Newly elected members of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) took their oaths on Tuesday morning at the parliament building’s oath room, administered by Chief Election Commissioner A M M Nasir Uddin. The ceremony followed the party’s landslide victory in the 13th national parliamentary election. However, BNP lawmakers did not take oath as members of the Constitutional Reform Council. Later in the day, at 4 p.m., the cabinet will be sworn in at the South Plaza of the parliament, where BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman is set to take oath as the new Prime Minister. The BNP is returning to power for the sixth time after nearly two decades of what the report described as a democracy-free period. The February 12 election saw the party win two-thirds of the seats, marking a historic victory. Tarique Rahman, son of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, is credited as the architect of this electoral success, echoing his role in the 2001 landslide. A total of 209 BNP MPs were elected, though one seat was vacated and two others remain pending due to legal issues. BNP’s parliamentary meeting is expected to finalize leadership roles, including deputy leader, chief whip, and six whips, while coalition partners may be invited to join the cabinet as state ministers.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in Geneva to attend the second round of high-level nuclear talks between the United States and Iran, scheduled for Tuesday, February 17, 2026. US President Donald Trump said he would be ‘indirectly’ involved in the discussions, describing them as highly important and expressing belief that Iran was interested in reaching an agreement. Oman’s Foreign Minister Badr Al-Busaidi is again serving as mediator. In the first round of talks, held under Omani mediation, Tehran pledged to reduce uranium enrichment by 60 percent. Araghchi stated that Iran came to the second round with practical proposals aimed at achieving a ‘fair and balanced’ agreement. On the US side, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner are expected to participate, while Secretary of State Marco Rubio cautioned that reaching a deal would not be easy despite diplomatic opportunities. Ahead of the meeting, Iran reiterated that no agreement would be possible without easing sanctions and rejected any demand for zero uranium enrichment, insisting that any deal must be based on mutual concessions.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), which won the 13th National Parliamentary Election, has called a parliamentary party meeting following the oath-taking ceremony of newly elected members of parliament. The meeting is scheduled to be held at 11:30 a.m. in the Parliament Building, according to BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed, who announced the plan on Tuesday morning. Ahmed stated that the meeting will elect the leader of the parliamentary party. As the leader of the majority party, BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman is set to become the Prime Minister. The announcement follows the completion of the 13th National Election and referendum held on February 12, with the Election Commission publishing the gazette of 297 winners out of 299 constituencies the following day. The meeting marks the first formal gathering of BNP’s parliamentary team after the election, signaling the beginning of the party’s organizational activities in the new parliament.

A leak has developed in the rubber dam built on the Chilai River in Boglabazar Union of Doarabazar upazila, Sunamganj. The rupture in the dam’s rubber bag has caused water to escape, preventing water retention upstream. As a result, irrigation across about 1,200 hectares of Boro farmland has been severely disrupted, leaving hundreds of farming families in Bogla and Banglabazar unions deeply concerned about their crops. Local farmers reported that falling water levels have rendered irrigation pumps ineffective, causing farmland to crack due to lack of moisture. They have urged authorities to urgently repair the damaged rubber bag to restore normal irrigation. Boglabazar Union Parishad Chairman Mohammad Milon Khan said the leakage has put 1,200 hectares of farmland at risk and that he has contacted the Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC) for immediate repair. BADC’s Assistant Engineer for irrigation, Kazi Hosne Ar Rafi, confirmed that the issue is under their attention and that repair work will begin soon. The damaged dam poses a serious threat to the ongoing Boro season, with potential impacts on local food production and farmers’ livelihoods if repairs are delayed.

Female tea workers in Sylhet continue to face deprivation and hardship despite their crucial role in Bangladesh’s tea industry. According to a report from Nabiganj, these women work long hours plucking tea leaves but earn only Tk 75 a day, far below their demand for Tk 250–300. Many live in poverty, lacking access to education, healthcare, housing, clean water, and sanitation. Their daily meals are meager, and they often struggle to feed their families. The report highlights that tea workers’ wages have increased only marginally over the years—from Tk 32 in 2007 to Tk 75 at present. Elderly workers receive limited annual food aid worth Tk 5,000 from the Ministry of Social Welfare, achieved after repeated protests. Workers like Onika Rani, who has labored in the Bhaban Tea Garden since age 15, describe severe financial strain and limited educational opportunities for their children. Bhaban Tea Garden manager Binoy Chandra Barma acknowledged the lack of schools, hospitals, and safe water but said the authorities plan to build such facilities. Despite these assurances, the workers’ living conditions remain dire.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) began a series of military exercises on Monday in the strategic Strait of Hormuz, according to the country’s state media. The drills are being conducted under the supervision of the IRGC’s top commander and involve naval forces operating in the key Gulf waterway. The report from Tehran, citing AFP, noted that the exercises follow the recent deployment of a large U.S. naval fleet in the Gulf region. Iranian state television said the maneuvers are intended to strengthen regional security, reflecting Tehran’s position that the drills are defensive in nature. The Strait of Hormuz is a vital maritime route for global energy shipments, and the timing of the IRGC’s exercises suggests heightened military activity in the area following increased U.S. presence.

