The Cabinet Division has invited 49 leaders from the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) to take oath as members of the new cabinet following the swearing-in of parliament members. The oath ceremony is scheduled for Tuesday afternoon at the South Plaza of the National Parliament Building, where President Md. Shahabuddin will administer the oath. Invitations began at 11 a.m. on Tuesday.

According to the Cabinet Division, 25 individuals are set to become full ministers and 24 will serve as state ministers. The list includes senior BNP figures such as Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, Salah Uddin Ahmed, and others, along with several technocrats. The announcement marks the formal beginning of a new cabinet formation process under BNP leadership.

The report also notes that some figures discussed earlier did not make it into the cabinet, while the National Committee Party (NCP) will not be part of the oath ceremony. A separate meeting of the Jamaat parliamentary group was also held ahead of the event.

Bangladesh’s 13th parliamentary election concluded in a festive atmosphere with broad public participation. Despite minor disputes over a few constituencies, candidates across parties displayed acceptance of results and mutual respect. Incidents of winners visiting defeated rivals’ homes with sweets and flowers, exchanging greetings, and pledging to build the nation together were widely reported. BNP leader Tarique Rahman met with leaders of Jamaat-e-Islami, the National Citizens Party, and Islami Andolan Bangladesh, assuring steps to prevent post-election violence.

Analysts described these gestures as a sign of a new culture of tolerance and harmony in national politics, unseen in the past decade and a half. They linked this shift to the “July Revolution,” which they said initiated a qualitative change in political behavior. Political scientists noted that such acceptance of differing opinions reflects the essence of democracy and could strengthen parliamentary cooperation.

Experts added that if this environment of goodwill continues, Bangladesh’s political culture may regain health and stability, fostering constructive governance and inclusive democratic practice.

Indian Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri arrived in Dhaka on Tuesday, February 17, to attend the oath-taking ceremony of the new cabinet under Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Chairman Tarique Rahman. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, they were received at the airport by Md. Nazrul Islam, Secretary (East and West) of the ministry.

The event is drawing several high-level foreign dignitaries. Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu and Bhutanese Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay have also arrived in Dhaka to attend the ceremony. Other attendees include Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal, Nepal’s Foreign Minister Bala Nanda Sharma, Maldives’ Foreign Minister Abdulla Khaleel, Sri Lanka’s Health Minister Nalinda Jayatissa, UK Under Secretary for India-Pacific Affairs Seema Malhotra, and Turkey’s Under Secretary Beris Ekinci.

The presence of multiple regional and international representatives underscores the diplomatic significance of the new government’s inauguration in Bangladesh.

Teachers, students, and staff of Jahangirnagar University gathered on Tuesday morning at the university’s Shaheed Minar to sing the national anthem, celebrating the establishment of a democratic government following the fall of 17 years of authoritarian rule. The event was organized and supervised by Professor Shamima Sultana, director of the Institute of Comparative Literature and Culture, and saw spontaneous participation from across the campus community.

Speakers including JAKSU Vice President Abdur Rashid Jitu, Professor Shamima Sultana, and Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Kamrul Ahsan described the occasion as a symbolic renewal of national unity and commitment to building a just and inclusive Bangladesh. They emphasized participation beyond political and religious divisions, recalling past struggles for democracy and equality. The vice-chancellor paid tribute to those who sacrificed their lives in the 1971 Liberation War and the 2024 uprising, linking the anthem’s performance to a renewed pledge for a better nation.

Senior faculty members, administrative officials, and student leaders from various organizations attended the event, underscoring a collective aspiration for a peaceful and democratic future.

Jamaat-e-Islami has cancelled its previously announced protest program in Dhaka. The party’s Dhaka South unit had declared a demonstration and rally to be held at 3 p.m. on Tuesday at the north gate of the National Mosque Baitul Mukarram, citing the country’s prevailing situation and unrest. However, the decision to cancel the event came less than an hour after the announcement.

According to Abdus Sattar Suman, assistant publicity secretary of Jamaat-e-Islami Dhaka South, the protest was withdrawn as the uncertainty surrounding the oath-taking of the party’s members of parliament was resolved. The MPs have since taken their oaths, ending the earlier uncertainty.

