Congratulations to the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) on their remarkable victory in the national parliamentary election. I have written several articles on the same issue, namely, how the brutal majority destroys the beauty of democracy and how a political party like the Awami League became a tyrannical political party. As the new prime minister of Bangladesh, Tarique Rahman needs to honour his commitments to the citizens and ensure they are kept. Put an end to extortion within your own political party. The 'Yes' victory in the referendum paved the way for the implementation of the state's fundamental reform proposals, which the BNP and other political parties must implement.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman on Tuesday said his party will cooperate with the new government if it undertakes initiatives in the interest of the country and its people. “If the government takes initiatives in the interest of the country and the people, we will cooperate with them. But if it acts against public interest, we will raise protests and resistance,” Shafiqur said after the swearing-in ceremony. Reflecting on the July martyrs, he said, “We could not pay tribute to the martyrs of July. If the BNP respects the public’s aspirations, it will take the oath of the Constitution Reform Council.

Several senior leaders of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) were left out of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s new Cabinet, announced Tuesday as the party returned to power after 20 years. Senior leader Aman Ullah Aman and Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi were also left out. Except for Nazrul Islam Khan and Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, the excluded leaders had previously served in key ministries during past BNP governments, making their absence a major surprise in the new Cabinet. In Bangladesh’s 300-seat parliament, a party needs at least 151 seats, or 50.33%, to form a government. With 209 seats, representing 69.66% of contested seats, the BNP will govern with a commanding majority.

Bhutan Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay paid a courtesy call on Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus at the State Guest House Jamuna on Tuesday. During the meeting, Tobgay thanked the Chief Adviser for holding a free, fair, peaceful and credible election at a critical time, said the Chief Adviser’s Press Wing this afternoon. Tobgay arrived in Dhaka to attend the swearing-in ceremony of the new cabinet to be formed this afternoon under the leadership of BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman. Foreign Adviser M Touhid Hossain received him at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.

A Dhaka court on Tuesday convicted a woman and sentenced her to death in a case filed in connection with the Dhanmondi double murder in 2019. The convict is Surovi Akter, domestic help of deceased Afroza Begum. The court also acquitted Bachhu Mia, a worker of the house, as allegations brought against him could not be proved. A case was filed with Dhanmondi Police Station on November 3, 2019. Police submitted chargesheet against Surovi and Bachhu Mia on February 1, 2022.

Promises, be they family, farmer, and health cards, canal restoration, and mass tree planting cannot remain slogans but must start becoming reality. The following is an indicative, citizen-facing roadmap for what the first 100 days could achieve. Inviting the opposition and civil society to contribute priority reform proposals -- and openly acknowledging those adopted -- would model a new political maturity. By day 100, steps toward fast-track anti-corruption courts, stronger rules against illicit enrichment, and open-data budgeting should be in motion. If the government embraces responsibility, openness, and fairness -- and even half of these commitments are implemented -- the next 100 days could spark lasting change in how Bangladesh is governed and grows.

Newly appointed Prime Minister and BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman paid a courtesy visit to President Mohammed Shahabuddin on Tuesday evening at the National Parliament House. During the meeting, the prime minister presented flowers to the president as a gesture of greeting. Earlier in the day, at 4pm, President Shahabuddin administered the oath of office to Tarique Rahman at the South Plaza of the National Parliament House. He also administered the oath to 25 ministers and 24 state ministers.

A writ petition was filed on Tuesday challenging the legality of the referendum that was held on February 12. ABM Ataul Majid Touhid, a Supreme Court lawyer filed the writ petition with the HC bench concerned. The petition also sought cancellation of the results of the referendum. The petition is likely to move before a High Court bench led by Justice Fatema Najib. Meanwhile, the ‘Yes’ vote won in the nationwide referendum held on February 12.

