In Chandpur’s Faridganj municipality, grocery shop owner Shah Alam from Madhya Charkumira village has decided to sell eight essential food items at their purchase price during the holy month of Ramadan. The items include chickpeas, khesari lentils, gram flour, puffed rice, flattened rice, sugar, dates, and soybean oil. He has displayed a price list in his shop, and customers have been buying with satisfaction. Shah Alam previously sold these items with only one taka profit but has now continued his cost-price initiative for the second consecutive year. Local residents have praised Shah Alam’s generosity, noting that while many traders across Bangladesh raise prices during Ramadan, he has chosen to support fasting and low-income families. The initiative has drawn commendation from the National Consumer Rights Protection Directorate’s Chandpur office, whose assistant director Abdullah Al Imran said other traders could learn from this example. Shah Alam explained that he usually keeps his profit margins low throughout the year to attract more customers and that his Ramadan initiative aims to ease the burden on poor and working-class people affected by price hikes.

A Dhaka court has sentenced domestic worker Survi Akter Nahid to death for the murder of Afroza Begum and her housemaid Diti in Dhanmondi seven years ago. The verdict was delivered on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, by Judge Tawhida Akter of the Seventh Additional Metropolitan Sessions Court. Another accused, house staff member Bachchu Mia, was acquitted due to lack of evidence, according to state prosecutor Jamal Uddin. The case stems from the discovery of the bloodied bodies of Afroza Begum, mother-in-law of Kazi Monir Uddin Tarim, and her maid Diti on November 1, 2019, at a fifth-floor apartment in Dhanmondi’s Lobelia House. Both victims had their throats slit. Afroza’s daughter, Dilruba Sultana Ruba, filed the murder case two days later. The investigation was transferred from local police to the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI), which submitted charges against two suspects in February 2022. The court began trial in October 2022, hearing testimony from 25 of 32 witnesses before reaching the verdict. The ruling concludes a high-profile case that drew significant public attention in Dhaka.

A Sirajganj court has sentenced three accused to life imprisonment for the murder of seven-year-old schoolboy Tamim Hossain in Ullapara, following a dispute over local dominance. Each of the three convicts was also fined 20,000 taka. Another accused, Mannan Akand, received a two-year prison term, a fine of 5,000 taka, and an additional three months of imprisonment in default of payment. The verdict was delivered on Tuesday at 3:30 p.m. by District and Sessions Judge Md. Iqbal Hossain. According to the case details presented by the public prosecutor, Tamim had been living at his maternal grandfather’s home in Narsinghapara village for his studies. He went missing on February 10, 2017, and his body was found the next morning in a mustard field with rope marks around his neck and injuries on the back of his head. His father, Soleman Fakir, filed a case with Ullapara Model Police Station against unidentified persons. Police later arrested three suspects who confessed under Section 164 that the killing stemmed from a rivalry over local influence. After a lengthy trial and examination of evidence, the court found four individuals guilty, sentencing three to life imprisonment and one to a shorter term.

Former minister and Jatiya Party secretary general Mosiur Rahman Ranga suffered a major political setback in the 13th National Parliamentary Election. Contesting from his home constituency Lalmonirhat-1 (Hatibandha-Patgram), he finished fourth with 5,152 votes and lost his electoral deposit under election rules. The unofficial results show BNP candidate Hasan Rajib Pradhan winning with 138,686 votes, followed by Jamaat-e-Islami’s Md. Anwarul Islam Raju with 129,572 votes, and independent candidate Shihab Ahmed with 7,959 votes. Local voters and analysts attributed Ranga’s collapse to several negative factors. Allegations of taking Tk 1.7 crore in bribes for nomination during the 11th election cycle went viral, damaging his image. His long absence from local engagement, perceived arrogance during campaigning, and controversial role as a former state minister under the ousted Awami League government further eroded public trust. Frequent shifts in political stance and expulsion from the Jatiya Party also alienated supporters. Ranga, who served as state minister for local government in 2014 and later as opposition chief whip, declined to comment further, saying he had nothing more to seek after 17 years in politics.

The Bangladesh Coast Guard rescued nine fishermen who were stranded in the deep sea near Saint Martin after their fishing boat’s engine failed. The rescue took place on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, as confirmed by Coast Guard media officer Lieutenant Commander Siam-ul-Haq. The incident occurred the previous day, about 10 nautical miles from Saint Martin, when the boat became adrift. The Coast Guard was alerted through the emergency service number 16111. Following the alert, the Coast Guard vessel ‘Joy Bangla’ launched a special rescue operation in the area. All nine fishermen were found alive and brought to safety along with their boat. They were provided with food and medical assistance before being handed over to the boat’s owner. Lieutenant Commander Siam-ul-Haq stated that the Coast Guard will continue similar rescue operations in the future to ensure the safety of fishermen at sea.

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.