Prime Minister Tarique Rahman held a meeting on February 21, 2026, at the Prime Minister’s Office in Tejgaon, Dhaka, focusing on making the education system more enjoyable and employment-oriented, expanding job opportunities, and improving sports infrastructure and training facilities. The meeting was attended by relevant ministers, state ministers, and senior officials. According to Press Secretary Abu Abdullah M Saleh, this was the first time Prime Minister Tarique Rahman worked from the Tejgaon office since assuming office. It marked his third working day as head of government. After taking the oath as prime minister, he had worked at the Secretariat on the previous Wednesday and Thursday. The meeting reflected the new administration’s early focus on aligning education with employment and strengthening youth and sports development initiatives.

Bangladesh’s Shipping Minister Sheikh Robiul Alam announced that significant visible progress will be achieved within the next six months in the modernization and ongoing development projects of Mongla Port, the country’s second-largest seaport. He made the statement during a press briefing at the Mongla Port Authority jetty on Saturday afternoon. The minister said Mongla Port’s role in the economic growth, industrialization, and foreign trade of the southwestern region is expanding. Redirecting more import-export operations to Mongla could ease pressure on Dhaka and Chattogram, reduce transport costs, and save time. Under the government’s priority plans, infrastructure upgrades, addition of modern equipment, and digital transformation of services are underway. He emphasized coordinated efforts to make Mongla a modern, efficient regional trade hub contributing more to the national economy. Alam also highlighted the importance of the newly launched rail link to the port and said integrated management of rail and maritime transport will make cargo movement more dynamic. About 15 integrated development plans have been undertaken to transform Mongla into a competitive seaport modeled after Chattogram Port.

At a discussion meeting in Dhaka on Saturday marking International Mother Language and Martyrs’ Day, Jamaat-e-Islami’s Nayeb-e-Ameer and Member of Parliament Professor Mujibur Rahman said that a government had been formed against the people’s verdict by not taking the oath of the Constitutional Reform Council. He urged both the government and opposition to work together to implement the people’s mandate peacefully, warning that failure to do so could lead to public uprising. Rahman stated that no government in the country’s history had remained in power by defying public opinion and that Jamaat-e-Islami was prepared for a final struggle to establish people’s rights while also ready to cooperate with the government as an opposition party. He called for ensuring the use of the Bangla language in all sectors and for rewriting what he described as distorted historical narratives to present the truth to the younger generation. Other speakers, including Jamaat’s Assistant Secretary General Dr. A.H.M. Hamidur Rahman Azad, emphasized the need to implement the July Charter to strengthen democracy and warned against authoritarian tendencies.

At least five people have been killed in a severe snowstorm that struck Austria, causing widespread power outages and transport disruptions. Officials reported that one person died in the northern city of Linz, while four skiers were killed in avalanches in the Tyrol region. Three of them died near the St. Anton ski resort, and another was killed in Nauders, where one more person was injured. The storm has brought up to 16 inches of snowfall since Thursday, prompting warnings in southeastern Austria, particularly around the city of Graz. This winter season’s avalanche death toll in the country has now reached 21. Vienna International Airport was temporarily closed on Friday morning, and afternoon services were also affected. According to the national automobile association ÖAMTC, several major highways near Vienna were closed for hours. Power companies reported outages in southern and eastern regions, including Styria, where about 30,000 homes lost electricity.

State Minister for Education Bobby Hajjaj has declared that no form of corruption will be tolerated in his ministry over the next five years. He made the statement on Saturday while addressing a discussion organized by the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education in observance of Shaheed Dibash and International Mother Language Day. During his speech, Hajjaj emphasized the significance of February 21 as a symbol of the Bengali nation’s struggle for fundamental rights, noting that language represents the most personal and basic human right. He reflected on the historical sacrifices made for rights and stated that democratic governance has now been restored through a popularly elected government. The state minister further stressed that education forms the foundation of the state, warning that a weak foundation cannot support a strong structure. He called for strengthening educational infrastructure and focusing on three key areas to improve education quality.

