Chief Adviser of the interim government Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus delivered a farewell speech to officials and employees at his office on Monday, February 16, 2026. Following the address, he participated in a photo session with the staff, marking his departure from the current role before the new administration takes office. The information was confirmed by the Chief Adviser’s Press Wing.

The interim government led by Professor Yunus assumed responsibility on August 8, 2024. Its tenure concludes with the swearing-in of the new government on Tuesday, February 17, following the thirteenth national parliamentary election. In that election, the BNP-led alliance secured 212 seats, while the Jamaat-e-Islami-led alliance won 77 seats.

The transition signals the end of the interim administration’s term and the beginning of preparations for the incoming government to assume office.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami chief Dr. Shafiqur Rahman is scheduled to hold a meeting with the party’s newly elected members of parliament on Monday evening. The discussion will take place at 6:30 p.m. at the Al-Falah auditorium in Moghbazar, Dhaka. The information was confirmed by Advocate Ehsanul Mahbub Zubair, the party’s Assistant Secretary General and head of the central publicity and media department.

According to the report, Jamaat-e-Islami secured 68 parliamentary seats in the 13th National Parliamentary Election held on February 12. The meeting is expected to serve as an introductory and consultative session between the party leadership and its new lawmakers following the election results.

The event marks the first formal gathering between the Jamaat chief and the newly elected MPs since the election, indicating the party’s move toward internal coordination and strategic planning for its parliamentary activities.

A fire broke out at Bashar Spinning Limited in Bharadoba Nishinda area of Valuka upazila, Mymensingh, on the night of February 15, 2026. The blaze, reportedly triggered by an electrical short circuit, destroyed several machines, raw materials, and a cotton warehouse. Seven fire service units worked for about three and a half hours to bring the fire under control. The estimated loss from the incident is around Tk 7 crore.

According to Valuka Fire Service Station in-charge Atikur Rahman, the fire started around 10:30 p.m. Two units initially responded, and as the flames intensified, five more units from Trishal, Gafargaon, Sreepur, and Mymensingh joined the operation. Despite the extensive damage to property, no injuries or casualties were reported.

Authorities have not reported any disruption beyond the factory premises, and the cause has been attributed to an electrical short circuit. No further investigation details were mentioned in the report.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has welcomed the decision by the Jamaat-e-Islami-led 11-party alliance to form a shadow cabinet. BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed made the statement on Monday while speaking to journalists in front of the party’s Gulshan office. He also commented on the Election Commission’s authority, noting that the Chief Election Commissioner can administer the oath to newly elected members of parliament in the absence of a Speaker and Deputy Speaker.

Ahmed further explained that the current constitution does not authorize the Chief Election Commissioner to administer the oath to a constitutional reform council, though such a provision could be added through amendment. Another BNP Standing Committee member, Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, said that the country faces challenges in all sectors, including the economy, education, and healthcare, which he described as broken systems.

The shadow cabinet announcement was made on Sunday through Facebook posts by Jamaat candidate and Supreme Court lawyer Mohammad Shishir Monir, along with NCP leader Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan and newly elected MP and Jamaat leader Mir Ahmad Bin Kasem.

Eight people, including the vice-chancellor and proctor of Sylhet Agricultural University, were injured on Sunday following a physical altercation among teachers on campus. The incident occurred when members of the BNP-leaning teachers’ group ‘Sada Dal’ clashed over internal disputes regarding the formation of a new committee that was due in December last year.

According to campus sources, the current committee’s president, Professor Kazi Mehtajul Islam, and general secretary, Professor Shahana Begum, led several teachers to the VC’s office, accusing him of having a ‘Jamaat tag’ and demanding he leave the campus. When the VC and security personnel resisted, they were allegedly assaulted. Later, the proctor, Professor Jasim Uddin Ahmad, and other teachers arrived, leading to further confrontation and injuries.

Professor Mozammel Haque claimed he was attacked by followers of the VC and proctor while raising concerns about administrative irregularities. VC Professor Alimul Islam accused a specific group of trying to destabilize the university to regain former administrative positions and called for justice over the incident.

