Education Minister ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon on Thursday said that instructions have been given to the authorities concerned to ensure the preparation and distribution of question papers of SSC examinations, without any irregularities or disruptions. On reviewing and revising the national curriculum, the minister said preparations are underway with curriculum experts from the National Curriculum and Textbook Board. A decision on forming an Education Commission would be taken after discussions with the prime minister, he said. The minister also said initiatives would be taken to reorganize and reinforce the functions of the National Teacher Registration and Certification Authority regarding teacher recruitment, transfer and discipline. “The Education Ministry is firmly committed to ensuring ethics, accountability and quality education,” he said.

The Election Commission has instructed the field officers to expedite the processing of all pending National Identity Card that accumulated during the 13th National Parliament Elections and Referendum-2026. An official order, signed by Assistant Director Muha Sarwar Hossain of the National Identification Registration Wing (NID Wing), confirmed the matter on Thursday. Based on the submitted lists, the Additional Regional Election Officers must reclassify those applications into Category "Gh" by February 28. As correction activities remain limited in view of the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election and Referendum 2026, the currently pending applications must be resolved swiftly. Meanwhile, once the applications are upgraded to Category "Gha," they will come under the authority of the Director General of the NID.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has said he looks forward to working closely with Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to strengthen their partnership and advance shared priorities. "I look forward to this next chapter in the partnership between our two countries," he said in a letter extending his congratulations to PM Tarique on his victory in the Bangladesh elections and his confirmation as prime minister. As one of the largest foreign investors in Bangladesh, Starmer hoped to continue to grow their trade and investment relationship. The British prime minister said the United Kingdom and Bangladesh share a close and long-standing relationship. The British prime minister welcomed further cooperation to tackle illegal migration, combat the effects of climate change and strengthen our long-standing defence and security ties.

A Jamalpur court on Thursday sentenced a man to life imprisonment for kidnapping a college girl about five years ago. The convicted individual, Md Nadim Ahmed, also known as Apel (25), son of Arju Mia, hails from Paschim Banshibeltail village in Melandah Upazila of Jamalpur. Additionally, under Section 7 of the same Act, he was sentenced to life imprisonment and fined another Tk 100,000. Public Prosecutor Advocate Md Fazlul Haque confirmed the sentence, stating that Nadim Ahmed will serve life imprisonment and pay the combined fine. According to Public Prosecutor Md Fazlul Haque, the convict had been harassing a 17-year-old girl from the same area of Melandah Upazila.

At the start of the holy month of Ramadan, prices of essential commodities have increased in Naogaon, putting pressure on the consumers already grappling with rising living costs. Many shoppers claim that some traders take advantage of the increased demand during Ramadan to raise prices. They say that many customers buy in bulk at the start of Ramadan, pushing prices up temporarily. In the vegetable market, eggplant prices have nearly doubled from Tk 30–35 per kg last week to Tk 60 per kg. Ginger is priced at Tk 130–140 per kg, and onion prices have increased by Tk 5–7 per kg.

Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) recovered 900 Yaba tablets from the stomach of an alleged drug dealer during an operation in Jessore. The tablets were concealed in 13 small packets inside his stomach. During preliminary interrogation, he reportedly admitted that he had concealed Yaba tablets inside his stomach using a special method. He was later admitted to the surgery department of Jessore Sadar Hospital. Through medical procedures, 13 packets containing a total of 900 Yaba tablets were recovered from his stomach.

The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT)-1 on Thursday fixed March 2 to hear charge framing against Qamrul Islam, presidium member of the banned Awami League, and Rashed Khan Menon, president of the Workers Party, over alleged crimes against humanity during July Uprising. The two-member tribunal, led by Justice Golam Mortuza Majumder, issued the order on Thursday. Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam represented the prosecution in tribunal hearings as formal charges were filed on February 3 against Qamrul Islam and Rashed Khan Menon in connection with crimes against humanity during the anti-discrimination student movement in July–August 2024. Prosecutor Gazi M.H. Tamim stated that the two leaders face two cases of crimes against humanity, including involvement in the killing of 23 individuals.

A 45-year-old woman was killed after being struck by a speeding motorcycle in the capital’s Shahbagh area. The deceased, identified as Mukta Akhtar, used to sell flowers in the Shahbagh and Shaheed Minar areas, according to her relatives. The accident occurred on Thursday in front of the gate of Dhaka Nursing College in Shahbagh. She was later admitted to the One Stop Emergency Centre at Dhaka Medical College Hospital, where she died while undergoing treatment at around midday. She was rescued and taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, where she later died in the emergency centre.

