Opposition Chief Whip and National Citizens Party (NCP) convener Md. Nahid Islam warned that no new autocracy would be allowed to emerge in Bangladesh. He made the remarks on Thursday afternoon at the first founding anniversary of Jatiya Chhatra Shakti held at the Krishibid Institute in Dhaka. Nahid Islam said students have always stood by the state and the people during national crises, but political parties repeatedly betrayed them after movements.

He recalled that students played a decisive role in the 1990 uprising against autocracy, yet their expectations were not fulfilled, and a similar pattern was visible after the 2024 uprising. Nahid accused the government of interfering in the judicial process, alleging that the Chief Prosecutor of the International Crimes Tribunal was removed without cause and that witnesses were being pressured. He also criticized the appointment of a new Bangladesh Bank governor, claiming the previous one was ousted by mob pressure.

Nahid further alleged that election results were manipulated through engineering and that the ruling party was trying to control parliament and the judiciary. He warned that any attempt to establish a new dictatorship would be resisted.

The Bangladesh Army has announced a new round of high-level transfers involving six senior officers. The order was issued from Army Headquarters on Thursday, February 26, 2026, according to an army source. This follows an earlier reshuffle on February 22, when six other officers were reassigned to new positions.

Under the latest changes, Lieutenant General Mohammad Shaheenul Haque, Commandant of the National Defence College, has been appointed Quartermaster General, while Lieutenant General Md Faizur Rahman, the current Quartermaster General, will take over as Commandant of the National Defence College. Major General Nasim Parvez, Commandant of the Military Institute of Science and Technology, has been transferred to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Major General Mohammad Hossain Al Morshed, GOC of the 19th Infantry Division, becomes Adjutant General, replacing Major General Hakimuzzaman, who will now serve as Commandant of MIST. Major General Md Kamrul Hasan, GOC of the 66th Infantry Division, has been posted to the Dhaka Cantonment Logistic Area.

The February 22 reshuffle included the appointment of Lieutenant General Mainur Rahman as Chief of General Staff and the transfer of Lieutenant General S M Kamrul Hasan to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as ambassador.

A man named Sheikh Sohel, 45, was shot dead by unidentified assailants in the Afil Gate area under Khanjahan Ali Police Station in Khulna on Thursday afternoon. According to local sources, Sohel was sitting at a motorcycle garage when attackers arrived on a motorcycle and opened fire, leaving him dead on the spot. He was the son of Bacchu Sheikh from the same area and was involved in internet service and fish farming businesses.

Police from Khanjahan Ali Station recovered the body and began an initial investigation, while a CID team collected evidence and verified information at the scene. Officer-in-Charge Hawlader Sanwar Hossain Mashum confirmed that Sohel was shot dead by motorcycle-borne assailants and that senior police officials were present during the investigation.

Authorities stated that the deceased was a member of the extremist group Purbo Bangla Communist Party and had multiple murder cases filed against him. The investigation into the killing is ongoing.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has arrested Mohammad Al Said, the Project Implementation Officer of Sonagazi Upazila in Feni, along with his office assistant, for allegedly taking bribes. The arrest took place on Thursday at the local Project Implementation Office, where an eight-member ACC team conducted a raid and caught them red-handed with bribe money.

According to ACC Noakhali regional office Deputy Director Md Faruk Ahmed, the officials were detained with Tk 1 lakh in cash during the operation. He also stated that Mohammad Al Said had previously taken Tk 5 lakh from various projects in Sonagazi and demanded Tk 12 lakh in bribes for the construction of five bridges in the area.

The ACC official confirmed that the suspects have been detained, necessary paperwork is being processed, and they will be handed over to the police for further legal action.

National Citizens Party (NCP) convener and opposition chief whip Nahid Islam warned that people would take to the streets if the already settled issue of police killing during the July uprising was reopened for debate. He made the statement on Thursday afternoon at the first founding anniversary of NCP’s student wing, Jatiya Chhatra Shakti, held at the Krishibid Institute in Dhaka. Nahid Islam said that any renewed investigation into the police killing must first ensure justice for those injured or killed during the uprising.

He accused the current government of acting like the previous Awami League administration in matters such as vote engineering and warned against the rise of new authoritarianism. Nahid alleged interference in the International Crimes Tribunal, including the removal of its chief prosecutor without cause, and claimed that witnesses and victims were under pressure. He emphasized that the tribunal must operate independently and that victims and witnesses must be protected.

Nahid also announced that NCP leaders would soon travel across the country to engage with students, asserting that students are the driving force behind the party’s reform movement and must safeguard democratic rights on campuses.

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.