Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has congratulated Tarique Rahman on taking oath as the new Prime Minister of Bangladesh. The Saudi Press Agency reported the message on Wednesday, noting that the Crown Prince wished continued progress and prosperity for the people of Bangladesh. He also extended congratulations on the formation of a new government under Rahman’s leadership.

According to the report, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) formed a cabinet of nearly 50 members on Tuesday, led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. The new cabinet includes 25 full ministers and 24 state ministers who have taken oath. This follows the publication of the official gazette of the 13th parliamentary election results, where the BNP secured 209 of 297 seats, while Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami won 68 seats. The remaining seats went to various alliances, parties, and independent candidates.

The report also mentioned that around 150 of the elected members are first-time parliamentarians, marking a significant generational shift in the new legislature.

US Vice President JD Vance stated that Iran has not yet fully complied with the 'red lines' set by President Donald Trump. Speaking after a meeting in Geneva on Tuesday, Vance said discussions with Iran were positive in some areas, and both sides agreed to hold another round of talks. However, he noted that several key issues remain unresolved.

In an interview with Fox News, Vance explained that while progress was made, Iran has not accepted or acted upon the conditions defined by the president. Earlier, Trump had warned that the US might consider the use of force if Iran failed to reach agreements on critical matters, including its nuclear program. Despite this, Vance emphasized that Washington continues to prioritize diplomatic solutions.

Vance added that diplomatic efforts will persist, but the authority to end those efforts rests solely with the president. He expressed hope that the situation would not escalate further, though he affirmed that the final decision would be made by President Trump if necessary.

Newly appointed Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman is scheduled to begin his first official working day at the Secretariat today, accompanied by members of his cabinet. From early Wednesday morning, various administrative offices and the Prime Minister’s office were seen busy preparing to welcome him, with officials entering the premises carrying flower bouquets. Members of the Special Security Force (SSF) have been deployed inside the Secretariat to ensure security.

Officials confirmed that the Prime Minister’s office on the third floor of the Cabinet Division was cleaned and prepared on Tuesday afternoon. Nameplates have been installed in ministers’ and state ministers’ offices, and rooms have been newly decorated. According to the Cabinet Division, Tarique Rahman will first pay tribute at the National Martyrs’ Memorial at 10 a.m. before returning to the Secretariat to begin his duties.

He is expected to hold an introductory meeting with Cabinet Division officials, have lunch at the Secretariat, and chair a special cabinet meeting at 3 p.m., followed by a discussion with secretaries at 4 p.m. Newly appointed ministers and state ministers will also assume their responsibilities and brief journalists later in the day.

India’s trade deficit rose to a three-month high of 34.68 billion dollars in January, according to data released by the country’s commerce ministry. The increase was driven by a 12 percent rise in imports to 71.24 billion dollars, largely due to higher gold and silver imports, while exports fell 5 percent to 36.56 billion dollars. Economists had expected the deficit to be around 26 billion dollars based on the previous month’s figure of 25.04 billion dollars.

The widening deficit comes as India prepares to send a delegation to Washington next week to finalize a trade deal aimed at reducing U.S. tariffs on Indian goods. The Trump administration had imposed a 50 percent tariff on Indian exports, which officials say will drop to 18 percent this week. President Donald Trump earlier confirmed the reduction, bringing relief to exporters and policymakers.

Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agarwal told Reuters that the delegation’s visit is intended to conclude the trade agreement. Trump also stated that India has pledged to cut oil imports from Russia and increase purchases of U.S. goods more than twofold.

NCP-Dhaka North member Iqbal Hossain was reportedly abducted and tortured in Uttara under the leadership of individuals identified as Awami-linked figures Moyla Delowar and Kawser. The incident came to light on Wednesday morning. According to the report, Hossain was taken from Road 11 in Sector 10 of Uttara by a group led by Delowar, also known as Moyla Delu, and Kawser.

The abductors are described as members of a group associated with former Awami League Ward 54 councillor Yuvraj, who is also a suspect in a previous murder case. Police later rescued Iqbal Hossain unconscious from the ground floor of a house in the area. He is currently receiving treatment at Bangladesh Kuwait Maitree Hospital.

Authorities have not yet released further details regarding arrests or the motive behind the abduction, and the investigation appears to be ongoing.

Israeli forces have arrested Sheikh Mohammad Al-Abbasi, the Imam of Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, according to the Palestinian news agency Wafa. The report said Al-Abbasi was detained from inside the mosque compound without explanation. The arrest occurred on Monday, as cited by local sources.

