A protest was held in Dhaka’s Farmgate area condemning extortion and expressing solidarity with victims of recent violent attacks. The event, held on Wednesday, saw spontaneous participation from local residents along with leaders of various political, social, and professional organizations. Speakers strongly denounced the attacks, calling them unacceptable acts of brutality against innocent citizens and political activists who opposed extortion.

Injured participants described how they were deliberately targeted and severely beaten with local weapons for standing against extortion. Their testimonies sparked anger and concern among attendees. Leaders from the 11-party alliance joined the program, pledging unity against terrorism, extortion, and violence, and urging authorities to bring the perpetrators to justice.

Representatives of the National Citizen Party (NCP) reaffirmed their uncompromising stance on protecting citizens’ rights and vowed to continue opposing injustice. They demanded proper medical care for the injured, immediate arrests of the attackers, and exemplary punishment. The speakers also warned that stronger actions would follow if effective measures were not taken to prevent future incidents.

A Dhaka court has issued a travel ban on former Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Habibur Rahman. The order was given on Wednesday by Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Md Sabbir Faiz following a petition from the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). Court bench assistant Md Riaz Hossain confirmed the decision. The ACC’s Deputy Assistant Director Abu Mohammad Anwarul Masud had earlier filed the petition seeking the restriction.

According to the ACC application, Habibur Rahman and his associates are under investigation for allegedly acquiring illegal wealth and laundering money abroad through bribery, corruption, and recruitment irregularities. The ACC stated that credible information suggested Rahman was attempting to leave the country, which could obstruct the ongoing inquiry. After the hearing, the judge approved the petition and imposed the travel ban.

The report also notes that on January 26 of the same year, the International Crimes Tribunal sentenced Habibur Rahman to death for crimes against humanity related to the killing of six people in Dhaka’s Chankharpul area during the July uprising. He is currently absconding.

Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer and Leader of the Opposition in Parliament, Dr. Shafiqur Rahman, visited the graves of soldiers killed in the 2009 Pilkhana massacre. On Wednesday afternoon, he offered prayers for the departed souls at the Banani Military Cemetery, accompanied by party leaders including central executive member Md. Selim Uddin and activists from the Banani and Gulshan units.

During the visit, Dr. Rahman described the slain soldiers as patriotic and among the nation’s finest, expressing deep respect and prayers for their forgiveness. He alleged that the killings on February 25–26, 2009, were planned under the Awami League-led government and called for patience among the victims’ families.

He urged the government to disclose the names of those found guilty in the BDR Investigation Commission report and to ensure their immediate arrest and legal punishment. Dr. Rahman also reiterated his party’s demand for justice in all murder cases related to the incident.

The government has distributed responsibilities to two newly appointed state ministers, according to an order issued by the Road Transport and Bridges Ministry on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, and made public the following day. The office order, signed by Senior Assistant Secretary Ajit Dev, stated that the assignments were made in line with a gazette notification issued on February 17.

Under the new allocation, Habibur Rashid has been given charge of the Road Transport and Highways Division and the Ministry of Railways, while Md. Rajib Ahsan has been assigned to the Ministry of Shipping and the Bridges Division. The order also requested relevant authorities to take necessary measures to implement the portfolio distribution.

The announcement formalizes the division of duties among the new state ministers, marking an administrative step in the government’s ongoing cabinet management process.

A Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) study has identified mustard cultivation as a promising way to reduce the economic risks faced by farmers in the haor wetlands, who rely almost entirely on boro rice. Frequent early floods often destroy the single annual crop, leaving farmers in debt and uncertainty. The research suggests that short-duration mustard can be grown on fallow land between the recession of floodwaters and the start of boro planting, allowing farmers to harvest an additional crop and lessen financial vulnerability.

The project, led by Professor A. K. M. Mominul Islam and supported by Professor Md. Parvez Anwar, has been running since 2023 under BAURES with funding from City Bank. Trials in Kishoreganj’s Mithamain area found that the BINA Sarisha-9 variety sown on November 20 produced the highest yield, while subsequent boro rice crops also performed strongly. Researchers noted that about 40% of haor land remains unused in the rabi season, and integrating mustard could make farming more profitable and resilient.

Field results and farmer feedback indicate growing interest in mustard cultivation, though challenges remain due to uneven water recession and unsuitable lowland plots.

