fuel shortages and widespread power outages. The Trump administration has tightened the long-standing U.S. embargo on Cuba and is pressuring other countries to halt oil supplies to Havana.

Addressing the energy crisis, Trump called it a 'humanitarian threat'. His comments come as Washington continues to exert economic pressure on Cuba while maintaining a stance against direct military intervention.

Independent lawmaker Rumin Farhana took oath as a member of parliament from Brahmanbaria-2 (Sarail, Ashuganj, and part of Bijoynagar) on Tuesday. Speaking to journalists after the ceremony, she commented that around 30 percent of the country’s population will not have representation in the new parliament. She also pointed out that the Awami League is absent from the current parliament.

Rumin Farhana further remarked that while the previous parliament did not include the BNP, this time both the Awami League and left-leaning parties are missing. She took oath only as a member of parliament and did not take oath as a member of the Constitutional Reform Council.

Her comments highlight the changed political composition of the new parliament and the absence of major political parties, which she suggested will affect representation in national decision-making.

Barrister Farzana Sharmin Putul, newly elected Member of Parliament from Natore-1 (Lalpur-Baghatipara), has been called to serve as a state minister by the central committee. The confirmation came from her close associates, including former Lalpur Upazila BNP member-secretary Harunar Rashid Pappu. The announcement follows her recent electoral victory in the 13th National Parliamentary Election.

Putul, the BNP-nominated candidate, secured 102,197 votes under the paddy-sheaf symbol, defeating Jamaat-e-Islami’s Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, who received 89,431 votes under the balance symbol. Independent candidate Taiful Islam Tipu obtained 72,887 votes under the pitcher symbol. A total of 272,355 votes were cast in the constituency.

Barrister Farzana Sharmin Putul is the daughter of the late BNP leader Fazlur Rahman Patol. Her appointment as state minister marks a significant step for the BNP in the Natore region following a closely contested election.

An arson attack occurred late Tuesday night at the home of Humayun Molla, president of the BNP’s Hobokhali Union unit in Narail Sadar upazila. According to police and family members, around 1 a.m. residents awoke to an explosion-like sound and discovered a fire in a storage shed on Molla’s property. Despite efforts to extinguish the blaze, the tin structure and its contents were completely destroyed.

Supporters of Humayun Molla alleged that the attack stemmed from disputes between two groups following the recently concluded election, in which Molla supported a rebel BNP candidate for the Narail-2 constituency. Police said no formal complaint had yet been filed and that an investigation was underway to determine the cause of the incident.

Authorities have not confirmed any suspects or motives, and the investigation remains ongoing.

Former national footballer Aminul Haque has been appointed as the state minister for the Ministry of Youth and Sports in Bangladesh. Although he contested the national parliamentary election from Dhaka-16 as a BNP candidate and did not win, he has been included in the cabinet as a technocrat state minister. The oath-taking ceremony is scheduled for Tuesday, February 17, 2026, at 4 p.m. at the South Plaza of the National Parliament Building, where Aminul will take his oath.

The new cabinet includes 25 ministers and 24 state ministers, with two appointed under the technocrat quota. Aminul Haque, who once led Bangladesh to victory in the SAFF Championship during his playing career, is one of them. After taking office, he is expected to begin his official duties on the same day and hold discussions with journalists.

His appointment marks the inclusion of a sports personality in the government’s leadership, reflecting recognition of his contributions to national sports and potential to advance youth and sports development.

The Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) has expressed deep concern after the BNP-led alliance declined to take the oath for the Constitutional Reform Council. In a statement issued on Tuesday, DUCSU leaders said the alliance’s refusal disregarded the people’s direct mandate and contradicted both democratic practice and the commitments made in the July Charter. They emphasized that the recent referendum showed a clear majority in favor of reform, and avoiding the oath process amounted to disrespecting the people’s verdict.

DUCSU’s statement recalled that under Article 7 of the Constitution, all power belongs to the people, and the Constitution represents their supreme will. It noted that the interim government had assumed power with three mandates—reform, justice, and election—following the July Charter Order 2025, which was enacted to implement the July Charter. DUCSU urged the BNP alliance to honor the people’s decision by taking the oath and warned that failure to do so could trigger a new constitutional crisis, raising questions about the legitimacy of the interim government, justice, and elections.

The statement concluded by urging all political forces to act responsibly to uphold transparency, accountability, and institutional reform, warning against repeating past defiance of public will.

Senior Supreme Court lawyer Shishir Monir has announced that he will contest in court a writ petition seeking suspension of the effectiveness of the recent referendum results. He made the announcement on Tuesday through a verified Facebook post, stating that his team would legally challenge the petition filed to halt the implementation of the referendum outcome.

Earlier, on February 17, Supreme Court lawyer A B M Ataul Majid Touhid filed a public interest writ in the High Court challenging the legality of the February 12 referendum and seeking cancellation of the results announced on February 13. The Chief Election Commissioner, Cabinet Secretary, and Law Ministry Secretary were named as respondents in the petition. The hearing is expected to take place next week before a bench led by Justice Fatema Nazib.

The February 12 nationwide referendum saw a 60.26 percent voter turnout, with 48,074,429 voting in favor of change and 22,565,627 voting against.