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.

The National Citizen Party (NCP) has formed a ‘Local Government Election Steering Committee’ ahead of the upcoming local government elections. Sargis Alam, the party’s chief organizer for the northern region, has been appointed as the committee’s chairman. The announcement was made through a press release signed by Sadia Farzana Dinar, a member of the NCP’s office cell, on Monday night.

According to the release, the committee was formed under the direction of NCP convener Md. Nahid Islam and member secretary Akhtar Hossain. Abdul Hannan Masud, senior joint chief coordinator and Member of Parliament for Noakhali-6, has been named the committee’s member secretary. Other members include Ariful Islam Adib, Alauddin Mohammad, Tahsin Riaz, and Advocate Monjila Jhuma. All divisional organizational secretaries will serve as ex-officio members, while central and district-level leaders will provide overall support.

After assuming his new role, Sargis Alam posted on social media encouraging potential candidates at all local levels to prepare for the upcoming elections.

The results of the Junior Scholarship Examination will be published on Wednesday, February 25, at 1 p.m., according to the Inter-Education Board Examination Controller Committee. The announcement was confirmed on Tuesday by Professor S M Kamal Uddin Haydar, Controller of Examinations at the Dhaka Board and convener of the committee. He stated that all preparations for the publication have been completed and that the Ministry of Education will officially release the results at the scheduled time.

This year, a total of 45,200 students will receive scholarships under two categories: talent pool and general. The scholarships will be distributed proportionally across education boards, with specific quotas also set at the upazila level for both categories. The distribution will follow the existing policy guidelines to ensure fair allocation among eligible students.

The announcement marks the completion of the evaluation process and sets the stage for the Ministry of Education to recognize meritorious students across the country through the scholarship program.

The European Union Parliament has decided not to finalize its trade agreement with the United States at this time, citing uncertainty created by former President Donald Trump’s tariff policy. The decision follows the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent annulment of Trump’s earlier tariff measures, after which Trump imposed a new 15 percent export tariff on all goods. This move has led to renewed instability in transatlantic trade relations.

A vote on U.S. industrial export tariffs was expected in the EU Parliament’s trade committee on Tuesday, but it has now been postponed. European Commission spokesperson Olof Zill stated that Brussels cannot make any decision until Washington clarifies its position. He added that the EU expects a proper explanation from the United States regarding the current developments.

The delay underscores the EU’s cautious approach to trade negotiations with the U.S. as both sides navigate the implications of shifting American trade policies and their impact on global commerce.

London police have arrested former British ambassador Peter Mandelson, 72, on suspicion of misconduct during his tenure in the UK cabinet. The arrest followed revelations of his connection with convicted US sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Mandelson, who had served as the UK’s ambassador to Washington, was dismissed by the British prime minister after those links became public. He was later released on bail while the investigation continues.

According to a document released by the US Department of Justice, Mandelson allegedly shared sensitive government information with Epstein while serving as a minister. The UK government under Prime Minister Keir Starmer handed over details of Mandelson’s communications with Epstein earlier this month, prompting police to open a formal investigation. Reuters reported that plainclothes officers detained Mandelson at his central London home on Monday morning.

Police emphasized that the arrest indicates suspicion of a possible offense but does not constitute proof of guilt. Mandelson’s lawyers have not issued any comment regarding the case.

Bangladesh’s foreign exchange reserves have crossed 35 billion dollars for the first time in 39 months, according to data from Bangladesh Bank released on Tuesday, February 24, 2026. The gross reserve stood at 35.04 billion dollars, while under the BPM6 calculation method, reserves were recorded at 30.30 billion dollars.

Central bank officials attributed the increase to stricter measures against money laundering, which have boosted remittance inflows through legal channels. As a result, dollar supply in banks has risen, prompting the central bank to purchase surplus dollars from the market. Since the beginning of the current fiscal year up to February 23, remittances through banking channels totaled 21.99 billion dollars, marking a 21.90 percent increase compared to the same period last year.

During this period, the central bank purchased 5.46 billion dollars from the market, contributing to the reserve growth. Officials noted that the higher supply of dollars relative to demand has strengthened the reserve position.

The BBC has apologized for broadcasting a racist remark made during the British Academy Film Awards (BAFTA) ceremony without editing it out beforehand. The incident occurred when guest John Davidson, who has Tourette syndrome, shouted a racist comment while actors Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo were on stage. The ceremony was aired two hours after recording, but the offensive remark remained in the broadcast, prompting criticism and an apology from the broadcaster.

BBC representatives said some viewers may have heard strong and offensive language linked to involuntary verbal tics associated with Tourette syndrome, clarifying that the outburst was unintentional. The network admitted the segment had not been edited before airing and confirmed it would be removed from the BBC iPlayer version. Several Black actors and a production designer expressed anger over the unedited broadcast, leading to the BBC’s public apology.

In a separate statement, BAFTA also acknowledged the harm caused by the incident and issued its own apology, emphasizing its intent to inform audiences about what had happened and to express regret.