Indian media outlets have voiced strong concern over the rise of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and its alliance with the National Citizens Party (NCP) following the country’s 13th parliamentary election. Reports from India Today, Times of India, News18, and others described the Islamist party’s success—winning 68 seats alone and 77 with allies—as a potential threat to India’s national security, particularly in border districts adjoining Assam and West Bengal. Analysts cited the party’s ideological proximity to Pakistan and its anti-India stance as reasons for heightened vigilance.

Several reports noted that Jamaat and its allies performed strongly in border regions such as Lalmonirhat, Chapainawabganj, Kurigram, Meherpur, and Satkhira, areas where Indian outlets claim strategic and demographic sensitivities exist. Former Eastern Command GOC Lt. Gen. Ranapratap Kalita told India Today that Jamaat leveraged latent anti-India sentiment in rural and frontier areas to achieve its gains. Indian intelligence agencies are reportedly monitoring the situation closely.

Media commentary suggested that New Delhi should work with Bangladesh’s ruling BNP to contain Jamaat’s influence and ensure border stability and minority safety, reflecting India’s growing unease over the political shift in Dhaka.

Agriculture and Home Adviser Lieutenant General (Retd.) Md. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury stated that Bangladesh’s agriculture sector is now in a stable condition due to the combined efforts of all stakeholders. He made the remarks on Monday at a farewell reception organized by departments and agencies under the Ministry of Agriculture at the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council auditorium in Dhaka.

The adviser highlighted that during his one and a half years in charge of the ministry, several initiatives were taken to ensure food security and make the sector sustainable and farmer-friendly. He said the fertilizer crisis had been resolved, flood damages in several regions were managed, and the sector was now performing better than before. Fertilizer stocks were at a strong level, and agricultural product prices remained within a tolerable range.

In his farewell speech, he urged proper distribution of agricultural incentives, careful selection of beneficiaries, and strict monitoring of fertilizer sales at government-fixed prices. He also thanked all officials and agencies under the ministry for their cooperation.

Bangladesh’s newly elected members of parliament and cabinet ministers are set to take oath today, Tuesday, following the Bangladesh Nationalist Party’s (BNP) landslide victory in the 13th parliamentary election. The MPs will be sworn in at 10 a.m. in the parliament building’s oath room, while the cabinet oath will take place at 4 p.m. at the South Plaza of the National Parliament. BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman will take oath as the new Prime Minister, marking the party’s return to power after nearly two decades. The ceremony will be administered by President Mohammad Shahabuddin and attended by regional leaders from South Asia and several Muslim-majority countries.

The BNP secured two-thirds of the seats in the February 12 election, its sixth time forming government since its founding in 1978. Tarique Rahman, son of former President Ziaur Rahman and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, will lead the new administration. The party plans to appoint up to 30 ministers and state ministers initially. The new government faces major challenges, including economic instability, inflation, and institutional reform, which Tarique Rahman has identified as top priorities for his administration.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami will hold a meeting of its parliamentary party on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, following the oath-taking ceremony of newly elected members of parliament. The announcement was made in a press release issued on Monday, February 16, by Mujibul Alam, senior publicity assistant of the party’s central publicity department.

According to the statement, the meeting will take place at the National Parliament Building immediately after the swearing-in ceremony. The event marks the first formal gathering of Jamaat’s newly elected lawmakers following their official induction into parliament.

The press release did not provide further details about the meeting’s agenda or participants beyond confirming the time and venue.

The government of Bangladesh has reduced the value-added tax (VAT) on liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), according to a statement issued on February 16. National Board of Revenue (NBR) public relations officer Md. Al Amin Sheikh confirmed that the decision was made to keep LPG prices stable and affordable for both industrial and household users. Previously, LPG was subject to a 7.5 percent VAT at the local production and trading stages and a 2 percent advance tax at import.

Following recommendations from the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources and a request from the LPG Operators Association of Bangladesh, the government issued two separate notifications withdrawing the 7.5 percent VAT on local production and trading and the 2 percent advance tax on imports. Instead, a 7.5 percent VAT will now apply only at the import stage until June 30.

According to the NBR, this adjustment will remove VAT from the value added during local production and sales, reducing the overall tax burden on consumers by approximately 20 percent compared to previous levels.

