State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Anindya Islam Amit has called on government officials in Jessore to perform their duties without political bias or fear. Speaking at a meeting with district department heads on Saturday, February 21, 2026, at the Jessore Deputy Commissioner’s Office, he emphasized that no official should seek special favors through political identity and urged them to focus on solving public problems through direct engagement with citizens.

During the meeting, the minister reminded officials that the current government was elected by popular vote and must remain accountable to the people. He also advised humane consideration while removing illegal structures, particularly during Ramadan, suggesting alternative solutions for affected street vendors. Amit further stressed the importance of freeing local rivers from illegal occupation, expressing concern over encroachment on the Mukteshwari River.

He assured officials that no political leader would interfere with their work and urged them to report any obstacles directly to him. The minister also instructed police to maintain law and order and reiterated his commitment to building a crime- and drug-free Jessore. In a separate session, he directed municipal authorities to identify and resolve drainage and waterlogging issues promptly.

Three leaders of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) in Fulchhari upazila of Gaibandha district have been expelled for violating party discipline and taking a stance against the organization. The decision was announced on Saturday through a press release signed by the upazila BNP’s general secretary and organizing secretary.

The expelled leaders are Abdur Rashid Sarkar Madhu, vice-president of Udakhali Union BNP; Anarul Islam, joint general secretary; and Saiful Islam Safiullah, organizing secretary of Erendabari Union BNP. Fulchhari upazila BNP general secretary Abdus Salam Sarkar confirmed the expulsion, stating that the three were removed from all party positions, including their primary memberships, due to organizational misconduct.

The announcement underscores the BNP’s internal enforcement of discipline at the local level, as the party leadership moves to address activities deemed harmful to organizational unity.

Electricity, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku said that celebrating Language Day with only cultural programs is not enough. Speaking as the chief guest at a discussion, cultural event, and award ceremony organized by the Sirajganj district administration on Saturday morning, he emphasized that to truly uphold Bangla as the mother tongue, people must reject foreign slogans and attitudes that do not align with the spirit of the language.

The minister stated that Bangla has a rare and proud history compared to many other languages and urged everyone to love their own language, culture, and country. He criticized the growing use of certain foreign expressions among the youth, saying such trends are disconnected from Bangla’s heritage and those who once tried to suppress it. The event was chaired by Deputy Commissioner Md. Aminul Islam and attended by local officials, political leaders, and freedom fighters.

Tuku added that true patriotism requires purification of thought and action, which he said is essential for protecting the Bangla language.

Dhaka-14 constituency’s elected Member of Parliament Barrister Arman declared that he and his supporters are ready to sacrifice their lives but will not accept 'July', during a visit to his father’s grave in Harirampur, Manikganj, on Saturday, February 21, 2026. He also demanded that justice for Shaheed Osman Hadi and Shaheed Abu Sayeed must be delivered on Bangladeshi soil.

Arman, son of Jamaat leader Mir Quasem Ali, said he was abducted by what he called fascist forces shortly before his father’s execution and was unaware of his father’s fate. He described his survival as a second life granted by divine mercy and pledged to dedicate himself to ensuring that no one in Bangladesh faces such oppression again. He sought prayers to fulfill his parliamentary duty of representing people’s rights and to uphold his father’s Islamic ideals.

Several Jamaat and student leaders, including former central Chhatra Shibir president Zahidur Rahman and local Jamaat leaders from Manikganj, were present during the visit.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman held a meeting on February 21, 2026, at the Prime Minister’s Office in Tejgaon, Dhaka, focusing on making the education system more enjoyable and employment-oriented, expanding job opportunities, and improving sports infrastructure and training facilities. The meeting was attended by relevant ministers, state ministers, and senior officials.

According to Press Secretary Abu Abdullah M Saleh, this was the first time Prime Minister Tarique Rahman worked from the Tejgaon office since assuming office. It marked his third working day as head of government. After taking the oath as prime minister, he had worked at the Secretariat on the previous Wednesday and Thursday.

The meeting reflected the new administration’s early focus on aligning education with employment and strengthening youth and sports development initiatives.

