The BNP-backed Lawyers’ Welfare Council panel won 10 out of 15 posts, including president and general secretary, in the Feni District Lawyers’ Association election held on February 16, 2026. The results were announced around 12:30 a.m. on February 17 by election commissioner and association president Nurul Amin Khan along with general secretary Mir Mosharraf Hossain Manik. Jamaat-backed Lawyers’ Sampriti Parishad secured four posts, while one position went to an independent candidate. Voting took place in a festive atmosphere at the association building from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with 326 of 346 eligible lawyers casting their votes. A total of 32 candidates contested for 15 posts in the one-year committee. This was the first time BNP and Jamaat participated in the election under separate panels since the association’s founding in 1984. The Awami League panel did not participate for the second consecutive term. The election, originally scheduled for January 17, was postponed due to national elections and later rescheduled to February 16 following an extraordinary general meeting of members.

A journalist in Nageshwari, Kurigram, has alleged that he was verbally abused and threatened with death while filming a police anti-drug operation. The incident occurred on the night of February 15, when police led by Sub-Inspector Alok Roy raided an abandoned house in the BSC Mor area of Nageshwari municipality. Journalist Mutasim Billah Tanim, a local correspondent for the daily Gankontho, filed a general diary at Nageshwari Police Station on Monday night following the threats. According to police sources, officers broke into the house after receiving no response for about half an hour and detained three individuals. They reportedly recovered cannabis, liquor bottles, yaba tablets, and heroin-use equipment. During the operation, the house’s alleged owner, Moslem Uddin, became enraged at the journalist for recording the event and issued threats. Local leaders and journalist associations condemned the incident. Nageshwari BNP convener Golam Rasul Raja stated that his party opposes drugs, while Kurigram Journalists’ Union joint convener Babul Zaman demanded the arrest of the person who issued the threats. The local police chief said the matter is under investigation and legal action will follow.

After the 13th parliamentary election, discussions have intensified within Bangladesh’s police administration over who will be appointed the next Inspector General of Police (IGP). Although current IGP Baharul Alam dismissed rumors of his resignation, his contract runs until November 21, 2026. A police headquarters official indicated that a new IGP may be appointed once the newly elected political government assumes office. According to the report, three senior officers are leading the race: RAB Director General AKM Shahidur Rahman, Armed Police Battalion chief Ali Hossain Fakir, and Chattogram Metropolitan Police Commissioner Additional IGP Hasib Aziz. Meanwhile, Railway Police chief Barrister Zillur Rahman is being discussed as a possible candidate for the RAB Director General post. Sources said several officers have been lobbying actively, meeting political figures and presenting their credentials. Officials noted that the next IGP is expected to be a professional, honest, and controversy-free officer. Many previously sidelined or forcibly retired officers are seeking contract-based reappointments and await evaluation by the new government.

A four-tier security arrangement has been implemented around the South Plaza of Bangladesh’s National Parliament complex ahead of the new government’s oath-taking ceremony. Around 15,000 personnel from the police, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), army, and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) have been deployed. Specialized units including SWAT, bomb disposal, and canine teams are on standby. The oath chamber has been refurbished, with chairs polished and replaced where necessary. The ceremony will take place on Tuesday, with members of parliament taking their oaths in the morning and the new cabinet in the afternoon. Security measures have been strengthened and modernized to ensure the safety of key installations and VVIPs. The South Plaza’s roof and brick surfaces have been repaired due to deterioration. Bomb disposal and dog squads have already swept the area, and plainclothes intelligence officers are stationed at key points. The National Parliament Secretariat’s secretary, Kaniz Mowla, confirmed the schedule for the oath events. The enhanced security and infrastructure repairs reflect heightened caution following past unrest, including incidents during the August 2024 mass uprising.

A man named Nazim Uddin was seriously injured in an attack allegedly carried out by Ali Hossain and his associates in Naopara area of Durduaria Union, Lalpur upazila of Natore on Monday evening. The incident reportedly stemmed from a long-standing dispute between the two families. According to the complaint, the attackers arrived with local and firearms, verbally abused Nazim Uddin, and beat him when he protested. Family members who tried to rescue him said the attackers fired blank shots to create panic. Nazim was later taken to Lalpur Upazila Health Complex for treatment. Nazim’s son, Nazmul Hossain, filed a complaint with Lalpur Police Station, alleging that around ten people were involved in the assault. Officer-in-Charge Mojibur Rahman said police visited the scene but found no evidence of gunfire, suggesting the attackers might have used firecrackers to cause fear. He confirmed that legal action would follow after investigation. The police investigation is ongoing to determine the authenticity of the gunfire claim and identify those responsible for the attack.

