The United Kingdom has begun enforcing new Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) rules for travelers from 85 countries, effective from February 25, 2026. The system applies to visitors who previously could travel visa-free, including those from the United States, Australia, and several other nations. The UK government stated that the ETA will enhance the efficiency and security of its immigration process. Travelers must apply online or through a mobile app, providing passport details, contact information, and a photo. The ETA costs £16 and remains valid for two years or until the passport expires.

The new system allows multiple entries for short-term visits such as tourism, business, or short courses, but it does not guarantee entry, as travelers must still pass immigration checks. British and Irish citizens, as well as those with permanent residency or certain exemptions, do not require an ETA. Dual citizens, however, face complications if they lack a British passport or a Certificate of Entitlement, which could prevent re-entry into the UK.

The UK Home Office emphasized that airlines and transport operators will verify ETA status before boarding, and applications should be submitted at least three working days in advance.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has strongly condemned the attack on Hannan Masud, Senior Joint Chief Coordinator of the National Citizens Party (NCP) and Member of Parliament for Noakhali-6. The incident occurred on Wednesday, February 25, when Masud was visiting areas affected by post-election violence in Hatiya upazila. According to Jamaat’s statement, armed groups allegedly linked to the BNP and Awami League carried out a planned assault on Masud’s motorcade, injuring 15 to 20 people including the MP.

In a press release, Jamaat Assistant Secretary General Advocate Ehsanul Mahbub Zubair described the attack as a violation of democratic norms and political tolerance, saying it reflected a deterioration of law and order. He urged law enforcement agencies to act more responsibly to prevent political violence and demanded the immediate arrest and exemplary punishment of those involved. Zubair also wished a speedy recovery for the injured and called on the administration to ensure public safety through impartial and effective measures.

Sri Lanka’s World Cup campaign ended in the Super Eight stage after a 61-run defeat to New Zealand at Colombo’s Premadasa Stadium. Despite starting the tournament with three consecutive wins at home, the hosts suffered their third straight loss, becoming the first team to exit the Super Eight. New Zealand, batting first, scored 168 for seven, led by a 47-ball 84-run partnership between captain Mitchell Santner and Cole McConchie. Sri Lanka were bowled out for 107 in reply.

Mahish Theekshana and Dushmantha Chameera each took three wickets for Sri Lanka, while Rachin Ravindra claimed four for 27 for New Zealand and was named player of the match. Kamindu Mendis (31) and Dunith Wellalage (29) offered brief resistance for the hosts but could not prevent a heavy defeat.

With three points from two matches, New Zealand strengthened their position in the semifinal race, while Sri Lanka’s elimination also made Pakistan’s qualification path more difficult.

Ukraine announced that its chief negotiator Rustem Umerov will meet US envoy Steve Witkoff in Geneva on Thursday. The meeting is being held ahead of a possible trilateral discussion involving Russia in early March. According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, he will also meet Witkoff and Jared Kushner to prepare for the upcoming talks, which are expected to focus on key issues related to the ongoing conflict.

An adviser to Umerov confirmed that the Geneva meeting follows earlier discussions this month among Russian, Ukrainian, and American officials. The initiative is part of the latest diplomatic efforts led by US President Donald Trump, though no significant progress has yet been achieved in ending Russia’s four-year aggression against Ukraine.

Zelensky stated that the agenda will include prisoner exchanges and a prosperity package aimed at Ukraine’s reconstruction. Witkoff confirmed earlier in the week that the dialogue seeks pathways toward a potential peace agreement.

Bill Gates acknowledged having relationships with two Russian women and accepted responsibility for his past association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The admission came during an internal meeting with Gates Foundation employees, according to a spokesperson’s written statement to Reuters. The spokesperson’s comments followed a Wall Street Journal report detailing Gates’s remarks to staff.

The Gates Foundation previously stated it never funded or employed Epstein. Gates canceled his planned keynote at India’s ‘AI Impact Summit’ shortly before the event. During the internal meeting, Gates described his interactions with Epstein and bringing foundation officials to meet him as a “huge mistake.” He apologized to employees affected by his actions, emphasizing that he had done nothing illegal and had not witnessed any illegal acts.

Documents from the U.S. Department of Justice showed Gates met Epstein multiple times after Epstein’s conviction to discuss philanthropic work. Gates clarified that photos showing him with women were taken at Epstein’s request after meetings and that he never spent time with victims or women associated with Epstein.

