Police detained five Awami League leaders and activists in Parbatipur upazila of Dinajpur following tension surrounding the opening of a party office in the New Bazar area. The operation took place around noon on Wednesday, led by Officer-in-Charge Faruk Hossain of Parbatipur Model Police Station. The detainees were identified as Akhtar Hossain, Sajjad Hossain, Gouranga Roy, Mozammel Haque, and Babul Sarkar.

According to police, the arrests were made to prevent possible unrest and maintain law and order after tensions arose over the party office opening. A political case was later filed against the detainees, who were subsequently sent to jail custody. Additional police forces have been deployed in the area to ensure stability.

Authorities reported that while some tension remains in the locality, the overall situation is currently under control, and law enforcement continues to monitor developments closely.

Newly appointed Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed announced that the government aims to completely end mob culture in Bangladesh. He stated that no one will be allowed to engage in mob actions in the name of demands, though peaceful rallies, processions, and submission of memorandums for legitimate causes will remain permitted. He emphasized the continuation of democratic practices in the country.

Speaking on his first working day at the Secretariat during an introductory meeting with ministry officials, Ahmed said the police must become friends of the people and restore their damaged image. He pledged to make the Home Ministry free from corruption, ensuring transparency and accountability among officials. He warned that no illegal lobbying would be tolerated and that any member of the security forces found involved in crimes would face immediate investigation and action.

The meeting was chaired by Acting Secretary Md. Delwar Hossain and attended by officials from various levels of the ministry. Upon arrival, the minister was greeted with flowers and given a guard of honor.

A mobile court in Mirsarai upazila of Chattogram conducted a market monitoring drive on Tuesday, February 18, 2026, and imposed fines totaling Tk 10,500 in eight separate cases. The operation took place at Mithanala Bazar, Sadar Union, and Mirsarai municipal market, led by Assistant Commissioner (Land) and Executive Magistrate Alauddin Kader.

The cases were filed under relevant sections of the Consumer Rights Protection Act, 2009, for failing to display price lists and for selling goods underweight. Eight traders were fined, but no one received a jail sentence. During the operation, traders were cautioned to sell goods at fair prices with reasonable profit margins and to display price lists visibly, especially ahead of the upcoming Ramadan.

Officials from the police department, union parishad administration, and union land office were present during the drive, which aimed to ensure transparency and protect consumer rights in local markets.

Advocate Ehsanul Mahbub Zubair, Assistant Secretary General and head of the central publicity and media department of Jamaat-e-Islami, has expressed deep concern over the killing of party activist Abbas Uddin in Lakshmipur Sadar. In a statement to the media on Wednesday, he said Abbas Uddin was burned to death after miscreants set fire to Jitu Agro Fish Farm in Ward No. 1 of Char Ramani Mohan Union. He condemned the incident as a brutal act of political vengeance.

Zubair urged the government to conduct a free, fair, and impartial investigation to identify and punish those responsible for the killing. He described the incident as an inhumane act against an innocent person and demanded exemplary punishment for the perpetrators.

He also prayed for Abbas Uddin to be accepted as a martyr and extended his condolences to the bereaved family, praying for their strength to endure the loss.

Islami Chhatra Andolan Bangladesh has called for closing hotels and restaurants during daytime in the holy month of Ramadan to maintain its sanctity. The appeal was made by the organization’s Secretary General Sultan Mahmud at a rally held on Wednesday afternoon at Paltan intersection in Dhaka, organized to welcome Ramadan.

During his address, Sultan Mahmud emphasized that Ramadan is a month of self-purification, restraint, and morality for Muslims. He urged the government to take effective measures to control market syndicates, ensure the supply of adulteration-free food, and keep essential commodities affordable for the public. He also called on the administration to take strict action if necessary to uphold the sanctity of Ramadan.

Mahmud further requested that all educational institutions provide quality and affordable meals for students. Leaders at the rally encouraged unity to foster social harmony, morality, and human values in building a welfare-oriented society during Ramadan.

Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir organized a colorful rally and gathering in Rajshahi city on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, to welcome the holy month of Ramadan and demand control of essential commodity prices. The event began at 10 a.m. from the city’s Museum Mor and concluded at Zero Point after passing through key streets. Participants carried banners and festoons, chanting slogans to mark the occasion.

