Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) leader Tarique Rahman has led his party to a landslide victory in the national election, marking his first direct participation in politics after returning from 17 years of self-imposed exile in London. The election comes just over two years after Sheikh Hasina’s controversial win, which was widely criticized for alleged vote-rigging. Rahman’s rise follows the death of his mother, former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, who led the BNP for four decades. BNP leaders have pledged to restore democracy and rebuild institutions weakened over the past decade. Political scientist Nabeen Murshid noted that Rahman’s lack of prior governing experience may work in his favor as citizens seek change. The political shift follows the 2024 “July Uprising,” when young protesters helped oust Hasina. Interim leader Dr. Muhammad Yunus’s tenure has since seen unrest, leaving the new government to stabilize law and order, revive the economy, and create jobs. Sociologist Samina Luthfa observed that most parties lack governing experience and criticized the low representation of women, with only about 4% female candidates. She urged swift action to ensure competent women fill reserved parliamentary seats.

Following its landslide victory in the general election, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has announced plans to invite Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the upcoming oath-taking ceremony of its chairman, Tareq Rahman. According to a report by India Today cited in the source, preparations are underway to invite regional heads of state, and Modi is expected to be among the invitees. The report notes that if the invitation is formally sent and accepted, Modi’s presence in Dhaka would mark a significant milestone in India-Bangladesh relations under the new political leadership. The BNP has not yet made any official announcement confirming the date of the ceremony or the attendance of foreign leaders. The report adds that the party is working to restore India-Bangladesh relations following recent regional tensions. Earlier, Prime Minister Modi congratulated Tareq Rahman on his election victory and spoke with him by phone. In a post on social media platform X, Modi expressed his pleasure at the conversation and reaffirmed India’s commitment to peace, progress, and prosperity for both nations.

BNP Chairperson and Bangladesh’s next Prime Minister Tarique Rahman stated that all citizens must work together to ensure the country does not become a subservient state. He made the remarks on Saturday, February 14, during a post-election press conference following the recently concluded national polls. During the briefing, Rahman expressed gratitude to all political parties for contributing to what he described as a fair and impartial election. He also urged his party’s leaders and activists to maintain restraint in their behavior in the aftermath of the election. Rahman remembered former three-time Prime Minister and BNP’s former Chairperson Khaleda Zia, praying for the forgiveness of her soul. His comments marked his first major statement after the election, emphasizing unity and responsible conduct as the country transitions to a new government.

Cabinet Secretary Dr. Sheikh Abdur Rashid said that newly elected members of the National Parliament are expected to take their oath within three or at most four days. Speaking to reporters at the Secretariat on Saturday, he explained that the official gazette for the elected members has already been published, and according to law, the oath-taking must occur within three days from the start of the next working day. He indicated that the ceremony could take place by February 17. Dr. Rashid added that preparations for the oath-taking are complete, but arrangements are also in place if it is delayed beyond the initial three days. The ceremony will be held at Bangabhaban, where about one thousand guests, including distinguished individuals, are expected to attend. He confirmed that, as per the constitution, the President will administer the oath to the members of the Cabinet. Following the oath, participating political parties will select their parliamentary leaders. The leader of the majority members will inform the President, who will then appoint that person as Prime Minister according to constitutional procedure.

Interim government Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus on Saturday personally called Tarique Rahman, Dr. Shafiqur Rahman, and Nahid Islam to express his congratulations, thanks, and gratitude for their responsible roles in ensuring a festive and peaceful national election atmosphere across Bangladesh. During separate telephone conversations, he commended their contributions to maintaining calm and order during the electoral process. According to the report, Yunus first spoke with Tarique Rahman, congratulating him on his party’s overwhelming majority victory. He then thanked Shafiqur Rahman and Nahid Islam for their success and for demonstrating responsibility in the post-election period. The Chief Adviser emphasized that the moderation and restraint shown by political parties helped sustain a celebratory and peaceful environment nationwide. Yunus expressed hope that political parties would continue to act cooperatively and positively to uphold democratic continuity. He also urged all parties to work together to meet the expectations of the country’s citizens.