BNP has decided that its elected Members of Parliament will not take oath as members of the Constitutional Reform Council at this stage. The party will reconsider the matter after the parliamentary session begins. The announcement was made on Tuesday morning near the Parliament complex by BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed, who outlined the party’s official position. Salahuddin explained that the Chief Election Commissioner holds the constitutional authority to administer oaths to newly elected MPs of the 13th Parliament. However, it has not yet been determined who will administer the oath for members of the Constitutional Reform Council. He further stated that constitutional mandates exist for both the national parliamentary and presidential elections, and the Election Commission is constitutionally responsible for the parliamentary process. He added that if the Speaker or Deputy Speaker is unavailable or unable to perform the duty, the Chief Election Commissioner may serve as an alternative to administer the oath. Salahuddin noted that the oath for the Constitutional Reform Council can only proceed after certain constitutional amendments and related matters are finalized.

In the 13th national election, the Jatiya Party faced a sweeping defeat in its traditional stronghold of Rangpur, losing deposits in all five constituencies where it fielded candidates. The party’s nomination for Rangpur-1 was canceled due to dual citizenship, leaving it to contest in Rangpur-2 through Rangpur-6. Despite extensive campaigning, all candidates, including party chairman GM Quader in Rangpur-3, failed to secure sufficient votes to retain their deposits. In Rangpur-2, former MP Anisul Islam Mandal received 33,930 votes, while GM Quader obtained 43,790 votes out of 500,000 in Rangpur-3. Other candidates—Mahbubur Rahman in Rangpur-4, Fakhruzzaman Jahangir in Rangpur-5, and Nur Alam Jadu Mia in Rangpur-6—also lost their deposits, with the latter receiving only 1,200 votes. A presidium member admitted they had expected support from Awami League voters but were shocked by the poor results. Student leader Ahmed Al Saba Osmani commented that Rangpur voters rejected the Jatiya Party for aligning with the Awami League, declaring the party politically finished in the region.

BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman was on his way to the National Parliament building on Tuesday morning to take his oath as a newly elected Member of Parliament. He left his residence in Gulshan around 9:45 a.m. for the ceremony. The oath-taking is being conducted by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) A M M Nasir Uddin at the Parliament Secretariat’s oath-taking chamber, beginning at 10 a.m. on February 17, 2026. According to a letter signed by Election Commission Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed and sent to the Secretary of the National Parliament Secretariat on Monday, the CEC will administer the oath to the members elected to the 13th National Parliament and the members of the Constitution Reform Council. The BNP parliamentary party also scheduled a meeting at 11:30 a.m. following the ceremony. BNP MPs, under the leadership of Tarique Rahman, took their oaths, though the party’s MPs did not participate in the Constitution Reform Council’s oath-taking process.

The BNP-backed Lawyers’ Welfare Council panel won 10 out of 15 posts, including president and general secretary, in the Feni District Lawyers’ Association election held on February 16, 2026. The results were announced around 12:30 a.m. on February 17 by election commissioner and association president Nurul Amin Khan along with general secretary Mir Mosharraf Hossain Manik. Jamaat-backed Lawyers’ Sampriti Parishad secured four posts, while one position went to an independent candidate. Voting took place in a festive atmosphere at the association building from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with 326 of 346 eligible lawyers casting their votes. A total of 32 candidates contested for 15 posts in the one-year committee. This was the first time BNP and Jamaat participated in the election under separate panels since the association’s founding in 1984. The Awami League panel did not participate for the second consecutive term. The election, originally scheduled for January 17, was postponed due to national elections and later rescheduled to February 16 following an extraordinary general meeting of members.

