Six police officers were injured when a group of locals attacked them during an arrest operation in Rasulpur area of Satgram Union, Araihazar upazila of Narayanganj. The incident occurred late Wednesday night as police attempted to arrest Asma Begum, 45, a woman wanted in a CR case. Five people, including three women, were detained following the attack, according to police. Police sources said officers from Araihazar Police Station launched the operation around 1 a.m. to apprehend Asma Begum, wife of Julhas Mia. Family members and some locals obstructed the officers, leading to an altercation that escalated into physical assault. The injured officers—SI Ajit, ASI Arif, ASI Faruk, ASI Sharif, ASI Saiful, and ASI Nizam—received primary medical treatment. Investigating officer Ripon Kumar Sarkar stated that Asma pretended to be ill after her arrest, prompting relatives and neighbors to surround the police for about an hour until reinforcements arrived. The suspect was later taken away by her relatives, who claimed she was hospitalized in Madhabdi. Police have filed a case and are continuing efforts to identify and arrest others involved.

An internal investigation has confirmed multiple allegations against Chattogram Metropolitan Police’s Chawkbazar Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Babul Azad. The probe, conducted following a report by the newspaper Amar Desh, found evidence of bribery, extortion, and abuse of power. A senior CMP official has submitted the investigation report to the Police Headquarters, which is expected to take action soon. According to the report, eleven categories of allegations were proven, including taking money for releasing detainees, filing multiple cases when payments were refused, collecting money from drug dealers and gambling operators, and harassing opposition activists by labeling them as ruling party members. The Police Internal Oversight (PIO) unit initially compiled a five-page report based on complaints from Azad’s tenure at Double Mooring Police Station, which was later investigated by CMP’s Additional Commissioner Humayun Kabir. The report also detailed instances of extortion, unlawful arrests, and torture in custody. Several officers were identified as his collaborators. Police Headquarters is expected to decide on disciplinary measures against Azad based on the findings.

The Chittagong University Nationalist Teachers Forum has congratulated Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Chairman Tarique Rahman on being elected the country’s 11th Prime Minister following the 13th National Parliamentary Election. The message of congratulations was issued on Wednesday in a statement signed by Forum President Professor Dr. Mohammad Al Amin, General Secretary Professor Mohammad Zahedur Rahman Chowdhury, and Organizing Secretary Professor Dr. Md. Shafiqul Islam. In the statement, the Forum said that after 17 years, Bangladesh has witnessed a fair, neutral, and participatory national election in which the BNP achieved a landslide victory with an absolute majority. The Forum described the election as a milestone in the country’s democratic journey, crediting the people for securing their voting rights and choosing change under Tarique Rahman’s visionary and development-oriented leadership. The statement further expressed optimism that under Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s leadership, Bangladesh will achieve economic freedom, modernization of education, youth employment, and a just society. It added that the new government will work for all citizens regardless of political affiliation and that the Forum will continue to play a constructive role in sustaining democracy and national progress.

At least eight skiers were killed in a massive avalanche in California’s Lake Tahoe backcountry, authorities confirmed on Wednesday. The avalanche struck the Castle Peak area, northwest of Lake Tahoe, around 11:30 a.m. local time on Tuesday. Six people were rescued alive, while one person remains missing and is presumed dead. The avalanche was described by witnesses as roughly the size of a football field. Following a 911 call received at 11:30 a.m., the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office launched a search and rescue operation. The sheriff’s department, its search and rescue team, and the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection jointly conducted the operation in the affected area. Officials said the search continued in the Castle Peak zone immediately after the avalanche. Authorities have not yet released the identities of the victims or the cause of the avalanche. Search efforts are ongoing for the missing skier.

