State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Anindya Islam Amit has called on government officials in Jessore to perform their duties without political bias or fear. Speaking at a meeting with district department heads on Saturday, February 21, 2026, at the Jessore Deputy Commissioner’s Office, he emphasized that no official should seek special favors through political identity and urged them to focus on solving public problems through direct engagement with citizens.

During the meeting, the minister reminded officials that the current government was elected by popular vote and must remain accountable to the people. He also advised humane consideration while removing illegal structures, particularly during Ramadan, suggesting alternative solutions for affected street vendors. Amit further stressed the importance of freeing local rivers from illegal occupation, expressing concern over encroachment on the Mukteshwari River.

He assured officials that no political leader would interfere with their work and urged them to report any obstacles directly to him. The minister also instructed police to maintain law and order and reiterated his commitment to building a crime- and drug-free Jessore. In a separate session, he directed municipal authorities to identify and resolve drainage and waterlogging issues promptly.

Three leaders of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) in Fulchhari upazila of Gaibandha district have been expelled for violating party discipline and taking a stance against the organization. The decision was announced on Saturday through a press release signed by the upazila BNP’s general secretary and organizing secretary.

The expelled leaders are Abdur Rashid Sarkar Madhu, vice-president of Udakhali Union BNP; Anarul Islam, joint general secretary; and Saiful Islam Safiullah, organizing secretary of Erendabari Union BNP. Fulchhari upazila BNP general secretary Abdus Salam Sarkar confirmed the expulsion, stating that the three were removed from all party positions, including their primary memberships, due to organizational misconduct.

The announcement underscores the BNP’s internal enforcement of discipline at the local level, as the party leadership moves to address activities deemed harmful to organizational unity.

Dhaka-14 constituency’s elected Member of Parliament Barrister Arman declared that he and his supporters are ready to sacrifice their lives but will not accept 'July', during a visit to his father’s grave in Harirampur, Manikganj, on Saturday, February 21, 2026. He also demanded that justice for Shaheed Osman Hadi and Shaheed Abu Sayeed must be delivered on Bangladeshi soil.

Arman, son of Jamaat leader Mir Quasem Ali, said he was abducted by what he called fascist forces shortly before his father’s execution and was unaware of his father’s fate. He described his survival as a second life granted by divine mercy and pledged to dedicate himself to ensuring that no one in Bangladesh faces such oppression again. He sought prayers to fulfill his parliamentary duty of representing people’s rights and to uphold his father’s Islamic ideals.

Several Jamaat and student leaders, including former central Chhatra Shibir president Zahidur Rahman and local Jamaat leaders from Manikganj, were present during the visit.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman held a meeting on February 21, 2026, at the Prime Minister’s Office in Tejgaon, Dhaka, focusing on making the education system more enjoyable and employment-oriented, expanding job opportunities, and improving sports infrastructure and training facilities. The meeting was attended by relevant ministers, state ministers, and senior officials.

According to Press Secretary Abu Abdullah M Saleh, this was the first time Prime Minister Tarique Rahman worked from the Tejgaon office since assuming office. It marked his third working day as head of government. After taking the oath as prime minister, he had worked at the Secretariat on the previous Wednesday and Thursday.

The meeting reflected the new administration’s early focus on aligning education with employment and strengthening youth and sports development initiatives.

At a discussion meeting in Dhaka on Saturday marking International Mother Language and Martyrs’ Day, Jamaat-e-Islami’s Nayeb-e-Ameer and Member of Parliament Professor Mujibur Rahman said that a government had been formed against the people’s verdict by not taking the oath of the Constitutional Reform Council. He urged both the government and opposition to work together to implement the people’s mandate peacefully, warning that failure to do so could lead to public uprising.

Rahman stated that no government in the country’s history had remained in power by defying public opinion and that Jamaat-e-Islami was prepared for a final struggle to establish people’s rights while also ready to cooperate with the government as an opposition party. He called for ensuring the use of the Bangla language in all sectors and for rewriting what he described as distorted historical narratives to present the truth to the younger generation.

