Gusty winds during the evening. Winds S at 20 to 30 mph. Higher wind gusts possible..TonightPartly cloudy skies. Gusty winds during the evening. Higher wind gusts possible.

Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. -Collage PhotoDHAKA, Feb 17, 2026 (BSS) – Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has extended his warm congratulations to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on his electoral victory and expressed his wish to work together for the well being of the two peoples. Indian high commission in Dhaka released the letter where Modi wished new Bangladesh premier every success as he assumed the “high responsibilities of the office”. Modi also pointed out that India and Bangladesh shared a “deep-rooted friendship” based on common history, cultural bonds and shared aspirations” while the friendship. The Indian premier said that as two fast-growing economies and aspiring societies, India and Bangladesh could truly become catalysts for each other’s sustainable growth, security and prosperity.

Indian Lok Sabha (parliament) Speaker Om Birla today met with Prime Minister Tarique Rahman at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban. Photo: PIDDHAKA, Feb 17, 2026 (BSS) – Indian Lok Sabha (parliament) Speaker Om Birla today called on Prime Minister Tarique Rahman at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban following the swearing-in ceremony of the new government. The information was shared in a post on X by Bangladesh High Commissioner to India Md Riaz Hamidullah, who said the Indian Speaker conveyed good wishes from India and extended an invitation to the Bangladesh Prime Minister to visit India. Prime Minister Tarique Rahman also conveyed his greetings to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and expressed optimism about further strengthening people-centric cooperation between Bangladesh and India. Earlier, a high-level Indian delegation led by Birla arrived in Dhaka to attend the oath-taking ceremony of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. A Legacy of Leadership and Resilience :Tarique Rahman’s political journey is deeply rooted in Bangladesh’s history. He introduced multiparty democracy before his assassination cut his life short, leaving a young Tarique Rahman without a father in a volatile political landscape. The turning point came in 2008, with political turmoil leading to Tarique Rahman’s exile in London for over 17 years. From Absence to Authority :For supporters, Tarique Rahman’s 17 years in exile represented endurance rather than detachment.

Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. -Collage PhotoDHAKA, Feb 17, 2026 (BSS) - Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi todaycongratulated Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on assuming office, expressingsupport for Bangladesh's democratic progress and reaffirming Tokyo'scommitment to further strengthening bilateral ties under the existingStrategic Partnership. In a congratulatory letter sent here today, Prime Minister Takaichi extendedher warm congratulations to the Premier Rahman on his assumption of office asPrime Minister of the People's Republic of Bangladesh. Prime Minister Takaichi expressed her hope to further deepen and expandbilateral relations based on the longstanding "Strategic Partnership" betweenJapan and Bangladesh. Japan remains one of Bangladesh's key development partners, with cooperationspanning infrastructure development, economic growth, trade, investment andpeople-to-people exchanges.

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Photo: CollectedDHAKA, Feb 17, 2026 (BSS)- Bangladesh face a stern test in confirming theirdirect berth for the 2027 ODI World Cup given their current situation in the50-over format. However, they have now slipped to 10th, raising a pressingquestion - can Bangladesh secure a direct spot in the 2027 World Cup? Their next assignment is a three-match ODI series athome against Pakistan national cricket team on March 12, 14 and 16. This tournamentmarks the beginning of that process, which is essentially part of ourpreparation for the 2027 World Cup. With the Pakistan series ahead and the larger mission of securing directqualification for 2027, Bangladesh are embarking on a crucial new chapter intheir ODI journey.

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed. File PhotoCOX’S BAZAR, Feb 17, 2026 (BSS) – People in Cox’s Bazar are jubilant as Salahuddin Ahmed, Member of Parliament (MP) from Cox’s Bazar 1 constituency, has been appointed as the Minister of Home Affairs in the newly formed cabinet. Party workers chanted slogans congratulating Salahuddin Ahmed on being entrusted with one of the most important ministries in the new government. In Salahuddin Ahmed’s home area of Pekua, local party supporters also organized processions and sweet distribution, expressing pride in their native son’s elevation to the cabinet. Many residents of Cox’s Bazar expressed optimism about the future, hoping that under Salahuddin Ahmed’s leadership the country’s law and order situation will improve and that long standing challenges, including the Rohingya crisis, will see renewed focus and resolution efforts.

