A devastating fire broke out at Kamarhat market in Chandraganj, Lakshmipur Sadar upazila, on Tuesday night following a gas cylinder explosion. The incident occurred around 8:30 p.m., destroying ten shops including clothing, grocery, and electronics stores. Witnesses said the explosion originated from a cylinder in Bahar’s shop, and the flames quickly spread to adjacent stores. A fire service unit arrived promptly and brought the blaze under control after an hour of effort.

Lakshmipur Fire Service Station Officer Ranjit Kumar Saha said initial findings suggest the explosion started from Bahar’s shop. District Commissioner S.M. Mehedi Hasan confirmed that the fire service contained the blaze and that the upazila executive officer inspected the site. Authorities stated that financial assistance will be provided to affected shop owners.

Officials added that the exact cause of the explosion and the total extent of the damage will be determined after a full investigation.

In Chattogram, a total of 186 garment factories have closed over the past 18 months following the July Revolution, according to industry and police data. Of these, 111 factories were permanently shut by owners, while 76 remain temporarily closed. The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) confirmed that 19 of the closed factories were large-scale members, including six under the Well Group. Around 27,766 workers lost their jobs, though about 18,000 have since found new employment.

Investigations revealed that eight of the 19 large factories were owned by fugitive Awami League-linked businessmen who fled after the political upheaval, while nine others closed due to banking complications tied to merged and inactive banks. BGMEA officials said the sector’s recovery was hindered by financial instability and weak banking operations, despite improved trade conditions with the United States. Many large factories have shifted to subcontracting, leaving smaller units struggling for orders.

Industry Police reported that 55 more factories are now at risk, with concerns over paying wages and bonuses before Eid. Business leaders expressed cautious optimism that new government policies and revived banking operations could help the sector recover.

Engineer Ramanath Pujari has officially taken charge as the new Managing Director of Bangladesh-India Friendship Power Company Limited (BIFPCL), which operates the Rampal Power Plant in Bagerhat. The appointment was announced in a company statement, confirming that he assumed the role on Tuesday.

Before this appointment, Pujari served as Project Director of the Maitree Super Thermal Power Project (MSTPP) at Rampal. He also held the position of Executive Director at India’s state-owned NTPC Limited, where he contributed to plant management, reliability improvement, efficiency enhancement, and compliance with environmental regulations. Under his leadership, the MSTPP achieved more reliable power generation and maintained environmental standards, while he also supported local social and township development initiatives.

Born in 1968 in Odisha, India, Pujari holds a BE in Mechanical Engineering from the College of Engineering and Technology, Bhubaneswar, and an MBA from MDI Gurgaon. He has additional qualifications from IIM Ahmedabad and Harvard Business School and brings about 36 years of experience in the power sector.

After being suspended for more than one and a half years, the Agartala-Dhaka bus service has officially resumed. On Tuesday afternoon, a Tripura Road Transport Corporation (TRTC) bus carrying five passengers entered Bangladesh through the Akhaura land port in Brahmanbaria. Earlier that morning, a bus from Dhaka reached Agartala through the same route, where Tripura’s Transport Minister Sushanta Chowdhury and TRTC’s acting chairman Samar Roy welcomed it, marking the formal reopening of passenger transport on the route.

According to the Akhaura International Immigration Checkpost, the service had been halted following the 2024 student and public uprising, during which India also restricted visa services for Bangladeshis. TRTC began trial operations on the route in late January before the official launch. Police sub-inspector Sharif Rahman confirmed that the bus will initially operate twice a week.

On the first day of resumed service, nine people, including staff and passengers, traveled from Dhaka to Agartala, while five passengers returned from Agartala to Dhaka.

Baraka Foundation has launched a low-cost iftar market aimed at supporting low-income and underprivileged people during the holy month of Ramadan. The initiative was inaugurated on Monday at the Shishu Park field in Tongibari upazila of Munshiganj. The market offers essential iftar items at significantly reduced prices, such as chickpeas at Tk 60 per kg instead of Tk 80, onions at Tk 25 instead of Tk 40, dates at Tk 200 instead of Tk 300, puffed rice at Tk 80 instead of Tk 90, sugar at Tk 80 instead of Tk 98, and soybean oil at Tk 170 instead of Tk 195. In total, six items worth Tk 950 are being sold for Tk 560.

