At least 32 people were killed and several others abducted when armed assailants attacked three villages in northern Nigeria’s Niger State on Saturday, according to local police and witnesses cited by Al Jazeera. The attackers, arriving on motorcycles, carried out violent raids across the villages, setting homes ablaze and kidnapping residents. Police spokesperson Wasiu Abiodun confirmed that suspected terrorists struck Tunga-Makeri village, killing six people, burning houses, and abducting several villagers. In Konkoso, resident Jeremiah Timothy told Reuters that the assault began with sporadic gunfire before the attackers set fire to a police station, leaving at least 26 people dead. Authorities said the attackers included groups linked to ISIL (ISIS) and local kidnapping gangs seeking ransom. The attacks occurred near the Kainji forest along the Niger–Kwara border, an area known as a hideout for armed groups including Boko Haram and criminal gangs.

Twelve candidates lost their security deposits in four parliamentary constituencies of Jhenaidah following the recently concluded 13th National Parliamentary Election, according to the district returning office. A total of 21 candidates contested across the four constituencies. In Jhenaidah-1, BNP’s Md. Asaduzzaman won with 173,381 votes, while three of five candidates forfeited their deposits. In Jhenaidah-2, Jamaat-e-Islami’s Ali Azam Md. Abu Bakar secured victory with 195,702 votes, and four of six candidates lost their deposits. In Jhenaidah-3, Jamaat’s Md. Matiar Rahman won with 175,857 votes, with two of four candidates losing deposits. In Jhenaidah-4, Jamaat’s Abu Talib won with 105,999 votes, and three of six candidates forfeited deposits. According to the Election Commission’s circular, any candidate failing to secure one-eighth of the total valid votes cast in their constituency must forfeit their deposit. The forfeitures in Jhenaidah reflect this rule, as the affected candidates did not meet the required vote threshold. The results highlight competitive races between BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami in the district, with voter turnout ranging from 72.93% to 77.84% across the four constituencies.

The Pakistan government has announced that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan will be transferred from prison to a hospital for medical treatment. A medical board will be formed to examine his health condition. The decision came amid a sit-in protest that began on Friday outside the country’s parliament. According to The Express Tribune, the protest was joined by opposition leaders Allama Raja Nasir Abbas and Mahmood Khan Achakzai, along with PTI chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan. Meanwhile, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohel Afridi and other PTI leaders continued separate demonstrations at the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa House, where police forces were deployed. Protesters declared that their sit-in would continue until Imran Khan was urgently transferred to Shifa International Hospital for eye treatment. Information Minister Ataullah Tatar stated on social media that specialists would conduct further examinations and submit a detailed report to the Supreme Court. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry confirmed that Imran Khan would be moved from prison to a hospital based on his health condition and assured that all human rights entitled to a prisoner would be provided to him.

Former Bangladesh cricket captain Tamim Iqbal has dismissed as baseless the widespread rumors that he is set to join national politics or take a ministerial post under a possible BNP-led government. Reports circulating on social media claimed that Tamim might be appointed as a technocrat minister, but he clarified on his verified Facebook page that no such proposal had been made to him. He described the discussions about his political involvement as completely false and urged everyone to refrain from spreading unfounded news. The speculation gained traction after Tamim appeared at campaign events for several BNP candidates ahead of the 13th national parliamentary election, in which the party secured an absolute majority and began preparing to form a government. His name was particularly linked on social media with the position of state minister for youth and sports. Similar rumors also surrounded former national football captain Aminul Islam, who contested from Dhaka-16 but lost and challenged the result. Although Tamim has denied any political ambitions for now, his name entering political discussions has sparked fresh curiosity among sports fans and the general public.

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been invited to attend the upcoming oath-taking ceremony of Bangladesh’s new government to be formed under the leadership of Tareq Rahman. According to the report, invitations have also been extended to Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and other heads of government from SAARC member states, as well as leaders from key Middle Eastern and Southeast Asian countries. However, Modi’s participation in the event remains uncertain, as reported by the Hindustan Times. The report notes that Modi is scheduled to meet French President Emmanuel Macron in Mumbai on the same day, when Macron will be in India to attend the AI Impact Summit. Although Modi may not attend, India could still be represented at the ceremony by a senior leader, possibly the vice president or foreign minister. Citing Indian officials, the report adds that New Delhi does not intend to rush into rebuilding ties with Dhaka, though restoring the strained relationship remains a priority for India. The uncertainty over Modi’s attendance underscores the cautious approach India is taking toward its diplomatic engagement with Bangladesh’s new administration.

