A court in Karnataka, India, has sentenced three men to death for the gang rape of two women, including an Israeli tourist, and the murder of a local youth. The verdict was delivered on Monday, February 16, 2026. The case stemmed from an incident in March of the previous year in Koppal district, where five tourists were attacked. The victims included two Indian nationals from Maharashtra and Odisha, an American tourist, an Israeli tourist, and the owner of a local homestay. According to reports, the homestay owner had taken the tourists sightseeing when the accused—Mallesha (Handimalla), Saikumar, and Sharanbasavaraj—blocked their path on motorcycles, citing a financial dispute. The confrontation escalated into violence. The attackers allegedly threw three male members of the group into a canal and raped the two women. One man was killed on the spot after being hit with stones, while another drowned. The court found the accused guilty of gang rape, murder, attempted murder, robbery, and extortion. Judge Sadananda Nagappa Naik imposed the death penalty under Section 103 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and ordered life imprisonment for the rape convictions.

Law enforcement authorities have arrested Hedayet Ali Shah Fakir, chairman of Itakhola Union Parishad in Nilphamari Sadar upazila, who recently joined the BNP. He was a former vice president of the district Krishak League and had been wanted in multiple murder and sabotage cases. Police detained him from his home in Itakhola village on Tuesday afternoon under the leadership of Officer-in-Charge Zillur Rahman. According to local sources and case records, Fakir was known as a close associate of former cultural affairs minister Asaduzzaman Noor during the previous autocratic regime. He was accused of attacking opposition agents during the 2018 national election, embezzling money from locals with false job promises, and aiding in the persecution of opposition activists. He was also named in the 2013 Ramganj Tragedy murder case and several cases related to violence and arson during the July 2024 mass uprising. Police stated that Fakir is being interrogated for information on other violent incidents, and legal proceedings will follow through the court.

A writ petition has been filed in the High Court challenging the validity of the referendum held on February 12 and seeking cancellation of the results announced on February 13. The petition was submitted on Tuesday by Supreme Court lawyer A B M Ataul Majid Touhid in the public interest. Following the referendum, in which the 'yes' side prevailed, the July National Charter (Constitutional Reform) Implementation Order stipulates that a Constitutional Reform Council should be formed with representatives elected to the 13th National Parliament. According to the order, the elected members are to take oath first as Members of Parliament and then as members of the Reform Council. However, 209 Members of Parliament elected from the BNP have not taken oath as members of the Constitutional Reform Council, leaving uncertainty about the council’s full formation and the next steps in implementing the constitutional reform process.

United Kingdom Under Secretary Seema Malhotra paid a courtesy call on Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus on Tuesday at the Jamuna State Guest House in Dhaka. The meeting was confirmed by the Chief Adviser’s Press Wing. According to the press release, British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Sarah Cook and the Chief Adviser’s Office SDG Chief Coordinator Lamia Morshed were also present during the meeting. The report did not provide details about the topics discussed or any outcomes from the meeting. The visit reflects ongoing diplomatic engagement between Bangladesh and the United Kingdom, though no further information on the agenda or future cooperation was disclosed in the source.

Police in Dhamoirhat upazila of Naogaon have arrested butcher Md. Entajul, 55, for allegedly slaughtering a dog and attempting to sell its meat as goat meat. Local residents detained him in the Nanai area on Monday night and handed him over to police. Another accused butcher, Dulu Mia, 57, remains at large. The incident occurred early Sunday when the two men reportedly slaughtered a dog in a potato field in the Mangalbari area and tried to sell about 25 kilograms of the meat at the local market. According to eyewitnesses and police, locals discovered the act and the accused fled, leaving behind the meat. Police later recovered a dog’s head, skin, and the meat from the scene. A case was filed under the Safe Food Act against both suspects for attempting to sell dog meat as goat meat. Entajul was sent to court custody on Tuesday afternoon, while efforts to arrest the other suspect are ongoing. Authorities said the investigation continues to locate the fugitive accused and ensure legal action under food safety laws.

