The High Court has granted bail to former MP Abdur Rahman Bodi of Cox’s Bazar’s Ukhiya-Teknaf constituency in a murder case related to the July-August incidents. Former Narayanganj City Corporation mayor Selina Hayat Ivy also received six months of interim bail in five separate cases involving murder allegations. Following these developments, Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) Vice President Sadiq Kayem expressed strong criticism on Thursday, February 26, through a verified Facebook post.

In his post, Kayem accused the authorities of releasing what he termed as ‘public enemies’ while detaining July movement activists. He warned that ignoring the ‘Protection Ordinance’ and using police murder investigations to erase the July movement was a dangerous move. He further alleged that after a sudden change in the Bangladesh Bank governor’s position, institutions controlled by government-linked individuals were receiving undue advantages.

Kayem cautioned that continuing such practices would lead the nation toward subjugation and urged for wisdom to prevail, warning that no one would escape accountability in history’s judgment.

Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has expressed concern over whether the newly appointed governor of Bangladesh Bank can perform his duties independently and free from conflicts of interest. In a statement issued on Thursday, TIB Executive Director Dr. Iftekharuzzaman questioned the impartiality of a governor who is a businessman involved in the ready-made garment and housing sectors, and who previously rescheduled loans for his own enterprises. TIB noted that the appointment was made hastily and raised doubts about the governor’s ability to act independently of business lobbies and loan defaulters.

The statement further highlighted that a large portion of parliament members and cabinet ministers are businesspersons, many of whom are loan defaulters. TIB warned that appointing a businessperson with a history of loan rescheduling to lead the central bank could send a negative signal nationally and internationally. The organization also argued that the appointment contradicts the ruling party’s electoral pledge to ensure good governance and transparency in the banking sector.

TIB cautioned that the decision could undermine efforts to restore stability, curb inflation, and strengthen financial discipline, especially at a time when the economy faces significant challenges.

Uttara Region continued their dominant run in the Bangladesh Cricket League (BCL) with a six-wicket victory over South Region in Rajshahi on February 26, 2026. Batting first, South Region collapsed early, losing four wickets for just 19 runs before Mohammad Mithun’s 55 off 79 balls helped them reach 144. Meherob Hasan and Nahid Rana each took three wickets for Uttara. In reply, Uttara chased down the 145-run target with six wickets in hand, led by Liton Das’s 55 off 65 balls and Towhid Hridoy’s 33 off 46. Mustafizur Rahman claimed three wickets for 23 runs for South Region.

In another match in Bogura, Central Region defeated East Region by five wickets. East Region posted 237 for nine, with Zakir Hasan scoring 45 and Rakibul Hasan taking three wickets for 27 runs. Central reached the target with 27 balls remaining, powered by Naim Sheikh’s 83 and Abu Hider Rony’s quickfire 66 off 42 balls.

With this win, Uttara Region moved a step closer to the BCL final and will face Central Region in their final league match.

Road Transport, Bridges, Railways and Shipping Minister Sheikh Robiul Alam said the ministry is working to ensure accountability in the road sector. Speaking at a press briefing at the Secretariat on Thursday about road safety during Eid travel, he emphasized the government’s commitment to maintaining safe roads and addressing irregularities in transport oversight.

Responding to a question about toll collection, the minister explained that he personally contributes to various organizations such as mosque committees and associations, which he described as legitimate. He clarified that while truck owners’ associations may collect funds for their welfare, any unauthorized roadside toll collection is illegal. He urged anyone aware of such illegal practices to report them so that necessary action can be taken.

Regarding preparations for Eid travel, Sheikh Robiul Alam said the ministry aims to ensure a smooth travel experience. Although there have been no major changes in the transport sector or living standards, he stated that efforts are being made to make travel conditions more effective and comfortable for passengers.

An unapproved LPG filling station owned by an Awami League leader exploded in Cox’s Bazar’s Kalatali area on Wednesday night, injuring at least 15 people and damaging over 50 nearby houses and shops. The newly built ‘N Alam Filling Station’ caught fire while gas was being unloaded. Fire service, army, BGB, police, and air force units jointly brought the blaze under control after seven hours of effort.

Ten of the injured were admitted to Cox’s Bazar Sadar Hospital, while six were later transferred to Chattogram Medical College Hospital and Dhaka’s Burn Institute for advanced treatment. A three-member investigation committee led by Additional District Magistrate Mohammad Shahidul Alam has been formed and has already visited the site.