The report noted that Israeli measures around the Al-Aqsa Mosque have recently become more stringent. Restrictions have been imposed on imams, preachers, and worshippers, including limits on entry to the mosque. The arrest followed an earlier order by Israeli authorities banning Al-Abbasi from entering the mosque compound for one week, with the possibility of renewal.

Before his detention, Al-Abbasi said he had not been informed of the reason for the ban. He expressed deep distress over the decision, especially after returning to duty following a year-long recovery from a serious road accident. The incident comes as large numbers of Palestinian worshippers prepare to gather at Al-Aqsa during Ramadan.

Professor Dr. A.Z.M. Zahid Hossain has been appointed as the minister in charge of both the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs and the Ministry of Social Welfare. The announcement follows his election as a Member of Parliament from Dinajpur-6, marking his first term in the national legislature and his first inclusion in the cabinet.

Party sources described his appointment as recognition of his long political experience and organizational skills. Dr. Hossain has been active in the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), serving as a member of the chairperson’s advisory council in 2010, later becoming a central vice-chairman in 2016, and most recently being elected to the party’s standing committee on August 16, 2024.

Residents of Dinajpur-6, which includes Birampur, Nawabganj, Ghoraghat, and Hakimpur upazilas, expressed hope that he will contribute significantly to local development, social welfare, and the advancement of women and children’s rights.

Dr. Yusuf Zarif, a public policy expert, argues that Bangladesh’s secular intellectual class deliberately uses the terms “progressive” and “non-communal” to marginalize Islamic perspectives and promote anti-Muslim sentiment. Writing on February 18, 2026, he claims this group holds unchecked authority across institutions, discourages rational debate, and normalizes Islamophobia as a political activity. Zarif contends that despite some change since August 2024, structural bias against Islamic discourse persists, particularly in academia and media.

He further asserts that global and domestic elites, supported by Western-funded civil society organizations, have formed a coalition that undermines reform efforts following the August 2024 revolution. According to Zarif, this coalition resists governance reforms and seeks to suppress emerging political movements rooted in justice and Islamic values. He emphasizes that sustainable political competition requires moral commitment and accountability.

Zarif concludes that resolving Bangladesh’s political crisis demands cultural consensus recognizing Muslim identity as central to national character. He calls for alliances based on justice, good governance, and independence in policymaking to build a fair and accountable state.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei declared that the United States can never destroy the Islamic Republic, responding to recent anti-Iran statements by US President Donald Trump. Speaking on Tuesday in East Azerbaijan Province before thousands gathered ahead of the anniversary of the 1978 Tabriz uprising, Khamenei warned that even the most powerful American warships could be sunk. He said the US military, though claiming to be the world’s strongest, could still be struck so hard that it could not recover.

Khamenei accused Washington of seeking dominance over the Iranian nation and asserted that Iranians know how to respond. He reaffirmed Iran’s right to pursue its nuclear program, including uranium enrichment, under international frameworks, calling any attempt to undermine that right unreasonable. His remarks followed Trump’s claim about US military strength and his stance toward Iran.

The comments, reported by the Mehr news agency, underscore Tehran’s defiance amid continued US pressure and highlight Iran’s insistence on maintaining its nuclear rights within international norms.

Farmers in Pakundia upazila of Kishoreganj are increasingly turning to sunflower cultivation due to its low production cost and promising profitability. Supported by the local agriculture department, around 10 bighas of land in areas such as Bara Ajaldi and Chandipasha have been brought under sunflower farming this year. The bright yellow fields have also become a local attraction, drawing visitors and nature enthusiasts.

According to the upazila agriculture office, sunflower farming is both easy and economically rewarding. It holds importance for oil production and has gained popularity for its aesthetic appeal. Farmers are receiving incentives and continuous guidance from agricultural officials, helping them achieve good yields. Local markets are offering favorable prices for sunflower seeds, increasing farmers’ confidence in the crop.

Officials noted that limited availability of oil extraction machines remains a challenge, slightly reducing farmers’ interest. They believe that ensuring adequate supply of such equipment could further expand sunflower cultivation in the region.

Allegations have emerged in Lohagara upazila of Chattogram that relatives of Sheikh Hasina’s military secretary have illegally cut down trees and occupied 12 acres of reserved forest land under the Chunati Range’s Satgar Beat. According to local residents, Anwar Kamal, a member of the South District Awami League and former district council member, along with his cousin Nazrul, cleared the forest area and sold trees without any legal action from forest officials.