Bangladesh’s Shipping Minister Sheikh Robiul Alam announced that significant visible progress will be achieved within the next six months in the modernization and ongoing development projects of Mongla Port, the country’s second-largest seaport. He made the statement during a press briefing at the Mongla Port Authority jetty on Saturday afternoon.

The minister said Mongla Port’s role in the economic growth, industrialization, and foreign trade of the southwestern region is expanding. Redirecting more import-export operations to Mongla could ease pressure on Dhaka and Chattogram, reduce transport costs, and save time. Under the government’s priority plans, infrastructure upgrades, addition of modern equipment, and digital transformation of services are underway. He emphasized coordinated efforts to make Mongla a modern, efficient regional trade hub contributing more to the national economy.

Alam also highlighted the importance of the newly launched rail link to the port and said integrated management of rail and maritime transport will make cargo movement more dynamic. About 15 integrated development plans have been undertaken to transform Mongla into a competitive seaport modeled after Chattogram Port.

At a discussion meeting in Dhaka on Saturday marking International Mother Language and Martyrs’ Day, Jamaat-e-Islami’s Nayeb-e-Ameer and Member of Parliament Professor Mujibur Rahman said that a government had been formed against the people’s verdict by not taking the oath of the Constitutional Reform Council. He urged both the government and opposition to work together to implement the people’s mandate peacefully, warning that failure to do so could lead to public uprising.

Rahman stated that no government in the country’s history had remained in power by defying public opinion and that Jamaat-e-Islami was prepared for a final struggle to establish people’s rights while also ready to cooperate with the government as an opposition party. He called for ensuring the use of the Bangla language in all sectors and for rewriting what he described as distorted historical narratives to present the truth to the younger generation.

Other speakers, including Jamaat’s Assistant Secretary General Dr. A.H.M. Hamidur Rahman Azad, emphasized the need to implement the July Charter to strengthen democracy and warned against authoritarian tendencies.

At least five people have been killed in a severe snowstorm that struck Austria, causing widespread power outages and transport disruptions. Officials reported that one person died in the northern city of Linz, while four skiers were killed in avalanches in the Tyrol region. Three of them died near the St. Anton ski resort, and another was killed in Nauders, where one more person was injured.

The storm has brought up to 16 inches of snowfall since Thursday, prompting warnings in southeastern Austria, particularly around the city of Graz. This winter season’s avalanche death toll in the country has now reached 21. Vienna International Airport was temporarily closed on Friday morning, and afternoon services were also affected.

According to the national automobile association ÖAMTC, several major highways near Vienna were closed for hours. Power companies reported outages in southern and eastern regions, including Styria, where about 30,000 homes lost electricity.

State Minister for Education Bobby Hajjaj has declared that no form of corruption will be tolerated in his ministry over the next five years. He made the statement on Saturday while addressing a discussion organized by the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education in observance of Shaheed Dibash and International Mother Language Day.

During his speech, Hajjaj emphasized the significance of February 21 as a symbol of the Bengali nation’s struggle for fundamental rights, noting that language represents the most personal and basic human right. He reflected on the historical sacrifices made for rights and stated that democratic governance has now been restored through a popularly elected government.

The state minister further stressed that education forms the foundation of the state, warning that a weak foundation cannot support a strong structure. He called for strengthening educational infrastructure and focusing on three key areas to improve education quality.

The government of Gujarat, a western Indian state, has announced plans to amend its marriage registration law to prevent alleged fraudulent marriages involving concealed identities, often referred to as 'love jihad'. Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi made the announcement in the state assembly on Friday, stating that the initiative aims to protect women from deception. Under the proposed changes, both bride and groom must submit proof of parental consent and provide detailed information about their parents, including names, phone numbers, and addresses.

The draft amendment requires assistant registrars to notify the parents of both parties within ten days of receiving a marriage registration application. The application will then be forwarded to the relevant district registrar’s office, where verification will be completed within one month. Sanghavi said details of the new law will be published on an official government website currently under development. He emphasized that the goal is to safeguard traditional marriage practices and ensure women’s safety.

The amendment is being introduced under the Gujarat Marriage Registration Act of 2006. Sanghavi also mentioned reports of fake marriage certificates and marriages conducted under false identities, even in villages without Muslim populations. Public feedback was collected over a 30-day period before drafting the proposal.

