A discussion titled ‘Role of Teachers in Building a Drug-Free Society and Protecting Environment and Nature’ was held at the Khulna PTI auditorium on Monday. The event was organized by the Department of Narcotics Control, Khulna, with support from the Bir Muktijoddha Mobarak Ali Foundation. Among others, Deputy Director of the Department of Narcotics Control SK Iftekhar Mohammad Umayen, Deputy Director of the Department of Environment Md. Harun-Or-Rashid, former vice-president of Government Brajalal College Advocate Sheikh Zakirul Islam, and Chairman of the Bir Muktijoddha Mobarak Ali Foundation Md. The programme was moderated by Advocate Sheikh Oliul Islam, Chief Adviser of the Bir Muktijoddha Mobarak Ali Foundation.

What is the Family Card? He clarified that the Family Card would not replace existing allowances such as old-age, widow or disability benefits. “The Family Card will expand and strengthen the overall social protection framework,” he said. To prevent duplication, only one Family Card will be issued per household. Pilot project before EidThe government plans to launch a pilot phase of the Family Card program before Eid-ul-Fitr.

State Minister for Liberation War Affairs Ishraque Hossain has announced that he will contest the mayoral election of Dhaka South City Corporation. He made the announcement in a Facebook post around 4:30pm on Monday. In the post, Ishraque wrote: “I will run for city elections from Dhaka South, InshaAllah.”

BNP Central Organizing Secretary Nazrul Islam Manju has been appointed administrator of Khulna City Corporation. Signed by Mahbuba Airin, Joint Secretary of the Local Government Division, the appointment was made by the Local Government (KCC) Amendment subsection-1under 25 A ordinance-2024, in line with the government decision. Expressing gratitude for the appointment, Manju, also a former parliament member described it as both an honour and a significant responsibility. Khulna City Corporation is one of the country's key metropolitan local government bodies. City residents expect that under the leadership of Manju, development activities in Khulna will gain further momentum and long-standing civic issues will be addressed effectively.

Police arrested singer Mainul Ahsan Noble on Monday in connection with a case filed over confining and harassing a woman after luring her with a promise of marriage. According to police, a court had earlier issued an arrest warrant against Noble in the case, which also includes allegations of attempting to produce objectionable photographs. He was arrested around 12:30pm from the Bottola area under Siddhirganj in Narayanganj. The matter was confirmed by Saifur Rahman, officer-in-charge of Demra police station. He said that Noble is currently in police custody and will be produced before a court on Tuesday, after completion of legal procedures.

Road Transport and Bridges, Railways and Shipping Minister Sheikh Rabiul Alam on Monday urged all officials to dedicate themselves to the interests of the state and perform their duties with honesty and integrity. Rabiul Alam noted, “It is not easy to dedicate ourselves to the interests of the state, as there will be various obstacles. However, young officers can bring positive changes if they are committed.”Reminding the officials that state funds are ultimately the people’s money, he stressed that overall public interest must take priority. In his speech, special guest State Minister for Road Transport and Bridges, Railways and Shipping Habibur Rashid said, “We must build the future of Bangladesh together. State Minister Md Rajib Ahsan urged the officials to work with utmost sincerity and honesty.

It is possible that Mr Alam is confusing donation to extortion as the term chanda is used for both in Bengali. Systematic extortion includes extortion from both formal and informal businesses and the mass population. Nevertheless, the administration allows it for short-term gains and that is the core tenet of the economics of extortion. They are thus able to shift the risk through the extortion fee which allows them short-term access to the market places. The government must begin to address the fundamentals and make it costly to operate the extortion business.

Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen today paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Tarique Rahman at the Cabinet Division in the Bangladesh Secretariat. Photo : PMODHAKA, Feb 23, 2026 (BSS) - Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen today paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. The Chinese envoy met the premier at the latter's Cabinet Division office in the Bangladesh Secretariat here at 12.30pm, Prime Minister's Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Ruman confirmed BSS. Ruman said that China has welcomed Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's 'Bangladesh First' foreign policy. The Chinese envoy assured that his country would continue all kinds of cooperation to safeguard Bangladesh's sovereignty.

Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen today paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Tarique Rahman at the Cabinet Division in the Bangladesh Secretariat. Photo : PMODHAKA, Feb 23, 2026 (BSS) – Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen has invited Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to visit China and conveyed warm congratulations and greetings from Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang. The Chinese envoy extended the invitation when he paid a call on the premier at his Cabinet Division office in the Bangladesh Secretariat here at 12.30pm today. The foreign affairs adviser said that the Chinese government has recognized the huge mandate that newly elected Prime Minister Tarique Rahman got with a two-thirds majority. Noting that today’s meeting between the Prime Minister and Chinese Ambassador was just a courtesy call, he said there was no discussion on any specific issues.

