Local Member of Parliament Md. Abdul Aziz has launched an initiative to protect the youth of Gurudaspur in Natore from the growing threat of drug abuse. During a monthly law and order meeting held at the Upazila Parishad auditorium on Monday at 11 a.m., he instructed the chairmen and members of six unions to prepare ward-based lists of drug users and dealers. The lists must be submitted to the Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) within seven days.

Abdul Aziz, who was the chief guest at the meeting, also directed that after the lists are prepared, the identified individuals and their guardians should be brought before the respective union councils. The meeting was presided over by UNO Fahmida Afroze, and several union chairmen, including Abdul Matin, Abdul Bari, Monirul Islam Dolon, Mizanur Rahman Suja, Md. Ayub Ali, and Mahbubur Rahman, expressed support for the MP’s call.

The initiative aims to strengthen local efforts against drug abuse and ensure community participation in identifying and addressing the problem.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Assistant Secretary General Advocate Ehsanul Mahbub Zubair has expressed deep concern over what he described as attempts by the Awami League to reopen offices and resume political activities. In a statement released to the media on Tuesday, he urged the government to clarify its firm position on the matter and called on citizens to remain alert and cautious about the activities of the party, which he referred to as banned.

Zubair stated that the Awami League has no legal authority to conduct political or administrative activities and alleged that the party is trying to become active again by taking advantage of statements made by some BNP leaders before the last national election. He criticized what he called the ruling party’s lenient attitude, saying it was encouraging the Awami League’s expectations.

He further claimed that the Awami League’s attempts to reopen offices and chant slogans were creating fear and public resentment. Zubair urged the government to take immediate and effective measures to maintain peace, law and order, and ensure citizens’ safety.

Rangpur-4 Member of Parliament and NCP member secretary Akhtar Hossain stated that the current government was formed through a mass uprising and a referendum. Speaking on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, at a public reception and iftar gathering organized by an eleven-party alliance at Mofazzal Hossain Model Government High School field in Kaunia, he warned that the public would not stand by the BNP government if the July Charter directives and the referendum verdict were not implemented.

Hossain accused BNP activists of engaging in extortion and terrorism after the election and of refusing to take the oath of the Constitutional Reform Council. He emphasized that the referendum had clear public support and cautioned that any attempt to disregard its outcome would not be accepted by the people. The event was presided over by Kaunia Upazila Jamaat leader Abdus Salam Sarkar, with several local political figures in attendance.

The remarks underscored growing political tension over the implementation of the referendum results and the legitimacy of the current government’s mandate.

At an emergency press conference on February 24 in Banglamotor, NCP spokesperson Asif Mahmud alleged that attacks were being carried out across the country to establish a reign of fear. He claimed that police had assaulted ordinary citizens and journalists, and criticized the Home Minister’s declaration that protests would not be allowed, calling it a threat to democracy.

Mahmud further stated that the BNP had appointed party administrators in six city corporations, describing the move as a danger to the formation of a new Bangladesh. He urged the government to announce a clear roadmap for local government elections and to set a timeframe for administrator appointments. NCP leaders, including Sarjis Alam and Abdul Hannan Masud MP, said the party had emerged as the third largest in the country and was preparing for local elections through newly formed committees.

The NCP leadership announced plans to contest local elections independently while remaining open to future coalition decisions if deemed necessary for national interest.

The government has decided to reopen the country's sick and closed industrial enterprises, following a directive from Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. The announcement was made on Tuesday by the Prime Minister’s Additional Press Secretary, Atikur Rahman Rumman, who said that relevant ministries have been instructed to work with private entrepreneurs to implement the plan. The initiative aims to create new employment opportunities across the country.

According to the directive, closed jute mills and sugar factories will be reopened while retaining existing workers and generating additional jobs. The move aligns with Prime Minister Rahman’s electoral pledge to revive non-operational industries and expand employment. Ashiq Chowdhury, Executive Chairman of the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA), confirmed that a committee led by the Ministry of Industries has already begun work on the initiative.

The reopening of these industries is expected to stimulate economic activity and strengthen collaboration between the government and private sector in industrial revitalization efforts.

