A Dhaka court has ordered steps to issue an Interpol red notice for the arrest of fugitive corruption case accused Tulip Rizwana Siddiq, daughter of Sheikh Rehana. The order was given on Thursday afternoon by Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Md Sabbir Foyez. Court bench assistant Md Riaz Hossain confirmed the directive. The Anti-Corruption Commission’s assistant director A.K.M. Mortuza Ali Sagar had earlier applied for the notice, which the court approved after a hearing.

According to the ACC’s petition, Tulip is accused of abusing power to obtain a flat from Eastern Housing Limited without payment, using her political connections and influence over Rajuk’s legal officials. The case alleges she unlawfully received the flat as part of a criminal conspiracy.

Investigators stated that Tulip left the country before the case was filed and has been attempting to destroy evidence. The court noted that since she is abroad, issuing a red notice through Interpol is necessary to ensure her arrest.

The High Court has granted bail to former Cox’s Bazar Member of Parliament Abdur Rahman Bodi in a murder case related to incidents that occurred between July and August. The court issued the bail order on Thursday afternoon, according to the report published on February 26, 2026.

Bodi, who previously represented the Cox’s Bazar-4 (Ukhiya-Teknaf) constituency, was arrested by the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) on August 20, 2024. At that time, RAB stated that he had been detained in Chattogram’s Panchlaish area in connection with an attempted murder case in Teknaf. Bodi was elected as an Awami League lawmaker in the 2014 general election but was later replaced by his wife, Shahin Akter, as the party’s nominee amid controversy over alleged involvement in drug-related activities.

The High Court’s decision marks a new development in the ongoing legal proceedings surrounding the former MP, who has faced multiple allegations over the years.

Islami Chhatra Shibir has announced its new central committee, including the Secretariat and Executive Council, for the 2026 session. The formation was completed on February 24 at the Al-Falah Auditorium in Dhaka during the organization’s first general session of the central executive council. The announcement was made to the media on Wednesday night. The new structure includes 62 members in the central executive council and 30 in the secretariat, with several new inclusions and reshuffles from the previous committee.

Earlier in December, Nurul Islam was elected as the central president and Sibgatullah as the secretary general for the 2026 session through member voting. The newly appointed secretariat members include Azizur Rahman Azad as office secretary, Mu. Mutasim Billah Shahedi as media secretary, and several others overseeing departments such as education, research, information technology, and student welfare.

The committee also includes representatives from major universities and city units across Bangladesh, such as Dhaka University, Chittagong University, Rajshahi University, and others, reflecting a nationwide organizational structure.

A feature published on February 26, 2026, in Amar Desh presents reflections from several students of Eden Mohila College, Dhaka, on the courageous participation of women in the 1952 Language Movement. The article recounts how women defied Section 144, joined rallies, created posters, treated the injured, and faced arrests while demanding recognition of Bangla as the state language. Figures such as Rawshan Ara Bachchu, Sufia Kamal, and others are remembered for their leadership and sacrifice.

The students describe the movement as a symbol of identity, dignity, and resistance, emphasizing that women’s determination and humanity strengthened the struggle. They note that women’s involvement extended from the streets of Dhaka to districts like Chattogram and Satkhira, where many faced imprisonment. The article also connects the spirit of the movement to ongoing struggles for women’s rights and equality.

According to the reflections, the legacy of the Language Movement continues to inspire Bangladeshi women to stand against injustice, linking the historic fight for linguistic rights to broader movements for social and gender justice.

The United States has arrested a retired Air Force pilot accused of providing unauthorized training to Chinese military members. According to a statement from the US Department of Justice, 65-year-old Gerald Brown was detained in Indiana after returning from China, where he had been staying since December 2023. Authorities allege that Brown conspired with foreign nationals to train Chinese Air Force pilots in operating combat aircraft without the required State Department license.

