The Bangladesh Nationalist Party thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi after he congratulated Tarique Rahman on the party’s election victory. In a post on X, the BNP said, “We greatly appreciate your kind acknowledgement.” The party added, “This outcome reflects the trust and confidence the people of Bangladesh have placed in our leadership.” It also said, “We look forward to engaging constructively with India.” Earlier, PM Modi praised Rahman’s win and said India would support a democratic and progressive Bangladesh. Unofficial results show the BNP-led alliance won 210 seats in Parliament. (PC: PTI)

Bangladesh’s ruling party plans to invite Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the swearing-in ceremony of Tarique Rahman. The move comes after the party won the national elections. Sources said regional leaders may also be invited to the event in Dhaka. A day earlier, PM Modi spoke to Rahman and congratulated him on his victory. He shared the message on X and wished him success. Modi also stressed strong ties between India and Bangladesh. There is no official date yet for the ceremony. Officials have not confirmed which foreign leaders will attend.

The Jammu and Kashmir government will soon restart work on the Wular barrage in Sopore. The project was stopped in 2012 after militant attacks. Work had also faced delays due to the Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan. After suspending the treaty last year, India is no longer bound by its terms. Officials said the Centre is working with the state to resume construction. The barrage will help store water from the Jhelum River. It will support fishing and improve navigation. Local residents say the project will protect livelihoods and help revive the shrinking Wular Lake.

Sri Lanka Police have made strict security plans for the India vs Pakistan T20 World Cup match in Colombo on Sunday. Armed guards have been assigned to both teams from the airport to the stadium. Security will continue until the teams leave the country. Fans have been asked to reach the R. Premadasa Stadium four hours early. Gates will open at 3 PM for the 7 PM IST match. The game is sold out. Both teams are unbeaten so far. India have won seven of their eight previous T20 World Cup matches against Pakistan. (PC: Asian Cricket Council)

Three former convicts have won seats in Bangladesh’s national parliament after being acquitted. Two winners — Lutfozzaman Babar and Abdus Salam Pintu from the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) — had faced death sentences for involvement in a 2004 grenade attack and links to the anti-India militant group Harkat‑ul‑Jihad‑al‑Islami. The third, ATM Azharul Islam of Jamaat‑e‑Islami, was convicted of alleged war crimes in the 1971 Liberation War. Their acquittals allowed them to contest and win in the February 12 elections. (PC: NDTV)

A portion of an under‑construction metro pillar on Metro Line 4 collapsed around 12:15–12:20 pm on LBS Road in Mulund (Mumbai), crashing onto passing vehicles including an auto‑rickshaw, killing one person and injuring three to four others. The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) said a parapet segment fell from height and rescue teams from the metro project, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), police and fire services rushed to the site. The injured were shifted to hospital, and a safety review and investigation into the cause of the collapse have been initiated. 

Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha said he was unsure if his team would observe the traditional handshake with India before their ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 match, amid ongoing controversy. Agha urged both sides to uphold the spirit of cricket but declined to confirm whether the gesture would take place, saying, “We will see about it tomorrow.” The debate stems from last year’s Asia Cup, when India’s Suryakumar Yadav chose not to shake hands with Pakistan’s players in respect for victims of the Pahalgam terror attack, raising tensions between the rivals. (PC: India Today)

At the 2026 Munich Security Conference, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio strongly criticised what he called the west’s post‑war “delusion”, highlighting the dangers of mass migration and flawed economic policies. He argued that uncontrolled migration, deindustrialisation, and policy missteps have weakened social cohesion and threatened Western stability. Rubio called for nations to reassert border control, reform global institutions like the UN, and focus on strengthening domestic economies. While critical, he reaffirmed the importance of a strong trans‑Atlantic alliance, emphasising shared values and history as a foundation for future cooperation. (PC: AFP)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 14 February 2026 inaugurated the new Kumar Bhaskar Varma Setu, a six‑lane bridge across the Brahmaputra River in Guwahati, Assam. This ₹3,030 crore extradosed bridge connects Guwahati with North Guwahati, drastically reducing travel time between the two banks to around seven minutes and easing traffic congestion in the region. Engineered for durability with advanced seismic base‑isolation technology and a Bridge Health Monitoring System, the bridge enhances regional connectivity and is expected to boost economic activity. The inauguration is part of a broader push to strengthen infrastructure in the Northeast, including digital and transportation projects unveiled during Modi’s Assam visit.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a historic landing aboard an Indian Air Force C‑130J aircraft at the Northeast’s first Emergency Landing Facility (ELF) on a stretch of the Moran bypass in Dibrugarh, Assam. The 4.2‑km reinforced highway runway, built at a cost of around ₹100 crore, can serve both military and civilian aircraft, strengthening defence readiness, logistics and emergency response in the region. Modi, on a one‑day visit to Assam ahead of elections, inaugurated the facility and is set to open other development projects. Officials say the ELF will enhance strategic infrastructure in the Northeast.