European Union Election Observation Mission human rights analyst Ann Marlborough paid a courtesy visit to Justice Moinul Islam Chowdhury, Chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission of Bangladesh, on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, at the commission’s office. During the meeting, Marlborough briefed the commission on the EU’s observation activities during Bangladesh’s 13th National Parliamentary Election and presented the mission’s preliminary post-election statement.

Discussions focused on election-related violence, human rights violations, and threats to democracy in developing countries like Bangladesh. Both sides emphasized ensuring transparency, security, and fairness in the electoral process, as well as protecting the voting rights of women, third-gender individuals, and ethnic minorities. The chairperson highlighted the expansion of the commission’s jurisdiction under the National Human Rights Commission Ordinance 2025, noting that the new legal framework would strengthen institutional capacity for human rights protection.

The meeting concluded with a mutual commitment to enhance cooperation and partnership between the EU mission and the commission to advance human rights protection in Bangladesh.

Jamaat-e-Islami Assistant Secretary General Dr. AHM Hamidur Rahman Azad has described the 2009 Pilkhana killings as a premeditated massacre rather than a mutiny. Speaking on Tuesday morning at a discussion organized by Sushil Forum at the National Press Club to mark the 'Pilkhana Killing Day,' he claimed the incident was a deliberate act aimed at weakening Bangladesh’s army. Azad alleged that the then government orchestrated the event and that if the army had been allowed to act, the losses would have been less severe.

He further asserted that the killings were linked to earlier incidents in Roumari and Paduya and reflected an attempt to turn Bangladesh into “Sikkim.” Azad also referred to a statement allegedly made by a former Indian foreign minister in the Lok Sabha about taking revenge for those incidents. During the event, he prayed for the victims, expressed sympathy for the affected families, and called for justice and the release of those he said were unjustly detained.

The discussion was chaired by Sushil Forum president Md. Zahid and attended by journalist leaders, academics, and Jamaat members.

Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer and opposition leader Dr. Shafiqur Rahman has termed the president’s behavior unacceptable. In a Facebook post on Tuesday, he alleged that the president concealed key facts regarding the events of August 5, 2024. Rahman claimed that the president’s current statements contradict what he told political leaders and later conveyed to the nation about the alleged resignation of the fugitive prime minister.

In his post, Rahman questioned whether the president would reconcile the differences between his earlier and current remarks, noting that millions of people had heard the original statements. He asserted that the nation is not naïve and that such conduct from the highest office of the state is unacceptable.

The comments reflect Jamaat-e-Islami’s dissatisfaction with the president’s handling of past political events, highlighting ongoing tensions between the opposition and the head of state.

Four police officers have been temporarily suspended following an incident in which a Dhaka University student was assaulted during an anti-drug operation at Suhrawardy Udyan in the capital. The action was confirmed on Tuesday afternoon by Mohammad Masud Alam, Deputy Commissioner of the Ramna Division of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP).

According to the official, the incident occurred after a verbal altercation between the student and police personnel escalated. The four officers who were on duty at the time have been closed, meaning they were temporarily removed from active duty, and departmental action will be taken against them.

The DMP has described the event as an unwanted situation arising from a misunderstanding during the operation. Further internal proceedings are expected to determine disciplinary measures against the involved officers.

Bangladesh’s Minister of Religious Affairs, Kazi Shah Mofazzal Hossain Kaikobad, held a courtesy meeting with the United Arab Emirates Ambassador Abdullah Ali Kasef Al-Moudhir on 24 February at the Ministry of Religious Affairs in Dhaka. The meeting emphasized the long-standing historical and fraternal ties between Bangladesh and the UAE and reaffirmed both sides’ commitment to expanding and deepening bilateral relations.

Discussions focused on enhancing cooperation in religious affairs, increasing people-to-people contact, and promoting cultural exchange to foster mutual understanding. Both dignitaries also exchanged views on modernizing religious services, strengthening institutional capacity, and applying digital technology to make faith-based education and support programs more effective and timely.

The meeting concluded in a spirit of goodwill and strategic partnership, with both parties reiterating a shared vision to elevate Bangladesh-UAE relations to a higher level in the coming days.