Brown served 24 years in the US Air Force, leading sensitive nuclear weapons units, flying combat missions, and working as a fighter pilot and simulator instructor. After retiring in 1996, he worked as a cargo pilot and later as a defense contractor, training pilots on A-10 and F-35 aircraft. Investigators say he began discussions in August 2023 with Chinese citizen Stephen Su Bin, who previously served a prison sentence in the US for espionage, before traveling to China to begin training in December.

An FBI counterintelligence official said the arrest serves as a warning that the agency will hold accountable anyone who collaborates with adversaries to endanger US national security.

Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) detained a drug smuggler with 100 bottles of Indian Eskaf during an operation at the Shibganj border in Chapainawabganj early Thursday morning. The arrest took place in the Jaminnpur area under Telkupi Border Outpost (BOP) of Binodpur Union. The detainee was identified as Sakibul Hasan, 20, son of Monirul Islam from Jaminnpur. The operation was confirmed by Lieutenant Colonel Golam Kibria, commander of the 59 BGB Mahananda Battalion.

According to BGB, the raid was conducted based on secret information. During the operation, three other suspected smugglers managed to flee the scene. The arrested individual and the seized drugs were later handed over to Shibganj Police Station for further legal action.

The incident highlights ongoing anti-smuggling efforts by BGB along the Bangladesh-India border, particularly in areas known for cross-border drug trafficking.

A report by the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) stated that 129 journalists and media workers were killed worldwide in 2025 while performing their professional duties. The organization said that Israel was responsible for two-thirds of these deaths, with Israeli forces killing 86 journalists, most of whom were Palestinians in Gaza. The report also noted that 31 media workers were killed in an attack on a Houthi media center in Yemen.

According to CPJ, no government has killed as many journalists in a single year since the organization began keeping records in 1992. The report further revealed that at least 47 journalists were deliberately targeted, with Israel accountable for 81 percent of those cases. CPJ expressed concern that the actual number of deaths could be higher due to restricted access and verification challenges in Gaza.

The Israeli military did not issue any immediate comment on the findings, the report added.

An earthquake was felt across several parts of Bangladesh, including Dhaka, at 12:04 p.m. on Thursday, February 26, 2026. The tremor occurred just 13 hours after a previous quake in the country. According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS) and the Earthquake Observation and Research Center of the Bangladesh Meteorological Department, the quake measured 4.8 on the Richter scale.

Authorities reported that the epicenter was located in India’s Sikkim region, approximately 455 kilometers northwest of Dhaka. The report did not mention any casualties or damage. The event marks the second seismic activity within a short span, drawing attention to regional tectonic movements.

Further details on the impact or aftershocks were not provided in the initial reports.

Police in Gazipur’s Tongi area arrested Abdullah Al Mamun Hawlader, a 44-year-old candidate for the presidency of the Tongi West Volunteer Team, on Wednesday night. The arrest took place in the Uttar Auchpara Khan-para area following a police operation based on a tip-off. Authorities stated that Hawlader was wanted in a drug-related case and had multiple other cases filed against him at Tongi West Police Station.

According to police sources, a team from Tongi West Police Station conducted the raid around 10:30 p.m. after receiving confidential information about his location. Officer-in-Charge Md. Shaheen Khan confirmed the arrest and said that legal procedures were underway. After completing the necessary formalities, the accused would be sent to the Gazipur court on Thursday.

The arrest highlights ongoing law enforcement efforts in Gazipur to apprehend individuals with outstanding warrants, particularly those linked to narcotics cases.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman inaugurated the Amar Ekushey Book Fair on Thursday afternoon at around 3:15 p.m. The event, delayed three times due to scheduling and publisher demands, has finally opened to visitors with a vibrant cultural atmosphere. Special arrangements have been made as the fair coincides with the holy month of Ramadan, including a three-tier security system established by the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP).

Publishers expressed mixed reactions to the timing. Rafiqul Islam of Ruhama Publications said holding the fair during Ramadan carries spiritual significance, emphasizing knowledge and discipline. However, Ashrar Masud of Progoti Publications feared economic losses, predicting lower turnout during the fasting month.

