Indian author, translator and historian Rakhshanda Jalil attended the annual art and literature festival in Goa on 12 February 2026, where she spoke about the fear and despair experienced by Muslims in India. She described the festival as a rare platform for marginalized voices and said she felt compelled to discuss the pervasive fear that, in her view, is eroding the sense of existence among minorities. Jalil explained that despite her education, social standing and professional success, she continues to live with a constant sense of fear that has turned into a lingering despair. She noted that many urban Muslims share this anxiety, choosing silence in political debates and avoiding public discussions, even on social media. According to her, poorer and less educated Muslims face even greater insecurity, often concealing their identity to avoid losing work or facing discrimination. She also expressed concern for imams and assistant imams serving in Hindu-majority areas, questioning their safety. Jalil said that while her appearance sometimes shields her, her Muslim name could still expose her to danger in an increasingly tense environment.

The new BNP government, which secured an absolute majority in the 13th parliamentary election, is set to take oath on Tuesday. Following the swearing-in, the party’s new prime minister and cabinet members will receive official residences and vehicles as per government protocol. Due to the conversion of Ganabhaban into the July Memorial Museum after August 5, 2024, the new prime minister may reside at the state guesthouse Jamuna. The Housing and Public Works Ministry has prepared 40 residences and 50 vehicles for cabinet members. According to ministry sources, Jamuna has been designated for use as the new prime minister’s residence, though it is currently occupied by Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus. After the new government takes office, the residence will be vacated and prepared. Officials said the final decision on the prime minister’s accommodation will depend entirely on her preference, with Jamuna being the only ready option. The government has also readied ministerial residences in Bailey Road, Minto Road, Dhanmondi, and Gulshan. The Cabinet Division has instructed the Government Transport Department to keep 50 vehicles ready for ministers, including five spares for VVIP protocol requirements.

Cristiano Ronaldo returned to action for Al Nassr after ending his self-imposed strike, leading his team to a 2-0 victory over Al Fateh in the Saudi Pro League. Wearing the captain’s armband, the Portuguese forward scored just 18 minutes into his comeback match, marking his 18th goal of the season. Al Yahya added a second goal in the 78th minute, helping Al Nassr maintain second place in the league standings. Ronaldo had missed two matches by choice amid frustration with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF). Reports indicated he was unhappy with PIF’s increasing investment in rival club Al Hilal, which he felt disadvantaged Al Nassr. The five-time Ballon d’Or winner also had concerns about his club’s management structure. According to ESPN, PIF later accepted Ronaldo’s main demands, including settling Al Nassr’s outstanding payments and restoring management autonomy to the club’s top executives. The Saudi league authorities had earlier warned Ronaldo before his return to play.

The Bangladesh Coast Guard seized a large consignment of Indian textiles and foreign cigarettes worth nearly Tk 9 crore in Sitakunda, Chattogram. The operation took place on Saturday night, February 14, following intelligence that the goods were being smuggled through the Dhaka–Chattogram highway near Chhoto Kumira Bazar. Coast Guard media officer Lieutenant Commander Siam-ul-Haque confirmed the seizure on Sunday night. During the special operation conducted by the Coast Guard Station Bhatiari, officers searched a suspicious covered van and recovered Indian sarees, three-piece suits, lehengas, and 1,298 cartons of foreign cigarettes valued at approximately Tk 8.92 crore. The driver and helper of the van were released after signing written undertakings. The seized goods were later handed over to the Chattogram Customs authorities for legal action. According to the Coast Guard, similar anti-smuggling operations will continue in the future to prevent illegal trade and protect government revenue.

A 15-year-old madrasa student named Md. Mahim Mia was killed in a stabbing incident in Dhaka’s Jatrabari Kazla area on Sunday night. The attack occurred in the Kazla School Lane, where a group of 10 to 12 youths reportedly intercepted and stabbed him. His friends rescued him in critical condition and took him to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, where doctors declared him dead around 11:15 p.m. The hospital police outpost confirmed the incident and stated that the body was kept in the morgue, with the local police station informed. According to Mahim’s friend Raihan, the victim was on his way to meet an elder brother when the attack took place. Mahim was a student in the Hifz section of a local madrasa and originally from Betal village in Kishoreganj Sadar upazila. He had been living in the Kazla area with his family. Police have yet to determine who was responsible for the killing or the motive behind it. Authorities have begun initial procedures, but no suspects or reasons for the attack were immediately known.

