A Dhaka court has postponed the submission of the investigation report in the Salman Shah murder case against 11 accused, including his former wife Samira Haque and actor Don. Metropolitan Magistrate Jewel Rana set the new date for April 9, 2026, after the investigating officer, Atiqul Islam Khandaker of Ramna Model Police Station, failed to submit the report on the scheduled day. The decision was made following a hearing on Sunday.

The case, originally filed as an unnatural death case after Salman Shah’s body was found at his Eskaton residence on September 6, 1996, has undergone multiple investigations and legal revisions. It was later reclassified as a murder case following a court directive on October 20. Over the years, CID and judicial inquiries have alternately described the death as suicide or unnatural, leading to repeated legal challenges by the actor’s family.

The case was revived in 2022 after a revision petition was filed against a previous court order that had accepted the Police Bureau of Investigation’s report. The next hearing is now scheduled for April 9, 2026.

The International Crimes Tribunal-2 on Sunday ordered the start of trial proceedings against 11 accused in the murder of Imam Hasan Taim, son of a police officer, during the July uprising in Dhaka’s Jatrabari area. The tribunal also set March 29 for the presentation of opening statements and recording of the first witness testimony. Two arrested accused, former Jatrabari police officers Abul Hasan and Zakir Hossain, were produced before the court, while several others, including former senior DMP officials, remain absconding.

Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Tazul Islam earlier presented arguments for framing charges, outlining the alleged involvement of each accused. He stated that on July 20, 2024, Taim was shot dead at close range under the direction of senior police officials, including the then DMP Commissioner Habibur Rahman. The prosecution charged the accused with murder, incitement, and crimes against humanity.

The tribunal’s order marks the formal beginning of a high-profile case involving multiple former police officials, with further hearings scheduled for late March.

The International Crimes Tribunal on Sunday ordered the publication of a newspaper notice to summon former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and five other accused in a case over the alleged killing of nine youths in Dhaka’s Kalyanpur area. The case accuses the defendants of crimes against humanity for allegedly staging a ‘militant drama’ before the killings. The other accused are former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, former Inspector General of Police A K M Shahidul Haque, former DMP Commissioner Asaduzzaman Mia, Special Branch chief Monirul Islam, and former DMP Mirpur Division Deputy Commissioner Md Jasim Uddin Molla.

According to the case details, on July 26, 2016, law enforcement agencies conducted an operation at a building known as “Jahajbari” in Kalyanpur, where nine suspected militants were killed, one was arrested, and another escaped. Authorities at the time claimed the deceased were members of the neo-JMB group. A case under the Anti-Terrorism Act was filed the following day and remains under trial.

After the fall of the Awami League government on August 5, 2024, alternative narratives about the incident emerged, leading to the filing of this new case on March 6 of the previous year.

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.

Begum Selima Rahman, a member of the BNP Standing Committee and former minister, has been admitted to the Coronary Care Unit (CCU) of United Hospital in Dhaka after suffering a heart attack. The incident occurred on the night of February 19, around 10 p.m., according to BNP Media Cell member Shayrul Kabir Khan, who confirmed the news.

Selima Rahman’s family and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) have requested prayers from the public for her swift recovery. The report, published on February 22, 2026, stated that she remains under medical care in the hospital’s CCU. No further details about her current condition or treatment progress were provided in the source.

The hospitalization of a senior BNP leader has drawn concern within the party, as she holds a key position in its policymaking body. The situation underscores the party’s call for public support and well-wishes during her treatment.

Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to Bangladesh, Dr. Abdullah Zafar H. Bin Abiya, paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Tarique Rahman at the Prime Minister’s Office in Dhaka on Sunday morning. The meeting was confirmed by the Prime Minister’s Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Rumman, who said the ambassador congratulated Tarique Rahman on assuming office as Prime Minister.

During the meeting, both sides discussed matters of mutual interest between Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia. The Prime Minister expressed optimism that the friendly relations between the two nations would reach new heights in the future. Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman and the Prime Minister’s Foreign Affairs Adviser Humayun Kabir were also present at the meeting.