The government of Gujarat, a western Indian state, has announced plans to amend its marriage registration law to prevent alleged fraudulent marriages involving concealed identities, often referred to as 'love jihad'. Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi made the announcement in the state assembly on Friday, stating that the initiative aims to protect women from deception. Under the proposed changes, both bride and groom must submit proof of parental consent and provide detailed information about their parents, including names, phone numbers, and addresses. The draft amendment requires assistant registrars to notify the parents of both parties within ten days of receiving a marriage registration application. The application will then be forwarded to the relevant district registrar’s office, where verification will be completed within one month. Sanghavi said details of the new law will be published on an official government website currently under development. He emphasized that the goal is to safeguard traditional marriage practices and ensure women’s safety. The amendment is being introduced under the Gujarat Marriage Registration Act of 2006. Sanghavi also mentioned reports of fake marriage certificates and marriages conducted under false identities, even in villages without Muslim populations. Public feedback was collected over a 30-day period before drafting the proposal.

Five people were killed in a head-on collision between a CNG-run auto-rickshaw and a gas-carrying truck on the Kushtia bypass road on Saturday, February 21, 2026, around 2:30 p.m. The incident was confirmed by Abu Obaid, Officer-in-Charge of Kushtia Highway Police Station. Among the deceased were three women. The bodies were recovered and taken to Kushtia General Hospital. The report, filed by the district correspondent in Kushtia, stated that the accident occurred in the afternoon when the two vehicles collided directly on the busy bypass road. Police immediately responded to the scene to manage the situation and transport the victims. Authorities have not yet released the identities of the deceased or further details about the cause of the collision. The incident adds to ongoing concerns about road safety in the region, particularly involving small passenger vehicles and heavy trucks.

For the first time, National Parliament Opposition Leader and Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman paid tribute to the language martyrs at the Shaheed Minar on February 21, 2026. He was accompanied by Opposition Chief Whip and NCP convener Nahid Islam, and Members of Parliament Akhtar Hossain, Hasnat Abdullah, and Hannan Masud. The floral tribute took place just after midnight, following similar tributes by President Md. Shahabuddin and Prime Minister Tareq Rahman. Explaining his participation, Dr. Shafiqur Rahman told reporters that he attended the ceremony as part of a state ritual, describing it as his responsibility as the opposition leader to join with his colleagues. Jamaat had earlier announced that under his leadership, newly elected MPs from the 11-party alliance would pay respects at the Shaheed Minar, visit the graves of the language martyrs, and offer prayers for their souls. The event marked a symbolic first for Jamaat-e-Islami’s leadership in participating in the state observance of International Mother Language Day.

Prime Minister’s political adviser Dr. Nazrul Islam Khan said that many institutions in Bangladesh have been destroyed due to corruption, nepotism, and incompetence. He made the remarks on Saturday afternoon at the Bangladesh Film Development Corporation while addressing an event organized by Debate for Democracy to honor the winners of the 2026 Election Debate Competition. Khan referred to what he described as fifteen and a half years of misrule under the Awami League, saying the extent of institutional damage was greater than expected. He attributed the situation to politicization, favoritism, and the appointment of unqualified individuals to key positions. He urged everyone to cooperate with the government from their respective positions to overcome the challenges and move forward. The event was presided over by Debate for Democracy Chairman Hasan Ahmed Chowdhury Kiron and attended by several academics, including State University Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Md. Akhtar Hossain Khan, Chief Moderator Professor Abu Mohammad Rois, and Jahangirnagar University Professor Dr. Nahrin Khan.

