A senior journalist, Zahid Iqbal, was allegedly harassed by a mob in Dhaka’s Nikunja area on Saturday evening after publishing a report on road occupation. The incident occurred near Jamtala’s Zahid Iqbal Chattar, where local resident Nurul Islam’s son, Md. Sabuj, is accused of leading a group that surrounded and threatened the journalist. Police from Khilkhet station, led by Sub-Inspector Ujjal, visited the scene following the incident.

CCTV footage reportedly shows around 30 people encircling Zahid Iqbal and intimidating him, while some of his friends were also threatened. Witness Matiur Rahman Swapon said the group demanded deletion of the published report and issued an ultimatum. Zahid Iqbal explained that the report highlighted how part of a narrow road in Nikunja had been illegally walled off, worsening public movement.

Khilkhet Police Officer-in-Charge Abdul Alim confirmed that an investigation is underway and legal action will be taken against those responsible. Local residents identified several others allegedly involved and called for strict action, saying such intimidation undermines democratic values and press freedom.

An investigation committee has confirmed that money was illegally collected in the name of online family card applications in Fulbaria upazila of Mymensingh. The committee, led by Upazila Social Services Officer Mozammel Haque, verified that 100 taka was taken from applicants under the direction of Achim Patuli Union Parishad Chairman Imrul Kayes. The confirmation came on Friday afternoon.

The issue surfaced after reports in national newspapers and social media posts alleged that money was being charged for the family card application process. Following public criticism, the upazila administration formed a three-member investigation committee on February 28, appointing Mozammel Haque as its head. The committee was instructed to submit its report within three working days.

According to the committee chief, the investigation found the allegations to be true, and the report will be submitted on Sunday. Upazila Executive Officer Ariful Islam stated that a viral video also proved the irregularities.

Police in Rajshahi have arrested two leaders of the Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) for allegedly assaulting a college teacher after failing to extort money from him. The arrests were made on Friday night by Boalia police following a case filed by the victim, Assistant Professor Asaduzzaman Jewel of Shah Makhdum College. The accused, Abdullah Al Maruf Shihab, general secretary of the college’s JCD unit, and Abu Sufian Chandan, joint convener of Rajshahi Government City College JCD, were sent to jail through court on Saturday.

According to the case statement, the two accused had been demanding Tk 100,000 from Jewel for the past three months. When he refused, they allegedly threatened him with a knife on November 26 last year and again assaulted him on March 4 near his residence in Kadirganj, issuing further death threats. Both accused denied the allegations, claiming the teacher was an Awami League supporter who filed a false case in retaliation.

Investigating officer SI Mizanur Rahman said the suspects were arrested and sent to jail, and the case is under investigation for further legal action.

A local BNP leader, Md. Jibon Mia, has been accused of failing to pay for a donated cow he purchased in an open auction at the historic Pagla Mosque in Kishoreganj. The auction took place on February 9, 2025, where Jibon Mia bought the cow for Tk 55,000 but did not make the required immediate payment. Mosque officials said repeated attempts to collect the money were unsuccessful, and threats were allegedly made when payment was demanded.

Local sources said Jibon Mia claims to be a member of the Kishoreganj municipal BNP’s Ward No. 5 committee, though the committee has reportedly been dissolved, according to the municipal BNP president. Meanwhile, journalists covering the alleged irregularities in the auction were attacked on Thursday afternoon, reportedly led by Jibon Mia. Four journalists were injured and are receiving treatment at Kishoreganj 250-bed Modern Hospital.

Following the attack, journalist Fayzul Islam Bhuiya Pinku filed an attempted murder case against eight people. Police have arrested Jibon Mia and another suspect named Mona in connection with the case.

The Bangladesh Coast Guard has strengthened patrols across coastal and border regions to prevent the smuggling of fuel oil and essential commodities. The measure was confirmed on Saturday by Coast Guard media officer Lieutenant Commander Sabbir Alam Sujon, who said the force is maintaining maximum alert to counter illegal cross-border activities.

According to the Coast Guard, concerns have risen over possible smuggling of fuel and daily necessities into Myanmar amid the ongoing global energy crisis. Continuous day and night patrols are being conducted along coastal zones, waterways, and border-adjacent areas to stop any illicit networks from transporting goods illegally.

The Coast Guard has also urged residents of coastal areas to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities or information through its emergency hotline number 16111.

