Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer and Leader of the Opposition in the National Parliament, Dr Shafiqur Rahman, will lead members of parliament from the 11-party alliance in paying tribute to the language martyrs at the Central Shaheed Minar. According to a press release signed by Mujibul Alam, Senior Publicity Assistant of the Jamaat Central Publicity Department, the program is scheduled for the morning of February 21, on the occasion of “International Mother Language and Martyrs’ Day.”The newly elected MPs from the 11-party alliance will join the Jamaat ameer in the ceremony. During the visit, he will also pay respects at the graves of the language martyrs and offer prayers seeking forgiveness for their souls, the release added. The release also said Shafiqur Rahman will visit the graves of the Language Movement martyrs and offer prayers for the salvation of their departed souls.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Friday called upon all concerned to work collectively to uphold and protect the dignity of languages worldwide. The Head of the Government said the present government remains firmly committed to consolidating and advancing this democratic journey. “We honour the Language Martyrs, the heroes of 1971, the brave souls of the 2024 mass uprising, and all who have sacrificed for democracy in our nation's glorious history,” he stated. The core ideals of Ekushey were the establishment of democratic values, the protection of people’s rights, and the affirmation of equality. Praying for the eternal peace of all language martyrs, the prime minister wished every success to the programs undertaken in observance of Martyrs' Day and International Mother Language Day.

Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir briefed journalists at Sylhet Osmani International Airport today. Photo: PIDDHAKA, Feb 20, 2026 (BSS)- Commerce, Industries and Textiles & Jute Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir has said there are sufficient food stock in the country for the month of Ramadan. The minister said this while talking to journalists at Osmani International Airport in Sylhet this morning. Muktadir said it’s the responsibility of the commerce ministry to keep the prices of essential commodities stable. But after assuming office the present government had very little time to take special price control measures ahead of Ramadan,” he said.

Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has expressed deep concern and condemnation over Road Transport and Bridges Minister Sheikh Rabiul Alam’s remarks that appear to justify road extortion by referring to it as a transaction based on mutual understanding. The organization also urged Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to give the highest priority to purging his own party to prevent the growth of such corruption-facilitating practices. “Through this statement, the Transport Minister has embarrassingly undermined his party’s electoral commitments and the prime minister’s anti-corruption position,” Iftekharuzzaman said. He also recalled that in February 2012, a road minister in the then-authoritarian government attempted a similar move to legalize road extortion, which TIB had strongly protested. “Honorable prime minister, now is the time to determine the right priorities,” he said.

COLOMBO, Feb 20, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - New Zealand can adapt quickly to switchingto Sri Lankan pitches in the T20 World Cup after playing all their matches sofar in India, said batsman Mark Chapman on Friday. New Zealand open their Super Eight campaign against Pakistan in Colombo onSaturday, ahead of matches against Sri Lanka and England at the same venue. Pace, bounce and spin in Colombo will be markedly different to Chennai andAhmedabad, where New Zealand played their group matches, but Chapman said theplayers knew all about the variation in pitch conditions. Pakistan have played all their four matches in Sri Lanka and have a potentspin attack. Pace bowler Lockie Ferguson will only land back in Sri Lanka on Friday nightafter returning home for the birth of his first child.

Education Minister ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon today spoke to journalists after an exchange meeting with officials at the Kachua Upazila Parishad, Chandpur. Photo : BSSCHANDPUR, Feb 20, 2026 (BSS) - Education Minister ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon today announced a strict stance against drugs, terrorism and eve-teasing in educational institutions, following the ongoing drive to eliminate copying. He said the new initiatives will begin from Kachua upazila, where the anti-copying campaign has already shown positive results, and similar measures will be taken to ensure drug-free and violence-free campuses. The minister made the remarks while replying to questions from journalists after an exchange meeting with officials at the Kachua Upazila Parishad auditorium. Party leaders and activists greeted him on his first visit to his constituency Kachua after being appointed as education minister and elected as a member of parliament.

Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hasan Mahmud today spoke at Sirajganj Central Jame Mosque. Photo : BSSSIRAJGANJ, Feb 20, 2026 (BSS) - Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hasan Mahmud today said the additional charges imposed on electricity during the tenure of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina will be withdrawn soon, adding that a committee has already been formed in this connection. Iqbal Hasan Mahmud stressed that electricity is the key to national development and said the government is now working to rebuild the fragile power sector. He warned that extortionists and criminal elements, regardless of political affiliation, will be brought under the law. Sirajganj Deputy Commissioner Aminul Islam and district BNP general secretary Saidur Rahman Bacchu, were present, present among others during the time.

