Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stated that Iran has been one of the main victims of global terrorism since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Speaking during a provincial visit on Thursday, he said numerous Iranian officials have been killed in terrorist attacks over the years. His remarks were reported by Al Jazeera. The statement came in response to former U.S. President Donald Trump’s accusation that Iran is the world’s largest sponsor of terrorism. Pezeshkian countered that if the situation were viewed fairly, it would be clear that Iran opposes terrorism and has suffered from it both regionally and globally. Pezeshkian also reaffirmed that Iran does not seek to develop nuclear weapons, citing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s religious decree banning weapons of mass destruction issued in the early 2000s.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is set to move into the state guesthouse 'Jamuna' on Hare Road in Dhaka as his official residence. The decision was made considering security and ease of travel to the Secretariat. The Government Housing Directorate has completed the allocation of residences for new ministers and state ministers. Currently, former interim government chief adviser Muhammad Yunus is staying at Jamuna and is expected to vacate it on February 27. During the interim government, several locations including the National Parliament area and Sher-e-Bangla Nagar were inspected for the new prime minister’s residence, but those were not selected due to time constraints and other reasons. The Prime Minister, now residing in Gulshan, plans to host iftar and Eid greetings events at Jamuna once renovations are completed. The previous official residence, Ganabhaban, was damaged during the August 2024 uprising that toppled Sheikh Hasina’s government and is being converted into the July Uprising Memorial Museum, making it unavailable for residential use.

Bangladesh Bank will assist in reopening factories that were shut down following recent political changes, according to the central bank’s new Governor, Md. Mostakur Rahman. The announcement was made at an emergency press conference on Thursday afternoon, where bank spokesperson Arif Hossain Khan conveyed the governor’s directives. Rahman had joined the central bank earlier that morning and held a meeting with top officials before the briefing. During the meeting, the governor emphasized active cooperation in reviving closed industrial units and pledged policy support to boost economic growth and employment. He praised the previous interim government’s efforts to maintain macroeconomic stability and said he would build on that foundation to restore economic momentum. The governor also highlighted the need for policy incentives and stronger coordination within the banking sector to facilitate industrial recovery. Rahman further prioritized controlling inflation and stabilizing commodity prices within consumers’ purchasing power. He indicated that high interest rates hindering investment would be reviewed, and institutional governance would be strengthened through rule-based, non-discriminatory decision-making and delegation of authority to accelerate operations.

Bangladesh Nationalist Party Secretary General and Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir stated that the government currently has no plan to appoint political administrators in municipalities. He made the statement on Thursday, February 26, 2026, through a post on his verified Facebook page. The announcement comes amid ongoing discussions and criticism regarding the government’s decision to appoint political administrators in city corporations. Out of 12 city corporations, only Chattogram City Corporation has an elected mayor in office under a court order, while the government has initiated the appointment of political administrators in the remaining 11. Notifications have already been issued for full-time administrators in six city corporations, including Dhaka North and South. Following the fall of the Awami League government on August 5, 2024, elected representatives of various local government bodies were removed or fled, creating administrative gaps. To maintain continuity, government officials were temporarily assigned as administrators, but the prolonged interim arrangement has severely disrupted civic services.

A temporary court at Dhaka’s Keraniganj Central Jail has completed the testimony of 303 witnesses in the explosives case filed over the 2009 Pilkhana BDR mutiny that left 74 people, including 57 army officers, dead. CID Inspector Abu Bakkar Siddique testified before the court of Acting Judge Md Mominul Islam of Dhaka’s Special Tribunal No. 1, after which defense lawyers cross-examined him. The next hearing has been set for April 2. Chief Public Prosecutor Md Borhan Uddin confirmed the progress, noting that 303 out of 1,345 witnesses have now testified. According to the prosecution, the case involves about 822 accused, of whom 328 are on bail, 427 are in custody, and around 20 remain absconding. Approximately 60 accused have died. The witness testified about explosives seized near the armory warehouse at Pilkhana. Although 149 bail petitions were pending, no hearing took place on the day of testimony. The explosives case, filed under the Explosives Act, remains under trial, while the related murder case concluded with verdicts at both lower and High Court levels between 2013 and 2017.

