National Martyred Army Day was observed with due respect on Wednesday, marking the 17th anniversary of the martyrdom of Bangladesh Army officers who were killed in the brutal incident at the then Bangladesh Rifles (now Border Guard Bangladesh) headquarters in Pilkhana on February 25–26, 2009. On the occasion, wreaths were laid at the graves of the martyrs at the Military Graveyard in Banani, Dhaka, in honor of the fallen soldiers President Mohammed Shahabuddin; Prime Minister Tarique Rahman; Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed; the chiefs of the Army, Navy and Air Force; senior secretary of the Public Security Division under the Ministry of Home Affairs; the Director General of Border Guard Bangladesh; and family members of the martyrs paid their respects, accordiong to the Inter Service Public Relation Direcotrate (ISPR),A one-minute silence was observed in honor of the martyrs, and serving members of the armed forces offered a salute. Prayers were later offered, seeking eternal peace for the departed souls. Special prayers, Qur’an recitations, milad mahfils and munajats were also held at mosques of the armed forces across the country for the martyrs.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman paid deep tribute to the martyrs of the Pilkhana massacre at Banani on the occasion of National Martyrs' Day. Photo: PMODHAKA, Feb 25, 2026 (BSS) - Prime Minister Tarique Rahman paid rich tribute to martyred army officers who were killed in the 2009 BDR (now BGB) carnage, at the Banani Military Graveyard in the city today. The premier paid homage by placing a wreath around 10:12 am this morning at the graves of the martyred army officers on the occasion of the National Martyred Army Day. After paying homage, one minute silence was observed as a mark of profound respect to the memories of the martyrs. Later, fateha and doa were offered seeking forgiveness, divine blessings and eternal peace for the departed souls of the martyrs.

Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen met with Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed at Home Ministry office in the Bangladesh Secretariat today. Photo: PIDDHAKA, Feb 25, 2026 (BSS) - Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed has called on Chinese investors to expand their investment footprint in Bangladesh, underscoring the long-standing friendship and strategic partnership between the two countries. Ambassador Yao Wen said that with a politically stable government now in place in Bangladesh, Chinese investment is expected to increase further. Highlighting the link between development and security, the ambassador emphasized the need to strengthen law and order to attract more foreign investment. The two sides discussed a range of issues of mutual interest, including security, law and order, cybercrime suppression, police training cooperation, expansion of trade and commerce, and strengthening overall bilateral relations.

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has suspended its online VAT services due to technical maintenance work. All services of the eVAT system will remain closed from 1:30pm to 8pm on Wednesday to facilitate the migration of the Next Generation Firewall, said an official notice on Wednesday. The move is part of efforts to upgrade the security infrastructure of the VAT system used for revenue collection. During the scheduled period, users will not be able to access any operational services under the VAT system. The eVAT system introduced by the National Board of Revenue (NBR) marks a significant step in Bangladesh’s ongoing efforts to modernise tax administration and enhance transparency.

The Cricket Australia (CA) has unveiled the schedule for the upcoming two-match Test series against Bangladesh at home. International cricket will return to Darwin for the first time in over two decades when it will host the first Bangladesh Test from August 13-17. The Bangladesh Tests however mark the beginning of the 2026-27 home international season for Australia. Ninth-ranked Bangladesh have not played Australia in long-form cricket since notching their maiden Test win over them in Dhaka in 2017. "Marrara Stadium, Darwin and Great Barrier Reef Arena, Mackay have been outstanding venues for international cricket in recent seasons."

Iran’s foreign ministry on Wednesday dismissed US claims about its missile program as “big lies,” after President Donald Trump said Tehran was developing missiles that can strike the United States. “Whatever they’re alleging in regards to Iran’s nuclear program, Iran’s ballistic missiles, and the number of casualties during January’s unrest, is simply the repetition of ‘big lies’,” ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said on X.Baqaei did not specify exactly which claims he was responding to, but hours earlier Trump had said Iran was seeking missiles that could reach American soil. Trump’s claims come after Washington and Tehran concluded two rounds of Oman-mediated talks aimed at reaching a deal on the nuclear program, with the third round set for Thursday. Washington has repeatedly called for zero uranium enrichment by Iran but has also sought to address its ballistic missile program and support for militant groups in the region, demands Iran has rejected. Trump, who has ratcheted up pressure on Iran to reach an agreement, has deployed a significant naval force to the Middle East.

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi flew to Israel on Wednesday for a two-day visit to deepen ties with a key trade and defense partner, stirring criticism at home. “Ties have significantly strengthened in the last few years.”New Delhi has steadily expanded cooperation with Israel across the defense, agriculture, technology and cybersecurity sectors while balancing diplomatic interests in the Middle East. Modi said he would hold talks with Netanyahu to “discuss ways to strengthen cooperation,” as well as meet Israeli President Isaac Herzog. Modi visited Israel as prime minister in 2017, before Netanyahu made a reciprocal visit to India the following year. One of India’s largest conglomerates, Adani Group, operates the Mediterranean port of Haifa, while Israeli military drone technology played a pivotal role during India’s May 2025 clash with Pakistan.

