Several shops belonging to BNP supporter Kalam Sardar were set on fire by unidentified miscreants late Sunday night, February 15, 2026, in Mula Market area of Hatiya upazila, Noakhali. The blaze destroyed seven shops, a microbus, and two autorickshaws, causing an estimated loss of around one crore taka. Fire service units, assisted by locals, managed to bring the fire under control after significant damage had already occurred. Kalam Sardar stated that he is a supporter of the BNP’s electoral symbol, the paddy sheaf, and had recently received threats from rival groups. Mahbubur Rahman Shamim, the BNP’s central organizing secretary and candidate for Noakhali-6 (Hatiya), visited the site early in the morning and alleged that the attack was politically motivated due to support for the paddy sheaf. He urged the administration to investigate the incident and take appropriate action. The incident has heightened local tensions ahead of the election, with calls for a thorough investigation into the politically charged arson attack.

Following the Bangladesh Nationalist Party’s (BNP) sweeping victory in the 13th national election, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated BNP leader Tarique Rahman and pledged support for a democratic and inclusive neighbor. Modi’s message, written in Bengali, struck a cautious and forward-looking tone, signaling New Delhi’s intent to rebuild ties strained since Sheikh Hasina’s ouster in the 2024 student-led uprising and her subsequent exile in India. Relations between the two countries deteriorated sharply after India’s backing of Hasina’s increasingly authoritarian rule, compounded by disputes over border killings, water sharing, trade restrictions, and suspended transport links. Analysts cited in the report believe that rebuilding trust will require restraint and mutual cooperation. Historical tensions between India and BNP governments, including security and minority issues, still cast a shadow over current diplomacy. Despite political uncertainty and Hasina’s continued presence in India, both nations remain bound by geography, trade, and security cooperation. Experts suggest that India, as the larger neighbor, should take the initiative to restore dialogue and stabilize bilateral relations.

Police Headquarters has denied reports claiming that Inspector General of Police (IGP) Baharul Alam has resigned. In an official statement issued on Sunday night, the headquarters confirmed that the news of his resignation is incorrect and requested everyone to refrain from spreading misinformation. Earlier on Sunday, rumors circulated that IGP Baharul Alam had stepped down from his position. He assumed office on November 21, 2024, succeeding outgoing IGP Md. Moinul Islam. The government appointed him on a two-year contractual basis as the head of the Bangladesh Police. The clarification from Police Headquarters aims to dispel confusion surrounding the leadership of the police force and maintain public trust in official communications.

AB Party Chairman Mojibur Rahman Manju has submitted a letter to the returning officer and Feni district administration alleging irregularities and violence during the election in the Feni-2 constituency. The letter, handed over on Sunday, February 16, by his chief election agent ANM Abdur Rahim, sought justice and remedies for alleged attacks, obstruction of campaign activities, and post-election violence. Several local political leaders from allied parties were present during the submission. In the letter, Manju claimed that his campaign faced repeated obstacles across various unions, including unjust fines imposed by a magistrate, vandalism of campaign camps, verbal abuse of female workers, and threats to voters. Among 14 written complaints, he cited an attempted attack on him in Lemuya Union on election day, an attempted murder of his chief election agent, and vehicle vandalism. The letter also mentioned assaults on BNP activists, intimidation of voters, business closures, and incidents of cocktail attacks. Manju demanded proper investigation and security for voters and workers supporting the ‘Eagle’ symbol. Copies of the letter were sent to the Election Commission, IGP, divisional commissioner, and Feni police superintendent.

BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman paid a courtesy visit to Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman at his residence in Bashundhara on Sunday, February 15, following the BNP’s sweeping victory in the 13th National Parliamentary Election. The meeting, described as a significant post-election gesture, was attended by BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Jamaat’s Nayeb-e-Ameer Dr. Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher, and Assistant Secretary General Ehsanul Mahbub Zubair. Dr. Shafiqur Rahman greeted Tarique Rahman with flowers during the meeting. After the discussion, Dr. Taher told reporters that the meeting symbolized a qualitative change in national politics. He said both parties had jointly struggled against fascism and would now work together to build a new Bangladesh. Taher emphasized that Jamaat would cooperate with the government on issues of public welfare but would not join any national government, instead maintaining its role as a strong opposition. The Jamaat chief also expressed hope that the government would pay attention to law and order issues raised during the meeting.