A young man named Samad Ahmed, aged 22, was killed in a knife attack during an arbitration meeting in Sikandarpur village under Osmaninagar upazila of Sylhet on Friday night. The incident occurred around 10:30 p.m. when a dispute over a local road between two groups escalated into violence. Police detained six individuals suspected of involvement in the attack.

According to police and eyewitnesses, Samad Ahmed was the son of Abdul Khalik of Sikandarpur village. The conflict had been ongoing between Samad’s family and those of Rahim Ullah’s son Abdus Sattar and Abdul Jabbar. The arbitration meeting was arranged to resolve the dispute, but tensions rose and Samad was stabbed by members of the opposing group. He was taken to the hospital, where doctors declared him dead.

Osmaninagar Police Station Officer-in-Charge Murshedul Alam Bhuiyan confirmed the incident, stating that legal action will be taken against those involved. The body was sent to Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital morgue for autopsy.

A court has sought permission from the Ministry of Public Administration to file a case against Sylhet Deputy Commissioner and District Magistrate Md. Sarowar Alam for alleged non-cooperation in a murder investigation and violation of court orders. The case relates to the killing of a youth named Tajuddin during an anti-discrimination student movement in Sylhet on August 4, 2024. Tajuddin’s wife filed a murder case, and the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) was assigned to investigate. Despite repeated requests, the DC allegedly failed to provide information about the executive magistrate on duty and the order under which shots were fired.

The Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) submitted its report, but the district administration remained silent, stalling the investigation. On February 8, the court ordered the DC to explain within 15 working days why legal action should not be taken for obstructing justice. However, no response was received by March 1. Senior Judicial Magistrate Sudipta Talukdar observed that the DC’s conduct violated multiple sections of the Penal Code and Criminal Procedure Code.

The ministry has been directed to obtain legal approval by April 15, 2026, and inform the court. The court’s strong stance has sparked wide discussion in Sylhet.

Police in Sunamganj arrested six individuals from a gambling den in Shomadnagar village under Rangarchar Union early Friday morning. The raid was conducted around 4 a.m. by officers from the Sunamganj Sadar Model Police Station following a tip-off. The suspects were reportedly caught playing cards at the one-story brick house of Jamal Mia in the village.

According to police sources, the detainees include residents from Shomadnagar, Bongao, and Rampur villages. The arrested individuals were identified as Jamal Mia, Shamsul Haque, Mohammad Delwar Hossain, Md. Yasin, Shah Alam, and Rahim Ali. Police said preparations are underway to file a case against them under the gambling law.

The operation highlights ongoing law enforcement efforts in Sunamganj to curb illegal gambling activities in local communities.

Police in Noakhali’s Begumganj upazila arrested two armed suspects with a foreign-made pistol and two rounds of ammunition. The arrests took place around 1:05 a.m. on Friday night at Kanchihata Sardar Dighi Par Mor in Amanullapur Union. The operation was confirmed on Saturday afternoon by Additional Superintendent of Police (Administration and Finance) Abu Tayeb Md. Arif Hossain.

The detainees were identified as Forhad Islam Fahim, 20, and Tajul Islam Suman, 34, both residents of Amanullapur Union’s Ward No. 1. Police said the Begumganj team was on patrol for warrant execution and recovery of illegal arms and drugs when they spotted three suspicious men near a tea stall. Two were caught after a chase, and one escaped. A pistol and two live cartridges were recovered from Fahim’s possession.

Begumganj police confirmed that a case under the Arms Act has been filed against the two detainees and their absconding accomplice. The arrested men were sent to court on Saturday afternoon.

A mobile court in Singra upazila of Natore fined a trader named Md. Rubel for illegally hoarding 10,000 liters of fuel to create an artificial shortage. The operation was conducted on Saturday afternoon in the Ningoin area of Singra municipality, led by Upazila Nirbahi Officer and Executive Magistrate Abdullah Al Rifat. The court imposed a fine of Tk 5,000 on Rubel, owner of Satata Traders, after discovering the fuel stored underground in a water tank.

In separate drives at Sherkol and Hatianandah markets, District Executive Magistrate Mahmudul Hasan Dipu fined three other traders Tk 8,000 under the Consumer Rights Protection Act. Local authorities stated that some dishonest traders were attempting to manipulate the market by creating a false fuel crisis.