Speakers at the gathering alleged that dishonest business syndicates and hoarders create artificial crises during Ramadan, pushing prices beyond the reach of ordinary people. They urged the government to take strict monitoring measures and effective action against such groups. Rajshahi Metropolitan Shibir President Imran Nazir said profiteering through hoarding contradicts the spirit of Ramadan, while Secretary Dr. Sakhawat Hossain called for a zero-tolerance policy against hoarders.

The event concluded with prayers for the prosperity of the nation, unity of the Muslim Ummah, and peace for oppressed Muslims worldwide. A large number of Shibir leaders and general citizens attended the rally.

On February 18, 2026, LGRD Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir spoke with journalists at his office in the Secretariat on the first working day of the newly formed government. He evaluated the activities of the outgoing interim administration led by Dr. Muhammad Yunus and discussed the upcoming challenges for the government headed by Tarique Rahman. Fakhrul said the new cabinet was formed to implement the prime minister’s specific plan to solve people’s problems and move Bangladesh forward.

He emphasized that democracy would remain central to all government efforts, noting that the Local Government Ministry directly connects with grassroots citizens. Addressing concerns about law and order and the economy, Fakhrul stated that conditions had improved, with better control over the banking sector and restored macroeconomic stability. He warned against mob justice and said the government would bring such incidents under control.

Fakhrul credited the interim government for successfully managing the transition to democracy and said there was no need to issue a white paper on its activities. He also claimed that the recent election had gained both national and international acceptance.

Supreme Court senior lawyer and former Islami Chhatra Shibir central secretary Shishir Monir has announced that any legal challenge against the July National Charter or related referendum will be met through proper legal procedures. He made the statement on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, in a post on social media platform Facebook.

In his post, Monir assured that he and his fellow lawyers would handle any such legal actions skillfully in court and urged people not to be worried about the matter. His declaration comes amid discussions surrounding the July National Charter and referendum, though the source does not specify the nature of the potential challenges or the broader political context.

The announcement signals a readiness from Monir and his legal associates to defend the legitimacy of the July National Charter through judicial means if contested.

India’s External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar has congratulated Dr. Khalilur Rahman on his appointment as Bangladesh’s new foreign minister in the recently formed government. Jaishankar extended his greetings through his official verified Facebook page, expressing eagerness to work together for mutual progress and prosperity between the two neighboring countries.

Dr. Khalilur Rahman previously served as the National Security Adviser in the interim government and as the High Representative on Rohingya issues under the Chief Adviser. He earned his master’s degree in economics from the University of Dhaka in 1977, securing first place in his class, and joined the Bangladesh Civil Service (Foreign Affairs) cadre in 1979. He later obtained an MA in Law and Diplomacy and a PhD in Economics from Tufts and Harvard universities in the United States.

Between 1983 and 1985, Rahman worked in the South Asia Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and as the personal secretary to the foreign minister. He was later posted to Bangladesh’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York and joined the UN Secretariat in Geneva in 1991 as a special adviser to UNCTAD.

A group of 12 to 13 masked assailants looted 40 goats from Al Baraka Agro Farm, located east of Nizampur Railway Station in Wahedpur Union of Mirsarai, Chattogram. The incident occurred around midnight on Tuesday, according to the farm authorities. The attackers first removed the CCTV hard disk before forcing the farm’s guard onto a pickup truck with the goats. After crossing the railway line, they released the guard and fled with the animals.

Farm owner and former student leader Abu Hena Kayser said the intruders also blindfolded and detained an employee named Nurul Afsar, taking CCTV equipment and several sacks of animal feed. He alleged that the same night, blank shots were fired at his fish project in Domkhali to spread fear, suggesting the same group might be involved in both incidents. The stolen goats were being prepared for sale ahead of the upcoming Eid-ul-Azha, with an estimated loss of around six lakh taka.

Nizampur Police Outpost officer SI Zakir Hossain confirmed that police visited the scene and that an investigation is underway. Legal action will follow upon receiving a written complaint.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Sheikh Mohammad Sajjat Ali stated that the police have delivered a fair and widely accepted election through utmost sincerity and dedication. He made the remarks on Wednesday at the monthly crime review meeting for January 2026, held at the Bangladesh Police Auditorium in Rajarbagh. Addressing DMP members, he thanked all officers for maintaining neutrality and professionalism during the election and said the force had regained its lost glory. He urged everyone to continue working to uphold this positive image.

