Prime Minister Tarique Rahman emphasized the need to increase young people's interest in reading books while inaugurating the Amar Ekushey Book Fair on Thursday afternoon. He cited research showing that regular reading strengthens brain cell connections, enhances memory and analytical ability, and reduces the risk of diseases such as Alzheimer’s and dementia.

Rahman noted that while the importance of reading is well known, modern technology has become a major obstacle to this habit. He warned that internet addiction is making the younger generation less inclined toward books, even though reading online is possible. Citing studies from universities in the United Kingdom and Canada, he said excessive internet use poses a serious risk of diminishing students’ interest in study. He urged awareness of the negative effects of internet dependency.

The Prime Minister added that, on average, a person in Bangladesh reads about three books a year and spends only 62 hours annually on reading. He expressed hope that the Ekushey Book Fair would inspire more people to become regular readers and deepen their love for books.

Bangladesh Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed announced that 10,000 new police constables will be recruited soon. He made the statement on Thursday, February 26, 2026, while speaking to journalists at the Ministry of Home Affairs in Dhaka. The minister said the recruitment process would begin after receiving clearance from the Ministry of Finance.

Ahmed added that additional recruitment for Sub-Inspectors (SIs) and Assistant Superintendents of Police (ASPs) through the Public Service Commission will be announced later. He also stated that instructions have been issued to reorganize law and order committees at district and upazila levels to maintain stability and ensure effective implementation of security plans.

The minister further mentioned that directives have been given to fill 180 vacant police sergeant positions quickly through proper examinations. These measures are part of broader efforts to strengthen the police force and maintain law and order nationwide.

The Sitakunda upazila administration in Chattogram has stopped illegal sand extraction from the coastal area of Syedpur Union and the filling of agricultural land. Following a report published on February 21, 2026, in the newspaper Amar Desh, Assistant Commissioner (Land) Abdullah Al Mamun conducted a mobile court inspection and ordered an immediate halt to all sand extraction and land-filling activities. On Thursday morning, another mobile court operation led by Executive Magistrate Sadia Afrin Kochi and Abdullah Al Mamun seized nine dredgers and detained thirteen individuals involved in the illegal activity.

Officials stated that while the Chattogram Port Authority allows limited sand extraction from designated coastal zones, no permission exists for dredging inside the sea. Several institutions were found violating these conditions. Local residents alleged that illegal sand lifting had been ongoing for a long time across multiple unions, damaging fertile farmland and disrupting fishing activities. Fishermen reported torn nets and financial hardship due to the operations.

Authorities confirmed that legal action will follow after verifying land classifications and ownership records, as parts of the filled area include government land without proper authorization.

State Minister for Water Resources Farhad Hossain Azad announced that the government has undertaken an initiative to excavate 20,000 kilometers of canals across Bangladesh. As part of this program, he visited a 12-kilometer canal in Kaharol upazila of Dinajpur district on Thursday afternoon. Speaking to journalists after the visit, he said the excavation of this canal would bring about 6,000 bighas of land under cultivation, boosting agricultural production and directly benefiting farmers.

The minister stated that the initiative aligns with the election manifesto announced by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, describing the project as evidence of its implementation. He noted that past canal and river excavation efforts suffered from a lack of coordination among ministries. Recently, a coordination meeting was held with multiple ministries, resulting in the formation of a joint team to ensure canals do not refill in the future. Plans also include tree planting along canal banks and other protective measures.

Azad added that the program follows the path set by former President Ziaur Rahman, who had earlier initiated canal excavation projects.

Sarjis Alam, chief organizer of the National Citizen Party (NCP) for the northern region, expressed disappointment over an incident where the president of the student organization Chhatra Dal was seen running behind the Prime Minister’s car. He made the remarks on Thursday afternoon at the Krishibid Institution auditorium during the first founding anniversary of Jatiya Chhatra Shakti. According to him, the student leader, who represents millions of students, should not have behaved in such a manner.

Sarjis said the Prime Minister, Tarique Rahman, attended the inauguration of the Amar Ekushey Book Fair, where the incident occurred. He described the scene as painful and urged Chhatra Dal to establish a new standard in student politics that could shape the future of Bangladesh’s student leadership. He also noted that a new phase of political competition has begun in the country, with the ruling party trying to surpass previous governments while political activities are being replaced by performance-based rivalries.