Mostakur Rahman has been appointed as the new governor of Bangladesh Bank, replacing Ahsan H. Mansur. The appointment was confirmed through an official notification issued on Wednesday. Rahman is a Cost and Management Accountant (CMA) with over 33 years of post-qualification experience and holds both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in accounting from the University of Dhaka.

He has been associated with several professional and industry organizations, including the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), Real Estate and Housing Association of Bangladesh (REHAB), Association of Travel Agents of Bangladesh (ATAB), and Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI). Rahman has served on various key committees within these bodies and has worked closely with regulatory institutions such as Bangladesh Bank and the Chittagong Stock Exchange Limited.

As an entrepreneur and senior financial governance expert, Rahman brings more than three decades of leadership experience in corporate finance, export economy, and financial management. His background includes oversight in manufacturing, real estate, and agribusiness sectors, emphasizing financial planning, investment supervision, and governance frameworks.

The Election Commission (EC) has instructed all candidates who participated in Bangladesh’s 13th parliamentary election to submit their election expenditure statements by March 14. A letter signed by EC Senior Assistant Secretary A S M Iqbal Hasan was sent to returning officers on February 25, outlining the directive. The EC cited Article 44(g) of the Representation of the People Order, 1972, which requires candidates to file their expense returns within 30 days after the publication of the official gazette of elected representatives. The gazette for the recently concluded election was issued on February 13.

According to the EC, all contesting candidates must ensure submission of their expenditure details as per Circular-18 issued during the election period. The commission noted that approximately 2,020 candidates contested in the 13th parliamentary election. The submission deadline of March 14 corresponds to the 30-day period following the gazette publication.

The directive reinforces the EC’s monitoring of campaign finance compliance and aims to ensure transparency in electoral spending as mandated by law.

Rashed Pradhan, vice president and spokesperson of the Jatiya Ganotantrik Party (JAGPA), stated that the current government, which he described as a 'managed vote' administration, cannot ensure a fair trial for the Pilkhana massacre. He made the remarks on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, during a discussion organized by JAGPA at the Shafiul Alam Pradhan Auditorium in Paltan, marking 'Shaheed Sena Dibosh'. Pradhan alleged that both India and the Awami League’s blueprint were responsible for the massacre.

He further said that JAGPA has been claiming since 2009 that the Pilkhana tragedy was planned by India and the Awami League, and that an interim government report has now confirmed this. However, he noted that despite the report, the interim government could not initiate the trial process. According to him, neither the current government nor the BNP would be able to deliver justice, and he called for the establishment of a government representing the oppressed people.

The meeting was presided over by JAGPA presidium member and freedom fighter Syed Shafiqul Islam, with several party leaders also addressing the event.

The Election Commission (EC) of Bangladesh has decided to prepare a comprehensive documentation on the activities of foreign observers who participated in the recently held 13th parliamentary election. This is the first time since independence that the EC has taken such an initiative. A 33-member committee has been formed comprising officials from the EC and the Ministry of Information. Senior Assistant Secretary Asma Dilara Jannat has been appointed as the convener, and Deputy Director of the Department of Films and Publications Mamun Or Rashid will serve as the member secretary.

According to an office order signed by EC’s Public Relations Director Md Ruhul Amin Mallik on February 25, the documentation will include photographs and information on the reception, accommodation, and polling center visits of 57 foreign observers who attended the February 12 referendum and national election. The report will be preserved in book form for future reference.

The committee has been tasked with collecting evaluation reports from the observers, compiling write-ups and photographs of their activities, and preparing the final publication.

Member of Parliament Kamruzzaman Kamrul of Sunamganj-1 declared that no extortion will be tolerated in his constituency. Speaking as the chief guest at a views-exchange meeting organized by the Madhyanagar Upazila administration on Wednesday, he said that anyone collecting more than the government-fixed market tax will face action. He urged those taking market leases to act responsibly.

The MP noted that the haor region remains underdeveloped compared to other parts of the country and emphasized the need for joint efforts alongside government initiatives to uplift the backward communities. He appealed for sincere cooperation from all sectors to advance the area’s development.

Kamruzzaman added that he wishes to remain close to the people as “their Kamrul,” not as a distant politician, and aims to earn public affection through his work. The meeting, chaired by the Upazila Nirbahi Officer Ujjal Roy, was attended by representatives of civil society, educators, political leaders, and journalists, who raised issues related to infrastructure, communication, education, and market management.

