A leak has developed in the rubber dam built on the Chilai River in Boglabazar Union of Doarabazar upazila, Sunamganj. The rupture in the dam’s rubber bag has caused water to escape, preventing water retention upstream. As a result, irrigation across about 1,200 hectares of Boro farmland has been severely disrupted, leaving hundreds of farming families in Bogla and Banglabazar unions deeply concerned about their crops.

Local farmers reported that falling water levels have rendered irrigation pumps ineffective, causing farmland to crack due to lack of moisture. They have urged authorities to urgently repair the damaged rubber bag to restore normal irrigation. Boglabazar Union Parishad Chairman Mohammad Milon Khan said the leakage has put 1,200 hectares of farmland at risk and that he has contacted the Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC) for immediate repair. BADC’s Assistant Engineer for irrigation, Kazi Hosne Ar Rafi, confirmed that the issue is under their attention and that repair work will begin soon.

The damaged dam poses a serious threat to the ongoing Boro season, with potential impacts on local food production and farmers’ livelihoods if repairs are delayed.

Female tea workers in Sylhet continue to face deprivation and hardship despite their crucial role in Bangladesh’s tea industry. According to a report from Nabiganj, these women work long hours plucking tea leaves but earn only Tk 75 a day, far below their demand for Tk 250–300. Many live in poverty, lacking access to education, healthcare, housing, clean water, and sanitation. Their daily meals are meager, and they often struggle to feed their families.

The report highlights that tea workers’ wages have increased only marginally over the years—from Tk 32 in 2007 to Tk 75 at present. Elderly workers receive limited annual food aid worth Tk 5,000 from the Ministry of Social Welfare, achieved after repeated protests. Workers like Onika Rani, who has labored in the Bhaban Tea Garden since age 15, describe severe financial strain and limited educational opportunities for their children.

Bhaban Tea Garden manager Binoy Chandra Barma acknowledged the lack of schools, hospitals, and safe water but said the authorities plan to build such facilities. Despite these assurances, the workers’ living conditions remain dire.

BNP has decided that its elected Members of Parliament will not take oath as members of the Constitutional Reform Council at this stage. The party will reconsider the matter after the parliamentary session begins. The announcement was made on Tuesday morning near the Parliament complex by BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed, who outlined the party’s official position.

Salahuddin explained that the Chief Election Commissioner holds the constitutional authority to administer oaths to newly elected MPs of the 13th Parliament. However, it has not yet been determined who will administer the oath for members of the Constitutional Reform Council. He further stated that constitutional mandates exist for both the national parliamentary and presidential elections, and the Election Commission is constitutionally responsible for the parliamentary process.

He added that if the Speaker or Deputy Speaker is unavailable or unable to perform the duty, the Chief Election Commissioner may serve as an alternative to administer the oath. Salahuddin noted that the oath for the Constitutional Reform Council can only proceed after certain constitutional amendments and related matters are finalized.

In the 13th national election, the Jatiya Party faced a sweeping defeat in its traditional stronghold of Rangpur, losing deposits in all five constituencies where it fielded candidates. The party’s nomination for Rangpur-1 was canceled due to dual citizenship, leaving it to contest in Rangpur-2 through Rangpur-6. Despite extensive campaigning, all candidates, including party chairman GM Quader in Rangpur-3, failed to secure sufficient votes to retain their deposits.

In Rangpur-2, former MP Anisul Islam Mandal received 33,930 votes, while GM Quader obtained 43,790 votes out of 500,000 in Rangpur-3. Other candidates—Mahbubur Rahman in Rangpur-4, Fakhruzzaman Jahangir in Rangpur-5, and Nur Alam Jadu Mia in Rangpur-6—also lost their deposits, with the latter receiving only 1,200 votes. A presidium member admitted they had expected support from Awami League voters but were shocked by the poor results.

Student leader Ahmed Al Saba Osmani commented that Rangpur voters rejected the Jatiya Party for aligning with the Awami League, declaring the party politically finished in the region.

BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman was on his way to the National Parliament building on Tuesday morning to take his oath as a newly elected Member of Parliament. He left his residence in Gulshan around 9:45 a.m. for the ceremony. The oath-taking is being conducted by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) A M M Nasir Uddin at the Parliament Secretariat’s oath-taking chamber, beginning at 10 a.m. on February 17, 2026.

According to a letter signed by Election Commission Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed and sent to the Secretary of the National Parliament Secretariat on Monday, the CEC will administer the oath to the members elected to the 13th National Parliament and the members of the Constitution Reform Council. The BNP parliamentary party also scheduled a meeting at 11:30 a.m. following the ceremony.

