The International Crimes Tribunal on Sunday ordered the publication of a newspaper notice to summon former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and five other accused in a case over the alleged killing of nine youths in Dhaka’s Kalyanpur area. The case accuses the defendants of crimes against humanity for allegedly staging a ‘militant drama’ before the killings. The other accused are former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, former Inspector General of Police A K M Shahidul Haque, former DMP Commissioner Asaduzzaman Mia, Special Branch chief Monirul Islam, and former DMP Mirpur Division Deputy Commissioner Md Jasim Uddin Molla.

According to the case details, on July 26, 2016, law enforcement agencies conducted an operation at a building known as “Jahajbari” in Kalyanpur, where nine suspected militants were killed, one was arrested, and another escaped. Authorities at the time claimed the deceased were members of the neo-JMB group. A case under the Anti-Terrorism Act was filed the following day and remains under trial.

After the fall of the Awami League government on August 5, 2024, alternative narratives about the incident emerged, leading to the filing of this new case on March 6 of the previous year.

A heated phone dispute between Bahubal Model Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md Saiful Islam and Upazila BNP President Ferdous Ahmed Chowdhury Toshar has stirred widespread discussion in Habiganj. The controversy began after the arrest of a young man named Masuk Mia, which led to a leaked audio recording of Toshar allegedly threatening and verbally abusing the officer. The recording, whose date remains unverified, spread rapidly on social media, with Toshar reportedly saying that police must consult him to work in Bahubal.

According to local sources, Masuk Mia, a member of the local Union Jubo League committee from the 2019 session, was arrested by police. Some BNP leaders claimed he was a BNP activist and unsuccessfully tried to secure his release. District BNP member Mokhlesur Rahman also reportedly called the OC, urging him to release Masuk, but the officer refused, causing discontent among some BNP members.

OC Saiful Islam confirmed receiving abusive calls from Toshar, while the BNP leader later went live on social media accusing the OC of corruption and misconduct, claiming he had informed the police superintendent verbally.

At least 72 tigers have died from a viral infection at a zoo in Chiang Mai province, northern Thailand, according to a statement issued Friday by the provincial livestock department. Tests confirmed that the animals were infected with the highly contagious canine distemper virus and also suffered from bacterial respiratory infections. The zoo, known as Tigers Kingdom, has been temporarily closed following the mass deaths.

Somchuan Rattanamungklanon, director of Thailand’s national livestock department, told local media that detecting illness in tigers is more difficult than in domestic animals such as dogs or cats, and by the time symptoms become apparent, it is often too late. The zoo, a popular tourist attraction, allowed visitors to hug and take photos with tigers.

Animal rights group PETA said in a statement to AFP that the tigers lived and died in distressing, confined, and fearful conditions. The organization added that if tourists stayed away, such facilities would quickly become unprofitable and tragedies like this would not occur.

In Assam’s Dhubri district, hundreds of Bengali-origin Muslim families have lost both their homes and voting rights following government-led evictions. Bodiyat Jamal, a 42-year-old mason from Chirakutha village, has been living under a tarpaulin for seven months after his house was demolished in July 2025 for a power project. Recently, Jamal and his family’s names were removed from the final voter list after a special revision, despite his claim of being a registered voter for 24 years. Similar exclusions have affected many others in the area.

According to Indian media outlet Scroll, around 5,700 Muslims from Dhubri and Uriamghat were evicted and simultaneously removed from voter rolls. Election officials said the deletions occurred because displaced voters changed their permanent addresses. However, affected residents allege that authorities have made no effort to reinstate their names. Opposition parties submitted a memorandum on January 25, 2026, urging the chief electoral officer to include genuine displaced voters.

Chief Electoral Officer Anurag Goel stated that no voter would be removed “voluntarily” and that a separate process exists for those unable to register new addresses. Yet, displaced residents claim their names remain excluded from all lists.

Begum Selima Rahman, a member of the BNP Standing Committee and former minister, has been admitted to the Coronary Care Unit (CCU) of United Hospital in Dhaka after suffering a heart attack. The incident occurred on the night of February 19, around 10 p.m., according to BNP Media Cell member Shayrul Kabir Khan, who confirmed the news.

Selima Rahman’s family and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) have requested prayers from the public for her swift recovery. The report, published on February 22, 2026, stated that she remains under medical care in the hospital’s CCU. No further details about her current condition or treatment progress were provided in the source.

