Costa Rica has announced it will offer a temporary place for Indian immigrants being deported from the United States. Around 200 immigrants from the Middle East and India will be relocated there. Panama and Guatemala had previously taken similar steps. Costa Rica stated that they are willing to accommodate the illegal immigrants being deported by the U.S., with the country’s president’s office making the official announcement. Temporary camps will be set up for them, but it has not yet been confirmed when they will return to their home countries.

A court has ordered the seizure of 28 bighas of land and the freezing of 19 bank accounts belonging to Arifa Jesmin, wife of former State Minister Junaid Ahmed Palak. The Dhaka Metropolitan Court issued this order on Tuesday following a petition by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). The court also imposed a travel ban on her. The petition stated that there is a possibility of changes in the ownership of assets under her name, and to ensure a fair investigation, both movable and immovable properties must be frozen. The travel ban is deemed urgent for the ongoing investigation. Previously, on December 12, the ACC filed a case against Palak and his wife.

During the opening ceremony of the ‘Youth Festival 2025’ on Tuesday, Adviser Mahfuz Alam stated that the issue of forced disappearances and secret detention began during Sheikh Mujib’s rule. He also noted that the one-party rule Sheikh Mujib envisioned has been realized under Sheikh Hasina’s leadership. He remarked that the beautiful dream the students once took to the streets for has yet to be fulfilled, and justice for the killers will be key to realizing that dream. He emphasized that merely elections and reforms won’t solve everything and noted that the government is making significant efforts to build a new state.

After seizing power in 2021, the Taliban has maintained diplomatic communication with neighboring and regional powers. A delegation from the Taliban government has now visited Japan, as reported by Al Jazeera. The discussions will focus on humanitarian aid and potential diplomatic relations with Japanese officials. On Sunday, a delegation comprising officials from the ministries of foreign affairs, education, economy, and health arrived in Japan. They will stay for a week. Afghanistan’s Deputy Minister of Finance, Latif Nazari, referred to this as part of their efforts to improve international relations.

On February 18, tensions flared at Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (KUET) as students rallied to ban student politics on campus. The protesters marched through university halls and surrounded the Vice-Chancellor’s residence in support of the ban. In response, Chhatra Dal activists attacked the students, leading to a violent clash that left at least 60 students injured. Some protesters were seen with machetes during the altercation. The military was deployed to restore peace after the incident.

At the end of the district commissioners’ conference, Advisor Syeda Rizwana Hasan announced that the preliminary report for the Tista Master Plan is expected to be submitted between October and December. The responsible organization, Power China, will present the final master plan to the government by December 2026. She mentioned that currently, there is no master plan in place and questioned how the implementation will proceed. The Advisor explained, “A Chinese group had submitted a plan that was neither feasible nor sustainable. After discussions with them, it was decided to rework the plan.” This comes after the collapse of hopes for a Tista agreement between Bangladesh and former leaders Manmohan Singh and Narendra Modi.

The Bangladesh government has introduced a new passport system, abolishing the police verification process. Under the updated rules, passports will be issued based on online-verified National ID (NID) data for adults and online-verified birth registration details for minors and expatriates. For passport reissuance, if there are changes to essential information, the data from the National ID will be used. This change, announced by Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, aims to simplify the process and ensure quicker passport delivery without delays caused by police verification.

A study found that 98.7% of Bangladeshi garment workers are not enrolled in the Universal Pension Scheme (UPS) due to financial constraints and lack of awareness. Many workers struggle with the high contribution requirements and digital application process. Fear of job loss, layoffs, and workplace hazards also deter participation. The study recommends lowering contributions, allowing job mobility, and offering financial support. It also suggests increasing awareness and ensuring employer participation to improve social security for workers.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is open to direct talks with Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky to achieve a peaceful resolution to the conflict, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed. Despite questioning Zelensky’s legitimacy after his term ended, Russia is willing to negotiate if peace is the goal. Meanwhile, a summit in Riyadh aims to discuss the Ukraine war and U.S.-Russia relations. However, Ukraine has been excluded, prompting Zelensky to reject any peace deal made without Kyiv’s involvement. The summit may lead to a Putin-Trump meeting.

Qatar’s Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, arrived in India for a two-day visit, receiving an exceptional welcome from Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Delhi Airport on Monday. Breaking usual protocol, Modi personally greeted the Emir, emphasizing the strong ties between the two nations. Sheikh Tamim is set to meet President Droupadi Murmu and Modi on Tuesday. India’s Foreign Ministry stated that this visit will further enhance diplomatic and economic cooperation. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar also met the Emir on Monday night.

The Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) is set to undergo a name change and restructuring, according to Home Affairs Adviser Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury. Speaking after a law and order meeting at the Secretariat, he stated that discussions are ongoing, and the new name may be finalized in the next meeting. Established in 2004 to combat crime and militancy, RAB has faced allegations of human rights violations, leading to U.S. sanctions. A recent report found RAB linked to 172 out of 400 analyzed enforced disappearance cases.

Sports Adviser Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan has questioned the prolonged delay in renovating the country’s national stadium, stating that two or three new stadiums could have been built in the time it has taken. Speaking at an event on Monday, he stressed the need for an investigation into potential irregularities in the renovation project. He also revealed that an appeal for additional time had been rejected, insisting that the project be completed within the original timeline. Bhuiyan expressed hope that the work would be finished by March and raised concerns about the feasibility of the overall renovation initiative.

Internal conflicts among Republicans in the U.S. House and Senate are escalating over Trump’s two key legislative agendas, with lawmakers employing conflicting strategies to push them forward. The House Budget Committee has advanced a massive spending bill incorporating various Trump-backed initiatives, following weeks of internal disputes. The bill is set for a vote next week, though opposition from moderates and conservatives could hinder its passage. Meanwhile, Senate Republicans have also cleared their own proposal through the Budget Committee, with a vote expected this week. Both chambers are now in a race to pass their respective bills, while House Speaker Kevin McCarthy is attempting to mediate a compromise.

Police in Tongibari, Munshiganj, arrested a woman named Latifa Begum (42) with 97 bottles of Indian Phensedyl on Monday night. According to Officer-in-Charge Mohibul Islam, law enforcement raided the Abdullahpur Paikpara area at around 3 AM, acting on a tip-off. The bottles were recovered from a wardrobe in Latifa’s house. She will be presented in court under narcotics charges.

Expressing sympathy for protesting assistant teachers, Primary and Mass Education Adviser Professor Bidhan Ranjan Roy stated that the government’s teacher recruitment process adhered to all legal procedures. During a briefing on Tuesday, he acknowledged the teachers’ dissatisfaction with the court ruling and confirmed that an appeal had been filed. He explained that the ministry followed the recommendations of the Law and Public Administration ministries before announcing the results. Due to the ongoing legal proceedings, the administration currently has no further actions to take.