A fishing boat belonging to fisherman Bali Jolodas was stolen late Tuesday night from Bottoli Fish Wharf in Santoshpur Union of Sandwip upazila, Chattogram. The boat, worth about 360,000 taka, was his only means of livelihood. The theft has left him distraught as he struggles with loan repayments and family expenses. Local fishermen have expressed growing fear following the incident.

According to locals, Bali Jolodas had purchased the boat with his savings and borrowed funds, paying monthly installments of around 50,000 taka. He discovered the theft after returning from fishing during the night tide. Local fisherman Batul Jolodas said such thefts had never happened before, and now they must guard their boats at night. Union Parishad member Ashraf described Bali as a hardworking man who has been left destitute and said efforts are underway to assist him and recover the boat.

Sandwip Police Station Officer-in-Charge Zayed Noor stated that no written complaint had yet been received but assured that legal action and recovery efforts would begin once a complaint is filed.

Nine coaches of the Dhaka-bound Nilsagar Express train derailed on Wednesday afternoon, March 18, 2026, shortly after leaving Santahar Junction in Bogura. The incident occurred as the train was heading toward Chilahati, leaving more than fifty passengers injured. No fatalities have been reported so far, according to initial information from local authorities.

Following the derailment, rail communication between Dhaka and the northern destinations of Chilahati, Panchagarh, and Saidpur was suspended. Police officials stated that many passengers were traveling on the roof of the train, and several of them were injured after falling during the derailment. Rescue operations are underway to recover the derailed coaches.

Local police confirmed that the exact number of casualties remains uncertain, and further details will be provided after rescue and assessment work is completed.

At least seven people, including three children, were killed in a major fire that broke out on Wednesday morning in a residential building in the Palam area of southwest Delhi. According to the Delhi Fire Service, the blaze started around 7 a.m. in one of the rooms and quickly spread throughout the building.

Thirty fire service units rushed to the scene to bring the flames under control and rescue residents trapped inside. Officials said the dense population of the area made the rescue operation difficult. Local police and emergency response teams also joined the operation soon after the incident was reported.

During the rescue, seven bodies were recovered from the building, including those of three children. The fire caused extensive damage to the structure, destroying furniture and valuables inside, according to the Delhi Fire Service. The cause of the fire has not been detailed in the report.

Police in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, arrested 14 people for organizing an iftar gathering on a boat in the middle of the Ganges River and allegedly throwing leftover food into the water. The arrests followed the circulation of a video on social media showing the event. Authorities said the accused were charged with hurting religious sentiments, polluting the environment, and disturbing public order.

The case was filed at the Kotwali police station based on a complaint from a leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s youth wing. The complaint stated that the Ganges is sacred to followers of Sanatan Dharma and that discarding food into the river desecrated its sanctity. Assistant Commissioner of Police Vijay Pratap Singh said the video, which went viral on Instagram, led to the investigation and subsequent arrests.

Police sources confirmed that the authenticity of the video is being verified and efforts are underway to identify others involved. River patrol surveillance has been increased to prevent similar incidents in the future.

A Dhaka court has granted a two-day remand for eleven individuals arrested in connection with a violent attack, vandalism, and looting at the Square Shopping cum Commercial Complex in Uttara. The order was issued on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, by Metropolitan Magistrate Kamal Uddin. The accused were presented before the court by the investigating officer, Sub-Inspector Md. Suman Mia of Uttara West Police Station, who had sought a seven-day remand for interrogation.

Defense lawyers opposed the remand request, arguing that the accused were not involved in the incident and included rickshaw pullers and day laborers with no proven link to the crime scene. Despite the defense plea for bail, the court approved a two-day remand for each accused. The case was filed by Ariful Islam, an electrician of the complex, following the attack.

According to the case statement, the violence began after an altercation between a rickshaw puller and a security guard, escalating into a large-scale assault and looting that caused an estimated loss of nine crore taka before police and army forces restored order.

At least 23 people were killed and 108 others injured in a series of suspected suicide bombings in Maiduguri, a city in northeastern Nigeria. The explosions occurred on Monday evening, and police confirmed the details on Tuesday. Police spokesperson Nahum Kenneth Daso said preliminary investigations indicated that the incidents were carried out by suspected suicide attackers.

