OUTLOOK: A new BNP coming to power is a watershed moment in Bangladesh’s democratic journey promising transformative reforms thanks to the remarkable job done by a low-profile grassroot visionary like Yunus who has shown the green signal for the right track to drive.

Observers also credit Yunus with ensuring a peaceful and stabilising transition through elections, and preparing the country for a meaningful structural transformation to ensure economic prosperity and political stabiilty within the country as opposed to the gimmicks, demagogy and showmanship in the neighbourhood.

The coming weeks will be crucial as the new Government sets its agenda of constitutional reforms envisaged by Yunus that will ultimately ensure prosperity for the people of Bangladesh rather than looking out for publicity—as clearly indicated in Rahman's speech soon after the election victory, that was not a critique of neighbours, rather an affirmation of his understanding that his job is inside.

DHAKA, Feb 17: Bangladesh enters a new political chapter as Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, having done his job, has resigned from his caretaker role, paving the way for the swearing-in of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) leader Tarique Rahman as Prime Minister on Tuesday.

The transition follows a landslide victory in last week's Jatiya Sangsad (parliamentary) elections, marking a dramatic reversal in the nation’s political fortunes.

Yunus, who assumed charge in August 2024 after the collapse of Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League regime amid massive anti-Government protests, formally stepped down on Monday. His brief tenure was seen as a stabilizing interlude during one of the most turbulent periods in Bangladesh’s history.

The BNP secured 209 out of 297 seats in the Jatiya Sangsad, a commanding majority that signals a decisive public mandate. The victory ends the party’s long exile from power. The result also reflects widespread disillusionment with the Awami League, which faced accusations of authoritarianism and corruption before its collapse.

Tarique Rahman to take oath as PM

BNP’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman, son of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and BNP founder the late President Ziaur Rahman, is set to take the oath of office as Prime Minister on Tuesday at 4 pm. Rahman returned to Bangladesh only two months ago after 17 years of self-imposed exile in London, a dramatic comeback that electrified BNP supporters.

Rahman's leadership marks both continuity of the party’s legacy and at the same time a generational shift that holds the promise to deliver.

The parliamentary party will meet at the Parliament building to elect the parliamentary party leader at 11:30 am. Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin will administer the oath to newly-elected MPs and members of the Constitutional Reform Council.

President Mohammed Shahabuddin will administer the oath to the new Cabinet and Rahman at the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad at 4:00 pm. In a symbolic departure from tradition, the ceremony is being held at the Parliament Complex rather than the presidential residence, Bangabhaban.

Rahman's call for reconciliation

In his first public statement after the election, Rahman had appealed to all citizens to unite in the national interest. “This is a moment to rebuild Bangladesh together,” he said, urging reconciliation after years of political polarization. Analysts note that Rahman’s rhetoric reflects an awareness of the challenges ahead, including economic recovery, governance reforms and restoring international confidence.

Bangladesh’s Hindu minority, comprising approximately eight percent of the population, secured two seats in the new parliament. Their presence underscores the BNP’s pledge to broaden representation and foster inclusivity in governance.

OUTLOOK: A new BNP coming to power is a watershed moment in Bangladesh’s democratic journey promising transformative reforms thanks to the transitional job done by a low-profile grassroot visionary like Yunus.

Observers credit Yunus with ensuring a relatively peaceful transition through elections, and preparing the country for a meaningful structural transformation to ensure economic prosperity and political stabiilty.

The coming weeks will be crucial as the new Government sets its agenda of constitutional reforms envisaged by Yunus that will ultimately ensure prosperity for the people of Bangladesh rather than looking out with publicity gimmicks—as clearly indicated by Rahman's speech soon after the election victory.

The incident has triggered a debate on social media whether the officer refused to take orders from a party leader or he was accused of any corruption, some netizens justifying the handling in either case, that Ratnakar was blocking public welfare work! It is true the Govt machinery has been the enemy Number One of the people of this country, existing for itself and for these politicians, for well over seven decades. India will never make an inch of progress - real progress, not make-believe-progress - unless and until this machinery is eliminated.

The irony lies in her illustration of her experiences in the country she has been living in for the last four years. What it really is!

ANALYSIS: There have been cases of Britons going to Switzerland to get rid of a miserable life. Now once the House of Lords also passes the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, terminally ill Britons can call it quits with the help of a medical practitioner here itself. But the measure when comes into practice, will have very serious social consequences, it is feared. There won't be comparisons, even as tropes in Latin American folklores. The worst case scenario is of those who are not terminally ill also trying to misuse the provision to leave this world early when life with dignity is not available. But that is, in fact, a political question and not a moral imbroglio!

The CCTV footage and the video circulating on social media do not indicate any serious abnormalities in takeoff or descent, it has been confirmed. The disaster is becoming curiouser and curiouser. The flight path was not curvy. And the aircraft maintained a steady, gliding descent with its nose straight and the wings perfectly level. The pilot's distress call does not specify what prevented lift and climb-out. Here are some expert opinions. The sole purpose is to raise travellers' awareness about air travel.

Many of the victims were charred beyond recognition, making identification difficult. Three hundred nineteen body parts have been sent for DNA matching with relatives to determine the identities.