The Government of Bangladesh has introduced a free Freelancer ID Card to officially recognize the country’s freelance professionals. Applications are being processed through the official website freelancers.gov.bd under the Information and Communication Technology sector. The initiative aims to create a national database of genuine freelancers and bring their profession under formal state recognition.

Previously, freelancers faced difficulties proving their professional identity for banking, taxation, and institutional purposes. The new government-issued ID card is expected to serve as a credible identity document, potentially easing access to financial and government services. Applicants must be Bangladeshi citizens with a national ID, verifiable freelance income from international clients, and proof of completed work.

Authorities have warned applicants not to provide false information, as fraudulent submissions could lead to legal complications. The government expects that the collected data will help design future training, incentives, and financial support programs, marking a significant step toward institutionalizing Bangladesh’s growing freelancing sector.

The first meeting of the committee formed to implement Bangladesh’s proposed ninth national pay scale has been held, according to interim government press secretary Shafiqul Alam. The meeting, held on Sunday, discussed the implementation process of the new pay structure. The committee, headed by the then cabinet secretary, includes senior secretaries from key ministries such as public administration, defense, finance, education, health, and law, along with the comptroller general of accounts. It will review salary-related recommendations from the National Pay Commission 2025, Judicial Service Pay Commission 2025, and Armed Forces Pay Committee 2025 before submitting its report to the government.

The interim government had formed the ninth National Pay Commission on July 27 of the previous year, led by former finance secretary Zakir Ahmed Khan. The commission submitted its report to Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus on January 21, proposing to raise the minimum salary from Tk 8,250 to Tk 20,000 and the maximum from Tk 78,000 to Tk 160,000, reducing the pay ratio from 1:9.4 to 1:8. The proposal also includes health insurance, pension reform, and restructuring of the government employees’ welfare board.

Government employees have begun organizing to press for the implementation of the new pay scale and plan to meet the incoming head of government to present their demands.

The Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) will start selling essential commodities from open trucks across the country on Tuesday, ahead of the holy month of Ramadan. The initiative will offer five key products—edible oil, sugar, chickpeas, lentils, and dates—at prices lower than the market rate. Sales will also continue through the family card distribution system. According to TCB, all preparations have been completed, and designated dealers have been instructed to deposit funds before collecting goods.

The TCB spokesperson, Shahadat Hossain, said the truck-based sales aim to help stabilize the market during Ramadan. Around 400 trucks will operate nationwide, each serving about 400 consumers. The sales will take place every day except Friday in all districts, city corporations, and divisional cities. Regular items will be available along with chickpeas and dates to meet seasonal demand.

The program is expected to support consumers by ensuring access to essential goods at affordable prices during the high-demand Ramadan period.

National Youth Shakti and Student Shakti’s Sunamganj district branches held a press conference on Monday morning at the Jagatjyoti Public Library hall to protest the recent attack on Imandozza Ahmad, a central organizer of National Youth Shakti and former convener of the Sunamganj Anti-Discrimination Student Movement. The written statement was read by Ridwanul Haque Nihal, member secretary of the district branch of National Student Shakti.

According to the statement, the attack occurred on the night of February 13, 2026, around 10 p.m. Nihal described it as a premeditated political assault and demanded that those responsible be identified and brought to justice swiftly. The speakers asserted that such acts of terror and repression cannot silence activists and warned that they would take to the streets if necessary.

The conference also urged local authorities to strengthen citywide security and take effective measures to prevent similar incidents in the future. Leaders rejected attempts to portray the attack as a personal dispute, insisting it was politically motivated.

Bangladesh Army Chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman paid a farewell courtesy call on the Chief Adviser of the interim government, Professor Muhammad Yunus, on Monday at the Chief Adviser’s Office in Tejgaon, Dhaka. During the meeting, they exchanged greetings and held a brief discussion on various matters related to their respective tenures.

According to the report, the Chief Adviser expressed sincere gratitude to the Army Chief for the army’s cooperation during his tenure, particularly in the period surrounding the national parliamentary elections. The meeting was described as a formal farewell interaction marking the conclusion of their official collaboration.

