At the District Commissioners’ conference on Tuesday, the District Commissioners (DCs) proposed universal military training for the youth to actively contribute to national defense. This was shared by the Special Assistant to the Adviser, Lieutenant General (Retd.) Abdul Hafiz, with the media. He further mentioned that the Chief of General Staff had stated that, through the Ansar and VDP, one company is already being trained in every union and upazila. One DC had requested whether this could be expanded. This initiative involves political and financial considerations. The Special Assistant assured that if the government decides, the plan will proceed.

After a meeting with District Commissioners (DCs), Adviser Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan emphasized that local government elections should take place before the national parliamentary elections. He stated that members of the Awami League who are not involved in any wrongdoing but wish to participate in the elections will be able to do so by seeking forgiveness. However, he clarified that war criminals will not be given this opportunity. The Adviser pointed out that there are no elected representatives in local government, and administrators are unwilling to take on additional responsibilities. He stressed the importance of holding local elections swiftly, and if these elections do not occur, administrators will need to be appointed.

A court has ordered the seizure of 28 bighas of land and the freezing of 19 bank accounts belonging to Arifa Jesmin, wife of former State Minister Junaid Ahmed Palak. The Dhaka Metropolitan Court issued this order on Tuesday following a petition by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). The court also imposed a travel ban on her. The petition stated that there is a possibility of changes in the ownership of assets under her name, and to ensure a fair investigation, both movable and immovable properties must be frozen. The travel ban is deemed urgent for the ongoing investigation. Previously, on December 12, the ACC filed a case against Palak and his wife.

During the opening ceremony of the ‘Youth Festival 2025’ on Tuesday, Adviser Mahfuz Alam stated that the issue of forced disappearances and secret detention began during Sheikh Mujib’s rule. He also noted that the one-party rule Sheikh Mujib envisioned has been realized under Sheikh Hasina’s leadership. He remarked that the beautiful dream the students once took to the streets for has yet to be fulfilled, and justice for the killers will be key to realizing that dream. He emphasized that merely elections and reforms won’t solve everything and noted that the government is making significant efforts to build a new state.

On February 18, tensions flared at Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (KUET) as students rallied to ban student politics on campus. The protesters marched through university halls and surrounded the Vice-Chancellor’s residence in support of the ban. In response, Chhatra Dal activists attacked the students, leading to a violent clash that left at least 60 students injured. Some protesters were seen with machetes during the altercation. The military was deployed to restore peace after the incident.

At the end of the district commissioners’ conference, Advisor Syeda Rizwana Hasan announced that the preliminary report for the Tista Master Plan is expected to be submitted between October and December. The responsible organization, Power China, will present the final master plan to the government by December 2026. She mentioned that currently, there is no master plan in place and questioned how the implementation will proceed. The Advisor explained, “A Chinese group had submitted a plan that was neither feasible nor sustainable. After discussions with them, it was decided to rework the plan.” This comes after the collapse of hopes for a Tista agreement between Bangladesh and former leaders Manmohan Singh and Narendra Modi.

The Bangladesh government has introduced a new passport system, abolishing the police verification process. Under the updated rules, passports will be issued based on online-verified National ID (NID) data for adults and online-verified birth registration details for minors and expatriates. For passport reissuance, if there are changes to essential information, the data from the National ID will be used. This change, announced by Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, aims to simplify the process and ensure quicker passport delivery without delays caused by police verification.

A study found that 98.7% of Bangladeshi garment workers are not enrolled in the Universal Pension Scheme (UPS) due to financial constraints and lack of awareness. Many workers struggle with the high contribution requirements and digital application process. Fear of job loss, layoffs, and workplace hazards also deter participation. The study recommends lowering contributions, allowing job mobility, and offering financial support. It also suggests increasing awareness and ensuring employer participation to improve social security for workers.

The Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) is set to undergo a name change and restructuring, according to Home Affairs Adviser Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury. Speaking after a law and order meeting at the Secretariat, he stated that discussions are ongoing, and the new name may be finalized in the next meeting. Established in 2004 to combat crime and militancy, RAB has faced allegations of human rights violations, leading to U.S. sanctions. A recent report found RAB linked to 172 out of 400 analyzed enforced disappearance cases.

Sports Adviser Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan has questioned the prolonged delay in renovating the country’s national stadium, stating that two or three new stadiums could have been built in the time it has taken.

Speaking at an event on Monday, he stressed the need for an investigation into potential irregularities in the renovation project. He also revealed that an appeal for additional time had been rejected, insisting that the project be completed within the original timeline.

Bhuiyan expressed hope that the work would be finished by March and raised concerns about the feasibility of the overall renovation initiative.

Police in Tongibari, Munshiganj, arrested a woman named Latifa Begum (42) with 97 bottles of Indian Phensedyl on Monday night.

According to Officer-in-Charge Mohibul Islam, law enforcement raided the Abdullahpur Paikpara area at around 3 AM, acting on a tip-off. The bottles were recovered from a wardrobe in Latifa’s house.

She will be presented in court under narcotics charges.

Expressing sympathy for protesting assistant teachers, Primary and Mass Education Adviser Professor Bidhan Ranjan Roy stated that the government’s teacher recruitment process adhered to all legal procedures.

During a briefing on Tuesday, he acknowledged the teachers’ dissatisfaction with the court ruling and confirmed that an appeal had been filed. He explained that the ministry followed the recommendations of the Law and Public Administration ministries before announcing the results.

Due to the ongoing legal proceedings, the administration currently has no further actions to take.

After three days in captivity, 25 abducted workers were rescued in Lama, Bandarban, by law enforcement agencies. They were found in the Baishari Jhir area near the Naikhongchhari border.

According to security forces, the kidnappers fled the scene, leaving the hostages behind during the rescue operation. Local sources reported that armed militants raided six rubber plantations on February 15 and abducted the workers, demanding a ransom of 100,000 BDT per person.

Sources suggest the hostages were released after the ransom was paid.

A new political party emerging from recent mass uprisings is set to launch later this month. However, internal leadership conflicts have already begun, even before its official formation.

In response to inquiries from BBC Bangla, National Citizen Committee leaders acknowledged that while there is consensus on Nahid Islam as the party’s convener, disagreements persist over three key leadership positions. The issue has divided the party into four factions.

Former Dhaka University student leader Rafe Salman Rifat claims that past affiliations with Shibir are being used to sideline him from higher positions. In reaction, his supporters have taken to social media, highlighting the role of Shibir and its former members in the recent uprisings. Party leaders have stated that sincere discussions are ongoing and that a resolution will be reached soon.

In an interview with The Hindu on Monday, Foreign Affairs Adviser Tauhid Hossain stated that Bangladesh-India relations should not be limited to specific governments. Earlier, he met Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar in Oman. When asked about the meeting, he mentioned that after 15 years of a stable relationship, tensions have arisen due to recent changes. However, he believes such tensions should subside within six months.

Hossain also emphasized that minorities in Bangladesh are not facing persecution and that everyone enjoys equal rights. He confirmed that Bangladesh has sent a letter regarding Sheikh Hasina’s return and recommended maintaining restrictions until a response is received. Additionally, he stressed the need to take a strict stance against border killings and called for a review of the Adani agreement.