Bangladesh’s 11th Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will begin his first official day in office on Wednesday, focusing on state affairs. He will then proceed to Building-1 of the Secretariat (Cabinet Division building), where he will start his first official activities at 12:30pm. PM’s first-day schedule at the secretariat is as follows:12:30pm: Introductory and brief exchange meeting with Cabinet Division officials. Tarique Rahman was sworn in as 11th prime minister of Bangladesh on Tuesday afternoon at the South Plaza of the Parliament Building. Twenty-five ministers and 24 state ministers also took the oath alongside him.

Outgoing Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus exchanged greetings today with newly elected Prime Minister Tarique Rahman at the South Plaza of Sangsad Bhaban. Photo: CA's Press WingDHAKA, Feb 17, 2026 (BSS)- Outgoing Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus today exchanged greetings with newly elected Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. He exchanged the greetings after BNP Chairman took oath of office as the Prime Minister at South Plaza of Sangsad Bhaban here this afternoon.

Health officials on Tuesday said they recorded 14 fresh cases of dengue onslaughts in the past 24 hours. "We recorded 14 fresh cases of dengue onslaughts in 24 hours ending at 8am today," a spokesman of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) said. "Out of the 14 fresh cases, nine were hospitalized in Barisal division, four in Khulna division and one in Rajshahi, a Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) statement said. The dengue last year claimed 413 lives and inflicted 1,02,861 people in the country. Besides, the dengue claimed 575 lives and inflicted 1,01,214 people in 2024.

Former US secretary of state Hillary Clinton has accused the administration of President Donald Trump of deliberately delaying the release of files linked to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, alleging a “cover-up” in their handling. Asked whether Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor should testify before a US congressional committee, Clinton said anyone asked to testify should do so. He has denied wrongdoing and settled a civil case in 2022 without admitting liability. Both Clintons are due to testify before the House Oversight Committee later this month, with Bill Clinton scheduled to appear a day after Hillary Clinton. Bill Clinton, who is mentioned multiple times in the Epstein files, has said he cut off contact with Epstein years ago.

Congratulating Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, Chinese Premier of the State Council Li Qiang Li on Tuesday said he stands ready to work with the prime minister to carry forward the long-standing friendship and enhance high-quality Belt and Road cooperation. Li Qiang wrote in the message that China and Bangladesh are neighbours enjoying a long-standing friendship and Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partners. He said the Chinese government supports the new Bangladeshi government in exercising smooth governance. BNP Chairman Tarique was sworn in as the country’s new prime minister on Tuesday afternoon. Earlier in the day, the BNP Parliamentary Party at a meeting at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban elected Tarique Rahman as leader of the party’s parliamentary party.

Bangladesh Parliament Journalists Association (BPJA) has protested against restrictions imposed on journalists’ access to the oath-taking ceremony of elected members to the 13th National Parliament. In a statement, BPJA president Harun Jamil and general secretary Shawkat Ali Khan Litho condemned the decision to limit media entry to the swearing-in programme. The statement said the National Parliament is the centre of democratic practice in the country, emphasizing that its relationship with journalists is inseparable. Leaders of the Bangladesh Parliamentary Journalists Association (BPJA) held several meetings with the authorities, requesting that journalists be allowed to cover the swearing-in ceremony, in line with established practice. As a result, journalists were unable to cover the historic oath-taking ceremony of the newly elected Members of Parliament.

Iran and the United States began fresh talks in Geneva on Tuesday, as President Donald Trump warned of consequences should Tehran fail to strike a deal. Trump has repeatedly threatened to intervene militarily against Iran, first over a deadly crackdown on protesters last month and then more recently over its nuclear program. “I don’t think they want the consequences of not making a deal,” he told reporters aboard Air Force One ahead of the talks. A previous attempt at diplomacy collapsed when Israel launched surprise strikes on Iran in June, beginning a 12-day war that Washington briefly joined to bomb Iranian nuclear sites. Iranian state TV reported on Tuesday that the indirect talks had begun with the two sides exchanging messages through Omani mediators.