Fire officials stated that the station was operating without approval or safety measures and that legal action would be taken against its owner, Nurul Alam, who is known to be active in Awami League politics. Local authorities confirmed that several houses and vehicles were damaged before the fire was contained.

The Bangla Academy has suspended the 2025 literary award of poet Mohon Raihan, citing questions raised about his writings and poems. The announcement came during the inauguration of the Amar Ekushey Book Fair 2026 at the Bangla Academy premises on Thursday, where Prime Minister Tarek Rahman presented awards to eight other recipients. The Academy had earlier announced nine winners, including Raihan, in a February 23 notice.

According to Bangla Academy Director General Professor Mohammad Azam, the decision to withhold Raihan’s award was made to allow further review of the concerns raised about his work. The Academy stated that a final decision will be made after examination. The other awardees include Nasima Anis, Syed Azizul Haque, Hasan Hafiz, Ali Ahmad, Mustafa Majid, Israil Khan, Farseem Mannan Mohammadi, and Moeedul Hasan.

In a social media post, Mohon Raihan expressed surprise at the suspension, saying he had not sought the award and that his name had been announced before the ceremony. He claimed a group influenced the decision due to his poem “Taher’s Dream,” written 41 years ago.

Bangladesh’s Minister of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku, stated that citizens have been left with a heavy debt burden due to past decisions in the power sector. Speaking on Thursday, February 26, at the ministry’s conference room during the handover ceremony of the Forum for Energy Reporters Bangladesh (FERB) executive committee, he said it is better to endure hardship than to remain trapped in debt.

The minister criticized previous governments for failing to follow earlier policy guidelines that limited private participation in power generation to 35 percent. He noted that private involvement has now reached 82 percent, reducing government control and increasing financial liabilities. He also highlighted inefficiencies such as idle power plants requiring capacity payments and a rise in system loss from 6 percent to 10 percent over 19 years. Each percentage point of system loss equals about 5 million taka in losses.

Tuku said the government aims to reduce system loss to 3 percent, starting with a directive to bring it down to 5 percent. He added that discussions are underway with private power producers to reach a balanced solution without raising electricity prices.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has nominated Rezaul Karim Badsha as its candidate for the Bogura-6 by-election, a seat vacated by party chairman and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. Badsha currently serves as the president of the Bogura district BNP. The nomination was finalized on Thursday, according to party sources.

BNP lawmaker from Bogura-4, Md. Mosharraf Hossain, confirmed the decision, while BNP media cell member Shayrul Kabir Khan also verified it through a Facebook post. He stated that the nomination was officially handed over to Badsha from the party chairman’s office in Gulshan. The announcement marks the party’s formal preparation for the upcoming by-election in Bogura-6.

The decision underscores BNP’s internal organizational alignment in Bogura ahead of the by-election, with local leadership taking a central role in representing the party in the constituency vacated by its top leader.

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has given policy approval for the proposed organogram of Naogaon University, subject to necessary additions and deletions. The decision was made at a meeting held on Thursday morning at the UGC office to finalize the organogram. According to the university’s vice-chancellor, Professor Dr. Moha. Hasanat Ali, the proposal was submitted to the UGC in November of the previous year and reviewed in the meeting. Following the decision, the organogram will now be sent to the Ministry of Education for final approval.

The vice-chancellor stated that Naogaon University began administrative operations in February 2023 and has already received approval to launch academic activities in two departments—Accounting and Law. In the 2025–2026 academic year, 40 students will be admitted to each department through the cluster admission system.

He also mentioned that the university, currently operating from a temporary campus, is progressing with land acquisition, building construction, and feasibility studies for a government-funded project worth 47.5 million taka. Overall, the university’s development activities are advancing rapidly.

An allegation has surfaced that the father of a local BNP leader has illegally occupied land belonging to C.N.B. Degree College in Niamati Union of Bakerganj upazila, Barishal, and started constructing tin-shed shops there. The incident has sparked anger and concern among residents. According to reports, on Thursday, a group led by Adud Farazi, father of Niamati Union BNP president Sohel Farazi, forcibly took possession of part of the college’s property and began building structures within the boundary of the old college building.

College founder Jobed Ali Khan stated that constructing private establishments on land officially recorded under the institution’s name is completely illegal and lamented the encroachment on educational property for commercial use. He alleged that Adud Farazi, along with Ashok Nandi and Swapan Nandi, occupied the land and erected tin-shed shops, demanding swift administrative action. Acting principal Biplob Halder confirmed that a legal case over the property is ongoing, yet construction proceeded despite the dispute. Upazila Nirbahi Officer Rumana Afroze said she had not been informed earlier but promised an investigation and necessary measures.