Five people were killed in a head-on collision between a CNG-run auto-rickshaw and a gas-carrying truck on the Kushtia bypass road on Saturday, February 21, 2026, around 2:30 p.m. The incident was confirmed by Abu Obaid, Officer-in-Charge of Kushtia Highway Police Station. Among the deceased were three women. The bodies were recovered and taken to Kushtia General Hospital.

The report, filed by the district correspondent in Kushtia, stated that the accident occurred in the afternoon when the two vehicles collided directly on the busy bypass road. Police immediately responded to the scene to manage the situation and transport the victims.

Authorities have not yet released the identities of the deceased or further details about the cause of the collision. The incident adds to ongoing concerns about road safety in the region, particularly involving small passenger vehicles and heavy trucks.

For the first time, National Parliament Opposition Leader and Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman paid tribute to the language martyrs at the Shaheed Minar on February 21, 2026. He was accompanied by Opposition Chief Whip and NCP convener Nahid Islam, and Members of Parliament Akhtar Hossain, Hasnat Abdullah, and Hannan Masud. The floral tribute took place just after midnight, following similar tributes by President Md. Shahabuddin and Prime Minister Tareq Rahman.

Explaining his participation, Dr. Shafiqur Rahman told reporters that he attended the ceremony as part of a state ritual, describing it as his responsibility as the opposition leader to join with his colleagues. Jamaat had earlier announced that under his leadership, newly elected MPs from the 11-party alliance would pay respects at the Shaheed Minar, visit the graves of the language martyrs, and offer prayers for their souls.

The event marked a symbolic first for Jamaat-e-Islami’s leadership in participating in the state observance of International Mother Language Day.

Prime Minister’s political adviser Dr. Nazrul Islam Khan said that many institutions in Bangladesh have been destroyed due to corruption, nepotism, and incompetence. He made the remarks on Saturday afternoon at the Bangladesh Film Development Corporation while addressing an event organized by Debate for Democracy to honor the winners of the 2026 Election Debate Competition.

Khan referred to what he described as fifteen and a half years of misrule under the Awami League, saying the extent of institutional damage was greater than expected. He attributed the situation to politicization, favoritism, and the appointment of unqualified individuals to key positions. He urged everyone to cooperate with the government from their respective positions to overcome the challenges and move forward.

The event was presided over by Debate for Democracy Chairman Hasan Ahmed Chowdhury Kiron and attended by several academics, including State University Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Md. Akhtar Hossain Khan, Chief Moderator Professor Abu Mohammad Rois, and Jahangirnagar University Professor Dr. Nahrin Khan.

U.S. President Donald Trump will visit China from March 31 to April 2, 2026, for a long-anticipated meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. A White House official confirmed the trip on Friday. The announcement came a day after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down Trump’s global import tariff initiative.

According to the report, the two leaders are expected to discuss a potential trade agreement aimed at avoiding further tariff increases. This will be Trump’s second visit to China, following his first trip in 2017 during his previous term.

The Chinese Embassy in Washington declined to comment on the travel dates, and Beijing has not yet confirmed the visit.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has strongly condemned and protested remarks by Road, Rail and Water Transport Minister Sheikh Robiul Alam that the party claims effectively legitimized extortion in the name of compromise. In a statement issued to the media on Saturday, Jamaat’s Assistant Secretary General and head of its publicity and media division, Advocate Ehsanul Mahbub Zubair, expressed deep concern and described the minister’s comments as undesirable, unethical, and harmful to the rule of law.

The statement said extortion is a criminal offense and poses a serious threat to society, the economy, and governance. It warned that legitimizing such acts could encourage further crimes and undermine justice, transparency, and accountability. Jamaat urged the government to adopt a zero-tolerance policy against extortion and corruption and to take visible and effective measures against those involved. The party demanded that the minister withdraw his remarks, issue a public explanation, and avoid similar statements in the future.

Jamaat also called on the government to ensure citizens’ safety and to take strict legal action to prevent extortion, warning that failure to do so could lead to a united public resistance against such crimes.