Police in Muradnagar upazila of Cumilla have arrested a youth named Al Amin Molla on charges of abducting and raping the wife of an expatriate. The arrest took place on Tuesday evening from a rented house in the Ramdhanimura area, and the victim was rescued. The following morning, the accused was sent to the Cumilla Judicial Court. Two of his accomplices managed to flee during the operation.

According to the case statement, about one and a half years ago, the victim was married to an expatriate through family arrangements. On February 19, while she was traveling from her in-laws’ house to her father’s home, Al Amin allegedly abducted her and took her to his rented house, where he forcibly raped her. The next day, they reportedly registered a marriage through an affidavit at a Cumilla court.

Muradnagar Police Station Officer-in-Charge Anwar Hossain Chowdhury said the arrest was made based on the victim’s family’s complaint, and efforts are underway to apprehend the two fugitives.

State Minister for Liberation War Affairs Ishraq Hossain announced that the Prime Minister has directed officials to ensure no one is excluded from the list of July uprising fighters on political grounds. He made the statement on Wednesday after an inter-ministerial meeting on liberation war affairs held at the Secretariat.

Hossain explained that in previous periods, many July fighters were left out of the official list due to their association with the BNP, which deprived them of government assistance. The Prime Minister has now instructed that those excluded be added to the list promptly. He also said the Prime Minister has inquired about the treatment of those injured in the July uprising and the rehabilitation of families of those who were killed.

The meeting also discussed rehabilitation measures for those injured in the July uprising, according to the state minister.

Two people were killed and one injured when a truck ran over a van in Fulbari upazila of Dinajpur on Wednesday morning. The accident occurred around 8 a.m. on the Dinajpur-Gobindaganj regional highway at Baliharpur area under Aladipur Union. Police confirmed that the deceased were van driver Ainul Sarkar, 53, of Rajarampur area in Shibnagar Union, and passenger Ruma Khatun, 22, of Baraihat area in Aladipur Union. Another passenger, Yasmin Akter, 45, was injured and is receiving treatment at the local health complex.

According to local sources, the victims were traveling by van from Baraihat to a factory in Rangamati when a Dhaka Metro-registered truck lost control and crushed the van. The truck driver and his assistant fled the scene after the incident. Police and fire service personnel later recovered the bodies and seized the truck.

Fulbari police said the bodies have been prepared for handover to families and a case under the Road Transport Act is being processed.

Officials and employees of Bangladesh Bank have warned they will begin a symbolic pen-down strike from Thursday if their demands, including withdrawal of show-cause notices and transfers of three officials, are not met. The announcement came Wednesday during a protest meeting held under the banner of the Bangladesh Bank Officers’ Welfare Council at the central bank’s 30-storey building. Council president A.K.M. Masum Billah declared that if the demands remain unfulfilled, they will escalate their movement to demand the resignation of Governor Dr. Ahsan H. Mansur.

Speakers at the protest accused the governor of authoritarian behavior and ignoring repeated appeals from staff. They alleged that contractual appointments have increased while effective economic policies remain absent, and that the governor’s remarks have negatively affected the banking sector. Director and assistant spokesperson Shahriar Siddiqui and executive director Mofizur Rahman Khan Chowdhury both urged the governor to accept the employees’ legitimate demands.

If the issues are not resolved by Thursday, officials plan to hold further discussions on Sunday to decide their next course of action.

On February 25, 2026, State Minister for Youth and Sports Md. Aminul Haque met with State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaid Islam at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Dhaka. The meeting focused on enhancing Bangladesh’s friendly relations with other countries by prioritizing sports as a key area of cooperation.

Discussions highlighted the potential for improving bilateral relations through sports exchanges, international competitions, and mutual collaboration. Both ministers also exchanged views on developing a long-term action plan to effectively use sports diplomacy in promoting Bangladesh’s positive image on the global stage.

According to related sources, one of the main discussion points was using sports as a diplomatic tool to expand Bangladesh’s presence and acceptance internationally.

The High Court is set to hear a writ petition today seeking suspension of activities under the July National Charter 2025. Senior Supreme Court lawyer Mohammad Shishir Monir confirmed the hearing schedule through a social media post, stating that the case will be heard at Court No. 14 between 11:00 and 11:30 a.m. The petition was filed by Supreme Court lawyer Yunus Ali Akand on February 18, requesting a stay on the charter’s implementation.