Nasiruddin Patwari, chief coordinator of the National Citizen Party (NCP) and former parliamentary candidate for Dhaka-8, has announced a new campaign program titled 'Dhaka Azadi'. The announcement was made on Wednesday, February 26, 2026, through a verified Facebook post. In his post, Patwari stated that the campaign would focus on visiting every ward of Dhaka, listening to citizens, organizing society, and fighting corruption, injustice, and mismanagement. He added that the initiative aims to awaken the spirit of Dhaka and contribute to a better future for Bangladesh. The post included the hashtag '#DhakaAzadi' and called on followers to join the 'Azadi Jatra' or 'Journey of Freedom'. The announcement marks a new phase of political outreach by the NCP in the capital. The campaign appears to emphasize civic engagement and anti-corruption efforts, though further details about its schedule or specific activities were not provided in the announcement.

Police recovered the hanging body of a university student from a house in Dhaka’s Bashundhara residential area early Wednesday night. The deceased was identified as Mahamuda Akter Jerin, 27, a student of the American International University-Bangladesh (AIUB). Her body was found hanging from a ceiling fan with a scarf at a rented flat on Road 2, Block C of the area around 12:45 a.m. According to Sub-Inspector Abdul Wadud of Vatara Police Station, officers arrived at the scene after receiving information and found the body in the presence of other students. Police said, citing classmates, that Jerin had been suffering from depression and smoked regularly. They suspect she may have taken her own life due to mental distress, though other possible causes are being investigated. The body was sent to Dhaka Medical College morgue for autopsy after completing legal procedures. Jerin was the daughter of Khorshed Ali and Johura Begum from Tatowari village in Sonaimuri upazila of Noakhali district.

After 18 months of inactivity, Awami League activists in Tongi, Gazipur, have raised the party’s banner and the national flag at their previously abandoned regional office in the New Market area. The event took place on Thursday morning, marking the first visible party activity at the site since the fall of the Awami League government on August 5, 2024. Witnesses reported that several unidentified party members entered the office, hoisted the flag, displayed banners, and then left. Following the government’s fall, most Awami League leaders and activists went into hiding amid fears of arrest, while angry students and locals vandalized and set fire to the office. Since then, the building had remained deserted and was reportedly occupied by vagrants and drug users. Police confirmed they were aware of the new banners and were investigating who was responsible. The reappearance of party symbols at the Tongi office signals a possible attempt by Awami League members to reassert their presence in the area after a prolonged absence.

The High Court has granted bail to former Narayanganj City Corporation mayor Selina Hayat Ivy in five separate cases. The order was issued by a bench comprising Justice K M Zahid Sarwar and Justice Sheikh Abu Taher. Among the five cases, four were filed with Fatullah Police Station over the killings of bus driver Abul Hossain Miji, Abdur Rahman, Md Yasin, and Parvez. The fifth case, lodged with Sadar Model Police Station, involves allegations of assault and obstruction of government duties. According to the case history, Ivy was arrested on May 9 of the previous year from Chunka Kutir in Deovogh, Narayanganj. She was subsequently shown arrested in multiple cases. Although the High Court had earlier granted her bail in five cases, the Appellate Division later stayed that order. On November 18, she was again shown arrested in five additional cases. The defense team in the bail hearing included senior advocates Sara Hossain and Motahar Hossain Saju.

Shipping Minister Sheikh Robiul Alam stated that collecting fees through mutual agreement among bus owners and associations is lawful, but extortion through illegal means will not be permitted. He made the remarks on Thursday after a preparatory meeting at the ministry aimed at ensuring smooth waterway travel ahead of Eid. The minister noted that last year’s Eid journeys by road and river went well and expressed the government’s intention to make this year’s travel experience even better. He added that special monitoring will be in place for five days before and after Eid to maintain normal movement of passengers on both road and water routes. The comments came as part of broader preparations to manage increased passenger traffic during the holiday period and to prevent irregularities in fare collection and transport operations.