The Bangladesh Meteorological Department has forecast potential cyclonic activity and multiple heatwaves in the country over the next three months. According to its three-month climate outlook issued in early February, hailstorms and thunderstorms may occur toward the end of February and several times through April. The department also warned that by the end of this period, Bangladesh could experience three to five mild or moderate heatwaves and one to two severe heatwaves, with temperatures ranging from 36°C to 41.9°C. The forecast further indicates that sea conditions may become rough several times before April, with two to three low-pressure systems likely to form, one of which could intensify into a depression or cyclone. Overall rainfall is expected to remain normal, though both day and night temperatures may stay above average during this period. The outlook suggests that the transition from winter to spring will bring increased weather variability, requiring close monitoring of heat and storm developments across the country.

In Khulna, a previously abandoned office of the banned Awami League was reopened on Sunday, February 15, 2026, just two days after the national election. Witnesses reported that a national flag and portraits of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Hasina were displayed at the site. The reopening, led by TM Arif, joint secretary of Sonadanga Thana Awami League, quickly spread on social media, drawing crowds to the scene. Local businesspeople confirmed that the office had remained deserted since August 2024, when it was vandalized and burned during the final days of a mass uprising. The sudden resumption of activity at the site has raised alarm among student groups. Ahmad Hamim Rahat, a coordinator of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, told Amader Desh that the organization remains temporarily banned by court order and that all political activities are suspended. Rahat warned that such defiance could provoke renewed street protests by students against what he called subversive acts by the banned group.

Bangladesh’s Ministry of Public Administration has cancelled the remaining term of journalist Faisal Mahmud’s contractual appointment as Minister (Press) at the country’s High Commission in New Delhi. The order, issued on Sunday, February 15, states that the cancellation was made under Article 8 of the agreement signed between the government and Mahmud. Faisal Mahmud, editor of Bangla Outlook, had been appointed to the position on September 24, 2024, for a two-year term following the fall of the Awami League government during the 2024 movement. At that time, the interim government made several changes in diplomatic positions, including at the Delhi mission. The cancellation comes just before the formation of a new BNP-led government following its sweeping victory in the February 12 election, marking another administrative adjustment by the interim authority ahead of the transition of power.

A police constable from Hossainpur Police Station in Kishoreganj, Nazrul Islam, aged 50, died following a road accident while returning to the station with an arrested fugitive suspect. The incident occurred around 1:30 a.m. on Saturday in the Podorgati area of Gobindpur Union, when a CNG autorickshaw carrying police personnel collided head-on with a bus coming from the opposite direction. Five people, including three police officers, were injured in the crash. Nazrul Islam was first taken to Shaheed Syed Nazrul Islam Medical College Hospital in Kishoreganj and later transferred to Mymensingh Medical College Hospital as his condition worsened. He died there around 11 a.m. on Sunday while undergoing treatment. The other injured individuals received primary treatment at a local hospital. Hossainpur Police Station Officer-in-Charge Muhammad Rashedul Islam confirmed the incident and stated that legal procedures regarding the accident are ongoing.

AB Party Chairman Mojibur Rahman Manju held a post-election meeting with party leaders and activists at the party’s central office, where participants shared their experiences from the recent polls. The meeting, conducted by Joint General Secretary Altaf Hossain, featured speeches from senior leaders including Professor Dr. Ohab Minar and Advocate Abdullah Al Mamun Rana. Party members discussed irregularities, threats, and incidents of violence against their workers during the election. Manju stated that despite being a new political organization, the AB Party had achieved significant progress by reaching the public. He highlighted the experience gained from the 11-party electoral alliance and emphasized the need for elected representatives to ensure good governance. Manju reaffirmed the party’s commitment to rights-based politics and national reform, thanking activists for their dedication during the campaign. Leaders also discussed future organizational plans in light of the current political situation and pledged to strengthen the party’s activities nationwide.

After nine months of diplomatic and inter-ministerial negotiations, Bangladesh has finalized the Agreement on BD-US Reciprocal Trade (ART) with the United States. The deal reduces the previously imposed 20 percent reciprocal tariff to 19 percent and grants zero-duty access for about 2,500 Bangladeshi products in the US market, according to a statement from the Chief Adviser’s Office. The agreement follows the US Executive Order No. 14257 of April 2, 2025, which had imposed reciprocal tariffs on most countries. The ART covers a wide range of areas including goods, services, customs procedures, trade facilitation, investment, e-commerce, labor, environment, and transparency. Bangladesh’s commitments align with existing WTO, ILO, and TRIPS agreements, meaning no new conditions were imposed. The textile and apparel sector received special benefits, allowing duty-free access for garments made with US cotton and synthetic fibers. Bangladesh also included an exit clause in the agreement, unlike other countries. Officials expect the ART to help Bangladesh maintain competitiveness in the US market, expand trade and investment, and generate broader economic benefits.

BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman has called on party members and supporters to remain cautious so that political disputes do not turn into acts of revenge or hostility. He made the appeal on Sunday night through a post on the official Facebook page of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). In his message, Tarique Rahman acknowledged that misunderstandings may have arisen among party members or between rival groups during election contests. However, he emphasized that such disagreements should not escalate into personal or political retaliation. His statement appeared to be aimed at maintaining unity and discipline within the party following recent electoral competition. The post reflects an effort by the BNP leadership to prevent internal conflicts and to promote restraint among its members in the aftermath of election-related tensions.

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Chairperson Tarique Rahman met Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman at his residence in Bashundhara, Dhaka, on Sunday evening. The meeting began around 7:15 p.m. and ended at 8 p.m. Jamaat chief Shafiqur Rahman welcomed Tarique Rahman with flowers and later described the visit as a historic moment for national politics in a post on his verified Facebook page. In his statement, Dr. Shafiqur Rahman said Tarique Rahman assured him that effective measures would be taken to prevent any post-election violence or attacks on opposition activists and minority communities. He expressed hope that no citizen would face fear or insecurity. The Jamaat leader also reiterated his party’s commitment to building a sovereign, just, and democratic Bangladesh in cooperation with the 11-party alliance. Dr. Shafiqur Rahman added that Jamaat would fully cooperate with the elected government on matters of national interest while maintaining its constitutional role as an ideological opposition. The meeting was attended by BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Standing Committee member Nazrul Islam Khan, and senior Jamaat leaders.

Bangladesh’s new cabinet will take oath at the South Plaza of the National Parliament on Tuesday afternoon, breaking with the tradition of holding the ceremony at Bangabhaban. Interim government legal adviser Professor Dr. Asif Nazrul and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) said the decision was made for four reasons, including honoring the memory of the July mass uprising and other historical events linked to the site. President Md. Shahabuddin will administer the oath to the new ministers, following the BNP’s landslide victory in the 13th national election under the leadership of party chairperson Tarique Rahman. Asif Nazrul explained that the South Plaza holds special significance due to its association with the July–August student and public uprising, the signing of the July Charter, and the funerals of former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia and July movement leader Shaheed Osman Hadi. BNP leaders, including Moazzem Hossain Alal, welcomed the government’s decision, calling it a historic initiative that reflects the nation’s collective memory. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has invited foreign ministers from SAARC countries to attend the ceremony, which BNP aims to make a memorable national event.

Newly elected members of parliament from the Jamaat-e-Islami-led 11-party alliance will take their oaths and join the national parliament, according to Hamidur Rahman Azad, Assistant Secretary General of Jamaat-e-Islami and coordinator of the alliance’s liaison committee. He stated that the alliance has decided to participate in parliament and engage in constructive criticism. Azad made these remarks on Sunday, February 15, after a meeting with the Election Commission at its headquarters in Agargaon, Dhaka. Earlier that day, at 11:45 a.m., a delegation from the 11-party alliance visited the Election Commission to submit complaints regarding alleged vote rigging and irregularities in 30 constituencies during the 13th national parliamentary election. The constituencies include Panchagarh-1, Thakurgaon-2, Dinajpur-3, Dinajpur-5, Lalmonirhat-1, Lalmonirhat-2, Gaibandha-4, Bogura-2, Bogura-3, Sirajganj-1, Jashore-3, Khulna-3, Khulna-5, Barguna-1, Barguna-2, Jhalakathi-1, Pirojpur-2, Mymensingh-6, Mymensingh-8, Mymensingh-10, Kishoreganj-3, Dhaka-6, Dhaka-8, Dhaka-10, Dhaka-13, Dhaka-17, Gopalganj-2, Brahmanbaria-2, Chandpur-4, Chattogram-14, and Cox’s Bazar-4. The alliance’s decision signals its intent to participate in parliamentary activities despite raising allegations of electoral misconduct.