According to the petition, the July National Charter 2025 has been challenged on grounds of being inconsistent with the Constitution. The petitioner sought a rule asking why the charter should not be declared unconstitutional and requested that its activities remain suspended until the rule is resolved. The High Court is expected to hold further hearings on the matter next week.

The July National Charter 2025 was signed on October 17, 2024, by the interim government formed after the August 5, 2024, mass uprising that led to the departure of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The charter serves as a political document outlining consensus-based reforms across various sectors of the state.

Erosion has begun along the eastern bank of the Jamuna River in Jotpara area of Chauhali upazila, Sirajganj, as water levels start to recede. The erosion, reportedly caused by the movement of sand-laden bulkheads, has put a Tk 107 crore embankment built in 2016 by the Tangail Water Development Board at serious risk. Local residents have staged repeated protests demanding a halt to bulkhead movement to protect the riverbank and the upazila headquarters.

According to the report, over 500 homesteads and farmlands, as well as the upazila parishad, educational institutions, union councils, and local markets, are under threat. The area remains geographically isolated due to poor communication and recurring river erosion. Residents claim that unrestricted bulkhead traffic is the main cause of the current erosion.

Authorities have intervened to stop bulkhead movement after locals gathered to block the river route. Police and administrative officials confirmed that operations were halted, though a few bulkheads remain stranded due to navigability issues.

A Dhaka court has sentenced former Dhaka South Jubo League president Ismail Hossain Chowdhury Samrat to 20 years in prison for amassing illegal wealth. The verdict, delivered by Judge Md Zakaria Hossain of Dhaka’s Special Judge Court-6 on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, includes two separate 10-year sentences under different sections, along with a fine of 2 million taka. In default of payment, Samrat will serve an additional one year of imprisonment. The court also issued an arrest warrant as Samrat remains absconding.

According to court sources, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) filed the case on November 12, 2019, accusing Samrat of acquiring 29.48 million taka in unexplained assets. The ACC submitted its charge sheet on November 26, 2020, and the court framed charges on July 17 of the previous year. All 21 witnesses listed in the charge sheet testified before the court. Samrat was previously arrested during an anti-casino drive in October 2019 and later released on bail in August 2022.

The judgment concludes a long-running corruption case that began over six years ago, marking a significant development in the ACC’s ongoing anti-graft efforts.

Independent candidate Dr. Tasnim Jara has announced that she will return donations made to her election campaign fund for the 13th National Parliamentary Election. She made the announcement on Tuesday night, February 24, 2026, through a verified post on her Facebook page. In the post, she expressed gratitude to supporters who had contributed and provided links to online forms for refund requests. Donors who contributed via bank or mobile payment platforms were instructed to fill out specific forms, with the submission deadline set for March 10, 2026.

Dr. Jara clarified that even those who lost their deposit slips could apply for refunds, which would be processed after additional verification. She thanked her supporters for their trust and affection. In the recently held Dhaka-9 constituency election, Dr. Tasnim Jara secured 44,684 votes, finishing third. The seat was won by Habibur Rashid of the “Dhaner Shish” symbol with 111,212 votes, while Javed Mia Rasin of the “Shapla Koli” symbol came second with 53,460 votes.

The refund initiative marks a rare gesture of transparency following the conclusion of the Dhaka-9 election contest.

Newly elected Member of Parliament for Madaripur-1 (Shibchar), Pirzada Said Uddin Ahmad Hanzala, has warned that any transport worker or owner demanding extra fares or engaging in extortion from passengers will face strict legal action. During a visit on Tuesday to the Patchar roundabout bus station along the Dhaka–Bhanga Expressway, he instructed that anyone caught overcharging should be detained immediately and reported to him. He emphasized that ensuring passenger safety and comfort in public transport is a government priority.

Hanzala spoke directly with passengers, transport staff, and labor leaders during his inspection of the Patchar passenger shelter. He advised drivers not to stop vehicles randomly on the highway for boarding or dropping passengers. The MP also directed the local administration to increase regular monitoring to reduce public suffering at stations.

Administrative officials, police from Shibchar Police Station, and Highway Police were present during the inspection. Hanzala reaffirmed that no extortionist or violator would be spared if found harassing passengers or charging beyond the approved fare list.