The two-day 57th annual Islahi and Talimi Jalsa dedicated to Hazrat Maulana Abu Bakar Abdul Halim Hossaini (R.) concluded in Pakundia, Kishoreganj, with a mass prayer on Tuesday morning. The final prayer, held at 9:30 a.m., was led by Hazrat Maulana Md. Jasim Uddin Hathazari, where participants prayed for the nation’s development and prosperity. The event began on Sunday afternoon with a general sermon marking the completion of the Bukhari Sharif recitation. Distinguished Islamic scholars from across Bangladesh delivered speeches during the gathering. The Jalsa took place at the Jamia Hossainia Asadul Ulum Qawmi University field, founded by the late scholar Hazrat Maulana Abdul Halim Hossaini (R.). Devotees from Pakundia and other parts of the country attended the event, with around two thousand volunteers managing the proceedings. The madrasa, established in 1962 in Tarakandi village, continues to play a significant role in promoting Islamic education in the region.

A new cabinet comprising 25 ministers and 24 state ministers has been formed under the leadership of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. The oath-taking ceremony took place on Tuesday afternoon at the South Plaza of the National Parliament Building. Despite widespread anticipation among party members, several long-time influential leaders of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) did not receive cabinet positions, sparking political discussion. Among the senior BNP figures excluded from the new cabinet are Standing Committee members Mirza Abbas, Abdul Moyeen Khan, Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Nazrul Islam Khan, Selima Rahman, Amanullah Aman, and Gayeshwar Chandra Roy. In addition, Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi and Vice Chairman Shamsuzzaman Dudu were not included. Except for Shamsuzzaman Dudu, Nazrul Islam Khan, and Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, the others previously held key ministerial roles in past BNP governments. The exclusion of these experienced leaders has drawn attention within political circles, as the new cabinet marks a significant reshuffle under Tarique Rahman’s leadership.

Popular Islamic scholar and As-Sunnah Foundation chairman Sheikh Ahmadullah has announced an online Quran learning initiative for Ramadan. In a Facebook post on Tuesday, he said the program, titled “Sahaj Sutre Quran Shikhi” (Learn the Quran Easily), will be a 27-part recorded video course available on the foundation’s YouTube channel. Each episode will be uploaded nightly after Tarawih prayers throughout the month. The course will be taught by Ustadh Mohammad Husain Madani, a former teacher at Masjid al-Nabawi, who holds certification in Tajweed and the Hafs an Asim recitation. The lessons will cover everything from Arabic alphabet basics to proper Quranic recitation. Each session will include exercises to help learners review and assess their progress independently. According to Sheikh Ahmadullah, the initiative aims to make Quran learning accessible from home during Ramadan. Participants who follow the daily lessons are expected to complete the course by the 27th of Ramadan.

Six elected leaders of the National Citizens’ Committee (NCP) took oaths as members of parliament and as members of the Constitutional Reform Council on Tuesday, February 17, 2026. Shortly after the dual oath-taking, the NCP leadership announced that they would not attend the new cabinet’s oath ceremony scheduled for later that afternoon. The decision was confirmed in a Facebook post by Akhtar Hossain, the NCP member secretary and newly elected MP from Rangpur-4. Hossain stated that the NCP decided to boycott the cabinet oath because the government had not honored the referendum’s verdict regarding the Constitutional Reform Council’s oath procedure. Before the NCP, Jamaat MPs had already taken their oaths as council members, while BNP MPs refrained from doing so. BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed told party MPs that they would not take the council oath, arguing that the council had not yet been incorporated into the constitution. The differing positions among parties highlight ongoing disputes over the implementation of the referendum’s outcome and the legal framework for the Constitutional Reform Council.

A human chain was held on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, in front of Parerhat Rajlaxmi Secondary School and College in Indurkani upazila of Pirojpur district. The protest was organized by teachers and students demanding justice for the knife attack on Mahiyuddin Mallik Nasir, the governing body president of the institution and former convener of BNP’s Pirojpur Sadar upazila unit, and his nephew Riaz Uddin Mallik Nipu. Acting principal Mostafa Talukder called for the immediate arrest and exemplary punishment of those involved, noting that the attackers had not yet been identified by authorities. The participants urged law enforcement to bring the perpetrators under legal action without delay. According to the report, the attack occurred late Sunday night, February 15, near Parerhat bus stand, leaving both victims seriously injured. They were rescued by locals and admitted to Pirojpur District Hospital. The incident has caused tension in the area, with residents demanding swift justice.

