Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, in a televised address to the nation on February 16, 2026, emphasized that a society can only progress when women are safe, respected, and enjoy equal rights. He stated that sustainable development depends on women’s equal participation in decision-making, the economy, education, and leadership. Yunus highlighted that the vision of a new Bangladesh cannot be realized without women’s advancement.

He announced that several laws had been amended, including the Sexual Harassment Prevention Ordinance, the Domestic Violence Prevention Ordinance, and the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act, to strengthen protection for women and children. These reforms aim to ensure safety and prevent harassment in workplaces and educational institutions.

Referring to the recently held referendum, Yunus described it as a festive and historic event. He congratulated both the winners and the defeated candidates, calling victory and defeat the beauty of democracy. He noted that both sides received nearly half of the total votes and confirmed that a new government would soon take office, marking the end of the caretaker administration’s 18-month tenure.

Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus described the 16-year period of autocratic rule as a “deep and painful lesson” for the nation in his farewell address on February 16, 2026. He said political activists had faced severe persecution, including lawsuits, enforced disappearances, and killings during that time. Yunus emphasized that this experience should remind the nation to prevent the rise of future tyrannies, the return of fascism, or the recurrence of extrajudicial killings.

He stated that beyond political commitments, fundamental reforms in the judiciary and state structure are essential. The interim government, he said, has prioritized reform programs accordingly. Yunus noted that several tribunals are actively working, with verdicts already delivered in some cases, and that the International Crimes Tribunal has begun proceedings on enforced disappearances and human rights violations. Some trials are nearing completion.

The Chief Adviser expressed hope that the judicial process would continue with impartiality and transparency, ensuring justice and preventing any repetition of past misrule.

In his farewell address on February 16, 2026, Interim Government Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus announced that the administration had issued around 600 executive orders and enacted or amended about 130 laws, with approximately 84 percent already implemented. He said these reforms strengthened citizens’ rights, reinforced the judiciary, and laid the foundation to prevent the return of enforced disappearances, killings, and extrajudicial executions.

Yunus emphasized that the government kept trials for crimes against humanity, corruption, and irregularities above politics and revenge. He highlighted administrative, commercial, and financial reforms to ensure no future government could act against the people’s will. He also noted the successful organization of a free, fair, and peaceful national election that restored citizens’ voting rights. The adviser expressed gratitude to youth protesters, political parties, law enforcement, the armed forces, and civil servants for their cooperation.

He added that the Police Commission Ordinance 2025 was introduced to build a people-friendly and accountable force, while judicial independence was strengthened through structural reforms. Amendments to the International Crimes Tribunal Act and the reconstitution of the National Human Rights Commission aimed to ensure Bangladesh never again becomes a state without human rights.

Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus announced his departure after 18 months in office during a televised address to the nation on Monday, February 16, 2026, at 9:15 p.m. He said his primary task had been to make the country functional again, describing it as the most difficult challenge. Yunus noted that those who had previously exploited the nation fled or went into hiding following the uprising, leaving the administration to rebuild.

He highlighted that the recent referendum and election were held in a festive, nationwide atmosphere reminiscent of Eid, calling it a memorable event in the country’s history. Congratulating both winners and losers of the competitive election, Yunus said that victory and defeat are the essence of democracy. He added that both sides received roughly half of the total votes, emphasizing that even those who lost should take comfort in the trust shown by nearly half of the electorate.

Yunus concluded that a new government would soon assume responsibility, marking the end of the caretaker administration’s 18-month tenure.

Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus delivered an emotional farewell address on February 16, 2026, recalling the events of August 5 as a moment of great national liberation. He described the day as one of immense joy, noting that Bangladeshis at home and abroad shed tears of happiness. Yunus said that young students had freed the country from what he called a 'monster’s grip,' though the state machinery had become completely paralyzed at that time.

He explained that the student leaders behind the uprising decided to form a government to run the country. At that time, Yunus was abroad and initially declined to take responsibility, but the student leaders persuaded him by reminding him of his duty to the nation. He stated that he had faithfully carried out his responsibilities for the past 18 months and that it was now time to hand over power to an elected government.

Yunus described August 5 as a unique moment of liberation in the nation’s history and said that the interim government had worked to restore stability and functionality to the state. As he prepared to transfer power, he expressed gratitude to the people of Bangladesh.

A job applicant was detained at the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) in Gazipur after arriving to join work without taking any written, viva, or practical examination. The incident occurred on Monday, February 16, 2026, when Suja Mia, 32, from Sherpur’s Sreebordi upazila, came to join as a plumber. Officials discovered that his admit card contained the photo of another person named Milon Mia, who had taken all the exams on his behalf. Suja Mia claimed he did not know Milon and said he obtained the job through a man named Mahbub from his area in exchange for seven lakh taka. He was later handed over to police.

