Across Europe, labour and civic movements are intensifying campaigns to boycott Israeli goods in response to the war in Gaza. The movement gained visibility after a supermarket worker in Ireland refused to sell Israeli produce, prompting suspension and later reinstatement following union and public support. Similar actions have spread, with unions in Ireland, the UK, and Norway passing motions allowing workers to refuse handling Israeli products, and retail cooperatives in the UK and Italy removing some Israeli items from shelves.

The campaigns are part of the broader Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement, which calls for economic and cultural pressure on Israel until it complies with international law. Activists cite historical parallels with Ireland’s 1980s boycott of apartheid South Africa. Governments in Slovenia and Spain have since restricted imports from Israeli settlements, while Ireland’s proposed Occupied Territories Bill remains stalled amid alleged external pressure. Pro-Israel groups, including B’nai B’rith International and ELNET, are lobbying against such measures, warning of legal and economic risks.

Leaked documents suggest Israeli ministries have funded legal efforts to monitor and counter BDS activities in Europe, underscoring the growing geopolitical and legal dimensions of the boycott debate.

The government has appointed Dr. Nasimul Gani, currently serving as the Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs on a contractual basis, as the new Cabinet Secretary, also on a contractual basis. The appointment was officially announced on February 16, 2026, according to the report.

Dr. Gani’s new role as Cabinet Secretary marks a transition from his previous position within the Ministry of Home Affairs. The report did not provide further details about the duration of his contract, the circumstances of the appointment, or any accompanying administrative changes.

No additional information was included regarding the outgoing Cabinet Secretary or the broader implications of this appointment within the government structure.

The National Citizens Party (NCP) will sign the July Charter this evening at the state guesthouse Jamuna. The party confirmed the decision in a message on Monday, stating that the signing ceremony will take place at 6 p.m. The event follows earlier signings by the interim government’s chief adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus and leaders of 25 political parties at the South Plaza of the National Parliament on October 17 of the previous year.

Before agreeing to sign, the NCP had expressed reservations about the July Charter and presented three specific demands in a press conference held the day before the signing. The party called for the publication of the implementation order draft before the ceremony, issuance of the order by the chief adviser in line with the “sovereign will of the people,” and recognition of the July uprising as the source of legitimacy. It also demanded a referendum on the 84 proposed reforms and stated that if the people supported the charter, the next elected parliament would amend the constitution accordingly, to be titled “Constitution of Bangladesh, 2026.”

The signing marks NCP’s formal alignment with the July Charter process after earlier hesitation regarding its legal foundation.

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Chairperson Tarique Rahman is scheduled to meet Islami Andolan Bangladesh’s Amir Mufti Syed Muhammad Rezaul Karim this evening. The meeting will take place at 7 p.m. at the Amir’s residence, ‘Rupayan Swapna Niloy,’ located on Siddheswari Road under Ramna Police Station in Dhaka. The information was confirmed through a press release signed by Islami Andolan Bangladesh’s Central Publicity and Dawah Secretary Sheikh Fazlul Karim Maruf.

According to the announcement, the meeting is described as a courtesy visit following the BNP’s victory in the 13th National Parliamentary Election. The event marks part of Tarique Rahman’s series of meetings with leaders of various political parties. On Sunday evening, he separately visited the residences of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami’s Amir Dr. Shafiqur Rahman and National Citizen Party (NCP) Convener Nahid Islam for similar courtesy meetings.

The sequence of meetings indicates ongoing political communication between BNP and other parties following the recent election results, though no further details about the agenda were provided in the statement.

Final preparations are underway for the oath-taking ceremony of the 13th National Parliament members and the new cabinet led by BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman as Prime Minister. The event is scheduled for Tuesday at 4 p.m. at the South Plaza of the National Parliament Building in Dhaka. According to the Parliament Secretariat, all arrangements have been completed. President Mohammad Shahabuddin will administer the oath to the new cabinet members, while newly appointed Cabinet Secretary M. Siraj Mia will conduct the ceremony.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) confirmed that about 1,200 local and foreign guests will attend. Foreign dignitaries expected include Bhutan’s Prime Minister Shering Tobgay, India’s Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Pakistan’s Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, and Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu. Nepal’s Foreign Minister Bala Nanda Sharma, Sri Lanka’s Health Minister Nalinda Jayatissa, and UK Under Secretary Seema Malhotra are also likely to attend. The ceremony breaks tradition by being held at the Parliament instead of Bangabhaban.

