Jamaat-e-Islami chief and opposition leader Dr. Shafiqur Rahman said his party did not attend the cabinet oath ceremony because the ruling party refused to take the promised reform oath based on the July referendum. Speaking at a press briefing after Jamaat and 11-Party Alliance MPs took their parliamentary oaths on Tuesday, he said the government’s stance disregarded public aspirations and disrespected the July movement that led to the February 12 national election and referendum.

Rahman explained that Jamaat had been invited to take two oaths—one as MPs and another for reform under the July Charter—but found that the ruling party had only taken the parliamentary oath earlier in the day. He said Jamaat could not dishonor the July martyrs and therefore abstained from the cabinet ceremony despite being prepared to attend. He added that Jamaat remains committed to avoiding government perks and will support any initiative in the national interest while opposing anti-public actions.

NCP convener and opposition chief whip Nahid Islam called joining Dr. Khalilur Rahman’s cabinet unethical, alleging election engineering and manipulation favoring the ruling party.

In Bangladesh, the Constitutional Reform Council faces uncertainty after BNP members declined to take oath as its members, though they were sworn in as MPs following the 13th national election. The council was created under the July National Charter (Constitutional Reform) Implementation Order, which stipulates that elected MPs automatically serve as council members if the referendum result favors the proposal. With 60 members required for quorum, 77 Jamaat and NCP members have already taken dual oaths, while BNP’s refusal has disrupted the process.

BNP leaders argued that the council lacks constitutional basis and that its oath-taking procedure must first be incorporated into the constitution. In contrast, Jamaat and NCP leaders criticized BNP’s stance, accusing it of defying the referendum’s mandate. Legal experts noted that the July Order allows those who took oath to proceed with constitutional drafting, though such a move could heighten political instability.

A High Court petition has already challenged the referendum’s legality and sought to suspend its results, leaving the council’s future uncertain amid ongoing constitutional and political debate.

Saudi Arabia has announced the sighting of the moon marking the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan for the Hijri year 1447. The government made the declaration on Tuesday evening, confirming that fasting will commence across the country and the wider Middle East from Wednesday, February 18.

According to Saudi media reports citing official sources, the moon was sighted on Tuesday, prompting the formal start of Ramadan. The announcement aligns with the traditional lunar observation that determines the beginning of the Islamic fasting month.

In Bangladesh, the national moon-sighting committee is scheduled to meet on Wednesday to determine whether the crescent moon is visible. If confirmed, Ramadan will begin there on Thursday.

Bangladesh begins a new political chapter as Tarique Rahman, leader of the BNP, has been sworn in as the country’s 11th Prime Minister. Following the oath-taking of newly elected members of parliament and the assumption of duties by the new cabinet, the Prime Minister and his ministers are set for a busy first working day. On Wednesday morning, the new government will start its official activities by paying tribute to the martyrs at the National Memorial in Savar.

According to the Cabinet Division, Prime Minister Rahman will lay a wreath at the memorial at 10 a.m. and then proceed to the Secretariat at 12:30 p.m. to begin his first day in office. He will meet senior officials of the Cabinet Division and later hold a special meeting with cabinet members at 3 p.m., followed by a session with secretaries from various ministries at 4 p.m. The meetings are expected to outline the new government’s priorities and policy directions.

The 13th parliamentary election results have been officially gazetted, with the BNP securing 209 out of 297 seats, Jamaat-e-Islami winning 68, and the rest going to other parties and independents.

Maulana Rafiqul Islam Khan, Assistant Secretary General of Jamaat-e-Islami and newly elected Member of Parliament from Sirajganj-4 (Ullapara), has been appointed as the opposition whip. The announcement was made to the media following a meeting of the opposition parliamentary party after members took their oaths.

Rafiqul Islam Khan won the election under the 'scales' symbol with 161,872 votes, narrowly defeating BNP candidate M. Akbar Ali, who received 161,278 votes under the 'paddy sheaf' symbol. This marks Rafiqul’s first term as an MP, achieved by a margin of only 594 votes.

In the 2018 election, Rafiqul contested under the BNP alliance using the 'paddy sheaf' symbol but lost to Awami League candidate and freedom fighter Shafiqul Islam Shafi. His current appointment as opposition whip follows his first parliamentary victory.