An attack took place at the campaign office of independent parliamentary candidate Saiful Islam Firoz in Kaliganj, Jhenaidah, leading to the filing of a case naming 20 accused individuals. According to the case statement, the incident occurred around 11 a.m. on Friday at the main election office located on Thana Road, where Firoz and his supporters were present. The attackers allegedly broke into the office, vandalized furniture, and injured several workers. The case was filed on Friday night by Saiful Islam Firoz, the independent candidate for the Jhenaidah-4 constituency, at Kaliganj Police Station. Officer-in-Charge Jellal Hossain confirmed that the police had received the case. The accused include individuals aged between 22 and 59, whose names were listed in the complaint. Police have acknowledged receipt of the case, but no further details on arrests or investigations were mentioned in the report.

Former Pakistani Prime Minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan was allowed to speak with his two sons following a directive from the Supreme Court. His sister, Aleema Khan, confirmed on Saturday, February 14, that the conversation took place by phone. Prison authorities stated that the call lasted over half an hour, while Aleema said it was around 20 minutes. She added that Khan’s sons, Qasim and Sulaiman, were emotional after hearing their father’s voice, and Imran himself was very happy. The Supreme Court had ordered prison authorities on February 12 to permit the call after PTI lawyer Salman Safdar submitted a health report on Khan. The report revealed that blood clotting in Khan’s right eye had caused severe damage, leaving him with only 15 percent vision despite treatment. The seven-page report detailed a meeting with Khan at Adiala Jail. Aleema Khan said the family is awaiting urgent treatment for Imran Khan at Shifa International Hospital and alleged deliberate delays in his eye care, warning against further postponement due to the risk of permanent vision loss.

The ongoing T20 World Cup reaches a fever pitch as India and Pakistan meet today at Colombo’s Premadasa Stadium. Both teams have won their first two matches, making this encounter decisive for securing a Super Eight berth. The match follows earlier tensions after Pakistan initially announced a boycott in support of Bangladesh’s non-participation, prompting ICC intervention and a subsequent agreement to proceed as scheduled. India, the defending champion, enters the match in strong form after defeating the United States and Namibia. Pakistan also arrives unbeaten, with victories over the Netherlands and the United States. India may miss opener Abhishek Sharma due to illness, while Pakistan reports no injuries. Key duels include Kuldeep Yadav versus Babar Azam and Hardik Pandya against Usman Tariq, whose bowling action has drawn attention. Historically, India has dominated this rivalry, winning 13 of 16 T20 meetings and seven of eight in World Cups. The match carries not only sporting significance but also symbolic weight, reflecting the enduring intensity of the India-Pakistan cricket rivalry.

World leaders are being invited to attend the upcoming oath-taking ceremony of the new government to be formed under the leadership of Tarique Rahman. According to the Prime Advisor’s Office, invitations have been extended to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and other heads of government from SAARC member countries. The ceremony is scheduled to take place on February 17. Beyond the SAARC region, invitations are also being sent to the heads of state and government of China, Malaysia, Brunei, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Turkey. Officials from the Prime Advisor’s Office stated that the invitations are being issued on behalf of Chief Advisor Dr. Muhammad Yunus, in coordination with the BNP high command. The interim government will organize the event. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) is set to form the new government after winning more than two-thirds of the seats in the 13th parliamentary election, while Jamaat-e-Islami is expected to become the main opposition party.

Bangladesh’s 13th national parliamentary election, held on 12 February 2026 under the interim government led by Dr. Muhammad Yunus, concluded peacefully and was widely described as the most transparent and orderly in the country’s history. The Election Commission announced results for 297 constituencies, confirming a landslide victory for the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and its allies, who won 212 seats. Tarique Rahman is set to become the 13th Prime Minister, marking BNP’s return to power after two decades. The election saw a voter turnout of 59.44 percent, with a concurrent referendum yielding 68.1 percent “yes” votes. International media including CNN, Al Jazeera, The Guardian, The Dawn, and NDTV praised the election’s fairness and its potential impact on South Asian politics. The armed forces were credited for maintaining order, and the interim government was commended for ensuring a violence-free process. However, post-election violence was reported in several districts, leaving one person dead and over a hundred injured. Analysts noted that Jamaat-e-Islami emerged as the second-largest political force with 68 seats, while the newly formed National Citizen Party (NCP) gained six seats. Observers described Jamaat’s rise as a “yellow signal” for BNP’s future political dominance.