BNP’s legal adviser stated that foreign ministers from SAARC countries have been invited. The event has generated significant political interest across Bangladesh.

A Youth Dal activist was seriously injured in an attack by unidentified assailants in Palashbari upazila of Gaibandha on Sunday night. The incident occurred around 9 p.m. in the Jundaha Bazar area of Barishal Union. The victim, identified as Kakon, 35, son of Miru Mondol from Durbolagari village, was attacked with sharp weapons while standing in the market area. Witnesses said several unknown men suddenly assaulted him and fled the scene immediately after the attack.

Doctors reported that one of Kakon’s fingers was severed and both his legs were broken. Locals rescued him in a severely injured state and took him to Palashbari Upazila Health Complex. As his condition worsened, he was later transferred to Rangpur Medical College Hospital for advanced treatment. Police said preparations were underway to file a case over the incident.

According to local sources, the motive behind the attack and the identities of the attackers remain unknown. The Palashbari police officer-in-charge stated that legal action would be taken once a complaint is received. The incident has caused panic among residents, who have demanded the swift arrest of those responsible.

Demands are intensifying to appoint Dr. Reza Kibria, newly elected BNP lawmaker from Habiganj-1 (Bahubal-Nabiganj), as the finance minister in the new government. He won the 13th National Parliamentary Election with 111,999 votes. Local BNP leaders and residents argue that his background as an economist makes him a strong candidate for the post.

The constituency has a history of producing national leaders, including late Dewan Farid Gazi, who served as Minister for Local Government and Cooperatives from 1973 to 1975, and Dr. Kibria’s father, Shah AMS Kibria, who was finance minister under the Awami League government in 1996. Shah AMS Kibria was killed in a grenade attack in 2005, an incident for which Dr. Kibria has blamed local Awami League leaders. Analysts believe this event influenced his shift to the BNP.

Residents of Bahubal and Nabiganj expect that if Dr. Kibria becomes finance minister, long-neglected infrastructure and educational institutions in the area will see significant development, fulfilling his campaign promises.

The Israeli government has approved a proposal to register large areas of the occupied West Bank as state property, marking the first such decision since Israel’s occupation of the territory in 1967, according to the country’s public broadcaster Kan. The Palestinian Authority has strongly condemned the move, describing it as legally invalid and a violation of international law.

In a statement issued on Sunday, the Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the main objective of Israel’s decision is to annex the West Bank and advance settlement expansion. The ministry declared on social media platform X that it rejects any attempt by the occupiers to convert Palestinian land into state property and denounced efforts to legitimize illegal settlements, land theft, and annexation.

The ministry further stated that the decision contradicts United Nations Security Council Resolution 2334, which deems Israeli settlements in all occupied Palestinian territories, including East Jerusalem, illegal under international law.

A 21-year-old youth named Sabbir from Urkirchar Union in Raozan remains missing three days after falling into the Halda River in Hathazari, Chattogram. The incident occurred around 12:30 a.m. on Saturday near Ramdas Munshir Hat in Madarsha Union’s Ward 7. According to police and local sources, a dispute between two groups of youths at a religious event escalated into an attack while one group was returning home by boat. During the assault, three people fell into the river; two swam to safety, but Sabbir went missing.

Family members, local residents, and police confirmed that rescue operations have been ongoing since the incident. A six-member diving team from the district fire service continues to search the river, but no trace of the missing youth has been found. Sabbir’s relatives have been waiting by the riverbank, hoping for his recovery.

Police officials stated that legal procedures are underway, and efforts to identify and punish those responsible for the attack are in progress.

At least 40 people were injured after being bitten by stray dogs in Veramara upazila of Kushtia over Sunday and Monday, according to local reports. Among them, 27 received treatment at the Veramara Upazila Health Complex, which currently has no preventive vaccines available. Packs of stray dogs were seen roaming areas including Veramara Government College, Government Women’s College, Girls’ School, and several market zones, creating widespread panic among residents and students.

Local residents, parents, and teachers expressed growing concern over frequent dog attacks, particularly during school hours. Many said they now avoid going out after dark due to safety fears. Locals accused authorities of failing to take visible action despite the long-standing problem. Health officer Dr. Mizanur Rahman confirmed the number of treated patients and the vaccine shortage.

Veramara Upazila Executive Officer and municipal administrator Rafiqul Islam stated that the municipality has been instructed to take immediate measures against stray dogs. Residents urged urgent intervention to control the dog population and prevent potential rabies outbreaks.

