A Dhaka court has sentenced four young men to life imprisonment for their involvement in a gang rape case in Kamrangirchar. The verdict was delivered on Sunday by Judge Munshi Md. Moshiyar Rahman of the Dhaka Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal-4. Along with life imprisonment with hard labor, each convict was fined 100,000 taka. The four convicts are Shahidul Islam (23), Saiful Islam (25), Nizam (24), and Monir Hossain alias Sentu (26). The court’s public prosecutor, Ershad Alam, confirmed the judgment and stated that failure to pay the fine would result in an additional one year of simple imprisonment for each convict. The ruling marks the conclusion of the Kamrangirchar gang rape case, reinforcing the tribunal’s stance on strict punishment for crimes involving violence against women and children.

Scientists under Microsoft’s Project Silica have developed a revolutionary method to store massive amounts of data in a small piece of glass. According to a report published in the journal Nature titled “Laser Writing in Glass for Dense, Fast and Efficient Archival Data Storage,” the team has used a special laser to encode information inside glass by creating three-dimensional pixels called voxels. A 12-square-centimeter glass piece, only 2 millimeters thick, can hold up to 4.84 terabytes of data—equivalent to about two million books or five thousand 4K movies. The Independent reported that this glass-based storage can endure temperatures up to 290°C and remain intact for around 10,000 years, potentially even longer at room temperature. However, it may be vulnerable to mechanical stress or chemical corrosion. Researchers Feng Chen and Bo Wu noted that large-scale implementation of this silica technology could mark a milestone in the history of knowledge preservation, comparable to ancient scripts, parchment, or modern hard drives. If successfully scaled, this innovation could transform how humanity preserves cultural and scientific knowledge for millennia.

On February 22, 2026, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami chief Dr. Shafiqur Rahman posted a message on his verified Facebook page early Sunday morning, writing that the future Bangladesh would be one of justice and ending with the slogan 'Inquilab Zindabad'. The post quickly spread across social media, drawing attention on International Mother Language Day. According to the report, Dr. Rahman’s post came in response to a statement made the previous day by State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku. The minister had said that to truly embrace the Bengali language, the slogan 'Inquilab Zindabad' should not continue, arguing that it had no connection with Bengali identity. His remarks triggered widespread discussion online. Before Dr. Rahman’s post, several others, including Hasnat Abdullah, Nasiruddin Patwari, and Sarjis Alam, had shared similar messages echoing the same slogan. The issue has since become a focal point of debate on social media surrounding national identity and political expression.

Sohel Rana, the owner of the collapsed Rana Plaza and a Jubo League leader, was temporarily released on parole from Kashimpur Jail on Saturday, February 21, to attend his mother’s funeral in Savar. The funeral took place at a madrasa mosque in the Savar municipal area, where police from Savar Model Police Station were present. During the event, Rana addressed those in attendance, asking for prayers for his late mother and forgiveness for his past mistakes. According to his cousin Jahangir Alam, Rana’s mother, Marzina Begum, had been suffering from cancer for a long time and passed away on Friday night at a hospital in Dhaka. Following her death, a parole request was submitted, and Rana was brought to Savar by police around 6 p.m. He returned to prison around 7:30 p.m. after the funeral. The arrangement for his attendance at the funeral was kept confidential. The brief parole release marked Rana’s first public appearance in nearly a decade, drawing attention due to his past involvement in the Rana Plaza tragedy.

Authorities in Libya and Greece have recovered the bodies of eight refugees following separate maritime incidents. Five bodies were found washed ashore near Tripoli, Libya, while three others were recovered off the coast of Crete, Greece. Residents of Libya’s coastal town of Qasr al-Akhyar discovered the bodies on Saturday, and local police said more may still be floating at sea. The Libyan incident occurred just weeks after a rubber boat carrying 55 migrants sank off Zuwara, leaving about 53 people dead or missing, including two children. In Greece, the Athens News Agency reported that a wooden boat carrying migrants and asylum seekers capsized near Crete. Authorities rescued at least 20 survivors, mostly Egyptian and Sudanese nationals, including four minors. According to ERT, survivors said around 50 people had been on the wooden boat, and another vessel carrying about 40 migrants was spotted nearby, prompting a new rescue operation.