Interim government adviser on law, justice and parliamentary affairs Asif Nazrul posted on his verified Facebook page on Sunday night, defending his ministry’s work and addressing criticism. He said he worked late nights and weekends without gaps in teamwork, acknowledging that some might still choose to criticize. Nazrul urged critics to review the ministry’s accomplishments before forming opinions. According to his post, the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs completed extensive reforms to fulfill the aspirations of the July uprising. These included 22 legal reforms, 15 institutional reforms and digitalization initiatives, withdrawal of 24,276 politically motivated cases, management of genocide trials, and a near tripling of daily administrative activities. The legal reforms covered areas such as judicial independence, human rights protection, prevention of enforced disappearances, and modernization of court procedures. Nazrul emphasized that the ministry’s efforts were collective and transparent, citing the establishment of digital courts, online bail systems, and the restructuring of the National Human Rights Commission as examples of progress.

A protest and minor vandalism occurred in Pirganj, Thakurgaon, on Sunday evening after national and party flags were hoisted at the temporarily banned Upazila Awami League office. According to local sources, Awami League activists raised the flags in the afternoon, and a video of the event circulated on social media, triggering political reactions. Following the viral video, leaders and activists of the Upazila units of Chhatra Dal and Swechchhasebak Dal organized a protest march through the main streets of the municipal town, ending in front of the Awami League office. Some protesters damaged a table outside the office, but no major clashes were reported. Police said they were working to maintain order and had increased surveillance in the area. The Upazila Awami League’s temporary office had been closed since August 4, 2024, and no immediate statements were available from either political group regarding the incident.

Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal General Secretary Nasir Uddin Nasir has urged an end to what he described as smear politics and mob culture in the country. In a verified Facebook post on Saturday night, he commented on the recent allegations of sexual assault in Hatiya, saying that available evidence, including video statements and medical records, suggested the incident appeared to be politically motivated and pre-planned. He emphasized that no final judgment should be made before the official investigation concludes and called for a fair and impartial inquiry. Nasir warned that if the investigation proves the allegations were fabricated for political revenge, those responsible must be held accountable. He said attempts to defame political parties or individuals through false accusations amount to deception against the nation. He also demanded that groups such as Shibir, Jamaat-affiliated factions, and the NCP publicly apologize if their involvement is proven. Nasir further stated that legal action would be taken against anyone responsible for spreading unrest or tarnishing the BNP’s reputation. He concluded by asserting that politics should be based on ideals, ethics, and public welfare, not on falsehoods or character assassination.

India advanced to the Super Eight stage after a commanding 61-run victory over Pakistan, securing the top position in Group A. Batting first, India posted a competitive total of 176 runs despite losing an early wicket. Ishan Kishan led the innings with a blistering 77 off 40 balls, supported by Tilak Varma’s 25 and captain Suryakumar Yadav’s 32. Late contributions from Rinku Singh and Shivam Dube helped India reach a strong total. Pakistan’s chase faltered from the start, collapsing to 13 for 3 in the second over after Jasprit Bumrah struck twice. Captain Babar Azam’s 34 and Usman Khan’s 44 offered brief resistance, but the team was bowled out for 114. India’s bowlers delivered a disciplined performance, with six of seven bowlers taking wickets. Bumrah and Hardik Pandya claimed two each in pace, while Axar Patel and Varun Chakravarthy matched that in spin. The result marked India’s third consecutive win, confirming their Super Eight qualification and reinforcing their position as strong title contenders.

The Dhaka South unit of Islami Chhatra Shibir organized a protest march and rally in the capital on Sunday afternoon, condemning nationwide violence, killings, and assaults that followed the February 12 election. The procession began at the north gate of Baitul Mukarram National Mosque and concluded with a rally at the National Press Club. Amirul Islam, the organization’s central student rights secretary, attended as the chief guest along with other city-level leaders. Speakers at the event alleged that since the night election results were announced, activists of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) have been involved in violent acts across the country. They claimed that people who supported or voted for the 11-party alliance, including Jamaat-e-Islami’s scale symbol and the NCP’s Shapla Koli, were targeted through attacks on homes, businesses, and incidents of murder and sexual violence. The speakers demanded an immediate end to such violence. Similar demonstrations were reportedly held by Shibir in various parts of the country on the same issue.