The temperature in Dhaka rose slightly on Monday, February 16, 2026, according to the Bangladesh Meteorological Department. The morning temperature increased to 17.8 degrees Celsius from 16 degrees recorded on Sunday. The department’s 7 a.m. forecast indicated that daytime temperatures in Dhaka and surrounding areas may rise slightly during the day.

The forecast, issued at 6 a.m., reported 73 percent humidity in the capital. It also stated that the weather in Dhaka and nearby regions is expected to remain dry until noon, with temporary cloudiness. Winds from the north or northwest may blow at speeds of 5 to 10 kilometers per hour. Sunset in Dhaka is expected at 5:54 p.m., and sunrise on Tuesday at 6:31 a.m.

The department’s overall outlook suggested that both day and night temperatures are likely to remain nearly unchanged across the country, with generally dry conditions prevailing.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and its 10-party electoral alliance have called for a protest march and rally in Dhaka on Monday, alleging widespread violence, repression, killings, and sexual assaults across the country following the 13th National Parliamentary Election. The event is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. at the north gate of the National Mosque, Baitul Mukarram. According to a press release issued on Sunday, Jamaat Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman and other top leaders of the alliance will address the gathering.

The 13th National Parliamentary Election was held on February 12, with results announced for 297 of 299 constituencies. The 11-party alliance secured 77 seats in total, including a record 68 seats for Jamaat-e-Islami, six for the National Citizens Party, two for Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish, and one for Khelafat Majlish. The alliance claims that incidents of violence and abuse have occurred nationwide since the election.

The rally aims to protest these alleged post-election incidents and demonstrate the alliance’s political stance following its significant electoral gains.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman described the 38.50 percent vote share received by the Jamaat-led 11-party alliance as a major and meaningful public mandate. In a verified Facebook post on Sunday night, he urged party members and citizens not to be disheartened or confused by fragmented media reports on the election results. He said that despite widespread irregularities and corruption, nearly 28.8 million voters expressed confidence in the alliance, which he called a significant reflection of public trust.

Dr. Rahman stated that Jamaat has broken many past records and emerged as one of the country’s largest opposition forces, growing from two parliamentary seats in 2008 to millions of supporters today. He said almost half of the voters stood for reform, accountability, and principled politics. He called on party members to show discipline and political maturity, strengthen organizational unity, and prepare for broader public trust in future elections.

He concluded that the party’s journey would continue with sacrifice and effort, expressing optimism about a promising future.

Bangladesh’s landmark election, held last week, concluded with the long-established Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) securing a decisive victory over a Jamaat-e-Islami-led alliance that included the youth-driven National Citizen Party (NCP). Official results released on Saturday showed the NCP, born from the 2024 Gen Z-led uprising, winning only six of 297 declared constituencies in the 350-member parliament. BNP leader Tarique Rahman, whose party previously governed three times, is set to become prime minister following what observers describe as one of the country’s most consequential elections.

Many young Bangladeshis, voting for the first time, described the election as historic but disappointing in terms of youth representation. Some expressed frustration that the NCP failed to build sufficient support and criticized its alliance with Jamaat-e-Islami. NCP spokesperson Asif Mahmud said the party would regroup in opposition and focus on upcoming local elections. Analysts noted that the alliance alienated young voters seeking a break from traditional politics.

The election outcome is viewed as a step toward restoring stability after the 2024 uprising that toppled former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Rahman pledged to prioritize rule of law and maintain peace and order once sworn in.

Iran’s Armed Forces Chief of Staff Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi has warned that any U.S. military action against Tehran would serve as a ‘lesson’ for President Donald Trump. Speaking after Trump’s recent remarks, Mousavi said that if Trump truly seeks war, he should not simultaneously talk about negotiations. His comments were reported by TRT World.

On Friday, President Trump stated that regime change in Iran might be the ‘best solution’ and indicated that if ongoing talks between Washington and Tehran fail, the U.S. aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford would soon be deployed to the region. Mousavi described Trump’s comments as reckless and reiterated that discussions and war threats cannot go hand in hand.

Earlier, Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu agreed to intensify economic pressure on Iran, particularly targeting its oil sales to China. However, a senior U.S. official noted differences between the two leaders on how to achieve this goal, with Netanyahu doubting the reliability of any deal with Iran while Trump maintained that an agreement remains possible.