Jesse Louis Jackson, a prominent leader of the United States civil rights movement, has died at the age of 84. He passed away on Tuesday in the presence of his family, according to a family statement. Jackson had been hospitalized for several months due to a neurological illness. He was a close disciple of Martin Luther King Jr. and played a major role in advancing civil rights and social justice causes across the country. More than 40 years ago, Jackson urged the Democratic Party to broaden its moral outlook to include minorities, Arab Americans, and Palestinians who had long faced marginalization. Throughout his career, he consistently spoke for the oppressed, notably highlighting the plight of Palestinians and advocating for the resettlement of Syrian refugees in the United States. In 2024, his organization, the Rainbow-PUSH Coalition, convened an emergency summit calling for an end to Israel’s assault on Gaza and a ceasefire. Maya Berry, executive director of the Arab American Institute, said Jackson paved the way for Arab American political empowerment and remained steadfast in supporting Palestinians despite pressure to sever ties with Arab Americans.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has announced the formation of the 'Imran Khan Release Force' to campaign for the release of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, who has been imprisoned since August 2023. The announcement was made by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister and close Khan ally Sohail Afridi during a press conference outside the Supreme Court on Wednesday. Afridi said Khan had tasked him with leading a street movement for his release. Imran Khan was ousted from power through a parliamentary vote in 2022 and later faced multiple legal cases, resulting in his imprisonment. PTI maintains that the charges are politically motivated. Recently, concerns have grown over Khan’s health after a medical report submitted to the Supreme Court revealed that he retains only 15 percent vision in his right eye. Following the report, PTI intensified its campaign for Khan’s release, while the government insists that the former prime minister is receiving the best possible medical care.

In Parshuram municipality of Feni, lease prices for seven markets under municipal authority have risen sharply, with tenders finalized at rates four to five times higher than last year. The permanent cattle market was leased for Tk 6 million, compared to Tk 2.09 million in 2025, while the CNG stand went for Tk 2 million, up from Tk 443,000. The tender process, held on Wednesday, covered eight markets including vegetable, fish, poultry, and meat markets, most of which saw unprecedented bids. Traders fear that the steep lease rates will lead to higher fees and prices for livestock and transport, causing hardship for buyers and passengers. They also worry that lessees may impose extra charges to recover costs, potentially harming both sellers and consumers. One lessee, requesting anonymity, said they would collect fees at a reasonable level to protect farmers and traders. Parshuram municipal administrator and assistant commissioner (land) S.M. Shafayat Akhtar Nur stated that the tenders were opened without any syndicate involvement and that high bidders with proper documentation would receive leases following verification.

Pakistan has extended the closure of its airspace to Indian-registered aircraft for another month, according to a new notice issued by the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA). The restriction, which has been in place for nearly ten months, will now remain effective until March 23, 2026. During this period, all Indian military and civilian aircraft are prohibited from flying through Pakistani airspace. The airspace ban was first imposed on April 23, 2025, following escalating tensions between the two countries after a deadly attack in Pahalgam, located in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir. In response to the incident, India suspended the Indus Waters Treaty, prompting Pakistan to retaliate by closing its airspace to Indian airlines. Subsequent military confrontations in early May saw both nations launch strikes against each other, culminating in a ceasefire agreement on May 10 after 87 hours of conflict. The extension of the airspace closure underscores the continuing strain in India-Pakistan relations despite the earlier ceasefire.

State Minister for Fisheries, Livestock, Agriculture, and Food Sultan Salauddin Tuku announced that the government has launched an initiative to provide affordable protein-rich foods, including milk, eggs, meat, and fish, to low-income families across Bangladesh during the holy month of Ramadan. The program aims to include around one million families nationwide, with expectations that it will help stabilize market prices and benefit general consumers. The announcement was made on Thursday at the Livestock Research Institute in Mohakhali during the inauguration of a special Ramadan sales program for milk, eggs, and meat. The minister said the initiative reflects the government’s commitment under Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s leadership to work for public welfare. He emphasized honesty, dedication, and teamwork in implementing the prime minister’s promises. Tuku added that such programs will ease the burden on low-income groups affected by price hikes during Ramadan and that the government plans to expand the initiative in the future. He also mentioned upcoming plans to introduce family, agriculture, and health cards to fulfill electoral commitments.

At least ten people were killed and twelve others injured when part of a three‑storey residential building collapsed following a gas leak explosion in Karachi’s Soldier Bazaar No. 3 area on Wednesday night. The blast occurred on the building’s ground floor, causing a large section to cave in. Rescue teams immediately launched operations, pulling several victims—both alive and dead—from the debris using all available equipment. Police said initial findings suggest the explosion may have been triggered by gas leaking from a cylinder or suction machine. Among the confirmed dead are ten‑year‑old Nazia and sixty‑year‑old Mohammad Riaz, while the body of one woman has been recovered and another victim’s identity is being verified. Several of the injured are children, including a fourteen‑year‑old girl in critical condition, all of whom were taken to hospital. Officials fear at least two people remain trapped under the rubble. Narrow surrounding streets have slowed rescue efforts. Police have cordoned off the area, tightened security, and continued the rescue operation.