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has extended the deadline for submitting VAT returns for the month of January by one week. As a result, businesses will now be able to file their VAT returns until February 22, 2026, instead of the usual February 15 deadline. According to NBR sources, the extension was granted because many organizations were unable to complete their VAT submissions on time due to disruptions caused by the 13th National Parliamentary Election. Normally, VAT returns for the previous month must be submitted by the 15th of each month. The decision aims to provide businesses with additional time to comply with tax obligations affected by the election period.

On the day of the parliamentary election in Feni’s Sonagazi upazila, former assistant coordinator of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, Shahadat Hasan, alleged that he was abducted and tortured by masked armed men from the Bagishpur Government Primary School polling center. The incident reportedly occurred around noon, when he was taken to an isolated area, beaten with rods, and threatened at gunpoint. He claimed the attackers demanded 500,000 taka in extortion and took 30,000 taka in cash, a mobile phone, and a wristwatch. Shahadat, a fourth-semester BBA student at Feni University, said the assailants accused him of supporting Jamaat and aiding fake voting, which he denied, stating his family’s allegiance to BNP and the ideals of Ziaur Rahman. He alleged that he was forced to record videos portraying him as a criminal and to give false testimony against others. He also claimed he was threatened with harm if he approached authorities. Former district coordinator Omar Faruk demanded a proper investigation, while Sonagazi Model Police Station’s officer-in-charge said no formal complaint had been received.

An imam in Shariatpur’s Damudya upazila was attacked after the scale symbol received more votes than the BNP candidate in the recent national election. The incident occurred on Friday, February 13, in the Char-Naraynpur Dewan Bari Mosque area of Purba Damudya Union. The injured, Hafiz Maulana Monir Hossain, serves as the mosque’s imam and teacher. Local sources said that after the election results, local Jubo Dal leader Akib Howlader and others questioned the imam about why the scale symbol had gained more votes. When he denied involvement, they allegedly dragged him out of his room, beat him, and threatened to kill him if he returned to the mosque. During Friday prayers, worshippers discovered the imam missing and later found him injured. Another local, Shamim Dewan, was also beaten after informing the union chairman about the attack. The incident has caused tension and fear among residents. Locals condemned the assault and demanded a fair investigation. Police said no written complaint had been filed yet but promised action upon receiving one.

In the 13th National Parliamentary Election, ten candidates in Patuakhali’s four constituencies lost their deposits after failing to secure the required share of votes. The results were announced on February 12 by Patuakhali Deputy Commissioner and District Returning Officer Dr. Mohammad Shahid Hossain Chowdhury. According to the Election Commission’s rule, a candidate must obtain at least one-eighth, or 12.5 percent, of total votes to retain their deposit. Each deposit amounts to 50,000 taka, meaning a total of 500,000 taka from ten candidates will be forfeited to the state treasury. Across the constituencies, Patuakhali-1 saw three of six candidates lose deposits, Patuakhali-2 had three of five, Patuakhali-3 had two of five, and Patuakhali-4 had two of four. The affected candidates represented parties including the Jatiya Party (JP), Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JASAD), Islami Andolan Bangladesh, Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh, and the 11-party alliance, as well as independent contenders. The forfeiture reflects the Election Commission’s enforcement of voting thresholds designed to ensure only candidates with significant voter support retain their deposits.

RAB-12 in Bogura has uncovered a new method of drug trafficking where narcotic Phensedyl is being sold under different names and packaging resembling cough syrup. On Sunday, the force seized bottles labeled Eskaf, MKDyl, and Fairdyl during a highway search in Shahjahanpur’s Noymail area. Two suspects from Lalmonirhat were arrested while transporting the consignment on a passenger bus bound for Dhaka. Separate cases have been filed under the Narcotics Control Act. According to RAB-12 company commander Firoz Ahmed ATC, the liquid content of these syrups remains the same as Phensedyl, but traffickers are exploiting new branding to evade detection. Recent raids in Adamdighi and Sonatala upazilas also led to the recovery of similar bottles and the arrest of multiple individuals, including a mother and son involved in the trade. Women have also been found participating in the smuggling network. The first discovery of Eskaf-branded Phensedyl occurred in October last year near TMSS Medical College Hospital in Bogura. Authorities say the trend of rebranding narcotic syrups is spreading into rural areas, prompting continued anti-drug operations.