The trial of the murder case of lawyer Saiful Islam Alif in Chattogram again drew attention for its slow progress after the plaintiff, Jamal Uddin, father of the slain lawyer, fell ill during cross-examination. Despite his illness, the 76-year-old continued to answer questions while seated in the courtroom. The hearing took place on Wednesday at the Chattogram Divisional Speedy Trial Tribunal, which set the next hearing date for March 9. According to court sources, the day had been scheduled for cross-examination by the defense. Defense lawyers for several accused sought additional time, which the court granted. One accused, Rajib Bhattacharya, who had previously confessed, cross-examined the plaintiff himself with court permission. The court also allowed time requests from other defense lawyers. Strict security was maintained at the court premises, and one accused, Chinmoy Krishna Das, appeared virtually from jail. The prosecution’s lawyer, Assistant Public Prosecutor Raihanul Wazed Chowdhury, said repeated time petitions from the defense were delaying proceedings. The testimony phase began on February 2, with 50 witnesses listed in the charge sheet.

State Minister for Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs Advocate Dipen Dewan said the government aims to resolve the long-standing issues of the Chittagong Hill Tracts through dialogue and consensus. Speaking to journalists at his office in the Secretariat on Wednesday, he stated that Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is highly positive about the matter and that maintaining peace and harmony while prioritizing development will be the government’s focus. Dewan emphasized that under the current administration, citizens have been able to exercise their voting rights, unlike during the previous fascist government. He pledged to work toward fulfilling public expectations and ensuring comprehensive development in the hill region. Expressing pride in his new role, he said he would perform his duties with dedication to uphold the image of the party and government and strengthen the Prime Minister’s leadership. Dewan, elected from Rangamati in the 13th National Parliament, previously served as a judicial officer before joining politics and the BNP. He reiterated his commitment to achieving peace, harmony, and development in the hill areas through collective cooperation.

The Dhaka University unit of the Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal has called for ensuring food quality and reducing meal prices for students on campus during the holy month of Ramadan. The demand was made through a press release issued on Wednesday, February 18, 2026. The organization emphasized that Ramadan, a month of self-restraint and spiritual purification, holds deep cultural and religious significance for Bangladeshis and Muslims worldwide. According to the statement, students face recurring difficulties every Ramadan due to poor food quality and inflated prices in residential hall canteens and campus eateries. The group noted that financially disadvantaged students are particularly affected by these conditions. It urged the university administration to take special measures to address the issue. The Chhatra Dal demanded that the university set fixed price limits for sehri and iftar meals, conduct regular monitoring of food quality, and strengthen administrative oversight of canteens. The unit’s president Ganesh Chandra Roy Sahas and general secretary Nahiduzzaman Shipon extended greetings to all students and called on the administration to ensure affordable, quality food during Ramadan.

Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) Vice President Sadiq Kayem has called on the government, the information and broadcasting minister, and media heads to guarantee journalists’ freedom and democratic rights. In a social media post on Wednesday night, February 19, 2026, he urged authorities not to oppress anyone and to uphold press freedom in Bangladesh. Kayem described the day as a dark one for the country’s media, alleging that five journalists, including Mahbub Morshed of Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) and several from Ekhon Television, were forcibly dismissed or barred from entering their offices. He claimed the move came on the first working day of the BNP government and linked the dismissals to the journalists’ support for the “July movement.” He condemned the reported incidents, calling them acts of harassment against journalists who had played key roles in promoting the nine-point agenda of the July revolution, and demanded that their professional rights be protected.

Former Member of Parliament and Barishal Metropolitan Awami League vice-president Zebunnesa Afroz has been granted bail by the Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate of Barishal, SM Shariatullah. Along with her, former Barishal Metropolitan Chhatra League president and former Sadar Upazila vice-chairman Jasim Uddin, and Barishal Metropolitan Jubo League joint convener Mahmudul Haque Khan Mamun also received bail. The information was confirmed by Barishal Kotwali Model Police Station’s G.R.O. SI Shambhu. A reliable source also confirmed that former student leader and central Awami League leader Balram Poddar recently obtained bail from the High Court. Barishal Sadar Police Station’s G.R.O. Humayun Kabir verified the bail of Zebunnesa Afroz and the two others. Zebunnesa had been arrested by DB police from her Dhaka residence on May 17, 2025, and was shown arrested in six Barishal cases, remaining in Barishal Central Jail since then. According to the report, Zebunnesa had previously been granted bail in one case but was subsequently shown arrested in others, prolonging her detention until the recent court order.