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief Rafael Grossi has warned that time is running out for the United States and Iran to reach an agreement. In an interview with a French television channel, Grossi said that although dialogue has begun, the discussions have become extremely complex. He noted that for the first time there appears to be a real possibility of reaching a compromise, with both sides starting to discuss specific issues. The report states that Tehran has suspended several forms of cooperation with the IAEA. Following attacks by Israel and the United States last June, Iran blocked the agency’s access to its nuclear facilities. Meanwhile, alongside ongoing talks, US President Donald Trump met with national security officials to discuss potential military action against Iran. The meeting, held on Wednesday, February 18, reportedly focused on preparations for a possible strike by Saturday, February 21. According to a CBS report citing an unnamed official, US security officials indicated readiness to carry out an attack before the end of the week, though the president has not yet made a final decision.

Dr. Tawhidul Islam’s article explores the historical debate over early Arab Muslim settlements in Bengal, particularly in coastal areas such as Chittagong and Noakhali. Drawing on historical records and interpretations by scholars like Dr. Enamul Haq and M.A. Rahim, the piece discusses claims that Arab traders established communities for commercial purposes as early as the eighth century. Some accounts suggest these settlements evolved into organized Muslim communities, possibly forming an independent state under rulers titled 'Sultan'. However, other historians remain skeptical about the existence of such settlements before formal Muslim conquests. The article highlights linguistic and cultural evidence supporting Arab influence, including Arabic-derived words in the Chittagong dialect and place names. It also notes that Arab traders’ interactions with local populations were facilitated by Bengal’s fertile coastal geography and its role in regional trade networks. Accounts from later travelers, such as the Portuguese Barbosa in 1518, describe Chittagong as a thriving port dominated by Arab and other merchants. The text further contextualizes this contact within Bengal’s fragmented social structure under Sena rule, where caste restrictions and religious decline created conditions favorable to Islam’s spread and Arab settlement.

Bill Gates withdrew from India’s AI Impact Summit in New Delhi just hours before his scheduled keynote address on Thursday, February 19, citing a desire to keep the focus on the event’s priorities. His withdrawal, followed by Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang’s cancellation, dealt another setback to a summit already facing criticism for poor organisation, a controversy over a robotic exhibit, and severe traffic disruptions. The event, billed as the Global South’s first major artificial intelligence forum, aimed to highlight India’s leadership in global AI governance. Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the summit alongside French President Emmanuel Macron, Google CEO Sundar Pichai, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, and Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, calling for stronger safeguards for children on AI platforms. The summit’s management drew anger from participants after exhibition halls were abruptly closed to the public and attendees faced transport chaos due to repeated road closures for VIP movements. Despite the controversies, more than US$100 billion in AI-related investments were pledged during the summit, with the Indian government projecting total commitments could exceed US$200 billion within two years.

Galgotias University in India faced criticism at the India AI Impact Summit in Delhi after a professor claimed that a robotic dog displayed at its stall was developed by the university. The robot, named Orion, was later identified online as the Go2 model produced by Chinese company Unitree Robotics. The university denied claiming ownership of the robot, calling the backlash a propaganda campaign, and said its use of the robot was part of efforts to teach students AI programming using global tools. Professor Neha Singh, who made the initial remarks, said her comments were misunderstood. Reports indicated that the university was asked to vacate its stall, and electricity to the booth was later cut off. A BBC reporter confirmed that the stall was dark and unattended. The controversy embarrassed summit organizers after the video was shared on IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw’s official account, which was later deleted. India’s IT Secretary S Krishnan urged that the incident should not overshadow the contributions of other participants. The five-day summit, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, aims to position India as a global AI hub and includes delegates from over 100 countries.

Bangladesh has joined India and 70 other countries in a large-scale international naval exercise hosted by India. The Bangladesh Navy sent its frigate warship ‘Somudra Avijan’, which arrived in India on 16 February. Other participating nations include Indonesia, the United Arab Emirates, Australia, Sri Lanka, and Thailand. The Indonesian Navy’s frigate KRI Bung Tomo-357, the UAE’s warship Al Emarat, and India’s INS Vikrant also took part in the exercise. Before the exercise began, Indian President Droupadi Murmu stated that the event symbolizes the trust, unity, and respect of various nations toward maritime heritage. She emphasized that ships flying different flags and sailors from diverse countries reflect a spirit of unity. The theme of the exercise is “maritime unity,” and Murmu said the combined naval forces’ determination can overcome all obstacles, sending a positive message to the global community. The exercise highlights growing multilateral cooperation in maritime security and shared commitment among participating nations to strengthen regional and global naval ties.