Ambassador to Dhaka, Brent Christensen, met with Foreign Minister Dr. Khalilur Rahman at the Foreign Ministry today. Ambassador in Dhaka, Brent Christensen, paid a courtesy call on Foreign Minister Dr. Khalilur Rahman at the Foreign Ministry today, said a foreign ministry press release. They reviewed key areas of cooperation, including trade and investment, defence and security, development partnership, immigration and people-to-people exchanges. The foreign minister conveyed Bangladesh’s appreciation for continued U.S. humanitarian assistance and sought sustained political support for the safe and sustainable repatriation of displaced Rohingyas to Myanmar. Prior to the meeting with the Foreign Minister, Ambassador Christensen also paid a maiden courtesy call on State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam, MP, and discussed bilateral issues of mutual interest.

RANGPUR, Feb 23, 2026 (BSS) - Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) seized 200 bottlesof phensedyl-like ESKuf syrup and arrested an alleged drug dealer fromKhamarbhati village under Kaliganj Police Station of Lalmonirhat district today. The arrested was identified as Md Harun Mia, 39, son of Nuru Hossain aliasNuru Sheikh of Khamarbhati village under Kaliganj Police Station ofLalmonirhat district. On a tip-off, a team of the RAB-13 Sadar Company from its Rangpurheadquarters conducted a raid in the area and arrested the man along with thecontraband drugs at 2:20 am, a press release said. After filing a case in this incident, the elite force handed over thearrested person and seized drugs to Kaliganj Police Station of Lalmonirhatfor further legal action.

DHAKA, Feb 23, 2026 (BSS) - Bangladesh’s economic recovery remains on a fragile footing as persistent inflationary headwinds and sluggish export performance tempered growth during the second quarter of FY26, according to the latest Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Dhaka (MCCI) review. The "Review of Economic Situation in Bangladesh October-December 2025 (Q2 of FY26)" reveals a landscape of modest expansion overshadowed by systemic pressures, despite a gradual improvement in macroeconomic stability. According to the review, Bangladesh’s economy showed mixed performance. Growth remained modest, weighed down by weak exports, subdued private investment, and tight monetary policy. On the positive side, strong remittance inflows supported foreign exchange reserves and helped maintain overall balance of payments stability, despite a widening trade deficit.

Reading time: about 6 minutesFollowing the famous “Is Pegging Gay?” debate on Feb. 10, many were left wondering how Cornell’s Big Red Moon Club could possibly outdo themselves. Other organizations would have stumbled in the afterglow — flopped, one could say — but not Moon Club. While, yes, these events that Moon Club hosts are satirical and unserious, they’re having an undeniable impact on campus. “I was really impressed by how the Big Red Moon Club, time and time again, can not just bring people out but bring people together,” Max Troiano ’28, pegging debate champion, commented. And truly, Moon Club is carving out queer spaces on campus and bringing people together, one bisexual at a time.

The High Court on Monday directed the authorities concerned to seal all abandoned deep tube-well shafts across the country within three months, following the deaths of several children who fell into open shafts in different areas. The HC bench of Justice Ahmed Sohel and Justice Fatema Anwar passed the order after hearing a writ petition. In 2014, the death of child Jihad, who fell into an abandoned deep tube well in the Railway Colony of Shahjahanpur, had shaken the entire nation. He also mentioned that in December 2025, a child named Sajid died after falling into an abandoned deep tube well in Tanore of Rajshahi district. On January 28 this year, another child, Misbah, died after falling into an abandoned deep tube well in Raozan upazila of Chattogram district.

Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir on Monday said commodity prices and supply in the capital’s markets remain satisfactory during Ramadan, warning that action will be taken if any irregularities are found. The minister made the remarks after a surprise visit to Mohammadpur Town Hall Kitchen Market in the city, where he inspected shops and spoke to traders and consumers. “The market situation during Ramadan is normal. Mentioning that monitoring activities are ongoing, Muktadir said 10 teams from the National Consumer Rights Protection Directorate are conducting daily drives, alongside three additional teams from the ministry. Later, the minister also inspected the capital’s largest wholesale kitchen market at Karwan Bazar and exchanged views with traders and buyers about the overall market situation.