Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar has invited Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman to visit New Delhi. The invitation was conveyed by Indian High Commissioner Pranay Verma during a courtesy meeting with Rahman on Sunday afternoon. The meeting took place as part of ongoing diplomatic engagement between the two neighboring countries. According to a statement issued by Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Sunday evening, High Commissioner Verma expressed his government’s readiness to work closely with Bangladesh’s new administration to further advance bilateral cooperation. Minister Rahman emphasized Bangladesh’s intention to build a forward-looking and balanced partnership based on mutual interests for the welfare of both nations’ peoples. Both sides agreed to maintain regular and constructive communication to strengthen bilateral relations. The invitation marks a continuation of diplomatic efforts to deepen cooperation between Bangladesh and India.

The National Citizens Party (NCP) has finalized its preliminary mayoral candidates for the upcoming Dhaka North and South City Corporation elections. Party leaders confirmed that senior joint convener Ariful Islam Adib has been selected for Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC), while Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan has been chosen for Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC). Adib previously contested the Dhaka-18 parliamentary seat under the 11-party alliance, securing 111,297 votes despite losing to the BNP candidate. He has also represented the party in urban and environmental forums and was an organizer in the July uprising and anti-fascist movements. Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan, a frontline participant in the July 2024 uprising and former adviser to the post-uprising government, currently serves as NCP’s spokesperson. A central leader of the party, speaking anonymously, said NCP is preparing its nominations assuming the city polls will be held after Ramadan. The party plans to contest the elections in coordination with the Jamaat-led 11-party alliance and will finalize councilor candidates before holding talks with alliance partners. The NCP’s early candidate announcements indicate its readiness to engage in alliance-based local electoral strategies in Dhaka.

Prime Minister Tarek Rahman has expressed a special interest in sending Bangladeshi workers to Japan. The announcement came during a meeting held at the Prime Minister’s Office on Saturday, followed by a follow-up session on Sunday at the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment. The meeting, chaired by Senior Secretary Dr. Neyamat Ullah Bhuiyan, was attended by Minister Ariful Haque Chowdhury and State Minister Md. Nurul Haque. Discussions highlighted Japan’s projected need for about 11 million young workers by 2040 and Bangladesh’s current surplus of 2.3 million youth laborers. The meeting focused on transforming unskilled workers into skilled manpower for deployment abroad, particularly to Japan. It was noted that 53 Technical Training Centers (TTCs) are now offering Japanese language and skill training, up from 33 previously, though there remains a shortage of language instructors. Participants also discussed collaboration with 200 private training centers and recruiting agencies to expand training capacity. A comprehensive action plan is being prepared for submission to the Prime Minister within seven days, with progress reviews scheduled every two working days.

Dr. Shah Muhammad Aman Ullah, an orthopedic specialist and medical officer at Dhaka Medical College Hospital, has been appointed as the Senior Medical Officer at the Prime Minister’s Office. The appointment was announced on Sunday, February 22, through a notification signed by Mohammad Nur-e-Alam, Deputy Secretary (Deputation-1) of the Ministry of Public Administration. According to related sources, Dr. Aman Ullah will oversee healthcare services for the officials and employees of the Prime Minister’s Office and coordinate emergency medical support. His role is considered important for ensuring the smooth delivery of health services within the office. The report notes that Dr. Aman Ullah has previously provided continuous medical care to numerous injured leaders and activists of the BNP and its affiliated organizations during the anti-fascist movement. Known for his modesty, he is described as a trusted physician of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman.

Workers, owners, and residents of Dhaka’s Adabor area surrounded the local police station overnight demanding justice after an armed attack on a garment factory. The incident occurred on Saturday evening when members of a local gang allegedly led by Kala Russell entered the Abir Embroidery factory and injured several workers with sharp weapons after the owner refused to pay extortion money. Two workers, Tofayel and Hafiz Ahmed, were seriously wounded while trying to resist the attackers. Following the attack, protesters gathered outside Adabor Police Station, chanting slogans throughout the night for the arrest of the culprits. Police later detained five members of the youth gang and confirmed that a case had been filed. According to the Dhaka Metropolitan Police, the attack took place during workers’ salary distribution, and operations are ongoing to apprehend the remaining suspects. Authorities said the situation was brought under control after security forces intervened. The factory owner, Mostafizur Rahman Zohir, who is also the general secretary of the embroidery owners’ association, lodged the complaint that led to the arrests.