Newly elected members of Bangladesh’s 13th National Parliament are taking their oath today, February 17, 2026, at 10 a.m. The ceremony is being held in the oath-taking chamber of the National Parliament Secretariat, administered by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) A. M. M. Nasir Uddin. Elected MPs began arriving at the Parliament complex early in the morning, where the area has been fully prepared for the event with heightened security measures. According to on-site observations, the Parliament area has taken on a festive atmosphere, with party leaders, activists, and members of the public gathering outside. Law enforcement agencies remain on alert to ensure order. MPs stated that this Parliament is different from previous ones, emphasizing that the people have established a government through their votes and expressing unity against fascism. They also voiced a collective commitment to building a better Bangladesh. The oath ceremony will proceed in several phases, with different political parties and independent MPs taking their oaths separately before signing the official register. No guests will attend. Later in the afternoon, the new cabinet will also take its oath at Parliament, a departure from the usual venue of Bangabhaban.

Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Annie, the BNP Joint Secretary General and Member of Parliament from Lakshmipur-3 constituency, has been invited to take oath as a member of the BNP government’s cabinet. The invitation was conveyed to him by telephone from the Cabinet Division on Tuesday morning, according to a close source. The swearing-in of the newly elected members of the 13th Parliament is scheduled for 10 a.m. today, followed by the cabinet’s oath-taking ceremony in the afternoon. Annie, representing Lakshmipur-3 (Sadar Upazila), was previously elected to Parliament in 2001 and 2008. In the 13th national election, he secured his seat for the third time, receiving 133,765 votes. His nearest rival, Jamaat candidate Md. Rezaul Karim, obtained 117,079 votes. The developments mark Annie’s return to a ministerial role under the BNP-led government, with formal cabinet appointments expected to follow the scheduled oath ceremonies later in the day.

At least two people were killed and three others were seriously injured in a shooting during a high school ice hockey game in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, United States. The incident occurred on Monday, February 16, when local police received the first emergency call at 2:28 p.m. According to Al Jazeera, Pawtucket Police Chief Tina Goncalves said the suspected shooter is believed to have taken his own life after firing the shots. Goncalves described the attack as possibly premeditated and linked to a family dispute, though authorities have not released details about the suspect or the victims. Investigators are examining what led up to the shooting. A Providence Journal report cited video footage capturing about 13 gunshots within six seconds, followed by another shot roughly 11 seconds later. Witnesses said spectators and students dropped to the floor and sought safety as the gunfire erupted, before quickly evacuating the area. The incident has caused widespread panic in the community.

Police in Kaliganj, Jhenaidah, have arrested Palash Mia, a warrant-listed suspect in a mobile banking fraud case. The arrest took place around 11 p.m. on Sunday near the Kaliganj main bus stand after a local Jamaat leader, who had previously been defrauded, recognized him and, with the help of locals, detained him. Palash Mia, aged 30, is the son of Chan Mia from Par Dakhilpur village in Harinakundu upazila. According to police sources, Palash Mia had been involved in fraudulent activities for a long time, using the mobile financial service bKash to deceive people and collect money illegally. In one instance, he allegedly withdrew 25,000 taka from the Jamaat leader through deception before going into hiding. Following the issuance of an arrest warrant in the fraud case, he remained a fugitive until his capture. Kaliganj Police Officer-in-Charge Jellal Hossain confirmed that Palash Mia faced multiple fraud cases and was sent to jail through the court after his arrest.

Unregulated brick kilns continue to operate across Netrakona district, posing serious threats to agricultural land, public health and the environment. According to local sources, 32 brick kilns are currently active this year, but only four have environmental clearance. Despite mobile court fines imposed on six kilns earlier in the season, no closures have been enforced, allowing illegal operations to persist. Officials from the Department of Environment and the district administration confirmed that Netrakona has 40 kilns across nine upazilas, with 28 running without permits. Each kiln employs 300 to 400 workers, providing jobs for 10,000 to 12,000 people and producing up to 10 million bricks per site. Environmental activists have expressed concern over pollution and the lack of compliance with regulations. Department officials cited legal complications as a reason for delays in shutting down illegal kilns but said enforcement drives would continue. District authorities stated that joint mobile courts are regularly fining violators and that further action will be taken if specific complaints about illegal soil extraction from government or river lands are received.

