China has proposed to assist Bangladesh in the Teesta project, according to Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives (LGRD) Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir. He said the proposal came from China’s own initiative, but details would be shared once the government makes a policy decision. The minister made the remarks on Tuesday, February 24, after a courtesy meeting with Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen at the Secretariat in Dhaka.

Ministry sources said the meeting was held in a cordial atmosphere and covered several bilateral issues of mutual interest. Local Government Division Secretary Md. Rezaul Maksud Jahedi was also present. Discussions included strengthening Bangladesh-China bilateral relations, cooperation in trade, investment, and development partnerships, as well as collaboration in waste management, waste-to-energy projects, and improving city corporation capacities.

Mirza Fakhrul described China as a major development partner of Bangladesh and expressed hope that the historic and strategic friendship between the two countries would deepen further in the future.

The Ministry of Social Welfare has issued a special warning regarding the government’s Family Card program. The announcement was made on Tuesday through an official press release from the ministry. According to the statement, the Family Card is one of the government’s priority initiatives, and the administration is committed to its full implementation. The card will be issued in the name of the female head of each family, regardless of religion, caste, or ethnicity, and will be provided free of charge under government supervision.

The ministry emphasized that any financial transactions or dealings through brokers to obtain the Family Card are illegal. Citizens have been urged to report anyone involved in such unlawful activities to law enforcement agencies. The warning aims to ensure transparency and prevent exploitation in the distribution process.

The directive reinforces the government’s stance on maintaining fairness and accountability in delivering social welfare benefits to all eligible families.

State Minister for Labour and Employment and Expatriates’ Welfare Nurul Haque Nur said the government’s top priority over the next three months is to reopen two or more closed labor markets and set fixed migration costs for certain countries. Speaking to reporters at his office in Eskaton, Dhaka, he added that recruiting agencies accused of fraud will have their licenses suspended and accountability among registered agencies will be strengthened.

He explained that Bangladesh is working to reopen labor markets in countries such as Bahrain, Oman, and Malaysia, where restrictions remain. The government has already sent a list of compliant agencies to Malaysia to meet its ten conditions. Nur also highlighted Japan as a promising destination, with an agreement to send 100,000 workers over five years, supported by language training and potential financial aid. The ministry is also considering expanding low-interest loans for skilled workers unable to afford migration costs.

The minister emphasized reducing excessive migration expenses, improving expatriate welfare, and reinstating state-funded repatriation of deceased workers’ bodies to Bangladesh.

The Department of Environment has fined Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) Tk 960,000 for illegally cutting a hill in the Joypahar residential area of Jamal Khan, Chattogram. The order was issued on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, following a hearing at the department’s Chattogram Metropolitan Office, presided over by Director Sonia Sultana.

Assistant Director Muktadir Hasan confirmed that an on-site inspection and document verification found evidence of hill cutting at the listed location. The inspection report stated that approximately 9,600 cubic feet of hill had been cut, measuring about 150 feet in length, 8 feet in width, and 8 feet in height. Under Section 6(b) of the Environment Conservation Act, 1995 (amended 2010), the act was deemed an offense, and an environmental damage assessment was conducted under Section 7, setting compensation at Tk 100 per cubic foot.

BPC representatives, including DGM S.M. Zobayer Hossain and LDA Md. Shihab Uddin, attended the hearing, while Inspector Muhammad Ashfaqur Rahman and Senior Technician Md. Omar Faruk represented the prosecution.

On 23 February, the Bangladesh Probashi Kalyan Parishad (BPKP) organized an iftar and discussion meeting at the Kacchi Dine Event Hall in East London. The event called for establishing a migrant-friendly, accountable, and justice-based state system to ensure the fair rights of Bangladeshi expatriates. The chief guest, Minister for Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Ariful Haque Chowdhury, addressed the gathering via teleconference and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to protecting expatriates’ rights and welfare.

BPKP leaders presented six major demands, including the creation of a fast-track NRB tribunal for land and civil disputes, free repatriation of deceased expatriates’ bodies, full open-sky facilities at Sylhet Osmani International Airport, a national NRB pension scheme, one-stop skills promotion services at foreign missions, and parliamentary representation for expatriates. Messages containing these demands were sent to the prime minister, opposition leader, and the expatriates’ welfare ministry.

Speakers emphasized that expatriates are a key driving force of Bangladesh’s economy and urged effective institutional measures for their protection and support. The organization reiterated its pledge to work constructively with the government for expatriate welfare.

