Five leaders of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) were injured in an alleged attack by Awami League activists at Pattashi Bazar in Indurkani upazila of Pirojpur on Friday night. The incident occurred around 8:30 p.m., leaving the presidents of the local Matsyajibi Dal and JASAS among the injured. The victims, identified as Nazrul Islam Fakir, Zahid Hossain, Nahid Hossain, Nasir Uddin Fakir, and Naim Hossain, were first treated at Indurkani Upazila Health Complex and later transferred to Pirojpur District Hospital. According to locals, they found the victims bleeding and two of them unconscious when they arrived at the scene after hearing cries for help. Injured Zahid Hossain alleged that the attack was led by Nasir Uddin Tuku, joint secretary of the local Awami League, along with his son Raihan and brother Alaudin, claiming it was retaliation for their involvement with the BNP. However, Nasir Uddin denied the allegation, saying he was injured while trying to stop the fight and was being falsely accused. Indurkani Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md. Shamim Hawlader said they received reports of the clash and would take legal action upon receiving a written complaint.

Amazon is planning to launch a 'content marketplace' aimed at supplying materials for artificial intelligence (AI) training, according to The Information. The initiative would allow publishing houses to provide their news, articles, and other materials to AI companies under specific licensing terms. The company has reportedly held meetings with senior executives from several publishing firms to discuss the creation of such a marketplace or hub. Market analysts cited in the report suggest that a dedicated marketplace for licensed content could enable technology companies to legally access reliable information in exchange for payment. This approach would formalize the process of obtaining training data for AI models, potentially reducing disputes over content usage. However, Amazon has not yet provided any definitive details or timeline regarding the launch of the content licensing marketplace.

Detective Branch (DB) police detained Ferdous Ahmed Chowdhury Toshar, president of Bahubal upazila BNP in Habiganj, taking him into custody on Sunday. In protest, local BNP, Jubo Dal, and Chhatra Dal activists held a rally and blocked the Mirpur section of the highway around 2 p.m., halting traffic for about half an hour. The demonstrators demanded Toshar’s unconditional release within 24 hours. Police sources said Toshar was detained following allegations of using abusive language and issuing threats to Bahubal Model Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Md Saiful Islam. A leaked phone call recording of the incident had circulated on social media. The dispute reportedly began after police arrested Masuk Mia, identified as a member of the 2019 Union Jubo League committee, whom some BNP leaders claimed was a BNP activist. Toshar later went live on social media, accusing the OC of involvement in illegal cigarette seizures, drug trade, and other irregularities, which he said he verbally reported to the district police superintendent.

Auto-rickshaw drivers in Trishal, Mymensingh, blocked the Dhaka–Mymensingh highway on Sunday morning demanding an end to extortion allegedly collected under the name 'GP'. The protest began around 10:30 a.m. near the Eva Filling Station, about one kilometer from Trishal bus stand. The drivers expressed anger over an increase in the amount of money being collected and staged the blockade to press their demand. Police later arrived at the scene and explained the public inconvenience caused by the blockade. Following this, the drivers withdrew from the highway, allowing traffic to resume. Trishal Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md. Firoz Hossain confirmed that the protest was organized by local drivers who alleged extortion in Mymensingh city and that vehicular movement on the highway has since returned to normal. The incident highlights ongoing tensions between transport workers and alleged extortion groups in the region, though no further action or resolution was reported in the source.

Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh’s Joint Secretary General Maulana Azizul Haque Islamabadi issued a statement on Sunday calling for widespread public use of the words “Inquilab, Insaaf, and Azadi,” describing them as the language and heritage of the July mass uprising. He criticized what he called “defeated cultural fascists” for opposing these historically significant Arabic-Persian terms, which he said had inspired rebellion during the uprising. Islamabadi also expressed concern that a minister from the ruling party had spoken against the slogan “Inquilab Zindabad.” In his statement, Islamabadi argued that Arabic, Persian, and Urdu words have enriched the Bengali language and played a vital role in anti-colonial and popular movements. He accused certain “secular cultural elites” of attempting to undermine the revolutionary spirit of the July movement by attacking these words while ignoring other politically charged terms. He urged students and the public to respond peacefully to any attempts to distort the historical slogans. He further called on intellectuals and media professionals to strengthen their skills and strategies to counter what he described as fascist and hegemonic narratives, emphasizing the need for continued cultural resistance.