Bangladesh’s financial sector is showing signs of recovery from a prolonged crisis as the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) forms a new government after winning two-thirds of parliamentary seats. The interim administration led by Dr. Muhammad Yunus, which took charge in August 2024, is credited with restoring stability through reforms that curbed irregularities, corruption, and capital flight. Economists note that the sector’s stabilization, rather than investment growth, was the interim government’s key achievement. According to data cited in the report, foreign exchange reserves rose from 20 billion to over 34 billion US dollars, while inflation fell from 11.6% to 8.58%. The banking sector saw consolidation, including the merger of five weak Shariah-based banks into a new entity, and stricter loan recovery measures improved transparency. The trade balance turned from a 6.6 billion dollar deficit to a 3.29 billion dollar surplus, supported by higher remittances and export growth. Experts warn that the incoming BNP government faces challenges including weak revenue collection, rising domestic and foreign debt, and the upcoming graduation from LDC status, which may test the sustainability of recent economic stabilization.

Indian media outlets have voiced strong concern over the rise of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and its alliance with the National Citizens Party (NCP) following the country’s 13th parliamentary election. Reports from India Today, Times of India, News18, and others described the Islamist party’s success—winning 68 seats alone and 77 with allies—as a potential threat to India’s national security, particularly in border districts adjoining Assam and West Bengal. Analysts cited the party’s ideological proximity to Pakistan and its anti-India stance as reasons for heightened vigilance. Several reports noted that Jamaat and its allies performed strongly in border regions such as Lalmonirhat, Chapainawabganj, Kurigram, Meherpur, and Satkhira, areas where Indian outlets claim strategic and demographic sensitivities exist. Former Eastern Command GOC Lt. Gen. Ranapratap Kalita told India Today that Jamaat leveraged latent anti-India sentiment in rural and frontier areas to achieve its gains. Indian intelligence agencies are reportedly monitoring the situation closely. Media commentary suggested that New Delhi should work with Bangladesh’s ruling BNP to contain Jamaat’s influence and ensure border stability and minority safety, reflecting India’s growing unease over the political shift in Dhaka.

Agriculture and Home Adviser Lieutenant General (Retd.) Md. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury stated that Bangladesh’s agriculture sector is now in a stable condition due to the combined efforts of all stakeholders. He made the remarks on Monday at a farewell reception organized by departments and agencies under the Ministry of Agriculture at the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council auditorium in Dhaka. The adviser highlighted that during his one and a half years in charge of the ministry, several initiatives were taken to ensure food security and make the sector sustainable and farmer-friendly. He said the fertilizer crisis had been resolved, flood damages in several regions were managed, and the sector was now performing better than before. Fertilizer stocks were at a strong level, and agricultural product prices remained within a tolerable range. In his farewell speech, he urged proper distribution of agricultural incentives, careful selection of beneficiaries, and strict monitoring of fertilizer sales at government-fixed prices. He also thanked all officials and agencies under the ministry for their cooperation.

Bangladesh’s newly elected members of parliament and cabinet ministers are set to take oath today, Tuesday, following the Bangladesh Nationalist Party’s (BNP) landslide victory in the 13th parliamentary election. The MPs will be sworn in at 10 a.m. in the parliament building’s oath room, while the cabinet oath will take place at 4 p.m. at the South Plaza of the National Parliament. BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman will take oath as the new Prime Minister, marking the party’s return to power after nearly two decades. The ceremony will be administered by President Mohammad Shahabuddin and attended by regional leaders from South Asia and several Muslim-majority countries. The BNP secured two-thirds of the seats in the February 12 election, its sixth time forming government since its founding in 1978. Tarique Rahman, son of former President Ziaur Rahman and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, will lead the new administration. The party plans to appoint up to 30 ministers and state ministers initially. The new government faces major challenges, including economic instability, inflation, and institutional reform, which Tarique Rahman has identified as top priorities for his administration.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami will hold a meeting of its parliamentary party on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, following the oath-taking ceremony of newly elected members of parliament. The announcement was made in a press release issued on Monday, February 16, by Mujibul Alam, senior publicity assistant of the party’s central publicity department. According to the statement, the meeting will take place at the National Parliament Building immediately after the swearing-in ceremony. The event marks the first formal gathering of Jamaat’s newly elected lawmakers following their official induction into parliament. The press release did not provide further details about the meeting’s agenda or participants beyond confirming the time and venue.