Retired secretary Sarwar Alam has been reappointed as the press secretary to President Md. Shahabuddin. The Ministry of Public Administration issued a notification on Tuesday confirming his appointment on a one-year contractual basis. The appointment will take effect from the date he assumes office.

According to the ministry’s notification, the appointment was made under Section 49 of the Government Service Act, 2018, requiring him to relinquish any professional or organizational affiliations with government, semi-government, or private entities. Sarwar Alam previously served in the same position but was removed during the interim government period.

Before this, on December 23, 2024, he had been appointed for a two-year term as the President’s press secretary with the rank of secretary. The new order reinstates him to the same role under the current administration.

The Bangladesh Coast Guard detained 18 alleged traffickers and seized 1,600 sacks of cement during two separate operations near St. Martin’s Island in Teknaf upazila of Cox’s Bazar. The operations took place early Tuesday, February 24, 2026, following secret intelligence reports. The Coast Guard ship ‘Kamruzzaman,’ under Operation Samudra Prohori, intercepted a fishing boat around 1 a.m., recovering 1,000 sacks of cement worth about 500,000 taka and arresting 10 suspects. Later, at 3 a.m., another vessel, ‘Apurbo Bangla,’ under Operation Coral Dwip, seized 600 sacks valued at 300,000 taka and detained eight more individuals.

According to Coast Guard media officer Lieutenant Commander Sabbir Alam Sujon, the seized cement, boats, and detainees are under legal processing. He confirmed that the Coast Guard will continue such operations to prevent smuggling and illegal trade in the maritime areas.

The coordinated actions highlight ongoing efforts by Bangladesh’s maritime forces to curb cross-border smuggling activities along the Teknaf–St. Martin’s route.

Former Chief Prosecutor of the International Crimes Tribunal Mohammad Tazul Islam has alleged that deliberate falsehoods are being spread to discredit the tribunal’s judicial process. In a written statement sent to the media on Tuesday, February 24, he said certain media outlets and social media posts had circulated misleading and baseless information about him, allegedly quoting another prosecutor. He described these claims as entirely false and without evidence.

Tazul Islam asserted that all actions taken by him and his prosecution team were transparent and lawful during his tenure, and no one had grounds to question their conduct. He claimed that a group was orchestrating this misinformation campaign to divert attention from ongoing and completed trials against fallen autocrats and perpetrators of genocide, aiming to obstruct the progress of justice.

He further stated that after his departure, a vested group was raising unfounded allegations to benefit those accused of genocide. He urged all concerned to refrain from such false and malicious activities. The statement followed his recent replacement as Chief Prosecutor by Supreme Court lawyer Md. Aminul Islam under the new BNP government.

A schoolboy abducted in Dhaka’s Khilgaon area was rescued within an hour after Prime Minister Tareq Rahman personally ordered police action on February 24, 2026. The boy’s father, a Secretariat employee, rushed to the Prime Minister’s Office in tears after learning of the abduction. Upon hearing the news, the Prime Minister immediately called police officials and instructed them to recover the child. Acting on the directive, Ramna police located the boy in an under-construction building in Khilgaon and rescued him.

According to Ramna Division Deputy Commissioner Masud Alam, the ninth-grade student of National Laboratory Ideal School was abducted by four to five men after leaving school around 2:30 p.m. The kidnappers assaulted him and demanded a ransom of 50,000 taka from his father, threatening to kill the boy if payment was not made. Police traced the abductors by engaging them in conversation about sending the ransom money and identified their location before conducting the rescue operation.

The abductors fled upon sensing police presence, and the boy was safely recovered. The Prime Minister’s Press Wing confirmed that he had personally directed the swift police response.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has suspended all party positions, including the primary membership, of Zahidul Alam Jahangir, president of the Mithamain upazila unit in Kishoreganj. The decision followed confirmation that he cut down roadside trees to ease vehicle access to his home. The suspension was announced Tuesday in a notice signed by BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Advocate Ruhul Kabir Rizvi.

According to the notice, around 20 mahogany trees planted along an embankment in Kamalpur to prevent river erosion were felled for personal benefit. The act was described as a clear violation of party principles, ideals, and discipline. The suspension will remain in effect until further instructions from the party.

Local sources said the trees were cut gradually after August 5, with 10 to 12 trees felled on February 21. The trees had been planted earlier to protect the haor region from erosion.