During the meeting, Additional Police Commissioner (Admin) Mohammad Sarwar instructed officers to manage heavy traffic before iftar during Ramadan to ensure smooth movement for the public. Additional Police Commissioner (Crime and Operations) S.N. Mohammad Nazrul Islam directed vigilance during major upcoming events such as International Mother Language Day and the Ekushey Book Fair, and to prevent theft and snatching during Ramadan nights. The DMP Commissioner also awarded officers for outstanding performance in maintaining law and order and public safety in January.

Senior DMP officials, including several additional and joint commissioners, deputy commissioners, and officers-in-charge from all police stations, attended the meeting.

Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr. Ahsan H. Mansur announced that the country’s foreign currency reserves are expected to reach 40 billion dollars within the current year. Speaking to journalists at the Secretariat on February 18, he said reserves would surpass 35 billion dollars this month and strengthen further by year-end. He noted that although past irregularities in the sector had caused setbacks, ongoing reforms initiated by the interim government are expected to continue under the elected administration.

Dr. Mansur stated that while the economy remains fragile, signs of stabilization are emerging. He acknowledged that the target of reducing inflation to 7 percent has not yet been achieved but emphasized that efforts are ongoing. He also urged the new government to take effective measures to boost investment.

On the same day, new Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury stressed the importance of revitalizing domestic institutions and rejected the idea of a patronage-based economy, pledging equal opportunities and broader economic benefits for all citizens.

To commemorate Amar Ekushey February, the Dhaka Film Club will organize a two-day film screening on February 20 and 21 at the Dhaka University road island near TSC. The event, supported by the Bangladesh Film Archive and the Department of Mass Communication, will begin each evening at 7 p.m. The first day will feature Zahir Raihan’s 1970 film “Jibon Theke Neya,” while the second day will screen Shahidul Haque Khan’s 1981 film “Kolmilota.”

According to the organizers, both films highlight the historical context of the 1952 Language Movement and its connection to Bangladesh’s independence struggle. “Jibon Theke Neya” portrays political and social resistance through symbolic storytelling, while “Kolmilota” traces a family narrative from the Language Movement to the Liberation War. The films feature prominent actors including Razzak, Kabori, Bulbul Ahmed, and others.

Dhaka Film Club’s general secretary Barua Monojit Dhinon said that very few Bangladeshi films have depicted the Language Movement, and this exhibition aims to showcase those rare works that capture its spirit.

A Dhaka court has issued arrest warrants against British MP Tulip Rizwana Siddiq and former RAJUK assistant legal adviser Sardar Mosharraf Hossain in a corruption case filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). The order was given on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, by Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Md Sabbir Foyez after the accused failed to appear in court. The court also set March 8 for submission of the arrest execution report.

According to the case, filed on April 15 of the previous year, Siddiq and others allegedly misused their positions to illegally obtain a flat from Eastern Housing Limited in Gulshan-2 without payment. The ACC later submitted a charge sheet on December 11 under several sections of the Penal Code and the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1947. Earlier, co-accused Shah Khusruzzaman had sought a stay on the investigation, which the High Court granted for three months.

The report also notes that Siddiq had previously been sentenced to six years in prison in three separate cases related to plot allocation fraud.

State Minister for Civil Aviation M Rashiduzzaman Millat announced on February 18, 2026, that passengers will receive their luggage immediately after completing immigration formalities. Speaking to reporters at the Secretariat on the first day of the new government, he said necessary steps and a plan have already been prepared to ensure that travelers, especially expatriates, do not face long waits or corruption during baggage collection.

Millat stated that the ministry is working with the Civil Aviation Authority to bring visible changes to airport operations, aiming for passengers to find their luggage on the belt as soon as immigration is done. He emphasized that the reform plan covers not only ticketing but also baggage handling and other areas where passengers face difficulties.

The state minister also vowed to dismantle existing ticket syndicates that prevent passengers from obtaining tickets despite empty flights. He assured that noticeable improvements will begin within one to two weeks as part of a gradual transformation of airport services.