Despite record imports of daily essentials ahead of Ramadan, prices in Chattogram’s Khatunganj wholesale market continue to rise. Warehouses are full and trading is brisk, yet consumers report price hikes of 5 to 7 taka per kilogram for most items in the six days following the election. Market monitoring by the Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection and district magistrates, including fines, has not curbed the increases. Traders say imports were higher than in previous years, but initial disruptions from the election and port labor unrest delayed market activity. Although supply is now normal, importers have reportedly raised prices as demand grows. Former Khatunganj Traders’ Association president Sulaiman Badsha said importers set the prices and that current hikes lack justification given adequate stock. According to Chattogram Customs House, imports before Ramadan included 2.15 lakh tons of chickpeas, 10.38 lakh tons of edible oil, 3 lakh tons of sugar, and nearly 1 lakh tons of dates. CAB Chattogram president S.M. Nazer Hossain alleged that business syndicates are manipulating prices and urged stronger administrative action to stabilize the market.

In Noakhali’s Senbag-Sonaimuri constituency, a woman named Fatema Akter was divorced by her husband Idris after she voted for the BNP candidate instead of his preferred independent contender during the 13th national election held on February 12. Following the incident, the BNP announced that it would take responsibility for Fatema and her three children. The party’s local leaders, under the direction of BNP’s winning candidate Zainul Abedin Faruk, visited Fatema’s home and provided food supplies including rice, lentils, and oil. According to the report, Idris became angry when Fatema admitted to voting for the BNP’s “sheaf of paddy” symbol rather than the “cup and plate” symbol. He allegedly assaulted her and expelled her from their home, later divorcing her publicly. Fatema confirmed the divorce and is now living at her father’s house in Kesharpar village. When contacted, Idris could not be reached as his phone was switched off. His father, Md. Rafiq, denied that the divorce was related to voting, claiming instead that it stemmed from family disputes and Idris’s personal issues.

The National Citizens Party (NCP) has announced that it will hold a press conference to discuss current national issues. The announcement was made late on Wednesday, February 18, by Yasir Arafat, the media secretary of the party’s central election management committee. The event is scheduled for Thursday, February 19, at 2 p.m. at the party’s temporary central office in Banglamotor, Dhaka. According to the statement, NCP convener Nahid Islam and spokesperson Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan will be present at the press conference. The purpose of the event is to address contemporary matters concerning the country, although no specific topics were disclosed in the announcement. The press conference is expected to provide the party’s perspective on ongoing national developments, but further details about the agenda or issues to be discussed were not mentioned in the statement.

Four electric transformers were stolen in a single night in Tarash upazila of Sirajganj, causing widespread concern among local electricity users. The thefts occurred on Monday night in Dobila village of Magurabinod Union, where three transformers were taken from poles on the land of Abu Yusuf Master and another from a nearby field belonging to Abdul Majid. The incidents left residents without power and forced them to bear heavy costs for replacement transformers. According to the Tarash Palli Bidyut Samiti, customers must pay the full price of stolen transformers under existing rules, which has become a major burden for poorer households. Locals have begun chaining transformers to poles to deter thefts and have sought police help to identify the culprits. Abu Yusuf Master said the theft has severely affected irrigation for Boro rice cultivation. Tarash Palli Bidyut Samiti’s DGM Azizul Haque urged public awareness to prevent further thefts and advised victims to file police cases. He noted that thieves typically remove valuable copper wires, leaving behind the metal casing and oil, and suggested monitoring scrap shops to catch the culprits.

Journalist Abu Abdullah M Saleh has been appointed as the Press Secretary to the Prime Minister of Bangladesh. The Ministry of Public Administration issued a notification on Wednesday, February 18, confirming his appointment on a contractual basis with the rank and salary of a government secretary. The appointment will remain valid for the Prime Minister’s tenure or until her satisfaction, whichever comes first. According to the notification, Saleh must resign from any other professional or institutional engagements before assuming office. The notification further stated that other terms and conditions of his appointment will be determined through a formal agreement. Abu Abdullah M Saleh previously worked with the news agency UNB and Channel i, and also served as the General Secretary of the Dhaka Reporters Unity. He had been handling press-related matters for Tarique Rahman during Rahman’s stay abroad. Saleh returned to Bangladesh on December 25, accompanying Tarique Rahman on the same flight from the United Kingdom after Rahman’s long exile.