Authorities reported that the blasts followed an earlier assault on a military checkpoint between Sunday night and early Monday morning. Officials have blamed suspected jihadist groups for both the checkpoint attack and the subsequent explosions in Maiduguri. The police statement described the loss of life as tragic and confirmed that investigations were ongoing.

The incidents highlight continuing security challenges in Nigeria’s northeast, where authorities are struggling to contain militant violence. Further details about the attackers or the specific groups involved were not disclosed in the initial reports.

The Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) has introduced a three-tier security arrangement to ensure the safety of homebound travelers ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr. The force announced the plan during a press briefing at Sadarghat Launch Terminal on Tuesday afternoon. As part of the measures, 32 RAB teams have been deployed across key terminals and surrounding areas in Dhaka, supported by continuous patrols, surveillance, and checkpoints.

RAB-10 Commander and Additional DIG Mohammad Kamruzzaman stated that special security operations are being carried out in major points including Sadarghat, Sayedabad, Shyampur, Sutrapur, and Kamrangirchar. Six civil teams are also gathering intelligence and monitoring activities. The security operations will continue through Eid day and the following period.

To assist passengers, RAB has set up two control rooms at Sadarghat Launch Terminal and Sayedabad Bus Terminal, staffed around the clock. Travelers facing harassment or overcharging for tickets can report complaints directly or by phone, and RAB has pledged immediate action upon receiving such reports.

The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has strengthened security measures across the capital ahead of the upcoming Eid-ul-Fitr. Acting DMP Commissioner Md. Sarwar urged residents to remain vigilant and report any suspicious movement of unfamiliar individuals, repeated motorcycle patrols, or unusual gatherings in their neighborhoods. He made the remarks to the media on Tuesday, March 17, 2026.

Sarwar stated that despite limited manpower, the police and related forces are working in coordination to maintain law and order. He emphasized that public awareness and community involvement are crucial to ensuring safety and preventing crime. The commissioner highlighted that the number of police officers is relatively small compared to the city’s population, yet efforts continue to safeguard citizens and uphold peace.

Residents have been advised to verify the identity and purpose of unknown individuals if suspicious behavior is observed and to immediately contact the nearest police station or call the national emergency number 999 to inform law enforcement authorities.

RAB-5 recovered a large cache of crude bombs and local weapons during a late-night operation in Rajshahi’s Chandrima police station area. Acting on a tip-off, the RAB-5 team from the Rajshahi Sadar Company conducted the raid around 12:20 a.m. on March 16 at a lemon orchard near the northern side of the Railway Field. Two abandoned plastic sacks were found at the site.

The RAB bomb disposal unit was called in after suspicions that the sacks contained explosives. The team discovered 21 crude bomb-like objects and several local weapons, including a sickle, large and small knives, and a dagger. The bomb disposal unit confirmed the items as crude bombs. Local residents could not provide any information about ownership of the explosives or weapons.

RAB suspects the materials were stockpiled by miscreants possibly intending sabotage ahead of the upcoming Eid. The recovered items have been handed over to Chandrima Police Station, and legal proceedings are underway.

A devastating fire broke out at Patul Bazaar in Naldanga upazila of Natore on Tuesday night, destroying at least six shops. The blaze started around 8:30 p.m. at a clothing store owned by Mohammad Fuad and quickly spread to nearby grocery, library, and cosmetics shops. Local traders tried to save their goods as panic spread through the market.

Firefighters from the Naldanga Fire Service arrived promptly and, with help from locals, brought the fire under control. However, six shops were completely burned down before the flames were extinguished. Upazila Nirbahi Officer Al Imran Khan visited the site, spoke with affected traders, and reviewed the situation.

Initial reports suggest the fire may have originated from an electrical short circuit in the clothing store. The affected traders estimated losses of around 1.5 million taka. Local authorities said an investigation is underway to determine the exact cause of the incident.

Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) has arrested Tahera Begum Akhi, a 32-year-old TikTok user and the prime accused in the murder of her husband Belal Uddin Jihad, from Kotbazar in Ukhia upazila near Cox’s Bazar. The arrest took place on Monday, March 16, following a special operation based on secret intelligence. RAB-15 Assistant Director (Law and Media) and Assistant Superintendent of Police A. M. Faruk confirmed the arrest.

According to RAB, Belal Uddin Jihad, a 22-year-old tomtom driver from Ramu upazila, was found dead with his throat slit in a rented house in Fatekharkul union on March 4. Following the discovery, his wife Akhi went into hiding, and his family filed a murder case with Ramu Police Station. RAB-15 launched a shadow investigation and increased surveillance to locate the suspect.

During initial questioning, Akhi reportedly admitted that the killing stemmed from a family dispute. She has been handed over to Ramu Police Station for further legal proceedings. RAB stated that similar operations will continue to ensure public safety.

Bangladesh’s State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaid Islam said a delegation will travel to Kolkata to question two suspects in the murder case of Osman Hadi, once consular access is granted. She made the statement on Monday while speaking to journalists at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Dhaka.

Earlier, Bangladesh had requested consular access after India’s West Bengal Police Special Task Force arrested the main suspect and his associate in the case. On March 9, the minister stated that communication had already been established with the Kolkata Deputy Commissioner and that Bangladesh would proceed once access was approved. She also mentioned that the two countries have a prisoner exchange agreement that could be used if the suspects are confirmed.

The arrests took place on the night of March 7, when Indian police detained Faisal Karim Masud and his associate Alomgir Hossain in Bongaon, a border area of West Bengal, following an operation linked to the murder of Inquilab Manch convener Shahid Sharif Osman Bin Hadi.

The International Crimes Tribunal-1 has extended the deadline for submitting the investigation report in the war crimes case concerning the killing of 11 people, including student leader Wasim, during the July uprising in Chattogram. The case involves former Chattogram-6 MP A B M Fazle Karim Chowdhury and several others. The new submission date has been set for April 12, following an order issued on Monday by a three-member panel led by Justice Golam Mortuza Mojumdar.

Other tribunal members include Justices Shafiul Alam Mahmud and Mohitul Haque Enam Chowdhury. The accused, including Fazle Karim, were brought to the tribunal from prison for the scheduled hearing. The prosecution had earlier sought an eight-week extension on January 12 to complete the investigation report.

Meanwhile, prosecutor Saimum Reza Talukder has resigned following allegations that he demanded one crore taka in bribes from Fazle Karim’s family in exchange for bail. After audio recordings of the alleged demand surfaced, a five-member fact-finding committee was formed on March 10, and defense lawyers have called for a reinvestigation of the case.

A fire broke out in the power car of the Ramna commuter train stationed at Parbatipur Railway Junction in Dinajpur around 12:30 a.m. on Sunday night. According to railway sources, the incident occurred while repair work was underway at the meter-gauge wash pit. Sparks from welding during train lighting repair reportedly fell into oil stored inside the compartment, causing the fire to spread rapidly through the generator and power car.

Firefighters from the Parbatipur Fire Service and Civil Defense Station responded promptly with two units and managed to bring the blaze under control after about an hour of effort. Most of the interior of the power car was burned, though no casualties were reported. Railway police, security forces, and officials from various departments assisted in controlling the situation.

The station master confirmed that no investigation committee had yet been formed, while attempts to contact the Lalmonirhat Railway DRM for further details were unsuccessful. The railway authorities have begun assessing the cause and extent of the damage.

Iranian police have arrested 500 individuals accused of supplying information to the country’s enemies, according to a statement made on Sunday by Police Chief Ahmadreza Radan. He said many of those detained were involved in serious incidents and had allegedly shared footage and photographs of potential attack sites with hostile entities. Authorities did not disclose when the arrests took place.

Earlier on Sunday, Iranian media had reported that several people were detained across multiple regions, though details were limited. The announcement underscores heightened security measures and the government’s focus on countering alleged espionage and internal threats.

No further information was provided about the identities of the detainees or the specific nature of the incidents, leaving key aspects of the case undisclosed.