Attempts to contact the accused for comment were unsuccessful, the report added.

Discussions have intensified over the appointment of a new administrator for the Chattogram Zila Parishad following the BNP’s formation of government after the thirteenth national election. The council, long run by government officials, may soon see a political appointment, with two senior BNP leaders—Engineer Belayet Hossain and Idris Mia—emerging as leading candidates. Party sources indicate that the government has begun vetting potential appointees, and the BNP high command may finalize the decision soon.

Belayet Hossain, a veteran leader from Sandwip and former joint convener of the BNP’s North Chattogram unit, has a long history of political activism and imprisonment. Idris Mia, the current convener of the South Chattogram BNP and a former upazila chairman, is also being widely discussed among party members. Both leaders have strong grassroots connections and are viewed as experienced organizers.

The Chattogram Zila Parishad has been administered by an additional divisional commissioner since its elected chairman’s post became vacant after the council’s dissolution in 2024. A new appointment could revitalize the council’s activities and local governance.

Bangladesh’s domestic debt increased by more than Tk 1.13 trillion during the 14 months of the interim government, according to data from Bangladesh Bank. The total domestic debt stood at Tk 9.24 trillion in July 2024, when the Awami League government was in power, and rose to Tk 10.36 trillion by the end of October 2025. This growth indicates continued borrowing from domestic sources, creating additional pressure on revenue management.

Bangladesh Bank data show that the government borrowed Tk 5.49 trillion from banks and Tk 4.88 trillion from non-bank sources, reflecting a strong reliance on domestic financial institutions. The upward trend in borrowing had already been visible earlier, with domestic debt increasing by about 10 percent year-on-year as of October 2024.

The report suggests that while new borrowing from banks may be slowing, the overall rise in domestic debt continues to strain fiscal stability and highlights the government’s dependence on internal financing channels.

The USS Gerald R. Ford, the world’s largest US aircraft carrier deployed to pressure Iran, departed the US Naval Support Activity Souda Bay base in Crete on Thursday, according to an AFP photographer. Its departure coincided with the start of a new round of indirect talks between the United States and Iran in Geneva, mediated by Oman’s foreign minister.

The carrier had been stationed at the Crete base since Monday. The US Embassy in Athens declined to comment on the vessel’s presence. The report recalled that President Donald Trump had previously ordered an attack on Iran and repeatedly warned Tehran of military action if it refused to agree to a new nuclear deal. Western countries have expressed concern that Iran’s nuclear program may be aimed at developing weapons.

Washington currently maintains more than a dozen warships in the Middle East, including the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, nine destroyers, and three additional warships, underscoring its continued military presence in the region.

Bangladesh Bank’s newly appointed governor, Mostakur Rahman, announced an 11-point plan on his first day in office aimed at accelerating economic recovery and strengthening growth. The central bank’s spokesperson released the written plan on Thursday, outlining measures to maintain macroeconomic stability while promoting investment-driven expansion to create employment opportunities.

According to the official statement, the interim government had stabilized the economy at a low equilibrium after a fragile period, and the new governor emphasized the need to move toward sustainable, inclusive growth. His plan includes maintaining macroeconomic stability, ensuring inclusive growth beyond GDP expansion, reopening closed factories and businesses, reconsidering high interest rates, controlling inflation, ensuring good governance in the banking sector, adopting objective-based and rule-based management, delegating authority to speed up operations, coordinating with other government agencies, and protecting the central bank’s reputation.

The announcement marks the governor’s first policy direction since assuming office, signaling a focus on stability, governance, and coordinated economic management.

The Election Commission (EC) has released a revised gazette correcting the results of the referendum held on February 12, 2026, regarding the implementation of the 'July National Charter (Constitutional Reform) Order, 2025'. According to the new figures, the total number of votes cast has decreased by 1,073,616 compared to the earlier gazette published on February 13. The updated count shows 47,225,980 'yes' votes and 21,960,231 'no' votes, reducing both categories by nearly one million and over one hundred thousand respectively.

The EC stated that the revised data was issued under the authority of the commission, though no specific reason for the correction was provided. The updated gazette also indicates that invalid votes increased by 12,559, bringing the total number of valid votes down to 69,186,211. The referendum was held to confirm public approval for the July National Charter, which emerged from the 2024 student and public uprising.

The revised results are expected to finalize the constitutional legitimacy and public consent for the July National Charter once officially endorsed.