India’s Assistant High Commissioner in Sylhet, Aniruddha Das, announced that the Indian visa process for Bangladeshi citizens will soon return to normal. Speaking at a press briefing at the Sylhet District Press Club on February 18, he said that while medical and double-entry visas are currently available, other categories such as tourist visas remain suspended. He confirmed that strong initiatives are underway to reopen all visa categories.

Das emphasized that India-Bangladesh relations are built on mutual respect and trust, noting that the people of both nations are the main stakeholders in maintaining a stable and long-term partnership. He also highlighted the deep cultural and historical ties between the two countries.

Following the recent formation of an elected government in Bangladesh, citizens of both nations believe that the visa process may soon fully normalize after restrictions imposed by India in the aftermath of the mass uprising.

Bangladesh’s new parliament has formally begun its journey with members, ministers, and the prime minister taking oath, marking the start of the BNP-led government. Following this transition, discussions have intensified over when and how the next presidential election will occur. Current President Md. Shahabuddin, appointed during Sheikh Hasina’s tenure, remains in office with a term lasting until April 2028. Constitutional experts note that no new president can be elected unless he resigns or is impeached.

President Shahabuddin previously indicated his willingness to step down after the February election, citing discomfort during the interim government period. Analysts believe his resignation could pave the way for a smooth transition, as the new parliament and speaker assume their roles. Under the constitution, the president is elected by members of parliament, and the election is conducted by the Election Commission.

The July Charter, a proposed reform document, seeks to rebalance powers between the president and prime minister, potentially expanding presidential authority. However, experts caution that constitutional amendments are required before such changes take effect.

The High Court has formed an election tribunal to ensure speedy disposal of election-related cases under Section 49 of the Representation of the People Order. Justice Md Zakir Hossain will preside over the single bench designated to hear petitions concerning alleged irregularities in the recent national elections. The Chief Justice has granted this bench jurisdiction over election petitions in addition to its existing civil authority.

According to the High Court’s cause list, the bench will handle petitions transferred to it under the 1972 Representation of the People Order as amended in 2001. The tribunal will receive, admit, and hear applications and related rules concerning election disputes. Under Section 49, candidates or parties may file petitions within 45 days of the gazette notification of elected members.

The tribunal’s formation follows the 13th National Parliamentary Election held on February 12, where voting took place in 299 out of 300 constituencies, and unofficial results for 297 seats were announced on February 13.

National Citizen Party (NCP) convener and Member of Parliament Nahid Islam declared that the current parliament has no value without the formation of a constitutional reform council. He made the remarks on Thursday afternoon at a press conference held at the party’s central office in Rupayan Tower, Banglamotor, Dhaka. Islam stated that although the election process and voting were fair, manipulation occurred in the results. Despite this, he said his party accepted the outcome in the interest of democracy and national stability and took oath to make both the parliament and the reform council functional.

He further alleged that the people of Bangladesh, who had voted in favor of reform in a referendum held under the July Charter Implementation Order, were deceived. According to Islam, the referendum’s popular verdict was ignored, amounting to a betrayal of the aspirations for a new Bangladesh. He urged that the constitutional reform council be formed and its members take oath promptly, reiterating that without it, the parliament holds no legitimacy.

Islam’s comments underscore ongoing political contention surrounding electoral integrity and constitutional reform in Bangladesh.

National Parliament Chief Whip and NCP convener Nahid Islam has accused the ruling BNP of appointing loan defaulters and murder case suspects as ministers while pretending to reject legitimate parliamentary benefits. Speaking at a press conference in Dhaka’s Banglamotor on Thursday, he alleged that the BNP government is attempting to suppress media freedom and that its new cabinet continues old political arrangements without inclusivity or regional balance.

Nahid Islam said the NCP had hoped the recent election would advance democracy and good governance in Bangladesh, but alleged vote manipulation shattered those expectations. He stated that despite flaws, his party accepted the results for the sake of stability and took oath to make both the National Parliament and the Constitutional Reform Council functional. He accused the BNP of deceiving the public by not taking oath as reform council members.

Citing Transparency International Bangladesh, Nahid claimed 62 percent of MPs are businesspeople with large debts. He urged immediate convening of both the parliament and the reform council, warning that if the referendum is annulled, the government’s legitimacy would be questioned.

Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister and BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has launched a special website for residents of Thakurgaon-1 constituency to directly report incidents of extortion, land grabbing, or other local problems. In a verified Facebook post on Thursday, February 19, he urged citizens to use the platform to inform him about any wrongdoing or crime in their area. Fakhrul stated that the website, inaugurated on January 7, has already received a strong response, with numerous complaints and messages under review by his team. He assured that every message will be answered soon.

Several residents welcomed the initiative. Businessman Saiful Islam said the website offers a safe way to report extortion without fear, while teacher Roksana Begum called it a positive example of direct communication with a public representative. Youth Abdul Kader emphasized that visible action must follow the complaints and requested that identities of complainants be kept confidential.

The initiative aims to create a secure channel for citizens to report local crimes and ensure accountability through direct communication with their representative.

The government has formed a committee led by the finance minister to implement the planned Family Card program, Social Welfare Minister Dr. A Z M Zahid Hossain announced on Thursday after a meeting at the Secretariat. The committee is expected to submit its report within three days. The minister said the Family Card will provide more than double the financial assistance compared to existing card and allowance programs, while those current initiatives will continue. The new card will be distributed universally, and assistance will be delivered to beneficiaries through information technology.

Dr. Zahid Hossain described the Family Card as a new innovation of the BNP aimed at expanding and strengthening social protection programs. Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Abdul Awal Mintoo stated that the Family Card will be launched on a trial basis before the upcoming Eid-ul-Fitr.

The initiative marks a significant step in the government’s social welfare planning, with digital delivery expected to enhance transparency and accessibility once the pilot phase begins.

At a press conference at the Ministry of Education in Dhaka on Thursday afternoon, State Minister for Education Bobby Hajjaj announced that the government will treat education as the state’s first investment rather than an expenditure. He said education will be the main factory for human resource development and the central project for nation-building. Hajjaj stated that the government aims to raise education spending to five percent of GDP, aligning with international standards of four to six percent.

He outlined a three-year fiscal uplift plan to improve both the quantity and quality of education funding, emphasizing milestone-based cash releases and alignment of development projects with the school calendar. The minister acknowledged inefficiencies, noting that 53 percent of the secondary and higher education development fund remained unused last fiscal year. He pledged reforms in procurement, spending quality, and classroom outcomes.

Hajjaj also announced initiatives for teacher training, digital literacy, artificial intelligence awareness, and cyber safety. Plans include mandatory third-language education, improved school infrastructure, and digital tools such as “One Teacher, One Tab.” He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to building a skilled, just, and technology-enabled Bangladesh through education.

US President Donald Trump has congratulated Bangladesh’s new Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on assuming office. In a letter sent on Wednesday, Trump extended greetings and best wishes on behalf of the American people for Rahman’s historic victory. The message emphasized the longstanding partnership between the United States and Bangladesh, built on mutual respect and shared interests in ensuring prosperity among strong and sovereign states within a free Indo-Pacific region.

Trump expressed optimism that under Prime Minister Rahman’s leadership, bilateral trade relations would advance further. The letter highlighted expectations that implementing mutual trade agreements would benefit farmers and workers in both countries. It also underscored the importance of completing regular defense agreements to ensure access to advanced US military equipment for Bangladesh’s armed forces.

The US President conveyed his hope that relations between the two nations would become stronger than ever before and affirmed his full confidence in the US ambassador stationed in Bangladesh.

A Dhaka court has postponed the date for submitting the reinvestigation report in the murder case of Inkilab Moncho spokesperson Shahid Sharif Osman Hadi. On Thursday, February 19, 2026, Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Md. Sefatullah set February 26 as the new date after the investigating officer, CID Assistant Superintendent of Police Abdul Kadir Bhuiyan, failed to present the report.

According to case details, Hadi was shot by assailants on a motorcycle in the Box Culvert area of Paltan on December 12 after completing election campaigning in Motijheel. He was taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, later transferred to Evercare, and then to Singapore for advanced treatment, where he died on December 18. The case was subsequently reclassified as a murder case.

Earlier, on January 6, the Detective Branch submitted a charge sheet against 17 individuals, including former ward councillor Taizul Islam Chowdhury Bappi and Faisal Karim Masud. However, Inkilab Moncho’s member secretary Abdullah Al Jaber filed a petition expressing dissatisfaction with the DB report, leading the court to order further investigation by the CID.

Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir emphasized the urgent need for collective effort to build a successful and just state. Speaking at a views exchange meeting at the Secretariat on Thursday, he said individuals, society, and the state are deeply interconnected, and working as a team beyond divisions is essential for achieving development, good governance, and justice.

He noted that the government is implementing the Prime Minister’s vision amid a damaged economy and weakened state system. Emphasizing accountability to citizens, he said the government has launched multiple initiatives to restore the effectiveness and public trust of state institutions that had become weak or dysfunctional over the past fifteen years. Strengthening these institutions, he added, is key to building a sustainable and development-oriented state.

State Minister Mir Shah Alam highlighted that the ministry is directly linked to the public and must work collectively to uphold democracy and development. He described the 31-point program and election manifesto as a social contract with citizens, urging all to prioritize public interest over party interest for a welfare-oriented and sustainable state.

Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Abdul Awal Mintu announced that the government will launch the Family Card program on a pilot basis before Eid, during the upcoming Ramadan. The decision was made at an inter-ministerial meeting held on Thursday at the Secretariat, after which the minister briefed reporters about the plan.

Mintu said the Family Card initiative was included in the government’s election manifesto, and discussions are ongoing about how to implement it effectively. He explained that the program is intended to be universal, without restrictions, though a committee has been formed to determine the rollout process. Initially, the cards may be distributed to the ultra-poor, followed by the poor and middle-income families.

When asked about political implications, the minister dismissed concerns raised by the Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB), which warned of electoral consequences if the program was delayed. He assured that the project would indeed begin before Eid and that the government is finalizing the operational mechanism.

Bangladesh’s Education Minister A N M Ehsanul Haque Milan announced that the ministry will focus on three key priorities: encouraging students to attend classes, reviewing and refining the national curriculum, and improving technical education. He made the announcement during a press briefing at the ministry’s conference room in the Secretariat on Thursday afternoon, where State Minister for Education and Primary and Mass Education Bobby Hajjaj also presented the ministry’s new agenda.

The minister said the government will examine how to bring English-medium schools under legal oversight, ensuring that all educational institutions operate within the law. He emphasized that schools must obtain proper authorization before opening and ensure student safety. Milan added that preparations are underway to hold the upcoming SSC examinations smoothly and expressed hope that anti-cheating drives would no longer be necessary.

He further stated that teachers should not leave classrooms for protests and that steps will be taken to prevent such situations. The minister also pledged to address complaints about retirement benefits for private teachers and review the MPO system for necessary action.

The National Citizens Party (NCP) has expressed concern over the show-cause notices issued to four journalists of Ekhon Television and the reported harassment of Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) Managing Director Mahbub Morshed. In a statement signed by the party’s media cell member Sadia Farzana Dinar on Thursday, February 19, 2026, the NCP warned that failure to learn from the fate of past autocrats could lead to similar consequences for new ones.

The statement said the incidents reflect worrying signs for freedom of expression under the new government, which had been formed just a day earlier. According to the NCP, the journalists were questioned for expressing support for reform and referendum on Facebook, while a mob was allegedly mobilized to remove the BSS chief. The party accused media owners of exerting pressure and appointing partisan figures to control editorial positions.

The NCP demanded reinstatement of the Ekhon TV journalists and retention of the BSS editor, emphasizing that the democratic right to free expression, achieved through the July uprising, must not be lost.

Residents of Matlab North and South upazilas in Chandpur observed February 19 as a day of mourning, marking 21 years since the MV Maharaj launch disaster. On this day in 2005, the vessel capsized in a storm near Pagla in Narayanganj while traveling from Dhaka’s Sadarghat to Matlab, carrying more than two hundred passengers. The accident claimed the lives of over two hundred men, women, and children from Chandpur, Shariatpur, Bhola, and other districts.

Among the victims were several prominent local figures, including teachers, engineers, and businesspeople. Survivors recalled the tragedy as an unimaginable ordeal. Unidentified bodies were buried as unclaimed at the Riyazul Jannat graveyard in Matlab South, where families still visit to pray for their loved ones. Each year, locals and relatives hold prayers, memorials, and mourning gatherings to honor the victims.

Families of the deceased have renewed their call for stronger river transport safety measures to prevent similar disasters in the future, emphasizing that February 19 remains a painful reminder that time has not erased.