Newly elected Member of Parliament S M Jilani from Gopalganj-3 (Kotalipara-Tungipara) constituency has issued a strong message to his party members, declaring that he will neither commit nor tolerate any wrongdoing. Speaking on Saturday night at a gathering near Kazi Montu Filling Station in Kotalipara, he warned that anyone involved in criminal activities would face consequences, regardless of personal closeness. Jilani, who represents the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), emphasized that the current democratic awakening was achieved through sacrifice and hardship. He reminded party activists that political power is not permanent and can change within hours, urging them to avoid misuse of power, oppression, or injustice. He further advised that actions harmful to personal life or the party should be avoided, stressing that no one is above the law. During the event, Jilani also attended a Baul music performance at Bhatter Bagan in Unshia village and exchanged greetings with locals. Senior BNP leaders from Gopalganj district and local units were present. Jilani was elected MP on February 12, 2026, with a large margin.

The BNP-led alliance secured 212 out of 299 parliamentary seats in Bangladesh’s 13th national election, representing about 71 percent of the total. The Jamaat-led alliance won 77 seats, or 26 percent, while independent candidates captured seven seats and Islami Andolan Bangladesh won one. Voting in one constituency was postponed. Across 299 constituencies, a total of 75.9 million votes were cast, with the BNP alliance receiving about 38 million votes, or roughly 50 percent. The Jamaat alliance obtained 28.25 million votes, or 37 percent, and other parties and independents shared 9.65 million votes, about 13 percent. According to the report, 50 political parties participated in the election, but candidates from 43 parties failed to win any seats. Within the BNP alliance, one candidate each from BJP, Gano Adhikar Parishad, and Ganosamhati Andolon won. Jamaat’s allies NCP, Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish, and Khelafat Majlish won six, two, and one seats respectively, while other smaller allied parties failed to secure any victories. The final results may change slightly once the postponed constituency’s outcome is added, the report noted.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) is set to begin the process of bringing back Shakib Al Hasan to the national team starting today, confirmed BCB director Asif Akbar. He said that Shakib’s legal and financial paperwork, including case documents, has been prepared by his lawyer and will be submitted to the government on Sunday. Although the exact date of Shakib’s return remains uncertain, Akbar confirmed that communication with the player is ongoing and the formal process is now underway. Akbar added that the BCB has requested the government to consider Shakib’s case, emphasizing that if selectors deem him eligible, he will be allowed to play. Following the 13th national parliamentary election, a political government is set to assume office, but Akbar expressed confidence that this transition will not complicate Shakib’s return. He also noted that statements from BNP leaders, including Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, indicate a flexible stance toward keeping politics out of sports and cultural activities. The BCB’s latest board meeting had already discussed Shakib’s possible return, and today’s developments mark the formal start of that process.

Following the thirteenth parliamentary election, the BNP achieved a sweeping victory in Sylhet, winning 18 of the division’s 19 constituencies. Party chairman Tarique Rahman, who began his campaign in Sylhet on January 22 after visiting the shrines of two saints, is now preparing to form the new cabinet. Local political observers are closely watching who will be included, with widespread curiosity and discussion across social media. Sylhet, known as both a BNP stronghold and the home district of Rahman’s in-laws, played a decisive role in the party’s success. Residents now expect significant ministerial representation from the region, including full ministers, state ministers, and technocrat appointments. Several newly elected MPs from Sylhet are already in Dhaka for discussions with the party high command. Names under consideration reportedly include Khandaker Abdul Muktadir, Ariful Haque Chowdhury, Reza Kibria, Kalim Uddin Ahmed Milon, and G.K. Gaus. Possible technocrat appointees include Maulana Ubaidullah Faruq, Humayun Kabir, and Abdul Kaiyum Chowdhury. Final decisions will depend on the BNP chairman’s discretion.

Former cricketer Michael Clarke has predicted that India will defeat Pakistan in their upcoming World Cup match in Sri Lanka. Writing on February 15, 2026, Clarke said India are in top form while Pakistan are struggling to find consistency. He noted that Pakistan have overcome some off-field issues but argued that these would not help them overcome India’s dominance. According to Clarke, Pakistan can only win if India make mistakes. Clarke emphasized that the match will not be easy because playing conditions in Sri Lanka differ from those in India. He expects the pitch to offer more turn and slower pace, making high scores unlikely. A total of around 190 runs could be a challenging target, he suggested. The buildup to the India-Pakistan encounter has intensified public interest, with discussions about the match dominating World Cup coverage. Clarke added that both teams have previously won against each other, but India’s current form gives them the upper hand. The heightened anticipation surrounding the fixture has made it one of the most talked-about contests of the tournament.