Following his arrest, Suja Mia’s brother-in-law, Sajal Mia, visited the BRRI headquarters, prompting discussions due to his home being near the BRRI director general’s village house. Sajal denied any connection to the case. Gazipur Metropolitan Police confirmed that a case is being processed and an investigation is underway to determine whether any internal collusion or broker network was involved.

Police stated that a full investigation is ongoing to uncover the entire recruitment fraud network.

Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus said that full implementation of the July Charter would permanently prevent the return of fascism. In his farewell address to the nation on Monday night, he noted that the people had overwhelmingly supported the Charter through a referendum and expressed hope it would be implemented within the stipulated timeframe. He thanked political parties, social organizations, and rights groups for their contributions to drafting and passing the Charter.

Yunus stated that after nearly one and a half decades, Bangladesh held a festive, participatory, and peaceful national election alongside the referendum on the July Charter, aimed at major constitutional reforms. Reflecting on his 18 months in office, he said the interim government worked on three goals—reform, justice, and election—introducing about 130 new laws and 600 executive orders. He highlighted initiatives such as strengthening judicial independence, recognizing enforced disappearance as a crime against humanity, and police reform.

He added that balanced diplomacy had been restored, citing a trade deal with the United States that reduced reciprocal tariffs from 37 to 19 percent, and growing cooperation with Japan and China. Yunus urged unity in building a just, humane, and democratic Bangladesh as he handed over power to the elected government.

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Chairperson Tarique Rahman has pledged to run the country through consultation with all parties, according to Islami Andolan Bangladesh’s Amir and Charmonai Pir Mufti Syed Muhammad Rezaul Karim. The commitment came after a 45-minute meeting held on Monday evening at Rezaul Karim’s residence on Bailey Road in Dhaka, attended by Tarique Rahman and BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.

Following the meeting, Rezaul Karim described the discussion as cordial and productive, saying they exchanged views on building the nation together and avoiding political hostility. He said Tarique Rahman assured that governance would be based on collective consultation. The meeting also touched on the issue of the proposed upper house mentioned in the July Charter, which Rezaul Karim urged the BNP to uphold to maintain public trust.

Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir stated that the BNP had several notes of dissent regarding the July Charter but would present them in parliament and implement the charter if passed. Rezaul Karim confirmed that his party would attend the upcoming oath-taking ceremony upon receiving an invitation.

A 13-year-old schoolboy named Pradip Nag died after being hit by a battery-run autorickshaw in Madan municipality of Netrakona on Monday afternoon. Pradip, son of Sujan Nag, owner of Joy Ma Mistanno Bhandar in Jahangirpur Central Market, was a seventh-grade student at Jahangirpur Tahura Amin Pilot High School. The accident occurred around 4:45 p.m. on the Madan-Kendua road, near his home, while he was on his way to his family’s shop. Locals rescued him and took him to the hospital, where duty doctor Dr. Nayan Ghosh declared him dead.

Neighbor Rupan Das said several accidents had previously occurred at the same spot and urged the authorities to install a speed breaker there. Madan Police Station Officer-in-Charge Hasnat Zaman stated that they were aware of the incident and would take action upon receiving a complaint.

The repeated accidents at the location have prompted renewed calls from residents for road safety measures to prevent further tragedies.

The Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Jubo Dal, the youth wing of the BNP, met with party chairperson Tarique Rahman on Monday at his political office in Gulshan, Dhaka. The meeting took place on the eve of Rahman’s scheduled swearing-in as prime minister on Tuesday. During the meeting, Jubo Dal leaders presented him with flowers and extended heartfelt congratulations on what they described as a historic moment.

According to the report, the Jubo Dal leaders expressed optimism that Rahman’s leadership would rebuild democracy, strengthen nationalist ideals, and fulfill public expectations. They also prayed for his good health, long life, and success as a statesman. Among those present were Jubo Dal president Abdul Monayem Munna and general secretary and newly elected member of parliament Nurul Islam Noyon.

The event underscored the youth wing’s support for Rahman’s upcoming assumption of office and its expectation of renewed political direction under his leadership.

Four months after the formal signing of the July National Charter, the newly formed National Citizen Party (NCP), led by young leaders of the mass uprising, signed the document on Monday evening at the state guesthouse Jamuna. The signing took place in the presence of Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus. NCP Convener Nahid Islam and Member Secretary Akhtar Hossain signed on behalf of the party. Also present were National Consensus Commission Vice President Professor Ali Riaz, Commission Member Badiul Alam Majumdar, and the Chief Adviser’s Special Assistant Monir Haider.