The event also included references to NCP’s upcoming ten-day program and broader calls for renewed political engagement across the country.

Bangladesh Bank’s newly appointed Governor Md. Mostakur Rahman stated that he intends to speak less and work more, emphasizing a results-oriented approach. He made the remarks on Thursday morning after arriving at the central bank headquarters, where he was welcomed by deputy governors and senior officials. Following meetings with deputy governors and executive directors, the bank’s spokesperson Arif Hossain Khan briefed the media on the governor’s initial directives.

According to the spokesperson, the governor expressed commitment to supporting the reopening of closed factories and providing policy assistance to boost economic growth and employment. He praised the previous interim government’s efforts to maintain macroeconomic stability and pledged to build on that foundation to revitalize the economy. The governor also highlighted the need to control inflation, stabilize commodity prices, and review high interest rates that hinder investment.

He further emphasized institutional good governance, promising a rule-based, non-discriminatory decision-making process and greater delegation of authority to accelerate operations within the central bank.

Cabinet Secretary Nasimul Gani announced that strict action will be taken against government officials and employees who fail to attend office at the scheduled time. He made the statement on Thursday after a cabinet meeting, emphasizing that disciplinary measures will follow existing laws and regulations. Relevant authorities have already been informed of the directive.

Gani highlighted Prime Minister Tareq Rahman’s punctuality as an example, noting that the Prime Minister often arrives at the Secretariat before 9 a.m., sometimes without protocol, to avoid traffic and reduce public inconvenience. This practice, he said, has created a sense of time awareness and positive pressure among officials. He added that the Prime Minister has his own office at the Secretariat and may work there any day at his discretion.

Responding to questions about administrative reshuffles, the Cabinet Secretary said such changes occur naturally based on time and necessity. He also confirmed that cabinet meetings will be held every Thursday.

The Ministry of Religious Affairs has issued an urgent directive to 30 major Hajj agencies to complete all visa processing for pilgrims by March 5. The letter, sent on Wednesday, instructed agencies to finalize health checks, vaccinations, and group formations for pilgrims. A total of 7,355 pilgrims under these agencies are still awaiting health examinations, with Bangladesh Overseas Services having the highest number pending at 1,306 and Ehsan Air Travels the lowest at 10.

According to the ministry, Saudi Arabia’s Hajj and Umrah Ministry requires all visa processing to be completed by March 20. Pilgrims must obtain fitness certificates and vaccinations before applying for visas. The process, including technical steps and group formation, typically takes five to ten days, though technical issues could cause delays.

The ministry also warned that offices in both Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia will close around March 20 due to Eid-ul-Fitr holidays, urging agencies to complete all procedures well in advance to avoid disruptions.

The National Citizen Party (NCP) has announced a ten-day program to mark its first founding anniversary. The announcement was made on Thursday, February 26, 2026, in Dhaka by the party’s senior joint convener Ariful Islam Adib during an anniversary event. Adib stated that the eleven-party alliance remains positive about raising a proposal for the president’s impeachment in the first parliamentary session. He also unveiled the detailed schedule of the anniversary activities.

Under the slogan “The country will move on a new path, fascism will not return,” the program includes an iftar gathering on February 28 at Abahani Club Field in Dhanmondi, featuring families of July martyrs, anti-fascist political leaders, media workers, activists, and district committee representatives. The event will also feature a documentary and art exhibition reviewing the past year’s activities. Additional divisional iftar gatherings will be held across major cities from March 2 to March 14.

The NCP’s anniversary events aim to highlight the party’s ideals of revolution, alternative politics, and reconstruction while engaging supporters nationwide through religious and cultural observances.

The funeral of Mujibur Rahman, a 50-year-old Jubo Dal activist killed by gunfire in Raozan, Chattogram, was completed on Thursday evening. He was buried at his family graveyard following prayers at a local madrasa field, attended by thousands including local BNP leaders. Mujibur was shot by several youths on Wednesday evening while sitting at a fruit shop in East Gujra Union’s Olimiyahat area. He sustained three bullet wounds and died from excessive bleeding, according to the local health complex.

