Popular television presenter and producer Hanif Sanket and renowned singer Bashir Ahmed (posthumously) have been named recipients of Bangladesh’s highest civilian honor, the Independence Award 2026. The award recognizes individuals and institutions for their distinguished contributions at the national level. The final list of awardees was approved on Thursday, March 5, during a cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Tareque Rahman at the Secretariat, according to Cabinet Secretary Nasimul Gani.

The list places A.K.M. Hanif (Hanif Sanket) at number seven and Bashir Ahmed at number eight. Former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia, the country’s first female head of government, will also receive the award posthumously for her contributions to independence, democracy, and women’s education. The Independence Award, instituted in 1977, is presented annually on March 26 to honor the memory of the martyrs of the 1971 Liberation War.

The recognition underscores the government’s continued effort to honor individuals and organizations that have made exceptional contributions to national life and development.

Netflix, Inc. announced its acquisition of InterPositive, a filmmaking technology company founded by Ben Affleck that develops AI-powered tools designed specifically for filmmakers. The acquisition brings InterPositive’s entire team into Netflix, with Affleck joining as Senior Advisor. Both companies share a mission to use emerging technology to protect and expand creative choice, aligning with Netflix’s long-standing belief that innovation should serve storytellers and the creative process.

Affleck founded InterPositive in 2022 after observing limitations in early AI production models. He and a small team of engineers, researchers, and creatives built proprietary datasets and models focused on filmmaking techniques rather than performances. Their tools are designed to preserve artistic judgment and creative intent while addressing real-world production challenges such as missing shots or lighting inconsistencies. Netflix executives Elizabeth Stone and Bela Bajaria emphasized that the partnership reflects a shared commitment to empowering creators rather than replacing them.

The collaboration aims to extend access to responsible, filmmaker-centered AI tools across Netflix’s creative community, reinforcing the company’s focus on innovation that enhances, rather than diminishes, human creativity.

Microsoft announced Thursday that it will continue using Anthropic’s artificial intelligence models in its products for clients, excluding the U.S. Department of War. The decision follows the Pentagon’s move earlier in the day to label Anthropic a supply-chain risk, a designation the startup plans to challenge in court. Microsoft confirmed that Anthropic’s Claude models will remain available through platforms such as Microsoft 365, GitHub, and AI Foundry for non-defense projects.

The announcement comes after U.S. President Donald Trump urged federal agencies to stop using Anthropic’s technology, and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said the company’s Pentagon services would end within six months. Talks between Anthropic and the Department of War reportedly collapsed over issues related to mass domestic surveillance and autonomous weapons. Meanwhile, rival OpenAI reached an agreement for its models to be used in classified Pentagon workloads.

Microsoft’s stance makes it the first major company to maintain collaboration with Anthropic following the federal blacklist. The two firms have significant financial ties, including Anthropic’s commitment to spend $30 billion on Microsoft’s Azure cloud and Microsoft’s pledge to invest up to $5 billion in Anthropic.

OpenAI has introduced ChatGPT for Excel in beta, an add-in that embeds ChatGPT directly into spreadsheets to help users build, update, and analyze models using natural language. Powered by the GPT‑5.4 model, the tool enables teams to automate financial modeling, scenario analysis, and data reconciliation within Excel workbooks. The beta version is available to ChatGPT Business, Enterprise, Edu, Teachers, Pro, and Plus users in the U.S., Canada, and Australia, with Google Sheets support coming soon.

Alongside the Excel integration, OpenAI announced new financial data connections for ChatGPT, including integrations with FactSet, Dow Jones Factiva, LSEG, Daloopa, S&P Global, Moody’s, MSCI, Third Bridge, and MT Newswire. These additions allow users to access trusted market and company data directly within ChatGPT, streamlining research, valuation, and due diligence workflows. GPT‑5.4, optimized for finance, shows improved performance on internal benchmarks for financial reasoning and modeling tasks.

OpenAI emphasized enterprise-grade security and governance features in ChatGPT Enterprise, including encryption, role-based access control, and compliance tools. The company is collaborating with financial institutions to apply these capabilities across research, underwriting, auditing, and client engagement.

Education Minister Dr. A N M Ehsanul Haque Milan and State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Bobby Hajjaj have emphasized the need for quick resolution of teachers’ administrative problems across Bangladesh. Speaking on Thursday at a meeting with officials of the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education (DSHE), the minister directed that matters such as salaries, pensions, leave, transfers, training, and higher education be settled within set timeframes to avoid unnecessary delays for teachers visiting offices.

He urged officials to ensure better coordination, open discussion, and mutual cooperation to create a more effective work environment. The minister encouraged staff to express opinions freely and logically, aiming to reduce internal distance within the administration. To ensure transparency and eliminate lobbying in transfers, he instructed the introduction of an artificial intelligence-based software system.