Bangladesh Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed has announced that no new investigation commission will be formed regarding the Pilkhana massacre. He stated that the government will focus on implementing the recommendations made by the existing independent commission and ensuring justice for the victims. The minister made these remarks on Wednesday morning after attending the National Martyrs’ Day for Soldiers ceremony at Banani Military Cemetery.

Ahmed assured the families of the victims that justice would be served so that such incidents do not recur. He described the massacre as an attempt to weaken the army and said only those who do not believe in the country’s independence and sovereignty could commit such acts. He also noted that the event is one of the most brutal killings in the world.

Earlier, on February 23, the minister had said that the 2009 BDR massacre would be reviewed thoroughly following the commission’s recommendations, aligning with the government’s election manifesto commitment to uphold justice.

Islami Andolan Bangladesh’s Amir and Charmonai Pir, Mufti Syed Muhammad Rezaul Karim, has called for an impartial and objective investigation into the 2009 Pilkhana killings in Dhaka. In a statement to the media on Wednesday, he said that 57 army officers and a total of 74 people were brutally murdered on February 25, 2009, describing it as one of the most tragic events in history. He noted that such an incident, involving the deaths of army officers in a nation’s capital, is extremely rare.

According to the statement, no neutral or objective investigation has yet been conducted into the massacre. The identities and motives of those involved remain unclear. Islami Andolan Bangladesh urged that after so many years, further delay is unacceptable and that a fair investigation must be carried out swiftly to bring the real perpetrators to justice.

Mufti Rezaul Karim also prayed for the souls of the slain army officers and soldiers and expressed sympathy for their bereaved families.

President Md. Shahabuddin and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman paid tribute to the fallen soldiers at the Banani Military Cemetery on Wednesday morning, marking National Martyrs’ Day. They placed floral wreaths separately after 10 a.m. and observed a moment of silence in honor of the martyrs. A smart contingent of the armed forces rendered a formal salute, accompanied by the sound of the bugle, followed by a special prayer seeking eternal peace for the departed souls.

National Martyrs’ Day, observed on February 25, commemorates the tragic events of 2009 when 57 army officers, including then Border Guard Bangladesh (formerly BDR) Director General Major General Shakil Ahmed, were brutally killed during a mutiny at the BDR headquarters in Pilkhana, Dhaka. Several civilians, including Shakil Ahmed’s wife, were also murdered during the two-day violence.

The day serves as a solemn reminder of the sacrifices made by the armed forces and civilians during the Pilkhana tragedy, with national leaders continuing to honor their memory annually.

Former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, former mayor Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh, former MP Jahangir Kabir Nanak, and several Awami League ministers and MPs may be named as accused in the explosives case linked to the 2009 BDR mutiny. The case, filed under the Explosives Act, has remained pending for 17 years. Chief Public Prosecutor Borhan Uddin indicated that witness statements have mentioned these names, and legal provisions allow their inclusion pending discussions with higher authorities.

The case is being heard at the temporary court of Dhaka Special Tribunal-1, located in Keraniganj Central Jail, under Judge Dr. Md. Alamgir. As of now, 302 out of 1,345 witnesses have testified, with some implicating senior Awami League figures. The case currently lists 822 accused, about 250 of whom are on bail. The next hearing is scheduled for February 26.

The 2009 Pilkhana tragedy killed 74 people, including 57 army officers. While the murder case has reached the Supreme Court, the explosives case remains under trial. Defense lawyers have urged for a speedy verdict and renewed bail applications for the accused.

A section of the M A Goni Road in Burichang, Comilla, collapsed only 18 days after partial repair work was completed. The road repair project, costing Tk 18 crore, has drawn allegations that the contractor used substandard materials and ignored tender conditions. Locals reported that minimal bitumen was used, and no retaining wall was built along parts of the road. Some sections were resurfaced over old carpeting, and the new layer was thinner than required.

The repair work began about two months ago, covering the stretch from Shashongachha to Burichang. Residents claimed that the contractor’s team worked at night using poor-quality pitch, which easily peeled off. In some areas, the carpeting was only 20–25 millimeters thick instead of the specified 50 millimeters. Contractor Mohammad Abul Hossain attributed the collapse to soil displacement and promised repairs, while the Roads and Highways Department’s executive engineer Khondaker Golam Mostafa said the work was ongoing and any irregularities would be investigated.

Authorities have pledged to redo the damaged sections and take action if negligence is confirmed.