Police confirmed that Mujibur’s wife filed a murder case naming three individuals and four unidentified suspects. Local residents and relatives linked the killing to a recent dispute over a village arbitration involving a young man who had been beaten, with whom Mujibur later argued. Police said investigations are underway but declined to provide further details.

Locals expressed anger over repeated killings in the area and alleged police inaction, noting that another Jubo Dal leader was shot dead nearby in January. Authorities said multiple teams are working to uncover the motive behind the latest murder.

Newly elected Member of Parliament for Jhenaidah-2, Ali Azam Md. Abubakar, declared that no form of extortion will be tolerated in his constituency. He made the statement on Thursday afternoon while addressing a reception event held at the hall room of Porahati Union Parishad in Jhenaidah Sadar upazila. The event was organized to honor him following his election victory.

During his speech, Ali Azam emphasized his commitment to building a just society and state, noting that Jamaat-e-Islami is dedicated to this goal. He also pledged to work in coordination with the administration to maintain law and order and warned that strict measures would be taken against extortionists, criminals, and drug dealers. The reception was attended by local Jamaat leaders, including Alomgir Hossain, Akidul Islam, and Torikul Islam.

The MP’s remarks signal an intention to strengthen governance and public safety in the constituency through cooperation with law enforcement and community leadership.

Bangladesh Bank announced that disciplinary action will be taken against officials involved in a mob incident that occurred at the central bank on Wednesday. The announcement was made by spokesperson and executive director Arif Hossain Khan during a press conference on Thursday afternoon. He stated that the new governor has pledged to establish good governance within the institution and that those linked to the mob culture will face measures under the bank’s HR policy.

Earlier in the day, the new governor formally joined the central bank and held a meeting with senior officials. The press conference was organized to share decisions from that meeting. During the meeting, the governor emphasized cooperation in reopening closed factories and promised policy support to promote economic growth and employment.

According to the report, the incident involved several officials who forced the governor’s adviser Ahsan Ullah out of the bank premises and compelled a deputy governor to sign transfer orders under pressure. The bank’s leadership has indicated that such behavior will not be tolerated.

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) of Bangladesh has extended the deadline for filing income tax returns for the 2025–26 fiscal year by one month. According to a notification signed by Md. Ekramul Haque, Second Secretary (Tax Law-1), taxpayers can now submit their returns without penalty until March 31, 2026. The decision was made under Section 334 of the Income Tax Act, 2023, with prior government approval and in the public interest.

Previously, the deadline for individual and Hindu Undivided Family taxpayers was February 28, 2026. The NBR had already extended the filing period three times earlier, each time by one month. Normally, the last date for submitting income tax returns in Bangladesh is November 30.

The latest extension aims to provide additional time for taxpayers to complete their filings and comply with the updated tax regulations for the current fiscal year.

A Dhaka court has granted a two-day remand for Masudur Rahman, who was detained in Malaysia on suspicion of militant involvement. The order was issued on Thursday, February 26, 2026, by Metropolitan Magistrate Jewel Rana after hearing a remand petition filed by Sub-Inspector Md Aminul Islam of Airport Police Station. Malaysian police had handed Masudur over to Bangladeshi authorities the previous evening, after which he was arrested under Section 54 and produced before the court.

During the hearing, the prosecution argued that Masudur had posted content on Facebook related to groups such as Al-Qaeda, Hamas, and the Taliban while in Malaysia, prompting his detention there. The prosecution sought five days of remand to investigate his possible links, devices used, and any financial connections. The court, however, approved two days of remand.

Masudur reportedly admitted in court that he shared such posts from a religious perspective and claimed he did not realize they could harm Bangladesh’s image abroad.

Additional Police Commissioner (Supernumerary Additional IGP) Md. Sarwar has been assigned to perform the duties of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner until a new commissioner formally assumes the position. The decision was announced through an official notification signed by Inspector General of Police (IGP) Md. Ali Hossain Fakir on Thursday, February 26, 2026.

According to the notification, Sarwar will continue to serve as acting DMP Commissioner until a new officer is appointed to the post. The announcement ensures continuity in the leadership of the DMP during the interim period. No further details were provided regarding the timeline for the appointment of a new commissioner.

The temporary assignment reflects an administrative measure to maintain operational stability within the Dhaka Metropolitan Police while the process of appointing a permanent commissioner is underway.