Residents further claimed that tree felling continues in several areas near the Chattogram-Cox’s Bazar highway, where more than ten fish projects and numerous betel leaf plantations have been established on forest land. They alleged that a powerful syndicate is destroying the environment by cutting trees and occupying forest areas. Field visits reportedly confirmed large-scale deforestation and land encroachment in multiple locations.

Chunati Range Officer Abir Hossain stated that the deforested area falls outside their jurisdiction, while South Forest Division Officer Mohammad Sohel Rana said legal action will be taken against anyone involved, including forest officials if found complicit.

Police in Ramu, Cox’s Bazar, conducted a special operation early Tuesday morning and arrested one suspected drug trafficker with 150,000 yaba tablets. The operation began around 4 a.m. based on intelligence that a pickup truck was transporting a large consignment of yaba from the Morichya area toward the Cox’s Bazar–Chattogram highway. Officers set up a temporary checkpoint near Shikolghata Bridge and intercepted a pickup that attempted to evade police. After a chase, the vehicle stopped near Ramu Central Government Primary School, where one suspect, Md. Harun, 29, was detained with a sack containing the drugs.

Police reported that the seized sack contained 15 packets, each holding 10,000 yaba tablets. The pickup used for transport had no registration number. Law enforcement officials stated that preparations are underway to file a case under relevant narcotics laws. Additional Superintendent of Police (DSB) Alok Biswas confirmed the seizure, while Ramu Police Station’s Investigation Officer Md. Farid said efforts continue to arrest the remaining suspects.

Authorities are maintaining heightened vigilance in the area to prevent further drug trafficking attempts.

Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer and newly elected opposition leader in parliament, Dr. Shafiqur Rahman, began his official duties by cleaning streets in Mirpur’s Manipur area on Wednesday morning, a day after taking oath as the Member of Parliament for Dhaka-15 constituency. Starting from in front of Baitur Nur Mosque after Fajr prayers, he personally swept the streets, joined by local residents and party activists.

Speaking to journalists, Rahman said that as members of parliament and the constitutional reform council, they aim to bring positive change through reform and social cleanliness. He emphasized that the initiative symbolizes both environmental and moral purification, aiming to build a society with clean surroundings and minds. Rahman stated that each Jamaat unit will conduct similar cleaning activities after Fajr prayers, regardless of government funding, to make the area a model of cleanliness.

He added that he would continue the cleaning drive daily while in Dhaka and replicate it elsewhere during visits, calling for cooperation beyond political and religious divisions to create a peaceful and responsible society.

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) leader Tareq Rahman took oath as the new prime minister on Tuesday, February 17, following his party’s sweeping victory in the national parliamentary election held on February 12. The election came nearly 17 months after the fall of the Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League government through a mass uprising. Members of Rahman’s cabinet were also sworn in on the same day.

The formation of the new government received wide coverage in international media. Reuters described the event as a decisive shift in South Asian politics, while the Associated Press noted that Rahman, son of former prime minister Khaleda Zia and former president Ziaur Rahman, is the first male prime minister in Bangladesh in 35 years. Deutsche Welle called the BNP’s victory an “easy win,” and Al Jazeera, Dawn, The Hindu, and NDTV all reported on Rahman’s assumption of office, with NDTV describing it as the beginning of a new era in Bangladesh’s politics.

The reports collectively underscored the significance of the BNP’s return to power and the generational political transition represented by Rahman’s leadership.

The United States has deployed more than 50 fighter jets to the Middle East within a single day, according to flight tracking data released on Wednesday, February 17. The deployment includes F-22 Raptors, F-35 Lightning II, and F-16 Fighting Falcons, along with several refueling aircraft capable of supporting other airborne operations. A U.S. official told Axios that the aircraft were moved to the region within the past 24 hours.

The move comes as preparations are underway in Geneva, Switzerland, for renewed discussions on Iran’s nuclear program. Observers view the increased U.S. military presence as significant given the timing of these diplomatic efforts. The United States had previously deployed a large naval fleet, including aircraft carriers, to the region.

The buildup follows widespread anti-government protests in Iran in January, which were forcefully suppressed by Iranian security forces. Citing allegations of lethal force against protesters, the United States has been strengthening its military posture around Iran.