Local political discussions have intensified in Bogura following BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman’s decision to vacate the Bogura-6 (Sadar) parliamentary seat. Although the Election Commission has not yet announced the official schedule, conversations across social and professional circles are focusing on potential candidates. Many residents express a desire to see a member of the late President Ziaur Rahman’s family contest the by-election, with particular attention on Sharmila Rahman Sithi, wife of the late Arafat Rahman Koko, and Dr. Zubaida Rahman, wife of Tarique Rahman.

Residents and professionals in Bogura emphasize the historical influence of the Zia family in local politics, believing that a family member’s candidacy could reinvigorate political engagement. Some businesspeople and educators note that Bogura has always been significant in national politics and that voters want a representative with both national stature and local commitment. BNP has not yet made any formal nomination decision, stating that the final choice will depend on political realities, organizational strength, and public opinion once the election schedule is declared.

Political analysts view the Bogura-6 by-election as strategically important, given its symbolic role in national politics and its potential to shape BNP’s political messaging.

Chinese Premier Li Qiang has sent a congratulatory message to newly sworn-in Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. The message was confirmed on Tuesday, February 17, through the official Facebook page of the Chinese Embassy. Li Qiang emphasized that China and Bangladesh have maintained a long-standing friendship and a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership based on mutual respect and equality.

In his message, Li Qiang noted that the two countries have shared over 51 years of diplomatic relations characterized by mutual benefit and win–win cooperation. He reaffirmed China’s support for Bangladesh’s new government in ensuring smooth and stable governance. Li also expressed readiness to work closely with Prime Minister Rahman to advance the traditional friendship, strengthen high-quality Belt and Road Initiative cooperation, and expand exchanges across various sectors.

According to Li Qiang, these efforts aim to elevate the China–Bangladesh strategic cooperative relationship to new heights, bringing greater welfare to the peoples of both nations.

Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology (RUET) has expelled one student permanently and imposed varying punishments on eight others for sexually harassing a female student on social media. The decision was announced on Tuesday, January 17, following a meeting of the university’s disciplinary committee. The main accused, Suman Majumder of the Computer Engineering and Technology Department (2024–25 session), was expelled for life.

According to university sources, the disciplinary actions were based on the findings of a sexual harassment investigation committee under Section 6 of the RUET Disciplinary Ordinance. Three students were expelled for three academic years for assisting the main accused, while five others were expelled for one academic year for incitement. Additionally, eight of the accused were permanently expelled from university dormitories, and none will receive a character certificate.

RUET’s Director of Student Welfare, Professor Dr. Robiul Islam Sarkar, stated that the university prioritizes the safety and dignity of all students and took prompt action based on the investigation report. He emphasized that RUET maintains a zero-tolerance stance toward harassment on campus.

The Election Commission (EC) has temporarily suspended Kallol Biswas, the election officer of Daulatpur upazila in Kushtia, over allegations of embezzling government funds. The suspension order, signed by EC Secretary Akhtar Ahmed, was issued on Tuesday, according to an official directive cited in the report.

The order stated that a departmental case had been filed against Biswas, who previously served in Monirampur, Jashore. Following an investigation that found the allegations to be proven, a committee recommended his dismissal from service. Acting under Section 39(1) of the Government Service Act, 2018, the EC decided to suspend him temporarily.

Despite the suspension, the directive confirmed that the upazila election officer will continue to receive subsistence allowance and other applicable benefits during the suspension period.

Outgoing Chief Adviser of the interim government Professor Muhammad Yunus exchanged greetings with newly sworn-in Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Tuesday, February 17, following the oath-taking ceremony of the new government and cabinet members. The meeting took place after the official swearing-in event, and a related post was shared on Professor Yunus’s verified Facebook page.

On the same day, Tarique Rahman, chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), took oath as the 11th Prime Minister of Bangladesh after his party secured a majority in the 13th National Parliamentary Election. Following his swearing-in, a 49-member cabinet comprising both new and experienced politicians also took oath under his leadership.

The exchange of greetings between the outgoing interim government head and the new Prime Minister marked a formal transition of power after the national election, signaling the beginning of the new administration’s tenure.

Mongla Port, Bangladesh’s second-largest seaport, has achieved record container handling in the first seven months of the 2025–26 fiscal year. Between July 2025 and January 2026, the port handled 21,651 TEUs of containers through 31 foreign container ships, marking a 79.19% increase compared to the entire previous fiscal year. During the same period, 515 foreign commercial vessels arrived, 6,404 reconditioned cars were imported, and cargo handling reached 8.266 million metric tons, up 25.03% from the same period last year.