Dr. Milan also stressed the importance of automation and digital methods to make service delivery faster and more modern. He called for expanding online services and developing systems that allow service seekers to easily identify the relevant desk or officer for their issues.

The article discusses how algorithms on social media platforms such as YouTube and Facebook analyze user behavior to personalize content feeds. These systems track what users watch, like, and comment on, creating individualized digital environments designed to keep users engaged for longer periods. This personalization can lead to the formation of 'echo chambers,' where users are repeatedly exposed to similar viewpoints, limiting exposure to diverse perspectives.

The report highlights that algorithms also respond to emotional engagement, prioritizing content that provokes strong reactions because such posts generate more shares and interactions. As a result, emotional responses can overshadow factual information, potentially shaping public opinion. However, the article emphasizes that algorithms are not autonomous controllers but reflections of user behavior.

Experts cited in the piece call for greater digital literacy, urging users to understand how algorithms work, diversify their information sources, and customize their feeds. They also stress the need for transparency and accountability from platforms so users can recognize why certain content appears before them.

Social media has become the main source of information for people in Bangladesh and across the world, but this shift has accelerated the spread of misinformation. According to Rumor Scanner, a fact-checking organization, a record 4,195 false or misleading claims were identified in 2025, marking a 30 percent increase from the previous year. The analysis found that political and public discussions in 2026 have already generated the highest number of rumors.

The report highlights that misinformation now spreads not only through social media but also through newspapers, television, and online platforms that publish content without sufficient verification. Artificial intelligence has made it easier to produce realistic fake content, making it difficult even for experienced readers to distinguish truth from falsehood. The article emphasizes the need for new forms of media literacy that focus on verifying sources, reading beyond headlines, checking images and videos, cross-referencing multiple outlets, and recognizing emotionally charged content.

Fact-checking platforms in Bangladesh are recommended as key tools for verifying suspicious information and preventing the rapid spread of false claims online.

U.S. President Donald Trump has ordered all federal agencies to stop working with artificial intelligence company Anthropic, labeling it a 'supply chain risk,' according to the Pentagon. The directive requires the Defense Department and related agencies to cease using Anthropic’s technology within six months. Trump warned that full presidential authority would be used if the company failed to cooperate during the transition.

Analysts described the move as an unprecedented setback for the U.S. AI sector. Anthropic had previously contributed to national security–related AI capabilities and counts Google and Amazon among its investors. The company announced plans to challenge the Pentagon’s risk designation in court. CEO Dario Amodei recently met with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to express concerns about limits on AI use in weapons systems and mass surveillance. The Pentagon responded that national defense policy is determined by law, not by private firms.

The decision follows earlier U.S. actions excluding Chinese tech firm Huawei from defense supply chains. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman stated that human accountability and surveillance limits are included in its Pentagon contract, though differences from Anthropic’s proposals remain unclear.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman announced that the company has reached an agreement with the United States Department of Defense to provide its artificial intelligence technology for use within a classified network. The deal follows the withdrawal of Anthropic, the Pentagon’s previous contractor, which had raised ethical objections to the military’s use of AI. Altman said the Defense Department demonstrated a “deep respect for safety” and agreed that OpenAI’s technology would not be used for domestic mass surveillance or autonomous weapon systems, emphasizing that humans would retain responsibility for the use of force.

The announcement came shortly after U.S. President Donald Trump ordered federal agencies to stop using Anthropic’s technology, citing disagreements with the company’s leadership. Anthropic had refused to remove safeguards that prevented its AI from being used for surveillance or autonomous weapons. Reports also alleged that Anthropic’s Claude AI had been used by the U.S. military in the abduction of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro earlier this year.

Human rights advocates have expressed concern about the unregulated use of AI in military operations, referencing similar systems reportedly deployed by the Israeli army in Gaza.

United States President Donald Trump announced on Friday that all federal agencies must immediately stop using technology from artificial intelligence company Anthropic. The directive includes a six‑month phaseout period for the Department of Defense and other agencies where Anthropic’s systems are already embedded. Trump issued the order on Truth Social, saying the government would no longer do business with the San Francisco‑based startup. The move came during an escalating conflict between the Pentagon and Anthropic over the military’s use of AI in warfare.

The dispute centers on a $200 million Pentagon contract and disagreements about safeguards on Anthropic’s AI model, Claude. Anthropic had sought assurances that its technology would not be used for mass surveillance or fully autonomous weapons, but said new contract language undermined those protections. The Pentagon had threatened to classify the company as a supply‑chain risk, while Trump warned of civil and criminal consequences if Anthropic failed to cooperate with the phaseout.

The decision drew criticism from Senator Mark Warner, who questioned whether national security policy was being guided by analysis or politics. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman publicly supported Anthropic’s stance, reflecting broader unease in Silicon Valley over government pressure on AI firms.