The government has launched strict measures across Bangladesh to control markets, stabilize essential commodity prices, and maintain law and order during the upcoming holy month of Ramadan. In Sitakunda, a mobile court led by Assistant Commissioner (Land) Abdullah Al Mamun fined three businesses a total of Tk 28,000 for selling expired or overpriced goods and failing to display price lists. Similar initiatives were reported in Goaland, Raiganj, and Sreemangal, where local administrations held preparatory meetings and joint monitoring drives. In Goaland, officials discussed preventing hoarding, adulteration, and artificial shortages while ensuring fair prices and uninterrupted utility services. The Upazila Nirbahi Officer Sathi Das emphasized strict oversight to deter dishonest traders. In Raiganj, the monitoring committee pledged regular inspections and firm action against price manipulation. In Sreemangal, joint teams from the administration, consumer rights authority, and business associations inspected markets to ensure accurate pricing and product quality. According to local administrations, these monitoring and enforcement activities will continue throughout Ramadan to protect consumer rights and prevent market instability.

At the onset of Ramadan, prices of essential food items in Naogaon have risen sharply, according to a field report published on February 18, 2026. The prices of chicken, eggplant, green chili, lemon, ginger, garlic, and dates have all increased, while lentils, chickpeas, and edible oil remain stable. Broiler chicken now sells for 190–200 taka per kilogram, up by 30–40 taka in a week, while garlic and ginger prices have climbed to 130–140 taka per kilogram. Consumers report struggling to balance household expenses as costs rise without corresponding income growth. Many blame unscrupulous traders for exploiting Ramadan demand and call on the new government to tighten market monitoring. Vendors, however, attribute the price hikes to higher consumer demand rather than supply shortages. The Naogaon office of the Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection stated that markets are being monitored daily and warned that legal action will be taken against any trader found manipulating prices. Officials said further price changes will depend on import levels in the coming weeks.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman addressed the nation on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, emphasizing the importance of transforming Bangladesh’s large population into a skilled workforce. Speaking at 9:45 p.m., he said that while the country faces many challenges, it also holds vast potential. He urged students and young people to develop their knowledge and expertise, noting that the government is ready to provide all possible support to help them become competent in science and technology. Rahman highlighted that the world has entered the era of artificial intelligence, and Bangladesh must prepare its youth to compete globally. In his speech, Rahman expressed gratitude for the nation’s independence and sovereignty, achieved through the sacrifices of countless martyrs. He said the new BNP-led government began its journey with a commitment to democracy, accountability, and restoring citizens’ rights. The prime minister also stated that the government’s top priorities include improving law and order, combating corruption, and curbing gambling and drug abuse to ensure peace and security for all citizens. Rahman reaffirmed that all state institutions will operate under the rule of law, not political influence, aiming to build a self-reliant, humane, and democratic Bangladesh.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, in his first address to the nation after forming the government, urged business leaders to keep commodity prices within reach of ordinary citizens during Ramadan. The speech, broadcast live on BTV and Bangladesh Betar at 9:45 p.m. on Wednesday, emphasized that the BNP government is committed to dismantling all forms of corruption and irregular syndicates. Rahman said the administration assumed responsibility with a pledge to uphold the rights of the people and the state after the fall of a mafia network. He noted that the new government inherited a fragile economy weakened by corruption and misrule, and restoring law and order and curbing corruption are its top priorities. The Prime Minister also directed uninterrupted gas, water, and electricity supply during iftar, tarabi, and sehri hours, while urging citizens to avoid waste. He further announced that BNP lawmakers would not accept tax-free car imports or plot benefits and called for austerity among all public and private employees. Rahman invited suggestions and complaints from citizens and traders on how to stabilize the market and protect both buyers’ and sellers’ interests.

Newly elected Prime Minister Tarique Rahman declared that every Bangladeshi citizen holds equal rights regardless of political affiliation, religion, or ethnicity. In a televised address to the nation on February 18, 2026, he emphasized that the new BNP-led government belongs to all citizens, including those who did not vote for the party. He reaffirmed the principle that the state is for everyone, stating that the government aims to build a safe, self-reliant, and democratic Bangladesh. Rahman expressed gratitude for the sacrifices of the nation’s martyrs and said the new administration begins its journey in a country recovering from corruption, misrule, and a fragile economy. He identified restoring law and order and combating corruption as top government priorities. The prime minister also highlighted efforts to curb gambling and drug abuse, describing them as major causes of social instability. He concluded that all state and private institutions will operate under legal and constitutional frameworks, ensuring that political influence or coercion will not override the rule of law.