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.
Former Information and Broadcasting Adviser Mahfuz Alam has described the recently concluded 13th National Parliament Election as a “pre-arranged” and “divided” poll. He also urged to stop what he called the “drama of opposition” surrounding the results. In a post shared from his verified Facebook account at around 1:50 pm on Tuesday, he wrote, “Accept the pre-arranged election and stop the drama of opposition now. Those who divided the seats and those who accepted the arrangement are on one side, and the people are on the other side. “May Allah protect the people of this country,” he added.
Krishibid Group celebrated its 25th anniversary on Tuesday with great enthusiasm, marking its silver jubilee. The daylong celebration was held at the Krishibid Group Auditorium. Managing Director and one of the founding entrepreneurs of the group, agricultural scientist Ali Afzal, attended as chief guest. Today, it has transformed into a vast industrial group valued at nearly Tk10,000 crore. Following the discussion session, the silver jubilee of Krishibid Group was celebrated in a festive atmosphere with a ceremonial cake-cutting.
Two bomb attacks and a gunfight between police and militants in northwest Pakistan killed at least 14 security personnel and three civilians including a child, officials said. The latest attacks in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa targeted a checkpoint and a police station, according to a military statement and a security official. The explosion caused “severe destruction” to nearby residential buildings, “leading to the martyrdom of one innocent young girl” and injuring seven others, the military statement said. The statement said security forces killed a dozen militants as they were fleeing the scene. Elsewhere in the same province, three police personnel and three militants were killed during a search operation in Shangla district.
BSIA partners with SICIP to train 3,500 graduates, strengthening Bangladesh’s semiconductor workforce and global competitiveness. Under this contract, BSIA will train 3,500 graduates from EEE, ECE, CSE, Applied Physics and other relevant disciplines, through six specializedcourses. BSIA President M A Jabbar expressed his gratitude to SICIP and thanked all concerned officers from both organisations who contributed to making theinitiative a reality. Among others, Mahfuzul Alam Khan-Additional Secretary DEPD (Program Management), Manjur Alam Prodhan, Joint Secretary DEPD (Program Management),Amina Fahmeen, Joint Secretary DEPD (Program Management), Mr. Myenul Hasan, DEPD (Fund Management), Mohammad Afzal Hossain, AEPD (Program Management), Deputy Secretary and focal point of SICIP for BSIA, along with other senior officials, were present at the signing ceremony. Alongside, Sr. Vice President of BSIA M E Chowdhury Shameem, its Director Munir Ahmed and Secretary Hashim Ahmed were present.
Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and Chinese Premier Li Qiang. Collage Photo -DHAKA, Feb 17, 2026 (BSS) - Chinese Premier Li Qiang today congratulatedPrime Minister Tarique Rahman on his inauguration, reaffirming Beijing'ssupport for Bangladesh's new government. In a congratulatory message sent on Tuesday, Premier Li Qiang conveyed hiswarm wishes to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on assuming office. The Chinese Premier reaffirmed that his government supports the newBangladeshi administration in ensuring smooth governance and nationaldevelopment. Expressing readiness to work closely with Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, Lisaid he looks forward to carrying forward the traditional friendship betweenthe two nations, strengthening high-quality cooperation under the Belt andRoad Initiative and expanding exchanges across various sectors.
With shuttering of Kennedy Center, large-scale opera returns to Maryland The Washington Opera will perform ‘West Side Story’ at the Lyric Baltimore then at the Strathmore in North Bethesda
Photo: CollectedDHAKA, Feb 17, 2026 (BSS) – Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Chairman Tarique Rahman, elder son of Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman and late Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia, today formed the government with a 49-member cabinet as he took oath as the prime minister for his first time. After the swearing-in, Tarique Rahman signed the oath of office and oath of secrecy. Clad in black-suit with stripe and white shirt Tarique Rahman was looking very confident and lively at the South Plaza gathering. Tarique Rahman took oath first pledging to preserve, protect and defend the national constitution and the state sovereignty. Earlier, people had assembled in processions from different parts of the capital, chanting slogans hailing Tarique Rahman, the leader of the young.
LAGOS, Feb 17, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Nigeria warned its nationals against being recruited for armed conflicts abroad after reports that some were duped into fighting for Russia in Ukraine, as were citizens of other African countries. They travelled to Russia and were forced to sign contracts in Cyrillic that they could not understand before being deployed to the front. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said last week he had discussed with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin the return of South Africans lured into fighting for Russian forces in Ukraine. Testimonies have also emerged in Uganda, an ally of Russia that has so far avoided criticising Moscow. Ukraine said in November it had identified at least 1,436 citizens from 36 African countries fighting for Russia.
DHAKA, Feb 17, 2026 (BSS)- After a day-recess, the 6th round of Bangladesh Championship League Football (BCL) begins tomorrow (Wednesday) with two matches billed for the day at two separate venues. On the day, Chattogram City Football Club take on Chittagong Abahani Limited at Bashundhara Kings arena practice ground while Khelaghar Samaj Kalyan Samity face BRTC Sports Club at Shaheed Barkat Stadium in Gazipur. Both the matches kick off at 2.45 pm. In the remaining 6th round matches on the following day (Thursday), table topper City Club meet Dhaka Wanderers Club at Bashundhara Kings arena practice ground, Dhaka Rangers Football Club face Wari Club at Fortis ground (Jalshiri) and Suktara Jobo Sangsad take on Little Friends Club at Shaheed Barkat Stadium in Gazipur.