Other speakers, including Jamaat’s Assistant Secretary General Dr. A.H.M. Hamidur Rahman Azad, emphasized the need to implement the July Charter to strengthen democracy and warned against authoritarian tendencies.

State Minister for Education Bobby Hajjaj has declared that no form of corruption will be tolerated in his ministry over the next five years. He made the statement on Saturday while addressing a discussion organized by the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education in observance of Shaheed Dibash and International Mother Language Day.

During his speech, Hajjaj emphasized the significance of February 21 as a symbol of the Bengali nation’s struggle for fundamental rights, noting that language represents the most personal and basic human right. He reflected on the historical sacrifices made for rights and stated that democratic governance has now been restored through a popularly elected government.

The state minister further stressed that education forms the foundation of the state, warning that a weak foundation cannot support a strong structure. He called for strengthening educational infrastructure and focusing on three key areas to improve education quality.

The government of Gujarat, a western Indian state, has announced plans to amend its marriage registration law to prevent alleged fraudulent marriages involving concealed identities, often referred to as 'love jihad'. Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi made the announcement in the state assembly on Friday, stating that the initiative aims to protect women from deception. Under the proposed changes, both bride and groom must submit proof of parental consent and provide detailed information about their parents, including names, phone numbers, and addresses.

The draft amendment requires assistant registrars to notify the parents of both parties within ten days of receiving a marriage registration application. The application will then be forwarded to the relevant district registrar’s office, where verification will be completed within one month. Sanghavi said details of the new law will be published on an official government website currently under development. He emphasized that the goal is to safeguard traditional marriage practices and ensure women’s safety.

The amendment is being introduced under the Gujarat Marriage Registration Act of 2006. Sanghavi also mentioned reports of fake marriage certificates and marriages conducted under false identities, even in villages without Muslim populations. Public feedback was collected over a 30-day period before drafting the proposal.

For the first time, National Parliament Opposition Leader and Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman paid tribute to the language martyrs at the Shaheed Minar on February 21, 2026. He was accompanied by Opposition Chief Whip and NCP convener Nahid Islam, and Members of Parliament Akhtar Hossain, Hasnat Abdullah, and Hannan Masud. The floral tribute took place just after midnight, following similar tributes by President Md. Shahabuddin and Prime Minister Tareq Rahman.

Explaining his participation, Dr. Shafiqur Rahman told reporters that he attended the ceremony as part of a state ritual, describing it as his responsibility as the opposition leader to join with his colleagues. Jamaat had earlier announced that under his leadership, newly elected MPs from the 11-party alliance would pay respects at the Shaheed Minar, visit the graves of the language martyrs, and offer prayers for their souls.

The event marked a symbolic first for Jamaat-e-Islami’s leadership in participating in the state observance of International Mother Language Day.

Prime Minister’s political adviser Dr. Nazrul Islam Khan said that many institutions in Bangladesh have been destroyed due to corruption, nepotism, and incompetence. He made the remarks on Saturday afternoon at the Bangladesh Film Development Corporation while addressing an event organized by Debate for Democracy to honor the winners of the 2026 Election Debate Competition.

Khan referred to what he described as fifteen and a half years of misrule under the Awami League, saying the extent of institutional damage was greater than expected. He attributed the situation to politicization, favoritism, and the appointment of unqualified individuals to key positions. He urged everyone to cooperate with the government from their respective positions to overcome the challenges and move forward.

The event was presided over by Debate for Democracy Chairman Hasan Ahmed Chowdhury Kiron and attended by several academics, including State University Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Md. Akhtar Hossain Khan, Chief Moderator Professor Abu Mohammad Rois, and Jahangirnagar University Professor Dr. Nahrin Khan.

U.S. President Donald Trump will visit China from March 31 to April 2, 2026, for a long-anticipated meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. A White House official confirmed the trip on Friday. The announcement came a day after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down Trump’s global import tariff initiative.

According to the report, the two leaders are expected to discuss a potential trade agreement aimed at avoiding further tariff increases. This will be Trump’s second visit to China, following his first trip in 2017 during his previous term.

