On Sunday, Bangladesh’s Foreign Affairs Adviser Touhid Hossain and Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met on the sidelines of the Indian Ocean Conference. Their discussions focused on mutual interests and concerns. Jaishankar expressed hope that the upcoming border security director general-level meeting on February 20 in Delhi would resolve key border-related issues. Meanwhile, Hossain emphasized the renewal of the water-sharing treaty and pushed for a meeting of the SAARC Standing Committee. In an X post, Jaishankar mentioned that they also discussed bilateral relations and BIMSTEC cooperation.

In a joint press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio declared that the Palestinian resistance group Hamas cannot continue to exist as a military or governmental force. He emphasized that former President Donald Trump’s stance on Hamas is clear— they must be eliminated entirely. Rubio also accused Iran of being the primary instigator of instability in the Middle East, stating that Tehran supports both Hamas and Hezbollah. He further blamed Iran for the unrest in Syria, Lebanon, Gaza, and the West Bank. Netanyahu, in response, called Trump the greatest friend of Israel in the White House.

A Dhaka court has ordered the seizure of movable and immovable assets belonging to former State Minister for ICT, Zunaid Ahmed Palak, following an Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) petition. The ACC cited concerns over possible asset transfers that could hinder the investigation. Seized assets include 15.15 acres of land, two buildings, and four shops in Natore, along with significant bank deposits. Palak, his son, and mother-in-law collectively hold over Tk 47 million in multiple bank accounts, according to the ACC.

In response to calls for the implementation of the water-sharing agreement and comprehensive planning, the ‘Teesta River Protection Movement’ has announced a 48-hour program, with participation expected from a million people across five northern districts under the slogan “Save Teesta, Wake Up”. The situation worsened when India released floodwater from upstream, drying out the Teesta riverbed. This has caused immense concern among local farmers, as the release of water during the dry season is unprecedented. Farmers fear that their crops may be damaged. Despite the water release, the program organizers confirmed that the event will continue along the Teesta banks, with BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman joining virtually.

The High Court has ruled that the appointment of an administrator for the mobile financial service ‘Nagad’ is valid, dismissing the related writ petition. BM Elias Kochi, a lawyer for Bangladesh Bank, clarified that the court referred to Nagad as an agent of the Postal Department. Prior to appointing the administrator, Bangladesh Bank issued a notice to the Postal Department, which responded. After inspecting Nagad’s operations and discovering multiple irregularities, Bangladesh Bank appointed the administrator in the interest of customer protection. The writ petitioner argued that they were not given prior notice, but since Nagad is an agent of the Postal Department, the petitioner could have filed an application with the department, which they did not. Based on these considerations, the writ was dismissed.

In a statement, Bangladesh Passenger Welfare Association Secretary-General Mojammel Haque Chowdhury alleged that the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) had succumbed to the demands of CNG rickshaw drivers, who staged rampage across the capital demanding meter-based fare implementation. The BRTA canceled orders to file cases against rickshaws overcharging passengers and allowed the drivers to control the situation. The statement also accused the BRTA, under the leadership of Obaidul Quader, of building a massive syndicate that led to a corruption scandal worth 1,200 crore taka, inflating CNG prices from 3 lakh to 30-35 lakh taka. These drivers are allegedly fueling protests, the association claimed.

During his speech at the Munich Security Conference on Saturday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed concern that Vladimir Putin has become the most influential member of NATO, suggesting that NATO’s decisions may shift according to his will. Prior to this, Putin set two conditions to end the war: Ukraine must abandon its NATO membership aspirations, and Ukrainian troops must withdraw from four Ukrainian regions under Russian control. Following a phone conversation with Putin, former U.S. President Donald Trump hinted at accepting these conditions. In response, Zelensky proposed the creation of a new European military alliance, stating that the U.S. will no longer support Europe as it did in the past.