Cabinet Secretary Dr. Sheikh Abdur Rashid said the Cabinet Division is fully prepared to hold the new government’s oath-taking ceremony on any day before February 17. Speaking to reporters at the Secretariat on Saturday afternoon, he stated that preparations are complete even if the ceremony takes place as early as tomorrow. Around one thousand guests are expected to be invited to the event, and all necessary arrangements are being finalized. Regarding who will administer the oath to the newly elected members of parliament, the secretary mentioned that the government may nominate someone for the task. He added that either the Chief Justice or the Chief Election Commissioner could conduct the oath ceremony. After the members of parliament take their oaths, the President will administer the oath to the leader of the majority party and the new cabinet, following established procedure. The secretary’s remarks indicate that the administrative groundwork for the transition to the new government is complete, awaiting only the final scheduling of the ceremony.

In the 13th National Parliamentary Election for Netrakona-4 constituency (comprising Madan, Mohanganj, and Khaliajuri), BNP leader and former state minister for home affairs Lutfozzaman Babar won with 160,801 votes. His nearest rival, Jamaat-e-Islami candidate Al Helal Talukder, received 39,309 votes. Three other candidates—Joly Talukder of the Communist Party, Champa Rani Sarkar of the Revolutionary Workers Party, and Mokhlesur Rahman of Islami Andolan Bangladesh—failed to secure enough votes to retain their deposits. According to the returning officer’s office, Netrakona-4 had 375,312 registered voters, with 206,307 valid votes cast and 6,106 votes canceled, marking a turnout of 56.60 percent. A candidate needed at least 12.5 percent of the valid votes, or 25,788 votes, to recover their deposit. Joly Talukder received 3,359 votes, Champa Rani Sarkar 282 votes, and Mokhlesur Rahman 2,025 votes. Local BNP leaders said Babar’s past development work and employment initiatives in the haor region contributed to his wide margin of victory, leading several rival candidates to lose their deposits.

BNP candidate S M Jahangir Hossain, who won the Dhaka-18 constituency in the 13th National Parliamentary Election, received a congratulatory visit from his closest rival Ariful Islam of the Jamaat-led 11-party alliance. The meeting took place on Saturday at Jahangir’s residence in Uttara, Dhaka, where both leaders shared sweets in a friendly atmosphere. During the visit, the two main contenders and local alliance leaders emphasized the importance of democratic practice and mutual respect following the election. Ariful Islam, an NCP leader, accepted the results and expressed his commitment to maintaining democratic continuity. The leaders also pledged to work together for the development of the Dhaka-18 constituency. According to the official results, Jahangir Hossain secured 144,715 votes under the BNP’s paddy sheaf symbol, while Ariful Islam received 111,297 votes, giving Jahangir a victory margin of over 33,000 votes.

Lutfur Rahman Khan Azad has been elected as a Member of Parliament from Tangail-3 (Ghatail) constituency for the fifth time. In the 13th National Parliamentary Election, unofficial results from 122 centers show that Azad, contesting as an independent candidate with the motorcycle symbol, received 106,794 votes. His nearest rival, BNP candidate Obaidul Haque Nasir, secured 81,734 votes. Previously, Azad was elected four consecutive times from the same constituency as a BNP nominee with the paddy sheaf symbol. Despite being denied party nomination this time, he achieved a decisive victory as an independent. During his earlier terms, he also served as a state minister in various ministries. The result underscores Azad’s continued influence in Tangail-3, where his personal political base appears to have remained strong even after losing party endorsement.

In Pirojpur district, eight out of 13 candidates lost their election deposits in two constituencies, according to district election officer Abdul Mannan. In Pirojpur-2, five of seven candidates failed to secure one-eighth of the valid votes, while in Pirojpur-3, three of six candidates met the same fate. The forfeitures occurred because they did not reach the required vote threshold. In Pirojpur-2, there were 409,288 registered voters and 230,238 valid votes cast. Candidates receiving fewer than 28,779 votes lost their deposits. Those affected included independent candidate Mahamud Hossain, Jatiya Party’s Mahibul Hossain, Islami Andolan’s Abul Kalam Azad, Faisal Khan, and Anisur Rahman Munna. In Pirojpur-3, with 237,744 voters and 136,987 valid votes, candidates with fewer than 17,123 votes forfeited their deposits. JASAD’s Karim Sikdar, Touhiduzzaman, and Jatiya Party’s Mashrekul Azam were among them. The report also noted that in Pirojpur-1, only two candidates contested, with Jamaat’s Masud Saeedi winning, while BNP’s Ahmed Sohel Manjur and Ruhul Amin Dulal were elected from Pirojpur-2 and Pirojpur-3 respectively.

