Bangladesh Bank is considering a reduction in its policy interest rate following the appointment of new governor Mostakur Rahman. The central bank’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) is scheduled to meet at noon on Wednesday to decide on a possible 50 basis point cut from the current 10 percent rate. Officials said the move could lower lending rates across banks and support the governor’s plan to create one crore new jobs.

An unnamed central bank official explained that the policy rate had been kept high for a long time to control inflation, which has eased but remains above target due to supply-side issues. The previous governor, Ahsan H. Mansur, had maintained the policy rate at 10 percent in the last monetary policy announcement. Inflation peaked at 11.38 percent in November and declined to 8.58 percent in January.

Economists and bankers cautioned that inflation remains elevated and that any rate cut should be limited and carefully implemented to avoid undermining recent progress.

The government has declared Dr. Muhammad Yunus, outgoing Chief Adviser of the interim government, as a 'Very Important Person' (VIP) for one year. The decision was announced in a government gazette on February 10, 2026, under Section 2(a) of the Special Security Force Act, 2021. As a result, Dr. Yunus will continue to receive top-level security and protocol from the Special Security Force (SSF) even after stepping down from his position. The order, signed by Secretary Md. Saifullah Panna on behalf of the President, took immediate effect.

According to the gazette, the arrangement ensures Dr. Yunus’s personal safety and reflects the government’s respect for his international stature. While extending VIP privileges to a departing Chief Adviser is not new in Bangladesh, this time the duration has been significantly extended compared to previous instances. In 2006, a similar status was granted for only three months to the then outgoing Chief Adviser.

The decision underscores the government’s intent to maintain high-level security for Dr. Yunus during the post-transition period.

The National Citizens Party (NCP) has formed two separate committees to oversee reform implementation and monitor the trial process of the July massacre and enforced disappearances. The announcement was made on Sunday night through a press release signed by Sadia Farzana Dina from the party’s office cell and published on NCP’s verified Facebook page.

According to the release, the reform implementation committee will be led by party member-secretary Akhtar Hossain, with joint convener Sarowar Tushar as deputy head. The committee will coordinate and supervise reform proposals, monitor progress, and liaise with relevant stakeholders. The second committee, formed to monitor the trial of the July massacre and disappearances, will be headed by southern region chief coordinator Hasnat Abdullah, with joint convener Mujahidul Islam Shakin as deputy head. It includes victims’ relatives, legal professionals, and party members.

The trial monitoring committee will observe judicial progress, maintain communication with affected families, and prepare necessary recommendations, according to party sources.

The High Court bench of Justice Rajik Al Jalil and Justice Anwarul Islam concluded the hearing on a writ petition seeking suspension of the implementation of the July Charter on Monday. The court announced that its order on the matter will be delivered today, Tuesday. Acting Attorney General Arshadur Rauf and Additional Attorney General Anik R Haque represented the state, while senior lawyers Ahsanul Karim and Syed Mamun Mahbub argued for the petitioner.

The writ petition, filed on February 18 by Supreme Court lawyer Yunus Ali Akand, challenges the legality of the July National Charter, calling it unconstitutional and unlawful. The petition also seeks an order to halt its implementation. The Election Commission, the Speaker of the National Parliament, and the Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Secretary were named as respondents.

Separately, another writ petition challenging the legality of the February 13 referendum and seeking cancellation of its results has been filed by lawyer ABM Ataul Majid Touhid and is awaiting hearing.

Spain’s government has declared that no military base on its territory has been or will be used for attacks on Iran. On Monday in Madrid, Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares stated that Spain retains full control over bases under its sovereignty, including Rota and Morón de la Frontera, and that these facilities are not being used in any Middle East operations. He emphasized that Spain will not authorize any deployment outside the framework of the United Nations Charter or its own sovereign decisions.

Albares described recent U.S. strikes as unilateral actions and said Madrid had not been informed beforehand. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez also criticized unilateral moves by the United States and Israel against Iran, warning that such actions increase global instability. The foreign minister further cautioned that rising tensions could disrupt the Strait of Hormuz and drive up oil prices, urging all parties to de-escalate and pursue diplomacy.

Spain additionally condemned Iran’s retaliatory attacks in the Persian Gulf region, calling for restraint and dialogue to prevent further escalation.

