Six players advance to third roundDHAKA, Feb 19, 2026 (BSS)- Six players advanced to the third round beating their respective opponents in the Spectrum Bangladesh National Cup Chess held at the Chess Federation hall-room today (Wednesday). They are International Master (IM) Manon Reja Neer, FIDE Master Tahsin Tajwar Zia, FIDE Master Subrota Biswas, International Master Md. Minhaz Uddin and FIDE Master Mohammad Javed. In the days second round matches, IM Mohammad Fahad Rahman defeated Golam Mostafa Bhuiyan, IM Manon Reja Neer defeated Ananta Choudhury, FIDE Master Tahsin Tajwar Zia beat Candidate Master Md. Masum Hossain, FIDE Master Subrota Biswas beat Candidate Master Sohel Chowdhury and IM Md.

Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Hossain spoke as the chief guest at an orientation meeting on the overall activities of the ministry held at its conference room today. Photo: PIDDHAKA, Feb 19, 2026 (BSS) - Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Hossain today announced that the government will conduct on-site monitoring at hospitals to ensure that doctors are providing proper and timely services to patients. Reaffirming the government's commitment to ensuring quality healthcare services across the country, the minister said, "We want to guarantee the highest standard of services in hospitals." Highlighting the importance of inclusive healthcare, the minister said the Prime Minister has directed that services be ensured equally for all citizens, regardless of political affiliation. Saidur Rahman and was attended, among others, by Director General of the Directorate General of Health Services Prof. Dr. Md.

File PhotoDHAKA, Feb 19, 2026 (BSS) - A court here today set February 26 for the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to submit a report on its further investigation into the sensational murder of Inqilab Mancha spokesperson Sharif Osman Hadi. Dhaka Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Jashita Islam passed the order as the investigation agency failed to submit the report today. According to the case statement, Foysal Karim Masud and Alamgir Hossain opened fire on Hadi while he was travelling in a battery-run auto-rickshaw on December 12, 2026, before fleeing the scene. Inqilab Mancha Member Secretary Abdullah Al Zaber filed the case with Paltan Model Police Station on December 14. Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Siddiq Azad on December 20 ordered the inclusion of Section 302 (murder) of the Penal Code in the case, which was initially filed as attempted murder, following Hadi's death on December 18.

Managing Director and Chief Editor of Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) Mahbub Morshed.-File photoDHAKA, Feb 19, 2026 (BSS) - The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has formed a four-member inquiry committee to investigate the allegations of corruption against Managing Director and Chief Editor of Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) Mahbub Morshed. The ministry concerned constituted the inquiry committee as a sequel to the widespread allegation coincided with the recently published corruption news in various media outlets against the BSS MD. The authorities concerned wants to impartially, transparently and fairly review the corruption allegations raised against Mahbub Morshed, the release mentioned. It said the committee will deeply review the allegations, take statements from the concerned parties and conduct necessary investigation. The investigation committee has been asked to submit its full report with recommendations by February 25, 2026, the release added.

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Agro products to be exported industrial scale in next one year: Agri MinisterSenior officials greeted Mohammad Amin-ur Rashid and Sultan Salauddin Tuku during conference at the ministry. Photo PIDDHAKA, Feb 19, 2026 (BSS) - Fisheries and Livestock, Agriculture and Food Minister Mohammad Amin-ur Rashid today said the farm products will be exported on an industrial scale in next one year. The Agriculture Minister said this while exchanging greetings with the ministry's senior officials at its conference room here. The agriculture sector should get preference to strengthen the country's economy. Earlier, the newly appointed minister and state minister were offered floral greetings on behalf of the agriculture ministry.

TCAT has an agreement with Cornell University to provide a certain number of hours of service to its students, faculty, and staff per day. When this happens, Cornell charges TCAT a penalty essentially clawing back some of the money they provided. Last year Cornell charged TCAT $440,000 in such penalties according to internal calculations provided by the TCAT General Manager Matthew Rosenbloom-Jones. As students who ride the TCAT, we have a direct interest in having a bus system that runs well and our voices matter. We can demand that Cornell contribute more to TCAT and eliminate the predatory penalty system that takes that money back.