Buyers expressed relief and appreciation for the initiative, noting that it provides real assistance to families struggling with rising food costs. Locals described the program as a positive example of social responsibility that could inspire others to take similar steps.

According to Baraka Foundation, the project is funded by local expatriates and will continue throughout Ramadan to support poor and low-income communities.

England became the first team to reach the semifinals of the T20 World Cup after defeating Pakistan by two wickets. The match, held on February 24, 2026, saw England chase down a target of 165 runs. Jofra Archer sealed the victory with a boundary off the first ball of the final over, sparking celebrations. Captain Harry Brook led from the front with a remarkable century, scoring 100 runs off 50 balls with 10 fours and 4 sixes, marking the first century by any captain in this World Cup.

Pakistan, after winning the toss, opted to bat first and posted 164 for 9 in 20 overs, driven by Sahibzada Farhan’s 63. For England, Liam Dawson took 3 wickets for 24 runs, while Archer claimed 2 for 32. Despite Shaheen Afridi’s 4 for 30, Pakistan could not defend their total. The defeat left Pakistan’s World Cup hopes hanging by a thread.

With this win, England advanced to the semifinals ahead of all other teams, maintaining strong momentum in the tournament.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman stated that the underlying reasons behind the Pilkhana massacre are now clear to the people of a fascism-free Bangladesh. In a message marking National Martyred Soldiers Day on February 25, he said that after the killings, various false and misleading narratives were spread to confuse the public. He emphasized that the trial of the massacre is ongoing and refrained from commenting further on the judicial process.

Rahman noted that the massacre at the BDR headquarters in Pilkhana on February 25, 2009, claimed 74 lives, including 57 army officers. He said the day had not been properly observed until 2024, when it began to be commemorated as National Martyred Soldiers Day following the country’s liberation from fascism. He expressed prayers for the martyrs and sympathy for their bereaved families.

The Prime Minister called the armed forces a symbol of national honor and valor, urging unity against any future conspiracies targeting them or the nation’s sovereignty.

Disaster Management and Relief Minister Asadul Habib Dulu has called on ministry officials to demonstrate professionalism and integrity in implementing the BNP’s election manifesto. Speaking on Tuesday at a familiarization meeting with officials of the ministry and its subordinate offices at the Secretariat, he urged them to avoid irregularities, corruption, and misuse of power while working toward building a prosperous nation.

The minister emphasized that the people are the true owners of the country and that officials must invest their intellect and labor to create a better future for citizens. He also stressed the need for close monitoring at every stage of government work to prevent waste of public funds and to maintain quality standards. Dulu further instructed that project selection should ensure practical relevance and effectiveness.

His remarks highlighted a focus on transparency, accountability, and efficient implementation of government projects aligned with the party’s declared commitments.

Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman is set to make his first foreign trip since assuming office, traveling to Saudi Arabia this week. He is scheduled to depart early Wednesday to attend a ministerial-level meeting. Prime Minister Tareq Rahman’s adviser Humayun Kabir is also expected to accompany him on the visit.

According to the report, the meeting will take place at the Secretariat of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Jeddah on Thursday. The session is described as an emergency meeting of the OIC Executive Committee, with participation from foreign ministers of member states.

The visit marks Rahman’s first international engagement as foreign minister and will involve discussions among OIC member countries on issues of mutual concern, as indicated by the meeting’s agenda.

State Minister for Youth and Sports Aminul Haque announced that national footballers, including Dewan Hamza Chowdhury, Shamit Som, and Jamal Bhuiyan, will be brought under a government salary structure. The decision came after a meeting between the minister and Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) officials led by President Tabith Awal. The government will also transfer three major stadiums—Kamalapur, Sylhet, and Chattogram—to the BFF under formal agreements to address long-standing infrastructure and accommodation challenges.

Aminul Haque, himself a former national goalkeeper, emphasized that both male and female national players will receive monthly government contracts under a permanent pay system. He praised the consistent performance of the women’s team and said male players would also receive incentives. The meeting also discussed creating an annual calendar for age-based football tournaments to ensure regular competitions at the district level.

The minister added that the formal process for stadium handovers would begin soon, and the government aims to make inter-district leagues a permanent fixture across the country.