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed announced that the next session of Bangladesh’s parliament will begin on March 12. He said the session will be convened by the president on the advice of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. The minister made the statement after a meeting with the prime minister at the Secretariat on Sunday. He added that elections for the Speaker and Deputy Speaker will be held on the same day, while discussions on the new president have not yet taken place. The 13th national parliamentary election and referendum were held on February 12, followed by the publication of the official gazette the next day. According to constitutional requirements, the first session of the new parliament must be held by March 14. Newly elected members took their oaths on February 17. Tarique Rahman, chairman of the BNP, has been elected as the leader of the house and has already formed a new government. Jamaat-e-Islami’s Amir Shafiqur Rahman has been chosen as the leader of the opposition, with Syed Abdullah Muhammad Taher as deputy opposition leader and Md Nahid Islam of the National Citizens Party as opposition chief whip.

State Minister for Education and newly elected Member of Parliament for Dhaka-13, Bobby Hajjaj, announced on Sunday his decision to take legal action against Mamunul Haque, a rival candidate in the 13th National Parliamentary Election. Hajjaj accused Haque of orchestrating attacks on BNP activists and attempting to seize polling centers on election day. The announcement came after Hajjaj visited Japan Bangladesh Friendship Hospital in Dhaka to review the condition of those injured in the election-day violence. According to Hajjaj, Haque’s supporters tried to take control of polling centers under his direction, leading to clashes when BNP supporters resisted. Over a hundred BNP activists were reportedly injured, including Haidar Ali, who remains in critical condition in the hospital’s ICU due to brain hemorrhage. Hajjaj stated that Haque was present at the scene and directly ordered the attacks, prompting the decision to name him as the main accused in the forthcoming case. Hajjaj also outlined several initiatives to curb drugs and crime in Mohammadpur, including installing CCTV cameras, police boxes, and increasing patrol teams.

Two Indian police officers were found dead from gunshot wounds at a security checkpoint near the Pakistan border in Punjab’s Gurdaspur district. The incident occurred on Sunday in Adian village under Dorangla police station. The deceased were identified as Assistant Sub-Inspector Ashok Kumar and Head Constable Gurnam Singh, who were on duty at the border post. Their bodies were discovered after gunfire was heard near the checkpoint, and they were declared dead at Gurdaspur Civil Hospital. Senior police officials and a forensic team have launched an investigation at the scene. Gurdaspur’s Senior Superintendent of Police, Aditya, is leading the inquiry, and the area has been sealed off. Forensic experts collected weapons, cartridge shells, and other evidence to determine the source and direction of the gunfire. With no eyewitnesses, investigators are examining whether the shooting resulted from an internal dispute or the involvement of a third party. Given the proximity to the international border, security agencies have intensified patrols and issued alerts to nearby posts. Police have yet to release an official statement, confirming only that the investigation is ongoing.

A court in Cumilla has sent a local BNP leader to jail for allegedly assaulting his wife and college-going daughter. The accused, Moniruzzaman, serves as the general secretary of the Borkanda Union BNP in Meghna upazila. On Sunday, the judicial court rejected his bail petition in a case filed over charges of physical assault, sexual harassment, and snatching of gold ornaments. According to the case statement, the incident occurred on February 20 around 3:30 p.m. in Borkanda village. Victim Lovely Begum was returning home from Rampur Bazar by autorickshaw when she and her daughter were attacked by Moniruzzaman and several others wielding local weapons. Both were injured and later received treatment at Meghna Upazila Health Complex. Lovely Begum alleged that the attack stemmed from a long-standing family and land dispute and that she had faced prior threats. The court ordered Moniruzzaman’s detention after denying bail. Attempts to reach him for comment were unsuccessful, as he could not be contacted by phone.

The Election Commission (EC) of Bangladesh has announced plans to complete the postponed parliamentary by-elections for Bogura-6 and Sherpur-3 constituencies before Pahela Baishakh, which falls on April 14. Election Commissioner Abdur Rahmanel Ma’shud confirmed the decision on Sunday, stating that the commission aims to finish the voting process before the start of the Bengali New Year celebrations. According to the commissioner, the EC is working to ensure that all pending electoral activities are concluded on time. In Bogura, expatriate voters who have already registered have cast their votes, and the commission will send ballots to them again. Additional time of a few days may be given to include any new voters who were left out. Alongside these by-elections, the process for reserved women’s seats has also begun through party nominations. The commissioner added that the formalities for the reserved women’s seats will be completed within 90 days of the gazette publication, with the EC expecting to finish that election within the stipulated period.