A confidential directive from the Rajshahi Range DIG office has instructed police superintendents in eight districts to take strict measures against Awami League leaders and activists who are released on bail. The letter, signed on February 24, 2026, calls for re-arresting or showing 'shown arrest' in old or new cases if there is concern that influential or organizationally active individuals may resume political activities after release.

The directive emphasizes heightened vigilance toward active members of the Awami League and any banned or suspended organizations, while noting that those lacking organizational capacity or field-level influence need not be re-arrested for now. The letter, signed by DIG Mohammad Shahjahan, PPM (Bar), PhD, describes the matter as highly sensitive and urgent, instructing immediate implementation across Rajshahi, Chapainawabganj, Naogaon, Natore, Pabna, Sirajganj, Bogura, and Joypurhat.

According to the document, the measure aims to maintain law and order and prevent potential political unrest. It also reiterates strict adherence to existing laws and regulations in providing VIP protocol and security.

Md. Nahid Islam, convener of the National Citizen Party (NCP), has alleged that activists from both the BNP and Awami League jointly attacked the motorcade of Abdul Hannan Masud, the newly elected Member of Parliament for Noakhali-6. The incident reportedly occurred on Wednesday afternoon in the Chandandi Union’s Prokolpo Bazar area of Hatiya upazila, where Masud had gone to visit residents affected by post-election violence. Nahid made the allegation in a verified Facebook post on Wednesday night.

According to Nahid, local BNP activists initiated the attack, later joined by a group of Awami League-backed assailants, leaving several NCP members injured. He condemned the assault on an elected MP and criticized law enforcement officers present at the scene for failing to intervene effectively. Nahid described the incident as a sign of deteriorating law and order and said it undermined the government’s commitment to upholding the rule of law.

He further demanded investigations into all post-election attacks in Hatiya and the immediate arrest of those involved in the violence.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will present the country's highest civilian honor, the Ekushey Padak 2026, to distinguished citizens at a ceremony in Dhaka. The event is scheduled for Thursday at 11 a.m. at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium. Cabinet members, senior military and civil officials, and invited dignitaries are expected to attend the ceremony.

The Ekushey Padak recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions in various important sectors of national life. It is one of the most prestigious state awards in Bangladesh, symbolizing national pride and recognition of excellence.

After the award ceremony, the Prime Minister will inaugurate the annual Amar Ekushey Book Fair, the country's largest cultural gathering, at the Bangla Academy and Suhrawardy Udyan premises later in the afternoon.

Police have arrested Zahidul Alam Jahangir, the suspended president of the Mithamain Upazila unit of the BNP, in connection with a case over cutting trees planted on an embankment in Kamalpur area of Kishoreganj’s Mithamain upazila. The arrest took place on Wednesday evening in the district town, confirmed by Kishoreganj Superintendent of Police Dr. S M Farhad Hossain.

Earlier, on Tuesday, Upazila Engineer Faizur Razzak filed a case with Mithamain Police Station over the incident. Following the filing of the case, the BNP central committee suspended Jahangir’s primary membership and all organizational posts. According to the report, Jahangir had been cutting down trees since August 5 to make access to his home easier, removing about 20 trees planted to prevent river erosion.

Local residents said the trees were cut in phases, with the last batch of 10 to 12 trees felled on February 21 using an electric saw. Each tree was estimated to be worth between Tk 20,000 and Tk 25,000.

The Bangladesh Coast Guard rescued four abducted fishermen and arrested eight members of the notorious Jahangir gang, including its leader, during operations in Cox’s Bazar. The rescue followed a robbery incident on February 24 near Sonadia Char under Maheshkhali police station, where a fishing boat named “FB Mayer Doa-3” was attacked. Acting on information received through the emergency hotline 16111, Coast Guard units from Cox’s Bazar and Maheshkhali launched a joint operation.

During the operation, a suspicious fishing boat ignored a stop signal and attempted to flee. The Coast Guard fired five blank rounds and successfully intercepted the vessel. A search recovered three homemade firearms, four live cartridges, and six local weapons. Jahangir, the gang leader, and four associates were detained, and two fishermen held hostage were rescued alive. Based on further information, another operation at Laboni Point led to the arrest of four more gang members and the rescue of two additional fishermen.

The Coast Guard reported that all rescued fishermen were found alive, and the seized weapons were taken into custody for further investigation.

