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.

A court in Cumilla has sent a local BNP leader to jail for allegedly assaulting his wife and college-going daughter. The accused, Moniruzzaman, serves as the general secretary of the Borkanda Union BNP in Meghna upazila. On Sunday, the judicial court rejected his bail petition in a case filed over charges of physical assault, sexual harassment, and snatching of gold ornaments.

According to the case statement, the incident occurred on February 20 around 3:30 p.m. in Borkanda village. Victim Lovely Begum was returning home from Rampur Bazar by autorickshaw when she and her daughter were attacked by Moniruzzaman and several others wielding local weapons. Both were injured and later received treatment at Meghna Upazila Health Complex. Lovely Begum alleged that the attack stemmed from a long-standing family and land dispute and that she had faced prior threats.

The court ordered Moniruzzaman’s detention after denying bail. Attempts to reach him for comment were unsuccessful, as he could not be contacted by phone.

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.

Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapan announced that the government has planned to excavate 20,000 kilometers of canals across Bangladesh. He made the statement on Sunday while inaugurating a canal re-excavation program at Sharikal Union in Gournadi upazila of Barishal. The initiative is part of the Barishal, Bhola, Jhalakathi, and Pirojpur district irrigation development project. The minister said the program aims to ensure tidal water reaches farmers’ lands directly, improving agricultural productivity.

Swapan recalled that the canal excavation program initiated by Shaheed Ziaur Rahman had previously increased food production, but lack of maintenance later reduced its benefits. He said the new program, launched under the leadership of Tarique Rahman, seeks to restore those gains. Alongside canal re-excavation, a tree planting campaign has also begun as part of the broader environmental effort.

The minister emphasized that the government would not be partisan and that bureaucrats and police should be enabled to serve the public effectively. He added that the nationwide canal excavation program would be formally inaugurated soon, with local administration officials present at the Barishal event.

A Dhaka court has sentenced two men, Md Siddiq and Md Shanto Mia, to death for the planned murder of Tejgaon College student Ikram Hossain Molla. The verdict was delivered on Sunday by Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge Md Sabbir Faiz. In addition to the death penalty, both convicts received seven years of rigorous imprisonment and a fine of 50,000 taka each for concealing the body, with an additional three months of simple imprisonment in case of non-payment. Siddiq was present in court during the verdict, while Shanto Mia remains absconding, prompting the court to issue arrest and sentencing warrants against him.

According to the case details, on May 4, 2023, the two convicts lured Ikram from his home under the pretext of returning borrowed money. They took him to the Bashundhara sand field area between Patira and Dumni under Khilkhet Police Station, where they attacked him with a hammer and sharp weapons before slitting his throat. The body was later dumped in a nearby pond and covered with water hyacinths. Police recovered the body on May 6, 2023.

Ikram’s father, Md Kabir Hossain Molla, filed the murder case with Khilkhet Police Station. Police submitted the charge sheet on November 26, 2023, and charges were framed on February 29, 2024. The court heard testimonies from 17 of 27 witnesses before delivering the verdict.

Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Afroza Khanam (Rita) said the Prime Minister has given instructions to expedite the opening of the third terminal at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. She made the statement on Sunday afternoon after a meeting at the Prime Minister’s Office regarding the terminal project. When asked about the possible opening date, the minister said no specific timeline could be given yet, as discussions and investigations are ongoing to determine how to accelerate the process.

The third terminal project was initiated in 2017 by the then Awami League government, with construction beginning on December 28, 2019, at an estimated cost of about Tk 21,398 crore. Former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina partially inaugurated the terminal on October 7, 2023, and the Civil Aviation Authority had expected full operations in 2024, which did not happen. The interim government also attempted to launch the terminal but failed due to unresolved issues over ground handling, operational decisions, and technical faults inside the building.

The Prime Minister’s latest directive aims to overcome these obstacles and ensure the terminal becomes operational soon, though no date has been confirmed.

Member of Parliament for Bagerhat-2, Manjurul Haque Rahad, led a large-scale cleanliness campaign across important areas of Bagerhat municipality on Sunday, February 22, 2026. The drive covered busy locations including the court premises, Bagerhat Sadar Hospital compound, and several municipal roads and public spaces. Local dignitaries, municipal workers, and residents participated, distributing leaflets and delivering short speeches to raise public awareness about cleanliness.

During the event, MP Rahad emphasized the importance of maintaining order and hygiene in society, stating that a clean city is a shared responsibility. He highlighted that keeping hospitals and public gathering places clean is vital for public health. Rahad announced plans to improve waste management, ensure regular cleaning, and enhance civic awareness to transform Bagerhat into a modern and healthy city.

Local residents welcomed the initiative, noting that the direct involvement of their elected representative had given new momentum to cleanliness efforts. They expressed hope that consistent monitoring and coordinated action would bring visible improvements to the municipal environment.

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.

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.