The Chinese Embassy in Washington declined to comment on the travel dates, and Beijing has not yet confirmed the visit.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has strongly condemned and protested remarks by Road, Rail and Water Transport Minister Sheikh Robiul Alam that the party claims effectively legitimized extortion in the name of compromise. In a statement issued to the media on Saturday, Jamaat’s Assistant Secretary General and head of its publicity and media division, Advocate Ehsanul Mahbub Zubair, expressed deep concern and described the minister’s comments as undesirable, unethical, and harmful to the rule of law.

The statement said extortion is a criminal offense and poses a serious threat to society, the economy, and governance. It warned that legitimizing such acts could encourage further crimes and undermine justice, transparency, and accountability. Jamaat urged the government to adopt a zero-tolerance policy against extortion and corruption and to take visible and effective measures against those involved. The party demanded that the minister withdraw his remarks, issue a public explanation, and avoid similar statements in the future.

Jamaat also called on the government to ensure citizens’ safety and to take strict legal action to prevent extortion, warning that failure to do so could lead to a united public resistance against such crimes.

US Ambassador to Tel Aviv Mike Huckabee stated that he would have no objection if Israel took control of the entire Middle East. In an interview with commentator Tucker Carlson on Wednesday, Huckabee claimed that the Bible grants Israel the right to occupy lands across the region, including parts of Palestine, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and Iraq.

Huckabee expressed support for the Jewish belief that much of the Middle East constitutes a divinely promised land, saying Israel is a land given by God to His chosen people through Abraham. However, he later clarified that the Israeli government is not currently seeking to expand to those ancient borders. When Carlson asked whether he would approve such expansion, Huckabee replied that Israel does not intend to seize the region.

The US State Department did not respond to Al Jazeera’s inquiry about whether Secretary of State Marco Rubio agrees with Huckabee’s views on Israel’s right to expand its borders.

Jamaat-e-Islami’s Nayeb-e-Ameer and Member of Parliament ATM Azharul Islam has accused the ruling party of disregarding the July Charter immediately after assuming power. Speaking to journalists at Syedpur Airport on Saturday, he said the issue would be discussed in parliament once sessions begin, as the charter was endorsed through a public referendum where the majority voted in favor. He noted that political parties had previously pledged to implement the charter but have now ignored it after gaining power.

Azharul Islam emphasized that rejecting the July Charter equates to rejecting the election itself, as the movement behind it enabled the current democratic environment. He expressed gratitude to the people of Badarganj and Taraganj for electing him with overwhelming support and pledged to work for development without political vengeance or discrimination. He also called for unity among all communities, stressing that power is temporary and public trust must be preserved.

He further stated that as a central leader, he would focus on national development while ensuring equal treatment for all residents of his constituency.

A high-level meeting on strengthening religious and social harmony was held at the Prime Minister’s Office in Tejgaon, Dhaka, on Saturday, February 21, 2026. The meeting took place in the Cabinet Room and was chaired by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. Ministers, state ministers, and senior officials attended the session.

Discussions focused on maintaining religious harmony amid the country’s current situation, enhancing social tolerance, and taking effective measures to prevent divisive activities. The meeting emphasized coordinated efforts among government bodies to reinforce unity and peace across communities.

The event marked Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s first meeting at the Tejgaon office, highlighting the government’s attention to social cohesion and stability in the face of emerging challenges.

Water Resources Minister Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Anny stated that there is no need for an oath, as a 'yes' vote becomes effective immediately upon taking a seat in the National Parliament. He added that discussions will take place in Parliament based on 'no' votes, and decisions will be made on matters where notes of dissent have been submitted. The minister made these remarks on Saturday, February 21, 2026, after paying tribute at the central Shaheed Minar in Lakshmipur on the occasion of International Mother Language Day.

He emphasized that differences of opinion may exist but urged all parties to work together for the country's development instead of opposing every issue. Anny also warned that those who create mobs, cause disorder, and obstruct the nation-building process will become enemies of the country.

The minister’s comments highlight a call for unity and constructive participation in parliamentary and national affairs, focusing on cooperation over confrontation.