A renewed debate has emerged in India over whether Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government is adopting an “Israeli model” in its governance of Kashmir. The discussion resurfaced after former Indian Consul General Sandeep Chakravorty, speaking at a private event in New York in November 2019, suggested applying such a model in Indian-administered Kashmir. His remarks came months after the revocation of Jammu and Kashmir’s special constitutional status in August 2019, amid strict security measures and political detentions.

Analysts cited in the report argue that the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party’s Hindutva-based ideology shares similarities with Israel’s identity-driven state model, influencing closer bilateral ties. The article also highlights domestic controversies such as “bulldozer justice” in BJP-ruled states, where homes of alleged rioters were demolished, and the Supreme Court’s 2024 ruling against property destruction without due process. Defense cooperation between India and Israel has deepened, including drone purchases and joint training.

Further disputes involve surveillance technology, notably allegations of Pegasus spyware use against journalists and opposition figures. Critics claim Kashmir remains under heavy militarization and surveillance since 2019, while the government maintains these measures are necessary for counterterrorism and development.

Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Saida Shinichi met with Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Afroza Khanam (Rita) on Tuesday at her office in the ministry. The meeting took place in Dhaka and was attended by State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism M. Rashiduzzaman Millat.

The report noted the official nature of the meeting but did not provide details about the topics discussed or any outcomes. The presence of both the minister and the state minister highlighted the diplomatic engagement between Bangladesh and Japan within the civil aviation and tourism sectors.

No further information was provided regarding the agenda or future cooperation plans stemming from the meeting.

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in Chapainawabganj has arrested a husband and wife accused of leading a fraud ring that stole Tk 2.13 million through mobile banking platforms Nagad, bKash, and Rocket. The arrests took place on Monday morning at their home in Chhoto Bongram Uttarpara, Rajshahi. The detainees were identified as Mobarak Hossain, 55, and his wife Sultana Khatun, 45. The CID disclosed the details at a press conference on Tuesday afternoon.

According to CID Inspector Rozaul Karim, the couple collected SIM cards from beggars under the pretense of distributing food aid, then opened mobile banking accounts using those SIMs. They bought the SIM cards back for Tk 100–200 along with PIN codes and used them to impersonate relatives of targeted victims, claiming illness to extract money through mobile transactions. The arrests were made with the help of information technology during an investigation into an embezzlement case filed at Gomostapur Police Station.

CID officials said the two suspects have been handed over to court, and a remand petition will be filed for further investigation.

Former Chief Prosecutor of the International Crimes Tribunal, Tazul Islam, has issued a statement rejecting allegations of corruption and irregularities made against him by fellow prosecutor BM Sultan Mahmud. The allegations were reported by several media outlets on Monday, prompting Tazul Islam to respond through a written statement sent to the press on Tuesday.

In his statement, Tazul Islam described the claims as baseless, malicious, and intended to undermine the integrity of the tribunal’s judicial process. He asserted that all actions taken by him and his prosecution team were transparent and lawful. He further alleged that a group was deliberately spreading falsehoods to divert attention from the tribunal’s ongoing and completed trials against former autocrats and perpetrators of genocide.

Tazul Islam urged all concerned to refrain from engaging in what he termed as false propaganda and malicious activities aimed at discrediting the tribunal’s work.

Bangladesh’s Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed stated that since August 5, 2024, numerous cases have been filed with thousands of accused individuals allegedly for the purpose of harassment. Speaking to journalists at the Ministry of Home Affairs in Dhaka on Tuesday afternoon, he said that many of these cases appear to have been initiated by opportunistic groups. The ministry plans to review and identify such cases to ensure the rule of law and prevent misuse of the legal system.

Responding to a question about case withdrawals, the minister explained that cases involving murder, drugs, and crimes against women and children have been excluded from consideration, while other cases are being reviewed. He also mentioned that he himself faces multiple cases, including those related to weapons and explosives.

Ahmed added that the government has taken a new initiative to review politically motivated cases for possible withdrawal, emphasizing that the process will be carefully examined to prevent abuse.