The hospitalization of a senior BNP leader has drawn concern within the party, as she holds a key position in its policymaking body. The situation underscores the party’s call for public support and well-wishes during her treatment.

The Taliban government of Afghanistan has warned of retaliation following Pakistani airstrikes that killed at least 17 people in Afghan territory. The strikes, conducted on Saturday night, targeted areas in Nangarhar and Paktika provinces, hitting a religious school and residential homes. Pakistan claimed the attacks were aimed at militant hideouts, while Kabul accused Islamabad of violating Afghanistan’s sovereignty and a ceasefire agreement.

In a statement, the Afghan government said it reserves the right to respond and that the timing and nature of any counterattack will be determined by Taliban leadership, though alternative options remain open. Taliban leaders held an emergency meeting to discuss possible responses and informed mediating countries including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Turkey about the incident.

The Afghan Ministry of Defense condemned the strikes on Sunday, describing civilian casualties that included women and children. The situation has heightened tensions between the two neighboring countries, with Kabul asserting its right to defend national sovereignty.

Pakistan carried out air and drone strikes across several areas of Afghanistan early Sunday, reportedly killing around 17 people. Following the attacks in border regions, senior officials of Afghanistan’s Taliban government convened an emergency meeting to discuss possible retaliatory measures against Pakistan. In a statement, the Afghan government accused Pakistan of violating Afghanistan’s territorial integrity and asserted Kabul’s right to respond, though the timing of any counterattack would be determined by Taliban leaders.

According to The Week, Afghan authorities believe Pakistan’s new strikes breached an existing ceasefire agreement. They have informed mediator countries Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Turkey about the situation. Pakistan claimed the strikes were precision operations based on intelligence targeting militant hideouts, while Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid stated on X that Pakistani forces attacked civilians, causing dozens of deaths.

The report noted that heavy border clashes occurred between the two nations last year before a ceasefire was brokered. Pakistan’s latest actions followed a rise in terrorist attacks inside its territory, which it blamed on Afghanistan.

According to data from the Air Quality Index (IQAir) released on Sunday, February 22, 2026, at 9:18 a.m., Lahore, Pakistan, recorded the highest level of air pollution in the world. The city’s air quality score reached 390, placing it in the hazardous category. Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, ranked second with a score of 250, indicating very unhealthy air conditions. Kolkata, India, followed in third place with a score of 218, also classified as very unhealthy.

The IQAir index categorizes air quality based on numerical scores: 0–50 is considered good, 51–100 moderate, 101–150 unhealthy for sensitive groups, 151–200 unhealthy, 201–300 very unhealthy, and above 301 hazardous. The latest readings highlight severe air pollution across major South Asian cities, with Lahore’s air quality reaching a dangerous level and Dhaka’s remaining critically poor.

The report underscores persistent air quality challenges in the region, signaling ongoing health and environmental risks for urban populations if pollution levels remain high.

The Islamic State (IS) on Saturday called on its members to fight against the government of Ahmed al-Shara in Syria. The appeal came through an audio message from IS spokesperson Abu Huzaifa al-Ansari, marking his first public statement in nearly two years. In the pre-recorded message released online, al-Ansari urged IS fighters to prioritize combat against the new Syrian administration, its secular government, and the National Army.

Al-Ansari’s previous message was released in January 2024, when he had called for attacks in retaliation for Israeli strikes in Gaza. The current Syrian interim government took power in December 2024 after the ouster of long-time ruler Bashar al-Assad. Ahmed al-Shara, who previously had ties with al-Qaeda, has since sought to project a more moderate image.

The report also noted that Syrian forces recently advanced against Kurdish fighters, raising questions about the fate of IS detainees held in Kurdish-controlled areas. Amid this uncertainty, the United States transferred more than 5,700 IS prisoners from Syria to Iraqi prisons.

Eight Chinese tourists were killed when a tour bus sank after breaking through the ice on Lake Baikal in Siberia, Russia. The regional branch of Russia’s Ministry of Emergency Situations confirmed the incident, which occurred on Friday, February 20. According to Igor Kobzev, one Chinese tourist managed to escape from the bus and survive. The victims included seven Chinese tourists and the bus driver. The Chinese Consulate General has been informed of the tragedy.

Officials said the bus fell into a three-meter-wide crack in the ice and sank into the lake. Rescue teams later used underwater cameras to recover seven bodies. The regional prosecutor’s office has launched an investigation into the incident.