Ukraine on Saturday claimed it carried out a strike on a key Russian ballistic missile manufacturing facility located in Votkinsk, a city in Russia’s remote Udmurtia region. The Ukrainian General Staff said the attack targeted a military installation involved in producing strategic missiles. According to Ukrainian military sources, the plant manufactured short-range Iskander and intercontinental Topol-M missiles, and the strike demonstrated Ukraine’s ability to reach targets about 1,400 kilometers from its border. In a statement on Telegram, Ukrainian forces said they used domestically produced, ground-launched Flamingo cruise missiles in the attack, which caused a fire and significant operational damage inside the facility. However, no specific details on casualties or the extent of damage were released. Udmurtia’s governor, Aleksandr Brechalov, confirmed a nighttime drone attack in the region, reporting some damage and injuries but did not specify the target. Following the incident, airports in Izhevsk and nearby cities were temporarily closed as a security measure. The strike comes amid ongoing Russian missile and drone attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, which have left many Ukrainians without power and heating during winter.

The International Crimes Tribunal-1 begins recording witness testimony today, Sunday, in the war crimes case against Sheikh Hasina’s adviser on industry and investment, Salman F Rahman, and former law minister Anisul Huq. The two were sentenced to death for crimes against humanity committed during the July Revolution. The tribunal’s three-member panel is chaired by Justice Golam Mortuza Majumdar, with Justice Shafiul Alam Mahmud and retired district judge Mohitul Haque Enam Chowdhury as members. The tribunal had earlier, on 12 January, framed formal charges and ordered the trial to begin, setting 10 February for the prosecution’s opening statement. Chief Prosecutor Tajul Islam stated that the prosecution holds conclusive evidence against the accused, with 22 witnesses scheduled to testify. The prosecution will also present video, documentary, and live evidence to support its case. Today’s hearing marks the first witness deposition in the case, signaling the formal progression of the trial process under the International Crimes Tribunal-1.

Elon Musk, currently the world’s richest person, is projected to become the highest individual taxpayer in history. According to his own statement, he expects to pay more than 500 billion dollars in taxes over his lifetime. Musk’s total wealth now stands at about 852 billion dollars, placing him far ahead of other billionaires. The surge in Musk’s wealth follows the recent merger between his rocket company SpaceX and artificial intelligence firm xAI, which created a new entity valued at 1.25 trillion dollars. The merger alone added 84 billion dollars to Musk’s personal fortune in a single day. Responding humorously on social media platform X, Musk said he had already paid over 10 billion dollars in taxes and joked that he deserved a small trophy for it. Musk currently leads the race to become the world’s first trillionaire, with his closest rivals holding between 100 and 250 billion dollars. The source notes that if Tesla’s new incentives and stock targets are achieved, his wealth could multiply further over the next decade.

Pakistan’s military carried out airstrikes across several areas of Afghanistan, killing at least 17 people, according to Afghan sources cited by Al Jazeera. The Pakistani government said the strikes targeted seven hideouts of Fitna al-Kharij’s affiliates and Daesh-Khorasan along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. Islamabad described the operation as a response to a recent suicide attack in the Pakistani capital. Afghanistan’s Ministry of Defense condemned the strikes in a statement on Sunday, saying they hit a religious school and residential homes in Nangarhar and Paktika provinces, causing civilian casualties including women and children. The attacks have placed a fragile ceasefire between the two neighbors under serious strain. Pakistan’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting stated on social media that the military targeted camps and secret bases of Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and allied groups, as well as an Islamic State affiliate near the border. The ministry added that Islamabad had repeatedly urged the Taliban government to prevent armed groups from using Afghan territory for attacks but claimed Kabul had failed to act.

Saudi Arabia has arrested more than 19,000 illegal expatriates during a nationwide security campaign conducted from February 12 to 18, 2026. The joint operation targeted violations of labor, residency, and border security regulations, according to Khaleej Times. Among those detained, 12,153 were held for residency violations, 2,845 for labor law breaches, and 4,103 for border security offenses. Additionally, 663 people were caught attempting to cross the border illegally, most of them Yemeni and Ethiopian nationals. The Saudi Ministry of Interior stated that 28 individuals accused of assisting violators through transportation, shelter, or employment were also detained. Of the arrested expatriates, 14,893 have been deported, 1,389 were instructed to correct their travel documents, and 15,585 were ordered to obtain proper documentation. Authorities warned that anyone aiding border violators could face up to 15 years in prison and fines of up to one million riyals. The ministry also announced that vehicles and residences used for transporting or harboring violators would be confiscated as part of the enforcement measures.

