A fisherman named Shahadat Hossain was shot dead by sea robbers while fishing off the coast of Kutubdia in Cox’s Bazar on Wednesday afternoon. The attack occurred when a fishing boat carrying 20 fishermen came under fire after robbers attempted to board but failed. Shahadat, aged 17, sustained critical injuries and was taken to Kutubdia Hospital around 11:30 p.m., where he was pronounced dead by Dr. Tasnimul Abedin Rahat.

According to Nasir Uddin, the owner of the fishing boat, the incident took place around 2 p.m. while the crew was fishing in the sea. Kutubdia Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mahbubul Alam confirmed that Shahadat’s body was recovered and sent to the district hospital morgue on Thursday morning.

The report did not mention whether any suspects were identified or if an investigation had been launched following the attack.

Residents of West Ulon in Dhaka’s Hatirjheel area staged a protest on Wednesday night, surrounding the local police station after the body of six-year-old Tahedi Akter was discovered in stagnant water at an under-construction building. The demonstrators demanded justice and blocked nearby roads, alleging foul play in the child’s death.

Police said the body was recovered on Tuesday night and sent to Dhaka Medical College Hospital morgue for autopsy. Tahedi, daughter of Md. Liton Mia from Comilla’s Titas upazila, lived with her family in West Ulon. Her uncle reported that she went missing while her mother was praying, and was later found unresponsive in the water pit. Family members expressed suspicion about the cause of death, citing inconsistencies such as the absence of water in her stomach and biscuit crumbs in her mouth.

Hatirjheel Police Station Officer-in-Charge Golam Mortuza confirmed that a murder case was being filed, though no suspects were named. He said the investigation was being treated with high priority.

At least 15 people were injured in a clash between two factions of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) in Magura municipality on Wednesday evening. The incident occurred around 7:30 p.m. in the Shibrampur and Bhatikadanga areas, reportedly over the distribution of government-allocated rice ahead of Eid. Police detained three individuals for questioning following the violence.

According to local sources, the dispute began between Ward No. 8 BNP president Tarikul Sheikh and local BNP leader Abu Mia over the rice distribution process. Their supporters engaged in a chase and counter-chase that escalated into a violent confrontation. Several injured individuals were admitted to Magura 250-bed hospital for treatment, and the office of the ward president was reportedly vandalized during the incident.

Additional police have been deployed in the area to maintain order, and authorities reported that the situation is now under control, though tension remains high in the locality.

A massive fire at a newly built LPG gas station in the Kalatali area at the entrance of Cox’s Bazar city was brought under control after seven hours of continuous effort. The blaze, which began around 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday at the ‘N Alam Filling Station,’ was contained at about 1:45 a.m. Thursday through a joint operation by ten units from the Fire Service, Army, BGB, Police, and Air Force. At least 15 people were burned, with nine transferred to hospitals in Chattogram and Dhaka for advanced treatment. Around 50 nearby houses and shops were damaged.

District Commissioner Md. A. Mannan confirmed that several homes and vehicles were affected, and financial assistance will be provided to the injured. Police coordinated with other agencies to keep onlookers safe and minimize losses. Witnesses reported that the fire started from a gas leak and reignited after an explosion around 10 p.m., spreading to nearby structures.

Fire officials stated that the station was under construction and operating without formal approval or safety measures when the incident occurred.

A feature article by Dr. Tawhidul Islam, published on February 26, 2026, explores how Islam entered and expanded in Bengal through economic and trade connections rather than solely through conquest. The piece traces the process from Muhammad bin Qasim’s Sindh campaign in 712 CE to Bakhtiyar Khalji’s conquest of Bengal in 1204 CE, emphasizing that commercial motives and political ambitions often underpinned these military movements.

The article highlights that Arab merchants had established strong trade ties with the Bengal region long before Islam’s arrival, facilitating cultural and social exchanges. These interactions, combined with the later arrival of Sufi preachers, helped spread Islamic ideals among local populations. The author argues that economic interests, maritime trade, and social contact were the main driving forces behind the religious and political establishment of Islam in Bengal.

The analysis concludes that Islam’s foundation in Bengal was primarily shaped by economic motivations and sustained trade relations, which fostered both cultural integration and religious transformation across the subcontinent.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman has described the recent situation at Bangladesh Bank as the formal beginning of a government-backed 'mob culture'. In a verified Facebook post on Thursday morning, he expressed concern over the reported humiliation of the central bank’s governor and adviser, calling the incident unfortunate and unacceptable. He urged people from all political backgrounds to speak out against such disorder.