A vehicle in the convoy carrying German World Cup-winning footballer Mesut Ozil and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s son Necmettin Bilal Erdogan was involved in a road accident while returning from a visit to the Rohingya camps in Cox’s Bazar. The incident occurred at around 6:45pm on the Cox’s Bazar–Teknaf highway in the Kutupalong area of Ukhiya. According to police, a battery-powered auto-rickshaw collided with one of the vehicles in the convoy. He said that while the convoy was returning from the Rohingya camp, an auto-rickshaw suddenly entered the VIP convoy, breaching protocol. Earlier in the day, Ozil and members of the Turkish delegation visited various activities at the Rohingya camp.

The Bangladesh Independent Power Producers Association (BIPPA) has expressed concern that electricity supply may be disrupted during Ramadan and the upcoming summer season due to mounting unpaid bills and complications in fuel imports. Speaking at an exchange meeting at a hotel in Banani, Dhaka, on Thursday, leaders of the organization said private sector power plants have not been receiving regular payments since July last year. In introductory remarks at the meeting, it was stated that outstanding payments began to rise following the Russia–Ukraine war in 2022. He added: “The government may view the inability to operate power plants due to arrears as blackmail, but this is not an attempt to exert pressure. It is therefore anticipated that demand may increase further during the current summer season.

State Minister for Youth and Sports Aminul Haque on Thursday said the government would take a flexible stance to facilitate the return of Mashrafe Bin Mortaza and Shakib Al Hasan to cricket despite their ongoing legal cases. “To ensure they can return to cricket quickly, the government will remain flexible regarding their legal process or bail,” he said. Mashrafe and Shakib have largely stayed away from cricket and other activities due to the cases filed against them. When asked who would take the initiative for their return, Aminul said the players themselves must proceed through legal channels. “If allegations of corruption or other irregularities are not proven, the issues can be resolved through due legal process.

One held with 211 bottles of ESKuf syrup in LalmonirhatRANGPUR, Feb 19, 2026 (BSS) - Rapid Action Battalion (RAB)-13 has seized 211 bottles of smuggled phensedyl-like ESKuf syrup and arrested a suspected drug dealer from Uttar Batris Hazari village under Kaliganj Police Station in Lalmonirhat today. The arrestee was identified as Abdul Hamid, 35, son of Abdul Khaleque of Jawrani (Dangapara) village under Hatibandha Police Station in Lalmonirhat. Acting on a tip-off, a team of RAB-13's Sadar Company conducted a raid, recovered the contraband from a battery-powered van, and arrested Abdul Hamid around 4:30 pm on Wednesday, the press release said. Following the filing of a case, the arrested person and seized syrup were handed over to Kaliganj Police Station for further legal action.

The government has moved to launch the “family card” programme on a pilot basis across eight Upazilas in as many divisions of the country, fulfilling a key electoral pledge to strengthen social security for low-income households. The high-powered body includes ministers, prime minister’s advisors and state ministers. The panel will also review whether any existing women-centric social programmes can be integrated as the foundation for the family card. The “family card” was a centrepiece of the BNP’s election manifesto, which focused on building a “humane, inclusive, and accountable state”. The card bearer will be entitled to a certain amount of monthly payment, a benefit that will increase with time.

Road Transport and Communications Minister Shaikh Rabiul Alam has said that money collected from transport operators “on a consensual basis” should not be considered extortion. Speaking to reporters at his office in the Secretariat on Thursday, he clarified: “What is called extortion in road transport, I do not see it that way. Owners’ associations and workers’ federations sometimes collect funds for their welfare. Drawing comparisons, the minister noted that owners’ associations often collect fixed amounts from each trip, claiming to use it for welfare purposes, though disputes remain over how the funds are spent. “If anyone attempts extortion, there is no scope for it,” he reiterated.

Aniruddha Das, India’s senior consular official in Sylhet, has said steps are under way to fully restore all visa services. On Thursday, the Indian assistant high commissioner in Sylhet also assured maximum cooperation to strengthen bilateral ties through visa facilitation. “Medical and double-entry visas are being issued now, and steps are under way to resume other categories, including travel visas,” he said at the Sylhet District Press Club.