Officials from the United States and Russia will soon meet in Saudi Arabia to discuss ending the war in Ukraine, according to Reuters. However, Ukraine has not been invited to the talks. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has confirmed that Kyiv will not engage in talks with Russia without consulting its strategic partners first. The U.S. delegation will include Secretary of State Marco Rubio, National Security Adviser Mike Walz, and White House Middle East Representative Steve Witkoff. The objective of the discussions, as per McColl, is to arrange a meeting between Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin, and Zelensky to establish peace and bring an end to the conflict.

Israel has violated the ceasefire agreement in Gaza by launching an airstrike on the eastern part of Rafah city. The attack, which targeted members of Hamas-controlled police, resulted in the deaths of three police officers, according to Gaza’s Ministry of Interior. Gaza officials stated that this airstrike, which occurred on Saturday, constitutes a clear violation of the ceasefire that has been in place since January 19. Israel claimed the attack targeted armed individuals approaching their forces. Hamas authorities confirmed the slain officers were stationed to secure the entry of aid trucks into Gaza. The international community has been urged to take a stand against the Israeli airstrike on Gaza’s police forces.

In February 2025, India Today conducted an opinion survey across eight northeastern states of India. The survey, titled India Today Mode of the Northeast, asked citizens their opinions on the Indian government’s decision to shelter Bangladesh’s former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The survey presented three main options. 23% of respondents expressed support for the notion that “Sheikh Hasina is an ally of India, and it is appropriate to shelter her.” On the contrary, 37.6% opposed it. A significant 55% of respondents stated, “In the current situation, to advance India’s relations with Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina should be sent back.” Meanwhile, 21.1% opposed this viewpoint. Only 16% of those surveyed suggested, “Sheikh Hasina should not be sent back to Bangladesh, but could be asked to go to another country,” while 29.1% disagreed.

In a controversial move, the United States has sent back a second batch of illegal Indian immigrants, with reports claiming their hands and feet were tied during the return. This follows a similar incident on February 5, sparking political outrage in India. Despite Prime Minister Modi’s meeting with President Trump, where he advocated for humane treatment of Indians, the U.S. continued its harsh deportation practice. Indian Congress leader P. Chidambaram criticized the failure of Indian diplomacy to prevent such actions.

Dr. Wahiduddin Mahmud, Education Adviser, announced that specific educational qualifications will now be mandatory for positions in the managing committees of educational institutions across the country. To be eligible for a school managing committee, candidates must hold a Bachelor’s degree, while a Master’s degree is required for a college managing committee position. The move aims to ensure qualified leadership in educational institutions. Additionally, textbooks for non-exam subjects will be distributed by February, with remote areas prioritized, and efforts are being made to arrange teachers’ retirement benefits via bonds.

BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman has stated that Bangladesh has been destroyed by a fascist dictatorship over the past 15 years. Speaking virtually as the chief guest at the Narail BNP conference, Rahman emphasized the need for state reforms and the restoration of basic rights like voting and freedom of speech. He pledged BNP’s commitment to rebuilding the nation and ensuring a strong foundation for future generations. The conference also held elections for district committee leadership positions.

Shakib Al Hasan has been released by the Los Angeles Knight Riders for the upcoming season. Despite playing four matches last season and scoring 60 runs, Shakib has been dropped from the team. The Knight Riders have retained only three foreign players: Sunil Narine, Andre Russell, and Spencer Johnson. Shakib is currently banned from bowling for one year after failing the bowling action test. It remains uncertain whether any team will pick Shakib in the Major League Cricket draft scheduled for February 19.

The Director General of the National Consumer Rights Protection Directorate, Mohammad Aleem Akhtar Khan, has issued a warning of severe penalties for businesses that impose conditions on customers buying edible oil, such as bundling it with other products. He highlighted ongoing market instability in soybean oil prices and assured that companies caught in such practices would be fined. The statement came during a meeting to ensure price stability and a smooth supply of oil ahead of the holy month of Ramadan.