Newly elected Member of Parliament for Habiganj-4 (Madhabpur-Chunarughat) Syed Md. Faisal declared that there will be no compromise with irregularities, corruption, or extortion. Speaking as the chief guest at a public reception organized by Madhabpur Upazila and Municipal BNP and its affiliated organizations on Wednesday afternoon, he warned that strict action would be taken against anyone involved in such activities. Faisal emphasized that even if his stance causes temporary discomfort, he will prioritize public interest above all.

He stated that nearly six lakh residents of Madhabpur and Chunarughat elected him with great expectations, and ensuring their peace, happiness, and security is his moral duty. Faisal also pledged to protect the rights of tea workers and members of the Hindu community, who he said have long been deprived of their due rights. He promised to create an environment where all communities can live peacefully and warned that anyone mistreating them would face legal action. He further called for collective efforts to make the area free from drugs, aligning with the BNP government’s anti-drug stance under the leadership of Tarique Rahman.

An allegation has been raised against Imran Hossain Pradhan, president of the Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal unit at Jatiya Kabi Kazi Nazrul Islam University, for leading an assault on Deputy Registrar Khandaker Ehsan Habib. The incident reportedly occurred on Wednesday when a group led by Imran visited the vice-chancellor’s office with various demands. Later, near the medical center, the group allegedly blocked Habib’s path, questioned his visit to the VC office, and warned him not to go there again. When Habib mentioned informing a local MP and syndicate member, Imran and another student, Hridoy, allegedly attacked him. Another deputy registrar, Aminul Islam, was also harassed when he tried to intervene.

Habib is known as a nationalist-leaning officer who previously faced multiple cases under the ICT Act and was dismissed from his job during the Awami League government for criticizing the administration on social media. He was later reinstated by court order. Attempts to contact Imran Hossain Pradhan for comment were unsuccessful.

The incident follows a February 15 allegation that some university officials tried to confine the vice-chancellor in his office.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has announced that his government will work to strengthen and modernize Bangladesh’s national security framework to prevent future tragedies like the Pilkhana massacre. He made the statement on Wednesday, February 25, during a discussion at the Cantonment’s Multi-Purpose Hall marking the BDR Massacre Martyrs’ Day. The prime minister described the Pilkhana tragedy as a major blow to national security and said it exposed serious weaknesses in the country’s defense structure.

Rahman emphasized that remembering the Pilkhana massacre with state honor is a moral duty of the government. Speaking as both a public representative and a member of a military family, he reflected on the long struggle of the victims’ families, who had been deprived of justice for 17 years. He paid deep respect to the martyrs and praised the patience and courage of their families.

The prime minister reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring that such an incident never happens again by reinforcing the country’s security institutions and modernizing the border forces.

Bangladesh Bank Governor Ahsan H. Mansur left office on Wednesday amid protests and ultimatums from officials. Shortly after his departure, the government canceled his appointment and named businessman Mostakur Rahman as the new governor. Mansur held an emergency press conference at 2 p.m., describing the protests as a conspiracy by vested interests. He said issues such as bank mergers, state policy, and political economy were not matters for employee organizations to debate.

Mansur explained that the merger process aimed to protect the interests of 7.6 million depositors who had been unable to withdraw their funds for two years. He alleged that a group was spreading misinformation to derail the recovery of merged banks and return them to former owners. Responding to questions about resignation demands, he said he came to serve, not for a job, and would act according to administrative procedures.

After the press conference, media outlets reported the government’s appointment of a new governor. Mansur told journalists he had not resigned but left the office after seeing the news of the new appointment on television.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer and opposition leader Dr. Shafiqur Rahman has warned that his party will build a strong nationwide resistance if extortion is not stopped. Speaking as the chief guest at an iftar event organized by Jamaat’s Kafrul North and South units at Monipur High School in Mirpur, Dhaka, he said the people, especially the youth, voted for change in the February 12 election, but the results were altered through election engineering. He pledged to guard every polling center in the next election and defend citizens’ voting rights even at the cost of life.

Dr. Rahman stated that Jamaat will speak for the people in parliament and turn Dhaka-15 into a model constituency. He thanked the ruling party for following Jamaat’s pledges on refusing tax-free cars and government plots and for ensuring respectful repatriation of expatriate bodies. The event was chaired by Mohammad Selim Uddin, who said Jamaat aims to play a meaningful opposition role in parliament.