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus delivered a farewell address to the nation on Monday night, marking the end of Bangladesh’s 18-month interim government. He emphasized that the administration began its work from a state of collapse, rebuilding institutions before initiating reforms. Yunus urged that the ongoing practice of democracy, accountability, freedom of speech, and rights must never stop as power transfers to an elected government.

In his address, Yunus highlighted institutional reforms, including the enactment of about 130 new laws and 600 executive orders, 84 percent of which have been implemented. He cited improvements in law enforcement, judicial independence, and economic recovery, noting foreign reserves now stand at 34 billion dollars. He also announced the conversion of the former prime minister’s residence into a National July Memorial Museum to preserve the memory of the July uprising.

Yunus described the “July Charter” as the interim government’s greatest achievement, approved by referendum, and said its implementation would permanently block the return of fascism. He called on all citizens, regardless of background, to continue building a just, humane, and democratic Bangladesh.

Two separate fires broke out in Dhaka on Monday night, one at the timber market beside the TCB building in Karwan Bazar and another at a shoe factory on Agamasi Lane in Old Dhaka. Both incidents occurred around the same time and were brought under control shortly afterward by Fire Service and Civil Defence teams. No casualties were reported in either fire.

According to Fire Service sources, the Karwan Bazar fire began around 10:30 p.m., and ten units were dispatched to the scene. The blaze affected several floors of a five-storey building that housed diaper and wooden goods warehouses. Narrow access roads delayed firefighting efforts, and stored goods and furniture were damaged. The Old Dhaka fire started around 10:45 p.m. on the fourth floor of a seven-storey shoe factory building. Three units responded and controlled the fire by 11:35 p.m. The cause of both fires is under investigation.

Traffic in the affected areas was temporarily disrupted, and local residents assisted firefighters during the operations.

The central executive council of Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis, in its monthly meeting held on Monday at the party’s Purana Paltan office, congratulated the candidates who won in the recent national election under the rickshaw symbol. The leaders also extended congratulations to BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman as the head of the majority party, expressing hope that his leadership would establish a responsible, stable, and people-oriented political environment. They emphasized prioritizing direct public opinion over party agendas in implementing the post-referendum July Charter.

During the meeting, party leaders expressed strong anger and concern over the election results of Dhaka-13 (Mohammadpur–Adabor–Sher-e-Bangla Nagar), alleging that their party chief Maulana Mamunul Haque was defeated through organized vote manipulation. They claimed that valid votes for the rickshaw symbol were declared invalid, result sheets were overwritten, and final results were distorted. The party demanded a neutral and judicial investigation by the Election Commission and warned of legal and street movements if justice was not ensured.

The meeting also condemned post-election violence, attacks on activists, and vandalism, urging immediate investigation and punishment of those responsible while calling for political tolerance and law and order.

A fire broke out at a shoe factory located on Agamasi Lane, Agha Sadek Road in Old Dhaka on Tuesday night. The incident occurred around 10:45 p.m., prompting three units of the Fire Service and Civil Defence to rush to the scene and begin efforts to control the blaze. The factory is housed in a seven-story building, and eyewitnesses along with fire service sources reported that the fire originated on the fourth floor.

Fire Service officer Talha Bil Jasim stated that three units were dispatched immediately after receiving the report and that work to bring the fire under control was ongoing. He confirmed that no casualties had been reported so far and said the cause of the fire would be determined after an investigation.

Traffic movement in the area was disrupted due to the incident, while law enforcement personnel and local residents assisted the fire service in their operations.

Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer and newly elected Member of Parliament Dr. Shafiqur Rahman announced that his party will serve as a responsible opposition in the National Parliament, prioritizing the interests of the people and the country. Speaking on Monday evening at a meeting with newly elected Jamaat MPs at Al-Falah Auditorium in Dhaka’s Moghbazar, he said the party’s role will be guided by the principles of justice and opposition to wrongdoing. The meeting was held to finalize party decisions before the oath-taking ceremony.

Dr. Rahman stated that despite some irregularities during the February 12 national election and referendum, the voting was largely peaceful and enthusiastic. He emphasized that Jamaat would cooperate with the government on positive initiatives but oppose any actions harmful to the nation. He also called for restoring institutional integrity, particularly in the judiciary, and urged the ruling party to take the lead in rebuilding state structures.

He expressed optimism that through mutual sincerity between the government and opposition, Bangladesh could return to a healthy democratic path. Rahman thanked voters for their support and reaffirmed Jamaat’s commitment to remain with the people in all circumstances.