Lake Baikal, known as the world’s deepest freshwater lake, is a major tourist destination in Siberia, especially popular among Chinese visitors. Authorities maintain designated ice roads during winter, allowing specific vehicles to cross under supervision, while driving outside approved routes is officially prohibited. The number of Chinese tourists visiting the lake has increased in recent years due to a visa-free travel arrangement between Moscow and Beijing.

Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to Bangladesh, Dr. Abdullah Zafar H. Bin Abiya, paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Tarique Rahman at the Prime Minister’s Office in Dhaka on Sunday morning. The meeting was confirmed by the Prime Minister’s Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Rumman, who said the ambassador congratulated Tarique Rahman on assuming office as Prime Minister.

During the meeting, both sides discussed matters of mutual interest between Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia. The Prime Minister expressed optimism that the friendly relations between the two nations would reach new heights in the future. Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman and the Prime Minister’s Foreign Affairs Adviser Humayun Kabir were also present at the meeting.

Earlier in the morning, the Prime Minister arrived at the Secretariat at 9:05 a.m. to begin official duties, where he was received by Chief Secretary A.B.M. Abdus Sattar.

Two people were killed in a collision between a bus and a leguna at the Ghantighar area of Mir Hajirbagh in Dhaka’s Jatrabari on Sunday morning. Local residents and passersby rescued three seriously injured individuals and took them to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, where doctors declared two of them dead. One of the deceased was identified as Azizul Islam, aged 45, while the other victim, approximately 55 years old, has not yet been identified.

Inspector Md. Faruk, in charge of the Dhaka Medical Police Camp, confirmed the deaths and said the bodies have been kept at the hospital morgue for autopsy. The incident occurred in the capital’s busy Jatrabari area, which frequently experiences heavy traffic and road accidents.

Authorities have not yet provided further details about the cause of the collision or the condition of the remaining injured person.

A Dhaka court has sentenced four young men to life imprisonment for their involvement in a gang rape case in Kamrangirchar. The verdict was delivered on Sunday by Judge Munshi Md. Moshiyar Rahman of the Dhaka Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal-4. Along with life imprisonment with hard labor, each convict was fined 100,000 taka.

The four convicts are Shahidul Islam (23), Saiful Islam (25), Nizam (24), and Monir Hossain alias Sentu (26). The court’s public prosecutor, Ershad Alam, confirmed the judgment and stated that failure to pay the fine would result in an additional one year of simple imprisonment for each convict.

The ruling marks the conclusion of the Kamrangirchar gang rape case, reinforcing the tribunal’s stance on strict punishment for crimes involving violence against women and children.

Scientists under Microsoft’s Project Silica have developed a revolutionary method to store massive amounts of data in a small piece of glass. According to a report published in the journal Nature titled “Laser Writing in Glass for Dense, Fast and Efficient Archival Data Storage,” the team has used a special laser to encode information inside glass by creating three-dimensional pixels called voxels. A 12-square-centimeter glass piece, only 2 millimeters thick, can hold up to 4.84 terabytes of data—equivalent to about two million books or five thousand 4K movies.

The Independent reported that this glass-based storage can endure temperatures up to 290°C and remain intact for around 10,000 years, potentially even longer at room temperature. However, it may be vulnerable to mechanical stress or chemical corrosion. Researchers Feng Chen and Bo Wu noted that large-scale implementation of this silica technology could mark a milestone in the history of knowledge preservation, comparable to ancient scripts, parchment, or modern hard drives.

If successfully scaled, this innovation could transform how humanity preserves cultural and scientific knowledge for millennia.

On February 22, 2026, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami chief Dr. Shafiqur Rahman posted a message on his verified Facebook page early Sunday morning, writing that the future Bangladesh would be one of justice and ending with the slogan 'Inquilab Zindabad'. The post quickly spread across social media, drawing attention on International Mother Language Day.

According to the report, Dr. Rahman’s post came in response to a statement made the previous day by State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku. The minister had said that to truly embrace the Bengali language, the slogan 'Inquilab Zindabad' should not continue, arguing that it had no connection with Bengali identity. His remarks triggered widespread discussion online.

Before Dr. Rahman’s post, several others, including Hasnat Abdullah, Nasiruddin Patwari, and Sarjis Alam, had shared similar messages echoing the same slogan. The issue has since become a focal point of debate on social media surrounding national identity and political expression.