The Election Commission (EC) hurriedly published the gazette notification of the elected MPs of the 13th parliamentary election without investigating whether disqualified contestants took part in the polls, said Shushashoner Jonno Nagorik (Shujan) Secretary Badiul Alam Majumdar on Thursday. “The Election Commission did not conduct any investigation. Instead, it hurriedly published the gazette at dead night. Once the gazette is published, the Commission’s jurisdiction effectively ends. According to Shujan’s data, 147 out of the 297 elected candidates in the 13th parliamentary election are loan borrowers.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the consumer rights body strongly protested the incident that took place during a monitoring drive at Moulvibazar in the capital. According to the statement, a team led by Abdul Jabbar Mondal, Assistant Director of the National Consumer Rights Protection Department’s Dhaka Divisional Office, conducted the drive on Wednesday. In this connection, the authorities fined the establishment Tk 5,000 under Section 45 of the Consumer Rights Protection Act, 2009. CAB said unjustified price hikes of essentials, failure to maintain proper cash memo documentation and resistance to official monitoring drives reflect disorder in market management and anti-consumer practices. The organisation called for exemplary punishment for those involved in price manipulation and obstruction of official duties, strict enforcement of mandatory cash memo issuance and stronger, regular market monitoring to ensure transparency and accountability.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman continued to work from the Secretariat for the second consecutive day on Thursday, commuting from his Gulshan Avenue residence while complying with regular traffic signals, according to his office. Additional Press Secretary to the Prime Minister Atikur Rahman Ruman said the premier left his residence at 8:34am in his personal vehicle. On the way to the Secretariat, his convoy stopped at four traffic signals where red lights were in effect. Ruman said that when the prime minister’s vehicle stopped at traffic signals, pedestrians on the roadside applauded and greeted him. Tarique Rahman had also worked from the Secretariat on Wednesday, the first official working day of the BNP-led government.

Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Husain on Thursday said on-site inspections will be conducted to ensure doctors are providing proper services to patients. He made the announcement at a meeting on the overall activities of the ministry at the conference room of the ministry at Secretariat. The minister said the government wants to ensure the highest level of services at hospitals and would work in line with the instructions and message of the Prime Minister. “We will make immediate visits to see whether on-duty doctors are providing services properly. He also said the Prime Minister has directed that services must be provided equally to all.

Photo: CollectedDHAKA, Feb 19, 2026 (BSS) - State Minister for Youth and Sports Md Aminul Haque today conveyed his best wishes to Australia-bound Bangladesh women’s football team, a release of the ministry said. Bangladesh Women’s Football Team left Dhaka to play in the Asian Football Confederation Women's Asian Cup in Australia from March 1-21. “Our women's football team is going to compete on this highest stage in Asia for the first time, marking a golden chapter in the history of Bangladesh's sports. On this glorious moment, I extend my heartfelt congratulations and best wishes to all players, coaches and officials,” the state minister said. This is not only the development of women's football, but also a unique reflection of the progress of our women's power in the commitment to building a sports-friendly Bangladesh, he said.

DHAKA, Feb 19, 2026 (BSS)- The Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) on Thursday revealed a 26-member final squad for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup featuring Sweden-based forward Anika Rania Siddique, U-19 team players Alpi Akter and Sauravi Akanda Prity. The Bangladesh women’s team is scheduled to depart for Australia in the early hours of tomorrow (Friday) to participate in the final stage of AFC Asian cup, the top tournament in Asia. Bangladesh women’s team: Rupna Chakma, Mile Akter, Swarna Rani Mandal, Afeida Khandakar (captain), Kohati Kisku, Nabiran Khatun, Sheuli Azim, Shamsunnajar (senior), Mst Halima Khatun, Surovi Akter Afin, Sapna Rani, Munki Akter, Airin Khatun, Shaheda Akter Ripa, Umehla Marma, Ritu Porna Chakma, Monika Chakma, Maria Manda, Anika Rania Siddiqui, Unnoti Khatun, Alpi Akter, Sauravi AAkanda Prity, Most Sultana Tohura Khatun, Mst Sagorika and Shamsunnahar (junior).

DHAKA, Feb 19, 2026 (BSS) - The Election Commission (EC) has directed that video footage recorded by CCTV cameras installed at polling centres during the 13th national parliamentary election must be preserved. The information was disclosed today in a letter signed by Mohammad Monir Hossain, Deputy Secretary of the EC Secretariat. The letter was sent to all returning officers across the country. According to the letter, the Election Commission has decided that the video footage recorded by CCTV cameras at polling centres — both on the day prior to voting and on the polling day — during the 13th national parliamentary election held on February 12 must be preserved at the offices of the respective assistant returning officers for use as evidence if required in the future. In this regard, the letter requested that necessary measures be taken, in line with the commission’s decision, to ensure proper preservation of the CCTV footage recorded on the day before polling and on the polling day at the offices of the concerned assistant returning officers.

Photo: BSSKHAGRACHHARI, Feb 19, 2026 (BSS) - The Matiranga Army Zone in the district provided special humanitarian assistance and free medical services as part of its regular socio-economic development initiatives on Thursday morning. The assistance programme was held at the Matiranga Zone headquarters, where Zone Commander Lieutenant Colonel Md. In a separate initiative, free medical services and medicines were provided to over 200 Pahari and Bengali men and women in the Kathal Bagan area of the municipality. The medical camp was conducted by Matiranga Zone Medical Officer Captain Noor Rezwan Tawfiq Elahi Rizvi and Guimara Region Medical Officer Captain Sumaiya Akhter. Senior officials, including Matiranga Zone Adjutant Officer Captain Rakibul Islam Rafi, were present during the events.