At the National Press Club on Monday evening, Syed Abdal Ahmad, Executive Editor of Amar Desh, congratulated newly elected BNP-nominated MP MA Hannan from Nasirnagar upazila of Brahmanbaria district with flowers. Ahmad expressed hope that the new lawmaker would ensure balanced development in Nasirnagar without discrimination based on political affiliation, religion, or ethnicity, emphasizing that Hannan represents all residents of the constituency.

Drawing on the example of late BNP minister Chowdhury Kamal Ibne Yusuf, Ahmad said that a true people's representative must rise above party boundaries and treat everyone equally. He recalled Yusuf’s willingness to assist anyone from his area with legal recommendations, regardless of political background. Ahmad expressed confidence that Hannan would work to fulfill the expectations of the voters who elected him.

The event was attended by retired additional secretary Mofiz Uddin Ahmad, Dhaka University professor Hafiz Uddin, and retired banker Syed Shafin, among others.

The Chief Adviser of Bangladesh’s interim government announced on February 16 that the administration has worked with the United States, China, and Japan to strengthen the country’s economy, employment, industrialization, and international diplomatic position. In a televised address at 9:15 p.m., he said a new bilateral trade and tariff agreement with the United States has been completed, reducing reciprocal tariffs from 37% to 19%. The agreement is described as a strategic foundation for long-term economic and diplomatic growth.

He added that cooperation with Japan will enable Bangladesh to gradually enter sectors such as automobile parts, electronics, railway equipment, green technology, and high-value industrial products. This partnership is expected to reduce risks and attract investment from industrialized nations seeking duty-free export benefits to Japan.

The Chief Adviser also stated that development cooperation with China has deepened, highlighting progress on the Teesta River management and resettlement project and an agreement to build a 1,000-bed international-standard hospital in Nilphamari. He emphasized that education, training, and integrity are essential to transforming Bangladesh into a skill- and technology-based economy.

The National Citizen Party (NCP) has conditionally signed the July National Charter four months after its formal adoption. The signing took place on Monday evening at the state guesthouse Jamuna in the presence of Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus. NCP Convener Nahid Islam and Member Secretary Akhtar Hossain signed the document on behalf of the party.

After the signing, Akhtar Hossain told reporters that the NCP joined the charter at the invitation of the interim government but under specific conditions. He explained that their endorsement was tied to the full implementation of the referendum verdict without any note of dissent. Hossain also expressed the party’s expectation that the oath-taking ceremony would proceed without delay.

He further stated that NCP demands the newly elected members of the Constitutional Reform Council take their oaths first, followed by the members of the National Parliament. The signing marks a conditional alignment of the NCP with the interim government’s initiative.

Multiple Hindu families in Hatiya upazila of Noakhali have alleged attacks, vandalism, looting, and assaults following the 13th National Parliamentary Election. On Sunday, February 15, victims filed two complaints with the local police station and earlier held a human chain protest at Riaz Market in Sonadia Union’s Ward 8. Over fifty victims joined the protest, describing their losses and demanding exemplary punishment for those responsible.

Speakers at the protest accused supporters of the Nationalist Citizens Party (NCP) of creating fear and intimidation from election day through the announcement of results. They alleged that at least ten houses were attacked and looted, livestock were injured, and victims continued to face assaults days after the election. Several victims named local individuals they claimed led the attacks. Police confirmed receiving written complaints and said investigations were underway.

Victims urged newly elected Member of Parliament Abdul Hannan Masud and the administration to intervene and restore safety in the affected areas.

In a televised address to the nation on Monday, February 16, 2026, at 9:15 p.m., Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus called on citizens to commit to honesty, transparency, and accountability in building a new Bangladesh. He said the country must move away from a past culture of corruption, dishonesty, irregularities, and fraud that had undermined national credibility. Yunus emphasized the need for a corruption-free state at every level and urged adherence to rules and promises.

Reflecting on the past 18 months, Yunus noted that Bangladesh had seen the gradual revival of democracy, welfare governance, freedom of speech, and accountability. He praised the festive atmosphere of the recent referendum and elections, describing them as historic moments that ensured people’s rights. He congratulated both winners and losers, calling electoral competition the beauty of democracy.

Yunus concluded his speech with a call for unity across political, religious, and social lines to build a just, humane, and democratic Bangladesh. He expressed optimism as his advisory government’s 18-month tenure came to an end and a new government prepared to take office.