• The Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla line provides Kashmir with all-weather connectivity and integrates the Valley with the rest of India.
• The saying 'Kashmir to Kanyakumari' is now a dream come true.
• The Chenab bridge on the line, an engineering marvel, is the world's highest railway bridge, taller than the Eiffel Tower. (Video: File)

A comment on social media on Kanimozhi's answer on the question of national language read: "Daughter of Kalaignar M. Karunanidhi. Delivered the Birthday Present to her Father!!" (Karunanidhi was born on June 3, 1924) (Today's headlines )

Trump said, "Elon is not really leaving" and will be "back and forth" to the White House because DOGE is his "baby." "I think he’s going to be doing a lot of things.”

Musk wrote: "My scheduled time as a Special Government Employee comes to an end... The @DOGE mission will only strengthen over time as it becomes a way of life throughout the government." Now on it will be on auto-pilot.

PROGNOSIS: DOGE was prematurely born to protect the country by aborting an impending socio-economic disaster which very few people could see coming.

Although its immediate job was to save American taxpayers billions by slashing waste, eliminating fraud, cutting Government bloat and ensuring utmost efficiency in administration for the good of the people. (Today's headlines )

"Coming from a system like in England, empowering," she says she never had an idea of this sort of experience... being asked to “socialise with middle-aged men” who financed the event...humiliating...

Originally from Junagadh, Gujarat, Pataudi was relocated to Etawah Lion Safari in September 2019 before being transferred to Gorakhpur Zoo in 2021. Recently it was receiving treatment for pancreatic and liver infections. After tigress Shakti died in the zoo on May 7 due to bird flu, Pataudi was shifted to Kanpur. Some birds are also reported to have died mysteriously around Gorakhpur. All zoos in UP are closed for fear of a bird flu outbreak.

Three other animals too had died - a tiger, a leopardess and a female wolf. Wolf Bhairavi died last Saturday, leopardess Mona died the Thursday before that and tiger Kesari died on March 30. Some of them had Shakti's symptoms but the cause of death has not been confirmed yet.

As tourist inflow is an indicator of normalcy returning to an erstwhile terrorist infested Valley, the Government has been trying hard to make everything travel-friendly, launching lot many projects and bringing Kashmir on the national rail map that physically completes the process of Kashmir's integration with the rest of India. And that defeats the designs of Pakistan eyeing Kashmir and simply explains a recrudescence of terrorism in J&K.

The committee headed by justice Kurian Joseph will study Centre-State relations and make proposals to ensure foolproof separation of powers.

"It's a big victory not just for Tamil Nadu but for all Indian States. DMK will continue to struggle for and win State autonomy and Federal polity," Chief Minister MK Stalin said.

Of 2.08 km in length, it features 99 spans and a 72.5-metre vertical lift span that rises up to a height of 17 metres, facilitating smooth movement of ships while ensuring seamless train services to the holy town of Rameswaram on Pamban island.

ANALYSIS: There is a lot of hue and cry around the world over Trump's tariffs. But tariff, simply put, is a tax. But unlike tax, it affects the exporting country too. Domestic prices will go up for some time. Nothing more will happen, good or bad!

What motivated Trump's newfound policy, apart from being a stunt to justify his existence in the White House, is a false realisation that increased tariff will make foreign goods prohibitive, thereby boosting local production, and create more jobs, and more prosperity will ring in! If that is true, India would have been shining by now: Producing own Rolls-Royce La Rose Noire Droptail and Scotch Whiskies! And what about coconut and palm oil by America! (Today's headlines )

PROGNOSIS: It looks a Real New Trump is emerging - courageous, balanced, powerful and disinterested. Determined to save his country from the cliff, he has done quite a few draconian things that will reduce the burden of debts of the Federal entity, like the golden handshake, stopping senseless funding, pulling out of a worthless WHO. Shutting the Education Department is another. On the other hand, running it is also not the Centre's job either (We will convincingly elaborate it in the next chapter).

In India the scene is just the opposite. Centralisation is the core agenda and identity of the ruling dispensation without which it has no existence, or in other words, it exists for that set of schemes only. A realisation of this never dawned upon any Opposition party in 2014 or any time thereafter, what to talk of being able to see it coming 70 years ago! The consequence of all this violation of basic natural law of the universe we cannot predict.

THE AMERICAN CONUNDRUM: Political venom has migrated to top echelons in the US. It was reported last year NASA has become politicised, vitiated. But NASA refuted the charge. How Boeing developed a glitch but its unmanned return was smooth. When Suni-Wilmore were stranded last June, why the return was set for February? Because that comes only after January 20! SpaceX called the shots, for itself and for Trump. Then the mission was manipulated for March for a better bargain! In between, what made Elon Musk 'predict' during campaign if Kamala Harris wins he would be in jail. In politics, it is said, "the only rule is there are no rules." Difficult times for Americans too.

The terminations are part of a large-scale exercise going on all across Fed departments and organisations to reduce wasteful Government expenditure as decided by a Trump in a mess gone berserk, and improve administrative efficiency following the whims of billionaire and his associate Elon MusK and his DOGE. It has not been shared how terminations are going to raise the efficiency bar! It looks like Trump has stolen some of the prescriptions meant for India. But the American problems are quite different.

Suddenly these colonial clerks feel this effortless, little rule will tremendously enhance security and convenience for the railway passengers manifold. More stations will be covered in the next 77 years! (Also See: New Delhi station stampede... What went wrong?)