Social Welfare and Women and Children Affairs Minister Abu Zafar Mohammad Zahid Hossain said that the true picture of development can only be understood by observing conditions on the ground. Speaking as chief guest at a meeting with ministry officials and employees on Wednesday, he emphasized that walking along the 'highway of development' reveals how far the country still lags behind. He called for working beyond partisan interests to implement the public mandate. The minister pledged to remain frugal and continue supporting the ministry’s development in all aspects. Expressing his commitment to nation-building under Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s leadership, he recalled the sacrifices made during the 1971 Liberation War and the 2024 mass uprising, noting that today’s Bangladesh was achieved through great sacrifice. He urged officials to cooperate in fulfilling the people’s trust. State Minister Farzana Sharmin said she was honored to serve in a ministry where her father had also worked and sought everyone’s cooperation to make its activities more dynamic. Earlier, ministry secretaries and officials welcomed the newly appointed minister and state minister with flowers.

Arsenal were denied a crucial Premier League victory after Wolverhampton Wanderers secured a dramatic 2–2 draw on February 19, 2026. Teenage debutant Tom Edozie scored in added time to rescue a point for Wolves, leaving Mikel Arteta’s team frustrated. Arsenal had led 2–0 through goals from Bukayo Saka and Piero Hincapié, but Hugo Bueno’s strike and Edozie’s late effort changed the outcome. With 58 points from 27 matches, Arsenal remain top, though their lead over Manchester City—who have played one more game—has narrowed to five points. Arteta admitted disappointment after the match, saying his team failed to maintain their level in the second half and missed key moments. Saka echoed that view, noting the difference in performance between the two halves. For Wolves, who sit near the bottom with just 10 points from 27 matches, the draw was a morale boost and a sign of resilience. The result means Arsenal have won only three of their last eight league games, increasing pressure in their pursuit of the title.

Tribunal-2 has accepted the testimony of martyr Sharif Osman Hadi as evidence in the crimes against humanity case concerning killings during the July Revolution. The case names Awami League General Secretary and former Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader and six other accused. The decision followed a prosecution request, and Hadi had given his statement on June 18 of the previous year. The three-member judicial panel, led by Justice Nazrul Islam Chowdhury, approved the application on Wednesday. The other accused are Awami League Joint General Secretary A.F.M. Bahauddin Nasim, former State Minister for Information and Broadcasting Mohammad Ali Arafat, Jubo League Chairman Sheikh Fazle Shams Parash, General Secretary Mainul Hossain Khan Nikhil, Chhatra League President Saddam Hossain, and General Secretary Sheikh Wali Asif Inan. All defendants are currently absconding. Earlier, Tribunal-1 had accepted a statement by Badruddin Umar as evidence in a separate case against former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. In his testimony, Hadi described his background, involvement in student activism, and detailed accounts of alleged violence during the 2024 uprising, accusing political and organizational leaders of orchestrating attacks on protesters.

Police detained five activists in Parbatipur, Dinajpur, on Wednesday after they attempted to reopen a banned Awami League office. The detainees—Akhtar Hossain, Sajjad Hossain, Gouranga Roy, Mozammel Haque, and Bablu Sarkar—were sent to jail following a police operation led by Officer-in-Charge Faruk Hossain. Authorities said the arrests followed tensions surrounding the reopening attempt, and a case was filed against the individuals. Similar incidents occurred in Chattogram, Narayanganj, and Barguna, where activists of the banned Awami League reopened offices, hoisted national and party flags, and displayed banners. In Chattogram, a video posted by Mahibul Hasan Chowdhury Naufel showed the reopening of the city Awami League office after 18 months. Police in multiple districts said they were identifying those involved and investigating the incidents. Local police officials in Narayanganj and Barguna confirmed that investigations were underway, while opposition representatives in Barguna reported the incidents to the administration, urging swift action.

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.