BNP MPs, under the leadership of Tarique Rahman, took their oaths, though the party’s MPs did not participate in the Constitution Reform Council’s oath-taking process.

The BNP-backed Lawyers’ Welfare Council panel won 10 out of 15 posts, including president and general secretary, in the Feni District Lawyers’ Association election held on February 16, 2026. The results were announced around 12:30 a.m. on February 17 by election commissioner and association president Nurul Amin Khan along with general secretary Mir Mosharraf Hossain Manik. Jamaat-backed Lawyers’ Sampriti Parishad secured four posts, while one position went to an independent candidate.

Voting took place in a festive atmosphere at the association building from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with 326 of 346 eligible lawyers casting their votes. A total of 32 candidates contested for 15 posts in the one-year committee. This was the first time BNP and Jamaat participated in the election under separate panels since the association’s founding in 1984.

The Awami League panel did not participate for the second consecutive term. The election, originally scheduled for January 17, was postponed due to national elections and later rescheduled to February 16 following an extraordinary general meeting of members.

A journalist in Nageshwari, Kurigram, has alleged that he was verbally abused and threatened with death while filming a police anti-drug operation. The incident occurred on the night of February 15, when police led by Sub-Inspector Alok Roy raided an abandoned house in the BSC Mor area of Nageshwari municipality. Journalist Mutasim Billah Tanim, a local correspondent for the daily Gankontho, filed a general diary at Nageshwari Police Station on Monday night following the threats.

According to police sources, officers broke into the house after receiving no response for about half an hour and detained three individuals. They reportedly recovered cannabis, liquor bottles, yaba tablets, and heroin-use equipment. During the operation, the house’s alleged owner, Moslem Uddin, became enraged at the journalist for recording the event and issued threats.

Local leaders and journalist associations condemned the incident. Nageshwari BNP convener Golam Rasul Raja stated that his party opposes drugs, while Kurigram Journalists’ Union joint convener Babul Zaman demanded the arrest of the person who issued the threats. The local police chief said the matter is under investigation and legal action will follow.

After the 13th parliamentary election, discussions have intensified within Bangladesh’s police administration over who will be appointed the next Inspector General of Police (IGP). Although current IGP Baharul Alam dismissed rumors of his resignation, his contract runs until November 21, 2026. A police headquarters official indicated that a new IGP may be appointed once the newly elected political government assumes office.

According to the report, three senior officers are leading the race: RAB Director General AKM Shahidur Rahman, Armed Police Battalion chief Ali Hossain Fakir, and Chattogram Metropolitan Police Commissioner Additional IGP Hasib Aziz. Meanwhile, Railway Police chief Barrister Zillur Rahman is being discussed as a possible candidate for the RAB Director General post. Sources said several officers have been lobbying actively, meeting political figures and presenting their credentials.

Officials noted that the next IGP is expected to be a professional, honest, and controversy-free officer. Many previously sidelined or forcibly retired officers are seeking contract-based reappointments and await evaluation by the new government.

A four-tier security arrangement has been implemented around the South Plaza of Bangladesh’s National Parliament complex ahead of the new government’s oath-taking ceremony. Around 15,000 personnel from the police, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), army, and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) have been deployed. Specialized units including SWAT, bomb disposal, and canine teams are on standby. The oath chamber has been refurbished, with chairs polished and replaced where necessary. The ceremony will take place on Tuesday, with members of parliament taking their oaths in the morning and the new cabinet in the afternoon.

Security measures have been strengthened and modernized to ensure the safety of key installations and VVIPs. The South Plaza’s roof and brick surfaces have been repaired due to deterioration. Bomb disposal and dog squads have already swept the area, and plainclothes intelligence officers are stationed at key points. The National Parliament Secretariat’s secretary, Kaniz Mowla, confirmed the schedule for the oath events.

The enhanced security and infrastructure repairs reflect heightened caution following past unrest, including incidents during the August 2024 mass uprising.

A man named Nazim Uddin was seriously injured in an attack allegedly carried out by Ali Hossain and his associates in Naopara area of Durduaria Union, Lalpur upazila of Natore on Monday evening. The incident reportedly stemmed from a long-standing dispute between the two families. According to the complaint, the attackers arrived with local and firearms, verbally abused Nazim Uddin, and beat him when he protested. Family members who tried to rescue him said the attackers fired blank shots to create panic. Nazim was later taken to Lalpur Upazila Health Complex for treatment.

Nazim’s son, Nazmul Hossain, filed a complaint with Lalpur Police Station, alleging that around ten people were involved in the assault. Officer-in-Charge Mojibur Rahman said police visited the scene but found no evidence of gunfire, suggesting the attackers might have used firecrackers to cause fear. He confirmed that legal action would follow after investigation.