The gathering was attended by central and local Jamaat leaders, labor representatives, and community members from the Mirpur area.

Bangladesh’s Education Minister A N M Ehsanul Haque announced that students from private kindergarten schools will now be eligible to sit for the fifth-grade scholarship examination, expanding beyond government school students. The decision was made following a High Court order concerning the previous policy that limited the exam to government institutions.

At a press conference held at the Secretariat, the minister stated that the same question paper will be used for all participants. He explained that 80 percent of the scholarships will be allocated to government school students, while 20 percent will go to private kindergarten students. The minister also detailed that talent pool scholarship recipients will receive a one-time payment of 225 taka and a monthly stipend of 300 taka, while general grade recipients will receive 225 taka per month.

He added that efforts will be made to increase the number of scholarships in the coming year.

Bangladesh’s Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir met with Chinese Ambassador Yao Wen at the minister’s office in the Secretariat on Wednesday, February 25, 2026. The meeting focused on bilateral trade, investment, and economic cooperation between Bangladesh and China. Muktadir described China as a long-standing and trusted partner and urged for increased Chinese investment in Bangladesh.

The minister highlighted challenges in fertilizer production due to gas shortages and invited Chinese investors to participate in LNG-based fertilizer projects, assuring that the government would purchase the produced fertilizer. He also called for Chinese investment in closed jute mills. Additionally, Muktadir emphasized potential cooperation in digital infrastructure, e-learning centers, and artificial intelligence development to strengthen bilateral relations.

Ambassador Yao Wen congratulated the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) on its electoral victory and Muktadir on his ministerial appointment. He expressed China’s intention to expand investment in Bangladesh to create jobs and anticipated major changes under the new BNP government. The ambassador also invited the minister to visit China.

Bangladesh Bank Governor Ahsan H. Mansur left office on Wednesday amid protests and internal unrest among bank officials. Following his departure, the government canceled his appointment and named businessman Mostakur Rahman as the new governor. The situation inside the central bank turned chaotic as officials expelled the governor’s adviser Ahsan Ullah and security director Faruk Howlader, prompting additional police deployment.

Earlier in the day, the Bangladesh Bank Officers’ Welfare Council held a protest demanding withdrawal of show-cause notices and transfers of three officials. They accused the governor of autocratic behavior and ignoring legitimate demands. Several senior officials criticized Mansur for excessive contractual appointments and questioned his leadership decisions. In response, Mansur held a press conference describing the protests as a conspiracy by vested interests and defended his policies on bank mergers and depositor protection.

Shortly after his press conference, news broke that the government had appointed a new governor. Mansur said he had not resigned but left after learning of the appointment through media reports.

A 5.1 magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar’s Sagaing region on Wednesday night, February 25, 2026, at around 10:51 p.m. local time, with tremors felt across Bangladesh including the capital Dhaka. The Meteorological Department’s Seismic Observation Center confirmed the event, noting that the quake originated about 75 kilometers southeast of Myanmar’s Maulike area at a depth of approximately 101 kilometers.

Meteorologist Farzana Sultana stated that the epicenter was in neighboring Myanmar, about 462 kilometers from Dhaka, and described it as a moderate earthquake. The tremors were more noticeable in Cox’s Bazar and surrounding areas, where residents in places such as Ukhiya, Teknaf, Ramu, Lama, and Naikhongchhari reported shaking.

Residents in multi-story buildings in Cox’s Bazar said they felt the tremor strongly and were alarmed. This follows an earlier 5.9 magnitude earthquake recorded on February 3 in the same region, indicating continued seismic activity near Bangladesh’s southeastern border.

The Amar Ekushey Book Fair 2026 will begin on Thursday, February 26, with Prime Minister Tarique Rahman inaugurating the event at 2 p.m. The fair’s theme this year is “Multidimensional Bangladesh.” During the opening ceremony, the Prime Minister will also present the Bangla Academy Literary Award 2025. The event will be chaired by Professor Abul Kasem Fazlul Haque, President of Bangla Academy, with speeches from Director General Professor Mohammad Azam, Cultural Affairs Minister Nitai Roy Chowdhury, and State Minister Ali Newaz Mahmud Khaiyam.