At a ceremony held on Thursday morning at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium in Dhaka, nine distinguished individuals and the band Warfaze were awarded the Ekushey Padak 2026 for their outstanding contributions in various fields. Prime Minister Tarique Rahman presented the country’s second-highest civilian honor to the recipients. The late musician Ayub Bachchu was honored posthumously, and his wife Ferdous Akhtar Chandana accepted the award on his behalf, later expressing gratitude on social media.

Following the ceremony, a statement was released on the official Facebook page of LRB, the band founded by Ayub Bachchu. The post described the state recognition as a tribute to his lifelong dedication to music and his role in enriching Bangla rock culture. It expressed deep appreciation to the government for acknowledging his legacy and noted that such recognition honors the entire music community. The statement also voiced hope that Ayub Bachchu’s creative and patriotic contributions would one day earn him the nation’s highest civilian award.

The message concluded by affirming that although Ayub Bachchu is no longer alive, his music, courage, and dreams continue to inspire future generations of artists.

Renowned South Asian actress Bobita received the Ekushey Padak 2026 from Prime Minister Tarique Rahman at a ceremony organized by the Ministry of Cultural Affairs on Thursday morning. The event took place at 11:30 a.m., where Bobita was honored for her contributions to cinema. After receiving the award, she spent time with distinguished guests and posed for photographs, accompanied by her sister Champa and other family members.

Expressing her gratitude, Bobita said she felt deeply honored to receive one of the nation’s highest civilian awards. She dedicated the award to the late filmmaker and martyr intellectual Zahir Raihan, crediting him for introducing her to the film industry. Bobita has acted in nearly 300 films and previously received multiple National Film Awards and a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2016. She also gained international recognition for her role in Satyajit Ray’s film “Ashani Sanket.”

Bobita stated she would only return to acting if a story centers around her and genuinely appeals to her artistic sense.

The Shariatpur district administration has installed 120 modern AI-enabled CCTV cameras across the city to enhance public safety and improve law and order. Covering about 14 kilometers, the surveillance system aims to curb crime, monitor commodity prices, support anti-drug operations, and ensure overall civic security. Cameras have been placed along three major roads, key intersections, and commercial hubs including Palong, Angaria, and Monohor Bazar, as well as at educational institutions, hospitals, terminals, courts, and religious sites.

The initiative follows a series of recent crimes that raised public concern, including thefts, robberies, and a temple donation box looting incident on February 18. Cameras have also been installed along the Kirtonkhola River route to prevent riverine crimes. The district control room will monitor the feeds round-the-clock, with AI technology capable of detecting accidents, fires, traffic congestion, and suspicious movements. District Commissioner Tahsina Begum said the system was introduced after traditional operations failed to fully control incidents near schools and colleges.

Officials said similar smart surveillance systems will gradually be expanded to other municipalities in the district if effective results are achieved.

The Hollywood horror-thriller film 'Scream 7' is set for a global release on February 27, 2026, including screenings at Star Cineplex in Bangladesh. The film, directed by Kevin Williamson, continues the long-running 'Scream' franchise that began in 1996. It follows the story of Sidney Prescott, who has built a new life in Pine Grove, Indiana, only to face a new Ghostface killer targeting her daughter. The cast includes Neve Campbell, Jasmine Savoy Brown, Mason Gooding, David Arquette, Matthew Lillard, and Courteney Cox.

'Scream 7' blends modern horror with classic slasher elements, focusing on relationships, past confrontations, and a new killer. The project underwent creative restructuring after directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett, and stars Melissa Barrera and Jenna Ortega, departed in 2023. Filming took place from January to March 2025. Deadline Hollywood reported on February 5, 2026, that the film is expected to perform strongly at the box office, potentially becoming the franchise’s second-highest domestic opening after 'Scream 6'.

Fans speculate that this could be the final chapter of the series, though future sequels remain possible if the film achieves major success.

The BBC has apologized for broadcasting a racist remark made during the British Academy Film Awards (BAFTA) ceremony without editing it out beforehand. The incident occurred when guest John Davidson, who has Tourette syndrome, shouted a racist comment while actors Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo were on stage. The ceremony was aired two hours after recording, but the offensive remark remained in the broadcast, prompting criticism and an apology from the broadcaster.

BBC representatives said some viewers may have heard strong and offensive language linked to involuntary verbal tics associated with Tourette syndrome, clarifying that the outburst was unintentional. The network admitted the segment had not been edited before airing and confirmed it would be removed from the BBC iPlayer version. Several Black actors and a production designer expressed anger over the unedited broadcast, leading to the BBC’s public apology.

In a separate statement, BAFTA also acknowledged the harm caused by the incident and issued its own apology, emphasizing its intent to inform audiences about what had happened and to express regret.