The police investigation is ongoing to determine the authenticity of the gunfire claim and identify those responsible for the attack.

Newly elected members of Bangladesh’s 13th National Parliament are taking their oath today, February 17, 2026, at 10 a.m. The ceremony is being held in the oath-taking chamber of the National Parliament Secretariat, administered by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) A. M. M. Nasir Uddin. Elected MPs began arriving at the Parliament complex early in the morning, where the area has been fully prepared for the event with heightened security measures.

According to on-site observations, the Parliament area has taken on a festive atmosphere, with party leaders, activists, and members of the public gathering outside. Law enforcement agencies remain on alert to ensure order. MPs stated that this Parliament is different from previous ones, emphasizing that the people have established a government through their votes and expressing unity against fascism. They also voiced a collective commitment to building a better Bangladesh.

The oath ceremony will proceed in several phases, with different political parties and independent MPs taking their oaths separately before signing the official register. No guests will attend. Later in the afternoon, the new cabinet will also take its oath at Parliament, a departure from the usual venue of Bangabhaban.

Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Annie, the BNP Joint Secretary General and Member of Parliament from Lakshmipur-3 constituency, has been invited to take oath as a member of the BNP government’s cabinet. The invitation was conveyed to him by telephone from the Cabinet Division on Tuesday morning, according to a close source. The swearing-in of the newly elected members of the 13th Parliament is scheduled for 10 a.m. today, followed by the cabinet’s oath-taking ceremony in the afternoon.

Annie, representing Lakshmipur-3 (Sadar Upazila), was previously elected to Parliament in 2001 and 2008. In the 13th national election, he secured his seat for the third time, receiving 133,765 votes. His nearest rival, Jamaat candidate Md. Rezaul Karim, obtained 117,079 votes.

The developments mark Annie’s return to a ministerial role under the BNP-led government, with formal cabinet appointments expected to follow the scheduled oath ceremonies later in the day.

Police in Kaliganj, Jhenaidah, have arrested Palash Mia, a warrant-listed suspect in a mobile banking fraud case. The arrest took place around 11 p.m. on Sunday near the Kaliganj main bus stand after a local Jamaat leader, who had previously been defrauded, recognized him and, with the help of locals, detained him. Palash Mia, aged 30, is the son of Chan Mia from Par Dakhilpur village in Harinakundu upazila.

According to police sources, Palash Mia had been involved in fraudulent activities for a long time, using the mobile financial service bKash to deceive people and collect money illegally. In one instance, he allegedly withdrew 25,000 taka from the Jamaat leader through deception before going into hiding. Following the issuance of an arrest warrant in the fraud case, he remained a fugitive until his capture.

Kaliganj Police Officer-in-Charge Jellal Hossain confirmed that Palash Mia faced multiple fraud cases and was sent to jail through the court after his arrest.

Unregulated brick kilns continue to operate across Netrakona district, posing serious threats to agricultural land, public health and the environment. According to local sources, 32 brick kilns are currently active this year, but only four have environmental clearance. Despite mobile court fines imposed on six kilns earlier in the season, no closures have been enforced, allowing illegal operations to persist.

Officials from the Department of Environment and the district administration confirmed that Netrakona has 40 kilns across nine upazilas, with 28 running without permits. Each kiln employs 300 to 400 workers, providing jobs for 10,000 to 12,000 people and producing up to 10 million bricks per site. Environmental activists have expressed concern over pollution and the lack of compliance with regulations. Department officials cited legal complications as a reason for delays in shutting down illegal kilns but said enforcement drives would continue.

District authorities stated that joint mobile courts are regularly fining violators and that further action will be taken if specific complaints about illegal soil extraction from government or river lands are received.

Bangladesh’s financial sector is showing signs of recovery from a prolonged crisis as the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) forms a new government after winning two-thirds of parliamentary seats. The interim administration led by Dr. Muhammad Yunus, which took charge in August 2024, is credited with restoring stability through reforms that curbed irregularities, corruption, and capital flight. Economists note that the sector’s stabilization, rather than investment growth, was the interim government’s key achievement.

According to data cited in the report, foreign exchange reserves rose from 20 billion to over 34 billion US dollars, while inflation fell from 11.6% to 8.58%. The banking sector saw consolidation, including the merger of five weak Shariah-based banks into a new entity, and stricter loan recovery measures improved transparency. The trade balance turned from a 6.6 billion dollar deficit to a 3.29 billion dollar surplus, supported by higher remittances and export growth.

Experts warn that the incoming BNP government faces challenges including weak revenue collection, rising domestic and foreign debt, and the upcoming graduation from LDC status, which may test the sustainability of recent economic stabilization.