National Citizen Party (NCP) convener and opposition chief whip Nahid Islam announced the start of a renewed movement against judicial bias, corruption, and dominance. Speaking on Monday at the NCP’s iftar and prayer gathering at the King of Chittagong Convention Center in Panchlaish, Chattogram, he alleged that attempts were being made to use the courts politically to nullify the public mandate from the July referendum that formed the current government. He warned that politicizing the judiciary would have dire consequences.

Nahid Islam urged the government to implement the referendum’s verdict and begin building a new Bangladesh based on the people’s decision. He also called for strong resistance in Chattogram against extortion, land grabbing, and corruption, emphasizing that success would require participation beyond Dhaka-based leadership. The event was attended by NCP leaders Akhtar Hossain, Nasiruddin Patwari, and Hasnat Abdullah, as well as local political figures including the Chattogram City mayor and members of parliament from constituencies 15 and 16.

The remarks reflect the NCP’s growing focus on judicial reform and anti-corruption efforts as part of its broader political agenda.

Bangladesh Bank’s latest report shows that default loans in the banking sector dropped by Tk 872.98 billion during October–December 2025, bringing the total to Tk 5.57 trillion, or 30.60 percent of total loans. At the end of September, defaults stood at Tk 6.44 trillion, or 35.73 percent. The decline followed large-scale loan rescheduling and policy support introduced ahead of the national election.

Officials said banks typically reduce defaults in the final quarter of the year through intensified recovery efforts and by taking advantage of central bank rescheduling facilities. Under these measures, Tk 26,114 crore in defaulted loans were regularized. The interim government, after taking office, revealed the true scale of defaults previously understated under the former Awami League administration and later introduced initiatives to reduce them.

Sector-wise, state-owned banks held Tk 1.46 trillion in defaults, private banks Tk 3.89 trillion, foreign banks Tk 29.84 billion, and specialized banks Tk 185.46 billion. Provision shortfalls also fell sharply to Tk 1.91 trillion in December from Tk 3.44 trillion three months earlier, indicating improved balance sheet conditions across the sector.

Lebanon’s government has announced the closure of all private higher education institutions and the Lebanese University in Beirut for one day. The decision was reported by Al Jazeera on Monday, citing Education Minister Rima Karami, who confirmed the shutdown would take place on Tuesday.

According to local media reports referenced in the article, Minister Karami stated that the move was prompted by the deteriorating security situation caused by Israeli aggression in several regions of Lebanon. The temporary closure aims to ensure the safety of students and staff amid ongoing tensions.

The report did not specify whether classes would resume immediately after the one-day closure or if further measures might follow depending on the security situation.

Bangladesh’s export earnings declined by 3.15 percent in the first eight months of the 2025–26 fiscal year, according to data from the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB). From July to February, total export income stood at 31.91 billion dollars, down from 32.94 billion dollars in the same period of the previous year. The sharpest fall occurred in February, when export earnings dropped to 3.50 billion dollars, a 20.81 percent decrease from January and 12.03 percent lower than a year earlier.

The EPB data show that the apparel sector, which contributes 80.85 percent of total export earnings, experienced the most significant contraction. Exports of agricultural products, leather goods, and home textiles also fell, while pharmaceuticals and jute products saw modest growth. Economists and exporters attributed the downturn to additional tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump and weakening global demand following joint U.S.-Israeli attacks in Iran.

Experts warned that the ongoing geopolitical tensions could further depress export performance in the coming months, potentially deepening economic challenges for Bangladesh.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has approved a chargesheet against former land minister Saifuzzaman Chowdhury, his wife, and 33 others for allegedly embezzling Tk 230 million from United Commercial Bank’s (UCB) Karwan Bazar branch in Dhaka. The case involves accusations of taking loans under the name of a paper-based company falsely registered under an employee’s ownership. The information was confirmed by ACC Assistant Director Md. Tanzir Ahmed on Monday.

According to the ACC, the charges include violations under multiple sections of the Penal Code of 1860, the Prevention of Corruption Act of 1947, and the Money Laundering Prevention Act of 2012. Among the accused are Rukmila Zaman, wife of Saifuzzaman Chowdhury and former chairperson of UCB PLC, as well as former and current senior officials of the bank, several executives of Aramit PLC, and individuals linked to hundi operations.