US President Donald Trump said Thursday he is ordering federal agencies to begin “identifying and releasing” government files related to UFOs and aliens, a move sought for decades by some Americans. “Based on the tremendous interest shown, I will be directing the Secretary of War, and other relevant Departments and Agencies, to begin the process of identifying and releasing Government files related to alien and extraterrestrial life, unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP), and unidentified flying objects (UFOs),” Trump posted on his Truth Social platform. “They’re real, but I haven’t seen them and they’re not being kept in... Area 51,” Obama told host Brian Tyler Cohen, referring to the top-secret US military facility in Nevada at the heart of many UFO conspiracy theories. Interest in UFOs and UAP has been renewed in recent years as the US government probed numerous reports of seemingly supernatural aircraft, amid worries that adversaries could be testing highly advanced technologies. In March 2024, the Pentagon released a report saying it had no proof that UAP were alien technology, with many suspicious sightings turning out to be merely weather balloons, spy planes, satellites and other normal activity.

The arrest of former prince Andrew has underlined the striking contrast between Europe, where high-profile, powerful people are being held to account over their links to Jeffrey Epstein, and the United States, where the fallout has been limited. Only one person has been arrested or convicted in the United States in connection with the activities of the late sex offender -- Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s ex-girlfriend and accomplice. Epstein cultivated a global network of powerful politicians, business executives, academics and celebrities -- many of whom have been tainted by their association with him. “And that’s where we remain for what we’ve seen and what we’ve released from the Epstein files,” said Blanche, who is also President Donald Trump’s former personal attorney. “A nation that allows the powerful to escape justice is not a nation of laws,” Mace said.

Prime Minister of Malaysia Anwar Ibrahim on Friday telephoned Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and congratulated him on assuming office following a landslide election victory. “Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim called Tarique Rahman around 3pm and warmly congratulated him on becoming the Prime Minister and on the massive election victory,” Prime Minister’s Press Secretary Saleh Shibly told UNB. During the conversation, Anwar Ibrahim also conveyed Malaysia’s interest in working closely on various bilateral issues. Tarique Rahman thanked his Malaysian counterpart for the call and reaffirmed his commitment to advancing cooperation for the development and prosperity of both nations. Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) secured a two-thirds majority in the February-12 national election and formed the government on February 17, with Tarique Rahman being the Prime Minister.

Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Hossain on Friday said people will no longer have to run after doctors as the government aims to ensure that doctors reach out to patients at their doorsteps. The minister said healthcare services would be made easily accessible and universal. “We are moving forward with the mindset of delivering medical services at the doorsteps of citizens,” he said. Responding to the long-standing demand for establishing a medical college in Narsingdi, the minister sought prayers and cooperation from the people to expedite the process. “We will work to establish a medical college in Narsingdi as soon as possible.

Iran on Thursday warned that US bases, facilities and assets would be “legitimate targets” if the United States follows through on its military threats and attacks. Amir Saeid Iravani, the Iranian ambassador to the United Nations, made the remarks in a letter to UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres and the president of the Security Council that was seen by AFP. President Donald Trump has deployed warships, fighter jets and other military hardware to the Middle East as he seeks to block Iran from building a nuclear bomb, something Tehran says it is not pursuing. On Thursday, Trump said that Iran had at most 15 days to make a deal and again suggested that the United States would attack if failed to do so. A previous attempt at negotiations collapsed when Israel launched surprise strikes on Iran last June, beginning a 12-day war that Washington briefly joined to bomb Iranian nuclear sites.

Discussions on Gaza’s future must begin with a total halt to Israeli “aggression,” Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas said after US President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace met for the first time. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has insisted however that Hamas must disarm before any reconstruction begins. “We agreed with our ally the US that there will be no reconstruction of Gaza before the demilitarization of Gaza,” Netanyahu said. The Israeli leader did not attend the Washington meeting but was represented by his foreign minister Gideon Saar. Trump said several countries, mostly in the Gulf, had pledged more than seven billion dollars to rebuild the territory.

The estate of convicted US sex offender Jeffrey Epstein has agreed to pay up to $35 million to settle the outstanding legal claims of potentially dozens of victims, according to a court filing Thursday. Epstein’s estate would pay $35 million if there are 40 or more people eligible in the class and $25 million if there are fewer than 40. The co-executors of the settlement are Darren Indyke, Epstein’s former lawyer, and Richard Kahn, the financier’s former accountant. Daniel H Weiner, the lawyer representing the co-executors, did not immediately reply to a comment request. The settlement comes after the release by the US Justice Department of millions of documents, photographs and videos related to the investigation into Epstein.

The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has issued detailed traffic and route guidelines for the public to ensure smooth movement and security during the observance of Martyrs' Day and International Mother Language Day on February 21. The DMP requested visitors intending to pay homage at the Central Shaheed Minar to follow designated routes and comply with traffic instructions to avoid congestion and ensure orderly proceedings. According to the DMP, visitors must approach the Central Shaheed Minar via Palashi crossing and the Jagannath Hall crossing after paying their respects. Sazzat Ali came up with the directives after his inspection of the security arrangements in the Shaheed Minar area. After paying homage, visitors will be allowed to exit the Shaheed Minar area through Ramna crossing-Doel Chattar or via Chankharpul, the DMP added.