University students across Iran launched large-scale anti-government demonstrations on Saturday, marking the first major wave of protests since last month’s deadly crackdown. Rallies and sit-ins took place at several campuses in Tehran, including Sharif University of Technology, where hundreds of students marched peacefully with national flags. Verified videos showed chants calling for the end of dictatorship, reportedly directed at Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Pro-government supporters held a counter-rally nearby, leading to brief scuffles between the two groups. Similar protests were reported at Shahid Beheshti and Amirkabir universities, while students in Mashhad demanded freedom and rights. The unrest follows last month’s economic crisis that escalated into nationwide anti-government protests, described as the largest since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. The U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) claimed at least 6,159 people were killed, including protesters, children, and government personnel, while Iranian authorities reported over 3,100 deaths, mostly security forces and civilians. Tensions with the United States have further complicated the situation. President Donald Trump said progress had been made in nuclear talks but warned that within ten days it would be clear whether a deal or military action would follow.

Saudi authorities have announced new guidelines for Umrah pilgrims during Ramadan to ensure safety, order, and smooth worship at the Grand Mosque in Mecca. The measures include crowd control, transportation management, and health and safety protocols as the number of worshippers increases during the holy month. Digital indicators have been installed at mosque entrances to show space availability, with green indicating open areas and red indicating full capacity. Authorities have restricted the use of private cars to reduce congestion and encouraged the use of buses, taxis, and the Haramain High-Speed Railway. Motorcycles, bicycles, and unauthorized vehicles are banned in central areas. Separate prayer areas and electric carts have been arranged for elderly and special-needs worshippers, while families are advised not to bring children into crowded zones. Additional instructions include staying hydrated, taking rest, following fire safety rules, and obtaining mandatory digital permits. Carrying weapons, begging, unauthorized selling, and obstructing movement are strictly prohibited under the new directives.

The once-mighty Padma River in Rajbari has turned into a narrow channel as vast stretches have dried up, exposing numerous sandbars across nearly fifty kilometers. The shrinking river has reduced navigability and created acute water shortages for hundreds of families living in the char areas. Locals report that the river has become so shallow that crossing it on foot may soon be possible. Residents recall that three decades ago, the river maintained strong flow even in dry seasons. Now, farmers struggle to transport crops and goods from the opposite bank, often resorting to walking or using animal carts. Livestock owners travel long distances to bathe and water their cattle as nearby ponds have dried up, and tube wells no longer yield water. According to Subrata Kumar, Executive Engineer of the Water Development Board’s Rajbari Sadar Division, reduced upstream flow and lower surface-level capacity have caused the drying. He added that decreased water release from the Farakka Barrage is a major factor. A survey is underway to determine the full extent of the problem.

Farmers in Panchagarh have intensified Boro rice cultivation this season, encouraged by stable paddy prices in recent years. The district, which typically plants Boro seedlings later than other regions, is now witnessing widespread transplanting activity. According to the Department of Agricultural Extension, the target for this year’s Irri-Boro season covers 33,994 hectares across five upazilas, including 9,021 hectares of hybrid and 24,973 hectares of Ufshi varieties. So far, seedlings have been transplanted on 14,490 hectares, with completion expected within two weeks. Boda and Debiganj upazilas have seen the largest cultivation areas, totaling over 21,000 hectares. Farmers report favorable weather and manageable pest conditions, raising hopes for another bumper harvest. Some, however, have shifted portions of their land to maize and peanut cultivation due to previous losses from Aman rice. Agricultural officials noted that last season’s Boro crop achieved high yields despite pest attacks, and similar conditions this year could lead to strong production again. If current weather patterns persist and proper care continues, the district’s farmers anticipate a productive harvest season ahead.

A severe shortage of drinking water has gripped Charfassion in Bhola as groundwater levels have fallen sharply, leaving thousands of deep tube wells dry. According to the report published on February 22, 2026, water is no longer coming from about 12,000 deep tube wells across Charfassion municipality and 21 unions. Residents are now forced to collect water from ponds, canals, and ditches, causing widespread suffering. The lack of clean water has disrupted daily life, including prayer activities in mosques, and raised health concerns due to the use of contaminated surface water. The Department of Public Health Engineering in Charfassion stated that around 10–12 thousand government-installed deep tube wells exist in the area, along with over a hundred thousand privately owned ones. Of these, about 2,500 government-funded and more than 40,000 private tube wells are currently nonfunctional. Officials said the groundwater level has been dropping by about two feet each year, worsened by irrigation-related extraction. The Upazila administration has advised contacting the Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation to address the issue. The crisis has heightened risks of waterborne diseases, particularly among children, as residents rely on unsafe water sources.