Officials confirmed that similar operations would continue to prevent artificial shortages and protect consumers from unfair pricing practices.

The Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) has intensified surveillance along the Sunamganj border to curb illegal fuel smuggling amid global instability and fluctuating international fuel prices. Starting Friday morning, March 6, additional checkpoints, special patrols, and intelligence monitoring were deployed across several border areas. Inspections of suspected vehicles have also been reinforced to detect and prevent smuggling activities.

According to BGB, heightened vigilance has been placed at three land customs (LC) points under the Sunamganj battalion’s jurisdiction. The measures aim to stop trucks carrying stones and coal from illegally transporting fuel on their return trips. The commander of the 28 BGB Battalion, Lieutenant Colonel A K M Zakaria Kadir, stated that the force will continue its operations to prevent fuel smuggling and other unlawful activities along the border.

The strengthened monitoring reflects BGB’s ongoing efforts to maintain border security and ensure compliance with trade and fuel regulations in the region.

Four people were arrested by Kalabagan police at Dhanmondi 32 in Dhaka on Saturday morning during a procession marking the March 7 observance. The group of about 30 to 40 people had started their march from Dhanmondi 27 and were heading toward Dhanmondi 32 to place flowers when police intervened. The procession dispersed following the police obstruction.

According to Kalabagan Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md Fazle Ashiq, the four detainees—three women and one man—were taken into custody under the Anti-Terrorism Act and later sent to court. The arrests occurred as the group carried flowers during their procession to the historic site.

The report did not include further details about the identities of the detainees or the specific reasons for applying the Anti-Terrorism Act in this case.

The 59th Battalion of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) has launched strict fuel inspections on India-bound trucks at the Sonamasjid land port in Shibganj, Chapainawabganj. The initiative began on Saturday amid global fuel instability caused by the ongoing war in the Middle East. BGB teams are measuring fuel levels in trucks entering from India and rechecking them when the vehicles return after unloading goods to ensure no excess fuel is taken back.

Lieutenant Colonel Golam Kibria, commanding officer of the 59 BGB Battalion, stated that the operation aims to prevent any smuggling of Bangladeshi fuel into India. He said the double-checking system will discourage smugglers and help protect national resources. The BGB official added that the inspection campaign will continue regularly in the public interest.

The move reflects Bangladesh’s broader efforts to safeguard domestic energy security and curb illegal fuel outflow during a period of international market volatility.

The body of Kohinur Akter, 30, wife of expatriate Nurul Islam from Ukhia’s Rajapalong Union, was recovered from beneath a lift at Cox’s Bazar District Sadar Hospital four days after she went missing. She had come to the hospital with her sick child and disappeared on March 4 after leaving to buy medicine. Her body was discovered Saturday morning after CCTV footage showed her entering the lift but not exiting.

Hospital officials said she likely fell into the lift shaft when the door opened before the lift arrived. The incident has raised serious questions about the hospital’s safety and surveillance systems. Relatives became agitated after the discovery, prompting police to intervene and restore order.

Law enforcement authorities have launched an investigation to determine the exact cause of the incident. The body was sent for autopsy at the hospital morgue, while local residents expressed concern over how a body could remain undiscovered for days inside a busy hospital.

The Islamic University (IU) administration has temporarily suspended two assistant professors and one official following their implication in the murder case of Asma Sadia Runa, chairperson and assistant professor of the Department of Social Welfare. The suspended individuals are Assistant Professors Shyam Sundar Sarkar and Habibur Rahman, and Assistant Registrar Bishwajit Kumar Biswas of Ummul Mu’minin Ayesha Siddika Hall. The decision was announced on Saturday, March 7, 2026, through separate office orders signed by Acting Registrar Professor Dr. Manjurul Haque.

According to the orders, the suspensions were made under Section 15(b) of the university’s service discipline rules after the accused were named in the initial police report filed under Section 154 of the Criminal Procedure Code. The suspension took effect from March 5, 2026, and the individuals will receive subsistence allowances as per university regulations.

The case stems from the fatal stabbing of Professor Runa inside her department office on March 4. Her husband, Imtiaz Sultan, filed a murder case the next day against four people, naming employee Fazlur Rahman as the prime accused. Police have already arrested Fazlur Rahman, who was under treatment in the ICU.