A secret banner announcing the reopening of the banned Bangladesh Awami League’s Charfassion upazila office in Bhola was discovered early Sunday, February 22, 2026. Locals believe it was placed late the previous night on the wall of the party’s old office on College Road. The banner bore the name of a central Jubo League member, Md. Nazmul Hossain Jewel. Witnesses said those who hung it left quickly, and the banner was later removed by a local Jubo Dal leader before noon. The incident stirred significant local reaction. Anti-fascist activists on social media described it as an attempt to disturb Charfassion’s peaceful environment. Former BNP upazila secretary Motahar Hossain Alamgir Maltia and NCP youth coordinator Shahadat Khondaker Monju condemned the act and demanded that authorities identify those responsible. Police confirmed they were investigating after being alerted. The office had been unused since protesters vandalized it during the August 5, 2024 uprising. It was briefly used by the NCP’s local branch before being locked again, leaving its current status uncertain.

Police in Dhaka’s Mohammadpur area arrested a man accused of demanding extortion money from several local businessmen and paraded him through the streets on Sunday. The suspect, identified as Faruk alias Kala Faruk, was detained in an operation in Keraniganj’s Kolatia area. Mohammadpur Police Station’s officer-in-charge announced through loudspeakers that an extortionist had been caught and urged residents not to pay anyone demanding money. According to Mohammadpur Zone Assistant Commissioner Abdullah Al Mamun, Faruk and his associates had been threatening businesses in the Bosila Garden City area for extortion. After CCTV footage of several incidents spread on social media, Faruk went into hiding. Following public criticism, police tracked him down and arrested him. Mamun described Faruk as a known extortionist and said the public announcement was meant to warn others involved in similar crimes. Police officials said the initiative aimed to send a strong message that no one involved in extortion or land grabbing would be spared.

Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar spoke by phone with Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister Dr. Khalilur Rahman, according to a statement from Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs released on Sunday. During the conversation, Dar congratulated Rahman on his recent assumption of office and both sides agreed to strengthen bilateral relations and expand cooperation across various sectors. The two ministers emphasized building a forward-looking partnership focused on peace, stability, and prosperity. They exchanged views on enhancing mutual collaboration, including in trade and multilateral forums. The statement highlighted their shared commitment to developing a progressive partnership for the welfare of the peoples of both countries. The discussion underscored a mutual interest in deepening engagement between Bangladesh and Pakistan, signaling a renewed diplomatic effort to advance cooperation in multiple areas of shared interest.

Religious Affairs Minister Kazi Shah Mofazzal Hossain (Kaykobad) has declared that no irregularities will be tolerated in the upcoming Hajj operations. Speaking at a meeting with ministry officials on Sunday afternoon at the Secretariat, he said that anyone found responsible for even the slightest deviation in Hajj management will face disciplinary action. The minister emphasized that the same standard of accountability applies to all government duties, warning that negligence in any official responsibility will not be excused. During the meeting, the minister urged officials to perform their duties sincerely for the satisfaction of Allah and to ensure their earnings remain lawful. He criticized the tendency of some officers to appear compliant without contributing meaningfully to the ministry or the country. He encouraged open communication, inviting officials to discuss any personal or professional issues directly with him and to point out if any directive seems unlawful. Senior officials, including the Religious Affairs Secretary Md. Kamal Uddin and several additional secretaries from different divisions, were present at the meeting.

Chattogram City Corporation Mayor Dr. Shahadat Hossain has alleged that several advisers of the interim government engaged in election engineering to defeat the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). Speaking to journalists on Sunday afternoon at the inauguration of a playground and walkway in Halishahar, he said that despite such efforts, the people had countered the engineering and expressed their support for Tarique Rahman as the future prime minister of Bangladesh. Dr. Hossain rejected claims that the BNP manipulated the national election, asserting that as a part of the government, he could confirm that no such engineering was done by the party. He reiterated that the attempts by interim government advisers to influence the outcome had failed. Addressing the upcoming Chattogram City Corporation election, he said he wanted a credible and fair vote to test his popularity among residents. The mayor added that although his term legally extends until 2029, he prefers to hold elections sooner in the spirit of democracy and has already requested an early poll.