The cancellation indicates a shift in the party’s immediate political stance following the completion of the oath-taking process, though no further details were provided on future plans.

Independent lawmaker Rumin Farhana from Brahmanbaria-2 constituency did not take the oath as a member of the Constitutional Reform Council, although she was sworn in earlier as a Member of Parliament. The oath-taking ceremony took place shortly before 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday at the oath room of the National Parliament Building.

Chief Election Commissioner A. M. M. Nasir Uddin administered the oath, while Parliament Secretariat Secretary Kaniz Mowla conducted the event. During the ceremony, Rumin Farhana left the venue before the oath for the Constitutional Reform Council was administered. In contrast, elected members from Jamaat took both oaths — as MPs and as members of the council.

The report did not specify the reason behind Rumin Farhana’s decision to abstain from the council oath or any official reaction following the event.

A colorful rally was held in Manikganj to welcome the holy month of Ramadan and to call for preserving its sanctity. The event, organized by Manikganj Islamia Kamil Madrasa, took place on Tuesday morning. The procession began from the madrasa campus, paraded through the main streets of Manikganj town, and concluded back at the campus. The disciplined participation and religious atmosphere drew attention from residents across the city.

The rally was led by the madrasa principal, Md. Atiqur Rahman, with teachers, students, parents, and local dignitaries joining spontaneously. Participants carried banners, festoons, and placards urging respect for Ramadan’s holiness. The area echoed with slogans promoting moral conduct and discouraging indecency during the fasting month.

In his concluding remarks, Principal Rahman emphasized that Ramadan is not only a month of fasting but also a time for self-purification, restraint, and moral learning. He urged everyone to uphold honesty in business and refrain from social misconduct during the holy month.

National Citizens Party (NCP) northern chief organizer Sarjis Alam has alleged that the newly formed BNP government began its journey by betraying the July Charter and the aspirations of the earlier uprising. He made the remark on Tuesday in a verified Facebook post following the start of the BNP-led government.

Before the swearing-in ceremony of BNP’s elected members of parliament at the National Parliament building, BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed informed party MPs that they would not take the oath for the Constitutional Reform Council that day. Holding two forms in white and blue, he explained that no one had yet been elected as a member of the council and that it had not been incorporated into the constitution. He added that the council must first be constitutionally established and its oath-taking procedures defined before any swearing-in could occur.

Salahuddin emphasized that the party had so far acted in accordance with the constitution and would continue to do so, announcing the decision under the direction of the party chairman.

In Chattogram, leaders of the banned Awami League publicly resumed activities following the 13th national parliamentary election. On Monday, they hung a party signboard at the North District Awami League office in the Dost Building near New Market and chanted slogans. Former Chhatra League leaders Shawkat Ul Anam and Kazi Suruj were seen installing the signboard and a banner, while several others joined them inside the building. Later, around 15–20 activists cleaned the Mujib sculpture at Laldighi Par, an act that was also captured and circulated on social media.

The videos showing the banned party’s activities quickly spread online, prompting reactions from other political groups including NCP, Chhatra Shakti, Juba Shakti, Jamaat-e-Islami, and Shibir, whose members expressed anger and called for protests. Police have not made any arrests but confirmed that identifying those involved is underway. According to the Chattogram Metropolitan Police, the Awami League’s activities remain legally prohibited.

The public reappearance of the banned party has stirred renewed political tension in Chattogram, though law enforcement has yet to take direct action.

Gono Odhikar Parishad president and former DUCSU vice president Nurul Haque Nur has been invited to join the cabinet of Tarique Rahman. He confirmed the news to the newspaper Amar Desh on Tuesday, expressing gratitude to Tarique Rahman and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) for the opportunity. The invitation follows the BNP’s landslide victory in the 13th national parliamentary election.

Earlier in the day, at 10:40 a.m., newly elected BNP members of parliament took their oaths at the oath room of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban, administered by Chief Election Commissioner A. M. M. Nasir Uddin. However, the BNP lawmakers did not take oaths as members of the Constitutional Reform Committee.