A local office of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) in Tongi, Gazipur, was vandalized and a volunteer leader assaulted on Friday night in the Sataish area. The injured, Mozammel Laskar, 49, joint convener of the Tongi West unit of the BNP’s volunteer wing, was attacked by a group of 15–20 men allegedly led by two local individuals. The attackers used iron pipes and sharp weapons during the assault. Locals later rescued Laskar and took him to Tongi Government Hospital for treatment. A written complaint has been filed with Tongi West Police Station. According to Laskar, he had been running an electronics business in the area and had served as the coordinator for the polling center committee of the BNP’s election symbol during the recently concluded 13th national election. He claimed that local men became hostile toward him after he took on that role. Police said they responded to the incident and confirmed receiving a formal complaint. Officer-in-Charge Md. Shahin Alam stated that an investigation is underway and action will be taken based on findings. The accused individuals could not be reached for comment as phone calls to one of them went unanswered.

A 6.4-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Vanuatu on February 14, 2026, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The quake’s epicenter was located about 50 kilometers west of Port Olry village on Espiritu Santo Island. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center reported that the tremor occurred around 1:30 p.m. local time but confirmed that no tsunami warning was issued. A resort worker in Port Olry, Antelik Frank, described the quake as very strong and lasting nearly one minute, though no damage was observed in the surrounding area. Initial reports indicated no significant destruction or casualties. Vanuatu lies within the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” a seismically active region where earthquakes occur frequently. The island nation, home to about 320,000 people, often experiences such tremors due to its geological position.

BNP candidate Dr. Sansila Jebin has alleged irregularities and vote manipulation in the Sherpur Sadar-1 constituency election, calling for the suspension of results and a re-vote. Speaking to journalists at the Election Commission on Saturday, she claimed that votes for her party symbol, the paddy sheaf, were deliberately reduced through planned efforts. In her post-election remarks, Dr. Jebin alleged that officials at polling centers were influenced in favor of her rival candidate, whose party symbol is the plough, representing the Jatiya Party. She further claimed that while agents of Jamaat, NCP, and Jatiya Party operated freely, BNP agents faced intimidation and obstruction inside polling centers. According to Dr. Jebin, voters supporting her were deliberately delayed in queues to reduce turnout, which she described as a planned tactic. She urged the Election Commission to investigate the alleged irregularities and ensure a re-vote, asserting that the true will of the voters was not reflected in the results.

BNP candidate Shahjahan Chowdhury has been unofficially declared the winner in the Cox’s Bazar-4 constituency, comprising Ukhiya and Teknaf, for the fifth time. According to the district returning officer’s office, results were confirmed late on Friday night, February 13, 2026, following the national parliamentary election. Chowdhury, also the district BNP president, secured 123,582 votes, while his closest rival, district Jamaat-e-Islami chief Nur Ahmad Anwari, received 122,033 votes. In Ukhiya’s 54 centers, Chowdhury obtained 60,011 votes against Anwari’s 58,939, and in Teknaf’s 61 centers, he received 62,337 votes compared to Anwari’s 61,104. Among 3,866 registered postal voters, 2,550 votes were valid and 36 were canceled. The official result sheet signed by presiding officer Mohammad Moazzem Hossain showed Anwari leading the postal ballots with 1,937 votes, while Chowdhury received 561. After his victory, Chowdhury expressed gratitude to the people of Ukhiya-Teknaf for their trust, calling the win a victory for all residents. He pledged to work for development, peace, and stability in the area, serving all constituents regardless of political affiliation.

The United States military is preparing for a potential long-term operation against Iran, according to two US officials who spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the planning. The operation would begin if President Donald Trump orders an attack on Iran. The Pentagon has already deployed the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford to the Middle East under Trump’s directive, joining the USS Abraham Lincoln and its accompanying guided missile destroyer in the Arabian Sea. The report states that US forces could target not only Iran’s nuclear infrastructure but also its state and security installations. However, officials declined to provide specific details. The preparations come as US and Iranian diplomats held talks in Oman last week regarding Tehran’s nuclear program. Trump has repeatedly warned of possible military action if no agreement is reached, cautioning that the alternative to diplomacy would be “very tragic.” Iran has vowed to retaliate if attacked, raising fears of a wider regional conflict. Analysts warn that Iran’s large missile arsenal could pose significant risks to US forces and bases across the Middle East.