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.

A fisherman from Kutubdia upazila in Cox’s Bazar was shot dead by sea pirates while fishing in the Bay of Bengal on Wednesday afternoon. The attack occurred when the fishing boat FB Azufa Akhtar Manu, owned by Jasim Uddin of North Dhurung Akrabali Ghat, came under fire. The victim, identified as Shahadat Hossain Khokon, was taken ashore but died on the way. Police confirmed that his body was sent to Cox’s Bazar Sadar Hospital morgue for autopsy.

According to the boat owner, the vessel had gone to sea three days earlier with 19 crew members. The Kutubdia Fishermen’s Association president, Md. Zainal Abedin, said sea robberies have increased over the past month, leaving fishermen fearful to go fishing. He claimed that despite informing the Navy and Coast Guard, no effective action has been taken.

Fishermen’s leaders have urged Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed to intervene to ensure safety at sea.

National Citizen Party (NCP) convener and opposition chief whip Nahid Islam has accused the BNP government of enabling large-scale financial mismanagement by removing Ahsan H. Mansur from the position of Bangladesh Bank governor. In a statement issued Wednesday night, he said Mansur’s reform initiatives had begun restoring discipline in the banking sector and curbing money laundering, but his dismissal disrupted that progress and undermined the central bank’s autonomy.

Nahid Islam claimed that Mansur had coordinated with international financial institutions to recover laundered funds and had taken steps to prevent illicit transfers through trade. He also said Mansur sought to make Bangladesh Bank a constitutional body to ensure independence from political interference. According to Islam, BNP- and Awami League-aligned officials later created instability inside the central bank, even assaulting the governor’s adviser.

He further alleged that the government replaced Mansur with a controversial businessman who had previously defaulted on a large bank loan, calling the move undemocratic and dangerous for the financial sector. The NCP condemned the decision and demanded that an honest and experienced economist lead the central bank.

Md. Mostakur Rahman has officially joined Bangladesh Bank as its new governor. He arrived at the central bank’s headquarters on Thursday morning around 10:45 a.m., where he was received by deputy governors and senior officials. Before entering the building, Rahman briefly told reporters that work would come before words.

His appointment came a day earlier, on Wednesday, when Ahsan H. Mansur was removed from the position and businessman Mostakur Rahman was named as the new governor for a four-year term. According to the report, he has taken up the role after stepping away from his business affiliations.

The report also notes that Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has expressed concern about potential conflicts of interest regarding the new governor’s appointment, while the interim government period has seen a rise in domestic borrowing by Tk 1.13 trillion. The central bank spokesperson confirmed that Rahman assumed his duties free from business ties.

Four people were killed and six others injured when Cuban security forces clashed with a US-registered speedboat near the island’s northern coast. The incident occurred about one mile northeast of Cayo Falcones, according to a statement issued Wednesday by Cuba’s Interior Ministry. The ministry claimed the vessel entered Cuban waters and opened fire on its security forces.

Cuban authorities said the speedboat was registered in Florida and alleged that those on board were Cuban residents of the United States attempting to infiltrate the country for terrorist activities. The ministry confirmed it had the vessel’s registration number but did not release details about the individuals involved.

Following the incident, the United States announced it would conduct its own verification of the events. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters that the operation was not a US government mission and that no government personnel were involved. He added that authorities were checking whether those aboard were US citizens or permanent residents.

U.S. President Donald Trump has called for two Muslim members of Congress, Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar, to be expelled from the country. The demand came after both lawmakers shouted in protest during Trump’s State of the Union address at a joint session of Congress on Tuesday evening. Trump later reiterated his stance on his social media platform Truth Social, writing that people who act in such a way and are known to be corrupt politicians harmful to the country should be sent back to where they came from.

According to the report, Ilhan Omar was born in Somalia but has been a U.S. citizen for nearly three decades, while Rashida Tlaib, of Palestinian descent, was born in Detroit, Michigan, making her a citizen by birth. The report notes that there is no legal basis to deport either of them to their ancestral countries.

As Trump left the House chamber, the two congresswomen shouted, accusing him of causing the deaths of Americans, further intensifying the confrontation during the high-profile event.