On February 12, 2026, Bangladesh held its 13th parliamentary election and a national referendum. According to the Election Commission, voter turnout stood at 59.44 percent. However, analysis of the results shows that 15 members of parliament were elected after securing less than 40 percent of the total votes cast in their respective constituencies. Among the winners, BNP candidates, Jamaat-e-Islami leaders, and several independents prevailed in closely contested races. For example, BNP’s Mohammad Akhtaruzzaman won in Mymensingh-10 with 34.56 percent of votes, while Jamaat’s Kamrul Hasan took Mymensingh-6 with 33.03 percent. Other low-margin victories included BNP’s Jahandar Ali Jahan in Madaripur-2 with 32.38 percent and independent Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Iqbal in Kishoreganj-5 with 38.50 percent. Several constituencies, including Gopalganj, Natore, and Dinajpur, also saw winners with similar vote shares. The data highlights a fragmented electoral outcome, with multiple candidates dividing the vote in many constituencies. The Election Commission’s overall turnout figure contrasts with the narrow winning margins, suggesting highly competitive local races across the country.

Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapan announced that the government has planned to excavate 20,000 kilometers of canals across Bangladesh. He made the statement on Sunday while inaugurating a canal re-excavation program at Sharikal Union in Gournadi upazila of Barishal. The initiative is part of the Barishal, Bhola, Jhalakathi, and Pirojpur district irrigation development project. The minister said the program aims to ensure tidal water reaches farmers’ lands directly, improving agricultural productivity. Swapan recalled that the canal excavation program initiated by Shaheed Ziaur Rahman had previously increased food production, but lack of maintenance later reduced its benefits. He said the new program, launched under the leadership of Tarique Rahman, seeks to restore those gains. Alongside canal re-excavation, a tree planting campaign has also begun as part of the broader environmental effort. The minister emphasized that the government would not be partisan and that bureaucrats and police should be enabled to serve the public effectively. He added that the nationwide canal excavation program would be formally inaugurated soon, with local administration officials present at the Barishal event.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian declared that his country will not yield to US pressure regarding its nuclear program. He made the statement during a ceremony honoring members of Iran’s Paralympic team. His remarks came after US President Donald Trump said he was considering limited military strikes to pressure Iranian leaders into reaching a nuclear control agreement. Responding to Trump’s comments, Pezeshkian said Iran would not bow to any challenges or coordinated efforts by world powers to force compliance. The statement underscored Tehran’s defiance as indirect talks between Iran and the United States resumed earlier this month in Oman, followed by a second round in Switzerland last week. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated on Friday that a diplomatic solution was within reach and that a draft agreement could be finalized within two to three days for submission to Washington.

A Dhaka court has sentenced two men, Md Siddiq and Md Shanto Mia, to death for the planned murder of Tejgaon College student Ikram Hossain Molla. The verdict was delivered on Sunday by Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge Md Sabbir Faiz. In addition to the death penalty, both convicts received seven years of rigorous imprisonment and a fine of 50,000 taka each for concealing the body, with an additional three months of simple imprisonment in case of non-payment. Siddiq was present in court during the verdict, while Shanto Mia remains absconding, prompting the court to issue arrest and sentencing warrants against him. According to the case details, on May 4, 2023, the two convicts lured Ikram from his home under the pretext of returning borrowed money. They took him to the Bashundhara sand field area between Patira and Dumni under Khilkhet Police Station, where they attacked him with a hammer and sharp weapons before slitting his throat. The body was later dumped in a nearby pond and covered with water hyacinths. Police recovered the body on May 6, 2023. Ikram’s father, Md Kabir Hossain Molla, filed the murder case with Khilkhet Police Station. Police submitted the charge sheet on November 26, 2023, and charges were framed on February 29, 2024. The court heard testimonies from 17 of 27 witnesses before delivering the verdict.

Libya’s Ramadan festivities, marked by fireworks and family gatherings, have been dampened by soaring inflation, currency devaluation, and deep political divisions. Fifteen years after the fall of longtime ruler Muammar Gaddafi, the country remains split between eastern and western administrations. Despite vast oil and gas reserves, shortages of fuel and essential goods have disrupted daily life, with supermarkets rationing products and ATMs running out of cash in Tripoli. Residents report worsening economic conditions, blaming currency traders for the dinar’s sharp decline. Prices of cooking oil have doubled, while meat and poultry costs have risen by about 50 percent. Gas cylinders, officially priced at 1.5 dinars, are selling for up to 75 dinars on the black market. The western central bank recently devalued the dinar by 15 percent for the second time in less than a year, a move Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah admitted has increased public hardship. UN envoy Hanna Tetteh warned that rising poverty and social pressure could combine with fragile security to create new political and security challenges. Analysts say the lack of a unified budget and reduced oil revenues continue to strain Libya’s divided economy.