Iran’s foreign minister has arrived in Geneva ahead of a second round of negotiations with the United States, Iranian state television said Monday, as Washington keeps up pressure on the Islamic Republic. Tehran and Washington restarted negotiations this month after previous talks collapsed when Israel launched an unprecedented bombing campaign against Iran last June. “The foreign minister has arrived in Geneva at the head of a diplomatic and expert delegation to take part in the second round of nuclear negotiation,” Iran’s state-run IRIB wrote on its Telegram channel. Iran’s deputy foreign minister told the BBC that Tehran would consider compromises on its uranium stockpile if Washington lifts sanctions that have crippled the Islamic Republic’s economy. On February 6, Araghchi led the Iranian delegation in indirect talks with Witkoff and Kushner in Muscat.

Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain formally left the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday following his final meeting with ministry officials. Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam and other officials saw him off. Speaking to journalists before leaving, Touhid said he would return to his previous routine. I will do some writing so that I can talk to you again,” he said. Reflecting on his tenure, he added: “A year and a half has passed — with both good and bad times.”After the meeting, he joined ministry officials outside the building for a photo session before departing.

The Bangladesh Bank Officers Welfare Council, an organization of Bangladesh Bank officers and employees, has protested the initiative to issue digital bank licences in a hurry during the process of forming a newly elected government. He alleged that the governor had previously served as chairman of a bank belonging to the same group on whose behalf the digital bank licence is being sought. As a result, central bank officials believe that there is a conflict of interest. In such a situation, the need to issue a new digital bank licence in the interest of a particular group should be reviewed in depth. The organization has called for the newly elected government to postpone the relevant board meeting without taking any hasty decisions before assuming office.

July National Charter (Constitutional Reform) was signed during a programme held at the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban at 5:05pm on October 17 in 2025 . Following the endorsements of various political parties, Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus, chief adviser and chairman of the National Consensus Commission, appended his signature to the accord. While most major political parties in the country supported the charter, the National Citizen Party (NCP) initially refrained from signing. Questions soon arose on social media regarding the NCP’s initial abstention and its subsequent decision to endorse the agreement. Responding to these queries, NCP joint convener Sarwar Tushar stated, “With the ‘Yes’ vote prevailing in the referendum, a legal basis has now been established.

BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman has invited Shah Muhibbullah Babunagari, ameer of Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh, to attend the cabinet swearing-in ceremony scheduled for Tuesday afternoon. Tarique Rahman made the invitation via a phone call to Babunagari on Monday, the BNP media cell confirmed. After securing a single-party majority in the 13th National Parliament elections, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) is moving forward to form the next government. The newly elected members of parliament are scheduled to take oath Tuesday morning, followed by the cabinet members in the afternoon.

The announcement was signed by Md Emadul Haque, director (deputy secretary) of the Public Relations Wing-1, Bangladesh Jatiya Sangsad Secretariat. Invitation letters for the oath ceremony are being issued. Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin is expected to administer the oath to the MPs at 10 a.m., while Cabinet Secretary Dr. Nasimul Ghani will conduct the ceremony. Lawmakers from Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, National Citizen Party (NCP), Bangladesh Khilafat Majlis, Khelafat Majlish, Gano Odhikar Parishad, Bangladesh Jatiya Party (BJP), Ganosamhati Andolon, and independent MPs will follow. Following the MPs’ oath, the BNP will hold a parliamentary board meeting to elect its parliamentary leader.

In 2014, satellite imagery revealed Dhaka as a city with patchy “heat islands” -- pockets of high temperatures, mostly concentrated in industrial areas such as Tejgaon. He argues that in a city as dense as Dhaka, we must adopt advanced adaptation strategies. If we continue to perceive this heat as merely "for some time," we are missing the signal. The choice is between a tough structural correction today and an alienable capital tomorrow. Md Mahbuber Rahman has been a Research Grantee in 2025 at the International Centre for Climate Change and Development (ICCCAD).