The cabinet swearing-in ceremony is scheduled for 4 p.m. at the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban, where Tarique Rahman will take oath as the new Prime Minister of Bangladesh.

Ishraq Hossain and Barrister Rumin Farhana took oath as members of parliament on Tuesday at around 12 noon. They were sworn in alongside MPs from the Jamaat alliance, according to the report published on February 17, 2026.

The oath-taking took place in the presence of Jamaat alliance representatives, marking their formal assumption of parliamentary duties. The event was part of a broader swearing-in ceremony involving multiple MPs from the alliance.

The report also mentioned that the Indian Speaker and Foreign Secretary were in Dhaka to attend the swearing-in ceremony, indicating international diplomatic interest in the proceedings.

Newly elected Member of Parliament for Chattogram-4 (Sitakunda), Professor Mohammad Aslam Chowdhury, was honored by local fishing communities and Hindu devotees on February 16 in Sitakunda. During the reception, he announced coordinated actions with the Coast Guard to combat sea piracy that affects fishermen. He also promised fair government assistance for fishermen during fishing bans and declared the installation of a deep tube well to address local drinking water shortages.

Chowdhury further pledged to build modern shelters for pilgrims visiting Chandranath Hill and to work with the Shrine Committee and local administration for phased implementation. Later, at another event organized by the Shivchaturdashi Mela Committee, he announced plans to install a cable car at Chandranath Hill to assist elderly pilgrims and ensure safer travel to the temple located about 1,250 feet high.

Local leaders and community representatives attended the events, expressing hope that the announced initiatives for fishermen and pilgrims would be implemented soon.

In Naogaon’s Sapahar upazila, a cooperative named Gram Janata Shramajibi Samabay Samiti Limited has been accused of absconding with deposits exceeding one crore taka from more than a hundred customers. The cooperative, which operated from Dighirhat Bazar, allegedly lured villagers with promises of high returns through a scheme called the 'Easy Investment Project.' Its office is now locked, and Managing Director Abdul Halim has been missing since the incident.

According to victims, Halim, along with relatives and eight staff members, collected deposits from local residents by promising extra profit on savings. When depositors recently sought their returns, Halim reportedly delayed payments and later disappeared with the funds. Victims such as Mokbul Hossain and Salma Begum said they had invested their savings and borrowed money, leaving them financially devastated.

Sapahar Upazila Cooperative Officer S.M. Jahangir Alam confirmed receiving complaints and said an investigation is underway. He added that legal action will follow under cooperative laws once the inquiry concludes. No police case or general diary has yet been filed, though affected customers have urged authorities to arrest the fugitive MD and recover their money.

Former government adviser Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan has criticized the new parliament’s start, saying it defied the people’s referendum verdict. In a verified Facebook post on Tuesday, he remarked that the parliament began its journey by disregarding the public mandate expressed through the recent referendum.

According to the July National Charter (Constitutional Reform) Implementation Order, a Constitutional Reform Council was to be formed with members elected in the 13th National Parliament. Elected representatives were expected to take oaths first as MPs and then as council members. However, 209 BNP lawmakers took oath only as MPs, refusing to be sworn in as members of the reform council. Related sources said this refusal has already disrupted the interim government’s reform initiatives and could lead to a new political crisis.

BNP maintains that the current constitution contains no provision for a Constitutional Reform Council or a separate oath for its members, and that the Chief Election Commissioner has no authority to administer such an oath.

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) members elected to the 13th National Parliament have decided not to accept any government plots or tax-free (duty-free) cars. The decision was made at a meeting of party lawmakers held on Tuesday at 11:30 a.m., and later confirmed to journalists by BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.

The announcement follows a similar declaration by Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman, who stated earlier that any elected MP from his party would also refrain from using state-provided plots or duty-free vehicles. The BNP’s move aligns with this stance, signaling a unified position among opposition parties on rejecting such state privileges.

The decision underscores the BNP’s effort to project a stance of restraint and integrity among its newly elected representatives in the 13th Parliament, though further details on implementation were not provided in the report.