
In mid-February 2026, former Prince Andrew (Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor) was arrested in the United Kingdom on suspicion of abuse of public function, creating a royal scandal. The arrest occurred at his Norfolk estate, followed by police searches and a controversial release after 12 hours. King Charles III publicly stated that 'the law must take its course,' marking a significant moment in the ongoing troubles surrounding the former prince.
8 events · 8 days · 30 source articles
India announced a major five-day AI summit to be held at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi from February 16-20, 2026. The event was described as the largest AI summit to date, with world leaders and CEOs expected to attend, including French President Emmanuel Macron and Bill Gates. This summit would later become relevant as it affected diplomatic schedules during the Bangladesh government transition.
Bangladesh invited Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to attend the swearing-in ceremony of newly-elected Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Chief Tarique Rahman scheduled for February 17. Modi declined due to prior commitments including bilateral talks with French President Macron in Mumbai and chairing the AI Impact Summit in Delhi. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla was designated to represent India at the ceremony instead.
Bangladesh Nationalist Party Chief Tarique Rahman was sworn in as the head of the new Bangladesh government on February 17, 2026. This followed a major electoral victory for the BNP. The ceremony was attended by Indian Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla representing the Government of India, marking the beginning of a new chapter in Bangladesh-India relations.
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the former Prince Andrew, was arrested on Thursday, February 19, 2026, at his estate in Norfolk, United Kingdom. He was suspected of abuse of public function and was taken from the estate during the morning hours. The arrest occurred while he was reportedly celebrating his birthday at Sandringham, creating a major scandal for the royal family.
Several hours after the arrest, King Charles III made a public statement declaring that 'the law must take its course' regarding his brother's arrest. Prince William and Princess Kate publicly supported the King's position. This marked a significant moment as the monarch refused to intervene in the legal proceedings against his own brother, demonstrating the independence of the justice system.
Throughout the day on February 19, police conducted thorough searches at Royal Lodge, the former home of Prince Andrew. The searches were part of the investigation into allegations of abuse of public function. The high-profile nature of the searches drew significant media attention and public interest.
After approximately 12 hours in custody, former Prince Andrew was released by police. The brief detention period raised questions about the strength of the case and the circumstances of his release. The incident became known as a major scandal on 'the island' (referring to Great Britain), marking another chapter in Andrew's troubled public life.
Days after the BNP-led government took office, Bangladesh began moving toward normalizing visa facilities for Indian visitors, according to diplomatic sources. This represented a significant thaw in relations after Bangladesh had halted visa issuance in December 2025 following protests and stone-pelting incidents targeting Indian missions. The restoration of normal visa procedures marked an important step in Bangladesh-India relations under the new government.