A group of extortionists demanded Tk 1 million from Asha Sheikh, a fish trader at Moylapota Sandhya Bazar in Khulna, threatening to shoot him and leave his body on the street if he failed to pay. The incident occurred around 2:15 p.m. on Saturday when the group created chaos at his business establishment named Allah’r Dan. Asha Sheikh later filed a written complaint with Khulna Sadar Police Station. In his complaint, Sheikh mentioned that Ekram and several unidentified men came with a group to demand the money. He said he was not present at the market during the incident, but the attackers searched for him by name in front of the market president and others, ordering his fish shop to remain closed. For safety, Sheikh has since moved to Barishal with his family. Khulna Police Officer-in-Charge Md. Kabir Hossain confirmed that police visited the scene, collected CCTV footage, and assigned Sub-Inspector Ibrahim Talukder to investigate. Authorities said those responsible would be identified and arrested.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has filed two separate cases against former Jessore-1 Member of Parliament Sheikh Afil Uddin and his wife, accusing them of amassing about Tk 63 crore in unexplained wealth. The announcement was made on Sunday at the ACC headquarters in Segunbagicha, Dhaka, by the commission’s Director General (Prevention) Md. Akhter Hossain. The cases were filed under Section 27(1) of the Anti-Corruption Commission Act, 2004. According to the first case, Sheikh Afil Uddin was found to possess assets worth Tk 53.86 crore, including both movable and immovable properties, against a legal income of Tk 7.60 crore, indicating Tk 46.26 crore in unexplained wealth. The second case alleges that his wife, Tahera Sobha, owns assets worth Tk 19.23 crore against a legal income of Tk 3.18 crore, resulting in Tk 16.05 crore in unaccounted wealth. The ACC also issued notices to their three sons to submit wealth statements after discrepancies were found in their asset records, showing excess assets ranging from Tk 70 lakh to Tk 2.16 crore beyond known income sources.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Sunday that Israel intends to form a regional network of allied nations to counter what he described as “radical” adversaries. The initiative, which he called a “hexagon” of alliances, would include countries such as India, Greece, Cyprus, and other unnamed Arab, African, and Asian states. Netanyahu made the remarks while confirming the upcoming visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying India would be part of an “axis of nations that see eye to eye” with Israel. Modi expressed agreement with Netanyahu, emphasizing the strong bond and shared commitment between India and Israel. The announcement comes as Israel’s ongoing war on Gaza has weakened the Iran-led “axis of resistance,” including Hezbollah in Lebanon. Netanyahu also referred to both a “radical Shia axis” and an “emerging radical Sunni axis,” though he did not elaborate on the latter. The move follows strained relations between Israel and several Sunni-majority states, including Turkiye and Saudi Arabia, amid the Gaza conflict. It also builds on Israel’s efforts since 2020 to expand ties with Arab and Muslim nations under the US-backed Abraham Accords.

Nearly four years after President Vladimir Putin announced Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the conflict—officially termed a “special military operation”—has deeply altered Russian society. Verified data from the BBC and MediaZona show more than 186,000 Russian combat deaths, far exceeding Soviet losses in Afghanistan. While western border regions like Kursk and Belgorod endure shelling and drone attacks, major cities such as Moscow and St Petersburg remain largely insulated, with sanctions causing inconvenience rather than collapse. Interviews conducted by Al Jazeera reveal a divided nation. Some Russians, like photographer Kirill from St Petersburg, lament Western sanctions and government censorship that blocks social media and punishes “fake news.” Others, such as Vladislav from Saratov, have come to support the war, citing patriotic motives. Meanwhile, soldiers like Alexander Medvedev, after witnessing combat in Ukraine, have deserted and fled abroad, disillusioned by the war’s toll. Millions have emigrated since 2022, though some have returned due to difficulties abroad. Despite economic adaptation and official claims of public support, many citizens remain apathetic or fearful of expressing dissent. The war’s continuation has entrenched censorship, reshaped daily life, and deepened both loyalty and fatigue across Russian society.

Greenland has declined former US President Donald Trump’s proposal to send a hospital ship to the Arctic island, following his repeated statements about potentially seizing the Danish autonomous territory for national security reasons. Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen said on Facebook that the offer had been noted but emphasized that Greenland’s public healthcare system provides free treatment for citizens. He added that Greenland remains open to dialogue and cooperation but urged Trump to engage directly rather than through social media. The move comes as relations between Denmark and the United States have been strained by Trump’s renewed interest in taking control of Greenland, a mineral-rich and strategically located Arctic territory. Danish Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen said Greenland’s population already receives adequate healthcare either locally or in Denmark, dismissing the need for foreign medical intervention. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen also highlighted the country’s universal healthcare system as a point of pride. Tensions over Greenland’s sovereignty have eased somewhat since Trump reached a framework agreement with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte in January to expand US influence in the region.