The Bangladesh women's football team played a closed-door match in Sydney against Western Sydney Wanderers FC as part of their final preparations for the upcoming AFC Women's Asian Cup. The match, held at the club’s home ground, allowed coach Peter Butler to test tactics, assess alternative players, and strengthen team coordination. Although the result was not disclosed, the game was described as highly competitive, boosting the team’s morale before the tournament.

Coach Butler had earlier expressed concern about inadequate preparation, as planned training camps and friendly matches in Thailand and the Philippines did not materialize. Instead, the players prepared domestically through the local women’s league, which he considered insufficient for the high-level competition ahead. Despite these challenges, the team is now focused on mental readiness and tactical improvement.

Bangladesh will begin their Asian Cup campaign on March 3 against defending champions China, followed by matches against North Korea and Uzbekistan. The team is currently undergoing recovery sessions at Valentine Sports Park before resuming training.

At least five people were injured on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, when two groups of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) clashed over the lease tender process for markets in Chengarchar municipality under Matlab North upazila of Chandpur district. The confrontation erupted around noon as both sides attempted to submit tender schedules for leasing local markets, including cattle and fish markets and several CNG stands. Police and joint forces intervened to bring the situation under control.

According to local BNP leaders, the dispute began when one faction allegedly obstructed the other from submitting tender schedules after the official deadline. One group accused the administration of bias in accepting tenders, while the other claimed they acted to prevent late submissions. Both sides reported injuries among their supporters, including Badruzzaman, Sayem, and Sofiullah. Police confirmed the altercation but said no formal complaint had been filed.

The upazila executive officer stated that all seven scheduled tenders were submitted and that any grievances could be pursued through legal channels.

Regional power dynamics in the Middle East are shifting as a new Sunni alliance, led by Turkey and Egypt, quietly advances. Israeli strategic analyses cited by the platform Mida and based on research from the Gatestone Institute suggest that this evolving coalition could redefine Israel’s geopolitical environment. The report notes that while global attention remains on Iran, a parallel Sunni diplomatic process is gaining momentum with potential long-term effects on Israel, the United States, and the wider region.

According to the analysis, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is actively strengthening cooperation among Sunni-majority nations, aiming not only to resolve past disputes but also to build a coordinated political and strategic bloc centered around Israel. Erdoğan’s February 2026 visits to Saudi Arabia and Egypt, followed by hosting Jordan’s King Abdullah II in Istanbul, are seen as key steps in this process. The report highlights a $350 million military framework agreement between Turkey and Egypt, covering joint arms production, intelligence sharing, and military exercises, with bilateral trade projected to reach $15 billion.

Strategically, Egypt’s control of the Suez Canal and its central role in North African and Mediterranean security could enhance the alliance’s effectiveness, potentially influencing maritime routes vital to Israel’s economy.

Bangladesh Bank witnessed internal unrest on Wednesday after news of the governor’s appointment cancellation. Governor Ahsan H. Mansur left his office around 2 p.m., and soon after, chaos erupted inside the central bank. Under the leadership of Additional Director Touhidul Islam, around 30 officials forced the governor’s adviser, Ahsan Ullah, to leave the premises.

Eyewitnesses reported that as Ahsan Ullah was leaving in his car, Touhidul Islam approached him aggressively while others tried to restrain him. Touhidul Islam was seen pointing fingers, shouting, and using abusive language toward the adviser, while some officials chanted slogans and attempted physical confrontation.

The incident highlighted visible tension within the central bank following the leadership change, though no official statement on the situation was mentioned in the report.

A youth wing activist of the opposition party was shot dead by unidentified assailants in Raozan, Chattogram, on Wednesday evening. The victim, Mujibur Rahman, 50, was a resident of East Gujra Union’s Ward 4 and a follower of newly elected MP Gias Uddin Quader Chowdhury. The shooting occurred around 6:30 p.m. inside a fruit shop at Olimiahat Bazar, where Mujibur was chatting before iftar. Witnesses said several attackers fired at him and fled immediately.

According to family members, Mujibur left home before iftar and was later found dead with three bullet wounds. His brother Abdul Aziz said he had an argument with some youths earlier that evening, which may have led to the attack. A medical officer at Raozan Upazila Health Complex confirmed that Mujibur died before reaching the hospital due to excessive bleeding.

Police have cordoned off the area and are working to identify and arrest the perpetrators. Local tension remains high following the killing.