In his post, Dr. Rahman said that the country’s economy is already under severe strain due to corruption, extortion, and syndicates, and that continued misconduct at top state institutions like Bangladesh Bank could destroy what remains of the economy. He alleged that mobs are being created within state institutions to harass competent and patriotic officials.

He called on the government to immediately stop such activities and to ensure that appointments to key positions are made based on merit and patriotism rather than party loyalty.

Authorities in Gafargaon, Mymensingh conducted an eviction drive on Wednesday afternoon at the historic Saltia Bazar area, reclaiming government land valued at approximately Tk 25 crore. The operation was led by Assistant Commissioner (Land) Amir Salman Rony, who oversaw the demolition of illegal structures and unauthorized shop extensions built on public land.

The recovered land, located at the heart of the municipal area, will now be available for use by local residents and traders for market activities. The Gafargaon police and municipal authorities provided full support during the operation, ensuring the removal of all encroachments.

According to the Assistant Commissioner (Land), similar drives to remove illegal establishments and recover government property will continue in the future.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman presented the Ekushey Padak 2026, one of Bangladesh’s highest civilian honors, to distinguished individuals for their outstanding contributions in various fields. The ceremony took place on Thursday morning at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium in Dhaka. The awardees include Farida Akhter Bobita for film, Professor Md. Abdus Sattar for fine arts, Marina Tabassum for architecture, Ayub Bachchu (posthumously) for music, Islam Uddin Palakar for theatre, Shafik Rehman for journalism, Professor Mahbubul Alam Majumdar for education, Tejas Halder Josh for sculpture, and Orthi Ahmed for dance. The band Warfaze received the award as a musical group.

The event was presided over by Prime Minister Rahman and attended by cabinet members, senior military and civil officials, and invited dignitaries. The Ekushey Padak is awarded annually to recognize exceptional contributions to national life and culture.

The ceremony highlighted the government’s continued recognition of excellence across diverse creative and professional sectors, reinforcing the importance of cultural and intellectual achievements in national development.

Khan Akram Hossain of Bagerhat, who had been sentenced to life imprisonment for crimes against humanity committed during the 1971 Liberation War, has been acquitted. The verdict was delivered on Thursday morning by a five-member appellate bench of the Supreme Court headed by Chief Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury.

Previously, the International Crimes Tribunal-1 had sentenced Sheikh Sirajul Haque alias Siraj Master to death and Khan Akram Hossain to life imprisonment on August 11, 2015. The tribunal found Siraj guilty on five of six charges and Akram guilty on one of three charges. Following the tribunal’s decision, Akram appealed to the higher court seeking acquittal.

According to official records, Akram was born in 1955 in Morrelganj, Bagerhat, and later worked in the agriculture department until his retirement in 2011. The acquittal marks a significant development in the ongoing judicial review of war crimes cases from Bangladesh’s 1971 conflict.

A team of the Detective Branch (DB) police in Netrokona came under attack by smugglers during an operation in the border area of Kolmakanda upazila on Tuesday afternoon. The incident occurred in Terotopa village of Rangchhati Union, leaving six DB members, including two sub-inspectors and one assistant sub-inspector, injured. Local police later rescued the injured officers and detained 15 individuals allegedly involved in the assault. Authorities recovered 4.65 million taka, five Indian cows, five bottles of Indian liquor, 20 yaba tablets, an unregistered motorcycle, and a money-counting machine from the scene.

According to police and local sources, the detained group is part of an organized network engaged in smuggling Indian cattle, sugar, cumin, and cosmetics across the Kolmakanda border. The DB team, led by Sub-Inspector Abdul Jalil, launched the operation following intelligence about illegal cattle trading and money exchange at the home of Sarful Islam in Terotopa village. The smugglers reportedly incited locals to attack the officers with iron rods and sticks.

Police are preparing multiple cases over the incident, confirmed Additional Superintendent of Police (Special Branch) Hafizul Islam.

The once fast-flowing Karangi River in Bahubal upazila of Habiganj district has dried up, turning into a dead canal. The riverbed has lost navigability, creating an acute water shortage for residents of three unions who depend on it for agriculture and daily needs. The drying of the river has also endangered local biodiversity.