Investigators allege that the accused abused power and influence to withdraw funds through fraud and forgery, later transferring and laundering the money abroad. The ACC has recommended exemption for one accused, Sharif Zahid, from the charges.

The United States has urged its citizens currently in Lebanon to leave the country immediately while commercial flights remain available. In a post from the US Embassy in Beirut, officials warned Americans not to travel to Lebanon and to depart as soon as possible. The embassy cited rapidly deteriorating security conditions across the country, noting that airstrikes have begun in several areas, including the south, the Bekaa Valley, and parts of Beirut.

According to a BBC correspondent in Beirut, a large explosion was heard in the Dahiyeh district, known as a stronghold of the Iran-backed group Hezbollah. The embassy’s warning reflects growing concerns over escalating violence and instability in Lebanon’s capital and other regions.

The situation remains fluid, and the embassy’s advisory suggests that security conditions could worsen quickly, potentially affecting travel and safety for foreign nationals in Lebanon.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated that the ongoing US operation in Iran is not intended to become an endless war. Speaking at a press conference at the Pentagon on March 2, 2026, he did not rule out the possibility of deploying American ground forces to Iran in the future. Hegseth confirmed that there are currently no US ground troops in Iran.

He emphasized that Washington will go as far as necessary to protect American interests but declined to specify what actions might be taken, saying it would be unwise to reveal such plans to adversaries. According to Hegseth, the main objectives of the US operation are to destroy Iran’s missile and naval capabilities and to prevent Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons.

The defense secretary further clarified that the situation in Iran is not comparable to Iraq and reiterated that the conflict will not be an open-ended engagement. The remarks were reported by Reuters.

Following Iran’s attack, Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani held a phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin. During the call, both leaders discussed regional developments and ways to ease recent tensions. Putin expressed solidarity with the Qatari leader, reaffirming Russia’s readiness to provide any form of assistance to Qatar.

According to a statement from the Qatari Emir’s office, Sheikh Tamim thanked President Putin for his show of support and willingness to assist following the Iranian attack. The statement added that the two leaders emphasized the importance of strengthening diplomatic efforts to reduce tensions and maintain regional security and stability.

The discussion highlighted ongoing diplomatic engagement between Qatar and Russia amid heightened regional uncertainty following Iran’s actions.

United States President Donald Trump said on Monday that the war against Iran, launched jointly with Israel, was initially projected to last four to five weeks but could continue much longer if necessary. Speaking from the White House, he described Iran as posing grave threats to the US and claimed that earlier American strikes had obliterated Iran’s nuclear programme. Trump also asserted that Iran’s ballistic missile programme was expanding rapidly, creating what he called a colossal threat to US forces and allies.

Trump’s remarks marked a shift from earlier claims of an immediate Iranian threat, instead portraying Tehran as a long-term danger. He argued that Iran’s missile development was designed to protect its nuclear ambitions, which he said were forbidden by the US. The president’s comments came as the Pentagon confirmed rising casualties, including four US military deaths, and regional fatalities exceeding 580 across Iran, Lebanon, Israel, and other Middle Eastern countries.

Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth sought to reassure critics within Trump’s political base, describing the campaign as a decisive mission rather than an open-ended conflict. He emphasized goals to destroy Iran’s missile and naval capabilities and prevent nuclear weapons development.

A man named Mamun Molla, aged 35, died on Sunday while receiving treatment in Dhaka after being injured in a bomb explosion during a clash in Terokhada upazila of Khulna. The incident occurred on February 25 in the Madhupur area, where tensions between two groups escalated into violence, leading to the explosion that severely injured Mamun. He was first taken to Khulna Medical College Hospital and later transferred to Dhaka as his condition worsened.

According to Terokhada Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md Shahidullah, the clash took place between two groups of the BNP, during which Mamun sustained injuries. He confirmed that investigations are underway to determine the exact circumstances of the incident. Khulna district BNP convener Moniruzzaman Montu stated that the confrontation stemmed from a struggle for local dominance rather than political rivalry.

Mamun’s body is being brought back to Terokhada for further procedures, while police continue their inquiry into the cause and parties involved in the explosion.