Because this document, sold to the nation as a reciprocal tariff agreement, is not a partnership. It is a paternity suit. India’s calibration: The art of saying noConsider, finally, the agreement India concluded with the United Kingdom in July 2025. Bangladesh has always been exquisitely sensitive to American tariff policy. It can accept the paternity suit as an inheritance and govern within its constraints, administering the terms of its own subordination.

Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) on Monday said false and misleading information is being circulated in its name regarding allegations of fake votes in the 13th parliamentary election. TIB clarified that in its field-level research, conducted through a random sampling method, data were collected from 70 selected constituencies. Among those, information regarding incidents of one or more fake votes was found in 21.4% of the constituencies. “However, interpreting this finding to mean that 21.4% fake votes were cast nationwide is “completely incorrect, baseless and misleading,” the TIB said. TIB requested that media outlets that have already misrepresented or incorrectly presented the information publish appropriate corrections without delay.

Leaders of Bangladesh Chhatra Dal on Monday extended floral greetings to Tarique Rahman at the BNP chairperson’s office in Gulshan ahead of his swearing-in as prime minister. Chhatra Dal President Rakibul Islam Rakib and General Secretary Nasir Uddin Nasir visited the office in the capital to convey their congratulations. The two leaders expressed confidence in Tarique Rahman’s leadership, describing him as the guardian of the student community within the party. Nasir said Tarique’s leadership would play a vital role in rebuilding democracy, strengthening nationalist ideology and fulfilling people’s aspirations. They also wished him success in his tenure and prayed for his good health and long life.

Flooding and fierce winds have pushed Madagascar’s death toll from Cyclone Gezani to 59, with more than a dozen people still unaccounted for, the country’s disaster agency said on Monday. A previous report had put the death toll at 43. Most of the fatalities were reported in the port city of Toamasina on the east coast, formerly known as Tamatave, Madagascar’s second? Another 15 people remain missing nearly a week after the cyclone struck, according to Bnrgc. Gezani made landfall last week with winds topping around 250 kilometers per hour, prompting the government to declare a national emergency.

Nepal’s Foreign Minister Bala Nanda Sharma is scheduled to arrive in Dhaka on Monday to attend the oath-taking ceremony of Bangladesh’s newly elected government led by BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman, underscoring Kathmandu’s commitment to strengthening bilateral ties with Dhaka. Minister Sharma will arrive at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 10:15pm by a Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight from Kathmandu. During the visit, the Nepalese Foreign Minister will be accompanied by senior officials of his ministry. Earlier on Friday, Nepal’s Prime Minister Sushila Karki congratulated BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman on his party’s electoral victory. The Prime Minister extended her heartiest congratulations to Tarique Rahman on leading the Bangladesh Nationalist Party to a remarkable victory.

Muhammad Siraj Uddin Mia, principal secretary to chief adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus, has submitted his resignation letter, officials confirmed. He handed over his resignation to the chief adviser on Monday afternoon. Siraj Uddin Mia was serving in the post on a contractual basis. Sources at the chief adviser’s office said his resignation has been forwarded to the Ministry of Public Administration for proper processing. The ministry will issue an official notification once the resignation is formally accepted.

Five Bangladeshi nationals including four members of a family have been killed in a road crash in Saudi Arabia. Another daughter of Mizanur identified as Faiza Akter, 11 in undergoing treatment at a hospital in Saudi Arabia, said their family. Firoz Uddin Chowdhury, Officer-in-Charge of Ramganj Police Station, said the accident occurred around local time 3 am (Bangladesh time 11 pm) in Abha area of Saudi Arabia. Baharul Alam, elder brother of Mizanur, said Mizanur had long been involved in hotel business in Saudi Arabia. On February 3, Mizanur along with his wife and three daughters went to Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah.

As a result, severe low pressure is prevailing at the customer end for all categories of consumers in areas under Titas. From Monday morning, most areas of Dhaka reported no gas supply to household stoves. In some areas, there was no gas at all, while in others it burned weakly with very low pressure. Mitu Ahmed, a resident of Rajabazar, said gas pressure in the area usually remains low. Even where there is gas, the pressure is so low that it is not possible to supply gas according to drivers’ demand,” he said.