A journalist in Nageshwari, Kurigram, has alleged that he was verbally abused and threatened with death while filming a police anti-drug operation. The incident occurred on the night of February 15, when police led by Sub-Inspector Alok Roy raided an abandoned house in the BSC Mor area of Nageshwari municipality. Journalist Mutasim Billah Tanim, a local correspondent for the daily Gankontho, filed a general diary at Nageshwari Police Station on Monday night following the threats. According to police sources, officers broke into the house after receiving no response for about half an hour and detained three individuals. They reportedly recovered cannabis, liquor bottles, yaba tablets, and heroin-use equipment. During the operation, the house’s alleged owner, Moslem Uddin, became enraged at the journalist for recording the event and issued threats. Local leaders and journalist associations condemned the incident. Nageshwari BNP convener Golam Rasul Raja stated that his party opposes drugs, while Kurigram Journalists’ Union joint convener Babul Zaman demanded the arrest of the person who issued the threats. The local police chief said the matter is under investigation and legal action will follow.

After the 13th parliamentary election, discussions have intensified within Bangladesh’s police administration over who will be appointed the next Inspector General of Police (IGP). Although current IGP Baharul Alam dismissed rumors of his resignation, his contract runs until November 21, 2026. A police headquarters official indicated that a new IGP may be appointed once the newly elected political government assumes office. According to the report, three senior officers are leading the race: RAB Director General AKM Shahidur Rahman, Armed Police Battalion chief Ali Hossain Fakir, and Chattogram Metropolitan Police Commissioner Additional IGP Hasib Aziz. Meanwhile, Railway Police chief Barrister Zillur Rahman is being discussed as a possible candidate for the RAB Director General post. Sources said several officers have been lobbying actively, meeting political figures and presenting their credentials. Officials noted that the next IGP is expected to be a professional, honest, and controversy-free officer. Many previously sidelined or forcibly retired officers are seeking contract-based reappointments and await evaluation by the new government.

A four-tier security arrangement has been implemented around the South Plaza of Bangladesh’s National Parliament complex ahead of the new government’s oath-taking ceremony. Around 15,000 personnel from the police, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), army, and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) have been deployed. Specialized units including SWAT, bomb disposal, and canine teams are on standby. The oath chamber has been refurbished, with chairs polished and replaced where necessary. The ceremony will take place on Tuesday, with members of parliament taking their oaths in the morning and the new cabinet in the afternoon. Security measures have been strengthened and modernized to ensure the safety of key installations and VVIPs. The South Plaza’s roof and brick surfaces have been repaired due to deterioration. Bomb disposal and dog squads have already swept the area, and plainclothes intelligence officers are stationed at key points. The National Parliament Secretariat’s secretary, Kaniz Mowla, confirmed the schedule for the oath events. The enhanced security and infrastructure repairs reflect heightened caution following past unrest, including incidents during the August 2024 mass uprising.

A man named Nazim Uddin was seriously injured in an attack allegedly carried out by Ali Hossain and his associates in Naopara area of Durduaria Union, Lalpur upazila of Natore on Monday evening. The incident reportedly stemmed from a long-standing dispute between the two families. According to the complaint, the attackers arrived with local and firearms, verbally abused Nazim Uddin, and beat him when he protested. Family members who tried to rescue him said the attackers fired blank shots to create panic. Nazim was later taken to Lalpur Upazila Health Complex for treatment. Nazim’s son, Nazmul Hossain, filed a complaint with Lalpur Police Station, alleging that around ten people were involved in the assault. Officer-in-Charge Mojibur Rahman said police visited the scene but found no evidence of gunfire, suggesting the attackers might have used firecrackers to cause fear. He confirmed that legal action would follow after investigation. The police investigation is ongoing to determine the authenticity of the gunfire claim and identify those responsible for the attack.

Newly elected members of Bangladesh’s 13th National Parliament are taking their oath today, February 17, 2026, at 10 a.m. The ceremony is being held in the oath-taking chamber of the National Parliament Secretariat, administered by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) A. M. M. Nasir Uddin. Elected MPs began arriving at the Parliament complex early in the morning, where the area has been fully prepared for the event with heightened security measures. According to on-site observations, the Parliament area has taken on a festive atmosphere, with party leaders, activists, and members of the public gathering outside. Law enforcement agencies remain on alert to ensure order. MPs stated that this Parliament is different from previous ones, emphasizing that the people have established a government through their votes and expressing unity against fascism. They also voiced a collective commitment to building a better Bangladesh. The oath ceremony will proceed in several phases, with different political parties and independent MPs taking their oaths separately before signing the official register. No guests will attend. Later in the afternoon, the new cabinet will also take its oath at Parliament, a departure from the usual venue of Bangabhaban.