A Myanmar military air strike on a village market in the country’s westernmost state killed at least 17 people, two local sources said on Wednesday. The western coastal state of Rakhine is among the worst-hit regions. Controlled almost entirely by the ethnic minority Arakan Army (AA), it has been blockaded by the junta and pummeled with regular air strikes. A Myanmar military spokesman could not be reached for comment. AA statements listed the names of 17 “innocent civilians,” including three children, killed in the strike on a marketplace around 2pm (0730 GMT) on Tuesday.

Norway’s Bodo/Glimt pulled off one of the most remarkable results in modern Champions League history on Tuesday, beating last season’s runners-up Inter Milan 2-1 at San Siro to reach the last 16 with a 5-2 aggregate triumph, while Newcastle United, Atletico Madrid and Bayer Leverkusen also went through. But Bodo/Glimt survived at the back before finishing off the tie in the second half. We knew it would be very hard against Inter who are a very strong team and played in the final last season,” said Hauge. Newcastle can now look forward to a heavyweight tie in the next round against either Chelsea or Barcelona. Meanwhile, Leverkusen followed a 2-0 win away to Olympiacos in Greece last week with a 0-0 draw at home in the return.

The Bangladesh High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Abida Islam, has described the country’s recent national parliamentary election as a definitive milestone in its democratic history. Speaking at a panel titled "Bangladesh Election: What Next? ", she emphasized that the government, led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, is firmly committed to upholding democracy, the rule of law, and human rights through its vision for an inclusive nation. High Commissioner Abida Islam noted that the government is dedicated to implementing meaningful changes to improve the lives of all Bangladeshis. Baroness Winterton congratulated Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on his new role, affirming the UK’s eagerness to strengthen trade relations.

Amid discussions surrounding efforts to accelerate reforms in the banking sector, Ahsan H Mansur has been removed from his post as the governor of Bangladesh Bank. He took a firm stance on measures such as restructuring weak banks, replacing board members, and strengthening internal oversight. While these steps earned him support from reform advocates, they also triggered dissatisfaction within parts of the banking sector. The newly appointed governor, Mostakur Rahman, is known to have long been involved in the central bank’s internal operations and policy-making processes. He now faces the major challenge of maintaining continuity in ongoing banking reforms while ensuring financial stability.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Sheikh Md Sajjat Ali has sought relief from duty, citing family reasons. Confirming the matter to Dhaka Tribune, Sajjat Ali said the government would take further action in this regard. He assumed charge as the 38th commissioner of the DMP on November 21, 2024. The interim government appointed him to the post as part of efforts to reorganize the police force following the student–public uprising. Sajjat Ali is a 1984 batch officer of the BCS police cadre.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has inquired about the health of Shafiqur Rahman, ameer of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and leader of the opposition in parliament, after he fell ill on Tuesday. The prime minister spoke to the Jamaat ameer over the phone upon learning of his illness. Jamaat Secretary General Mia Golam Parwar shared the information with reporters on Wednesday after paying a courtesy call on the prime minister. According to Jamaat, the prime minister has agreed to attend an iftar mahfil organised by the party on February 28 along with his family. Golam Parwar said the prime minister exchanged greetings with Shafiqur Rahman during the phone call and inquired about his health.

US President Donald Trump boasted Tuesday of a “turnaround for the ages” in his State of the Union speech, seeking to reverse dismal polls and see off mounting challenges at home and abroad ahead of crucial midterm elections. But Trump’s speech -- met with repeated standing ovations from Republicans while Democrats remained seated in protest and sometimes heckled -- was notably short on actual policy announcements. Top Democratic Senator Chuck Schumer called Trump’s speech “delusional” and said it failed to address the struggles of ordinary Americans. Turning to what he said were his administration’s efforts to boost US security, Trump claimed that Iran is seeking missiles that could reach the United States. Trump claimed Democrats were “destroying our country” and that Somali “pirates” had “ransacked” Minnesota.

Prime Bank PLC has recently signed a strategic agreement with Akter Properties Ltd. The agreement was formally signed at a ceremony held at Prime Aspire in Dhaka. Under this agreement, customers of Prime Bank PLC who avail home loans from the bank to purchase apartments from Akter Properties Ltd will enjoy an exclusive 5% discount on the base price of the apartment. This special benefit is also extended to employees of Prime Bank PLC. The agreement was formally signed by Mamur Ahmed, SEVP & head of distribution of Prime Bank PLC, and Mohammed Akter Biswas, managing director of Akter Properties Ltd.Also present at the signing ceremony were Joarder Tanvir Faisal, EVP & head of cards and retail asset of Prime Bank PLC, and Md Sazzad Masud, deputy general manager of Akter Properties Ltd, along with other senior officials from both organizations.