The event highlighted the working relationship between the interim government and the Bangladesh Army during a politically significant period, underscoring mutual respect and institutional coordination as the interim administration transitions toward its next phase.

Interim government Housing and Public Works Adviser Adilur Rahman Khan announced that 37 houses have been prepared for incoming ministers, state ministers, and deputy ministers of the new government. He shared the information with journalists at his office in the Secretariat on Monday, noting that the residences are located in Minto Road, Hare Road, Dhanmondi, and Gulshan. Additional houses may be arranged if required.

Khan added that some of the 37 houses are currently occupied by members of the existing advisory council. Regarding the Prime Minister’s residence, he said that the decision will be made in consultation with the concerned individuals according to their preferences.

The announcement comes as the BNP prepares to form a new government after winning more than two-thirds of the seats in the 13th National Parliament election. The new cabinet members are scheduled to take their oaths on Tuesday.

Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) announced that 236 members of the 13th National Parliament are millionaires, while 13 are centimillionaires. The disclosure came during a press conference held at TIB’s Dhanmondi office on Monday afternoon.

According to TIB, among the 236 millionaire lawmakers, 189 belong to the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and 38 to Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami. This means 90.87 percent of BNP’s members of parliament are millionaires, while 55.07 percent of Jamaat’s members fall into the same category.

The findings highlight the significant concentration of wealth among lawmakers in the newly formed parliament, as presented by TIB in its latest report.

Shameem Sayedee, the Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami candidate for the Pirojpur-2 constituency (covering Kaukhali, Bhandaria, and Nesarabad), expressed gratitude to his supporters and voters after losing the election. In a verified Facebook post from his account 'Shameem Sayedee', he congratulated all winning candidates and thanked those who voted for him or assisted in his campaign through rallies, meetings, labor, and advice. He acknowledged that he could not personally respond to all messages and calls of sympathy following the election.

In his post, Sayedee stated that the affection of his supporters was invaluable and expressed optimism about the future. He urged everyone to remain active in their respective roles, learn from past mistakes, and strive for greater success ahead. He reaffirmed his commitment to stand by the people as he had done in the past.

Following the post, many supporters reacted on social media, offering encouragement and best wishes for his future endeavors. Sayedee had lost the Pirojpur-2 seat by 8,288 votes to BNP candidate Ahmad Sohel Monjur Suman.

Following its landslide victory in the 13th parliamentary election, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) is preparing to form a new government, with the swearing-in scheduled for Tuesday. Party sources indicate that Tarique Rahman, set to become prime minister for the first time, aims to combine the experience of senior leaders with the energy of younger figures. Discussions are ongoing at the party’s Gulshan office to finalize the cabinet list, with emphasis on efficiency, integrity, and public image.

Analysts note that the cabinet is being designed to ensure administrative competence and a people-oriented outlook, prioritizing ministries such as finance, home, foreign affairs, local government, education, and health. Several young leaders, including Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Annie, Shama Obaid, and Dr. Reza Kibria, are being discussed for key roles, alongside veteran figures like Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and Dr. Abdul Moyeen Khan.

BNP also plans to include leaders from allied movements in the new cabinet, reflecting its earlier pledge for a participatory national government. The final lineup will be revealed on the day of the oath ceremony, which observers see as the new administration’s first major political and administrative test.

Bangladesh Bank has issued a new directive warning against the use of sample notes or paper resembling real currency in social media and marketing campaigns. The central bank’s Department of Communications and Publications announced on Sunday that such activities are legally punishable and increase the risk of counterfeit currency circulation. The notice highlighted that videos and images on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube have shown marketing content using large-sized sample notes similar to genuine ones.

The bank stated that producing, using, or distributing paper resembling legal tender is a criminal offense under Section 489(E) of the Penal Code, 1860. It also warned that spreading false or misleading information through digital media could be punishable under Section 25 of the Cyber Security Act, 2023. The directive urged the public to remain cautious, avoid unauthorized promotional activities, and verify the authenticity of banknotes.

Bangladesh Bank advised citizens to learn about the security features of real notes and ensure safe transactions by visiting its official website for detailed information on currency identification.