Farmers who previously relied on the river for irrigation during the Boro season are now dependent on mechanical irrigation systems. Environmentalists allege that no government initiative has been taken to restore the river’s flow, and that unplanned embankments built upstream in Chunarughat have worsened the water crisis downstream. Local farmers and residents report difficulties in farming, livestock rearing, and domestic water use.

Community representatives and social workers have called for immediate dredging to revive the river. The Bahubal Upazila Nirbahi Officer stated that discussions with the Water Development Board are underway to take necessary measures under government planning.

A case has been filed in Chakaria, Cox’s Bazar, over an armed attack on three journalists working for national and regional newspapers. The case, lodged on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, by journalist A K M Iqbal Faruk of Dainik Amar Desh and Dainik Purbodesh, names 11 individuals including alleged illegal sand miner and hill grabber Nazim Uddin, along with 14 to 15 unidentified others, totaling 26 accused. Chakaria Police Station’s Officer-in-Charge Mohammad Monir Hossain confirmed the filing.

The attack occurred on Sunday, February 22, 2026, in the Ichachhari area of Harbang Union while the journalists were documenting illegal sand extraction. The assailants, led by Nazim Uddin, allegedly beat and hacked the journalists, leaving them seriously injured and temporarily detained at the suspect’s house. Locals later rescued them and took them to hospital for treatment.

In response, local journalists held a human chain and protest rally in Chakaria town on Tuesday, demanding the immediate arrest of those involved. Police said no arrests had been made yet but efforts were ongoing to detain the named suspects.

Residents of Sreebardi municipality in Sherpur are facing severe hardship due to the absence of a designated dumping station. Household and market waste is being dumped into a leased private pond in the Purbo Chhonkanda area, as well as scattered along roads and open spaces. The situation has led to environmental pollution, foul odors, and health risks for nearby residents.

Local people complain that despite repeated objections, the municipality has not taken effective action. The pond used for dumping is surrounded by densely populated homes, causing unbearable stench and mosquito infestations. Environmental group Sabuj Andolon’s Sherpur unit criticized the worsening waste management, urging the establishment of an eco-friendly sanitary landfill.

Municipal administrator and Upazila Nirbahi Officer Monisha Ahmed stated that due to the lack of municipal land, waste is temporarily being dumped on rented private property. She added that under the upcoming “32 Municipality Project,” plans are in place to build a modern dumping station to resolve the issue.

River erosion has intensified in Jotpara area of Chauhali upazila in Sirajganj as the water level of the Jamuna River begins to recede. The erosion, reportedly caused by the movement of sand-laden bulkheads near the eastern embankment, has put a multi-crore taka river protection structure at serious risk. Locals have staged repeated protests demanding a halt to bulkhead operations to save their homes and farmland.

According to residents, continuous bulkhead traffic along the eastern bank has endangered around 500 households and large areas of cropland, as well as public institutions including the upazila complex, schools, and markets. In Bagutia Union, geo-bag dumping along a three-kilometer stretch has been damaged due to bulkhead movement close to the bank, threatening nearby villages.

Local authorities, including the Chauhali police and the assistant commissioner (land), have intervened to stop bulkhead movement after residents gathered to block them. Officials confirmed that bulkhead operations have been halted, though a few vessels remain stuck due to navigability issues.

The Amar Ekushey Book Fair 2026 begins today, Thursday, February 26, in Dhaka after multiple schedule changes and months of debate among publishers and organizers. The fair, organized by Bangla Academy, will run until March 15 and is being inaugurated by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. This year’s event coincides with the holy month of Ramadan, prompting special arrangements including fair pricing for iftar, prayer facilities, and extended evening hours. The Dhaka Metropolitan Police has implemented a three-tier security plan for the fairgrounds.

Earlier, the fair’s start date was shifted several times due to the national election and Ramadan. Publishers’ groups had protested the delays and even held a symbolic fair on February 1. Following negotiations led by the new cultural affairs minister and state minister, the fair was rescheduled with waived stall fees and no pavilions. A total of 549 publishing houses are participating across 1,018 units, including 87 little magazines and 63 children’s publishers.

Security measures include 24-hour police monitoring, special patrols, and traffic restrictions around the fair area. Organizers have also pledged to maintain a clean, smoke-free, and polythene-free environment throughout the event.