The Prime Minister of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh Taruque Rahman has appointed a group of advisers with ministerial and state ministerial ranks, according to a notification signed by the Cabinet Secretary. Appointed as advisers with the rank of minister are: Mirza Abbas Uddin Ahmed, Nazrul Islam Khan, Ruhul Kabir Rizvi Ahmed, Md Ismail Zabiullah, and Dr Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir. Appointed as advisers with the rank of state minister are: Humayun Kabir, Brig Gen (retd) Shamsul Islam, Dr Zahedur Rahman, Dr Mahadi Amin, and Rehan Asif Asad. The notification formalizing these appointments was issued under the authority of the prime minister.

Pakistan’s Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal Chaudhary paid a courtesy call on Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus at the State Guest House Jamuna on Tuesday, said the Chief Adviser’s Press Wing. Chaudhary arrived here to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Bangladesh’s new cabinet led by BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman, marking a significant diplomatic engagement between the two countries.

The first meeting of the newly formed cabinet will be held at 3pm on Wednesday. Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will preside over the meeting to be held at the Bangladesh Secretariat. He said Tarique Rahman will pay tribute by placing a wreath at the National Memorial at 10am on Wednesday. Upon his return from there, around 12:30pm, he will hold office at the Prime Minister's Office in the Cabinet Division at the Secretariat. After the meeting, he will have lunch at the Secretariat and then hold the special cabinet meeting at 3pm.

National Citizen Party (NCP) Convenor Nahid Islam, has been nominated as the opposiiton party chief whip of the 13th National Parliament. Role of the chief whip and whipsIn a parliamentary democracy, the chief whip and whips play a crucial role in maintaining party discipline in the legislature. Ensuring attendance: Making sure party MPs attend sessions, and recalling members to the chamber if quorum is at risk. Coordinating votes: Securing the presence of party MPs and ensuring voting aligns with party positions on important bills or motions. Status and benefitsBy law, the chief whip and Whips are granted special status and state facilities:

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman offered jiarat at the graves of his father Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman and mother former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia tonight. Photo: BSSDHAKA, Feb 17, 2026 (BSS) - Prime Minister Tarique Rahman offered jiarat at the graves of his father Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman and mother former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia tonight. He offered the jiarat at Zia Udyan in the city's Sher-e-Bangla Nagar area after assuming office as the country's 11th Prime Minister. During the jiarat, the Prime Minister also offered prayers (dua) seeking eternal peace for the departed souls of his parents while his family members were present. Earlier, Tarique Rahman took the oath of office at the South Plaza of the Sangsad Bhaban this afternoon with the presence of a number of foreign dignitaries and diplomats.

The National Citizen Party (NCP) has refused to attend the swearing-in of the new cabinet after BNP lawmakers declined to take the Constitution Reform Council oath. The announcement came on Tuesday via the party’s Facebook page after its six MPs were sworn in as parliamentarians and reform council members. After the BNP and its alliance partners opted out of the council pledge earlier in the day, Jamaat-e-Islami and its ally the NCP had initially indicated that they would refrain from taking any oath unless the BNP joined the reform council process. The new cabinet is scheduled to be sworn in at 4pm on Tuesday at the South Plaza of the parliament complex, with President Mohammed Shahabuddin set to administer the oath. However, around 1:30pm, the NCP announced that its members would skip the ceremony, citing BNP’s refusal to join the reform council.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. Photo: CollectedDHAKA, Feb 17, 2026 (BSS) – World leaders today congratulated Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on becoming Bangladesh’s new premier and expressed hope for stability, prosperity and democratic progress under his leadership following the Bangladesh Nationalist Party’s victory in the 13th parliamentary elections. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his warm congratulations to Rahman and conveyed his desire to work closely with the new government to further deepen Dhaka-Delhi ties. Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae also congratulated premier Tarique Rahman on assuming office and reaffirmed Tokyo’s commitment to further strengthening bilateral ties under the existing “Strategic Partnership” between Japan and Bangladesh. In a message posted on X, Albanese said the two nations shared a “valuable partnership” and that Australia was keen to work closely with Dhaka to promote “a stable, prosperous region”.