According to Deputy Director Md. Makruzzaman, the port authority congratulated the newly elected BNP-led alliance government formed after the 13th national election. He expressed optimism that under the new administration, ship arrivals and trade through Mongla Port would continue to grow, strengthening the national economy.

To improve operational capacity, three new anchor berths—HP-1, HP-2, and HP-3—have been declared operational at Hiron Point. Sixteen commercial ships with a 9.00-meter draft have already completed trial operations there, allowing vessels up to 200 meters in length to conduct cargo operations at these berths.

Bangladesh’s newly appointed Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, leader of the BNP-led government, will begin his first official working day at the Secretariat on Wednesday, February 18, 2026. His day will start at 10 a.m. with a wreath-laying ceremony at the National Martyrs’ Memorial in Savar to honor the heroes of the Liberation War. He is scheduled to arrive at the Secretariat by 12:30 p.m., where he will work from the office allocated to him in the Cabinet Division and attend several key meetings.

According to Cabinet Division sources, Rahman will first meet officials of the division for introductions and a brief exchange of views. After lunch, at 3 p.m., he will chair a special meeting with members of the new cabinet, marking the first formal policy discussion of the new government. Later, at 4 p.m., he will meet secretaries from various ministries to outline the government’s priorities and directions for implementing public expectations.

The 13th parliamentary election results have been officially gazetted, with the BNP securing 209 of 297 seats, followed by Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami with 68 seats. Many of the newly elected lawmakers are first-time members of parliament.

The Amar Ekushey Book Fair 2026 will now begin on February 21 instead of February 20, according to the fair’s organizing committee. The decision was made because Prime Minister Tarek Rahman’s schedule did not align with the earlier date. The committee confirmed on Tuesday evening that the fair will be inaugurated by the Prime Minister at 11 a.m. on February 21 at Suhrawardy Udyan in Dhaka.

Sources from the organizing committee and Bangla Academy said preparations for the event are nearly complete, including stall construction, infrastructure readiness, security planning, and cultural programs. Publishers have already received their stall allocations, and arrangements for iftar and prayers have been made in view of the upcoming Ramadan.

Officials explained that the fair was delayed by a day as the new government has just been formed and the official confirmation of the Prime Minister’s schedule was received informally. Since he was available only on February 21, the inauguration and opening were rescheduled accordingly.

Police in Companiganj, Sylhet, arrested two individuals early Tuesday during a raid in Nobagi village, seizing a Noah microbus loaded with 1,225 bottles of Indian liquor of various brands. The seized liquor and vehicle are valued at approximately half a crore taka, according to police sources. The operation was conducted based on a tip-off after officers noticed a suspicious black Noah vehicle moving near the border area late at night.

The raid was led by Sub-Inspectors Kamrul Alam and Amirul Islam, along with Assistant Sub-Inspectors Mohammad Ali and Abul Kalam. The suspects, identified as Rakibul Islam Rubel from Kishoreganj and Sagar Molla from Manikganj, were detained from a dirt road in front of a house in Nobagi village. Police said the liquor was being transported illegally from the border area for distribution across the country.

Companiganj Police Station’s Officer-in-Charge Shafiqul Islam Khan stated that regular checkpoints and raids are being carried out based on intelligence reports. The detainees have been charged under the Narcotics Control Act and sent to court.

Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman has called on the current government to take strict and effective measures to control the prices of essential commodities during the holy month of Ramadan. In a statement released to the media on Tuesday, he urged citizens to uphold the sanctity of the month and emphasized that Ramadan is a time for piety, tolerance, and compassion.

Dr. Rahman said the government should pay special attention to law and order, rising commodity prices, and improving the living standards of ordinary people. He warned that dishonest traders remain active in society and must be prevented from raising prices of daily essentials and iftar items. He also called for breaking all syndicates and establishing a transparent and well-planned market system, suggesting subsidies to keep basic goods affordable for low-income citizens.

He further noted that the 13th national parliamentary election was held on February 12 in what he described as a fascism-free environment, marking a new democratic journey for the nation. He urged unity against destabilizing efforts and called for continued struggle to establish a peaceful and humane Bangladesh.