According to the official holiday schedule, the Bangladesh government has set five days of public holidays for Eid-ul-Fitr in 2026. If the moon for the month of Shawwal is sighted on March 20, Eid will be celebrated on March 21; otherwise, it will fall on March 22. Based on this, the government has declared March 19 to 23 as Eid holidays. Additionally, Shab-e-Qadr will be observed on March 17, followed by regular work on March 18. After the Eid holidays, offices will reopen on March 24 and 25, before closing again for Independence Day on March 26 and the weekend on March 27–28. Employees who take casual leave on March 24 and 25 could enjoy a continuous 10-day break from March 19 to 28. Those taking an extra day off on March 18 could start their holidays from Shab-e-Qadr. Educational institutions have already been closed since the beginning of Ramadan. Schools, colleges, and madrasas are scheduled to reopen on March 29 after the combined Ramadan, Eid, and summer vacations.

At least 20 people, including police officers, were killed in militant attacks across Pakistan’s northwestern region over the past two days, according to a police official on Thursday. The attacks occurred in various areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, where 15 police personnel and four civilians were reported dead. Two police officers were also abducted and remain missing. The Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claimed responsibility for most of the assaults. Violence has surged in recent months in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and neighboring Balochistan provinces. In response, Pakistan’s security forces launched operations targeting groups described as Indian-backed proxies. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) reported that 34 militants were killed in these operations, including 26 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and eight in Balochistan’s Sambaza area. One of the dead was identified as an Afghan national. ISPR added that further clashes in Lakki Marwat, Bannu, and North Waziristan districts resulted in additional militant casualties and recovery of weapons and ammunition.

The Shariatpur district administration has installed 120 modern AI-enabled CCTV cameras across the city to enhance public safety and improve law and order. Covering about 14 kilometers, the surveillance system aims to curb crime, monitor commodity prices, support anti-drug operations, and ensure overall civic security. Cameras have been placed along three major roads, key intersections, and commercial hubs including Palong, Angaria, and Monohor Bazar, as well as at educational institutions, hospitals, terminals, courts, and religious sites. The initiative follows a series of recent crimes that raised public concern, including thefts, robberies, and a temple donation box looting incident on February 18. Cameras have also been installed along the Kirtonkhola River route to prevent riverine crimes. The district control room will monitor the feeds round-the-clock, with AI technology capable of detecting accidents, fires, traffic congestion, and suspicious movements. District Commissioner Tahsina Begum said the system was introduced after traditional operations failed to fully control incidents near schools and colleges. Officials said similar smart surveillance systems will gradually be expanded to other municipalities in the district if effective results are achieved.

A Dhaka court has ordered the seizure of properties in the United Kingdom owned by former land minister Saifuzzaman Chowdhury. The order was issued on Thursday, February 26, 2026, by Judge Md Sabbir Foyez of the Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge’s Court following a petition from the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). Court officials confirmed the decision, which concerns immovable assets allegedly linked to money laundering activities. According to the ACC’s submission, Chowdhury and his associates hold substantial properties in London and other UK locations. The commission argued that freezing these assets is necessary to support an ongoing investigation into alleged money laundering. The court accepted the petition, scheduled a further hearing, and instructed that all legal procedures be followed. The ACC’s investigation file indicates that a special task force comprising members of the ACC, CID, and NBR is examining the allegations. Documents such as property deeds, payment orders, and receipts have been recovered. The listed assets include high-value apartments in London’s Marylebone Square, Oval Village, Clarendon Road, and multiple units in Liverpool’s One Islington Plaza, as well as properties in Harrow, Slough, and Preston.

A massive explosion occurred at an LPG gas pump in the Kolatoli area of Cox’s Bazar city on Wednesday evening, leaving at least ten people burned. Six of the victims, identified as Abu Taher, Md Siraj, Abdur Rahim, Md Sakib, Motaher Hossain, and Abul Kashem, were admitted to the Burn and Plastic Surgery Unit of Chittagong Medical College Hospital (CMCH). Doctors said their conditions are critical, with burn injuries ranging from 20 to 90 percent of their bodies. According to police and eyewitnesses, the fire started from a gas leak in one of the tanks at the pump. Workers initially tried to control the flames with sand and water, but a second explosion followed shortly after, spreading the fire further. The six most severely injured were transferred to CMCH for emergency treatment. Earlier on Monday, a separate explosion in a residential building in Chattogram’s Halishahar area left nine people burned, five of whom later died. Four others remain in critical condition at the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery in Dhaka.