U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday described Cuba as a 'failed state' and urged Havana to reach an agreement with Washington. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump dismissed the possibility of any U.S. military operation to change the Cuban government, saying he did not think such action would be necessary. According to AFP, Trump made the remarks while discussing Cuba’s ongoing crisis. The island nation is facing severe fuel shortages and widespread power outages. The Trump administration has tightened the long-standing U.S. embargo on Cuba and is pressuring other countries to halt oil supplies to Havana. Addressing the energy crisis, Trump called it a 'humanitarian threat'. His comments come as Washington continues to exert economic pressure on Cuba while maintaining a stance against direct military intervention.

Independent lawmaker Rumin Farhana took oath as a member of parliament from Brahmanbaria-2 (Sarail, Ashuganj, and part of Bijoynagar) on Tuesday. Speaking to journalists after the ceremony, she commented that around 30 percent of the country’s population will not have representation in the new parliament. She also pointed out that the Awami League is absent from the current parliament. Rumin Farhana further remarked that while the previous parliament did not include the BNP, this time both the Awami League and left-leaning parties are missing. She took oath only as a member of parliament and did not take oath as a member of the Constitutional Reform Council. Her comments highlight the changed political composition of the new parliament and the absence of major political parties, which she suggested will affect representation in national decision-making.

Barrister Farzana Sharmin Putul, newly elected Member of Parliament from Natore-1 (Lalpur-Baghatipara), has been called to serve as a state minister by the central committee. The confirmation came from her close associates, including former Lalpur Upazila BNP member-secretary Harunar Rashid Pappu. The announcement follows her recent electoral victory in the 13th National Parliamentary Election. Putul, the BNP-nominated candidate, secured 102,197 votes under the paddy-sheaf symbol, defeating Jamaat-e-Islami’s Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, who received 89,431 votes under the balance symbol. Independent candidate Taiful Islam Tipu obtained 72,887 votes under the pitcher symbol. A total of 272,355 votes were cast in the constituency. Barrister Farzana Sharmin Putul is the daughter of the late BNP leader Fazlur Rahman Patol. Her appointment as state minister marks a significant step for the BNP in the Natore region following a closely contested election.

An arson attack occurred late Tuesday night at the home of Humayun Molla, president of the BNP’s Hobokhali Union unit in Narail Sadar upazila. According to police and family members, around 1 a.m. residents awoke to an explosion-like sound and discovered a fire in a storage shed on Molla’s property. Despite efforts to extinguish the blaze, the tin structure and its contents were completely destroyed. Supporters of Humayun Molla alleged that the attack stemmed from disputes between two groups following the recently concluded election, in which Molla supported a rebel BNP candidate for the Narail-2 constituency. Police said no formal complaint had yet been filed and that an investigation was underway to determine the cause of the incident. Authorities have not confirmed any suspects or motives, and the investigation remains ongoing.

Former national footballer Aminul Haque has been appointed as the state minister for the Ministry of Youth and Sports in Bangladesh. Although he contested the national parliamentary election from Dhaka-16 as a BNP candidate and did not win, he has been included in the cabinet as a technocrat state minister. The oath-taking ceremony is scheduled for Tuesday, February 17, 2026, at 4 p.m. at the South Plaza of the National Parliament Building, where Aminul will take his oath. The new cabinet includes 25 ministers and 24 state ministers, with two appointed under the technocrat quota. Aminul Haque, who once led Bangladesh to victory in the SAFF Championship during his playing career, is one of them. After taking office, he is expected to begin his official duties on the same day and hold discussions with journalists. His appointment marks the inclusion of a sports personality in the government’s leadership, reflecting recognition of his contributions to national sports and potential to advance youth and sports development.