Former interim government adviser Fawzul Kabir Khan has called on citizens to stand by the newly elected government and allow it time to deliver on its commitments. In a Facebook post on Tuesday at noon, he stated that no government possesses a 'magic lamp' to change everything instantly and that national unity behind the elected leadership is essential.

In his post, Khan explained that he refrains from commenting on government decisions or his previous office matters, noting that the new administration holds full authority to make decisions. He mentioned leaving detailed handover notes for his successors in three ministries, outlining achievements, unfinished tasks, and future directions. He also said that five ministries and divisions have published brief booklets on their activities.

Khan emphasized that criticism of the government is the role of the opposition and shadow cabinet, while citizens should focus on supporting progress. He added that infrastructure projects take time and urged patience, citing the short tenure of the interim government as a reason some planned initiatives could not be completed.

Water Resources Minister Md. Shahiduddin Chowdhury Annie announced that prolonged suspension of canal excavation has worsened public suffering due to irrigation shortages and waterlogging across Bangladesh. Speaking at an inter-ministerial meeting at the Secretariat on Tuesday, he said the government will take all necessary measures for public welfare and directed relevant ministries to submit action plans within three days to make the canal excavation program visible and effective.

The minister emphasized sustainable excavation, livelihood support, biodiversity conservation, and modern waste management strategies. State Minister Azad stated that under the government’s electoral pledge, 20,000 kilometers of canals will be excavated and 50 million trees planted over the next five years, with the Water Resources Ministry leading implementation. He called for a coordinated work plan for the current and upcoming fiscal years.

The meeting was attended by state ministers from the agriculture, food, fisheries, local government, and disaster management ministries, which will jointly execute the program.

Food, Fisheries and Livestock, and Agriculture Minister Mohammad Aminur Rashid said that excessive levels of heavy metals have been detected in Bangladesh’s food production through various tests, calling for urgent measures to eliminate them. He made the remarks on Tuesday during a meeting with officials at the Directorate General of Food in Dhaka.

The minister emphasized that ensuring both food supply and quality is essential so that people do not have to worry about food safety. He said the government aims to strengthen the Safe Food Authority to handle quality control for imports and exports, which could help align with international standards such as those of the USFDA. Rashid also highlighted the government’s goal to expand food exports beyond rice and to leave a lasting positive legacy for future generations.

At the meeting, the agriculture state minister, the food secretary, and the director general of the Directorate of Food discussed ongoing activities, challenges, and the need for teamwork to ensure safe and sustainable food systems.

Police in Rajapur upazila of Jhalakathi district arrested two alleged drug dealers, including Zayed Joya Khan, the 18-year-old son of former upazila vice-chairman and senior Awami League leader Afroza Akter Laizu. The arrests took place around 10:30 p.m. on Monday during a special operation in the Bagri Bazar area. The other detainee was identified as Md. Imon Hasan, 20, son of Md. Kabir Hossain of the same area.

According to police, the operation was conducted based on a tip-off, and the two were caught red-handed while trading drugs. Another suspect named Samir managed to flee the scene. Officers recovered six yaba tablets and 890 taka from Zayed, and two grams of cannabis from Imon. Rajapur Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md. Nazrul Islam said a case was filed under the Narcotics Control Act, and the detainees were sent to Jhalakathi court on Tuesday afternoon.

Police stated that efforts are ongoing to arrest the fugitive suspect.

Bangladesh’s Minister of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, Iqbal Hasan Mahmud, has described all electricity purchase agreements made during the previous Awami League government as anti-national and a threat to the country’s sovereignty. Speaking to reporters at his office in the Secretariat on Tuesday, he said the current BNP-led government will review all such contracts, including those with Indian and private sector entities, to ensure national interests are protected.

Mahmud stated that electricity and national sovereignty are inseparable, criticizing the former government for failing to safeguard sovereignty in power sector agreements. He emphasized that the BNP government’s policy focuses on enhancing domestic capacity rather than relying on foreign or private power imports. The minister confirmed that a committee has already submitted a report on the issue and that the government will prioritize renewable energy and affordable, uninterrupted electricity for citizens.

According to ministry sources, Bangladesh’s power generation capacity exceeds 28,000 megawatts, yet the country continues to import electricity from India’s Adani group under a costly deal that obliges Bangladesh to bear financial risks for any operational losses in India.