U.S. President Donald Trump will visit China from March 31 to April 2, 2026, for a long-anticipated meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. A White House official confirmed the trip on Friday. The announcement came a day after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down Trump’s global import tariff initiative. According to the report, the two leaders are expected to discuss a potential trade agreement aimed at avoiding further tariff increases. This will be Trump’s second visit to China, following his first trip in 2017 during his previous term. The Chinese Embassy in Washington declined to comment on the travel dates, and Beijing has not yet confirmed the visit.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has strongly condemned and protested remarks by Road, Rail and Water Transport Minister Sheikh Robiul Alam that the party claims effectively legitimized extortion in the name of compromise. In a statement issued to the media on Saturday, Jamaat’s Assistant Secretary General and head of its publicity and media division, Advocate Ehsanul Mahbub Zubair, expressed deep concern and described the minister’s comments as undesirable, unethical, and harmful to the rule of law. The statement said extortion is a criminal offense and poses a serious threat to society, the economy, and governance. It warned that legitimizing such acts could encourage further crimes and undermine justice, transparency, and accountability. Jamaat urged the government to adopt a zero-tolerance policy against extortion and corruption and to take visible and effective measures against those involved. The party demanded that the minister withdraw his remarks, issue a public explanation, and avoid similar statements in the future. Jamaat also called on the government to ensure citizens’ safety and to take strict legal action to prevent extortion, warning that failure to do so could lead to a united public resistance against such crimes.

U.S. President Donald Trump has signed an executive order imposing a temporary 10% global tariff after the Supreme Court declared his earlier trade policy invalid. The order, signed late Friday local time, will apply to all countries for the next 150 days under Section 122 of the 1974 U.S. Trade Act. Trump also directed his administration to explore whether previous tariff systems could be reinstated under other legal provisions. In a post on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump said the United States has several strong alternatives that could generate more revenue and strengthen the country. The move follows his earlier tariff policy announced on April 2, 2025, under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), which introduced a 10% baseline tariff and reciprocal tariffs on trade partners. According to the report, the United States earned an additional 13.35 trillion dollars in the past year from tariffs under Trump’s previous policy.

Meta has announced that the standalone Messenger.com website will stop operating from April 6, 2026. After that date, users attempting to access Messenger.com will be automatically redirected to facebook.com/messages. This means that web-based messaging will only be available through Facebook’s main site. The Android and iOS mobile Messenger apps will continue to function as usual without any changes. The company had previously discontinued the Messenger desktop applications for Windows and Mac, and this latest move extends that consolidation to the web version. Users who relied on Messenger.com without a Facebook account will now need to log in to Facebook to view or send messages. Small businesses, community groups, and individuals who preferred using the browser-based Messenger will have to switch to Facebook’s main desktop interface for chatting. Meta’s decision marks another step in its broader integration strategy, bringing Messenger more tightly under the Facebook platform. Desktop users are advised to have their Facebook login credentials ready, as logging in will become mandatory for web-based messaging once the change takes effect.

Sweden has advised its citizens to leave Iran immediately due to escalating tensions between the United States and Iran. On Friday, Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard posted on social media platform X, warning that the situation in Iran and the region is highly uncertain. She urged Swedish nationals to avoid traveling to Iran and for those currently there to depart as soon as possible. Stenergard noted that it remains possible to leave Iran via air and land border crossings and encouraged citizens to use these routes. The minister further stated that individuals choosing to remain in Iran must do so on their own responsibility, as the Swedish Foreign Ministry will not be able to assist with evacuation. The advisory follows heightened nuclear-related tensions between Washington and Tehran. According to the report, the US President told reporters at the White House that limited strikes against Iran were being considered to maintain pressure, while warning that failure to reach a fair agreement could lead to serious consequences. The situation underscores growing instability in the region, prompting Sweden to take precautionary measures to protect its nationals abroad.

At least 50 people were killed when armed assailants attacked a village in Zamfara State, northwestern Nigeria, late Thursday night. The gunmen, riding on motorcycles, stormed the village in the Bukuyum area, setting houses on fire and abducting several women and children. The assault continued until Friday morning, leaving widespread devastation across the community. Hamisu A. Faru, a legislator representing southern Bukuyum, said the exact number of abducted individuals remains unclear as local officials are still compiling a list of the missing. A local resident, 41-year-old Abdullahi Sani, reported that villagers had alerted security forces a day earlier after spotting more than 150 motorcycles carrying armed men, but no action was taken. The attack follows a similar incident last week in Niger State’s Borgu area, where at least 46 people were killed, including 38 in Konkoso village, marking another wave of deadly violence in Nigeria’s northwest.