The fair will remain open daily from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m., except on holidays when it will open at 11 a.m. Entry will close at 8:30 p.m. A total of 549 publishing houses will participate, including 81 at the Bangla Academy premises and 468 at Suhrawardy Udyan, with 1,018 units in total.

Organizers aim to make this year’s fair environmentally conscious and “zero waste,” banning polythene and smoking. Stalls and materials will use eco-friendly items such as jute, cloth, and paper, with regular cleaning and mosquito control measures in place.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has described the 2009 Pilkhana tragedy as an attempt to undermine Bangladesh’s sovereignty and emphasized the need to commemorate it with state honor. Speaking on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, at a discussion in Dhaka Cantonment marking National Martyred Soldiers Day, he said that failing to give the events of February 25 and 26 due state recognition would be an injustice to history and future generations.

Rahman paid tribute to the 74 people, including 57 army officers, who were killed in the 2009 incident, calling it a deep wound in the nation’s history. He also recalled the sacrifices of martyrs from the Liberation War, the 1990 mass movement, and the 2024 uprising. The prime minister said the government would work with the armed forces to preserve the memory of the tragedy and ensure long-term welfare for the victims’ families.

He further stated that the Pilkhana incident exposed weaknesses in national security and pledged to modernize and strengthen the country’s defense structure to align with global standards.

Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir said that Bangladesh is reviewing trade and tariff issues with the United States, describing the situation as still evolving. He made the remarks on Wednesday, February 25, after a meeting with business representatives at the Ministry of Commerce to determine the next steps regarding the trade agreement with the U.S. State Minister for Commerce Md. Shariful Alam, Commerce Secretary Mahbubur Rahman, senior officials, and business leaders were present.

The minister explained that the U.S. Supreme Court had declared previous tariff rates untenable, leading to new tariffs of 10 percent and later 15 percent for all countries. However, Bangladesh has not yet received any official written communication from the U.S. government. He added that under U.S. law, the new tariff interpretation must be approved by Congress within 150 days. The minister also noted that the previous interim government had signed a trade deal with the U.S., but its implications are still under review.

He emphasized that the agreement remains sensitive and that premature comments could be inappropriate. Business representatives discussed sectoral challenges and market issues during the meeting.

Education Minister Dr. A N M Ehsanul Haque Milan announced that the government will review the final ordinance of the newly established Dhaka Central University, which was formed by merging seven government colleges in Dhaka. He made the statement on Wednesday afternoon at the Secretariat while speaking to reporters after publishing the results of the junior scholarship examination.

In response to questions about whether decisions regarding the seven colleges and education law were made hastily during the interim government period, the minister said the ordinance has been brought under review. A committee will be formed to examine the matter and determine whether the establishment of the university was rushed.

The gazette for Dhaka Central University was published on February 9 on the website of the Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Ministry of Law.

Finance Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury said the replacement of the Bangladesh Bank governor is part of a broader set of changes under the new government. Speaking to reporters at the Secretariat on February 25, 2026, he explained that the government is making adjustments in various institutions to implement its priorities and programs. He described the process as normal and said further changes would occur as needed.

The government recently removed Dr. Ahsan H. Mansur from the post of Bangladesh Bank governor and appointed Md. Mostakur Rahman, F.C.M.A., in his place. According to a notification from the Financial Institutions Division, Rahman will serve a four-year term under the Bangladesh Bank Order, 1972, effective immediately. He must sever ties with other organizations before assuming office and will receive salary and benefits from the central bank as per contract terms.

Dr. Mansur had been appointed in August 2024 for a four-year term but was removed after about one and a half years in the position.

National Citizens Party (NCP) convener and opposition chief whip Nahid Islam has called for the impeachment and arrest of President Md. Shahabuddin. He made the demand on Wednesday afternoon after visiting the graves of the Pilkhana massacre victims at the Banani Military Cemetery in Dhaka.

Nahid Islam alleged that President Shahabuddin failed to take effective measures to prevent the mass killings that occurred in July 2024. He stated that the president cannot avoid responsibility for the incident and urged that the first session of Parliament initiate impeachment proceedings. Following impeachment, he said, the president should be arrested for his role in the tragedy.

The statement marks a strong political move by the opposition, directly accusing the head of state of negligence in a major national crisis.