Dr. Yunus said the nation had expected NCP to join the charter, and with their signature, the July National Charter reached completion. He thanked the party for its participation and urged vigilance in building a humane Bangladesh through the charter’s implementation. Nahid Islam stated that NCP’s elected members would take their parliamentary oath the next day, marking two simultaneous commitments to the people and the charter.

The signing signifies the final endorsement of the July National Charter, completing a key step in the country’s ongoing political transition.

The coordinated platform of election observer organizations, Voice Network, has stated that widespread post-election violence across nearly all divisions of Bangladesh is undermining the success of the recently held fair and peaceful parliamentary election. The observation came on Monday in Dhaka during the presentation of its preliminary report on the national election and referendum, delivered by the organization’s chairman, Professor Dr. Jasim Uddin.

According to the report, the 13th National Parliamentary Election was comparatively fair, peaceful, and acceptable. However, incidents of violence, deaths, and looting reported in about 40 districts have tarnished the overall electoral environment. The report urged the Election Commission, interim government, and winning political parties to act responsibly to address the situation. Observers noted irregularities, including obstruction to their work in 8 percent of polling centers, inadequate facilities for elderly, sick, and pregnant voters, and partiality in 15.5 percent of centers.

The report also cited procedural ambiguities in vote counting and tabulation, limited observer access, and restricted media coverage, which affected transparency and public confidence in the results.

Sheikh Bashiruddin, adviser to the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism, has stepped down from his position as chairman of Biman Bangladesh Airlines. On Monday, he submitted his resignation letter to the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism, which has been forwarded to the Chief Adviser’s Office for approval. A farewell reception for him is scheduled to be held at Biman’s headquarters, Balaka, on Monday evening.

Sheikh Bashiruddin was appointed chairman of Biman Bangladesh Airlines on August 26 of the previous year through a ministry notification. He succeeded Muid Chowdhury, the former chairman of Biman and a former adviser to the caretaker government. In addition to his role in the aviation ministry, Sheikh Bashiruddin also serves as an adviser to the Ministry of Commerce.

The resignation marks the end of Sheikh Bashiruddin’s tenure of less than a year at the national carrier, pending formal approval from the Chief Adviser’s Office.

The High Court has postponed for two weeks the hearing on a writ petition challenging the legality of the ordinance and administrative actions that dissolved the National Board of Revenue (NBR) and created two new divisions named Revenue Policy and Revenue Management. The bench of Justice Rajik Al Jalil and Justice Anwarul Islam announced the decision on Monday, February 16, after five days of hearings, without issuing any rule. NBR’s counsel Barrister Omar Faruk confirmed the decision, noting that the court will observe the new parliament’s stance once the government is formed.

The writ was filed by Tanvir Ahmed, a joint secretary of the Cabinet Division, who argued that the new rule requiring secretaries to have VAT and tax experience reduces his eligibility for promotion. He also claimed that the changes to the Rules of Business were unconstitutional and beyond the advisory council’s authority. A previous bench had dismissed a similar petition in August, citing non-presentation.

The government issued the ordinance on May 12 of the previous year, sparking protests among NBR officials under the banner of the NBR Reform Unity Council. Although amendments were later made, the protests continued until June 29, when the movement was withdrawn following government warnings and reports of anti-corruption investigations.

Seventy-three fishermen who had been detained by the Arakan Army in Myanmar were repatriated to Bangladesh through the Teknaf border in Cox’s Bazar on Monday, February 16, 2026. Among them, 66 are Bangladeshi nationals and seven are residents of Rohingya camps. The handover took place at the zero line of the Naf River, followed by official reception at Teknaf Jetty Ghat. Local administration, union council representatives, and law enforcement agencies verified their identities before initiating the process of returning them to their families.

According to official sources, the fishermen had unintentionally crossed into Myanmar waters while fishing in the Bay of Bengal at various times in 2025, leading to their detention by the Arakan Army. They were held in different camps under the group’s control inside Myanmar. In response, security forces in the Cox’s Bazar region coordinated efforts on humanitarian grounds to secure their release through sustained communication and negotiation.

Lieutenant Colonel Md Hanifur Rahman Bhuiyan of the Teknaf Battalion (2 BGB) described the return before Ramadan as a positive humanitarian development and confirmed that efforts continue to bring back the remaining detained fishermen.