DMP officials reported no specific security threats but confirmed heightened vigilance. Police monitoring will continue 24 hours a day, with uniformed and plainclothes teams, bomb disposal units, and SWAT on standby. Traffic restrictions have been imposed around Dhaka University, and strict cleanliness and no-smoking measures are in place to maintain a safe and orderly environment.

Iranian security forces conducted an operation near the country’s southeastern border, killing three foreign nationals and arresting eight others accused of links to foreign intelligence agencies, according to the semi-official Mehr news agency. Authorities did not disclose the nationalities of those killed or detained. Weapons seized from their hideout reportedly included RPG-7 launchers, U.S.-made M4 rifles with night-vision devices, AK-47 rifles with grenade launchers, and handguns.

Initial interrogations indicated that the detained suspects confessed to involvement in a recent attack on a police checkpoint in the central city of Kerman, which left three officers and one civilian dead. The operation took place shortly before indirect nuclear talks between Iran and other parties were set to begin in Geneva, mediated by Oman.

The report also noted that the United States has recently expanded its military presence in the Persian Gulf, while Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has conducted several military drills in preparation for potential conflict.

A teenage girl named Rozina Sarker Pakhi from Naogaon’s Sapahar upazila died by suicide on Wednesday in a rented house near Kader Mondol Mor in Rajshahi city. According to police, she went live on Facebook and hanged herself from a ceiling fan. The incident reportedly followed emotional distress linked to her troubled relationship with an Indian youth.

Before her death, Rozina posted several emotional messages on her Facebook profile, indicating despair and a farewell to her friends. Police arrived at the scene after being informed and recovered her body. The Rajpara Police Station officer-in-charge confirmed the incident and said initial evidence suggested suicide.

Authorities are investigating whether the suicide was directly connected to her romantic relationship. The body has been sent to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital morgue for autopsy.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman presented the Bangla Academy Literary Award 2025 to nine distinguished individuals during the inauguration ceremony of the Amar Ekushey Book Fair 2026 on Thursday at 2:50 p.m. The event marked the official opening of the annual fair and the recognition of notable contributions to Bangla literature and related fields.

This year’s awardees include Mohan Raihan for poetry, Nasima Anis for fiction, Syed Azizul Haque for essays and prose, Hasan Hafiz for children’s literature, Ali Ahmad for translation, Mustafa Majid and Israil Khan for research, Farseem Mannan Mohammadi for science, and Moeedul Hasan for contributions to the Liberation War. The ceremony highlighted the diversity of literary and intellectual achievements across multiple disciplines.

The presentation of the awards at the book fair underscores the continued importance of literary recognition in promoting Bangla language and culture nationwide.

The US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) has called on Iranians to secretly contact the agency if they possess skills or information of interest to the United States. According to a report by Middle East Monitor, the CIA released a video on social media platform X on Tuesday, lasting more than two minutes, in which a message in Farsi stated that the agency is ready to listen and assist. The video provided detailed instructions on how Iranians could communicate securely with the CIA.

The instructions advised avoiding the use of workplace computers and phones, recommending instead the use of virtual private networks (VPNs) or the Tor network for secure communication. The video was released at a time when the United States is increasing its military presence across the Middle East.

The development comes ahead of a third round of indirect talks between US and Iranian diplomats scheduled for Thursday in Geneva. Several countries have also urged their citizens to leave Iran due to fears of possible US military action.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman attended the Ekushey Padak award ceremony at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium in Dhaka on Thursday morning, walking there from the Secretariat. He left the Cabinet Division office through Gate No. 5 after presiding over the first cabinet meeting of the new government. The event recognized individuals and an institution for their outstanding contributions in various fields.

According to the report, the Prime Minister entered the Secretariat at 9:04 a.m. and chaired the cabinet meeting at 9:30 a.m. He began walking toward the Osmani Memorial Auditorium at 10:47 a.m. to attend the ceremony, where he presented the country’s second-highest civilian honor.

This year, the government decided to confer the Ekushey Padak on nine distinguished individuals and one institution. The ceremony was attended by award recipients or their representatives, cabinet members, senior military and civil officials, and invited guests.