Citizens for Good Governance (Sujon) has assessed Bangladesh’s 13th national parliamentary election as overall transparent, manipulation-free, and credible. The organization made the observation at a press conference held on February 25, 2026, at the National Press Club, noting that the February 12 election was largely stable, with no major violence or widespread fraud reported. However, Sujon called for serious examination of certain irregularities and limitations observed during vote counting and result announcements in specific constituencies.

Sujon’s central committee member Ekram Hossain stated that while the election day environment was peaceful and marked by cordial gestures between winning and losing candidates, disputes over the Constitutional Reform Council’s oath-taking and the 11-party alliance led by Jamaat-e-Islami boycotting the cabinet oath have created new political uncertainty. He also mentioned delays in counting in some competitive constituencies and allegations of tampering and premature signing of result sheets.

Sujon’s secretary Badiul Alam Majumdar said most parties accepted the results, which is positive for democratic continuity, but emphasized that unresolved disputes and legal ambiguities surrounding the “July Charter” could heighten political sensitivity.

Three leaders from the Chittagong University (CU) unit of Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir have been appointed to the organization’s 2026 central committee. The appointments were made during the first general session of the central executive council held on Tuesday at Al Falah Auditorium in Dhaka. The new central leaders took their oath administered by Shibir’s central president, Nurul Islam Saddam.

According to the announcement, former CU unit president and current Dhaka University MPhil student Saidul Islam has been named literary secretary in the 30-member editorial committee. He previously served as human resource management secretary. Mohammad Ibrahim, who led the CU unit during the first half of 2025, has been appointed education secretary, continuing from his previous term in the same role. Ibrahim Hossain Rony, the current CU unit president and Chittagong University Central Students’ Union vice president, has become a member of the central executive council.

The appointments highlight the continued representation of Chittagong University leaders in the national leadership structure of Islami Chhatra Shibir.

Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General and former MP Mia Golam Porwar has accused President Md. Shahabuddin of violating his constitutional oath by making misleading and sensitive remarks in a recent interview published in a national daily. In a statement sent to the media on Wednesday, Porwar expressed deep concern that the President’s comments had created new controversy and uncertainty in the nation.

Porwar stated that the President’s position is the highest constitutional office in the country, and every statement or action from him carries great significance. He alleged that by disclosing internal and confidential state matters publicly, the President breached his oath and failed to protect state secrets, leading to public confusion and concern. Porwar emphasized that responsible figures must maintain transparency, accountability, and constitutional propriety in governance.

He urged the President to remain respectful of the constitution and law, to speak with restraint, and to act cautiously to preserve the dignity and stability of the state.

Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General and former MP Professor Mia Golam Porwar has called for ensuring justice for those involved in the 2009 Pilkhana massacre, describing the incident as a conspiracy against Bangladesh’s independence and sovereignty. He made the remarks on Wednesday at a discussion organized by Jamaat-e-Islami Dhaka South, marking the anniversary of the February 25, 2009 BDR mutiny that resulted in the killing of army officers.

Porwar said the tears and grief of the families of the martyrs remain a curse for the nation and urged that the perpetrators be brought under the law without further delay. He also demanded the release and compensation of BDR members allegedly wrongfully convicted in connection with the case. Jamaat Assistant Secretary General and MP Maulana Rafiqul Islam Khan claimed that the silence of the then prime minister and army chief indicated their involvement in the killings.

Speakers at the event further demanded justice for all killings under the Awami League’s 15-year rule and expressed readiness to cooperate with the government for public welfare while warning of street action if the government acts against the people.

Member of Parliament Abdul Hannan Masud from Noakhali-6 (Hatiya) constituency was attacked on Wednesday afternoon while visiting areas affected by post-election violence. The incident occurred around 1 p.m. at Prokolpo Bazar in Chanandi Union of Hatiya upazila. According to local sources, Masud came to inspect the situation and meet residents when a group of assailants attacked him. Following the attack, clashes broke out between his supporters and the attackers, prompting the MP to take position on the road.

Masud stated that the assault was led by a known local criminal named Belal Majhi, who allegedly injured him and others. He declared he would not leave the site until Belal Majhi was arrested, claiming the same person had attacked former MP Fazlul Azim in 2018. Attempts to contact Belal Majhi were unsuccessful.

Hatiya Police Station Officer-in-Charge Saiful Alam confirmed his presence at the scene and said police were working to maintain law and order as tensions remained high in the area.