Barrister Mir Ahmad Bin Kasem Arman stated that the final decision on transferring the mobile financial service provider Nagad to the private sector depends on the new government’s policy direction. He made the remarks on Tuesday after a meeting with Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr. Ahsan H. Mansur. Arman said the governor informed him that the government has not yet finalized its stance on Nagad, and investment procedures will begin only if the government decides to allow private investors to take over, as the interim administration had considered.

Arman explained that discussions on bringing foreign investment into Nagad began during the interim government period, and his meeting with the governor continued that dialogue. He clarified that he is working as a professional lawyer and local representative for foreign investors, not in his capacity as a member of parliament. He also noted that potential investors are interested in Bangladesh’s digital banking sector and have expressed willingness to conduct an audit to assess Nagad’s profitability.

Addressing concerns about conflict of interest, Arman said his legal work does not conflict with his political role, emphasizing that his political activities are for public service while his legal practice supports his livelihood.

Law enforcement agencies in Bangladesh have launched a joint operation in the Sundarbans to curb renewed pirate activity. Beginning on Tuesday, 24 February 2026, the Bangladesh Navy, Coast Guard, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), and police initiated a coordinated campaign that will continue until the forest is declared free of bandit groups. The move follows reports that armed pirates have recently abducted fishermen and extorted ransom payments in rivers and canals of the world’s largest mangrove forest.

Authorities said surveillance has been intensified across key waterways including Dublar Char, Shibsha, Pashur, Aarpangashia, and Chandpai ranges. Fast patrol boats, speedboats, and commando teams have been deployed, while intelligence operations are underway to locate suspects. The Navy and Coast Guard confirmed strengthened river checkpoints and searches of suspicious vessels, and RAB and police have adopted a zero-tolerance policy toward armed groups.

Local officials noted that although the Sundarbans had previously been declared free of piracy after mass surrenders, some small groups have recently reemerged. Experts emphasized that sustained patrols, intelligence monitoring, and alternative livelihoods for forest-dependent communities are essential for lasting security.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has called on the public and media users to refrain from spreading false and misleading information regarding its potential nominees for the reserved women’s seats in the National Parliament. The appeal was made on Tuesday through a press statement issued by Advocate Ehsanul Mahbub Zubair, the party’s Assistant Secretary General and head of its Central Publicity and Media Department.

In the statement, Zubair said that several social media posts had circulated fake names claiming that wives or close relatives of senior Jamaat leaders were being nominated for the reserved seats. He dismissed these claims as completely baseless and intended to create public confusion. He emphasized that Jamaat-e-Islami operates as an Islamic, systematic, and democratic organization, where all major decisions, including nominations for reserved seats, are made according to its constitution.

Zubair further clarified that the nomination process for women members would be conducted in a fully constitutional manner and in consultation with the party’s women’s division. He urged everyone to avoid spreading misinformation and called on citizens not to be misled by such propaganda.

The newly appointed administrators of Dhaka North and South City Corporations have announced their commitment to make the capital free from terrorism. They made the declaration on Tuesday afternoon after paying tribute at the graves of Ziaur Rahman and Khaleda Zia. Alongside this pledge, they also expressed hope to resolve long-standing civic problems in the city.

Dhaka South City Corporation Administrator Abdus Salam stated that tackling corruption and extortion to ensure an active administration is now a major challenge. The administrators emphasized their intention to restore order and address the issues that have affected city governance for years.

Their statements signal an administrative focus on improving governance and public safety in Dhaka, though specific plans or timelines for implementation were not detailed in the announcement.

Noakhali-3 Member of Parliament Barkatullah Bulu stated that prices of essential commodities have begun to decline since the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) came to power. He made the remarks on Monday night in Begumganj while distributing iftar items among underprivileged people. According to Bulu, the price of LPG gas, which had risen to 2,200–2,300 taka, has now dropped to around 1,280 taka.

Bulu said that all commodity prices would gradually come under control, citing BNP’s past experience in state governance. He added that Prime Minister Tarique Rahman would lead the country based on that experience. During the event, Bulu announced plans to distribute iftar items worth 3.2 million taka among 5,000 marginalized people across Begumganj and later distribute Eid items.

He urged wealthy residents of Begumganj to support the poor during Ramadan so that everyone could break their fast comfortably. Several local BNP leaders and activists were present at the event.