Earlier in the morning, the Prime Minister arrived at the Secretariat at 9:05 a.m. to begin official duties, where he was received by Chief Secretary A.B.M. Abdus Sattar.

Two people were killed in a collision between a bus and a leguna at the Ghantighar area of Mir Hajirbagh in Dhaka’s Jatrabari on Sunday morning. Local residents and passersby rescued three seriously injured individuals and took them to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, where doctors declared two of them dead. One of the deceased was identified as Azizul Islam, aged 45, while the other victim, approximately 55 years old, has not yet been identified.

Inspector Md. Faruk, in charge of the Dhaka Medical Police Camp, confirmed the deaths and said the bodies have been kept at the hospital morgue for autopsy. The incident occurred in the capital’s busy Jatrabari area, which frequently experiences heavy traffic and road accidents.

Authorities have not yet provided further details about the cause of the collision or the condition of the remaining injured person.

A Dhaka court has sentenced four young men to life imprisonment for their involvement in a gang rape case in Kamrangirchar. The verdict was delivered on Sunday by Judge Munshi Md. Moshiyar Rahman of the Dhaka Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal-4. Along with life imprisonment with hard labor, each convict was fined 100,000 taka.

The four convicts are Shahidul Islam (23), Saiful Islam (25), Nizam (24), and Monir Hossain alias Sentu (26). The court’s public prosecutor, Ershad Alam, confirmed the judgment and stated that failure to pay the fine would result in an additional one year of simple imprisonment for each convict.

The ruling marks the conclusion of the Kamrangirchar gang rape case, reinforcing the tribunal’s stance on strict punishment for crimes involving violence against women and children.

On February 22, 2026, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami chief Dr. Shafiqur Rahman posted a message on his verified Facebook page early Sunday morning, writing that the future Bangladesh would be one of justice and ending with the slogan 'Inquilab Zindabad'. The post quickly spread across social media, drawing attention on International Mother Language Day.

According to the report, Dr. Rahman’s post came in response to a statement made the previous day by State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku. The minister had said that to truly embrace the Bengali language, the slogan 'Inquilab Zindabad' should not continue, arguing that it had no connection with Bengali identity. His remarks triggered widespread discussion online.

Before Dr. Rahman’s post, several others, including Hasnat Abdullah, Nasiruddin Patwari, and Sarjis Alam, had shared similar messages echoing the same slogan. The issue has since become a focal point of debate on social media surrounding national identity and political expression.

Sohel Rana, the owner of the collapsed Rana Plaza and a Jubo League leader, was temporarily released on parole from Kashimpur Jail on Saturday, February 21, to attend his mother’s funeral in Savar. The funeral took place at a madrasa mosque in the Savar municipal area, where police from Savar Model Police Station were present. During the event, Rana addressed those in attendance, asking for prayers for his late mother and forgiveness for his past mistakes.

According to his cousin Jahangir Alam, Rana’s mother, Marzina Begum, had been suffering from cancer for a long time and passed away on Friday night at a hospital in Dhaka. Following her death, a parole request was submitted, and Rana was brought to Savar by police around 6 p.m. He returned to prison around 7:30 p.m. after the funeral. The arrangement for his attendance at the funeral was kept confidential.

The brief parole release marked Rana’s first public appearance in nearly a decade, drawing attention due to his past involvement in the Rana Plaza tragedy.

The International Crimes Tribunal-1 begins recording witness testimony today, Sunday, in the war crimes case against Sheikh Hasina’s adviser on industry and investment, Salman F Rahman, and former law minister Anisul Huq. The two were sentenced to death for crimes against humanity committed during the July Revolution. The tribunal’s three-member panel is chaired by Justice Golam Mortuza Majumdar, with Justice Shafiul Alam Mahmud and retired district judge Mohitul Haque Enam Chowdhury as members.

The tribunal had earlier, on 12 January, framed formal charges and ordered the trial to begin, setting 10 February for the prosecution’s opening statement. Chief Prosecutor Tajul Islam stated that the prosecution holds conclusive evidence against the accused, with 22 witnesses scheduled to testify. The prosecution will also present video, documentary, and live evidence to support its case.

Today’s hearing marks the first witness deposition in the case, signaling the formal progression of the trial process under the International Crimes Tribunal-1.

The once-mighty Padma River in Rajbari has turned into a narrow channel as vast stretches have dried up, exposing numerous sandbars across nearly fifty kilometers. The shrinking river has reduced navigability and created acute water shortages for hundreds of families living in the char areas. Locals report that the river has become so shallow that crossing it on foot may soon be possible.

Residents recall that three decades ago, the river maintained strong flow even in dry seasons. Now, farmers struggle to transport crops and goods from the opposite bank, often resorting to walking or using animal carts. Livestock owners travel long distances to bathe and water their cattle as nearby ponds have dried up, and tube wells no longer yield water.

According to Subrata Kumar, Executive Engineer of the Water Development Board’s Rajbari Sadar Division, reduced upstream flow and lower surface-level capacity have caused the drying. He added that decreased water release from the Farakka Barrage is a major factor. A survey is underway to determine the full extent of the problem.

Farmers in Panchagarh have intensified Boro rice cultivation this season, encouraged by stable paddy prices in recent years. The district, which typically plants Boro seedlings later than other regions, is now witnessing widespread transplanting activity. According to the Department of Agricultural Extension, the target for this year’s Irri-Boro season covers 33,994 hectares across five upazilas, including 9,021 hectares of hybrid and 24,973 hectares of Ufshi varieties. So far, seedlings have been transplanted on 14,490 hectares, with completion expected within two weeks.

Boda and Debiganj upazilas have seen the largest cultivation areas, totaling over 21,000 hectares. Farmers report favorable weather and manageable pest conditions, raising hopes for another bumper harvest. Some, however, have shifted portions of their land to maize and peanut cultivation due to previous losses from Aman rice. Agricultural officials noted that last season’s Boro crop achieved high yields despite pest attacks, and similar conditions this year could lead to strong production again.

If current weather patterns persist and proper care continues, the district’s farmers anticipate a productive harvest season ahead.

A severe shortage of drinking water has gripped Charfassion in Bhola as groundwater levels have fallen sharply, leaving thousands of deep tube wells dry. According to the report published on February 22, 2026, water is no longer coming from about 12,000 deep tube wells across Charfassion municipality and 21 unions. Residents are now forced to collect water from ponds, canals, and ditches, causing widespread suffering. The lack of clean water has disrupted daily life, including prayer activities in mosques, and raised health concerns due to the use of contaminated surface water.

The Department of Public Health Engineering in Charfassion stated that around 10–12 thousand government-installed deep tube wells exist in the area, along with over a hundred thousand privately owned ones. Of these, about 2,500 government-funded and more than 40,000 private tube wells are currently nonfunctional. Officials said the groundwater level has been dropping by about two feet each year, worsened by irrigation-related extraction. The Upazila administration has advised contacting the Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation to address the issue.

The crisis has heightened risks of waterborne diseases, particularly among children, as residents rely on unsafe water sources.

Bangladesh’s long-held strong position in the European Union apparel market has weakened, according to recent Eurostat and Export Promotion Bureau data. Despite overall EU apparel imports rising 2.10% in 2025 to reach USD 90 billion, average unit prices fell 10.27%. Bangladesh’s exports to the EU totaled USD 9.46 billion in the first half of fiscal year 2025–26, down 4.14% from the same period a year earlier. In December 2025 alone, export earnings dropped 12.05% year-on-year as prices fell despite stable shipment volumes.

Analysts attribute the intensified competition to exporters from several countries redirecting goods to Europe after the United States imposed higher tariffs on multiple nations. This surge in supply has driven down prices and increased pressure on Bangladeshi exporters. The situation is further complicated by the newly announced India-EU free trade agreement, which will eliminate around 12% tariffs on Indian apparel once it takes effect in 2027, giving India a cost advantage.

Industry leaders from BGMEA and EAB warned that without timely policy support, efficiency upgrades, and product diversification, Bangladesh risks losing market share in Europe to more aggressive competitors such as China, India, and Vietnam.